please tell me there's nothing wrong

with wanting to move to Seattle just so I can drive all the way across the country with my sister on what would surely be the world's best roadtrip.

That seems like a perfectly legitimate factor on which to base a life-changing decision, right?

how i scared a very nice student

Completely unintentionally, of course. I assure you, it was all very innocent.

Elena (in a desperate attempt to distract me so I would not start class): Ms. Reed, when was the last time you plucked your eyebrows?

Me: Yesterday. I do that practically every day.

Which terrified Matthew, he having been only halfway paying attention, and therefore having heard "when was the last time you plucked", only without the P and the L. Which led him to substitute an alternative letter in their place. Yikes.

but on a brighter note

Because I really do love my job, and enjoy it even on days like this.

I gave out eight detentions in one class period today.

And they all thought it was a joke, because I wasn't yelling or mad. So they laughed a lot.

But then they found out it was not a joke after all, and were no longer laughing. But I was.

i love track season

Because I get to be at work from 7 am until 9 pm.

And work Saturdays.

And then our team sucked last night because two kids quit because they were caught having sex at school.

My job is awesome today.

this is how you know you're loved

If you're standing on a playground talking to a group of 15-year-old girls (because you teach said girls, and the baseball game you are supposed to be watching is less than exciting) and one of their friends walks up to join the conversation.

Hi. What's your name?

Well, they call me Ms. Reed.

(brief pause)

OMIGOSH!!!

My thoughts exactly...

Ms. Reed the physics teacher?!?!

That's how I'm known by some.

OMIGOSH, I have heard SO MUCH about you!! You are so awesome!

So now I am Ms Reed the Cool Physics Teacher. I'm pretty sure I'm going to make that an official title. Much like William the Conqueror or Catherine the Great, only better.

pro/con list

as requested, here are some pros and cons about each school

School #1: (Washington, DC) There is definitely a "snob factor" at this school, which can be expected since tuition is $27k per student every year. Incredibly wealthy plus incredibly privileged equals at least some amount of snobbery. However, this also means that I have an unlimited budget for labs and whatever else I want. (They recently bought the chemistry teacher a class set of brand-new laptops, just because she asked for them.) And I can deal with snobby pretty well. And I would be teaching AP Physics and Freshman Physics, which I would LOVE. It's the only school where I'd only teach physics and no chemistry. That's a plus for me.

School #2: (Washington, DC) It's a little bit farther out of the city, and pretty rural. VERY close-knit community, where I will run into my students likely on a daily basis at the grocery store and other places around town. Nice, but may be a little much for me. And the pay's not fantastic, but they said they're willing to make some adjustments if it will encourage me to accept the job. Quite possibly the most welcoming people I've ever met.

School #3: (Tampa) Cost of living is way lower, I would have a huge say in how the science department is run, and what equipment to buy for the new labs they're building, and the guy who interviewed me was very excited about me. Which is flattering. Also a very small school, but apparently pretty good, because they have some graduating seniors who have already been acceted to Yale, Brown, Princeton, and other impressive universities.

School #4: (Tacoma, WA) While I know very little about the school, Washington sounds cool. And it's gorgeous out there. I do, however, love the east coast so I'm hesitant to leave it for something I know very little about.

And there you have it. My future, in your hands.

here's your chance

Since I am so popular, and so many schools want to hire me and offer me fabulous jobs, i'm having a hard time settling on one.

So I am putting my future in the hands of my readers. (Frightening, but true.)

So here they are:
School #1: Incredibly wealthy, pays well, and I'd be teaching AP physics and regular physics. And it's just outside of Washington DC.

School #2: Not quite as much money, their technology kind of sucks, but incredibly welcoming and nice people. I'd be teaching physics and chemistry. Again, outside of Washington DC.
They liked me a lot.

School #3: Small school, in Tampa, FL. Again, physics and chemistry.

School #4: Tacoma, WA. Sounds exciting, but I know nothing about the job so far.

Browse their websites, cast your vote. Please.

it's a good thing i have no pride

Otherwise, it might bother me when my student tells me he's pretty sure my shirt went out of style in the 1850's.

or when his friend asks me where my eye patch is.

News flash: it's not a pirate shirt. It's stylish. Too bad they have no sense of style.

this weekend, i...

• interviewed for a job
• was offered said job
• did not decide whether or not to accept
• ate a fabulous steak
• hung out with my sister
  
• saw a boy trying to carry a boogie board onto the airplane. seriously.
• saw a 24-year-old girl wearing leggings say "oh, the yewsh." (as in, the usual). laughed very very hard at that
• tried to buy a knock-off Coach purse
• and that's about all