It's hot in here
It hit 100+ here in the DFW area yesterday. Can you believe it? It's only the middle of April. We are 2 months ahead of schedule for egg-frying-on-the-sidewalk-hot! It's supposed to cool off to the 70's tomorrow, we'll see.
Win, Place or Show
Some of you know that I have been working at a temp job which will end at April 28. Will I have already started another job. I am working weekends at the new job until the scoring job is up, then full-time at the horse races. Yes, folks you heard me, the races. My old boss from the bank called me last week. She is managing the money room out there and she had a job just waiting for me. Right now I am learning several jobs. Saturday night I was in the money room, counting money. Sunday (yeah, I worked on Easter) I was quasi-training to be a dealer. I learned a lot about the races that day. I had never been to a horse track until this past week.
What's a dealer, you may want to know. Well, the tellers take the bets from the gamblers and the dealers act as bankers for the tellers. So if they need more $, I give it to them. Simple as that. I would be responsible for getting the money to and from the money room. Now, don't worry, this is a seasonal job. It ends in October, just in time for me to go to certification classes. How about them apples?
Ok, that's enough for now. Gotta eat something. Missing all of y'all who are far away. Hope y'all had a great Easter. He is Risen!
Friday, April 07, 2006
For Sarah Jane
Sarah says I need to freakin' blog; although, she is a member of Bad Bloggers Anonomyous herself. Maybe she can be my sponsor since she seems to be blogging again. This one's for you, my dear. Honestly, I have very little time on the computer nowadays and limit that time to emails.
J-O-B
I do have a temp job scoring 7th grade writing TAKS tests. It's the state test given to students. I thought only ESL students had trouble with to, two and too or even better, still, steel and steal. In case you didn't know, these words are interchangable with each other. Example: I couldn't get the bunny to sit steel. I get up every morning at 5:15 (yes, that is correct...not a typo) so I can catch the 6:34 commuter train into Dallas. I do this so I can be at work before 8. I get home around 6:15 each evening which leaves me only a few precious hours before I have to start all over again. It's getting old and I am having a hard time staying awake to read the 150 or so papers that I score each day. I hope I can last to the end of the project; the money is decent.
One of my old bosses called me a few days ago to offer me a seasonal job at the horse tracks close to my house. It starts soon and runs through October. I'm pretty sure I will take it.
I really like taking the train, it's the only place I feel completely normal. The only thing I don't like about it is everyone is speaking in English, loudly. I try to sit by the Spanish speakers so I feel a little more at home.
Ok...I gotta run eat sushi. Will blog more later, promise. Oh and my sister got engaged last weekend! Yea!
Sarah says I need to freakin' blog; although, she is a member of Bad Bloggers Anonomyous herself. Maybe she can be my sponsor since she seems to be blogging again. This one's for you, my dear. Honestly, I have very little time on the computer nowadays and limit that time to emails.
J-O-B
I do have a temp job scoring 7th grade writing TAKS tests. It's the state test given to students. I thought only ESL students had trouble with to, two and too or even better, still, steel and steal. In case you didn't know, these words are interchangable with each other. Example: I couldn't get the bunny to sit steel. I get up every morning at 5:15 (yes, that is correct...not a typo) so I can catch the 6:34 commuter train into Dallas. I do this so I can be at work before 8. I get home around 6:15 each evening which leaves me only a few precious hours before I have to start all over again. It's getting old and I am having a hard time staying awake to read the 150 or so papers that I score each day. I hope I can last to the end of the project; the money is decent.
One of my old bosses called me a few days ago to offer me a seasonal job at the horse tracks close to my house. It starts soon and runs through October. I'm pretty sure I will take it.
I really like taking the train, it's the only place I feel completely normal. The only thing I don't like about it is everyone is speaking in English, loudly. I try to sit by the Spanish speakers so I feel a little more at home.
Ok...I gotta run eat sushi. Will blog more later, promise. Oh and my sister got engaged last weekend! Yea!
Friday, February 17, 2006
Nada Mucho
So, not much has been going on since I got back to Texas. I've been keeping a low profile and catching up on some TV and movies I have missed. On Demand Cable is the best invention in the world! I'm still waiting to get my car so I am pretty much stuck at home.
The weather has been crazy. I have been home a week now and it has gone from the 30's to 78. Yeasterday, we had a record high of 85 only to drop to 42 last night. It's supposed to sleet tonight. Weird, huh. But the sun is shining and I'm grateful for that.
I have only seen a few friends far. It's weird, because I really don't know what to do in social situations. Why does the waitress come every 5 minutes? I forgot to put the napkin in my lap both times I've been to a restuarant. (Sushi and Mexian, in case you were wondering.)
I had my first session of acupuncture on Monday. I really like the doctor. She is softspoken and calming. So, I know you want to know what it feels like. But really, I barely felt the needles go in. You really can't feel much at all, they're so thin. She also hooked some of them up to wires and ran an electric pulse through them. It felt like a massage. It was quite relaxing. I even dozed a little.
Thanks are in order
I would really like to thank all of the ESIers who came out to see me before I left. It meant the world to me! I love and miss y'all and am still praying for you. It was nice to have pizza and talk. Y'all are the best!
That's all for now. Blessings my friends.
So, not much has been going on since I got back to Texas. I've been keeping a low profile and catching up on some TV and movies I have missed. On Demand Cable is the best invention in the world! I'm still waiting to get my car so I am pretty much stuck at home.
The weather has been crazy. I have been home a week now and it has gone from the 30's to 78. Yeasterday, we had a record high of 85 only to drop to 42 last night. It's supposed to sleet tonight. Weird, huh. But the sun is shining and I'm grateful for that.
I have only seen a few friends far. It's weird, because I really don't know what to do in social situations. Why does the waitress come every 5 minutes? I forgot to put the napkin in my lap both times I've been to a restuarant. (Sushi and Mexian, in case you were wondering.)
I had my first session of acupuncture on Monday. I really like the doctor. She is softspoken and calming. So, I know you want to know what it feels like. But really, I barely felt the needles go in. You really can't feel much at all, they're so thin. She also hooked some of them up to wires and ran an electric pulse through them. It felt like a massage. It was quite relaxing. I even dozed a little.
Thanks are in order
I would really like to thank all of the ESIers who came out to see me before I left. It meant the world to me! I love and miss y'all and am still praying for you. It was nice to have pizza and talk. Y'all are the best!
That's all for now. Blessings my friends.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Goodbyes
So I've said most of my goodbyes. It's been quite sad. Marianne just left a little bit ago. Tammy and Sarah are meeting me at the train station. My next door neighbors, Marie and Jiri, sent me off with a shot of Becherovka and a Bohemian crystal vase. My neighbor downstairs, Mr. Zdenek, brought a bottle of red wine over last night to toast my health. I didn't get to say goodbye to most of my students or coworkers which makes me a little sad. I hope I can come back to see them before the end of the school year, maybe at graduation.
Aaron and Aram are here to help me with my bags and we'll head to the train station soon. I kinda feel like I'm breaking up with the Czech Republic.
So I've said most of my goodbyes. It's been quite sad. Marianne just left a little bit ago. Tammy and Sarah are meeting me at the train station. My next door neighbors, Marie and Jiri, sent me off with a shot of Becherovka and a Bohemian crystal vase. My neighbor downstairs, Mr. Zdenek, brought a bottle of red wine over last night to toast my health. I didn't get to say goodbye to most of my students or coworkers which makes me a little sad. I hope I can come back to see them before the end of the school year, maybe at graduation.
Aaron and Aram are here to help me with my bags and we'll head to the train station soon. I kinda feel like I'm breaking up with the Czech Republic.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Bad News
I haven't written in a while and a lot has transpired since the afore mentioned hospital visit. I've been bounced around between 4 different doctors (one was a neurologist) with no possitive results and more importantly, no pain relief. I have missed 2 1/2 weeks of school. I came to the painful conclusion this past weekend that the jig is up, it is time to go home. So I will fly to Texas on Wednesday the 8th. I will seek alternative treatment. I have an appointment with an acupuncturist the following week. I pray this works as I don't want to have surgery again.
I can't tell you how hard it was to make this decision and how utterly sad it makes me. Two of my favourite students, Ludvik and Vaclav (yes, Ludvik, it's true!), came by my flat yesterday to say goodbye. They brought me a beautiful rose and a bottle of Hungarian wine (Vaclav's family is Hungarian). It was such a sad meeting.
I went to school yesterday to pack my things. I tried not to cry while I was there but it was impossible. So many students asked how I was. Many didn't know I was leaving. It's so hard to explain it to them. Please keep me in your prayers as this is one of the most difficult things I've ever gone through. I will go back on Monday to collect my pay and say my last goodbyes. :(
Today I will do some shopping and buy a few things I've always meant to get, but just haven't. Then I'll finish packing and hang with my friend Marianne. Hope y'all have a good weekend.
I haven't written in a while and a lot has transpired since the afore mentioned hospital visit. I've been bounced around between 4 different doctors (one was a neurologist) with no possitive results and more importantly, no pain relief. I have missed 2 1/2 weeks of school. I came to the painful conclusion this past weekend that the jig is up, it is time to go home. So I will fly to Texas on Wednesday the 8th. I will seek alternative treatment. I have an appointment with an acupuncturist the following week. I pray this works as I don't want to have surgery again.
I can't tell you how hard it was to make this decision and how utterly sad it makes me. Two of my favourite students, Ludvik and Vaclav (yes, Ludvik, it's true!), came by my flat yesterday to say goodbye. They brought me a beautiful rose and a bottle of Hungarian wine (Vaclav's family is Hungarian). It was such a sad meeting.
I went to school yesterday to pack my things. I tried not to cry while I was there but it was impossible. So many students asked how I was. Many didn't know I was leaving. It's so hard to explain it to them. Please keep me in your prayers as this is one of the most difficult things I've ever gone through. I will go back on Monday to collect my pay and say my last goodbyes. :(
Today I will do some shopping and buy a few things I've always meant to get, but just haven't. Then I'll finish packing and hang with my friend Marianne. Hope y'all have a good weekend.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Pirates! ARRRG!
My life has had a pirate theme as of late. I've been reading Under the Black Flag, a history about pirates. It has been quite interesting until the detailed chapter about the boats. Who cares about what kind of boats they had or what kind of rigging was used. Just tell me where Jean La Fitte hid his treasure, right?! This guy hasn't mentioned La Fitte or La Salle once, either. But I have learned a lot about Captain Kidd, Blackbeard and the Dread Pirate Roberts. I've got about twenty pages left so I hope to finish it tonight. Then on to Angels and Demons by Dan Brown.
The other pirate aspect of my life is due to the hospital I live behind. I have to walk through the hospital campus every day to school. And most days I see a sobering sight: Someone either walking to the hospital or out of the hospital with an eyepatch on. We (the other Cheb ESIers and I) have begun an eye patch alert and have made many jokes as to the origins of all the eye patches. We've decided that no matter what you go in for, you come out with out an eye. We're joking, of course, but it makes for some funny dinner conversations.
As many of you know, I have endometriosis which causes me a lot of pain. Walking in snow makes the pain worse and since I live in a country where it snows a lot, this makes walking to school difficult. On Thursday, I realized there was no way I could make it to school. The school told me I needed a doctor's excuse which I told them I couldn't get because I was in too much pain to walk to the doctor's office (almost a mile away.) They told me they would pick me up and take me to the hospital (which is about 100 yards from our front door.) I freaked out. I didn't want to go to the hospital. I told Sarah I was partial to both of my eyes. But I was told I wasn't to object and to the hospital I went.
I won't bore you with details. I was examed and sent home with a really BAD diagnosis but both eyes. But I will share the only funny thing about the visit. I had to give a urine sample. The nurse gave me a plastic cup that resembles a parfait glass. I was told to pee into it and bring it back. Pee into it? I didn't want to hold it. It looked like many people had used it before and it had not been cleaned. And this is what they wanted to use to diagnose me? Crazy! Also, the nurse said that I should drink more beer and I would feel better. This is a usual comment from Czechs when it comes to health. It never ceases to amaze me.
Just so you know, I am going to try acupuncture and a radical change in my diet to help control the pain. I am going to my regular doc on Tuesday. He also does acupuncture so I'll get more info about it then. I am also trying to get an appointment with an English speaking doc in Prague this week. Will update you on the situation soon.
My life has had a pirate theme as of late. I've been reading Under the Black Flag, a history about pirates. It has been quite interesting until the detailed chapter about the boats. Who cares about what kind of boats they had or what kind of rigging was used. Just tell me where Jean La Fitte hid his treasure, right?! This guy hasn't mentioned La Fitte or La Salle once, either. But I have learned a lot about Captain Kidd, Blackbeard and the Dread Pirate Roberts. I've got about twenty pages left so I hope to finish it tonight. Then on to Angels and Demons by Dan Brown.
The other pirate aspect of my life is due to the hospital I live behind. I have to walk through the hospital campus every day to school. And most days I see a sobering sight: Someone either walking to the hospital or out of the hospital with an eyepatch on. We (the other Cheb ESIers and I) have begun an eye patch alert and have made many jokes as to the origins of all the eye patches. We've decided that no matter what you go in for, you come out with out an eye. We're joking, of course, but it makes for some funny dinner conversations.
As many of you know, I have endometriosis which causes me a lot of pain. Walking in snow makes the pain worse and since I live in a country where it snows a lot, this makes walking to school difficult. On Thursday, I realized there was no way I could make it to school. The school told me I needed a doctor's excuse which I told them I couldn't get because I was in too much pain to walk to the doctor's office (almost a mile away.) They told me they would pick me up and take me to the hospital (which is about 100 yards from our front door.) I freaked out. I didn't want to go to the hospital. I told Sarah I was partial to both of my eyes. But I was told I wasn't to object and to the hospital I went.
I won't bore you with details. I was examed and sent home with a really BAD diagnosis but both eyes. But I will share the only funny thing about the visit. I had to give a urine sample. The nurse gave me a plastic cup that resembles a parfait glass. I was told to pee into it and bring it back. Pee into it? I didn't want to hold it. It looked like many people had used it before and it had not been cleaned. And this is what they wanted to use to diagnose me? Crazy! Also, the nurse said that I should drink more beer and I would feel better. This is a usual comment from Czechs when it comes to health. It never ceases to amaze me.
Just so you know, I am going to try acupuncture and a radical change in my diet to help control the pain. I am going to my regular doc on Tuesday. He also does acupuncture so I'll get more info about it then. I am also trying to get an appointment with an English speaking doc in Prague this week. Will update you on the situation soon.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Let it Snow!Not really, I don't like snow so much. But it is pretty when it is falling out of the sky. And I like how quiet everything seems when there's a lot of snow on the ground. I also like the crunchiness of freshly fallen snow under my feet. I'm a tactile person, if you didn't know. Who said tactless??? That wasn't funny! ;)
We actually haven't had much snow during the last week. But it decided to snow this morning, just a light dusting as I was walking to work. This picture is really for all you folks in the 80 degree Texas weather. I know y'all are complaining that you haven't had winter, yet. Well, consider this a gift of winter from me!
Hair today, gone tomorrow
Here's an after pic sans mullet. I know you wanted to see it. Sorry I took so long and that this is the only one I have. More to come, I promise.
Is it too early to be counting the days to Spring Break? It's 31, in case you're wondering!
Jess
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