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• Wes and I are moving ever closer to being homeowners. We locked in our rate last Thursday, after two or more weeks of watching the rate go -- sadly -- up. We both found the process unbelievably frustrating. Since this is a special physician loan, we couldn't look on a website for the day's rate. We had to call the bank. And the woman in charge of the loan was inevitably unavailable and bad about calling back. Wes started reading market news to get some idea of whether the rate was going to come down or keep going up, but aside from that, it felt like such a crap shoot. There is some peace in just having it done. And we quickly agreed that night that no one is allowed to check the market trends to see if it's gone down since!
• I have six more days of work left before I'm done at YWLCS. It's been a good three years there. Like with every job, there were down sides and frustrations. It's been amazing to be a part of such a great endeavor, though. I've worked with outstanding colleagues, people who really want to improve education in America and provide opportunity to students who need it. I've built relationships with some students who I know will stay in touch, if only to see pictures of the baby! I definitely feel like I've grown as an educator and, truly, as an individual by being at that school.
• I got "recommended for admission" to an MEd program in Learning, Diversity, and Urban Studies at the Peabody School, which is the School of Education at Vanderbilt. Official acceptance comes from the Dean's Office, hopefully early this week. I'm looking for funding (hopefully a part-time job that pays in tuition hours rather than a salary) but might go part-time if that doesn't pan out. I applied for 6 teaching jobs in Nashville and had absolutely no interest, so grad school would be great. I'd planned to apply to the PhD program next fall, but when I saw that the MEd program had rolling admission, I went ahead with that so I could start this fall and improve my chances of getting into the PhD program next fall. I'm really looking forward to being back in school, and I think the subject matter of this program will be great after my last three years of teaching in Chicago. I'm committed to working in and with schools, but it would be nice to have the knowledge and credentials to work in an administrative role. I love teaching high schoolers, but I think I'd really love teaching teachers!
• We're still working out moving day logistics. Wes managed to switch around his schedule so that he's home the day the movers come. Good for me, so I don't have to monitor movers, a baby, and a dog the whole day by myself. Lucy, I imagine, will wear her bark collar that day, and Ollie will likely spend time in the Exersaucer (until it's packed) and Pack 'n Play (since he'll be sleeping in that while sans crib). We're hoping to fit the three humans, one dog, and sleeping/clothing essentials in the car (and, oh yeah, a cooler of breast milk), drive down the 24th, and close the 25th. The problem is we don't know what to do with the dog and baby while we're closing. We can't leave the dog in the car. We'll have to check out of a hotel room by that time. I think we should be allowed to throw the dog in the backyard of the new house just before closing. If I don't have to be there, we're fine. If I do, Lucy might be spending the day at a doggie day camp.
• I'm really looking forward to being closer to friends and family. My parents haven't seen Oliver since Christmas, which is forever ago in a 9-month-old's life. The webcam helps, but it's not the same as in person. I'm looking forward to seeing my sister's new house and both my brothers and their families. And it's nice to know that I can get to these people in a day's drive or less now (I guess 11 hours from Chicago to Atlanta is technically a day's drive, but not something I'd just pick up and do -- 3 1/2 hours I would). I'll also get to see some friends more often.
• It's still not summer in Chicago. Yes, it's 82 and muggy today, but it's supposed to be back in the 60's on Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm sure I'll be dreaming of 60-degree weather once I'm down in Nashville, but I like my weather to be seasonally appropriate. It's June. It should be warmer!