My Apologies

Ashley came to visit me!!!! She came on Halloween and met me at my school. She was able to see where I work and she is my first outsider witness as to how crazy it really is. The day of Halloween we were forced to leave school immediately after the children were dismissed. I found out earlier in the day that it was because the Bloods (a nationally recognized gang) was having initiation and would be looking for victims in their "turf" (aka my school neighborhood.)

While Ashley and I walked around the neighborhood where I live, we saw children and parents trick-or-treating. It was strange to think that 1 mile away, my students were locked in their homes because it was too dangerous for them to be out on the streets enjoying this holiday.

Halloween night Ashley, Ryan and I went to Mama Mia, a favorite Italian restaurant of ours. The next day, I went to work and Ashley went out with her brother Dustin (he is living in Brooklyn.) When Ryan got home we all went down to Mustangs for Mexican food and Margaritas. Two of Ryan's buddies from work met up with us and everyone was ready for the after party. I had to teach in the morning, so I went home. I was in bed my 10:45 and I thought "Oh, they should be home soon." However, I woke up at 4:38 am to the sounds of two loud, boisterous and inebriated individuals entering the apartment. 4:38!!! They were playing beer pong all night at the bar. Needless to say, the next morning was rough on both of them. I was surprised when Ashley was game for another round on Friday night.

So the real reason Ashley came was to help me find my wedding dress. :) We went to Macy's on Saturday and I found a pretty dress. I liked the dress and thought it was the dress for me until... we went to Kleinfeld's Bridal on Sunday. We looked at dress after dress after dress. I saw one that was nice but Carmel, our sales specialist, knew it was not for me. Carmel, Ashley and I went into this tiny closet and Ashley found one more dress for me to try on. I was kinda done by this point but I agreed to put it on. I am so happy I did. As soon as I put it on I envisioned Ryan watching me come down the isle. This last Thursday, I went back to Kleinfeld's to have my dress fitted and to purchase my dress, my veil and a beautiful headpiece. Now I feel like a real bride :)

Update

I have a headache. Peter, the landlord, is fixing a leak in a ceiling downstairs. This meant that Peter had to take down the entire ceiling and will replace it tomorrow. This building in hella old. The dust that was caused from the removal of the ceiling is making it hard for me to breath. But Peter says it is normal, so I guess I will just have to deal.

Today was the latest I have stayed at school EVER!!! The other first year teachers and I planned our entire week. Basically, we are assessing, assessing, assessing and training, training, training. It is a lot of work but I am lucky because I really love the other first years. One of them is Hana. Hana and I hang out a lot. In fact, last Weds. we went to an Aerosmith concert. We took an hour train ride into Long Island to see them play at the Jones Beach amphitheater. It was spur of the moment and I needed it :)

This weekend Ryan's parents came into town. Yesterday was my favorite day with them. We bought nice meats and cheeses and breads and had a picnic in Central Park. We watched a bathing suit photo shoot, played Euchre and saw a man get naked behind a tree (only in NYC). Afterwards, we walked around the park and relaxed. While we were walking around, Ryan and I looked for places to take our engagement photos. We are taking the engagement photos on Sat. and they will be placed around our reception.

So, nothing too interesting happening at the moment. But, I will write again soon and hopefully it will be more entertaining.

Ciao,
Callie

Update :)

I am teaching first grade and I am engaged.
Love,
Callie

Just kidding. My mom told me that was all I had to write, but I will write more. I am teaching first grade in Harlem. My kids are great but a little difficult to manage. That is what I have been working on during my first week of school. Today they started off great. They were on task, working independently and I was STUNNED. I was thinking to myself, "Holy Crap, what did I do right?"

My second bit of news is that Ryan and I are engaged. It has been 5.5 years of boyfriend/girlfriend and now he's my fiance. Ooh la la. Ryan and I went to watch the MSU football game at an MSU themed bar. That bar is on the west side. When we were walking back we walked through Central Park. We got to a bench and I started talking. Ryan got up from the bench and onto a knee. I am not sure what he said, but I said yes. We are very excited and we look forward to our July 12 wedding.

Thank you for all your congratulatory emails, letters and calls.

Love you,

Callie

Back to School

I am going tomorrow to begin setting up my classroom. As it stands now, I am going to teach a pre-kindergarten classroom. However, there still may be a chance that I am switched to first grade. I just hope to get a concrete answer soon.

Today I went to a teacher store in Brooklyn with a new friend of mine. I bought my welcome back to school poster, my grade book, a calender, a dress the bear weather chart and more. My new friend is another teacher at my school. Her name is Hana and this is her first year of teaching too. We met when we went to an orientation for our school last month.

I will tell you more as I know more. I apologize for not sounding more excited. However, this time of year for a new teacher is filled with paperwork, pressure, reading , preparation and anxiety. Once school begins and the students are in I know I will have a million stories and I am sure you will all be tired of me telling you about my classroom.

Love you all,

Callie

Too Much

As many of you know, I have been offered a job teaching at PS 185. The school houses grades from Pre Kindergarten to Second Grade. I am not sure which grade I will be teaching yet but I am thrilled to be a part of this school.

On Saturday I had my last night out with Stefanie. Stef has lived with Ryan and I since the end of May. I will be sad to see her leave on Sunday, but Ryan and I will enjoy having the space back (finally, I can get him out of my closet.) Below are the pictures of Ryan, Stef and I saying goodbye in style. It was not my proudest night in NYC, but man did I have fun.


I was so excited that the cab had an interactive tv in the backseat. Apparently, this is an ancient development, I just haven't been getting in the right cabs.


We were feeling pretty good at this point.


Stef referred to Ryan and I as Dad and Mom. So this is our Mother Daughter photo :)


Ryan and his friends Kevin Brady (Brady) and Kevin Smith.

It's Been Too Long

It has been more than a month since I last posted a blog. So I think I will catch you up on my life in New York.

A few nights after the cockroach, my friends Molly and Jeff came to stay with us. Ryan was bummed that he would be out of town for that because Molly and Jeff are a lot of fun. We did all the tourist things while they were here. We even walked from my apartment to Battery Park (check a map and you will be stunned). From there we could sit by the river and look at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

After Molly and Jeff left, we had our friend Adam here for a weekend. And then our friend Julia came to visit. Julia was staying at the Library Hotel near Grand Central. Between 5 and 9 they have a free wine and cheese hour. Needless to say, we finished a bottle of Prosecco and headed off to a VIP North Face event that she was hosting through work. The event was sponsored by Bullet Bourbon, so we did our fair share of damage there (who ever knew a bourbon and lemonade tasted so good?) After the event, we met up with Ryan and some of his buddies from work and the Whiskey Lounge just south of Central Park. The night was long but fun and we ended it the best way possible, at McDonald's.

I did not ever quit my job at The Lenox Room. Nevertheless, they are shutting down and remodeling for the next 3 weeks. So this Saturday will be my last day at Lenox :) During the time they are closed, I will prepare for my first year of teaching. I have received a nomination letter from PS 185. They would like me to teach either pre K, K, or First grade. I have not signed my contract with them yet and so I am not positive this is official. I have a meeting at the school tomorrow and then I will know more.

Ryan had this whole weekend off. We spent the whole time together and it was great. We have a new 46inch plasma tv and I think he is in love :) Last night we watched the Tiger's play in High Definition. Even though they lost, it was fun to watch them on the big screen.

I apologize for the length of this Post. I will be sure to update more frequently in the future.

Love you all,

Callie

COCKROACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stef and I are home alone for the week and just 10 minutes ago we received a very unwelcome guest. Stefanie went to wash out her cereal bowl that she put into the sink. All of a sudden she screamed and jumped away. I didn't want to look, but there in the sink was a 2.5 in long cockroach with antennas that reached another 3 inches. As soon as I saw it, I screamed too.

What is wrong with me? I just got back from South Africa where I had to spray my bed with bug spray nightly. But for some reason, this bug was toooooo much for me. Every time we got near him, he spread his wings threatening to fly away. Stef and I would scream and rum to a corner, jumping up and down and holding on to one another. We looked pitiful.

Finally, we got the mini monster to crawl on to a magazine. From there, we covered him with a cup and carried both the cup and the magazine to the hallway window. The window looks out over the trash area and from the sixth story we through our new friend to the ground, magazine, cup and all.

The drama is over. Stef is cleaning her room now and I am going to try and sleep. I have a big day of scrubbing the apartment from top to bottom tomorrow.

I knew this day had to come. Every New York apartment has a cockroach or two. Hopefully mine just had one :(

Love you all,

Callie