Jobless bum no longer!

So I told you about the last minute notice for the last available English position interview in all of Shelby county-dom - well, I got the job! During the interview, I knew it was going well and that I had most likely beat out at least the applicant right before me, but then of course there was a whole slew of applicants before us. After all, every middle or high school English teacher out there was also vying for this one opening as well. But I impressed the principal with my portfolio, and apparently wowed him with my answers and even questions with which I came prepared. At the end, they said they'd get ahold of my on Friday either way... to which I replied that I hoped it would be a positive conversation. (No real reaction on their part.)

Obviously, it's not Friday yet. The Human Resources guy, Mayo, called me early yesterday morning to ask if I had checked my email recently. (I had not.) He goes on to say that Mr. Joy had already called him back and expressed interest in working with me but needed to know my teaching status first. Because I obtained my TN certification so recently, Mayo couldn't find me in the system, at which point he emailed me effectively saying the above information, and could I send in a copy of my certification? Of course, I'd mailed my certification in to his office as soon as I had received it. (Many moons back.) Mayo soon found it in his files, thus his call to me to disregard the email. But because of the slight confusion, I got an early pleasant surprise. Hooray!

Poor Eric, he hasn't been feeling well lately. He was lounging on the tv tryin to breathe through all of the snot (he's related to the rhino) when he was startled abruptly by my screaming and squealing and thrashing about. (After I got off the phone with Mr. Mayo, of course.) I'm sure he thought I'd converted into a holy roller. He can be so serious at times; it's uncanny for a two-year old. I managed to squeak out a few "IgotajobI'mgoingtobeateacher's" so he wouldn't think I had a parasitic alien trying to break out. The cats just hid under the bed and stared at me with unblinking eyes, most likely calculating the odds on if this crazy person would have the mental facilities to ever feed them again.


And once I had managed to calm down a wee bit, (by replaying the millions of times that Mom told me to "Stop being silly" as a kid) I tried to call Aaron at work. Sadly, he was in the middle of one of his busiest days ever. (He didn't get home until 6:30 and had been at a dead run all day.) So I left a msg. How deflating; it is difficult to maintain the proper level of elation when prompted to leave a msg after the beep. So I called Mom; she's always available... humph, so there. And for the few minutes before some egocentric customer demanded Mom's attention, (I swear, just b/c she's the receptionist...) I got to relate my good news and bask in the motherly praise.

(Skip a bit, Brother.) (Two points if you can place that quote.)

At VBS that evening, Mom apparently told Jeanette and Wendy that I had some big news but then wouldn't tell them what that big news was. (Yeah, she's mean like that, lol.) While I was getting gorgeousified (at least, that was the goal) for my celebratory dinner at the Olive Garden with Aaron, Wendy called to solve the riddle.

"So which is it? Jeanette thinks you're pregnant, but I think you've got a job."

Sorry, Jeanette... it'll be about 2 years before you're right; my uterus is on a tight schedule. (Yes, Mum, I just used the word "uterus" in a public blog - *gasp!* She declares that she's a fantastic little contraction and doesn't get the PR that she deserves.)

Now that I've a steady paycheck coming in, Aaron and I can officially start dabbling in the housing market. (For Jeanette, that also means that my uterus's two-year countdown can begin.) Before all that ever happens, I have 1 1/2 months to plan what I'm going to do in my class. I'd like to have at least the first semester sketched out and all of August fairly outlined. Everything is so impersonal in this big Shelby county district, that I'm afraid I won't be able to get into my room and get the information I need to start planning. I already feel rushed - they hire SO late, and start school SO early... meh.

I like to leave my blogs with a sort of "eh" feeling, and I think I've done that here. (3 points if you can place that [slightly altered] quote!) I need to head to midtown to pick up some forms and arrage for a physical so that I can eventually head back and sign my contract. Plus, after baking an Italian meal (complete with lasagna, homemade Italian herb bread, Caesar salad, and 2-layer carrot cake) for $90, I've got another order for pumpkin bars and a 3-layer mud pie. Booyah for some sideline cash!