Loser.

So I feel like a loser. I'm not sure exactly why. I am full of way too many emotions. One thing is that I need to move out. I've made plans- May 10th. I'll get my nice new apartment (with a washer/dryer) to myself! I have all my living room and dining room furniture picked out. And a new TV. I'm going to get a sofa, a sofa bed, a sofa-chair, cool TV stand, coffee table, and kitchen table/chairs! I'm still going to be completely out of debt in a year!!! May 10th isn't soon enough. I love my roommate, but she's not the easiest to live with. No need to go into details. I just deal with it. Until now, hence I'm moving out.

The days I don't work in the evenings I always nap. I think that's bad. But that's all my body wants. And it's not like I'm super social during the week. I went to FHE last night, and besides talking to Jacob, it was pointless to drive that far. Nobody, except Jacob and John, cared I was even there. True friends. I'd rather be in bed.

And my students. I really lack respect from my class of boys. They do everything that's annoying possible. From farting, rude comments, stealing diet coke from my mini-fridge, adding too much food to the fishbowl, and MORE obnoxious comments. Not fun. I have like no control over them. Nor my chem chommers, but we have less to worry about content-wise and I like those delinquents.

What am I doing?

Spring Break= Spring Stress

Last week was spring break. It was not a break. Babin's had me clocked in over 50 hours. I was miserable come the end of the week...all my energy socked out of me. I'm beginning to loathe that place. We were so stinking busy the later part of the week, and working 15 hour shifts with NO break, just killed me. And I couldn't get out of it. They needed all of us. Well, okay, so tears one day got me to go home early... Man. Do you all have any suggestions on what job I could get for the 10-11 weeks of summer? I DO NOT want to do this all summer. I'm not sure the money is even worth it. Not my idea of a break. I had Wednesday and Sunday off.

So if I wasn't at Babin's working my little tail off, I was probably with Jonathan, my neighbor. He's great company. We went to a car show (he loves cars...), and did other fun stuff. Yesterday was Easter, so I invited him to come to Church with me. He enjoyed it (I think!)...and I made a pot roast for dinner (it was SO yummy!) Who knew I could cook. :) I also wore my new easter dress...which I got a Macy's in the KIDS section! yes, a size 16 kids dress fit me perfectly... It was white with big pink and orage polka dots on it and a poofy underskirt. I wore it with my pink easter-style hat. Super cute. :) Plus I was a happy I fit into a kids size! ;) I, uh, keep losing weight, probably from running around at Babin's and not eating. Pants I just got now are too big.

Today is Monday, and I'm back at school. I am SO grateful to be a teacher and to do what I do. I am excited to be back and see my kiddos. I hope they had fun spring breaks! At least more fun than mine!

Leslie is gone again this week. Her little brother is leaving on his mission on Wednesday to Sweden so she went home. Poor thing is so stressed out (family, work, family, work...) and sometimes I get the blunt of it.

Another week...sigh...chao.

The Boy Next Door...

First, it's spring break. So last week, needless to say, was crazy! Friday- the day before break, I seriously couldn't get my kiddos to do anything. They were crazy. I just gave up after a half hour. But we have SO much to cover and they have a 9 weeks Exam the week after spring break...it's insane. My patience was tried last week at school, that's for sure. Mud story- I got my car stuck in the mud parking at work (we have to park 1/2 a mile away!) so I was totally stuck. Then miraculously this big black truck with tow equipment pulled up and got me out, without me even having to ask! Amazing. I was out in 2 minutes! Whew. Somebody up there loves me. :)

But this spring break isn't looking to 'break-ish'...I'm logged in for over 50 hours at Babin's this week. I have Wednesday and Sunday off and also Saturday day. Other than that I'm working 10-12 hour shifts. YIKES! That's no fun. Especially when I really really want a social life- which I had a great one last week. Let me tell.



The newest photos:
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Miss Restroom Monitor Goes Clubbing

My life continues to be crazy. But a good crazy. My roommate was pretty sick for a week or so and now it's my turn to have it do its course. Right now, besides being tired, I have a sore throat and a stuffy nose. But I've been pumping Vitamin C, airborne, and other stuff, and Vicadin (oh that's for my foot, haha). My foot is healing!! It's neat to see how it heals. I am back in regular shoes again. It just hurts sometimes. Like this morning. I've been on it a lot this week. Waitressing was especially hurtful for my foot. And it was a really lame week (not much business...which means not much money) and there's a mean manager. I'm glad that isn't my main source of income or work in general!!!

On Tuesday I had a date with five boys. Not really, but I was the only girl. We went out to Joe's Crab Shack and then rode the rollercoaster in Kemah. I rode it! It was very jerky- a fast wooden rollercoaster. The pictures are cute.

So Leslie has had a Dow training up in Houston (about an hour away). She's got a hotel and everything for the two weeks. So I've had the apartment to myself. It's been quite nice! I've been toying with the idea of getting my own apartment...I think I will this summer. That'd be a good time to move. And it'd be to a complex just down the street. I'm accumulating kitchenwares. It's exciting. I'm going with a red theme. Anyways, I have missed Leslie- we always talk to much! So last night (Saturday) I got off work about 5:30 or so and went up to go hang out with her and her Dow peoples! We went to a club! It was actually quite fun! Obviously, we didn't drink, but we sure danced and had a good time. And we both crashed when we got back to her hotel room. She's still sick! What a fun time, though!

State testing. TAKS. Pain in the butt. I was a "restroom monitor" on Wednesday from 7 to 1. Which means I just sit outside the girls' restroom, only let one go at a time, and listen to them pee all day. Testing took forever! I read a lot in my Sleep book but I got so bored of reading after awhile!

Hence another week. Hopefully I won't get more sick. Love you all. Peace out.

Like a Pregnancy?

So that lady, Rosalyn, at the Pizza Oven made this comment. I forgot to post it. It's funny. She found out it was our first date and said "oh my gosh, it's so exciting! I get to see it from the start- like a pregnancy! I get to see it blossom from the beginning!"

Yikes. My date said "well, that is if she'll let me take her out again." and Rosalyn so kindly added, "of course she will-she's a sweetheart!" Yeah, just because I'm a 'sweetheart' doesn't mean I have to say yes to a boy taking me out. Goodness!

I'm taking Vicadin for my foot- and my kids offer to buy it from me! Goodness gracious!!!

the goodness of the Gospel

okay, so we do RADIATE. or something!

I had that nice lady who helped me with my car today say I 'come off as a good person' so she can trust helping me (thank goodness I AM a good person!) And then my date and I (okay, he's really nice...but I'm just not attracted to him) went to pizzeria on the Boardwalk and the lady who helped us- Rosylyn just adored us and said I was the sweetest thing (I did help out a kid behind us who just started working at the games and wanted a discount but didn't have his first paystub yet- which is required since we pay for discounts- so I let him use my discount--Babin's is on the boardwalk). And so after we were talking with her...and James gets her interested in meeting with the missionaries! So he got her phone number and we'll pass along the info to the elders. Plus now I have a nice place to stop by when I'm working or not! Made a new friend. Rosylyn did say that I seem like a spiritual good person from just what she saw of me. That's just plain neat.

The goodness of the Gospel.

Such a Monday

It has been such a Monday! I woke up with sour milk in my cereal...had to toss it down the disposal on my way out the door. Gross!

I also got gas and then locked my keys in my car. Luckily this super nice lady (dressed in fancy, leopard print cuffed shirt and expensive jewelry and lots of makeup and drives a Lexus) offered once I told her my situation. My spare keys were just across the street (4 min) in my classroom. She said she usually doesn't do this but that I seem good. I'm so glad I do! Goodness.

And I hate to say it, but I have a date tonight with someone I'm not really interested in. At all really. And he has to drive an hour to get up here. I feel so bad. But I can go have and have fun and not lead him on. There's no way I could be attracted to him, but he's nice.

I am NOT settling. I haven't found anyone who strikes my fancy or is even crush-worthy. And I'm a girl of a million crushes! I haven't had a crush since one boy in DC after Nick. Okay, maybe two, but none here!!!!! I am not settling. I'd rather be single than not completely happy in love.

whack in the head, cut in the foot.

Strange title, I know. So this is what happened this week. On Wednesday there was a bad situation at school. This skinny white kid and a big black kid threw some words around and the white kid walked off saying the "n- word". And then the black kid ran down the hall and whacked the white kid in the back of the head. Crack. The kid fell to the floor and started having convulsions- a seizure. And blood coming out of places it shouldn't. They had to Life Flight him to the hospital!!! Rumors were flying like crazy. And to make it more interesting, the white kid who got hurt was one of my students! One of the Chem Com kids (so yes, a troublemaker/druggie. The one who ate the apple peels in lab). Still breaks my heart that he got hurt! He is okay now, however. I think he gets to go home today. We made the news, too.

And the foot. So I got minor foot surgery today! Just removal of plantar warts. I've had them removed twice before but they keep coming back, so this is the official out-patient surgery to get them away for good (the other times were only in-office). My very kind and patient roommate went with me. They were way behind so it took forever! My appt was at 10 and we got out at 3!!!! Dang. But no pain so far. And I can drive tomorrow...and hopefully get the wrappings off on Wednesday. And the anesthesia is wearing off... I did have a sub today. My kiddos had plenty to do so they won't be behind at all.

My kiddos are LAZY. We had a test Monday/Tuesday (block schedule). And 90% got below a 70. It's the same test all chem teachers gave, and yes, it was hard, and it was multiple choice- TAKS style questions that the kids aren't quite used to. Anyways, they did so bad! And it's not my fault. All teachers report they did bad. So being kind as I am I let them get half points back for just correcting their answers either Tuesday or Thursday after school (tutorial time). I think maybe 10 came in this week. When 50 should have. Everyone should have!!!!!!! How lame to not take advantage of that. And one kid was supposed to take the test (for the first time) on Tuesday or Thursday and didn't show up at all. He gets a big fat zero- and he failed Chem last year and is a senior... that's not my problem now! I was very clear about when he could come in.

Well, that's all the news for this week. Much love!

ReCycle those Storm troopers

Chem Commers. My chem com kids are dumb. I don't mean to be mean, but these kids are troublemakers. I haven't seen half of them for 2 weeks because they have ISS (In School Suspension). Luckily there are only six of them in my class! It's truly a miracle if I can get them to do ANY work. We made acid rain today. We had to test it on apple skins- which some kid kept eating (wish he waited for the acid rain to get on it...haha). The found the distilled water bottle quite amusing to squirt each other with. And goggles put over a hood (over your eyes) makes for a great storm trooper impersonation. I'm sure they did other stupid stuff that I can't remember. Those kids.

Recycling. In Washington we have blue recycle bins at everyone's home- great for keeping the earth green, right? Well, Texas it's hard to find that. I emailed the head secretary asking if there was a recycle club or something to collect my pop cans (which I have many...I drink too much diet coke, I know, I know). So an hour after I send the email, this timid little girl comes to my class and says she was told to talk to me- the head of the recycling club- about what to do for recycling. I told her I wasn't and sent her back to whoever sent her to me. Weird. I did, however, take the initiative- even though I am NOT the recycle club head- to call a couple places in the area. One replied "we don't recycle." and put me on hold until I hung up.

A date. Yup. I had a date saturday night. His name is Andrew. We met the first week here- his elder brother (and wife and kids) are in the family ward I was in. But Andrew goes to the singles ward- he's introduced me to lots of people, it's great! Anyways, there was a valentine's dinner dance saturday and we went. Drove in the crazy tornado weather, too. He asked why are you so sweet? I said, "Sugar and spice and everything nice."

Babin's. I'm finally making money waiting tables. I only work thursday-saturday evenings. So that's not too much. I hope. Only one late school night then... I made good money Saturday. So hope that keeps up.

Financial goals. My goal is to pay off ALL my student loans in the 6 months grace period. I can totally do it. And I'm going to save up money to buy a house in a year and a half or so. And I don't have much in the ways of housewares, so I'm accumulating that each month so I can be ready to live on my own soon. I think shopping for house stuff may be more fun than clothes shopping...whoa! Maybe this summer I'll get my own place (to rent that is).

Valentine's day was cute. I brought cupcakes for my teacher friends. They didn't have ants crawling all over them (uhm, like on the mission with Tammy and our valentine cookies...that we still gave away... haha).

Oh yeah so the kids had their first test and did SO bad! One girl got 100% but only a few passed with 70 or above. Quite shocking. But apparently that's normal. Especially since we changed up the test style (it's the same for all chem teachers).

Finding My Purpose

Okay, so the gospel is so neat. The Lord works in mysterious ways! I'm already finding purpose here in Texas. I'm meant to be a missionary. Just being. :) Today at the dentist office, I got there super early and so started to talk with a couple people. This lady brought in her elderly father (who is 93 and has been married for 69 years!). Anyways, we get to talking and I find out she's mormon. And a few minutes later that she's inactive (doesn't go to church anymore). She married a nonmember back in the day and stopped going then. Sad! I said I'd feel a void if I stopped going to Church. Anyways, maybe meeting me wasn't a coincidence but Heavenly Father giving her a little push in the right direction. Nunca se sabe! (you never know!)

That IS the case with my manager at Babin's! Shadonnie is one of my managers- she's 30, married, pregnant...and mormon! She joined when she was 16 but left the church when she got pregnant at 18. Her current hubby is her second marriage. She told her husband the other night that I started working at Babin's and am LDS. He was like, "LDS? What?" and she clarified that meant Mormon. He replied, "Oh, weren't you one of those crazies?" haha. She said, "We're not crazy!" She said she thinks it's a sign she needs to start going back to church (getting him there would be next to impossible). Her daughter is three and just two weeks ago found Shadonnie's old scriptures- complete with scripture mastery inserts and everything! She had no idea where her little girl found these. So that added to the 'coincidence' that is telling her she needs to go back to church. We shall see! It makes me happy to be in a place where I can be an influence on those around me. In DC I know I left an impression on my students...and now I am with everyone here that I work with. The Lord can use us in amazing ways. I do have purpose in being here in Texas.

So my third period class (mainly girls) was bratty to start out with- they were just 'testing' me because I was a new teacher to them (they got transferred out of another class) and a new teacher in general. I was talking about this to a couple gals (one of which was bratty at the beginning) and she admitted she was a brat. it was funny. But now that class loves me. We have fun and everyone is nice and does what is asked of them without complaining. The brattiness is over-I won them over! :) Hooray! Tuesday was testing day and I have them after lunch so we ordered pizza from Pizza Hut. It was soooo yummy! I brought sodas and we had plenty to eat! Tomorrow we're going to make s'mores....

I went to the dentist yesterday. Is it weird if the actual dentist cleans your teeth? I thought they just check you after the hygienist cleans your teeth- poke around your mouth and stuff. I have no cavities and very clean, white teeth. :) Which is nice because I don't think I've been to the dentist in years... It's nice to have health insurance, let me tell you!