ah, have you missed me? 35 days left of school! wooh! Is it really sad that I'm already counting down the days until I'm done my new jobs? It's habit. I didn't count them, one of my students did, it was on the board today. I like my jobs, but I like doing nothing in the warm weather too. I've registered for 10 Summer Institutes, which are free courses for teachers, which is awesome. The plan of EI is getting more appealing by the day, especially with these things. They're all one or 2 days, some in Fredericton, so that would put a cramp in my abilty to work any kind of normal job anyway. Also, what kind of near decent job am I going to find for 2 months? I'm thinking...there isn't one. I'm also thinking..it's bed time.

so, clearly, ordering that last drink was an error in judgement. I had just, shall we say, gotten a bit too much into the spirit of the evening, of which the purpose was to spend my $50 VooDoo gift certificate. I actually ended up going over a bit, because we were ordering fun drinks like double chocolate martinis and the like (which are, by the way, remarkably tasty, and clear...I don't understand!). I say to Jenn, "I'm going to go and ask them for their biggest, baddest drink.". I do, and it's one large mo' fo', roughly the size of my head. I ordered one for Jenn and one for me. It seemed like a good idea at the time, I swear.
Live and learn, folks.

So I'm taking my new baby in to the dealership to get all spiffed up, floor mats put in, rust proofing on the underside etc. They're going to rent me a car for tonight / tomorrow, which is pretty cool. I have to go to Saint John for an orthoptist appointment, so it'll also save me putting kms on the new car. Jenn says I have to name it. She suggested "kitten", which deserves contemplation at the very least. Any suggestions, let me know! It's navy blue, if that helps.

I suppose you can tell that I’m French by the numerous spelling mistake in this letter…I’m also good with my hands

ok, for your next pot luck, may I suggest...this?

Man, that was an embarrassing hockey game. 6-1?

My jobs are pretty good, it's going to take me a day or 2 to get in the swing of things for the behaviour interventionist job, I'm not sure where I'll fit in in all the classes; I may end up just sort of doing another practicum. Which surely, could be worse, but wasn't exactly what I was expecting. So I'll keep you posted.

Also, I ordered a book on pregnancy and babies. HA HA! Not, I stress, because I'm planning on dealing with either of those things right away, but rather because it's been touted as a really good book, selling for about $50 at Chapters etc., and it was free. From State Farm Insurance. I don't know why, nor do I care especially. I like free stuff, even if it won't be useful right away. So, I'll have to explain to Grant at some point before it arrives that this doesn't mean I'm trying to have babies right now. Really, the 'free' reason should be reason enough, he knows me pretty well. I'm forever getting crap because it's cheap or free. Anyway, if you'd like one, or know someone who would, here's the link. You have to copy and paste it, you can't click it. Again, I don't know why, but it doesn't work as a clickable link.

http://www.sf.pii.orders.com/events/birth/

Happy Earth Day!

yeah, so for more explanation, the neon was going to cost about $1500 to fix, it was just in a mess....oil had gotten into everything and wrecked it. so they gave me $1500 on a trade, as-is, which works out pretty well for me.

also, I start my 2 new jobs tomorrow. 'Tis the time of change for Chachi!

Holy shit, I bought a car.

Well I'm back, but my car is dead. Or very near death anyway. The head gasket needs to be replaced again, it was replaced 2 years ago. Unacceptable. Also, the transmission is doing bad things, such as not dropping in to gear right away and revving at random times while driving. So, I'm going to go talk to my buddy Bob at the dealership again and see what he can do for me. It has, to this point, been cheaper to fix the neon than buy new, but it's just not anymore. Things keep breaking with increased regularity, and it just annoys me to keep putting money into this car that I know is going to break again. YARG!

Well, I'm a bit cranky, but being sick and having to work while sick makes me that way. I'm going to bed soon, I just have to finish my neo-citrin. It's delicious and full of chemicals which make me sleepy. mmm. Don't get the honey lemon flavour though! It sounds like it'll be tasty and sweet, but it tastes like ass. Very sweet ass. Stick to the lemon, or even the apple cinnamon isn't bad. I have to start going to bed at a normal time, I have to be to work at 8 every morning starting Tuesday!
My sister and I are going to Halifax tomorrow to visit my grannie for Easter. My boss from the job I've left...again...gave me a card and a chocolate easter bunny. I love that job for reasons like that. There are couches at that job, and a cat. Can't say that for many other jobs, really. Anyway, the typing is interfering with the drinking of neo-citrin, so I'm going to direct all my energy toward that. Might not post this weekend, but surely you can survive without me until Sunday.
Happy Easter!

Just saw The Transporter, it was cool. I want to be able to do half the moves that guy (Jason Statham, from Lock Stock, Snatch, Mean Machine, The One, and the upcoming Italian Job) does. Pretty cool movie, cool moves, cool car etc. He's not too hard on the eyes either, but he's no Vin.
And yeah, it's true, Knockaround Guys wasn't a very good movie. It wasn't terrible, it had some really talented actors in it, it just wasn't.. very good. I blame the fact that Vin didn't have a big enough part in it. See, had he been the star, then it would have been MUCH better. hah...

so...I've accepted another job. This one is as "behaviour interventionist" at an elementary/middle school. It's just going to be one-on-one here too, which is super. It won't pay quite as well as supply teaching, but I'm not getting much of that at all lately. So this'll work out to a couple of days supply work a week, and it's guaranteed, so wonderful. I have a real schedule now! very exciting. I'm going in for my orientation for the tutoring job this afternoon. I'm getting a nasty cold though, and am going to go have a nap before then.

why, I don't understand, does this just not work sometimes? I'd really like to know. Can anyone tell me how to run a blog from my own computer? Is there software for that? I know I could just edit a page every day, but that's a pain, no?

Damn, but Vin Diesel is hot.

Just got back from A Man Apart, and even though I knew what was going to happen from reading the reviews and previews and what not, it was still good, and kept me guessing a bit til the end. And, even if it was terrible, it still would have been worth it, just for my sweet, hot, Vin. It also had Larenz Tate and Timothy Olyphant, who was Pete in Dreamcatcher, was also in Rock Star, but I didn't see that one. Anyway, he was funny in this one. A bad guy, but funny.

Bedtime, off to read the all-celebrity Jane

because it's funny, that's why

Funny and not-so...

Funny: for the 2nd time in recent history, an elderly (not ancient, but senior quality) woman on the Price is Right bid a ridiculous amount on her showcase in the showdown. $85 000 specifically. The one I saw before, she wanted to bid $100 000 but the audience was like, "BOOOOOO!" (plus it wouldn't have fit in the display..) so she made it $90 000. Some weiner yesterday bid like $8000 on the lame showcase, but even the lame one is always worth minimum...$12-13k. If only I could be on, I'd win on those kinds of things. That and Blackjack. Calleen astutely pointed out that the one that's 10x the price and thus gets you a 10 card, is always the price that ends in 0. Obviously! haha.

not so: I need a more impressive or aggressive looking car. People are forever cutting me off in traffic. And at least 80% of the time, I swear it's just to prove that they can. What I mean by this is one of 2 situations. They either kill themselves to get out in front of me and drive 30, or they kill themselves to get out in front of me, and there is NOBODY behind me. Not a soul. Why, people? I need an old beater car, then I'll just run into them. That'll teach 'em!

It has come to my attention that most people may not be aware of the history behind my title here. I didn't make it up, I wish I did, but here is the original thing.

The Parenting Test
(how to tell if you're ready)

Mess Test:
Smear peanut butter on the sofa and curtains. Place a fish stick behind the couch and leave it there all summer.

Toy Test:
Obtain a 55-gallon box of Lego. (If Lego is not available, you may substitute roofing tacks). Have a friend spread them all over the house. Put on a blindfold. Try to walk to the bathroom or kitchen. Do not scream. (This could wake a child at night.)

Supermarket Test:
Borrow one or two small animals (goats are best) and take them with you as you shop at the supermarket. Always keep them in sight and pay for anything they eat or damage.

Dressing Test:
Obtain one large, unhappy, live octopus. Stuff into a small net bag, making sure that all arms stay inside.

Feeding Test:
Obtain a large plastic milk jug. Fill halfway with water. Suspend from the ceiling with a stout cord. Start the jug swinging. Try to insert spoonfuls of soggy cereal (such as Weetabix or Ready Brek) into the mouth of the jug, while pretending to be an airplane. Now dump the contents of the jug on the floor.

Night Test:
Prepare by obtaining a small cloth bag and fill it with 8 - 12 lbs of sand. Soak it thoroughly in water. At 8:00pm, begin to waltz and hum with the bag until 9:00pm. Lay down your bag and set your alarm for 10:00pm. Get up, pick up your bag, and sing every song you have ever heard. Make up about a dozen more and sing these too until 4:00am. Set alarm for 5:00am. Get up and make breakfast. Keep this up for 5 years. Look cheerful.

Physical Test (Women):
Obtain a large beanbag chair and attach it to the front of your clothes. Leave it there for 9 months. Now remove 10 of the beans.

Physical Test (Men):
Go to the nearest chemists. Set your wallet on the counter. Ask the clerk to help himself. Now proceed to the nearest food store. Go to the head office and arrange for your paycheck to be directly deposited to the store. Purchase a newspaper. Go home and read it quietly for the last time.

Final Assignment:
Find a couple who already has a small child. Lecture them on how they can improve their discipline, patience, tolerance, toilet training, and child's table manners. Suggest many ways they can improve. Emphasise to them that they should never allow their children to run riot.

Enjoy this experience. It will be the last time you will have all the answers.

so I'm just feeling really good about things now. It's still entirely possible that I won't have a contract teaching job in the fall, but the new thing is that now I can stay here to find out. I do love Fredericton, but I do not like moving. My thinking was that we'd get to Fredericton, me having to go with Grant because I wouldn't be able to support myself on my supply wages (not, if, as the VP of my HS pointed out, I like things like...eating...). Again, I love Fredericton, and Grant, but I'm pretty sure we would have ended up back here in a year anyway, so I'd like to just leave out that middle step. It's also possible that Grant will be able to finish school in one term, which makes moving even less worthwhile. So now, with the chance of at least having this tutoring job in the fall to supplement my supply work, I can in fact afford to stay here. I won't be living the high life, mind you, but I'll be alright, and able to keep working my "connections" in Moncton. Things may still change, but they're looking good for now. This is the first hint of stability I've had for some time now, and it feels reallllly good.

I got the tutoring job. Yay me! I start a week from Monday, and go in one day next week for an orientation type thing. It's Mon-Thursday from 3-8, but if I do end up working at HS, which only gets out at 3:30, I can most likely just tack on the time to the end of my day, which is fine. Weekends off!

ok, so my week went well, AND, I just had a little interview/meeting for a tutoring job at the alternate ed centre, so I'm super happy. It's Friday, it's beautiful outside, and I might have a teacher-related way of making extra money. I wouldn't be able to keep working at the house, so that's kind of a bummer, unless they just want me for weekends...but this is really what I want to be doing, it's why I went to school, so I really think it would be stupid of me to pass up this opportunity. And you never know, it might lead into an actual teaching position.
Because really, I do want to get my masters, but not necessarily right now. I still don't really know what I want to do it in. I like exceptional learners, but I also like guidance and counselling, and I think that might be more where my talents lie. Also, working with at-risk students, the guidance option would probably be more useful. I hadn't ever really entertained the idea of that one vs the E.L. masters, because I didn't think it would really be that useful, as far as employability goes. Much like the reason I didn't go to NSCAD and do a fine arts degree. Some people can make it work, but not everyone.
I'll keep you posted!

so today, as with every morning this week, I am to work one-on-one with a student. She didn't show up today though. So I got to work with another student, which was pretty good as well, like I said, any student can be a sweet heart when you get them one-on-one. Boo to low funding. But that made my morning worthwhile anyway. I go to my afternoon booking, eat my decent but not especially tasty lunch that I brought. I wasn't able to fridge or freezer anything, being at 2 schools I'd probably have left it in the first, so I brought one of those Betty Crocker just add water and nuke dealies. It was ok. I ask when I get there who I am, then have my lunch. I go to the classroom after lunch, and there is already a supply teacher in there. Ok, clearly I'm in another classroom.
Except I'm not.
I'm booked in the computer system, I'm not just an idiot, but the principal who does the bookings is gone for the afternoon and there's nobody else who needs replacing. I had this happen before so I always check the computer booking online before I go. I'm booked, but so is this other woman, and even though I've been booked for like, a month...I get sent home. With sincere apologies, granted, but still, it's, shall we say...a bit of a nuisance. Also, I was going to talk to the principal about possible positions for the fall, but he was not there.
I stopped on the way home to get toothpaste, cause the stuff we have hurts my mouth, no good. I opt for the stupid "check yourself out" option, and the machine goes schitzo on me and calls for help. I don't need help, I just want to pay for my crap and go home. No such luck.
So that's been my day.

As suspected, that girl from the band Boomkat is in fact the girl from that super movie, Crossroads, with Britney Spears. She was Mimi, the girl who was date raped by the snobby girl's college boyfriend. Really a sweet movie. Date rape, falling in love with some random guy who looks like he's 30, miscarriage, cheating/rapist older boyfriends. Great for the wee ones.
yeah, I saw it. It was really funny, if you ignored all the really dark things going on, which I guess we're suppsed to, since it's geared at Britney fans, average age...9. Also a good movie to practise your "guess what's going to happen next" skills, cause it's a sure bet you'll be right. Yeah, I even guessed the big twist at the end!

well said.

so, latest plan, but it will be planned out better than the going back for a few courses idea, is to get my masters in exceptional learners. If my calculations are correct (and I'm getting them checked too) I should only have to take 9 courses to get my masters, since I have undergrad classes that are equivalent to some grad courses. I'll check and see if I can do it in a year, and if nothing else comes up for the fall, I may just do it. Then I can be Sarah Smith, BA, BEd, MEd. Nice. I'd be happy just to be Miss Smith for now though, hehe.
It'll come...
Anyway, just a quick update cause I've been slack the past few days.

editor's note: I will have to take the same number of courses, which right now stands at 12, but is most likely being reduced to 10, which is do-able in one year. now I have to see if all 5 (not 8, I already have 3) required courses will be offered this coming year. if not, eff it!

alright. Not that things are any more clear, but here is how they stand. Our house is staying open. I will have a job until at most June, because I'm only there to replace someone who's doing school and will be back then. For one more kink, the girl who works the same shift as me, on opposite days, wants to have fewer hours. The company can't give her fewer hours, that's just the line she's working, and how many hours it has. So she might just not stay on at all. I don't know what that means for me, I'll hopefully find out more tomorrow.
Completely unrelated, I'm going to check out a computer at Future Shop, it's an e-Machines 1.4G 40G hard drive 128M of ram, dvd-rom and cd burner, network card, and monitor for $799+tax. It's refurbished, hence the good price, but comes with the same warantee as any other computer. Still a good deal? I know a few people with eMachines computers and they haven't had any problems, so I think it might be. If I can get the 90 days no payments no interest deal, that would be even more tempting. I don't really neeed a new computer though, I just mostly want winXP, which nobody I knows has a legal copy of, and I'm not shelling out $150 for the freaking UPGRADE only cd.
Off topic #2 - I want a cool summer job. I can go on EI and volunteer at the SPCA or hospital, 2 excellent ideas raised by Tirésa, or I could try to take pictures for the paper or something, an excellent idea raised by my dear sister. I don't know if that one is feasible, if they just take random people or if you need a degree in photography or something, but it's worth looking into. Anybody else think of cool ways to spend my summer? I don't want to work at a call centre. No, correction, I won't work at a call centre. I could go for summer day camp for kids or something like that, it's not all about the money so much as me not hating getting up in the morning. I do need some money for paying bills and whatnot, but that's about it. I'm not expecting to save much. So who has done something cool, and how do I get to do it too?

oh, yeah, and my teaching French immersion today was actually watching the movie "Hardball" with Keanu Reeves and Diane Lane (which is pretty good, btw) for 3 periods, and "Oliver" for one. Music class, naturally. So it went pretty well. Slow though, I have to say, but I can't complain about being paid to do that really. Days like that make up for the other, 'no-amount-of-money-is-worth-this' sorts of supply days I sometimes have.

I taught today and met with 2 new-to-me supply teachers in the staff room at lunch and during my prep period. One of them was a mom who has her BEd but is just supplying for a bit of money, which I didn't really know people did. The other one is like me, just in it to get a "real" job. He seems hopeful about this coming year, said that there are something like 80 retirements in Moncton this year, as well as a whack of admin positions that have to be filled by teachers. So that's pretty good, but not when you think of how many people there are waiting for those positoins. He raised the following stats, which may or may not have been made up, but made me feel better for the moment. Only about half of supply teachers here have their BEd, the rest are just local permits. So that's a large chunk not to have to compete with. Also, among the teacher chunk, are a good number of people who are either retired and doing it for lack of anything else to do, or who just don't really want to teach full time. So, there are still a lot of people, but not as many, which is nice. Of course, there are no jobs posted at all right now, so there's really no telling how things will be. I keep being told that I can go away, to Ontario or out west, and get a job there. This is true, but I don't want to go away. I like it here, it's where I'm from, it's the closest I can get to my family, such as it is, and when my parents to come back, this is the area they'll be in. I'm tired of people being like, you're young! Go while you can! As if I'm going to blow up in 5 years or something. Even when I was single I didn't want to go teach in Korea or anything. It's just not me. I want to work, but I don't want to have to give up everything I have here to move into some tiny apartment by myself in a strange place. So sue me. Because, generally, then these same people turn around if the topic comes to family, children etc, I say I want to get a job so I can save money, have a nice place to live, children etc...they say "well you can't wait for everything to be perfect to start your life, money isn't everything, blah blah blah". Make up your minds! Or, stop offering generic advice to random strangers. Either way. I'm not angry, just sort of irked. Still very frustrated, understandably I think, but hey.
On a possibly good note, the house that I work at for MCRI isn't closing, so we don't have to move and theoretically I'll have a job past the end of this month. That said, they will be redoing the schedule and cutting back some hours, so I may not have a job anyway. I'll keep you posted, as usual.