It was summer? Did I miss it?

A quick snippet to update those of you who have bore with me this long! I've been on a bit of a blogging hiatus as of late. I've managed to keep up on blogs of those I know personally, and have managed to take fairly regular glimpses into the lives of those I know from the blog-o-sphere! I appreciate your patience with me!

I've been working strenuously this summer! I've been working at summer school helping in a fishing class. Seriously THE. BEST. JOB. ON. EARTH. God really knew what he was doing! I've been in the sun, fishing, untangling line, baiting hooks and helping remove fishes from hooks. I've been able to get over my intense dislike and squirminess in regards to worms and fish. I've been able to touch the pan fish, and keep my teacher-cool doing it! Shoot, one of us has to look like the grown up! When the kid is squirming and whining, I guess it'll have to be me! I even took my one lonely bluegill home yesterday and tried my hand at the art of filleting fish! It was a dull kitchen knife, a little fish, and an unsupervised trial from memory, but it went well, I think! I think I could do it with a better knife perhaps! I'll be a fishing maniac by the end of our last week in class! It's almost like God knew that learning to fish and getting over the fish/worm squirminess was something I hoped to do this summer or something! Who told???

I have finally, really, truly signed a lease today on my new apartment. I wrote out a check (perhaps the biggest I've ever written!) to prove it! My rent is paid, and a hefty matching amount on deposit! This is the most I've ever paid for rent, and I'm a bit nervous! The good news is that it's month to month so that I could move into a little studio if I freak out and need to! I hope that once I get into the school year and we work out our car pool situation, I'll have a better grip on it. But for now, I've missed some details . . . I've spent the last 9 months with plans in my head to move to one of the towns en route from work to church. I will be at work 5 days a week and church at least 3 days/nights each week. I couldn't work out how it would work to pay more rent than I was paying for rent, and an almost equal amount for my commuter bill. I finally, about 2 weeks ago, settled on finding a home in a town about 15 minutes out of my way. Some church friends live there, and one of them works at the same school district that I do! A third teacher from our district also lives in this town, opening up exciting commuting possibilities! And- drum roll please- I'll be 15 minutes away from my parents, sisters, and their families! This will be the closest that I've lived to them, without being in the same house! (The drama has already begun!) Since her aneurysm in 2000, my Mom has had some issues, and it'll be good for me to be closer to her and my family so that I can help out! It should be great because she'll eventually be able to find this apartment and be able to drive there independently! This isn't the case with my current apartment, unfortunately. She graduated from the high school in this town, so she's comfortable driving there.

After signing the lease, the pressure was lessened, a schedule was established, the unknown revealed, and summer began! Whoo hoo! My dear friend Lori took me and Ang and the manchild to a little known swimming beach about 15 minutes from my new house. I'd grown up within 25 minutes of it and had no idea of it's existence! A beautiful little beach on the St. Croix River, a real gem! Lori was as excited to show it to us as we were to go! In the 10 hours we spent together, we garage saled, drove, drummed, signed, swam, floated, laughed, ate McDonalds, ate pizza, ate ice cream, dropped in on our friends, and went to the Wal-mart! Boy did we have a blast!

Tomorrow has been declared a day of rest. Packing will wait! My only commitment is to a mission trip meeting in the evening and making some amaz-azing spinach and artichoke heart dip at Ang's before hand (because we packed most of my kitchen yesterday!). A whole day to stay home and just vegetate! I'm trembling in excitement!

Feel free to give me a holler to see how the day's going, but keep in mind- my day will not be starting before 10 or so! It's my day of rest!

A

Is it summer?

Hi kids! I've hereby accomplished all I wanted to for the summer. On Monday I registered for a Motorcycle Safety class. For a small fee, you can learn to ride a cycle using motorcycles that are provided for you. You learn to ride, pass their bike test and written test and then you walk into the DMV, take their test and they print you out a Class M motorcycle license! I took the class Wednesday and Thursday and was able to go and pass my test today! If this really is the highlight of my summer, the rest is going to drag.

And yes, I plan to get a bike. And NO, a scooter is not really a bike. Please don't insult me!

I'm working for summer school after all. 3 weeks of being the lowest paid employee in the building. They managed to miss me in the hiring process. The only position they had left was a paraeducator. Don't get me wrong, I worked as a para for 6 years, and it was fine, but I taught summer school for the last 2 years. Taught. You know, made the big bucks! When I worked as a para the other summers, I made my standard wage, which was okay(not what the position is worth, but okay). Now, I'm no longer a district employee and will be making entry level pay. I don't need the money, and almost turned it down, but really- what else would I do those 3 weeks? Half days for 3 four day weeks. I can handle it. A little extra spending money and a big dish of humility!

I still don't know what the future holds for the end of the month! I'm moving . . . somewhere!

A

anti-climax

Well, it's finally here. What I've been waiting for for months, 9 of them to be specific, summer vacation. I should be crazy excited, shouldn't I? It seems to be a polar opposite. I've found that I'm actually sad and a bit depressed. I still don't know where I'm moving to at the end of the month, and right now, I'm wallowing in my flesh and am crabby and stressed by that. I HATE apartment searching. Especially on a deadline. I'd like to get a nice one, perhaps even cookie-cutter, with decent proportions and utilities included, for a reasonable price.

I don't know if I'll teach summer school because the local school district hasn't gotten back to me. I sent an email to the HR manager. His wonderful secretary assured me a week or two ago that either he or another administrator would be calling me soon . . .

I've been very busy, helping people move, trying to organize my apartment(not too hard) and maintaining my normal evenings. I've done my dishes, gone to the doctor and began to drain my 50 gallon aquarium in exchange for a 10 gallon (waaay easier to move!). The fish are all transferred, but the big guy is still 3/4 full. It'll take muscle and ambition to finish, and I don't seem to have either right now! I'd also like to figure out where to put the small one before I fill it up. I feel guilty doing this, though, until I know where I'm moving to!

I've found a home for my guinea pig, which makes life easier. I've done laundry, although it needs to be put away. I'm going camping this weekend, which is an added pressure right now, instead of the joy it's supposed to be! I must change my perspective soon! I hate being like this, and know it's a vicious downward spiral!

I'd better get back to the apartment search. Phone calls to be made! I'll feel so much better, I think, once I find a place!

Amanda