Everything Happens for a Reason

I guess what they say is true... everything happens for a reason! This fall I will be teaching 8th grade math at Gable Middle School. It just so happens that I will be teaching in the same classroom I completed my student teaching in two years ago.

Student Letters from Student Teaching Year at Gable

I feel sure I wouldn't be stepping into a classroom this August had I not lost my job at the newspaper in February. While I didn't want to put all my eggs in one basket, and looked for/applied to mainly marketing related jobs, I knew deep down this was my opportunity to finally get into education. I also realized that if I did not find a teaching position this time around it would be unlikely that I would ever teach.

It is as if all the stars have finally aligned and I am finally getting the opportunity to do what I set out to do when I went back to school in January 2009. I can't say that I am happy that I was laid off, but I am definitely happy with the final outcome of the situation.

Hesitation to be a Good Samaritan

While sitting at a red light the other day, I watched a man with a walking boot on hobble down the sidewalk carrying a bag of grocery items. It was pretty warm and he looked to be pretty warn out. I felt sorry for him.

The 'nice person' side of me wanted to ask him if I could give him a ride somewhere. The 'stay safe' side of me said to keep my windows closed and let him keep walking. The later side won.

It is sad that we live in a world where people have reason to be afraid to lend a helping hand. Odds are, the man I saw was perfectly nice and would have truly appreciated a ride to his destination. But what if he was not a nice man? I couldn't help but think of all the stories about bad people scheming ways to tug at the heartstrings of a Good Samaritan to take advantage of him/her. Unfortunately, I'd rather play it safe and not find myself robbed, kidnapped or worse.

 

May is an Egg-cellent Month!

Breakout the party trays - May is National Egg Month! We all know that the egg is "incredible" and a breakfast staple at any 24-hour diner, but did you know that they US produces around 75 millions eggs a year? That's nothing to cluck at.

Apparently May has been deemed as National Egg Month to remind consumers that eggs are still available, and edible, after Easter. I enjoy a good egg from time to time. Bacon, egg and cheese biscuits are always a good way to start off a morning. Of course bacon and cheese omelets are pretty yummy too. Deviled eggs are by far my favorite and have become a holiday meal must-have on my side of the family. I learned a few years ago that not all deviled eggs are created equally! Midwestern-style deviled eggs taste quite different and contain vinegar and sugar. My taste buds were definitely confused the first time I bit into one of those.

Hard-boiled eggs can be tricky to master. If you boil your eggs too long you'll get that greenish-gray ring around your yolks. After some research, I have honed my egg-cooking skills and now produce perfectly cooked hard-boiled eggs. Here is how:

1. Don't preheat your water. Place your eggs in your pan - single layer - and add water so that the eggs are covered by about 1" of water.
2. I add salt to the water to help seal any eggs that happen to crack.
3. Cover the pot and bring the water to a boil.
4. Leave the pot on the eye but turn the heat OFF!
5. Set a timer for 14-16 minutes.
6. Ding - your eggs are ready! Pour off the hot water, let your eggs cool and peel.

Love is on the Web

It seems there is a specialized dating site for every demographic these days. Looking for love over the age of 50? OurTime.com is the site for you. Hoping to find God's match for you? Check out ChristianMingle.com. Happen to be a farmer or country dweller in need of a date? Head on over to FarmersOnly.com... no seriously! I think online sites for meeting new people is a pretty good idea, but what if their lists of questions weed out the person meant for you?

I feel lucky to have found my significant other in college. I am not sure how I would navigate the dating scene out in the real world and can imagine meeting someone worth giving a second thought can be quite the challenge in your late twenties. The husband and I technically met online back in 2002. While chatting with a fellow Intro to Business classmate on AIM, Kevin wandered over into his room and somehow took over the keyboard. The conversation continued via AIM when Kevin returned to his room, leading to us eventually meeting for lunch at the Winthop food court.

An Early Photo of Me & Kevin at Winthrop

I have often wondered if Kevin and I would be deemed "compatible" or matched together on online dating sites. We kind of listen to the same music, we sometimes eat the same food, but how do you define compatibility? We work well together as a couple now, but I would not have predicted we were meant to be when we first met. We probably weren't all that compatible at the  beginning and didn't actually start dating seriously until nearly two years after we met. We knew we cared about each other, though, and knew we had to at least give a relationship a try. Almost 10 years later, we are getting ready to celebrate our 5th wedding Anniversary. Maybe AIM should use us in a testimonial commercial for successfully matching us together!

The method of matching complete strangers together based on how they answer certain questions intrigues me. I think it would be interesting for Kevin and I to each create a profile on a dating website to see if our paths would cross and who they say we are compatible with. On second thought, I would hate for Kevin to find a new lady who will cook for him!