Adios Amigos!

Hi friends! Alot has happened since I last wrote. For starters, my head grew into my mushroom hairdo! I went to Tally to present at the Early Learning Conference. My friend Maggie and I presented together. We did a fabulous job. So good that people were upset because our first session filled up so fast that not everyone who wanted to attend could. The coordinators asked us to present again in the afternoon! We had only planned to present during one session. The CEO of Kid's Inc personally thanked us! This conference did wonders for my self-esteem. A special thanks to all my friends who were willing to help me with materials and quotes regarding inclusion.

Ok, so on my way to Tally this Friday I received a call from Wakulla County Schools asking me if I'd be willing to come back and teach at the high school. As you know, I've been planning on moving home, just not this soon. I don't like being this far away from my family and want to be where I am needed. Anyway, I am moving back to Tally Tuesday, March 14th. While I feel guilty about leaving my present job on such short notice, I feel that this is what I need to do. I've been praying about this for quite some time now and God has made a way for me to go home. Maggie is willing to let me stay with her until my house is finished. An old friend of the family has a job for me this summer. I was able to get out of my lease without getting into trouble and to top it off, my step-dad is coming down to help me move!

Some may think that I am scattered and flitter around from place to place. That's fine, let them think what they want. I believe that God has a plan for us all. Some of us just take a while figuring out what that plan is! For the first time in my life I finally feel complete and satisfied with my decisions. I came to West Palm Beach looking for Mr. Right...oh yeah and a new chance at life. I haven't found Mr. Right, but so many other great things have happened since I've been here and I've been able to tie up some unfinished business I've had for some time.

Professionally, I have grown in so many ways. I know more about early childhood education and hope to use what I've learned when I return to Wakulla. My self-esteem has soared tremendously. I know that I can make it, where ever I am. I am not obsessed with losing weight but instead I am working on trying to be healthy by exercising, eating right, and taking care of my body. Spiritually, I have come to depend on God more than I've ever done before. He really does provide!

I will not be on blogger for a while after March 10th, as this is when my internet service will be disconnected. Please know that I keep all of you in my prayers and cherish the relationships I have with you. My e-mail address will remain the same and I'll check it when I can. I'm going to keep my same cell number for a while. I will let you know when I change it.

Some say I'm crazy for wanting to go back into the classroom. Maybe I am. My therapist says I am fine and I tend to believe her! We shall see... In the meantime, thanks for all the prayers. I know they are what keeps me straight!

I'm in a funk!

Reason number 200 for moving back to Wakulla: My hair dresser. Ok call me shallow, but there's nothing worse than getting a bad haircut! Today I went and got a haircut. I showed the lady the picture and everything. I guess I should have emphasized "Long Layers!" Now I look like I have a mushroom growing on top of my head! I am presenting at a conference next Saturday and I look like a shroom! Thank goodness I have a week to figure out what to do with this mess. Maybe I can get a wig. I am so bummed right now.

Something to Make You Think... or laugh

Thanks to everybody for their input on the 'Am I Normal' blog. Nope, I'm not, but who is? I guess its been so long since I've had free time in the afternoon that I just wasn't sure what to do. Come to think of it, I've NEVER had free afternoons before now. I used to teach, tutor, work retail or have school business to take care of. I never realized just how many great people I have in my life until now. I love you guys!+

Anyway, I just thought I'd share some things that have been on my mind lately. So, yesterday I'm at the laundry mat and I happen to look over at the super laundry machines. You know, the ones that cost $3.00 a load. I'm not really sure why people would mix all their clothes like that, but oh well. Anyway, I happen to read the warning sticker on the machine and it says, "WARNING: do not put people in here." What I want to know is, who the hell tried it for them to say that?

Ok the second thing thats been on my mind is about those candy machines. You know the ones I'm talking about. The kind you put a quarter in and get candy. I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for those machines. The gross thing is, just how unsanitary those things are. Lord only knows what kind of germs are all over them. I've got to stop getting candy from those machines.

Ok, last thing, I promise. Please let me start out by saying I'm a pretty big girl myself, so I don't know how ladies larger than me do this but I'm at the mall today and I see this woman, packing about 300+ pounds, apple shaped, not pear, and wearing heels! First of all, even wearing my Clarks, after a while my feet hurt at the mall. I can't imagine what she must be feeling. Second, how the hell does she balance herself being apple shaped and wearing heels? Hmm, things to ponder.

Well, I've got to go eat my Jenny Craig dinner. Yum!

Am I Normal?

I'd really love some feedback from everybody on this one. I realize that yes, certifiably I am a bit crazy but I'm curious if I'm doing what the norm does or if I'm being an introvert. Here is my routine: I work, come home or run errands (gym, groceries, drug store, etc) then I come home, cook dinner, eat, walk Missy, watch t.v. while playing Tetris and then I go to bed. Somewhere in there I may check my e-mail, call my mother and/or friends. (My friend Maggie says that this is normal, but sometimes I think she is just being nice.)

My weekends really worry me. Friday night, I went out with a group of friends from work. We had a couple of drinks over dinner and by 7pm, we all went home. My friend Rebecca was willing to go to a movie with me but I was so darn tired. Now mind you, they all went home to their husbands, me, I went home to my dog. By 9:00pm I was in bed!

Saturday, it was disgusting outside, thunderstorm city, but I spent an hour at the gym to make up for Friday night's beer and buffet. Then I went home, watched tv, went to the laundry mat, cleaned my house and played Tetris. ( Is it ok for an almost 30 year old to play Tetris this much?) Sunday, I tutored, called a couple of friends to check in, went to the gym, Target, took Missy to the dog park and now I'm home.

I don't know if its because I spend so much time socializing at work, but I am exhausted on the weekends. Sometimes, just the thought of putting on real clothes and holding a conversation makes me tired. I'm not depressed. I know that in less than 4 months I'll be back in Wakulla. Yippee!

I'm sure its just the anxiety trying to get the best of me, but I'd love some input on this entry.

Hugs and Kisses, J

Gone With The Wind!

I thought this was funny so I'm going to share... For those of you who don't know, I have a terrible love for cake icing, especially from Publix. Well, today a little girl had a birthday party at school and wouldn't ya know it, she had a cake from Publix! Since I've been doing this Jenny Craig diet (3 weeks) I've been icing clean. Well, I couldn't take it today. So, I asked for a piece of the cake. I wrapped it up on a paper plate and put it on the hood of my car to load my crate and backpack. Wouldn't you know it, the wind blew my cake across the parking lot! I figured that was the Jenny Craig gods stopping me from indulging.