Move complete!

I'm finally moved and for the most part unpacked...what a nice feeling!
Although I would never have chosen for this situation to play out at the time that it did, the change of scenery and the "out with the old and in with the new" attitude is actually refreshing.

All but a couple boxes are unpacked and this new place is already feeling like home. It is so nice to have all my comforts (photos, music, favorite books, etc.) around me again...it's amazing how removed from myself I felt when all these things were boxed away.

If only all the paper grading I sloughed on while moving would go away...life would be perfect.

Stress and disappointment

There have been a lot of things going on in my life as of late...much that has left me probably more stressed than I have been in years (it's comparable to those semesters of two sports, 18 hours of classes, and a failing relationship).

First and foremost right now is the decision to get out of my current apartment lease due to the negligence of the property management to maintain safe and appropriate living conditions (i.e. they won't fix the things going wrong; I've had a mold problem for over a month). It's been frustrating to say the least, and that the maintenance and ownership take no responsibility is beyond aggravating. At this point I am talking to some lawyer friends and seeing whether or not I should expect more than the termination of my lease and the return of my deposit. It is very much out of my character to "go after" anyone, but I feel like the complex has a responsibility to me, the renter. I doubt that anything more will come of this, but my competitive nature and overall sense of fairness makes me exhaust every option in order to feel better about the situation. So, this leaves me with the daunting task of finding and securing a new place to live, packing, and moving within the next thirty days...in the midst of the school year. (If you find yourself free the last weekend in October, feel free to volunteer your services to assist me in moving! Oh, and if you ever move to (or seek a new location) StL, make sure to ask me where not to live!)

Next on the list of stresses...school. The year is going great, but I always seem to be so far behind in grading. The quarter ends next week, so that always brings about a bit more stress as there is so much to get finished before that time. It doesn't help that most of my brain (and time) seems to be filled with thoughts of moving therefore any free time I do find, I don't want to sit and grade papers (hmmm...I sit here and blog instead of grade papers).
If I didn't have such a great group of kids and wonderful people to work with, it might be too much at the moment!!

Lastly, on top of the aforementioned stresses, I feel like I've been disrespected by the new guy in my life. I won't go into detail here now because a discussion needs to be had...at the moment I'm feeling more than a little hurt and disappointed.

Oddly enough, this is my horoscope for the day: Make any decisions you have to in order to avoid feeling unsettled. Get busy making those changes to your home. Don't overlook that fact that someone you care about may be hiding something.

An Update

I haven't been very good about keeping up with my blog as of late so I thought I'd just randomly write about things that have kept me busy or been on my mind.

School is beginning to wind down and the students are really restless (teachers -me- might be a bit restless too). I'm trying to get through A Raisin in the Sun with my juniors and my sophomores are turning their research papers in tomorrow...that leaves me with about five days to teach Julius Caesar (yikes!). Needless to say we will be summarizing large portions of the play and only focusing on the major speeches.

I basically have little to no summer that is not spoken for...I'm an idiot and agreed to teach summer school, so I'll finish on the 3rd of June and start back on the 9th. I will teach until the 3rd of July, have a few weeks off and then take a week-long course on teaching AP English classes (July 28-August 1). Teachers report to school on the 4th of August and we begin school on the 11th. So, for all those who make comments to me about being lucky to have the summer off...yeah...

I surprised my mother and one of my aunts with roses for Mother's Day...both were surprised and pleased. I meant to post about my wonderful mother around Mother's Day, but got busy and have yet to do that. It seems like I have spent a lot of time on my father...much credit/appreciation needs to be given to my amazing mother as well...I'll get to that soon! (I'm not into advertising for companies, but I ordered and sent the flowers through Proflowers and was very pleased.)

My Avery turned eight this past weekend. I can't believe how grown up she is becoming. Now that I have moved I don't get to see her as much as I'd like, but when I do, she always makes me feel like a rock star! She always takes time out from playing to sit on my lap and chat, gives me lots of hugs and smooches, and always wants me to sit with her at the table for cake/ice cream, etc. Avery is a huge part of my life (as is all my family) and contributes considerably to me being who I am.

I have a great friend who surprised me with a shipment of chocolate desserts from Williams-Sonoma because he had read my blog post about being a bit overwhelmed/stressed. Needless to say it was an amazing surprise and one that is greatly appreciated. I'm really a bit speechless as a result of his kindness and consideration.

I seriously need to get into the gym and a regular workout routine! (Even more so now that J. has sent me chocolate desserts!)

My friend Y lost her sister to cancer this past week. There are no words that can be said to ease the pain of such a loss, but I hope that Y and her family have been able to take some comfort in the fact that R is no longer suffering. These moments should really make us all stop and give thanks for the loved ones we are surrounded by each day. I can't even begin to imagine the heartache of losing my sister or my brother.

This is the first season that I have ever watched American Idol and I am finding myself obsessed with voting for David Cook tonight. That's actually a bit embarrassing to admit.

My department chair told me that the principal of our school made the comment to her (out of the blue) that she hoped she (the dept. chair) realized how lucky she was to have me in her department, that I was a real gem. I'm generally not one to 'toot my own horn', but that really made me feel good about what I am doing. I have the utmost respect for my head principal and in a building the size of the one that I am in, it is nice if the principal even knows me by name. The fact that she brought me up in conversation...wow! It is amazing that in teaching, one positive can wipe out hundreds of negatives!

I'm beginning to think about buying a house. It's not a decision I ever thought I would be making alone and it is really scary, but it is exciting too.

I'm in the process of applying to grad school...exciting and nerve racking as well. It's been a long time since I've written a paper to be graded!

Those are some of the highlights...there are a couple thousand other things as well, but I won't bore you any longer...for now.

Overwhelmed...

Does anyone else ever get to the point that you have sooo much to do that you don't even know where to begin, so instead you just sit idle, doing absolutely nothing?

You guessed it...that's where I am at the moment.

A Stressful Day at School

After a morning of helping break up fights, rumors of weapons being brought to the school in the afternoon, and the fire alarm sounding as the final bell rang, I decided to stop at the nearby grocery to purchase a few stress relievers.

Note: The M&M's were opened before being purchased...and a small bag just wasn't enough.