My Projects!

So let me preface this by saying, "I am not a person that sews." I have never really formally learned, except maybe two or three months of it in middle school. In addition, I don't measure things well and I rarely cut straight lines. If someone that knew what they were doing saw my work, then would be able to point out countless mistakes. I don't care though, because I did it. I made it! How cool is that? It is special to me and that is the whole point. So here are my two projects, my purse made out of old jeans and my t-shirt quilt. I also made a pot holder with the back pockets of another pair of jeans that is so cute. Let me know what you think!

Summer Update

So as my summer started I made a list of ten things I wanted to accomplish this summer. So I thought it might be nice to give an update on my progress. Here was the original list:

1. Annual climbing trip (this year we are headed to the Adirondacks and making stops in between in Virginia and Long Island to visit friends and family)
2. Make a t-shirt quilt
3. Create a scrapbook for our wedding (either through Kodak or by hand)
4. Take a cake decorating class
5. Start running on a regular basis (I'm going enter a race in September)
6. Make two trips to my grandparents house, which is by the beach
7. Make a purse out of my old jeans
8. Find summer employment
9. Find permanent employment
10. Hopefully figure out the best place for my husband and I to live for a very long time

This is what I have done so far:
1. Annual climbing trip - it was so much fun to see our friend's and family. Plus the trip was great, as you might have noticed from our pictures.
2. Make a t-shirt quilt - it is not perfect, but I have enjoyed working on my sewing skills and I like it. Pictures are soon to come!
3. I am half way through a wedding picture/scrapbook of our wedding.
4. I'm running weekly, but I need to improve it. Unfortunately though, my right knee is really hurting, so I think I might just have to bike instead.
5. I made a purse out of my old jeans. It is so cute! Pictures are soon to come!
6. Find summer employment (my husband talked me out of it, at least for the month of July and if we get teaching jobs for next year, then well, let's be honest, I am not going to find work, since I might be moving).
7. Applications are in and we are hoping for teaching offers. I don't want to get my hopes up though, because it might just be too perfect to be true. I am so worried about it that each day I don't receive a call is saddening for me. I just hope we know by the end of the month. Of course I will explain it all then, but I don't want to jinx anything!

I haven't done so bad though, right? I might just have to take on some other projects. Plus, I am so excited about the cake decorating class that I plan to start in August! It has been a good summer.

True Story

Each morning while vacationing in the Adirondacks, Joe and I would drive over to a parking lot that had an adjacent picnic table to make our breakfast. Since we were camping, it was the nicest place to be able to sit together and make oatmeal. Another connivance was the "port-a-potty," near the table. This is always a better option then using the outdoors. So one morning after eating my breakfast I thought I would, "take care of business" before heading out to rock climb.

Well, while I was in the middle of the whole process I look down and notice something in the space between the floor and the wall on the right side. At first I thought it was a rope, then I looked closer and realized that is was moving. Um, it was a SNAKE. A very big black snake with a white speckled belly! And I was a bit stuck, since I had to finish the business! Fortunately for me, it did not decide to come fully into the John or I would have been screaming and running out butt naked!

One of my favorite things that we did while vacationing in the Adirondacks was a kayak trip on Saranac river. We decided to take a double kayak, which was a smart move, because I let Joe do most of the work! Plus, we did a pretty good job in terms of telam work, which was nice since we are horrible at canoeing together! In the middle of our trip the wind really started to pick up and there were two foot waves on the lake which dumped water on us. At one point we even had to pull over to an island, because we thought we might be dumped overboard.

In the end we were cold and wet and ready to be finished, but I still think it was a good time. I would like to do this again. In fact, we were both thinking a kayak or canoe trip where we camped on the islands would be perfect, especially if we have children one day. Below are some of the pictures from our day off from climbing!

Vacation = Rehabilitation

Joe and I had an almost three week trip right after school was out and it was the perfect solution to a very stressful year. We literally left right after our last day of school and drove to Virginia to visit with our family and friends. After a week there we then drove to the Adirondacks for a week of camping and climbing. Then we drove to Long Island to spend time with Joe's aunt and uncle, while I also attended the best bridal shower ever!

What you see here are some of the highlights from our trip in the Adirondacks. It was fun, but after eight days without a shower I was ready for it to be over. Plus, I learned that I have some serious fears with climbing and the Adirondacks are brutal. Joe called it "adventure climbing," because they don't always make things easy. After finally ascending a climb, my praying was not over, because most times we had to explore our way down. Rappel ropes were in waterfalls, or it started to downpour, or it was a bushwack hike. Needless to say, the trip was good at challenging me and forcing me to become more of an outdoor girl!

Joe likes to jump rocks. Coming across this old parking area was perfect.

It rained almost the whole drive up and then almost the whole drive to Long Island. This shot was taken while trying to navigate around New York. I was a bit stress with traffic and rain.


















We enjoyed quite a few campfires. I ate about three roasted marshmellows each night.






















Joe is a climbing machine. I wish I was better so he could challenge himself with many difficult climbs. Instead he is always trying to find ones for me. What a sweetheart. On this day though, we went to Spider's Web, a climbing area with nothing be challenging climbs for him. He loved it























Our free camping area. We made a lot friends we came and went while we were there.



















We spent my 30th brirthday in Lake Placid. We ate a great meal and shopped a little. Plus, ice cream for lunch. It was the perfect day for me.



















Lake Placid by sunglass view.























This is where we ate dinner on my birthday. We had smothered fries (blue cheese and hot wing sauce), a salad, and a yummy hamburger to share.























Exhausted after climbing.


















It is a little fuzzy, but can you see all the bug bites. I was literally attacked one day while hiking. I had to put on my raincoat even though I was hot so the black flies would stop biting my neck. I think I had over 20 bites on my neck alone, which doesn't even make mention of the bites on my legs, feet, and arms. I found some bites in unmentionable places. Plus, I got a rash of some sort, maybe poison oak on my leg? Sleeping at night was non-existant, it was more like a itch fest!


















Although we did not have showers, twice we found ourselves under this wonderful, but cold waterfall. I think it might be the quickest shower I have ever experienced. I didn't mind the cold however, because it felt amazing and I went to sleep better on those nights.


















That's me climbing Pete's Farewell. It was a really easy climb and could have been fun if I did not let myself have a panic attack. I get really anxious on multi-pitch climbs. After not being able to get a piece of Joe's gear out of the crack, I panicked. Once that happens I cannot relax and I just want it to be over. Unfortunately, most climbs that are multi-pitch make me feel anxious. I found I am better when I stay closer to the ground. Sport climbing will be great for me.
























Joe is leading the way on the last pitch of Pete's farewell. Isn't it beautiful in the background? It would have been even better if there was no road, but then again, it made for an easy hike to the rock.


















That's me climbing. It really was not that difficult in this spot, but it looks cool, right?


















The man in orange is climbing Pete's Farewell, which we would climb afterwards. This is a shot from the road. We founds a traversing line and then a great crack to the top.


















We thought we were going to do a three day backpacking trip because it was raining a lot the first few days, but it is not my thing. Plus, I am really slow and Joe is really fast and the Adirondack mountains are quite challenging. We completed one peak and then turned around. Lucky for us, most of the raining was finished and we even got to climb on dry rock with dry ropes and dry clothese.




Hiking in a wetland environment = slathering yourself in bug repellent.

























We had to bring a bear box for the backpacking trip that we did not finish. I hate bears so I was a bit anxious when the guides at the Mountaineer shop said, oh don't worry they will just play with the box. Um, what?




I'm looking for the chocolate.

I think these are wild flowers or indigenous flowers for the Adirondacks...aren't they beautiful?

These are the signs were saw while approaching our destination. I'm sure the view of the hiker was music to Joe's ears.

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER!

Here is my list of goals for this wonderful season of freedom and happiness:
1. Annual climbing trip (this year we are headed to the Adirondacks and making stops in between in Virginia and Long Island to visit friends and family)
2. Make a t-shirt quilt
3. Create a scrapbook for our wedding (either through kodak or by hand)
4. Take a cake decorating class
5. Start running on a regular basis (I'm going enter a race in September)
6. Make two trips to my grandparents house, which is by the beach
7. Make a purse out of my old jeans
8. Find summer employment
9. Find permanent employment
10. Hopefully figure out the best place for my husband and I to live for a very long time

School Days

Okay, so I have been hesitant to write about my job on my blog, because there are always security issues. That was when I thought I might still be working for CMS next year. However, my job is end-of-the-year contracted and my position will not be there for me next year. In addition, I have been thinking a lot about it and I'm not too excited to work in the county because there are a lot of policies that drive me crazy. Maybe it is because my school is completely disorganized and I would feel different somewhere else, but I feel like there is so much extra expected from the teacher for such a meager salary. In all honesty if we stay in Charlotte I am looking to work in a office, because I will be paid the same amount with better benefits. However, Joe and I have been thinking about it a lot and this provides us with an opportunity to look at making a move. We may choose to go somewhere that we love versus where the "jobs" are. In the process we hope to find work to live in the area and work our way into the school system. It is one of our ideas right now. He also found a cool position that opened up in Bermuda....wouldn't that be fun to go there? Once again, we will figure it out with time. At this point I am in complete survival mode. I want to quit my job so bad, but I feel that I should finish it out, plus I really only have two and a half weeks...I can do it....I CAN do it...

So just to give you an idea of how school was last week. We gave the students their standardized tests (the EOGs) which was tiring on everyone. So on Monday morning I had my first block, 8th graders who were all worked up. They were beating on the desks and screaming "EOGs" in a rap like manner. In all honesty it might have been fun, if I wasn't trying to listen for announcements about when to start the test and send off two students to other rooms. So the proctor finally came into the room and we had to threaten them to get them quit. I had to tell them that I would have to write it down as an irregularity for talking during the test and they may all have to take it again. This mostly worked and thankfully they took the test without any hitches. It was a long three hours though and everyone was hungry. I felt bad for them too, because according to the schedule the 8th graders would be the last to eat that day. Imagine my surprise when I turned in all my materials and I found out that I was supposed to take my kids to lunch. Apparently they decided not to go with the schedule at all and kids from all grades were at lunch as a free for all.

I was just thinking, "okay, so when do I get my second block and then my third, because I have not had lunch yet and I was planning to eat during my planning." At this point it was about 1:30 so I was beginning to worry that I would not get a planning at all. I didn't think I was going to be able to eat, once again I was getting grumpy. After a lot of confusion on the teachers part, we found out that we did have our planning and then about 30 minutes of the fourth block. It was a long day and I was grumpy so of course I came home upset and then fought with my husband...let's just say this seems to be happening more often because we are both so unhappy.

Tuesday. More testing. It was a long math test, but a least the schedule was much better put together. Only one irregularity to report...a student in my class decided to listen to his ipod during the test. After circling the room and with only 20 minutes left in class he put an earphone in. Oh, and then after they were dismissed from my class he asked for the ipod back! Um, what? I also was fortunate to get two plannings because of my mix of teaching two grades. I also went for a good workout at night, so I couldn't complain. However, I did notice that the kids were crazier than ever after the tests. You would have thought it was the last day of school for them.

Wednesday. The last test is given out. My students did a good job. Let me tell you I would be tired of testing too. Three hours each day would be overwhelming. Anyhow, my classes afterwards were just as crazy as I could have expected. Especially because no one was suspended so I had a crazy class to deal with. Fortunately I got two plannings again, so I was grateful. However, a riot broke out at my school with seventh and sixth graders running around the school with security going after them. Normally we don't allow the different grade levels to change at the same time, because there are too many gang issues and fights break out. So of course the security and administration were worried by these kids running around the school (oh, we have outdoor hallways). So after school we had a staff meeting and our principal yelled at everyone for being irresponsible teachers. This pissed us off, because it was unprofessional and I'm tired of him not trusting or respecting his teachers. In fact, the whole thing was a miscommunication from administration anyways. The AP made an overhead announcement to check email for the schedule for the rest of the day, but elective teachers were in the lunch room monitoring, and of course they could not hear. Not to mention you can't really check email with students in the room...some classes that would be difficult to do. So the sixth graders were sent out before the seventh because the elective teachers did not know better. It was nobody's fault really, but completely upsetting to be yelled at for 20 minutes.

Thursday. No tests, so we were on a normal schedule, but North Carolina allows students to retake their standardized tests so we were in relooping schedule. No kids are being suspended, because they need the practice, just in case they did not pass. So classes are in full swing chaos. Plus, they feel like school is over so trying to convince them that they need to work is a chore. My 4th block came into my room (this group happens to be my worst class and let me tell you they are terrible). Right away I am talking with three or four of the good kids in that room, bless their hearts, when one of my most frustrating students came into the room and pulls the hairband out of my hair and says, "you look better with your hair down." I could not believe that he had just done that. Honestly, this is a minor offense. I deal with kids cursing at me. They write on the walls, the desks, the books. They break my crayons and colored pencils (supplies I bought with my own money) and throw them across the room. They cheat, lie, steal, and fight. There are days when two girls come into my room in a fight and I can't get them to shut up so I have to get security to escort them out. I could go on, but lets stick to this weekly schedule. So after he pulled my ponytail out I replied, "GO SIT DOWN! REMEMBER, I AM NOT YOUR FRIEND, I AM YOUR TEACHER. YOU DO NOT TOUCH ME!" That put a scowl on my face and the next student to enter the room said, "Are you made Mrs. D?" As I try to compose myself enough to give them book work, I notice that a security officer keeps asking for a few students from my room. I can really only give students in this class bookwork anymore, because they won't let me teach. I am more of a babysitter, making sure no one gets hurt. With bookwork I can keep my eyes on the room and keep part of my sanity. So as these kids are pulled out of the room and come back in they have to tell everyone what it is all about. "So-and-So thinks I stole her earphones." Well, one of the kids did steal her stuff and was denying it so the security officer made a scene. Many of the other trouble makers were defending him and making bullying comments about the girl who had something taken from her. Eventually the accused student got out of his seat and retrieves the earphones, which he throw under my tv stand. At that point most of the kids were just crazy and I couldn't get anyone to work and it was just getting louder and louder. I had enough, so I asked security to take out four of the worst. After passing out progress reports and most of them seeing their terrible grades I had another student get irate. She freaked out, accused me of favoritism, racism, and she couldn't understand how she had a D when she completed all the work. I had to remind her that completing work was not enough, she also need to do it well. Fortuntately it calmed down for a bit after she was gone.

Friday. Surprisingly, my day was not so bad. The thing is, I am really not an angry person. I am tired of constantly yelling and arguing with students. I get so worked up that it can be hard to relax at all and I snap at people a lot. On Friday morning I had a really, really hard time getting up in the morning. I did not want to go through another day of work. Maybe my students sensed this, because they were not so bad. Plus, a lot of students were absent...THANK HEAVENS! I was expecting a much worse day, so it was good that it was a mild day. Not too much yelling at kids.

I'm ready for it to be over. I can't even really begin to explain what it is like. Imagine rude, disrespectful kids who have many family problems. They come to school upset and angry, hungry or tired. Then throw in the fact that they are at a transitional time of development. They will fight with their friends, make new friends, change their style, or rebel against the system...that is part of being a teenager. Except, they also get high, or do other drugs. They bully each other worse than I have ever witnessed. Plus, many of them are really low learners...really low. So the work we give them is hard and they don't want to push themselves. I can't even get my students to write in complete sentences or read directions. I am tired and I have realized that teaching multiple years in an urban school is hard to do. I am not built for the job. Maybe it would get better, but every teacher I talk with at my school is burnt out. It is nothing like what I have experienced before. I just feel like it is a lot to do for the amount of money that I make...maybe I need to move on.

So this might give you a taste of why I don't blog anymore. I am tired. I am angry. I am sick of my daily routine. I do nothing fun, because I come home at night and try to de-stress. Thankfully it is almost over. Joe and I are planning to go to New York to climb in the Adirondacks. We will also visit family and I get to see my good friend, Aferdita, who will be having her bridal shower! This will take about three weeks of June. I cannot wait. It will be nice for us to get away. When we return we will assess our future. Until then, PRAY FOR ME! :)