I wish I had written this..

But sadly I can't write songs. Or think in song lyric format, anyways. So I let John Mayer do it for me. This pretty much sums up how I feel the first 15 minutes into the big 2-3 birthday.

When my students asked how old I was, I said I was turning 138. They all agreed I looked good for my age. So here's to the big 1-3-8 or the big 2-3. Age is just a number, right?

No I'm not color blind
I know the world is black and white
Try to keep an open mind but
I just can't sleep on this tonight

Stop this train I want to get off and go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can't
But honestly won't someone stop this train

Don't know how else to say it, don't want to see my parents go
One generation's length away
From fighting life out on my own

Stop this train
I want to get off and go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can't but honestly won't someone stop this train

So scared of getting older
I'm only good at being young
So I play the numbers game to find away to say that life has just begun
Had a talk with my old man
Said help me understand
He said turn 68, you'll renegotiate
Don't stop this train
Don't for a minute change the place you're in
Don't think I couldn't ever understand
I tried my hand
honestly we'll never stop this train

See once in a while when it's good
It'll feel like it should
And they're all still around
And you're still safe and sound
And you don't miss a thing
'til you cry when you're driving away in the dark.

Singing stop this train I want to get off and go home again
I can't take this speed it's moving in
I know I can't
Cause now I see I'll never stop this train

A few of my favorite things.

My kids had to a writing prompt on their benchmark a few weeks ago. I spent last weekend grading them. Some of them were amazing and some of them I wasn't even sure they knew what a memory was. So when January comes around and we are back at school, and not finishing The Outsiders, we'll go over their writing and try to improve. I'm a big believer in leading by example though, so when I went to a writing workshop and we worked on OUR (the teachers) writing, I wrote my own personal narrative. So that when we work on improving their papers, I will be working on improving my paper as well. Here is my first draft of my favorite memory:

My feet, and my mom's, were sticking up, our toes in the air. We were floating on our backs in the clear, ocean water of Hawaii. My mom had her Chaco shoes on because she wanted to have tan lines from her shoes. It was most likely the only place someone would see evidence of her trip to Hawaii since she always made sure to have her sunscreen on. It seemed like there were people all over the beach and in the water. But we ignored them. Instead we just floated, spending our time and telling stories. I had to stop her though to focus on my dad, who was not that far away from us standing in the water. As we watch him, it seems like he is searching the clear water for something. I pause, " He can't be looking for..." I trail off and we both instantly know what he is searching for.

Three days earlier, my family and I were at the same beach in Hawaii. Same bright water, hot sand and just as many people around. My dad and I had been tossed around in a particularly scary momen in the waves. When we both returned to the surface, tired and confused, my dad realized he had lost his sunglasses. He looked around but there was nothing in the water. We left the beach shaken and my dad was feeling bummed about his sunglasses. On our way back to our condo, in a foreign beach town, my dad spotted a Sunglass Hut. To him it was like the shining beacon of hope. He stopped the car and seconds later returned with an exact replica of his old sunglasses. Finally, all seemed right with the world.

Now, three days later, my mom and I could not stop laughing. Amused by the idea of what he was searching for, and we were still hoping we were wrong. That instead he was looking at the bright colored fish or something odd in the sand. When my dad made his way towards us he only confirmed that he had in face been looking for his sunglasses. Because as he said it, in his own words, "Dead bodies wash up on shore. i though maybe sunglasses would too."

What really stands out to me about this short, ordinary moment is how happy I was. I was at the point in my life when everything was about to change. family vacations were ending, I would be spending more time on own, soon the three of us would be separated. And most importantly I would be changing. I was going off to college ready to see and learn new things, meet new people and begin a brand new part of my life. But no matter who I became or what happened to all of us, I would always have this moment to hold onto. A time where my family was all together and so happy to laugh over the smallest things.

No matter where I am, who I am with or what season I'm in, I will always be able to picture my mom and my feet sticking up through the clear, bright water, laughing at my dad searching for those lost sunglasses.

so this is the new year.

A few things that have changed in my life with this “new year”:

I have my own classroom, to organize any way I want, with 30 desks and chairs to arrange. I am in charge of plans for 110 students, for 50 minutes, 5 days a week. I control what they are doing and in some ways am forced to entertain them for a class period. I go to endless meetings and seminars. I hear my last name more often than I hear my first name. I am excepted to act normal when my boss, the principal or vice principal come in and sit in the back of my classroom. I have attention getting “strategies” that I use all the time. My alarm goes off at 5:50 every morning and the only day it really bugs me is on Fridays. I call other adults by their last name. I have to answer questions like, “Why do I call you by your last name?” Most of the time I’m not sure of the answer, either. Sometimes I feel like my boss is really a students parent. I say the Pledge of Allegiance and the Texas pledge 5 times a week. I assign homework, give lunch detentions, let students know how disappointed I am in them, and try to figure out what is going is going on in students home life. I see students more than some of their parents do. I have students who are dying for my attention and approval. I have students that feel like I don’t spend enough time on them. I feel like I don’t spend enough time on any of my students. I have to be prepared to lead at least 25 kids out of a building during any kind of drill. I boss people around all day. I spend time reading 12 year olds favorite moments, or childhood memories. I go to meetings where I am never sure what’s being said. I spend almost all my time with 12/13 year old kids, laughing at their jokes, trying to get them to like reading, trying to have them understand directions, trying to improve their writing and trying to get them to be better people. And I’m enjoying almost every single moment of it. Even through the office referrals, the disrespect, the funny moments, the days when I’m unprepared. All those moments and days, I still get to care about 110 kids and their lives.

New Year's Resolutions on Thanksgiving Day? Ok.

Found a website full of these. And these are the ones I loved. And will consider for my own New Years Resolutions. Which I will make the day after I turn 23. (yay?...!)

Something I LOVE

How do other first year teachers do it without a full time mentor? I can't deny my mentor and I hit a rough patch but things are so, so, so much better now.
She meets with me whenever I need it- I had a parent freak out about report cards- and she was so understanding. She has met with me on the weekends to help me plan out units (because that's what I need!) and just knowing she's around helps me to know that if I'm ever in a bad situation where I don't know what I'm doing she'll be there to help.
Sometimes I feel like I'm being pulled in a few directions between her, admin and the other teachers- but I usually take her advice because it has worked so well for me.
(And she even found a pumpkin cookie recipe for me after I told her I wanted one!)
I'm so glad she's there for my first year to help me survive it all!

I want you so badly, it's my only wish.

In the words of the Black Eyed Peas...

I spend my time just thinkin thinkin thinkin bout you
Every single day

I want you so bad, it's my only wish.

Long time no post.

Things have been moving so quickly!

I am afraid if I don't write it all down, I will never remember my first year of teaching.

I feel like things are getting easier. To some extent. I always feel behind on SOMETHING, but I don't feel as behind as I used to. I think lesson planning and grading and all that is becoming a little easier.

I feel like my kids have settled a little bit and the trouble makers, the real problems, have sifted to the top. While everyone else keeps moving along- they just stay stuck in the same old pattern. I think what's really frustrating with these students is I know they can do the work- but something is blocking them from doing it. And at the rate they are going high school and college are just becoming less and less of a reality. Well, not exactly. But in some way they are setting themselves up for failure. And nothing will help them see that. It almost seems they will have to learn their lesson by failing. It's unclear if they will even learn their lesson after that. But I do what I can. Which a lot of time is just ignoring them and once they don't get that attention they come around. A little bit.

It's interesting seeing all types of behavior in kids all day long. How well I know them after spending less than an hour with them everyday for three months. (THREE MONTHS! really? where did the time go?) Seeing all this behavior and talking about it with other teachers almost makes me feel like I can sense personalities and character traits in a new way now.

I'm more observant to when I am needing attention and acting on that. All because I see it in so many students everyday.

Or when I am avoiding something or acting differently because I don't know how to do something. Because I see it in so many students, everyday.

I also have a few boys in my class who clearly have some mom/women issues. That's always interesting to watch them in my class and with other people. And then think about why that is?

I have a few students that I wonder, How did you get this way? What happened in school or at home or in your life that made you act this way? That made you hate school? Hate reading or writing? Hate talking in public? Not care about the fact that you are failing?

It's almost sad to start to wonder when these students became so affected by the school systems. Or their home lives or lack of.

I feel like I am getting a tiny bit better at the job/real life/ living alone/ paying bills thing. But it still gets hard sometime.

In all honesty, I'm tired. I am counting down the days till Thanksgiving. And then after that until Christmas. It feels exhausting keeping up with all the papers to grade, to turn in, to hand back. Gradespeed is INSANE. I can't handle seeing all those assignments- with labels like Missing or Incomplete. And then keeping track of where those assignments are and why those assignments didn't get turned in.

For some reason, I also feel like my Gradespeed hates me and changes grades on me after I update them.

I'm tired of meetings. I'm tired of waking up early (even on the weekends.. who have I become?)

But really I think I'm just tired of all the paper..

Well, I'm off to bed. I'll post again soon.

Where the Wild Things Are

Swine flu took all of my kids for the last two weeks. Not all of them. But a big chunk of them. And seeing as I already had swine flu (or at least I think I did... thank you Camp Champions), I have remained untouched by the disease.

However, ALL of the children that got the flu have now returned and are having a tiny bit of an issue turning in any of their work that they missed. Why do 12 year olds believe that when they were sick nothing happened at school??? So I posted on their names on the board and right next to it --- IF YOU DON"T TALK TO ME TODAY ABOUT MISSING WORK IT IS A ZERO---

every child is suddenly running from all directions of the school to turn in missing work. Which I really do apperciate. However, it cut into my planning time this week. My eating time at lunch and more of my planning time after school.

I can get nothing done in the time I came early or the time I stay late because those kids are sucking up all my attention. My lessons hit some rough points but it was because I didn't have enough time to plan. I blame those pigs.

Other wise my life is boring.

I went to College Station last weekend and my best friend Yvette flew in from NYC. It was so great to see her.

But my trip to college station has made me feel even more isolated and alone than normal. A lot of people are going to Dallas this weekend for the UT game and I will be mostly alone. On one hand I am SO excited to get so much work done. Because it seems like the papers on my desk and the amount of crap in my apartment never get attended to and this weekend I can do all the things I want to. ( Like get a desk! Grade some papers! fold my laundry! the list goes on forever...)

But on the other hand, I really want to go see Where the Wild Things are and I have no one to see it with. Or can I really go the entire weekend without speaking to anyone? And then go through another week where I hardly have a conversation with someone that isn't work related.

I'm ready for this to get easier. Not Harder.

The way I look at it- I'll really start to worry about my social life and having fun after this year. Once I get the teaching thing to an easier pace than I'll worry about the rest. So that may be awhile before I worry about the rest.

This World Keeps Spinning Faster.

I just looked up a new teacher forum and started to read some of the posts. It was good to see some people struggling as well, and good to know some people have it worse than me!

One teacher said that the other teachers are rude to her, and say things like "we hope we get used to working with you" or "are you friends with the admin? We thought that was how you got hired"

Thank goodness I don't have to deal with that! I would be miserable. I think that would make me even more upset.

At some times I think it would be nice to be better friends with the other teachers and make a bigger effort with them. But then most of the time I think, I don't have time to stop and try to be their friend. I'll try next year! I would rather focus on the important stuff that is getting me from day to day. Just for right now. I can be live without a life for a year. maybe.

And a lot of the other people were having the same problems I am. Which was nice to see that it's not just me.

I should go make a binder for my lesson plans... and I should grade something for my TAG kids.

But I have lost a lot of momentum and interest in grading. I need to get it back!

I had to teach some grammar today.... No one should trust me with their child and grammar together.

The new John Mayer single is wonderful though!

I am sinking, merely sinking

Tomorrow is my first EVVVVVER substitue teacher!!!

While I will be in the building... I'm still undeniably nervous. I think my kids will be off the wall. I will have notes left behind detailing the substitue's day at the zoo, not in a classroom. I fear nothing will get done and when I pick up my student's Personal Narrative's on Tuesday, they will be awful. I mean really rotten.

But I think I need to do that to them. Let them see how NOT working in class effects them. And some of them it won't affect at all. But for the one's it does affect (or for their parents that it affects) hopefully it will help.

I think on Monday I am going to try a few new things in class. dealing with classroom management. Nothing big. And not that anything is THAT bad. But I want to try something new.

I am glad this week is over, and can't wait to see that paycheck.

2 more weeks till College Station with Yvette. Can't wait.

And the UT game this weekend.. I can't believe I will be wearing burnt orange somewhere!

I am sinking, merely sinking

Today my kids and I were speaking another language.

And so we'll try it again. A different way tomorrow.

I am so exhausted lately.

I've stopped sleeping at night. I miss sleeping at night. I lie awake thinking of verb tenses, students who won't turn in their work and all the endless things I need to do.

I like sleeping at night. I like feeling rested. I'm trying to get any sleep I can get. Which ends up being between 630-730 pm. And then I feel bad about myself.

I can make it to the end of this week. Two more days! and then I'll make next week better. I hope.

What Teachers Make

I had to complete the 3 good surprises, and the 3 bad surprises of teaching for the grad school class I'm getting credit for. Here's what they are so far....

Good Surprises have included:
1. Parent involvement, they have been very supportive and stayed in touch as much as needed. They are always willing to help and have even offered to buy things for my class!
2. How much support there is in the school system- I have at times felt like there was almost too much support. Everyone is willing to help out all the times and is willing to give you anything they have to help you.
3. The students, that on paper seem like they will be the most difficult, behavior problems, ESL or SPED are willing to work hard, you just have to find the best way to reach them. And that hasn’t been too hard yet!

Big Surprises that have been hard to work with:
1. The paper- there is paper everywhere! Making copies, receiving copies, paperwork, the paper handed back into me from students, the endless amounts of forms to keep track of. The amount of dead trees just never seems to end! And it’s becoming difficult to have a place for all of it to go.
2. Meetings, it seems that the meetings match the endless amounts of paper in the classroom. I have meetings before school, after school, in between school and it cuts into the planning time, grading time and any extra time you have. Along with the endless amount of time spent meeting- is the education acronyms that go along with everything described in the meetings. They are hard to keep up, hard to understand and no one takes the time to explain them.
3. Professional Development: Before school I spent at least 2 solid weeks in training for new teachers, training for old teachers and there is more to come as the year goes on. It is surprising how much of the content in the professional development is repeated and is simple common knowledge. It seems those two weeks would have been better spent working on the actual lessons I was teaching and setting up my classroom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDFjyh0R3rw

This reminds of me what my life is like now.

sometimes we forget who we are

I never want to have a half day ever again!

I hated every moment of it. It was awful. Ok that's not totally true.

It started off with a meeting with our Assitant Principal, all the other 7th grade language arts teachers and our department head. I walked in thinking that the meeting was about one thing and it turned out to be about something completly different. It only took me about 10 minutes to figure that part out. And then another 10 minutes to figure out what they were even talking about... and the meeting was only 30 minutes.

I've been in two meetings in the last two days where I've understood probably 20% of what they were talking about. At the end I walk out of the meeting confused and wondering what else I have to work on. There are TOO many acroynms in education for me to even come close to understand what people are saying.

In my team meeting yesterday, we talked about students and progress reports and our SPED(Special Education Inclusion) teacher had so many questions about her students and they were all just for me. I felt like I had done literally everything wrong and everyone was staring at me waiting for me to explain. I felt awful at the time but I have it all fixed now.

One plus from yesterday is that our principal came and obsevered me for the 2nd time (in two weeks) and this evaluation was better than the last! I guess as long as things are getting better.

Right now I've been thinking of teaching as a moving river. Everyday it's like I jump in at a different point and the river is completly different each time. It's either running perfectly, or choppy and hard to get through. And I never know what to expect.

I need to go prepare for tomorrow.. I feel like i"m getting farther behind where I need to be, also. But right now I don't see that as a huge problem. At least not yet....

Even though this week hasn't been as bad as I've made this seem... I'm ready for this week to be over!

Sometimes we forget what we got.

I spent all of yesterday cleaning and working on lesson stuff for this week. It's so frustrating to work from 11 AM until 11 PM (more or less) and still have so much to do. It seemed like the grading would never end and I still need to get some things organized for the rest of the week. I want to do things after school and have a life... but I just feel like I should move in to my classroom sometimes.
I had an emotional moment with my mom yesterday- just because I feel like I have no life, and have become a slave to my job. But at the same time when I do things and have a life, I end up feeling so behind. In a way I almost feel guilty for doing things on the weekend or something fun because I know there's something I should be doing for my class.

I'm ready for this to start getting easier- not harder.

Today I had some classroom management problems. My 3rd and 4th period drive me up the wall. I just need to give out some detentions and lay down the law. I just feel like with those 2 groups I have to be mean EVERY SINGLE DAY and other groups I only have to it occasionally.

I've also been devoting most of my weekends to apartment cleaning and organizing- and sadly there' a huge bag of trash waiting of me to take it to the dump. Sometimes I love living alone- when I get home and am tired, I don't have to speak to anyone. Or when I wake up early and I don't have to be quiet or considerate. But then around 8:00 o'clock at night or in the afternoons on the weekend I'm left thinking...."oh, I"m alone again. Still." So i can't decide about next year. I'll revaulate at some point in time I'm sure.

I think I need to slow down a little bit in class too. I feel like I'm running with my students all day long and sometimes I don't feel that way. But when I do feel like I'm rushing through everything I think that my students behavior changes.

I started a Bingo activitiy in class for my TAG students. It will last all week- and at first they seemed not to like it. But once they understood it, I think they really did apperciate it. They wanted to do more than what was on the list. Which was good... I need to look into imagery for them. I'm always rememebering somthing I'm not doing.

I hope this week ends better than it started...

36min. is not enough for lunch... and yet almost too much

School is great! My 3rd period class was really bad in the library yesterady so I gave them the "you know better than this, I'm dissapointed in you, some of your freedoms are getting taken away" talk. Instead of yelling i tried the just show them how sad i am they can't behave in the library. I'll let you know the outcome...

4th and 6th period drive me up a walll cause they talk so much- but they are good kids. So we laugh about it but still i try to get onto them.

I love my 8th period.. they are gifted and talented and I'm having a hard time teaching to them. But they are really fun to work with.

I did a parent assignment for the parents to send me a letter (in a million words or less.. HOPEFULLY LESS) to describe their son/daughter to me as a student and as a person.

The responses have been so sweet, funny and well written. Some have even made me cry because they all just love their kids so much! It makes me think about how I would want a teacher to think about my kid as well. I've loved the assignment so much and getting to read what parents have to say. Most parents email me and I have 13 pages saved of their notes.

Besides school life is good.. because their is little life besides school. I'm trying to go hiking after school at a park near my house. It's full of mountain bikers and has confusing trails but it's fun to be outside and hiking in something that isn't flat. I've been trying to make it out there... and by trying I mean I fell asleep at 5:30 on my couch by accident. I've been twice and hopefully one more time today!

I'm going home for labor day weekend!

A few of my camp friends are going to 6th street on friday night and invited me. But I think I'll pass to spend time with the family instead...

and spend time grading!

I have to take a few endless personality quizzes for the internship at A&M. And it seems pointless to just read them once and never have the results. So I'll post them here.. I guess?

Kingdomality

our distinct personality, The Shepherd is to tend to your human flock. You understand the needs of those for whom you are responsible. Shepherds are vigilant and reliable. You realize your obligation and commitment to the well being of those entrusted to your care. Shepherds are very dependable. You engender a feeling of comfort and stability to those within your charge. On the positive side, Shepherds can be empathic, caring, understanding, practical and realistic. On the negative side, you may be manipulative, close-minded and sentimentally rigid. Interestingly, your preference is just as applicable in today's corporate kingdoms.

Your Type is ESFJ

Extroverted Sesning Feeling Judging

Kiersey Temperment Sorter: Guardians can have a lot of fun with their friends, but they are quite serious about their duties and responsibilities. Guardians take pride in being dependable and trustworthy; if there's a job to be done, they can be counted on to put their shoulder to the wheel. As a Guardian, you enjoy working as a valued member of a team, whether you are leading it or following a credible leader. You like to work with people who carry their weight. You appreciate having clear-cut responsibilities and being recognized for your dedication and achievements T That's all i can do for right now. I'm getting bored... only3 more to goooo

I've been staring so long at these pictures of you.

Tomorrow is library day at school... meaning I don't have to do much. So I'm playing now...

A picture of you dressed up

A picture of you that is old, but is one of your favorites

A picture of who you live with

A picture of you during the summer

A picture with a parent or two

A picture of you on your birthday.

A picture of you in one of your favorite outfits… as long as I have my cowboy boots I’m happy

A picture of a time in your life that you wish wasn't over

A picture of you being your true self

I came to find truth.

Today went by so fast!

And things ran pretty smoothly. I'm starting to feel bad for my 2nd period. They just get the fast, not so good explanation, while my other periods improve each time. I guess one day I'll explain it perfectly in all 5 classes...

Someday. after several years of teaching the same content I'll get it right.

I'm so wrongly excited for tomorrow night because I won't have any problem.. due to the fact that we have library day on wednesday! I plan on cooking a slightly more complicated meal than normal and going for a wonderful hike. I have loved the recreation options in Austin, so far.

Even though I really haven't had much planning tonight either. Except for the wonderful birthday cupcakes I have to make for the bulletin board. Just writing names.... but still how did the first year teacher get stuck with that?

It won't be that bad... I'll watch TV and finish it up.

Hopefully tomorrow will run well also!

I liked the way I planned everything out on Sunday night. That helped me a lot. I'd like to do that every week, just a little bit earlier than 7pm next time.

Also- the black bean enchilada's I made tonight were great! Can't wait to try it again

Week 2

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Day 1 down. How many left?

Just kidding!

The first day was great! Much better than I expected. I knew that I would be nervous. I knew that something would go wrong. I knew that at some points I would be confused.

And all of that was true.

Honestly, once the kids got into the room I did feel much better. There were times I was so confused and questions I couldn't answer. But I think that the most important thing is I got what I wanted to do completed.

I know the students are on their best behavior the first few days, but it was nice to have them that way. They also were ver talkative and fun to be around.

There were also a few things I kept forgetting to mention, or would say in one class but not in the other. I'm sure those are all things that will improve with time- I just need a little checklist of things to say near me.. or written on my hand!

I just looked at one of my friends who recently started teaching elementary school facebook to check in on her and what she had to say, if anything at all. She had started teaching the day before me and her status referred to the 2nd day being more tiring and harder than the first. Then I started to panic..

but in all honesty I know that day 112 or 87 is going to be way harder than day one. But it's laying the foundation on day 1 to hopefully make day 93 a little easier. At least I hope it is!

I also know I'm going to be tired. A lot of the time. It was that way when I started observing last semester also. I guess it was something I conviently forgot when I finished today with plans to read and go to the pool.. and then promplty took an hour nap.

I know I'll get back into the swing of it and keeping my energy up soon enough. But until I remember how to keep my energy up and how to do it all in one day- I'm saving some coffee for the end of the afternoon. Here's to hoping the caffiene adds a little bit more to my day!

you got the wrong girl.

Things have been getting more and more intense in teacher world. The staff development and meetings have been endless. It seems like I'm learning so much, and in the same time I'm not doing as much work on what needs the most work.

This moring made me feel so unprepared and nervous. The admin. went over first day proceedors and it seemed like so many things to remember and so many things I can't remember. I think that's how everything is. They introduced the ideas of homeroom, and taking attendance and first day procedure.. none of which they mentioned until today!

I just tried to picture the first day as realistically as possible. It will be chaotic and crazy, I will be nervous, something will go wrong, but at the end of it I will still be alive.

The end of the day ended so well though. I felt like even though we were in endless meeting sessions (that are seeming to get repetative!) I still got such a good handle on things in my classroom. I also did a lot of lesson plan work at lunch time and felt like I got a lot of things figured out. My classroom is almost set up to where I want to be.. and I feel like I FINALLY have a vision about where I want it to go. Which is a nice feeling to have- 4 days before school starts. And I think I'll be working hard for 3 of those 4 days- but I know it will be a great feeling when it's all done.

I went to this great training session yesterday about being creative and thinking outside the box. I loved it. I really want to carry over creativity as much as I can in my class. A lot of the ideas presented I knew that I would have struggled with as a student, but I hope my students will love to be creative and original.

I am in this weird stage- which I heard about in a class at A&M- the fantasy stage. I just can't picture anything going wrong. I know it will. I think of the things that went wrong in my last school, and then I just think to myself, " But that school wasn't as good. This will be great."

At least I know this stage will pass. Quickly.

I'll just think of it as staying positive.

I am getting nervous about money. I realized today it's one month until I get my first paycheck. I just need so many things... a coffee table, a washer/dryer, a poster, always something for my classroom. Just too much stuff! And on top of that rent and bills I've never paid before. I know that I have plenty of money- I'm just not sure if it will all go around.

I can't wait until Where The Wild Things Are comes out in theatres!

There's been so many Firsts in my life this week:

First time to see a movie alone

First time to live alone

First time to drive around Austin.. as a resident

First time to decorate a classroom

First time to be so overwhelemd by school training

First time to buy so much with my own money!

First time to not be in College Station... or sorority rush in 4 years.

So many new things that are scary and overwhelming right now. In no time, though, it will seem like all this will be old news. I hope I can remember what it felt like to be going through all these firsts... even if it isn't the best feeling right now.