Back to life, back to reality...

Whew! It's hard to imagine that we've only been back from our summer adventure for 2 weeks, it feels like I've been working all school year already!

I started "working" again just one day after we returned although "working" in this instance means going into my classroom and getting things straightened around. I spent a couple of hours each day trying to get organized for the year and to get my head back into the game. The year (which has consisted of a total of 5 days with students) has been pretty good so far. This year, my coteacher and I have a total of 36 students (our contractual limit) all in one classroom. Well, they technically COULD all be in the same classroom. We have almost all of them in at least one elective class which has put a lot of pressure on our paraeducators because we've scheduled them into a ton of different classes to cover all of the kids who are out in the mainstream. So the first five days has consisted of making sure that all of the students report to the right class at the right time, that they have an adult with them, that all of the adults have their 30 minute lunch and 15 minute break, that all of the parents know how much p.e. clothes and lunch and elective class costs are, that all of the kids get on the right bus, and so on. Needless to say, not much academic teaching has occurred.

On top of all of the classroom issues, MY classes at Long Beach State have started and both of them are REALLY heavy reading courses. I have to read at least five 10-12 page research articles each week for each class and be prepared to synthesize the articles in response to a prompt at any moment, including APA citations. I've heard that one of these two courses is the most difficult in the program so I'm hoping that, once I get through this semester, it'll all be down hill. Part of my issue, only one week into the semester, is that academics have always come so easy for me and, all of a sudden, I'm starting to question myself. I had a great class tonight and I'm starting to ease into the semester - the first couple of weeks are always the most anxious.

Another reality that I've come back to is the fact that I just can't eat Jet's Pizza and drink Labatt without paying a price for it. Oh, how I wish I could. Just for one day, I'd love to NOT have to worry about my weight (as long as I could keep my pretty face!). I rejoined Weight Watchers again last Friday and am planning on going to Thursday evening meetings. I've done the monthly pass thing so I'm paid at least through the end of this month. This week has been pretty good, I'm sure I've lost a pound or two. My goal is to lose 18 before Christmas.

Mark went back to work last Thursday as well. He decided, after BJ's gave him a very generous 5 week vacation, to return to work for them. He has gone back with a vengence too and is super focused right now, I'm so proud of him! He has his annual review on the 18th, which comes with a raise. He also got a $500 Southwest Airlines gift card in celebration of his five year anniversary with the company. I think we're going to use it to go to Seattle for a long weekend to visit some friends. That is, whenever Mark can get a long weekend off again after requesting 5 weeks off! The school district had called him for an interview on the Wednesday before we left for Jamaica and the interview was to be on the following Monday. He explained that we were going to be on vacation but they wouldn't budge on the date. He has pretty much decided that he didn't want to leave BJ's after all but at least he didn't burn any bridges by interviewing and then not accepting the position he would have, undoubtedly, been offered.

All in all, life is slowly getting back to normal...