SCHOOL IS OUT FOR SUMMER

WHOO HOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! The kids just left a few minutes ago. I'm excited! I will really miss 1 or 2 of them, but overall, I'm happy to be through. I still have to come back to school next Tuesday and Wednesday for teacher stuff and packing up my room, but no biggie. This weekend my Mom and Kathy are here visiting, I'm applying for my masters program that starts a month from today, and I am RESTING! I move in less than 2 weeks and have also not packed anything, and next Friday I have two interviews. I'm a busy girl. Josie's coming to visit June 9th, and I'm going home the following week for Michelle's bachelorette party, her wedding, Kim's wedding, and to spend as much time as possible with my family! Busy busy busy

Keep 'em coming

I now have two job interviews for next Friday... this one for elementary and the principal sounds like a sweety! :) whoo hoo!

I got an interview!!!

Next Friday I have an interview for a middle school science teaching job. I'm very excited. I'm not too thrilled on middle school, (high school is better), but I love life science and earth science and that's what I'd be teaching. Two classes, whoo hoo! I'd be taking a paycut, and it's not exactly where I wanted, but whatever, I'd have medical insurance and wouldn't live on the street. Anyway, my first interview this year, wish me luck.

Awesomeness

I went to see WICKED Wednesday night with Allison and some of her friends, and I have to say it was the most AWESOME show I've ever seen. Better than Phantom, Lion King, etc... in my opinion. The music was fantastic, it was super hilarious, and I even cried a bit at the end (shocker). The girl that played the wicked witch had the most amazing voice, I was jealous :) I already bought the cd and can't wait for it to get here!!! So 18 thumbs up, everyone has to see it.

Also, here's a promo for Ian's band. I ordered their CD too, just haven't gotten it yet... I'll let you know what I think when I do.

As you may or may not know the re-release of Crackjaw's record "Giants From The Stereo" is being released worldwide this Tuesday May 16th, 2006!!! It would be nasty if we had your support and you went out to Best Buy, Sam Goody, f.y.e. Tower Records, VH1.com or Borders and picked up a copy. If its out of stock please order it or you can also purchase it at any of the above stores at their official web sites

Thanks for listening to me ramble and try to be a salesman. We just really need everybody's support this time. This all went from a dream to being our careers with all of your help...thank you!!!Keep Crackjaw alive!!!

Online Stores: www.bestbuy.com, www.samgoody.com, www.fye.com, www.towerrecords.com, www.amazon.com, www.VH1.com

Thanx, Crackjaw

Bummer

So, I never made it to Louisville last weekend. I got a call late Thursday night that my Grandpa had stomach cancer and didn't have too much time left. So, Friday morning me and the best boyfriend anyone could ever even dream of having, drove up to Michigan. We didn't get there until late, but Rachel and Steve and Natalie were already there.

Saturday morning my Grandpa was moved to a nursing home, so I didn't get to see him right away. Steve went to visit him before Mom, Joey and I did because he had to get back for church on Sunday. When we got to the nursing home, Steve was walking out from his visit. He said that Grandpa wasn't doing so well. When we got in there, he was doing a lot better. Although he was definitely not happy to be there, and in pain, he was pretty much himself. We talked a bit, and he told Joey to take care of me. We left and I had plans to go get some of his things from home and bring them back a few hours later, but right after we left he got really sick from his feeding tube. I didn't know it at the time because I was visiting at my aunt's but my mom went back up there and signed a DNR and sat with him for an hour or so. He was pretty much out of it by then. She came home for the night and we got a phone call around 2am that my Grandpa passed away. I was shocked because my mom didn't tell us he got sick after we left the nursing home earlier. I thought he was doing well.

A few days later Steve told me that when he was in visiting with Grandpa he almost died right then, but Steve told him that me and my mom were coming to visit soon, and he perked right up. He kept asking Steve to make sure that we were coming. I feel so incredibly happy and blessed that he waited for me. I thank God for giving me such a wonderful grandfather and I cherish all the times we spent together, just me and him. We had a special relationship. I know he loved me very much.

So, the funeral was this past Thursday and I was in Michigan for a little over a week. Joey flew back on Monday because he had to work, but he was so wonderful while he was there. I am so lucky. All my family came in, and it was really awesome to spend so much time with them, even though the circumstances sucked.

Anyway, just an update... I'm feeling better, but it was really really really hard all week. Harder than when my Grandma died. I love my family so much, they are awesome. I also have the best friends in the world. I got to see my best friends on Friday night before I left, and had a wonderful visit. They were all so supportive all last week. I appreciate the cards and phone calls and prayers and everything else. Thank you!

On a lighter note... not only did I get to miss a whole week of school, but next Friday is the last day with the students, AND this week we have a field trip tomorrow AND Thursday! Whoo hoo! Too bad I don't have a job yet... oh well, I'm not worrying about that right now, something will come up, and as I have realized greatly in the past few weeks, there are way more important things in life.

I am the MAN

I passed my computer test today. Whoo hoo! I actually passed it by a lot, so I have no idea what I was thinking the first time I took it...

Tomorrow morning I'm going to go to a school I really want to work at next year and kiss up to the principal, so wish me luck!

Also tomorrow, Joey and I are headed to Louisville! I'm very excited to see Kimmy and to go on a mini vaca. If I get this job we're going to be able to go somewhere awesome in September, so again wish me luck.

P.S.

I totally forgot to write about my zoo trip last Thursday. I took my 2nd graders to Zoo Atlanta and Joey chaperoned. Let me tell ya, I knew kids liked him, but my students were literally attached to him all day. Mr. Joe this and Mr. Joe that... Today I even told them if they placed a book order by Friday I would get them a treat, and this little boy asked if the treat could be Mr. Joe coming to visit our class again. It was one of those "awwwwwww" moments. Joey even said he was BEAT by the end of the day and doesn't know how I do it Monday - Friday. This coming from a super hard working nurse that works 12 hour shifts. Hmmmm... teachers rock!

My students attacking Mr. Joe :)

still on top of him...

Brooke and Michael (Joey's brother) before Brooke's prom on Saturday. I had to add these because Cheryl sent them to me today and they both look gorgeous!

Computer Competency tests suck

So I had to take this test to update my teaching certificate back in February on my computer competency. I failed. oopps. How many 2nd grade teachers use Microsoft Access with their students on a daily basis? Not I. This Thursday is my retake and if I do not pass this time I have to take a $400 class in which I have to pay for out of pocket. Considering I really don't have money to pay my rent this month, I'm thinking I would rather jump off a building than pay $400. So wish me luck.

Some good news is that my sister finally sold her house! I am so excited for her, it was really a burden on her family. So now, she will be able to come visit in October because they won't be crazy broke like they have been for the past few months. I can't wait to see Natalie next month, she's probably doubled in size.

Joey and I are headed to Louisville on Friday. I am very excited to see Kimmy and to meet Matt. I cannot believe I haven't seen her since last April. We've never gone that long without seeing each other, not even when she moved to Missouri. I am very pumped.

Wednesday is Joey's birthday. I'm not quite sure what we're doing yet, but he deserves something special given the year he has had. I already gave him his present 3 weeks ago, but I still want to do something small... any suggestions?

I had a pricipal call me last week from Cherokee county (where I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to work). She was super awesome, but informed me that my teaching certificate is all messed up. I guess Michigan never forwarded my test scores over last JULY like they were suppose to, so now I have to wait up to 4 weeks to get it all straightened out. I am hoping I can sweet talk her into meeting me anyway by promising that I really did take my test 4 years ago and passed it! We will see... big prayers there.

Michelle's wedding shower was yesterday. I'm bummed I couldn't be there, but I'm going home to Michigan June 16th - July 2nd, so I will get to go to her bachelorette party! I'm very excited. I had to miss Aimee's last year because I moved, so I didn't want to miss another best friend's party. Knowing Michelle, it will be crazy :)

I can't believe this school year is almost over. Less than 4 weeks. I remember how miserable I was at the beginning of the year... I'm so glad I got past that. I really really really love my students even though I feel I'm always barking at them. 2nd grade is a great age when they aren't driving you crazy. The teaching position I'm trying to get from the principal previously discussed is for 3rd grade, which would also be fine by me. I actually think I like teaching, but then again, you've caught me on a good day.

I'm going to start atttempting to write in my blog more than once or twice a month, because when I come on I get annoyed having to write 500 pages of stuff that I've done over the past few weeks...

Catch up

So much, so much, I haven't posted in forever...

Savannah was AWESOME! It was so what I needed. It is gorgeous, and probably the most laid back place I've ever been in in my life. I'm so happy we got to go. Mom couldn't stay the whole week because she had to get back and be with Grandpa, who by the way is doing slightly better, but not really. My fam is moving him into a nursing home today :( At least it's 2 seconds from my Mom's house... I just never wanted ANYONE in my family to ever have to go into a nursing home. It's pretty hard to control the situation though 700 miles away.

This past weekend I went to the Braves game on Friday night with Joey, which had the potential to be awesome, but it was little league night so there were 5 bazillion kids running around everywhere, and also, we had the worst seats ever. It still would have been ok, but I was super tired being that it was Friday night... I'm always super tired on Fridays.

Saturday we went up to Cleveland Georgia to watch Michael's baseball game. I was so happy that I finally got to see him play. They didn't win even though they killed the team the previous night, but it was still awesome getting to see him play.

Sunday morning Joey and I went to his parents and went to church with the fam. Then we got to go see Joey's sister Mandy and her hubby Josh's new house that they are building. IT IS AWESOME. I'm so jealous. They are both younger than me and building a kick ass house. I still feel like I'm not a grown up, and considering I STILL don't have a job for next year I don't think I will be buying any houses anytime soon. Anyway, after that we went back to his parents and all had dinner together with the whole family. It was awesome. I got an Easter basket with a bunch of candy I so did not need to eat, but did anyway, and I got the Carrie Underwood cd too! :) I love Cheryl, she's the best!

I bought Joey a 55 gallon aquarium for his birthday... it's awesome. I didn't think that an aquarium could be so entertaining, but we've spent a lot of time so far just staring at what the fish are doing... His birthday isn't until May 3rd, but I couldn't wait and he says it's one of the best presents he's ever gotten. Yay for me! I'm pretty sure we're still going to Louisville the weekend after his birthday, so I'll spoil him a bit then as well.

I also am getting a crap load of money back on my taxes. I AM SO EXCITED!!!!! Allison did them for me and hooked me up big time. I'm sure I should do something responsible with the money like pay off my credit card, fix my car up, bla bla bla, but instead I'm going on vacation. Not sure where yet, but I'm going. I need it. Joey needs it WAYYYYYYYYYYYYY more than I do, so sometime, somewhere, we'll go somewhere cool. I will let you know when I decide.

Ok, I'm a big nerd, but I love American Idol. I want Elliot to win. I can't believe he's been in the bottom 3 the past 2 weeks! He's awesome. Kelly Picklar and Taylor are pretty cool too. Alrighty, here's some pics...

SUPER old cemetary that I can't remember the name of... but it was awesome, and a bunch of famous people are buried there

The trees are so pretty!

Mom at Paula Dean's restaurant

Our breakfast at the bed and breakfast we stayed at in Savannah... it was awesome

Mom and I in Savannah

Turner Field

Joey at the Braves game