It's kind of like a Welcome Back Cake

The beginning of another school year is upon us. This week I've been bombarded with meetings, new policies, new teachers and new responsibilities. It's inevitable that I sign up for more responsibilities than I can possibly handle. I love it though. I love being busy.....until I get totally stressed out! Fortunately more responsibilities means more money...in most cases!

I love the begining of staff development week when you get to do the stupid ice breakers. I love seeing the new teachers who are equally as frightened by the possiblity of kids in their classroom as they are by some teachers and administrators.

I think my favorite part of returning to school is the abundance of food. Most of the time it's provided by our assistant principal. He made an announcement on Tuesday about cake in the lounge by saying, "We've got some cake in the lounge. It's kind of like a welcome back cake." You could just see the excitement written all over his face. He wanted to downplay the cake by saying it was only "kind of like" a welcome back cake. However, it was definitely a welcome back cake. Mr. Bill definitely encouraged, if not bullied me into eating a piece of welcome back cake. I guess this is it.

Welcome back!

New Jersey

We're going to New Jersey; It's official! We just bought our tickets for Thanksgiving! I'm super excited because I've never been to the east coast. New Jersey is so close to Pennsylvania and New York, so I get to visit three states in one trip!

Of course the biggest bonus is visiting Murad's family. This will be my first official visit with them. Murad has been around my family tons of times, as we live so close to Kansas, but I have never met his...only talked on the phone.

I hope I can contain myself and not act like a tourist! Well, if you know of some fun places to go in NJ, let me know!!!

Exactly one week!!!

Well, in exactly one week I will return to work. I can honestly say I'm looking forward to returning to work and I'm dreading it. I do like the feeling of busy. I enjoyed this summer, but after the writing project and summer school were over, I sort of lived in my pajamas. Now I'll be super busy and it will be super fun. I'm still the NJHS co-sponsor and now I'm the Student Assistance Team committee chair. In addition to that, I may return to school for another master's in administration.

Yeah, so about the master's in school administration. I think I'm going to do it! I still need to attend the informational meeting. Hopefully, they'll give me some course credit for my other master's degree. It just sucks because I really wanted to save some money, but I figure this is a great investment in the long run. I should do it now when I don't have kids. While I never saw myself as a principal, I do have a genuine interest in educational policy, especially the political issues of curriculum. I think this degree will help me secure a position at the central office in the future.

Okay, so why I'm dreading school. I'm dreading it because it means I won't have a choice of how to use my ridiculous amounts of free time that summer awards. I've gotten used to going to the gym when nobody is there, reading books all day, writing ridiculously long emails, blogging, and spending tons of quality time with my bookie! I think that is what I'll miss the most. Yesterday we just sat in our pajamas all day and watched movies. It was so great! I made a nice dinner for us, too. Today we're taking a little trip to Denton, so that I can see his school. Our last big quality time date will be this weekend when we hit up Reunion Tower for his birthday dinner. Aaah, bliss!

What can I say. I have a good life.

Good-bye to summer '07

Life Choices

So my life is going very well. I have a wonderful boyfriend and I'm finally in a place where I'm financially comfortable and can pay back my parents for buying me a car and pay off my credit card debt. Then Richardson springs this wonderful opportunity on me. They are doing a partnership with Lamar University in which teachers can get their master's degree in curriculum&instruction or school administration. I already have a master's degree in curriculum & instruction, but the school administration degree might be beneficial. I've never really thought about being a principal, but it would be a great thing.
Plus, the degree is only $5000 for Richardson teachers. So cheap. Richardson would front the money, but I'd have to pay back the money through payroll deductions. I really wouldn't be able to be debt free if I did the program, but it would set me up to make more $$ in the future. Decisions, decisions....
Any thoughts?

Amber's Shower

This weekend, my friend Allison and I (along with our mothers) hosted a bridal shower for our friend Amber in Wichita. The shower was a success. We had a wonderful assortment of casseroles, fruit and appetizers. We also had a wonderful buttercream frosted cake courtesy of Sam's Club (see picture above)

It was great to see old friends (see picture above). I'm very excited for the wedding, which is about six weeks away. We will all reunite to see Amber and Jason marry in Kansas City...we'll also see if Wilbur makes it down the aisle in his tux.

I couldn't be happier for Amber and Jason!!! Congratulations and best wishes!!

Not that it matters....

but we're recognized again!!! Go Apollo!!!
http://www.risd.org/SchoolTimesNOW/080107/index.htm