And so it ends...

One of the districts Iwork in still has a couple more days this week, today and tomorrow, and I had planned to at least attempt to find a job there to eke out a few more dollars before summer starts. However, it turns out that both districts have some paperwork due today so that I can sub next year (yes, that's a backup plan in case I can't get a real job for fall), so I'll take care of that instead. It's probably just as well, as I didn't get work for two days last week anyway, and I kept looking all weekend but nothing showed up for today anyway. Besides, it turns out I don't need the money as bad as I thought. In updating the checkbook last night, I found it showed a lot less money than the bank said we had. It turns out that I forgot to add in one of my paychecks last month, so now we have a lot more money than I thought, so suddenly the summer money situation looks a lot less bleak.

At any rate, it looks like summer "vacation" officially starts today. To be sure, I'll still be tutoring thirty hours a week, and when I'm not there I'll be filling out job applications and doing a lot of work around the house, but at least I'll be getting a bit of a breather. Later this week, I'll probably put up some sort of "Year in Review" reflection post, then over the summer I'll probably pop in once in a while with some thoughts on teaching in general, or whatever else crosses my mind.

Things are pretty quite around here...

I'm actually blogging from work, for the first time ever (and not something that is likely to happen again, for that matter). I'm at one of the local high schools subbing for a teacher of television production and multimedia. Since most of his students are seniors, and the seniors have all graduated now, it's been pretty quiet around here. But I guess I'd better get used to it, as there's still a potential eight days to go after today (and a handful of jobs already lined up on those days), so it might happen again if I get other high school jobs. Fortunately, I'm ot without a book or two, and it also gives me a chance to catch up on some sleep...

With summer coming, I need to clear the decks so I can at least spend the first few days concentrating on getting job applications filled out and sent in. I realize I may have already missed the biggest window of opportunity, but I have to be optimistic and tell myself that I will get a job for the fall. Because otherwise I will end up dwelling on the possibility of having to sub and tutor for more 13-15 hours days for the entire year next year, and I'm not sure I could take that. I'm always tired -- except when I'm actually in bed, of course -- my back is sore, I can feel myself getting out of shape, my diet isn't as healthy as it needs to be, and I'm having trouble keeping my cool around family and friends. In short, I'm a wreck, and if nothing else, summer will give me the chance to decompress a little bit. Further complicating matters is that we're drowning in debt with no immediate prospects of getting out, so even working long days at two jobs is only barely keeping our heads above water.

Okay, okay, Eric, start thinking happy thoughts... Hmm... Well, my wife is very close to achieving her goal for the 3-Day walk. I'm extremely proud of her for undertaking this. It's a three day, sixty mile walk to raise money for cancer, and I did it a few years ago myself. But I've always been a strong walker, and it wasn't too tough for me. Laura, however, has had a harder time of it in her training, but it looks like she's going to be fine in the end. So, if you can, I'm sure she'd appreciate those last few dollars. Even if you can only give five bucks, that will go a long way. To give, you can go to her donation page here. And maybe one year in the near future, we'll be able to do this walk together.

You know the end of the year is coming when...

A few indicators I've encountered over the past few days that the end of the school year is coming, even if I hadn't been paying attention to the calendar:

• Thursday, the high school I was at had a year-end recognition and awards assembly. Since I was subbing for a teacher with a zero hour class -- that's an additional class before the school day proper starts -- and I'd been there since 6:00, I passed on that and caught up on some sleep instead. (Hey, I didn't know any of the students, anyway.)
  
• Friday, another high school I was at had a barbecue and carnival at the end of the day. I had a burger and wandered around for a bit, but then went back to my room and caught up on some reading. I had permission to leave early, but knew I wouldn't get as much reading done if I'd gone home!
  
• Tomorrow, yet another high school I'll be at will have a morning assembly to say good-bye to the seniors. And since the teacher I'm subbing for doesn't have any students until after the assembly, I've been told I don't have to be there until 9:15!
  
• Of course, there's also the graduation announcement we received for our niece. The ceremony is on Friday, I seem to recall. (Congratulations, Morgan. We promise to get you a gift, but I'm afraid it won't be any time soon.)