Hi, this is the beginning of who knows what, but it is a journey none the less. In case you know nothing at all about me (which is doubtful because more than likely I will be the only one who really looks at this blog, other than perhaps a few friends and some family...at any rate...) I used to be a high school science teacher in Arizona. When my daughter, her husband, and son moved up to Colorado I found that I really didn't like being away from them so I decided to move up to Colorado, too. During that school year (which I had to go through before being able to move) we found out that my daughter was pregnant, unfortunately we also found out that the baby had a rare form of osteogenisis imperfecta and would never live to full term. This only reinforced that I needed to move up to Colorado because as strong as my daughter is (and she is quite strong) I knew she would need lots of love around her, and for my son-in-law too. So, long story short, in the summer of 2007 I moved to Colorado with the thought that it would be like most other places in the nation; always in need of science teachers....wrong!
Once I got to CO I found the whole education system so difficult in comparison to Arizona. There were few science teaching positions available and added to that it was much more time consuming to get the certification to teach. Not that their requirements are more difficult, they just take forever to do anything, i.e. I sent in my money and a request for a replacement license (mine has gone missing, it's in a really safe place) a few months ago and still haven't gotten it...been on hold with CDE for a half hour already trying to figure out where it is. But I digress. I needed a job of some sort so started working at Walmart in the vision center. It was ok, but nothing exciting, that is for sure.
A few months after starting there my ex and his wife told me about a position working at the post office. It was awfully nice of them to tell me about it...anyway, I started working for the post office as a TE carrier. I actually liked it a lot. I found that I was really good at the sorting (obviously they thought I was good at it too since they would have me do additional routes even though typically the TE carriers just showed up took the presorted mail out and delivered it) and I like going to different areas. Unfortunately, that didn't last long as I was delivering mail one day and a pitbull thought I looked like someone to play with. I had three steps (semi big steps but not that bad) to get in the vehicle and avoid any contact with the dog (I have no trust in the pepper spray); do you think I got away? Yes, I did actually avoid contact with the dog (purely because his master called him back from the parking lot for the apartments) but not at a cost. As I was trying to get back to the vehicle I must have stepped wrong on the curb (it wasn't even) and SNAP (yes sometimes when you break a bone it really does sound like in the movies) next thing I know I am on the ground in tears.
Knowing that if I had an injury I would more than likely lose my job, I checked my ankle (which felt eerily cold) to make sure the bone hadn't broken the skin...no blood, things were looking up. I got up, attempted to wipe away the tears and hobbled to the vehicle. I tried my hardest to complete the route because I didn't want to lose my job. Luckily a lot of the route from that point on was just out the window (meaning I stayed in the vehicle and just opened the mailbox at the street and put the mail in)...unlike the one that I was at when this all happened...they had their mailbox back on the other side of the sidewalk. I did OK driving with the other foot, wiping away the tears, sobbing heavily...but then I got to an apartment complex (the same one the dog came from I think) and that required getting out of the vehicle, carrying the mail to the mail boxes and then walking back and forth to put the mail in. The pain was excruciating. When it hurt so bad that I couldn't see through the tears I finally gave up and called the supervisor. I explained what had happened and that I had attempted to complete the route but there was no way that it was going to happen. I knew I would more than likely lose my job but the pain was too intense to worry about that. Needless to say, I didn't lose my job (then) and believe it or not with a broken ankle I was back at work the within a few days (I had to go to the workman's comp doctor the next day and my supervisor told me to stay out till the following Monday...I broke it on a Thursday). Few in the post office would be that dedicated, but I was trying to make sure I had some chance of keeping my job.
Long story short, again, I did whatever they wanted me to do (within reason and my limitations). This went on, and then I had surgery for my ankle to put a pin in it. Shockingly enough, somehow with surgery on my ankle I lost some feeling in my hand...don't ask, I don't have a clue! I went back to work after the prescribed healing time, and worked with my limitations. I was told I would have my contract renewed and then the same person that told me that sent out a non-renewal of contract for me...so I spent a few years at home on workman's comp because the post office would rather pay me to not work.
During that time, yet another surgery. While I was looking at a third surgery, workman's comp gave me a rehabilitation counselor who was the Bitch from Hell! She did nothing to help me look for work, lied to workman's comp. making me look like I wasn't trying, and lied saying I had turned down jobs...what a piece of ...well karma will catch up with her, eventually. Because of her lies workman's comp decided they needed to reduce my benefits...believe it or not, down to $429 a month.
Don't get me wrong, I had been putting in for any teaching job posted that I met the requirements for (and even a few that would be a stretch), went to interviews, with no results, Then I interviewed for the Gallileo Math and Science School. They liked me and wanted to hire me until one of my references (Johnny Ray) gave me a less than glowing review. This was the same man that had sworn, not only to me but also to my friend (who still taught at the same school as him) that he would give me a great reference. Despite him writing glowing evaluations on me (in one stating I was "an excellent teacher") he killed my chances at that job. I would have been great at it, but they passed me up because of him. (We think that perhaps he had more than a belly clipping and perhaps had a stroke and had no idea who he was talking about). Well, between the loss of that job thanks to slander and the workman's comp situation it was imperative to find a job (I don't like the idea of living in my car).
Next thing I know I was asked by two different DOD schools if I would like to interview for their positions. I did interview but wasn't sure how it went...you never know. The next day I receive an email from one of the principals asking if I would be willing to take a biology/anatomy position rather than the middle school science that I had interviewed for. I told her anything was fine, so please consider me for the position. A few days go by and I see a position in CO for a middle school science position and my friend Jeanie's friend (she happens to be an administrator) says she will give me a recommendation. Wouldn't you just guess, as soon as I click on the application for that position, DOD calls and offers me a job in Kaiserslautern, Germany as a K-5 gifted teacher. I am not in the position to hope for the job in CO so I accept the job.
I then spend the rest of the day in tears at the thought of leaving family and friends (let alone my dog till I find a place to live), stress at having to get things ready within a short time, excitement at a new adventure, stress and guilt at leaving Jack (my grandson who has basically lived with me his life), the thought that I wont get to be at any of my grandchildren's birthdays as long as I am working as a DOD teacher (all the birthdays fall during the school year)...the full gamet of emotions.
So this is where my journey starts. Oh yeah, one more thing to it, I decided during the last few weeks that I needed to lose the extra weight I have been carrying around and see if I can get back in shape and possibly avoid that third surgery. So far I have lost 9 pounds and I am really proud of that.
I don't know where this will all go and at the moment, I have no idea about any of the process (I am waiting on my DOD packet that is supposed to shed some light on some of the confusion). I do know that I am excited, saddened, and so much more conflicting emotions, but it will be good, and if it isn't, after my two years I can come back. Oh yeah, and at least with the DOD position I can come back in summers and still be a docent (I am sure I will get my 30 hours in each year). I know that I will miss my time with my grandsons and my kids, but it's something that needs to happen. What makes this easier is that Nikki is in CA with my little Jake so I don't get to see him often as it is. Heather is going active duty so that would mean her, Dale, Alex, and Phe would be gone (my leaving might make it easier for her to leave too). That leaves Jack and Bubba; there in lies my biggest guilt...leaving Jack. I worry so about him with the hand life has dealt him. But I have to have faith that all will be well, and that he wont forget me (thank goodness I have those couple of weeks in the summer with him). Great the tears are back again.
Now that I have blabbed or blogged on and on, this blog will basically be my journey. Some days I may write nothing, other days I might have pictures and stories of adventures, who knows...but this is where some information might find a home.
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