August Already!

I cannot believe just how fast this summer has gone by....we are already a few days into August which seems absolutely crazy! Time has really been flying by, it feels like it should still be June...but sadly we have passed July 4th already, I have been on two vacations, the Toby Keith concert has come and gone, and I still do not have solid, concrete plans for a job in the fall. But, I will say that it has been a wonderful summer, and I have gotten to see a lot of my friends and family, although not as often as I would have liked. However, as always when I do see my friends we have an amazing time and I realize just how much everyone means to me.

I finally feel more relaxed about not having all of the answers to my career and future, I have still been job searching, but I have not let it take over each and every night like I was before. I have learned that I still have to live my life and that my job does not define who I am. On a good note I have been getting more hours at the learning center and actually worked 31 hours this past week. While I know this is not full time, or any where near the almost 60 hours I was working before, it has still kept me busy and helped me, again, to realize how much I love teaching one-on-one and hope that I can continue to work a good amount of hours in the fall. I may also have the opportunity to independently teach some workhops as well. I am also still weighing my options as well. I know that life will lead me on the path that I need to be. However, I am going to continue focusing on spending time with my husband, friends, and family; even though it I already August I feel like we have a lot of summer fun left. And, I am determined to make the most of it!

I have decided that I am going to take time each day to focus on myself and my personal goals, inlcuding spending more time with my Ruger, our black lab (we have gone on more walks lately), spending more time with Ian, less time watching tv (although reruns on How I Met Your Mother always pull me in, and the Olympics of course!), and focusing on my personal health and fitness goals-which I have really let slide lately. I did however make the decision to quit coaching for Beachbody, I realized I wanted to help myself and friends (if they ask), but I didn't want to be in a position that wanted me to sell products, I also did not want to focus only on those products when there is so much else out there.

I have high hopes for August and all that it has to bring, including some cookouts with friends, one of my best friend's bridal showers, and two very important birthdays- a first birthday for one of my best friend's daughters and my niece's fourth birthday! Until next time....make sure you take a moment or two each day and focus on something or someone that makes you smile.

Ruger-relaxing after a walk around the neighborhood 

Sun Tans and Balashi Beer



Sunset on our last night

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I'm back, From an amazing trip to Aruba with the husband, we were only gone six nights, but it was wonderful to get away and take some time to relax. Although, I am recharged and happy to be back (and ready to put my life back in order) I am so excited to write all about it! (and will probably take a few posts to go through everything I want to share). I've been home for about a week now but between work, unpacking and just life in general I haven't had much free time. But I am here now, and finally getting to this post!

First, we stayed at the all-inclusive Tamarijn resort in Aruba which also gives you access to the Divi all inclusive resort, which is just a short and beautiful five minute beach walk away. The resort is beautiful and who doesn't love all-inclusive?!? All you can eat and drink, it is fantastic! If you have never done all-inclusive I highly suggest it. It really helps you to relax knowing all you have to the entire trip is make a few dinner reservations. We did go off resort the night of our anniversary for dinner, but other than that we stayed put. We did a jeep tour of the island last year, so we decided that this year would be all about relaxing ( minus a quick walk to the grocery store to buy some balashi beer to bring home, but more on that later).

Back to the restaurants, drinks, and food everything was so good I swear I gained at least 10 pounds, but it was absolutely worth it! I drank more piña coladas than I care to admit and drank a fair share of wine with each dinner and of course balashi beer, which you can only get in Aruba! -they do not export it anywhere. However, we were able to bring back two six packs! We would have brought more- but custom only allows you so much! (guess we will just have to go back again!) My favorite restaurant at the resort is a tie between the Red Parrot and Paparazzi. Red Parrot has awesome coconut shrimp (which I ordered both times we went) and has outdoor seating and a beach view. We ate there on our first and last night, which was a perfect start and find to our trip. Paparazzi is the resort's Italian restaurant and my other favorite they have the best steak and spinach ravioli with a gorgonzola sauce.

Our first meal the afternoon we arrived- Balashi Beer, Pizza, and Mexican Fries!

The bars at the resort also have awesome pizzas, grilled sandwiches (as well as chicken fingers, French fries and that sort of thing). We tended to eat at the bars for lunch each day. My favorite there was a grilled sandwich with gouda cheese, ham, and pineapple, and pizza with jalapenos, pineapple, and ham. I guess since I mentioned dinner and lunch I should talk breakfast as well....we ate breakfast at the buffet each morning, which has everything and anything. Ian's favorite was the corn beef hash and I was a big fan of the French toast and made to order eggs and omelets. Oh, and I have to mention the coffee...easily the best coffee I have ever had. They have extremely clean water in Aruba which I think plays a large role in why their coffee (and baked goods are so good).

The Hubby and Ian stopping to take a beach
picture walking to dinner - notice the beard!

Aside from the food and drinks, I love the beach and spent plenty of time just laying out and reading on the beach. As always I put my chair in the sun each day, while Ian hung back in the shade under what I called our divi divi hut...not sure of the proper name, but all I know is it prevented Ian from getting sunburn, which meant he stayed happy our whole vacation! It was a much needed trip and well worth it!

It's been awhile....

So, I have done an awful job of posting over the past month. I feel like I have had a million things to do, yet nothing at the same time. I have been letting job searching take over my free time, and although it is good that I have been applying I need to get back to doing the things I enjoy. For example, I have only worked out a handful of times, which is not like me and I have yet to read a single book all summer...again something very abnormal for me. I have been feeling scattered and still without a schedule. I did work 20 hours last week, which is the most I have worked all summer, which was good; it made me feel like I had a purpose. I am a bit unhappy on the lack of job opportunities right now, but au continue to remind myself, it is not me, but the current state of the teaching profession. On a good note one of my best friends got married last week, and the wedding was nothing short of amazing. Not only was he wedding beautiful, but I realized just how wonderful my group of friends is. We all haven't done the best job hanging out lately, but when we do we have the absolute best time. It is nice to know that I have people in my life who do not judge me, and love me for who I am. I am going to try and spend less time alone job searching and more time meeting friends for lunch, hanging out, and just laughing. The month of July brings my one year wedding anniversary ( which I cannot believe is here already!), and includes two trips: one to Aruba with the hubby for our anniversary, and another to the Boston area to visit my friend and former co-worker, and I will also get to the chance to meet her fiancé, which is very exciting. I have decided, because of all the traveling, that I will allow myself to stay scattered during the month of July, but come August 1st I will have to refocus myself and really start making decisions on what path to take, as fall will be here before we know it. I will also try to write more, not only on this blog but hopefully on bigger and more personal projects as well.

Just a quick post...

Well - if anyone read my facebook status ( I can't believe I just used that phrase -yuck!) you will realize that I just wasted my afternoon on a crazy teaching application that was worthless- because the position was past the posting date. I do not understand schools- if you post a job and have a deadline then please take the posting down after the deadline- that only makes sense! Especially, if it is an English/Social Studies combination position - because I will apply for it - and get super excited and not realize until over an hour and a half later that it was not worth my time! Ugh!


Okay - it feels good to get that vent out- besides the current frustration over applying for a job that is not really there- things are going well. I feel more like myself as each day goes by. I am still not 100% sure what my plan is. For now, I am applying to jobs, still researching grad school options, and waiting to see if any additional hours or responsibilities become available to me at my current position. We may be getting more students for the fall - so I am hoping that maybe they ask me to teach more hours, but alas we shall see.


I am currently working on organizing my books and determining my summer reading list - so if anyone has any good books to recommend it would be most appreciated! I will start to focus my blog on some of the books as the summer progresses and I have some time (and motivation) to read. It is strange how the days are flying by already. I cannot believe that we are almost half way through June! One of my best friend is getting married in a week and a half and the hubby and I will be off to Aruba in less than month- which seems surreal. I am so excited to head back to Aruba and be technology free for almost an entire week!

I am going to do my best to contiune to enjoy each and every moment - however, today's mission is laundry! - so I off to sort, wash, dry, and fold....I hope everyone else enjoys their afternoon, it looks like the sun is back out - at least in Pittsburgh! :)



I will do my best to post on a more regular (daily) basis - now that I feel more settled into my schedule, (or lack there of....)

-Nicole

Schedule...What Schedule?!?

So, as you all know my online teaching job ended on Monday. I have to say it has been a relief not to have work waiting for me 24/7, but I am not used to it at all. For the past three years I have held two jobs and worked on average between 50 and 60 hours per week, this week I am scheduled for about 20. I have learned that I don't work well without a schedule, I have slept in, gone out to eat (a few times), babysat my friend's daughter, fit in a few workouts, and even laid out for a few hours today; I know it all sounds great, but the lack of a schedule and not having 8am-8pm fully booked, is leaving me feeling quite unaccomplished. I know that a break is well deserved and sleeping in until 9am, is not the end of the world, it is just different. My current work schedule is also not consistent, some days I start at 10am, some days it is 5pm, other times I work a few hours in the morning and then a few later in the afternoon. It is all new and throwing me way off. I alo feel like I have no excuse not to have the house cleaned, organized, and all the laundry put away (none of which is done, by the way).

My husband told me I was being too hard on myself, which is most likely true. My online job has truly been 24/7 the past three years. There was always a paper to grade, an email to send, or a phone call to be made-or more times than not multiple papers, emails, and phone calls. It will be nice to start projects that can be finished, and that i can control, but I am just not there yet. I plan to spend some time picking out some new books to read, new writing projects to start, and I am still researching some graduate school programs to determine whether or not I will go back to school, and for what. I have to remember that each day brings new opportunity and that a less packed, more sporadic schedule, might actually be good for me, and remind me to live in the moment. Although, it has made planning a huge headache, I know that will subside soon, or at least I hope.

I know that I will get back on a schedule that works or me, I am not sure what that schedule will look like, or if it will be consistent from day to day (my guess is no), but I do know it will include more walks with Ruger(our black lab), more time with family/friends, and more reading time...and I do not mean 11th grade essays...I mean actual books! It will be quite a change, but I will make it work, I always find a way! :)

Chapter Closed ....

-Niagara Falls, Canada - picture I took on one of the many trips Ian and I have taken there



Today is a bitter sweet day for me- today was my last day working for the online high school that I have worked at for the past three years. This job has allowed to grow both professionally and personally. Professionally, it was my first full time teaching position as an English teacher, and I was able to learn not only more about teaching writing, but also strategies to teach and communicate with a very diverse population of students - through mostly virtually contact. Professionally, I know that I was able to make a huge different in the lives of many students- many of which made sure to send me final messages of kind words today -letting me know just how much I helped them, and how I never allowed them to fail. I'm starting to tear up just thinking about the difference that I made for so many of them.

Second, only to helping/seeing student success are the personal gains that came from this job. Not only did I  personally learn how to better budget my time and learn that, in addition to History, teaching English is truly a passion of mine, and something that I am good at - I have made some of the most amazing friends. - And, from now on that is what I will refer to them as, not former co-workers, but friends. Each one of them has shown love and support in many different ways over the past three years, and especially in the last month. I know I have told some of you - but for those of you who have not heard it directly- your kind words and support have made all of the difference for me, so thank you again for being there. From mentoring me through my first year of teaching to hanging out at the Columbia airport during flight delays - and everything in between, you all have been there.

It is amazing just how close you can become with individuals even if you only see them three or four times a year. I became friends with many of them before I even met them, each one of them has a unique personality - and without this job none of our paths would have crossed, nor would we be as close as we are. I believe teaching at a virtual school has really pushed as all together- since actual contact with students is limited- we heavily relied on one another to get through the day - through facebook music video links, silly e-mails, and of course the occasional (or not so occasional) phone call to vent. I'm starting to tear up again thinking of the memories. I know that I will stay close with and in contact with those who have made the biggest impact on me - because again they are not just co-workers, but they are my friends who I love and respect, not just because they are amazing teachers, but because they are amazing individuals.

I know that in my emotional state that I may start to ramble (or begin discussing inside jokes that are mostly likely not appropriate, or won't make any sense to the general population anyhow)- so I will simply end with - thank you for making this chapter of my life amazing, wonderful, and a darn good time.

Crossroads

-Picture I took of downtown Pittsburgh a few summers ago from my friend's boat

I feel as though my life is at a complete crossroads. As many of you know my current job will be ending this coming Monday, and I am not sure what direction I am going to go in. I have gone on a few interviews, but the teaching market in Pittsburgh is fierce and English/Social Studies jobs are few and far between. I will continue to tutor throughout the summer and as I wait to see what comes along. I have debated whether or not go to go back to school for a Master's Degree, something I have wanted to do for a while now; but the question is what for? Do I go for a Master's in Humanities, English, History, Education, Writing, Curriculum, or attempt a whole new career path. The possibilities and choices are truly endless.

I know writing is a passion of mine (this blog has helped me to remember that), but I am not sure if I could develop a career from it. Education has always been a passion of mine as well- which is why I got into teaching in the first place. I enjoy learning and sharing the joy of learning with others- so I do not think I am ready to give up teaching completely, but it would be nice if a full time teaching job would come my way. I know over the next few months I will have many decisions to make regarding my future, some in my control and some out of my control. I know that I am talented and capable and I know that I will do great things, the question is just what path will lead me there?