"now I can't get by without you and your big brown eyes..."

A.k.a. An ode to summer




I'm not usually a summer person. In college most of my friends felt the same way. It was too hot, too lonely-ish. Now for the first time in a long time, I'm having a hard time transitioning out of summer. I didn't spend my time in any fancy or exciting way. Quite the opposite. I just discovered the peacefulness of letting the days roll by. I tried some new things and attempted the art of spontaneity. (I don't usually do well without a clear cut plan of action).

We're a week into the school year and I'm missing summer freedom like crazy.
To appease my need to reminisce, here's a sampling of things I did this summer that I thought I would hate but ended up loving.

-Spending a week in a camper with my parents and freak-dog at Lake Texoma.
-Actually watching a tennis match and learning how the heck it is scored.
-Listening to mexican Banda y Corridas. Bring on Los Tigres Del Norte.
-Watching Big Brother. How embarrassing is that to admit.
-Laying on the couch, half-watching the olympics, half-watching a boy starch pants.
-Text messaging. It has changed my life. haha.
-Soccer. My prior knowledge about soccer ended with the kid movie "The Big Green". Which is great, ps. But I've watched about a thousand Olympic soccer games, and went to an FC Dallas game last night. Very cool.
-Waking up early to meet people for breakfast.
-Slam poetry/spoken word. This I really thought I would hate. And I actually only like one person - Joaquin Zihuatenejo. He's bilingual and talks a lot about being a teacher, and also about being Chicano. My favorite of his is "Speaking In Tongues", but I couldn't find it online. Here's another one of his, but beware, I'm pretty sure you won't like it.



Throw in lots of sporting events, lots of trips to teacher's stores, and a stressful start to the school year and that pretty much sums up my summer. Oh, and trying Menudo- which I was super bummed about cause I wanted to like it but it's disgusting.

I'll write more about school later. But for now, Summer...I miss you!!! Come back to me! :)

After 3 days of technology training....

I am looking good!!! Check me out! (and possibly have nightmares...)

"Blame it on gravity, yeah. Blame it on being a girl."

Well Well Well, it's been awhile. Here are some unimportant updates and ramblings just cause I'm in a blogging mood.

• These lyrics are from the new Old 97’s album. And this song, No Baby I, is greatness.

• The picture is of my puppy, Delia. She is a 1 ½ pound poodle and she’s a freaking handful. I named her after the Johnny Cash song, Delia’s Gone. Which is about a guy killing his wife – so I sing it to her when she makes me mad. ☺

• I am liking living on my own so far. I’ve been in “my” new place for a week and it’s been great. I’m afraid I will start being lonely though because I was hanging out with at friend all week. If you notice my hermit tendencies coming out, intervene please. ☺

• So “my” was in quotes because I am currently living in a friend’s place for the next 6 months-a year while his job has him in Kansas. It’s perfect because I have no rent, just pay utilities etc, and they moved their stuff out. And it’s in the country and the porch is rockin’

• In case you missed the memo, I survived my first year of teaching 4th grade pretty darn successfully. I was pumped about my TAKS scores and all, but I was more happy about one particular student. He was supposed to be the “worst” but it totally made my year.

• In one week’s time I got DVR and Dish, and unblocked text from my phone. Talk about a technological revolution.

• So now it’s summer, and I’m facebooking like I’m back in college with all this free time. Well, except I don’t have internet at the new place yet. All in good time.

"If I could find my way back home, where would I go?"

a.k.a. A Quarter Life Crisis.
Much more real than the drama John Mayer sings about.

Quick work update. My principal (who thinks I walk on water) is leaving to go to Northwest. I should try and follow him and get back to the metroplex, right? Well, there's this huge chunk of me that wants small town for another year. That chunk loves my 4th grade team and has made some great friends. That chunk of me signed my contract to work here again next year.

Eeeeek and yay. This was supposed to be temporary, but it looks like I'll be here another year. Not the socially acceptable thing to do, but I love the 5 minute commute and being close to my family.

I've also recently decided that I am looking for a place to rent on my own. I am scared to death of living alone. But that's the only way to do it here. (let me remind you, my work friends are married with children.) This caused me to want a dog to live with. Once the dog search began, I was hooked and now determined to get a dog - poodle or golden-doodle cause they don't shed. Now I have to move out to get a dog.

Rental search has landed a couple of prospects and my dad now thinks I should BUY a house. Yes, buy. What?!?!
This is like the real life version of "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie". When does it stop spiraling out of control.

The reason I'm posting is actually to share my freak-out moment of the day. My dad and I are looking at a house that has hand painted shutters with hearts. I told him I would repaint them cause it looks like a middle aged woman (my mom) lives there. My dad then tells me to think about how old I am and what my parents where doing then.

I am 23. When my mom was 24, they had 2 kids and bought a house two blocks away from the house I'm looking at. The country decor of sponge painted hearts began. My life is SO not that, but what if it was? Oh, Lord.

This realization, coupled with the thought that a dog I get could live until I'm THIRTY-FIVE, threw me into a panic attack.

When did the life I know enter a time-warp and why am I so old???

Walkin' in Memphis

Spring Break!!!

Lisa, Batey, and I are roadtripping through Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Read all about our exploits here:

http://texanstaketennessee.blogspot.com/

:)

a teacher's valentine

I am up to my elbows in Russell Stover heart shaped boxes of chocolates. I only like the coconut ones, so it's sort of unfortunate. Also, valentines seem to have gotten much more complicated over the years. The kids had hollographic cards and some that folded into field goal posts to play paper football. I was just thankful none of my kids bought the Bratz valentines -- I hate those with a passion.

My class is far from affluent, and we had no parent volunteers to plan the party. Knowing this, I just told the kids to bring whatever they could. We had about 14 kinds of cupcakes, brownies, chex-mix, and Spanish rice. Seriously, Spanish rice. It was rocking.

While the other classes' snobby moms passed out barfy-cute gift bags and decorated cakes, we had Spanish rice and watched Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown. It suited me perfectly.
The snobby moms might think we're lame, but I know we're the coolest!

"All I wanna be is the minute that you hold me in"

First field trip today -- A musical about the Alamo at Casa Mañana.

It really was very good. It was amazing to look down the aisle and see them staring so intently...entertained and learning. I smiled everytime they jumped at the "gunshots." I wish I could hold their attention like that everyday. And I might have fallen in love with the William Barrett Travis character.

We drove past TCU, which thrilled them to no end. "Did you ever cross the street with those people?" "Are they your friends?" I pointed out a house I used to live in. We ate lunch in the fellowship hall of my college church. It brought back names and faces I haven't thought of or seen in a while, and some that I think about everyday.

Odd as it sounds, I love teaching in Decatur. I really do. The 5 minute drive rocks my world. It feels natural. I have some really good friends.
But is it fulfilling me? Who knows. Am I making a difference? Some days. Is it weird that the people that get me the most are two ladies with husbands and families? Probably. Will I do it next year? The eternal question.

Will the social life happiness meet up with the job happiness eventually?? Gosh, I need it to.

Instead of finding answers, I will probably just watch this youtube video again and wish I had this much time on my hands.

Good Times, Hard Livin'

This will be lame-town boring to you, but this is all you're getting for now.

Last week for my birthday I went to see Eleven Hundred Springs. After hanging out with Matt and "Bubba," my friend Jake asked me how many times I had seen them. I blindly guessed 20.

This prompted me to count, and so far I can only think of 19.

Here's where you come in (Lisa, I need you to pay special attention here!!) If you have gone with me to a show and it's not on this list, let me know. I added descriptions to aid your memory. This is technical research, okay.

Sorted by venue, of course.

1. Texana - the initial meeting!

2. Dan's Silverleaf Lounge

3. Love and War Plano - when we bought Bandwagon and met Chi-Chi

4. Love and War Plano 2- we sat with my friends that knew the waiter/ Matt's Birthday

5. Love and War Plano 3- we straightened my hair / aka the time with "Wade"

6. Love and War Plano 4- Labor Day 2007

7. Love and War Grapevine - we actually went to eat dinner

8. Love and War Grapevine - standing with weird guys in the back / that old lady flashed Matt

9. Gypsy Tea Room

10. Billy Bob's - "Geoff Jensen Rules" autograph

11. Shooter's - the tshirt guy looked like a brother

12. Shooter's 2 - the bar fight knocked over our table

13. Shooter's 3 - Grandma and Pa... and "Wade"

14. Shooter's 4 - Me and Jen / Bubba sat at our table

15. Shooter's 5 - Lisa's brother's birthday / I danced a with his old-man friend

16. The Reunion - Technically just the trio, but Bubba bought us lemonade and funnel cakes

17. Mayfest 2007

18. 8.0 - Summer 2007

19. 8.0 - Birthday 2008

Also, don't rub in any times you've seen them without me. I'll just get sad.

Also, admire this picture. Wise County Reunion 2005. I haven't been back since. :)