Moving

Today has been ripe with mishaps. I'm attempting to be uber-productive and have hit some speed bumps.

• I attempted to finalize my teaching certification and the server went down in the middle of it all (this was the second time this happened to me).
• I somehow created a 58,000 page spread-sheet. Opening and closing this sucker caused my iBook to move at the pace of a PC!
• It is possible I never changed my car's title to NYS and am kind of freaking out about what that means as I attempt to sell it in New York.
  

In an attempt to focus on the positive, here's a list of good things:

• I'm going to have a phone interview on Sunday for a job placement place in LA.
• I'm going to my family's house tomorrow for a dinner with a long-lost cousin.
• I've started the packing process!!
• I now plan on having people ferry my most precious things as checked luggage rather than paying for shipping. This means (5 trips from NY to LA) times (2 bits of checked luggage) = 10 boxes! Whoo hoo.
  

Ok, I'm going to fill another box. I think it's time to move away from the computer.

Verbatim

Background: I have a myspace so I can see what my baby sister is up to. Well, I used to spy on her but then she hid all the good stuff. A while ago, she made me switch from whatever the default was for the background to something blue. As of yesterday, that background was no longer acceptable. Today, she designed me a new layout. Of course, since I don't go on myspace now that I can't check up on her, it seems a little a little unnecessary. But, whatevs.

Event: Today, baby sister was throwing down hard. And, I didn't even do anything. In fact, I said thanks. This is what I got:
"...you are not too good with HTML so you might have to wait until you're around me to do this stuff."

PS: By stuff, she means cut and paste.

moving

I am getting ready for my move in some very important ways.

Number one, reality TV marathon. After watching Dancing with the Stars, I stumbled across a Run's House marathon. I am not sure if PVision realized he was starting me on a very bad path when he encouraged me to get TV. Even though I'm almost positive it's making me less capable of complex sentences, I'm enjoying my TV-habit very much.

Number 2...scanning the interweb to decide if the folks sell their furniture with things on it or not on it to try to get an idea for my pictures. The answer is easy for the big antique desk--clean off the junk. Nobody needs to know about my desk system. But, it's less clear with the bookshelf. Do I leave in the books for that book-y feeling? People my be so taken with my thematic arrangement of books that they must buy my bookshelf.

Number three..well, there is no number three. Number three should be packing up or getting rid of junk. The yard sale is June 9. Next weekend is going to need a number three.

Thoughts

In a day consumed by very serious thoughts, I've also had some of my infamous deep thoughts.

• Jello pudding comes with Splenda. My no sugar ever world just got easier.
• In my life, I have lived in Washington DC, NYC, and am about to move to LA. It's like I'm doing some type of major city tour. Kind of amazing for a person who likes the hikes.
  
• You can watch an entire episode of Dancing with the Stars on fast forward, only playing it at normal speed for 10 minutes and get the entire experience.
  
• RIP GGs. My sisters ate poptarts as they watched.
  
• CA is now my next big thing. And, it's big. Different than anything ever before. I like it.
  

Done

I've finished. My thesis is written. My poster is (somewhat obsessively) arranged. I've rediscovered artist spray mount and only had a minor misfire mishap. I'm done.

Really done.

Three years of teaching. 48 credits of all sorts of classes. One very big thesis. And, now I'm done. I'm entitled to a new degree. I am eligible for my credentials to teach.

As I type I am so mindful of the fact that all of those things seem less important than the fact that I've found something that has changed my world. I am now a teacher. I know this because I am overcome with joy at the fact that one of my students moved from the beginning of first grade reading to the end of second grade over the course of this year. ...because the handwritten cards I get become my treasures. ...and because of so many other reasons, too many to write here.

While I'm happy that I've fulfilled my requirements for my Masters of Science of Education. I am so excited for the time I will spend learning my craft. I think it will take a lifetime.

The Final Countdown

I am a big fan of the countdown widget. My dashboard currently has 3. Days until I hand in my thesis (3), weekdays until the end of elementary school (34), and days until I move to CA (51). I've had some big news on all fronts:

Thesis--It's written! All 45 pages provide keen insight into the impact technology can have on the literacy development of 3rd and 4th graders who have disabilities. Well, that's a bit of an overstatement. But, it did provide interesting learning and I think I'll continue to use my intervention in my classroom. Plus--it's written! I'm so close to being finished with this round of grad school.

End of Elementary School--I am getting all sentimental about leaving my students. My kindergartners of two years ago are now very tall second graders who read beautifully. My current class is filled with sweet children who are wonderful. I will miss them all. But, I am excited about teaching in a different environment. I want to be poetry in motion when I teach. I don't know if I'd ever be able to experience that in my chaotic environment.

California or Bust--I've made plans to visit my folks in DC, have tickets for my sisters to spend time with me in CA this summer, and am getting mentally prepared to sell my belongings. After a conversation with a friend last night, I've also decided that I should document the unique nature of my current neighborhood because I'm not sure I'll believe that it is the way it really is once I'm gone. She told me about a store called "Temptation--for kids" and encouraged me to take a picture of the scary dentist awning. So, here it is--part one of my photo documentary of the place I've called home for 3 years.

Guilt

I am sitting on the couch, watching TV, attempting to stay as still as possible. I am five days from handing in my thesis. Last night, I was up way past my teacher bedtime attempting to write enough of my paper so I could give it to my editor friend today.

Now I'm practically incapacitated. I cannot move. My brain hurts. Even though my paper is close to done, I am still feeling overwhelmed with the feeling that I should be doing more...despite my complete lack of ability for locomotion.

I can't wait to be finish school and get to enjoy free time.

On the other hand, one of the unexpected benefits of being this tired is a whole lot of cheesy. I am currently experiencing some serious cheese issues.

The walk

Tonight, as the insanity of the thesis hit a new high, my roommate and I decided to pull ourselves from our respective laptops and take a 30 minute walk around the neighborhood. A neighborhood walk in Queens usually brings some very unexpected things. It's just the nature of the borough. After a few run ins with big dogs that made my heart rate go up, we turned onto a block we don't normally find ourselves on during a walk. Half way up the block, I thought I saw fireworks in someones front yard. I had to walk a few more yards to realize that there were not fireworks but rather fountains, lit with very colorful lights, shooting water high into the air. It's as if these homeowners are stepping up their game--they have obviously put those blow up snow globes and gigantic Easter rabbits to shame.

PS Where do people find these things?

Whap! Bam! Bif!

This morning, as I was putting my laundry away, I managed to hit myself right under my eye with a coat hanger--one of those with clips on the end. In a split second, the far side of the coat hanger arced towards my eye, landing with a thud. I am now the proud owner of a little under eye bruise.

I am sure this will be funny very soon. Right now, it just hurts.