Laughing, Cryng, Updating....

This time last year I was embarking on a journey I had no idea if I could even handle. 10 months later I completed a wonderful year at Trenton Catholic Academy. They chose to not renew my contract. They hired a fellow who I had actually worked with at TCA to bring a Kairos retreat to the students. He can teach more classes, and has a masters in Theology. The truly shameful thing about it on the school's part is that the students were the ones who told me they had already hired him for the next year. My students found out in an awful way and were devastated. I've been working all summer to get them to give him a chance this year. I love them so much, and would sincerly do anything those special kids needed.

I was unemployed, again, and I searched New Jersey, Philadelphia, and even contemplated picking everything up and just moving to New Orleans, or Boston, Europe even crossed my mind once or twice. But something kept me back. I wasn't ready to run away again. So I spent the summer in front of my computer applying to every campus ministry/DRE/youth minister position I could. I went from St. Agnes in West Chester to St. Elizabeth ann Seton in Three Bridges, NJ, to Limerick, PA, to Belmar, NJ. I fell in love with so many of the jobs but each one systematically turned me down. Most were for lack of experience or education. I have a BA in Religious Studies, I graduated in 2006.

All this time I was still getting the paycheck from TCA, as it was much easier to get year round paychecks then save money during the year. My last paycheck will be issued today. I got a part-time job at a church I originally did not send my resume to because it was only part-time. Someone from my young adult prayer/bible group encourage dme and informed me the job actually offers benefits. I was finally able to get sick!! The church, St. Albert the Great in Huntingdon Valley, has already been so welcoming so I changed my own worship sight to there.

Thursday night I got a phone call from the Pauline book store on Route 1 in the Northeast. They are offering me the part-time sales associate position. I am fully employed. God took my time and made me be on my own for the summer, but I can make it.
The hardest part of this entire summer was when I was going to Buffalo with the Trenton Diocese for the Black Catholic Congress (I know, crazy, but 80% of TCA kids identify as black in some way). My mom had a minor stroke and there was nothing I could do. I had to give her up, and trust that when I got back 3 days later everything would be ok. She is back to as normal as normal will ever be now. My dad is unreliable now, so my mom showed me the paperwork that makes me in charge of her health decisions. What a reality check that was.
This wound up so much longer then I meant it, but with summer's end this weekend I've been getting nostalgic and happy that this awful summer is over. I have grown so much, but that doesn't make it less painful or less scary. this year promises to be a good one.

Harry Potter *Potential SPOILER*

I really really really really really really want to post about harry potter.
I will put major spoilers. and I don't want to annoy the few of you who have not finished the latest installment. I also will not enable the rest of you to cheat your way into finding out if snape is good/bad and if dumbledore comes back as a ghost.
peace

My Mom

My mom had a mini-stroke last night. she's apparently ok and will be released from the hosital later today. my idiot of a father didn't tell me until I was already on the road for 3 hours. I don't know when he took her last night, but he didn't tell me until 8am this morning. I right this while sitting on the New York Thruway aout a half hour outside of Buffalo where I am stuck for the next 4 days rather then with my mom. I know, there is very little I can do for her anyway. I know, she is ok. I know, I'm just angry that I can't do anything for her and taking it out on my dad. No really, he is a selfish jerk who problly got home and went to bed rather then speak to his children about their mother. I know, my first instinct of getting to buffalo, renting a car, driving back to doylestown would have only gotten my mom mad at me. You see, My mom was born in Albany, but she was adopted to Buffalo. This is her "hometown," how's that for Irish Irony?

soundtrack

My recent soundtrack of life... as viewed from me. I tconsists of several songs blatantly taken out of context.

Chris Duaghtry
I'm going home,Back to the place where I belong,And where your love has always been enough for me.I'm not running from.No, I think you got me all wrong.I don't regret this life I chose for me.But these places and these faces are getting oldSo I'm going home.Well I'm going home.

Paul McCartney
Everybody gonna dance tonightEverybody gonna feel alrightEverybody gonna dance around tonightEverybody gonna dance aroundEverybody gonna hit the groundEverybody gonna dance around tonight(Chorus)Well you can come on to my place if you want toYou can do anything you want to doEverybody gonna dance tonightEverybody gonna feel alrightEverybody gonna dance around tonight(Whistling)Well you can come on to my place if you want toYou can do anything you want to do

Hannah Montana
Dont let no frustrationEver bring you down...no, no, no, no!Just take a situationAnd turn it all aroundWith a new attitude... everything can changeMake it how ya want it to beSaying mad, why do that... give yourself a breakLaugh about it and you'll see...(that)CHORUS:LIFE'S WHAT YOU MAKE ITSO LET'S MAKE IT ROCKLIFE'S WHAT YOU MAKE ITSO COME ON...Everybody now

Plain White T's
Why be sad, broken heartedThere's so much to do... yeah, yeah, yeah, yeahLife is hard or it's a partyThe choice is up to youHey there DelilahDon't you worry about the distanceI'm right there if you get lonelyGive this song another listenClose your eyesListen to my voice it's my disguiseI'm by your sideOh it's what you do to me

I've interviewed throughout New Jersey and PA. Several ofers came in for part time work, ut none could do benefits. perhaps the latest position will pan out. I could do this part time thing and then maybe work at a really great place i really really want to do.
I won't say what any of these are because I do believe in not tempting the fates. No matter how uncatholic that is, I am still Irish and my mother's daughter. She was a Murphy, and truly has passed to her children the fate "what can go wrong, will go wrong, at the least opportune time."
It's been a week. I miss my kiddies. I saw a few of the most special last night at a play that hit very close to home. Someone who barely knows me was shocked that I was no longer at TCA. I felt pretty good after seeing this show to. It was about a catholic school and a group of teachers who were held hostage by students angry about a name change. I wish kids had the guts these days to get up, and be angry, and stand for what they believe in. it is truly a shame to see something wonderful die because of neglect.
hrm thoughts to ponder for myself.