Roosters & Magic Wands

I've spent the past few days mulling over how to categorically describe my new surroundings.  After a long productive nap, brain cells peacefully recharging as I succumbed to the charms of the tropical breezes, the realization finally came to me.  I can't.  The kaleidoscope of color, vibrancy, and diversity that greets me at every corner continues to surprise me.  And as an island rookie, I suspect it will for a long while ahead.    


When I finally opened my eyes this afternoon, two thoughts demanded my full attention.  First, I'm actually on my sofa inside my air conditioned house because it's too sizzling hot to contemplate a catnap in the hammock.  Second, the hammock is still tightly rolled up in its original plastic and neatly propped against the new sail shade ... also still in its original packaging.  Yes, even paradise comes wrapped in plastic! 

Roosters.  Seems that these island natives have stories of their own, and I suspect I'll be hard-pressed to find a day when their cocky souls (har har ... couldn't resist that one!) don't impact our lives in one way or another.  Here's a little diddy the other morning.  I'm naming him Charley. 

Make yourself at home, Charley!  Note:  I think he was posing just for me.  Now, common rooster folklore is steeped in symbolic meanings that deal with watchful vigilance against evil (think folksy weathervanes on top of pristine white church steeples), many other cultures embrace the rooster as a solar symbol - a sign of illumination.  With that in mind, I'm fairy certain - positive, in fact - that this is the feathery rascal that wakes us each morning at 5:30 am.  And just a side thought as I ponder some more ... there certainly is a superabundance of roosters hangin' among the dead folk in the Key West Cemetary (sic) at any given time.  Brrrr, that's actually kind of spooky.

Speaking of spooky.  Two of our new friends here in town, Donna and Magic Tim, own and operate two very interesting businesses.  First they are the proprietors of Key West Ghost & Mysteries Tour - one that Chop and I intend to check out as soon as we find the opportunity.  Though one of several in town, rumor has it that Ghost & Mysteries is geared toward a more personal, intimate experience.  Keep your minds out of the gutter, people!  What I'm sayin' is that there is nothing commercial or scripted about their storytelling.  To each his own, but I like this couple and will unabashedly promote them at any opportunity.  Booooooooooo!  If chills and thrills aren't your cup of tea, check out their Trails and Tales of Key West instead, a casual 2-hour stroll through the republic's more colorful and entertaining bits of island lore.  This tour likely will be one of our next explorations, as high-energy conch boy will be well-rested for the 4pm meet-up.  Not to mention that the tour conveniently wraps it up at Margaritaville just in time for a pre-dinner refreshment.

Magic Tim is a .... drumroll please ... MAGICIAN!  Did ya think?  Tim Glancey is the president and director of operations for Magical Arts & Design and has been a master magician for more than 30 years.  I've witnesses his illusions.  I'm tellin' you ... he performs the impossible.  Impossible!  We have had the pleasure of his company and magic on several occasions, but his Parlour Magic Show at the beautiful Victorian-styled Porter Mansion (decorated in detail by Donna herself) is supposed to be quite spectacular.


P.S.  For all of you Parrotheads out there, be jealous.  Tim traveled with Jimmy Buffet for 14 years as his opening act.  And ...

...that's all I know (wink, wink).

 
So, with all that said and done, what's up with the magic wand?

Here's my classroom in it's current state.  I can assure you, it's going to take more than a little island magic to pretty up this room over the next two weeks! Seriously ... doncha wish you were me right now??  ;)

Helloooo Key West!

We are here!  We made it!  And believe it or not, this week is the first chance I've really had to catch my breath in a manner that feels more comfortably like my 'old self' again.  My old pleasant, cheerful, relaxed self.  Let's just say that this particular move was by far the most challenging, stressful, and exhausting move Chop and I have made together as a couple, but we managed to survive without either begging for divorce or jumping off the 7-mile bridge that separates the Lower Keys from the Middle.  It was tempting, though.

So, really?  We're in Key West, get over ourselves... right??

Let me entertain you with a quick recap:

Day One:

1.  Despite our addiction to yard sales, we still rolled on the island with too ... much ... crap.  Already feeling overwhelmed.
2.  Chop chased by crazy land crab first night in town.  He swears it was after his blood.

3.  Attempted late dinner on rooftop overlooking-the-marina Thai Island with cranky and tired 2-year old.  Grandma entertained him by wearing cloth napkin and sunglasses on her head.  Desperate times equals desperate measures.  Brought fabulous feast back to Navy Lodging in to-go boxes. 

Day Two Plus:

4.  Picked up key to house.  Completed walk through.  Promptly discovered that shower ran either scalding hot or freezing cold, dishwasher flooded kitchen floor, back door lock was jimmy-rigged, and cable wires had been severed in our hard-to-reach neighbor's attic.  Took one week to get a reasonable shower.  On the flip side, we now know all the maintenance staff on premises.
5.  Filled up house with all our worldly possessions; found out our free base storage option is no longer available.  Sh*t.  Do we really need Christmas decorations this year?
6.  Decided to keep pooch in kennel through the weekend.  Suspected UTI from four days of traveling.  Staff at Pampered Pet rocks.  Wonderfully attentive and helpful until we could bring said pooch home.

Day Three:

7.  Interviewed for job at Sigsbee Charter first thing in the morning.  Good thing I found fantastic new supersonic strength deodorant that smelled pretty.  No shower again.
8.  Babysitter arrives at 6pm to utter chaos.  She had fair warning.  We loved her for being so daring. 
9.  Met Key West friends at our first official "Conch Tale Hour" at the Galleon Tiki Bar.  I love these people.  Love them.  They loved Chop.  They loved his mom.  I can't even explain the feeling of being met with wide open hugs, kisses, and "welcome homes".  I think we will live here until we're old and gray.

Day Four:

10.  Found poisonous fang-toothed Bufo toad snooping around our front door.  Maybe dramatic to reference sharp teeth, but they are poisonous beasts.  And ugly.  Prodded it for reaction.  Nothing.  What a bore.

11.  Meandered over to Alonzo's Oyster Bar for half-priced appetizers, cold la-la drinks, and dinner.  Little conch boy behaved beautifully.  Stuffed our faces and rolled back to the house. 

Day Five:

12.  Offered a teaching job!  Accepted!  I wanted to cry.  The maintenance man celebrated with us. 

Day Six - Eighteen:

11.  An unpacking blur!  But ... there was a lunchtime key lime martini at the White Tarpon somewhere in the middle that took the edge off.  Not to mention the company of two fabulous ladies.  Oh, and brand new neighbor Ashley had a brand new baby boy named Fin. 

Seriously, it truly has been one heck of a flurry these past couple of weeks.  I think I'm only now beginning to catch up on emails and voice messages, and I've already chastised myself for missing a birthday.  J, I love you!  However, despite early spikes in blood pressure, we've made an incredible amount of progress since day one.  Chop is already on his second trip back up to Virginia since we've moved, and the Navy is keeping him busy.  To say I am grateful to be employed by the school I've been following so closely for a year is a stark understatement, and our house finally looks and feels like a home again.   

Over the next couple of weeks, we plan to start enjoying and exploring more of this beautiful island we now call home.  Seeing the sunsets.  Getting on the water.  Strolling about some of the quiet back streets that connect this paradise into a singularly unique community.  One Human Family.  That's the motto here.  However, I think they forgot to include the roosters.

"Rooster Republic" courtesy of John Hartung

History Lesson: The Conch Republic

Because I should be packing, and because I should be working on ... oh, you know ... important stuff ... I've decided instead that it would be much more fun to share this little snippet of Keys history.  Besides, if you're reading this because you are planning your own relo to Key West, it might be helpful to understand what the fuss is all about.  It's one of those peculiar "really, seriously?" pieces of American history that you'll rarely find in your more refined history texts.  My favorite! 

So what exactly is the Conch Republic?

"Way" back on April 23, 1982, the residents of the Florida Keys (all of the Keys, mind you) seceded from the United States of America in response to a U.S. border patrol blockade that was set up on highway US-1 at Florida City, the gateway to the Florida Keys.  The government, in effort to coral an influx of drug operations and illegal immigrants, completely alienated the Keys from the U.S. mainland while infuriating the residents who felt they were treated as outlaws in their own country.  Insults set aside, the armed road blocks subsequently hindered tourism, and the resentful Keys residents had had enough.

Key West mayor Dennis Wardlow, along with several other prominent Conchs, went to Federal court in Miami to seek an injunction to stop the federal blockade, but to no avail.  As the angry mayor left the Federal Courthouse, he paused on the steps, looked straight into the eyes of the TV crews and reporters, and proclaimed, "Tomorrow at noon the Florida Keys will secede from the Union!".  The next day, in the public arena of Key West's Mallory Square, Mayor Wardlow officially read the proclamation of secession stating that the newly formed Conch Republic was hence forward an independent nation separate from the United States.  Now referred to as Prime Minister Wardlow, he then symbolically rallied the Conch Republic's Civil Rebellion (and ensuing war against the United States!) by breaking a loaf of stale Cuban bread over the head of a man dressed in a U.S. Navy uniform. 

One minute later, the Prime Minister turned to the Admiral in charge of the Navy base at Key West, surrendered the Union Forces, and demanded one billion dollars in foreign aid and war relief monies to rebuild the long-suffering nation.  The U.S. government promptly removed the roadblock.

To this day, the Conch Republic still celebrates its independence with annual festivities, and official Conch Republic Passports can be ordered through the Office of the Secretary General of the Conch Republic.  Your newly acquired "dual citizenship" may not get you too far in your travels but, for a mere $100, you too can become a part of Keys history.  Really, and you thought "history" was boring!  

By the way, the Conch Republic is still waiting for its foreign aid .. but don't hold your breath!  

A Sweet Surprise

In the jam-packed pace of my world these days, I'm afraid this is 'old news'.  I actually swore I wouldn't blog about this latest for fear of jinxing the possibilities ... but ...

... I have an interview with Sigsbee!   

Yes, I know ... you know already!  But I've kept Key West secrets for so long it's simply impossible not to divulge all at this point ... so I won't mind if you click off and skip me over this go-around.  Really, please.  But the fact of the matter is that I am thrilled to be given the chance to personally interview (and fight!) for a teaching position in the school I've admired for so long now.  Allow me a glowing moment to document this, if you would.  Perhaps it's nothing more my desire to annotate a small glimmer of success after the tortuous wait of January, February, etc, etc., and the first 16 days of June, but my toes are still a-twinkle none-the-less.

How?  I don't really know.  Could my out-of-town address really have hindered me that much regardless of my qualifications?  Did I misread the staffing updates altogether or ... maybe I'm an alternate candidate?  No matter, as my self-proclaimed pity party neared its cranky-pants end the other day, I returned home to find a late-night email from the principal ... and a subsequent appointment set for July.  Sweeeeeet.  Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

Cry Me a River

Today is my pity party day.  Mine.  All mine and just for today.  Sigsbee posted its new teacher hires for the next school year, and I wasn't invited.  No interview, no feedback, nary a peep.  No one adored my resume, and apparently I am not worthy.  I didn't even rate a courtesy reject notice.  Nothin'.

So here I sit, the overachiever accustomed to surpassing even my simplest of goals (while not typically being so pompously boorish!), wiping the pie of life from my crinkled brow.  Wow, what a kick in the ass!  Yup, cry me a river ... I knooowww.  I can feel all of your loving bear hugs wrapped tightly around me right now.  Oh, what?  Really?  Those are suck-it-up-pick-yourself-off-the-floor-girl-and-keep-on-moving slaps I'm feeling?  Whoops, my bad!

Now to be fair, I knew wholeheartedly I was attempting to resume a career I shelved 11 years ago.  I knew that this school's primary curriculum is based on an environmental science platform (slightly unrelated to my training as an historian, mind you).  And I knew that I was attempting to secure a position without a local Key West address - usually an "are you kidding me?" challenge in and of itself.  But ... I'm a greeaaaaat teacher!  Parent-approved!  Don't they know this?

So one door now closes, and perhaps it's temporarily for the best.  I think it was Alexander Graham Bell who said, "When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."  I like AGB, and I think he was a wise man.  Though I might spend the rest of today nursing a pint of whoa-is-me flavored ice cream - or a martini, I haven't decided yet - I most definitely will move forward with my own list of equally tempting prospects.  With little one starting preschool in August, and my island days will be wide open for new opportunities.  Now, that's something to celebrate! 

At least tomorrow anyway.  

Zip Code 33040: "The Rock"

We have an address!  Today we got a lock on our new mailing address and scheduled our move-in appointment for July 7th.  Yeehaw!  Conch-themed address labels anyone ...dare me, dare me please!  I was in fact so elated at this final piece today that I dang near forgot to follow up on my job status today.  Shame on me!  Not that it mattered ... still no rays of sunshine on the teaching front, I'm afraid.

So just to recap briefly (if only because I'm just so silly tired I could sleep 'til Sunday):

July 2nd - We pick up our moving truck and pack 'er up! 

July 3rd -  Scrub-a-dub-dub ... and one last good-bye to our beautiful Virginia home.  Reminder note to self:  The memories travel to Key West with us both.  The house is just the vessel.  Repeat. 

July 3rd (still ....) - Say prayer that adorable house sells quickly.

July 4th - Arrive at my parents in time for cocktail hour!

July 5th - Leave for Sarasota to swap leather sofa for Chop's mom, who has graciously agreed to help us with the littlest one for the first few days ('littlest one' needs a super cool alias here, don'cha think? ... comments, comments??).  Ah, yes.  Cocktail hour in Sota too.

July 6th - Last leg down to Mile Marker 0, otherwise known as "the rock" ... drop off precious pooch at Pampered Pet for a 2-day doggie vacay.  Check into Navy lodging and .... dinner at ??? ... still deciding!

July 7th - Hello Key West!

Take Good Care of My Man, Uncle Sam!

It's official!  Effective June 20th, Uncle Sam and my man Chop will be joined at the hip for the next 18-24 months.  Okaaaaay, now we're rollin'!  Chop turned in his letter of resignation a week ago and plans to work right up through the 17th, essentially facilitating a smooth transition from civilian to Lieutenant with merely a weekend in between.  I'm not sure he would have had it any other way, quite honestly.  Though ready and anxious to move forward with his Navy crew, he genuinely cares about many of his closest colleagues here at home. Some of those peeps are particularly special, and I hope they'll always know that.       

That two-day window weekend, as a matter of fact, is my birthday weekend.  Celebrations will be order one way or another.  I don't dare miss an opportunity for cake ... even if it's my own!  ;) 

Are we nervous?  Hell yes!

So here we are in the midst of our big transition, but I also feel a sense of peace about the home that awaits us in Key West.  A renewed spirit, you might say.  Though Chop will be required to travel back and forth between his unit in Virginia and the southernmost rock frequently over the next few months, we will have ample time for some of the more important preparations that come with his long-term deployment.  By then, I expect to be working in one capacity or another, the littlest tot will be in preschool, and we'll have some semblance of order and comfort established in our day-to-day routines. 

Our next step is a final confirmation for our housing and the moving truck ... followed by some no-joke packing.  As in maybe-if-I-accidentally-pack-up-the-kitchen-first-I-won't-have-to-cook-for-three-weeks  kind of packing!  Whooooopsie!  Time to shake some tail feathers, darlin's ... it's show time!

Montessori Children's School of Key West

Whoot whoot!  The littlest wee one is officially on the wait list for Montessori Children's School of Key West!  In classic mommy-of-my-one-and-only-precious-child fashion, I'm not sure if I should be anxious, sad, or guilty that I actually feel soooo excited, but our two-year-old tot is growing up none-the-less.  Sniff, sniff.  But let's face it, it's time to let little one spread some baby birdie wings of his own.

This specific school (MCS) is one that Ally and I visited during our recon mission last June.  Though closed for the summer season at the time, I had a particularly good feeling just standing on the perimeter of the property. The grounds were immaculate, and the building itself just as island cute as could be, the colors bright and cheerful.  Uh-huh .. yup.  Sucked right in.  Ha!  I promise, though ... I did much more homework than that!

At the basic level, the school certainly is licensed and meets all required accreditations.  There are no complaints or citations filed, and the staff boasts all the appropriate credentials.  Basic no brainers.  The curriculum is innovative, creative, and developmentally appropriate.  Love that, of course!  However, I'm equally interested in the "little things" - the guts.  I appreciate the director's time and courtesy while answering my many questions (don'cha just want to strangle the morons who refer you to their websites ... as if they had better things to do than answer pesky questions?).  I'm new at this ... don't shoot me please!  I am impressed with the professional quality, user friendliness, and currency of the main website.  Minor details maybe, but important in my humble opinion.  And I naturally appreciate the stellar reputation the school maintains within the community - word of mouth is oh-so-powerful!

To my great relief, I also admit that I very much appreciate having a variety of scheduling options, which is not always easy to find.  By now, most pre-schools have already closed their enrollment seasons and are filled to capacity for fall sessions.  Not knowing my employment status to date - full time teaching or working from home (or perhaps something else altogether!) - committing to a full-time program vs. part-time half days was tough.  MCS was one of the few which offers both.  By the time placements are made, I should have a better idea of our scheduling and can make adjustments accordingly.

Whew-whee!  Schooling for a two-year-old.  Who knew?

$8 Million & 41 Pink Slips

So this is how I started my day two-odd weeks ago:

41 pink slips issued

Teachers notified: No job next year

"Forty-one teachers have been notified they will lose their jobs when their contract expires June 10 as part of the Monroe County School District's proposed $8 million in budget cuts ... it's a very trying time for teachers."

Article from The Citizen: 

www.keysnews.com/node/31641 

Uhm.  Wow.  Wowwww.  I'm simply not sure there's a way to choke down this news gracefully.  Other than the job postings at Sigsbee Charter, I have not seen the remotest of hints suggesting any other openings in the Lower Keys schools to date.  Apparently this is a nationwide epidemic, and I am certainly paddling against the proverbial tide when it comes to my job search.  Not to mention that I'm swimming with 41 other very hungry fish!  The reality is that Chop and I may very well be moving to Key West without my teacher's nameplate.  Talk about popping the air out of my shiny red balloon!

Yet, do you ever wonder if there's a reason behind the madness?  Was this a test of sorts?  Despite the fact that I've spent the last year preparing to resume my place in the classroom, perhaps it wasn't really meant to be after all.  Perhaps there's something else waiting for me and I needed the year to discipline myself accordingly?  Not to worry ... I'm certainly not tossing in the towel quite yet.  I have a solid application in the system and consider myself a highly competent and qualified candidate.  Yet news of the budget cuts and pink slips have given me much to consider. 

So, you might be thinking .... why is she not freaking out right now??  Here's the thing, five years ago I was blindsided with my own pink slip and lost a job that I loved with a company I admired.  I learned in the years since that within my own heart and soul, I have the gusto it takes to survive and thrive.  The very day that Citizen article posted, Chop received an offer from his commanding officer that will allow us to continue pursing our goals regardless of my status.  Though the proposal was joined at the hip with his long-anticipated orders to Afghanistan, we now have a little bit of fortuitous (and much appreciated!) wiggle room that will buy us the extra time needed to secure my own professional fate -  not to mention that this assignment will have a direct and very positive impact in his unit's overall readiness level for mobility.  To say I am so very proud of my husband is an understatement, and I feel particularly grateful in so many ways.  Yet my heart goes out to the teachers on the receiving end of those pink slips right now.  Those classrooms belong to them.  Those kids are theirs.  For me to sweep in from afar and snag a slot seems selfish.

Then again ... I'm grateful, yes.  But I'm a hungry fish too!

After note:  I barely finished editing my post when I had the opportunity to speak with the Personnel department in the School Board's office.  Though I had called for clarification on something much more specific, I ended up in a very pleasant and informative conversation with one of the specialists.  Low and behold, the State is holding iron fists around the education budget and has not yet released its figures to the individual counties, including Monroe County.  While principals may know for certain that they have teaching positions open for the coming school year, they are not permitted to post announcements (thus interview!) for said positions until the budgets are approved and released.  Charter schools like Sigsbee are exceptions.  Though they follow state mandates, they are not funded by their counties' corresponding budgets.  This explains why Sigsbee postings are available now while the rest of the county is on hold.  It is estimated to be several more weeks before the budgets are released.  Weeks.

Wine, anyone?

For Sale, For Sale!

It's official.  As of one hour and twenty minutes ago, our house is officially for sale. 

Doink!

It's an odd feeling, I must say.  We've worked so hard to make this house as magazine-ready as possible, yet to look out the window at that sign .... wow.  What's that sign doing in front of our house??  I mean, what if somebody actually buys it?  Now?

Here's a quick tour to show off our efforts of late:

(1)  The master bedroom - the caddy-corner bed, as promised!  Note:  I have to admit, it's kind of grown on me over these last few weeks.  I kind of like the warm cross-breezes floating through the room as the temperatures finally warm up here in Virginia.  Cheesy ... but true!

 
(2)  The dining room table ... and I love this photo because it represents a simplified mini version of soooooo many wonderful, beautiful meals we've shared with our families at this table over the years.  The last of my lilac blooms are centered here, the sweetest scent on mother earth.

(3) The living room (sans the giant man couch!) - we removed the 20-foot sofa (kidding, but not too far off!) to open up the room wide, and it worked like a charm.  With a few minor adjustments, we made the room look twice as big ... cha-ching!

(4)  My office/den ... I can assure you it never looked this orderly.  Nor did I harbor a palm tree in here until three weeks ago.  That's my office chair, by the way.  I'm sitting in it now (just in case you're dying to know!).

(5) And at the end of the day ... a nice hot shower.  Aahhh. 

So we'll now wait and see what the market brings our way.  Our agent is the same dynamic, hard-charging Realtor who sold us this very house four years ago, and we put a lot of trust in her advice and expertise.  Thankfully, this part of the country has remained relatively market stable over the past few years.  So a toast to Lady Luck ... to getting this show on the road, dear lady!

 

The Proverbial Watched Pot

Patience: "The quality of being patient" by Merriam-Webster.

Really?

Say it isn't so, but this pot o' water just ain't boilin' yet! I now count four more bona fide, true blue, absolute reasons that justify Chop and I keeping our plans on the down-low: January, February, March, and April. The anticipation is excruciating. Never, not ever, any chance, or even anytime would I want my parents to suffer this painfully long wait with me. Never. Do I really remember schools taking this long to post teaching openings? Ack ... yes! I do! From the moment I submitted my original application, I ... knew ... that ... I ... would ... need ... to ... be ... patient. And that is exactly why I'm in crybaby mode. Not that I'm counting, but 112 days have passed, and I don't have any more news now than I did then.

So, I have touched base with the principal and the county offices periodically as respectfully expected. I've finalized my professional education portfolio - of which I am quite proud, if I must [humbly] admit. I also have a daily ritual, of not obsession, about checking the automated system that posts any new openings, etc. So far, it is ALL QUIET on the southernmost front. And on cloudy, cold, rainy Virginia days, this bothers me. No one loves me. The sky is falling. It's all over before it even had a chance to begin. But on sunny, balmy, breezy, almost-summery days like today, there is hope again. I believe - so assuredly, categorically believe - that I am on the cusp of some news soon.

Spring Cleaning (aka Downsizing!)

For weeks now we've been slowing packing up our house with plans to put it on the market by April 1st. A random box here, some wall art removed there. I doubt a single soul would notice anything amiss yet. If anything, we might be accused of some spectacularly early spring cleaning. We have a spacious trailer we're using as a holding station between the steadily mounting pile of boxes in the garage and the storage unit we'll start filling this weekend.

Over the next few weeks, we'll begin staging the house for sale. The giant leather sofa will disappear so that we can showcase a cozy seating arrangement in the living room (read: completely impractical but opens the room right up), and we'll rearrange the bedroom furniture to look like something out of a magazine - which means a caddy-corner comforter-fluffed-bed (because we all do this in real life, right?) and only two dressers with barely enough space to stuff our clothes. Potential buyers will never see the temporary boxes under the bed hiding our socks and underwear ... or anything else potentially seen as useless clutter (not that I personally would categorize my underwear as melange, but who's to say?).

The constant quest to streamline and downsize is never-ending but oh-so rewarding. We accomplished yet aNOther successful yard sale this past weekend and unloaded another seemingly bottomless pile of goods. I confess, it would be so much simpler to pack up the car and haul it all off to Goodwill, but I'm afraid we've become giddy over the extra cash that we've been able to sock away through our efforts. Listen, there is a fishing boat in our future. Pennies must be saved! No worries, though. We'll likely have one more cleansing ceremony before our compass reads South - as in the end-of-the-road-mile-marker-zero south - and we'll happily leave the rest behind.

P.S. Except the stuff I sneak on the truck when Chop's not looking, that is (wink, wink!).

A Caribbean Teaser

Chop and I both knew these dreary, cold, miserable months of January and February (hell, let's just throw March in there, too) were going to be the most difficult. And let's face it ... they're a bitch indeed. I have no use for January or February, in general. Maybe some cool birthdays and a little Hallmark excuse for some to-die-for chocolate in honor of ol' St. Valentine. But that's about it. Yet I really don't have any objection to snow this time of the year. In fact, I love it! I'd hop on a plane to Colorado tomorrow if it meant days of amazing skiing on some of the most beautiful slopes on the planet. But the torture is not in the frigid temperatures ... or even the shear
boredom of these winter months; the challenge this year is knowing that neither January or February will produce any significant results in our progress in getting to Key West. I can only play so many hands of Rummy in front of a fireplace before I get itchy for some news.

My application packages are sitting tight in appropriate hands, but it's still too early for most schools to announce their instructional openings for the next year. In my head, I know that. The thing is that I'm a planner. Not knowing whether or not I'll be teaching in the fall is making me a little crazy. Of course, not being able to discuss our plans with anyone yet is making me crazier, but that's another story. There are a thousand things I should and could be doing right now - and I am, I assure you! - but my mind is already sorting through lesson plans and curriculum. Sunshine State Standards. FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test). Social Studies units. How I'd love to get a sneak peek at some of my options! But thankfully, for one blissful week, my brain was able to rest. God bless the Caribbean.

Chop's parents invited the both of us, along with siblings, on a family cruise to island hop around the Eastern Caribbean for seven days - the Bahamas, St. Maarten, St. Thomas Virgin Islands, and Grand Turk. Did we decompress? Ooooooh, yeah. No worries, no plans, no stress. We snorkled with sea turtles, toured the islands, noshed on fabulous foods, and chatted with the locals. And for one week ... each and every single day ... we reminded ourselves of how close we are to accomplishing our own Caribbean dream. So, three cheers to a fabulous teaser!

News!

Sort of. I guess it's really anticlimactic. I received two bits of information yesterday that I can squirrel away in my mind-whirling brain for now. First, my general application to Monroe County officially is complete, approved, and on file. I received notice yesterday. Yay!! Second, the principal at Sigsbee responded to my inquiry by letting me know that my application and resume have been received and will be retained until positions for the 2011-12 school year are identified.

Ba-dump.

Did I expect anything different, really? No. Not logically. It's simply too early for most schools to announce their staffing requirements quite yet. Secretly, of course, I had hoped that I could sneak in an early interview far and long before any openings would be posted simply because I had all my ducks lined up first. As if ... um, my ducks are better than your ducks, right? Hmf. Dumb ducks. Now I have to wait again. I told Chop I feel like a groundhog. Pop my head up with anticipation. Get the beat-down. Scurry back into my hole. Wait three more months during the dead of winter. Then emerge as a butterfly. Whoops ... wrong animal. Oy, that's what I get for queuing up so early.

Pep talk to self: I have done everything I can do for now. Sit back. Breath. Attempt New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle. Wait my turn. It would be three months before I finish puzzle anyway.

Two Weeks Later and One Bloody Nose

Ah-ha! Got your attention, did I not? It's been one of those days ... and it's only Tuesday. The bloody nose? Legit. My darling son zonked me (quite accidentally, mind you!) with the back of his head and nailed me right on the schnozzle. After nearly passing out from the sight of my own blood and icing down my beak for an hour, I think I may actually survive. Shoot me maybe, but I'll be fine.

Two weeks have passed and no word back yet on my teaching application with Sigsbee Charter. Granted, I'm ridiculously early in my submission, and I think I've always taken the risk of being too prepared, if that's possible. Yet still, I'm anxious. Recommendation letters have been making their way down to the Monroe County School Board with my eternal gratitude, and a lovely human voice (gasp!) attached to the name Sonja has been so helpful in Human Resources that I look forward to meeting her in person. It may have been the first time I really stopped and smiled today. Not like me. Not to smile, that is. Really.

I sent my first follow-up to Sigsbee today and hope they will be able to share some insight on my status. I begin my next grad class again tomorrow, and the next few months are bound to be a blur of busy once again. With all good luck, I'll have some news to share soon enough!

In the meantime, I believe it's 5 o'clock somewhere ... and this momma could use moment of red-vintaged downtime. Chop is traveling for work this week, and I miss him on days like today. In just a bit, my littlest guy will be snuggled in to sleep for the night ... and tomorrow ... well, tomorrow is another day.

I know. Simply profound.

Making It Real: The Application

Five minutes ago I clicked the "send" button in my Gmail account. This followed 10 minutes of heart palpitations and triple-checking the recipient's email address for errors. It's official. I formally applied to teach at Sigsbee Charter School for the 2011-12 school year, as well as any potential openings within the public schools of Monroe County. Now I can only hope my most recent documents have made it safely across the cyber fields into the Sigsbee inbox. The next board meeting is in two days, January 6th. I don't know if that means anything in particular except that I would love to see my application package find its way to the monthly agenda ... even if it's in a small corner, an overflow topic. Even a water cooler conversation would be lovely! Do you sense those extra warm and fuzzy vibes in the air, Key West? They're coming from me right now. This is a big step, this application. Big. But for now, with fingers and toes crossed, I respectfully wait.

In the meantime, here's to a productive week ahead. Our Christmas tree is down, and our holiday decorations are packed up for the season. For all the weeks we fret over our festive plans, there is something beautifully refreshing about starting a new year once again. From our family to yours, we wish you a wonderful Happy New Year! Thank you for hanging in there with us so far, and may so very many of your wishes for 2011 become your realities.

Many cheers!