Feels like I've done this before...

I spent 4 hours today in front of my computer filling out applications, or just going through the listings of open positions in Wisconsin. I believe that at the last count, I was up to 23 positions applied for, and about 10 more that just need my resume and credentials. I don't know if I even searched this hard the past two summers. I knew that I needed jobs, but I don't think I wanted to find any...well, last summer I did. I wanted to find one in the state. I'm hoping that something comes of this job search. I really want to come home now. I was talking to Adrienne today about how I can say that I at least moved out here. In my first outing from home, and first real job in my field, I moved 2000 miles away from home to Las Vegas. I can tell my kids that I got my tattoo while I was living in Las Vegas in my 20s. I can now tell people of my first teaching position that I had...in Las Vegas. Many people can't believe I moved out to Las Vegas by myself. I can't believe I did it either. I never thought I would do this. In August at grandma's 100th birthday party I was telling my family that if Sue was going to go to UNLV's Law School, then maybe I'd THINK about moving out here to teach knowing they need teachers all the time out here. A few weeks later was when Mary called me, and the debating began. It was a lot of debating, and a lot of tears. Just ask Patty and Dan. They were there the night everything was brought up...but I did learn that I have the greatest friends through this. Not just anyone has friends who will throw them a surprise going away party without even having job...and keeping it a secret! It's these things that I miss, and want to go home to. I know that they won't always be there (in Wisconsin), but they're there now, and I think my teaching experiences will be better if I have some people to turn to when I need them. I know that I can turn to them now, but they're 2000 miles away. I really don't have anyone here my age to turn to. There are other reasons that I want to come back to Wisconsin, but I think we all know why.

Yesterday I spent hours with Dan trying to figure out what he was going to do for this summer. Should he commute from Madison to Oshkosh everyday? Should he sublet his apartment and find one up in Oshkosh for the summer? I went to all sorts of websites for him to see if we could find anything for him. Nothing really came up, but I contacted a couple of people I know up in Oshkosh. I haven't talked to them in years, but oh well, anything to help him. This proves that I DO have a heart sometimes.

Wednesday turned out to be a great day. I left the house to pick up Mary for shopping "early" (and I consider leaving my apartment at 10:40am early). I got there, dropped off the pumpkin pie I baked for Roger, and we were off. I was worried about the pie, seeing as how Roger was pulling up to the house as we were taking off. I half expected it to be finished when we came back. It was an adventure shopping. I still hadn't found much at Old Navy. I was disappointed, but I was able to find a pair of capris that I can wear to school when I go back. We headed off to the mall for Mary to find hats. She was trying them on, and told me she didn't really need a mirror since she could tell by my face whether the hats looked good on her. Guess I shouldn't play poker anytime soon, huh? We went to lunch together, and it was fun. We got to talk about school stuff, and other things that were going on. We went to an interesting place for lunch. We went to Sweet Tomatoes. It's a big salad bar place. It has the salad bar, but then it also has a soup, bakery, and pasta bar. I didn't know what to think of it at first, but it was really good. It was refreshing. We headed back to her place, and on the way home we ran into traffic. I showed her Sue's graduation present, and she loved it. She couldn't believe I could do all of the work on it so quickly. It wasn't really quick, I just had free time and didn't want to leave it unfinished. When we got back to her place, I came in and sat down with her and Roger. It was like I was living with them again. I helped make dinner, and everything. It was weird eating dinner just 2 hours after finishing lunch, but oh well. I had fun mocking Roger, and he had fun giving it right back. I helped him move a chair to his backyard (or cement slab...depends on who you're asking). Mary almost killed us for moving it. It wasn't that heavy. As Roger and I were outside moving the chair Mary asked if I wanted to take roses home. Like I was going to refuse roses! That turned out to be a chore for Roger. He ended up pruning the rose bushes after he cut some roses for me. It was really awesome seeing them again. I may see if I can start a weekly dinner with them. I always have a fun time when I see them!

Tonight I just sat around and watched TV. I made tacos and a margarita for dinner since it was Cinco de Mayo, and vegged. I ran to WalMart to get hangers and Rice Krispie Treats (which I forgot to get!). I came home and made an irish cream shake. Yeah, I was being an alcoholic tonight, but I needed the drinks after this week. And again, watched TV. Granted it was quality TV. Who wouldn't enjoy a night of a new episode of Degrassi and season 10 of Friends on DVD. Good times...