Try, try again

It's been a while since my last blog (the Israel trip) and, of course, a lot has happened since then. But it would take me too long to go back and recap the past month, so I'll just take it from the top.

Israel expenses keep adding up:

• I was sick to my stomach for a lot of the time that I was in Israel. When I got back I went to see a GI and he ordered an endoscopy. Needless to say, these things aren't free. And since I got sick on the way to Israel, I decided to add it to the expense of the Israel trip (it's all the same back account, but mentally, it helps).
• Then came the credit card bills. Well, that was a bit of a shock. When it's on the card, you really don't feel it. Our most expensive days were those "second days" that we opted out of. Maybe G-d is punishing me for keeping only one day of Chag (or maybe I was just too irresponsible with my money). I just remind myself that spending money in Israel is a Mitzvah.
  
• Finally, despite trying to figure out how much I was going to get docked by my work for missing school, the amount was much more than I had assumed. My calculations were incorrect both in the number of days they were going to dock me as well as the amount of money I earn per day (and, thus, get docked). That really hurt. It's not like I get paid the best salary out there, and this makes it even less. It's tough getting nickel-and-dimed by a Jewish institution, but lesson learned.

I'm also a bit overwhelmed with a bunch of other "projects" that I need to finish up:

• COJS, the program that I attended in NYC this summer (pre-blog), came calling for their curriculum. I had a great idea for a unit that I was supposed to be working on for the past few months. Now I have to cram (remember college?). Luckily I found some sources in the BT library...
• I'm looking into applying for grad school. I'm thinking of jumping into education with both feet and going for an MA in admin. I think that I have some good education ideas (although I know that I'd need to improve my organizational skills). But they need transcripts from BIU, and damned if I know how to go about getting them.
  
• MERCAZ, which is BT's adult education program, meets for the last time tomorrow night. Every lesson has been a scramble and this last one is no exception. It helps that we'll break early for a final dessert, but I've got to get it done soon.

There's more, but even I'm getting bored thinking about it. This isn't bad, though, for a first try (again).