Nine months later

Well, guess what?
We got divorced (end of January.
We tried to get back together.
We broke up once and for all.
I'm moving on.

I'm working in a new school as an administrator.
Loving it, but I'm poor because both the girls are attending the same school and there is NO discount for employees. They take the tuition from my paycheck, and even with financial aid, I'm barely braking even.

I'm not sure if I really want to continue to blog regularly, but I thought I would at least add this little update.

I have not been writing poetry at all. Shame on me. I thought I would do it in the summer, but instead I ended up having to look for a new job, and then, once I found it, I had to start right away (I don't get summers off as an administrator).

The girls and I moved back into the house and the ex moved to an apartment on the ocean. I am going to try to sell the house now, but it is still roofless (another long, boring story).

I'm going to go check out some old friends' blogs to see if they are still writing!

Ciao!

Been Gone So Long

There are many reasons I have not blogged in a long time.
Well, at least two.
The first is that I moved out of my house and am currently living with my mom (and the girls, of course)in their winter home (which is around the block from my house). I won't go into details that are too personal, but I will just say that this isn't the first time I've left, but I'm bound and determined to make this the last. My parents don't have high speed internet or wireless capabilites and I'm spoiled, so I'm not inclined to log on.
The second is that I am super, super busy with work. I still love it, but it is the most work I have ever done in my life, I believe. I am very happy, though, and that makes it all worth it.

I have done zilch in the way of writing poetry lately. I'm actually too busy to miss it too much right now. I know I'll get back to it as soon as I get a chance.

Loving It!

Of course, I've been very busy trying to get in the swing of things at work. The great news is, I am loving this more than I ever imagined possible. I don't want to gush, because I know I'm still in the honeymoon stage...but I can tell that there are a lot of things about this position that are very different than any other teaching job I've had. I've never been an elementary school teacher, and I never thought I would like that. This just proves how little I knew about myself.
I love fifth grade. The kids are great. I enjoy teaching all the subjects...including MATH! I almost feel like I'm "playing teacher" like I did when I was a kid. I believe I'm where I should be right now, and it is a great feeling. (Once again, thank you, God!)

Erhan is doing well on the road to recovery. He is still on a large dose of predinsone and is being monitored closely. He is still weak, but is improving steadily.

The kids are fine. School is going well for all three.

Time to get to bed so I can wake up bright and early.

Got the Job!

I just found out today, in the middle of my second day in a row of substitute teaching for the fifth grade class, that I GOT THE JOB!!!
I'm really excited about it, and I think I'm going to like it. It is so much better than the school I worked at in August. Yes, I do believe everything does happen for a reason.
I'm in a hurry to get to bed so I'm well rested for tomorrow, my first day as the official teacher.

More good news...my collaboration with Valerie Fox took first place at the ITWS contest! I'll get a $20.00 Amazon gift certificate, which is great...but the best part of all was the fun I had working with Valerie. I we get to do another one sometime soon.

I probably will be a bit overwhelmed with work, especially at first, but I will stop by all my favorite blogs as soon as I get a chance!

Ohwhatasillygooseiam!!!!

I am pretty embarrassed, and very relieved. My worries were for naught. Not hearing from the school didn't mean anything at all. They just haven't made up their mind about the teacher I might replace. I talked to the principal today and she told me she is going to wait until the week of the 20th (my birthday, no less) when that teacher is planning to be out of town. She is going to have me sub for her, and will make up her mind by then. If they do stick with that teacher for this year, they still want me for Spanish. So, I had no reason to be so depressed and full of self doubt.
Erhan is losing weight by heaps and bounds. Almost too much. I'm waiting to hear from his doctor to find out if it is too much. He is losing as much as ten pounds a day with the diuretics. I think that his body is getting a little dehydrated, so I've encouraged him to drink more. His face and upper body now looks skeletal, and his legs are still like tree trunks.

I took Alp to the dentist today. The last few appts., his mom has taken him. I have never been to this dentist. At first, she asked me if I was his Aunt. I explained that I am the stepmom and that he actually lives with us. Later in the appt., she explaimed, "He just trusts you so much! I've never seen him so behaved. You are so good with him!" I was flattered.

I'm really happy today. I'm back in the ballgame with the job at the school I want. Thank you, God!

Dang

Nobody called me on Friday about the job. It was a long day with an anticlimactic ending. Every time the phone rang, I jumped with excitement. And it was never the school.

On Friday I drove all the way to Plantation to get fingerprinted for the school. I also finished all the application paperwork and turned it in to the Delray campus. Then, I left a note for the principal, asking her if there was any news and if she could please call me.

Then, nothing.

They told me I should be hearing from them on Friday, so I don' think this is a good sign at all.
Then, in the Sunday newspaper, and ad appeared for the Spanish teacher position.

My dad tried to console me, saying that it might just be their policy to advertise, but I don't know. Those ads cost a lot of money. If they already had the best, why complicate the matter?

The trouble is, that school is located pretty close to the last school I worked at, and I had a problem with them before I left. It was a bad situation because the principal that hired me left the school and the new guy was extremely incompetent. The atmosphere of the school changed completely. I tried to hang in there, but I became nervous and unhappy. I didn't really leave on a positive note, and this other school may have caught wind of that. Which is really a pity, if that is the truth. Because I am a very good teacher. And that school did not treat me well. I could have sued them, but I did not want to deal with that. I ended up making an agreement with them, and they paid me an extra year of my salary. I don't think they would have agreed to that if they didn't know they were doing something wrong. Right?

Anyway, I don't know one hundred percent if this opportunity is over, but I don't feel good about it now. They really had my hopes up. I was flying high for awhile there. It doesn't feel good to be lifted up just to be shot down.

I hate the thought of going back to the drawing board with the job hunt, too.

I do keep reminding myself that when a door closes, it is for a reason, and a better one will open, if I have faith.

More Updates

On Monday I spent the day teaching fifth grade. I enjoyed it and I think I did a good job. Now, I have to wait for the administration to decide if they are going to let the other teacher go or not. Even though she is in her fifties, she is new to teaching and it just has not been going well. They have been trying to give her a lot of support and help, but they are getting to the end of the rope.
I went to a New Parent Reception two nights ago and the principal introduced me to the Head of School. They told me that they would have a decision for me by Friday. Even if the decide to stick with the current teacher, there is a Spanish teacher who is about to have a baby, and they told me I would probably get that job. My only apprehension with that is that the position may not be permanent if she decides to just take a leave. The principal said she thinks it is unlikely because that woman has had three babies in the past three years. We'll see.
My husband is doing the same. He goes to the kidney doctor this afternoon.
Thanks again for everyone's thoughts and prayers!