Fails for the Win

As I set out for my interview this morning, there were a million different things running through my mind, this unfortunately caused a lot of "oops"s along the way. Out of fear of a dead battery, I kept my phone off for most of the drive up. Upon arriving in the parking lot of the hotel where my mother was staying (she's at a conference, so we decided to meet up so I could change in her room and do lunch) I turned my phone back on. I had a missed call from a number with my favorite area code.

Via voice-mail,  the Holmen principal extended the offer of an interview for Wednesday. In my rush to record his extension, I failed to realize that I was taking notes on the transcripts I'd brought for Pewaukee...Oops number one. My mother met me in the lot and led me to her room where I suddenly realized I'd left my suit jacket in La Crosse. Oops number two. This wouldn't have been quite as much of a problem if I hadn't been ill all yesterday, causing my dress pants to also be 2 sizes too large. Oops three?

While we contemplated this dilemma, my phone started ringing. In the excitement of the Holmen interview, I'd thrown my phone back into the bottom of my purse. Despite a beautiful attempt to retrieve the device from the depths of junk, I missed the call. Oops number four. On the phone was a lovely woman from Independence extending the offer of an interview for Thursday (those of you keeping track at home, we're up to three interviews this week).

I pulled out an extra shirt I'd brought along and voyaged down to dinner. We hoped the time spent wearing it would decrease the number of visible wrinkles. My mom lent me a necklace...which I seem to have accidentally stolen...Oops number five. We decided to eat at the hotel, and printed new copies of my transcripts from the lobby.

Ta da!

You know my Mom's cool, or she wouldn't get so many ribbons.

Before leaving, I tried to further dull my wrinkles with the hair dryer...and broke it (sensing a trend?, that's six).

My interview was extremely pleasant. The superintendent is an amazing woman with oodles of personality. To hear her speak is to feel empowered. It is no surprise that she is 2013's Superintendent of the Year...or that the woman sitting next to her was Wisconsin's Associate Principal of the year. I mean it. These women ooze confidence and intelligence.

After a few moments of waiting after the interview, I was bluntly offered the job. It's not just a good offer. It's a tremendous offer. They want me to be part of this workplace (a two year in a row "Top Workplace" winner, for that matter) and they want to help me grow as an educator. When I asked for more time, it came out that I was hoping to wait until after my Holmen interview.

Dr. Sternke pulled out the big guns and made it clear that I was wanted and WOULD be successful in Pewaukee. She also granted me a couple days however. I have until about two hours after my Holmen primary interview concludes to make a tremendously huge choice. Needless to say, I decided a hair cut/scalp, shoulder, and hand rub was in order to relieve stress upon my return. In terms of further stress relief (in case this story gets your blood pumping like mine), I'll leave you with another beautiful picture of my lunch.

Grilled tuna with monterey jack cheese on roasted tomato, lettuce, guacamole, and toasted focaccia bread