My 33rd birthday. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better…
Well, I didn’t, anyway!
Happy news to follow. This gets a little bit long, so I’m going to cut…
*updated w/new photo!* Continue reading
Happy, happy, happy!!!
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Career-altering decision news
So, the very first thing I did with my day yesterday was meet with the principal of the middle school in my favorite school district, where I’ve been a day-to-day sub for a couple of years now. They offered me a long-term position in 8th grade English, from the beginning of the school year until the beginning of December. I asked for some time to consider it.
In that time, I talked to Rand, and talked to my parents. I had some hesitations regarding leaving my adjunct positions and potentially burning bridges and such. I also called the personnel office to ask about salary.
I learned that I would make substantially more in the long-term position, plus be eligible for benefits. These are both *very* good things, but just icing on the cake, really. This is an excellent district, a place that I would very much like to work permanently, and it’s a pretty tough one to crack. Getting my foot in the door is incredibly valuable. Also, the experience and building up my portfolio for secondary teaching is very good for me in the long run.
So I couldn’t say no. I felt bad about the adjunct stuff, but there was no way I could pass up this opportunity! Plus, I’m going to keep my evening class at the community college. I’m very excited, and very nervous!!
More bday stuff later…for now, you can enjoy this little flickr set. I’ll be adding titles and descriptions to the photos soon!
Papers to grade. Later, gators!
Hippo birdie (to me)
(I heart Sandra Boynton!)
Thanks to all who have sent and/or posted birthday wishes!
I met up with Jen briefly yesterday, and she gifted me with these:
Ginger cookies! 33 of them! Thanks, Jen! 🙂
And of course, I had already received my awesome camera from Rand. I also won the auction for the pretty little dress (which I hope fits me!), bought myself a new yoga mat $12.99 at Marshalls), and renewed my flickr pro membership.
And Thomas has just pointed out that a tropical storm has been named after me. Aw, how’d they know? 😉
Sadly, I really do have to grade papers today. Wah! No fair! I also need to contemplate a career-altering decision that needs to be made by, uh, tomorrow. (if you want more info, email or IM me…)
Later, Rand and I will be going out for dinner. Apart from the grading and decision-making, it should be a good day. 🙂
By this time next week
eBay will be my downfall
Would it be crazy to buy this:
Just because I think it’s purty? (approx. $50 US w/shipping)
And then I found this:
while searching for something to wear to the World’s Largest Disco, and I want to buy it just to wear because it’s SO adorable.
I need to be stopped. 😉
(by the way, if you’re interested in coming to Buffalo for the Disco, let me know!!)
Now you know
I have hidden your keys
Gah.
Visited my parents in PA. Left my keys there. Not happy. 🙁
Anatomy of a losing scrabble game
current score: Thomas-382, me-112
Your tray for the entire game has consisted of one-point letters, except for one G (2 points) and one C (3 points).
Your opponent plays both a Z and a J in the first three (or so) rounds, both on multiple word or letter scores.
Your opponent plays a word using ALL of his tiles on a triple-word score.
You now have an entire tray of nothing but vowels.
Seriously? Is this fair??
*UPDATE* Message from said opponent:
amazing game – not my usual luck
1) I’ve never had a word that used my whole tray of letters (50 point bonus)
2) I seldom get a triple word on a long word
3) but 2 triple words? lucky me
Lucky him, indeed. 😉
Blogging-by-mail
Over the weekend, I received my blogging-by-mail package from Audrey at Rouge Tomate.
It’s just full of tasty treats! I still haven’t opened the VERY yummy looking chocolate with dried cranberries. Mmmm… I also got a selection of Coffee Crisp bars, tea, maple caramel (sounds tasty!), some Les Citrons candies and Hoisin sauce. Audrey also included a recipe for sour cream coffee cake that looks fantastic. Thanks, Audrey!
Michelle at Our Full House received the package I sent her, which I had lots of fun putting together! I got all ambitious and made cupcakes. I was worried about mailing them, but I guess they made it there okay!
I individually wrapped them in cling wrap, then packed them into a gladware container with packing peanuts!
This is so much fun. Thanks again, Stephanie!
Movie geekery
On Saturday night, Rand, John and I did a superhero double-feature at the cheap theater. We saw Spider-Man 3 followed by Fantastic 4 2.
In conversation before the movies, I said, “I don’t know anything about the Fantastic 4.”
“Well,” John said, “There’s four of them.”
Har, har…
Ahem.
I had not seen the first Fantastic 4 movie. My major complaint has been that Jessica Alba looks terrible as a blonde. More on that later.*
I had seen the other Spider-Man movies, though. I think Tobey Maguire does a good Peter Parker, and I enjoy Kirsten Dunst.
I enjoyed Spidey 3, but I thought it was a touch on the long side. The whole business with Venom could have been left out and saved for another movie. It had no real consequence and seemed kind of wedged in.
The emotional stuff, though, was fantastic. I cried through the entire third act of the movie. The hits just kept on coming. The resolution of Harry’s story was very well done. (except for one little quibble–why didn’t the butler open his mouth sooner? ah well…)
As for FF…it was fun, but mostly forgettable. The Silver Surfer looked cool. I thought the scene where the team holds up the giant ferris wheel in London was pretty convincingly done. Rand keeps saying the FF would play better as a TV show, and I think I agree. This movie would have been much better suited to the small screen.
Thus ends my movie geekery for this week.
*If you insist that Jessica Alba must play Sue Storm, for crying out loud, find a better shade of blonde for her. It just looks completely artificial and awful.