A breakthrough

I think moving away from my home area (I say home 'area' as opposed to home 'town' because I didn't really live in my hometown, but I did live only 30 minutes from it) is going to drastically improve my relationship with my family... my mother at least.

Don't get me wrong. I love my mother. Adore her. She is an excellent mother who has provided me with nothing but the best, and she is the absolute picture of a strong woman in my eyes. But have mom and I hang out for more than 6 hours straight? No way. We would start fighting. Possibly because we are both highly opinionated and I tend to have a bad temper and get easily annoyed. Whatever it is... we usually get irritated with one another and need a 'time out' from each other if we are around each other too long. Plus, my mom is a stickler for details and absolute cleanliness. I? Am not. I'm not a filth lover, I just don't find it necessary to dust the corners of the ceiling for cobwebs once a month. So sorry.

Hence my nervousness about mom visiting me down here in our new house. 1. It isn't fully unpacked. We are down to the last 10 boxes, literally, out of over 100. But still, not finished. 2. Up until we bought her a plane ticket, I hadn't cleaned anything except the toilets, which the management company left filthy and caked with nastiness. I had scrubbed those on my own accord because like I said, I don't love filth. The rest of the house though? Not yet cleaned. And 3. I just want it to be just right before mom visits, lest she find anything unacceptable.

So I spent yesterday attacking the house. I cleaned everything, and I vacuumed. I moved the boxes into a more out of the way location. I set up the guest room to look nice, though it is still not complete. And I sorted out some of CB's crap that was still everywhere. I must say, the house looked gooood when mom arrived. And, I am glad to say, she LOVED it. Thought I did an excellent job decorating and that the furniture looked perfect. She did give me some tips on how to clean some things, because she wouldn't be my mom if she didn't.

Unfortunately, CB was on-call yesterday with his surgical team (that is his current rotation: general surgery) so he had to stay all night at the hospital. Mom and I were left to our own devices and knack for arguing ALL night and even some this morning. And you know what? We didn't argue. Not once. We just had a good time enjoying each other's company and laughing. She shared stories about when she first learned how to drive a manual, which made me feel better because I was nervous she would be all critical or a nervous wreck riding in my car with me, the nervous new manual driver. She wasn't at all though. She told me about all the mistakes she made when she had one. It was so so so nice.

We talked about my new house and how I had decorated everything and where pictures could go once I started hanging them. We went out to eat and talked about CB and how excited I am to be married to him, and how we are even more excited about our wedding in December since we won't have a mess of paperwork and stressful crap to deal with. She shared that a friend of hers had told her that she had attended a wedding where the bride and groom were extra relaxed... when she pointed out that they were so calm and just appeared to be having such a good time and not anxious or a nervous wreck or anything, they explained that they had gotten married 3 weeks early just so they wouldn't have to be nervous about anything on their wedding day. I was glad my mom's friend told her that story, so she could know we are not the only ones in history to do this.

Basically, it was a really good time. We went to dinner and watched a movie back at the house. I was actually sad when she left today.

The distance? Really good for my mom and I's relationship. I think it makes us appreciate each other more, regardless of our differences and annoying similarities.

The Little Things

This post is going to go into detail about some personal things... if it bothers you... don't read.

So awhile back, in 2006-ish, I went to see a gynecologist. I hadn't gotten my period in 4 months, and trust me folks, it wasn't because I was having sex and had gotten pregnant. I was most definitely NOT having the sexes, and therefore was not pregnant.

The doctor ran some tests and in the end came out saying that I mostly likely had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Aka: My ovaries don't work right. While this was mostly speculation based on hormone levels detected in the test, it was a good enough explanation to me. She put me on hormones for 10 days, at the end of which I would finally start my period, and upon completing that, I would need to start taking birth control to regulate the, um, cycle.

And ever since I have been on birth control. Now, the first kind of BC I was put on made me a nut job. Seriously. Crazy. Crying all the time and getting way too pissed off over nothing. I often wondered what was wrong with me. I went to the doctor again, and she told me I had PMDD- Pre-menstrual disphoric (sp? or is this even the right word?) disorder. AKA: World's worst PMS. I still politely disagree with that diagnosis, as I was not a crazy nut job around my period prior to getting on birth control, but whatever. She put me on Yaz. Yea, you know what that is... you have seen the commercials. It worked actually, and now I am not a crazy nut job around my period. Yay for that.

But telling you about my period/birth control history is NOT the point of this post. The point is this:

I was on Aetna insurance when I worked at my last school. Aetna did not cover Yaz as it is still in the Formulary stages. I had to pay "formulary" co-pays. Conveniently, or not, the 'formulary' co-pay is EXACTLY the same price as what Yaz costs without insurance: $60. I have been paying $60/month for over a year now. Talk about a big, annoying expense.

Enter getting married to a man in the Army. Enter being in the military healthcare system, known as Tricare.

CB and I went to CVS last night to pick up my birth control. The pharmacist handed me a big pack. It appeared to be 3 months of Yaz, and the pharmacist confirmed this. I was getting slightly nervous, as that would be $180 in my previous life.

"Your total is $27."

OMG. $27 dollars. FOR 3 MONTHS OF BIRTH CONTROL. OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!

I had a celebration right there. I wanted to hug the lady. Or someone at Tricare.

What's even better than this? When the prescription starts being filled at the Army base hospital... It will be FREE. $60/month to $27 dollars/3 months to FREE.

Moral of the story: Marry someone in the Army.

Okay not really.

Moral of the story: Tricare is really good to the military and their dependents. This is the best health insurance I have ever had.

Exhaustion

How is it that I am so very unemployed and simultaneously so very busy?

I have spent the past week running all over just trying to get basic errands done. A pretty huge positive of getting married this summer and having a wedding in December? I don't have to worry about all the name change crap, getting registered in the DEERS system for the military, etc. etc. in December. I can just enjoy my wedding and my honeymoon and return to normal life. YAY for that. In the meantime, I am so tired of going places and having to do all of this. I still have to get my driver's license changed and my passport changed. I think after that I will be 98% done, aside from small little things.

You will all be glad to hear that I am driving the manual Mustang with much better proficiency now. I probably kill it once a day in small, insignificant places, but other than that I have driven it all over and in all kinds of circumstances: on 3 major highways and all their interchanges, through construction, in traffic, on hills (which I loathe), with hardly any cars on the road, and on a street that has a light every 50 yards, regular street driving, etc. So far I have caused no accidents and not held up traffic too much.

I DID get a compliment on the car when I drove it onto base a couple of days ago. The M.P. (military police) guy walked around my car and came back to the window and said, "This is niiice." I said, "Thanks, I'm still learning to drive it," as there was a car behind me and I was afraid I was going to roll into him when I started... I just wanted to throw out there that I'm a novice before I looked like a fool. (Oh, and to the very nice reader who commented on the last post: Thank you for the warnings about being on post, CB had already also warned me as well. I am extra careful. And for the advice about driving a manual... I am trying not to freak out when I kill it and hold up traffic. I am doing much better about it after reading your comment. Thanks : ) )

I am also noticing a lot of people staring at the car as well. I have never ever ever driven a car that people stare at, unless they were staring because it was that dirty or made that horrible of sound. CB tells me that it's because most people have never seen the 2010 Mustang since it is brand brand new. I myself have only ever seen 3 other cars like mine on the road. Soon they will be everywhere though, so I am trying to enjoy the attention now.

In other things... I am finally in the military deers system, which is a relief. It wasn't that complicated or long to do, it is just getting all your ducks in a row to do it. I am also finally on Tricare insurance (military health insurance) as well. Yayayayay for not being uninsured!

My mom is coming down to get my old car and take it back home with her this weekend(she wanted it as a back up car... don't ask...). I am super nervous because mom is quite the perfectionist. I would much rather play host to a friend way before my mom comes. Unfortunately, that is not the case. I am spending today and all day tomorrow in hyper cleaning/preparing mode trying to get everything spotless clean and in order so my mom doesn't comment on the dust, or that I need to sweep, or whatever. I am just hoping that my hosting skills are up to her standards. Vomit. I love you very much, mom, but I am NOT a perfectionist.

Last night was my first class in my certification program. Luckily, my teacher is a-mazing AND hilarious. I love her. I want to be her.

I can't wait for unpacking to be finished and to not have 3957849574398 errands to run. And, I can't wait to get a paycheck.

Now will someone please give me a job? Thanks.

PICTURES OF THE FINISHED PRODUCT:

From the front

The interior with its NEW leather seats:

The back

And my favorite picture.

Okay, I could get used to this

CB and I picked up my car yesterday. I practiced driving it around the neighborhood with CB instructing me, and I became soooo frustrated with myself. Not because I killed the car or anything, but because starting off I was bumpy. I was nervous because now this is MY car and I don't want to do anything to hurt it. I am not used to the size of the car and I am not always sure where it ends in the back and front and on the right side. Basically I wanted to cry because here I was with my brand new car and I felt like I couldn't drive it.

When we were making dinner and talking about it, CB told me to go to the HEB, by myself, in my new car. That he had to utmost confidence that I could drive it by myself and have no problems. I decided to take his confidence in me and let it boost my own. I got in my car and I drove to the HEB. No problems. The smoothest starts I had all evening. I didn't kill it ever. I didn't hurt my car. I just drove. I was SOOOO ecstatic. I really CAN drive my new car. I drove it home, killed it once at a stop sign, which I quickly corrected, and made it home no problem after that.

After dinner, CB agreed to go for another ride with me, this time on and off highways. I have to go to the army hospital today to meet CB to get me put into the military healthcare system, so we practiced driving there last night. I got on the highway. I switched highways. I got off the highway. I pulled up to a military base, showed our IDs, and I drove in and parked. And then when we were done there, I drove it all the way home. No glitches.

I am SOOOO freaking excited. I am not perfect at driving a manual, but I am not bad either. I am glad to have confidence in myself, otherwise it does no good to have a brand new pretty car.

Anyways. I have to give the car back tomorrow so they can change out the cloth seats for leather ones, but after that it is mine forever.

I will post pictures of it once I get it back from the seat swap. They are detailing it and what not so it is extra pretty (it got rained on yesterday. boo.) Anyways. YAAAY.

Surreal Life

CB bought me a car.

A CAR. For me.

We had been planning on getting me a new car later this year... more like in October or so... but yesterday he made the mistake of taking me to the Ford dealership to 'look' at Mustangs to cheer me up. But then the dealership was open. Not closed.

And then I was test driving 2010 Mustangs. And a 2009 Mustang.

We were going to buy the 2009 Mustang, only because it was a really good deal and it was the LAST 2009 Mustang on their lot. But then someone else bought it. And I cried. Literally.

But then... car dealership man called us back. He was willing to make necessary adjustments to one of the 2010 Mustang GTs to make it to my liking. And we got him to make the price a lot cheaper than most 2010 Mustang GTs. It still makes my chest tight though, because CB and I have had zero debt. No loans to payoff. No car payments. Nothing. And now we suddenly have a car payment. CB, who is very good at managing the monies, says we can afford it, though money will be tight for the first 2 months (he has 2 final payments on my engagement ring). I told him I will stop being a Money Wife (aka: a wife that sucks up all your monies because you buy her nice things all the time. Though I should note that I never intended to ever beeee a Money Wife. I just happen to feel like one because he is paying for my engagement ring and my new car.)***I feel it necessary to note here that CB has never once called me a 'Money Wife' either in the joking or serious sense. This is strictly something I came up with to describe how I feel about the fact he is paying for all this stuff for me. He does not complain or have a problem with any of it.***

Salesman dude drove it OUT of the showroom so I could test drive it. I mostly enjoyed seeing how they actually get the car out of the building. Actually, I mostly enjoyed driving, as it is a 5-speed stick shift, but it was really cool to see how they get the cars out of there.

So. CB bought me a car. A 2010 Mustang GT coupe with leather seats in Grabber Blue. I originally wanted Torch Red... but then I saw this color, and my mind changed.

My life over the past 2 weeks has been surreal. I want to crawl into a cave, not spend any more money, and just sit for a few months and keep things as they are. A new house (rented). A new marriage. A new car. A new teaching certification program. wtf? Since when did stuff like this happen to me? And when is it all going to fall apart? Is it ever going to fall apart?

My chest is tight and slightly anxious because I feel like everything is happening so fast. I mean, I am so so happy with all of it. I love the house. I love my husband, whom I get to marry TWICE. I LOVE my new car. I am really excited about being in a teaching certification program. But seriously? Do good things really happen all at once? And really, it scares me, because when things are really good, I do feel like something bad is always bound to follow.

My friend CD tells me to shut up. She reasons, "What if nothing bad happens?" What if this is just a really good part of my life and I am not taking the time to enjoy it because I am too busy looking for the downturn. CD has a good point.

Basically, this is the deal. For whatever reason, I have been incredibly blessed over the past 2 weeks. I'm not so sure I deserve it all the time. I am not so sure I deserve the kind of husband I have- not because he bought me a car, but because he is so patient and kind and loving, and he puts me before himself. It is all so surreal, but I am so very grateful for everything that I have been blessed with.

I think from now on I'm going to lay low. Not go shopping. Not seek out anything spectacular. I'm just going to unpack my things. Settle into my home. And look for a job.

Here are some pictures of my new car. I pick it up today- this is what is going to be different about it: No black accent stickers, no black 20" rims, no cloth seats. The regular stock rims are going back on and the cloth seats will be redone in leather.

The Good News, the Bad News, and the GREAT News

This morning I had a meeting at an alternative teaching certification center to discuss whether or not I was qualified to enter their program and work towards a certification.

The first step of this meeting was to watch a 10 min video which detailed the process of their program. Then I had to take a test. Really?! Another test?! This one covered "critical thinking" and I am proud to say I scored a 58/64 on it. They actually seemed impressed with this, though I was wishing I had scored above a 60. You know... good is never enough.

Upon completing the test, I was whisked into a room with a program director to discuss my options for teaching. Let's all remember here that I really want to teach Latin. LATIN. As in, the language of the Romans. Unfortunately, my 20 credit hours of Latin are just 4 shy of being considered 'Highly Qualified' in this subject area... nevermind that I've taught it for two years. But that's okay. I took the Latin EXCET... when I receive my scores (which will hopefully be passssinnng!) I can be moved into the 'Highly Qualified' realm there.

Here is the good news, though... I AM 'Highly Qualified' in History. Given that it was my college major. And I took 33 hours of it. Basically, even though I have not taken any kind of state content test, I could be hired immediately to teach history if they so desired. I was given a little magical sheet of paper that has a million check marks on it, confirming that yes, I am in a certification program and receiving proper training, and yes, I do have enough hours in that area and a high enough GPA. I was told never to lose said piece of paper, as it must go to the district that hires me. She told me to start looking for jobs teaching history immediately, and then once my EXCET scores come in, providing that I passed, I could start looking for those as well (although right now, there's not much).

The bad news: Per certification lady's instructions, I need to take the History content exam eventually, and perhaps even the social studies exam. Why is that bad news you might ask? Well, for one, the tests are $120 each. And even though I majored in history, that doesn't mean I remember all of it. In fact, the bulk of my history knowledge centers on two time periods: The ancient world (pre-3000 BC- AD 1000, and World War II (and that's not even a time period!). American history? I soorrt of know it. Enlightenment? Reformation? SOUTH AMERICAN HISTORY? Not so much.

I am hoping I can find a good source to study a bunch of this material that I'm not as familiar with, so that I can actually pass this history test and not embarass my school and my college degree.

The GREAT news? Everything costs money, right? Well, certification programs do too. This program happens to cost the following:

$50 admission fee.

$495 Training institute fee

roughly $4000 Internship fee

That's a lot of dollars. But, like I said, the GREAT news? I'm married to someone in the military. There is a program called MilitaryOneSource which pays up to $6000 dollars for this stuff. And the program I am in is included in the programs that are covered by MOS. I get certified, and the program I am in bills them, not me. Now all I have to do is get my military dependent ID... which should take 459874359847 years.

All in all, I am pretty freaking excited about this opportunity. I start the training institute which will last 2 1/2 weeks next Wednesday. I will go to class M-Th, 6-9pm, and then meet on two Saturdays 8am-3pm. I will be done before the end of July and ready to start the 'Internship' phase. That's the part where I need, you know, a JOB.

The intern phase really is a full-time teaching job, just with a lot of accountability and only a temporary certificate. It has all the same pay and benefits as a regular job.

So that's what I've got for today. I am officially working on my teaching certification. I am officially applying for jobs with my magical new pass. And next week? A job fair specifically catering to teachers in my alternative certification program. YAY.

Now all I have to do is pass yet ANOTHER test, or 3.

Update from yesterday's shameless advertising

The human resources called me back this morning. I was definitely asleep when she called, so I had to quickly make myself sound composed like I'd been awake for hours.

She congratulated me on getting married (I had mentioned that I needed my name to be changed on all my application info stuff for the district), and asked a few questions about the test and the program.

Then there was the: Unfortunately we have no available Latin positions at this time.

BUT, I do want to make sure to include you should anything become available. You really never know what's going to happen. Last year we thought we were clear, but then all of the sudden in August and September we suddenly needed 3 teachers. (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! please let that happen in Latin!!!!!!).

Then she followed this with: I don't want to burst your bubble, but in case nothing comes up this year, we are opening a brand new high school next year, in August 2010, and we will most likely need Latin teachers. So in case there is nothing now, keep that in mind.

What this woman doesn't realize is that even though she isn't giving me a job, she is giving me a lot of hope and a lot of opportunities to make myself more employable. Or maybe she does realize it. Either way, I am pretty grateful she is keeping me in mind and keeps pushing me to do more.

Because THEN, she said, "Okay, now let's talk about your options. What if a job doesn't come up for this year. What are you going to do?"

Me: "Well, if that were the case I would tutor as much as possible and probably try to substitute."

HR lady: "Excellent, (something about substituting being a great idea). Have you feeled (edit: omg, did I really write 'feeled' instead of 'filled'? shoot me now.) out the substitute application?

Me: "No."

HR: "Okay, well that is a separate application to fill out. Once you get it filled out, read the website and there will be a list of things you need to bring. It is first come, first serve, so make sure you come as soon as possible to be considered. Substituting is a great way to get experience and learn from others."

Me: "Okay, thank you so much."

HR lady: "Make sure you let me know when you get your test scores in, and when you complete the first part of your alternative cert. training."

Me: "Of course, thank you again, so much."

So, clearly, no job leads, but one really really nice Human Resources Lady who is helping me tremendously.

Oh, and after she told me about the substitute application, I immediately pounced out of bed (that's right, I slept UPSTAIRS last night, alone, while CB was still out of town. Go me!) and filled out the application online.

I read on the site that there were only certain dates and times the substitute office was open, and that TODAY was the last day until Monday that it would be open, and only until 11am.

I really had to rush this if I was going to get in there today. I filled out the W-4 form, and the I-9 form, and printed the w-4 form, and prin... waiiit, why wasn't my printer printing anymore? No I-9? effff?! I tried everything. Messing with ink cartridges, trying to print it on CB's computer. Nothing. The I-9 did NOT want to come out today. So alas, I did not make it to the substitute office today. But I assure you, come 8 am Monday morning, I will be first in line. The good news is that everything else is in order except that effing I-9 form.

In the meantime: CB comes home today!!!! Yayayay!

Meeting with alternative cert. program tomorrow! Yayayay!

Still have lots of unpacking... boooo.

PS: There are certainly a lot of hoops to jump through to become a certified teacher/teacher in a public school. It makes my legs tired.