Still Waiting

Exactly two months ago I mentioned that I was trying to apply for teaching positions in the UK and also for a separate visitor's visa to go back for a short visit before the start of the school year. Well, I'm STILL waiting to hear about the visitor's visa!

I completed my application online at the end of June but didn't have my appointment for my photograph and fingerprints until early July. Then when my application arrived at the British Consulate they had it over a week before they opened it. I got an email at that point, saying that if everything was in order they could make a decision within 24 hrs. Of course that was on a Friday afternoon, so I wouldn't know anything 'til Monday afternoon. Surprisingly, they emailed me Monday afternoon -- NOT saying I was granted the visa as I hoped, but saying they would need 15 more days to process my request and make further inquiries!

Good grief! What do they think I'm trying to do???

Because I'm having such a hard time getting a VISITOR'S visa, I figured there's no way they'll grant me a work permit! So I've had to shelf that plan for the time being. Something else is in the works, tho. But I don't know if it will happen for sure, so I won't say anything just yet.

In the meantime I plan to still wait for word on my visa and to start the school year substitute teaching. I'm not going to commit to a full-time position just yet, in case what I'm looking into/thinking about doing happens.

So, I've had a wonderful summer of waiting and exercising patience! And I can't believe it's nearly AUGUST! Some of my poor friends and former coworkers at my old school already go back to work on Monday. So glad I got outta that place when and how I did!

"Tell me all your thoughts on..."

...the olympics!

I've watched more summer olympics this year than I have in my whole life. And I'm actually loving it!

I'm officially a Phelps phan!

And I'm in love with the mens gymnastics team, esp Jonathan Horton. I love the sportsmanship they showed and the fact that they graciously accepted scores well below what they earned in some events, and didn't complain when other countries (particularly China) scored higher than they should have (the same could be said for the womens' team as well). I loved how they rallied behind each other and how Horton constantly encouraged his teammates, took every opportunity to speak excitedly to the cameras, and thanked God for getting them on the medal stand. I loved how they didn't blame a teammate for making a mistake; they each knew they could of easily been the one in that position. Most of all, I loved how they joyously celebrated the fact that they won the bronze! Absolutely no disappointment for not medalling higher or for losing the lead they had early on!

Going back to Phelps: I love watching his mom and sisters as they watch him race. His mom is a nervous wreck every single time. And one sister in particular is balling her eyes out before he even finishes the race! And I don't get the feeling that he's arrogant about all his wins (a total of TEN career gold medals so far!!!); it's almost as though he's racing against himself, seeing how far he can push himself and not necessarily overly concerning himself with his other competitors. Granted, I'm positive he knows they're there! But his goal isn't to grind them to dust . . . or since he's a swimmer would that be "feed them to the fish?"

I love the Misty May-Treanor & Kerri Walsh volleyball duo. Specifically the deep friendship and obvious love and concern for each other.

I think it's funny that every time she pulls her goggles down around her eyes before a race begins, Katie Hoff has deep circle lines around her forehead where her goggles had just been. And then she always rubs along the bottom of the goggles as a nervous habit. At least, I think it's Hoff; they all look completely different once those swim caps come off!

The absolute best moment was the mens 400 freestyle relay. Especially after the French were talking crap about demolishing the Americans! This video is British, but even the American commentator was going on and on and ON about how every way he worked it out there was absolutely NO WAY the Americans could win, the French were just too good. Every American (and non-American) needs to see this, even those of you reading who aren't into the Olympics at all (Bird). Seriously. And I'm posting the 4 minute version, not the 8 minute version you could only see on the [be warned] extremely shady site here. I love how in the 8 min version the French guy with the big mouth stays in the water, stunned, for a solid 5 minutes! And oh, how the Americans celebrate! Quick, go watch before You Tube bans the video: TOO LATE! But I replaced it with the longer version:



Eight one-hundreths of a SECOND, people.

Amazing!

In honor of the Olympics

Something that makes me tear up every time I watch:



The first time I saw footage of this was when Jimmy used a clip in a sermon illustration about 6-8 years ago. An excellent example of the Father Heart of God. Powerful stuff.

In this clip Derek Redmond is recalling the events:

Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars

Apparently, that's my price.

That's the amount I'll get paid for working summer school for 20 days.

*sigh*

You see, what had happened was, I went to offer my services as a sub.

Twenty minutes later I left scratching my head, wondering how in the world they got me to agree to teach the full term.

Those wily co-lead teachers of mine who call themselves my friends!

But I figured since I'm not going back to work at the beginning of August I'll have a bit more time to recover.

I'm actually not all that tired.

Perhaps it's the 12+ hrs of sleep I got every night last weekend.

So, yeah, I'm teaching summer school.

All those brilliant and insightful blog posts I have rolling around in my head will just have to wait a wee bit longer before finding their release.

And I'm thankful I'll have a couple thousand more to add to my England Fund.

I just wish the dollar wasn't so weak up against the GB pound!

I've had AT LEAST 4 migraines in the past 10 days

However, when I was picnicking here:



And saying hello to these guys:



And riding through these streets:



And walking across this river:



And getting lost and caught in the rain here:



And reading in the cafe:



And skipping down narrow streets:



And wearing a sweater and scarf in the middle of August:



And drinking wine out of mugs in the park surrounded by patriotic British people, with live classical music playing in the background:



And reading on the train:




I never ONCE had a regular headache, yet alone a migraine. What gives???

UGH!

Can't believe I'll already be heading home in less than 3 days. How is it possible for two weeks to pass so quickly, yet it still feels like I've been here forever? I guess cause this place fits so well and feels so much like home, minus my family; therefore, I feel like I never left.

I've taken lots of great pics and I'll post some tomorrow because I can't be bothered to go upstairs and get my camera cord. Besides, I'm going down to Brighton tomorrow (a city on the southern coast) and I'm sure I'll have more pics to upload. So I might as well do it all in one go.

Well, just wanted to check in and let u all know that all is well with me. Minus the fact that I go back to work in less than a week. Ugh! I need some serious prayer: 1.) That I'll start the new school year off with the right attitude and 2.) That I'll actually get on the airplane Thurs afternoon. They're still offering me a job here at The Nightshelter . . . too bad it's voluntary and I'll only get a small stipend that won't even pay half my monthly student loan payments. Ugh! This being a responsible grown-up thing is sooooo overrated!

The Prodigal Returns

But no slaughtering of a fatted calf, or whatever, for me. No sir e. More like 15 minutes on the spin bike (which inflicts pain upon areas that God never intended to receive pain apart from childbirth). 2 miles walking at 4.0 and 3.5 on an incline. I had to reduce the incline cause i was nearly falling off the treadmill! Plus 250 knee lifts. Then outside for 4 laps around the parking lot (which equals a mile). Then this weird kicking thing where u get a partner and, beginning w/ the right leg, alternate kicking at each other's waist at the same time. 2 sets of 40 and 2 sets of 50 kicks. Then another 2 laps around the parking lot. Then suicides -- where u run to the first line, touch it, run back to the starting line, touch it, run to the 2nd line, touch it, run back-- I think u get the idea. When I got home I made a beeline to the spa. Unfortunately it took 20 min to heat up, so I occupied my time w/ eating a nice South Beach dinner of halibut, brown rice, and roasted brussel sprouts. Mmmm . . .

Anyway, that's what happens when you don't see your trainer for nearly a week. He tries to kill you.

So I'm still amazed that summer is SPEEDING BY. It's crazy! I've had trainings this week and last. They've been very informative. But the best part (besides that they were free cause my school actually paid for them) is all the free stuff I've received. Literally hundreds of dollars worth of materials. It's awesome! Today's seminar I had to pay - a whole $20 - but I won a door prize AND got 3 reference books. I love this teacher training stuff! Esp since I get to see at least 3 or 4 friends at each session!

So that's how I've been spending my time. What about you?

Oh, and did I mention I'm going to England next week? Very excited! I'll be there for 17 days! Mostly in Bedford but I'll go up to Sheffield to visit some friends and down to London to visit another friend and I hope to see more of the country; something that didn't happen on my previous visits cause I was working or visiting w/ people. So far my friend Justyna and I have trips planned for Brighton (which I always read about in Jane Austen books) and Cambridge (which I know will make me want to go to grad school -- at Cambridge. Keep dreaming, Deb). I'd love to visit Ireland or Scotland, but Justyna's Polish passport has expired and she may get deported if she gets caught. Something I don't think her hubby would appreciate . . .

Summer To Do List

I'm a bit panicked cause I blinked and it's already the last days of June. How the heck did that happen?!

When I dreamed of summer during those long days of educating America's future generation, I had many hopes and dreams for how I would spend my days. What have I accomplished, you ask? Well, let's see, I've gone swimming multiple times a week, my tan is looking nice, I found a place near my house that threads for cheaper than the place I used to go to last year, and I've gone swimming multiple times a week. Yup, that about sums it up.

In an effort not to waste the rest of my summer, I'm typing out my summer to do list here. Hopefully, seeing it in black and white will breathe some life into my summer plans and prompt me to get to work!

So, I present to you, in no particular order, my Summer To Do List:

1. Organize the boxes of papers I brought home from school w/ me.

2. Finish unpacking and organizing my room (honestly, this may not happen, but I really hope it does!)

3. Sort through my classroom materials (yes, this is different from #1).

4. Finish reading Watership Down, Anna Karenina, the lastest Wheel of Time book, and the numerous other books I started reading in the past year(s) that I have yet to finish.

5. Go to England (unfortunately just to visit, not to live).

6. See Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix at IMAX in 3D!

7. Visit Waco (especially Antioch -- I sure do miss that church!)


Hmmm . . . when I began writing this post I thought my list would be much longer than this . . .

Well, I guess it's enough to get me started and keep me busy. Hopefully I get it all done! Why am I such a procrastinator???