Teachers have to be really good at hiding their emotions. I tell my students that we sometimes have to put on our game face and deal with adversity. It’s a part of growing up.  Is it easy? Oh heck no – especially when you secretly wish you could act like some of the second graders throwing a fit because they didn’t get their way.

As I mentioned in previous posts, I decided I needed to be more like my students and ask for what I want. So, I put myself on the transfer list and started applying for openings.  I had a really, really good interview with my “home” middle school (the one my neighborhood kids attend). This was the kind of interview where you really connect with the principal and you know they “get” it.  In the past, this level of connection has usually meant that I got the job. Not so this time.  I received the “position filled” email shortly before I left today to go to another interview with a neighboring school district.

That was hard. 

I had to put on my game face and go try to convince someone I didn’t know why they should hire me as their media specialist.  I had a great conversation with two very nice people. I seemed to answer their questions in ways they liked. Hopefully, I’ll be asked back for a second interview. I really would like to see where the library is located on campus. It’s driving me crazy that I didn’t get to see it today!  I was, however, very impressed with the cleanliness of the facility and the sense of order on campus.  Markedly different from my current school.

I also have an interview with another elementary school later this week. One of my former coworkers told them they needed to hire me!  🙂  The only sticky wicket is due to staff reassignments, my path will cross with an assistant principal from my former school. She’s a proponent of the fixed library schedule that I’m trying to get away from.

Four years ago, it was either transfer to another school or leave education. I absolutely, positively was not returning to that school for another year. Things are very different this time around. I actually like my current school and coworkers, but I’m stagnating in the day job. Not a good place for me to be. I want to pursue learning commons certification and work toward state recognition for an exemplary library media center before I hang up my school librarian hat.  Retirement is still a few years off, but this is something I’d like to do before I do retire.

I use the word success, because for me – that’s exactly what it is…

Yesterday, I went to an in-person doctor for an actual physical exam. Success #1.
My lab results came back and they were the best they’ve been in 20 years. Success #2.

I attribute both of these to my starting Weight Watchers Freestyle late last summer.

My last physical was in October 2016.  That experience, along with the subsequent comedy of errors resulting from that visit, left me not wanting to ever set foot in a doctor’s office again. So, I didn’t. I used the online doctor service through my health insurance provider and the local clinic at the corner pharmacy to meet basic health care needs. Kind of silly, yes I know, but that’s how I needed to work through it.

When I first started WW, I set a goal that once I reached a certain target weight, I would  schedule a physical with a new primary care doctor. I met my target weight over spring break. I’d already researched doctors and had a couple of candidates in mind. I scheduled an appointment with the one who had the earliest availability (still 2 weeks out).  I LOVE my new primary care physician! I still don’t like going to the doctor, but I no longer dread it.

According to Dr. P, I still have 20 more pounds to lose (more than I thought), but he was very encouraging of the steps I’d taken so far to take control of my health. The lab results clearly showed what cutting back on sugar, red meat and fast food can do for one.  I had a biometric screening done August 2018 for my employer’s wellness plan. My April 2019 numbers were much improved. Total cholesterol had dropped 55 points and my blood glucose level was within normal limits – not pre-diabetic like it was last August.

I am ready to tackle the last 20 pounds and schedule the remaining health screening visits for the summer months (ob/gyn, dermatologist and gastroenterologist), so I am up-to-date on taking care of ME.

As the saying goes, “Your health is your wealth.”  If one physician isn’t a good fit for you, then go find another one who is.  I actually liked my previous physician, but not her practice manager (who has a god complex and states it’s his decision whether or not you remain a patient of the practice).  In hindsight, I feel really stupid sometimes giving that fool the power to keep me from taking the best care of me for nearly 18 months. The good news is I wised up and that won’t happen ever again.

Oh and success #3 – I found the white 1964 Singer Featherweight I’d been seeking! It’s set to arrive on Saturday!  Sew excited!

In elementary schools, Genius Hour is a dedicated time where students can explore anything that interests them. Some sort of output is usually required in the form of a physical object, writing piece or digital multimedia presentation. Our Friday clubs are my school’s version of Genius Hour.

My Stitching Stallions were required to design and make blocks for Block Party, which is a kid-focused quilting exhibit (open to all K-12 students in Georgia) that will be on display during Georgia Celebrates Quilts in June, 2019.  Most of my kids had never touched a sewing machine before the end of January.  They love to sew long lines of fabric together, so we decided on strip pieced blocks as the overall design for everyone.  The kids cut the bulk of the strips themselves using my Sizzix machine and strip dies. Some of the kids really took their time and kept a fairly consistent seam allowance throughout the entire block construction. They carefully selected colors that would complement one another and arranged their strips in a certain color order. Other kids took a lot of creative liberties with sewing wide seam allowances because they wanted different width strips, or sewing the strip directly on top of the other one because they liked the look.  Their written block descriptions are due back Monday. I can’t wait to see what they wrote about the experience!

This Friday sewing club has been a treasured part of the past four years I’ve spent at this school. We learned on Friday afternoon that there would be no more clubs for the remainder of the year due to the new state-mandated testing schedule.  The rumor mill (usually accurate) also says there will be no clubs next year.  This confirms my feeling that it’s time to dismantle sewing studio B,  re-home four sewing machines and divest the bulk of the craft materials (rather than waiting until the end of the year).  Two sewing machines and some supplies will be kept in the Media Center for Maker Space activities.