Daddy Day

Grandpa and Grandma couldn't make it, so Shane had a Daddy Day.

First, we went to school. I had sub plans to write!

Shane loves my school (the glamour has worn off for the students). He gets treated like a rock-star and showered with attention and presents. Today, Shane got a chocolate covered strawberry, silly putty, hugs, fruit snacks, silly putt, a handheld fan, some shiny green rocks, and lots of oohs and aahs. An impressive haul.

When we came home, Shane immediately put his hand fan to work terrorizing the pets. 

Jack was the first victim.

We spent the next while playing with Shane's hoard of freebies.

Soon, the great outdoors called. I'm a big believer in little kids belong outside. When I started to look for useful things to do, Shane was excited to help.

I dug out two weed-infested garbage beds with my apprentice. I narrowly avoided getting knocked in the shins by his shovel several times, and managed not to accidentally throw him in the bucket when he'd stand on shovel. Good help is hard to come by!

Shane did do a good deed by pulling up Lisa and Sheryl's recycling can. It only took us the better part of 10 minutes! (Sorry about the shakey cam!)

I must have worn Shane out, because he took a long nap! I was starting to get worried he wouldn't sleep tonight, but then we went to swim class! Traffic made us a little late, but then Shane got to be in a class all on his own. I brought a book to read expecting a break, but I ended up watching the whole time. I wish I had my phone to take pictures, but I left it in the car. We went to Petsmart to play afterwards.

The night ended with some Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and lots of fish sticks. I cooked them myself. If Shane and I both stay home tomorrow you'll know why (and I'll order pizza the next time Carrie off her feet!).

Interviews Continued

Schools can make offers as of today.

Today's Tally:

New Interview requests: 2

New Interviews set-up: 1

Rejection Emails: 1

"Are you still interested?" email: 1

So, no big news over here. The new interview was someone called me after they heard good things about me through someone else I interviewed with.

When I do get an offer, I hope I know if I should take it. I'm not worried that I won't get one...yet. I am checking my email more than I should because I want things done in my time, but I realize that's not necessarily for the best.

A couple other quick work thoughts:

1. If people around my school were shocked I got de-staffed they should be even more shocked about the other guy that was de-staffed. Alberto has been at my school for 14 years and built the ESOL department there. He interviewed and helped choose the other two ESOL teachers who will now go on without him. Wow.

2. My shortest interview: the Inter-Agency schools.

"Can you teach science?"

"Yes." I said.

"Okay, I'm good."

I'm sorely tempted to ask to join them just because of that! Ha! The rest of the interview was more shop talk as I tried to catch back up on what programs were active and which weren't. The Inter-Agency Schools specialize in catching all of the kids who have fallen through cracks and would normally be forgotten.

May The 4th Be With You, John

Saturday was John's surprise birthday party.

John was born on May 4th. It's perfect, because he's a huge Star Wars fan. 

If you did not know, "May the 4th be with you" is now officially Star Wars day. John has carte blanche to remind everyone of his birthday every year with a Star Wars reference! 

But I digress.

One of my other friends, Mike C, contacted Carrie about hosting a surprise party for John. He also asked if Carrie could make a storm-trooper cake. Naturally my wife agreed. Star Wars and baking are both up her alley. The plan was later revised due to her knee (also known as "Carrie made cupcakes").

Shane loved John's party. He was thrilled that everyone would throw a party for John for his entertainment.

Shane personally greeted every guest. When John arrived, he sang "Happy Birthday" in front of everyone. He did an encore performance with the whole ensemble when we lit the cake. Shane tried to spit/blow out all the candles before John did, too!

Then there was the food. Shane obsessed over the cupcakes from the moment Carrie started cooking.

"I want a cupcake!" Shane said.

"Not right now." I said.

"You can't say not right now!" Shane said. This exchange was oft repeated and followed up with a "I don't want you to say that!" or a "That makes me so sad!"

Shane's a clever kid when it comes to something he wants. He put two and two together pretty quickly later on.

"Please, can I have a cupcake, pleeease?" Shane asked.

"Good manners, but no, Shane. These cupcakes are for John's birthday," I replied. "John gets the first cupcake."

"Then I get the second one!" Shane followed!

I bust out laughing. "Yes, Shane gets the second one!"

"OH BOY! MOMMY I GET THE SECOND CUPCAKE!"

I don't know who enjoyed himself more: John or Shane.

John was truly surprised. He thought that Mike C and I were going to play a round of X-wing. In his mind, he was coming to offer nerd support and loan out some models.

Everyone had a lot of fun talking and catching up. Shane, John, and I snuck out into the TV room to watch some Despicable Me 2 at one point. You've never seen someone almost die laughing until you see John's reaction to Gru in the Eagle's Nest.

Later on there was some X-wing gaming. Mike C played John and then John and I squared off. It was 11:30 PM by the time everyone left and I was exhausted. Carrie went to bed hours earlier with Shane.

It was a good night.

Surgery Merit Badge Awarded

Carrie has had three surgeries since we've been married (pregnancy related ones excluded). Four if you count lasik while we were dating (I do!). 

The surgery was successful. Carrie is on the mend. She's tired. She's sore. She is actually following the doctor's orders and laying down. It won't be quick, but hopefully she'll be hopping around sooner rather than later. 

If you didn't know, Carrie had a meniscus tear. She hurt her knee doing something mundane weeks ago. She left it be a couple of week hoping it would heal, at first. When it didn't, she went to an orthopedist.

Carrie did a fabulous job of planning everything out. By the time I got involved she already had all her ducks in a row. Genevieve drove up to take her to the hospital and bring her home; Shane was signed up for drop-in daycare two days, Grandma slotted for a third, and then Nana and Pop have day four.

That's all for now. I've got to slip back upstairs. Shane and I have to get up early if I'm going to get to work on time.

Interviews Follow-Up

I find it ironic that interviews are through teacher appreciation week.

I found it delightful that the PTA provided lunch! The fare far surpassed my normal lean pocket. It kept me full enough until after the interviews.

I feel like my interviews went well. At my last transfer fair, I was a fairly new teacher from a non-traditional school. I felt like I really had to convince someone I was worth a shot.

It's been six years since since. This time I felt like I knew the game and had something to offer. I've learned a lot. Being de-staffed with 8 years of math and science experience makes me something of an oddity, as well.

I won't hear back before Thursday. I may have an interview or two to go, too.

I dropped by the room one Middle School that never got back to me and dropped off my resume. There's was no one in line or interviewing, so I didn't feel bad about interrupting or cutting. I dropped by a few more, but they all had lines of candidates. I didn't feel like it would be appropriate or kind to try to cut in.

On a whim, I did reach out to one set of schools normally overlooked: the alternative ones. I got my start in a small alternative school of 60 expelled students. I worked with the current administrator one summer and she's the wife of my younger brothers' wrestling coach (small world, huh?). I got an email back telling me that the AP would contact me tomorrow (who happened to do a temporary AP job at my current school! More small world syndrome). I don't know if they'll have anything close enough that I feel drawn to, but who knows? Maybe it'll be my time to go "in the trenches" again.

Boys Hard at Play

Thursday, the doorbell rang. Jessica asked, "Could you watch Daniel for an hour?"

"Sure!"

Watching Daniel was a win-win. 

I took some videos that I'm going to leave unedited. One of the hardest parts I have with parenting is deciding when to step in and when to let the little ones figure it out on their own. They can go from best buds, to fighting, to best buds multiple times in under a minute. I used to intervene quickly, but at some point they have to learn how to figure things out for themselves. 

Since I was video-taping I mainly sat back and tried to stay hands off. This is Shane, Daniel and Me uncut. You'll see thrills, you'll see spills, and at one point I think I was daydreaming and missed a hair pull. We're only human.

Oh....the videos are long, too. Like I said, unedited. Normally I skip to the good bits. Feel free to pass or skip around.

Interviews

Tomorrow is interview day.

I was a little worried at first when I only heard back from a few schools, but more started to contact me at the end of the week. There are still multiple schools I never heard back from.

I think I have enough interviews lined up for tomorrow, though. One school called me out of the blue on Friday. I had to ask where the school was! I don't know how got my number. I had to turn them down, because the commute would have been horrific. I didn't want to waste their time or mine.

Carrie insisted I needed a new interview shirt. We all went to Kohl's. Shane and I rode the escalator umpteen times while Carrie hunted. I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Prayers are appreciated, as always.

More news tomorrow!

Interview #2

Interview #2 was today.

This time I went to my neighborhood high school. The odds are fairly long I'll get a job there.

Before the interview, the AP and I talked on the phone. He mentioned that I had no high school experience on my resume. Then he said that the school was really looking for someone who had already taught the material, and multiple teachers whose resumes fit the bill had already applied.

At that point, I thought, "At least it will be good interview practice!" It helps to know what questions people are asking. The AP went on, though. He said "you never know what may happen," and told me he hired his department chair from a middle school.

I interpreted it as "Your chances aren't great, but they're not zero."

Fair enough!

I arrived early, avoided getting lost in the halls, and showed up right on time.

I liked the AP I interviewed with. He seemed like a straight-shooter who told you what was on his mind (not that I couldn't guess that from over the phone). At the end of the interview, he told me that I presented myself very well and mentioned what he thought were the highlights.

I appreciated his candor and I went ahead and asked him if he could give me any feedback.

Earlier in the day, one of the counselors had come in to speak with my students. She ended her lesson by asking them for feedback. She asked the kids to be completely honest. I dropped a quick paraphrase as I took back over, "Correct a wise man and they'll love you for it."

The Proverb popped up again to me unbidden, so I went with it. The AP and I talked back and forth a little longer. I jotted down a few notes, and I'm better off for it. Finally, the AP asked if he could keep my resume on file. He said I interviewed very well, but "for the sake of transparency" if someone else answered as well, but had high school experience they'd go with them. However, he did want to know if I would be open if any other positions started to open up as teachers shuffled around (this time of year can be a bit of a shell game). I said, "Please do."

Regardless of whether or not I end up at the high school, I'm glad I went.

Carrie was happy that I was so close to home this time. Roxy decided to roll in the mud.

What a Mommy!

Carrie and I sometimes shoot each other quick emails during the day. They're never long, but they can brighten up a moment.

For example, Carrie wrote:

"Day going well. We're playing hard. Between pretending to be Sheriff Callie and building a band aid machine, we're doing alright :) "

How could I not smile after reading that?

Parenting Lessons Learned #4121

Lesson #4121: If a little boy stomps on putty long enough it won't come out of the driveway.

Lesson #4122: The driveway is vastly preferred over the carpet when playing with putty.