dancing, entertainment, interviewing and running (out of breath)

last friday i stopped in for the 5th grade dance, as i've been pretty involved with them this year-tutoring and what not...it was star wars themed, so that made it even more attractive. we have such a fun fifth grade group this year! you don't always get that with fifth graders. such a sweet group of kids! but as for the dance itself-the food was just right, the music was pretty great-thanks, dj krystal! (loved that achy breaky heart in spanish...who knew? not me)...then there was the fact that it was warm in this enclosed space...but there was no way i was going out and coming back in, because i know how that goes...the smell and feel coming back in would knock me out, but if you just stay in it, you become one with it.

a couple of the dedicated fifth grade teachers (they all are, in fact, 5th grade teachers have been super involved in a plethora of events and activities-they should get an award: uil, running club, robotics, soccer, smu courses both semesters i've probably forgotten something, but THANK YOU!)

then saturday night i was able to talk a couple of friends into going to a play with me. i was blessed by one of my dear friends, and teacher, penny-she was able to get complimentary tickets to their play in the rotunda theater. i wasn't sure what to expect, but i had a hunch i would enjoy it, knowing it was a 'who-done-it.' and it was comical. so we laughed and enjoyed the show, even though i believe we were all dying to eat. so we headed to savor, downtown afterward (i may or may not have turned on a no-turn-on-red...and missed the valet line the first time...and had to go around the block). great. but the brussels sprouts and calamari were fabulous!!

love the small intimate venue! and great actors-

i took yesterday and today off (because i have so many unused days, it's ridiculous...and i thoroughly enjoyed and needed them). 

yesterday i had an interview for a position that i am incredibly interested in and surprisingly excited about. for real, after i went in, i thought: DREAM JOB... so now it's a waiting game-hopefully worth the wait. i brought my "A" game, so now it's up to them to recognize SKILLZ and AWESOMENESS.

i'd taken a 4-temperaments quiz the other evening, because one of my friends had mentioned and suggested it. my temperament for the most part is sanguine-no major surprise, and for the most part, it was spot on...with only a couple of descriptors that were not accurate: 1. chronically late (i live by the motto of being on time and pride myself in that), 2. tend to be forgetful (i don't think so, but correct me if i'm wrong). so it was fun to be able to use part of the results in my interview!

this morning, i took advantage of the day off and slept in until 7:30-it was dreamy...then after a simple breakfast, and a little t.v. i decided it was imperative that i clean out and organize my storage closet off the balcony. i had to rig up a couple of different methods to hang my bikes, and i had to take EVERYTHING out of the space to re-arrange. needless to say, i was drenched by the time i finished, but i am now able to access anything quickly. now to go back in box-by-box and determine what i can drop off as donations.

then i had to stop by the post office, and it was sprinkling, so i wasn't sure that walking was going to happen today. so i got home and gave it a bit...thankfully it stopped, and i got to go out. today i went alone and began thinking 1 mile run, then walk and run intervals...well once i hit the .7 i decided that if i could push on and do 2 miles nonstop, i would reward myself with just one loop of walking... motivation is everything-it worked, and i was able to do a full loop, which i was uncertain about (not a runner..yet)...so then i started the 2nd loop, and walked .5 then ran .5, walked .2 and ran the remaining .5, so in all i ran 3 of the 4 miles. hopefully i can continue to build that up over the summer. never thought i'd actually enjoy this...a special thank you to nicolette for being a catalyst in this endeavor..(i'm afraid to call it a new hobby).

and now it's time to prepare for tomorrow-field day!  and time to think about the long weekend as well!

julie

lost my identity for a minute.

who hasn't posted in awhile? oh...that would be me. my bad.

so much has happened since april 17th. where to begin? hmm...

well, there was lush-which i experienced for the first time, and i was not disappointed!

 four corners cafe-which is a quaint local little breakfast and lunch cafe-delish!

had to experience the sprinkles vending machine-certainly worth trying at least once!

and there was the taco libre experience--which was a treat! i thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with nafia and her cousin joss! (sp?) it was fun to just chat and enjoy the beautiful day and wonderful company! (and the tacos were phenomenal!) 

and then 5 de mayo happened! great turnout! proud of our pta with help from mrs. estrada-they did a great job!

the culmination of that week was WICKED! now, you have to understand that this is hands-down my all-time favorite musical...only the third time i've been, but i have vowed to go whenever it is in town and i am able! completely worth every penny! the music, the story, the company! so glad bmayes was able to come to town to join! tried to get two other friends to come, but it just didn't work out as planned-had an amazing time in spite of that!

afterward, we tried to go to gloria's because all we really wanted was the bean dip and chips with a mojito...but 11:00 is apparently cinderella time, and it turns into a club, so we just missed our meal by 2 minutes. not happy. so we settled for lazy dog, and watched the end of the spurs/thunder game 3, which the spurs won.

the next morning i invited nicolette, one of my friends from here to join us for breakfast-i love the idea of having friends meet because i feel that if i think they're amazing, surely they'll see the amazing in each other! isn't that the way it should work? anyhoo, we went to the inaugural farmers branch farmers market, and either we were late, or they didn't have as much produce as they had advertised...#prodoucefail

so bmayes and i returned to the ol apt and worked on a graduation project-when you run into a friend's mailbox, that's what you get for a graduation gift...so i guess if you want a better gift, don't run into my mailbox is the moral of the story. when we went to look at the color swatches, i decided that is a job i wouldn't mind having-naming paint colors!

from there, bmayes made the trek back to norman, and i had a relaxing afternoon at my favorite movie theater. recline and watch the show in style!

FF>> saturday it rained, so i ended up finishing parenthood, then a crippling anxiety overcame me, bruno crawled up on my lap and i just sat with him for awhile, then i had to get out, because i couldn't stay. so i began driving nowhere in particular at first. then i decided what i needed was a little east tx. my former heartlight home. i love that area-it is simply beautiful. the entire way there, i thought about stopping to talk to jan, because she is one of those mentoring, beautiful hearts. but when i got there, i didn't want to intrude unannounced, although i know in my heart that she would have welcomed the spontaneity...i think it was more that i just didn't want to open up and share again, and have to explain everything that i really couldn't put into words anyway. ack. but it was good for the soul just to reminisce and take in the beauty of the area. i will return someday with fair warning to enjoy time with my friend.

that afternoon when i returned home, i was taking a nap when i got a text from a friend to come out to taste of addison- can you believe that i have lived here for about 9 years and this was the first time that i've gone? shameful, i know. but i'm really glad i went! she of course was right up at the stage, so we had the best seats in the house-for 3 concerts...northern national, sean mcconnell (hottest drummer award...but those eyes!!!) and the main dish: the band perry (soooo impressed! i'd definitely pay to see them again! great show). so glad for that text!

so now, let me be transparent-the past couple of weeks have been rough, perhaps that is why the delay in posting. while i've been busy, it has only been a bandaid for what has been like a cancer taking over my mind. i have been frustrated because i am at a crossroads i've not been at in a long time. i am in the process of looking for a job that meets my qualifications that i will actually enjoy and be good at, and as we were walking yesterday, my friend pointed out that i perhaps over-analyze...and maybe i am too picky. both of which are probably true. what i have found is that this has been distracting me and i think truth be told i am more frustrated with myself for not being able to control the situation, and allowing it to affect my attitude. after a couple of unexpected conversations tonight, that is going to change. i have allowed my identity to get caught up in this process and cause me to believe certain things about myself that are not valid. i need to return to what i know to be true...my faith is weak. i know i need to get into the Word more consistently, and i know that regardless of what i do, i need to make sure that it is grounded in bringing glory to God. that is where my identity truly lies, and sometimes i fail to remember that. joy is not dependent on circumstances. thankful for the experiences that have led me here, looking forward to the adventures to come, be what they will.

tomorrow's a new day- let's not miss out on the enjoyment that it brings!
julie