Andddd the Roller Coaster Continues!

"Transition. It's a real tough thing, especially when it's for the first time."  -Kenny Chesney


Transition. Or transitions, rather. That is exactly what my first year living here in Arkansas has been all about!  A whole lot of them.  And they certainly have been TOUGH!  Above is actually not a song, just a very fitting quote for me.

Now, I am well into my second semester of my first year of teaching (which is crazy hard to believe!). I feel like some days I am doing all I can to get through the day while others I feel like I am a pro and have everything together.  That's. first year for ya, on top of the fact I feel like mine started out crazy to begin with.  I say all of this, not because it's a bad thing, but because I think I am getting one of the best experiences possible, considering the circumstances!  I try really hard to find the positive in everything I do, even though I do have my emotional moments took

I'm beyond proud of my students, and everyday I hear things about them, get compliments for them, or even hear them say things that make me proud.  Just the other day another teacher told my assistant how impressed she was by how polite my students were when they came to her computer class, and that they always say please and thank you.  Even at lunch my kids try and day things like "may you open this ketchup please Miss Mackay?"  I am so proud of them when I hear them using manners, and when I see how well they CAN (because we have our bad days too) act in the hall compared to other classes all through the school!

I'm learning a lot from them, and my excitement and anger and love and frustration for education grows daily.  I still do a lot of thinking when it comes to potentially being a principal in a school; though that's still a ways a way, if I choose to do that.

Now to change subjects- my reign of bad luck, and doing what I'm doing down here in spite of all the curve balls I keep getting, is still going strong... =(. These past two weeks I had the unfortunate luck of getting some kind of cold!  We all know how much I HATE going to the doctor, but I did break down and go Friday because my ear had finally started bothering me so much.  I got three different prescriptions and spent a lovely $60+ dollars between meds/copay.  I alsooooo decided this last Monday to get my oil changed, tires rotated, and my tires aligned, another 109.00.... (Boo!). ONLYYYYY to have my Jeep decide it was time to not move on with me =(. My transmission is a goner now, along with the fact I'm now not driving myself anywhere! I'm not looking forward to the repair cost/ or a possible new car... Neither were in the budget, butttttt I knew it would happen at some point.  Obviously I will figure it out and make something work- though it figured this would happen! Of course every possible thing that can go wrong with moving away from everyone you know has happened to me!!! You would think whoever keeps giving me all this bad luck would realize I'm not going anywhere!!!


On the bright side of things, and saving the best for last, I really have met some wonderful people down.  You've all heard about some of the friends I've made, and that I get along pretty well with everyone at my school. Soooo that had worked out in my favor for all this craziness!  I also mentioned a while back that a guy had asked me to dinner.  That guy, Will, has turned out to be pretty wonderful as well!  He has been more than supportive and helpful this weekend with my mess of a self, and aside from that, is just pretty great period.  I know Grandma, you're waiting on a picture!  I really did take one this weekend, but it didn't turn out good, so I will get another one for you soon!

Hope you're all doing well! Miss you!!

Back To School- Semester 2!

"There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down, but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know it, but
These are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep goin',
And I, I gotta be strong
Just keep pushing on..."

-Miley Cyrus, The Climb

Yes, I know, I know- a Miley Cyrus song... but it has good lyrics!  Anyhow- back to the grind I go... school has started back up and the third semester is rolling.  We actually started school last Thursday, and this week has pretty much been pre-tests for everything coming up.

Last week the kiddos we're sooooo quiet... it was quite strange, because my bunch... well they are never the quiet kids....  I'm pretty sure they were also not ready to be back.

To break for just a moment- I had a WONDERFUL break back home in North Carolina, even if it was only a week!  It was much needed, and even though it may not have been the most restful trip, it was only because I attempted to use every minute to see friends and family!  If I didn't see you for whatever reason... well believe me, you will be seen next time I am home! =)  I did eat at a couple of places I've missed, walked through a Harris Teeter, (yes... I'm odd- but only having a Walmart and a VERY tiny grocery store is just not the same.... Oh and of course Harris Teeter has those wonderful free cookies, and all kinds of samples!)  I visited TARGET!!!!, saw a movie for the first time in MONTHS, went to a mall, saw the super exciting Christmas lights, saw some of my old Bruster's favorites actually skadoodle for me, (a random slide I made them do every night before they left- the pride and joy of my evening ritual!) and of course went in a million other stores, and ate lots of good food! 

I should tell you that OF COURSE... there would be a bit of bad luck, because who I, if not the princess of bad luck?!  Of course I rented a car to come home, and drove all the way back to Greensboro from Helena... well of course, getting up on Christmas Eve morning to do ALL of my Christmas shopping (as there aren't many places to get gifts here...) I walk outside to a flat tire and a rim missing.  Yes, yet another rental car to let me down!  My dad followed me up to put air in the tire, just to listen to it leak right back out. (of course.)  We went up to Enterpise and they sent us to Firestone to have it fixed.  I spent the good part of my morning waiting on that to be fixed, BUT Enterprise was wonderful about it.  They ended up giving me a discount on my total rental price, apologized so many times, and I was not responsible for any repairs, as it wasn't my fault.  So- I can't be too mad, just another bad-luck, but funny story to add!

Back to school-  This week my students have been back to themselves completely.  I've heard so many more good kid quotes, and sure there are more to come... Let me share:

One kid:  "Mi Mukay- it's cold in hereeee!"

Me:  "Yeah, you'll warm up though, just rub your arms for a minute!"

Kid:  "Nah, look I can put 'em in my shirt! It be hot in here!"  (kid proceeds to tuck his arms into his shirt..) 

One morning before school:  (and get ready for this, because I certainly wasn't and it makes me cringe..) Older sister of one of my students:  "Ms. Mackay, ________ won't be here for a while, just so you know.)

Me:  "Oh no!  Why not?  We will miss him!"

Sister:  "He's having his circumsision."

Me: "Oh, okay, thanks for letting me know...."  (awkwardly moving on to the next thing on my to-do list now...)

I have some more, but I'll save them for another day!! 

I miss you all!