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!