A Bleak Year in Review. Goodbye 2009

January - Somewhere around the 10th, found out high school friend died from overdose. Cried for days. Attended first funeral. Realized all the jerks in high school? Still jerks now. Started working with 26 fourth graders on the 20th. 26 fourth graders, two of whom spoke English as there native language. Got the privilege of parent teacher conferences on my second day of school. Good times! Dad's dr appointment revealed that he was still clear from cancer!
February - Uncle went into hospital around the fifth. Came home morning of the tenth, passed away that afternoon. Not sure I ever cried. He was sick for several years, was not that shocking. Missed school on the eleventh because I woke up sick. Had to start over at day 1 on the long term scale. Expensive illness I had. Celebration of life on the 26th. Lots of people I didn't know came to celebrate my uncle. Was very bittersweet.
March - K turned 6! Gosh, how time does fly. Can't remember anything else of note this month.
April - Disneyland/LA. Five days. Friend who wouldn't take care of own daughter. Yelled at me for random things that I didn't do wrong and could have been done her way if she'd have bothered. Since she didn't, she had no room to talk. Stayed with abrasive grandparents. Was fun trip in the end, but the little things are what sticks out.
May - Mom decided she needed to go see her sister. Her sister who a year before was diagnosed with fourth stage breast cancer and was not doing well. I offered to go stay with my cousin's kids while they were going out of town, if they bought the plane ticket. Shot my first wedding. Will probably be only wedding I shoot in the forseeable future.
June - School year ended. Still had 26 fourth graders who didn't listen to a thing I said. Weekend in Napa with three year old and her mom. Didn't hear from them again until last month, have NO idea what went wrong. Flew to Canada. Said goodbye to aunt.
July- Canada Day! Fun week with the kids while my cousin was out of town. Came home on the eighth (B's 10th birthday!), we went to a baseball game with front row seats on the tenth. Aunt died the 12th. Cried. and Cried. and Cried. 
August - My birthday. My mother held a "birthday dinner" in which I was not allowed to invite anyone. Basically the neighbors came over and ate and didn't even know it was my day. Decided to go to baseball on Sept 5th, my aunt's birthday, for Breast Cancer Awareness Day
September - On the third, woken up at 5am by text message "I'm in labor". Best friend had baby girl 5 weeks early. Cancelled baseball trip. Baby was in NICU, I was not leaving. Friend told me to go. I fell apart at baseball. Release of doves was too much for me to handle. Fell in love with baby girl A. Head over heels in love. She's perfect. Came home from NICU after only four days. Dad had another clean bill of health from doctor
October - I've got nothing. Really don't remember October. Trick or treated with K on the 30th and went to parade on 31st, but that's it. Hmm... Is this when I reclaimed my blog? Maybe. That was good point.
November - Took Christmas pics of the kids for cards. Love a couple of the shots and realize that shooting kids is infinitely more fun than shooting adults. Went to Vegas for Thanksgiving. See Disneyland trip, minus abrasive grandparents, add twelve week old. Oh my!
December - Roughest month of them all for sure. Cried a lot. Found out K and B are moving effective January 9th. Cried some more. Applied for jobs. Heard nothing. Applied for more. Still waiting. Did I mention tears? There were a lot of them. Spent last three days of year with K. Spoiled her rotten. Lots of outings, lunch dates two of the days. She's leaving. She deserved it. Managed to not cry in front of her. Not much anyhow.


In 2010, I hope to move.
I hope to finally have a teaching job.
I hope to be happy.
I hope to learn to sleep again.
I hope to stay healthy.
I hope that my father's cancer stays gone.
I hope for brighter moments.

2009 can go away now. This year was full of heartache for myself, my family and many of my friends. Only highlight of 2009 is that I made so many more friends through twitter. At least they kept me smiling through sleepless night after sleepless night.

And the winner is...

Cassie! Congratulations!

Email me to claim your prize.

iCaroler Review (and giveaway!)

(Note: I've never done a giveaway before, and my reviewing skills are not so great - go easy on me)

This week, because of the cool people I know on Twitter, I got to play around with iCaroler (http://bit.ly/iCaroler), a new iPhone application from SeismicGames.

iCaroler features 6 Carolers who sing a song of your choice (Jingle Bells, Deck the Halls, Carol of the Bells and 12 Days of Christmas). The graphics are very high quality and the controls are easy to use. You can hook it up with friends who also have the app and create a larger chorus (I did not do this as I don't know many others with iPhones, but think it would be fun!).

When the carolers are performing, you can swipe one to bring them to the front, which gives them the 'spotlight' and their singing is louder than the rest. You also have the option to mute singers by tapping on them (tap again, and they are back to harmonizing).

See the one shadowed out? He's muted for now.

Overall, I was impressed by this app. I think it would be a lot of fun to use to occupy the kids (yeah, right - as if they need another reason to steal my phone!), but also that my adult friends would enjoy it as well. The one thing I wish is that there was a wider variety of song choice. My favorite Christmas carols are mainly religious ones (Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Little Drummer Boy and Angels We Have Heard On High, in particular) although I will listen to all Christmas music. It would be fun to have a few of those songs on the iCaroler app.

Want it?

You can go here and buy it for only 0.99 (yay for 99 cent apps! My favorites by far!).

I also have a free code that you can redeem in the iTunes store. To enter the giveaway, leave a comment (any comment! really, i'm not picky!) on this post. For one additional entry, tweet about this contest (post another comment with the link to your tweet!).

This contest is open until December 18th. At that point I will draw a random winner.

Good luck!

For I know the plans I have for you

Driving home Friday night, I prayed. For guidance. For direction. For help.

Yesterday morning B informed me that they are moving. In three weeks. 1100 miles away.

Yesterday morning I found two teaching positions posted online.

In the last 24 hours I have applied for two teaching jobs. And filled out the application for a teaching license.

In Colorado.

I've never been to either of the communities I'm applying in. And yet, I'm fairly at peace with this.

I'm ready to move and things seem to be falling in place. I hope I get calls for interviews tomorrow. And that they are willing to interview over the phone and accept that my license is in the works.

I hope that the university and school district reply in a timely manner so that all my paperwork can go through.

This is a huge step for me. But one that will help me put this year behind me, I hope.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone