Fresh Breeze

Yesterday we took Gilly for a run with our bikes. Let me back up. We had bought a fairly cheap bike this fall and it just wasn't doing well for me. So we sold it at a yard sale. We found another bike at a yard sale, same price as we sold ours and it is so much better! I am loving it. We have ridden to Don and Janel's new house several times. Last night we took Gilly with us and rode around the Crosswind campus near our house. Less traffic. She ran on the leash while Dan rode beside her with me in front of her for an incentive. Dan didn't have to pedal at all. What a hoot! The only glitch in the plan was that she tends to weave when she walks. We are always telling her to pick a lane. Anyway, she ran in front of me and I ran into her. Everyone was fine. After we ran her ragged we took her home and headed out for our ride. We rode about 7 miles. I am thinking that maybe we could do the MCC Flatlander in September, not sure if I will be able to do the 35 miles all at one time, but it would be fun to attempt it at any rate.

I gave Dan "permission" to shave his head in the summer so last night I shaved his head. And I think that he looks pretty good. He is definitely a white boy! He looks like he is wearing a white cap. The sun will soon get him and make him look less like he is going through chemo.

Life Goes On

These last few weeks, perhaps I should say months, have been rather stressful around here. Knowing that I was going to not have a job next year and continuing to teach with a positive attitude was hard. The kids were all very disappointed as were my colleagues. I had time to really clean out my room and organize stuff for the next teacher. I brought home over 4 boxes of stuff and currently have everything stored away until that day when I can use them again. I applied for a teaching position in Goessel, which was only .6 time BUT would have been so close to home. I was not hired. A position opened up in Newton and in 4 days after posting the position, they interviewed and hired someone. I spent a lot of time getting my transcripts, references and so forth sent to the school. I am kind of ticked. However, the job was less than desirable with several clothing classes to teach, but I was looking for more information that could have been given at an interview. :(

Yesterday ( Tuesday) I got a phone call from Mulvane which is about 1 hour away. They have a FACS position available, so today at 1 pm, I will travel there for an interview. The course descriptions look great. The interesting thing about all this is: The teacher from Newton got the job at Goessel and the teacher from Mulvane got the Newton job. I feel like I am following in their footsteps.

I have applied for unemployment which contrary to what I was told, is not close to my salary AND I need to look for a job every week and send them the documentation via mail or fax. Obviously they think people on unemployment have money for those things. I still can't understand how the state can take away money from schools, in which teachers have to lose their livelihoods AND then have money to pay for unemployment. Go figure. I decided that I will just sub next year if I don't get a teaching job.

During this time, Blackberry got sick again and after much emotional unrest, we decided to release him to kitty heaven. He went to be a cat angel on Monday. :( WE miss him a lot. We no longer have the 4:30 am alarm clock, scratching at our door, licking water from the bathtub, dumping cup contents, late nite playing sessions and so much more. We have talked about getting another cat, but I am not ready for that yet. I had Blackberry for almost 6 years, longer than I have known Dan.

So ... life continues on. We had a garage sale on Saturday, sold a few big ticket items but nothing to write home about. This week, Dan took off on Thursday and we are going bike hunting for me. We also will partake in the annual Schroeder Dumpster Dive event happening this weekend. Stay tuned for a list of our found treasures. :) We plan a camping trip at the end of the month. Not sure where we will end up, just somewhere it isn't stifling hot.

See you next month.