So there's a new Jeanine Payer necklace I want. I want it bad, people. So I'm saving money in a special account. A small amount each month. I have calculated that it will take me six months to have enough money to buy it. I would like to expedite that if at all possible.

So tell me.

What do I have that you want? Let's make a deal. :-)

I have no excuse for not blogging. Seriously. I just seem to use the free time I find to lay in my bed. Or watch X-files. Or give my husband a hard time. Or maybe it's because there isn't anything new in this little microcosm.

School remains stressful and exhausting. I take heart in the fact that the last trimester of the year has begun. I always think about pregnant women when I talk about the trimesters of the year--it's about the same thing--nine months of three months at a time. Some are so, so, terribly long.

I'm about to have a spring break. I haven't had a serous spring break in a few years. I'm not going anywhere because, well, who do I think I'm kidding? I am going to DRIVE with my mother to my brother's place in Omaha. I haven't seen him for...um...an obscene amount of time. I'm looking forward to the visit because he's been struggling emotionally and it'll be good to see him face-to-face. Maybe we'll do some shopping? With someone else's money? Bwhahaha.

Oh! We're getting a PUPPY!!!! We're getting her this summer. A labradoodle--the female black kind. She'll be the more curly type of coat. Her name is going to be Clementine. We're so excited. A kittie will come at the same time and hopefully they'll be friends. What fun!

I am glad I have more to detail than the disappointments of student pregnancies, drop outs, drug deals, and awkward dealings. If ou drop in on me, let me know what you're up to!

It appears some of you are still checking in on me--months and months in silence. Forgive me. I can only chalk up the absence from the lack of desire to share what's been going on. I find it hard to believe anyone would find the sagas of my life interesting, but I suppose I could regale you with a few details (ha).

I've been teaching at the alternative school for about two trimesters now (24 weeks, I guess). It's been quite the roller coaster. I think I am uncannily cut out to deal with the misfits, villains, criminals and unloved in the world. I want to always take them home and make them hot chocolate. What's that say about me? There have been some tiny moments of triumph so far, but many, many moments of pause and despair. When you deal with kids ages 16-20 who are still in high school, but have barely cleared enough credits to be considered sophomores, you're at a disadvantage. Not to mention the drugs, the babies, the law, the mental illness. Oy--the mental illness.

I've been in a position to take stock of things in the world through the eyes of these kids. I heard a quote that I remind myself of sometimes when I ask myself why I'm doing what I'm doing: "I'm here because injustice is here." I feel that these kids have been failed. People fucking failed them. And people failed their parents. There's injustice. I can be a small cog in the whole machine, but maybe at one point something will run better because of me.

Beyond that, things have been pretty much the same. We just survived the blizzard of 2011. I have never seen so much snow that I was responsible for eradicating. It was daunting, but thank goodness for husbands and snow blowers. I'm still taking courses to get my English as a second language endorsement. I still tutor two nights per week. I still...apparently do too much!

I am really looking forward to spring. Something in me longs for the moment when the temperature is just a hint warm and we can open the windows. That'll be the day! This winter is long and nowhere near over, but it's nice to look forward to something a bit sunnier.

I promise to be around a bit more often. If you're interested in the weird comings and goings of my strange and desperate days, I'll give you the details.

I guess I wasn't quite sure where to send all my pent up anger about students and their poor decisions; I turn to the blog. I know I've been gone again--out on a walkabout, I suppose. I have been teaching, watching a lot of movies, and escaping from the craziness that IS the life I lead. I am pretty irritated with the day, so I'll send my vibes out there via this little portal.

I've accepted a new teaching job. The job that I currently have isn't horrible, but it's not ideal either. I think if I would have kept the migrant students all year, I might feel differently. I've been hired as a full-time English teacher at a local alternative school. I've applied at said school every year for the past five. I've been rather desperate to teach there. I think this is the opportunity I've been waiting for and it affords me the opportunity to make more money. Hoorah! And my commute, which once was an hour and now is 20 minutes, will be less than seven minutes. Even better!

The big deciding factor was that I'm going to make a difference. I'm going to be back giving my heart to something that matters.

About damn time.