Friday, September 2, 2016

Livin' the dream

Labor Day Weekend has always been such a huge milestone and much needed break from all the back-to-school craziness.  Now, although I will always appreciate a three-day-weekend, I am just like, oh cool, instead of feeling like oh-thank-god-I-can-sleep-for-72-hours-straight.

My new job is awesome.  For the following reasons:
1.  I am totally relaxed.   I don't think I've ever been this relaxed in my adult life, EVER.
2.  I may use the restroom at regular intervals of my choice.
3.  Its Labor Day Weekend, and I am not sick.
4.  I'm super hydrated.  I have time to drink coffee/tea/water regularly, instead of running my mouth all the time.
5.  I haven't done a single bit of work in my evenings or weekends (excluding concerts, of course).
6.  I travel between 3 buildings, so I have jam-time with my car radio throughout the day.
7.  NW is one of my buildings!  I'm super glad about that.  I love getting to stay in regular touch with my friends there.

Challenges:
1.  The old me:
       The new me:
        It feels WRONG!  But its right.  My super-boss actually gave me a special project, so if I find myself with a chunk of unoccupied time (which happens regularly with building schedule changes and other unexpected academic things), I can work on that and be occupied.

2.  Particularly at NW, having previous relationships with many of those students, I'm floundering on where my line is.  I'm not the teacher anymore!  It is not my job to direct kids.  But I find myself in situations where I am tempted to intervene with student behaviors, and when I do, sometimes it backfires.  Yes, I am not the teacher, and it is no longer my job to be in charge of them.  But it is unrealistic to think that I can be an adult in a school building and never find myself in a situation where I will need to provide positive adult guidance to a student.  I'll figure out the balance, I'm sure.  
Today, the choir teacher pointed out to the students how I'm an extra set of eyeballs in the room, and the student exclaimed "I don't care about her.  I don't even know her.  She's not my teacher."
True story, bro.  But that doesn't mean I'm not going to see you, really SEE you, try to telepathically send you better choices, and that if given the opportunity, have an exchange with you about acting like you have some sense in this world.  Its no longer my responsibility to deal with you.  But I WILL see you.
Bleh.  Its sticky.
But the good part about it - I get to leave and not deal with it.

3.  NW again - its awkward seeing the band and orchestra students.  Although I love when they approach me, and give hugs, and I ask how they are, it is a tad uncomfortable.  I don't wish to cause any problems for the new teacher next door in my old classroom.  

In other news, my side job pet sitting has been AMAZEBALLS.  I'm currently in love with a cat who lives in this gorgeous home near campus.  He lets me pick him up and snuggle snuggle snuggle!  I also visited a house with FOUR super-awesome, adorable, happy, lovable dogs last week.  Three big ones and one small one.   They all believed they are lap dogs, if you can imagine Heather-Dog-Pile.  Wow, it was tough to get in and out of there in 30 mins.  But THEY WERE SO MUCH FUN!  

So, yep.  Livin' the dream.  Professional music maker and animal snuggler....