Squeeeee!! I have an update!!

Actually, I have two updates, but I know you won't really care about this first one...

It's a stifling 32 degrees here today.  But, don't get excited for us, there's LOTS of snow coming in the next week.  Plus, the temps are going to drop over the next few days, back down to a low of -6 on Superbowl Sunday. 

Now.  On to the REAL update.

I ended up spending about 8 hours yesterday visiting Kensington schools.  I started at the school where they were going to have me work, meeting the director and the woman who will be out on maternity leave.  I was able to stay and observe for a while.  Actually, I stayed for 3 hours.  I wanted to see how things were run, how they handle lunch, and how nap time is done.  Once all the babies (15 of them!) were asleep, I left.  I called the woman who I originally interviewed with, and have been dealing with (she's the HR person for the company), and ended up driving out to the school she was directing yesterday.  I then basically poured my heart out to her regarding my thoughts on the job, now that I was able to see what it would entail. 

I don't know why I was surprised by the fact that it was more "daycare" and less "teaching."  I mean, they're TWO, for Pete's sake!!  Now, I didn't hate it by any means.  I actually thoroughly enjoyed it!  But, if I'm going to be completely honest, it seemed like an awful lot of work for the very small salary they are offering.  I mean, there are diapers to change, for crying out loud.  All day!  And, meals to serve, which then means LOTS of clean-up after that.  Then, think about what trying to put 15 toddlers down for a nap is like.  Go ahead, I'll wait....  Exactly!  It's hard enough for me to get Monkey to take a nap!!  Although, I have to say, the babies have the routine down, and surprised me by how well they handle nap time.  Still, I spent quite a bit of time sitting on the floor, rubbing babies' backs, until they fell asleep.  (Ok, you got me!  I LOVED IT!) 

So.  I called Ms. HR, and told her I was coming to see her to get some forms, and to talk.  I was completely honest with her, and we had a very frank discussion about my thoughts and expectations regarding working for this company.  She ended up talking to the other woman who interviewed me (the COO) and they came back and surprised the heck out of me.  Apparently, while I sat in Ms. HR's office alone for about 20 minutes, they were on the phone with the owner.  Ms. COO then told me that they are going back to the owner's plan, which is to have me start as a Director-in-Training.  She doesn't think having me "stuck" in a single classroom for the rest of the year will do me any good.  She absolutely wants me on a director track (Ms. HR's exact quote was, "B LOVES you!"), and wants me to learn as much about their school as I can, and the best way to do it, is to have me go to a different school and start right away as a DiT.  OMG! 

Now, there's still a little hitch in this plan, which is that they are still only going to be paying me the same salary they offered me to take the maternity leave.  Trust me, it's barely above the poverty level.  I will absolutely have to get a second part-time job to make ends meet.  I already spoke to my sister about the possibility of working on the weekends for her company.  That crazy "perfume ninja" job pays 50% MORE than I will be making at school.  Sad, right?

But, I'm choosing to focus on the positive!  I will only be doing this for a few months, as they plan to have their newest school open by the summer, and then I will be moving to that school as a director.  That's very exciting!!  And, there WILL be a pay increase, but I didn't even ask what it will be.  I know, I know, my family already yelled at me, so feel free to scream at your screen.  I'll just tune you out, like I did them.  I refuse to let you guys burst my bubble!! =)

Greetings from Syberia....

...oh, wait, I'm still in Chicago, aren't I?  When I left the house at 5:30 this morning to drive my parents to the airport, the windchill was a refreshing -30.  It's warmed up considerably since then, and the windchill is now -20. =)  (I think the actual temp is -1)

My mother just called about an hour ago to say they arrived safely, they had already had lunch, and a few cocktails, to boot!  Then she went on to say, "That IT!  We HAVE to get a place here!"  She was thrilled with the almost-80 degree temperature swing they experienced in less than 2 hours.

Ok, ok, I hear you yelling at me!!  Alright, already, I'll tell you a little about the job!

The short story is I was offered a full-time position with Kensington School.  I may come back later and write about the actual interview (it's a post all unto itself) but for now, I'll skip to the end of the story.  I will be covering a maternity leave in a preschool classroom until the end of the school year.  Yay!!  Those of you who have been around since the beginning KNOW how much I've wanted to make the move to preschool.  In the fall, I will be moving to their new school, in some type of director position (God willing!).  That's the plan for now, so I hope it doesn't change.  I don't have an official start date yet, but I'm hoping it's as soon as next week.  I have paperwork that needs to be filled out, and I need to get a physical and TB test.  Like I said, I hope to get it done this week.

I have to be honest, though, and say I'm already really sad about not being available at the drop of a hat for my Monkey.  I already miss her, and I haven't even started working yet. =(

(She was playing with Stud the other day at my parents' house, and this is how she came downstairs.  Stud got her to put the gloves on for the first time, and she LOVED them!)

Brrrr....

It seems we're dealing with the polar vortex again.  It's currently -6 here, windchill of -24.  It's going to get colder as the night goes on, and the windchill is supposed to be around -40 tomorrow.  My parents are supposed to be flying out at 7:25am to Tampa, FL (Hi, Suz!) so I'm praying their flight isn't cancelled.  Believe it or not, CPS cancelled school today, and already announced tomorrow is cancelled, too.  Between the two days this week and the two from the first polar vortex experience, the school year is going to extend into July!

I guess that's all I really have to say for now.  Well, except for......



I got a job.




No, no joke.  I'll be back to share the details when my teeth stop chattering, and my fingers aren't numb.

Ahhhh....

...now THAT'S refreshing!!

I just logged on to read a few of my favorite blogs, and I saw my weather widget says it's currently 1* outside.  (Does anyone know how the heck to get the degree symbol?!)  I think our windchill is only about -6, which is nothing.

Ok, that's all I wanted to say. :P

23 years ago today...

 Yes, I know, you're sick to death of seeing this picture every year.  But, I've been far too lazy to actually dig up our photos and scan another one.  Plus, I only post it once a year, so get over it! :P

While looking for our wedding picture, I came across a picture from my sister's wedding that I must have posted at some point.  That was the thinnest I EVER have been in my life.

I still have that suit.  I actually had it altered immediately after the wedding.  I had the skirt shortened, thinking I would wear it as a suit!  HA!!!  Little did I know that just a few months later I'd be pregnant with Stud Muffin.  But, like I said, I still have it.  I'm bound and determined to be able to get it on again.

Oo, that reminds me, my SIL and I signed up to do The Biggest Loser 5K again this year.  We also plan to sign up for the 5K we did last year benefiting the Ronald McDonald House.  That's in June, the Biggest Loser run is in August.  We need to find one in July.  Oh, and did I mention we're going to do one at the end of May that is a half marathon?  No, that's not a typo.  HALF-FREAKIN-MARATHON.  What the hell are we thinking?!?!  But, more about all that later.

I hope you all had a great weekend.  I'll will be back this week, I hope, with a really great post.

Silly Sissy...

Yesterday I told you about my excitement at Old Navy.  On the way home that night, I called my sister to see if she would go back there with me and give me her opinion.  I know she will be brutally honest, and let me know if I shouldn't be seen in public in those pants. 

While we were talking she said, "Oh, you know what, I have a pair of brand-new jeans that are size 12 that you can have."  I asked what brand, since we all know different brands' sizes run different.  When she said Gloria Vanderbuilt, I got a little excited, because I've always liked the way that brand fits me.

I went to my sister's yesterday to visit, and at some point she said, "Hey, come and try on those jeans."  When she handed them to me, I thought, "Hmm, these don't look big enough..."  And, I told my sister I didn't think they were going to fit, the legs looks too narrow, etc., but she said, "Just try them on!  They're stretch denim!" 

Well, I could tell it wasn't going to end well.  They barely got up my thighs.   LOTS of pulling and tugging happened, with my sister yelling, "Come on, they're going up, keep pulling!"  They finally got up over my booty, but there was no way they were going to button or zipper.  I peeled them back off, and my sister said, "Just keep them anyway.  You can try them on every couple weeks for motivation."

Later, when I got home, I went to fold them and put them away, when something caught my eye.  That something was the tag.  The tag that said SIZE 8.  EIGHT!!  Are you kidding me!!??  I immediately texted my sister, while laughing my ass off.  (ahhh....if only that were literally possible, huh?  I'd be able to get those damn jeans on then!)  I told her she was just trying to burst my Happy Bubble that came from getting the Old Navy 12s my big butt!  She texted me back, telling me she suddenly remembered the whole "story" behind the jeans, and yes now she remembers that they are 8s.  Then she said, "Well, that has to feel good that you actually pulled up a size 8 jeans!!!!"  And, that it did, Sissy, that it did!

What's in a number?

So, the last time I lost any significant amount of weight was back in 2000, when I was training for the police academy.  (I think I may have shared that story way back when I first started this blog.  Then again, maybe I didn't.  It's a post for another day...)  That was a particularly significant year for me.  It was both incredibly horribly and incredibly awesome.  I'll explain another day, perhaps.

Anyway, I thought I really had it going on that year.  I've said many, many times that I was in the best physical shape of my life that year, thanks to the training.  For months, I actually ran and worked out daily with a couple of my cousins who were already on the job.  I would say that my self-confidence was at an all-time high.  That was the year of my New Millennium Resolution (now, I KNOW I've posted about THAT before, haven't I?!) and I was living life to the fullest.

One of the highlights of that year was that I, for the first time, was able to buy jeans from Old Navy.  The first time I was able to squeeze into those size 16, boot-cut, low-rise jeans, I literally did a Happy Dance.  I may have even let out a, "Woo hoo!" in the fitting room.  Those jeans fit me like a glove, and made me feel sexy as hell.  I bought several pairs of them, and wore them all the time.  Those were my "going out" jeans, my "salsa dancing" jeans, my "date" jeans, my "Girls' Night" jeans, etc.  I think you get the idea.

Last night I took a little trip to Old Navy.  I've been meaning to do it for months now, since I really don't have any clothes that fit me anymore.  Well, other than the handful of things I've picked up at the thrift store, and a couple of pairs of jeans I picked up on clearance a few months ago at Walmart.  (I believe I may have posted about finding those since they were size 14!!  Yep, from size 24 to size 14.  Go me!!)  But, what I REALLY wanted was a pair of my favorite jeans from Old Navy!  I've been carrying around a gift card that I think someone gave Stud years ago, so I figured it would almost be like getting the jeans for free, right?

I walked over to the Wall-O-Jeans, only to see that in the 13+ years since I've purchased jeans from Old Navy, they had the nerve to change their styles!  What the hell?  Now, instead of just looking for "low-rise, boot-cut," I had to figure out if "Diva," "Flirty," or "Sweetheart" was the right style for me.  After checking out the chart on the wall, I decided "Sweetheart" was the way to go.  (smaller waist, wider thighs)  I grabbed a couple pairs in different lengths and headed to the fitting room.  My first instinct was to grab the size 16s that I was so thrilled to wear in the past.  But, I grabbed the 14s, and hoped for the best.  And, that's just what I got!  They went on without a problem. =)

So, just for shits and giggles, I grabbed a pair of 12s.  I laughed all the way back to the fitting room, shaking my head at myself for being so ridiculous.  However, all that changed when I realized, "Holy shit!  They're on!  I'm wearing a size 12!"  I just could NOT believe it! 

All this time, I kept thinking about what great shape I was in back in 2000, how good I looked, how sexy I felt, etc.  Now, here I am, 2 sizes SMALLER than I was then.  Wow.  Just...wow.

I didn't buy the 12s yesterday, because they only had them in "long."  I absolutely need "short."  (It seems Old Navy jeans run long.)  Plus, just because I was able to get them on (and buttoned and zipped!) doesn't necessarily mean they looked that great.  Admittedly, they were a bit...um...snug.  Now, I realize lots of people wear their jeans that way, but I don't think I'd be comfortable walking around in painted on jeans.  (After all, I'm not a Caribbean Queen, for Pete's sake!)

So, what's in a number?  A LOT when that number is 12. =)

Is it just me...

....or is my addiction to electronic devices a little sad?  I'm sitting here at Bestest Friend's house because she's having her kitchen remodeled, and the countertops are being installed right now. (The plumber will be here in the next hour or so to install the new sink.)  I packed myself a bag of "stuff" to bring with me, since I'm going to be here for a few hours, at least.  What's in the bag, you ask?  Well, my laptop, my Kindle Fire and my iPod, and all their respective chargers. Seriously?!? What is my problem?!

By the way, I'm posting this from my iPhone...

~~facepalm~~

Ahhh...it's cooled off rather nicely...

I'm sure some of you have heard about the crazy weather we've been having here recently.  Lex snapped these pictures on Friday at my parents' house.  You know, while I was shoveling!!!  The little jerk...

He was fascinated with the icicles hanging off the garage.

This kind of weather always brings out the puppy in Buster.  It's like The Fountain of Youth for him. =)

This is what I woke up to on Sunday.  I didn't really have time to deal with it before church.  Plus, Magnum was in bed, sick, so I was on my own.

After church, I went straight to my parents' house and shoveled again.  It was really hard this time, as the weather was much more severe than it was on Friday.  Every time I moved a shovelful of snow, the wind would blow it right back in my face.  After finishing at my parents', I went home to do our driveway, only to find Magnum up and dressed, and heading out to do his parents' driveway.  I convinced him to let me go with him.  From there, we came home and did ours, as well as the neighbors.  Let me tell you, my back, shoulders and arms are really feeling it today.  It's ok, since I didn't get to the gym.  Although, I am seriously tempted to go to the gym solely for a massage.  I'm hurtin'!

Today, we've broken records for the cold we're experiencing.  The actual temperature is about -18,  with a windchill of about -41.  Our high, which happened right after midnight, was -3, which was a record-breaker.  Then, the "official" low, -16, was also a record-breaker. 

We knew this was coming, so many suburban schools decided last Friday that they were going to cancel school for today.  But, CPS said no, school will be in session.  Shocking. 

But, THEN, around 5pm yesterday, they changed their tune.  Apparently, the union president, a powerhouse names Karen Lewis, basically TOLD him, school must be closed!!  For the safety and well-being of the children, they need to stay home.  In this weather, it takes less than 10 minutes to get frost-bite.  You can't have kids walking to and from school, or waiting on bus stops.  I'm waiting to hear what they decide for tomorrow, as this wacky weather is going to still be around.

Oo, as I was typing this, they broke into the programming with a news conference about the weather.  School is cancelled for tomorrow!  I'm seriously shocked!  Too bad they're going to have to make up both of these days in June. =(  But, hey, I WON'T!!!  =)