And just where have you been, young lady?

I can't believe it's been like two months. I have written so many entries mentally, but it's been a crazy time for us and I honestly haven't had much time to put my thoughts down on proverbial paper.

Since my last entry, the school year ended and quite a bit has happened. Before the school year ended I enjoyed chaperoning a trip for the school's chorus program (I did so last year as well). I don't know why they invite me since I don't sing well. Andrew went, too, although we were unable to room together because of the number and gender of chaperones. Anyway, that's always interesting and a free trip to Disney World. This year my school even counted it as a professional day, so I didn't lose any vacation time.

For some reason the chorus kids at school just love me. Honestly I don't know how they remember who the heck I am, but every year these fresh-faced, sweet kids start asking me to chaperone trips and attend concerts. When I do, I am greeted surprisingly often with applause. It's such a compliment.

Events surrounding the potential job at Andrew's school for next year (the one I interviewed for) has been interesting and yet strangely uneventful. It will most certainly require a separate entry to explain. Suffice it to say for now that, despite jumping through many hoops and people at several locations waiting on word about my status for next year, nothing official has been set up (or even unoficially offered) as of this writing. Frankly, it pisses me off - sometimes more than others. Again, this will require a separate rant.

I made my intentions (possibly leaving my school to simplify my life) public, including to my students, before the year ended. Many colleagues and especially students were disappointed (I would've been insulted if they weren't), but all were very understanding once I explained how little time I was able to spend with Andrew this year. A few of my students formed a "stalkers club" which I fully endorse. I was very touched by the outpouring of affection I experienced from teachers in particular.

I guess the most eventful thing that happened was the move to the townhouse. This took place over labor day weekend and I'm almost done unpacking and arranging things. Andrew is out of state temporarily getting paid handsomely to grade AP World History exams, so I was left to unpack and arrange for now. This worked out well since it kept me busy during his week away (he returns tomorrow night) and gives us both time to work on projects (me on the house and him on some professional stuff).

I have been able to buy a few essentials, but with no paychecks over the summer it's tough to do much to fix the new place up the way we'd like. I like the townhouse, but not as much as I loved the old apartment. The cats really love the stairs here, which is cute, but I miss how much light we had in the old place and the old porch which looked out on a lake with a fountain. I think it will help when the large back porch gets screened in and we can spend some time outside with the kitties, but the view is definitely not the same.

I have made many lists for this summer - to do, to write about, to buy. So far there's been little movement other than moving and a bit of reading, but I'm really eager to get started on some other personal stuff. One goal for this summer is to spend as little time as possible doing school stuff. Even my students agreed that I spent too much time on work last year. I'm going to try to take a real break this summer and just do stuff for me and mine - at least until the last week or two when I do my usual go-through-the-class-procedures-and-assignments-and-edit business.

I have two ongoing projects now which are not of an entirely personal/familial nature. I am taking a required class for the county (I'll have to write a separate entry about that!) and I'm assistant directing a local youth theatre production of The Music Man. I really love doing theatre. This is the third show I've ADed for them. I wish I could be in it! Even though I get panic attacks due to the stress involved on show days, I just adore the process of putting on a show. I feel a real sense of pride every day when I say "I'm off to rehearsal." It's such a rush. I am a total drama geek.

Well, I know it's real rambly, but that's a quick and dirty on what's going on. I long to move out of the country or someplace I haven't been and start again in many ways, but I'm not unhappy. Just restless I guess. I miss Oxford daily, especially Rich and PJ, but going back there wouldn't be the same, either. I Iong for more creative and intellectual stimlation, but haven't had much of a chance to give myself any this summer. That's on one of those lists someplace.