Sigh.

So. I finally called School 2, since they still hadn't called me back. You guessed it. They've already filled the postition. (A really polite way of saying, we decided to not even interview you after all. Good Luck!)

Sigh.

Waiting . . .

How much of human life is lost in waiting?
--Ralph Waldo Emerson

All things come to him who waits - provided he knows what he is waiting for.
--Woodrow T. Wilson

The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit.
--Moliere

He that can have patience can have what he will.
--Benjamin Franklin

Everything comes gradually and at its appointed hour.
--Ovid

Can anyone tell me the theme of the day? Oh, yeah, and School 2 still hasn't called back.

One Door Closes . . .

So, I heard back from School 1 today. It turns out that, well, I didn't get the job. The most daunting part was getting the phone call where I felt more like consoling the principal, who was trying to sputter out the fact that they were "going in a different direction" and "not picking up [my] option." That's right. I felt like comforting the woman who was trying to repair the shreds of self-esteem I had left.

Strangely enough, I felt good about this failure. There are times when I'm interviewing that I feel absolutely no connection with the interviewer, that the interview is not showing any of my amazing talents. This was one of those times. I was actually amazed in the first place that I got a second interview for this job. What would I have done if I had gotten the position? Heaven forfend.

[upstage, left, creak of another door opening]

Within an hour, School #2 called to let me know that they still had me in mind for at least an interview. They would call again to schedule next week. Hooray! This was the phone interview that I had actually felt pretty good about. Everyone start praying!

In a Split Second

It started with a wall of cars. Thick, black smoke drifted up. Then, we joined the wall of cars in the biggest parking lot in the world (except perhaps for LA during rush hour). What had started as a drive to Institute turned into random, connective hour.

Melanie and I started early to Institute and ran smack dab into a HUGE eighteen-wheeler-semi accident. Don't worry, we weren't actually in the accident, we were just trapped by it. It shut down the entire highway, both ways. People got out of their cars and walked up and down the highway chatting. Melanie spoke with a french au pair in the minivan next to our car. I watched everyone from inside the car, listening to the radio to find out what had happened. Lights flashed up the highway from us, and we could see the semi across the highway (as in it was across the median into the oncoming traffic lanes).

It was interesting that people who wouldn't talk to each other anywhere else, were helping each other. A few men helped a woman navigate her jeep off the highway, through a break in the fence, onto a side road. Others attempted to get as close as possible to the accident for a better view. (I of course was nestled in the car, still hoping that the whole thing wouldn't blow.) I almost felt guilty for not getting caught up in the carnival-like atmosphere. Almost.

After an hour, the DOT and police vehicles were in place, and we all turned around finally escaped.

Yeah, so that was my night. How was yours?

Conflicting Statements

Quick update: I got a phone call on Monday from a school that would be wonderful to work for (school 1). I then had an interview on Tuesday (school 1, interview 1). I got the equivalent of callbacks and had another interview today (school 1, interview 2).

As she was walking me out, the principal to the school had two main messages:

1. We should have made a decision by about Friday. If you don't hear by then, it doesn't mean that you're out of the running.
2. She had to interview in a lot of places, don't lose hope.

Somehow, those two seem to contradict each other a bit. Don't lose hope, but even she had to interview a lot. HMMM. Confused? I AM!

Also school 2 called yesterday and gave me yet again the equivalent of a phone interview and said they would probably be calling me back for an interview. (They have yet to call back.)

Screening Interview

I now have something else to add to my "gratitude post". I had an interview today. Granted, it was a screening interview, but this is a step in the right direction. The way the first interview goes at this district is that they ask you 10 million "what would you do if . . ." questions. The interview is recorded and done completely over the phone. It is basically nerve racking because they give you no indication during the interview about how you're doing. You could be completely bombing the whole thing and they would say thank you and go onto the next question.

The redeeming moment of the interview was when the interviewer said at the very end, "I think your interview reflected your positive teaching attitude." That's good, right?

Anyway, the evaluation of how good/bad it was depends on how who actually ends up calling me (if anyone).

Home at Last! Um. Yeah.

So I'm finally home, after hours and hours of driving past seas of grass (complete with waves and all). Unfortunately, I am rediscovering the truth of the adage "you can't go home again." Yeah, well. I have been here two days, and I already feel sixteen again (the point at which I could drive and go on errands for others.)

However, I am trying to look at the bright side of things.

1. I don't have to share a room (yet).
2. I have a phone/screening interview scheduled with an AMAZING school district on Saturday.
3. I begin my job tomorrow.
4. I get to see my family.
5. I have free long distance, so I can call far-away friends.
6. All of my stuff fit in storage.
7. I am alive.
8. I still have the ability to eat large amounts of chocolate, sugar, and fat.
9. Divine Miss A.
10. I have a library card, and I know how to use it.

Okay, I feel better. Really. Well, I'm off to go bury myself in a book.

Boxes, Boxes, Everywhere

I move Tuesday. This should explain the state of my life right now, which is basically one big box. Unorganized, stuffed, and quickly running out of time. Boxes have now invaded the kitchen, livingroom, bedroom, and heaven forfend, the bathroom. I am switching to plastic bags since they can at least be swung over one's shoulder in Santa-Claus-like fashion.

I run around from room to room stuffing things in boxes, bags, etc. and meeting spiders. Yes, it seems that I am now every spider's best friend. One tried to introduce itself the other night by crawling over my leg. I killed it immediately with spider spray. Dead. Very dead. (How can something be very dead? Don't ask.) My next encounter came while packing. That spider is also dead. I am becoming very efficient with the spider spray. I almost considered investing in a holster, but I'll hold off for a bit.

Well, more rooms to pack, more spiders to kill.