Meme

A meme, taken from Leesepea...

1. I can't stand for my fingers to feel dry. In fact, it can take me to a point of panic if I can't get them wet or moisturized. In high school, if I was doing a pencil drawing in art class, I'd have to stop and go run my fingers under water every few minutes in order to continue my work.

2. I'm an obsessive email/comment checker. I'm always going back and forth between my photoblogs and myspace to see if anyone has left me a note and I'm always logged in to MSN Messenger so I'm alerted the moment I get a new email.

3. I have quite the girlish crush on Mike Rowe from the show "Dirty Jobs". Sure, he's old enough to be my father, but he's incredibly attractive, manly, and witty, and I just can't help myself!

4. I can go for a month or two without playing a video game, but once I get the urge, I play for weeks straight, day and night. Oh, and I'm in love with the Jak character from the Jak and Daxter games. Shut up.

5. I have major self-worth issues, and they're played up in my dreams. It's rare for me to not dream that people are looking at me like I'm a freak, or I'm doing something stupid to get attention. I'm just glad it's not so major in real life...

6. I absolutely love giving gifts to my friends and family, it makes me feel good to find something special for someone I love.

7. I still have the imagination of a child, but instead of physically playing the scenarios I come up with out, I let it play out in my head, turn it into a story, a poem, or a photograph.

8. I'm just not that into music. I like many genres, and certain songs speak to me, but I only have about 50 CDs, and no mp3 player whatsoever. Strangely, a lot of my good friends are musicians of consider music a vital part of life.


Want to play along?

The rules are:
1. Let others know who tagged you.
2. Players start with 8 random facts about themselves.
3. Those who are tagged should post these rules and their 8 random facts.
4. Players should tag 8 other people and notify them they have been tagged.

I tag....whoever. Have at it!

Uh...

I have an interview for the kennel worker job on Monday. Yup, that's right. Shelly might be getting a job. And Shelly is terrified.

I'm strange, I know.

I know the vet, I mean, the man has seen my at my worst bawling like a baby at the death of a pet. I know the job, I clean pet poo and feed animals every day. I've even done dog sitting. I'm just afraid there's some secret part of this job, a suprise like manning the front desk and answering phones sometimes. I wish I could say that wouldn't be a problem, but that kind of work overwhelms me very, very much and I don't want to get hired just to be overwhelmed and have to quit again.

I've decided that, during my interview, I'm going to be honest about my fears. I'll tell the Doc that I know I'd do very well as a kennel worker, but front desk situations overwhelm me...yeah. We'll see how that goes.

*whimper*

First Draft

This is all I have of my first draft of "Lexi and the Enchanted Map" (yes, the title changed slightly) so far. Here it is:

If you were to peek in on Lexi Miles’ life, it would seem quite ordinary. She lived in an ordinary apartment with her mother, went to an ordinary school, ate ordinary food, and slept in an ordinary bed. But if you were to peek inside Lexi’s mind, you’d see something quite amazing. Lexi had a gift, you see. Something called imagination. Imagination is an asset all children possess , but not all know how to use properly.

The secret to a good imagination is to see no boundaries. Lexi could look at an empty room and see a dungeon, or an underwater cave. She could gaze upon a dull back yard and see a rain forest, or a castle courtyard. She could sit in a cardboard box and let it take her to outer space. There were no limits to pretending for the bright-eyed girl.

Such a gift made for hours of personal entertainment, but at the end of the day, Lexi found herself longing for more, for something real. She wanted to enter a jungle like the one in her head and be able to take something tangible back from it. She wanted to bring her mother a rose from the hidden garden only she could see. She wanted to take a picture of the ancient castle her mind had placed in the schoolyard among the jungle gyms and merry-go-rounds. But none of that could happen, such a thing was impossible, so she did her best to let it go and savor the moments in which she alone could live in an imaginary wonderland.

Application

I applied for a job today. I know, how uncharacteristic of me. Anyone that reads this blog knows I don't handle jobs well. This time (I hope, at least) could be different. The animal clinic I take my pets to is looking for a kennel worker, part time. If I got hired, I'd be cleaning kennels, feeding the pets, etc. for only about three hours a day. To a lot of people, that sounds like a terrible job, shoveling pet poo for a living, but It's right up my alley.

I clean up pet poo anyway. It'd be nice to get paid.

Really, I much prefer spending my time taking care of animals than answering phones and smiling for human customers. So, if this job really is what I think it is, I hope I get it. It'll be nice to have an income of more than $30 a month (woo! CafePress!) to bring me closer to a more independent life.

GOSH!

Warning: If you are a fan of The Dead Zone and haven't watched this season's premier episode, there are spoilers ahead!

I...am....devestated. Well, as far as my love for fictional characters goes. Tonight on The Dead Zone, Sheriff Walt Bannerman, husband to Sarah, surrogate father to J.J, and father of a baby on the way, died in a fire, being a hero.

Viewers were forewarned that one character would be gone by the end of the premier episode, but the last person I was expecting was Walt. I mean, he's the Penobscot County Sheriff! A loving husband and father, and his character has always been crucial to plots in the past. I assume this means that actor Chris Bruno left the show voluntarily, but WHY?! Why must we endure the pain of losing Walt!

Let's just say I cried. A lot. Because I'm a freak, and I get attached to my television families. I just can't believe it. It should have been Gene Purdy. Really.

GOSH!

Lexi and the Magic Map

Oh, how very excited I am! Ever since completing National Novel Writing Month last November, I have longed for the rush that comes with writing a book. For the past few months I've been held back from writing much by the fact that my laptop was out of commission. Now that I have my new computer (his name is Joaquin, by the way),it's no longer an issue, and a wonderful idea for a book has come to me.

My niece, Lexi, is such a beautiful, special little girl. She has more personality in her sweet little pinky than most toddlers have in their whole body. Trust me. Her expressions are animated, her voice is full of character, and she knows what she wants - and what she doesn't want. She's loving and expressive. She's sassy and hard-headed. She's perfect. And I want to immortalize her.

So, I'm writing a book...hopefully a series, actually, with the main character (though a few years older to allow for a more developed plot line) modeled after dear Lexi. So far, the plot ideas are just flowing out, like it's meant to be. I'm really excited to get some more details hammered out, and begin a first draft. Unlike my completed NaNoWriMo novel, I think this idea has great publishing potential.

Yay! I have lots of writing to do, and I can't wait to get started!

Pride

I took this photo today. One of about 300. It's my favorite.

Feldman Blog

The following is a paid post:

It seems like everyone has a blog these days. Whether you want to read someones online journal, check out the latest celebrity news, or learn more about a business, chances are it's in a blog. The Management Consulting Firm Blog is one example of businesses finding new avenues to meet clients.

Feldman and Associates, Incorperated has been in the business of recruiting since 1967. Services of the company include "financial and risk management services, legal and legal support services, communications and technology, human resources consulting, and luxury products." They fill positions from C-Level and up, are capable of finding the best person for the job while using discretion to build trusting relationships with clients.

A Girly Moment

I am a female. Like many, I can have a poor self-image. I'm not overweight but I'm not in shape, I don't mind my height, but my legs are too short. I'm growing out my hair, but sometimes I feel like I don't look feminine enough.

Well, today is actually a GOOD self-image day! I have been on a bit of a hunt for a new swimsuit. My mother and I actually spent a day shopping for that one item, but I never found anything I liked or looked good in. Actually, I don't think I've ever had a swimsuit I thought I looked good in, or that I haven't felt I was settling for. Until now. I found a swimsuit in a catalogue, one I was going to settle for, but I decided to take one last look at WalMart before spending extra money on shipping and handling.

I actually tried a swimsuit on about a week ago, in a smaller size. It was a brown halter top one-piece, made to control the tummy, but it didn't fit right. The little front skirt facade was too tight, and it was just uncomfortable, but I still really liked the style. So, today I decided to try the bigger size, just in case. Aaaand, it fit! I love it! It "controls" my tummy like it's supposed to, it accentuates my girlish figure, and the color is just lovely.

Such a girly moment, and I'm happy :)

Macro Love Part Three

Here's a macro of a vine growing in my back yard:



I "cheated" a bit by creating the water droplets with a spray bottle. The smart blur technique was used here as well in editing. I love the vingette the Poor Man's Macro technique created, it gives the photo an isolated atmosphere...kind of like a secret garden. I'm particularly fond of the reflections caught in the droplets.

Condos

I adore the Internet. I've made wonderful friends, connected to old friends, and I can shop for pretty much anything I can think of...even real estate.

The good thing about browsing real estate online is that you can do it casually, without implying any commitment or even serious interest. I like to browse apartments, condos, and roommate listings to get an idea of what my cost of living might be in California.

At CondoCompany.com, there is what's called a CondoList for anyone from Realtors, to Owners, to Developers to list their Phoenix Condos for sale. For buyers, contact information is available on each condo.

Isn't the Internet convenient? You can even shop for a new place to live from home!

Macro Love Part Two

This is a ladybug...obviously.



I rescued this little "Chubby" from my back yard pool, and simply couldn't resist photographing the critter as he/she dried off. I did some color edits, punching up the red, and putting a smart blur filter on to smooth out the image.

Oh digital photography is a wonderful thing...

Macro Love Part One

At last, my new laptop has arrived, I've uploaded the hundreds of photos I took over the weekend, and I'm now ready to show you the results of my new favorite technique, The Poor Man's Macro!

This is my cat, Mia's, eye. My dad found this a little gross, so if you're squeamish, you've been warned.



I was surprised at how still my wild little kitty was when I took this because it requires me to put the lens at something like an inch from the subject. I really like how it turned out.

Miami Heat

The following is a paid post:

I blogged already about getting sports tickets, specifically Dolphins tickets, but really, you can get ANY kind of even ticket from this site. Keeping with the Florida theme, Miami Heat Tickets are available too.

If you're interested in NHL, NBA, MLB or NFL sports, plays, or concerts, Premium Seats USA is a good place to start looking for tickets. I hope to take in a play while I'm in San Francisco, so I searched the site, and I found the process to be pleasing. I was presented with a list of plays, and when I clicked on a title, it took me to a schedule of all the upcoming performances. It's quick and simple, which is refreshing.

So, if you need or want tickets, head on over to the site and have a look!

Pepsi's Big Day

On Saturday, my dad and I did yard work. There is a little froggy fountain out front surrounded by rocks we have taken home from our many vacations to Colorado, all of it sitting atop, and surrounded by a bed of wood chips. My mother wants just the fountain in that area now, and to have some Alyssum planted there, so Dad and I went to work loading up all the Colorado rocks and arranging them around a lantern we acquired and placed in the back yard recently. We cleaned out the wood chips, brought up and spread out some dirt, and sowed some Alyssum seeds.

It was hard work, especially in the heat. The whole time we were going back and fourth from the front yard to the back, my faithful little dog, Pepsi, followed. Back and forth, back and forth she went, frolicking in the sun as we worked. Once we were done, I stayed outside to relax and Pepsi stayed with me. She sat in the shade, ran around the yard, barked at the neighbor dog...she was just so busy!

Then evening came, we were all inside now, my mother making a pizza for herself and my dad, me waiting my turn for the oven to make some chicken sandwiches for myself. Mom dropped a pepperoni, and I called Pepsi to get a taste of a "nummy-num." Normally, just the phrase would have her running, but she didn't come. I called and I called, and then I went upstairs to look for her.

She was under my bed, refusing to come out. I couldn't see that she was guarding any food, so I reached under and gently pulled her out. She screamed in resistance. I brought her downstairs, but the moment I let her go, she was back upstairs and hiding under the bed. My baby. The one that can't let me out of her sight. This was unusual. And concerning.

I followed her upstairs and got down on the floor. I reached under the bed and just pet her a while, and checking to see if she was hurt. Eventually I coaxed her back out and she snuggled up on my shoulder. I carried her back to the kitchen and put her down to see if she wanted a "nummy-num" but she just wanted me to hold her. I was scared.

Did she ingest some of that weed killer Dad sprayed today? I wondered.

She felt weak. And she didn't want me to let her go. I made my supper one-handed, holding my baby on my shoulder. Once my food was ready I took her with me to the living room and she curled up on my lap, uninterested in the lovely chicken I had just made. I kept my hand on her little body to keep track of her breathing, and I was alert to any changes in her sweet little face.

After a few minutes, her ears finally perked up a little, and she was interested in my food. I gave her little bits of chicken and she ate while still on my lap. Later on I lay on the couch watching television and she snuggled up next to me and slept deeply. I guess she just had too much sun that day, worked her little body too hard. I'll have to watch her activity outdoors better next time, because seeing my little Pepsi like that was scary!

Sunday

I spent the day out back in the sun with my family today. It was nice. Very warm out with a little breeze. I took a dip in the pool, helped weed out the garden, and just lounged. I also rescued a bunch of ladybugs from the pool. I can't help it. I love ladybugs.

Actually, I want my next tattoo to be a ladybug. It will not only represent my love for the little critters, but all the times my mom and I have spent together admiring and rescuing them.

Of course, I have taken a few Poor Man's Macros of them as well, so look forward to seeing them up sometime this week.

My laptop is scheduled to come tomorrow! Yay!!!!

Tickets

The following is a paid post:

Since my vacation is coming up, I seem to find ways to relate any of my postings to the subject. I posted earlier about florida vacations, and there is yet another thing (besides theme parks, dinner theater, and all that) that could be added to your itinerary: Miami Dolphins Tickets.

I've never been to a national professional sporting event, so something like this I would find particularly interesting. Football games are so energetic, friends are easily made through the common bond of fandom, and the whole event is a great photo opportunity. The website I linked to above has premium tickets available to not only sports events, but concerts and theater events nation wide, so evenif the Dolphins aren't your thing, there's plenty of options to choose from, so find the event that's right for you!

The Poor Man's Macro Continued

I've gotten the hang of the technique, and I'm loving it! Macros are so fun and fascinating and I'm so glad there is a way for me to do that now! I plan on taking even more macros today, outside, but it's windy so we'll see how it goes. I can't wait to share my work with you all!

The Poor Man's Macro

I'm a member at JPGmag.com and I read an article tonight that I found quite interesting and potentially useful to me. It's called 'The Poor Man's Macro.'

You see, as a DSLR user, one needs an array of lenses to achieve certain types of photographs. I love macro, but I don't have a macro lens (they can be quite pricey). This article suggests using two lenses, one attached to your camera, obviously, and then another, the front end butted up against the lens on your camera to take you in even closer to a subject. There will be some cropping to do in edits, but once you get the hang of it, it's quite effective.

This weekend I'll work on mastering The Poor Man's Macro, and I'll share the results with you next week!

Universal Studios

The following is a paid blog:

I'm generally not fond of the idea of a theme park vacation, but I'll admit there is one place I'd love to go to: Universal Studios theme park. I love movies, and I think it would be such a cool adventure to experience Jurassic Park, The Terminator, and other legendary blockbusters first hand.

Right now you can get Cheap Universal Studios Tickets from OrlandoFunTickets.com, something I'd love to seriously look in to, but it'll be a while before I have the dough for another vacation. The website also offers Disney theme park tickets as well as Disneyquest, Downtown Disney Pleasure Island, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach Water Parks. There are also discount tickets available for dinner shows like Medieval Times and Pirates Dinner Adventure, both of which I think would be quite entertaining.

So, if you and your family are looking for affordable vacation deals, this may be a good place to start for kid-friendly entertainment.

Real Women Have Curves

I spent the day shopping with my mother today. We were on the hunt for some clothes and a swimsuit for my trip to California. Man, what a tiring day! We left the house around 10:00am and didn't get home until 4:00pm. We started our shopping trip at the mall, looked through JCPenney, Vanity, Old Navy, and Herbergers. What came of it? ONE pair of capri pants. Not bad I guess, since I found SOMETHING, but still, not good.On we went to Target, KMart, and WalMart, to have close to the same luck. A plain t-shirt and a pair of comfy pants from Target, another pair of capris from WalMart and nothing from KMart.

You know what the problem is? It is getting more and more difficult to find stylish clothes that are made to fit a woman with CURVES. It may seem like it from all the magazines, but not all young women are hipless stick figures! I have a waste, hips, and a chest, and they just won't fit into that little, curveless t-shirt, no matter how hard I try. My mother was ready to call it a day and go home but I asked her, out of sheer desperation, if we could go back to the mall and look at the two other clothing stores that were slightly more expensive.

We went (I love my mommy!) and I browsed the first store, Maurice's, while Mom rested on a bench. And guess what? I picked up three shirts, tried them on, and they all fit! I miracle I tell you! The second store, The Buckle, had nothing, and I never found a swimsuit, but thank goodness for Maurice's, there is still hope for women with curves!

The Beach Club

The following is a paid posting:

Luxury is defined at Dictionary.com as "free or habitual indulgence in or enjoyment of comforts and pleasures in addition to those necessary for a reasonable standard of well-being." I happen to consider my life luxurious, I have a camera, a computer on the way, several televisions in the house, cable, a pool in the back yard,air conditioning, and I'm going on vacation soon. All these are things we can live without, things that afford us comfort.

Yet to others, luxury is a fairytale lifestyle. One filled with diamonds, yachts, servants, and multiple homes. It seems there is a new place called The Beach Club in Hallandale Beach that claims to be "the ultimate in luxury style Condominiums." The club is not far from resorts, shopping, or the nightlife scene, and sits on nine acres of oceanfront property. Residents can enjoy top of the line kitchen appliances, floor-to-ceiling windows, marble floors, and much more.

To me, having a vacation home with those kind of comodities is more than luxury. It's lavish luxury.

Stargazer Apparel

I just joined this website called 99dogs.com...actually, that's a lie. It seems I've had an account there for a while, just never used it. The place is similar to cafepress, only I think they're a little more limited in the products they offer. Anyway, for a few days now I've had an idea in my head about t-shirt designs and I thought it would be a good idea to start anew, build another online store, and see how I fair. My idea is to hand-draw my own designs and then upload them onto photoshop to eliminate background, and put them on shirts. I've noticed a lot of "imperfect" designs are pretty in with the kiddies these days, and I'm not too bad at doodling. Sometimes.

Once I get everything uploaded and ready (waiting until my laptop arrives on Monday!) I'll share the link with you all. Then I'd love some feedback! A little hint as to what's to come: the store is called Stargazer Apparel.

Imaginary Work

I hope you all can be understanding about my paid posts as of late. I recently bought a new computer, I'm going on vacation soon, and I'm broke. I don't have a regular job, and as much as it shames me to say so, I really can't handle "real" work. I've tried twice to suck it up and work for a retailer, or a food service joint, and it drags me to such a low that I end up despising my life. Is it really worth it, just for money? In my mind, no it isn't.

So, what I have to do is search for alternatives. Things like Cafepress, Blogitive, RedBubble and Bloggerwave give me at least a small amount of income and this kind of work doesn't consume my every thought, or pull me back in to depression. I've been praying a lot since I graduated high school two years ago that something would come my way that would be the answer to my problems. I do want, very badly, to be independent, to be able to support myself, earn my own money, and not take away from my parents' income. I also want to be happy in an independent life and working at McDonald's living in a crappy apartment downtown isn't what I want at all.

Anyway, I'll try to do my best to include heartfelt and interesting personal posts in between my paid blogs, as well as some photography and possibly fiction, so keep reading!

Masterseek

masterseek is a new to the internet. It's a search engine, but specializes in finding businesses. I suppose you could think of it as an international online yellowpages. There are currently 45.891.000 company profiles listed, and all you have to do to add your business is sign up and submit free, making your company avaliable to anyone in the world with an internet connection. The service is free to view a basic company profile, products, news, management and websites.

Bloggerwave

Hello dear readers. I have joined another paid blogging company. Don't worry, I'll still make sure to include personal posts and to make my paid posts as interesting and personal as possible! The new company is called Bloggerwave and it works a lot like the company I'm already blogging for, only some payouts are higher. All I have to do is accept the offers that interest me, and write about them, including a link and whatever else the offer calls for. It's easy and it helps me keep up with writing.My blog was approved the same day I submitted it, which was quite convenient, and I look forward to completing offers and making money! I hope you all stay with me as I embark on this journey, I promise to keep it interesting!

Fiction Woes

I want to write some fiction to post here, but I just can't. I've tried, but sitting at this desk in this chair, I can't relaxe enough to let creative ideas come to me. It sounds like such a spoiled thing to say, but I need a laptop, badly. I need to be able to sit on the couch, word processor open, and type away. I need to know that all my work, all the works-in-progress, are in my control, and private, until I decide to make them available to others.

I hope I get a new computer soon.

Appreciative Coaching

‘Appreciative Coaching: A Positive Process for Change’ is a book written by Sara Orem, a faculty member at Capella University's School of Business and Technology. The book is about what they call "Appreciative Coaching".

“Rather than focusing on individuals in limited or problem-oriented ways, Appreciative Coaching guides the reader through four stages – Discovery, Dream, Design and Destiny – that inspire them to an appreciative and empowering view of themselves and their future,” says the author.

Capella University, founded in 1993, is an accredited online school that offers graduate degrees in things like business, education, and psychology. Sara Orem is not only a capella university staff member, but she also runs her own coaching firm.

Through a Lens...

The above photo was taken through one of my magnificent new lenses, a Tamron 75-300mm f/4-5.6. I am SO glad I got myself a telephoto lens before my trip to California, I think it will be so helpful in so many photographic situations.

I can't wait to walk along a sandy beach scoping out all the beauty there is to capture forever. I can't wait to roam the city, catching passing moments in time. I can't wait to meet one of my best friends, to point my camera in the same direction as his own. It's going to be amazing.

It Shouldn't Be This Hard...

...to buy a computer!

My friends, I am in dire need of a laptop (Okay, maybe not dire need). My current laptop, a refurbished Gateway is going to be almost as expensive to fix as it was to purchase in the first place, and after that. So, I've decided that it would be better in the long run to get a NEW laptop to make the likelihood of more problems less...well, likely. That shouldn't be so hard, right? What with all the stores specializing in electronics and computers, so many places online and such.

But no. Of course not.

I have a budget of $530 to find a decent computer with a good amount of memory and hard drive to suit my computing needs. First, I was happy to find a brand new Sony Vaio for $500 online. I added the item to my virtual cart, went to check out, and what do I find? I can only pay through a direct money transfer at my local Western Union. Does that seem strange to you? It does to me. I looked up the company I was about to purchase from on the Better Business Bureau website, and did not find it. I knew that deal was too good to be true...

So, for a couple more days I searched. And I searched. And I searched. I never found anything like the Sony Vaio I was set to purchase for my budget, so I lowered my standards a bit. Then, finally, I found an HP Notebook with a little less memory and a little less hard drive space than the Vaio, but still average, for about $490 with the waranty. But there was a catch. At this website I couldn't even check out unless my total purchase added up to over $500! I decided to search the vast internet once again to find the same laptop for the same price at another store. But I was unsuccessful. I gave in and added a $30 wireless mouse to my cart and went to check out...my payment option? WESTERN UNION. It's a conspiracy, I tell you!!!

So now, I have desperately (but smartly) bid on a new laptop on eBay, though after all this, my hopes aren't high.

Why must it be so hard?!

Capella Podcast

It seems like everyone has a podcast these days. Even capella university has a podcast called "Inside Online Education." I guess that tells you right there, Capella University is an online school. It's accredited and currently has about 19,000 students from all fifty states as well as 56 countries. The podcasts contain interviews with Capella students, as well as faculty and staff to share personal experiences about online education.

The university was founded in 1993, and "offers graduate degree programs in business, information technology, education, human services, public safety, and psychology, and bachelor’s degree programs in business, information technology, and public safety. Within those areas, Capella offers 89 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 16 certificate programs." The school is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Dogs in Danger

This article was in my local paper this morning. Here's an exerpt:

After discussing various subsection amendments to Chapter 5 of the Lexington City Code regarding animals and fowl, the Lexington City Council voted 4-0 Tuesday night to pass the measure on first reading. Mayor John Fagot was absent.

Among the amendments was subsection 5-10, which gives the police authority to kill any animals showing vicious tendencies or characteristics of rabies that make it impossible to capture them...

You know what? I absolutely HATE that they're giving cops the authority to kill any animal they feel "threatened" by. Living in a town of many police officers on a power trip, ready to use their guns at any opportunity, I think every dog in town is in danger. Just a few years ago a police officer pulled his gun on my brother's VERY friendly and gentle dog because she was barking at him while the officer was in my brother's yard. Now, a cop could shoot and kill Zoe, merely for protecting her territory and her master, feeling scared and threatened by an agitated man in uniform, and say that the DOG was a threat to HIM.

I am very scared for my city's pets.

Only a Dream

I had a dream the other night that I was a substitute teacher. I had been hired, with no experience, to teach about seven elementary school kids, indefinitely. Throughout the dream I had moments where I'd say, "Okay, I'm doing this, it's alright, I can handle it." Other times I thought, "What NUT hired me thinking I knew what I was doing?!" And all the while I was thinking of ways to get out of the gig.

Let's just say teaching isn't for me. It never will be. To those of you that do it every day, that consider it your calling and your passion, I bow to you.