Summer 2024

 Well, summer break is over. I went back to work on Friday. Yes, that's weird, but also kinda nice to get a weekend after just one day of getting up early, etc. 

Summer 2024 was a mix of doing, and doing nothing. I began, of course, with my Epic Road Trip. It was amazing, but also exhausting. I'm glad that I didn't really have any other big plans. The rest of the summer included the following:

Enjoyed 4th of July with my favorite family in Temecula. 

Got my first colonoscopy (all is well!).

Organized the shed - this was the big to-do list item. Pics below.

Cleaned up the new property - SO MUCH glass and trash. 

Watched a lot of TV - CSINY, old game shows, etc.

The Astros went from 10 games back to first place. And are still holding on by the hair on Altuve's chin. 

Helped Dad clean and organize his house to make life easier for him, hopefully. 

Walked and walked with Slugger. Attempted to cuddle but it was limited due to the heat. 

Overall, it was a good 6 weeks. Never long enough!

recovery

I've been home for over 3 weeks now. I think I might be recovered! I spent a week doing absolutely nothing basically. That was nice. Slugger and I didn't leave each other's sides :) Since then I have slowly tried to do some of the things on my summer to-do list. One of the issues is that most of them are outdoors and it's been way too hot to be outside! But this week I have finally been able to work in the shed and it's almost organized! That will get another post another day, when it's done. 

Slugger and I have walked a lot. Most days twice to get in enough steps but also not die of heat exhaustion. We've helped Dad clean up his house. We've cleaned up our own house, including breaking and then fixing, the bed in the process of deep cleaning the bedroom. I had a colonoscopy. A friend came over for lunch. So it's been a good summer, just quiet and relaxing and HOT. 

One. More. Week.

What. A. Week!

 The highs and lows of the last week are kinda extreme. Well, the lows aren't really lows, just aggravations. 

The washer that came with the house was dying - didn't want to do the final rinse unless I tried really hard (like ran the final spin over and over and took out half the stuff, etc). So, last Saturday, Dad and I finally got the gumption to get my old washer from his garage into my house. We did it! We were so proud of ourselves!! And the newly placed washer was worse than the original! Not only didn't it do the final spin right but it didn't drain at all. It drained the soapy part but not the final rinse. There was a drum full of water (and clothes). I almost cried. But of course, I really wanted a new set anyway, so one was ordered before we even got around to eating the dinner I made (which I didn't like but Dad said was good). 

The week was busy. Sunday I went for a run and my knee was giving me issues so I made a chiropractor appointment for Monday afternoon. I get there, and of course he's WAY behind, so I said never mind and left. 

Tuesday I had an appointment with the local tire guys to see what they could do with my slow leak. They said it was unrepairable and I needed 4 new tires. WHAT?!?! But he could replace them for $1000. Uh, no thanks. I am pretty darn sure that I don't need all new tires. Maybe 1, so really 2. Talked to the auto teacher at school and when they have time they're gonna take a look for me. And I got a name of a tire place in Apple Valley from a neighbor, just in case. But really?! Ugh.

I don't remember Wednesday. Oh, ha. Dad came over and helped me get both washers into my truck, individually, and I took them, one at a time, to the dump. Dad's such a good man! I didn't even feed him.

Thursday was Slugger's monthly shot, but also his annual visit with Dr. D. This was actually a high point. He raved about how well Slugger did inside. Oh, they had construction issues so it's like during covid where I sit in my car and they take Slugs. Doc then calls with his report. Anyway, Slugger was awesome, looks good, none of his lumps and warts are worrisome. He didn't even hear the heart murmur which means it didn't get worse, though it is still there so we keep an eye on it every year. They did some bloodwork and we left to get dinner. Dad came over and I didn't make him do any manual labor :) 

Oh, the BEST news of the week/month/year was earlier on Thursday (started happening Wednesday?) - I think I've made my last student loan payment EVER! They processed the Azle form and my new payment count eligible for forgiveness is 134. Only need 120!!! So THEY put it in forbearance while all the paperwork is getting processed and such. I won't cry until I see $0 balance but I'm SO CLOSE!!!

Friday dawns... I was still living the student loan high, and happily expecting the delivery of the new washer/dryer. Well, I was at work, Dad was at my house. The installer dude BROKE a pipe! Like the pipe in the wall that goes to the water!! I hurriedly called a plumber who finally came this morning. So I spent about 24 hours with  no water in the house. Luckily I am prepared for this since when the power goes out, I have no water. Slugger and I survived. The guys fixed the pipe (and turned back on the water heater that had gone out cuz of the ferocious wind overnight while there was no water). And I will figure out how to get Home Depot to pay for it. And will never use them again. 

Oh and my amazing awesome Dad was here before 10am and stayed long enough for me to get home and walk the dog. THEN he went into town to get dinner and brought it back!!! 

Because all that wasn't enough, this morning I burned my bagel, then cut my thumb pretty good on the second one. The wind has caused power to flicker several times. BUT so far, no snow and barely any rain. Mostly blue skies all day actually. And amazingly ferocious wind. They say we could still see snow. It's 325pm and it's blue sky over us (not so much at the west end).

Anyway, I need a nap. And an influx of money to refill my savings. BUT THANK GOD I HAVE SAVINGS!!! I can't imagine how stressful this week would've been if I didn't. 

Planning Days

To me, winter is about planning Summer Break (and more). Whether that's a trip or house projects, it always gets me through the doldrums of snow and being stuck inside and such.

This weekend I started (continued?) planning one of each :) 

Yesterday Slugger and I escaped off the mountain and stopped at Lowes for paint color cards. Someone mentioned that a nice grey might be pretty on the cabinets now that the countertops are their gorgeous "slate". So I got about 50 different shades of grey (hehe) cards. I narrowed it down to about a dozen and they are now hanging on the doors so I can see them in different lights, etc. I kinda want a darker grey because it seems like lighter might just seem like dirty white. The plan is to get a couple actual samples and during spring break (if I wait that long!) actually paint a couple doors. OR something like that. 

These are the ones that went the best with the slate countertops. 
Leaning toward the two overlapped on the left that are basically the same color. 

Then the rest of the weekend was dedicated to planning the BIG ROAD TRIP!! I've been dreaming of this trip for years and it has expanded to include some baseball. The baseball portion is BOOKED!! Well not the games. I'll probably not buy tickets until I get there. That's how I used to always do it. We'll see. I have 5 months to decide!! 

So, Tigers, then probably train to Chicago, Cubs, Brewers, and Twins! THEN I head to North Dakota to start the adventure part of the trip!! EEEEEEE!!!! I am SOOO Super excited!!!! I know I'm not going to want to hurry through ND and SD. But I will also be missing my puppy excruciating amounts. But I may never go back so I gotta see the stuff :) 

Still hope to get the stupid wall done this summer too. We'll see!!

Winter Break Week #3

 Everything is off my list except "clean good". Well, know what? That "good" part is relative. I DID clean. Sort of. 

I finished the baby blanket and it's ready to be packed for next weekend. I also finished putting together my thank you gift montage for my Secret Santa. Hope she loves it all!

On Thursday, Slugger got into a row with a couple loose dogs. He's got some scrapes but he's okay. 

I FINALLY finished the kitchen counter project!! Now, technically, I haven't ruled out eventually putting a little white between each of the back splash tiles but I like it the way it is, I think. And the kitchen is clean and put back together!!! YAY!!!! So, see, I cleaned.

The BIG thing of the week that wasn't on the list cuz I didn't know it was a thing, is that it seems I've unclogged the drains. Last weekend when I did laundry, I think, it backed up into the bathroom sink. Or at some point. Anyway, I put baking soda and vinegar down all the drains except in the guest bathroom (cuz I didn't think about it until like an hour ago). Washing machine did weird things, but I think it was unrelated. No gurgling! No gurgling when I take a shower! AND I'm currently running the dishwasher and NO gurgling!! So maybe there'd been a clog as long as I've lived here?! I'm thinking it might be a good idea to run the mixture down the drains every month or two. Or every break :) Anyway, I think I have success. 

It snowed on Wednesday. Little over an inch. It's been cold though so it's lingering in places. I got in my NYD run but not a run on Wednesday. I burned some calories in the exercise room instead. Then today I headed up 2N02. It was sketchy in places but nothing impassable, on foot. There were vehicles but I would NOT have done that!! And it was beautiful :)

1/1/24 run

Snow!

Saturday run up 2N02

That's about it. Now a whole lot of puppy snuggles until the alarm goes off really really early on Monday morning!

Stupid Cyclist on PCT

Tried to ruin my run. But I think it might've actually spurred me on a little. Gave me some adrenaline. He didn't do anything to me, just laughed when I told him he wasn't allowed to be there. In my teacheriest voice, I repeated myself. :)  They have the WHOLE rest of the mountain!! Makes me so mad. Oh well. Still had a fabulous, pain free run!!

PLUS I've had a bunch of energy all day and have done a whole bunch of chores. Well, several anyway. I still have quite a list. Not necessarily all to be done this weekend. I kinda keep thinking I'm already on break. Oops. 4. more. days. (with kids)

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.

The Final Move

I do not recommend making a move last 2 months!! Of course, it wasn't quite my intention but I still don't recommend it, even if it'd gone according to my plan. 

My plan was to have a place by mid-July, take my time getting unpacked, and be settled by the time school started (really before AC100). GODS plan was different! But it's okay, His was WAY better!! 

I started looking at houses before I even left Texas to kinda get an idea of what I would find. Normal houses! Surrounded by dirt. I did move to the desert after all. I kept telling myself I had to embrace the dirt :) 

My first trip to Hesperia, I drove past A LOT of houses for rent. Only a couple seemed okay for me and Slugger. I was mainly looking at the surrounding area for the purposes of our daily walks and my running. I promptly put in requests to see a couple houses. Okay, in hindsight (I'm totally writing this weeks later), there might have been 2 trips before I contacted anyone? Anyway, I heard NOTHING! 

I kept looking. I finally decided to look at a house that I didn't think was right, but you never know and it'd at least feel like I was DOING something!! I was VERY frustrated!! On the afternoon of the showing, I also asked the realty person to show me a second one that had been posted the day before - she agreed. I liked the second one a lot. It was way bigger than I needed but the price and location were okay. I put in an application.

I was denied! Why? Well, because I was unemployed!! They couldn't (wouldn't!) verify my employment until I'd actually STARTED!! They didn't care that I'd signed a binding contract!! I got over it BUT they managed about 80% of houses for rent in the area!!! 

Finally, another decent house in a decent location came up. I called the rental folks and started out by telling them my financial situation. Their response? No problem! YAY!! Dad and I got in the car and went to see the outside. It is at the end of a culdesac in a little housing development north of school about 5 miles. It was pretty quiet that evening. We even talked to a neighbor who said it was a great place to live. I went home and applied. 

Unfortunately, the house was occupied! There were no pictures of the inside. The person was moving out at the very end of the month which gave me a little tiny window to move in before school started. In fact, it was supposed to happen the weekend before school started. I begged and prodded and luckily, the former tenant left the house in great shape. 

Let me step away from the story for a moment. This whole process was SOOO frustrating for me. I was grumpy and worried and tired and doubted my decision to make this big move. Dad was awesome and put up with me! I prayed and prayed. I KNEW that God wanted me in the high desert. I had started looking at less desirable locations. I contemplated staying in Big Bear and commuting. So, I 100% completely trusted God that THIS house was the right house because it was the ONLY house. I basically agreed to move in, etc without ever seeing the INSIDE of the house! By the time I saw it, there was no turning back. I told God that I'd take anything and just deal with it. I was SOOOO excited that the house was AWESOME!! GOD IS AMAZING!!!! Ya just gotta have FAITH :) 

To make a long moving day story short, the Giant Monkey Mover moved me in, my freezer was delivered and the cable guy came, all at the same time, and I was a Hesperia resident! I'd left Slugger in Big Bear for the day. He had NO idea what was happening!! I went home to him that afternoon not having unpacked a single box!

The next day, we headed from BB to Sunland for the AC100 weekend (see post from 8/6). Slugger stayed there with Dad and all for the week. I returned to the house and settled in as much as I could while also spending time settling my classroom and starting work (Wednesday the 9th). Friday afternoon I raced to Sunland to get my puppy!! We spent the weekend exploring the house and yard and neighborhood. Dad and Tuck came down on Sunday and spent a few days here to help Slugger get used to the house without me in it since I had to go back to work. Thank goodness!! He was a huge help while he was here! We're now settled, but still unpacking if that makes any sense. Slugger seems to understand that this is home now. He even buried a bone in the backyard today (read his bday post).

Here are pics of it empty. It's a MESS at the moment. I'll do an unpacked post someday (Christmas?!).

front door (yes, grass, but this is basically all of it, so not much!)

inside front door looking to living room

living/dining space

dining room and kitchen - on far right see sliding door that is Slugger's entrance/exit

kitchen

LOVE the back patio

kitchen from other side - NOT enough cabinets! the window above the sink promptly had plants in it :)

master BR!

master BR with slider to backyard - haven't told Slugs it opens

master bath (behind me is the bedroom - door only on toilet/shower room)

right side of patio from door

so excited for the firepit!!

that sliding door is to the master bedroom

Thoughts on 5/7/14

I have lots of things running through my head today so I thought I'd share a few :) They run quite a gamut of subject matters!

1. I am almost of the impression that we DO need standardized state tests... I know, I'm nuts, but hear me out! I don't know that there is a better way to ensure that every teacher teaches what they're supposed to teach! I am currently teaching two subjects - one tested, one not (for the first time this year). In the tested subject we are very careful to make sure we know what could be on the test and make sure they know these things while also always keeping in mind what they'll need to know for future math classes. In my non-test subject, some teachers have decided to just skip an entire unit because they feel it's not important for other math classes, and they'd rather review for students to be prepared for day one next year. The problem is that if they haven't retained it through this year, they won't retain it over the summer!!! Or so few of them will, it will still have to be reviewed in week one next year. SO... point is: these teachers are not being held at all accountable to what they are supposed to be teaching according to state standards. And students are missing out. And for some reason it's really eating at me.

2. It's Teacher Appreciation Week. I got a BOGO burrito from Chipotle last night. Fruit and cupcakes from the principal today. Lunch from PTO tomorrow. Chipotle wins. They so don't have to do something that awesome! All in all, I say: Yay. I feel appreciated. (where's that sarcasm font when you need it?!)

3. I've been conducting monthly sessions for other teachers on ways to use the iPad in the classroom. In return, our principal has offered to buy us (there are 4 teachers who lead these) something techy for our classrooms... like $500 worth!! I can't decide!! What I really want may not happen but actually might cost him nothing but a cable!! I'm trying to come up with something I thought I'd never be able to have so didn't even dream of it...

4. I'm so done with Charter! Charges I wasn't expecting; headache getting cables installed; cables still not buried in my yard (and my neighbor's!!)... I'm using the internet right now though so I guess once it's all done, life will be good!!

5. I give Slugger a tick repellent once a month. It also supposedly repels mosquitos and other bugs. I found 1 tick two weeks ago and THREE this morning!! I think it's a bad tick season so perhaps the drugs just aren't strong enough and I am lucky there aren't more. I hope. I can't decide if I should call the vet or not. To ask about the meds - he's fine and dandy. Staring at me begging for my dinner as I type!

6. I can't think of anything else so now I'm just rambling :) I'm sure there's more!! OH! So I bought patio furniture last month with my mortgage payment that I didn't have to make. I know it wasn't very financially responsible but now I can stop dreaming of and shopping for patio furniture! Anyway, the chairs were together when I bought it so they went right outside. I admit it then took me a few weeks to get around to putting together the sofa. I'll blame the weather. And prom. Actually I think it was the day after prom I finally did it. BUT I was missing screws!!! I got it all together and to the part of securing the part you sit on, and I was SIX screws short!! There was an e-mail address though so I e-mailed. A week later I finally got a reply with lots of oriental looking translation markings that said they would send me more. I was thinking it'd take weeks coming from Asia! Nope, they came today from CA :) So my first thought was yay I can finish tomorrow (I took the day off - see #5 about Charter cables still needing to be buried). It's supposed to rain all day!!!

7. Speaking of it raining tomorrow, Slugs and I are hiking anyway!! As long as it's not a storm watch or something. The NWS prediction says it'll be afternoon before it's an actual storm here :)

8. This is now so long no one will ever read it!!

The Bedroom Redo

I have been wanting to refresh my master bathroom for some time. I had decided purple. Somewhere in all that, I also read this Epbot blog post from my favorite blogger. Which then led me to ponder the refreshing of my bedroom too!! It had been burgundy with black and white. My bedroom has always been black and white and something. I couldn't figure out how to actually accent with burgundy though, if I wanted to paint the walls. So I decided to switch up the burgundy to turquoise. I also really wanted to make the cool mirror bursts from the Epbot blog. Jen is always posting crafty things and I was so excited to finally be able to do one!!

In all I spent about $200 I think. I have a LOT of material left over. The material (curtains) is really all sheets. Got those on clearance at Target. Pretty sure the paint is the thing only I bought for full price. My mother taught me shopping well!

I had a GREAT time picking out all the new turquoise things and adding some new aspects. The picture wall was a product that just came to me one day and took several days to perfect. I might still play around with the order. The pictures are all family members. So glad to finally have a picture of my dad's mom on display. I am so glad to finally have a bedroom that is decorated and not just "there"!

Below are the after pics :) The only thing I still want to do is fix the crooked George (cat) picture and add a turquoise pillow to the bedding. Haven't felt that creative juice yet though. I have the material… OH, I also want a new ceiling fan and those awesome ceiling tiles I learned about from Jen at Epbot. Someday.

Cleaner than a...

I can't think of what is super clean. I'm too tired to think!

It's summer, and technically I have nothing to do, so I'm cleaning. Trying to make up for my lack of cleaning during the school year. Deep, deep cleaning. Cleaning out, under, behind. Hopefully, starting clean will make it easier to keep clean. We'll see!!

The clean rooms (2 so far) are SO nice!! It makes me want to just plow through and clean the rest. But I'm exhausted. It's great exercise. I guess. I sweat and my body hurts, so I must be exercising, right?!

I'm doing one room at a time in an attempt to not tire myself and cut corners. And it's working. I'm exhausted when I'm done with a room. But the cleanness spurs me into the next room on the next scheduled cleaning day.

I can't wait to be done!!!

Nothingness

I keep thinking I should be doing something today. I do have things left on my summer to-do list. But then, I keep thinking that I only have a few days left of doing nothing, so I should enjoy them. Of course, once school starts, my to-do list gets forgotten, so I should get things checked off.

Argh! This dilemma exhausts me. I think I'll take a nap :)

Like a Good Neighbor...

My neighbors are really quite wonderful. Here's why today...

I pull in my driveway and open my garage door like always. I get out, get the mail, bring in the trashcans, say hello to the neighbors next door who are sitting outside. I go in the garage and push the garage door button. Nothing happens! The overhead light is on, so the power is on. I go into the car and push the remote button which I had JUST used to open the door. Nothing. So, I walk over to the neighbors and say, "what would make my garage door opener stop when I JUST used it?" The very nice man walks over with me. We do this and that and he looks at it and I swear he grunted, but I think it was really more of a "huh" like it made no sense to him either. So we try some more things and get it to run when it's not latched. Okaaaayyyy... so we relatch it, while it's down, and sure enough it goes up. but then it won't go down! finally i take the car out and he gets on the step ladder and asks for a screw driver. one little screw had come a little loose (seriously, i think he made one full rotation screwing it back in, if that) and it wouldn't hit the latchy thingy so that it'd go back down when the button was pushed. we laughed about it, I thanked him profusely, offered him the old mower for parts (he told me a handyman will give me $5-10 probably), he left and i drove back in and shut the door.

but really, do i need a "sanity day" or what? good thing i already have one planned for tomorrow :)

Spring Break 2011

Well, technically Spring Break is over. All we have left is a regular old weekend. I think I've done quite well in enjoying this Break. I cleaned. I hiked. I sat around and did nothing. I hung out with George. I saw some friends. I ran errands.

The week could never be long enough, but I guess it's time to go back to the real world, before I get used to sleeping in, staying up late, and eating anytime I want.

10 weeks until summer!!!

lawn attitudes

okay, so if you know me at all, i consider mowing the lawn a chore. i always wanted a house cuz i thought it would be so great to plant flowers and maintain a yard. soon after buying my home, i realized that this was a fantasy.

however... 2 years and many battles with the lawn later, i have almost learned to love it. okay, enjoy it. no, tolerate. but i am beginning to see the time coming when i will like it!

AND when i'll plant flowers and remember to water them :) see, that's the key - the UPKEEP!! i'm going to start with George's own personal lawn - the patches right outside the back door. first step is weeds be gone!!

someday, it will be beautiful and i'll grow all my own produce :) that's the goal. small steps are good!

Earth Day 2010

In honor of Earth Day, I bought a tree. The goal is to plant it and keep it alive so that I am helping the environment. Just in case though, I bought it through arborday.org because they plant a tree in Flathead National Forest for every tree purchased today. This way there will be at least one new living tree for a long time to come! Hopefully two :)

Maybe this tree, and my new foodstyle, will finally get me to become the gardener that I want to be!!

(in an aside, i think it's odd that i purchased a tree over the internet and it's being shipped to me...)