Thursday and Friday: The Chicken or the Egg

One frustrating thing for me as a teacher is that I have Auditory Processing Disorder.  APD can cause problems because if there is any background noise, I essentially can't hear it.  I mean, I hear it, but it's like being in a loud restaurant where you can't hear over the crowd, or, really more accurately, being at a rock concert.  Only this can happen to me if I'm in a classroom with talking children.  It means if there is any sort of conversation going on amongst my students, even if they are not being excessively loud, I cannot hear a question asked by a student even if that student is directly in front of me.  I'm pretty good at lip reading anymore, but I'm still very often unable to figure out what the student is saying.

My students probably think I'm mean and "old school" because I don't like a lot of talking in my classroom.  Really, it's due to this darn problem of mine.  I've always questioned whether or not to tell my students about it, but I worry they will somehow use it against me.  I don't really know how they would or that they really would do it in an evil way, but students, like all children (or people in general) will find loopholes in anything.

This is something that has made me think about my own personality.  I always thought I was an introvert, but knowing now about my APD, I have been wondering if I am really an extrovert who thinks I'm an introvert because being around people means straining to process what I'm hearing, which is in turn very exhausting, which is why I need time alone to recharge (a trait most consider the hallmark of being an introvert).  So it's really which came first (like the chicken or the egg): Am I naturally an introvert, or am I an extrovert forced to connect myself with introversion because it is so exhausting having to process conversations in groups?

This, people, is what I ponder.

Thursday

Dress (turned skirt): JcPenney
Sweater: F21
Necklace: Premier Jewelry
Wedges: Anne Klein

 Friday

Peplum Top: Ann Taylor
Striped Top: Old Navy
Jeans: Kohl's
Necklace: Dustee's
Belt: Target
Matching Wedges: Payless
Sperrys: Dillard's

I call Friday's pictures "Expectations Vs. Reality"  The pic on the left is what I really wanted to wear to school.  The height of the wedges though, just would not have been good for my tired teacher feet at the end of the week.  Sperry's won out instead, even though I didn't like them with my outfit as well.  I can say my feet enjoyed them very much, though!

Tuesday and Wednesday: Patience, Grasshopper

This group of students is a delight, but also a lesson to me in patience.  They are teaching me the meaning of knowing your students.  They don't get things as fast as other groups I've had.  I have the immediate urge to get frustrated, but that does no one any good.  I just need to remember that this group of students is not the same as the last and that they may need extra time to understand things.  That's what being a teacher is all about: knowing your students.  They are the ultimate teacher for me right now.

Tuesday

Dress (as skirt): JcPenney
Sweater: Ann Taylor
Necklace: Premier Jewelry
Wedges: Anne Klein

 Wednesday

Top: H&M
Cardigan: Sears
Pants: Cato Fashions
Necklace: F21
Flats: Vince Camuto (Dillard's)

Easter and A Day Off Monday

Thank goodness for a long weekend.  I don't think I could have gotten all these essays graded otherwise!

I am sad to say that I took the black and white striped skirt out of my spring capsule.  It felt a little short for work and I was constantly tugging on it, even with tights on.  I am hoping that, during the summer months, I will feel more comfortable in it.  I really do find it cute!

Sunday

Dress: JcPenney--not part of my capsule wardrobe--saved just for Easter
Cardigan: Gap
Necklace: Target
Shoes: Payless (these need to be tossed at this point)

 Monday

Top: Banana Republic
Skirt: Dillard's
Necklace: eBay (sadly broke and had to be tossed)
Shoes: Hush Puppies

It's Friday, I'm in Love

We got Friday off for a four-day Easter weekend break.  It is awesome.  Why didn't I decide to become independently wealthy so I could stay home more often?  Honestly, being home is probably so good because of the warm(ish) weather and sunshine.

We took a long walk with the dogs today, so no pics for Saturday.  Sweatpants and a tee do not an outfit make…or at least not an outfit anyone wants to see.

Thursday

Top: H&M
Pants: Cato Fashion
Necklace: Premier Jewelry
Shoes: Anne Klein

 Friday (a rainy morning)

Top: Gap
Cardigan: Gap
Pants: Kohl's
Necklace: Premier Jewelry
Boots: Hunter

Here's my week in review:  I spent the week playing phone tag with HOA reps about whether or not there were weight limits on dogs at our new house.  There were different answers we were getting and didn't want to go through on buying our new house if we weren't allowed to have our dogs.

I also spent the week playing phone and email tag with the HR reps for my new job.  I hate that AZ is so far away; it makes it more difficult to try and coordinate everything.  The good news is that both the house and the job are going to go through.  I should have an official offer on Monday!

Tuesday

Top: Ann Taylor
Cardigan: Sears
Skirt: Loft
Necklace: Premier Jewelry
Shoes: Hush Puppies

Wednesday

Top: Express
Skirt: Cato Fashions
Necklace: Premier Jewelry
Belt: Ann Taylor
Shoes: Target

Paperwork Monsters

I have been drowning in paperwork lately.  On the positive side, it has reminded me about why I'm an English teacher: I teach kids to read a text and really understand it.  Hopefully, when they are drowning in HOA contracts and Escrow paperwork, they too will be able to read and understand the finer points.

I dressed casually for church Sunday.  One, I wanted to be comfortable.  Two, I hadn't done laundry and when you are out of trousers and skirts…you are left with jeans!  The top and the cardigan don't really match, but they didn't not match either.

Sunday

Top: Kohl's
Cardigan: Banana Republic
Jeans: Mudd (Kohl's)
Necklace: J.Crew Outlet
Shoes: Sperry (Dillard's)

 Monday at work was a crazy day.  I wore the pink dress as a skirt, but the black sweater I wore kept rolling up a  little, so I thought it looked weird.  Oh well.

Monday

Sweater: Loft
Dress: JcPenney
Tights
Necklace: Dustee's
Shoes: Hush Puppies