Scratch that previous...

Actually playing with the symphony was really good!  Just a lot of frustration.  But in the end it sounded pretty good.  We looked good, it sounded good... and everybody we met said it was awesome.  So that's cool.  We got to hang out with the symphony people after and it was neat to meet some real music professionals.

Never play with the Symphony ...

... if you're a pipeband player.

We're playing the "Mull of Kintyre" with a Paul McCartney tribute band who's playing with the symphony.  Normally we've done okay with that.  It's always been a great show.  But this time we're playing with the symphony... and htey tune entirely differently from the way pipebands tune.  Well not entirely, just SUPER FLATTER.  If that's a word.  After we practiced once with them and realized tha tit would be so much flatter in pitch we had to spend another 3 hours (maybe 4... unsure) retuning.  We eventually had to get out our REAALLY old chanters to make sure that they could go that low.  472 -20 cents doesn't seem that low if you think about it... but unbelievably hard to get our new equipment to do.

 

Well we play in under 4 hours... practicing begins in 1.5... should be fun!  I'll post pictures when i get 'em.

-ry

A new year and yet more applications...

Not much has changed.  Another year is afoot and I'm sitting here getting my applications together.

---

Not just for more teaching jobs, but to be ABLE to apply for jobs.  Yes, I know... it's retarded.

I've already re-applied for more LTO positions next semester.  That's another bitch (more to come).  But I'm currently on the pool-hiring list, which means that I can apply for LTO positions when tehy come up.  It's sort of like longer term supply positions.  But being on the supply board isn't enough.  You have to be on the pool list to be able to apply to these or any full time jobs.  And it expires after 2 years.

What gets me is that if you've been busting your hump and applying to every job available and ahven't moved from pool to CONTRACT [i.e. full time] you have to re-apply.  Like if you hadn't applied or moved away, I could see them asking for a re-application, but it's not like I ahven't been trying to get off the pool.  So I have to get everything together for this board YET AGAIN.

---

Now I've also recently applied to 2 more LTO positions for next semester.  One at PACI for 9App Math and then 2 at Hammerskjold 9app and 10app math.  PACI called me to the office pretty soon after the break and set up an appointment and asked me when it would be best for me.  Awesome... Hamm calls me during class and when I get back to them they tell me I will have 'make arrangements' so taht I can go to the interview.  Which according to the times means that I'll ahve to miss my class.  How can I do that?  How likely is PACI gonna help me out so that I can apply elsewhere.  I know the teachers are great and will... but still... iv'e got presentations to mark that day... how can I miss those?  AAARRRGH.

 

Somebody explain this crazy world to me...

-ry

Lots to catch up on...

So who's read the Dark Tower... I just finished it, and I need somebody to discuss teh ending with.  Bain's not read the last one so he can't talk about it, and I can't say anything near him about it.  Argh... those who haven't read don't go beyond the end...

 

So, ... back to school.  Finished my exams... ready to go... just need another few lessons for law class.  Ugh, I just don't have the energy.  And on the first day back in one class, I have a student, not once, not twice, but 3 TIMES vomit.  Not the normal vomit either, but the spew in a long stream like a hose vomit.  Not exactly projectile, but ... anyways GROSS.  Man, stuff you'd never expect in class.  Holee shit.  bleh.

 

Somehow that seems to have tapped me from being energetic for school. I'm totally drained... I dont' know waht to do otherwise.  I barely have the energy to type this. Oh, well - such is my cross to bear.

 

 

Spoiler below... only page down if you've read the Dark Tower VII

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===DT SPOILER===

So what ... does the whole universe get reset?  Or just Roland... if it's just Roland who'll join his ka-tet now?

Argh. just didn't make sense.

Families are there to drive you nuts

Man, want a good EFFECTIVE birth contorl device?  Try nieces and nephews.  They work ... at least I'm hoping so.  Families are truly there to keep you feelign good about yourself.  I'm glad the holidays are almost over.  Enough meals and friendly banter, and onto the truly great part about the holidays... the days off!

 

I've marked 2 of the 3 tests I mean to... and I haven't done any of the other planning I mean to do ... but I have another week left before I have to be back, so I'm not too worried!  I'm almost procrastinating... not quite, but close to it.  I think I'm just in shock with not having to get up in the mornings.  THAT IS A REAL TREAT!  Plus not working at Sears is a bonus.  I should just quit there, I'm much more at peace now without them ... we'll see what the new year brings.

 

Happy Holidays people (I'd say Merry Christmas, but it's already passed).

-ry

Merry Effin' Christmas

Okay... try #2... this is not a good week for me.

 

This season brings about the worst in people:

 - school - people's attitutes are really starting to whine, the marking's really piling up

 - work - the crowd's are getting huge and the people are getting angry and the hours are getting longer

 

This all adds up to Ryan getting crankier and tired-er.  I don't think i've been sworn at more in a week than i have been this past week.  I don't mind it so much when high-school kids swear at me.  I'm a teacher, it comes with the territory.  But full grown matured adults?  Yes, just so you know people, it is MY fault that there is nothing left in stock less than a week before Christmas.  Yes, it is MY fault that people can't read advertisements...

 

1st there was teh lady who didn't know what TV she wanted, so she wanted the measurements of ALL of them.  After getting yelled at about how iwas purposely avoiding her, I proceeded to (obviously) not do what she wanted and start copying the sizes out of the catalogue she goes off...  I guess I was supposed to IGNORE the 30 other people around me and physically measure EVERYTHING we had in the store.  So much for efficiency.

 

Then the next people in line felt so bad for me that they didn't mind when i asked if i could go answer the phone.  This is the lady who couldn't read.  She sees the flyer... sees the price of the stand (which is in small print) misses the WHEN YOU BUY THE TV part (in big print) and sends her husband in.  I don't know about the offer, but I tell him that the CHEAPEST the stands go are half price when you buy the tv at the same time.  He leaves.  The wife calls and bitches at me about not knowing my sales and then when I point out to her that the flyer she's telling me about has in BIGGER writing a stipulation that you have to buy the tv to get that price she just goes off... I shoulda just hung up.

 

Add to that I'm now filling out my UMPTEENTH resume for the same board.  They need the applications in 2 days (they posted today).  So i have to decide which jobs I'm applying for SOON.  And re-use the same forms and applications I've been using for almost 4 years.  Jarron's getting tired of filling out reference after reference.

 

Sigh... somebody pass the scotch

-slainte

 

Co-PM

So, the AGM for the pipe band was tonight... and as it turns out, I'm half of the pipe major now.  Co-PM.. Cool... I guess.  I'll figure out what that means really.  I couldn't be PM... there's no way i could handle it all to be honest with you.  But this might work.  HOw... that'll be found out in the next couple weeks.

Other outcomes:  Jeff is Pres [Jarron is relieved], Debbie is VP [again], Garth stays as Treasurer, Heather re-earns her position as Corresponding Secreatry and the new blood is Dylan as Recording Secretary.  It'll be all good I think.

 

Other news... stupid cold his holding me down.  I'm not getting much sleep, and I'm drowning with work.

21 more days!

 

-ry