Alright y’all! I’m back!

So, I realize now that I’ve missed four posts (I just counted them up) in the last month. First of all, I’d like to profusely apologize for missing posts for most of August. Secondly, I’d like to take this week’s post to explain. So, if you’re less than interested, go ahead and skip this one. Next week, I’ll resume my typical Thoughts on Thursdays style posts for you. 🙂

A little backstory: I graduated from college as an instrumental music education major in May of 2017. I spent June 2017-June 2018 in North Carolina with my grandparents. I love them to bits and pieces and it was an amazing year spent with my family.

As some of you may know, I began this blog in February of 2018 (that’s this year). That was while I was staying with my grandparents and working in a transformer office. The transformer office is the same office that I worked at during my college summers to earn money for school. They graciously offered to allow me to work full time for them while I applied to be a band director in schools over several states. Clearly, that didn’t work out at all during the last school year.

While working in the office, I added an English certification to my teaching license and took the steps necessary to transfer my teaching license from Kentucky (where I attended college) to Tennessee (where I’ve lived most of my life and where I knew I wanted to return). I added the English certification in the hopes that it might allow me to apply to more jobs, since it turns out the search for a job as a band director (or a music teacher in general) isn’t as…forthcoming as I had initially hoped. 

Long story short, I set a deadline for myself. I was determined not to live with my wonderful grandparents for more than a year. I didn’t want the safety net to become a hammock. I didn’t want to get comfortable. And I did want to start a life and career of my own. So, come June of 2018, I decided to move back into my parents’ place in TN for a few weeks. I did this for a few reasons. One, I wanted to volunteer for the band camp at my old high school, also where my sister is now attending her senior year of high school. (She’s a guard girl this year and a saxophone player.) Two, I had filled out paperwork to work as a substitute teacher in the county. With this, I knew I could procure an apartment and move out and live on my own when school started the next month.

Through lots of interviews, some crazy misunderstandings, and even some downright prime opportunities, I eventually became the Spanish teacher at my old high school, the school I am still volunteering as an assistant band director/brass teacher for. Funny story, when I left high school, I entered college as an intended Spanish major. I wanted to teach Spanish. Some complications arose, opportunity knocked, and I switched to music education.

I’m far more qualified to teach music, and I think I may even enjoy it more, but truthfully, this job was a Godsend. I’m not sure why yet, but I’ve been allowed to take advantage of this opportunity. I intend to give it my best and to shine God’s light in what ways I can. 

Which brings us to now and this past month. Well, between volunteering for my sister’s band, the unexpected job, the subject change, and all the dominoes that triggered, I’ve been a little busy. But, I prioritize this blog and I fully intend to continue to do so. However, one of those dominoes was a new place. After some digging and manuvering, I managed to sign a lease on my first apartment on my own. (I lived in a fantastic place in Kentucky my last year of college with two great roomies!)

I spent a weekend moving everything from my parents’ place and my storage unit. Then this past weekend I flew back to North Carolina to pack up what I’d left with my grandparents. My apartment is a crazy mess, and there’s still plenty of unpacking to do to finish settling in. It was a whole ordeal to get the utilities put into my name because the apartment is 38 miles from where I work, but I’ve successfully done that too. Among other practical moving requirements, I’ve been teaching Spanish full time, grading papers, creating quizzes, etc., and still volunteering for the band after school four days a week. 

Lastly, I’ve been jumping through hoops to enroll in the local college. I’m teaching on a waiver, which basically means I have almost enough classes to have the Spanish certification added to my license. Since the county didn’t have anyone else to teach Spanish, they offered me the job and applied for the waiver. So, now I have to go back to school…while teaching, volunteering, moving, etc. Oh, and I was also sick for a week and did almost nothing but eat chicken soup, saltines, and drink OJ. XD

All this to say, yes, I’ve been a little busier than normal, but the primary reason I haven’t been posting consistently (except for the book reviews, which I’d already pre-typed and scheduled) is that I had no internet for the last three weeks or so. (And yes, that did affect my online class at the local college! Talk about stressful! I did all my homework for the week earlier today!!) Today the internet guy came out to my new apartment and finally had the service installed, so YAY!

That means I’m back up and running! I will do my best to get back into that regular posting schedule and to stock up a few extras to schedule for the next time I’m out for some reason. Thank you for y’alls patience. I am going to do my best to get caught up on all my notifications both here and on my writing sites (for those of you who know me there). Furthermore, I know I’ve missed some great posts from you guys, too!!

Well, I’m sure that’s more than you ever needed to know about me. So, how has your August been? Did I miss anything big? What have y’all been up to? What do you want to see more of from me next? Leave me a comment and start a discussion! (Now that I can reply again! XD) Have a great evening you guys!

Love always,
Coralie

P.S. Isn’t she beautiful!!? Picture is my sister’s senior night!