New Car and Photography

Random news:

We have a new car. Mom calls it the Jelly Bean, I call it the jelly belly. It's a mazda mx-5 I believe? Little two seater convertable. It's cute. Sooner or later I'll have to learn how to use a stick shift I guess.

Also, currently making a website for photography. A couple of you have seen various jpeg versions of my ideas, so now I'm onto making it work in html form. We shall see how horribly I do. Unless it changes, it's partly a photo gallery and partly a freelance business in which I'd like to profit from. (Hint: If you need or know others that need pictures, pleeeease call me.) It is also currently called Sapphire Skies Photography, with cobalt links and sapphire text, and a randomized picture at the top of the page with the site name. Hopefully it all works out. ^^

Almost spring...

Today's the first day in a very long time that I have had my windows open. It has been a blissful, invigorating experience. Went to Claddagh's today for lunch, had the Monte Cristo and a pint of pub ale, and enjoyed the spectacularly beautiful St. Patrick's day - one even Ireland would approve of! There's fresh air streaming through the house, clearing out all the remnants of winter, and all the animals are enjoying the breeze.

I hope you, too, have had a great day. Keep on smiling!

Reflections

In high school, I had people telling me all the time that I should become a teacher. I laughed - quite loudly, actually - in their faces. If they'd told me that five years later, I'd have my mind changed... I'd have said they were more insane than a goaltender. IE, me. If you'd said I'd become an academic, sure, I could have bought that. But a teacher? No way!

And now.... that's what I want to do. I've even grown to enjoy teaching high schoolers, as moody and full of attitude and random as they are. I realize this as I hit my desk with my head - repeatedly. Until it bruises.

Did I just give myself a concussion?

I'm sad to learn that a TA position at UC doesn't mean teaching. It means assisting the teacher with grading. It apparently works much differently than Miami used TAs. But grad school isn't the focus of this thought.

Just the fact that... well... I enjoy teaching. And being around high schoolers. And academics. And other educators. I love it. Honestly, a bad day at school is better than a great day at my other job. Not because the other job sucks, but its not education. It's not with kids that make life cool. It's not with academics and people who enjoy teaching. While I'm not too keen on 5 am wake up calls asking if I can sub, I look forward to days that I have planned ahead to sub. I have kids actually seeming happy to see me when they see I'm subbing for them now. While some classes have turned me into a bitch when it comes to having to keep control, that's a rarity. They respect me, I respect them and let them get by with quite a bit. They give me attitude, there's no talking. Period. Or ipods. Never cell phones. But kids actually stop me in the halls to say hi and see how I'm doing, and why haven't I subbed for their teachers lately?

That's a feeling that is just pretty hard to beat. I feel like I can and have made a difference, small as it is. And that's just one of the best feelings in the world.

I've also been considering whether or not to make a photograph blog. Where I post a picture every day (give or take). Thoughts?