I'm not that busy!

HI! well, school has started - both teaching and grad school. I'll give a little tid bit on both :)

Life at Jane Long:
This year has started out so much better than last year (in my opinion) I've got girls athletics first - yeah they are so polite and well mannered! I LOVE IT - and its not even just the GT kids, its the normal ones that are impressing me. Tomorrow I start the real stuff - first day with math!! I am teaching 2 regular 7th grade math classes and one 8th grade pre-ap... I was nervous about the 8th grade, but I'm a little excited to actually know the kids and get a bit of a head start with them! Since it is the first time I've returned to a school, I haven't gotten to see how much kids really grow in the summer. Most of my favorites from last year are back at Long, and most of my not so much favorites aren't -- its going to be a great year!
Volleyball started yesterday... it is so much fun coaching!!! I can't wait to start basketball and softball (oh and I guess track too). On day one, 10 girls puked - and we did not make them run that much! So today (day 2) we took it easy on them - not my choice, we all know my thoughts were "run 'em some more, lets go for 12 pukers!" oh well, I never get my way! Wish me luck tomorrow!

GRAD SCHOOL
I'm taking and Ed. Law class and an Ed. Foundation and Philosophy course this fall... its been a little frustrating already. First, it was supposed to be a Bryan ISD Cohort, and we were supposed to meet from 6-9 in the BISD board room. Yeah - it is now 5-8 at TAMU... problems are: 1. I get out of school at 4:15, it takes 15 minutes to get to the parking garage, and 25 minutes to get to my building... meaning don't leave work late... ever. 2. My classes are Monday and Wednesdays... faculty meetings are on Wednesdays... great I'll lose money if I miss those! 3. A&M is way too big -- lol, I miss my little TLU 4. I tried to ask to get it pushed back to at the earliest 5:30 (so I can breathe after work a little bit) and the only 2 people in the room that are not classroom teachers said no so they could be home earlier - they have to work at 7:30 and don't want to miss any sleep... 7:30 (pretend that is in capital numbers - they don't have it but I want major emphasis on that time) I wake up at 4 to be at the gym by 5 to be at practice by 6:15 then... yeah don't tell me about 7:30.
The Good Stuff:
I really like both of my classes though - Law I think will answer tons of my "why" questions and the foundations will get me to think deeper on my own styles and philosophies! I'm looking forward to both of them!!!

Javier - has started classes too, he's doing one more semester online so he can work more hours at the gallery, but he's excited about them! He has been putting in 50+hour weeks... nuts I tell you NUTS! He's been very helpful around the house and with JOJO and just being wonderful... ok mushy-ness gone :)

My mom's problem with the aunt is going great! She had a clean pee test, she's finding herself again, and mom says she's acting like the old Jan! Also Chris - my little man who was in SPED for his Emotionally Disturbed diagnosis, in an Alternative Behavior Unit and had to ride the small bus to get to school because no driver would let him on their bus - is in regular ed everything and has been on the big bus for almost 2 years!!! He's in 4th grade and Jan says he's great! (I get to see him next time I go home too)

Going home on Sept. 6... I wasn't going to - its Elisa's Memorial Run... her trial started this week, and her parents are suing TLU for 15million bucks - and Coach Holamon is being prosecuted too.. Elisa was my good friend who was hit by a truck during a self run i college... She loved to run, and had actually joked from time to time that she wanted to die while running... she did, she's not in any more pain... Her parents can't let go and want tons of money - I want to tell them that the money won't bring her back and that she would be so disappointed in them for the crap their bringing everyone through. Poor Poor Jenny - the girl that was next to her when she was hit, the girl who held her in her arms when she took her last breath - has to re-live that dreadful day over and over again because of this trial - her life finally is getting back on track, this isn't good for her - it isn't good for any of us. I am apprehensive about seeing her mom at the run, not because of the law suit, but I still feel so responsible for her death. If I wouldn't have told her mom it was safe, I promised to watch out for her and take care of her... I wasn't even in town that dreadful day... to add insult to injury - I am the reason she even joined cross country in high school... who knew me not wanting to run alone would eventually lead to the end of such a wonderful life. Those who knew her, loved her - and as sappy as it is, it is 100% true, I never met anyone that didn't... even before she died. Well.. Saturday we'll see how it goes - I have Zeig-Fest this weekend to think of!! Randy, Dobby, Kerin... yeah its going to kick major butt!!!

Now its off to bed to read to JOJO and fall asleep... she likes to hear me read my books, she actually grumbles when I stop reading and roll over to sleep... she's so cute! Till another day!