Need fliers, posters, business cards..??

My trip to Florida for the job "interview" went really well, and turned into me saying, "No" to the job.  My main thought was that I want elementary school, NOT middle school.  But it also helped that the school was built across the street from.. the projects.  I decided, I can't go to work every day afraid for my life!  Hey, it was a shot--and a good one at that.  Thank God I didn't say "Yes" before checkin' the place out!

After that, I came home for the 4th of July (and went to an annual party, thrown by friends of the family).  We had to leave our party early, because my grandfather has been in the hospital, and the nurse on that night was extremely rude to my aunt, so Mom and I decided we had to head over there halfway through the firework show.

The next day, Thursday the 5th, Mom, Kelcey (my niece), and I headed to Buffalo--our halfway point between here and Columbus, Ohio.  We stayed at my friend's house that night, and then continued on our journey to my cousin's wedding the following day, Friday.  That was the night of the rehearsal dinner--it was a very nice, comfortable, low-laying get-together at my cousin and her soon-to-be-husband's house.  The next day was the wedding, and it was BEAUTIFUL! 'Even more beautiful and perfect than I ever expected a wedding COULD be, after only about six or eight weeks of planning!  It was a nice weekend.

On a not-so-light note, my Pop was put on hospice yesterday (very unfortunately), but I know we're doing what's right, and what is best for him, now.  The day before, I had an AWESOME visit with Gram in the nursing home, so that was a nice feeling.

Other than all this, I've been working at a summer camp/program and babysitting just about every day of the Summer.  My most recent thing was this: I found out that a friend of mine needed a flyer designed for his business of car and race car polishing.

Here's what I came up with:

So, this is a good thing, I think.  It got me thinking that maybe I should start some side-job like this; not just fliers, but anything: business cards, notes, posters, pictures, etc.  If YOU have anything that I could help with, email:

rmbryce@hotmail.com

Getting closer to decision-making time!

Oh my goodness... Sunday, I leave for Florida.  Monday I will be meeting with the principal, sometime in the morning, to talk about the position and get a tour of the school.  After that, I'm going to do some apartment searching.  There are a few girls I have already talked to about apartments/houses.  One girl answered my email about a house that she and her friend live in, which is a three bedroom, and they need another roommate.  Hopefully while I am down there, she will be able to invite me to check the place out and introduce ourselves to one another.  Another girl is also looking for an apartment, so I might meet with her and look for places together.

Either way, Mom, Kelcey (my niece) and I are going to the Disney parks on Sunday or Tuesday, and spending the other day(s) at the pool for as long as we can without getting too roasted :)  Then, we leave Tuesday night to head back home, celebrate Fourth of July somewhere, and then we re-pack and head to Buffalo the next day--our stop on the way to Ohio.

After the wedding in Ohio, I come back to real-life and start my "nannying" job for the summer.  Again, keep me in your prayers that whatever is meant to happen will be proven to me somehow, and I will make the right decision!

Yesterday was an awesome day: I bought new clothes and new books, and then received an email from my old college, stating that I won a Visa gift card for filling out a survey. When I got there to pick it up, it was worth $100!!!!!!!  Finally, toward the end of the day, I decided I would go to the Brad Paisley, Scotty McCreery and The Band Perry concert tonight.  After my niece's dance "recital" and getting a few things done and packed around the house, I will meet up with my sister and we will all head to the concert.

'Hope things keep going in the right direction from here on out!

Life is moving so quickly!

So, today I called the principal back from the middle school in Florida where I was offered a job.  I booked a flight for this coming Sunday down to Orlando.  Mom is coming with me, which should help to calm my nerves a bit, and my niece may be joining us as well.  'Totally nervous and freaking out, but if it's meant to be, it will be.

We will take some time to look at a few of the area apartment complexes, and I will be meeting with the principal and taking a tour of the school.  He is also going to try to get some of the faculty and staff members to stop in and introduce themselves to me, which will be nice I think.  It's only from Sunday morning until late Tuesday night, but I have a wedding to be at in Ohio on Friday, so it's a packed week.

I am just praying that I hear back from a school up here before I say "Yes" to Florida.  Keep me in your prayers, PLEASE!  Other than that, life's moving at a regular pace, but I'm glad to finally have a somewhat definite job lined up.  Of course, I'd rather have something lined up that isn't hours away from family, but God offers interesting ideas.  As a friend of mine stated recently, I really need a decision-maker, not a secretary!

You'll be updated again soon, I'm sure!! EEEK!

Jobs, jobs, where are you??

'First summer EVER that I am not taking classes the whole time!  It feels so great, but nerve-racking.  The end of the year went well.  Here's what I gave as an end-of-the-year treat for the kids:

Now it's time to figure out what I'm doing for the summer and for next year.  I went on another "interview" (just met with a woman and her two kids) for summer babysitting.  This seems like the best choice so far, and I think I'll go for it--'very promising!  I probably will start next week.

Other than that, I've been going to physical therapy twice a week for my back, I got an X-Ray last week, and my back is slowly but surely starting to feel better.  Next year is still up in the air, but I have to give the principal in Florida a call back about that job.  I applied for a job here, in the district I finished the school year out at, but I might not hear about that for a month or two--that's NOT promising!! :/

I need thoughts and ideas: what's good for me?  Since I'm still young, and it's early in my career, I wonder if I SHOULD take this coming year to travel down to Florida and work there for a while. 'Such difficult decisions!  But, life is good, and everything will work out the way it should.  I'll write again as soon as I think to, and hopefully life will progress quickly, and in a way that I am happy with.

The school year is coming to a close..

It's been about a month, and in that month, A LOT has gone on.  My birthday, which I had planned on doing nothing for, was AWESOME!  Mom, my sister, my niece, and I went to my friend's restaurant (a small pizza joint where they don't sing "Happy birthday"), and they sang happy birthday!!  I also spent lots of time with my closest friends from my hometown on my birthday.

I quite my six-year-long job at Pottery Barn Kids, after being treated horribly for the last year.  Managers just aren't what they used to be, at least not in this company.  Therefore, I'm trying to find a decent-paying job for the summer! :/

Right now, I am in a long-term substituting position in my student teaching cooperating teacher's classroom (she is due to have a baby in about a week)!  It's going well--the kids are very tough, and they are definitely a handful, but it is a great experience.  I think after these past couple of weeks, I could work with ANY child :)

I have applied for a job for next year in this same school district (the principal told me about the posting, and he is going to offer a recommendation for me!

Last week, I was offered another job in Florida--this one would be 8th grade reading in the same county that I had a previous interview for.  The interview for this was through Skype with the principal, who seemed like a very nice, professional, interested man, and hopefully I can make it down to visit in the next few weeks to help with my decision.  My theory at this point is that if I don't get the job I applied for here, I'll head down and tell myself to stick it out down there for at least one year.

On another note, I've been looking for things to do for the students.  Their last day is Thursday, and I want them to bring something home with them that they will treasure forever.  I've found a few ideas on Pinterest, but because I've only been there for two weeks, it's tough to make a simple decision.  Here are a few great end-of-the-year ideas, though!

Rather, something like, "You are o-FISH-ally done with 1st grade!!"

(http://www.tipjunkie.com/18-creative-things-to-do-for-back-to-school/)

http://polkadottedteacher.blogspot.com/2012/05/goodbye-class-of-2011-2012.html

 http://polkadottedteacher.blogspot.com/2012/05/goodbye-class-of-2011-2012.html

http://simplegirlathome.blogspot.com/2011/05/kindergarten-graduation-ideas.html

Signing off right now--have to do a little more planning for tomorrow.  Good night, bloggers! Enjoy the week!! :)

Crossed fingers getting tired!

The weather's been NUTS!  We will have two days of 80-90 degrees and then the next day it will drop down ten or twenty and be rainy.  I can't complain--it's still been pretty darn warm out lately, even WITH the rain!  Working at Pottery Barn Kids is really just dragging me down, but I'm stickin' with it.

This past week I've done a few 14-hour days, with substituting in the morning and then heading straight into the store in the afternoon/evening.  It's tiring.  Therefore, I just woke up from a two-hour nap, which was lovely :)  Yesterday I went to the doctor about what I believed to be scoliosis.. we're still not sure if it is, but he did find that one leg is half-an-inch shorter than the other, and I may have a "pelvic rotation" (or something along those lines--doc talk).  Either way, I'm headed to another doctor in a couple of weeks to let me know for sure what's going on with this crooked body of mine.

...I had an interview today! It was at a Catholic school--my niece's--and I really don't know how it went.  Normally, after interviews I come out with two thumbs up, pumped to hear back.  I think this one went well, but I definitely BOMBED about two or three questions.  (It doesn't help that I didn't know what to say about the saint who the church is named for--whoops!)  But, it was a lesson, and obviously, next time, I know to research more about the church itself, and what it stands for, so when they say "Tell me about Saint Whoever" I won't have to say, "Uh, I don't know" (that's not how I answered, by the way--I try my best not to say "um") :)

Anyway, I've still got my fingers crossed--they're getting a little tired, and I hope my fingers don't get stuck that way.  It's a slow-moving process, but I'm keeping an open mind and I'm praying daily that the right opportunity will fall into my lap.

On the wedding topic, with my sister: She found her dress--second one she tried on!!!--ordered it, and my niece's as well.  She and her fiance booked the reception hall (it's going to me a brunch wedding, rather than late in the evening) and blocked off hotel rooms at a place nearby.  She's getting a lot done quickly.  And it's still almost a year away!! :)

It's been a busy few weeks, but I'm enjoying the nice weather, and great students I've been working with in the various schools.  'Hope you fellow-bloggers are doing well, too!

Same old stuff

I've been living back home with my mom for about a week now.  It's so weird--it hasn't quite kicked in yet that I don't have a place of my own anymore.  I keep thinking I'll be missing some of my shows at night because I'll be making the drive back to Western New York.  But I won't :/  Strange, and as I said, bittersweet.

'Still searching everywhere for jobs--New York, Florida, Vermont, Massachusetts, Virginia, Maine, and everywhere else, as well.  I might have a summer job at a camp in Albany full time.  That way, I'll have nights and weekends to work at Pottery Barn Kids as well.  I need all the money I can get, and all the luck, too.

My sister finished nursing today--so CONGRATS to her!  My niece is having a Spring music concert tonight, so I'm going to that.  My sister, brother, and I decided on a simple, somewhat inexpensive, but GOOD Mother's Day gift for Mom.  I'm now substituting for BOCES in the Capital Region, so that should get me some work for now, as well.

Not much is new--it's the same wake up, work or try to FIND work, apply for hundreds of jobs, sleep, and repeat.  If anything exciting occurs soon, that will be blogged about I'm sure.  Other than that, I've had some time to spend with friends and family, including visiting Kay's Pizza a lot (a friend's restaurant in town).

Enjoy the week, everybody!