Cruisin

I don't really have much to say but thought that I'd post anyway. Life continues to sail and I seem to be much happier than before. Two things have really allowed for this to occur, 1. ensuring that I work out 5 times a week and eat really healthily and 2. I developed a financial plan that will ensure better financial stability which has been the root of A LOT of stress. Once my tax returns come back I hope to put a cushion in the bank so that emergencies like wrecking my car won't out be in absolute financial turmoil. In addition, I need to trade in my car. I made a huge mistake and bought it when I should not have. Now, I am paying for it. I owe much more than it is worth. I am completely upside down. In order to rectify this problem, I am going to trade the car in and not get what I owe on it. But, I will take the loss, add it to the price to a cheap reliable car like a 2000 honda or toyota, so say I buy a car for $6000, I will add the $2000 loss from what I will owe on the volvo, so now i will finance $8,000 and take out a 48 month loan and I will be upside right within a few years... until then, I will owe more than any car I own is worth but I made this mistake and need to get out of it. It isn't worth keeping the Volvo because a. things are going wrong on it by the day, b. I am not able to pay it down because of the interest rate, and c. the depreciation on the volvo is horrible. Plus, my insurance rate will be lower, thus I will be saving more and more money.

I took the day off work on Friday and Saturday morning to go to state swimming championships with my high school team in San Antonio. They swam pretty well. Swimming State was not the same caliber from what I experienced in Oregon. I think it is simply because in Texas, private schools and public schools are separated athletically, whereas in Oregon we compete together. The private school league in Texas is simply not as competitive as anything I experienced in Oregon. I am glad swim season is over... with over 200 hours of what ended up being volunteer hours, I am ready to have some more time to spend at school, etc.

It's Super Bowl day, not sure what I am going to do, perhaps watch it with a couple of TFA teachers that I teach with. I want to go to church at 6 pm which will cut into the game... but I wonder now, will there even be a church service in the middle of the game... if there is, I wonder how many people will attend the service?

I am rambling, obviously, a bit bored. Time to go for a jog. I miss you guys.

Robert

Donorschoose

People have asked for the donorschoose website and ways to donate... there are two ways to donate you can either a. go to the donors choose website (http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=147542) and directly give to the project which will then allow you to write off your donation as a tax write off, or b. you can send me a check and I can personally apply it to the donorschoose project account using the already created profile.

I REALLY appreciate your help, my kids are thrilled that we are getting books in my classroom.

Much love,
Robert

Just busy teaching Saturday school... the students that are in the middle bracket of likliness of passing the state test come to school for 4 hours on Saturday... they're working on math word problems... I don't usually teach math so it is refreshing to. All is well. The weather is cold and wet, just like home.

My book project is 27% of the way funded, I am excited!

I hope all is well with everyone.

Much love,
Robert

A splendid outlook

Life is going well. I am actually happy in Houston for the first time and very satisfied. Everything seems to be going splendidly well. I have not been switched to a different placement (yet) and still teach 4th grade. I am loving 4th grade right now. My 4th graders are discovering how much fun learning can be... there is a lot of work to do with them but all seems to be going really well and gains are being made. I boosted reading in my classroom so that we are reading a lot more, a majority of my kids are going through this book obsession phase where they literally won't stop reading. I love this! We've been flying through the few books I have in my classroom.

I haven't found someone to take over my lease yet, but I am stopping the search process. A friend gave me a tv, so that has helped. The more I stay away from my apartment, the happier I seem to be. When at home, I have my little suite set up, the beauty of having the master bedroom.

I am making some really cool friends. This has been a huge blessing. Swimming is wrapping up in two weeks with a trip to San Antonio for State Championships. Our boys are swimming fast!

I have lost 11 pounds since I have been back from Christmas break and am training for a big triathalon in Dallas in April. I have been taking a cycling class 3-4 times a week and swimming. However, the biggest thing has been 6-7 mile runs a few times a week--this has helped the increase in happiness.

Thank you to all that have donated money to help buy my classroom books... the donations are adding up and I am so thankful for your generosity. I can't reiterate enough how much we need literature in my classroom!

http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=147542

Much love to you all,
Robert

The New Year

Happy New Year to all! I had an amazing trip home for two full weeks and discovered that a big perk to being a teacher is the extended breaks. I had a fabulous time at home and was able to see a lot of people, some who I hadn't seen in years including my best friend from high school, Stephen, who just got back from his LDS mission in Las Vegas. I was super lazy over break and caught up on 7 months of sleep. It was great seeing everyone and catching up on lost time. I realize just how special Portland is. It was funny driving down I-5 and feeling like I was on some country road. The hills and mountains were beautiful and the Christmas day snowfall was breathtaking.

I am back in Houston now and just finishing up my first week back at school. I felt a little more content coming back than I would have thought as I was leaving. I wasn't dreading it as much as I thought I would. I was really jet lagged, something, despite a lot of travel, I have never really felt before. It was terribly hard getting back into the routine of waking up really early and being awake by the time the kids came. However, today I woke up at 5:30 more ready and alert.

I am working on finding someone to take my lease over and move out. I realize that a large part of my distaste for Houston stems from my living situation. I am not happy. I don't like being surrounded by 44 other first year teachers who all have a worst story than the next person. I hope that getting away from the negativity and getting away from the awkwardness in my apartment will help me be a happier person. I am looking at several places to move-in to, all much cheaper than the apartment I am currently in, this will be a blessing!

Well, the kids are finishing up their exams, better get back to them. Much love to you all and thank you so much for spending time with me in Portland.

Robert

My roommates decided to decorate the house in Christmas beauty... great, right?! It would have been nice if I not only was included in the festivities of the decorating party, but if I too, got a stocking. There are 5 stockings hanging from the walls, one for each of my roommates and one for two different friends of theirs plus! one for my foster dog... but they failed to include me which is hurtful every time I look up at the wall. This isn't the first time I have been secluded from their activities... there are often nice dinner parties at my house without me being invited or included. It is really upsetting to me but I am too nice to say something... I don't like the unnecessary conflict. Am I wrong to be upset? Their reason, I am sure, was that I wasn't around to do the Christmas shopping with them... but, I didn't know they were going nor was I contacted to ask if I wanted to go. This just adds to my loneliness in this city.

Crockett is amazing, he is fun to have around... but, I am going to have to give him up to an adoptive family. He deserve to have a very happy life with a loving family. He is one of the sweetest dogs I have ever met, similar to my most favorite dogs, Rosie and Sadie.

No word on my job change, I am keeping my mouth shut until the time comes for the change...

Meet Crocket! Crocket came to me yesterday after being rescued from the streets in Waco, Texas. He is 1.5-2 yrs old. He is unbelievably sweet and very timid. He is trying to get to know me and my housemates despite his shyness. He's very soft with a beautiful coat. He is slowly warming up to me... as I sit in my chair at my computer, he came up to me and lied down by my feet. This is good for him as yesterday all he wanted was to be in his crate with a pillow. He is up for adoption so once a home is found for him, I will relinquish him to a permanent home. For now, I am really enjoying him!