The Turning Point

So as of this week, I think we are officially getting into the turning point of our time is a long-distance, deployment-smothered couple. Things are finally feeling like they're right around the corner, and we're having so many positive experiences that I can just feel it--it's just so close!!

I taught my first full day today, and it went really well! My supervising professor came and observed me, and afterwards the only things she had to say as far as improvement goes were (a) I messed with my bra strap--which was kind of weird to me, and (b) I need to walk around the room more--but we were watching a video clip for a good portion of the class, so I couldn't block their view. So, I think it went well and I did pretty good for my first day taking on all classes all by myself.

Also, a colleague (even though I'm not technically employed) of mine at school asked me if I played soccer, and I was like "Well, yeah!" and he invited me to play on his team in the adult co-ed league in the area. So, if you've been following my journey, you'll know how much this means to me. I'm so excited to play again. It's only a game a week with no practices, but that's enough for me. I want to help coach girls soccer at my student teaching school, too.

The other most awesome thing is that we are winding down the housing search! We've found a few different properties and have contacted the agents. It's just so scary because I have to put a lot of money into a place that we can't step foot into until it's already ours. I have a friend who agreed to checking out some places for us so that she can let us know if they're gross or not, and that will be a huge help to making me feel better about committing to a place. We have two favorite places that are in two different complexes, both in Mililani, which I consider to be a "suburban" area in Hawaii. Nice housing, nice schools, movie theatre, lots of restaurants and stores, but not quite a busy city area. The best part is that it's only like 5-10 minutes from base. My husband likes to come home for breakfast and lunch so that his dearest wife can cook for him and take off his boots (don't worry, I don't really take off his boots for him).

The first place has amazing floors and is over 700 sq. ft. with 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom, which means the bedroom will be a decent size. The second one is a little more expensive, but has AC (unlike the first) and two bedrooms, which will be nice for an office space and occasional family visits from Virginia. So we shall see!

I also am almost finished moving everything into our storage unit. The movers come this Friday, so I have one more day (plus a few hours Friday morning), and all I have to do is move about 4 more bins in to it--so like one more trip! Then, I send our vehicle off a week later. Back to the good 'ole '93 Jeep Cherokee for a few months!

We're almost there...

Physically and intellectual pooped.

Today has felt like the longest day of my life, and I've barely done anything! I didn't go to sleep last night until after 2AM, so I guess that's my problem. I'm used to going to bed before 11PM. When you get a cool new phone, you must stay up and play with it. Speaking of, Verizon works amazing. I have 4 out of 4 bars in my apartment, and 3G. Ten dollars more a month is so worth it. I'm uploading all the good games onto David's phone so when I send his to him, he'll have lots of entertainment. I will be putting it in airplane mode before I send it though. There are too many nightmare stories about thousand dollar phone bills from Afghanistan. I've been looking at more cars tonight. Our search consists of a 4-door, anywhere from 2007-2011, preferably below $20K, decent mileage, and 6 cylinders. I'm trying to sneak a Jeep Commander in there too :) That's my favorite vehicle that I plan on getting when we ETS and have to get a second car (seeing as I actually be able to work when we get back). The condo we really really loved that we were hoping would stay on the market for a few more months was gone when I got on AHRN today. So disappointing. I'm hoping another one will come up in the same complex that is just as nice. In my 3-hour night class tonight, all of us were zombies. Our professor (who is hilarious) told us to leave class, "go get coffee, soda, a cigarette, do jumping jacks, run up and down the halls. Just please wake up." So sure enough, we all left and tried to energize. I just bought a Pepsi from the vending machine. My first soda in at least a month. Soda doesn't taste very good when you don't drink it for a while. Tomorrow I have the worst class from 6:45 to 9:15--yeah, ridiculous time for class. I have a learning strategy analysis due (approx. 2 pages) as well as a huge presentation to make. It's me and 4 other people, but of course I got stuck with the 2 most obnoxious guys in the class, and the 2 quietest girls. The guys made the PPT and it looks like crap. I'm embarrassed to have  my name on it--I'm such a perfectionist when it comes to school assignments. I'm that student that takes control in group work and typically comes to the group meeting with the PPT already done all by myself so that I can make sure our presentation looks good. This next Monday and Tuesday is our Fall Break, and oh my goodness do I need it. The Friday/Saturday/Sunday after that is the VATE (Virginia Association of Teachers of English) conference which I'm really looking forward to. So, it's 10:38 which is definitely my bed time! Hopefully tomorrow I'll catch up on rest and feel more energized.