One Crazy Day

Such is my life. Full of craziness and adventure. Did I ever say my life was boring? Well, I take that back. I guess it NEVER is boring!

So today I knew Lucki wasn't going to make it to work- she was really sick last night and her hubby called me this morning. So I headed to work just a tad early because I knew I'd have to do a lot to get ready for the day without her. And uhm, so I'm in the turn lane almost to work and I hit something and my tire goes flat. My front left tire, just fyi. I try to call Jamie, my boss, and have to leave a message. I call poor sick Lucki. I call my dad (who thinks I can change a tire on my own...thanks for having faith in me but I'm just not able to do that). I call Geico only to find out it'd cost me $65 for someone to come help me. So I get out of my car and immediately this nice latin dad and son stop their produce truck to help me change my tire muy rapido! They were awesome.

Spares are supposed to get you about 50 miles, right? Well I turn into the parking lot and the spare dies on me. I'm no where even near where I need to, but at least my car is in a parking lot. So I make the trek to work and tell the secretary, Toni, what happened. Mind you, I'm a half hour late and no one has even noticed. Why? Because Jamie is sick, too! And Dave, the other Space School 'boss' is also sick! It's JUST me today. So Toni got my credit card and some nice people who work somewhere in the building towed my car to a safer place, inspected the dead tire, BOUGHT a new tire, and replaced it so I can get home tonight. WOW. That all happened while I was at work this morning.

I had so much to do this morning to prep for space schoolers...I managed all right. Thank goodness for helpful people. And patient kiddos. Too bad it rained on our rocket launch. :(

So we have a graduation banquet for them- and I'm the only one who will be there- so I'm in charge! Crazy. That's about a 12 hour day. Goodness. Luckily I called my friend Ryan and he was free tonight so he can come to the banquet with me. That'll be nice. I'm almost space-schooled-out. But I love these kids, and I've had a smile on my face all day. Life is funny. But I am proud of myself for handling this craziness so well. sigh. We're all ready for next week because of me, too. busy little me. I missed my cat today. Can't wait to see him.

such is the life of Jenn. thanks for being avid readers of mi vida loca. :) I love you all!

ten four?

So Lucki and I are barely getting the walkie-talkie talk. It's quite funny the things we say. Like we know what to do!?!?!

Systems- "What's your 20?"
Lucki- "well we need to get our computers up"
Jenn (whispering to Lucki) "He means what's your location. silly"

Jenn- "Jenn to Lucki"
Lucki- "okay"
Jenn- "so they think it's eleven minutes not eight..."
Lucki- "What?"
Jenn- "so they think it's eleven minutes not eight..."
Lucki- "What?"
Jenn- "Oh, you have no clue what I'm talking about do you?"
Lucki- "no."

everyone can hear us, mind you. they hear our walkie-talkie talk and exclaim, "oh they're so sweet." Then our boss Jamie tried to teach us the proper language. But we still make comments like that of the light....see below. hah.

instead of 10-4 we have been known to say "Thanks!" "oh great!" or other non-10-4 communications.

We needed lights on in the theater area.
Jenn- "Jenn to systems"
no response.
Jenn- "Jenn to information?"
no response.
Jenn- "Jenn to someone who can turn on lights?"
Systems- "What's your twenty"
(ooh I got this one!) Jenn- "the theater area"
Systems- "oh. I can't turn on lights there."
Facilities- "Will be right there."

they thought that was super funny. Who can turn on lights? apparently not many of us.

so much for that

Mac is doing great. He cuddles with me quite often- he'd be a decent boyfriend...haha. I took him to the vet this week. He is relaly healthy and everyone just thought he was the most handsome cat. I felt like I proud parent. I even called Dad and Gail to let them know that their grand-cat had a good vet appointment. haha. He was such a good sport- with his shots and blood-prick. And he travelled all cute in his Nicole Miller Pet Carrier Purse (green and white). haha. He did pee in it on the way home, but I'll forgive him for that, poor thing was scared! He has cat herpes. Which isn't like normal people herpes- it just is why he'd have weepy eyes and sneezes when he's stressed out. But he's all fun around the house- playing cat-soccer with a little pingpong sized ball. So cute. I love Mac!

Chao from the newly single and newly converted cat-lover,

Lucki, Zac, and Mac

Sorry it's been a few weeks!

She's 23, a chemistry teacher at a nearby school near my district, and recently married. She's super awesome. We have a lot of fun together- we've hung out SO much in the week we've known each other! Playing Wii, double dates, and shopping...oh how fun! We are theI am the happiest I've been in a while! Life is wonderful. School got over- I ended fairly strong. haha. I was ready for it to be over. Space school has started. The girl I work with is name Lucki. only to Space School gals so we're very lucky, no pun intended. :)

Another happy thing is that I got a cat! I adopted him last Saturday from the League City Animal Shelter. I named him Mac. He is all black and is about a year old. I fell in love with him at the shelter and took him home the next day. He's so loving! He sleeps in my bed with me, loves the shower (the tub I guess....), eats a lot, knows how to stay clean, and loves to cuddle and be spoiled. I love having him here- it makes me so happy to come home! Oh Mac. What a cat. :)

Church has been great- I'm teaching Relief Society now (the all-ladies class...). I taught today, it was a blast. And now I hang out at FHE longer...my friends tease me because I never stay long to play volleyball or soccer, but I have lately because of a boy...lol.

Photo links! ;)
Lucki, Me, and Space School ( a couple with Zac, too)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2187478&l=20cf9&id=17825146

Mac the cat and Zac
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2187476&l=357fa&id=17825146

uhm, is school over yet?

Memorial weekend- Friday night was a dance in Galveston (beach area). Way fun. Saturday was working 12 hours at Babin's. Not that much fun. Monday was gator-hiking with Jonathan. There's a state park that has a ton of gators (we saw about 6 in the wild). We walked about 5 miles in the sun and enjoyed spotting gators. Way fun.

I have so much stress.

The stupid Texas Teacher association- for certification (since I'm out state), has screwed me over royally- totally bad record keeping (I paid, then they said I didn't and then that I paid twice so they refunded me, and then 5 months later say they're not doing anything with my certification because I haven't paid...and what? Talk about confusing). Oh my gosh, it made me so mad. So mad. So stressed.

So now I have less time to worry about and take the TeXes teacher exam- one for 'pedagogy' and one for 'chemistry and physics' ... I thought I was done with tests- that I only give them. Guess not. Grrr. I have to take them in August. And they cost mega bucks, too. Grrr.

I had some kid- well two- YELL at me about stupid final exam exceptions. NOT cool.

And because of STUPID teachers we have to back-track something that was VERY clear on the exemption list. We have to exempt kids that shouldn't be exempt because of this messup. grrr.

Oh, and apparently I could've gotten assaulted today. I was walking from lunch back to my room and saw this kid pacing in circles near the stairs- kids aren't supposed to be in this area at that time. So I asked why he was there, who his teacher was, why he was walking in circles...and he was rude and angry. So I just went to my room and called administration to let them know. Then I called his teacher- who knew exactly who it was and told me to call admin because he could physically assault someone. Creepy. She was a 'special needs' teacher...so I don't know if that explains his behavior. The hobbit (that's the admin's nickname) came and talked to the kid...I overheard him saying I 'the teacher' was unprofessional and the hobbit said "well, she was probably scared! this is unusual!!!!!" haha? yeah.

And I have to change classrooms this summer- not fun. Summer school is using my room so I can't move yet. grr. And we can't find the cabinet key- which is necessary when I have a sub to lock all my drawers. grr.

What else is annoying? Oh yeah, my bike basket completely fell off while I was riding yesterday. Talk about annoying. And it was really awkward getting it back home with me... don't ask. So I returned it today and instead got a back-rack... only to get home and find out it's the part that hooks to the bike is a little too big- so it could circle around me on my bike. Dang it. So that's three times going to the same store in one week? Grrr.

At least I got cute workout clothes and regular clothes at Old Navy.

At least I read a good book this week- Marley and Me.

The comcast guy better come tomorrow. Or I might throw something.

Looking Older. New Bike, Turkey Ducks

I am trying to look older. I went to Sephora (a makeup store) and asked what I could do. Here is their advice- get my brows waxed and shaped to a classic thin arch (apparently only older ladies do this). Went and had meticulous chinese lady wax by brows, check. I also got my lip waxed. haha. Second advice was to wear eyeliner. I never do. But it does make a difference. like it, check. And lastly to wear bright lip colors. Bought some new colors, check. At least half a dozen gals (students) noticed the difference and said I looked very pretty today. WOW! Guess it does work.

So I rode my bike to school today! I just bought a new bike- a northstar La Luna road/hybrid bike. It's got 24 gears and neat fenders. It's dark grey. My helmut has pink accents, however. I bought it at a nice bike shop, it was almost half off. I love it. It's a great bike!
I only live .6 miles away from school- so that's perfect. I keep it inside at my apartment and at school for safety.

On Saturday I went to a crawfish boil and got to go canoeing. I saw a gator! Yeah, when we were out on the canoe he was on the side. Awesomeness! There are the weirdest wildlife here in Texas. I saw buzzards, vultures, geese, ducks, a gator, and these weird things that look like a hybrid of turkeys and ducks. Ugly little things. A goose tried to attack my shoe. scary. But the parks here are really really pretty!

ups and downs

The move was last Friday, the 10th. My friend John helped from 11:00 am on! I took a half day (which is 10:30!!!) to start moving. We got a lot of the boxes out by the time 5 other boys (jonathan, jacob, sean, richard, and james) came to help out. We moved all my big stuff (bed/dresser/bookshelf) and then put together all the other stuff (table, chairs, sofas, end table, coffee table, tv stand)... It got all done that evening! Amazing! It looks more than fabulous. I love it. And the carpet is SO soft! It was fairly painless!

The grand tour:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2181551&l=6687c&id=17825146

My friends are great. They make me laugh so much. And they help make life bearable. I went to Dallas last Saturday with 5 other chruch friends- we went to the Dallas temple and then toured downtown- like where JFK got shot... neat little day trip. Lots of driving, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.

I made it through Mother's Day okay. I never like it though. I miss my mom so much. So much. I did go to Church and then Jonathan came over in the evening for dinner. (we've decided to be just friends- which is the best for both of us- and we still see a lot of each other)

Did I tell you about the progress with my Chem Com class? The delinquents? Well we started growing some sunflower seeds- they have a science fair-ish type project due...we put different acids and phosphates in the soil to see if it'll affect the growth. It's growing a lot in just a week!!! They still swear a lot and it almost made me so annoyed I was about in tears yesterday. I need to call their parents. It's REALLY hard to teach them. And my normal classes are getting restless- we only have two weeks of instruction then finals week. But I have so much to teach them until the end and they always whine. It's getting annoying. I want to do my job, goodness. The Nasa thing for the summer will be good- as long as I start getting stuff ready for next year in the mean time. Man. So much to think about. I might explode.

I have an annoying neighbor girl. Well, I shouldn't say that- but she's 14 and asked me the other day if I had a phone charger, which I had one that fit her phone, so I let her borrow it. Then Monica asked me to teach her how to park (her mom has a disability so she can get her license early)... and I couldn't say no so the next day I did. Then she asked what I was doing that evening, and I was going to a play with my friend at school because I had a couple students in it...and she asked if she could come. So I said yes. Then the next day she came over again! I think she went out of town- hence why she hasn't been over. I am not her parent! Nor should I feel like I have to hang out with a 14 year old who has a really weird life. Ack!

I had an open house party last night- that was fun. I'm currently waiting for the cable guy- who's an hour and a half late from his 'window time'.... and they lost my last order...so it's really annoying as well. I need to leave my apartment to do stuff, peoples!

So that's my life. Full of imperfections. I am really trying to keep positive, but I just need school to be out.

I hate (or REALLY dislike)...

school administration. They do not have your back! They're out to make new teachers feel like crap. And they do a good job of it.

P-R-O-M

So if I get one more comment saying I am/look like a high schooler I might scream. This weekend I wish I had a count of how many times that happened. It's quite astounding...and ridiculous. Ridiculous. I am TWENTY FOUR. and I TEACH high school. Goodness people.

Jonathan and I went to Ichibon's- a Hibachi Japanese grill before Prom! Dinner was soooo fun! And soooo yummy! The power went out in the whole restaurant just after the chef finished our food...and it never came back on so we got a FREE dinner! wowzers.




Then we went to the South Shore Harbor Hotel for Prom 2008! It was Red-Carpet themed and quite elegant! We danced for a couple hours then hung out around the hotel and got back around midnight or so.

It was a fine evening.

Prom Photos! :)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2178790&l=8dc11&id=17825146

lookin' young

we had some activity at the stake center and this high schooler was there- and I could totally tell he was in high school. So I asked which school he goes to...then I said I'm a high school teacher...and he replied..."don't you have to go to college for that?" uhm, yes. I know I look 19 but I have a bachelors degree AND served a mission...which definitely makes me old enough to be your teacher. oh dear.