So much more than money

Tomorrow I won't be at school. My mother-in-law and I are going to Fairhope to a flea market. It is going to be fun!! :) I need a break from school...

And, you're right, I am off during the summer. For 4 weeks. And I don't get paid for those 4 weeks. Same with the week and thanksgiving, two weeks at Christmas, and the week at spring break. Altogether, that makes 8 weeks a year. Not including, of course, all of those holidays that you probably mentioned under your breath that I get off. And yes, I get a paycheck all year, even though my measly wage is merely prorated throughout the year so that I won't have to go half of December and all of July without a paycheck.

But... what about all that time that I spend at the school and get no compensation for? Football games... basketball games.... softball games.... volleyball games.... baseball games.... after school faculty meetings.... after school detention.... the hours on end that I have spent (and will continue to spend) grading papers and projects... the conferences during the summer that are not during my contract time.

And yes. I am on contract. Which means that I am basically salaried. BUT I doubt there is another salaried OR hourly position in this WORLD that has as many duties as teaching has. I feel bad for ever thinking my mom had it easy by being a teacher. Because... I’ve figured out.... the good teachers have the hardest jobs. The ones that don't care are a totally different story.

This is the hardest job I have ever had. But it is also the most rewarding. There are days that I just want to throw my hands up and storm out of my classroom, never to return. But then.... a senior that I helped with algebra comes to me and hands me his grad exam results right before graduation and with a tear in his eye, says... "I passed..." Or a former student emails me out of nowhere needing help making a decision about her major in college -- because she has no one else to talk to about it that she trusts to give her an unbiased answer.

So... maybe I take it back. I don't get paid close to enough money for the work that I do at that school and for that school.... but I know that I will be a better person because of the lives that I get to influence and the continuous impact that these kids have on my life and my attitude.

And that is worth so much more than money....

Packing list

[clothes] jackets(1) - Bedroom sweaters(1) - Bedroom shoes(1) socks(1) - Bedroom coats(1) - Bedroom shirts(1) - Bedroom pants(1) - Bedroom sunglasses(1) - Bedroom hats(1) - Bedroom mittens/gloves(1) - Bedroom underwear(1) - Bedroom shorts(1) - Bedroom pajamas(1) - Bedroom [toiletries] make up bag(1) - Bathroom shaving kit(1) - Bathroom toothpaste(1) - Bathroom shampoo(1) - Bathroom towels(1) - Bathroom sunscreen(1) - Bathroom soap(1) - Bathroom toothbrush(1) - Bathroom lotion(1) - Bathroom deodorant(1) - Bathroom hairbrush(1) - Bathroom hair things(1) - Bathroom contacts/case/solutions(1) - Bathroom [other] cellphone, charger(1) - Office anti-bacterial wipes(1) hand sanitizer(1) - Kitchen medicine(1) - Bedroom tour guide(1) - Familyroom game(1) - Familyroom batteries(1) map(1) - Office book(1) - Familyroom walkie-talkie(1) reservation infor(1) - Office pillows(1) - Bedroom headphones(1) umbrella(1) - Garage [medical] antibiotic cream(1) - Bathroom anti-diarrheal medication(1) - Bathroom Band-Aids(1) - Bathroom bug repellent(1) - Bathroom sea-sickness bands or pills(1) - Bathroom pain reliever(1) - Bathroom [money and document] cash(1) credit card(1) driver license(1) passport(1) tickets/itinerary(1) auto insurance card(1) medical insurance card(1) business card(1) [camera] charger(1) tape(1) camera(1) camcorder(1) memory card(1) [swimming] water shoes(1) floating tube(1) swimsuit(1) beach towel(1) swim cover ups(1) [safety] turn off lights(1) lock doors(1) turn down heater(1) shut down water(1) close windows(1) unplug electronics(1) [for kids] wipper(1) playpen(1) bottle(1) diapers(1) cup(1) toy(1) books(1) coloring paper(1) car seat(1) [food] fruit(1) - Kitchen snack(1) - Kitchen drink(1) - Kitchen bread(1) - Kitchen water(1) - Kitchen [picnic] plastic plates(1) - Kitchen folding chairs(1) - Garage gas grill(1) - Garage utensil(1) - Kitchen tissue(1) - Kitchen cooler(1) - Garage table(1) - Garage paper towel(1) - Kitchen plastic utensil(1) - Kitchen pot(1) - Kitchen gas(1) - Kitchen [skiing] ski(1) - Basement boots(1) - Basement goggles(1) - Bedroom poles(1) - Basement gloves(1) - Bedroom helmet(1) - Basement ski pants(1) - Bedroom coats(1) - Bedroom [camping] fire starter(1) insect repeller(1) fire wood(1) - Garage fire lighter(1) air mattress(1) - Garage lamp(1) - Garage fishing gear(1) - Garage tent(1) - Garage pump(1) - Garage flash light(1) sleeping bag(1) - Basement Total # Of Items: 114

1608 miles

Day 6... Miles 1608... 😲 We're in Georgia on I-59. So that makes 8 states in 6 days.  I wish we could stop in Mentone on the way home, but we used up any extra sightseeing time yesterday I think... I can't wait to the the Alabama state line!! 😁🏡

1300 miles

Day 5: miles 1300 - Bristol, Virginia or Tennessee... Not sure... I am so ready to be back home. Or at least in Alabama. Si has been unbelievably good on this trip. He has a cough that is sounding worse every day though. Pretty sure the day we spent in Louisville out in the cold rain didn't help much. Janie has been an awesome help with Si. I hope she doesn't start to resent helping with him... Jason has needed a couple of attitude adjustments, but overall this has been a really good trip. Our original plans of being gone for 4 days has turned into 6, which means I am already stressing about school on Monday. But it will all work out and be fine ☺

Got to Knoxville later than I wanted to. Unpacked our bags in our 2 adjoining rooms (score for Janie-no couch sleeping tonight!) Jason decided we should go to Texas Roadhouse for supper. We walked in the door at 9:56. By 10:48 we still had no food. Then Jason started feeling sick. Not sniffles/cold sick. Like vertigo/can't see straight/gonna throw up sick. And he did. Throw up I mean. I shoved one of the buckets they serve peanuts in under his face and he filled it up. I almost couldn't stand beside him when he was puking because I was worried I might puke too. Janie scooped Si up and took him to another table away from us. (Yet more proof of how awesome she is). We didn't leave the restaurant until 11:30 because it took forever to get Jason to the truck. Oh and I got to drive the truck for the first time tonight. Not the ideal circumstance... I drove way too slow and almost hit one little white car. That's when the tears started. I was just overwhelmed. Finally got to the hotel and got Jason all the way back up to our room. Janie stayed with Si in the truck because I had to go back out to park the truck anyway. (The truck is now sitting in the far corner of the parking lot all by itself) she had him wrapped in a blanket laying in her lap. She is not perfect but she is as close as she can be sometimes... ❤

stay away from EconoLodge

Absolutely no cell phone service if you use Verizon. Was told by the front desk that their Wi-Fi wouldn't work with Verizon phones (I am not an idiot and cell phone company usage and WiFi have no correlation to each other). The night manager treated me as though I was an imbecile. Her smug smile when I reported a problem caused my blood pressure to skyrocket.

I paid $100 for a CRAPPY, LOUD, SMELLY room and she was RUDE. There was a scary shady looking drug dealer looking dude hanging out on the corner at the back of the building. Rooms smell like old cigarettes. Horribly uncomfortable beds. Ironing board but no iron. Road noise is TERRIBLE. The rooms on the back are probably quieter, but then you may need to make friends with the shady drug dealer.

Air conditioner worked intermittently. Will NEVER stay here again. Actually, we will NEVER stay at another EconoLodge because of this experience. I plan on writing HORRIBLE reviews of this motel on every travel site I am a member of.

Spring Break Plans!!!

Mid Atlantic Truck Show - Spring Break 2015 | My new trip on Roadtrippers.com!