New Job!!!

I feel like things are finally far enough along in the process that I can announce that I got the music job at Bow High School for next year!! I am very excited about the job and so thankful everything worked out. They had me come to school last Monday to conduct a couple of rehearsals and meet with the kids and some teachers. It was a great day and the rehearsals went really well. The kids seemed to like me a lot and according to the principal, they gave me glowing reviews when they spoke to him at the end of the day. When I met with the principal before I left, he told me he wanted to offer me the job, he just needed to check my references. He called back the next day to say that everything had turned out great and I then had a meeting scheduled with the superintendent. I met with him, thinking he was the last step to having things be "official", but apparently not. My meeting with him was fine and he said everything looked good, but he just had to go through the proper channels, which involved emailing the school board and having them come in and look at my file. I finally got an email from the superintendent's office yesterday telling me that my contract and hiring packet were in the mail to me, so I figured that it was finally "official" enough to be able to announce to everyone.

Bow is a great school and I think it is going to be a really good match for me (the website isn't anything spectacular, but here it is if you want to check it out: Bow High School). I guess there was a reason why none of the other jobs I've applied for this year have worked out - this job in Bow was just waiting for me! I'll be teaching only high school (hooray, no more middle school or elementary beginning band!) and am responsible for the marching band, concert band, string orchestra, chorus, select chorus, percussion ensemble, any other performing ensembles, and I'll be teaching an integration class with an art teacher and a social studies teacher. It is definitely going to keep me busy, but I can't wait!! I'm a little nervous about marching band (it's been 5 years since I've even though about it and even then Mike was the one who really took charge of the marching band at West), but I know I can do it. The kids seem really great and really excited about having a new teacher. And I'm happy because Bow seems like a place I can really stay at for a while - maybe I've actually found the place I'm suppose to be at for the next whoever knows how many years!

In addition to being a great job, and paying incredibly well, the other advantage of the job in Bow is that I get to move back to Concord. I loved living in Concord when I taught in Manchester and always said that if I had to choose anywhere in NH to live, it would be Concord. I've found an apartment already (yes, I move quickly, especially when I'm excited about something - you know me!) and I'm signing the lease on it this afternoon. It is a 2 bedroom apartment right off of South State Street and it is beautiful - hardwood floors, huge bathroom, great kitchen (not that I really use it), big living room, and washer and dryer included (finally!!!). The owner runs his environmental consulting firm in the downstairs of the building then there is just this one apartment upstairs that takes up the whole second floor. The minute I saw it, I loved it and I told him I wanted to take it. He is even giving me a good deal - he is lowering the rent by almost $100 because I am willing to sign a 3 year lease. Very exciting!! I'll be able to start moving in June 1 and I need to be out of my apartment in Sunapee by July 1, so I'll have the month to make the transition. I'll post some photos as soon as I get into the new place. And with 2 bedrooms there is plenty of space for visitors, so please come see me in Concord!

Life is good!!!

Craft Blog

I've been doing some more sewing lately too (okay, if I'm honest with myself I've been buying more fabric lately than I have been sewing, but I have lots of projects in mind) so I'll be updating my craft blog as well. Check it out in the next few days to see what I've been creating: Crafty Camper

Jobs

I potentially have job news to report as well, but I'm still waiting for a few things to fall into place before I know exactly where I'll be next year. Newport has offered me a contract and I have signed a letter of intent with them, but I have until July 15 to change my mind. I'm still looking for other jobs for the fall, since I know that Newport isn't where I want to be long-term. It wouldn't be the end of the world to be there another year, but I would much rather be somewhere else. I'm going for a second interview at Bow HS tomorrow morning and I am very interested in this job. I had a great first interview with them last week and they are bringing me in tomorrow to conduct a couple of band rehearsals and meet with the kids. I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want this job. I know I've said this about other jobs in the past few months too, but this one seems like the best match for me. Yes, there is marching band, which I'm not too keen about, but it is a great school with a very strong music program and everyone tells me the kids are just wonderful. I know they are bringing in another candidate this week as well, but hopefully I know something definite from them in the next couple of weeks. Keep your fingers crossed!!!

Neglectful

I've been terribly neglectful of my blog recently. I don't even have a good excuse - just busy, but nothing particularly exciting to report.

My weekends have begun to be consumed by Wanakee, which is to be expected as the summer season approaches. We are all trying to help Jean and Mike out as much as possible - the good thing is that we have all been associated with Wanakee for so long that we know what needs to be done, the bad thing is that there is just always too much to do. Victoria and I have taken on the job of cleaning the kitchen/dining hall and we are heading into our third week of working on it. What started as a job that should have been fairly quick has turned into a complete overhaul. The dining hall is fairly open to the elements during the winter, which means every spring involves cleaning lots of mouse poops, nests, and cobwebs. This year has been no different, expect that Victoria and I are even more determined to actually make it CLEAN. We've been pulling up old contact paper, painting, vacuuming places that haven't seen a vacuum in years, and washing every pot, pan and dish in the place. It is a BIG project! We are determined to be finished with it next week, which means we will be heading up to camp Friday night and putting in a full weekend of work. It is a lot, but honestly there is no other place I would rather be and as gross as the work is, I know it is making Wanakee better, so I'm happy doing it.

In addition to all this preseason work, Jean and Mike have hired me to be on staff at Wanakee this summer. Yep, back on staff again 12 years after my last summer on staff! I realized that I desperately needed to get a summer job (since Newport pays HORRIBLY) and the prospect of working someplace random was not appealing. I knew I would want to be at camp as much as possible to help out and to be able to spend time with Jean. I mentioned something about a summer job one day to Jean when I was visiting her at the hospital and she told me that she and Mike needed to hire someone to be the registrar for this summer - process registrations, general office work, etc. I immediately jumped on it and within two days I had filled out all my paperwork with Mike and I was back on staff! I'll start full time as soon as school gets out, but I'm hoping to do as many hours as possible between now and then as well. I'll live at camp on the days I'm working, so I'll get to be at Wanakee all summer, plus be near Jean, and help her and Mike. It doesn't get much more perfect than that!!