I think its really the end.

I think my long term sub job is over. I'm depressed.

They are getting doughnuts for breakfast....and pizza for lunch. I'm going to be enormous.

After I leave Poca Middle School I will probably lose weight because they are always trying to feed me. You don't get people trying to feed you when you sub day to day... and when they do have food, you don't feel like you should eat it.

The more I think about it ...the sadder I get. I truly hope that I get a job this coming year. I don't want to jump around from school to school for another year.


About American Idol......... I am pretty happy with the choices the judges made. I didn't like Jasmine tonight. I thought she was boring. But... I guess they wanted to give her a second chance. I liked Matt, Anoop, and Megan. I've been a fan of Megan from the beginning. Her last note tonight was kind of a mess, but I think she could be really good.

Jesse said that the reason they had to have a top 13 this year was because the blind guy made it through and he shouldn't have. I couldn't agree more. He will NOT sell any albums. He'd be like Taylor Hicks #2.

Now I'm going to go cry.

Jesse & I both lost our jobs yesterday!

Yes, yesterday Jesse called me while I was at school to tell me that he was laid off from his job. He works for HSBC, a bank based in HongKong, and they decided to pull out of North American lending. So he is now without a job...again. But, he does get a severance package of sorts for 2 months. So look for him at Cracker Barrel in April. haha.





About my job... I got a call from Cracker Barrel while I was at school yesterday too. They said they needed to talk to me ASAP. So, I called them back after school and they said "We've decided that all of our once-a-month employees will now need to work at least once a week or we will terminate your employment. Yaddi-yaddi-yah" But they said I could be rehired in the summer..so I guess I'm going to do that because I do not want to work at that place once a week. oooooh no.





One of the teachers at school today took this picture. These are the ladies I work with... from left to right this is Suzy, Kim, Amanda, Kendra and me!

Right now I'm watching American Idol. I don't have any favorites picked out yet. So far they haven't been very good at all. I know I never want to see that kid with the headband ever again. More about Idol later.

another week.....

I'm not sure why, but I just got a phone call from the Putnam Co. Sub calling system. The machine-voice-woman offered me a job for Ms. Richards for all next week! :) Usually they just put me in the system and I don't get a phone call. This time they called me...not sure why. But...it doesn't matter. I'm still in!

So, I'm there for at least another week. YAY!

my 1st sick day

Today is the first time that I have ever been able to take a sick day and get paid for it, what!!! haha. Its so exciting! I can't wait til I get a fulltime job and I get 15 sick days!! Wahooo!

I have a cold. Its not that bad, but I dont have the patience to put up with 110 12 year olds. I'm very achy and sneezy and just plain yucky. I'm going to just rest and eat a lot today. I already had oatmeal, a bowl of cheerios and an apple. I'm thinking that around 130 or so I'm going to drive out to McDonalds and get me a grilled chicken sandwich or a Southwestern salad.

ok........nap time

oh yeah..one more thing. Mrs. Thomas talked to Ms. Richards and she said she'd be back on March 9th. That gives me at least 1 more week! :) But Mrs. Thomas said not to count on that.....she (and everyone else) still think that I'll be there until May.

:)

sub job could be over? :(

This could be my last week as the 6th grade reading teacher at Poca Middle School. That means two more days!! Boooooo! I kinda doubt that it will be....but we shall see. I'm guessing that I'll find out tomorrow.

My students are taking a test tomorrow. I don't know what to do after that!! I don't want to start anything new if I'll be leaving. So, I still haven't decided what we will be doing when they finish their tests tomorrow. If I find out that I'll be staying we are going to start reading Where the Red Fern Grows. So.. my fingers are crossed. I really want to stay!!


I'm watching American Idol right now. Its been even worse than last week if that's possible. I'm a fan of Allison and Megan so far tonight. The guys have been awful. I don't like how they are saying that one guy and one girl and the next top vote-getter goes on. That's not fair. It should just be the top 3 regardless of sex.

Anywho........ I'm going to go make me a cup of hot chocolate. I'll be posting tomorrow or Friday about continuing my job. Pray.

me, big mouth? who knew?!

So... yesterday I went to work at school as usual. However I had to go to work at Cracker Barrel too. From 5 to 8 I was scheduled on Wednesday night.

I was busy chatting with a girl named Andrea that I haven't seen in probably over a year...and there was this new chick. I'd never seen her before. While we were talking in the vestibule, the new chick answers a to-go phone order. A couple seconds later, the girl turns around and says, "I can't hear!" Its always loud in there....so, I quieted down a bit and continued talking to Andrea. New chick turns around again, and says, this time with a bit more rage, "I can't hear! I'm trying to take a to-go order!" So Andrea and I walked away, but kept talking. Then, the new chick yells at all of us once again, "I said, I can't hear!"

So, I looked at her and she didn't even have her finger pressed on her other ear to help her hear the person on the phone better! So I said, "Put your finger in your ear!"

A few minutes later, she gets off the phone and starts yelling at everyone. She says something like, "I was just trying to take a to-go order and it was so loud in here that I couldn't hear at all and SOMEONE told me to stick my finger in my ear! blah blah blah"

By then I was ticked, "Whats up with this girl," I thought to myself. I spoke up, "I was the one that said it. If you have a problem with that stop yelling at everyone and you can take it up with me!" I could feel her tension building up and I could tell that she wanted to hit me. Secretly, I was kinda wishing that she would hit me. I may be little...but this is one chick that I wasn't afraid of. She looked like a strong wind might blow her over....kinda like your average Eastern Kentucky Methhead. I didn't see any open sores, but I did overhear her talking about her "bearded dragon." creepy.

Today was a good day at school. I got lots of hugs. :) I feel like I'm doing better with discipline and its making me a happier person and probably a better teacher, too.

Tonight I made enchiladas and black bean dip and Jesse couldn't be happier! It was really good. I think I could eat that dinner every night.

Tomorrow is friday and I couldn't be happier about that!

another Monday...

Here I am again. Another monday afternoon at my long term sub job. I'm really thankful to be here! What could be better than 6th grade reading? (Even if these students are slightly more challenging than normal. I still love them.)

So last week it seemed like I was hearing bad news everyday. I wrote about Amy, my good friend from high school, whose father and brother were in a wreck on Sunday night. I've been praying for the other man involved and I heard that he woke from a coma the other day. I also have been praying that his family have mercy and not try to hold Amy's family liable. There was another article in the paper about it the other day.

Fiery collision that killed father, son remains a mystery

On Tuesday a friend from the church I grew up in was involved in a terrible accident on 62 in Mason County. He was passing a car and hit another car head on. They both had to be cut from the vehicles and air-lifted to the hospital. I have heard that Jarrod is going to be ok, but that he may have permanent damage done to his legs. The girl in the car he hit was not doing well the last I heard. I've been praying that she pulls through because her family may press charges against Jarrod.

My parents and I went to the visition for Amy's dad and brother on Thursday night. While we were there around 6:30 or 7 pm there was an accident on Route 35 near the Putnam and Mason County line. Jesse and I heard about it on the news. They said that a man was killed.

Then on Friday morning I found out that it was Stan Gray that was killed in that wreck. He is married to my mom's cousin, Angie. Stan was working for Mattress Warehouse at the time of the accident and he was still on the clock while traveling for business from Columbus, Ohio back to Winfield. Because he was "on the clock" I think Angie and their 2 young children will be getting a large check, plus whatever insurance they had on him personally. Kim Knoff, the owner of Mattress Warehouse, already set up two scholarship funds for their kids. I still feel terrible for Angie. I don't know how you would explain to 2 kids (the oldest of whom is in 6th grade) that their daddy is gone.

I've had enough of this blog. Next blog post will be on a happier note.

sub job O-ver

So I went to my last day of my long term sub job on Monday morning. I found out that Ms. Richards had a doctor's appointment on Monday. Then she had a stress test today. So I was invited back for another day! I thought it was my last day. thought.

When I walked in the door this morning the VP looked at me and said, "oh, you're here for the next 2 weeks. She has up to 120 days and she's only used 60, so you'll probably be here through April." Wahooooooooooooo!

I got so lucky! I got this job all because I accepted this (2 week long, at the time) job early one morning....actually, it was a morning that I wasn't going to work at all because Jesse and I were supposed to go to Columbus. He had a business trip planned with his Nationwide job. However that job ended the week before the Columbus trip. So, we didn't go. And that...was the monday that I got the call for this job. Ironic? No. Just God showing me His love & His favor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

i can't believe it! ANOTHER SNOW DAY??

Yeah, thats right. I was hoping that I would get to go to school today. I was hoping that we'd get a 2 hour delay. But last night... I went downstairs to get a little dessert and I left my phone upstairs. When I made it back upstairs, Jesse says, "Your mom called." I said, "Two hour delay?" and he says, "Lets just say its a good thing I'm making money now." Sheesh... another snow day!

I haven't left the house since monday afternoon and then I only went to the library and the post office! Really I haven't been anywhere since Sunday morning at church and lunch at my parents house.

Today....if the roads thaw a bit I'm going to go to the grocery store. We are out of milk, but really I just wanna get outta here! haha. My car is the only one in our apartment's lot that still has about 4 inches of snow on it.


Last night I was really worried that I wouldn't be able to say goodbye to my students at all. I was also afraid that I wouldn't be able to get my stuff done that I needed to do before their real teacher came back. But luckily, I got a call a few minutes ago from the VP at Poca. He said he needs me there on Monday!! Wahoooo! If we don't have school tomorrow (its supposed to snow MORE!) then at least I'll be there on Monday! YIPPEE!

didn't the weekend just start?

boo... to the end of the weekend.

boo... to the massive amounts of snow about to be dumped on us this week.

boo... that it had to be this week of all weeks... this being, my last as a full time teacher at Poca.

I am trying to get everything graded. My students were supposed to have a test tomorrow and they have projects due on Wednesday. I need to get all of my stuff together that I have brought to the school over the past 3 months. I guess I just feel anxious. All of this forecasted snow is making me even more anxious.

Tomorrow we have a 2 hour delay. Two hour delays are great for a sub... cause you get to sleep in, work less, and still get paid!! But... It does mean that I have shortened classes and I REALLY need my time with my students.

I'm thinking right now that I'm gonna give my students a "going-away" present.. NO TEST! I don't have time to grade them. Maybe I'll just give 'em all 100%'s. hahaha.

I have one week left and I think I'm going to take it easy.

Although I was told that I needed to write up lesson plans for the first week that Ms. Richards was back. I feel really stupid writing lesson plans for a teacher with 30 years of experience and a Reading Certification...when I'm an Art teacher with 0 experience. Oh well.

Yesterday I was a busy bee all day long. After watching Wall-E I went to Big Lots, Kroger, Dollar Tree, and Walmart. I organized a lot of my kitched cabinets. I organized a big closet downstairs, I organized my laundry "room" (really a closet) and I cleaned and organized the space under our stairs. I keep all of Kitsy's stuff in there (food & litter box) and of course, did dishes and the laundry too!

Today Jesse and I went to Maranatha for church. We had a crew with us this morning. We sat with Ty, Sarah, Jay, and Mary. Afterwards I finally met the infamous "Roop." He's Jesse's friend from work. His name is Jonathan but... it seems strange to refer to him as that since Jesse just calls him Roop. I also met his lovely wife, Amanda.

Then, of course, we went to my Mom and Dad's house where we had steaks, salads and baked potatoes.

Tonight I cooked a huge pot of 15 bean soup. I'm going to take it to school for my lunches this week...(if we even have school!) Then I made this recipe I found on http://www.allrecipes.com/ for "homemade cereal" and I doctored it up a touch. Its delicious! It kinda tastes like Post Just Bunches, but its healthier and not to mention cheaper!! :)

I'll post the recipe later. :)

whadda day.

Yesterday a girl named Sarah in one of my classes showed me that she had a fifty dollar bill. I told her to put it away before she lost it. Then we started reading Tom Sawyer.

In the very next class, we began reading, and another girl yells out, "I FOUND FIFTY DOLLARS!!" I said, "Give it to me, I know who it belongs too." Sarah is lucky that she showed it to me because I don't know what would have happened to it if I didn't know who it belonged too. It might have found its way into my purse. hahaha.

I kept waiting for Sarah to come to me, in a frantic fit, telling me she lost her money. She never did. I kept it all night last night.

The next day she never said anything either. She wouldn't have even brought it up if I didn't ask her some questions about it.

I said, "Sarah, what are you gonna get with that money?" She said, "Oh, I don't know. I'm not sure where it is. I think its at home. I had it yesterday in here and I haven't seen it since."

Well, she went to the bathroom and I told the other kids in her class about how I wanted to teach her a lesson.

When she got back, I asked the whole class, "Yesterday, did anyone in here find a white envelope with something in it?"

Justin says, "Yeah, with money in it! 50 bucks!"

Sarah says, "That was mine! Give it back!"

Justin replies, "I spent it!"

Sarah angriliy said, "Well you owe me 50 dollars!"

Justin says, "Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers!"

I broke in and said, "Who believes in Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers?"

Sarah quickly shouts out, "I think its stupid!"

So I say, "Lets have a vote. Raise your hand if you believe in Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers"

The whole class, save Sarah, raises there hands.

So I said, "Good, that means I get to keep this 50 dollars I found yesterday!" and I pulled the envelope out of my back pocket! Sarah jumped up and ran to me...gave me a big hug..and I warned her about flashing money around and bringing it to school. Hopefully she hasn't lost it again.

In my second class of the day.... a girl was fiddling with my filing cabinet. She was messing with the little lock button. If you push it in, it locks. I don't have a key. So I said, "Don't touch that!" and she says, "Why? it doesn't lock" as she pushes the button. Then she tries to open the drawers and, of course, they are locked.

This typically wouldn't be a huge ordeal...however, this happened to be the filing cabinet that my homeroom students keep their cell phones in. Fabulous.

I dug through Ms Richards drawers. I found 5 keys..none worked. Then, I found a whole key ring with over 20 keys. None of them worked!! Finally another teacher went to get the maintainance man...and he just popped the lock off. Now it won't lock,but I guess thats ok. Sheeeesh!

at school again...

Today...since there are a lot of students absent...my students are watching The Adventures of Huck Finn. I love that book/movie. :)

Its freezing in here today!! I wish I would have worn something warmer. Almost lunch time now and I'm hungry. I brought Chicken Noodle Soup!! and I'm glad cause I'm freezing. I can't wait to eat it. As I sit here typing I have my big pink peacoat on...and my scarf wrapped around me too. My heater is on full blast...and there are about 25 kids in here with the door closed....and I'm still FREEEEEZING!! My toes are cold and clammy feeling, YUK!

I just found out that I will be here for the month of December! Yippie!!

at school...

I'm at school right now.... at work I should say. My students are watching a video about Mark Twain. There are only 6 kids in this class, but sometimes it feels like 25. :) They've been pretty good since I gave them all violations 10 minutes ago. hahaha. I'm going to have to do that more often.

I'm so glad that its ALMOST the weekend! YAY! Tomorrow my mom and I made plans to go to the Charleston Town Center! I'm excited. Although I really need to go grocery shopping and clean my house too!

I'm almost 27!! Next sunday is my birthday....I just found out that I share a birthday with Mark Twain!

Well I better go!

Photos of "my" classroom

i'm lovin' life right now!!

Things are going really well with my sub job...and everything else. I'm just feeling so good. I'm back home in WV... I'm here with my family... physically, I feel better than I ever have.... I have the best husband ever....I have the best cat ever....I like where I'm working... I love my students...and I'm actually making a little money.....and life is just good all around!









This weekend was good. On friday Jesse and I hung out after work.... I made Balsamic Salmon, fresh green beans, and roasted red pototoes for dinner. We got some ice cream from McDonalds. Then we watched some netflix movie that was crappy.









On Saturday we stayed around the house at first...and worked out and I did laundry and a little house work (not enough, ha!) Then Jesse went to Ty's house and I went to the mall. I had to return one of those polo shirts that I bought for Jesse last week with Jessica. The only thing I bought was a pair of new black dress pants for Jesse...since he's gonna be starting his new job next week and they have to dress up...he's gotta do a tie, everyday. :(









Jesse and I have been scouring the internet, looking at tons of house plans. We are dreaming about maybe someday building a house in a new development that we love. His friend owns the land and is a contractor. So.... I'm going to post the one we've been looking at most seriously.

• http://www.eplans.com/country_house-plans/HWEPL08169.hwx

Here are a couple that I love...but are probably a little too big for our budget.

http://www.eplans.com/country_house-plans/HWEPL10912.hwx#floorplan

http://www.eplans.com/country_house-plans/HWEPL07919.hwx

http://www.eplans.com/country_house-plans/HWEPL08286.hwx

nothing new going on

Well I've thought about writing on this blog a few times in the last week....but nothing new has been going on. I even started to write one day...and I just didn't have anything to write about.

This weekend was good. I didn't do much of anything. On friday Jesse and I had a movie night. Then on Saturday I did housework, did some crafty stuff, did a TON of laundry, and relaxed. In the evening I did my Self;Sculpt Sexy Legs Fast DVD...which I hadn't done in a looong time. About halfway through I thought I was going to throw up. I had to go lay in the floor in the bathroom. I managed to finish it though.

Sunday...my parents were out of town visiting friends in Tennessee. So, we didn't get to go over there and eat. Ty (Jesse's friend from back in the day) went to church with us...and then we came back home, ate leftovers (miss you Mom!) and Jesse went to Ty's brothers house to watch his nephew wrestle. He's supposed to be really good and I think he's 11. I stayed home and did my Jillian video, level 3.

I made pumpkin bread, but I put too much spices in it...and its not that good :( Last time I made it I didn't put enough!! I just cant get it right.

Today I went to school and had a good day. I found out that the teacher I'm subbing for will probably be out until at least Feb. 1st! So...that means I could be there for all of November, December, and January, too!! Thats good news!

After school I did a work out video...and played around on the computer. I had a lot of fun giving myself a virtual makeover. I found a really good site for it. Go to http://www.marieclaire.com/hair/hairstyles/virtual-salon/ when you have a couple of free minutes. I thought it was fun.

I cooked one of my mom's old recipes tonight. I call it Biscuit Topped Casserole. It was good...can't wait to eat some for lunch tomorrow!!

Perhaps I'll share the recipe....or maybe I won't. :)

wahooo!! I got the job!

OK...so I found out today that they won't be posting this long-term sub job up for bid...there was some reason but I don't know why....but anyway!! They asked me to stay! So... I'm on as of right now for the rest of this month...after that, its not set in stone. But...basically I was told that as long as their teacher is out... I'll be there!!!

Yay! I'm so happy!

Yesterday was election day. I'm so glad its over! I had a good day off. I cleaned up the house a bit. I cleaned out my car...and it was a long time coming. I even vacuumed it out. Its like a whole new car. When I got in it yesterday, for a second, I thought I was getting into the wrong car!

Yesterday evening I went down to the Barboursville Mall w/ Jessica. Kelli was supposed to come too, but she backed out at the last minute. (poo on her) I went to Michael's and AC Moore before I met Jessica. Then we went to Linens N Things...they are going out of business and everything is on sale. Although they need to drop their prices a lot more to get me to buy anything in there!! After that...we went over to the mall.

After a dinner of a Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme, I looked w/ envy at the purses in Macy's. Then we went to Aerie, Old Navy, NY & C, American Eagle, Aero, and the new Doggie Store (so cute!) I bought Kitsy a toy in there...and she likes it. Not as much as her twisty-ties, but she still likes it.

I bought Jesse 4 polo shirts from Old Navy and I got a Liz Claiborne teal leather tote bag that was on clearance at Macy's. Here are some pics of it...but these are green and gold. Mine is teal. I'd like to have the gold one too!! :)

After school today I ran outside. Its been so nice lately... I have to take advantage of the weather while its around. While I was running I ran into my great-aunt, Linda! She was walking and we talked for a little while. Ironic.

well...time for bed. I'm beat and I have a headache. Blah.

ok, I'm hooked....

I wasn't going to get my hopes up. I wasn't even really wanting this job. But... now, in my second week of teaching Reading to 6th graders....I really, really want this long term job!! Yeah a few of the students drive me crazy...and yes, 2 of the classes make me want to pull my hair out at times....but I really like this job!! And for the most part I REALLY like these kids!

So now I'm in trouble. I have to bid on the job...and I really want it. (The VP told me today that he wants me to get the job.) But... now, I'm going to be upset if I don't get it. :( So please pray that I get it!!

Well... this weekend was really good, but too short. I can barely remember it! Saturday I don't think I did much of anything.

Sunday was church, lunch at my parents', shopping with my mom (she bought me a new purple purse!), baked pumpkin bread, and then Jesse and I went to Brian & Jessica's house and had a late dinner.

After school today I went to the valley park and ran...by myself. No Amy. I guess shes never gonna run with me again. :( She said she was too busy. But I enjoyed my run nevertheless.

After that I cooked some turkey taco salad.... and then we went to McDonald's. Jesse got a ice cream cone and I got a non-fat, sugar-free vanilla latte.




oh yeah, in case you ever have read this blog and wondered to yourself, "What in the world is Jillian?" Heres a small taste. I started out with workout 1...now I'm up to workout 3.







I really need a new hairdo and I'm struggling to figure out what I want to do. I don't really want bangs...and I don't want to go too short (cause it makes me look 12!!) but...here are a few ideas.