Moving On Up...

But not to the east side.

You may or may not have heard by now that I am moving. I applied, interviewed, and accepted a 3^rd grade teaching position in Ulysses, KS. Deciding to move was not very difficult for me. I’m tired of small towns and their cons. For example, last Friday, Bonnie and I began to tell people in Ransom that we are planning to move. We told mostly coworkers and employees. On Saturday every person I saw asked about my move-some people I didn’t even know. It took all weekend but I did get my first Facebook message today. This isn’t the first time rumors of my leaving have spread like butter on toast, (“wildfire” seemed too cliché) but it’s the first time they’ve been true. Not everything is bad though, I will miss many people I’ve met here, and there are a few whom I hope will remain good friends.

This move is a good change, but that doesn’t mean I’m happy to leave everything behind. Unfortunately, the bigger and better is further and further away. I love my family, and being over 6 hours away from my grandparents is going to hurt so much.

Timing is everything, and this seems to be my time to step out of my comfort zone and find out more about the world. I’m going from a town of 200 to a town of 6,000 and I’m nervous but ready.

On a positive note, if nothing else works out there… I’m going to live close to a Sonic and I’ll get happy hour everyday if I want. It’s easy to look at a glass half-full if it’s a large styrofoam cup of Dr. Pepper with extra extra vanilla and easy ice.

***VOTE*** For which direction you would like to move for your dream location.

PCH!

I have a guilty pleasure. It’s the Publisher’s Clearing House. I like getting their thick envelopes in the mail. It’s like a puzzle where you not only have to find the right spots for the pieces to go to, but you also have to search through cheesy advertisements to FIND the pieces. Of course the ads for unnecessary, ridiculous, over-priced items make the searching even more fun. Who wouldn’t want an American Flag Wind Chime for only four payments of $3.99? It’s “A lovely way to show your patriotic spirit!” and you can get a second one for only anther $4.00! (This makes me think that if they’re making money off of just $4, the 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th payments for the first set of chimes are adding $11.97 towards MY next big win!)

After laughing at the terrible ads for “Orange and Cherry Slices,” “Mississippi Harmonica Co. & Harmonica Playing Made Easy Books,” and “Battery-operated toilet cleaning brushes,” I turn to my personalized notices from several people. Each person seems genuinely interested in what is best for me, and strongly encourages me to complete the entry forms and buy three items to get seven more items (I don’t want) for free! And of course I must do it all NOW. Not a second to lose. After all, I wouldn’t want my number to be called but not receive my $1,000,000 because I merely missed the deadline.

Like I said I enjoy PCH. They give me a reason to smile at least once a week, and it’s worth the 40-something cent stamp (is it 44 cents? I can’t remember right now) because I’ll be guaranteed to have more entertainment soon. Please don’t think that I EXPECT to win. And even though they have printed off directions from the flower shop to my house (with the wrong directions) I have no intention of actually being presented with a whole bunch of flowers, balloons, and a giant check. But if that even does happen, please pray that I will be wearing pants when they surprise me.

My favorite prize was the $1,000,000 a day, everyday, for the rest of my life. Sometimes I discuss my options with my sister. Of course I can think of many churches, shelters, and non-profit organizations to receive my $100,000 a day donation. Maybe I’ll create a rotating list. Then I’ll be paying off all of my debts. Good-bye student loans and car payments! By the end of the week I’d be $7,000,000 richer, and I’d even pay my full taxes on it – you’re welcome United States Treasury. I’d pay for my friend’s wedding, my sister’s daycare, a couple of cars for the other two sisters, completely re-do my parent’s house, and have the absolute BEST classroom parties EVER! But don’t expect to be a “long-lost” relative coming to bug me for my newly acquired money. I’ll be generous, but not a push over, and if you’re not on my Christmas Card list now, you probably won’t be on my give-away list then.

This was a long sarcastic blog that I hope made you laugh a bit. Now have a great day, and enjoy life!