Teacher House

[teacherhouse-blog]

Better late than never...

At least that's what I told him.

But here I'll back up to give you a proper update.  After paying Mr. S-c-f-s  for my internet about 2.5 weeks ago, he asked how things were going with my new roomie.  I said he wasn't helping things any.  He then said that she really didn't mean much to him, she was just forward and available.  Later that night she went upstairs for a bit, came back, slammed some doors, and peeled out of the parking lot (yeah, it was probably my fault). 

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Mr. S-c-f-s was pursuing again.  'Can we hang out?',  'Can we talk?',  'I'll change', et cetra.  I was breaking down, and really wanted to believe him.  He even wanted to consider becoming religious!  He came to church with me and finally I laid down the law:  If we are going to try this again, you 1) Can't interfere with my faith, and 2) you need to figure out if this whole religious thing is for you.  

The very next weekend, he was ready for church before me.  "you sure you want to come with?" he was emphatic in his positive answer.  Until about 1/2 an hour into service.  He turned pale, left briefly, and returned to say "I can't be here right now, but I need to talk to you when you get back, think you can get a ride home?".  The rest of the service went well.  But why did he leave?  Because, as he later told me, I was right in the first place.  We are two different people and our lives are not compatible.  He was not comfortable in church and could not see himself happily going consistently.  The hangover probably didn't help.  

After several apologies for trying so hard to get things between us "started again" I finally cut him off.  I told him it's better that he figured out what he wants (or in this case doesn't want) late than never.  Oh the drama.  

[teacherhouse-blog]

Free Roommate, to a good home

You know, I can't decide if she's a bit slow or just passively really catty.  Either way, tonight as I was cooking way more borscht than I can eat by myself (I grew up with a a lot of people around, and am horribly bad at portion controlled cooking), she comes into the kitchen to talk with me.  Striking up a conversation, she asks what I'm cooking and then starts going on and on about how horrible it is to cook for just yourself when there's only one person to eat it.  Then she says "I'm not gonna lie, I'm really thankful I have S-c-f-s to grill up my meat for me, at home  my dad grilled almost every night".  

I gave her the kind of blank stare that most ordinary people take as an opportunity to change the subject.  Not roommie, she keeps right on going.  Finally I have to cut her off and say "maybe that's not the best conversation to have with me, seeing as you're trying to date (and talking about) my ex boyfriend who happens to live right upstairs, while I'm cooking by myself down here."  Without missing a beat, she says "oh, yeah, touché" (like her coming to talk to me was some kind of competition or something) and then starts talking about her grandma like nothing happened.  All awkward silence.

God must be trying to teach me patience.  But, in case you're looking, you can definitely have my roommate if you want one!

[teacherhouse-blog]

Who's got the power!

Last night a big storm rolled in, we're talking wind, lighting, hail, and a nearby tornado.  It knocked out power all over boomtown, including both apartments of teacherhouse.  As the storm first rolled in, I was outside with the old-musical-fisherman (my across hall neighbour).  By the time the hail hit, everyone in the building was in the doorway, watching the storm.  When Mr. Alaska and his wife (extracurricular-master) came down, we all decided the sky looked tornado-ready.  We called upstairs, and of course, roommate and Mr. S-c-f-s came down together.  He had a beer in hand.  As we watched, we heard a noise like a gunshot, followed quickly by complete power outage.  Every time Mr. S-c-f-s went upstairs for something (getting another beer, getting a coat, using the bathroom, who-knows-what-else), roomie was faithfully at his side, following him up and down the stairs.  The hail stopped, and the people in apartments right started filing out to join us.  We had Mrs. Counselor-nerd-to-be, her roommate, older-mathy-churchy-guy, and Mr. family-man (who moved in this year with his daughter and very pregnant wife).  Extracurricular-master taught me how to start the grill, I brought out a pot of water, and in short order her, roomie, and I were sipping Russian tea while standing outside with almost all of teacherhouse cast.  Soon an idea was born -  playing 'clue' upstairs.  Mrs. Counsellor-nerd-to-be went back to her apartment for the game, Mr. S-c-f-s went upstairs (followed by roomie) to light candles, and the rest of us waited outside a bit longer.  Finally, we were all upstairs on couches and borrowed chairs from the Alaska's apartment, sitting around a coffee table, playing clue and laughing until almost midnight on a Wednesday.  Like the responsible teachers we all are.  I am happy to report, I won.  Mr. Green, with the pipe, in the study.  

[teacherhouse-blog]

Teacher house conversations - via text message

Mr. Alaska coaches varsity football with Mr. S--c-f-s and a few others, but his wife (Extracurricular Master) wasn't able to come to tonight's game. Here is my conversation with her.

Me: Another 'team name' 1st down, we're about at the 40, 2nd and 4

Me: Another first

E.M: I can hardly stand it…maybe it's good I'm not there, I'd be having a heart attack, or a baby! Lol

**(she is pregnant)**

Me: We're at the 30

Me: At the 20 1st down

E.M: Oh my gosh!!! That's what they call the red zone! Aaaaa

Me: 'QB's last name' on the carry, 3 and 3

Me: Oh, I mean 1 and, false start!

Me: 3rd and 6

E.M: Would it be inappropriate to start a chant in the train? Lol

Me: Lol, the cheerleaders handled the timeout, 'QB's last name' on the keeper, just short of the first

E.M: Field goal?

Me: 'team name' first, 50 seconds

E.M: HOLY COW!

Me:Touchdown and extra point, 'QB's last name's' touchdown. 28-21, 28 seconds in the 4th

E.M: Holding breath

Me: Cheerleaders doing pushups, don't have a baby on the train

E.M:Lol wouldn't that be a story though?!?

Me:'QB's last name' on the tackle at the 48, 21 seconds

E.M: Lol is anyone else playing?

Me: ball batted down by 'another student's full name'

E.M: Woop whoop!

Me: 'Team name' interception, 12 seconds. Timeout 'town name' Other coaches running down from the box

E.M: What? Really? weird! I figured they'd knee it out

Me: They did. Crowd goes wild

E.M: Ya ya! That is the very best news!!!

~~The End.~~

[teacherhouse-blog]

P.S. talent show

The high school puts on a yearly concert, similar to a talent show.  Mr. and Mrs. teachers of music organize most of it featuring their band and choir students.  This year, Mr. counselor-nerd (guitar), Mr. middle-school-music man (my across-hall neighbor who is moving out to live across town with counsellor nerd), and I (on piano) plan to practice and perform a song.  A funny song.  It will be awesome.  

[teacherhouse-blog]

Mrs. Counselor-nerd-to-be

She does have her own name, and they aren't dating yet (in fact, she has her own boyfriend now).  However, our little group in apartments left have come to call her Counselor-nerd's future wife.  This decision was made partly because many of us, including him, couldn't remember her name when she first moved in.

So far, he has helped her and her new roommate move into their place in apartments right (when he learned they have the same taste in musicals and cheesy horror films), he has taken them both out to dinner, and just last night when I came home they were sitting on the front step of my building (lefts) talking.  Counselor-nerd was happy to report that they talked for 1/2 an hour while he waited for a ride from Mr. teacher-of-music.  

Updates to follow.

[teacherhouse-blog]

Plot Twist

In a frustration that shouldn’t have existed (I have since prayed and found forgiveness) me and Mr. S—c-f-s had a bit of a chat.

Only (awkwardly) interrupted by counsellor geek (his roommate) moving out. He had an entourage of everyone else from treacher house including a cameo appearance by two previous cast members and another family from the school - the teachers of music. All of whom knew our past breakup history, and most of whom had noticed the new-roomie on ex-boyfriend drama.  Yep.  Real. Life. Drama.

Which brings me to …. PLOT TWIST, she started the whole thing.  Apparently in trying to sound like a nice person who doesn’t talk badly about exes, I made him sound like a fantastic catch (he was good to me but partied too much), and she came on strong.  Maybe that’s why she didn’t say anything to me this morning, even though she left for the weekend just after school today.

[teacherhouse-blog]

Small-College-Football-Star

Here's a guy who has a lot in common with the boys I went to elementary school with all those years ago.  He comes from a good, stable family.  He hunts, he fishes, he works hard,  and he cheers for his NFL team. Another commonality, and like so many of us,  his world revolves around himself. In the grown-up version, he also coaches football, has a teaching license (summer's off!) and drinks a little too much on the weekends.  Work hard, play harder.  

The only problem when your life revolves around you, is that as your life is brought into close proximity with the lives of others, you can hurt them easily.  Mr S-c-f-s tends to be either completely oblivious, or (I hope this one isn't true) has malicious intent.  

I think my roommate slept upstairs last night.  Aren't there any other options for a good looking guy like S-c-f-s?  Is it possible that he actually thought this through and said "yes, this is probably a good idea?!"  

The world will (probably) never know.  

[teacherhouse-blog]

Loneliness and Nosy Neighbors

Being single in a new place can feel lonely, but it turns out we’re really not as alone as we think we are.

For example:  One night about 1/2 way through July, I was up late watching “America’s Next Top Model” on my laptop (quite an unusual show choice for me).  Around 11:30, LOUD banging on the apartment’s front door snapped me to attention, lights out and over to the window.  It was the police, and being the only one home on first floor I ran to let them into the building.  “Thanks” one said as the other started running up the stairs.  I shut my apartment door before I even realized what I was doing! How could I hear what was happening with the door closed?!  Jumping down (quietly) onto my stomach, I cupped my ear and placed my head near the under-door crack.  They were here for small-college-football-star’s alibi (the neighbor directly above me) from a car break-in earlier that night.  Little did I know, his room-mate counselor-geek was also busy listening in, laying as quietly as possible in his bedroom, trying to hear every word.  Meanwhile Mr. Alaska (who’s wife was gone doing summer-school) was squinting through the peephole, trying for a sound and visual combo.  

 I should mention, Mr. s-c-f-s wasn't guilty of the crime. However, was he really alone (as he had been telling me just that Thursday)?  No.  But he sure thought he was, which was why he’d gone on dates with the crazy one who gave his name to the police after he said he didn’t want to see her anymore.  This is my ex-boyfriend, who as of last night is fast on his way to being my new roommates new fling.  

Teacher House Season Four is off to a running start, and it’s about time someone started writing this stuff down. 

[teacherhouse-blog]

Teacher-House season 4

I’m sure there are lots of people out there who say their life is like some sort of sitcom.  I’m definitely no exception. The difference is, other people say this about my life more than I do; and not only my life, but also the lives of several other people in my company.

I live in Boomtown, North Dakota, and as is often the case with rapid inflation and public education, teachers in Boomtown have to make some compromises to get by financially.  

The school district I work for owns the four-apartment building I live in and the matching building next to it.  The housing is meant to draw in new teachers who are often young, often single, and often pretty new to their careers.  Between a dash of shared interests and a pound of proximity, our collective lives have come to seem like a mix between 'Friends' and 'Flight of the Concords' with the twist of everyone working jobs in k-12 education.  This is our story.