2006 year in reflection...

“It was another year of transitions for me. I finished my student teaching, only to end up in a career where there are no jobs! It was still the right decision for me.

I got married, which is a huge transition! It was a wonderful day, and I never want to do it again. Being married is making me learn that its Ok to depend on someone else. And, I love having someone to take care of.

I've moved twice this year. Once from Metro Detroit to mid-Michigan, and then into our new home. I hated that apartment we lived in, but I knew it was only temporary. THat mde it bearable.

They say the first year of marriage is the hardest. I've learned that we do have different priorities, and that if we just let the other know what our goal is, we can make it work.

I had a few interviews for jobs over the summer, only to not end up with a full time teaching job this fall. That totally sucked. Then I ended up with a long-term sub job, which I totally thought would lead to a year-long job. The teacher came back, so I'm no longer employed on a regular basis. The kids in that district were certainly tough, and I learned a lot about poverty, and the cultural differences between students in poverty and middle class students. Very eye opening.

I didn't run any 5K's this year, but I did lose ~10 lbs. Camped once, in the U.P. with some friends. We always said we'd go camping again, but it never happened. That's one thing we'll have to work on for next year. More outdoor time. :)

Happy New Year, Trail Talk!”

“I won't say I know, nor understand what you're going through, let alone what you've already gone through. For what its worth, I'm sorry. I can only know what I've gone through and am going through...that's all any of us can do. If you're ever in my area...please call and know that you can count me as a friend to provide a stopping place for you to rest or linger till you're ready to move on... peace.

Be well....god bless.

Marc”

“2006 was very good to me. I learned it was very nice to be alive and even nicer to share my life. Here's to more of the same in '07.”

“Smiley -
Remember, a long-term sub makes not a teacher (in the strictest sense).

When I was schoolin' to teach, I was told repeatedly (as were you too, I'm sure) that there's no substitute (punny!) for being in the classroom with full responsibility and accountability.

So, I done me a little unexpected experiment. One night at the local Piggly Wiggly, I ran into Karen (we were fine, but the carts were slightly damaged), who was a former Teacher Ed. classmate of mine. Like me, she was a non-traditional student (older than me!). She had been a para-pro fo 20-some odd years before enrolling in college, and at the time of the Pig encounter, she was almost through her first year as a full-fledge teacher.

The experiment:
Me: "So, Kare, you been a'teaching all year, eh?"
Karen: "yepper ya darn tootin' don'cha know?"
Me: "You were a fulltime aid for 20 years, right?"
Karen: "S'rite".
Me: "Was it what you expected?"
Karen: ""%#*&%+*@!&*^%$%^&** NO!!!" qouth she.”

“An interesting year career wise - a good year hiking/climbing wise.

Started out with a foray into a sales job - that didn't really work, but it did lead me to a great company where I like what I do again, so that parts good.

I got to see a lot, do a lot, make some new friends and spend time with old ones too. Didn't get to see a lot of people I'd like to and didn't have to see a lot that I don't want to.

So all in all '06 has been pretty good and I hope '07 will be even better.”

“Thanks Marc,

I wasn't boohooing.... er, was I? LOL!
I just had to throw it out there. There's a term o'psychology that, defined, describes how we have a tendency to spill our guts to "strangers", ie, person in line at checkout, airline seatmate, etc. I was just letting it out.

I'm okay, really. This is old hat, and I'm one helluva muddafuggin' MAN! baby yeah! I'll be juuuuust finay.
:)”

“Besides, chil is doing enough for the both of us...

oh SNAP!
LOL!, chili... lol!”

“I'm just glad gojo got Sarabelle logged out.
Sarabelle talking 'regular' was really freaking me out! ;-)

As for me, 2006 was a hell of a lot better than 2005!”

“May each year be better than the last.”

“Toejam,

Sorry to hear about the tough year. Knowing you, knowing how much you love your kids, I know how bad it must have been to mess up a trip to CO.

I don't have a daughter, so that part is hard for me to identify with. I do have sons though. Both quit school, very messed up. GED for both. One now happy working for Whole Foods and married to a great girl. The other still has ups and downs, but in community college doing something he really likes. Stick with them no matter how much it hurts.

Now were is Sticks. Makers Mark. Is that what he passed around the fire?”

“smileygirl-

You may be disappointed, but I personally believe that there is a full-time teaching position out there where the powers-that-be would love to have someone with your background and professional experience on board. Having a professional engineer on the teaching staff would have so many positives, IMHO. You may need to blow your own horn more.

I hope things work out for you in 2007!

BTW, my challenge year was 1982. What seemed like challenges at the time turned out to be for the best in the long run.”

“Smelly -
I wasn't trying to discourage you in any way what som'ever. Oh contraire!

The reality of teaching is that "training" only goes so far. The proof is in the pudding. The fact that you've wet your feet and are still willing to take the plunge is proof positive that you prolly have the right stuff.

A few years back, in an effort to address the teacher shortage, Georgia initiated a program to produce "eight week wonders". These were folks with degrees in various fields that were whisked through abbreviated curricula that included methods, curriculum, etc, courses to prepare them for the classroom. Many of my professional colleagues were resentful of these newcomers, accusing the program of being less than adequate. I disagreed.

No matter what your background, you either have the right stuff or you don't - either you sink or you swim. Dive in, girl!

My point about Karen G. was just a firsthand account about the vast difference between a teacher and an assistant.

Geez, I spent years working alongside plumbers, and still can't remember if hot is on the left or the right. lol!

If you still have difficulty landing a job, come South... "and yer little cat too!"”

“Whining? WTF? I aint even warmed up yet.

I am just hoping I will get to the pissed off point soon.”

“oddly, for the first time in my life I haven't any new years resolutions. I jsut dont feel the need. What gives?”