Colleen's life

moving is crazy!

2006-08-01T23:48:00.000-03:00

Hey people,

It' s been a really long time since I updated, so you've probably all stopped reading, which means I'm now talking to myself. Oh well...

So I'm moving to the great north. It's pretty crazy- I talked to the mover today and apparently in the Yukon moving companies don't work on the weekends. And they don't give you much of a choice as to when your stuff arrives. In my case, they will not be able to get my stuff there until after the long weekend in September, which will be at least two weeks of living out of a suitcase in Whitehorse while I'm teaching. grrr... I guess I will be going out to buy a sleeping bag when I get there.

Ahhhh, I'm starting a full-time job teaching little people!!! I've been trying to do lesson planning and such, but there is so much to do that I didn't know where to start... so I've been watching movies, practicing tin whistle, and downloading music, such as a song I found today about a guy being addicted to Mountain Dew. Good times.

Colleen

procrastination

2006-05-09T14:43:00.000-03:00

I don't really have any exciting news, other than that I've accepted the Whitehorse job and all that's left to do is sign the contract once they send it to me. It's so strange, I think it will feel more real once I've signed the contract. Other than that, I've been chilling out at home a lot because I only have three classes. Currently, I am procrastinating from the one small assignment I have to do (or actually should have done already, but that's neither here nor there.) For all of the extra time I have right now, I'm not getting much accomplished. Oh well, this is the life...

Colleen

Jobs...

2006-04-29T14:49:00.000-03:00

So last Tuesday I had a phone interview for a music job in Manitoba, and then on Wednesday I got offered the job, and then on Thursday I turned down the job. I turned down the job because on Tuesday I got a letter from the Toronto Catholic board offering me a job (still not sure where exactly and doing what exactly). I also turned down the Manitoba job because last week I had an interview for a job in Whitehorse, but then I decided that I didn't want it because it was only a 0.7 position (meaning not completely full-time) and told them this on Thursday, and then got a call later on Thursday asking if I would still be interested if they made it a 1.0 position (full-time). So yesterday (Friday) I sort of got offered the job teaching music at a Catholic school in Whitehorse. It's not official yet, they still have to do reference checks and such. I haven't accepted anything yet/ been officially offered anything definite yet, but I'm leaning toward the Whitehorse job, it would be pretty cool to live in the Yukon for a couple of years...

Colleen

Ahhhh...

2006-04-23T12:25:00.000-03:00

I just finished my second internship on Friday, so tomorrow it is back to classes for me. It should be pretty slack because I only have three classes. My schedule is sweet- I have class on Monday morning and Wednesday all day and that's it! I think I am going to have so much spare time I won't know what to do with myself.

Last week I had two phone interviews for teaching jobs next year- one was for Yellowknife and one was for Whitehorse. Both were positions teaching music in Catholic schools. I am supposed to hear back about both sometime this week. I still don't know what's going on with teaching jobs in Toronto and Calgary and such, plus I am still considering continuing the process of applying to teach in Scotland. Exciting times...

Colleen

Easter's coming!

2006-04-01T13:57:00.000-04:00

I can't believe it's almost Easter! The year has gone by so fast! Only two more weeks until I'm back in Calgary for a few days!

Things are going good. I got a summer job working at an Easter Seals camp just outside of Calgary. It ends at the beginning of August, so that will give me lots of time to relax and prepare to move maybe? I just started learning trumpet- man am I bad! Oh well, at least I'm getting better at clarinet.

Colleen

not much to say....

2006-03-19T13:37:00.000-04:00

Well I'm back in good old Fredericton. I don't have much to say except that life is awesome. My music internship is really good and not too much work (good considering I think I am getting lazy). I've been doing quite a bit of dance lately. I started a dance class for people in my education program, plus the Irish dance school is putting on a show next weekend and I am dancing in it- so we have been having lots of rehearsals for that. Now I'm counting down the days till Easter break!

Colleen

good times in the Maritimes

2006-03-06T19:44:00.000-04:00

Hello people!

I am Halifax right now and was in PEI on Friday for a job fair. It was pretty good, I had two interviews- one for the Toronto Catholic Board and one for the Alberta Christ the Redeemer School Board. The Toronto interview was really good, so who knows where I will end up next year...

I've been picking up all of these interesting expressions that people use in the Maritimes. One is to use the word "right" to mean "really". For instance, "I was right mad." Another interesting one they say is "jigging", meaning skipping class. Apparently it comes from skipping school to go fishing. Yes, yes, I know, I am the source of valuable information, which you may now use to show others that you are really cultured.

Colleen

March break is coming!

2006-02-26T12:24:00.000-04:00

So even though I was convinced that I was going to Nicaragua last Sunday, it only took half a day to change my mind (partly because of the voice of reason of my parents) and so I won't be going anymore. Mostly I just can't afford it, plus I've heard that there is a good chance of getting sick with all of the food and such, and let's face it- I'm pretty weak so I would be almost guaranteed to get sick, which wouldn't be good considering I am planning on starting a summer job right after.

Next weekend is the job fair in PEI. It's going to be sweet! I think I will be staying at someone's house in Charlottetown for a few days and then somehow make my way to Halifax. And then after that I'm going to get a ride with someone on some day to go back to Fredericton. And then I'm going to take a bus to St. Andrew's and stay there for a couple days, and then come back to Fredericton for the weekend before going back to school. Yep, it's going to be a fun-filled adventure!

Ooh, I went and got one of those stability balls and some weights so that I can "work out at home and get in shape", meaning the workout materials will stay in a spot in my room collecting dust (except for the occasional rolling on the ball because large plastic balls are fun) and then justify not going to the gym with my good intentions of doing my workout at home (plus going to the gym is scary). There just never seems to be enough time in the day for such things that make you tired and sweaty when you would rather just sleep or sit and watch movies while eating unhealthy food.

Colleen

oh where should I go?

2006-02-19T12:13:00.000-04:00

So I've decided today is "planning for the future" day. Yesterday I basically finished almost all of my work for all of my courses, and so this last week of school I will start preparing for my internship and also start applying for jobs. But I don't know what to do! Some people from my education class are going to do a humanitarian project thing in Nicaragua for a couple weeks at the end of June. So I was thinking about doing that, but I'm still not sure if I can afford it. Plus, I think I've definitely decided to stay in Calgary for the summer and try and get a camp-type job for the summer. And then who knows what will happen after that. I've been thinking about teaching in the UK (Scotland) for a year, but that would also be expensive. On the other hand I saw a presentation about a school board in Alberta which has schools in small communities like Okotoks and Canmore. It's called Christ the Redeemer Catholic School Board, has anyone heard of it before? It looks like they have some really good programs. I don't know! Too many decisions all at once...

Colleen

take a deep breath

2006-02-12T13:29:00.000-04:00

Okay, I'm trying not to panic, but I only have two more weeks of classes before my next internship and I suddenly realized this morning that I have a lot of stuff to do... Oh well, I'm sure it will get done right? I don't think it's helping that the Olympics just started and I've found myself turning on the TV "just to watch for a few minutes." In other news, it is looking like I will be going to PEI and then to Halifax for my March break. Mmmm a break- I wish I had a Coffee Crisp for a moment like this...

Colleen

just one more, this is fun!

2006-02-05T13:11:00.000-04:00

Wow, this is fun! Posting is like having a one-way conversation with yourself, which is always good because you never get cut off and always have a very captive audience who is very interested in what you have to say.

I should also explain the reasoning behind my blog web address thingy. When the computer was prompting me to pick an address for my blog, I tried and tried to be creative! (I really did!) My first attempt was imalittleteapot.blogspot.com, because that's just a really good song. And then I think I tried "yellowumbrella", because it's raining right now, and I thought it would be a good motto, you know, to symbolize happy optimism in the face of adversity and such... And I can't remember what else I tried but everything had already been done before. And I seriously don't have time to think about blog titles or addresses and figure out the perfect address that would ideally characterize my personality and philosophical approach to life. So then in desperation I admitted to the creativity-obsessed computer that I just don't have what it takes, this is too much pressure for my little heart to take and I'm all out of ideas. And it worked! I was accepted into blog land despite my lowly weaknesses. (sigh) I think I'm ready for my fluffy pillows and hot chocolate now.

Colleen

I take it back

2006-02-05T13:09:00.000-04:00

I take it back, it is pretty! Ooo... pretty blue template. I'm quite impressed with myself!

Colleen

crazy robots

2006-02-05T13:02:00.000-04:00

So I've finally decided to break down and accept the fact that computers are taking over the world and one day the planet will be ruled by crazy robots. Which means that I should at least try and get on the boat and sail to the magical land of making blogs. Yes, I suppose it is a magical place, although it would be better if it had lots of pillows and hot chocolate.

Actually the real reason for my initiation into the world of blogs is to try and stay connected with people, especially all of the cool people in Calgary! So my master plan is to update my blog once a week and then at least I'll feel like I'm making an effort to stay in touch with people.

And of course I'm sorry that this isn't that pretty yet, just give me some time... I blame it on the crazy robots...yes... whenever anything goes wrong it is best to blame it on the crazy robots...

Colleen

this is where it starts

2006-02-05T12:53:00.000-04:00

This is my first attempt at a blog so I don't know if this will work.
(crossing fingers now)