So I'm on a computer temporarily, and first of all, I have to say... Wow!  I've been looking at vizzed from a phone for so long that I had no idea how different it looks now!  I don't remember when I sold my laptop, but so much can happen in <insert appropriate amount of time>!

So I figured I'd update you guys (again!).  When I could spare some time around here several months ago, I told you that I was worried about getting a job.  Usually, math teachers are gobbled up by the public school system and I only had three interviews ALL summer. I applied to every available job within an hour's drive (17 applications), and ended up getting a job that was a 65 minute drive away.  I wasn't thrilled, but I'm the breadwinner and so took the job.

The school is located in the 'backwoods', so to speak.  The town is so tiny that there is only one school which contains all grades.  It's the social hub and nearly everyone that attends has parents that are farmers.  The town and the school district are immensely poor and seem to take pride in it.  Unfortunately, this means that the kids grow up being told they're poor, believing they're poor, and not seeing much of a future for themselves.  At first, I was really excited about teaching in a small place.  It didn't take long for my zeal to die off though.  Thanks to the 'air of dread' that surrounds everyone there, kids don't value school at ALL. Furthermore, since all grades attend at the same building, I have many duties typically associated with elementary schools.  High schoolers, for example, have "recess" and I have to oversee this time period.  I also have to sit with my high schoolers at lunch and we have an assigned table.  I'm teaching FOUR subjects (which for high school is insane.  It's kind of like quadrupling a normal workload), and I'm also teaching one class of 8th graders... an age group I've never had to deal with before.

At the very beginning of the year, the principal had two family emergencies which meant she chose to take medical leave for the year.  The town being so small, the school's only option at that point was to basically promote the assistant principal to her position.  He does not want the job, nor does he have any inkling on HOW to do it.  It almost seems, as a matter of fact, that NOBODY there knows how a school should be run. I won't bore any of you with the details, but it feels as though a bunch of adults simply got together and said "Hey... we know.... let's start a school!"  There is no sense of accountability whatsoever.  Although some people might celebrate over this fact, it honestly makes the job MUCH MUCH harder.  

For example, I went into labor 12 days earlier than my due date.  The school had NO sub for me despite me asking for them to find me one for 2 months. Furthermore, they didn't have one for me for two whole weeks. I kept being told I had a sub, only to go into the computer and find that I had none.  I spent two weeks of my maternity leave writing notes, writings assignments, grading things, etc.... all from home.  Talk about being robbed of my leave.  (Plus, doing it from home takes SOOOOO much longer than if I had just been in my classroom.)

I'm also pretty sure that I'm supposed to have one more week of leave, but I couldn't get the board of education to understand how they were calculating my days wrong... and I gave up on that battle.

So long story short.... I have a pay check, but I HATE my new teaching job.  I hate it even more than my Birmingham job.  If you've read through my old rants and can impress me by remembering them.... you'll understand what an immense statement that is.  As SOON as January rolls around, I'm sooo applying to new teaching jobs.

Another reason that the job is unappealing is.. of course... the two hours I spend driving every day.  Except it gets worse.... in May we were rear-ended and the insurance company refused to give our car back.  They claimed the damage done was more than the car was worth... but that to me seems like a complete lie.  Well, we don't have the money for a new car and so we've been borrowing my in-law's car.  It's old and has some technical issue where it eats too much gas.  Plus it uses premium.  So I have to fill the tank every other day, and gas is costing us about $250 a month.

In other news, I did get a second job (part time) working at a community college!  That's right... you can call me professor.  JK!  It's a super easy job and I LOVE it.  I basically act as a tutor in a math lab, but I'm technically an instructor.  The only downside is that I go there immediately after getting off work from the high school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I don't get home until almost 10pm.  Thus, Tuesdays and Thursdays, I don't see my husband or my little boys at ALL.   I'm practically addicted to my 1 year old, so this is really hard for me. However, on top of the additional (needed) pay, I felt it was a sacrifice towards a better future.  I've always found teaching at a high school to be so stressful and time consuming; it'd be nice to teach at a college full time.  It seems to be hard to get into the college job field, so I saw this as a bittersweet open door I shouldn't ignore.  Heck, I didn't even have to be interviewed. The college was in desperate need and just called me to say "Hey, can you come in for us next week?"

I've also had an ear infection for 6 weeks.  I've never had one before, but this one DRAINED me of all energy for three weeks before I finally saw a doctor.  Then, my oldest child got sick for about 8 days, and now my husband has been sick with strep throat for 2 weeks.  Thus, the last 9 weeks have been super... super exhausting for me. I haven't even seen my husband more than a handful of times these past two weeks because he sequestered himself in the bedroom.  Thus, I've been in charge of EVERYTHING 24/7... the babies, the chores, obligations, cooking, etc.

I saved the best news for last... for those that make it here. I went into labor on labor day!!!  I had another little boy whose name is Josiah Konrad Singell.  He's very precious of course, and now my hands REALLY are full!  Already, his personality is very different from that of his older brother, who celebrated his first birthday on October 1st. I really, really wanted to share pictures with you all, but I can't do that from my phone, nor from this computer.  Maybe I'll find a way to do so before next week when I return to the high school. (*sobs and cries*)

There is one other piece of news, but I'll probably share that in a separate thread. A) Who likes to read a huge wall of text like I'm apt to type? B) I'm almost done here at the college and will have to log off.  C) It's a biggie that deals with old rants and deserves its own topic.

I'm sorry if this is shoddily written. I was trying to beat the clock.   As always, love you all. I wish I could keep in touch more often, and I'm sorry for not doing so.  

Yet again no mini Singelli? Sometimes is so hard to not give up on the world...

Anyway, it's nice to hear from you again, if you include even if it's a tiny bit of good news then it's amazing. You're going through a rocky stage of your life and you simply cannot have time for everything, we fully understand.

I still remember how you abruptly left in January last year. Things sure have changed since then (wish I could say the same because I've just gotten more phat and lazy). I like how you keep trying your best no matter what, and I'm sure better times will eventually come to reward your endurance.

I hope you manage to keep climbing bit by bit. All the best of luck for you and your ever growing family!

It's great to hear from you again, Singelli!!

Oh man, I can only imagine how terrible that school is...I feel so sorry for everybody there. Those poor kids, and the poor you who works there. Hopefully you can drop that job any day now!!! Professor Singelli needs a proper teaching gig, darn it!

Awwwww, congratulations on the baby! Joel and Josiah both sound absolutely adorable! I hope you all have a very, very, very happy together. Best of luck to you and your family! I'll keep you all in my prayers.

It is nice to hear from you again,Singelli. You encouraged me when I was banned from Vizzed and reminded me that I not wrong,but maybe my approach was wrong.

I hope things get better for you and it sounds like life decided to load a butt-load of tennis balls at you,dump them in an automatic serving machine and pelt you repeatedly. You seem to come through it all and I applaud your determination and tenacity. I hope you can find a proper teaching position and high schools,regardless of location,seem to depress most people.

As i said earlier, congrats with Josiah! We've been talking about this already, so i have no questions anymore for him.

Geez, if i was reading it correctly... Sorry to hear about the bad news. But think of this: It will eventually turn out from bad to good. Still, that's pretty bad. Good luck with it and Josiah! (Oh, and your husband and Joel, of course. )

I would love to hear more from you if you got some news!

Also, welcome back! Guys, sing a song for Singelli! Just kidding. It's nice, but i won't force people to sing a song for Singelli.

EDIT: How much smilies am i going to use...holy pudding...