Attack of the Spider Monkeys

So, things are going ok. The kids are great and we're all starting to get the hang of things. I even had the kids all by myself one day and we all survived unharmed, so I count that as success. We even had our first fire drill and only no one screamed and only 2 kids cried. So also a success. We're going on our first field trip next week so that should be pretty interesting. I think we'll have about 15 parents chaperoning as well which makes me more nervous instead of less nervous. This one mom told me that it was just too far to send her baby by herself so she has to go too. Lady, we are going to Dallas. But whatever.

Here's something that happened the other day...

Kingergarten Boy: Ms. Beck, do you know that the world is going to end tomorrow?
Me: I think tomorrow it will just be Wednesday.
KB: No, there will be an attack of spider monkeys tomorrow.
Me: Well, are you prepared?
KB: Oh yes. I always have God's sword. (Begins to make slashing sword motions with his hands.)
Me: Oh, that's nice.


Maybe I shouldn't encourage them, but it's just so funny.

Please Sit On Your Bottom

Today was picture day. Even though our kids wear uniforms, it was still fun to see them with their hair fixed and clothes clean anticipating picture day. I loved watching them sit on the little stool and smile their little smiles. If only they were this cute all the time. And I had my picture made too. It's weird to think that I will be immortalized in some kid's yearbook for all of time now. I know I have looked back at my old yearbooks and it's crazy to think that I'll be in someone's yearbook. And I'll be one of the big pictures too. Maybe even under the heading "Faculty". Weird.

This week there have been good days and bad days. It seems like when one kid is acting crazy, all of them decide to act crazy. Like stand on the toilet seat and sing or all start repeating the same words over and over and over. These two kids today were just sitting at their table practicing writing their names and saying "he's weird, he's weird, he's weird" again and again. Why? Because they have to drive you crazy. It's their job.

But today was a good day. Not only were the kids pretty alright, but I had lunch with the
Spanish teachers today and got to practice a little bit of the español. Yay! And one of the Turkish teachers invited me to have dinner at her house this weekend. I'm looking forward to that. She's so sweet and you know I love the multicultural foods. So I'll let you know how that goes.

That's about all. Our dog is leaving us this weekend to go back to Kuwait. Tigger, it was nice knowing you. I will miss you but I will not miss cleaning up your vomit.

Life with 5-year-olds.

So school has started and I'm getting used to being around these crazy kids all day. As you may know, I'm working with the kindergarten class and we have 26 wee ones. I have some favorites and some that make me want to pull my hair out. Woo hoo. But I do like it for the most part and I get to relive my own 5-year-old days. My favorite part of the day is story time. And nap time. Because that's when I get to eat my lunch and they're somewhat all quiet. I have never appreciated the "quiet" more.

So I don't think my calling in life is to teach kindergarten or anything, but I think I might try teaching. What? I have no idea. What grade? Not a clue. Just a thought.

We all know that kids say the darndest things, so I'll try and include some funny kid stories.

Too bad I can't think of one now.

Nice Work If You Can Get It

So I'm officially on vacation.

Last week at work, The Principal offered me a new job. The position is for a teacher's aide in the kindergarten class. It's not really what I had in mind for my life, but I think I'm going to take the job. I was hoping to get something working with ESL but they don't really need anyone at this particular school, just for kindergarten. So I guess we'll see how that goes. I feel like I should be doing something more exciting, like that it's kind of embarrassing to say that I'm working as a teacher's aide when I have a college degree. I'm a catch. But it's just for a year and I will at least be in the school environment. Maybe I can figure out if teaching is something I want to pursue at the end of this year or I can just walk away and try something else. That's one thing about this stage of life I'm in: I can pretty much do anything. I'm not tied down to any one area of work or even city to live in. I could move to Mexico or Vermont next year.

I guess that's both good and bad. Because I'm a planner and I like to know what's ahead of me and there are just too many options. But I'm trying to enjoy the positives of this and really broaden my ideas for the future. Because, really, who knows? No one.

So...in taking the aide position, they no longer need me to work in the office for the summer and I don't have to report back to work until August 15th. Vacation!! Woo!! Although it's only 3 days into this vacation, and I'm worried about being bored. But I do have a rather exciting trip planned in the very near future. San Diego here I come! I'm going to visit my friend Anne that lives out there and I'm very excited! I've never been to California before and I'm looking forward to seeing the Pacific Ocean for the first time. I am ready for the beach.

So if anyone has any ideas on how to spend these weeks of vacation I've got left, let me know. And preferably not anything that costs too much money (as I will not be making any in this period).

Oh, we are all moved into the new apartment and it's looking good. I think we picked a winner. And our new roommate/dog, Tigger, is doing splendidly and is enjoying all of the attention he's been getting from his three lovely roommates. I'll include a foto.

I'm the only one here at work....it's creepy.

Here are some random things that I feel like sharing. Of course, in your favorite and mine, a bulleted list...

• I'm reading Anna Karenina right now and it's a beast. I'm on page 587 of 817, so I realize it's all downhill from here, but still. Maybe I'm not connecting with the characters of something because I can't stay focused.


• The other day I went to the library and as I walking in there was an old man sitting on a bench outside. I guess I looked sad or something because he told me to smile. When I did, he said "now you feel better, don't ya?" And I did.


• I've been listening to many, many episodes of This American Life at work because I have nothing to do. If you don't know it, it's a show on NPR where they do stories on real people and it will make you laugh and cry. http://www.thislife.org/. I listened to one yesterday where these two brothers were fighting over what to name their new dog. They couldn't agree, so mom came up with a compromise. The dog's name? Pasta Batman. I laughed a lot at that one.


• I rented this movie: Mistress of Spices. Don't rent it; it's not good.


• I want to see the new Harry Potter movie but I don't have anyone to go with. Help!!


• I talked to some of my Spanish friends online yesterday and it made me really really miss Spain. And speaking Spanish. Ay! Como os echo de menos!


• http://www.pandora.com = my lifesaver at work.

That's all for today! I have way too much time on my hands at work; I apologize. : )

Sticky Note

I really don't have anything to say today but I'm bored and felt like writing something down. We'll just see what comes out I guess.

I like this job less and less everyday. I don't know what to do with my time here and instead of trying to find something to do, I just sort of sink into a lethargic state where all I can do is listen to episodes of This American Life and play solitaire. Which, I haven't played solitaire for an extended period of time since probably 1996 when we got our first computer and playing solitaire on the computer was pretty much "da bomb" and/or all there was to do on a computer with Windows 3.1. So I'm rediscovering solitaire and slowly losing my mind.

I feel like I'm waiting for something. I'm waiting for something new to happen and I don't know what it is. I'm one of those people that always likes to have something they're looking forward to. But right now, my life is stretching before me with nothing in sight, no landmarks to get to or anything I really need to get done. I feel like I need to be working toward something, but I haven't figured out what that is yet. People keep asking me, "well, what do you want to do? What do you like to do?" And is it bad that I don't know the answers to that? Because I really don't know. I have, at the same time, too many options and absolutely nothing. About a month ago, there were other things happening that were a welcome distraction from the work worries, but now all I have is this job that makes me crazy. So the moral of this story is that I think I need a new job. Ok, the end.

I'm in a good mood today. The other day I was feeling down, so I made a pie. A dark chocolate pie with merengue and chocolate chips on top. It was delicious if I must say. Mmm, I wish I had a piece of that pie right now.

I wish I had a funny story to tell right here. But I can't really think of anything. But there is 6 hours left in this workday so you never know.

Sigh.

Scene: I am seated behind a desk in a school office on a dreary Thursday. The day has been slow (Cue: tumbleweed rolling past the office door). A fourth grade girl comes into the office to call her parents and wait for them to come pick her up. She sits opposite me in one of the chairs in the office and kicks her legs back and forth. I tear myself away from the online article I'm reading on how to set up a Roth IRA.

Me: Are you having a good summer?
Fourth Grade Girl: Yeah.
Me: Do you have big plans? What are you doing?
FGG: Well, I'm going to NRH2O tomorrow with my friend. Then I'm going with my dad to Sea World and I'm going to stay with my grandparents for two weeks too.
Me: That's cool.
FGG: Yeah.
Me: Have you been to Sea World before? Are you going to ride the roller coasters?
FGG: Yeah.
Me: Awesome.
FGG: What are you doing for the summer?
Me: This. (Points to desk.) Work.
FGG: Oh.
Me: Yeah.