Now that the AP Exam is over I have very few excuses left to keep me from getting my new place organized but you best believe I'm trying to come up with things to keep me occupied. The registrar at school is thrilled because I fill out her forms and return them immediately. She calls me "Speedy." It's the little things, I guess.
One of the really fun things I've been doing lately is appliance repair. Apparently the move up three flights of stairs caused problems to both of the secondhand appliances that I recently purchased so today I had a repairman TWICE and the maintenance guy from the apartment complex once. It's been fun. The maintenance guy hates Texas (he's from Florida where it's humid but there's the ocean) and the repairman thinks I should move in with my mom or find a man to buy me a new washing machine.
So, sexism is still alive and well...have no fear! I've also talked myself out of and back into (and out of and back into) grad school. I think the compromise I've come up with is to defer my start date to the fall semester so I have time to prep and plan for the plot twists that are coming this fall that are basically impossible to plan for but I'm still going to try. It's also referred to as "driving myself batshit crazy."
I also had my end of year summative today. It was interesting because I was never actually formally observed by anyone so there were only a few areas that we could discuss. What we did discuss was how I worked hard to forge those relationships with students and coworkers, alike, and how I am "the real deal." At one point, my appraiser even said, "Best hiring decision ever!" so that was a fun time. He alluded to me being able to take on more advanced classes next year and being able to continue working directly with my counterpart from this year which makes me happy.
As I was detailing some of the highlights of my summative during our Zoom this afternoon and we were laughing and talking about room clean-out (they've already been; I go on Thursday), I got a text from my work bestie who was, very clearly, distraught. It seems that the additional custodial staff hired to clean and sanitize our building went a little crazy and threw away some of the (irreplaceable) items hanging on her wall: notes from former students and stuff like that. I feel her pain. I would be devastated if that happened to me. It makes me concerned as to whether or not my box of mementos will be intact when I go up there to shut my room down on Thursday.
It's not the quantity of them, or even what they say but instead it's the intent behind them. Notes are personal. They take time. They take effort. The mean something. And each time I read them they take me back to reliving those moments with the writers and that means the world to me.
Aubs
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Friday, May 15, 2020
It is finished
Well, it's kind of finished. I had a lot of kids who didn't take their APUSH Exam today. I had several kids who had issues submitting their exams. There were some who weren't prepared and then there were some who had issues logging into their exams. But I think my favorite issue was the kid who sent me a message during their second AP Exam of the day to tell me that their computer randomly just shut down during their AP Comp Sci Exam. Ohhhh, it was so ironic...until they said, "I accidentally hit the plug with my foot." The hysterical laughter that burst through my lips was more relief that my exam was over than at their misfortune. Bless their heart. Retakes are at the beginning of June and, after they finish my last "fun/feedback" assignment, we are done for the year. I hope that most will do this assignment because it's personal and not history.
I had a Zoom session for my kids this morning to answer any last minute questions or to give anyone who needed it a last minute pep talk. I wound up getting a fair amount of questions about where they should find their tickets (Why didn't they look for these 48 hours ago when they were issued?!) and how to HIPP documents (provide greater detail about provided documents to further their argument). I was able to calm some fears, provide some laughter, and one girl asked me if I was crying. To be fair, it was overcast so it was kind of shadowy in my living room so I turned the camera so she could see my eyes were just as psychotic as usual and managed to blink back the tears that were starting to form. Excellent observation, dearest!
As the countdown for their test to start got closer and closer to the beginning of the test my anxiety level shot WAY up. I know I'm not alone on this. If we were in a normal school year they would have taken the test a week ago. We would've been able to finish all of the material and prepped for the test much better than we were able to digitally. BUT a lot of my kids showed up. I saw more of them show up for the Zoom prior to the test and submit feedback after the test than I've seen in a while. Kids came out of the woodwork for this test and I am so stinkin' proud of them. And, as I read some of their feedback after the test, I had tears streaming down my face. One of the questions said, "Knowing I will get your exam this year, is there anything I need to know?" and so many of them responded that they wanted me to know that they really tried or that time got away from them or that they weren't super confident but they wanted to make me proud...but the one that KILLED me was the one that said, "Even if I fail I want you to know you prepared us the best you could and I am seriously honored to have been your student." Even now I lack the ability to comprehend how lucky I am to have this group of kids who were so resistant to me at the beginning but damn...look at us now. My heart is full. This last assignment is one where it gives them the chance to give me honest feedback and to open up about what's on their hearts and minds. This has always generated a good response in the past and I'm hoping it will continue this time, even in a pandemic. I hope.
While the kids tested, my APUSH counterpart and I tried not to look at the clock. We spent a long time in a Zoom with a variety of "guests" but at the very end it was just the two of us as we looked at the Google Form we were creating to track feedback from our kids on their exams. It was "real talk" time where I very blatantly told him that I was really unsure if I was going to stay in the first few months, partially due to how he was a very prickly human being at first. I'm not saying I wore him down but I am saying we busted through the barriers that were set up and by January we were a seriously cohesive team. When faced with the potential of not being on the same team next year (nobody really knows at this point) he even said that we have a good, viable relationship here; why should we have to start over. Beginning of the school year me never would've thought we'd be having this conversation but I'd be lying if I said I was looking forward to summertime. It's pretty much the opposite, actually. We're not going to have that connection of daily interaction and I'm seriously going to miss it.
Who knew...I guess he's wormed his way into my heart after all.
Aubs
I had a Zoom session for my kids this morning to answer any last minute questions or to give anyone who needed it a last minute pep talk. I wound up getting a fair amount of questions about where they should find their tickets (Why didn't they look for these 48 hours ago when they were issued?!) and how to HIPP documents (provide greater detail about provided documents to further their argument). I was able to calm some fears, provide some laughter, and one girl asked me if I was crying. To be fair, it was overcast so it was kind of shadowy in my living room so I turned the camera so she could see my eyes were just as psychotic as usual and managed to blink back the tears that were starting to form. Excellent observation, dearest!
As the countdown for their test to start got closer and closer to the beginning of the test my anxiety level shot WAY up. I know I'm not alone on this. If we were in a normal school year they would have taken the test a week ago. We would've been able to finish all of the material and prepped for the test much better than we were able to digitally. BUT a lot of my kids showed up. I saw more of them show up for the Zoom prior to the test and submit feedback after the test than I've seen in a while. Kids came out of the woodwork for this test and I am so stinkin' proud of them. And, as I read some of their feedback after the test, I had tears streaming down my face. One of the questions said, "Knowing I will get your exam this year, is there anything I need to know?" and so many of them responded that they wanted me to know that they really tried or that time got away from them or that they weren't super confident but they wanted to make me proud...but the one that KILLED me was the one that said, "Even if I fail I want you to know you prepared us the best you could and I am seriously honored to have been your student." Even now I lack the ability to comprehend how lucky I am to have this group of kids who were so resistant to me at the beginning but damn...look at us now. My heart is full. This last assignment is one where it gives them the chance to give me honest feedback and to open up about what's on their hearts and minds. This has always generated a good response in the past and I'm hoping it will continue this time, even in a pandemic. I hope.
While the kids tested, my APUSH counterpart and I tried not to look at the clock. We spent a long time in a Zoom with a variety of "guests" but at the very end it was just the two of us as we looked at the Google Form we were creating to track feedback from our kids on their exams. It was "real talk" time where I very blatantly told him that I was really unsure if I was going to stay in the first few months, partially due to how he was a very prickly human being at first. I'm not saying I wore him down but I am saying we busted through the barriers that were set up and by January we were a seriously cohesive team. When faced with the potential of not being on the same team next year (nobody really knows at this point) he even said that we have a good, viable relationship here; why should we have to start over. Beginning of the school year me never would've thought we'd be having this conversation but I'd be lying if I said I was looking forward to summertime. It's pretty much the opposite, actually. We're not going to have that connection of daily interaction and I'm seriously going to miss it.
Who knew...I guess he's wormed his way into my heart after all.
Aubs
Thursday, May 14, 2020
I might throw up...
It's the night before the APUSH Exam, the exam my kids have been working towards all year or, rather, they would've been if it hadn't been for the damn Coronavirus. Two months ago we got the biggest plot twist we had never really imagined and it all comes down to tomorrow. That's not dramatics; it's facts. Assuming they all sit for the exam and assuming there are no submission issues then I'll be able to read their responses in a couple of weeks and see what exactly they know or don't know.
While I know it's not entirely true, I still find it extremely hard not to shoulder their failures/successes because my job is simply to prepare them as best I can. What they do (or do not do) is entirely up to them. They've been given the tools and the feedback they need to be successful. Some of them have been much more receptive than others. Some have asked for help while the majority have not. Some have emailed me TODAY for the first time since March 12 to say, "So when is this test and what do we have to do?" It's out of my hands, and yet, it feels like I'm the one sitting for this test. It's something most don't understand unless they've been in this situation.
I'm taking bets on whether or not I sleep tonight because, if I'm basing it on how things are going right now (10:24 p.m.) then it's going to be a long ass night. There's so much going on inside my head at this precise moment and there's no way it's going to shut down for the night. It's cool. It's fine. Sleep is overrated.
I have a student who is registered for the exam but, with this e-ticket stuff (since the exams are being taken from home), their ticket is missing. They're definitely registered for the exam but they don't have access to a ticket, a ticket that's supposed to be sent to them 48 hours before their test. They told me at 6:30 tonight. They have to login at 12:30 tomorrow for this test. What could possibly go wrong?! I had them call the College Board. I tried to find their ticket. I texted my AP Coordinator. I texted the District Coordinator. She contacted her testing coordinator...everyone is trying to get this precious darling their ticket. Now they have to call the College Board again in the morning while all of us try to do the same to get this ticket issued. This kid has an excellent chance to score well and I'm not about to let a hiccup stop them from being successful. I've been helping them build self-confidence for an entire school year. We're not losing any traction here.
I sent a video to all of my students, past and present, to tell them that I'm thinking about them and that they know more than they think they do, to not get hung up on writing a killer essay...to play the points game. Some of them will hear my words and focus on that. Others, overachievers like myself, will stress themselves out to the point of utter panic. Been there. Done that. Doing it right now.
There is so much uncertainty right now, with my testers and with what comes next. How will next year go? Will it be as close to normal as possible? Will we have time to prepare? I'm fearful of what the future holds but also cautiously optimistic as well.
It's a weird place to be.
Aubs
While I know it's not entirely true, I still find it extremely hard not to shoulder their failures/successes because my job is simply to prepare them as best I can. What they do (or do not do) is entirely up to them. They've been given the tools and the feedback they need to be successful. Some of them have been much more receptive than others. Some have asked for help while the majority have not. Some have emailed me TODAY for the first time since March 12 to say, "So when is this test and what do we have to do?" It's out of my hands, and yet, it feels like I'm the one sitting for this test. It's something most don't understand unless they've been in this situation.
I'm taking bets on whether or not I sleep tonight because, if I'm basing it on how things are going right now (10:24 p.m.) then it's going to be a long ass night. There's so much going on inside my head at this precise moment and there's no way it's going to shut down for the night. It's cool. It's fine. Sleep is overrated.
I have a student who is registered for the exam but, with this e-ticket stuff (since the exams are being taken from home), their ticket is missing. They're definitely registered for the exam but they don't have access to a ticket, a ticket that's supposed to be sent to them 48 hours before their test. They told me at 6:30 tonight. They have to login at 12:30 tomorrow for this test. What could possibly go wrong?! I had them call the College Board. I tried to find their ticket. I texted my AP Coordinator. I texted the District Coordinator. She contacted her testing coordinator...everyone is trying to get this precious darling their ticket. Now they have to call the College Board again in the morning while all of us try to do the same to get this ticket issued. This kid has an excellent chance to score well and I'm not about to let a hiccup stop them from being successful. I've been helping them build self-confidence for an entire school year. We're not losing any traction here.
I sent a video to all of my students, past and present, to tell them that I'm thinking about them and that they know more than they think they do, to not get hung up on writing a killer essay...to play the points game. Some of them will hear my words and focus on that. Others, overachievers like myself, will stress themselves out to the point of utter panic. Been there. Done that. Doing it right now.
There is so much uncertainty right now, with my testers and with what comes next. How will next year go? Will it be as close to normal as possible? Will we have time to prepare? I'm fearful of what the future holds but also cautiously optimistic as well.
It's a weird place to be.
Aubs
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
Progress...
When I hear or think that word, I think of Harry Potter...5, I think: "Progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged." Freakin' Professor Umbridge, man. What a troll!
I have made a lot of progress, though. Thanks to my mom who is my drawer/cabinet measurer and liner I have almost my entire apartment lined and filled with stuff. It has been determined, once again, that I have too much stuff. This does not come as a surprise and, with less square footage now than I had before, it shouldn't come as a surprise that I am running out of room...and yet, here I am...surprised.
I'm down to the last few boxes (I think there are maybe 3) and then the remainder of the organizing begins. I want to be done by Friday because I'm going to be a hot mess and a half on Friday and I cannot be held responsible for doing anything semi-functional on that day. Why? Friday is the AP Exam and, I have to tell you, I am a little concerned about the lackadaisical attitude it seems most of my kids have at this particular point in time. It is my assumption based on the work submitted, or lack thereof, that very few will actually take it. I hope I'm pleasantly surprised.
I've been holding Zoom sessions all week to help students by answering questions or addressing concerns or going over broader context or just letting them vent...and so far I've seen two students in my Zooms. To be fair, I've heard from several others via email or text but still not the 110 that would be sitting down to take it if we were still having our normal school days. In fact, they would've already taken it last Friday and I'd be free from stress...until July when scores are released. I hope more show up tomorrow. My APUSH counterpart made a review video today with some broader context and information mixed in and I also shared that with my classes so even if I knew they had watched that I would feel better.
I am not very reassured here.
It's also nothing I can control so that's a weird thing for me to wrap my brain around. I think what makes it the most difficult is that we aren't able to agonize over this together. If it were a normal school year, the other APUSH teacher and I would be able to commiserate for the majority of the day and stress over how they did or were doing...after we rounded all of those who were trying to skip the exam up and delivered them to their testing location. That's half the fun! If you don't plan to take the exam then don't show up to school! Sheesh!
It's definitely a broken record but it's such a weird year. So weird. And it doesn't seem like next year will be much better so that's super fun.
But, it'll be fine. It's fine. I'm fine. Everything's fine.
Fine.
Aubs
I have made a lot of progress, though. Thanks to my mom who is my drawer/cabinet measurer and liner I have almost my entire apartment lined and filled with stuff. It has been determined, once again, that I have too much stuff. This does not come as a surprise and, with less square footage now than I had before, it shouldn't come as a surprise that I am running out of room...and yet, here I am...surprised.
I'm down to the last few boxes (I think there are maybe 3) and then the remainder of the organizing begins. I want to be done by Friday because I'm going to be a hot mess and a half on Friday and I cannot be held responsible for doing anything semi-functional on that day. Why? Friday is the AP Exam and, I have to tell you, I am a little concerned about the lackadaisical attitude it seems most of my kids have at this particular point in time. It is my assumption based on the work submitted, or lack thereof, that very few will actually take it. I hope I'm pleasantly surprised.
I've been holding Zoom sessions all week to help students by answering questions or addressing concerns or going over broader context or just letting them vent...and so far I've seen two students in my Zooms. To be fair, I've heard from several others via email or text but still not the 110 that would be sitting down to take it if we were still having our normal school days. In fact, they would've already taken it last Friday and I'd be free from stress...until July when scores are released. I hope more show up tomorrow. My APUSH counterpart made a review video today with some broader context and information mixed in and I also shared that with my classes so even if I knew they had watched that I would feel better.
I am not very reassured here.
It's also nothing I can control so that's a weird thing for me to wrap my brain around. I think what makes it the most difficult is that we aren't able to agonize over this together. If it were a normal school year, the other APUSH teacher and I would be able to commiserate for the majority of the day and stress over how they did or were doing...after we rounded all of those who were trying to skip the exam up and delivered them to their testing location. That's half the fun! If you don't plan to take the exam then don't show up to school! Sheesh!
It's definitely a broken record but it's such a weird year. So weird. And it doesn't seem like next year will be much better so that's super fun.
But, it'll be fine. It's fine. I'm fine. Everything's fine.
Fine.
Aubs
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Boring. These days are getting boring.
It's been pretty busy in my household (of basically one) for the last couple of months, even being stuck at home due to a pandemic. After putting off packing for as long as humanly possible I found random bursts of productivity but most of the "hustle and bustle" in my house over the last several weeks has been primarily finding things to do to avoid doing what I need to do. I never said it was right or logical but, like my students often say, I work best under pressure.
And, I mean, isn't that true of most of us? Our true grit and determination come out when we're backed against a wall or facing some kind of deadline. It's very hard for me to not be frustrated with my students who are seemingly not showing up for anything anymore even though they have an AP Exam on FRIDAY because I get it. They have tests before ours, some of them have multiples, and it's one of those things where you have to tackle what's first before you can look at what comes next. If I were still 17 (and thank Jesus I'm not) then I'd be in the same boat but, with the infinite wisdom I've gained in 20 years, I struggle to be okay with this way of compartmentalizing. I realize what works for me (now) doesn't work for them (now or ever) but I sure wish some of them would take advantage of the wisdom being offered to them. It would make their lives so much easier...probably.
The worst kind of "meh" day is the day where there isn't really a reason for the "meh." It's just there. Today was one of those days. My desire to get much done today was pretty much non-existent, although I did unpack all of the remaining boxes in one room (aside from the school supplies that are boxed up in the closet for next year...I hope). Other than that I opened the last 8-10 boxes looking for the damn silverware so I could eat my yogurt and then I just kind of sat there going "Now what?" for a while. It seems like that's all the last couple of months have been: a whole lot of "now what?"
It's an interesting chapter, this chapter I'm beginning. The majority of my friends are married with children of varying ages. If they have kids who are close in age to mine then they often have several younger ones still at home. They're firmly ensconced in the life I lived for so long: practices, homework, playdates, taxi driving, homework help, crazy sports/dance/gymnastics schedules...and I don't have any of that anymore. Sometimes I feel more than a little remorse that it's over. I was one who always managed to thrive on the chaos of conflicting schedules, like they were a puzzle I had to solve so everyone could master their individual objectives. And now I'm all, "Hmmm, what will I watch on Netflix/Hulu/ESPN+ tonight?"
It's a riveting discussion I have with myself every single night. And, if I'm being completely honest, I'm not even sure this would change if there wasn't a pandemic going on. Despite all evidence to the contrary I am, in fact, a rather shy individual. Okay, shy is the wrong word. Guarded. I'm incredibly guarded. I've been burned by people I thought were trustworthy, had proven their worth (and lied really well, it seems), and granted access to my inner circle...not a euphemism. So, while I am always friendly because I don't know how not to be unless you really piss me off I do not often let my true personality show until I am sure. You know what that makes a huge challenge? Dating. And since the last couple were such amazing gems I've kind of kept to myself for a really long time. It's been fine, good, even because I've been able to focus so much on getting myself to where I want to be, raising my boys and juggling a lot of crap on the side. While my professional life is never EVER boring sometimes my personal life is and sometimes boring is really good...and sometimes it's B.O.R.I.N.G.
So, tonight, as I lamented the boring status I decided I would just get a bowl of ice cream and climb in bed to watch whatever it is I'm watching right now. I'm on the last episode of the first season of "The Last Kingdom," which has been pretty good so far but I hear it gets better in subsequent seasons so I might keep going with that. I'm also behind on "The Last Dance," which is my jam because who was alive and NOT a Bulls fan in the late 80s/early 90s? Not many people, that's who. The Dream Team! But as I was debating what to watch I got an email from another teacher with a couple of notes from students attached.
My mood significantly improved as I sent them a message to thank them for being much kinder than I deserve. And now they're arguing back and forth in our group Remind message and I'm laughing at their threats of sending pictures of each other from middle school and it was exactly what I needed. I appreciate that they are so plainly themselves with me and am even more grateful because I know they are not as candid with others. The whole "you get what you give" philosophy rings so true, especially with the teenager population...
Which is why, to my knowledge, I'm still not a meme.
Aubs
And, I mean, isn't that true of most of us? Our true grit and determination come out when we're backed against a wall or facing some kind of deadline. It's very hard for me to not be frustrated with my students who are seemingly not showing up for anything anymore even though they have an AP Exam on FRIDAY because I get it. They have tests before ours, some of them have multiples, and it's one of those things where you have to tackle what's first before you can look at what comes next. If I were still 17 (and thank Jesus I'm not) then I'd be in the same boat but, with the infinite wisdom I've gained in 20 years, I struggle to be okay with this way of compartmentalizing. I realize what works for me (now) doesn't work for them (now or ever) but I sure wish some of them would take advantage of the wisdom being offered to them. It would make their lives so much easier...probably.
The worst kind of "meh" day is the day where there isn't really a reason for the "meh." It's just there. Today was one of those days. My desire to get much done today was pretty much non-existent, although I did unpack all of the remaining boxes in one room (aside from the school supplies that are boxed up in the closet for next year...I hope). Other than that I opened the last 8-10 boxes looking for the damn silverware so I could eat my yogurt and then I just kind of sat there going "Now what?" for a while. It seems like that's all the last couple of months have been: a whole lot of "now what?"
It's an interesting chapter, this chapter I'm beginning. The majority of my friends are married with children of varying ages. If they have kids who are close in age to mine then they often have several younger ones still at home. They're firmly ensconced in the life I lived for so long: practices, homework, playdates, taxi driving, homework help, crazy sports/dance/gymnastics schedules...and I don't have any of that anymore. Sometimes I feel more than a little remorse that it's over. I was one who always managed to thrive on the chaos of conflicting schedules, like they were a puzzle I had to solve so everyone could master their individual objectives. And now I'm all, "Hmmm, what will I watch on Netflix/Hulu/ESPN+ tonight?"
It's a riveting discussion I have with myself every single night. And, if I'm being completely honest, I'm not even sure this would change if there wasn't a pandemic going on. Despite all evidence to the contrary I am, in fact, a rather shy individual. Okay, shy is the wrong word. Guarded. I'm incredibly guarded. I've been burned by people I thought were trustworthy, had proven their worth (and lied really well, it seems), and granted access to my inner circle...not a euphemism. So, while I am always friendly because I don't know how not to be unless you really piss me off I do not often let my true personality show until I am sure. You know what that makes a huge challenge? Dating. And since the last couple were such amazing gems I've kind of kept to myself for a really long time. It's been fine, good, even because I've been able to focus so much on getting myself to where I want to be, raising my boys and juggling a lot of crap on the side. While my professional life is never EVER boring sometimes my personal life is and sometimes boring is really good...and sometimes it's B.O.R.I.N.G.
So, tonight, as I lamented the boring status I decided I would just get a bowl of ice cream and climb in bed to watch whatever it is I'm watching right now. I'm on the last episode of the first season of "The Last Kingdom," which has been pretty good so far but I hear it gets better in subsequent seasons so I might keep going with that. I'm also behind on "The Last Dance," which is my jam because who was alive and NOT a Bulls fan in the late 80s/early 90s? Not many people, that's who. The Dream Team! But as I was debating what to watch I got an email from another teacher with a couple of notes from students attached.
Which is why, to my knowledge, I'm still not a meme.
Aubs
Monday, May 11, 2020
Post-Move Daze & AP Exams
I can't come up with a title for this post. It's like my brain has the dumb. I feel like this is probably how a lot of my students are feeling this week and next as they gear up to take a slew of AP Exams to determine if they receive college credit for their work this year. You know, no pressure.
There's nothing like a high stakes situation with the state of things to relieve the pressure from an already high stakes situation. At this point, I'm not even sure if any of mine will take the exam. Out of my 110 roughly 40-60 are doing their work and communicating. The rest are like crickets except they don't chirp or whatever it is crickets allegedly do. Rub their legs together or whatever.
You know what's blissful? I moved into my apartment on Mother's Day. That was not blissful and, no, I don't want to talk about it yet. Let's just say (in a one sentence summary): There was a serious lack of communication and they didn't leave my apartment until almost 9:00 p.m. even though their scheduled window was between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
That about covers it.
Anyway. Blissful: My ceiling fan is silent. All of the fans are silent. It's amazing. The fans at the condo made all sorts of racket and it was impossible to ignore them. Here it's the perfect amount of barely there white noise. What I like less is the fact that it's broad daylight at 7:05 a.m. I was complaining to a guy I work with and he was telling me (bragging, y'all...he was BRAGGING) that his bedroom is an interior room so it stays dark. Jealousy. He also suggested I put up blackout curtains and I explained that (newsflash!) I am not tall (like he is...still bragging) so after shooting down his idea of using a ladder because I'm more of a "hammer and go and hope it's straight" kind of girl, I'm either going to have to deal with it being stupid bright at dumb o'clock or find a tall, preferably handsome/funny/kind, man to do it for me...taking applications now!
Anyway, this week is kind of stressful and hectic, especially for students, but also for the teachers who have worked diligently to get them to this point and that's hard as hell to do in the current situation. The first wave of students tested today and it makes me glad that my kids are testing on Friday because hopefully some of the kinks are worked out by then. Bless those first tester guinea pigs!
I'm working to unpack and I've realized a few things: I didn't label things very well (at the end I gave up on labeling and just threw shit in boxes), the boxes multiplied (I swear to you, on all things, they did), and I have way too much stuff (I have nothing witty to say here...it's straight fact). It's starting to come together (the number of boxes left intact is going down) and I'm almost to the point where I can start figuring out what I'm going to put on walls but I think my first priority is going to be curtains because...it's BRIGHT and I like to be asleep in the morning.
I also realized that curbside pickup is so much better than I originally thought it to be. Yes, it's great. It's a timesaver and it helps with social distancing but there are so many choices! Tonight I picked up an impromptu order from Total Wine and a vacuum cleaner I ordered (because I didn't see it on display even though it was listed as "available" on the app) while I was standing in front of the vacuum cleaner display AT Target in the span of 10 minutes. I also ordered groceries for pickup from Kroger on Thursday so I definitely know how to party.
I mean, honestly, it's a wonder I'm still single...for now...maybe.
Does that mean I'm considering dating again? I have no idea. But it's not a no.
Yikes.
Aubs
There's nothing like a high stakes situation with the state of things to relieve the pressure from an already high stakes situation. At this point, I'm not even sure if any of mine will take the exam. Out of my 110 roughly 40-60 are doing their work and communicating. The rest are like crickets except they don't chirp or whatever it is crickets allegedly do. Rub their legs together or whatever.
You know what's blissful? I moved into my apartment on Mother's Day. That was not blissful and, no, I don't want to talk about it yet. Let's just say (in a one sentence summary): There was a serious lack of communication and they didn't leave my apartment until almost 9:00 p.m. even though their scheduled window was between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
That about covers it.
Anyway. Blissful: My ceiling fan is silent. All of the fans are silent. It's amazing. The fans at the condo made all sorts of racket and it was impossible to ignore them. Here it's the perfect amount of barely there white noise. What I like less is the fact that it's broad daylight at 7:05 a.m. I was complaining to a guy I work with and he was telling me (bragging, y'all...he was BRAGGING) that his bedroom is an interior room so it stays dark. Jealousy. He also suggested I put up blackout curtains and I explained that (newsflash!) I am not tall (like he is...still bragging) so after shooting down his idea of using a ladder because I'm more of a "hammer and go and hope it's straight" kind of girl, I'm either going to have to deal with it being stupid bright at dumb o'clock or find a tall, preferably handsome/funny/kind, man to do it for me...taking applications now!
Anyway, this week is kind of stressful and hectic, especially for students, but also for the teachers who have worked diligently to get them to this point and that's hard as hell to do in the current situation. The first wave of students tested today and it makes me glad that my kids are testing on Friday because hopefully some of the kinks are worked out by then. Bless those first tester guinea pigs!
I'm working to unpack and I've realized a few things: I didn't label things very well (at the end I gave up on labeling and just threw shit in boxes), the boxes multiplied (I swear to you, on all things, they did), and I have way too much stuff (I have nothing witty to say here...it's straight fact). It's starting to come together (the number of boxes left intact is going down) and I'm almost to the point where I can start figuring out what I'm going to put on walls but I think my first priority is going to be curtains because...it's BRIGHT and I like to be asleep in the morning.
I also realized that curbside pickup is so much better than I originally thought it to be. Yes, it's great. It's a timesaver and it helps with social distancing but there are so many choices! Tonight I picked up an impromptu order from Total Wine and a vacuum cleaner I ordered (because I didn't see it on display even though it was listed as "available" on the app) while I was standing in front of the vacuum cleaner display AT Target in the span of 10 minutes. I also ordered groceries for pickup from Kroger on Thursday so I definitely know how to party.
I mean, honestly, it's a wonder I'm still single...for now...maybe.
Does that mean I'm considering dating again? I have no idea. But it's not a no.
Yikes.
Aubs
Friday, May 8, 2020
I took a Mulligan
After the "Alexander" of a day I had yesterday I woke up early and went to go meet the guy for internet installation. He called me and verified the address. It was wrong (shocker) so he called and got it all straightened out and got a new order set up, got it assigned to him, and got it set up in 20 minutes. Cody from AT&T is my hero.
Aubs
While he worked I put away the stuff I had brought from the condo and we talked about school and how he's struggling with being a "teacher" for a 5th grader. He says he gave me a signal booster so we'll see how that goes once I'm there full time on Sunday. I hope it's faster than what I have to deal with now.
I went to pick up a couple of things I ordered and the guy who got my items warned me they were heavy. I told him I was going to carry them up three flights of stairs and he said, "40." Confused, I said, "No...I'm 38." and he laughed and laughed then said he lived on the third floor and he counted the stairs up and down...40. Then it was my turn to laugh because, by the end of the night yesterday, I'd counted my stairs up and down no less than 30 times. At least it wasn't hot as hell today. Positives, y'all. Looking at the positives.
We had a virtual popcorn party at work today so my group logged in for that. I sent them a text saying, "I clearly didn't get the 'wear a hat' memo today because they were both wearing hats, one forward, one backwards. We discussed how long we had to stay, communicated in gifs, and cleared out as soon as it was acceptable. It's boring without them on the weekends.
After that I blasted music, packed the few remaining boxes I had and loaded up the car...and then I was just done. My mind wandered. I became completely distracted. I checked out.
Damn that brain of mine that sometimes works overtime on all of the wrong things.
It's fiiiiine, though. Sometimes you just need a Netflix/Door Dash night...when movers are coming in less than 48 hours.
I'd say I'm going to bed but it's still about 4-5 hours away from my bedtime these days. Hopefully I'll get lost in what I'm watching otherwise my brain is going to drive me batshit.
Aubs
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