utah, wow! you impressive beast-of-a-state, you!

it's still hard to gauge exactly how much time i'll need to get to the airport and get to my gate at a decent time. i think part of this stems from having worked for the airlines; the other part is that nagging necessity to be punctual (OVERLY punctual). flying out on tuesday was no exception.

i opted for extra space and chose an exit row window...my mistake was that this aircraft had 2 exit rows, and i sat in the fwd, which means that my seat did not recline. add to that the fact that i chose the wrong side...i missed the great view as we were drawing closer to vegas. oof. the only positive was that the flight attendant had slid into our row to get out of the way of those boarding, which saved us from having a middle seat occupant...thank you, flight attendant! so i re-positioned when we got to LAS.

salt deposits creating a beautiful landscape flying into slc

bacon and letter writing-bacon goes with everything!

 jane picked me up at the slc airport and we were off...to the doctor. she wasn't feeling so great, so we stopped into the one-stop-shop-doc-in-a-box and after she diagnosed herself and told the doc what she needed, he wrote up a script and sent us on our way. while there, i noticed that they had a special little corner set up under the t.v., which was a little awkward...not sure why it was set up like this-time out box-like in hockey a penalty box, perhaps? (no one puts baby in the corner came to mind)...or maybe a privacy area for breast feeding, but that would be counter-productive, as the t.v. was right there..terrible designing of space... much of my wait was spent analyzing this, and feeling sorry for the lady who had just filled out her paperwork and told them she'd hurt herself on the job-she didn't want to fill out workman's comp (as it was a brand new job for her), but legally they had to file it that way because she'd mentioned it, so she had to redo paperwork..boo. anyhoo...

after stopping at the pharmacy which google maps told us was in the parking lot (unless it was a superhero thing, like wonder woman's jet, that info was incorrect-so we went into target). from there, we grabbed lunch, because it was about a 2 hour drive to our hotel, through the mountains. getting to the little burger joint was a mini adventure as we missed the turn and had to make a loop. and we were on the road-one annoying thing is billboards of ears. everywhere-with no real advertisement...not sure if it was an ear doctor, plastic surgeon for ears...man who listens well..still don't know exactly, but there were at least 10 of these things littering our viewing pleasure. the mountains changed with every turn as far as the flora (0 fauna in sight). 

upon arrival, i will rarely turn down the opportunity to take a nap! (one of my super powers). at the appropriate time, we reconvened for dinner and asked the receptionist for suggestions, to which she excitedly suggested groggs. so we were off to helper, ut about 5 minutes away to check out groggs pinnacle brewing company (the view is nothing like what is shown...when i think pinnacle, i think highest point, right? nope. pretty flat and routine). and we were very excited about the spinach dip...then it arrived. the food-ok. i think jane enjoyed her salad more than i enjoyed the philly...i need to stop expecting my philly to compare to the one i had in kc so many years ago! that said, she may not have enjoyed the salad so much, had she poured the "bleu cheese dressing" all over it...mayonaise. it was a ramekin of mayo...miracle whip even...(the cooks were probably thinking..."hmm, we don't have bleu cheese, this is the closest thing we got...they'll never know!) anyhoo, they did have the coolest jugs, because the history of the place is that they used to actually be a brewery as well.

definitely a 'locals' joint! 

spinach dip? dip with spinach on it...on bread. lori said it best in a fb comment: looks legit.

great souvenirs, but i've cut back on purchasing things b/c they end up at goodwill; pics will suffice

afterward, it was too early to go back, so we explored the area of price. price seemed to be an old mining town. one of the first things that caught my eye as we drove under the quaint little bridge and around a small hill. it was a backyard that screamed "child predator!" you know, the overgrown weed-look, with a couple of old ice cream trucks (the real deal, with the music and all)...i half expected a clown to show up in the door and wave us in...then we came across this gem, which perhaps really made great shaved ice, it was just the sketchiness of where it was.

there were ample mexican restaurants in town-which was surprising, we didn't realize that there was such a presence of hispanics in this area. i wish i'd gotten a good pic of the downtown area, because it was really a great backdrop-beautiful old town feel! ancient everything. there was an original jc pennys, the theaters, it was pretty cool-here's a link if you want to see what it really looked like! once it got dark, we went back to the hotel to get our rest.

the following morning, thankfully jane was feeling better, the meds were working, and our training was a little later, so we grabbed brunch at the local diner we'd seen the night before. there was only one lady manning the entire place, which was hoppin', and mostly men. we shared breakfast foods-each getting what we needed to survive the day! then we made our drive to huntington. it was an easy little drive and once we arrived, the streets were super wide. apparently, from what i just read, the roads were designed this way back in the day to be wide enough to turn a team of oxen around.

once again, a training success, and it was fun watching aha lights, and teachers that looked like they were seeing and learning something that would be a valuable tool to them in the classroom. love it. i think they really got a lot out of the hands-on portion and working through the different segments they'd be using. in huntington, they only have half days on wednesdays due to their bus schedules. so by the time we finished, the teachers were ready to jet.

and as soon as we were done, we decided to be adventurous. we drove another 2 hours south to moab, to see the arches national park. we were very fortunate to arrive after the ticket-takers had already left for the day, so we didn't have to pay the entrance fee. but we stopped into the visitors station and purchased the national parks passport, as it is the 100th anniversary!

then we talked to the ranger, and asked her what would be easy to do in the amount of time we had before it got too dark. she pointed a couple things out on the map, and once again we were off to the races. first up, balanced rock-such neat formations! i loved teaching about the erosion and weathering with my fourth grade class, so this was fascinating to me! there were some formations that would be exhilarating to climb! then we returned to the car and headed for the arches. i didn't look at the map again to see what the lady had circled, so we went into the parking and started out on our little hike up to the delicate arch...there was some steepness, it was a pretty good little hike...there were parts i would've loved to 'trail-run', and at the time we were there, the trail itself wasn't too busy. i probably should've warned jane that i'm so used to trying to keep pace with shea and the kampers when we'd go on trip at k2, that i was used to being challenged. we did stop a couple of times to 'enjoy the scenery' (cough). at one point there was this older gentleman who appeared out of nowhere with work-type clothing, and kinda a red-flag; jane was in one area and i was on the other, and this one, he was a strange cookie. not sure if he made it or not, but it seemed like something out of 48 hours... i'm fairly certain that had i said "we're almost there" one more time, it would've been etched into jane's memory forever (i'm the we're-almost-there-gal) GO HARD OR GO HOME!! but truly, had it been easier to arrive, it wouldn't have been nearly as memorable nor enjoyable. the way it should be, the best things in life make you appreciate the journey!

the pictures speak for themselves-the majesty...

you would think that going back down would be easier, but the truth is, going down is just not great on the ankles, knees or back. it was a beating- i'd rather go uphill any day. we did arrive at the parking lot by dark and at this point, we hadn't eaten since brunch, and it was about 8:00, so we went into moab, as there was nothing on the way back to the hotel. so after getting moab, ut t-shirts (jane is starting a collection, and me, well, i needed something to wear on the way home!) afterward, we stopped at moab brewery (you'd think all they did around here was brew!) but the meal-i tried the jamaican burger, still trying to match up to the sweet/savory burger i had back in miami at kush! it was good, but not a match for kush's guava burger!!

i drove back that night, and jane kept us busy by googling to entertain us. we learned that the area was rich in uranium, there is a bacteria that makes the rocks look green, the difference between a mile and a nautical mile, and that nautical miles have something to do meridians-and to really understand this nautical mile thing, you have to go back to some geometrical understanding (not good, as the only reason i passed geometry was that ms. fasquelle probably felt sorry for me or was amused by the equations i used to somehow make connections), the etymology of the mile is roman, feet, acres, all goes back to the furlong and how far an ox can plow without resting. p.s. from now on, anyone traveling with me may now hear me referring to distances in furlongs-prepare yourselves! 

we got back to the hotel sometime after midnight. completely worth it!! i emptied my shoes out-sand from the hike, and was too tired to shower. so i woke up early the following morning to shower right before we were to take of for slc to fly out. the problem with doing this is that i had to straighten my hair, which leads to having to cool the iron down quickly enough in order to pack it up without my carry-on smoking and going up in flames. so there was this effort:

the trip home was uneventful through denver and (as always) it was great to be home again.

julie

chaco pulled one over on the doc!

i was pretty worried the other night when i found chaco acting weird-limping and whimpering in pain when i came back from the kitchen. so we went in to the vet the next morning and while i was waiting for them to bring him back, i could hear them talking (i wasn't eavesdropping if that's what you're thinking...it's just that they were talking loudly and the walls seem to be thinner than my apt). anyhoo, the assistant brought him back in and said the doctor would be in momentarily and left. so i put him down and he started limping around, so i picked him up until she came in.

when the doc came in, she said, "well, we didn't see any signs of the problem that you mentioned." i held my hand up to stop her and put him down again and he again limped around and held his paw up. her face took on a look of complete and utter surprise. she proceeded to tell me that he walked up and down the hall and didn't wince or anything when she was checking him.

i have no idea what the deal was, either he was showing off, nervous or just wanted to get out of there...brat. (not like the glorified hotdog, more like a bratty child). that said, she prescribed some anti-inflammatory medicine, and pain killers. on the way home he kinda' chuckled and said, "woah, did you see her face when she came back into the room and saw me limp? i had her right where i wanted her! i'm tricky mctrickerson, right?"(sometimes dogs just say the darndest things...)

 i gave him the pain killers and anti-inflammatory meds as soon as we got home and i caged him-per the doc's orders. i fully expected that when we got home he would be asleep...but no, he was yelping from excitement to get out and shot out like a jack rabbit into the living room. keep him calm, she said. don't let him jump around she said...apparently she's never had a chaco. he kinda reminds me of amy poehler as Kaitlyn if you watch the link, the part that applies most is from 1:55-2:22 (first he tries to convince me that he shouldn't be left in the cage, and then he runs around in circles when he should be sitting still..ok, not the best analogy; perhaps i was just looking for a reason to include kaitlyn).

he was in his cage again tuesday, and today i left him out and he seems to be fine-we're continuing with the anti-inflammatory meds, but no pain killers. good little buddy.

in other news...we have an 'adult' bathroom near the teacher's lounge, and it has the kind of lock that lets others know it's occupied (like airplane lavs), yet either people can't read or don't know what OCCUPIED means, because they still try to open the door (without even a knock..jerks) that's scary. so i always feel like i have to double and triple check to make sure the lock is horizontal.

so i decided to make sure that it did read correctly when locked...

 one day, not too long ago while i was in this particular restroom, i noticed this little door by the toilet, under the paper towel dispenser...i wondered what it was a door to. i didn't bother to look, because i would rather stick with the story i conjured up in my mind. there is a little bathroom fairy that comes out once in awhile to clean up because the custodians struck up a deal with him. i realize that most fairies are female, but the males are the ones that live in bathrooms...anyhoo. i might try to strike up my own deal to get him to stand guard in front of the door for me...

and drum roll please.....i got a free sample of royal canin. i LOVE getting free stuff-no shame. i figure they jack prices up so high that i deserve it. the boys were really excited about it because this is what they used to eat all of the time until we changed to bil-jac.

please notice how chaco has his ears back and low as if he might be a little guilty for getting called out. well, that's because he got caught doing this:

bad little buddy.

bruno throughout all of this has been great. he's my no drama boy. i am thankful for that because he helps chaco find his balance!

thankful for healthy dogs and hoping to strike up a deal with the bathroom fairy,
julie

magic leaves, magic bullet...stickers that are not FOXY

this morning i got up early to take the boys out for a walk and they loved it. we came across a floating leaf and i told them it was magic. "oh, like the magic bullet?" asked chaco. "no, the magic bullet wasn't very magical...we'll have to see about its replacement when it gets here." they were very impressed with the leaf, though.

and for the next couple of minutes chaco was singing from the police: every little thing she does is magic, magic, magic....

 as we were walking, we met a lady walking her terrier mix and we stopped for a moment to talk-teacher from houston, looking for another dog, possibly yorkie...and the boys were cool for a minute, then i don't know what happened but chaco put on his snarl face and got snippy. grr..so we moved on. and when we got back home, i had to turn around and get over to my doctor appt.

when i arrived, i was told i had an outstanding balance..great more $...then i was shuffled into a room i hadn't been in yet. and i waited while i listened to the conversations out in the main room. lots of people talking and planning..i'm glad my walls at my apt are thicker and more insulated than this! anyhoo...i think the doctor might've been running a little late because i sat in there for about 15 minutes waiting...

so, while i waited, i observed scalped glass man.

 and then we agreed that i would get new medication, try aleve or ibuprophen (figure out which one works better for me), and get started with some physical therapy. woo!

so i bought both because i don't really know which one will work better.

 before i stopped at cvs, i stopped by lakeshore to spend some of that gift card from brooke (again, best gift ever!) they were super slow, so every worker must've stopped by and asked me if they could help me. nope. i knew exactly where to look for what i needed. got some great stickers (my summer school kids are suckers for stickers!) but then, i used to be too...my anne frank collection was the world to me...i got a sticker when we went to costa rica that was glimmery and said: FOXY, with a fox tail coming out of the O i think...i didn't realize that it was for a truck bumper and was more of a sex symbol...i thought it was just referring to the furry animal in the woods...back to lakeshore...i also found a great little science kit for about $24-very cool and lots of the stuff we will be going over next year!

the boys are intrigued by science and very excited that i will be teaching it next year! look closely and you will see that this is a card showing how the brain is related to the spine...

 then i went on to cvs and put in my prescription and walked around ...by the time i was called back, i had a handful of stuff that would help me with recovery...chocolate...

and this is the nerve medicine...i forget exactly how it works.

when i got home, i had to call a physical therapist to set something up with them...the part of the script that i loved:

heat massage!!!

and then i came home and took the meds and about a 2 hour nap. i didn't mean for that to happen, but it sure was nice!

when i woke up, i decided i should try to go find some cheap games for fun fridays...so i went to the dolla store and got some connect 4, old maid, go fish, checkers, and mind teaser puzzles...

as i pulled out onto forest, i noticed ms. weekley's car and decided it would be rude not to stop in and see her at pets plus! so i stopped in and chit-cahtted for a minute and looked around the store (because i had never stopped in before), and grabbed a couple of things for the boys-i am excited to try out chaco's new harness! renee was gracious to help me get the best discount possible. thanks renee! the boys said thanks as they were entertained with their new thinking toy!

i stopped by the office on the way home and picked up my package-the magic bullet base has arrived! now i will be able to have a wonderful smooth smoothie tomorrow!! woohoo!

worth it to get a powerful base!

and bruno was fighting with the bubble wrap as i popped them with my feet....chaco went and hid.

it has been a productive day-back to the classroom tomorrow!
julie

a ten-year century and nose holes that don't work...

today i was exceptional. i know. who says that. well, when you're switching it up with some fun reading practices learned at a marzano training, you really cannot go wrong! the kids loved it, i was being observed, and they really understand women's suffrage and alice what's-her-name...

it didn't start out that way...when i got to school, i had to get some butcher paper from the roll, and as i tore off the first paper and walked over to put it on top of the copier, i banged my toe into the copier. ouch. you'd think once was enough and that i would be more careful and aware the next time. i was, but i still proceeded to do this TWO more times! what in the world? and the 3rd time, i knew from the feel and the sound that i had broken my nail and made a mess of things. i was excited to get back tot he classroom to clip it with my nail clippers in my purse. when i went digging for it, it wasn't there. i had taken it out again. so i ended up using scissors...figuring it would do until i got home (i mean, i had gotten it bad-there was a big chip out of it and i ddin't want to cut any children accidentally).

music was interesting today...some of our students thought mississippi is in dallas, others said africa, and several said south america. and apparently several believe that brazil is a continent..oh geography, what has happened?

in one of my afternoon classes, one of the girls said, "my nose holes aren't working." i thought i misunderstood her, so i asked her to repeat that, and she said the exact same thing. hmm..i asked what she meant, and that's exactly what she meant. i told her the better way to say it: stuffy nose.

yesterday we had visual arts with mr martinez, and we did faces-he was teaching them symmetrical and asymmetrical (only he spelled it wrong...he also managed to tell them that a century was 10 years...we have some un-learning to do)...

tomorrow i have my doctor-follow-up appointment. i am praying that there is something that i am not doing that i can do to feel better, or that they have a magic cure. i just want to get back to doing the things i love to do! (like sleeping through the night...) pretty sure i'm excited about 'sleeping in' a little. and i am also thinking that i got out of spray painting those trash things. whew! dodged a bullet...don't worry, carol, i'm pretty sure she wouldn't be tacky enough to ask a sub to do it (and if she does, just say no and thank you)      

day off tomorrow! yea!
julie

i'm not a great co-pilot, but it's ok, i don't have to be any more!

dad drove me to my doctor's appointment this morning, and i was not a very good guide, and i got frustrated as i was giving directions. i need to work on my patience. they've been so great with me, and i was not very appreciative. i must work on this.

well...today was the day- i've been released!!! (don't worry, i still have to follow the guidelines for about 4-6 weeks of no bending, twisting or lifting anything over 10 lbs...so i'll carry a scale around with me-no i won't).

when the doctor's assistant walked in, she said they had to scrape out a whole lot more than they thought, and she was quite impressed that i hadn't needed pain meds. ummm, i believe the phrase was "you are one tough lady" i should've told her that i really felt that the recovery went so well because of prayer.

released but restricted...at least i can drive!

so, i'll be asking my students to help me move things and prepare for the summer close-down! that is if the benefits department clears me. so my doctor's assistant said when do you want to go back? i said thursday would be great, so the assistant wrote it down and faxed in the document. now i am just waiting for them to send the information to my principal. when that happens, i get to go back.

if that doesn't happen this week, i guess i will have an extra long weekend.

after our appointment, we went to panera for lunch, and i tried the strawberry poppy seed salad-which was amazing! new fav! then we stopped at walmart and we picked up items to replenish my fridge and pantry.

when we took the boys for a walk, mom grabbed these fruit things that i see all of the time. she explained that if you put these things under your couch or bed or wherever, they have something in them that keeps spiders away. that was news to me! so we brought some home.

anyone familiar with these or use them in this way? i'll be sure to let you know if they work!

so with me on the mend, mom and dad are taking off tomorrow morning so that they can continue to work on their new house.  like i said, it has been great having them here. although i will be honest, i was ecstatic when i was cleared to drive and dad gave my keys back...(i'm a bad co-pilot). i think we might be going to the original house of pancakes for breakfast tomorrow. i've been craving it for a bit, and i didn't have bacon thawed for them while they were here, they had to suffer through my banana-coconut pancakes with turkey bacon...

i guess i'll have to think of some things to do this week if they won't let me come back to work...i wonder if dr. hughes will let me work on some of the mural painting...well, farmer's market might be more fun, or finding some dog-friendly places to visit.

blessings,
julie