Summer "Sailstice"

"Sail Locally, Celebrate Globally"

 

http://www.summersailstice.com/

 This weekend was a busy one as usual & it was full of sailing--of course.  Xing Fu & I were on opposite race days so on Saturday he was out there for the "Sailstice" racing on a boat designed by the skipper--they took two bullets so I guess that design is working...A bit south down in Deale, I was out with one of my teammates from Bump & one of our friends on his boat.  We were cruising--racers cruising is ALWAYS interesting & this was no different.  But I digress..."Sailstice" is a little non-profit that celebrates the summer & sailing--being out sailing around the solstice is always cool so having a little celebration & actually being out there is even better.  Xing Fu told me he would look south & think of us out there..nice.

So off we go & our skipper says that he picked up a spinnaker for free & would we like to fly it?  No twisting of arms necessary--although he wasn't sure what shape it was actually in--we soon discovered that it was an asymmetric kite & was about 20 feet too short for the boat--probably a very good J/22 spinnaker, not for a Columbia 9.6.....but being who we are, we decided to fly the thing anyway & as a symmetric kite too...at one point we considered flying it from the backstay to see if we could get the boat to go backwards....just a thought.

"The Kid" under "spinnaker"

As the wind got lighter we decided to go swimming--I'd never been dragged behind a boat under sail--2 knots--very cool--the entire day was fun & of course the company....cruising can be fun after all..


Next day back out on Bump for the AYC Annual Regatta.  The first race was a good one, the second, well, anyone who knows the Chesapeake Bay in the summer, no wind.  The second race was given three gunshots & we were done.  Despite no wind for the second race, it was good just to be out with the crew again--always fun & entertaining.  Next weekend is the Twilight Race--starts late in the day after the wind has filled in (we hope).  And as the summer progresses...Screwpile is on the horizon...summer=sailing.

No Harm, No Foul

Last week was one of the most emotionally difficult ones I've had in a VERY long time.  You see, I was terminated from my job.  Yup, fired, let go, separated, axed....and it really wasn't my fault (for once.) And actually I am very good at keeping jobs.  It all stemmed from a certification mix-up in which paperwork I thought was sent in 2007 when my Advanced Professional Certificate (Teaching) was due to expire, did not in fact go to MSDE. (I am not in the classroom anymore, but as an employee in a school, I need to have a current certificate to do my job.) As a result, when BCPS(S) reviewed my file, I did not have a current teaching certificate.  So, and rightfully so (in retrospect), I was separated from my current job.  

The tragedy is multi-layered here.  One, I LOVE my job (for the most part) and I really do feel that BCPS(S) has been a very good employer for me--they have treated me very well over the nearly 5 years that I've worked for the system and I tell people that a lot.  Two, I love the school I work in & all of the staff I work with--very unusual.  Three, my principal is absolutely wonderful & very talented--she allows me to do my job without micromanagement, etc., unless I give her a reason to closely review my work (and thus far there has been no reason).  And those are just the few reasons from the actual on-the-job side of this.

On the emotional side of this--losing a job is a blow to the visceral person.  It is part of my identity--how I describe who I am.  It is shameful (even if it wasn't my fault) to lose my job.  No matter how happy I am with my life as it is, losing a job will essentially cut me off at my knees. 

The third tragedy is of course the economic side.  I am sole support for my child & without a steady job, well, I don't think I need to expand or expound upon that.

So, after the initial shock & subsequent losing of my lunch, I went to HR to try to figure this all out.  And heard that I had a replacement at my school already.  I kept insisting that I had the coursework & couldn't figure out what was going on.  The answer was that my old coursework no longer counted & that I needed 3 credits to renew the certificate.  I was stuck.  My principal, very much stepped up to help.  She contacted HR & my transcripts went down to the state.  This, at the end of day two of my exile from work.  On day three, I received a phone call from HR.  The state had issued my certificate--I was back.  Or was I?  The problem then was how to get reassigned to my school.  Tragedy averted.  I must say that I am grateful for my principal's intervention.  I returned to work on Friday--after 3 days in hell.


It is a week later, & it appears that nothing has been affected with regard to my tenure, state pension, health insurance, etc., etc.  So as I have said to many people who have asked, "No harm, no foul."  It is a blip. Albeit a very difficult one, and just helps me to appreciate all that I have.  Sometimes you need them.  (These feelings may have been brought on by Rosh Hashanah--just a thought), but I am grateful.


One last thing:  Thank you to everyone who called, texted, & sent all the positive juju in my direction--I have to believe that you contributed to the happy ending.