MickeyMFan

Monday, July 11, 2011

May = New beginnings

May usually means the end of something--the end of a school year, the end of spring, etc. This year's May, however, brought a something new to my life--Louis! After dating since October and spending time together every weekend, it was time. I know it may be "frowned upon" by some people, but I always knew I would want to live with him before we ever got truly, truly serious, especially after my divorce. I don't want to marry someone and not have any clue how to get along with him residing in the same house. It's a different relationship under the same roof than it is just seeing someone a couple days a week. So far, so good!!! We are taking our relationship one day at a time, being open and honest with each other, and just having a good time together. He loves Soze, and she LOVES Louis!

When Louis moved in, he took over the old office room and turned it into his den, or Man-Cave. This is his spot to play video games, work on his guns and knives, etc. Just be a man. To keep my space, I took everything downstairs and created a little library down in the basement corner. I think it turned out fabulously!

I still want to buy some kind of picture to hang over the electrical box. It's just too ugly to stick out on the wall by itself.

Louis had both fish and a cat at his old place but let his cat stay with his parents. He also had a problem moving his fish, so we just started over with new ones! I chose four of them--two Mickey Mouse Platies (hmmm...I wonder why) and two Black Mollies. Louis picked out three little bitty ones, but I don't really know what they are called. I do know all the fish are really good eaters and will come to the top when it's breakfast or dinner time.

Celebrating my birthday with Princess Diana!

Mom came up for my birthday weekend at the end of April, and we drove downtown to see the Princess Diana exhibit presented at Union Station. The Diana Foundation did an extraordinary job displaying her personal effects and giving those of us who never got the chance to meet her a little glimpse into her life.

My nutritious lunch at Union Station consisted of Diet Coke and a Rice Krispie treat.

Since we weren't able to take pictures at the actual exhibit (I don't blame them...), I bought a book and took pictures from that. Of course I'll have to scrapbook those! :)

This trip to the exhibit was the week before William and Kate were married, and everyone was buzzing about their upcoming wedding. It was very cool to be able to see Diana's actual wedding dress and think of what Kate's might look like in comparison.

The most emotional part of the day was seeing and hearing moments of Diana's funeral. Elton John's "Candle in the Wind" song played over and over as we read Diana's brother's memorial to her. Needless to say, I was not the only one in tears that day!

Mom took Louis and me out to lunch at my favorite birthday spot--the Cheesecake Factory at the Plaza. Since it was Easter Sunday, everyone was dressed in their Sunday best. Unfortunately, I had just bought new shoes to wear with my new dress, and the shoes didn't fit. I had to settle for my silver flip-flops instead. :/

This is the best of best--our cheesecake desserts! Mom ordered her usual Strawberry cheesecake, Louis ordered a double or triple Chocolate, and I tried something new--Red Velvet/White Chocolate cheesecake. It was super duper rich, but it was soooooo worth it!

Summer vacation is finally here!

I can't believe I haven't blogged since April, but the end of the school year usually wipes me out. Then summer school started with no days of space in between, and some other stuff came about, and now I can finally breathe again. So, here's a rundown of my life since April:

*School ended. Summer school began.
*Louis moved in with me.
*We became parents to fish.
*We traveled to St. Louis for a weekend getaway.
*Summer school ended and I had to pack 11 years of teaching and bring it all home.
*Louis and I became parents to a 2-month-old kitten. Soze has no idea she is even in the house.

That's about it. I want to blog about some specifics, so I'll do that next. It's hard to concentrate though when the pool is calling my name, along with the new kitty, bookshelves that need to be put together, and my need to just veg and sit in my chair.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Change of scenery

"Change brings opportunity. "
Nido Qubein

This is the sentiment I'm taking with me next year when I begin my new teaching position at Lee's Summit West High School as a Reading and English teacher. While this last week has had complete ups and downs emotionally, I feel as if this move is for the best for my career. Countless people, including administrators, have told me that I will never be a full-time Reading teacher here in this district. They just don't have the resources. I know all districts are strapped for money, but Lee's Summit has stepped up and said that they don't want their students falling through the cracks due to their reading abilities. This is what I went to school for, and I'm so happy that I will have this opportunity. I absolutely HATE the idea of leaving my kids and friends that I've met, but I know kids are kids and will be great at my new school. I also know that I will make new friends and meet up my current friends for some much-needed happy hours and get-togethers. :)

A new school means a new school mascot, colors, clothes, etc. I do love these colors!

On one note, I will usher out this year as a Bear and will come in to the new school year as a Titan. This also means I will have to move...again. Hmmm...this will be my 9th classroom in 12 years. I should probably be a master at classroom moving by now, but it never gets old. I guess I will have to just have my summer school kids help me at the end. Maybe I'll offer them extra credit!! :)

Thanks for all your "good luck"s and "go get 'em"s! I needed it, and I did!

Thanks!!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Decisions, decisions

Oh me, oh my. Why do I have to make these tough decisions? I wish I had a magic Genie (is that a proper name?) who would tell me exactly what would happen if I made the right or wrong choice. My dilemma is this: a new job. A new job. My possible dream job? Lee's Summit West High School, the school roughly 3-5 minutes from my house, has a high school Reading position posted for next year. What do I do????? I absolutely LOVE my building. I LOVE my kids. I LOVE my friends. I LOVE the fact that I will be going to Europe in June 2012 on a school trip (more details on that one later if it pans out). I LOVE my job as an English II and III teacher. I LOVE my leadership position on the Instructional Leadership Team. I LOVE the opportunity to be the Assistant Speech/Debate Coach, which comes with a stipend. I LOVE the opportunity to teach Night School and Summer School, both of which come with extra paychecks. (For what it's worth, I would take about a $4000 pay cut once all my "extras" are taken away by moving schools.) When I look at all of these things, I can't imagine that I would leave the comfort of what I've known over the past 3 years, but I also know Lee's Summit is a great school district, my drive would cut down from 50 minutes a day to 10 tops, and being a Reading teacher is what I went to school for. It's what I was hoping to eventually be at my current school, but that opportunity has never come.

Help me! I don't want to apply for the position and interview just to say, "No thanks anyway." I need to know that this is truly what I want for myself before I put myself through the trouble and agony of starting all over again. Hmmm....

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Time to celebrate!

Ha ha! Okay, now that it's official, I can declare my news to the world. Yes, I have a boyfriend! He's the same guy I've been dating on/off since October, but now we are "officially" a couple. Louis made it official on Valentine's Day at Cinzetti's, a local Italian restaurant here in KC. He took me there and asked if I would be his girlfriend as if we were back in the 5th grade. :) It was too cute! I was half expecting a note with a box to check "yes" or "no," but instead he took my hand and asked me over a plate of fettuccine alfredo and breadsticks. He's becoming my new best friend, someone to whom I can tell just about anything, and someone who makes me laugh everyday.

Louis is not my typical type (redundant, I know...), but there's something about him that makes me think "what if...?" He's not into sports really, but he's willing to go to some games with me--Chiefs, Royals, Cardinals, and high school basketball. He's more of a cat lover, but he takes up time with Soze and loves on her. He's a pipe smoker, but he's quit smoking cigarettes since I met him. :) Louis is also more of a guy's guy--loves a good Scotch on the rocks, owns quite a collection of guns and knives, and is even teaching me how to shoot! You never know what the future holds, but I'm holding onto Louis for now and am planning on just enjoying what life brings us as we have fun together.