Making progress

It's almost time to go but I thought I would squeeze in a quick post before I leave today. I still don't have a cell phone because AT&T is as slow as Christmas! I am not good at not having a phone so I am trying really hard to wait patiently.

This morning we started testing. My job is to just basically sit in the hall. I just rolled my chair out there and read my book for Vietnam class. I have actually managed to get a lot of work done today. I discovered that highlighting the main things in the book is easier than taking notes for the outline. I also did the outline for my research paper and started the actual paper itself. I think I am mostly using the Wikipedia-"Ia Drang Valley Battle for Dummies" version of the story but I will have to throw in some facts from my 7 required sources. I know...college is ridiculous!

I am very much looking forward to Spring Break and then the end of this semester. I have never been so excited for summer in my life! Especially a summer where I am taking 7 classes! But, I know that it will be better than this!

My sweet husband downloaded last week's episode of Gray's Anatomy for me that I missed because our DVR was being crazy...so, I am going home to watch it today! Then it's back to work on this Vietnam War mess.

The good thing about testing this week is that after tests are over, I don't have any kids for the rest of the day! I love my kids (sometimes) but it's nice to have this peace and quiet time that I can do my work without the constant, "Mrs. Odom??"! :)

Well, I guess that's all for me today...I have to go do bus duty and then I'm free to go home sweet home!!

A very rambling post about nothing

Well, it's been a while since I have posted anything so I thought I would do a quick post before I launch into my unbelievably massive stack of work for the week. This weekend was wonderful. I actually got to spend an entire weekend at home doing nothing! Josh worked on Saturday so I watched reruns of America's Next Top Model and cleaned house. Then when Josh came home we went on a date. We basically went out for dinner and by the time we got seated and ate it was too late to make it to the movies so we just ran by blockbuster and then went home. Both of our computers crashed recently which was devistating because we are computer people so Josh spent a lot of time this weekend working on them. We didn't have virus protection and they both got a virus. It was pretty tragic. Now, Josh has fixed his computer and mine is still dead...or dying...so, I am getting a new one! Yay!

We have decided to redo the computer room and guest room in our house. We are going to switch them and then we are going to work on the computer room first. I need a better place to study at home, especially since I am going to be taking a double load the next two semesters at home. So, we are going to rip up the carpet in the old guest room/new computer room and lay down hardwood. We are going to paint the walls a deep purple and get all new baseboards and crown moulding. Then just extra little stuff like a new ceiling fan and new door knobs and stuff. We have decided to just work on one room at a time. The computer room just happens to be the one we need the most right now. I want to paint the walls a deep purple and do white trim. Josh actually agreed to that. :) So, we are starting that process next weekend. I am also getting a new desk for my new computer and Josh is taking my old desk so that all of our furniture will match. We are getting rid of his old desk and some other furniture that we don't need. I think it will help our clutter problem significantly! When we finish with that room we are going to work on the guest room next and that will just be painting, moulding, and a bed set. Oh, and getting the bed in there from Karla and Craig! We are excited to have an actual guest room. Now its just an almost empty storage/music room. I won't be sad to see the drums and piano go. We are working on a budget to get all of this done so I hope we can do it! I'll let you know how it turns out! After we get those two rooms done we would like to work on our kitchen. Basically we will just redo the floors for now. We would like to have this amazing kitchen that I found on the internet. It will be in our dream home that we already have chosen one day.

We picked out our dream house when we first got married and saved it. We also chose pitcures like this one of every room that we want to have one day. It's nice to have a dream to work for! We love our house right now though and definately plan to stay there for many years to come. I am definately the kind of person who likes to plan everything out. We have made plans for the future together but somehow things always seem to change. Just like us moving to Tuscaloosa. That was actually a spir of the moment decision and we are SO happy that we did it! We love it here! We are so happy! I feel so blessed to be married to such a great man who loves me so much!

We only have 2 weeks of school now until Spring Break! I can't wait!! Josh and I are going to the beach that week. That tuesday is our anniversary so I am very glad that we will get to celebrate at the beach!! It's going to be romantic and relaxing! I just hope that I can get all of my school work done before then!! Well, this has been a very rambling post about nothing at all so I guess I will stop procrastinating and get to work now!

Friday 5

1. It's been a while since I have posted. Not too much going on at the Odom residence. It is Friday which means that I am now officially at 7 weeks of school until I am done with my job! I could not possibly be more excited about that! I have liked this job but I will be SO glad when it's over. Everyone else has 8 weeks but I took the last week off work because Josh is off and we are going on vacation. Were not really sure where we are going yet. We are going to the beach for spring break and I can't wait for that! That will be the 3rd week in April.

2. I have SO much homework and studying to do before then. I have been working really hard to get it all done. I even made myself a more-than-slightly OCD list of assignments and due dates. It's color-coded. :) Everything is due right before spring break and I have a HUGE test on the Thursday of that week. Yea, unfortunately, my spring break for school and spring break for work are not the same time...so, I have to come back from the beach early to take a test. It's really fine though because as it turns out, I have tickets to see Wicked! that night with my sister! I am TOO excited about that!

3. Tonight, Josh and I are going to David and Lindsey's house for dinner. They are grilling steaks for us. Then, tomorrow night, we are having Josh's and my family over for a cook out. That will be fun. Then Sunday is a lazy (do nothing at all but lay in the bed and watch movies and eat fast food) day! Those are my VERY favorite.

4. I can not believe that this time next year I will be getting ready to graduate. I have felt for years like it would never happen but now I am almost there! I have got a rough road ahead of me trying to finish this semester and then 7 classes in summer and 7 classes in fall. I know it's WAY too much for me to have taken on but it was the only way for me to graduate on time. I am now at the point in my life where I actually feel like I am accomplishing something. I am a full-time teacher and I am also a full time student....AND I am on the Dean's list! Well, let me say...I WAS on the dean's list. I probably will not be this time. Thanks to my European history class for that.

5. Pretty much I am avoiding doing any homework right now because I am SO tired of reading about the Vietnam War. I am VERY ready to go! I have to cover Mrs. Hobson's class (again) this afternoon after lunch because she seems to have a lot of emergency situations where she has to leave in the middle of school and can't find a sub. Her kids are like devils for the most part. I will pretty much spend the last 3 hours of school screaming and glaring out the window longingly. (and I never scream) Pray for me. :)

On the road to becoming a teacher

Today is Wednesday which means that it's my 5th grade day. I used to hate 5th grade day because they always ask way too many questions and kinda drive me nuts...but now I like it because they are really queit and I actually get to have a day of peace and quiet! I also have a lot more time off on Wednesdays. I get really bored but I think its better than being overrun with kids and not having a minute to myself. Don't get me wrong...I love my 6th grade kids...Sometimes I just need a break!

On a semi-related note...I am in one of those moods where I wish that I could see the future. Tiffany teaches 9th grade English across the street at the high school. That's how I got this job as a lab facilitator this year while I was still in college. I wanted the job at the high school but they gave it to someone else and gave me the job at the middle school. I complain a lot about this job but really it's been great. I have all day to sit at my desk and study and do homework and I get paid. Now, I certainly don't get paid enough but neither do teachers so I guess that's a whole different subject. The days can get crazy and the kids can certainly drive me nuts but all in all, I'm very thankful for this job this year. I really love my group of kids and I will miss them next year! Because of my internship semester next spring, I won't be able to do this job next year. I have already turned in my resignation. I will definately be glad to not have to work next year considering my class schedule, but I can't wait to graduate and become a real teacher. This job has made me want it so much more. I want to teach high school with my sister. We are not sure, as of right now, if we are going to stay at West Blocton or try to get a job in Tuscaloosa but either way...we will be glad to work together! If I could choose, I would teach 10th or 11th grade because those are the American History years but as it turns out...The 9th grade and 12th grade history teachers will both be retiring the year that I graduate...Go figure. So, the good news is that I feel like I have a guaranteed job. My sister is an amazing teacher and everyone loves her so Dr. Milligan, the principal, is crazy about her and hopefully will hire me because I'm just like her. But, the down side is that if we decide to go to a Tuscaloosa school, the chances of us both landing a job at the same school are less likely. I pray about it alot and I know that God will place us just where we are needed. If we stay and I teach 9th grade, then my 2nd year as a teacher, I would teach my same group of kids again! That would be awesome! I tell them all the time when they talk about me leaving after this year that they will see me again! God has blessed my life so much with not only my job this year but also my career choice. I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher and it is exactly what I thought that it would be. It is stressful, aggravating, nerve-racking, intense, scary, fun, intimidating, and everything else in the world but it's amazing. I guess that's all about that subject.

Finally catching my breath

I am finally done with Midterm week and there is no break to be taken...I don't even have time to slow down really. I am onto the next endeavour of the Teacher Ed. Program. That's actually getting accepted to the Teacher Education Program. Well, I finally got to apply for acceeptance last week and now I am working on my Portfolio. I have to set up an interview time for next month. I then have to memorize the Conceptual Framework because that's what they are going to ask me about. My portfolio is a mess and needs major work. The Praxis is Saturday followed by a hair appointment and then Prom. AAH! I can't believe that all of this is coming up so soon. I don't feel prepared at all for the Praxis but I am going to take it anyway. I don't expect to pass but I figure that it will give me the experience to be more prepared next time. Our rental situation is finally settled and they are doing well so far. Luke is happy and healthy in the back yard and our house is the cleanest that it has been in a while. Whew! What a relief! Now, I can just focus on my school work and I can actually go to the gym and cook supper for my husband this week! He won't know what to do with something that doesn't come out of a drive-thru. :) Tonight we are watching that new James Bond movie and I know that Josh can't wait! It will be so nice to cook supper and cuddle up on the couch with my husband! I wish that we never had to work and we could just stay home all the time! Well, that's all about me for now!!

So Fresh...So Clean...

Well, I made it through my crazy week and I actually got all of the stuff done that I needed to do! Yay! My midterm was crazy...It had 113 questions!! So...I'm not sure how I did on that. We get our grades back on Wednesday. This was a very welcomed weekend for me! This past week was exhausting and I am SO glad it's over! I'm planning to work really hard not to fall behind on my schoolwork for the rest of this semester! But, with my crazy life that is harder than it sounds. Josh took Luke back to the vet on Thursday and Dr. May said that Luke was healthy as a horse and ready to go back outside! That was a HUGE releif because I was not going to make it through the loss of both of our babies. We miss Buster really bad. Luke is missing him too. He seems to be confused now that he's back outside and Buster's gone. We had to put Luke on canned food because he got spolied when he was sick (we were cooking chicken and beef for him everyday) and now he won't eat his dry food. He is still on 2 antibiotics but he's happy to be back outside. He got a new pillow and Josh cleaned out his dog house. Josh also attached these extender things to our fence so that Luke doesn't have to be tied up and he can't jump out of the fence. He's much happier now and so are we! We have spent today super spring cleaning the house and it smells amazing. I won't disclose how much money we spent on new cleaning stuff today at Walmart but I got all new cool tools. I got a cook top cleaner that worked SO well! It got all of the burn marks off the top of our stove and now it looks brand new! (Thanks for reccomending that Megan!!) I also got a cook shower cleaner thing and also one of those things that sprays your shower for in-between-cleaning. I got a new toilet cleaner wand thing with disposable pads. I got a new swiffer....Yea...we racked up! We got like a thousand new candles and of course all of the furniture polish, vaccum powder, kitchen cleaner stuff that we usually use...THen...When we came home Josh took the vaccuum apart and cleaned it and now it works like new! It's like a whole different house!! We aired out Luke's room and vaccuumed and everything and now it finally smells good! As I'm sure you can tell, I'm excited for my house to be clean...I'm a bit OCD about that! This week we have no baseball games which is great! I have the Praxis on Saturday! :( I'm really scared about that but, we'll see. Then prom is Saturday night. One of the highlights of being a high school teacher is that you get to go to prom every year! I can't find a dress though. I don't teach high school yet but Tiffany does so I always go with her. We have hair appointments and nail appointments and it's going to be fun! Prom is on the Bama Belle (the boat) We had it there last year and it is amazing. I am so glad that Josh is home tonight and tomorrow. I have missed him this week and plan to stay stuck to him like glue until Monday. (He doesn't mind ) I guess that is all of my news for now. Things are definately a lot better now than they were this past week. Thanks to everyone for your concerns about Luke and condolescences about Buster!

Getting organized

I'm sure that everyone who reads my blog is tired of hearing about my midterms but it's obviously all that I can think about so...I am trying to get organized to get things done before Friday...Here's what I'm thinking:

1) I need to spend most of today working on my essay. I still have 3 questions and about 6 pages to go. I could possibly finish that today and I need to because I won't be in my classroom again this week. So...That's my goal for today. Also, at lunch (depending on how far I am in my essay) I need to watch the first psychology DVD and take notes. THis evening when I get home it's on to DVD #2.

2) Tomorrow I will be observing at the high school which doesn't leave me much room to work on anything...But, I need to find time to read some chapters in the psychology book. Tomorrow night I will watch at least one if not 2 more DVD's.

3) Thursday I will be observing again and I need to finish reading chapters that day. Thursday evening we have a double-header baseball game and I am going to borrow Tiffany's laptop to watch as many more DVD's as I can fit in. Hopefully that's a good enough plan to get everything done.

I will be so glad when this semester is over. This has been my worst college semester ever. I have learned that taking upper level history classes online is never a good idea. I'm under so much pressure all the time. I told Josh I feel like I am living in a pressure cooker. It's exhausting. But, I've decided to stop freaking out and pace myself and do the best I can. That's all I can do!!

End of the day

I made it through the day at work and I am in a much better mood this afternoon (which never happens) because I had no students at all today (which also never happens)! Mrs. Sellers had to keep them for something in Science and the delay this morning got us off to a crazy start so she just kept my kids all day! I actually got the first 1/4 of my essay done and now I just have 3 parts to go! Hopefully, I will finish that tomorrow! Then its on to studying (more like cramming) for my Psych midterm on Friday. I have to observe at the high school on Wednesday and Thursday which is the best ever because I get to spend the day with my sister! I got the lease faxed over to our renter and the checkbook is balanced. I am going to rush home and let Luke out (hopefully before he pees in the room). There's plastic in the floor but giant horsedog pee is never fun and since Josh won't be home to clean it up...that means that its all up to me. So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed. He is really good about going outside so I am just hoping... I am going to take a little nap when I get home and then I am going to the gym and the tanning bed at Tiffany's. We have prom in two weeks and I am pale as a ghost and in some serious need of work out time. ((Too much to do! Overload! Overload!)) Well, it's about time to go so I am going! Yay for 3:05 bells!

A very unmerry weekend for us

Josh and I spent last week anxiously awaiting the arriaval of the weekend. We didn't have anything amazing planned or anything...We had just both had a long week and were ready to calm down and relax together for the weekend. Well, as I mentioned in my last post on Friday, Josh had texted me that morning saying that he was worried about Luke (our German Shephard). He said that he was being mopey and wouldn't really eat anything. So, I worried all day until I got home and saw him for myself...then I started to panic. He looked really sick. So, I called the Vet. He said that they were closing but we needed to take him immediately to Emergi-Pet. So, when Josh got home we loaded up and went. After the long wait, the doctor finally came in and took Luke's temperature...It was 105 degrees. I cried. (hysterically) Then they asked us a lot of questions and then did an exam and some tests. She came back and said that Luke has Pneumonia. She said that it was severe and very contagious. She went back to the office to type up a list of things that they would like to do to get Luke better and the prices. (Unfortunately we have no doggy insurance...That may sound silly but when you have a weekend like we have you would be looking into it too!) She came back out with the list. She told us how much. I cried again. (hysterically...again) We did not have that kind of money. There was no way that we could do that. She said that the amount that she gave us was for a weekend doggy-hospital stay. She then said that there were some other options that we could discuss. They were still really expensive but not as crazy as the big number that she gave us first.(But the big number would assure that everything possible was being done to make Luke better) It was the most aweful thing that I have ever experienced. We had to make the decision on our sweet dogs health based on how much money we had in the bank. That really sucks like you wouldn't believe. Of course, everyone was feeling really sorry for me (The girl who couldn't stop crying) and it was embarrassing but I couldn't help it. I'm a very emotional person. So, we decided (with no other choice) to go with the second options. They gave him IV fluids and several shots while we were there. Then we got 2 prescriptions to go home. They said for us to keep him inside and to feed him boiled chicken and a certain kind of yougurt. So...we took him home and then I went to Walmant and spent another huge amount of money to get everything that we would need to keep our giant dog in the house. So, that was Friday night...Then Saturday Josh and I got up and took my car to have new tires put on and then we dropped it off to be detailed. (hoping that they could get the giant horse-dog smell out of my car.) THen, we went home and I cleaned the house. Luke was doing ok and making some improvments. Then Josh went outside and said that Buster wasn't acting right. I (of course) automatically freaked out...grabbed the phone...and called the doctor. She said to try and take his temp if we had a thermometer. So, Josh took the thermometer outside to take his temp and realized that he was having diarrhea. So, we called the vet back and told them that. She said that she thought that Buster was having a stress reaction to the fact that Luke had been taken out of the yard. We told her that he had been sitting at the back door all morning crying and looking in. So, she told us not to worry and that he would probably be fine. later on Butser was on the poarch and I was petting him and I realized that there was a lot of blood in his diarrhea. So...I called them back. She said that it was probably because he had been having it all morning and still nothing too big to worry about. So, I went on to the girls' pageant with my parents and sisters and Josh stayed home to take care of the dogs. When the pageant was over I called Josh to check on them and he said that Buster was not looking good but for me not to worry. He said that if he got worse he was going to take him on to Emergi-pet. Well, later after dinner with my family I called back to check again. I was really upset and worried. Josh just said that we could talk about it when I got home. Well, I was worried and I didn't want to wait to get home...I got mad and said tell me now how Buster is...That's when Josh said that Buster had died a couple of hours ago. He said that he wasn't looking good and Josh had wrapped a blanket around him to keep him warm. He called the vet and said he was on his way and then when he went outside to get Buster he was already gone. It broke my heart. I was so glad that my sister was with me. I didn't know what to do but I didn't want to go home. I have NEVER had any pets before that I was attached to and I have been positively crazy about my dogs! Buster was this adorable blonde terrier who looked like a shrimp next to Luke but they were best friends. Buster would turn his head to the side whenever someone was talking to him like he was really listening. He was so cute and sweet. Everone loved Buster. Josh and I fell in love with Buster the first minute that we saw him. We got him from the pound about 7 months ago when we first moved to Tuscaloosa and I just had to have him. We spoiled him rotten and played with him all the time. When Josh told me he had died I was so upset and heartbroken. The vet told Josh not to bury him in the yard because Luke would dig anything like that up so Josh and Eric took him to the vet. They do a burial for you if you pay for it. So...that was that. What else is there to say...now he's gone. I keep expecting to see his little sideways head at the fence whenever I drive into the driveway.....Luke is getting better. He is eating and drinking a lot more now and he is getting up a lot more too. We take him outside to use the bathroom and yesterday he was really looking around for Buster. I think he's confused. We are going to keep him in the house for a few more days and then I think that he will be okay to go outside. I think that Josh is going to take him to the vet on Thursday to get a check up and make sure that he is okay now....This weekend was terrible for us. It turns out that what killed Buster was not stress related. It was poision. The vet said that it was either a mouse or something that could have been in our yard that we carrying a disease or that someone had poisioned him on purpose. Our yard is fenced in but our gate is never locked so I guess that someone had to sneak in or throw something over the fence. Our neighbors didn't like out dogs at all. They have complained many times about Luke and they called animal control a few weeks ago when Luke got out of the fence. The vet says that Luke picked up his pneumonia at the pound that day that he was there. But, Buster's problem was not related to Luke's at all. It was a ridiculously tragic coincidence that this happened to them at the same time. Well, I know that no one would ever read a post this long but I wanted to get it all out. I don't understand the kind of people that would deliberately hurt such a sweet innocent animal. They never hurt anyone. They barked and played and that's all. Sunday, Josh and I woke up to the snow and we went and played with Tiffany and Eric in the yard. We bulit a snowman and threw snowballs. It was fun and it made me feel a lot better. Saturday I had just been so sad that I needed the snow. I'm going to miss Buster really bad and I am just praying now that Luke gets better and lives to be 100 years old. I know that i cannot go through this again.