respite

Well, I got a break from all my brooding today. I had a really good interview with the Beaverton School District. I decided against wearing my suit because it's such a beautiful day, and it felt good to be more casual. I talked for half an hour with a principal from an Arts and Sciences high school, and I think I represented myself pretty well. He wouldn't hire me in his building of course, but I feel pretty confident that he'll pass me along to the elementary folks. My Evergreen interview was cancelled, as I mentioned yesterday, but maybe it's for the best. When I was on campus today I told one of my professors about it, and she told me the principal at that school is totally nuts. And then she sent an email to another principal in that district on my behalf. So rad.

After my interview I looked at these really nice apartments that I have been in love with since I moved back to Portland. My previous landlord owns the building, and so he met me and showed me around. Oh my goodness. They are absolutely perfect. Huge windows, great floors, super high ceilings. They're in a big brick building that was built in the 1920's, and they are gorgeous. They won't be available until the end of June, but then they're all coming open at once, so I'll have my pick. The one bedrooms are a little pricey, but there is a very reasonable studio. But friends, the one bedrooms are fantastic. I'm going to have to do some serious thinking in the next 6 weeks or so. I'm feeling really happy about this one area of my life. Yea.

So, I'm trying out new affirmations. Momcat suggested I ask my students to come up with one for all of us to use. As soon as I have a few spare minutes with them, I'm totally going to try that. In the meantime, I've replaced "Positive Self-Talk" with the equally meta "The Way of the Pilgrim." Because in Franny and Zooey, Franny is reading that book and repeating the meditative mantra "God have mercy on my soul," which is sort of hard for me to get on board with. But I do feel so connected to her character that repeating the title of her book seems like a pretty cool idea. "The Way of the Pilgrim, The Way of the Pilgrim." It has a nice ring to it.