I don't know about you all but I'm crazzzzzyyyyy this fall. I'll give you our web address to see wedding pics.....there's alot, so be prepared to pick and choose.

www.parksbenke.weddingherald.com

I hope you are all well. Let me know how the year is going and what new information you have to share.

I'm alive as well.

I am here just have been so busy w/ the wedding quickly approaching. I have 12 days of being single and than I"m forever Mrs. Laura Benitz. heehee I'm so excited. I have also just been trying to relax w/ my daughter and spend as many days as possible at the pool w/ a good book.

I apologize, I didn't send you all invitations because we just sent a few to family, and then we posted the announcement in the paper as ALL friends and family invited.

So, all of you, of course, are invited as well. The ceremony will be at 5:30pm at the Christ Lutheran Church in Wathena. The reception will follow at the Wathena Community Center. Again, come and enjoy some good food and good booze.

Hope to see a few of you soon. Hope everyone is enjoying a relaxing summer.

~Laura

Wedding updates

Well, you haven't heard from be for some very good reasons: 1- wedding hysteria. Poor Dustin has no clue what to do, he helps when he can (and at least tells me what he doesn't want) but I'm mostly flying solo (not that I mind....it means I get what I want). 2- Right after school got out, I decided to teach summer school -CRAZY! It went so fast and kept me super busy. It'll be a nice check though....3-I've also been working out alot lately. For some strange reason, I feel like I'm not "Dress ready". So, I'm killing myself in the mean time. 4- new kitty. Another moment of weakness. He takes so much darn time to care for a play with....but he's quite the cutie!

The next item on the list: invitations. Dustin wants the expensive ones.....I don't, so we're learning what it's like to compromise.

Our district is implementing Professional Learning Communities (PLC) over the next couple of years. I decided in order to secure my position even more, that I would become a coach (which means I get a four day vaca with my principal and a few other teachers at the Lake of the Ozarks) and help the other teachers and staff at the school buy into the model of a PLC.

Oh, and I signed up to run the book fair this fall.....a month before the wedding. Have I lost my freekin mind. So, if you get some type of senile messages from me starting in August.....please ignore.

Hey, wanna meet in Topeka this month....I'd love a good laugh and drink before school starts all over again.

I did not fall off the face of the earth...

Hey all! Cngratulations Mary Ann & Penny on your new jobs! I am so excited. Lori Jo, have you started revamping the library at your school yet?

Sorry I've been quiet for so many months. It's been a hell of a ride this year and I am glad it is over. It seems we can't get a decent principal here at Plainville. But he is leaving and perhaps we will get something better - I've said that before.

This year, I thought there was going to be a K-12 Lib. opening at Ellis. Several people were under the impression that the librarian would retire. Nope she didn't. There was an opening at an elementary school here in Hays. I sent everything in immediately and called the next week to make sure my references had arrived. I was told everything was in but the position was filled. I was so ticked! It would be nice if there was some sort of code that says "We're only posting this because we have to. Don't bother applying, we already know who we want to hire."

I took the Intel Teach to the Future workshop this summer. I should say, I'm sitting in the workshop right now. I think people who take this should be required to have a basic knowledge of computers! The first morning was spent trying to teach everyone how to log into the Intel Site! And it just keeps getting better!

I plan to go to Topeka sometime this summer. If anyone wants to arrange a get together, let's do it!

Back to this Intel workshop. Yippee!

Summer.com

Hey gals,
I found these listed in a magazine last night. Something different than Shelfari.
Enjoy checking these out over morning coffee:
www.whatshouldireadnext.com
Type in the name of a book you enjoyed and you'll receive a list of similar suggestions.
www.literature-map.com
Enter the name of favorite author and you'll get a display of writers' names, with your pick at the center. The idea, the closer a name sits to your favorite, the greater likelihood that you'll enjoy that author's work.
www.goodreads.com
Similar to Shelfari.
www.novelaction.com
Online book swap.

Great Website!

Hey ladies,
I stumbled upon a wonderful website full of ideas for library lessons.
Go to www2.scholastic.com
click on Teaching Resources (in the blue bar)
click on lesson plans
scroll down to search lesson plans
click on Reading
You can then narrow your search by grade level or check them all out! They also have wonderful printables that go along with some of the lessons. :) Enjoy!!

Just when you think you have it all figured out....

OOPS!!

Anyway...
I arrived at school today with an email from Tecumseh South Elementary School asking me to interview for their Elementary Library Media position. AHHHHH!!! I looked at their pay scale and WOW- nice! Right now it would not be a huge increase but over the long haul it is a big difference. In five years time it is a difference of over 5 thousand dollars a year. WOW! Anyway if you all thought I was crazy before---------I may be changing jobs! I will keep you all posted. I interview this Friday.

Getting together in May

Okay, I thought I'd recap what we've heard about getting together. Most people can do weekday evenings. Several last days of school are before labor day and there are a few after labor day (mine is Friday May 30 and then I teach summer school).

SOOOOOO- within the last two weeks of May, what dates work or don't work for you all to get together? Post them and then we'll all decide.

I've got a new job!

Hey Ladies-
Thanks for all of your well wishes & Suzy's good karma, it worked! I have been offered a position at a Shawnee Mission elementary school, which was my first choice. I like the library, principal, the faculty that I've met so far, so I think it will be good. I haven't told my principal quite yet. I go to sign a letter of intent tomorrow, so I'll tell her on Monday. Thanks for all of your support!

Job Search Update

Don't think that I'm just holding Suzy hostage, I still need her karma. I had an interview Friday, that I'm feeling hopeful about. I know that they are checking my references today, and are playing phone tag with a couple of people, including my principal.....I did not include her on my list of references, so I hope that this is serious since the cat is more out of the bag than before. It wasn't a complete shock to her, but I think she was a little surprised. I also received a call from another school to come interview on Saturday. So...keep your fingers crossed for me!!! I have until May 1 to get back to my principal about staying at St. Agnes. Time is a ticking....

I hope that everything is going well for all of you. Can you believe how the year is zipping right by?!? Cristy, how was the 1/2 marathon??? Can you walk again, or are your legs still jell-o?

I still haven't done assignment #4 for Mirah. I'm so happy that we will be doing Friday by conference call, yippee!!! How did Capstone go?

I need addresses

I"m putting together my final guest list and need addresses. I have Lori Jo's and Lisa's. I need everyone elses. You will all get a Save the Date card....so....hence..you all better save the date!

What about meeting in Emporia. Dustin's heading out of town I think middle of May and I would be able to head to Emporia then.....unless other's want to meet in the middle somewhere, I don't know where it would be.

You all are freaking me out with this internship frantic-ness. It makes me not want to take it. I'm in Missouri and I know as long as I'm in Missouri I'll work in Missouri (Dustin has a fondness for Missouri).

So....all this to say can you please send me your addresses?

Long Time No See?

A shout out for Kansas Library Conference!!!!
How many friends will I see in Wichita?
Can't wait to meet up with you!

The Cat in the Hat visits my school this week!!

The Cat a Van will be pulling into Topeka on Wednesday night. We are taking the Cat in the Hat out to eat at the Jayhawk Towers in Topeka along with the Topeka KNEA rep., and a few USD 501 representatives (I think from the school board). Anyway-- then on Thursday the Cat a Van will be at McEachron for an all school assembly at 10:00. Each child gets a really nice Dr. Seuss hat, and an autographed Dr. Seuss book. We are one of two schools in Kansas that were selected to receive the Cat a Van- McEachron was one of three Topeka schools on the list- and I was the only librarian that was a KNEA member. :) How cool is that!!! We are really excited! I will post new pictures after the big event!

I WANT TO SCREAMMMMMM!!!!

Okay, am I the ONLY one finding these intern assignments a complete and total frustration!?!?!

I am struggling w/ assignment #1 already! Ugh!!!

Part 1, I'm done w/. Part 2 and part 3 sound the same to me except they are to be submitted in different formats. In my opinion the following 2 sentences seem to suggest the same thing: Part 1 - "Use this needs assessment to write a budget." Part 2 - "Establish and write a school library budget in ledger form."

WRITE A BUDGET is stated in both descriptions. So, do we write the same budget two times?!? And why does it matter if it's in ledger form if we've already written and described it once?!? Ugh!!!

Yes, I'm still alive

Hi girls!!! Wow, it's been so long....you haven't voted me off the island or anything yet, have you? Sorry I"ve been MIA. I've loved reading/laughing at all the posts. Since I have finally finished my work at ESU, I've been thrown full throttle into wedding plans.....and so excited to have Laura join the madness! Congrats girl. We have gotten our ceremony and reception sites, photographer and now florist (just met with her the other night). I also have my dress! Yipee. It's so pretty and I wish I could wear it right now. So, that's my update.

Lori, you asked if I would be at what was triconference.....I'm trying to save up my days off for next year and I'm already taking a trip to Vega (brother's getting married there) in April. I really really want to,but don't think it'll be feasible this year. I'm totally bummed.

What do you guys think of all the girls who are local....getting together somewhere..Emporia or somewhere central where we can sit and actually see each other. Just a thought.

Happy Birthday Sista!

If you have been following our posts, you will know.....today is Cristy's Birthday!
I hope you don't feel a day over 25 girl!
Hope it was special!!!!!

ESU Alumni Stuff

Emporia State had three students die over the weekend. One was a SLIM student. She was shot to death and her baby too. The father of her son was caught, he had kidnapped the son. It was in the KC area. Nicollette? They said she was a junior?
Another was a elementary ed. major, was hit head on going home for the weekend. The other was only a freshmen, died from unspecific illness.
Weird, huh.

Winter Blaaaaaaaahs

Okay, everyone has to post something to this segment. I want to make sure that we are all still kickin' it up and deserving of the SLIM Sista's. (Plus, I know you miss my note passing in class!)
Answer one of the following questions, so we know you are still checking the blog:
1. The most recent fun thing you did for yourself, no matter how pathetic.
2. If you had a $1,000 bucks free and clear, and HAD to spend it..what would you spend it on?
3. What song lyrics would you pick to define this week in your life...must say why.

Slim Sista Birthdays

Happy Birthday Sara!
We haven't heard from you for awhile, so I hope you find time to update us on everything wonderful.
Who has the next birthday?

Organizations & Subscriptions

Hey Girls, I have a couple of questions for you all.
1) What library organizations do you belong to and why? I only belong to KASL and worry that I should belong to more.
2) What library magazines do you subscribe to and why? I only take School Library Journal, and I just started VOYA although I haven't received it yet. I hope it is good.

Any comments you can give me will be appreciated! Hope you are enjoying a good start to the new semester. Courtney

ENGAGED!!!

Got the ring on December 22. Nothing exceptional about the proposal, except that it finally happened! LOL We have set the date for July 19, this summer. So, mark your calenders ladies. Will be a fun, fun, fun time!!!