Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Hooray for Craigslist
...and for T for hauling half an hour each way (to Lockport, for those who know it) to get this bookshelf for the baby's room. Nice, huh? The guy's grandfather made it by hand and we got it for a SONG. All it needs is a little scratch hider and some wood finish to spruce it up.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Just another reason why I love my husband
T picked this hat up for the baby today. I plan to get him the Grover one. I cannot wait to see his on his little head.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Life lessons
Yesterday, we were at my father-in-law's for dinner and as he and T talked about a difficult day T had had at work, he said something rather insightful and brilliant: It was something to the effect that worrying has no point to it; rather, it should serve as a reminder that you need to do something about it. Not only that, it should remind you that you've dealt with things before and handled them. It really struck both T and me.
I thought about it last night as I prepared for my interview today--the fifth (really, the sixth--I had one two years before I got the job) for my same position in the same school as a long-term sub yet again. In previous years, I've fretted and over-prepared and gotten flustered. I've always managed to get the job, but I always worried. This year, I went into it knowing damn well that I'm a good teacher and that I've proved that repeatedly over the past four years I've been there. A part of me walked in figuring, if they don't know that by now, I simply don't know what else I can do to show it because I've done so every day. (Another part of me totally wanted to have a Morgan Freeman in The Shawshank Redemption moment and tell them all of that plus say, "Do what you want; I don't give a shit." I didn't, but I felt rather tempted....)
So I went in, I answered their questions to the best of my ability, and when the principal asked me why I should be chosen for one of the three spots, I looked him straight in the eye and told him "Because I've earned it," and I went through the reasons why I believed that. I didn't mince words and I didn't pander. This time, I didn't worry about it so damned much; I did something about it instead.
I've got a baby on the way, imminently. With the job tenuousness, I have been concerned about the fact that if he's late, my health insurance runs out at the end of the month. So I could panic...or make sure I'm induced by a certain date. I can do something about it instead of worrying about it. It kind of links up with another gem I heard lately: It takes more effort to procrastinate than to actually get the thing done.
I hope this is something you can take and use for yourselves--and remind me about doing instead of worrying when I forget myself. I know I am capable because, without bragging, I've proved it over and over again. So have you. Think about it.
I thought about it last night as I prepared for my interview today--the fifth (really, the sixth--I had one two years before I got the job) for my same position in the same school as a long-term sub yet again. In previous years, I've fretted and over-prepared and gotten flustered. I've always managed to get the job, but I always worried. This year, I went into it knowing damn well that I'm a good teacher and that I've proved that repeatedly over the past four years I've been there. A part of me walked in figuring, if they don't know that by now, I simply don't know what else I can do to show it because I've done so every day. (Another part of me totally wanted to have a Morgan Freeman in The Shawshank Redemption moment and tell them all of that plus say, "Do what you want; I don't give a shit." I didn't, but I felt rather tempted....)
So I went in, I answered their questions to the best of my ability, and when the principal asked me why I should be chosen for one of the three spots, I looked him straight in the eye and told him "Because I've earned it," and I went through the reasons why I believed that. I didn't mince words and I didn't pander. This time, I didn't worry about it so damned much; I did something about it instead.
I've got a baby on the way, imminently. With the job tenuousness, I have been concerned about the fact that if he's late, my health insurance runs out at the end of the month. So I could panic...or make sure I'm induced by a certain date. I can do something about it instead of worrying about it. It kind of links up with another gem I heard lately: It takes more effort to procrastinate than to actually get the thing done.
I hope this is something you can take and use for yourselves--and remind me about doing instead of worrying when I forget myself. I know I am capable because, without bragging, I've proved it over and over again. So have you. Think about it.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Niiiiiiice
I just saw my new favorite clip having to do with etiquette that has gone by the wayside while watching Law and Order: Criminal Intent:
Suspect: [says something mildly unhelpful]
Det. Goren: [asks question]
Suspect: [begins texting while Goren speaks to him]
Goren: I'm sorry, are you texting us? Because we're the ones talking to you right now.
BAM. I am totally using that. I get very fussy about phone manners and lack thereof, although I admit I did walk through Target today talking to my mom. However, I didn't have a personal conversation about anything embarrassing. Is that better or just hypocritical?
Suspect: [says something mildly unhelpful]
Det. Goren: [asks question]
Suspect: [begins texting while Goren speaks to him]
Goren: I'm sorry, are you texting us? Because we're the ones talking to you right now.
BAM. I am totally using that. I get very fussy about phone manners and lack thereof, although I admit I did walk through Target today talking to my mom. However, I didn't have a personal conversation about anything embarrassing. Is that better or just hypocritical?
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Getting the lead out
I've been pondering something lately that's always nagged me slightly, even though I know it shouldn't. I've been at my job for the last four years, and I try to be friendly with everyone because that's just who I am. I have people I've become friendly with, but I've never managed to find anyone I truly click with, and I don't know why. While I realize this is the insecure part of me that I've always tried to whittle away, and I know I'm a good person and friend, that small part of me wonders why it hasn't happened. And it makes me wonder if I'm in the right place. Do I really want to stay somewhere where I'm just considered a "nice person" but where I'm never entirely going to fit? Should that matter? I like many of the people I work with, and they're dedicated to their students and their jobs in a way I genuinely respect. I have good bosses and a good relationship with my students. So what's the problem, really?
I think it's that part of me sees my colleagues forming friendships and having inside jokes and conversations I wish I had at work. I have wonderful friends outside of work who support me and make my life amazing. Yet, perhaps because of the nature of the job, having a buddy seems helpful and a little necessary. I don't know where I'm going with this at all; I just thought I'd finally give voice to it, get it out. It's the end of the school year, I'm a scant 25 days away from my due date, I'm tired and hot, and my defenses are down. But I'm not sorry I wrote this.
I think it's that part of me sees my colleagues forming friendships and having inside jokes and conversations I wish I had at work. I have wonderful friends outside of work who support me and make my life amazing. Yet, perhaps because of the nature of the job, having a buddy seems helpful and a little necessary. I don't know where I'm going with this at all; I just thought I'd finally give voice to it, get it out. It's the end of the school year, I'm a scant 25 days away from my due date, I'm tired and hot, and my defenses are down. But I'm not sorry I wrote this.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Beginnings
Today marks T's and my seven year re-meet-iversary. Yeah, we mark it, or at least I do. The date is memorable because it's also my sister A's birthday (Happy birthday!), so I'm not a total emotional girlie girl for remembering; just sort of.
But truly...it marked the night I met my husband-to-be, so I think it's pretty great, even though he recognized me immediately and I had to play the Mental Rolodex game of "HOW do I know this guy?" NOTE: Using the "How's your family?" line worked. Hey--we hadn't seen each other in fourteen years and his facial recall is unparalleled. Anyway, we had a date a week later, then more dates, and here we are, 27 scant days away from parenthood. I will admit I knew right away that we had something good; I'd never felt so immediately comfortable with anyone. The fact that we'd attended the same grade school helped--we didn't have to play the getting-to-know-you game quite as much as other folks do, but it was way more than that. We just...fit. He quickly became someone who made me realize that I'm a better person with him than without him...and I mean that in the least clingy, co-dependent way.
I should've written all this on our anniversary a month ago, but I don't think it would have properly included the friendship we forged leading up to our marriage. Truly, that's the important part--that's the foundation. And we work damned hard at it every day, making sure we treat each other honestly and kindly, supporting each other with a hug, a silly e-mail, or a good kick in the butt as needed. As I've gone through these last few months of my life, I realize even more how much I love T and what a wonderful father he'll be. If, by some miracle, baby J is born on his due date, it'll be just in time for Father's Day, and I can't think of anything more fitting.
So, dearest T, happy re-meet-iversary and I love you more than I can begin to express.
But truly...it marked the night I met my husband-to-be, so I think it's pretty great, even though he recognized me immediately and I had to play the Mental Rolodex game of "HOW do I know this guy?" NOTE: Using the "How's your family?" line worked. Hey--we hadn't seen each other in fourteen years and his facial recall is unparalleled. Anyway, we had a date a week later, then more dates, and here we are, 27 scant days away from parenthood. I will admit I knew right away that we had something good; I'd never felt so immediately comfortable with anyone. The fact that we'd attended the same grade school helped--we didn't have to play the getting-to-know-you game quite as much as other folks do, but it was way more than that. We just...fit. He quickly became someone who made me realize that I'm a better person with him than without him...and I mean that in the least clingy, co-dependent way.
I should've written all this on our anniversary a month ago, but I don't think it would have properly included the friendship we forged leading up to our marriage. Truly, that's the important part--that's the foundation. And we work damned hard at it every day, making sure we treat each other honestly and kindly, supporting each other with a hug, a silly e-mail, or a good kick in the butt as needed. As I've gone through these last few months of my life, I realize even more how much I love T and what a wonderful father he'll be. If, by some miracle, baby J is born on his due date, it'll be just in time for Father's Day, and I can't think of anything more fitting.
So, dearest T, happy re-meet-iversary and I love you more than I can begin to express.
One step closer to being ready
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