Overwhelm overtook me today as I searched the Internet for rental housing in Sacramento today. Zillow always has a few unethical real estate brokers who list a fake exquisite rental for dirt cheap just to get your contact information---when you submit that you're interested. I searched for another comprehensive rental listing, but found none. Then I remembered that Craig's List has a great rental section. It's not as user friendly as Zillow. I had to juggle between Yahoo Maps and Craig's List to figure out if the listing was in an acceptable area.
My concentration was soon broken when Vanessa called. She wanted to give me a "Going Away" party and asked me what format I would like. I could have an Open House, since I have so many friends from so many walks of life, or a small intimate party. I decided to have an Open House format, but started sobbing at the thought of saying, "Good-bye," to my friends that I've made in North County San Diego over these last 17 years.
Though I will have a very special place in my heart for my North County friends, when I visit I won't have the ability or time to maintain a physical connection with all of them. Some of my friends I may not see for decades, scores, or ever. The reality of that thought broke my heart.
It's not good to have a broken heart and be stressed by a move when you have to get a physical. During my physical (Wellness Exam) my blood pressure was high for me 120/80. My heart rate was a high 79 beats per minutes, too. During the doctor's office visit, I even started sobbing when I told her that I was moving away for a really rewarding and meaningful teaching job.
My nurse practioner had a great idea for me. She had moved from Chicago to San Diego a few years ago and was also overwhelmed at making huge housing decisions when she didn't know the area. She decided to get a furnished vacation rental for a few months and use that as her base to look for permanent housing.
When I remarked, "I don't know if Sacramento has a vacation rental market."
She said, "Just about anywhere has vacation rentals. You'd be surprised!"
My overwhelm eased from my nurse practioner's healing advice. I have a better house hunting strategy now. I don't have to make huge housing decisions in a rush. I may be living in Sacramento for about 40 more years, so I'm going to take my time to find the right, unique property, so I don't have to move again.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
First Author Speaking Engagement
Tonight at REI I did my first speaking engagement as Isolde Ulrich, author of "The Romance of Kilimanjaro." I decided to go the speaking route as a way to sell books, since I speak all day in front of 35 students that I don't know every day as a substitute teacher. Regular book signings seem to have a small market reach and other authors have told me horror stories about no one showing up for book signings. To buffer myself from disappointment, I was expecting the worst---2 or 3 people in the audience.
To manage my stress, I arrived early to set up the projector with my computer. However, my computer decided to be a royal pain as more and more of my audience started filtering in 20 minutes before my show. Windows Media Player froze, so I had to calmly restart my computer while quipping to my growing audience, "When in doubt, restart."
Finally, Windows Media Player cooperated---with a little help from the REI manager. As I looked up to start the show the room was packed! All the chairs were taken and more chairs had to be brought for the people left standing.
42 people actually showed up for my movie, "Kilimanjaro and Safari Slideshow!" The REI manager couldn't believe it. Normally only 8 people show up for a speaking engagement. During the 40 minute movie which I narrate in person, the audience laughed and asked brief questions. Once it ended they applauded. That was so gratifying!
Then I opened it up to questions. The questions were endless and full of hunger for the experience! They wanted to know more about how I trained, what I ate on the mountain, how I stayed warm, how much the trip cost me, what medicines that I took.... Their hands just kept popping up for almost an hour!
Remembering how focused I was on the summit of Kilimanjaro before my trip, I wanted to remind my audience the importance of the journey to the summit---part of a successful summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is the experience along the way. I emphacized, "I know that summitting is your main objective, this trip is expensive, and you don't want to fail, but bonding with all the other mountaineers from all over the world as you walk "pole pole" (slowly slowly) makes the experience more rich.
"Also learn endearing words in Swahili, because that is the love language of your guides. It makes them feel good that you tried to learn their language and helps build a bond with them. Then you will have the full Mt. Kilimanjaro experience."
Once we ended, I signed books while answering more questions and listening to beautiful stories of Kilimanjaro from other climbers who had just come to relive the Kilimanjaro experience. I felt like I was back on the mountain again with all my mountaineering friends. It was a wonderful feeling to be a part of this REI community. It was a wonderful feeling to inspire and help people successfully summit Mt. Kilimanjaro. It was just wonderful!
To manage my stress, I arrived early to set up the projector with my computer. However, my computer decided to be a royal pain as more and more of my audience started filtering in 20 minutes before my show. Windows Media Player froze, so I had to calmly restart my computer while quipping to my growing audience, "When in doubt, restart."
Finally, Windows Media Player cooperated---with a little help from the REI manager. As I looked up to start the show the room was packed! All the chairs were taken and more chairs had to be brought for the people left standing.
42 people actually showed up for my movie, "Kilimanjaro and Safari Slideshow!" The REI manager couldn't believe it. Normally only 8 people show up for a speaking engagement. During the 40 minute movie which I narrate in person, the audience laughed and asked brief questions. Once it ended they applauded. That was so gratifying!
Then I opened it up to questions. The questions were endless and full of hunger for the experience! They wanted to know more about how I trained, what I ate on the mountain, how I stayed warm, how much the trip cost me, what medicines that I took.... Their hands just kept popping up for almost an hour!
Remembering how focused I was on the summit of Kilimanjaro before my trip, I wanted to remind my audience the importance of the journey to the summit---part of a successful summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is the experience along the way. I emphacized, "I know that summitting is your main objective, this trip is expensive, and you don't want to fail, but bonding with all the other mountaineers from all over the world as you walk "pole pole" (slowly slowly) makes the experience more rich.
"Also learn endearing words in Swahili, because that is the love language of your guides. It makes them feel good that you tried to learn their language and helps build a bond with them. Then you will have the full Mt. Kilimanjaro experience."
Once we ended, I signed books while answering more questions and listening to beautiful stories of Kilimanjaro from other climbers who had just come to relive the Kilimanjaro experience. I felt like I was back on the mountain again with all my mountaineering friends. It was a wonderful feeling to be a part of this REI community. It was a wonderful feeling to inspire and help people successfully summit Mt. Kilimanjaro. It was just wonderful!
Monday, February 27, 2012
A Great Birthday Present---A Teaching Job!
After 5 painful years of searching for a math teaching job, I finally got offered one on my birthday! What a great birthday present!!! This Valley girl is moving back to my childhood home---back to the big California Valley, the San Joaquin Valley. Like this is totally rad! :-)
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Revisiting My Former Neighborhood of the Rich and Famous
It was so hard for me to get up the courage. Sure I'd drive by every couple of years, but I hadn't visited one of my neighbors after I sold my mansion to an internationally famous skateboarder. I felt ashamed to sell my mansion under financial duress. I also didn't want the new owner of my former mansion to feel like I was stalking my home that I designed and built from a dirt lot with my dreams and sweat.
My dreams were telling me that I had to go back though. My dreams never stop until I do what they tell me to do. Accomplishing my dreams is the only way I've found peace from my them. Now my dreams told me that I had to talk with my former next door neighbor, one of the best cardiologists in San Diego County.
I tried to call his home number but the telephone alerted me that it was disconnected. I tried to find his Internet listing, but he apparently retired from cardiology. My searches came up empty. No, I had to go to his home. I had to go to my former neighborhood in my dented-up, dirty Nissan. I had to ask him for help for surferdude.
His wife had told me in the grocery store that they had built a new home for themselves on the vacant lot at the end of the culdesac. So I parked there. There were two new homes on the once empty lot, but I could tell by the architecturally artistic design of one of the homes that it was theirs. They have exquisite taste. I walked along their front path enjoying every step through their art that they had created and rang the doorbell.
Dogs barked frantically. That was a good sign. They always had two dogs. Then out walked my neighbor, the one with which I had to speak. He walked through the courtyard with a perplexed look on his face.
"Hi Paul! It's me, Isolde Ulrich."
"Isolde!" He opened the gate and gave me a big hug. I realized how stupid I was in that moment to have not visited. He didn't care that I lost my mansion. He cared about me!
"Oh, I love your new house!"
"Thanks. Rebecca's not here."
"That's O.K. I came to see you."
He lead me into his foyer. The view of the Batiquitos Lagoon and ocean was always better on this lot than any other lot, and they had designed a vanishing edge pool on the edge of the cliff which amplified the view of all the water. They did the lot justice. I remembered their life-sized wooden deer near the front door from their former home. The home was marvelous with its few, potent pieces of art and ushered the viewer's focus to the true beauty beyond the window---the view.
We sat across from each other at this 12 ft long dining table and had coffee and caught up. It had been 9 years. He told me how skaterboy only bothered to drop by their former home when he first moved in and wanted their approval on the backyard skatepark. Once they gave him their approval he never dropped by again.
He wasn't the only one with a skaterboy story. After touring him around the property with my son, Drew, he was supposed to autograph Drew's skateboard. Drew didn't want his autograph though. I was so embarrassed and didn't understand, since he had skaterboy's autograph on a hat already. So I pulled him aside and privately asked him why. Drew didn't like how skaterboy talked to me. He didn't want an autograph from someone who treated his mother with disrespect!
Paul mentioned, "He's divorced again."
I explained my theory, "It seems when his youngest child gets to be 5 years old, he finds a new wife like clockwork."
"It must be hard to have so many women after you all the time when you're famous."
"Yes. I have a friend like that. In fact, that's why I'm here. He's a famous surfer and had a heart attack. He's turning 48 tomorrow on our birthday."
"I'm retired."
"I noticed, but I just have to talk with you about this."
We talked a bit about surferdude and the best cardiologists at the various hospitals. I realized though, that I just needed to talk to Paul, not as much for surferdude, but for me.
Paul reassured me, "He's young, and as long as he deals with it, he'll have a long and healthy life. Some professional athletes don't want to admit that they have a physical problem, but if he deals with it, he'll have a long and healthy life."
After a long talk about our years apart, I gave him one of my books, signed it to Rebecca and him. He told me that I couldn't end my second book about BRCA 1 without telling my readers about my reconstruction story. It's just as important as making a decision to pre-vive breast cancer. He made me realize that my readers need to know how I designed a new way to reconstruct a breast from a blank pectoral muscle. When he said that, I knew why my dream required me to see him.
As I left, I asked him for his new address, so I can send Christmas cards---so we can keep up with each other. I'll not disappear from their lives again.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
My dreams were telling me that I had to go back though. My dreams never stop until I do what they tell me to do. Accomplishing my dreams is the only way I've found peace from my them. Now my dreams told me that I had to talk with my former next door neighbor, one of the best cardiologists in San Diego County.
I tried to call his home number but the telephone alerted me that it was disconnected. I tried to find his Internet listing, but he apparently retired from cardiology. My searches came up empty. No, I had to go to his home. I had to go to my former neighborhood in my dented-up, dirty Nissan. I had to ask him for help for surferdude.
His wife had told me in the grocery store that they had built a new home for themselves on the vacant lot at the end of the culdesac. So I parked there. There were two new homes on the once empty lot, but I could tell by the architecturally artistic design of one of the homes that it was theirs. They have exquisite taste. I walked along their front path enjoying every step through their art that they had created and rang the doorbell.
Dogs barked frantically. That was a good sign. They always had two dogs. Then out walked my neighbor, the one with which I had to speak. He walked through the courtyard with a perplexed look on his face.
"Hi Paul! It's me, Isolde Ulrich."
"Isolde!" He opened the gate and gave me a big hug. I realized how stupid I was in that moment to have not visited. He didn't care that I lost my mansion. He cared about me!
"Oh, I love your new house!"
"Thanks. Rebecca's not here."
"That's O.K. I came to see you."
He lead me into his foyer. The view of the Batiquitos Lagoon and ocean was always better on this lot than any other lot, and they had designed a vanishing edge pool on the edge of the cliff which amplified the view of all the water. They did the lot justice. I remembered their life-sized wooden deer near the front door from their former home. The home was marvelous with its few, potent pieces of art and ushered the viewer's focus to the true beauty beyond the window---the view.
We sat across from each other at this 12 ft long dining table and had coffee and caught up. It had been 9 years. He told me how skaterboy only bothered to drop by their former home when he first moved in and wanted their approval on the backyard skatepark. Once they gave him their approval he never dropped by again.
He wasn't the only one with a skaterboy story. After touring him around the property with my son, Drew, he was supposed to autograph Drew's skateboard. Drew didn't want his autograph though. I was so embarrassed and didn't understand, since he had skaterboy's autograph on a hat already. So I pulled him aside and privately asked him why. Drew didn't like how skaterboy talked to me. He didn't want an autograph from someone who treated his mother with disrespect!
Paul mentioned, "He's divorced again."
I explained my theory, "It seems when his youngest child gets to be 5 years old, he finds a new wife like clockwork."
"It must be hard to have so many women after you all the time when you're famous."
"Yes. I have a friend like that. In fact, that's why I'm here. He's a famous surfer and had a heart attack. He's turning 48 tomorrow on our birthday."
"I'm retired."
"I noticed, but I just have to talk with you about this."
We talked a bit about surferdude and the best cardiologists at the various hospitals. I realized though, that I just needed to talk to Paul, not as much for surferdude, but for me.
Paul reassured me, "He's young, and as long as he deals with it, he'll have a long and healthy life. Some professional athletes don't want to admit that they have a physical problem, but if he deals with it, he'll have a long and healthy life."
After a long talk about our years apart, I gave him one of my books, signed it to Rebecca and him. He told me that I couldn't end my second book about BRCA 1 without telling my readers about my reconstruction story. It's just as important as making a decision to pre-vive breast cancer. He made me realize that my readers need to know how I designed a new way to reconstruct a breast from a blank pectoral muscle. When he said that, I knew why my dream required me to see him.
As I left, I asked him for his new address, so I can send Christmas cards---so we can keep up with each other. I'll not disappear from their lives again.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
The Wizard of Oz
What a delight it was to see "The Wizard of Oz" performed by the North County School of the Arts at the Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center. My friend, Vanessa's daughter is the wicked witch of the west. She did an excellent job of creating and evil, but comical character. I enjoyed every bit of her acting!
Her peers were also extremely talented. The teenager playing Dorothy was recently my math student at Digueno Middle School. I didn't put it together that she was in the same play as Vanessa's daughter, so I was shocked when she walked out onto the stage! She has a beautiful and developed voice beyond her age and really made Dorothy believable and entertaining. I was impressed.
The North County School of Arts not only had an extremely talented group of teenagers and kids, they had a fabulous stage strategist. I was in awe how they ran around the house to create the tornado effect! Then they used a movie screen to show the scary Wizard of Oz. The poisonous red poppy dancers turned into innocuous white poppies by a dance twirl removing their wrap-around red skirt and another twirl putting the white side of the skirt outward. Amazing!
The costumes were amazing throughout. There were so many elaborate costumes that I wondered who the angel was that was making them! The apple tree costumes were amazing with the hoop at the bottom of the long, trunk-like skirt. The trees could easily detach their apples to throw them at Dorothy and the Scarecrow, too. Who ever it was that designed the costumes really added to the fabulous team which created such a remarkable musical, "The Wizard of Oz."
Congratulations North County School of the Arts on a performance intricately and fabulously accomplished!
Her peers were also extremely talented. The teenager playing Dorothy was recently my math student at Digueno Middle School. I didn't put it together that she was in the same play as Vanessa's daughter, so I was shocked when she walked out onto the stage! She has a beautiful and developed voice beyond her age and really made Dorothy believable and entertaining. I was impressed.
The North County School of Arts not only had an extremely talented group of teenagers and kids, they had a fabulous stage strategist. I was in awe how they ran around the house to create the tornado effect! Then they used a movie screen to show the scary Wizard of Oz. The poisonous red poppy dancers turned into innocuous white poppies by a dance twirl removing their wrap-around red skirt and another twirl putting the white side of the skirt outward. Amazing!
The costumes were amazing throughout. There were so many elaborate costumes that I wondered who the angel was that was making them! The apple tree costumes were amazing with the hoop at the bottom of the long, trunk-like skirt. The trees could easily detach their apples to throw them at Dorothy and the Scarecrow, too. Who ever it was that designed the costumes really added to the fabulous team which created such a remarkable musical, "The Wizard of Oz."
Congratulations North County School of the Arts on a performance intricately and fabulously accomplished!
Friday, February 24, 2012
Kayaking Away the Stress
It dawned on me as I awoke that my traffic sitation that was never mailed to me or acknowledged on the San Diego Traffic Court website could pose a problem for getting this teaching job, even if all three of my interviews were good. If the sitation wasn't thrown away by the officer, I could have a warrant out for my arrest for failure to appear in court!
After breakfast I scanned my sitation for any clue how I could contact a human being about my issue. Below the court location, a phone number was listed. I checked the automated phone system twice. There was no record of it. My sitation appeared to have been thrown away by the police officer. There was no option for talking to a human being to verify that unfortunately.
I decided that I'd done all that I could to pay my traffic ticket. Now I could face my third teaching interview without the worry of another unexpected event derailing my progress toward becoming a contracted math teacher and saving my teaching credential from expiration.
The interview went well. They asked why I wanted to be a math teacher, since I'm capable of doing so many other careers. I explained, "I was once told that I should collect my medical records. Thinking that I was dying, I thought about how I'd lived my life. I was happy with it; however, I did regret that I had never tried to be a math teacher. When my massive tumor was removed and was benign, I started my pursuit of being a math teacher."
Later I got ahold of surferdude to tell him that I had a third interview. I figured that I'd talk about something other than "I'm scared that your going to die of another heartattack," but I really needed to talk about his heart. I asked how he was feeling. He's still tired, but went surfing yesterday. He added that he was driving to Tamarack beach to go surfing again.
I told him that I'd just driven down the coast highway to check out the ocean for kayaking. There was a lot of white water and surfers. The waves had a nice lip. It should be good. He remarked that whether the waves were big or little he could surf them and make them good. I smiled remembering when he did a 180 degree turn with his longboard on a little wave during a nose-riding competition---just so he could do something cool, since the waves weren't cooperating.
Redirecting him, I asked what his doctors had discovered about his heart. Apparently, his EKG was abnormal. That's all they know.
"You have a heart defect just like your dad. You need to find a doctor that can figure out just what heart defect you have. You can't just say, 'Oh, I'm not planning on living long, because my dad only made it to 56.'
"I didn't lay down and die when I found out I inherited BRCA 1 from my mother. I figured out how to beat the cancer before I got it. You need to figure out how to beat your inherited heart defect. Anything less is not worthy of a world champion. People love you, so if you need money for your medical bills to get your heart fixed, I'm sure they'd help."
He agreed, but had his sights on some waves at Tamarack Beach.
"You have fun surfing."
"You have fun kayaking."
I did have fun kayaking. I saw a fin sticking straight out of the water in the distance. It looked like it was a dead dolphin, shark, or sea lion snagged on a lobster trap.
It ended up being a sleeping sea lion.
Later I saw a stingray swimming along the top of the water. I'd never seen that in the wild before---only at Sea World.
Upon my return to Ponto Beach, I ran into the pod of dolphins that I know. The triplets swim so fast now! Baby dolphins grow up too quickly!
Finally, it was time to get ashore. I had trouble catching a wave. A wave had no trouble catching me, though. It rolled me right over! There's nothing like cold ocean water to make you feel alive!
After breakfast I scanned my sitation for any clue how I could contact a human being about my issue. Below the court location, a phone number was listed. I checked the automated phone system twice. There was no record of it. My sitation appeared to have been thrown away by the police officer. There was no option for talking to a human being to verify that unfortunately.
I decided that I'd done all that I could to pay my traffic ticket. Now I could face my third teaching interview without the worry of another unexpected event derailing my progress toward becoming a contracted math teacher and saving my teaching credential from expiration.
The interview went well. They asked why I wanted to be a math teacher, since I'm capable of doing so many other careers. I explained, "I was once told that I should collect my medical records. Thinking that I was dying, I thought about how I'd lived my life. I was happy with it; however, I did regret that I had never tried to be a math teacher. When my massive tumor was removed and was benign, I started my pursuit of being a math teacher."
Later I got ahold of surferdude to tell him that I had a third interview. I figured that I'd talk about something other than "I'm scared that your going to die of another heartattack," but I really needed to talk about his heart. I asked how he was feeling. He's still tired, but went surfing yesterday. He added that he was driving to Tamarack beach to go surfing again.
I told him that I'd just driven down the coast highway to check out the ocean for kayaking. There was a lot of white water and surfers. The waves had a nice lip. It should be good. He remarked that whether the waves were big or little he could surf them and make them good. I smiled remembering when he did a 180 degree turn with his longboard on a little wave during a nose-riding competition---just so he could do something cool, since the waves weren't cooperating.
Redirecting him, I asked what his doctors had discovered about his heart. Apparently, his EKG was abnormal. That's all they know.
"You have a heart defect just like your dad. You need to find a doctor that can figure out just what heart defect you have. You can't just say, 'Oh, I'm not planning on living long, because my dad only made it to 56.'
"I didn't lay down and die when I found out I inherited BRCA 1 from my mother. I figured out how to beat the cancer before I got it. You need to figure out how to beat your inherited heart defect. Anything less is not worthy of a world champion. People love you, so if you need money for your medical bills to get your heart fixed, I'm sure they'd help."
He agreed, but had his sights on some waves at Tamarack Beach.
"You have fun surfing."
"You have fun kayaking."
I did have fun kayaking. I saw a fin sticking straight out of the water in the distance. It looked like it was a dead dolphin, shark, or sea lion snagged on a lobster trap.
It ended up being a sleeping sea lion.
Later I saw a stingray swimming along the top of the water. I'd never seen that in the wild before---only at Sea World.
Upon my return to Ponto Beach, I ran into the pod of dolphins that I know. The triplets swim so fast now! Baby dolphins grow up too quickly!
Finally, it was time to get ashore. I had trouble catching a wave. A wave had no trouble catching me, though. It rolled me right over! There's nothing like cold ocean water to make you feel alive!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Dealing With a Bad Job Reference
Today part of my introduction to my math students was "I'm a former international mechanical engineer, landscape designer, entrepreneur a few different times, tried to become a math teacher during the California budget crisis, but that didn't work out for me, so I wrote this book, 'The Romance of Kilimanjaro.' The moral of the story is that we may get focused on one path and our real path may be more awesome like writing a book." My canned introduction has new meaning for me now that I've uncovered that I've been held back from a math teaching position due to my most trusted job reference giving me a bad reference all these years.
I suppose that God put her into my life to make me finish my first book. I often told this reference that I felt like I was a new version of "Jonah and the Whale"---I won't get a math teaching position until I finish my first book. That mission is accomplished. I'm actually very close to finishing my second manuscript now.
Memories of she and I going to prayer meetings at the high school kept coming back. I remember how I didn't understand her prayer for me once, "May Isolde find peace that her dream of being a math teacher may be coming to an end." I wasn't giving up on that dream! I was making the best use of all my free time by writing books and staying in shape. I had every intention of continuing my pursuit of being a math teacher.
At Ash Wednesday service my choir friends asked me if I was going to confront this Christian lady. I thought about all the people who needed my time and all the positive things that I could do with my time. "No. I gave her up to God. He always does a great job taking care of these issues for me. I also took her and her whole school district off my edjoin pages and added a new school district and new job references for me."
Being a graduate of Celebrate Recovery, I also thought about my mistakes that I made while teaching in my early years. I had a part in my bad job reference. She knew the mistakes that I made as a new teacher. I didn't want her to lie to a potential employer, but she could have been merciful towards me. She just never forgave me for these nascent teaching errors, nor allowed herself to see how I grew into a better teacher by making those mistakes. As a friend, she could have told me not to use her as a reference. She chose to keep me in the dark as to her duplicitous behavior, though. May God be merciful upon her.
Fortunately, the five new math teaching references that I wrestled up in fifteen minutes came through for me. They made sure that my dream of being a math teacher was left intact. They believe in my abilities to teach math after training me with their lesson plans and classroom procedures. Now I have an unprecedented third job interview scheduled for tomorrow.
Thank you God for all the love that you've shown me while I've dealt with this unforeseen bad job reference!
I suppose that God put her into my life to make me finish my first book. I often told this reference that I felt like I was a new version of "Jonah and the Whale"---I won't get a math teaching position until I finish my first book. That mission is accomplished. I'm actually very close to finishing my second manuscript now.
Memories of she and I going to prayer meetings at the high school kept coming back. I remember how I didn't understand her prayer for me once, "May Isolde find peace that her dream of being a math teacher may be coming to an end." I wasn't giving up on that dream! I was making the best use of all my free time by writing books and staying in shape. I had every intention of continuing my pursuit of being a math teacher.
At Ash Wednesday service my choir friends asked me if I was going to confront this Christian lady. I thought about all the people who needed my time and all the positive things that I could do with my time. "No. I gave her up to God. He always does a great job taking care of these issues for me. I also took her and her whole school district off my edjoin pages and added a new school district and new job references for me."
Being a graduate of Celebrate Recovery, I also thought about my mistakes that I made while teaching in my early years. I had a part in my bad job reference. She knew the mistakes that I made as a new teacher. I didn't want her to lie to a potential employer, but she could have been merciful towards me. She just never forgave me for these nascent teaching errors, nor allowed herself to see how I grew into a better teacher by making those mistakes. As a friend, she could have told me not to use her as a reference. She chose to keep me in the dark as to her duplicitous behavior, though. May God be merciful upon her.
Fortunately, the five new math teaching references that I wrestled up in fifteen minutes came through for me. They made sure that my dream of being a math teacher was left intact. They believe in my abilities to teach math after training me with their lesson plans and classroom procedures. Now I have an unprecedented third job interview scheduled for tomorrow.
Thank you God for all the love that you've shown me while I've dealt with this unforeseen bad job reference!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Choosing How to Spiritual Grow on Ash Wednesday
Today is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. It certainly snuck up on me. I only had a few hours to decide what I would give up for Lent. This Catholic practice is designed to make us spiritually grow, so what we give up has to be a sacrifice that requires self control. We all have something that we do that separates us from God a bit, so that's the best something to give up until Easter.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Surferdude's Surprise Heart Attack!
Today I did my usual guest teaching for an algebra 1 class. When the students started zoning out, I gave them a break with the instructions, "Your brain acts like it's running a marathon when you're doing math, so you have to feed it. Always eat before a math class. Now eat!"
While most of the students ate, a 13-year-old, aspiring writer came up to me, "Could you read my story and tell me how I can write better?"
"Sure!" I read her 1.5 page fantasy with only one interruption from another student---normally it's like George Orwell's "1984" with an interruption at least every 5 minutes from one of the 35 students.
Some future English teacher would need to help her learn her punctuation rules, but she wrote a well-structured, creative fantasy piece. I repeated what Maralys Wills had taught me, "Always try to put the most important word next to the period and the most important sentence at the end of the paragraph." Then I explained, "You use your visual descriptions well and managed to develop a new world in just a page and a half which is great, but remember to use your other senses, too---touch, smell, taste, and intuition (if you sense danger or something)."
She was so excited to have a real author's help that she drew a beautiful picture and note for me and gave it to me at the end of math class to thank me! That's why I teach. :-)
Unfortunately, the rest of my day was thrown into turmoil when I checked in on my famous friend, surferdude. We normally talk every day, but I warned him on Friday that I was going incommunicado during the writers conference. We both live busy lives, so we always let the other know when we may not return a missed "check-in" call. It's our way of knowing the other didn't die surfing or kayaking. I should have called him twice that day, because hours after that last call with him, he told me that he had a heart attack while he was doing a public event!
Surferdude's turning 48 on our February 27th birthday, is extremely physically fit, has low blood pressure and cholesterol, and teaches me how to eat healthy even though I'm a certified nutritionist. It's inconceivable for him to have a heart attack. However, he has often told me that he didn't plan on living long, though I openly refused to accept that concept. Apparently, he's built exactly like his surfer dad, who died of a heart attack at 56. Surferdude must have the same type of heart defect.
Pulling my mental faculties back from my shock, I stated as fact, "You know that I love you. I always will. You can't die. Who would I talk to every day? Plus, you still have to finish my art board." (An art board is a surfboard that is designed to be art and hung on a wall. It is too expensive to be used as a surfboard.)
"Oh, I've decided on a different design for yours. I'm not going to use the Wade print. It's all going to be my design, my art."
"Good. I'll like that better." I stared out the window in disbelief that I could have lost my dear friend. "I can't believe how beautiful the sky is today. I always feel so guilty looking at the beautiful day from my window and not being out in it."
"Yeah, I want to go surfing, but the doctors told me that I can't for awhile. I just may go anyway."
I decided to keep talking with him longer than our usual call between our obligations---until the surf window closed, so surfing today wouldn't be an option for him.
We viewed his new website together. I love his video of him surfing with a dog and a "Make a Wish" woman with no arms. Surferdude also does a lot of other charitable events out of his love for surfing---not because he's famous and is supposed to do so.
He mused after I got him to tell me the details of his heart attack, "I don't fear death."
"I don't either. I know where I'm going after this world."
"I've left a good legacy. I've become a world champion. I've helped a lot of charities. I just want to make sure that I've taken care of my daughter before I go."
Hearing his love for his daughter always warms my heart. Then I remembered the first time he told me that Jesus Christ is his Lord and Savior. Compelled by God I said, "You have a heart for God even though you have to maintain a bad-boy surfer image. You have a heart full of good that you typically hide, but you show your surfing world how to live without doing drugs. You're such a great role model that I constantly tell my drug-using, surfer students about you. I know where you'll be when you're not in this world."
Immediately after that statement my home phone rang announcing the principal of the school where I recently interviewed for a teaching position. "I've got to get this," I said while reaching for my land line.
"O.K."
"Bye!"
While most of the students ate, a 13-year-old, aspiring writer came up to me, "Could you read my story and tell me how I can write better?"
"Sure!" I read her 1.5 page fantasy with only one interruption from another student---normally it's like George Orwell's "1984" with an interruption at least every 5 minutes from one of the 35 students.
Some future English teacher would need to help her learn her punctuation rules, but she wrote a well-structured, creative fantasy piece. I repeated what Maralys Wills had taught me, "Always try to put the most important word next to the period and the most important sentence at the end of the paragraph." Then I explained, "You use your visual descriptions well and managed to develop a new world in just a page and a half which is great, but remember to use your other senses, too---touch, smell, taste, and intuition (if you sense danger or something)."
She was so excited to have a real author's help that she drew a beautiful picture and note for me and gave it to me at the end of math class to thank me! That's why I teach. :-)
Unfortunately, the rest of my day was thrown into turmoil when I checked in on my famous friend, surferdude. We normally talk every day, but I warned him on Friday that I was going incommunicado during the writers conference. We both live busy lives, so we always let the other know when we may not return a missed "check-in" call. It's our way of knowing the other didn't die surfing or kayaking. I should have called him twice that day, because hours after that last call with him, he told me that he had a heart attack while he was doing a public event!
Surferdude's turning 48 on our February 27th birthday, is extremely physically fit, has low blood pressure and cholesterol, and teaches me how to eat healthy even though I'm a certified nutritionist. It's inconceivable for him to have a heart attack. However, he has often told me that he didn't plan on living long, though I openly refused to accept that concept. Apparently, he's built exactly like his surfer dad, who died of a heart attack at 56. Surferdude must have the same type of heart defect.
Pulling my mental faculties back from my shock, I stated as fact, "You know that I love you. I always will. You can't die. Who would I talk to every day? Plus, you still have to finish my art board." (An art board is a surfboard that is designed to be art and hung on a wall. It is too expensive to be used as a surfboard.)
"Oh, I've decided on a different design for yours. I'm not going to use the Wade print. It's all going to be my design, my art."
"Good. I'll like that better." I stared out the window in disbelief that I could have lost my dear friend. "I can't believe how beautiful the sky is today. I always feel so guilty looking at the beautiful day from my window and not being out in it."
"Yeah, I want to go surfing, but the doctors told me that I can't for awhile. I just may go anyway."
I decided to keep talking with him longer than our usual call between our obligations---until the surf window closed, so surfing today wouldn't be an option for him.
We viewed his new website together. I love his video of him surfing with a dog and a "Make a Wish" woman with no arms. Surferdude also does a lot of other charitable events out of his love for surfing---not because he's famous and is supposed to do so.
He mused after I got him to tell me the details of his heart attack, "I don't fear death."
"I don't either. I know where I'm going after this world."
"I've left a good legacy. I've become a world champion. I've helped a lot of charities. I just want to make sure that I've taken care of my daughter before I go."
Hearing his love for his daughter always warms my heart. Then I remembered the first time he told me that Jesus Christ is his Lord and Savior. Compelled by God I said, "You have a heart for God even though you have to maintain a bad-boy surfer image. You have a heart full of good that you typically hide, but you show your surfing world how to live without doing drugs. You're such a great role model that I constantly tell my drug-using, surfer students about you. I know where you'll be when you're not in this world."
Immediately after that statement my home phone rang announcing the principal of the school where I recently interviewed for a teaching position. "I've got to get this," I said while reaching for my land line.
"O.K."
"Bye!"
Sunday, February 19, 2012
2012 SoCal Writers Conference in San Diego Concludes
A tired, but inspired Isolde writes this. This weekend has been filled with classes taught by award-winning authors, inspiring keynote speeches by famous authors, and bonding with various other authors. A special thank you to Wes Albers and Michael Steven Gregory for organizing this fabulous event and helping us to not stink so much. Yes, Michael used another four letter word that starts with "S" instead of stink, but I'm not going there!
Charmaine Hammond, author of a best selling book, "On Toby's Terms," taught the most strategic class for the business aspect of writing---"Books as a Business." I never thought about getting a sponsor to buy all the books for participants of my speaking engagements. Brilliant concept! She also embodied being helpful and providing a service for others. Her business approach to writing is the reason for her epic and sudden success with her first book which only took months to write---not years like most authors. She approached her book as a product and not a work of art.
The website guru, Jeremy Lee James, had an epiphany and changed his mindset this year about an author web site's main objective from Creating value, Awareness, Relationship, and Exchange to Creating art, Awareness, Relationship, and Exchange. He instructed, "People don't buy what you do. They buy why you do it." Greatness starts with "why" then reaches to "how" and extends to "what" and not the other way around.
During our time together in her "Hooks with a Heart" class and read and critique session, Sylvia Mendoza instilled in me to not use the word "everything!" Maralys Wills, who critiqued my advanced submission (the first 20 pages of your manuscript) and rightfully set my third editing of my second book back three months, taught us "Ten Ways to Upgrade Your Manuscript." Judy Reeves taught us "20 Ways to Make It Better." Justine Musk taught us about creating micro tension. Ken Kuhlken taught us "From Book Birth to Book Sales" where I learned a few new marketing strategies for my book.
I also learned that very few authors only write for a living. My peers have other careers to pay the bills. Bethany Lopez, the young adult author of "Ta Ta for Now!" is a staff sergeant in the Air Force. Leonard Szymczak, the author of "The Roadmap Home, Your GPS to Inner Peace," is not only a gifted author, but a psychotherapist and educator. Wes Albers, who directed the conference has worked in law enforcement in the tough sections of town for more than twenty years.
We all were happy to see one aspiring, 14-year-old author attending the conference with her mother. They plan to do a mother/daughter blog which I think will be fabulous. The daughter's "leaving the nest syndrome" which hits around 16 will be interesting to observe when they do their blog!
Now I've left the conference with a commitment to making my second book worthy of this writing community with such high standards for our art. My books like all books will never be perfect; however, they will be written with more honed skills now---they won't stink so much! lol For me that's my major goal to achieve from attending a writers conference---to hone my craft, my art.
Isolde Ulrich
www.isoldeulrich.com
P.S. Here's my book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro" with the other books of attending authors btw! :-)
Charmaine Hammond, author of a best selling book, "On Toby's Terms," taught the most strategic class for the business aspect of writing---"Books as a Business." I never thought about getting a sponsor to buy all the books for participants of my speaking engagements. Brilliant concept! She also embodied being helpful and providing a service for others. Her business approach to writing is the reason for her epic and sudden success with her first book which only took months to write---not years like most authors. She approached her book as a product and not a work of art.
The website guru, Jeremy Lee James, had an epiphany and changed his mindset this year about an author web site's main objective from Creating value, Awareness, Relationship, and Exchange to Creating art, Awareness, Relationship, and Exchange. He instructed, "People don't buy what you do. They buy why you do it." Greatness starts with "why" then reaches to "how" and extends to "what" and not the other way around.
During our time together in her "Hooks with a Heart" class and read and critique session, Sylvia Mendoza instilled in me to not use the word "everything!" Maralys Wills, who critiqued my advanced submission (the first 20 pages of your manuscript) and rightfully set my third editing of my second book back three months, taught us "Ten Ways to Upgrade Your Manuscript." Judy Reeves taught us "20 Ways to Make It Better." Justine Musk taught us about creating micro tension. Ken Kuhlken taught us "From Book Birth to Book Sales" where I learned a few new marketing strategies for my book.
I also learned that very few authors only write for a living. My peers have other careers to pay the bills. Bethany Lopez, the young adult author of "Ta Ta for Now!" is a staff sergeant in the Air Force. Leonard Szymczak, the author of "The Roadmap Home, Your GPS to Inner Peace," is not only a gifted author, but a psychotherapist and educator. Wes Albers, who directed the conference has worked in law enforcement in the tough sections of town for more than twenty years.We all were happy to see one aspiring, 14-year-old author attending the conference with her mother. They plan to do a mother/daughter blog which I think will be fabulous. The daughter's "leaving the nest syndrome" which hits around 16 will be interesting to observe when they do their blog!
Now I've left the conference with a commitment to making my second book worthy of this writing community with such high standards for our art. My books like all books will never be perfect; however, they will be written with more honed skills now---they won't stink so much! lol For me that's my major goal to achieve from attending a writers conference---to hone my craft, my art.
Isolde Ulrich
www.isoldeulrich.com
P.S. Here's my book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro" with the other books of attending authors btw! :-)
Friday, February 17, 2012
Southern California Writers Conference
Today was the first day of the Southern California Writers Conference. I already want to stop working and write full time, and it's only been a few hours of inspiring speeches and writing critiques with other authors! Actually, I'd never be able to endure the solitude of a life of just writing. That's why I teach math---to be around people, but I'm in the writing zone now.
Here's a "first paragraph of a novel" sample that I created when the speaker showed us a sunset and said, "Write a hook with a heart."
That line of the setting, blood-red sun stalks me. It follows me no matter where I peacefully saunter along the rocky beach. It's like God's spot light on me silently saying, "Do you really think you can say, 'No'?"
Here's a "first paragraph of a novel" sample that I created when the speaker showed us a sunset and said, "Write a hook with a heart."
That line of the setting, blood-red sun stalks me. It follows me no matter where I peacefully saunter along the rocky beach. It's like God's spot light on me silently saying, "Do you really think you can say, 'No'?"
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The Sacramento Math Teaching Interview
Today I had my first job interview of the year. I was incredibly nervous beforehand, but my brother-in-law, an upper mucky muck at Bank of America, just said, "Relax and be yourself." So I did. Hopefully, the school likes who I am when I'm relaxed and myself! lol I'll know by Tuesday if I got the job or not.
From Carlsbad to Sacramento
On Wednesday, Feb. 15th it was quite stormy in Southern California. At the pass out of LA to Ventura the rain was so hard that driving next to the concrete fastlane barrier was treacherous with so little visibility. Fortunately, I made it out of LaLa Land before any major accident happened.
At the Grapevine it was snowing. That was a first for me, and I've made this drive for 35 years! I actually saw a snow plow on the highway there. With all the salted slush on the highway I was really glad that the highway surface is all scored up there---I had better tire traction.
Once I descended into the southern San Jacquin Valley I immediately noticed a profusion of cherry tree blossoms. It was gorgeous! I wondered as I passed the plethora of orchards why we don't eat the cherry tree blossoms like the Japanese do. I just loved some of their cherry blossom treats.
At 5pm I made it to Sacramento. The traffic wasn't bad in my direction---Hwy 99 North to Hwy 50 East. I also noticed that in downtown Sacramento that I could see the snow-capped Sierras in the distance. That doesn't happen very often. I felt blessed! They must have had a rainstorm wash the smog out of the sky.
Finally, I made it to my sister, Blair's house. She whisked me off to see her son's new alternative high school, the Met, as soon as I parked. They had a special parent orientation about taking college classes while in high school there. Apparently, the Met has a partnership with Sacramento City College and Sacramento State University. The Met high school students can take these college classes for as little as $20/class. How amazing is that?
I did manage to surprise my nephew by showing up unannounced at his school. That was precious!
At the Grapevine it was snowing. That was a first for me, and I've made this drive for 35 years! I actually saw a snow plow on the highway there. With all the salted slush on the highway I was really glad that the highway surface is all scored up there---I had better tire traction.
Once I descended into the southern San Jacquin Valley I immediately noticed a profusion of cherry tree blossoms. It was gorgeous! I wondered as I passed the plethora of orchards why we don't eat the cherry tree blossoms like the Japanese do. I just loved some of their cherry blossom treats.
At 5pm I made it to Sacramento. The traffic wasn't bad in my direction---Hwy 99 North to Hwy 50 East. I also noticed that in downtown Sacramento that I could see the snow-capped Sierras in the distance. That doesn't happen very often. I felt blessed! They must have had a rainstorm wash the smog out of the sky.
Finally, I made it to my sister, Blair's house. She whisked me off to see her son's new alternative high school, the Met, as soon as I parked. They had a special parent orientation about taking college classes while in high school there. Apparently, the Met has a partnership with Sacramento City College and Sacramento State University. The Met high school students can take these college classes for as little as $20/class. How amazing is that?
I did manage to surprise my nephew by showing up unannounced at his school. That was precious!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Do You Believe in the Apocalypse?
While I was passing out a quiz to my math students, a student randomly asked me, "Do you believe in the Apocalypse?"
Nonchalantly I said, "I don"t really care. I know which side of the fence that I'm on."
"Hugh?"
"There's a good side and a bad side of the fence. I'm on the good side of the fence. I know where I'm going afterwards, so the Apocalypse doesn't matter to me."
Nonchalantly I said, "I don"t really care. I know which side of the fence that I'm on."
"Hugh?"
"There's a good side and a bad side of the fence. I'm on the good side of the fence. I know where I'm going afterwards, so the Apocalypse doesn't matter to me."
Monday, February 13, 2012
A Murphy's Night
Today was just a day of patient acceptance. The teacher that I've subbed for over the last 5 years was so sick that she had to reschedule her surgery to April. She did keep me scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, since she needed to rest. Surprisingly, she left me a lesson plan without the actual lesson in it! She must have been very preoccupied and ill. I'm happy that she trusts me enough to know that I'd make up a good way to teach the new subject matter.
After tutoring my math student, my car decided not to start. It has a finicky starter, but the starter works with the right turn of the key. It decided that that was the moment to be contrary and die on me though. So I waited 1/2 hour for the roadside assistant to show up. He turned the key and low and behold the car started! My starter just needed to rest, make me rest, and embarrass me, I guess.
Since the roadside assistant was getting paid to be there, he ran a diagnostic with this wonderful little 1.5 ft long panel and found that my starter, battery, and alternator were in good shape. That's a relief! I really wasn't looking forward to wasting a day and having the car in the shop to replace the starter.
By the time that I got home and ate, it was too late to go to choir practice. Bummer! Our choir's alto section is dwindling drastically and every voice is needed. May my choir director forgive God for throwing all the wrenches my way and me for believing that I wasn't supposed to go to choir practice tonight for some reason.
After tutoring my math student, my car decided not to start. It has a finicky starter, but the starter works with the right turn of the key. It decided that that was the moment to be contrary and die on me though. So I waited 1/2 hour for the roadside assistant to show up. He turned the key and low and behold the car started! My starter just needed to rest, make me rest, and embarrass me, I guess.
Since the roadside assistant was getting paid to be there, he ran a diagnostic with this wonderful little 1.5 ft long panel and found that my starter, battery, and alternator were in good shape. That's a relief! I really wasn't looking forward to wasting a day and having the car in the shop to replace the starter.
By the time that I got home and ate, it was too late to go to choir practice. Bummer! Our choir's alto section is dwindling drastically and every voice is needed. May my choir director forgive God for throwing all the wrenches my way and me for believing that I wasn't supposed to go to choir practice tonight for some reason.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
My Prayers for Those Lost to Drug Addiction
My heart is saddened at the death of Whitney Houston due to her battle with drug addiction. My prayers are for her and her family to have peace now. It is so hard losing a loved one or friends to drug addiction. It is so hard to turn your back on the addict that kidnapped a loved one's or friend's body, but all that comes from a drug addict's mouth is manipulative lies in order to get their money to buy their drugs. The only thing we can do is let the addict hit bottom and want to get clean. Preferably, this is before they prematurely die like Whitney did. I am so sad about her loss and our loss of her.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Possible Return to My Childhood Neighborhood
This new job opportunity in my home town is really appealing. I just checked the commute from my childhood neighborhood that I loved, and it's only 20 minutes away! I can afford homes in my old neighborhood, too. I'd be able to see my childhood family and their kids much more. I could be apart of their lives. I would not be the missing sibling/aunt/daughter that is always blessed at Thanksgiving despite my absence with the hopes that I will return to the fold.
The thought of the endless bike trail that runs along the American River being at my back door put a smile on my face. Just having the American River at my back door would be awesome! I could kayak on it there, since it slows down in that section. I rafted down that river since grade school and know every turn it makes in Sacramento and how to read its ever-changing current. What heaven I'd be in! I'd just have to get used to the hot summers that get about 113 degrees F. I could vacation then to avoid the heat. ;-)
If I went biking and launched my kayak along the American River again, I would have to have more self defense training. I can't imagine the trails are any safer with all that brush in which the rapists use to hide. I'll never forget the story when one would-be rapist stuck a stick into the spokes of a female bicyclist and made her fall. She and her female friend that was riding with her beat the man up with their tire pumps! I love that story!
Now all I have to do is get that math teaching job!
The thought of the endless bike trail that runs along the American River being at my back door put a smile on my face. Just having the American River at my back door would be awesome! I could kayak on it there, since it slows down in that section. I rafted down that river since grade school and know every turn it makes in Sacramento and how to read its ever-changing current. What heaven I'd be in! I'd just have to get used to the hot summers that get about 113 degrees F. I could vacation then to avoid the heat. ;-)
If I went biking and launched my kayak along the American River again, I would have to have more self defense training. I can't imagine the trails are any safer with all that brush in which the rapists use to hide. I'll never forget the story when one would-be rapist stuck a stick into the spokes of a female bicyclist and made her fall. She and her female friend that was riding with her beat the man up with their tire pumps! I love that story!
Now all I have to do is get that math teaching job!
Friday, February 10, 2012
6th Graders and Bad Substitute Teaching Plans! Run!!!
Today while substitute teaching 6th grade social studies, I felt like running to the car and never looking back. During first period I realized that the teacher had left me a job that she didn't want to do. I was seriously annoyed with her. She expected a substitute to organize 35 sixth grade students into groups of four on a Friday and finish a project that was supposed to be due earlier in the week! She couldn't get the kids to finish the project, so she left it to a random substitute to get the kids to finish!
Now these sixth graders still have the energy of little energizer bunnies, need to create drama, run rampant if not watched continually, forget their directions within minutes, and were burnt out from a long school week and ready for the weekend. Then I stepped in, and it wasn't pretty. I had to go into an autocratic mode: "Abrahams here, Moseses there, Davids over there, and Solomons here. 1, 2, 3, go! There should be no one in the middle of the classroom at this time."
Once I got the students in their corners I sorted them by taking a student out of each of the groups. "OK you are a group of four. Memorize your faces, don't forget who is in your group, don't leave your group for another, and go find a quiet place to work. Next Abraham, Moses, David, and Solomon." Then I kept repeating the match up again and again. There was drama about the grouping, too much noise from all the groups collaborating together in a small classroom, bathroom break requests, general requests that they'd never make to their own teacher, students having idle time which is never a good idea---very bad things start happening when students are bored.
I watched the clock. I counted the periods that I had left to teach. I neatly stacked all the finished projects by period. I ran when the final school bell rang and will never substitute teach for this teacher again.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
Now these sixth graders still have the energy of little energizer bunnies, need to create drama, run rampant if not watched continually, forget their directions within minutes, and were burnt out from a long school week and ready for the weekend. Then I stepped in, and it wasn't pretty. I had to go into an autocratic mode: "Abrahams here, Moseses there, Davids over there, and Solomons here. 1, 2, 3, go! There should be no one in the middle of the classroom at this time."
Once I got the students in their corners I sorted them by taking a student out of each of the groups. "OK you are a group of four. Memorize your faces, don't forget who is in your group, don't leave your group for another, and go find a quiet place to work. Next Abraham, Moses, David, and Solomon." Then I kept repeating the match up again and again. There was drama about the grouping, too much noise from all the groups collaborating together in a small classroom, bathroom break requests, general requests that they'd never make to their own teacher, students having idle time which is never a good idea---very bad things start happening when students are bored.
I watched the clock. I counted the periods that I had left to teach. I neatly stacked all the finished projects by period. I ran when the final school bell rang and will never substitute teach for this teacher again.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
My Interviewer Asked, "Rate Your Flexibility"
After I got home from work I had a phone interview with an alternative high school up in Sacramento, my birthplace. One of the questions was "On a scale of 1-10 with 10 the highest rate your flexibility."
"I'd say a 10."
"Could you explain why you think that?"
"Having been a sub for 5 years, I never really know where I'm going to teach each day. I'm like a teaching firefighter. I just pick up the job and go."
I also had reflected upon how my day started, but didn't have the time to tell her. I headed to San Marcos High School, parked my car in their distant staff parking lot, enjoyed my walk of a few blocks to the school, got to the front sign, and found that the whole high school was gone!!! It was demolished to the ground with security fences all around the rubble.
Pausing in my steps I thought, "That makes it hard to work at this school if it's gone!" I pondered, "I'll watch and see where the students are walking. They'll lead me to wherever they've relocated the school." I turned around and headed back to where I last saw some students walking. In the distance I saw a student turn and walk along this path with construction fencing all around it. I followed. Soon more and more students were walking with me. Eventually I saw someone in a golf cart and asked where the administration building is located, so I could check in. I finally found the distant portable marked "Administration" and started my work day on time with "At Risk" math students.
I got a second in-person interview btw. ;-)
"I'd say a 10."
"Could you explain why you think that?"
"Having been a sub for 5 years, I never really know where I'm going to teach each day. I'm like a teaching firefighter. I just pick up the job and go."
I also had reflected upon how my day started, but didn't have the time to tell her. I headed to San Marcos High School, parked my car in their distant staff parking lot, enjoyed my walk of a few blocks to the school, got to the front sign, and found that the whole high school was gone!!! It was demolished to the ground with security fences all around the rubble.
Pausing in my steps I thought, "That makes it hard to work at this school if it's gone!" I pondered, "I'll watch and see where the students are walking. They'll lead me to wherever they've relocated the school." I turned around and headed back to where I last saw some students walking. In the distance I saw a student turn and walk along this path with construction fencing all around it. I followed. Soon more and more students were walking with me. Eventually I saw someone in a golf cart and asked where the administration building is located, so I could check in. I finally found the distant portable marked "Administration" and started my work day on time with "At Risk" math students.
I got a second in-person interview btw. ;-)
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Prepping for My Tax Preparer
Even after taking the day off work to prepare my taxes for my tax preparer, I still am not finished! It's amazing how complicated my taxes have become even when I don't own a home anymore. Though I'm incredibly organized with all my receipts, I had to chase down one of my two tuition statements for my two college kids. That statement of qualified tuition went to my former address, so I never received it. I was able to download it after my ailing daughter gave me her username and password to her university account, so she could rest. I also changed her permanent mailing address to the new one while I was in that account, so I would get my legal tax documents in the future. :-)
My accountant must still hate doing my returns even after I neatly organize it for her. I work in three different school districts and a private school in the summer, tutor privately, invest in the stock market, and now sell books! My income sources are rarely the same from year to year either, so my tax return documents are always different. I joke with my students that I have career ADD.
One thing that has been consistent is teaching though. I may have closed down my landscape design and kayak accessory business, but I've been a teacher for the last 5 years, because I love working with the next generation. They're as complex and continually changing as my tax returns!
My accountant must still hate doing my returns even after I neatly organize it for her. I work in three different school districts and a private school in the summer, tutor privately, invest in the stock market, and now sell books! My income sources are rarely the same from year to year either, so my tax return documents are always different. I joke with my students that I have career ADD.
One thing that has been consistent is teaching though. I may have closed down my landscape design and kayak accessory business, but I've been a teacher for the last 5 years, because I love working with the next generation. They're as complex and continually changing as my tax returns!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
BTSA, Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment and Nightmare
BTSA, beginning teacher support and assessment, was created to help beginning teachers to survive beyond their first year. Now there are too many new teachers, no teaching jobs, and preliminary teaching credentials that will expire without the opportunity of BTSA. BTSA hinders beginning teachers from surviving---if they never get a full two-year contract.
I've had a semester contract with BTSA and taught three summer school sessions without BTSA which amounts to 3 years of regular teaching. The rest of the time that I've had my preliminary teaching credential and Masters of Educational Best Practices I've substitute taught without BTSA---for 5 years. My credential will expire soon.
I never got that elusive contracted teaching job that lasts the full two years of BTSA. In 2014 I will no longer have a legal CA teaching credential because of this job climate and the BTSA requirement. I was never at risk of burning out after the first year. I don't believe that this honors the intent of BTSA.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
I've had a semester contract with BTSA and taught three summer school sessions without BTSA which amounts to 3 years of regular teaching. The rest of the time that I've had my preliminary teaching credential and Masters of Educational Best Practices I've substitute taught without BTSA---for 5 years. My credential will expire soon.
I never got that elusive contracted teaching job that lasts the full two years of BTSA. In 2014 I will no longer have a legal CA teaching credential because of this job climate and the BTSA requirement. I was never at risk of burning out after the first year. I don't believe that this honors the intent of BTSA.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Battle Strategy: Impregnability
I was telling a friend this morning, "When a person throws wrench at you, catch it, and tighten your resolve to become a better you." I lovingly added, "I like you just the way you are by the way."
You see when someone is trying to take you out (initiating a battle), he/she is honestly looking at your weaknesses and identifying them for you by attacking them. If you fix your weaknesses, you'll win the war eventually! If the enemy finds you impregnable, how can they attack you?
You see when someone is trying to take you out (initiating a battle), he/she is honestly looking at your weaknesses and identifying them for you by attacking them. If you fix your weaknesses, you'll win the war eventually! If the enemy finds you impregnable, how can they attack you?
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Super Socializing Bowl
The Superbowl is an amazing American phenomenon which I participate in for mere socialization. I'm not a spectator of sports unless there is someone that I care about that needs some fans or gymnastics is on the TV. The Superbowl is a minor exception. I like the commercials and the half time show.
So today I went to my cousins' house and had homemade smoked Tritip in Stubs barbecue sauce on sour dough buns. Yum!!! Then my cousin, Alice, taught me how to make her pumpkin cookies as we watched commercials. Once the cookies were all baked, we left the men to their football game and headed upstairs and watched the Swedish movie, "Girl With a Dragon Tattoo." We paused it for the halftime show, then promptly headed back to finish watching that awesome movie! (I love strong female heroines!) Finally, I do the most important part of my Super Socializing Bowl---I ask who won and what the score was! lol
So today I went to my cousins' house and had homemade smoked Tritip in Stubs barbecue sauce on sour dough buns. Yum!!! Then my cousin, Alice, taught me how to make her pumpkin cookies as we watched commercials. Once the cookies were all baked, we left the men to their football game and headed upstairs and watched the Swedish movie, "Girl With a Dragon Tattoo." We paused it for the halftime show, then promptly headed back to finish watching that awesome movie! (I love strong female heroines!) Finally, I do the most important part of my Super Socializing Bowl---I ask who won and what the score was! lol
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Friends, Authors, and Kayaking
My friends are troopers, and I LOVE them for that! After three months I finally took my friend, Vanessa, out for her birthday breakfast. It was wonderful to spend some quality time with just her and help her a bit with her yard design. Her yard is about 13 years old and needs a plant-lift and a pool job.
Unfortunately, I had to leave for a Local Authors Panel at the local Dove Library. The library forgot to invite me to participate, but I decided to do some reconnaissance to see how many books the authors sold there. They did sell some books, and it probably felt terrific to be on the panel and asked questions from the audience. I ended up networking with a few of the authors, finding another potential PR person for my book, and meeting the Dove library representative who set this event up without me. She said that she'd definitely invite me next year. :-)
Once I returned home I made sure that Kathleen and I were still going out tonight and then set out to go kayaking at Ponto Beach. I didn't use my dry top which was a bad decision. The water is very cold this time of year. This did make me surf the kayak into the beach without falling into the ocean though!
Unfortunately, I had to leave for a Local Authors Panel at the local Dove Library. The library forgot to invite me to participate, but I decided to do some reconnaissance to see how many books the authors sold there. They did sell some books, and it probably felt terrific to be on the panel and asked questions from the audience. I ended up networking with a few of the authors, finding another potential PR person for my book, and meeting the Dove library representative who set this event up without me. She said that she'd definitely invite me next year. :-)
Once I returned home I made sure that Kathleen and I were still going out tonight and then set out to go kayaking at Ponto Beach. I didn't use my dry top which was a bad decision. The water is very cold this time of year. This did make me surf the kayak into the beach without falling into the ocean though!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Speech Impediments
"The King's Speech" is a fabulous movie about over coming enormous obstacles. The king had a terrible speech impediment---a speech debilitating stammer. I, too, had a speech impediment when I was young---a lisp and stutter. My elementary school, Sierra Oaks, had me go through speech therapy during the second grade. That didn't fix it, so I was sent to Easter Seals. Finally, I figured out how to say "S." It was monumental for my self esteem! When I had millions of dollars, I donated money to Easter Seals for helping me have a normal life. I am truly grateful to them, as I know King George VI was grateful to his speech therapist.
Over the years I realized that my stutter which was random was caused by thinking so much faster than I could speak. I would forget what I'd verbalized to someone and have to retrace my last thoughts by saying the last words that I said again. This would typically trigger the rest of my line of thinking, so I could continue what I was saying. Now that I'm aware of the root cause, I rarely stutter.
It is also amazing how this movie, "The King's Speech," also discusses that speech impediments in young children are typically due to a traumatic mistreatment by someone who is around them. Anyone who read my memoir, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," can guess who the culprits were!
Over the years I realized that my stutter which was random was caused by thinking so much faster than I could speak. I would forget what I'd verbalized to someone and have to retrace my last thoughts by saying the last words that I said again. This would typically trigger the rest of my line of thinking, so I could continue what I was saying. Now that I'm aware of the root cause, I rarely stutter.
It is also amazing how this movie, "The King's Speech," also discusses that speech impediments in young children are typically due to a traumatic mistreatment by someone who is around them. Anyone who read my memoir, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," can guess who the culprits were!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Hip Hop, the Dance of Warriors
Today I started a multiple day math teaching assignment at Mission Hills High School. The math teacher is at cheer leading Nationals in Florida. Besides math she teaches is dance/cheer leading PE. What fun is that!!! I was in heaven---being a former dance choreographer for some musicals while in high school.
The A-team cheerleaders are in Florida, but the B-team is still quite good. I have to admit that my attention was on the hip hop dancers as they choreographed a new routine, though. I was trying to figure out what makes hip hop, so different from other dances like jazz. What is the underlying theme of hip hop dance? As I watched, I saw the ladies joke around doing the hip hop booty dance. I asked the hip hop coach, "Is hip hop a booty dance?"
"No, we're just putting in a little booty dance as a joke, since our rival high school's hip hop only does booty dance. Booty dance isn't really dancing. Anyone can do that."
So I watched intently. I noticed the ladies playing around doing girly moves like it was so uncool. I mimicked their hand positioning and realized that it looked like I was pretending to hold and wave a gun. Then the light bulb went on. Hip hop is the dance of the warriors! These young ladies were doing a warrior dance! That is what hip hop is all about.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
The A-team cheerleaders are in Florida, but the B-team is still quite good. I have to admit that my attention was on the hip hop dancers as they choreographed a new routine, though. I was trying to figure out what makes hip hop, so different from other dances like jazz. What is the underlying theme of hip hop dance? As I watched, I saw the ladies joke around doing the hip hop booty dance. I asked the hip hop coach, "Is hip hop a booty dance?"
"No, we're just putting in a little booty dance as a joke, since our rival high school's hip hop only does booty dance. Booty dance isn't really dancing. Anyone can do that."
So I watched intently. I noticed the ladies playing around doing girly moves like it was so uncool. I mimicked their hand positioning and realized that it looked like I was pretending to hold and wave a gun. Then the light bulb went on. Hip hop is the dance of the warriors! These young ladies were doing a warrior dance! That is what hip hop is all about.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Aspergers Reality
Though I was never officially diagnosed with Aspergers, it was undeniable after awhile. As nephews and male cousins kept getting diagnosed, their moms would tell me stories of inappropriate things their sons said or drew. Sometimes I'd ask, "What's wrong with saying that?" One of those moms fully answered my question, my cousin, Alice. She had researched Aspergers, is an upper muckety muck in Human Resources at a local hospital, and is married to a special education teacher. She was the one who made me understand beyond any doubt that I did have Aspergers.
My dad didn't think that I should label myself like that. I'm completely normal for the most part, since I'm so high functional. Tonight though I understand the pain that it has given my daughter now that she is fully aware of my limitations.
She had told me before that she didn't like how I spoke. Hey, Carl Sagan speaks in a similar fashion, so I let that roll off. It hurt though when she said, "Mom, your book caused me discomfort, because I could see the extent of your Aspergers."
"How so?" I asked in great curiosity at a new learning experience.
"You describe people's appearance, but the only time you describe their inner feelings is if you're mad at them. I don't want to talk about this anymore."
We changed the subject of our conversation as I pondered how much it must hurt Drew and Sara that I can't anticipate how their inner beings feel. I can't relate to how their inner being feels unless I've experienced a similar experience or emotion.
I am blind in that area. My experiences are part of my braille. My version of radar is watching a person's face and eyes very, very closely to monitor the effects of my comments on their emotions. This is the main reason why I don't prefer texting and phone calls. I can't see the person's face to know when I've misstepped with an honest, unmalicious comment and hurt them.
How treacherous it must have been and be for my kids! I love them so, and it hurts me that I can't be that perfect mom that teaches them what to say and not say in order to be merciful to others' feelings. At least now they're adults and love me enough to establish merciful boundaries on my conversations by lovingly telling me, "I don't want to talk about this anymore."
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
My dad didn't think that I should label myself like that. I'm completely normal for the most part, since I'm so high functional. Tonight though I understand the pain that it has given my daughter now that she is fully aware of my limitations.
She had told me before that she didn't like how I spoke. Hey, Carl Sagan speaks in a similar fashion, so I let that roll off. It hurt though when she said, "Mom, your book caused me discomfort, because I could see the extent of your Aspergers."
"How so?" I asked in great curiosity at a new learning experience.
"You describe people's appearance, but the only time you describe their inner feelings is if you're mad at them. I don't want to talk about this anymore."
We changed the subject of our conversation as I pondered how much it must hurt Drew and Sara that I can't anticipate how their inner beings feel. I can't relate to how their inner being feels unless I've experienced a similar experience or emotion.
I am blind in that area. My experiences are part of my braille. My version of radar is watching a person's face and eyes very, very closely to monitor the effects of my comments on their emotions. This is the main reason why I don't prefer texting and phone calls. I can't see the person's face to know when I've misstepped with an honest, unmalicious comment and hurt them.
How treacherous it must have been and be for my kids! I love them so, and it hurts me that I can't be that perfect mom that teaches them what to say and not say in order to be merciful to others' feelings. At least now they're adults and love me enough to establish merciful boundaries on my conversations by lovingly telling me, "I don't want to talk about this anymore."
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
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