MrsDeo's Blog

California!

2008-05-29T01:03:00Z

Well, the dog and I made it to California. :) I love being here - it's home in a way that Virginia can never equal. Of all the places we could be, I guess, Virginia's a pretty good one. I just love Sonoma County; the atmosphere, the familiarity, the landscape, my friends and family...

We got some less-than-exciting news last week. My husband, who is in the Navy, is getting sent to Africa sometime near the end of summer/early fall and (my best guess) will be gone about 9 months total. We found out just a couple of weeks ago that it was a possibility, but I was trying to be optimistic and keep in mind that he wasn't the primary person up for the position, but he called me from his ship to say that he was notified that he was now the primary and would definitely be heading over there. I don't know what I'll be doing, now, because I can either stay in Virginia by myself or move back to California and live with my parents for a while (and then move back to Virginia for a few months after he gets back, before moving BACK to Cali for good). I haven't had a chance to talk to him since we found out, either. Apparently we've got some big decisions to make.

I am having a good time out here, though. Tomorrow night I'm heading over to the in-laws' house for dinner. Should be exciting as always. ;) Wish me luck!

Trash to treasure???

2008-05-17T01:38:00Z

First of all, thanks for the sweet comments! It made me smile to see little notices in my e-mail, and it was even better when I read them! I love that even though technology has its low points, it makes a community like this one (where we don't even know each other!) possible.

So, in honor of the weekend, maybe some inspiration?
Check out my photos - I just put in pics of my "cabinet." I never figured out what to call it. The story goes like this: One day, the dog and I were taking a walk around our apartment complex. I walked past a Dumpster, and lo and behold someone was throwing out a complete sideboard/cabinet thing! We finished the walk, and I got my car and drove around to that side of the complex. Someone else must have seen it also, because it had been moved, but I assumed I had first dibs since I'd seen it first. It took me about 10 minutes to maneuver it into my Honda Accord (I couldn't decide what was better, trunk or backseat?), and then I had to lug it up three flights of stairs. Needless to say, I must have been quite a sight.

It def wasn't in the greatest shape. It was painted black on top of purple (?!), and painted badly. The doors had no handles, and it had this awkward rectangular cutout on top, with a funky piece of plywood nailed over it. The plan was to strip off the paint and hopefully stain it; that didn't work out because the wood on the doors was way different than the body of the thing, and it was too much work to get every tiny bit of paint out of every nook and cranny.

I ended up painting it white with a dark glaze to sort of antique it. It's got, shall we say, "character." I knew I couldn't hide all the nicks and holes, so I played them up. I kind of like it! It's now our linen cabinet - fabulous new storage!

I made it!

2008-05-16T02:48:00Z

I am finally DONE with school (well, college at least)!!! I officially graduated last Saturday! Now I'm just waiting for the official degree to get mailed, and then the licensure paperwork, and I'll be set.

Well, that and finding a job. Which I'm currently in the process of doing. I was procrastinating (partly just because I really was busy, but then just because I didn't want to answer the interview-like questions on the application), but I finally mailed off my general application to the closest school district last week, and I mailed off my first specific letter-and-resume today. Crossing my fingers for a job teaching 6th grade at a school nearby. Ideally, I'd love to work at the one across the street! It would be convenient, I could walk to work (save on gas $$!), and feel better about my environmental impact. We'll see though.

Also waiting to hear back about teaching summer school. I don't like all this waiting! I'm also scared to death about the interviews - I need to really prepare ahead of time, but I'm putting that off... I'm not a good interviewee.

Good news is that I get to head back to Cali for 2 weeks! My parents are flying me back while DH is underway. My cousin should be having her 1st baby while I'm there, and my mom and aunts are throwing my grandparents a (get this) 60TH ANNIVERSARY party! Should be fun.

Well, I wanted to start getting back in the habit of this. I was keeping up with my student teaching blog for a while, but then it wasn't mandatory and I started slacking. I really like putting things down in (writing? typing?) every so often, though. DH gets sick of hearing it all! Anyone else feel the same?

Quick update

2008-01-16T21:56:00Z

Well, I'm an official student teacher. I finally met my coop. teacher the Friday before I was supposed to start, and apparently she didn't know that I was starting that next Monday - she thought there was another week or so to go. It wasn't the best first impression that I got, although now that I'm into things she's a pretty good person to have as a cooperating teacher. I've been waiting to get into student teaching to decide if I really want to pursue classroom teaching, because I was feeling for a while like I might not really want to do that. Now that I'm in it, I still feel that way. I don't mind being in the classroom and all that, but once I get home I'm bone tired and STILL have work to do. I want a job that I can leave at work instead of having to be immersed in it 24 hours a day. I like working with the kids and all, though. So who knows, maybe once I get the hang of things it'll go more smoothly.

For the other class I have to take right now, we have to keep up a blog, so while I probably won't be finding time to write on this one, that one will be updated at least once a week. It can be found at http://kristen-esperanzado.blogspot.com/

The airport story will have to wait for another time, sorry. :)

That's all I've got for now. Until... ?

Happy New Year!

2008-01-03T19:23:00Z

We're back! My husband made it back home, safe and sound. I'm trying to get into a new routine, since I'm no longer "military-single." What makes it even harder is that he's gone at least one night a week, plus the fact that in a couple of weeks he'll start leaving for weeks at a time. It's still much better to have him home than gone, though. :)

I start student teaching on Monday and I am scared to death. I don't even know if I want to teach, but I do want to get my credential and everything, since I'd like to do something related to teaching, so I have to do this. I know that 4 months isn't really a LONG time, it's not even half of a year, but on this end of it it feels like forever. I have yet to meet my first cooperating teacher (after 4 attempts, including actually going to the school), so that's my task for tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes.

Also, look forward to the story of my flight to California - it was quite... LONG. I'm saving it for another time, however, because I'm going to go light a fire, make some hot chocolate, and chill. I plan to enjoy my last few days of freedom. :)

Done!

2007-12-14T22:45:00Z

Classes are done!!! I have student teaching next semester, and just ONE class that goes along with it, and then I'll be totally done. I'm a little scared about student teaching, but I am so happy to be this close to graduating.

I also got good news - I was told earlier this year that I couldn't get about half my financial aid this spring since I won't be a "full-time" student (although I'll basically be working full-time w/o pay). Last night one of my classmates said we could get it if it's our last semester, so I e-mailed my fin. aid advisor today and she said yes, I can get it! Otherwise I was going to have to take an extra class that I wouldn't really have time for, because the difference was about $900 (to take fewer classes).

So, I have stuff to do around the apartment tomorrow, but on Sunday I fly "home" to California - yay! I just kind of took the day off today, although I did have to run to the grocery store. Return to Me was on AMC tonight - I love that movie. It makes me cry, but it's great. It was a pretty good day.

Well, I'm off to have some tea. Bye!

Procrastination

2007-12-11T22:15:00Z

I am a procrastinator. I have my moments when I'm on top of things, but lately that's flown out the window and I'm back to procrastinating.

If you've ever read this: www.structuredprocrastination.com, that's exactly what today was like for me. I kept thinking about that essay - as I packed for Christmas a week ahead of time instead of writing a paper due tonight. I ended up finishing the paper, of course. It actually does have a deadline and IS important. However, there are also plenty more papers to write by Thursday, which I have yet to start. Except the smallest one, which is really just a revision of an old paper, and I realized, actually MUCH shorter than the original.

I also sewed a makeshift cell phone holder so my nice new phone won't get scratched up in my purse. Yeah. Because that's important. :o)

Errands

2007-12-11T00:05:00Z

Well, I ran a bunch of my errands today. I didn't get a subbing job last night, so I just put myself on "unavailable" for today, since I needed the time to do other things.

The least pleasant was going to the DMV. For the 2nd year in a row, I hadn't gotten my registration renewal in the mail. I renewed online a few weeks ago, since my tags expire this month, and I still hadn't received the stickers. The same thing happened last year, except I forgot all about it until they'd actually expired, then waited and waited for the mail... We moved over a year ago, and I'd gone online to change our address. I thought that somewhere in the system our address wasn't fully changed over, and lo and behold, I found it today. The registration mailing address wasn't changed - and there was no way to change it. At least the wait wasn't too bad.

Turns out that since my husband's name is first on the title and registration (simply because they put him there), HIS address is what they use. We have the same address, but apparently I was only changing mine. The thing is, he doesn't have a VA license, he's held his CA residency, so there was NO way to change HIS address.

I also made sure to exchange the shirt I bought for my MIL. I'm shipping everything out tomorrow, so it will be there by the time I get to Cali. I still need to figure out two tiny mom & MIL gifts - $5-$10 - any ideas???

Anyways, it is LATE (for me), and I may or may not be working tomorrow, so I need to get myself off to bed. Hope the rest of the week goes smoothly!