January 2024

 Whew! What a month! Really what a couple of weeks! 

First, I flew to TX for a wedding. I hadn't been back to North TX since I pulled out in the UHaul. Thanks to Jeff getting married, I got to go back! Of course, January can be hit or miss with weather and it was definitely a miss this time! I almost didn't go. Weather peeps were saying it'd be cold, which I can live with, but Sunday night was to be wet and cold and in TX that can be very very bad. My plane was scheduled to leave Monday morning. But I went anyway. 

Friday's afternoon flight was 2.5 hours late but it was okay cuz I just kept shopping and I finally found the perfect dress (though in the end, the maxi skirt and sweater would've been better due to frigid temps). 

Saturday dawned bright and decent (65 high). I went off to see the Taylors. The kids were off at college of course, but C and P had recently retired and they are loving life! P drove us to Dallas and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. We wandered around exploring exhibits and catching up and sharing stories. Museums are a wonderful way to spend time visiting I've learned. The museum itself was fun - very hands on and engaging. Definitely a great place to take kids. We stopped at Whataburger on the way back and it was YUMMY of course!! Wish I"d had time to eat there more than once over the weekend. Oh well. I did have a dress to fit in to after all.

Left behind the Taylors and made my way north of FW to the home of the Elliotts where Jeff (not the groom) would join us for dinner and games. Missing L&Q who moved to Wisconsin. We watched some football (Jeff's Chiefs), had scrumptious bbq and sides, and played a fun game (I don't remember the name of course). 

Sunday was wedding day, but first I slept in and relaxed a bit before going to PeiWei for lunch with the GGs. I was very sad to learn that PeiWei had changed ownership and the tofu was NOT the same at all, but overall the pad thai was still yummy. And now I can stop wishing we PeiWei closer! 

Left the GGs and went back to the hotel to change for the wedding. The venue was beautiful but it's hard to enjoy beauty when it's 12 degrees outside. Nonetheless it was FABULOUS to witness the union of Jeff and Stephanie and see several old friends. 

I don't miss TX at all, but golly do I miss certain people. Luckily I was able to hug them and catch up and overall it was a good weekend. Until it came to leaving... to make a VERY long story short, I drove to the airport Sunday night to avoid having to drive in the mess on Monday morning. Good choice. Except I was there longer than I should've been. I ended up on a plane at almost 5pm that took me to SNA instead of ONT but Dad rescued me and drove me to my truck. Good Dad he is! I took Tuesday off and slept and recovered. SO glad I did. 

So I worked 3 days and then left for a WASC visit. That had it's own craziness. In a nutshell: the other committee members drove me insane AND I didn't sleep well the entire time. I was a WRECK in class on Thursday but I was actually glad to be there cuz it was better than another day cooped up with the crazy people. The school I visited was lovely so that was a plus :) Oh, and I missed a storm that left not much snow but apparently some gross roads so yay for being elsewhere. 

And February is supposed to start with snow. Yay. 

Farewell to Texas

On June 9, Dad and I loaded a U-Haul truck (with help from awesome teenagers Kerry and Carlton) and headed off for California. It was a long trip, made longer by UHaul, but that's not what this post is about. I want to say a proper goodbye to the state I called home for almost 12 years.

Here are some of the highs and lows:

* I drove to Houston and got to see "my boys" play in a playoff game at home - one of the most incredible experiences of my baseball loving life!

This is actually from the following trip to celebrate NLCS champs!

* Bought, and sold, a house - checked off the "I'm an adult" list, don't feel the need to do it again

* I found a career that I LOVE and seem to be made for - teaching high school math is the best thing ever!!

       


* I survived the hottest summer ever. Anywhere. Really, hottest summer on record anywhere ever. It was HOT for a LONG time.

* My sweet baby George knew Texas as her last mortal home. She lives on in my heart and in a pretty box which is currently on my "dresser". She LOVED going out into our backyard and rolling around in the grass or dirt. She'd look for insects, I guess, and do her adorable little pounce move. Her last summer was the hottest one from above. She spent most of her time looking out the front window from her little perch.

on her perch

* I brought home my gigantic lapdog, Slugger! We assume Slugger was born in Texas but he seems to like CA okay. We visited every summer and he was also reluctant to go home. Okay, not really. He'll go anywhere I go!!

* I made some amazing friends!!!!

teaching buddies!

teaching buddies!

prayer sisters!

girlfriends! (from church)

Megan (left) got me through 2nd grade; Mere (right) got me through TWU

The group who helped me celebrate turning 40!! 

church, game night, transplant holidays, oh so many adventures! 

Sheila - all around awesome!

There are so many more friends to add here but these are the ones with which I had fun pics that I could find!! Thank goodness for social media and texting to stay in touch!!!

After twelve years, the heat got me. And the flatness. Texas is gorgeous in its own way, but I need my mountains. Even if I won't be living on one (yet), I can see them!! It was time to come home. For good. When I told a friend here in CA last summer, that I was thinking about making this move, I was  asked what I'd miss. All I could come up with was the people. Texas is a friendly place. That's what drew me to it way back in 2001 when I first started talking about making the move from DC. Texas is friendly and laid-back. And huge. And hot. I will always hold the entire state, but especially particular places and people, close to my heart.

I did eventually come up with a few things I'd miss...
*the rain - but not the storms!
*the jets flying over (not the airplanes, the F16s and such!)
*AHS - not perfect but I learned a LOT about myself and being a teacher
*ice days - not the ice but the days off :)
*Whataburger (for my non-vegan cravings)

SO SO SO many memories of my time in Texas that I will cherish forever. Thank you to everyone who was a part of "when I was a Texan"!!

Stockyards Easter 10k

Oh my. My first organized 10k event. Glad that's done! I really need to figure out how to not get so hot!! Moving to Big Bear will help :)

I'm really not a fan of organized races. I hate having to get there but then just stand around. And this one had the porta potties too far from the start. They were actually at the finish. But anyway.

The race started under the iconic Stockyards sign, went down the brick road and then made it's way to the Trinity Trails. I was tired. My calves were tight. That was new. Not sure if it was from standing around or what. They loosened up eventually but by then everything was tired. And hot.

This was an out and back race. There was a 5k as well. Just before I got to mile 2, I saw the first 5k turn around guy. No maybe it was mile 1. I don't remember now. But it seemed way too early. He was going very fast and made me feel slow. But, I also didn't resemble his physique in any way. So I just kept running :)

I got here:

And kept going!! I was between mile 2 and 3 when I saw the first 10k turn around guy. Again, I do not look like him and therefore did not let myself get beat up about it. He was tall, young and had 0% body fat.

I got to the 10k turn around and doused my head with cold water. Felt good! Didn't last long. Most of the run was in the sun with intermittent shade. Every once in a while the sun went behind a cloud but never for long. It was maybe 70 out but I felt like it was 100 at least. It looked pretty though.

The biggest excitement of the day happened at about 5.9 miles.

I should've taken another picture once I got up to it. That's a train. Stopped across the road. The road I was supposed to go run down to get to the finish line. Once I got there I realized that it was stopped at it's own flashing red light to allow another train (that I never did see) cross in front of it. There were about 10 of us eventually standing around waiting, wondering what to do. I'd been there about 7 minutes when several folks went around the front of the train (it was maybe .1 out of their way). Once they got in front of the train, another lady and I went under the train. I realize this was stupid. However, I knew it'd take me about 5 seconds. And I knew that train wasn't going anywhere cuz the arm thing was still down for him. Sure enough! For all I know that train is still there. This lady and I then ran all the way to the finish together! We agreed that if we'd been alone we never would've run that far without walking. So maybe there is something to be said for having a running partner!

The clock said 1:31 when we crossed. I was SURE it was much longer than that!! I had paused my watch at the train so technically my actual time was 1:23. A PR though nothing says that cuz of the stupid train incident. Oh well. I know!!

Here are the before and after pics.

Next on the bucket list is a half-marathon!! Aiming for the Big Bear Half in September. Big brother is race director, dad does communications. It'll be a family affair :)

FINALLY "In This Life" LIVE!!!

First , let me apologize to readers for not blogging more in the last month! I did in fact get home from CA and started back to school. Life has been busy!!

Collin Raye is my all time favorite artist ever. His song Somebody Else's Moon is what made me fall in love with country music. But somehow I've never seen him in concert! A couple years ago, he was going to be here in DFW somewhere but it just didn't work out for me to go.

August 2015, I saw that he'd be in Arlington on a Saturday night in May 2016. I immediately bought tickets!! I splurged a little (still only $30!) and got front row of the balcony - my favorite place to sit. I bought 2 tickets. Why not? It was months away and one never knows!! I figured I'd find someone to join!! I did :) In early Spring, I invited my good friend Sheila to join me. We were both SO incredibly excited!!

The Friday before comes around and I called the venue to ask about my "will call" tickets. THE SHOW WAS CANCELLED!! WHAT?!?! I cried. Seriously. It had been cancelled in November because the ticket selling company went out of business. I didn't get the email. I suspect it actually went to junk and I deleted it, but the effect was the same! To make a long story short, I bought tickets to the rescheduled event and the credit card company gave me back my money.

Well, the actual show was last night!! I was excited but hesitant because I had been disappointed once! But, Collin tweeted about it, I got an email about it from the venue, and I was pretty sure this was the real deal!! Not sure I truly believed it until I saw this:

I had never been here but Sheila had, as a kid, when it was a movie theater. She said it hadn't changed much! It was a GREAT venue for a concert. Totally felt intimate and like we were just having a private conversation and show with Collin!!

Not zoomed.

Zoomed. And this was really how close it seemed we were.
We could see their facial expressions and such!!

I knew he wouldn't play ALL my favorites. We didn't have all day, after all!! But this is the one of my top three that he did play. I captured most of it which blogger wouldn't let me upload. So here's a clip of the chorus. I videoed so I wouldn't sing and cry. I was still tearing up. I teared up on several. There's just something about hearing these ballads live!! 

After the show. 

I tweeted this when I got home. Collin liked it  :) 

Sheila and I had PeiWei before the show. Yummy!! What a fun, fantastic evening!! Collin TOTALLY lived up to my expectations, which were pretty high after waiting 24 years to see him live!!

YUMMY!!!!

In our seats!! (I still suck at selfies!)

TOTALLY would see Collin again over and over!! EXCELLENT performer, and of course, I love his music. And now I'm completely in love with Arlington Music Hall. Not a bad seat in the house! Next month is Shenandoah for $15 (cheap seats) and in November is Sawyer Brown for $20!!!

Trippin' West - In Pictures

On Wednesday, Slugger and I put most of what we own in the Snowball and headed West to our Mecca in the mountains for a summer of fun! Road trips are always fun, of course, with lots of interesting sights. This is what we saw/did!

Lots of sitting :)

Windmill blades on a train

headed into a storm - and it was a STORM

Heading out of the storm - blue sky never looked so good

rainbow in the rear view mirror

the pictures do not do justice to the beauty that was in the sky

boredom sets in

Slugs sitting vigil while Mama slept

he did eventually sleep too, but he sat like this,
awake, and alert, for a long time!

I don't remember... 

Such a good copilot!

We'd never seen this part of NM in the daylight. 

It was very exciting.

Cows at the truck stop!

Are we EVER gonna be there Mama?!

He needed fresh air?

Slugger couldn't get enough of the fresh mountain air!!

And now we're here!!