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Nov. 3rd, 2009 @ 04:46 pm School
Starting in a couple of weeks I am going to be a full time grad student! Because of CSUMB and getting set up with them this last fall, I had everything I could possibly need to get everything set up. Now, all of a sudden, I am registered for classes, dealing with finical aid, and even have my ID card! On top of all of this, I hope to be working as a substitute teacher for a school district that is a bit of a drive away. At least school is in the middle geographically.

Good bye social life.
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sand castle
Oct. 22nd, 2009 @ 12:33 pm Half Marathon
I completed a half marathon!! It was this last Sunday in SF. It was just crazy but a ton of fun. There were 20,000 people who did the event (combined half and full marathons). I ran 9 miles but then hurt my knee going down a hill. The last three miles took me an hour to walk. Over all my time sucked, but I did it! I would like to do it again. If it goes better than this last one I think I would like to try doing a full, just to say I did it. It was great seeing all of my old SC team mates again while we entertained people with our goofiness.

I still have some fund raising to do. I know you are probably sick of me asking, but what I don't raise by Nov 18 I have to pay for myself. Don't really have that much money... so, if you can, please consider donating to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through my website. Even if it's just $5, ever little bit helps.  The money does not only go to cancer research, it even goes to patients basically in the form of grants to help them pay their bills.

Please check it out, even if it's only a few bucks.  Every little bit helps and it's for a wonderful cause!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/nikesf09/lkoog4
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sand castle
Aug. 22nd, 2009 @ 11:00 am Class sizes
Current Mood: infuriated
http://www.register-pajaronian.com/V2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=7605

There are kindergarten classes in the city of Watsonville with 40 kids. FORTY KIDS! Before you think "isn't that illegal" IT IS! Pajaro Valley School district laid-off 48 kindergarten and third grade teachers to save money. It was in the paper a while back that the fines for having too many kids in a class 3rd grade and below are less than the salaries for those teachers. This was supposed to result in class sizes only being up 2 to 5 kids. I could handle 25 kindergarteners. BUT FORTY!!!

Honestly, I am so pissed off right now it is hard for me to think in an articulate manner. I was supposed to start student teaching in this school district next week. That's not happening now because of the move, but I am glad I am not going to have to deal with it now.
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sand castle
Jul. 25th, 2009 @ 01:11 pm Things are crazy
Current Location: the couch
Current Mood: blah
I have had a head ache for a week and maybe if I spew a little here it will help things.

So Matt has been offered a supervising position at his company's corporate office down in Orange County. We are seriously considering this. We are going down the first week of August to check out the area and possibly apartment hunt. We were going to be down there anyways for a couple of days between my birthday and a wedding, so we are extending that trip.

CSUMB wants me to pay them by July 31st or I lose my spot. If we move south, I would sub this next year and apply for programs for the following year. But if we stay up here, I want to get my credential over with. I am ok with subbing longer if we move, but if we don't move I want it done. So this is causing be a bit of stress.

There is also my half marathon in October that I am running. My "recommitment" paperwork is due this week. I talked to the team manager and I can train with an orange county team and as long as i can get up here for the race I can still run with the SC team. But I need to know to fill out this paperwork. So yea, another stressful point.

We really want to check out the area we are moving to before making a decision. The main thing is that it's a super rich area and we want to make sure we can find some thing we can afford before saying yes. If we can't afford it, we can't do it. I think this will be really great for us in the long run, but it's going to be hard at first. We will definitely need a second car and both will probably commute. Rent will cost more as well. I think this could be a great adventure for us though. We don't have kids yet, so this is the time to do something like this. Also, a lot of our college friends are in LA, so we will probably see them a lot more.

I really hope this head ache goes away and doesn't stick around until we head south next weekend.
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sand castle
Jun. 19th, 2009 @ 08:45 pm Fundraising!
Please help me raise money for cancer research!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/nikesf09/lkoog4
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sand castle
Apr. 23rd, 2009 @ 04:16 pm My week subbing
Current Mood: crazy
Monday I did freshman english in Scott's Valley

Tuesday I gave state tests to freshman in Felton

Wednesday I subbed for the kindergarten class I frequently volunteer in here in Watsonville.

Today (Thursday) I subbed in TWO preschool classes in Live Oak.

What will tomorrow be?

damn...
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sand castle
Apr. 14th, 2009 @ 07:26 pm Decimals
Current Location: sitting next to Matt
Current Mood: optimistic
Today i subbed for 4th grade at a school in SC. As part of the lesson plans, I introduced the concept of decimals to the students. We did some basic conversions, like 33/100 equals 0.33. Basic things like that. At first, the kids were really confused. I did my best to explain things, but I ended up just leaving several examples on the board for the students to look at while they tried to figure it out.

Suddenly one kid yells "I got it!" and it pretty much set off a chain reaction. it was really, really cool.

Next year when I am student teaching I am sure there are going to be plenty of teaching stories appearing on this thing.
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sand castle
Apr. 8th, 2009 @ 07:59 am Apples!!
Current Location: home
Current Mood: amused
Yes, i have heard of this before:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/08/oral.allergy.syndrome/index.html
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sand castle
Mar. 6th, 2009 @ 07:56 am Subbing
Current Location: still at coffeetopia
Current Mood: cheerful
I should do an update about what I am up to now!

For those of you who haven't heard, I am now a substitute teacher. I do k-12 for every school district in the county. It's going alright. Not a fan of junior higher or high schoolers, but that is where most of the jobs are. I have done it a few times, and things seem to be picking up. I haven't tried to get a job today or yesterday because of moving, but I worked the other tree days this week and two days last week. That's it so far, but I think things are starting to take off. Mostly I have been trying to get the word out to teachers that I exist and am available.

I thinks it's time to head home and do some more packing.
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sand castle
Mar. 6th, 2009 @ 07:39 am moving
Current Location: coffeetopia on portola
Current Mood: awake
Current Music: Sugar Ray-Fly is playing in the back ground
I am moving today and tomorrow to a place in Watsonville. I am sad that we won't be living in SC anymore, but this will be good for us. We are only going to be 20 minutes away, but I am still going to miss living here.

I am also going to miss living walking distance from the beach. Not necessarily an SC beach, but just a beach in general. Rachel, I think you and I around going to have to go beach hunting one day. I hear you have to take back roads, so I think some exploring is in order!

All the dust is making me cough and sneeze my head off. Between that and the lack of internet, I am hanging out at coffeetopia drinking tea to kill some time. We sign the lease at 11. Hopefully we will have phone and internet in the new place tomorrow. And power, hopefully we will have power tomorrow. I am moving some stuff this afternoon while Matt is at work and I really, really hope it's not freezing in there.

Hasta luego
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sand castle
Feb. 24th, 2009 @ 03:30 pm Kid quote!
Today a kindergartner in Scotts Valley told me:

"When i am 100 years old, I will be old."

=-)
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sand castle
Dec. 27th, 2008 @ 03:24 pm I guess it's time for an update
Current Location: Home
Current Mood: nerdy
Current Music: Matt playing a video game
Well, looks like it has been a while. My life has been pretty nuts lately. I recently quit my job! The last day is Jan 30th. i am going to substitute teach until I get into a credential program. A good friend of mine subbed for three years and thanks to her I know what to expect. It's definitely scary though. Here is to hoping I get enough sub jobs...

That's really the only interesting thing in my life.
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teaching
Dec. 17th, 2008 @ 05:33 pm there was a foot in the kid's head!
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/health/18297954/detail.html#-
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sand castle
Oct. 21st, 2008 @ 06:01 pm solved
starting next wednesday i get to hang out with kindergartners each week
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Oct. 20th, 2008 @ 05:28 pm Teaching stuff
Current Mood: angry
It looks like my work is going to screw me over to the point that I don't break a promise, i won't get stuff i need in time for next fall's credential program. I would end up having to sub a bit, which is fine but 1) I would be unemployed this summer 2) not start the program until next spring and do the spring-fall program 3) be unemployed again NEXT summer (2010, so two in a row) and then 3) finish my credential in December of 2010 and not have a teaching job until the following fall.

All because my immediate boss doesn't want to give me up 2 hours a week to hang out in a class room for a needed, very specific, letter of recommendation.
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Oct. 15th, 2008 @ 05:38 pm check this out!!
heh heh....

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1849897,00.html?cnn=yes
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sand castle
Aug. 13th, 2008 @ 06:48 pm Animal Planet!
I just saw Erin Vogel on Animal Planet!

She's a post doc at UCSC who I had for a class. I slept through her class, and she failed me, but it's still awesome seeing someone I know on TV (for reasons other murder)
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Aug. 6th, 2008 @ 09:13 pm Birthday
I don't think i ever had a birthday that sucked before. I guess there is a first time for everything.

Matt, Cicely, and Grace are awesome though.
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sand castle
Aug. 3rd, 2008 @ 07:39 pm I know what I want to do with my life
I want to teach kids how to read. Either as an elementary school teacher or as some sort of reading specialist. I have been thinking about becoming a teacher off and on for several years, and this last week I have decided to do it for sure.

The two biggest obstacles, the money, and getting in the classroom time that is necessary to apply for school. I'm still trying to work out those details.

Matt is totally supportive =-)
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sand castle
Jul. 5th, 2008 @ 12:36 pm crabs!
There are a ton of crabs at the beach near my house! Laura K is visiting and we walked to the beach this morning and watched all the crabs that were hanging out. There were two big ones that kept fighting. We stood there creating dialog for their argument. Then they disappeared, and we decided that they were in their cave, having a drink, apologizing for forgetting who they are (santa cruz pacifists) and in discussions about a resolution to their conflict.

Awesome.
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sand castle