Changes. Changes. Changes.

OMG. I'M MOVING TO BIG BEAR!!!!!

I received a new contract from Hesperia back in May. It had a VERY nice dollar amount on it. But I didn't sign it. I had no other prospect at that moment, but well, I just wasn't excited about going back there. So, I waited. And applied for a position teaching HS math online with Connections Academy. I didn't really know what it even meant, but I applied anyway. I had applied in 2017 and received an interview email but after I'd already accepted at Oak Hills.

I got that interview email again and this time I completed the interview, the morning before Gradnite. It was a series of questions, the first 5 of which I recorded my answers. They were typical interview questions. The rest of the questions were more about my aptitude - how to put a picture in a PowerPoint and such. With the end of the school year, I didn't really think about it again!

When I got off the plane in Virginia, I had an email asking for a second interview!! Well, okay then!! That was a video conference with four folks from Connections - teachers and principals and such. More typical interview stuff. I let them know, also, that I only had a short time before I had to sign my contract, or not. Again, didn't get my hopes up, but I did do more research on the company!! They're an offshoot of Pearson so I knew they were legit. They offer real insurance and all that fun stuff. And I truly would work from home so home could be anywhere. Again, didn't get my hopes up!

Then, as I was driving to the Toyota dealer to possible buy a truck, I got a request for references! I did not buy the truck. My hopes were starting to get up and didn't want to get myself into something I wouldn't be able to afford! I knew I'd be taking a pay cut if I got the job, but not exactly sure how much. I spent most of the drive to Western States trying to secure the 4th and final reference. I won't name names but if you tell someone you will do it, don't wait WEEKS!!

 I had to sign my contract by June 30. I spent the week before that living in two worlds - one dreaming of living in BB, the other settling for staying in the desert. Finally, I went to BB to at least not be hot while I waited, not so patiently. Then at about 3:15 on the 28th,, while sitting on Dad's front porch, my new principal called!! After a few minutes of details, and a few minutes of chatting with Dad and God, I called her back to make it official. Not only did I not have to go back to Oak and 35+ Freshmen in one room, I could move to BB!!!

About an hour later, after searching the few rentals available in BB that I might be able to afford, Dad and I decided to have dinner to celebrate. We stopped on the way to get gas and visit with Dad's friend Nick. I happened to ask if he knew anyone with a cabin for rent and HE DID!!!  Two bedrooms, one bath, a block from trails, huge fenced yard - it is perfect!!

I drove to Hesperia the next day to give them my contract, on which I checked "I decline"!!!

Long story short, on July 25, I moved in to a tiny cabin in BB and LIFE. IS. GOOD!!!

I'll post more pics once I'm settled and such.

Western States 100 2018

(This is last year's post which has a link to the year before which I think has links to others, in case this is your first Race report and you don't understand what is happening!)


I'm not sure where to even start! It seems like the details are always the same - we drive to Auburn on Friday, stay at the Motel 6, head to Quarry Road, etc...

This year, Dad and I had the added adventure that he was trying the Keto diet and I was trying to stay mostly Vegan. It made eating out a challenge but one we happily accepted! For dinner we tried the Black Bear Diner. It is a chain with about 20 restaurants in CA. We'd seen billboards along our drive up the 99 and always considered it in Auburn but just never tried it. Well, we sure are glad we did! Dad had the best omelette ever (he said so!) and I can't remember what I ate!! I'm sure it was breakfast - french toast maybe?! But it was so good we went back there for breakfast!! Partly because the Denny's across the street from the Motel 6 was closed. Closed! Denny's don't close! I mean, permanent, weeds growing in the parking lot kind of closed! The guy at the Motel 6 said he didn't know what happened; it was just closed one day. Interesting! We really didn't mind going to the Black Bear again!!

We, of course, had plenty of time before we needed to head out to Quarry Road so we drove through town and stopped at the Auburn Running Company. I had been pondering a new hydration pack because I wanted more pockets, and more functional pockets. I tried this one on and took a pic so I could shop for it elsewhere. Then I decided that I would rather give my money to ARC so I bought it!! It is SO comfortable - hardly know I'm wearing it! And it has the fancy soft bottles. (Now that I've used it a couple times, I'll tell you I use one bottle for my Nuun electrolyte and the other pocket for my phone, with the extra bottle getting swapped out midrun, if I ever go that far).

We checked in at Net Control and drove off to Quarry Road. We were of course early and there well before the Aid Station folks. We set up a little but luckily not everything because we ended up moving once everyone was there. We listened for runners getting to the aid stations before us. Jim Walmsley was in the lead by quite a bit (it's a Job thing, go read the last two year's posts!). Once he left ALT (the station before us), I went up the trail to where the aid station used to be, about 3/4 of a mile, so I could radio back that he was on his way. THIS time, he was smiling, chatty, and all around looked like he was having a great day. I radioed and took off running after him. I wanted to see how much longer it took me! Now, it's downhill the entire way and I ran almost all of it - likely more than I would have if just out on a run. It took Jim SIX minutes. Me? twelve. Not bad!! Jim went on to win the race in a new course record of 14 and a half hours!! 

I have no idea when or why I took this! Looks like before anyone else got there though.

I really shouldn't have waited 2+ months to write this because I'm having trouble remembering much about the night! We saw a LOT of runners. Except for the hour between Jim and the next guy, we never really had more than 5 minutes between runners. Seriously, it was a steady stream of runners and pacers for HOURS. 

The Aid Station crew chose the 70's as their theme this year. Tie-dye tablecloths and t-shirts, weed (yes, really), and decent music. It was pretty much the same group as every year, plus a few newbies. Always fun to share the night with them. 

Dad and I packed up and drove home. He actually let me drive most of the way!! We got back to my house to see very happy puppies. My buddy Jacob had taken very good care of them! 

The only non-race excitement is that I spent most of the drive up trying to lock down a 4th reference for a job at Connections Academy. See the next post...

East Coast 2018

The weekend after school got out, I flew off to see Ma and other family. I stayed the first 2 nights with Cousin Cheryl. On Friday, we drove up to "the bay", Fairhaven, because Cheryl had never been there and it means SO much to pretty much every member of the family. I thought she needed to experience it. She didn't really understand until she got there. She and Cousin Barbara hit it off immediately! Here is the day in pictures...

Cheryl and Barbara talking about recipes

Barbara Miller and I - so good to see her!!

Granddad's house

Me, Barbara Smith, granddaughter, and Barbara Miller

Me - n - Joe

We hadn't seen each other in a while!

Selfie :)

 Cheryl and I left Fairhaven and drove north to Annapolis. Leila and Jeff drove south and met us for dinner!! I hadn't seen them in WAY too long (3 years!?!?!) and it was SO good to catch up!!

Two of my FAVORITE people!!!

 The next day I left Cheryl to hang out with my good friend Becky. We enjoyed a lovely afternoon at Hillwood Estate wondering the grounds and having yummy lunch. I never get enough time with Becky! Turns out my evening plans changed but she already had plans so I left her and moved on. I was supposed to participate in the DC Pride Parade but my host got sick. I ended up driving to Richmond and spending the evening with Cousin Joan. I am SOOOO glad I did!! I hadn't seen her in a couple years, since her beloved hubby Jim had passed away. It was so good spending one on one time with her, catching up and really getting to know each other again! And her house is gorgeous!!! Apparently I only took pics of Mandy's dog Jinx. Mandy was out of town unfortunately. But I am totally planning to spend time there next summer!! Maybe I'll even play some pickleball :)

Jinx, old and gimpy, but so so sweet and loving - and blurry!

Then I was on to Roanoke!! I also don't have any pictures of my 3 days with Ma!! I stole away Monday morning and did some yoga with my old friend Mitchell. Fun times!! I ran one morning. And Ma and I hung out and ate good food :) Good times!!