i got no 'cuse!!

No excuse, that is, for not blogging! AHHH! I don't know whats wrong with me lately, but blogging has NOT been a priority in my life. I haven't blogged since we were in Massanutten. I know you all are severely depressed without being able to read my rantings...so I'm gonna try to do better over the next few weeks.

I've got all the time in the world and I can't seem to find the time to write a little blog. I have been reading a lot still (more to come on that topic later)

I'm not sure what will happen with the blog when school starts. It may be that I'll be able to keep it up better because I'll be in a classroom with a computer during the day...or, I may be really really busy and not be able to find the time to devote to typing a few paragraphs a day.

In August I'll be starting work as an Art teacher at Winfield High School! I'm so excited to have this job! I love my summer, but I'm actually looking forward to it! :) I'm blessed. In August I am also going to start taking graduate classes at Marshall. ick. I'm NOT looking forward to that. But.... its being paid for by a scholarship so I can't really complain. :) again...blessed.

So, the blog may be taking a hiatus during the time that I'm in school, I'm not sure. We'll just have to wait and see.

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Lately I've been working on getting some school stuff ready. I'd like to have a lot of stuff ready so I'm not as busy during the school year. I've been making some Power Point Presentations lately and working on my rules, procedures, etc.

I've also spent some time reading (of course). While at Massanutten I finished The Shack by William Paul Young. It was for sure interesting. It will make you think differently about God. I wouldn't recommend anyone to read it that wasn't secure in their beliefs about a Christian God. It could cause someone who doesn't know a lot about theology to be a little confused...but if you are a strong Christian, I recommend you read it....and don't stop reading when it gets a little weird (and trust me, it does). I loved it personally. It makes a lot of sense and it helped me understand the idea of "the trinity" better. Also, it makes you realize how amazing and wonderful God really is. It also emphasizes having a real relationship with God.

After The Shack I read the third book of the Uglies trilogy by Scott Westerfeld. Its called Specials and was very good, but that comes as no shock after reading and loving the first 2, right?! After this book there is another related book called Extras. I'm sure I'll be reading that one soon! I just checked out another of his book from the library (this one, not in the Uglies trilogy) Its called Peeps. It'll probably be my next book...maybe. I have a few good ones lined up!

Right now I'm reading another John Green novel (actually, its his first novel) called Looking for Alaska. I am really liking it right now because its funny and interesting....

Here is some info. about the book that I stole from the author's website, http://www.sparksflyup.com/ (which I <3,>

Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words--and tired of his safe life at
home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet Francois
Rabelais called the "Great Perhaps." Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek,
including Alaska Young. Clever, funny, screwed-up, and dead sexy, Alaska will
pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps.
Looking for Alaska brilliantly chronicles the indelible impact
one life can have on another. A stunning debut, it marks John Green's arrival as
an important new voice in contemporary fiction.

I gotta job...sorta

Today was a good day!

I went to my "interview" this morning in Winfield. The lady told me that I was going to be the candidate recommended for the Community Education/Art position that I bid on the other day! Wahooo! That was the fifteen dollar an hour one. Better than nothing I guess.... and I can still sub, too. The only catch is that enough people have to sign up to take it.

The interview wasn't really an interview at all... They just had to explain a few things and have me fill out some paperwork. Oh, and I had to get fingerprinted again.
Just in case I committed some heinous crime since the last time I got fingerprinted--90 days ago.

After that I changed clothes and went to Sarah's house to paint Caylan's walls. I had a good time painting. I watched a marathon of CSI on Spike while I painted. I think I saw at least 4 and a half episodes. I was there from 11 to 4:30. It actually turned out really well. It looks better than I even thought it would. After that Caylan called and was so pumped! Her exact words were, "I love it"

When I got home, I ran 4.5 miles.. Then I cooked a late dinner.... Mom's recipe for Meatballs , mashed potatoes, and Irish soda bread, yummy!

Tomorrow a.m I'm going back to Sarah's to finish up my mural painting duties. :)

no news is good news?

So... I was SO anxious to find out if I was going to get this job at Hannan Jr/Sr. High School. The Board meeting was on Monday morning and I still hadn't heard anything on Tuesday afternoon!...and I had the day off from Cracker Barrel on Tuesday...so I got REALLY anxious.













So, I called them and asked if I had been the recommended teacher. The receptionist said that the Board meeting on Monday was cancelled and rescheduled for Thursday night. So... again I was waiting.













After I heard that... I decided I wanted to go shopping! I went toin Teays Valley and they had a lot of stuff on clearance...and I ended up buying 5 dressy shirts and a really cute charcoal grey skirt suit. My grand total was around 140 dollars. Not bad for all that.













Then I went to the Clinique counter where I spent over 70 bucks...but it was bonus time, so its ok, right? hehehehe



Then I went to Walmart....brought home a Subway sandwich...and then went for a jog. I had bought a pedometer that measures distance at Walmart and I couldn't wait to try it out. You have to set it up to match your stride length. I estimated mine....and at the end it said I ran over 5 miles. Its a pretty neat little gadget. Today, I ran with it on the treadmill to test it to make sure the distance was right...and I think I have it fixed to be almost perfect.

Today I went to work at Cracker Barrel from 10 to 4. Again, I got to leave right at 4! YAY! I had a whole, full bus tub spilled on me today....ew!! It was nasty! I smelled like cocktail sauce for the rest of the day!

When I got home.. I decided to pull up the Mason County Board of Education's webpage. They had posted an Agenda for the monday meeting (that was cancelled) and when I checked it before it said that number 18 on the agenda was to "Recommend the Board approve the employment of ___________________, _Teacher, Art 7-12. Hannan Junior Senior High School effective for the 2008-2009 School Year"

Of course, I was hoping that the _____________________ was ME!

I checked it tonight to see if they had updated the agenda and to see what time the board meeting was tomorrow. Well...

When I did that.... it was updated....and it said....

"18. Recommend the Board approve the employment of Brianne Solomon, _Teacher, Art 7-12. Hannan Junior Senior High School effective for the 2008-2009 School Year."

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I was happy and sad. First of all I realized right away that the reason I was so anxious about finding out if I had the job wasn't because I wanted the job so bad, but because (I'm a perfectionist) and I wanted to start working on all the stuff I had to do!

Second... I was upset because I'm assuming that this Brianne Solomon chick has the same amount of experience as me (since I was interviewed) Mason County had NO info. on me...no transcript, no high school grades, no resume, no recommendations...NOTHING except an application with a little bit of info. So... I guess they based this choice on the 20 minute conversation with me. (that I shortened my stupid vacation for and drove an hour to get there!!)

Oh well.. I guess I'll be subbing this year, but at least I won't be driving to the middle of nowhere and teaching remedial classes instead of Art.

As far as I am concerned Mason Co. is REALLY missing out on a good teacher. Next year, Putnam County! :)

waiting.....just waiting.

So here I am.... just sitting around the house, trying to forget the fact that I am waiting to hear back about that teaching job. I was really hoping that I'd hear from them today, but NO.

Tommorow I hope!

I went to Cracker Barrel this morning....and it was decently busy. I made about 50 bucks from 11 to 4....and I got to leave right at 4 which is rare. My friend, Whitney, was there with me so I was happy! :)

When I got home I did the treadmill thing... 5 miles...and then I cooked dinner....chicken fajitas.

Now, I've just been sitting around.... I actually am starting another blog. (we'll see if it lasts) Its about running and eating right and all that crap. Its called Triumph over the Treadmill.

I'm so happy right now...because I don't have to work tomorrow! YAY! Ive decided that if I find out that I get the job.....I am going SHOPPING tomorrow!!

Back in WV

So... Friday was a crazy busy day!!

We woke up at 5:30...packed up...got a wonderful cup of coffee and the most delicious lemon-filled doughnut EVER from the breakfast buffet....and then, we were off.

Jesse drove most the way... I drove the last 2 hours.

Then I had to get dressed and put some makeup on and head out the door again for my first teaching job interview. Jesse drove me there. We went down Johns Creek past Hannan so I could see how far it was and what the road was like. It took 25 minutes to get to Hannan...but it took 50 minutes to get to Point Pleasant!! :(

My interview took only 20 minutes.. Afterwards I could have kicked myself because I know I could have done better! Oh well! I really hope that I get the job, but they didn't tell me anything. So, I guess I'll be getting a phone call soon.

On the way back to WV on Friday I called the VP of Huntington High School back. He said, "I owe you a big apology" He said he got really excited and thought that he was going to be able to hire someone young and full of energy and he started calling people and leaving messages. But...when he got to the end of the bid sheets he saw that he had one from a Cabell Co. teacher who was under contract and had 33 years of experience!! OH WELL! I guess that ones out.

I even asked him if the other teacher had left a position open....and he said that she had been teaching something else for the past 33 years. so POO!

On friday night I made pizza and we just hung out and watched the Olympics. We both fell asleep really early on the couch.

This morning... I had breakfast...did my Self; Sculpt Sexy Legs Fast DVD....took a shower... went to the library and got a new DVD, a cookbook and a new James Patterson book. Then Brian and Jessica stopped by ..when they came in Brian made a comment (as he has at least 4 times) about 2 of my prints on the wall being crooked. It made me really upset because he was like "I've been gone for a month and you STILL haven't fixed that." So I was like, "I DO FIX THEM ALL THE TIME, BUT THEY MOVE EVERY TIME YOU HIT THE LIGHT SWITCH OR CLOSE THE OVEN DOOR HARD!!!!!" and I said, "ITS GETTING ANNOYING AND I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT AGAIN!" I was very mean...and I felt bad about it later. Sorry Brian!!..... at least he won't say anything again! hahaha..... I wish I could have said it with a little more tact. ***note to self: work on that*****

After that craziness....we went to Jaiden's 1st Birthday Party at the Valley Park. The boys played tennis...Jessica and I sat and talked. They are going to "adopt" Mike & Alyson's dog, Wilson since they don't want him anymore. I can't wait to hear how that's going.

For the past hour and a half I've been sitting, watching the Olympics and looking up recipes online. My back hurts.

more news

Last night Jesse and I did go to Union Station...and it was pretty boring. The food was expensive..... Later we walked around Chinatown which isn't exactly what I expected. Its mostly trendy-looking restaurants.

This morning...Jesse and I had another nice breakfast this morning. I had a made to order ham, tomato, onion and pepper omelette! YUM! I also had a small bowl of oatmeal with dried cranberries!!

Then we went to the Holocaust Museum.. It wasn't as cool as I had hoped. Then we went to the Freer Art Gallery...Hirshhorn Gallery.....the Air and Space Museum (which stinks, by the way)....the Capitol...the National Botanic Gardens...and then we had a tour of the Bureau of Printing and Engraving. We saw over 300 million dollars!!!!

Then we came back to the hotel as it started raining.... we only got a little damp.

Now we are resting a bit....

now....for my NEWS...... I checked my cell phone when we got in...and I had a message from a vice principal of Huntington High School...he wants to schedule an interview on Monday! :)

I think I've decided that I'd rather work at Hannan than Huntington...but I'm still going to go to the interview in case the Hannan job doesn't work out! :) This is So EXCITING!!

In a little bit Jesse and I will be getting ready for the Nationals versus the Mets!

We're Here! (& I have some BIG news)

Well Here I am in our nation's capitol, Washington DC!!

I am writing this from my hotel here....which is very nice by the way! I really like it! :)

Today Jesse and I woke up early and left our house in Hurricane around 8:30am. He drove most the way, but I drove about an hour and a half through Maryland. We drove through WV all the way up I-79 almost to Morgantown and then got on I-68.

When we got here...we checked in and then decided to see how far we could walk. We first went to the Museum of Natural History. Then we went to the Smithsonian American Art Museum which I really enjoyed!

Now I am watching the women's gymnastics on the Olympics...they aren't doin' so well. Right now I'm hoping for a silver! :)

Tomorrow we are gonna wake up and have our breakfast at the hotel...and then we are going to Arlington National Cemetery. After that I think we are gonna take the afternoon to ride around the mall and monuments and maybe take in a couple more museums...or we might go to the National Archives Building

On Thursday we are going to the Holocaust Museum...in the afternoon, I'm not sure what we'll be doing...but we have tickets to a Nationals baseball game on Thursday night.

But I guess the big news is THIS....... we have to leave early (yeah, like 5 AM early) on Friday morning because.... I have a teaching job interview on friday at 2!! YAY!!

I got called on Monday about the job at Hannan Jr/Sr High School! So pray for me and wish me luck!!

agh... grrr....

I am not liking Cracker Barrel today. I am getting sick of getting crappy sections. Today (for people who speak "barrel talk") I had tables 231, 232, and 233. If you don't speak Barrel then that means I was in the middle dining room with only three tables...two of which are in the middle of the floor. If you've ever been to a restuarant before...you know that people don't like to sit in the middle of a large area. Instead they like to be next to a wall or a window or something. Therefore.. my tables didn't get sat much unless every other table was full.

Also yesterday I was told that I can't wear my work pants... I was already told the first week I was down here that I couldn't wear any of my KHAKI pants (God forbid!... I dont know whats so bad about Khakis at Cracker Barrel #247 but they don't allow them) Now I can't wear my navy blue pants because they have flaps on the pockets.... sheesh.

But... at Clemmons CB I can wear hoop earrings that are bigger than a dime. AND--- They don't care if you wear a belt or not. SO STUPID!

Well... I'm still sitting here in my stinky Cracker Barrel fireplace smelling clothes....so I think I'm gonna go get in the shower. I guess tomorrow I have to go to the mall and buy some new pants!

Jesse faxed my resume to the school in High Point that is hiring an art teacher... they are supposed to call and set up an interview! :) Here is a link to their school info.... Johnson Street Global Studies School.

and now....today.....

Worked at CB today.. BOOO! It was so boring and slow. I think we ARE in a recession.

The other day I got my teaching license in the mail...and today I found out that there is an ART teacher job opening in High Point, NC which is in Guilford County. Its a magnet school called Jefferson Street Global Studies School. It has students from K to 7th grade and its about a 30 minute drive....BUt I would be making at least 34 grand a year. YAY!... I applied online and I am gonna call them soon and get some more information!

Jesse and I drove out to the address we had for that house I posted a picture of yesterday....well, the Google Map was WRONG! haha... we ended up in a field full of junky trailers.

We found out it was kinda out too far when we finally got the address right. But... along the journey we found a couple really nice neighborhoods in Davie County (Redland Place & Redland Way) that are very conviently located... more on those later

now... Its time for bed