license to teach

As of yesterday, I am a fully licensed teacher! The Mass. Dept. of Educ. reviewed my paperwork, deemed me responsible and capable of teaching math to 8-12th graders. They printed the letter today, its not even in the mail, but by the wonders of the internet I already know! Through further world wide web tricks I re-routed my mail to reach me at camp so that I can see my pretty license before August.

It also made me smile to read the network statistics for MHC on facebook. Most frequently listed interest: reading. Oh Mount Holyoke.

depressed activist

Went to Radio Shack today to buy new batteries for the cordless phones. They don't make that kind of battery any more, the 2 year old phones are outdated. Plus, batteries cost more than a new phone, batteries included. The old phones are trash- they're useless without batteries, no one wants the phones even though they work perfectly. So now we put 2 handsets, bases, cords and electricity converters into the land fill to hang out for who knows how many years.

Then I came home to an email suggesting I watch this video. It was a little upsetting to say the least.

The next email in my inbox was from Grist, telling me that China now is now the biggest polluter in the world (beating out the US by 8%), but the reason is that the US is now outsourcing manufacturing there. That means lots of use of fuel for travel, plus all the dirty energy there.

In other news, found an apartment in Methuen that I love. But I had to apply for affordable housing and won't know for a few weeks if I got it. Four years of college and a licensure program get me a salary that qualifies for affordable housing? In fact, I might not even make enough to qualify to live in this complex. Education is important, isn't it?

The world is yucky today.

productive day

Today has been a day of accomplishment. I scheduled tours at 3 apartment complexes for Monday. I nearly finished my scrap book (from high school, but it had to get done someday). My car survived a hail storm. Bought glue sticks to finish the scrap book and a pillow filler to make a matching pillow for my recently completed (yay!) blanket. Then I taught myself how to crochet ripples. In the process I found a pattern for a cell phone case with nipples... almost as strange as the freeform crocheter. It takes all kinds!

Yesterday I went to a tag sale and got a grater, butter dish, matching vase and tupperware. All for $2! I'm making some progress on the overwhelming list of items I need. I also packed up everything I want to take from this house except some books that I need to throw in a box.

Tonight I will finish the scrapbook and pack books. Then everything will be done and I can feel free to spend all my time tangled in yarn :D.

pots!

Okay, so I'm going to turn into a housewife gushing about all my new toys for the kitchen over the next few months. But I really am really excited about my pots. They're blue and non-stick and sturdy and good sizes. They also came with lots of utensils- spatula, ladles, strainer and fork! All plastic of course, to not injure the non-stick-ness.

I had a minor panic attack today when I went to four different stores and couldn't find the yarn I need to finish the blanket I'm making. My mom finally found a very similar yarn that will be good enough to use for the back. I just have to decide if I want a border or not. If buying yarn is this much of a headache I could skip it. Since its my blanket and I made up the pattern it can look like whatever I want! Hmph.

Tonight I work on that while staring at my pots and dreaming up the rest of my apartment. Now if only I had a new place to put all these things...

splash!

Yesterday I went white water rafting on the Deerfield River. We were concerned that overcast skies and cool temperatures might make the day unpleasant rather than thrilling. Happily, it warmed up enough that the frigid water felt shocking, but not painful, and we dried off quickly enough not to get chilled. I almost fell out of the boat, twice. One time got caught on film! The photo sequence looks about like this:
1. everyone smiling and rowing calmly
2. everyone shocked as the boat goes over a big dip
3. my leg sticking out of the boat
4. me falling into my friend's lap as she pulls me back into the boat
5. everyone smiling and rowing calmly
After that I figured out that its better to lean towards the middle of the boat and sit in an awkward position than practice good posture. The class IV rapids were crazy and exhilarating. I was o so very happy not to be in charge of steering the boat. Our guide was very competent though, and the worst that happened was me almost falling out. Lots of other boats actually had people fall out, sometimes even all three people on a side!

I still haven't figured out where I'm living next year. Now we've thrown NH in the mix too. Salem, NH is 15 minutes away from Lawrence as we found out when searching for a nearby Christmas Tree Shop. I'm not sure that the advantages of buying a car with no sales tax outweigh the advantages of living 2 minutes from school, and in the same city as my students. But I do like the idea of having a shopping mall 15 minutes north- tax free and away from traffic.

moving forward

A two page letter of reasons why I'm making a mistake was not the greatest of things to wake up to, but the day got much better from there. This morning I made phone calls to people I hadn't talked to in a while. Then this afternoon I actually left the house with a friend, got some shopping done and looked at pretty things. I can't wait to decorate my future apartment and find a reason to justify the purchase of a basket from the Philippines (bamboo baskets just have to be useful!). We also played with toys- a necessity to any shopping trip- children today have such fancy things! Diaries these days don't come with a key to wear around your neck, but a voice activated password. My diary was one of those blue books that I now associate with exams. And, some of the games we played as kids are now labeled as 'classics' or 'original version.' Geez that makes me seem old. At least watching SNL from '75 made me feel young- but it wasn't funny so I don't think I missed much.

decision

I picked Lawrence, and life is not going so smoothly on the home front. I'm excited though, as are my co-workers and friends (especially the one who loves Dominican food). Next steps- apartment and car.

I have now gathered all of the recipes my mother uses into one convenient 3-ring-binder. I feel accomplished! I also got out on a bike ride today, double accomplishment!