Subject: Nerves, recommendations, networking, and the power of positive thinking.

Soo here I am, sitting at my desk and trying so hard to focus on the last of my webs for student teaching. I am COMPLETELY distracted by thinking about my interview next Friday... yes, over a week in advance in terms of being nervous, but it is so important to me!

I have been walking around begging people for recommendations. It was easy for me to ask Mary, but it's not going to be easy for me to ask the toddler teachers. I definitely underestimate people's opinions of me... I talked to Mary for awhile today about who to ask for my second recommendation, and we decided that the toddler teachers were the best place to go. Of course, this all depends on if they have time... it's only a week's notice and I feel bad about that. It was just over break and I am still intimidated to ask... I just need to do it.

Matt Zadrowski, who has been on my shit list twice this week, has semi-redeemed himself by putting me in touch with his friend Paul, who is currently in the EXACT situation that I want to be in one year from today... EXACT. He's living our dream down in Houston, Texas. So Matt set me up with Paul's screenname and I have spent the past few days stalking him and reading his blogs and reading about his trials and tribulations. Networking is KEY in life... I'm working on it now... not to mention I love to meet new people.

I am working on this new POSITIVE THINKING thing with student teaching. It's hard because I don't like being ripped apart and it happens at least once a week... but Glenn gave me some insight into the years after student teaching and I am a little more confident now. It's hard to stay confident when you keep getting torn up, but I am really working about it. I think I am more upset about it because I throw every bit of effort I have in my body into every assignment and I keep getting negative feedback with little encouragement. I guess if nothing else, this will give me a base for self-evaluation, and of course as with many important life experiences... it will make me a stronger person.

Don't turn away, don't turn away
From a world so full...

Subject: Mmmm weather...

Thank you to whomever is responsible for this beautiful weather we have been having... it's great. I ran outside all weekend, and today! Friday I did like 2 miles and died (I forgot to take the inhaler... I found out that it is pretty KEY), Saturday I did 5, and today I did 4. It was GREAT.

Of course we are expecting snow on Friday... AWESOME. Just the weather I was hoping for in which to drive to Virginia...

My hero of the week (yes, of the week... you were upgraded because you went out in public wearing a lot of eyeliner) is Tony. And also, the guy that played Jekyll/Hyde in the play because he was great. But back to Tony... he never fails to "wow" me on the stage. Great stage presence, really awesome voice, just great in general. Congratulations, (as you always say) you rock my world ;)

Also a shout-out to Munchie for putting up with all of my shit. She probably doesn't know how often she saves me from having a complete mental breakdown... she's such good stress (and also comic) relief. Of course, as a direct result of spending so much time together, we're both going to hell. I'm okay with that, because God seems to enjoy setting us up for situations in which we are forced to react a certain way and therefore are sure to be comdemned to hell for eternity. Like I said... I'm okay with it. As long as I can still bitch to her when we get there...


I can feel the pull like a river towards the ocean...