el paso-bringing back memories of rigor, and finally being official!

i really shouldn't wait this long, because i lose some of the details in the mix...so, since austin. well..we had el paso, and that was quite a trip. the last time i was in el paso, we were just passing through around 18 years ago (or more?) on our way to juarez for a mission trip with my k-life group...and that was where jeff yelled, "it's rigor! my pet dog!" i looked out the window and saw a dead dog with all four in the air, going through rigor-mortis, and i chuckled...i don't know that any of the high school students got it. so now whenever i hear the word rigor in the education realm, i think of jeff's 'pet dog' on the side of the road and giggle. i'm such a child.

sorry we didn't get to see angelica or claudia; and i even forgot to tell crystal i was going to be in town!

 so yes, we arrived in el paso, and we decided to grab lunch at an authentic syrian restaurant. when we walked in, the ladies who owned the place were sitting around having a gossip-session, watching the news, a couple days after the election. that was special! we sat ourselves, and the lady told us that the boy would be right out. well, the boy arrived and took our order. when he came out with the plate of hummus, etc, he failed to bring extra plates until we were almost done. then when he brought the food out, i didn't receive what i had actually ordered. i ordered a gyro, i got chicken. hmm. oh well, i ate it anyway- and as for the refills-i think they were refilled about 3/4 full. when jane asked for napkins, he brought 1. a single napkin...i guess we were supposed to cut it in half? not sure. but it was obvious he had difficulty with his vision (i don't know how that impacts one to bring a single napkin)...and then we saw the owner bring out a burrito for herself and her friends...i guess you can do what you want when you own the place!

we had to run to make a couple purchases at that point, as it was going to get down into the 50's. jane got a sweatshirt and some warm socks. i purchased some warm socks, as well, because they were pretty nifty. unfortunately i left said socks in jane's car, and we were at different hotels. oops. and when i got up in the morning, it was like 30` out! impossible, i tell ya! we did starbucks for breakfast, and made for the regional center. the contact, claudia, was a doll! we had a great session, and the participants were lovely. they left with a lot of information, and were wanting to stay for the 2nd session, but alas, they could not, so hopefully they will be able to join us in january! jane and i have a pretty good chemistry together and i think the participants appreciate the humor.

because what say's 'let's eat!' more than a fountain with water dribbling from the mouth, and a vividly colored aztec warrior maybe getting ready to paddle his conquest?

i chose to take off that evening, so that i could get home-but since the flight didn't leave until like 7-so we were able to do an early dinner before heading to the airport-the restaurant was lovely, and our waiter spoke to us in spanish, so that's always fun, especially since it was a mexican restaurant. pretty sure there was another issue of napkin trouble...i don't know what it was about el paso...anyhoo, my flight was delayed, so i didn't get home until nearly midnight.

the weekend flew by, and monday we had a training in the fort worth area, so i was up early and when i arrived, deAn was already there! she's great! she has a servant heart and a willingness and desire to be helpful-a true leader! so we met with the contact to start getting the room set up; computer, lighting, sound, etc. this was going to be a full crowd. so we started getting hand-outs handed out, and deAn actually took off to purchase more earbuds, as there weren't enough for everyone (again, full-house). jane did most of the morning and afternoon sessions, as deAn hadn't really had much of a chance to observe her and the way she does stations, so it was another good day, and i was able to be home for dinner-local is nice.

tuesday i finally had my quick interview for my global entry pass-tsa precheck. yes!!! and...i only had one flight left this side of the new year to use it...on thursday to amarillo. the drive there took longer than the interview itself. when i arrived, i had to use the restroom, so i walked in, and there was a man standing at the sink washing his hands. i looked at him, he said, "i think you're in the wrong one." went back, looked at the sign on the door-not transgender, not men's, it was the female restroom..looked at him again on his way out, maybe he wasn't a he...oh no, he was a he, and he looked at the signage on the way out and i heard him say, "oops! sorry!" hmm...chuckle.

breathe a little easier-not as worried about walking super fast toward security in order to beat the security line crowd

in the interview itself. the guys started asking me all about illinois, because i was born there...i really don't remember much, except for my babysitter, her family, some of the church families, going to the arch....yep, that's about it. i was happy to answer any questions i could, because i was now official! i'm a traveler.

coming soon-amarillo and thanksgiving-

have a great week! julie