Ohne Dich*

So I mentioned awhile ago I was trying to learn German. Well, with school, kids (my own) and everything I never really got anywhere. In the last week or so I've been thinking about it more, so I'm trying again - I know, right before school starts again.

Anyway, this time in addition to the Deutsche Welle website and my Warum Nicht! podcasts I've been trying to listen to some music in German. Unfortunately, all I've been able to find on Pandora is industrial stuff like Rammstein, Eisbrecher, etc. The music itself isn't bad (I kinda like it), and it certainly gives me a better "picture" of pronunciation, etc., but it is rather ... dark.

Of course, emo is a little angsty at times, but this stuff is more angry/bitter than frustrated. I was reading about Eisbrecher on Wiki, and Oliver Riedel was quoted as saying "German language suits heavy metal music. French might be the language of love, but German is the language of anger".

*Ohne Dich means without you.

Sassy Pants

NO! If I've heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times today. Apparently aliens kidnapped "real Audrey" last night and left "sassy-clone Audrey", with no common sense, in her place. If it's an attempt to see what our planet is like, this clone is going to think our planet consists of a single ~9'x~13' room.

The summer draws to a close

And I'm torn about what to do. At the moment, it seems like everything is up in the air, as usual I guess. We've given notice on our apartment, so we're looking around the Fox Valley. Jennie got the morning shift at the YMCA Drop-In, so we'd be home together - it would be the first time ever that she hasn't had to work until 6-6:30 at night - Audrey is signed up for T, Th Pre-School, oh and there's Jack. So quite a bit that is exciting.

However, as usual, I've been on the job-hunt and I can't decide if I should hang it up for the summer or apply for the last few that are dribbling out here at the end. The job thing's been ok this year - the economy has really put a damper on job postings, although I did interview for a summer school job (didn't get it), and with contract in hand I know at least someone wants me.

I'm working 2nd shift at School Specialty, so I've been doing school stuff in the mornings: class notes/handouts, outlining the year, cobbling together a resource book since I don't like the beginning of one of the textbooks, etc. Part of me can't wait to get back to FVCA and see the kids again, but the other part of me so desperately wants a public school job with a livable wage, a sense of stability and to know I'm going to be around awhile so I can relax a little and not have to do things with an eye on my resume.

[Sighs] Oh well.