Wow...they sure are thorough!

One of my first grade team members from my old school just got a call from Germany...the principal at my new school asking alllll about me! I will be super ecstatic if I get this position because they suuuuuuure are doing their homework when it comes to figuring out whether or not they want to hire me. If I get through all these hoops, I think I can officially do some major horn tootage!

Part of me is nervous that there is a reason they are going through all these extra lengths to check out my skills

maybe they have concerns about me

maybe they are hesitant

but...

I am confident that my references will be pretty darn convincing!

Cute

One of the students in the class I was working in today returned from the bathroom and proclaimed, "The toilet is overfloating!"

Thought that was pretty cute.

I still have not heard anything with regards to the job I interviewed for... I emailed the special services teacher to see if she would give me the dish, but all she could say was that she made her recommendation after meeting with the principals on Friday and that is all she knows. The director is still MIA so I guess nothing is going to happen until he returns.

So until Monday...I wait!

We've got a German lesson tonight and to be honest I am not all that excited about. I was kind of a boob today after work and caught up on some shows...The Biggest Loser & 90210. If anyone is into TBL and wants to discuss what went down I am still in disbelief! I went for an hour long walk outside and almost froze my buns off! Feels like we skipped fall and went straight to winter! Maybe Germany doesn't do fall..who knows! I would love to hit the gym tonight since I was lazy and snacking all afternoon, but no time for that because Martin comes at 7 to teach us to Deutsch zu sprechen.

Now, I am off to make some tacos for my hubs so that he can eat before German time.

MckLinky Blog Hop

During my time at Villanova University, we hosted Special Olympics for the state of Pennsylvania. The entire shebang was student planned and operated and it is one of the most memorable parts of my college experience. There is nothing better than the hug you get from an athlete who just won the gold and spending time with those heartwarming athletes is one of the reasons I wanted to pursue a master's degree in special education. At one of our meetings prior to the event, someone read this story and I swear, there was not a dry eye in the entire room!

And they call some of these people "retarded".

..A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back......every one of them.

One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, "This will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes.

People who were there are still telling the story.

Why? Because deep down we know this one thing:

What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves.

What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.

source*

And now that I've got you all weepy, I will make you *smile*

My sister-in-law takes monthly photos of my niece on the date she was born. I just about fell over when I saw this pic because I can't get over how CUTE she is! It's like she already knows she is supposed to smile!

LOVE IT!!!

Friend Makin' Monday

Today's Theme for Friend Makin' Monday is..

What are you going to be for Halloween?

For the past two years, my first grade team and I dressed up as Crayons. We made the costumes ourselves and since they took a lot of time, we felt completely fine with the idea of repeating the costume usage year after year. Each year the kids thought they were fun and it was easy for us too! When I moved away, I left my blue Crayon costume for the next teacher because I felt it belonged with the group. Since I was moving to Germany, I figured I would not be dressing up this year since Halloween is an American celebration.

Well...I was wrong! Apparently my new school has a large celebration with "trunk or treating" (parents drive their cars onto the field and kids get to stop at each trunk to get treats) and pumpkin carving. Who knew!? Also, my old school has apparently decided to no longer celebrate any holidays so there will be no dressing up this year...I am really bumming that I didn't snag my Crayon outfit! Given that we just completely weeded out our belongings in order to move from a house to a small apartment, I have NOTHING fun or creative to use for a costume!

Sure, maybe I can go to a store and buy a costume, but that pretty much leaves me with the sexys. What do I mean by sexys? It seems like the only costumes available for adult women commercially are sexified versions of everyday occupations or characters. I could be a hot nurse with a short pleather dress and red hooker shoes, or a sexy pirate with torn clothing and exposed mid-drift. Now I may sound like a total boob, so let me just say I am not against being a little sexy. Who doesn't like to feel sexy? I am just not enthused with the fact that most creative ideas are thrown to the wayside in order to follow with this trend of spending Halloween dressed as the slutty version of something normal. I mean...sexy Hermione? C'mon!

Maybe when going to a party with friends those are fun choices and I might even dress up in that way in that situation, but I have to choose a costume appropriate for school....which means I have to be creative and kosher...and I've got nuttin'

Last year we went as nerds

The year before that we went as a bride and groom because we were newlyweds, but I was the groom and he was the bride. Those pics are scary!

So...this year, given the clothes/items I have to work with, I am going to be a tennis player. With a tennis playing husband who works at adidas, I have my fair share of tennis outfits and tennis shoes, so that is the best I can do! I guess I could try to add a little humor by being Roger or Rafa, but I will probably be a girl tennis player because I don't actually play, so I have to use the outfits for something!

Global Literature Week 3

This week's theme for my Global Literature course is "Struggles to Survive." Below are the books that we were asked to pick from. I will be reading Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan which is the story of a thirteen-year-old named Koly who enters into an ill-fated arranged marriage and must suffer a destiny dictated by India's tradition or find the courage to oppose it. Sounds interesting! I have to use the books that my school library has available, so I don't really get to make my own selections each week, but most of the books sound interesting and I am sure I would learn from any of them!

Bloggy Awards!

Nicolasa at Low Expectations has given me the Honest Scrap award! I just came across her blog a few weeks ago, but it was one that I immediately liked. Maybe it's because she is also a teacher, but I connect with what she is saying! She has a really pretty name too!

Thanks for the award!

The logistics:

1. Say thanks and give a link to the one who gave you the award.
2. Share 10 honest things about yourself.
3. Present this award to 3 other fantastically brilliant blogs of content or design, or peeps that have encouraged you.
4. Tell those 3 people they've been awarded and make sure they're informed of these guidelines

10 Honest Things About Me

1. I have been in love twice in my life & very happy that I had to go through heartbreak to get to my second love.
2. I am not really good at first impressions of other people--There have been many people who I didn't really like at first who ended up being some of my best friends (this includes my hubby!)
3. I cried a lot the day my parents took me to college.
4. When I was about two, my brother and I were making fireflies on the ceiling with flashlights in a dark room and he hit me with his flashlight by accident. I had to go to the hospital and I we thought I would need stitches, but all I got was a tiny bandaid under my eye. I still have missing eyelashes in that spot.
5. I have never smoked a cigarette or tried drugs...ever
6. Somewhat related to #5, I am allergic to alcohol and break out in a rash when I drink certain kinds. It has something to do with how it's processed, but I have no problem with top shelf brands. hehe.
7. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever be ready to have kids.
8. I wish I lived closer to my best friend.
9. I was always a really good student, but in college I got a C+ in Physiological Psychology. I failed my lab where I had to identify parts of actual brains marked with pins.
10. Last but not least...I have a dual personality in that sometimes I can really go with the flow (in work situations) and sometimes I am a complete control freak (at home).

Now, I would like to pass this bloggy award onto:

It's a Wrap- if anyone deserves an award for being honest--it's her! She talks about healing herself and her relationship with food while recovering from anorexia. I really admire her strength to share her struggles and accomplishments and I would encourage you to check out her blog and the pics of her yummy meals! She is also a junior high math teacher.

Leslie @ Lamberts Lately- Leslie did the designs on both my blogs and her work is fabulous! She is a first grade teacher and all the $$ she makes from blog design goes towards her classroom purchases, so not only do you get a great looking blog, but you help out her and her students as well!

Katie@ Yes I Want Cake- Katie's is a healthy food blogger! She posts photos of her meals and lists ingredients and recipes. Frequently I read her posts and start drooling because her meals look so good! She posted about a pear & cinnamon grilled cheese sandwich last week, I made it, and it was divine! What a surprise...she is also a TEACHER (third grade).

Thanks also to Christie from Just the 2 of Us for giving me the One Lovely Blog Award! This is another blog I just recently came across and I am looking forward to reading it more.

The rules for the One Lovely Blog Award are:

1. Accept the award and post it on your blog with the name of the person who has granted the award.
2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered
3. Contact the bloggers and let them know they have been chosen for the award.

Wow! Choosing 15 blogs is a lot! I am going to take the liberty of reducing that number by a bit (okay a LOT). I have already awarded a few of the blogs that I just started reading above with the Honest Scrap Award and they are probably the same ones I would give this award, so....it's a daily double!

This award goes to...

It's a Wrap!

Yes, I Want Cake

Señorita in the City

I guess I need to be on the lookout for MORE new blogs!