Packing up and movin' on out!

So, it is final. We are headed out of this wonderfully ancient apartment and moving 3.3 miles down the road to a better one here in Corvallis.

For posterity's sake, here are the things I will miss:

• Having not one, but two parking spaces assigned to us, and not having to pay a ridiculous amount for it.
• The trees all around our apartment. Since we live on the third floor, it is a little like living in a tree house, and I just loved looking out of the windows and seeing a forest of green.
  
• Having the coolest manager ever. Steve is awesome. I am pretty sure he can hear me singing at full volume in the shower because our bathroom shares a wall with his apartment, but he has never mentioned it, or given me the stink-eye after I belt out The Killer's "Mr. Brightside" fifty times a week.
  
• Being super close to downtown. I love taking walks to the waterfront and dinking around all the little bookstores and shops without having to worry about parallel parking (aka me crashing into an expensive car while trying)
  
• The windows this place has. Seriously, we don't ever need to turn a light on in the summer. Or winter, for that matter. Natural light just tends to stream in.
  
• This is probably more applicable to Evan, but the kitchen here is pretty awesome. I have been able to appreciate it when I go in there to get a glass of water or make toast. Ev really likes having a really giant island he can do his (or all,) cooking done.
  
• The office. We are actually moving to a slightly smaller place, and I will miss the size of our office here. We could comfortably fit a bookcase, two desks, and a couch in our office and still have room to spare. I wrote all my final papers, letters, and journal entries in here because it was always relaxing to be in that space. I crammed for tests, cried over the grades I received on tests, and had some of the best conversations with Evan in that room.
• Just the comfort I feel here. This was our first apartment together, and we've had millions of moments here that built up and made it feel like home. There is a part of me that is scared to leave this place, because even with it's flaws, it is perfect to me.

And, to ease the fear of moving, here are the things I won't miss:

• Drunken college students walked below our balcony every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night.
  
• The Big Brother-esque street light that shines directly into our dining room
  
• Kitchen cabinets that are crooked and roughly the same color as Snuffulufagus
• Yellow, faux marble countertops.
  
• Having to do our laundry in a dungeon next to where they keep the Dumpster.
  
• A shower door that seemingly hates to stay on the track, especially right at the moment the water gets cold and you have shampoo in your eye.
  
• The stairs to our third floor apartment here are so steep and treacherous that one must almost hire a Sherpa to help ascend. All (and I mean all) of our friends (and most of our parents) have tripped or fallen going up or down those stairs.
  
• Being half a block from the fire and police station. I sleep through all sirens now, which I fear is a disadvantage in trying to survive. If they go by during the day, however, I can tell the difference between a cop car, ambulance, or fire engine just by listening to the stupid siren.
  

All in all, it has been a wonderful two years here, and while I will miss it and always look back on our first big Couple Adventure with fond memories, I think this move will be good for us and bring on a whole new slew of moments. The next blog entry from me will probably be from our new home! 'Till then, take care, and blog yourselves so I have something to read when I take a break from packing!

June 2009

Please excuse my absence, I've been trying to stay sane with everything June has had me up to.


First, I had to keep my students entertained until the last day, which was a feat unto itself. The 8th had been checked out since the 1st of June, and I all but had to juggle textbooks for them to pay attention. When the last day finally came, I realized that I would definitely miss those kids, especially the ones that I had forged a connection with. I told one that I was planning on going to his high school graduation, and when I said that, he looked at me, and said, "do you really think I'll make it there?"

I said, "of course you will!" And his eyes teared up and he said, "okay teacher, I will see you there!"

I hate to sound cliche, but it's moments like that that seem to evaporate all the bad days. It has been such a great year, and I have learned so much. I don't think those kids realize how much they have taught me about patience, compassion, commitment, humor, and love. I owe them a lot, and will miss them next year.

My 8th graders

Good luck with everything, guys!

Also in the last few weeks, we've decided on a new apartment here in Corvallis, and are planning to move on my birthday, July 1st. It is going to be a big move for us, but I think we're ready. Also, we get to choose paint colors, and being the gigantic HGTV freak that I am, I am totally excited about that.

Finally, but most importantly, Evan graduated from Oregon State University on the 13th, with two degrees! One in Education and one in History, plus a teaching license. It was exciting to sit and watch him culminate these last five years of school. He has worked hard, and I could not be more proud of him! It's funny to think that we met as college freshmen, and are still together and facing new experiences as graduates. I can't wait to see what new adventures Life takes us on!

Evan in the sea of graduates

Apparently, OSU has a song that Alumni are supposed to know

Me with the new alum!

Congrats, Ev!

sing it to me, Ray

I love Ray Lamontagne, (evidenced by my going and buying all three of his albums because I couldn't stand to leave one behind) and I especially like this cover he did of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy". I know, I know. I too, got so sick of that song during the summer of 2007 that I felt nauseous when it came on the radio, but Ray (we are on a first name basis; he just doesn't know it) puts a really great spin on it, and I can listen to it over and over, dramamine free.

The homestretch

That's what all the teachers call this time of year. I see it more like I've been climbing a mountain, and these last 5 weeks are like the super rocky, slippery part right before the summit, where you're not sure if you have enough oxygen or strength to make it to the top. Summer would be the easy downhill climb, and once you reach the bottom, it's almost September and you may as well turn around and start climbing again.

Anyway, I haven't meant for this to become some sort of monthly thing. I always thought I'd be one of those annoying people who blogged almost daily about just anything. I know I keep promising to be more consistent with this, but I may as well stop and say that once I reach the top of Middle School Wrangling Mountain, I will be back more often.

So, good news: I have been offered my position at Linus Pauling for next year, same hours and everything, and I would be a moron of gigantic proportions to not take it. The major sacrifice we have to make is pushing our plan to move back to the Portland area another year, but I think we can live with that, especially if we get some sort of furry pet to make up for the serious lack of people around.

Another plus: apartments are waaaay cheaper here in Corvallis, and we've decided on a two-bedroom, one bath in a much nicer part of town. It is a definite upgrade from the place we have now. Don't get me wrong; I love it here, but the complex was constructed somewhere near 1972, when I suppose not having lights in the closet, golden-hued countertops matched with dark dark dark cabinets, or a slightly slanted kitchen floor wasn't a big deal.

I suppose the hardest thing for me these last few weeks was to actually find the silver lining in staying here another year. I had really amped myself for leaving, and starting a new chapter in our lives, and I felt like I was being held back against my will. Then I'd get mad at myself because hey, it was a job, for crying out loud, which, right now, is a lot more than some people have. And yeah, there are days when I want to pull my hair out and punt more than one kid out the window (there is a reason those windows don't open all the way, and why Glencoe High School had none: the temptation is too great) but in the end, I adore my job, and I adore my kids.

So yeah. Staying here another year certaintly won't kill me, and who knows what lies in store for me, or us, in the upcoming year. I'm sure there will be more surprises.

Okay, if you made it this far, here is your reward:

This is what happens when you get two tired educators on a Friday night!

I cannot get enough of

Slumdog Millionaire!

I just watched this last night (every time we tried to see it in theaters one of us came down with the flu, so we just resorted to Netflix so we could watch it, plague-ridden or not) and I loved it. Rarely does a movie move me like this one did, and if you haven't seen it, please do!

Also, being the soundtrack junkie that I am, I am currently obsessing over the music in this film. Here are two of my favorites, although I thought it was all fantastic.

ssshhhhhh, I'm hunting an apawtment...

I apologize for not writing more often. I have an excuse other than laziness, however. I have become totally enthralled and addicted to apartment hunting, which I know doesn't sound horribly exciting, but considering the fact that I've had the flu not once, but twice (my immune system is no match for middle schoolers), it's about all I have the energy for.

There's just something about comparing floorplans, and amenities offered, and oh, ratings. I love ratings and reviews.

Okay. I know I sound like a loser with too much free time, but really, it's addicting. We've made a list of about 8 complexes (complexi?) in the Hillsboro/Beaverton/Tanasbourne area that we're going to scout out during Spring Break. If you guys (all 6 of you) know of any we should know of, or avoid, I am all ears.

I'm not saying I want a baby...

But shopping for other people's is a lot of fun. Especially when you can get stuff like this:





The shoes are my favorite. For now, I'll vicariously dress other people's children as I would my own. That'll definitely do for now.