With a title like that you just know this can't be a good post right? Well, it isn't...
Last night on my way home from work, I was involved in a car accident. Maybe involved is the wrong word...I was the cause of the accident, I was the totaled car in the accident, I was the royally screwed party (albeit by my own screwing...that doesn't sound right, but you know what I mean) in the accident.
I had just merged onto I45 and was stuck in a pile of cars waiting to use a one lane exit. Anyway, being my patient self, I was ready to move over into the next lane where traffic was going faster. I saw that the car ahead of me had the same idea, but we had at least one and possibly two car lengths between us. We moved over and just as I checked my side view mirror to see if I was clear, I hit her.
Once we got pulled over to the side of the road, I got out and immediately asked about her. She said that she was fine, and then she explained that a school bus cut her off to merge so she had to slow down. While she said she braked (I don't know...I was looking the side view mirror) when I hit her there were no brake lights on. She admitted that she was just putting her foot back on the gas when I hit her. After settling that, and deciding to call the police, I got my first good look at my car. My crunched up front end car. My leaking fluid all over the road car. My crap this can't be good car. Have I gotten across the point that the car isn't in good shape?
After what seemed like forever, the state trooper came, I was given the ticket (of course...), the kinda scary but very nice tow truck driver hooked up my car, and a friend came and got me, and then I had to call my parents. Let me just interject that I have very kind and concerned parents. Yes, they were concerned about me, but they were also understanding about the situation too. The most unfortunate part of the whole deal...my car probably isn't worth what it will take to fix it. I'd lay money on the fact that a new car is in my immediate future. While that prospect does excite me, the budget side is a little frightening. I like a cushion in the bank and this will turn my cushion into a thin piece of mosquito netting. I also haven't said it out loud (typing it isn't the same as saying it out loud) but my Jordan trip just might have to be put on hold. I hate it and right now I'm trying to find any single way to still make that work, but I'm also a realist and it just might not be possible for December. Sigh...I just got sad.
I took today off from work (main reason...can't walk the 30 mile commute) to get started on the claims process and trying to find a rental car. You would think that should have been easy, but with this Hurricane Ike business (have I mentioned how disillusioned I am by hurricanes now?) there are practically no cars to be found. Thankfully, the fourth place I called has three full size sedans to pick from...I think I'm getting the Hyundai Sonata. *EDIT...just found out it is going to be a Toyota Camry that I'm getting...*Anyway, at least I'll have some transportation until I know what my options are for the car.
So, as my mom said this morning, I'll have to dig deep and find my well hidden cache of patience and ride this thing out. I'm normally a glass half empty kind of girl, but I'm trying to see the positives here...I'm okay! I might get a new car...which I've been thinking about and working toward! While it isn't how I'd choose to spend it, I do have a cushion so that this won't break me. (That doesn't get a !...) I have a friend that didn't mind driving out of her way to come and get me! I have parents that love me and would have given up their plans for the weekend to come down and help me through this if I thought I'd needed them to!
All in all...I'm still very blessed and for that I'm very thankful!
Well, I've enjoyed more time off than anyone really expected to get three weeks into school so I suppose it is only right that things start up again. My school was the last school to receive power back in the aftermath of Ike, but it was restored this morning so I'm off to work at noon. I guess I could pretend that I was already out and about today and didn't get the message, but frankly I was getting a little stir crazy! So, I need to get ready and take care of a few things this morning and then I'm heading off to work...finally!
Sometimes I find myself having the best time when I go back and read some of my old posts. I was stumbling around looking for an old post (never did find it...) but I did find some old favorites. And because I think it is always appropriate to take a minute and reflect on just where you've been and how far you've come I've linked some of my favorite old posts. So, if you're new to my blog or simply want to see what you might have missed then dive in!
Also, it might be a few days before I take up blogging again. I heard today that power is restored at my home. Let's all take a moment to say Amen.......did you say it?.... Anyway, I'm planning on heading home on Sunday morning. School is supposed to resume on Tuesday pending power restoration. We'll see how that goes. Anyway, that is the latest Hurricane Ike news.
Now get to diving....
Things I'd Tell Her If I Could...
Deck The Halls (Part 1)
40/60
Hi...This Is Steffany...Blah Blah Blah
Because I Just Can't Resist
So, there you go...now you know (or have remembered) just a little bit more about me!
One of the good things...perhaps the only good thing...to come out of Ike was that I'm getting to enjoy some unexpected time with my family. As you may have gathered, I'm still in Abilene. School was cancelled for the rest of the week with our projected date of return Monday. As of now, there is still no power in Spring and one of my friends and fellow co-workers said that judging by the looks of things in Spring it might be the middle of next week before we return. So, more waiting and seeing...
In the meantime, I'm getting to spend my days hanging out with my mom. Now you all know how much fun I have with my mom. Today we met up with some friends of hers for lunch. After that, we spent the afternoon in her craft room. While we don't share the same paper crafting hobbies, I really enjoy getting to help her make cards and such. It is just a relaxing way to spend time together. I'm reminded again just how lucky I am to have such a great relationship with my mom.
Thanks for all your kind and caring thoughts! You blogger friends of mine are the best!
I survived...though not as I would have liked. Let me first say that I am alive and well! Thank you for all the well wishes, thoughts, and prayers too. I'm not still in the Houston area, but rather decided to evacuate myself to my parents' home further north. Something I'm now wishing I had done Friday morning...
In my last post, I said that I was prepared, but this wasn't one hundred percent true as I soon discovered. I had my batteries for my lantern (though just enough to start it working...not enough for when those would have eventually ran out), batteries in my radio (but again...not enough), and some crackers, water, pudding, and beef jerky type things to eat. I'm sure anyone else that has endured the damages and fall out of a hurricane are smiling smugly. I was so totally unprepared. I admit it and believe me...learning from my mistakes.
I had power (which I was so taking for granted) all day and night Friday. I went to bed about midnight Friday with the thought of sleeping through Ike and waking up Saturday morning to it being mostly over. Around 4am Ike was hitting Conroe. Looking out the window was very interesting. I'd never seen trees bend so far over and the rain looked like it was literally blowing in sideways. As I watched, the power went out. After checking that my make shift sandbag was holding, I got back in bed. Saturday morning the eye had passed us, but we were still in for the southern eye wall. While I didn't have power at my apartment, I did have service on my cell phone. At some point in the morning that went too and the day became quite miserable.
I was bored beyond belief and getting pretty sick of beef jerky and cheezits. Saturday night was pretty rough on me. When the sun went down and all went dark, I sort of lost it. I should say that one of my worst fears is being alone in the dark. Every time I tried to lay down (even with the portable radio...which was starting to run low on battery juice) and turn the lantern out, I'd start to feel like I couldn't breathe. It was a miserable night. I'm not sure I slept very much. I was up and dressed as soon as the sun was starting to rise. I was having to drive almost five miles outside of town just to get service on my cell phone. As soon as I talked to my principal who confirmed we'd not be having school Monday, I called my mom and told her Toby and I were heading to our safe place...home.
So, here I sit...in my safe, lighted, cool air blowing place. School is out until at least Thursday with the possibility of longer so for now I'm staying put. Believe me, if this happens again...and I'm sure it will given where I choose to call home...I'll be making the evacuation trek along with everyone else. But, for now I'm safe and supposedly my home is safe. And in the end...that is really all that matters.
Please continue to send up thoughts and prayers for those still down there or still being effected in some way by Ike. It truly is a mess down there and the recovery probably won't be quick and painless. I have pictures to share once I'm back home and can upload them.
I feel like these weekend updates are becoming the norm around here. Truth to tell, sometimes my weekends are the only two days of the week that feel normal. I'm sure that will change, but for now I'm doing good to come in and make dinner and get the dishes cleaned up (having a dishwasher makes that so much easier!) so coming in and blogging just hasn't happened...yet.
This week was my first week to be a switcher teacher. I just made that term up, but it basically means that I only teach the language arts (the reading, writing, and God help all the children...spelling) and social studies. My partner teaches math and science. It works pretty well I think. While I did it the last two years, I didn't really enjoy the math/science part so I'm very happy to be doing the LA part. The planning is easier and I really feel like I can sink my teeth into topics rather than skimming because I've got two other subjects to prep for too. So, everyone understands...the material I love.
The switching...it is taking some getting used to on my part. We have a homeroom which is basically just a gab fest. I have work for the kids to do, but everyone is coming in at odd times and everyone needs to show me something or tell me something. Truthfully, I use it too as an extra 35 minutes of prep too. At 8:30 the switch begins. I receive my AM class. They are the AG (above grade...basically means we'll review 2nd grade material for a few weeks and then move on to 3rd grade material for the rest of the year) kiddos. They are what I've always been used to teaching. They raise their hands, they participate, they actually work, and they are behaved. My mornings run smooth.
The PM...I suppose the best way to say this is that those kids will challenge me as a teacher. They will challenge me to find a way to reach them. They will challenge me to put into action my classroom management style that before has always just been a "this is how it is and you won't challenge it" kind of system. They will challenge me to find a way to make the required material fun and interesting. They will challenge me to want to come back and face them again tomorrow.
I've hit my first "shock and awe" class. In the relatively short time I've been teaching, I've finally run into that class that you just don't get. At first, I was a little shocked that my usual manner of teaching wasn't working. After the AM kids, I was thinking this would be a breeze. I was so wrong. Next came the pissed off stage. I was pissed that these kids had absolutely no respect for me and what I was trying to do for them. I know respect is earned and I guess I've never had to work so hard for it. When it comes (and it has to come right?) I know I'll appreciate it all the more and work to keep it. But now, I'm sort of resigned. These are my kids. I'm trying really hard not to feel like they are the ones I'm stuck with, but rather the ones I've been gifted with...I didn't say I was succeeding but I am trying. The afternoon leaves me drained.
In other sort of related to school news...I've caught something. Yesterday I noticed that my throat was scratchy and swallowing felt like glass was going down. If I'm going to catch something it will always start in my throat. While not feeling 100% I decided to head on to happy hour and mingle with my fellow co-workers. Besides as someone else battling The Germs put it, "If beer won't help than nothing will.". So, after two beverages of the loaded variety, I decided to head home...where I mixed Nyquil and Advil with the drinks and landed myself in bed.
This morning, whatever was in my head has obviously moved to my chest where only coughing and gaging and hacking up goo will make me feel better. Needless to say, after my first "real" week and now an onslaught of The Germs, I feel pretty roadkillish...you know when you're in the middle of the freeway and you get hit by the truck and then backed over by the truck.
Anyone know directions to the exit ramp?
I can't believe that the first week of school is over already. I can't believe that my little holiday weekend is over already! Things have been really busy and fast paced and I've been worn out so I haven't made time to update about my first week of school. So let me do that now...
I love my new school! I can't tell you all the differences between where I am now and where I came from. It really is night and day...or more accurately Heaven and Hell. Everyone gets along on my team and we're working really well together. We have this "Maxine" of the group that keeps me in stitches all day long. It is so nice to work in a relaxed atmosphere rather than a negative one.
My kids are really good too. This week we kept our homerooms all day long and tomorrow will begin the switch process. I'm sort of nervous about that because it is new to me, but I think I'll love just teaching Language Arts and Social Studies.
Getting up at 5am has taken some getting used to, but I'm getting used to it. Case in point...this morning my eyes popped open at 5:17am. Thankfully, I was able to shut them and go right back to sleep. That probably won't work tomorrow morning though!
I hope that everyone had a great holiday weekend!
