finally january comes to an end, and we can get on with it!

i got the text early tuesday morning, and joined julie to go get our breakfast at starbucks. she needed the extra hands, as sabrina was somewhat incapacitated-so we were looking for some medicine, as well. we got everything we needed, and again saw sketchy activity in the back parking lot near starbucks-pretty sure ju was looking in the rear-view mirror, thoroughly expecting to be followed by a drug dealer in a pick-up truck. no need to worry, we were not gunned down, nor were we followed by any suspicious characters!

we set right to work when we got back to the convention hall, as we were down one. ju took sabrina the meds, and we prayed for a quick come-back! everything got started on time, and without a hitch. sabrina and julie started with the problem-solving process, and set me up to do a quick review of goal setting (settin' a sister up for success)-it went well; although with this big a crowd, the pauses were longer so that folk could get the assistance they required. thanks girls, i really do appreciate the way you set me up for positive successes! you are making me better-

of course, the girls deferred a few questions to lori through the course of the two days, as there were some particular questions best answered by the boss. day two had a smooth flow, as we tweaked it, according to the feedback.

creative cropping- ju said no as i was taking the pic, so i am honoring that request...

we're all just jokers here! (cris, good job setting up the card-collaboration! sabrina had mentioned it, so it was good to see it applied!) 

 lori and i left early, as we both had to get back to dallas (i was to be in waco the next evening). so we got a taxi to the airport, and i don't know if it struck lori as funny or not, but the taxi driver was a hispanic lady in rhinestone blue jeans and an off-the-shoulder shirt...i thought to myself:

 1. she was the wife of the actual taxi driver who was busy in the bathroom and yelled, "hon, can you take the taxi and deliver a couple o' ladies to the airport?" (don't think she lifted a finger to help with the luggage) and the other thought:

2. she reminded me of marissa tomei in my cousin vinny...no matter, we arrived regardless.

we arrived at the airport with plenty of time to spare, so we stopped at the restaurant while waiting. i always enjoy free time to sit and chat, and lori always provides great conversation! at one point the conversation went something like this:
lori: if you could live anywhere, where would you live?
me: well...i'd actually considered moving to florida not too long ago (even last year, before this opportunity with Istation came along). 
lori: oh, really?! (pause, think) perhaps that's something the company might be willing to offer a moving stipend for, as florida is a strategic location to have a trainer on the ground there...if you're still interested, i could have that discussion with the 'powers that be.'
me: interesting...well, yes, check into it and let me know!

FF>> (a week or two) an email arrives to the entire training team. of course i respond, but at this point i still had to talk to some people (to convince myself perhaps), and it took a minute to schedule a conversation with our 401k guy.

 anyhoo, this past monday, i knew it was time to either jump in, or not. so i emailed to let lori know that i was in. and about 30 minutes after that, the 401k guy called to set up a time to talk. funny how things work out. and then we set up a time to talk about the logistics of moving. once that was done, everything now will be going at hyper-speed.

i've begun to do some preliminary packing, and planning. hoping that by the end of the month i will have found a place to live in bradenton...and will be moved there by the end of july. i've been dreaming of this since this trip! (more here and here) ...yes. this is where my heart is, and i am ready for the next chapter!

change is the process by which the future invades our lives. -alvin toffler

so there you have it!

all that said, i've kinda' pulled you up to date, but there are still some fun feb/march stories to tell, so those will be on the way!

julie

teachers and interventionists and mtss coaches, oh my!

hmm. well, let's see. monday.

monday i drove to austin for two days of training with julie k and sabrina. the drive wasn't too long, and surprisingly not too boring. upon arrival, i made sure to check on rooms and get checked in. my room wasn't quite ready, so i just waited out front, because i knew that one of them was bound to show up shortly. and sure enough it wasn't too long before julie pulled up, so we went on a quick snack run, trying to beat sabrina back to the hotel. nice try, sabrina got there a few minutes prior to our return-and at that point, my room was still not quite ready, so we went up to their room and stored our belongings before trying to find someplace for an early dinner.

well. i wish i would've gotten some pics while we were there, because the joint was really neat- threadgills- good thing i didn't get a picture of our server, though, because i have nothing positive to really say about him. #worstserviceever yep, took a minute to be seated, and then it took about 7-10 minutes for him to come to our table- zero acknowledgement. how did it go down? once he brought the food back, he didn't check back to see how it was...came over once, and i asked for another diet coke-which he brought, but didn't bother the check to see if refills were needed for water, and they were...then he proceeded to get 2 other tables- single-tops, and went back to chat it up, and took water refills, and didn't even bother to come over...then when he did stop at the table, it was to take julie k's plate without even asking if she was finished, and she just kinda' had that bewildered look...he eventually returned with the bill and didn't ask how things were, or if we needed anything else...it was rocky...sabrina and julie were about two tenths of a millisecond from asking to speak to the manager. but instead sabrina left a very matter-of-fact note. it doesn't help that we've all been in the business of serving customers, restaurant service isn't an unknown.

upon returning to the hotel, i was able to get all checked in, and get keys to my room. good times. before we had even left the hotel, sabrina pulled out some lovely gifts-a pink fan from the football game she'd gone to-very thoughtful (from the corner of my eye when she first whipped them out, i thought it was a bicycle cover-must've been the angle...and i wondered how she knew i had a bike). anyhoo...there was a little jaba for the java, a fragile carribean bottle with a parrot (did i mention we'd seen parrots in miami? and that i actually had parrots in HONDURAS?) and a special book just for me to read up on one of our candidates...i don't know that i will be reading it any time soon (so much to do...but the fact that it was signed, now that in and of itself was the bees knees)... yep. and then there was the straw kit for ju2. amazing. #perfectgift 

laughter ensued...ask her what i gave her that she holds near and dear...

it was like an erector set!

'atta girl! 

 so i put my stuff in my room (conveniently next door), and changed into something comfortable and went down to get some ice, as the la croix sparkling water was room temp-warm sparkling water is enough to make anyone spew. and at the ice machine room, julie stepped on wet carpet...hopefully it was just the ice machine malfunctioning, and not someone having an emergency need to eliminate bodily fluids before reaching their room, because that would be irredeemable (who would do something like that anyway? so college), not to mention, a good way to spread ringworm or some type of foot fungus. anyhoo. finally with the weather cooling off, once again it was a pleasant evening on the balcony. anything outdoors is better than being stuck in the room. *please note, we'd checked out the pool, and there was no hot tub, so balcony, it was. 

that evening, as well, julie was recounting what had happened at the gas station earlier. she'd told me she was stopping to get gas, and that's when it happened. it was halloween, and there was a guy dressed as a clown, with a bat at the gas station, trying to be intimidating, and running his bat up and down anything that would make racket...talk about idiot. i wouldn't even take into account that it was halloween, and there might've been a 911 call for his wounds had it been me...(fight or flight, i'm a fight-reflexes...) anyhoo...did you know that once you post something out there on social media, you're either laughing or cringing the next minute...true story. that first night,  i faded fast, but the part of me that doesn't want  to miss a thing came back with a second wind, so when the time came, sleep was a welcome friend!
                                                       
the following morning, we had stopped at the restaurant for a minute, and there were policemen everywhere! convention-wish we were staying at the hotel all morning, i might be able to stop worrying about that e-harmony account! (more about that later)...there were some nice looking men there, and we were looking for rings. once breakfast was over, we headed to the front to wait for lori, one of our colleagues who had gotten in a bit later the night before. when she arrived, we headed to starbucks to get the necessities, and then made off for our site. at the building we were on the third floor to one end of the bldg, and the restrooms were on the bottom floor on the opposite end...for real. one bathroom. brilliant. good thing sabrina and i took advantage of the starbucks bathroom! (if you know what i mean...take advantage is accurate).

looks like our own little coffee bar!

i believe it was our first group that was actually the best group! they were on point! this training was the mtss/rti/goal setting/problem solving... now. i have watched the video multiple times (and plan to watch it one more time this week)...and i've seen sabrina and julie do parts of it independently, so it was great to see them do this one together, no hitches, all three hours dedicated to the processes. i LOVE the research they have found to support their work, and then the usage of the reports to really set measurable goals that are realistic and will impact student growth. it's not subjective, which is what we run into a lot in education. we do a baseline, and then say, okay, what now? what's the goal? and it's like closing your eyes and throwing a dart at a target...this on the other hand, is SO simple, it makes sense, and leaves no room for confusion. i kid you not, the lights went on, like "AHA!" moments. there were silent air high fives and i sensed that this was something that these coaches would be taking back to their campuses immediately to turn around! i mean, if i were still a coach at my campus, i certainly would! i haven't seen it quite like this before, and it really does make perfect sense.

after the first session, we did central market for lunch, because it seemed the best of all worlds-sushi, salads, meats, soups...gluten-free, vegan cupcakes...yes, you read that right. don't. just don't. you WILL spit it out. lori and julie did. i will give her that it was pretty. how could such a pretty pink cupcake taste like a glob of silly putty? easy. it was gluten-free and vegan. but my sushi was good! they never disappoint!

the second session-there's that one! this afternoon, it came in the form of a specialist who really had her own agenda and she pretty much did what she wanted. and her teacher next to her was really trying to focus...this lady was impeding her progress, and i wonder if we should have just pulled her out of the room for a private session...hopefully she found some kind of nugget, because she already had her set groups for the year and knew what she wanted to do...that's fun, said no trainer ever.

once the session was finished, we headed back to the hotel-lori was meeting with an old friend in town, so we parted ways and headed to dinner at papasitos..yum. it was close, and when we got there, it was like..."'bout time!" fortunately, our server this time, whose name i do not recall-was amazing! i mean, it was polar opposite from the day before! he was ON his game! and we were delighted! (and YES, we did leave a note for him as well-it was quite different from the previous day!) i have NEVER had shrimp so big and delicious-thank goodness sabrina and i split that plate! it was more than enough to leave comfortable. plenty-o-food!

tuesday night-another beautiful evening, this time, we were able to enjoy the 6th game of the world series...the make or break game to keep the cubs in it, and they pulled through! julie was ecstatic! and there was a nice rain as well, which is always welcome!

wednesday morning i made coffee for all! yes, i was able to bring my stash, my own creamer and my aero-press. it makes a difference, just saying...#hipstercoffesnob (the advantages of driving!) of course one cup is never enough, especially when you have to make it through the day....so we again had to make the routine stop at starbucks-you don't mess with routine. and there it was!

once we arrived, it seemed to be a fairly easy morning group-a rather small group, if you will. ah, this was the session where there was one gentleman who really took advantage of the first question: are there any burning questions? and he took off like wild-fire with that and began asking campus specific questions and kinda' hoarding the time and making it all about him, until the guy behind him was like, "ummm. could we move on? it seems like there is a lot of information we need to move through, and we're never going to get there if we focus on just one campus..." i was doing a standing ovation screaming, rock-concert, head-banging, resounding YEEEESSSSS in my mind. this was the session where the girls said, okay, juan, we're pushing you out of the nest, so do something! i was able to present part of the presentation, getting the information necessary from the first two reports and then sabrina finished it out. (another thing i plan to do this week-record myself to get more fluid on the presentation...i really wish i had a SWIVL-that was my favorite tool at cabell!). so lunch this time was at chli's because it was sit-down and close. delicious soup and burger! yum. they have a great lunch menu! so that went quickly and the afternoon session was a harder crowd-the mtss coaches (ruffians..), so i observed (protective friends are the best kinds). i spent a bit of time during that session helping a teacher who thought she was going to be over her head-but in actuality, she got it! and the coach next to her, who was working with isip espanol. so that was good. there was one thing i wasn't quite sure about, and so i called sabrina over, and explained it how i thought it should be logically, and she affirmed that it was correct-saves them from having to clean up after me, if i can have them there in the moment and use it as a teaching/learning moment. i feel that most of the time i've had the correct information, save a caveat here or there-but i'd rather be on the safe side!

i LOVE listening to this lady!! and i love being able to call her friend!

we were able get out at a reasonable time, and the girls were all off to their respective domiciles. i think lori was going to see her daughter, the other two were headed home. and me. i got to stay one additional night, for a TEXAS SUCCESS training the next morning with jane! yay me!

texas success-next installment
goodnight!
julie

it's time to make memories!

it's definitely the day before the day i leave for spring break! WOOOHOOOO!!! 
yep, nothing like waiting 'til the last minute! last minute for what? well...i'm a little embarrassed to say so, but i waited last minute to figure out what to do with the boys. (bruno is looking at me shaking his head right now in disbelief). so, i called mom and dad (today) to see if they could meet me halfway to pick up the boys and watch them for me...and of course, they said yes, because that's what they do! (pretty sure i get my: do-anything-for-the-people-you-care-about from them). the boys are going to be happy to stay with mom and dad-familiar territory. 

woah! i needed a snack tonight, so i chose some hazelnuts and semi-sweet chocolate chips-it's solid nutella! heavenly. new favorite snack!

fortunately, i am pretty much packed for spring break...i don't need to take much..it's going to be beach and pool time for the most part! i threw in some other stuff after the basics...trying to think of what i can take and leave-i've gotta make 'my room' feel like it's mine, right? winking emoticon, please. 

hammock, flat iron, swimsuit, shorts and tanks

OKAY-update-
it's 8:57 pm. i just got back from oklahoma to drop the boys off with my parents. again, they are amazing! i got there about 10 minutes before they did, and found a chili's (there really isn't much in atoka, ok..and i think this chili's is brand spankin' new). so i went in and when they came in, dad told me the trip was great until they pulled into the parking lot, and the transmission went out! he had to push the car into a parking spot...oops. so when the waiter came by, i asked him if he knew of any mechanics in the area, and he smiled and said, "you're in luck! this guy in the booth behind you is a mechanic!" and my dad got up to meet him and tell him the situation. they were pleasant and helpful, and he said they'd go try to find the part tomorrow and hopefully get it fixed. so, in the meantime, i called to find a hotel that accepts dogs, and reserved their room. so, that was fun. 

on the way home, i stopped at a starbucks, and got a gift card. when i walked in, i thought i saw one of my friends from school, but then i decided it probably wasn't because she was at a table with some people that didn't look familiar, and it kinda' didn't look like her for a second (i was exhausted, so i really wasn't sure), i got my gift card and walked out. then i saw a car that looked familiar, but i thought, "no, couldn't be." so i continued to my car...got in, then thought, wait, what if-and so i walked back to the car and saw men's shirts hanging in the back hanger-holder...nope, so i went home. (i just didn't want to leave without saying something if it'd been her, because that'd be rude). 

alright, so now i really have to get my stuff together, get ready and go to bed so i can get up in time for my flight!

pictures to come soon!
julie

reheating coffee is NOT optimal, but that's why there's sweetener and creamer!

i will admit that when i heard this on the news, i had to chuckle because the news anchor said that a blogger had said best buy deserved this for making fun of santa (especially since i had just written about it the other day! smile). bummer when you over-promise and under-deliver...sounds kinda' like our government these days, no?

so, i went downtown without a real plan tonight, and met a man at mcdonalds who was homeless-i had to stop to use the restroom (too much to drink) anyhoo, on the way out the door i asked him if he lived around there and he said he lived all over the area, especially in an alley on the other side of the street. his name is james and he just got out of jail about a week ago. i noticed he had only a backpack, so i got one of my bags out of the car and offered him a blanket as well. as he was walking away, he turned around and told me his name and asked me to pray for him.

then i continued and ended up in deep ellum and there was an elderly gentleman limping along, so i offered him a bag as well and a fleece blanket and a cup of coffee. (did i mention i got some coffee from starbucks?).

all hail the caffeine goddess 

i wanted to find a spot to park, but it was difficult finding a place to park and sit without looking  a little conspicuous, so as it neared 9 p.m., i decided to give up for the night and tomorrow i will reheat the coffee (and take lots of coffee and sweetener to mask the reheat) and take the cooler down to put some of the goodies in. then i can park and walk and wish people a merry Christmas! nothing like spreading Christmas cheer to people who will otherwise probably not have much of a merry Christmas.

it really was beautiful downtown though.

the fake icicles in the trees were spectacular!

i read a book recently called crazy love and it really made me rethink some things. and i've been seeing this verse over and over recently:
Matthew 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

so, as i was looking for information, i came across this organization called: our calling, which was founded by a man from dts (dallas theological seminary). i am thinking about the possibility of volunteering with them; they seem to have a great mission vision to help the homeless.
 
i hope your Christmas is filled with beauty, wonder and incredible meaning!
julie

let's brand some cattle and turkeys!

it's thursday night and tomorrow is jean-ius day for our red-ribbon week...if our kids start spelling genius incorrectly, i am not going to be very happy! (although they probably already spell it incorrectly-i just want someone to blame!)

i got a call from mom last night and i am happy to say that we have made thanksgiving arrangements! we're meeting in branson. (i know, how unique and original?) but seriously, i think they really enjoy it there as much as i do! the condition was made that we needed to find a place that allowed dogs! so mom called last night, and we've got everything planned! woo hoo!

bruno was excited to see mom and dad. chaco thought i said :we're going to brand some. and so he proceeded to ask what we were going to brand. i was a little confused because i didn't really understand what he was asking. he really thought we were going to a dude ranch and branding cattle and turkeys. strange dog.

what are we gonna brand mama? what are we gonna brand?? can we do turkeys?

i finally figured out why he was asking that and i explained that we were going to BRANSON. once i showed it to him on the map, he understood. he has never been there before, so perhaps he will be impressed by shoji tabuchi and the baldknobbers...?

well, hopefully the man who was working on the fire alarm this afternoon got it fixed, because these 'fake' alarms going off are not conducive to learning! i will have no more of this! i put my foot down (and then i put the other one down and keep going in that same pattern until i am out the door,  with my class, in compliance with the fire-drill code...boo).

i was going to make potato soup tonight, but i really didn't want to get out of my car to get potatoes...i'll have to get some soon because it is certainly potato soup season! i don't know why, but that just reminded me of spuds...remember spuds mckenzie?? the bud light commercial dog from the late 80's! has absolutely nothing to do with potato soup...but why would they call a dog spuds? they were probably out drinking and eating potato soup when they came up with that commercial.

oh, and in case ya'all hadn't heard, HONDURAN coffee is being sold at starbucks! check it out!!

turkey and cattle for thanks giving...instead of surf and turf i guess chaco would like it to be leather and feather...?
julie

if only chocolate relieved backpain!

this has been my life the past 48 hours...

yesterday and today have been a little rough-we've gotten together to work on our curriculum calendars for school next year, and it's actually been kinda' nice for pre-planning purposes. we've met at starbucks yesterday and today-which has been nice to keep the caffeine flowing. it's also been great just to have adult conversation!  today was especially nice because we went to maria's house for a home cooked meal (and who doesn't love that?!); and it was fun just being around family interaction.

tomorrow we'll hit panera and hopefully grind out another couple weeks done. it really is a pretty grueling process trying to figure out how we can work together creatively throughout the year, especially knowing that things will probably have to change by the 2nd half of the year anyway. i like panera for the free-flowing coffee! (they used to have this german chocoalate danish that was heavenly, but i haven't seen it in awhile).

the unfortunate part in all of this is that a terrible back pain has returned. the last time i had it this bad was a couple of years ago and i literally had to roll out of bed and and drive to the clinic to get a shot from the doctor. well, it's 2 years later, and the doctor i went to left her practice, so she referred me on to the doctor who worked with her. i never went to him, and actually one of my friends at school said she used to go to him and their family didn't like him-rude, terrible bedside manner (not that i plan on EVER being in a bed near him).

so yesterday and today i was walking slowly and stiffly like frankenstein's monster. in fact, i was thinking about investing in a cane because it hurt so badly! i've been walking like an 80 year old, trying to figure out how to do it inconspicuously-which is a little difficult-i'll stop and look at art-work or out the window, or whatever, but i'm afraid the expression on my face betrays my actions.

i just watched extreme couponers and WOW! that was crazy-nuts! i cannot believe how much they save!!! i'm intrigued (uh oh). now tiaras and toddlers is on, and it is ridiculous! it actually makes me slightly queasy to my stomach and a lot annoyed by the way these parents let their daughters act, dress and walk all over them! yuck. chaco just called them something that only a dog can get away with saying.


don't be a pain-there's already enough to go around~
 julie