School!

Hi everyone! I'm sorry it has been so long since an update. I'll do my best to catch you up.

Well, this weekend I had a great surprise in RACHEL JAKAB. We went to see "The Switch" on Saturday night, and it was a GREAT movie. It was also nice to go to see a movie with someone, as opposed to just by myself. I like that. :) We spent the rest of Saturday watching Leverage and Project Runway on On Demand. Again, we were talking back and forth and it was so great to just have someone to BS with, you know?

Sunday was a little bit of more of the same. Honestly, I don't really remember much of what we did. Oh, I did some syllabus writing, and Rachel had housing issues. Most of the afternoon was spent pausing "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" to accommodate those things. Rachel stayed until today, which was so great. Monday, we hung out again, went out to dinner, and it awesome. Tuesday was equally as cool. So...Rachel Jakab and having someone to talk to for four days? AWESOME.

This brings us to school. Monday was our first day of inservice as a full district; last week was just new teachers. Monday was a lot of being talked at, very little time to get things done, running around trying to get an office, and generally being disheartened. I came home and just felt so horrible. CR is making a ton of changes, so a lot of the teachers are in the same boat, but it was still so very, very frustrating.

Tuesday was a completely different story. The morning was great; our superintendent is HILARIOUS, and gave a great beginning-of-the-year presentation. We had some quick meetings in the morning, but they were really helpful as opposed to just frustrating and confusing. I had a place to work, so I brought in my school stuff and put it in my floating classrooms. I got my books and whatnot packed up, and I proofread my syllabus. It was a really productive day. I spent the last hour talking to some drama kids, and they seemed extremely excited. It just made things so much better, and I was so much more pumped for today.

Which brings me to today. I have a ninth grade home room, so I got to do a lot of clerical stuff this morning. It's going to be a process, I feel. They are really nice kids, though, and I'm excited to see them each day. My drama class was a lot of fun, too. I think I made a good first impression. I had the kids climb onto the stage and explore the space, and then I talked a mile a minute about how I am so excited and I don't know what we're doing (specifically) this year, but I'm excited for some acting and some learnin' and it's gonna be awesome!

I have all my syllabi printed out tonight, and I was browsing the theater textbook I got from the school. Generally, it's just been a really good night.

Sorry for the lack of good adjectives and impressing, witty repartee. For whatever reason, I'm stuck in the "AWESOME! COOL! GREAT!" phase of the English Language. :)

Also!

I met the guy who designed the Delaware State Quarter.

:-D

Hint: It's the Dr. Ault-ish ex Drama Teacher!

Thursday!

Hey everyone!

So, my two days of teacher initiation are done. :) After many long days of sitting and staring (or maybe just two) I have a lot of information, a new laptop (relatively speaking), and a lot of forms to fill out.

Yesterday, we took a tour of the school district. Our tour guide was the twice former drama director, and he is amazing. I've been trying to think of someone to compare him to, and the only one I could think of is a more sane Dr. Ault. He had the clothes down, the voice, and the awesome-ness. It was great. We also got to go on to the air base, because there are two schools on the air base. I thought that was so cool.

So, I just took a quick break to run to the library to pick up some stage tech books, and a boy was sitting on the bench outside. As I walked by, he was like, "Hey, sweetheart, what's IUP stand for?" So I told him (I was wearing my IUP hoodie) "Indiana University of Pennsylvania" and tried to keep on walking. He asked a few other things, and I just kind of muffled responses, and he was like "We're gonna have to chat about that for when you come back!" So I tried to stall in the library, because I didn't really want to talk to a random person in downtown Dover. Of course, there was nowhere for me to sit and stall (the library is always PACKED. And it has its own security guard inside. He's old and decrepit, but he's there.) So, I leave, planning to just keep walking with a quick wave or something at the boy. And we end up talking for like 10 minutes. Turns out he lives in the apartments behind me--I guess--and he managed to fit in there that he has no girlfriend, and no baby-mama drama, and he runs his own freelance business. He asked for my number, which I declined (very politely, I might add). He told me I was very pretty and that he liked my shoes. I told him I would be working 60+ hour weeks (which sounds not-out-of-the-realm-of-possibility, for what I am going to be working on), and I was gonna need to sleep some time. He was nice enough, though, and I told him maybe I would see him again at the library--not as like a promise, but more like a polite thing, I think; it's what I tried to come off as.

So, anyway: now I am slightly worried that he was just pumping me for info about my apartment--he asked if I had pets, or dogs--and then I feel really bad because he's probably just a lonely soul like me, and I need to stop worrying that everyone I meet on the street is going to try to hurt me in some way, shape, or form.

So, back to the school part of this post: generally, I feel OK right now. I'm going to be making a syllabus tomorrow whilst I EAGERLY await the arrival of one RACHEL JAKAB, and then after that I will be making my vocab powerpoints, which we are going to do as dailies in the classroom. It's going to be an exciting day. Then, the weekend will be spent not worrying at all about my job, and hanging with RAHEL JAKAB. Exciting!

Love, Bethie

Tuesday!

Hi everyone!

So, I am too jazzed to sleep right now, so I thought I'd update you on my last few days. I went for a bike ride today, which was a lot of fun. There is a really tiny lake right down the road from me (I didn't even know it was there, and I parked right next to it twice) and the roads around it are great for biking. Apparently, things are not so safe about four blocks around me, so I have to watch where I go. (This is according to my nice old neighbor). I took some pictures of the legislative buildings around the area, and just generally enjoyed getting out. Pics are up on my shutterfly site.

Yesterday was a doozie. I started out at the HS around 10:30, meeting with the former drama guy and learning about all of that. I am so incredibly overwhelmed right now. Apparently, I'm going to be putting on up to three shows at once: the drama club fall show (Harvey), the Drama 2 class show (whatever I pick?) and (thank God not right away), the Drama 1 one acts--if I'm interested. Drama 1 is history of acting and theater for starters, so that's a semi-nice reprieve. What's great is that I'm not even worried about English 1o. I was at school until 1:00 getting information on everything. My head felt like it was going to explode.

I came home for a quick bite, and figured that I would run to the post office to get some stamps and mail some postcards. Yeah...one person working, and a line that was about 25 people long. I stood there for about a half and hour to buy a book of stamps. It was air conditioned, so that was nice.

After that, I ran around trying to get a prescription for my face. I thought I had a face eating rash, but it's the newfangled thing called "acne." My face just got horribly red and blotchy, but only in spots. Me being me, I was trying to see a doctor and get prescriptions, as earlier noted--we thought I was having a reaction to the ocean water or something. Of course, no one wanted to take my out-of-state insurance. I finally called the insurance people, and they told me that if I went to the emergency room, I would be covered.

So I went to the emergency room. And waited three hours. For what ended up being acne. *thumbs up, beth!* I felt like an idiot, too, because I was like, "Look, I'm only here cause my insurance is stupid. I know I don't have an emergency! Really, now!" My doctor just looked at me and said, "Yep, fair enough. It's acne. Here's a paper about rashes." and walked away. They were all really nice about it, but seriously! If I would have gone to a Doc in the Box or Minute Clinic, I would have had to pay $125 + out of pocket. Redic. Yay, America's health care system!

So I got home around 7:30 or 8:00, exhausted, because I essentially didn't have lunch (I had eaten some quick white rice, but I thought I'd be back really quick from the post and munch on things for the afternoon). Instead, I threw in True Blood and laid around for the evening.

I spent today trying to plan for things and reading "Night" by Elie Weisel. It was so depressing. It's about the Holocaust, for those who don't know, and it was heart wrenching. I have to teach it to the 10th graders, though, so I have to figure out something.

Other than an outfit crisis for tomorrow (I need to be dressy, but not too dressy) the rest of the night has been pretty low key. Pasta for dinner, a run to the store, a little bit of glee. I'm gonna try to sleep now. I'm actually yawning, so maybe that'll happen sooner than I think, eh!

Hearts!

Lazy Saturday

Ok, just read this on facebook: "Whew! Only six more months till Obama is out of office."

Now, to give some context, he was writing this on the wall for "Election 2010!" and "Get out and vote!" The comments made toward him were quite hilarious.

Now on to me.

I went to Cape Henlopen today, and boy, did I chose the worst time of day to head out! It took me two hours to get there. Once there, the beach was PACKED. The waves were insane. I'm not good at judging height or anything, but while I was there, a guy almost drowned and was saved by a lifeguard. I had never seen this happen before (still haven't, actually, as the beach was PACKED and it was about 100 yards away from me) but the waves were *so strong.* I went into the water right when I got there (about 12:30?). I had forgotten a chair, so that sucked, and I only had one towel, so that sucked, and my beach umbrella kept falling over, so that sucked. I came out of the water after a while, and tried to lay down and read, but I hate the wet sticky feeling, and I had sand *everywhere* because I had to lay on my towel. All in all, I was kind of cranky. But still, it was a beautiful day and I did take a walk up and down the beach. I stayed for about two hours and then just couldn't take the people and the sand anymore. I got in my car, and started to head home.

Of course, I went to the wrong way--the *long* way around. However, this was a good thing, because it gave me a chance to see the *real* cape! I found this tiny little parking lot, and I could see a lighthouse through the trees. I parked and got out and followed the little trail down, and found the kind of beach I had been looking for in the first place: there were about 15 people tops on it, there were no waves, and it was so peaceful! This was in the bay area, I guess (?) (I'm possibly really misunderstanding nautical terms). No matter what, that is where I want to go to tomorrow.

Pictures will be up on the around dover site! Here's the link again, if you need it!

www.arounddover.shutterfly.com

Good Friday!

No, it's not Easter. It has, however, been a good Friday. I slept in a bit, decided against going to the beach (due to the weather again) and did some little things around the apartment. THEN. I finally went for that darn walk I've been wanting to take. It's rainy and windy outside, which means it's finally liveable out there. I wanted to see the Biggs Museum of American Art, and take some pictures of State Street. While I didn't get all the way down to state street, I did get some. The Biggs was interesting. I was literally the only one there, and it was a nice small museum, so it felt very cozy. I'll definitely be going back.

I added pictures to my shutterfly. Here ya go!


http://arounddover.shutterfly.com/

The mail I just got from my mommy and daddy

I cried. :) In a good way.

The video of my apartment

Random Dover Omnibus

1. I keep seeing commercials for the "Pittsburgh Renaissance Fair." I never even saw a commercial for it when I was in Pittsburgh! They have a really lame/cute song that keeps getting stuck in my head.

2. Yesterday, as I was going out to buy my beach umbrella, I had my window down on my car. The dominoes delivery guy in the car right next to me had his windows down. As I was looking for the street name, he thought I was looking at him, and smiled and waved, so I smiled and waved back, and he looked all excited. And when I tried to cover it up by being like, "Oh, Dominoes! I love Dominoes! I didn't know there was one near me!" (praying for the light to turn) he started a conversation. He now knows that I am from Pittsburgh, just moved here to teach high school, and live "right over there!" (I didn't want to tell him my actual address, so I just kind of waved and pointed in the general direction. I was literally 100 yards from my house that this time). He was like, "Well, good luck! You'll be great! Have fun!" as drove away. Delawarians are so NICE! Minus the possible weirdness of having a conversation at a red light.

3. I'm going to the beach today. There is a flood advisory during high tide, which is from 9:30 to 11:30. There is also an 80% chance of rain. I bought a beach umbrella, and water to fit into my tiny cooler. I don't know what to do!

4. I'm watching "Boy meets World" for the first time in forever. It's great.

5. I woke up this morning to a *great* dream involving playcamp. It was really, really awesome, I think because it only involved the counselors. Of course, that's all I can remember.

I didn't chicken out!

I did, however, get eaten alive by bugs. Ugh.

Lonely.

I was cleaning my room, thinking about going to the free movie on the lawn tonight, and it hit me: this overwhelming wave of loneliness. I’ve been good up until now. There was some crying when my parents left, obviously, but I haven’t felt really alone until just now. I know that I need to go out to meet people, but I’m a worry wart. How do I go out to meet people when the very idea of meeting people terrifies me? I keep telling myself it will get better when I meet people at work, and I genuinely believe that. I almost wish I was doing college classes, so I’d have an excuse to meet some young people in a setting I’m comfortable in (mainly, a classroom). Bars really aren’t my thing, and the idea of doing one alone is even scarier than going to a movie on a lawn. Of course, since it is Raiders of the Lost Arc, I’m bound to find some young-ish guys there—right? I am just going to go, I think. Can’t chicken out!

I’m going to chicken out.

Tuuuuuuuueesdayyyyy Affffffternooooooonnnnnn...

I like the Moody Blues. This one's for you, Daddio.

Anyway, it is Tuesday afternoon, and a really hot one at that. You know how I keep saying that I'm going to take a walk? Well, I tried that today. I went to Loockerman street (which is the main drag, where all the cool stuff is) to go to a Delaware store. It's about seven minutes away from me. I mosied there and back, and I was *covered* in sweat. Ugh, so icky. I really feel like I am just sitting inside a lot. I feel less bad, because according to the weather channel it feels like 107 outside, even though it is only 93, but stilll! I'm in a walking location! Why can't I walk!

Anyway: everyone please send me addresses via teh e-mails or teh facebook messages. K thanks!

I'm Here!

Oh man, what a long few days! I'm here, though, and today I got a lot of stuff done! First and foremost, though: PICTURES!





Ok, so that's one...here's more! http://bethiesapartment.shutterfly.com/pictures/20

So, I have electric, Internet, food, a parking pass, and I checked out a gym. Most importantly, I went to the liquor store! It was a gigantic warehouse of alcohol. Intimidating, yes, but still very nice and cheap. Best of all? NO SALES TAX.

I'm gonna take a walk this afternoon, for real this time. I spent almost all of yesterday in bed. I slept until about 10:00, ate some breakfast and got a shower with full intent to go a traveling, and then I sat down on my bed and woke up at 2:30. After that, I decided to just be done with everything for the day. I set up my TV to play some Zelda, and found out that I already had my cable. This excited me, as I got to watch Leverage.

So, a generally boring few days. I'm getting my car inspected and a new license tomorrow (hopefully) and I'm e-mailing the CRHS people to get information about what the heck I'm teaching. Oh, I also got a library card this morning!

Oi. Busy! Tired! Nap! :-D

I'm writing this right now.

1. Glare. It sucks.

2. Oh my gosh, so sleepy. This is going to be a rough drive. I spent last night tossing and turning. I cut my elbow a few days ago, and apparently I knocked off the scab or something, because when I woke up my arm was covered in blood and my sheets had little dots of it. So, either my apartment was really mad that I am leaving, or really trying to get me to get out faster. Or maybe I should stop attributing random acts to malicious furniture. :)

Today! Packed! I got to my parents at about 9:30, we packed there, and went to my house. Let me be the first to tell you: I have a lot of shit. It does not all fit in the truck we got.

As a side note: I HATE people that can fit into spankies (the stuff you are supposed to wear UNDER your volleyball, crew, or soccer shorts) and then they decide to walk around in them all day. Two girls just walked in in them, and I swear every woman in the panera stared and sent them angry eyes. Or death eyes. Or, in my case, well, I was gonna say googly eyes, because I think those things are funny, but then I was afraid I would be misinterpreted. Don't misintrepret, ok?

Back to the real post: So, I have a lot of shit. Even with selling / giving away my three sets of plates, and leaving behind some stuff on purpose, I could not fit everything into the 16 ft truck, a Honda Accord, and a Nissan Versa. I feel like a failure. I mean, how did I get all of this stuff into my apartment in the first place! Was it really that crowded in there, guys? Feedback on that one, mmmmmkay?

So now, I sit at Panera waiting for my parents. We're gonna eat, and then head on down to Frederick to sleep. Tomorrow, up bright and early for the rest of the journey! Then, we unpack, I get new clearances, I sign leases, I run to banks, and I turn in paperworks for schools. It's gonna be all sorts of fun.

I'm tired. Peace.

I wrote this last night.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

T – 19 hours! Delaware Invasion, Phase 1 commences tomorrow. My parents came over tonight and helped me pack up my kitchen; I knew that would be the hardest part for me to do. It took about 2 hours, give or take, and we’re all still talking to each other. Wohoo!

So, I unplugged all of my router stuff to have packed for Comcast, so I have no modem or router to get to teh intranets. I have my phone, but that isn’t as fun. Besides, KoL doesn’t have an app. Alas. I just made two CDs for my trip tomorrow, ingeniously named “Dover 1” and “Dover 2.” I tried to go with an overall “Starting over” theme, and I like them. Now, I listen to Daft Punk. (Daft Punk is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.)

So, I went around earlier and took some pictures of my poor empty apartment. It feels naked, seriously. I kind of had an “aha!” moment as I was doing that. I really liked this place, and I’m not going to be back here after tomorrow. It was my first true apartment, and it treated me good. (sic). Nice thick walls, warmed up and cooled down quick, never too hard to clean, no problems with the equipment. A great starter apartment, to be sure.

So, on the scale of feelings, I’m feeling slightly bittersweet. This is a push in the more negative direction, as up until this point I’ve just been bored (waiting to move), stressed (packing to move), and ready to move on. I really am just so excited to get a move on, find out what I’m truly teaching for drama (I’m going to be so damn good at that!) and get a new space to work with.

A little too jazzed to sleep, still. Planning on being at the rents at 10 tomorrow to help them pack up a few things there, and then back here to pack the rest of my stuff. We’ll be on our way to stay with my brother and sister-in-law in Frederick tomorrow, and then make the rest of the trip to Dover on Friday morning. I officially get Internet on Monday (and updated cable! Wohoo! Anyone know if Leverage is on On Demand? I’ll be missing Sunday night’s showing.) So, I’m going to continue Daft Punk and play some FreeCell. Fist pound out!

Quick Reflection

As I was walking down to get my mail today, I kept thinking about how everyone keeps saying how brave I am for moving. First, thanks! However, I don't really feel "brave." Maybe I'm in super denial, but I don't really feel any sort of negative emotion. I KNOW I am going to really miss my parents, but I think that will be the hardest part. I mean, think about going off to college, all my high school friends: we go months without seeing each other anyway. And, college friends, think about the summers: I mean, really, we don't talk all that much during the summers. To me, it just feels like an extended vacay.

To me, this move doesn't seem like a big deal. Of course, right as I started thinking that (on the way to the mailbox, remember; I've been mulling over this for a bit) I remembered the first time I went to Germany. I was a mess in Philadelphia, crying and wanting my mommy; I hated my job, and I really don't think that helped; the only thing loved was staying with my aunt, but I was still a real mess. And then the second time I went to Germany, I was really homesick and spent the week crying.

Still, though, maybe those experiences have given me the little push I need to deal with this. I've lived in Germany for three months, so Dover is a piece of pie. Of course, it is a lot harder to visit when you live across an ocean than just across a state, so that might be helping too. I dunno. It's just a thought.

So, for the record: Thanks for thinking I'm brave! :-D

Four more days!

Hi Everyone!

Well, four more days! I'm spending today trying to pack up my room. This should be fun. There is a block party at Saddle Drive today that I am going to attend, and of course Leverage is on tonight. Should be a busy but fun day.

I had my final hurrah last night. I've gotta say, it was a lot of fun. Thanks to everyone who came for making it so worthwhile for me! It was great seeing you all, and I had a wonderful time. :-D

Well, that's it for now. Four more days!