God knew I needed that! I didn’t even go to church tonight. Sometimes you just have to stop and be quiet and this applied tonight. An old Shachah friend—a different one that I previously mentioned—emailed asking for advice on booking hotels through Priceline. After writing her back, I decided to request one more time on Priceline for my Thanksgiving trip to Dallas I chose one zone and bid the absolute minimum for a three star hotel (I will not bid on anything less tan three stars on Priceline due to previous awful experiences!) The lowest the computer will take on a three star is $25, so I did it for a very nice part of the area. It was accepted on my first try! So I get to be in a fancy hotel (I honestly don’t LIKE anything nicer than three stars—Sheraton, Marriott etc. Beyond that is a it too much for my tastes). So I get a very nice hotel in a perfect area—that is where I will sleep on my birthday. I needed that.

You know what? I LOVE my church. The worship is incredible—the spirit there is beautiful, and the people are friendly. But after 6 weeks I have yet to make a personal friend and sometimes it is too hard to go be invisible.

The travel victories helped me today. That means all I have to pay for now is the other two nights at Blue Mountain—cheaper than the average hotel—and the meals there. Everything else is paid for in advance.

Today I sat in on a meeting at work because we have meetings each Wednesday and I didn’t have a specific one. A lady in there as so mean and negative and plain JERKY. Afterwards, my department head, who had come in to get something, asked me how the meeting was and if anyone was interesting. She already knew. We mused at how amazing it is that I worry about having my teaching sections cut and people, with lousy attitudes who cause divisions have job security. Sad.

One of my favorite students in Tyler tracked me down and wrote me tonight. Why am I here when I made all the difference there?

I am going to bed soon—early. I need some down time. It is nice to just rest sometimes. I wish it were November 6 at about 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. I am living for my Shachah reunion. I want to be with them so badly!

One more thought regarding fancy stuff, etc. One thing about my job that makes me VERY uncomfortable is how I am treated by support staff—secretaries, security guards, etc. As soon as they realize I am a teacher and not just a sub or something they fall all over themselves—apologizing for my inconveniences, if it is parking, or trying to help me if it is something else. I know it sounds funny but I hate it. I am not better than them because I am a “professional” and they are “support staff” and I don’t want to be treated like some queen. Yes, I want to be respected as the one who has authority in my classroom and stuff like that—I don’t like it when non teachers tell you how to teach—something I have experienced in Texas with that I-have- been-here-since- dirt-and-I own-the-school mentality. But this extreme is a bit much. When I see these people, even if I feel lousy I give them the biggest smile I can and ask them how they are. I try to treat them as nicely as they treat me. But I feel bad. It is more than just respect—it is almost like they think if they don't treat a teacher like royalty they will be in trouble or something. Maybe this is culture. Most of them are Armenian, as is much of the community, and perhaps they have more of a level of respect (what a novel idea!). I mean, it is NICE that I am treated with respect—but I guess I feel I should EARN it first if you are going to treat me like I am something extraordinary. It is just weird. I wish we could just all be people—leaders would lead but not with an iron hand and dogma, but out of experience and wisdom. I am telling you, CA and TX could not be more different in everything related to education. Some things are better and some worse in each state but it is just incredible, how they are SUCH polar opposites.

Polar opposites. A theme in my life lately.