Wow--summer is in full kick! It's about one million degrees here in California and I know everyone back in WV is hot as Hades, too! Fourth of July was pretty fun! I laid out and read most of the day; I'm actually getting some color, can you believe that? When it got less scorching outside Stephen and I went and played tennis. We've become quite the tennis fanatics. It's really fun and I highly recommend it. While we were playing, a thunder storm started forming right over the mountains. We live right below this range out mountains, they are very beautiful. It started to sprinkle, but it never down poured. There were some insane looking lighting streaks though--nature's fireworks!!

Once it got dark enough we started driving around looking for fireworks. I drove up this street that is really high up on a hill. We parked and got out and walked up the street to a level sidewalk and looked down in the valley--you can see for miles. Sometimes on really clear days you can see downtown L.A. We waited for about ten minutes and then all of the sudden about eight-nine different locations started setting off fireworks. It was amazing (and free!). Everywhere we looked were fireworks. There were some relatively close to us being set off at the minor league baseball stadium (Quakes) and then there were some so far away that they looked like little tiny balls of multi-colored fire. It was really enjoyable and a great way to end the day.

Stephen said that we needed to go to Nebraska one year for Fourth of July. He said because it was so flat that you could see fireworks for miles and miles and they were all around you. I'd like to see that one day. I can't wait to travel. I want to go everywhere, it's kind of ridiculous.

***

No word from any jobs yet. I've applied for so many. It's kind of hard not to be discouraged, but I have to keep reminding myself that something will come up. It looks like I probably won't start off with a teaching position because in California to teach you need a CTEL certificate. This educates teachers on how to teach students whose native language is not English. Legally, I am not allowed to teach in California without that certificate. When applying for my CA Teaching License I could of shown proof that I have the schooling to be issued a CTEL certificate, but Marshall does not require any courses on the subject (which needs to be changed). Because of this I've been applying to Teacher's Aide jobs in local schools and a few positions with some of the community colleges around town. Hopefully I hear something soon.

I'm learning not to get so discouraged over things. I could of really exploded over the whole CTEL issue, but I didn't. I didn't let myself because it's nothing I can control, I just need to get on the ball and figure out what I need to do. There's a school I'm looking into called University of La Verne--it's about 20 minutes from my house and they offer the program I need. It's only three classes and I can then transfer those credit hours to a Master's program. That sounded like a good option for me! However, the university is private and a tad expensive. School is expensive regardless. I don't want to take out a loan, so I need to be making some money, which brings me back to square one...no job, yet.

Anyway...I'm not going to let my situation bring me down. I'm here in California and I've been wanting to be here for years. I'm loving it, I really am and I'm so glad to be back. Never take anything for granted.

:)
Elle