Prepared?!

This past weekend was my first true three-day weekend as a teacher. Houston Independent School District (HISD) observed a "Fall Holiday" on Monday which gave all teachers and students the day off.

This break was much needed after the recent classroom changes. I was able to spend most of the weekend catching up in my Alternative Certification Course (ACP) and University of St. Thomas (UST) graduate course that I am taking. I had been putting these classes on the "back burner" as my focus needed to be entirely on getting my new classroom and students to a point where we could work effectively and with a plan to get back on track with learning. After working everyday over the long weekend on school work (either for my students or my personal school work) I felt as if I was actually prepared for the week ahead.

I was very excited. This was the first time that I had felt completely prepared for the week before it had even started. I had all of my personal coursework completed. My lesson plans were finished for the entire week with all of my materials gathered and printed out. I was really proud of myself.

But that's the thing about about my life (and I think life in general)... just when things seem to all be going your way... something has to happen to through you off of your game.

Like I said earlier, I had Monday off so that afternoon I was running errands. I was going here and there, getting stuff for school, a new charger for my phone, things for my house, all of the items I was able to live without when I was too busy to make time to get them. Everything was going well. It was going to be a great week, or so I thought...

I was stopped at a red light. The light turned green so I accelerated. About five seconds later the car in front of me slammed on their breaks, stopping in the middle of the intersection. I tried to stop, but ended up running into the back of his car, completely ruining the front end of my car. I will need to get a new front bumper, hood, both headlights, and possibly some work down to both of my front side panels. Evidently my car was a lot less stronger than his because his bumper left the scene with two scratches. I couldn't believe it. The weekend I thought I was so prepared for now was going to be packed with phone calls to my insurance company, auto body shops, and car dealerships. I was going to spend the little bit of free time that I was able to save myself by working all weekend, calling and researching about my car. This was not part of my plan...

Anyway, the driver said that he was cut-off by another driver that was trying to take a right turn onto the road we were on before our light turned green. The car I hit, almost hit the car in front of him, but avoided it, causing me to hit him... hopefully that makes sense.

I guess in the end I should be happy that no one was hurt... other than my hopes of having a completely stress-free and prepared week.