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

week 1 feels like a month (in a good way)

week 1: success! 

yes, it was a fun week, successful on many fronts. learning, getting to know different divisions, getting to know the other trainers (they're all spread so far apart!) and i didn't gain TOO much weight, even with all the feasting! i really do like the assembly of personalities and minds that comprise the training department!

the entire week was filled full (redundancy) of information-information-information! so, have you ever seen the episode of star trek, next generation where data shuts down and has to be rebooted? if there were a switch on the back of my neck, i think someone might have to go and flip it and put in a new card or something for more space...

this morning was the end of the conference, but it was really just the training team having an intimate-family breakfast. and i got all of my important stuff taken care of so that i can get paid! i am in love with the offices! it is SO kid-friendly, and fun...i would love to see some kids from our feeder pattern go through on a field trip and learn about the many different career possibilities in a company like Istation alone!

amazing what all goes into making the program happen! 

 just a few minutes ago, there was a knock on the door and of course a chorus of barking ensued...when i looked out the peephole, there was no one, so i prepared my ninja skills just in case there were someone hiding around the corner, just out of sight...fortunately i did not have to injure anyone tonight. there was a small box sitting in front of the door. hmm. strange, i haven't ordered anything in quite awhile. guess what came in the mail  hands of the fedex man:

i am SO impressed that brian was able to get these cards knocked out so quickly (i mean, he didn't print them himself, but he did gather the info and get them ordered in such a short turn-around!) just a little more official!

and i am really excited that there is a training opportunity in which i am going to be able to hang out with some great trainers and get to know them better, as well as observe and take in some new techniques and skills!

the boys were happy that i was home by noon today, because every night has been a late night until now. i think we're going to go out and visit some petsmarts and petcos tomorrow and anywhere else that allows dogs. the men are coming to fix the water damage from all of the rains, and that's going to make it a little loud and crazy in here, so i know they'll be less anxious if we can just avoid it altogether. and hopefully i can convince them to fix the hole in the wall that maintenance left there a couple years ago when they had to fix something with the sprinkler system...fingers crossed. ok, screw that, i'm going to cross my arms when they come in, and tell them that it's a non-negotiable since they have all of the tools here already.

ok, so if you've been keeping up with this blog for any period of time, you know that i have a certain affinity ok, obsession with florida. something i may or may not have shared previously about my job is that we have a presence in FL! so again, if you've been following, you also know that one of my 'kindred-spirit' friends lives there, and i have been SO  close a couple of times, and have talked about moving there..so hopefully that will be a possibility at least to travel to. only time will tell. i should ask jacira, one of my teacher friends in miami if she uses it or not...

i haven't exercised this week, and i can feel it. i think i am going to get up early (well..earlier than noon) to get out for a walk and maybe infuse it with a little jogging here and there! let's gauge it and see how it goes. i'm excited to get together with some friends tomorrow night-it seems like it's been forever.

hope you've had your own small successes!
julie

left some things in florida...like...my dreams! (take me back!)

the grind. it begins again.

for real though, all-day-training the.day.we.returned.from.spring.break. uf.

yesterday, i was able to clean up the apt. and get loads of laundry done! it had to be done! mom and dad are coming to visit this week-bringing back the boys and spending Easter in dfw. it has been so quiet around here without the boys around! they won't get in until late tomorrow night, because they have to finish some stuff in mo before they leave.

so...every time i go to florida (3rd time in a year-hopefully not the last), i am one step closer to living there. it feels like i already have one foot there. especially since i left my hammock there (along with a few other staples)... and i may have just purchased another hammock, so that when i do move there, there'll be an extra for visitors! thinking ahead. i may or may not be monitoring job postings, as i am not sure what next year will look like--considering all of the best options, can't leave this one out! ...and i have the additional pics that provide the logic behind my thinking:

even the fog is beautiful and relaxing!

more tooth searching-it's like a treasure hunt!

and that guy behind me? he was the one sporting the thong..eek.

not bad for a day's work!

thx go-pro!!

shea selfies with the bird! (bird, bird, bird..bird's the word...)

my 'frolic' is so frankenstein, i need more practice frolicking on the beach!

obviously i frolic better with friends...

can't get kilwins in dfw

"are you sisters?" just bc we both have blond hair, headbands, tanks, sunglasses...

...just sayin'.

after a full day of training, and not seeing anyone back at school, i was in a funk, so when i got home and opened my mail, i had a letter waiting for me, and it was just what i needed! crystal, a former teacher from cabell, who i've kept in touch with sent some written encouragement and it was so exactly what i needed! amazing how mail comes at just the right time!

brightened my week-

it's going to be a great week!
julie

dressing up, dressing down, walking and pushing cars

i really should do some shopping this weekend. i have a couple of things coming up that are going to need some attention that cannot currently be found in this little apt of mine.

first up, appropriate attire for a tea party...yes, it's true. don't give me that look (shea, bmayes, trish, ally). you know i do some crazy things for my friends, chalk this up as one of those times-pics to follow, because we're talking serious business...i'm thinking of the little collectors dolls my grandma used to buy for me when i was young... i mean, one thing we all know that i do really well is dress up, although, when i talk about playing dress up, it usually looks more like this:

my best co ever!! and dear friend to date-thanks for dressing up with me in the cabin to entertain the girls!

always easy to dress up with my mentor #mindsetiseverything

lost party-so fun!

at work-airlines a little humor when we needed it most...

 pretty determined that my tea party dress-up will be nothing of the likes of any of these.

(cue ocean waves, seagulls and sunshine!)
i am also going to need to purchase a new bathing suit and some tank tops and shorts -as i am returning to florida for spring break! just booked it-- i am so ready! love it that one of the first things shea asked for was a list of some of those bucket-list items so that we could start checking some things off. this one keeps me on my toes and truly brings out the adventurer and kid in me! #childatheart pretty sure she will literally try anything once!

last night was parent teacher conference, and we were at school until 7:30- our district does not seem to have the most efficient means of setting up conferences. we should take note of how it is done more effectively elsewhere. just a thought. but hey. it's over. so this morning when i went in to update our white board in the office (which not everyone checks consistently, so hopefully they didn't miss it...), i txt admin to see if we could let staff go home right after the last students were taken care of-due to the late night, and it was so. it's the little things. and then we had a meeting at two which ran longer than expected and there i was packing up, still listening, stepping slowly back toward the door, still listening. putting my hand on the door handle, nodding, still listening...i'm not very subtle when i don't intend to be...but i did get the ok to leave and enjoy the friday afternoon. and i don't feel a bit guilty, as i am usually the earliest one on the team in the building, so i take care of the little things that come up early.

it was a gorgeous afternoon, and i really wanted to get home to take a quick walk (i mean quicker than a lord of the rings movie...seriously though, 1.22/5mile..not fast, but it did the job); i wanted to jog today because i thought my leg was feeling better, but it really wasn't-maybe need to get that checked, but not willing to yet, i'm still going to blame it on over-use and not being used to it... it was going great until i reached the shlotzky area, and there was a guy with the driver side door open, pushing his car across beltline...no one stopped to help him, so i ran over (still listening to my music), went to the back of the car and started pushing to help him out. (this seems to be a recurring event in my life...in fact about 3 times in the past two years-whenever i see someone in that situation, i always try to help, because i know that if it were me or someone i cared about, i'd want someone to help...and it's a little embarrassing, so it seems a gracious thing to do to help a body out)...so up the drive and into the shlotzky's parking lot into a car slip-not gonna lie, i was a little winded after that-using the calf muscles and quads more than i expected! great work-out. actually i felt like one of those extreme car sport people:

what i thought i looked like...

what everyone passing by probably thought i looked like.

whatevs..i got him into the parking lot (headphones still in) and i just waved and walked away, hope he was able to get that taken care of. i felt a little like a jerk once i got out of the target parking lot, thinking i should have made sure he had a phone and could call someone, or how could i help--but i didn't have my card carrier, so i couldn't even offer to help him put gas in his car if that was what he needed-sigh.
                     
once i got home, i was going to take the boys for a walk, but they got super excited and bruno jumped from the arm of the couch and hurt his leg-dummy. anyhoo, he didn't yelp, but he was holding it funny, so i picked him up, stretched it out, moved it-range of motion-and let him kinda' walk it out inside. he makes me nervous when he does stuff like that. i should have taught them not to get on the furniture for their own sake. good grief.

the past week has been a week of being in classrooms to model. i love modeling, because it really allows me to get to know students better, and it allows me to improve my own practice. i especially enjoyed modeling in an experienced teacher's classroom-someone who is great at what she does, but had asked to see a new strategy. i can't wait to see her implement it herself with the other class and see if the kids pick up on it after repeated use. it is one of the strategies that we are doing in 4th and 5th grade and i will show it to 3rd as well so that they can be on the same page. systems are good.

next week is going to be a busy week, tuesday will involve another dentist visit. lucky me. and then more of the same...it's actually going to be a busy week without as much of a chance to be in classrooms until the end of the week (and it's a short week-which ironically usually turn out to seem much longer). boo.

and it's official, i do not want to be a giant. ever.

long weekend-enjoy it!
julie