MAP misunderstandings, fat-free friday, and lots of walking

it's sunday-where does the weekend go?

thursday was MAP training (not to be confused with some sort of geographical endeavor, i'm talking about nwea's measures of academic progress), and it went fine-good information about how to really use reports well. it was a good day, as the presenter did a fabulous job! at lunch, i would've loved to join our teachers for lunch, but i didn't want to invite myself. in fact, i mentioned that to ciane as everyone assembled in the foyer, waiting on someone in the bathroom. i'm not usually one to invite myself to things, and when i do, i almost always immediately regret it-perhaps it's a self-confidence thing, perhaps it's just a manners thing...idk. so, unless someone says, "hey, we're going to (fill in the blank), wanna' come?" i won't assume. which turned out for the best, as i had brought something that was actually healthy to eat, and i had a lot to do to prepare for some of the tutoring for the upcoming week.

i will own up to the fact that i wasn't very sociable, but it was due to feeling a little stressed to finish some important work!

then i had to leave early to get back for CAR tutoring. i was so thankful that alicia was feeling better and that denise was able to stay to sub and fill in. #muchappreciative

friday morning, i stopped to get donuts for staff and left them in the front office-for fat-free-friday!

i got a chance to have a heart to heart with amanda, and xochitl stopped in to let me know that she was mad at me for 'separating myself' from the teachers at MAP the day before. i felt terrible, but i explained myself, because i needed her to understand that about me. i am so grateful for her, and her willingness to address conflict and care enough about our friendship to do that.

friday it was so good to be back on campus and to walk rooms in the morning to greet teachers and students! i need to do this more often. presence is everything! then i was able to get a few hours of uninterrupted time before meeting with some teachers. when the end of the day came, i was able to pack up, and just as the bell rang, the fire alarm also went off, so i grabbed a radio and communicated with our office manager. she said smoke in one of the rooms, so on the way to check hallways and verify that people were out, i stopped by that classroom, and saw nothing. after reporting that back, i was out the door to make sure that all were accounted for, and back to the front for further instructions.

trust me, i was paying close attention, looking for some hot firemen...

once the firemen showed up, and cleared us to go back in after dismissal, i was off to social house to meet with one of my coach friends from a nearby campus-we share a lot in common, and it was really great conversation. oh, and BEST FRIED PICKLES EVER! hands down.

thanks kendi, we must do this more often and drag lancaster along!

bathroom, ladies?

so i got home and pretty much went to bed early-i was exhausted!! well-deserved rest!

saturday i spent most of my day on the balcony reading and working through a book that is a life-changer! a little later, i had to get out because there were some things that i needed to purchase. i tried Christian Family Books, but they didn't have exactly what i needed. so i made my way out to mardels-but i may have overshot and missed it on the first pass, so i had to go up to the next exit and make a second pass! found what i was looking for!! plus i found a couple of puzzles- #myparentschild and i succumbed to the desires of my taste buds by stopping at steak and shake...and indulged in the frisco melt meal (the frisco melt is my weakness). so when i got home, i went for a walk, because Lord knows i needed it! i'd missed out on a few days. the app stopped halfway through my walk, and i was a little sad, because i wanted to see how far this route actually was. regardless, it was good. i think the app stopped somewhere around here, when i stopped to pose on the construction machinery...

because that's what you're supposed to do, right? i felt like such a high-schooler doing something i wasn't supposed to be diong!

and this morning, i had a breakfast date with one of my favorite former principals-as always, good for the soul. we went to cindi's because last time there was an issue with their gas-main. thankfully today, i was able to enjoy my first visit-and it did not disappoint!

great way to start the morning!

joanne came bearing gifts-fruit and reading material!

when i got back, i went for a walk again, removed and re-uploaded the app, and it worked like a charm! i'd decided to take a new route, but i wanted to make sure it was a little bit of a challenge, so i found a route around addison, to go up and over the bridge, and back to add some distance-it was a beautiful day!! i'd like to apologize to all of the drivers out there for wearing shorts today. i feel a little badly that everyone had to shield their eyes and put on sunglasses for the reflection of the sun cast off these white legs! #whitegirlproblems long walk, it was good.

love the addison bridge!

when i got home, i had plenty to do.

and guess what...i STILL have plenty to do.

i mean...finishing everything is simply overrated. what would i have to do tomorrow night if i finished everything tonight?

good night!
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