  Well, it's back to reality today. I'm back to focusing on the ever-elusive teaching job, getting myself on the sub lists, and trying to organize all my teaching supplies so that I can find what I need. Honestly, I really need about two more large bookshelves to organize it the way I want, but it looks like a lot of it will have to go in boxes instead. I have a lot of friends that are teachers who have been giving me things along the way, so that I almost have a full classrooms worth of stuff in my garage. Trying to come up with a way of categorizing and storing it is a HUGE challenge, and I usually love this kind of thing.
As far as getting a job, there are almost no teaching jobs in the area. Enrollment has been declining over the last several years in this area due to huge increases in housing costs and people leaving California altogether. It's frustrating that I've put so much time, money, and effort into a career that I can't seem to get into. I suppose I could probably find something if I were willing to work in the ghetto and worry about guns in schools and gang relations, but, as tempting as that is, I'm not that desperate yet.
Friends that received their credentials a year ago are just now getting jobs, so I'm hoping that the hiring curve is on a one-year cycle, and that my turn is up and coming. On the upside, Greg and I had the MOST fabulous weekend! We started off Friday night with the Olympics and watched as the world's top athletes marched together. Some of them just looked so excited and awestruck. It made me want to be one of them, but then, who wouldn't want to be them at those moments. It's the injuries and surgeries I'd like to skip. It makes my skin crawl when the show the fresh scars or moments of injury. Is there really a need to show a person's dislocated elbow? urlLink Friday's Sunset.&nbsp; urlLink urlLink On Saturday, we went to lunch at urlLink Sushi Teri (Mmmm...So yummy! ), and then went to the urlLink Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens . Even without there being any water in the river/stream thing, it was SO beautiful. There are about 7 different sections that include different plants native to California. Greg and I both agreed that the redwood area was our favorite.
We just sat in there for a while and listened to the birds and other sounds around us. So peaceful. I'm not sure where Greg put the pictures on the computer, so I don't have any to post, but I'll try to put some up tomorrow. We plan to go back soon to see how it all changes from season to season. After that, we went to dinner with Greg's parents and Marc (G's brother) and Becki. We had never eaten at the Macaroni Grill, and, while loud, it was great food and a great time. Yesterday, we went to see the Village! I have to say that hearing people's different reactions to this movie was a good thing. I had lowered expectations after hearing that some people weren't sure what to think of it. Instead of being disappointed, I LOVED it! It was creepy and startling andCRAZY! I won't say anymore, but if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.
Tonight I'm off to the Java Station again to hang with more cool knitters and share my progress on Zeeby's Bag. I finished the back panel and am about 7" into the front panel. It's not exciting enough to take pictures of, but I will definitely photograph the finished product. I'm hoping to have it finished and sewn together by the end of the week, but I ran out of the claret for the second strap and will have to find more or make both straps in the linen color instead.
Decisions, decisions. I'm thinking that I may even line it to decrease any stretchy sagginess. We'll see. I'll leave you a couple pictures of Lucy's VERY tiring schedule over the weekend. Apparently, she gets worn out from chasing pill bugs across the floor. LOL! Lucy on top of the washing machine and the clean towels.&nbsp; urlLink urlLink Sleeping Beauty Strikes Again!&nbsp; urlLink urlLink 
