aliiiiive

The Good:

- I'm working in a high school this quarter, logging about 40 hours between the end of September to Thanksgiving for an MIT requirement. It's fantastic. I'm in two classes: a 9th grade remedial reading/writing class, and a senior AP lit course. It's about as extreme a difference as I can get, and though it's definitely hard to keep on my toes, it's so, so great to finally be doing something that's so directly related to teaching. I mean, seriously.
- When talking about me (in tones that they obviously think I can't hear), they refer to me as "teacher lady." They think I'm a teacher lady! Bahahaha.
- I'm only taking two other classes this quarter, so my homework load is really manageable. Lots of time for movies.
- I found an apartment to sublease for the quarter, and it came partially furnished. I'm now happily camped out in a cheap room with a nice roommate, and am good to go until December. (I do, however, miss my bed back home.)
- Mike and I celebrated our four year anniversary yesterday! I'm so happy that we've made it this far, and can't wait to see what the next years bring us. We've been through a lot and gotten through it all, and along with being very happily in love, I'm also really proud of us for all of the work we've put in for one another.
- My brother is getting married next week! My future sister-in-law is wonderful, and the wedding is going to be such a celebration. I can't wait to fly out to Cincinnati!
- We went to the opening night game for the Seattle Thunderbirds! ... We lost terribly, but it was still really fun. There was a pretty impressive fight, which at first made me really excited, but then my maternal instincts kicked in, and I became very nervous that one man was punching another man in the head.
- Tonight is Oktoberfest! Or, as I call it in honor of my tuba-playing friend whose band is leading the night, Oktubafest! I'm very excited for polka, beer, and German food.

The Bad
- Of the two classes I'm taking, only one is good. The other is with the semi-crazy professor I mentioned back in March. She seems to have leveled out a bit more this quarter, but is still not quite as grounded as we'd like. Lots of "let's talk about how we felt about the reading. Now let's talk about why we felt that way. How are we doing? Let's take a class temperature of how we're feeling." The readings she's giving us are okay, but would be far more practical if we were actually, you know. Teachers. Not teacher candidates. Not teacher hopefuls. But people who actually had students on whom to practice. Anyway.
- I am poor. I also have no restraint when it comes to spending money, so that's mostly my own fault, but still. Poor, poor graduate student.

The Ugly

- My car is very, very sad. The brakes need to be replaced soon, and there's something weird going on in the engine. My dad has looked the car over, and knows what needs to be dealt with. He's offered to fix everything for me, which will save me about a thousand dollars. But. (Here's the catch.) I have to give him my car for two weeks, which at this point I just can't do. I don't have any other form of transportation, so I'm kind of stuck. And meanwhile, my car is only getting sadder. Wah.