Troubleshooting.

I just spent a good ten minutes erasing my phone...literally, with a pencil eraser. Apparently, that is what you are supposed to do when your phone spontaneously stops working.

This morning, when I woke up my phone hadn't been charging. In fact, it was saying that my battery was invalid. I futzed around with it for a while and ended up writing an email to Motorola to see what the deal was. I had not dropped it, I knew that the chance that both batteries would stop working all of the sudden was small...Their response? Erase the contact points for the battery and the phone with a pencil eraser. So I did. Still didn't work. But, while I was erasing, I did notice that two of the sticky-outy parts of the contacts weren't so sticky-out. I poked and prodded until they stuck out again...now my phone works.

The nine hours without my phone made me realize how dependent I am on this thing. Seriously...it was scary.

Okay. Now for the official good news: I have a job! This time for real! It's the same school I mentioned before, but it's not so sketchy anymore. I spoke to the principal who was awesome and she immediately offered me the position. The catch? I had to be back in Baltimore on the 2nd (next Tuesday) to get trained for a special reading program to be taught in my classroom. They'd pay me...but then I'd lose my one chance to get home this summer. Also, I already bought a ticket to fly home. Also, I'm having eye surgery. Also, my dad gave me expensive tickets to see Cirque De Soliel in Vegas on Saturday....really expensive. Also, I want to drive across the country with Jamie.

So. I told her all this, but I also told her I would see what I could do. All day I fretted over what to do...here was this opportunity to teach 3rd grade (which is what I would really want), at a school that has a really good relationship with TFA. What if I blew it by being stubborn. In the end, I told her no -- I wanted the eye surgery. She was awesome and gave me the position anyway...in fact, I'll still be getting paid to go! I'll just be doing it late August!

So: this is my school! After further research, I realized that this is the best placement in Baltimore for me. I know the teacher I am replacing -- her 3rd graders came to speak to the corps during pre-institute induction about what it was like having a TFA teacher, and she and I had a nice conversation afterwards because I had recognized her from the TFA promotional video that I had to watch so many times. Also, she's such a good teacher that they have shown videos of her in the classroom all throughout training.

She is awesome and offered to help me get set up in the classroom and offer pointers and tips for teaching at Belmont. The only downside of all this is that she is a hard act to follow. Still...I'm really excited. Trying not to get my hopes up, since nothing has been cleared by Human Resources yet...but according to the program director my position at Belmont is "rock solid". Cross your fingers kids.