bits of randomness

1. I was on iTunes last night looking for some new Jewish music. I’ve been wanting something other than covers of the prayers that I know so well. I found lots of great stuff, but I also found that nearly all of the Jewish music at iTunes is filed under Christian and Gospel. I can assure that the Jewish music I listen to is neither Christian nor Gospel. Surely there must be someone at Apple who is Jewish and can set these people straight. There are even reviews on there stating that the music is filed under the wrong genre.

2. I got this quote in my e-mail yesterday and thought it was really fitting for how I’m feeling right now: Instead of judging, start accepting yourself with all the imperfections, all the frailties, all the mistakes, all the failures. Don’t ask yourself to be perfect. That is simply asking something impossible, and then you are feeling frustrated. You are a human being. (Osho, 1931-1990, Indian Spiritual Leader)

3. Cool stuff about Israel

4. The wind is wearing on my nerves. I’ve had a headache off and on for three days now. I can’t breathe through my nose and I just want to sleep. Could someone please turn the wind machine off?

5. 88 days until we cruise. It’s almost time to start getting really excited, but not quite yet.

I think that’s it for now.

 

on the outside looking in

but what else is new? I always feel like I’m on the outside looking in. I’m missing out on doing fun stuff with my friends (and I’m rapidly losing those friends, or so it seems). I go months, even years, without talking to or seeing my friends. It doesn’t help that they don’t live here, through no fault of their own.

Some days I’ve got half a mind to just pack it up and move to a completely new place and go it alone. But that terrifies me, a little bit. I just know that I need a change. I’ve been questioning a lot of things lately and I’m just not sure how to go about making the changes I know I need to make.

So, if you’re reading this, it’s not directed at anyone specific. It’s just some general thoughts I’ve been having about the people that I have (or don’t have) in my life at the moment.

 

by the numbers

92 days until we cruise.

30 before 30 is complete, including links for some things.

4 more Sundays of religious school. This makes me happy and sad at the same time. I had fun doing it, but I’m excited to have new kids and revamp my entire program. I’m planning to start on this pretty soon. I learned a lot, but I still have a lot more to learn and figure out.

 

96

and by 96, I mean 95.

That number is representative of the amount of days I have to cross off the calendar before we leave on our cruise.

We are going to Alaska. By we, I mean me, my parents, my brother, and my grandparents.

I am beyond excited, however I am trying to remain neutral about the entire thing because 95 days is a very long time to wait for something like that.

 

obsessed+addicted

gen-soy protein bars

fruit punch vitamin water

music

i love lucy

trying to become organic+no meat (it’s really hard, by the way, for some reason)

keeping up with the kardashians

traveling

books+reading

 

kids say the darndest things

this afternoon, after the kids were up from their naps and had snack, they were running amok around the classroom, like it was a free-for-all. Mona and I were trying to get a bulletin board going. Well, I happened to walk by the art center and I noticed there was marker on the floor. I asked Sammy if he had done and he said no. He told me Max did it during nap time. So, I called Max over and asked him if he had colored on the floor. He said yes and when I asked him why, he said, (and I quote), “you put me there”, meaning he was on his cot there during naptime. They aren’t allowed to have anything but books during naptime (if that), but he got a hold of some markers somehow and drew all over the floor.

So, we made him clean it up. He kept asking me for help, but I told him that nobody but him had drawn all over the floor, so he wasn’t going to get any help in cleaning it up.  Needless to say, I don’t think he’ll be drawing on the floor again anytime soon.

 

that girl

i am lucky enough to call my best friend said i should blog more, so here i am to say good morning.

i have a new blog banner. i just haven’t uploaded it yet.

it’s wednesday. i think there are going to be cupcakes today to celebrate roman’s birthday. they won’t be jamie’s delicious vegan cupcakes (or what i believe to be delicious, since she neglected to send me any;)), but i will eat them anyway.

i leave you with a quote and a link to my favorite blog.

quote: live to the point of tears. -albert camus-

quote came from: sparkletopia

 

amazing

how things change when you find out that the school you work for could pay for you to go to school. I had a seminar to attend last night to get continuing education credits (we must take these courses to keep our jobs). Anyway, these classes are totally boring to me because I already know about what’s being taught. I know about play, about behavior/classroom management, inclusion, etc.

But the point is that last night I found out there’s a program here in Vegas that I can go through to complete an apprenticeship in early childhood education and then go on to get an associates + a bachelors + a masters in early childhood education. Suddenly, I am not completely opposed to teaching preschool, because I’m not tied to Shenker forever. I mean, I wasn’t to begin with, but this will open up many more opportunities for me, rather than just having to apply for elementary positions.

Unfortunately, my mother always has to be the doubting Thomas and ask if that’s really what I want to do. Well, no, it’s not. I don’t know what my dream is anymore. I think it got crushed sometime between August of 2006 and April of 2007. But if I’m able to get education paid for, then I will certainly take the opportunity and run with it.

 

Help!

So, lately I’ve been rethinking the whole teaching thing. I’m not happy where I’m at right, as a preschool assistant. It’s not my dream or even my goal. The environment that I’m in right now has not been one of learning and/or growth for me. I want out, but I’m not sure which direction to go. I feel like teaching is no longer where it’s at. I don’t feel fulfilled or satisfied by what I’m doing.

There has been lots of talk about laying off teachers, here and in other places. As a result of that, I don’t feel like I have much of a chance to find a job. It also doesn’t help that I have a master’s degree - a really hard thing for a first year teacher to have when she’s trying to look for a job.

So, I guess if anyone has any suggestions and/or advice, I’d be really appreciative.

Thanks!

 

California 2008

 

Just a little sneak peek at my recent trip to San Diego. I promise to come and blog about for real this weekend, with more pictures and some link action to the places I went.

I hope everyone has had a great week!

Jamie-James, if you read this (and I know you probably will), what’s the second week of June looking like for you? Like, the 7th-15th?