Charmed, I'm sure

I have always teased my brother about living a charmed life. He is one of those people who sails through life, periodically plagued by light drizzles, but otherwise oblivious to the utter catastrophe that strikes just moments after he is gone. Don't get me wrong, it's not like he causes the catastrophes, it's just that he is so charmed he misses them completely.

I have always felt that I have to work just a little bit harder for the things I want, but every once in awhile, it seems like I get to borrow that charm-edness.

Zum Beispiel (for example):
I graduated (finally!!! I thought it was just a rumor - like Bigfoot, or the Loch Ness Monster - but apparently it is a real event) and have been looking for a job (the paying kind). I interviewed for one that I didn't really want, but I thought that at the very least, it would be good interviewing practice and, since it was just a semester position, I could be earning money and experience and then move on come summer time. The interview process was very stressful - a panel of 9 people asking me pre-written questions and then rating my answers on a scale of 1-7....yeah, not sure why 1-7, but who am I to question? Anyway, long story short, I didn't get the gig. 98% of me was perfectly happy about that (because I didn't want that job). The other 2% was like "why the heck wasn't I good enough for you?" Anyway.

The person who hires fine arts teachers for that district told me that I should apply to be a sub and that way I would get my foot in the door with that district. I was less than thrilled with this proposition. Anyway, before I didn't get the gig, I had contacted another district about a potential job and had set up an interview. I went to that today, and it was SO much nicer than the other one. I think it was partly cuz I wasn't aware that it was the formal interview - I hadn't even filled out an application, after all - I thought it was just an info session. I met with the Assistant Superintendent and she took me to see the schools that needed the position filled, I met the principals and got to see the classrooms. It was very comfortable, like an afternoon conversation. One of the principals said that there would be a push for me to sign right away (which was cool, cuz I would have taken it), but the lady said, no, she had another interview on Thursday.

We got back to her office and she said that she felt like she had known me for years, that I was a very comfortable person to interview. She said she'd be in touch on Thursday. I was perfectly fine with that. On my way home, I prayed, cuz I really wanted that gig.

I was sitting on my couch, watching...Reba, I think...when the phone rang. It was the Assistant Superintendent. She said "If I offered you this job, would you take it?" I said "Yes, ma'am, I do believe I would." She said, "Good. I didn't want to tell the other gentleman not to come to his interview until I knew you would take the job. You need to come in and pick up a packet so that we can get you hired."

Let me tell you, that was one of the coolest feelings ever. So, now, baring some catastrophe that misses my brother and hits me, I am a real, employed, teacher. SO cool!!!

Sugar and spice and everything nice

Recently found on my brother's desk:


Possible meanings:

1. He REALLY likes girls.
2. He really likes pink flowers and green coffee mugs.
3. He wanted coffee and this was the only clean mug in the cupboard.
4. All of the above.

Certification, Smertification

I may not have a certificate yet, but I know that I am a real teacher. Behold the evidence:

Teacher Gift #1:

yummy pumpkin bread with raisins. mmmmm. It lasted long enough for me to take the picture and then tear off the wrapping.

Teacher Gift #2:
Home-growed persimmons. Aren't they pretty?


Teacher Gift #3:
GERMAN CHOCOLATE!!!! I love this stuff!!

yep. I'm a real teacher.

sigh.

I just completed my final concert with the University of Arizona. My FINAL final concert. There were two final concerts before this one, but I kept getting sucked back in.....

ok, let me clarify. My final concert with the University of Arizona as an Undergrad. Yeah, that about covers....oh. wait.

I have one more on Sunday.

dang.

I'm never gonna graduate.

sigh.



On a happier note, the following:

An orchestra was performing Beethoven's 9th Symphony. Towards the end of the symphony, there is a place where the Basses (for you non-music nerds, the REALLY big violins) are tacet (that means 'they don't play') for about 20 minutes.

NOTE: I don't know this for a fact. I'm just reporting it as I heard it.

Anyway. They don't play for a long time. One night they decided (being Bass players and all) that instead of being bored on stage for 20 minutes, they would sneak off stage and go to the bar across the alley. So they did.
Just to be safe, they tied the last few pages of the conductor's score together (thinking, I guess, that if they were late, the conductor would have had to stop to untie the score anyway...I guess. Just go with it). So they drank, and being Bass players, it was quite a lot. But, they managed to drag themselves back across the alleyway in time to play the rest of the piece. The conductor, meanwhile had reached the part of the score that was tied and was trying surreptitiously to untie it before disaster struck. As the Basses staggered back on stage a lady in the audience noticed that something weird was going on. She poked her husband in the side and asked if he knew what was happening. He replied:
"Don't you see, honey? It's the bottom of the ninth, the score is tied and the basses are loaded."


Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week.