I've got spring fever bad, and it doesn't help that I don't have enough to do at my job (AGAIN). It's 78 degrees and sunny outside this very moment and I'm stuck in this cube, watching the clock. Poor me, I know ;) But really, I don't know why I keep taking these jobs that don't challenge me. Well, that's not true...I know exactly why. I'm scared that anything else would be too hard, too stressful, too unpredictable. So instead of doing something that may be more difficult but I could feel good about at the end of the day, I do the job that bores me to tears just so I can be guaranteed a steady paycheck and to be out the door by 5:00pm.
Here's what's got me thinking about all this today. My friend
Jeannette came in town this past weekend from Virginia, and she is a high school Spanish teacher. We got to talking about teaching, and how great it would be to get summers and spring break off, and I mentioned that occasionally I think about being an art teacher, but never very seriously. But something about our conversation on Sunday made me think about it again, and more seriously. I'm not really an
artist...I don't spend all my time in a studio, feverishly painting away. I'm more of an organized, follow-the-steps kind of person who happens to have formal training in art (and a fairly good eye for it, I think). So wouldn't that make me a good teacher? The only thing I don't have is the ability to speak in public....I get sweaty and my ears go up in flames and my voice cracks. But Jeannette said that that part of teaching gets easier the more you do it, and I believe it. I used to be a canvasser and talk to 40 strangers every day - surely I can talk to some kids about making art. Right?
But as soon as I start getting excited about the possibility, negative thoughts start creeping in. Do I really want to go back to school? What if I do go back to school and then I find out I hate teaching? Or that I'm bad at it? Or what if I love teaching but I can't find a job doing it, and then I can't get a paycheck, and then I can't save for a house? Kids seem so out of control these days...could I really be in charge of them? The list goes on and on. So I don't know what to think right now. Except that I'm bored and I think my current situation isn't cutting it.
On to a lighter note, this past weekend was such a good one. Seth's band, the
Leningrads, played their first 2 shows ever, and they did
such a great job!
I took a video of them playing a whole song from start to finish, and I wish I could post it here, but I guess there's no way to do that. If someone knows how, let me know and I'll put it up. It was just so great to see Seth up on that stage doing something he's so passionate about (and be so good at it, too).
Seth's whole family came to see him, too, which was awesome. They're all so fun to be around...I really lucked out in the in-law department :) Three out-of-towners came in also - Al, Callie, & Jeannette! It was great to have so many good pals here.
I guess that's about all for now....time to go take advantage of the beautiful day. Later!
