carecare

Given that I have to move to SD at the end of the school year, I went to a job fair this past weekend to get myself, well, a job. Like many job fairs around the country, the lines were long and the job openings fews. It was like waiting in line for an hour at Disneyland to get on to Splash Mountain and then, for thirty seconds or so, having your nerves and adrenaline pump through your blood as you sit on the log, anticipating the big drop at the end.

Though I had to wait for what seemed forever to talk to the recruiters, I think the job fair was well worth my time. I networked with other teachers while passing the time and got my name out to some charter schools I am v. interested in working at. And I also learned just how good it is to have a math or science credential or be a special ed teacher b/c those are really the only openings that exist at a time like this.

Anyway, I thought I made an impression on two schools in particular at this job fair and was hoping to hear back from them soon. Like by yesterday. But I haven't. No worries though, yet -- both schools are on Spring Break this week. But this whole job fair experience reminded me of something I heard on NPR that made me chuckle...(i was gonna cut and paste just a part of it here...but couldn't decide what part to keep and what part to not...so here's the whole thing). Listen to it if you get a chance. It's from npr.org

Potential Employer Is Just Not That Into You

by Tania Khadder

 

Why won't he call? iStockphoto.com

 

Courtesy of Tania Khadder

Commentator Tania Khadder's long wait by the phone paid off — she did get the job in the end. But she still blogs at Unemploymentality.com.

 

Morning Edition, March 16, 2009 · My heart skips a beat every time I hear that trusty Nokia ring tone. I'm just a little disappointed when I see that it's only mom or dad. Or my best friend.

When the phone doesn't ring, I keep checking to make sure it's working, that it's not out of batteries, that nothing could stop someone from getting through.

Yes, I am waiting for a guy to call. But not just any guy — a potential employer.

And while this would-be professional relationship bears no resemblance to a romantic one — I'm not that desperate yet — the agony of waiting for him to call is the same.

The interview went so well. The conversation flowed nicely. We talked, not just about my professional qualifications, but about our shared love of indie rock, weekend aways, and the perfect mixed drink. He even introduced me to some of his colleagues.

The meeting offered a glimmer of hope amid my days of obsessively checking e-mail, blogging, searching the meager job boards and watching mind-numbing daytime television.

But now, as I wait impatiently for that phone call, I find myself reliving our encounter over and over again in my mind, searching for any sign of weakness or lack of chemistry.

Maybe I didn't know enough about widgets, plugins or other Web 2.0 jargon. Or maybe things just got too familiar, too fast.

I can't help wondering if there's someone else. Someone who speaks C++ or JavaScript. Someone younger or more confident. Someone better than me.

And I wonder if, instead of waiting for him to call, I should call him again. It's important to show interest, right? But I don't want to seem desperate or annoying.

I keep making excuses for him. Maybe work's really busy. Maybe there's been a family emergency. Maybe he just needs more time.

But I can only fool myself for so long. As people lose their jobs daily, I know he has his pick of talent. I need to get back out there and keep my options open. Because, of course, a more likely explanation for his silence is he's just not that into me.

Commentator Tania Khadder's long wait by the phone paid off — she did get the job in the end. But she still blogs at Unemploymentality.com.

carecare

So my brother sent me this picture....

Matt didn't like it very much. He thought it was stupid.

[Vince Carter, Julius Peppers, Makhtar N’diaye, and Antwan Jamison at the National Championship Game! Go HEELS!] 

carecare

I did it! I survived my first half marathon! (And I will prob. run more in the future b/c I had such an awesome time with this one. And I'm even thinking a full in the near future!)

Chesebro Half Marathon
This is a mostly trail race. The first three miles are on road, the next 7.5 miles are on trail and the last 2.5 miles are on road. This is the 6th year for this race.

Ok so, I ran almost the whole thing. I only walked up two steep parts. The elevation around mile 7 and mile 8 was too tiring to run up, so I walked up part of it.

I just looked up the results! I placed #523! hahah. I finished the race in about 2 hrs and 5 minutes, with a pace of a bout 9.32/mile. I think I can get under 2 hrs next time on a non-trail half.

before the race. i'm freezing cold. (lindsey, me, wayne, dave, paul)

after we finished! yay!

carecare

It's T-6 days until the Agoura Hills Marathon (which has the BEST after party apparently) and I find myself trying to "cram" for it. Old habits die hard.

This week, my schedule was going to look like this:

Monday: run 4 miles

Tuesday/Wednesday: soccer

Thursday: 6 miles

Saturday: soccer

Sunday: 10 miles

But after a bout with food poisoning and cold weather and rain (and really, a lack of motivation), I have not run at all. Like college, when I crammed the night before a midterm, I feel screwed.

I have 6 more days to go...let's see if I can get my butt out there to run....

carecare

One of my coworkers told me I HAD to see this Simpsons episode about the "Vice Presidential Testing," a standardized test that all students have to take that determines how much $$ the school gets. Watch it and maybe you'll get a glimpse of the kind of pressure that teachers and students feel when mid-May comes around...