Diary of a Wom'n

I knew I would love you the moment I saw you and today, we're inseparable.

My days begin and end with you.  You're there in the morning to wake me up, and you're there at night to lull me to sleep.  And though I don't see you all the time, you're always close to my heart.

Your shade of purple and sleek black curves is irresistible to touch.  When we go out together, you're admired by all and I'm happy to see you sparkle when the spotlight is on you.

Where ever I am, you keep me posted on the latest news and you keep me connected when I'm out of reach from the world.

And when you get old and a little worn out, I think I will adore you even more.  You'll mean more to me every year that we're together.

And even when my Fido contract ends after the 3 year term, you'll still be my number one.

GW

This school year took off with a good start.  I have wonderful groups of kids that I see for Literacy and Social Studies.  Because classes have been arranged by a teacher's specialty, teachers at my school have to teach two or three subjects only to about two sets of classes.  So for me that means: I teach three literacy classes, and 2 social studies classes.  My "core" class is a grade 7 class but I only teach them literacy.  I prefer this arrangement because it means teachers can focus on a few particular subjects and teach it several times to different classes instead of teaching everything once.

I'm also liking my classroom.  *I should take a picture of it and put it up here*  It's got lots of board space and bulletin space.  I have one little window in which its ledge doubles as my bookshelf (because I can't ever have enough bookshelves).  There's lots of purple, green, and blue in the room.  The colours of calmness and serenity.  The effect is a little for my benefit too.  You see, I have my NTIP (new teacher's induction program) this year, kind of like probation.  And new teachers are so lucky because they get to do 2 in their first year!  So being a nervous person as it is, it's going to be a very stressful period.  I hope it goes well.  It's the kids that scare me really.  The way they behave can make it more difficult or easier on me.  But we'll see how it goes.

Over the past few weeks, I've had this strong desire to teach in another country.  I really want to try teaching in Eritrea or Ethiopia even.  I want to appreciate the educational spectrum and pedagogy and practices of another totally different school system in an entirely different social atmosphere.  Once I build my seniority in the TDSB and I get more financially settled, this is definitely something I'm going to do.

For now, I'll just take vacations every summer and add posts to my online travelogue!

GW

Life can now begin! I'm moving into my new apartment this weekend! Tomorrow will mark the day I will sleep in my own my own my OWN place. I'm so ecstatic, I can't think about anything else (except for upcoming vacations and my new job).

So far, only the bed and accessories have arrived.  I've washed, set-up and put in a few kitchen supplies and the shades for the windows have been put up. 

In another month it's going to look more like a home. MY home.

GW

TW moved out on the first of August which was a Sunday.  It was not an easy day.  First of all, TW's unwillingness to move out was apparent to me a few days before that day.  Here's how I know:

1.  He didn't show any enthusiasm when the landlord agreed to rent him the room for $50 less.
2.  He didn't call the landlord to tell him he accepts the costs and let him know that he wants to move in.
3.  He didn't get the exact address of the place.
4.  He didn't pack his belongings

So what happened?  On the morning of moving day, he goes to church and stays out all morning and all afternoon.  We had no idea what time he was planning to come and we had no way to get in touch with him.  After he enjoyed his time, he saunters home at about 2.30pm.

Keep in mind he has not packed yet.  It's moving day.  And we had the truck till only about 5pm.

So what does this fool do?  Starts shoving his things in a box and jamming clothes in suitcases.  He had to make a mad dash to pack up like his bottom was on fire.  With all the rushing and dashing, I knew he was bound to forget something in the house and just as I predicted, I later found he forgot a few pictures on my bookshelf.  Idiot.

What I can't figure out is how do you leave packing to the last hour? This isn't packing to go on vacation with the eventuality of coming back home, this is moving out for good.  He didn't even come to any agreement with the landlord.  He didn't call to confirm anything with him.  As far as the landlord knew, nobody was moving into the place.

In all honesty, I think TW wanted to brush the idea of moving out under the carpet because he didn't want to do it anymore.  He didn't want to commit to hsi plans anymore.  And he hoped that we wouldn't say anything about it and just let it pass and revert back to him living here as before.  Just doing the same thing everyday.

I can't decide whether he has failed himself or he was failed by his society.  Who's to blame for his total incompetence at everything?

GW

Today's horoscope is very insightful.

Thursday, Aug 5th, 2010 -- Your core values around material possessions can strongly impact the decisions you make today. If you have childhood recollections of dissatisfaction, you could be motivated now to accumulate more than you need. If you link the idea of happiness with collecting money or things, you might wonder what you are missing. You can free yourself from your past if you stay focused on the present moment. By Rick Levine

GW

I just came back from Amy's wedding. It was a western wedding with some Hungarian elements such as the dancing and wedding customs. The banquet hall was nothing uncommon but the food was good. Her brother was the MC and he was great. He seems like a good brother.

I thought that being there was going to make me feel out of place, annoyed and far away. I was only a little annoyed. Amy's mother was her usual self - a cold fish with a stone where her heart should be. Glad I don't have to see her often. She was the source of my annoyance. I didn't care for her little princess either: source of annoyance no. 2.

Normally, weddings remind me of things I don't have, a large family, many brothers and sisters, a big  network of friends. Amy's husband's friends were amazing; they all - about 6 of them - flew over here from Hungary to support him and be part of his wedding. How amazing is that?

I think I overcame that usual empty feeling by delighting in the fact that I have reached my own milestones. And remembered the fact that I do have my network of close friends. I don't have a big family but that's okay. Joy doesn't come in numbers, it comes in small packages anyway.

GW

It's the middle of the summer. After today, there's only one more month left! I know it's going to fly by. I'm a little disappointed that I didn't go anywhere this summer but I'm over the moon about the new developments in my life. And I can't wait for it all to begin!

My next goal is going to be to finish writing my novel! That's a project that's been on and then off again. Is it in the stars for me to finish it? I hope it is.