Life is good today!

I've experienced a lot of awesome things/changes in the past couple weeks.

1.  My House
Omg.  We moved in over memorial day weekend.  I.  Love.  This.  House.  By far the best purchase I have ever made. EVAR!!!!  There was a time there that I was worried we were going to lose it.  We made all our moving plans, and gave our notice on our rental and were scheduled to move out, and then this thing happened that was maybe going to screw all that up.  And as close as 5 days before the move, we were uncertain about having a place to move into.  And then everything worked out.  It was always fine.  I just worry way too much!
On our move in day, Superman and I happened to have tickets to the Zac Brown Band concert (his belated birthday present).  So we spent all day moving WAY TOO MUCH STUFF (time to purge!), and then dragged ourselves to the concert.  Totally worth it.  Zac Brown blessed our new home with his positive life messages.  And we ran into a friend, someone I'm convinced is my guardian angel.  (She was absolutely essential to my 2015 recovery.)  Took that as another blessing on our new home.

And I keep finding awesome surprises in our house.  There were the big perks we knew about before we signed.  And then little perks: like the glow in the dark stickers on our bedroom ceiling (not tacky ones), ones that look like we are sleeping under the stars; the heater in the master bathroom; the mudroom for the dogs; the awesome kitchen cabinets; the dimmer lights on most of the lighting.  The little things are important to me.  Its clear that we bought this house from good people.  Karma is real.

2.  My Job
I gave my notice at Northwest Middle School and I'm leaving teaching, perhaps for just a little bit, or maybe forever.  Not sure yet.  I have transferred, effective in August, to the Piano Accompanist position at F.L. Schlagle High School for the vocal music department (and 1 or 2 other schools, yet to be determined).  Its an hourly position.  Almost full time.  Full time benefits.  Sometimes irregular hours, depending on if its concert season or not.  I am thrilled to be using my music degree, and continue doing classroomy things but without all the responsibility.  I might absolutely love it and do it for awhile!  With my new free time and less responsibility, I am pursuing re-opening my private lessons studio, maybe doing dog-walking/in home pet-sitting (phone interview next week), and I'm researching freelance writing opportunities (not that I'm qualified to do that, but I'm reading up on it...!)  I went through quite a bit of turmoil making this decision, but after all was said and done, I have an intense feeling of RELIEF, and I know this is the right thing for me.

3.  Two more days of school left.
It has been bittersweet.  The staff and students of Northwest literally contributed to saving my life in 2015.  There are people and things that I will miss so much.  There are other people and things that I will not, hence the above relief.
I had my concert scheduled for last week and we ended up canceling due to the severe weather that evening.  It was a metaphor of my time there.  All prepared and organized and then forces beyond my control prevented the desired outcome.

So, I'm feeling incredibly lucky for all these changes as I sit on my amazing deck typing this post.  Life is good today!

I love my friends

A friend at work gave me this amazing Ganesha. Love you!

Ug

I have my good health (and intend to stay that way).  I am employed.  I'm in a loving marriage and have a wonderful family.

But there are other obstacles in need of removal.  So I will turn to Ganesha.  He was splendid the last time I needed an obstacle removed!!

  

Acceptance, Gratitude, and Healing.

Eye of the Storm

I feel like I'm sitting in the eye of a hurricane right now.  Everything is going crazy around me, and I'm in a holding pattern in the middle.

I was offered the job.  I'm on the cusp of accepting it.  There are sensitive and complicated variables involved in the timing.  I want to make sure I'm doing right by myself, my superman, and my workplace.

I went to yoga last night, and the complete stranger who was sitting next to me at the end of the class said "I don't know what you're going through, but I can assure you its going to be alright."

I had to physically restrain myself from laughing out loud, but instead smiled and said thank you and ran the other direction (and then awkwardly stood with her at the cross-walk).  If I go too long between yoga classes, I tend to spend the entire time with silent tears running down my face.  Its really weird.  And I'm not like sad or mad or any typical reason to cause waterworks.  I'm just OVERWHELMED and haven't done a good job of keeping myself BALANCED.   Ug.

Hopefully resolution is coming soon.

I had a conversation with superman last night regarding how I run and hide from my problems when things are difficult.  It further supported that I'm making the right decision.  I need to be happier.  I need less conflict in my life.  I need a job that resonates with my natural state of being (not disciplining teenagers.  you can't avoid conflict when you are in charge of a classroom.)  I don't know what I envision for myself with this position.  It could just be temporary until I figure something else out, or it could turn out to be really great and I do it longterm.  I do know, I am excited about using my degree to make music and still doing classroomy type things, but without all the crap.  I can't continue to do what I'm currently doing any more.

The conversation with superman prompted me to look up INFJ pictures on pinterest all morning.  These were my favorites:

Gratitude, Acceptance, and Healing.  I am grateful that I have the ability to change the things that are no longer acceptable, and contribute to a lifetime of healing.

Teacher Appreciation Week

The internet is plastered with appreciation for teachers.  At work, we are all receiving staff gifts.  Lunches.  Ice Cream parties.  Roaring words of praise.  These things are all awesome and definitely appreciated...

but...

.....this -------->

I understand the problem originates from elsewhere.  I'm just annoyed, deep down inside, past the surface of gratitude.

Well, I have a job interview/audition tomorrow.  I'm nervous.  Decision-making time.

Then, to make matters worse, a job posted earlier this week that:

1.  Is outside of the classroom, but still in education

2.  I'm ACTUALLY QUALIFIED FOR.

3.  A position devoted to fixing the things in the above yellow box

4.  In the town where I live

5.  Would be a pay raise.  (Woot!)

and

6.  application materials will not be reviewed until May 16.

So what do I do!!!??  I'm hopeful of getting a job offer by the end of the week.  *crossing fingers*  But do I ask them to wait while I see if I'm contacted regarding the other thing?  Two weeks is an excessive amount of time to wait.

#adulting is so hard.

Elephants leaving the circus

I came across this funny video about the teacher's work week.  It makes you chuckle.  Its also super accurate.














Teachers bond over this mentality.  

As I watched the video, I found myself thinking:  soooooo 6.5 days out of the week, teachers are either mad or sad?  Waaaaaaaaat?    Wake up call!

But then, on the other hand, I'm thinking to myself:  adulting is hard.  Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do.

On the other other hand:   Life is too Short to be unhappy.  We should all be doing what makes us happy.

On the other other other hand:  but dreams are for young people.  Reality is for adults, especially when it comes to making money and paying the bills and supporting your family.  Grow up!

I feel immature thinking that I can just quit my job and choose whatever I want to do.

And then I heard a story on the news this morning about elephants leaving the circus.  I couldn't help, in that moment considering all my different hands, to see a metaphor in that.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-circus-elephants-idUSKCN0XR0AF

Sigh.

I have a job interview on Thursday:  one of two responses I've gotten from 15+ submitted resumes (I also received 2 rejection emails today).    If I'm offered the job, I'm prepared to take the leap and leave teaching in the name of happiness and less stress.  It'll be a huge pay cut.  But, its time to take care of me.  No more bull hooks.  Eat some high-quality hay and local produce, go on occasional walks, and possibly pull old tricks...

Resume Distribution

Alright.  I've sent my resume to a BUTTLOAD of positions in the past 2 weeks.  Basically spending all my free-time searching and filling out applications.

International Student Advisor
Strategic Communication Coordinator
Library Information Specialist
Library Clerk
Library Youth Information Specialist
Dog-walking/Pet-Sitting
Online Editorial Assistant
Youth Services Librarian
Piano Accompanist
Internal Communications Manager
Site Manager, Recruiting Programs
New Teacher Pipeline
Marketing Content Writer
Technical Writer
Freelance Writer

Wanna know how many replies/interview requests I've gotten?:
1.   Dog-walking/Pet-sitting.

And there is currently one middle school band opening in the area.  Am I dumb not to apply for it?  Am I allowing a sour situation to overcome my judgement?

Am I living in a fantasy land that I can be choosy about what kind of job and environment I work in?

*head exploding*

I'm going to turn to my phone's photo library for inspiration and morale-boost.  (Whenever I see something that resonates with me online, I save it for later!)

Random Throwback.   GUYS!  LOOK HOW LONG MY HAIR IS.

In other news, the house front is going swimmingly.  Inspections are scheduled for next week.  Home loan details are being solidified with no issues.  Yeay!