I don't use this as much anymore--Facebook's kind of taken over. But I do check this, mostly to check on family that still use it for updates, and I got tired of my last post.

So, what's going on? I'm still really busy, but I like it. I do miss school now and again--I'm craving deep discussions about novels with people who actually read them for understanding, not just to pass a test--but I like teaching. I will say that having five preps is annihilating my previously hopping personal life. (Hi, friends and family that I never get to talk to or see! I miss you!) I'm hoping next year slows down a bit once I have most things prepped and ready to copy.

I also took a second job. As much as I like teaching, my particular school doesn't pay very much. I'm tutoring a family friend in American literature so that he can stay on the baseball team at his college. It's satisfying my need for intellectual discussion for the moment. I am a little worried about losing my touch for it when we're done though, but I guess that's what book clubs are for!

I am glad that I got out of academia when I did. My friends who stayed seem to be having a really rough time this year. Plus, now that I'm home, I really feel like this is what I was supposed to do. I'm here for people who need my help this year, and that's all that really matters. I do miss the government stipends, but they weren't free anyway. (Is anyone else completely tired of student loan payments? I am all for student loan forgiveness.)

Hopefully, though, I'll have some time in the spring to take a trip down to Tampa and see some of my favorite people.

Obviously, I really don't have much in the way of news. This is all I have: I'm busy, but I'm happy. Isn't that the whole point anyway? I hope everyone can say the same! (Oh, and if you need me for something, Facebook is your best bet. Just a little public service announcement. I have a habit of checking that when I should be grading, so you can usually get me there!)

...and I am completely overwhelmed. I just don't have enough hours in the day. I have about 45 minutes to myself because my seventh graders are in keyboarding for the first nine weeks, but when that's gone, I don't know what I'll do. I hope I'm caught up by then!

Also, I'm sick. Not allergies sick, head cold sick. And I accidentally took sleepytime medicine this morning. It's made me a little loopy. I taught nouns the wrong way--not wrong, but at the wrong level--to my ninth grade class. Bless their hearts, they're so confused now. Damage control tomorrow, I imagine! Needless to say, I am so ready for Friday afternoon.

I do like it here, though--the kids are much more well-behaved than what I'm used to. Talkative, though. Super talkative. Excessively talkative. I guess I should be glad they like each other!

I hope everyone's first week back has been a great one! Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to do the one thing that's become suddenly vital--buying orange juice and cold medicine!

I'm supposed to be integrating technology and new media into my classes this year, which pretty much translates into blogging. I'd probably be a bad example if I didn't keep up my own blog. I still maintain that I'm boring, but I figure that I'll have some pretty entertaining stories once school starts. Also, if I start now, it will be a habit by the time I assign them.

So I was talking with a friend about the way we both tend to like things that other people have never heard of, and we somehow got on things other people love that we just don't get. Those things say just as much about you as the things you do like. So, here's some of mine. I might do a few of these, actually.

1. Rollercoasters. Let me just preface this by saying that I have some random fears. As I always say, they're called irrational fears because they don't make any sense. But I am totally justified in this. Tell me who decided it would be a fabulous idea to ask people to pay to have themselves strapped into a seat and hurled into the air. (Before you mention airplanes, at least you're headed somewhere then. Rollercoasters just go in a circle.) Just looking at them freaks me out, so Disney World should be a blast. The last time I was on a rollercoaster, I hyperventilated. Seriously.

2. The Hills. Please tell me the appeal of this show. Really. I just want to punch those kids in the face. They make me sad. They also make me feel very old on the inside, as they're about three years younger than me, and I'm calling them kids.

3. Harry Potter. Don't hit me! I really just don't care for it. And yes, I did try it. I'll pick the books up again when I have time to read things that aren't for school. Maybe it will be different the next time. It's quite an accomplishment for the author, though--I will concede that.

4. Karaoke. I can't sing. That's one reason. Singing in front of people makes me nervous. I deal well enough in worship services, but I can harmonize there. I rarely sing in the car unless I've known the person forever and they aren't of the mocking variety. I'm not into embarrassing myself for someone else's entertainment. I have been known to break that rule if it's for a good cause, like when I teach (can we say Dress Like a Puritan Day?) or for charity (skits and such).

Next time, I'll list some things that completely and totally rock, just to give some balance and make it clear that I'm a pretty optimistic person. Have a great week!

A few weeks ago, I interviewed at ABS for an English job. To make a long story short...

I got it!

I'll be teaching 11th grade English and some junior high English classes. No word yet on what extracurriculars I'll be sponsoring.

Anyway, I know a lot of people helped me out with this, and I really appreciate it! It's a big weight off my mind--English education jobs are few and far between these days, and this job is exactly what I wanted.

I hope everyone's having a good week!

I graduated last Saturday, and I have to say, I don't feel very different. This happened last time, though--just one day that summer, I looked in the mirror and said, "I have a bachelor's. Hmm." Then I went on about my business.

Having said that, I'm glad I'm done with this one. It was quite the ride, and once I go get the rest of my stuff from the office, I hope it's a long time before I go back to Haley Center.

The actual ceremony was LONG. I got there at 9:15 and left three hours later. We started at ten, had a few speakers from the college, and then Bo Jackson delivered the address. I'm not sure what he said, because we couldn't hear anything--and we sat in the first set of rows! One of the girls from the department is deaf, so she gave us the general idea of when to stand up and sit down. The doctoral candidates went first, and then we got our degrees. With the hooding ceremony for the PhDs and our short exchange with President Gogue, it might have taken half an hour. When I got back to my seat, I realized we had at least an hour left.

Luckily, I brought a book, so the rest of it sort of flew by. You could tell who the English MAs were--some had books, some had crossword puzzles. The MBAs were mostly on their Blackberries. It's kind of funny--we were well behaved and all, but most of the grad students checked out for the rest of the ceremony. There were a lot of undergrads after us. The only time we made any noise was when the undergrads started to shake Bo Jackson's hand--we all snapped to attention. (You aren't supposed to touch the speaker! Plus, we were all asked to refrain from initiating contact with anyone because of the swine flu scare.) Poor Bo. After the first kid, everyone else had to shake his hand, and by the time he sat down, he was cradling his hand.

All in all, I went through graduation like I went through my program:
1. I spent a great deal of time fixing my hair/cap while we waited for the ceremony to begin. The girls around me looked at me like I was crazy.
2. I made sure they knew how to pronounce my name correctly. Twice. (I'm so tired of people calling me Cor-in.)
3. I tapped my feet on rhythm to the songs running through my head for most of the speech. Not loud, though--no one noticed.
4. After it was over, I just wanted to get out of there!
5. I forgot to return my cap and gown until yesterday.

But most importantly, I did NOT trip this time! Victory! (Last time, I got my robe caught on the railing and tripped going down the stairs.) Even with the Harry Potter getup, I appeared graceful. It's about time.

The weather kept my Arkansas family from coming, and Josh had to work. (His mean manager said absolutely not when he asked off.) But my parents and Annessa came, so it was a pretty fun weekend! We ate at Mellow Mushroom and Momma G's--we're saving the nice dinner for when Josh can come--and I packed some more. I hope to move next weekend, but it all depends on when my dad gets back from his business trip.

I'll say one thing, though--I am so ready to get back to Athens!