it's nice to be a choice

time to pull out the 'rain playlist'! it rained all day, and i believe we are in for more tomorrow. that's as far as i've gotten in the forecast.

$5 happy hour fondues!

it's been a full week. monday was the end of a long weekend, and what better way to end it than with dinner and dr. hughes? a fun dinner, at the long awaited melting pot. we wanted to go there a couple of years ago for their happy hour special, but never got around to it. i'm glad we finally got to go! i did go for a long walk that morning, which was good-i knew i needed to get back into it-i ran a little, but not nearly as much as i needed to.

then tuesday began with testing (i think that is the sad theme for the next 6 weeks). i feel terrible for our students because this tends to suck the motivation out of them and it really takes the fun out of learning. not sure what the benefit of all of this is, but it not only kills the spirit of learning for our students. it really affects teachers too. to not be able to use this time to have fun and be creative and really enjoy teaching is a great way to dampen the spirits of our teachers. and we ask why it's so hard to retain great, creative teachers...we don't let them do what they are best at. we had a CAR pd after school, and then i got a text to go walking, which i probably wouldn't have done on my own, so i'm glad that happened. i've said it before-walking with friends is refreshing, and i did appreciate the conversation.

the accidental picture-while i was trying to fix my music. oops.

we walked wednesday, thursday and friday after school as well. each walk was about a 6 mile walk, followed up with dinner-gotta' stay alive, right? just say yes. but friday night dinner was the kicker...i found a place that serves breakfast 24-7-buzzbrews. first time there, it was interesting. first of all, they put a twist on all of their breakfasts, and they didn't have waffles. sad day. but they did have migas (creatively dubbed amigas). the interesting part was watching the large group that was there. when we walked in, we thought it was a party. then after a few minutes of observation, perhaps speed dating (which was comical because at school there had been conversation of going to a speed dating event). but no one was switching positions and there was no timer, so that was out. so i decided to ask our waiter-believed to be the owner-and he said in an low voice that it was a polygamist group...a thought i heard wrong, so he went to look it up and wrote it down on a paper...and yes, we heard right. my back was facing them, so i didn't get to observe the whole scene, but i could tell by my friend's expression that she was both fascinated and troubled by what she was observing-this stuff only happens in the movies, not in dallas! so yes, every time she said look at that, it was hard to be nonchalant about turning around. 

it just didn't seem right to turn around and take pictures of the group...

i also got a message from one of my friends about a package that she had sent, and the tracker said it had arrived, but i had yet to receive any notices. so i went to the office one day this week and lo-and-behold, there were actually THREE packages awaiting my arrival! i was so glad that lottie's had arrived, and i was also thrilled that my 'extra' hammock was among them. the one i'd forgotten about was the season one of game of thrones! how did i forget that i'd ordered that?? while i've been dying to get started on game of thrones, the package that really meant the most was the one from lottie, because it's personal! i especially loved the cards she included, which if i am not mistaken, were hand made-photos that she'd actually taken on her nature walks! coolest thing ever!

saturday was UIL, so it was another early morning. it was extra early because i had to stop at walmart for pencils, fruit snacks and some games for the students to play with. everything went smoothly with the registration and check-in, and most of the students got to all of their events, but a couple of them had events that overlapped-boo. unfortunately they had us set up in the auditorium, which was rather treacherous, because there really wasn't room to spread out. the kids played games, and we pulled out mad gab (with pictures and words) which was especially difficult if you weren't sure what the pictures was:

 so when lunchtime hit, we found a spot outside and moved everything-which was the best call ever, because it gave the kids a chance to spread out and play. bananagrams was a hit! what a great spelling game! not gonna' lie-nicolette stole the show, she is quick with words- quite the wordsmith! worthy competition...and no mercy with the kids. but hey, that's life lesson 101.

wordsmiths! 

when we got back pretty much around the time that we had told parents, so there was time for another walk. only this time, after the first lap, there was intermittent running. this was especially good. pushed us both. it's time. time to begin some running again. time to get the breathing under control! time to get into shape!

if i'm honest, probably one of the things that meant the most this week was knowing that i was a choice; in spite of the need for alone time, one of my friends chose me...which is a sacrifice. it's never a given that you're going to get to spend time with friends, so when you get the chance, take it.


julie

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

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

the prayer problem-or lack thereof

so...the past couple of days we have been in the training room at school with different grade levels working on data and intervention plans.which basically means it's been a little like this meme for me. i totally welcomed the occasional texts this morning for help with the MAP testing, and excused myself to go up and help in whatever capacity possible!! oh, you need to use the bathroom? sure i can come up to relieve you! no worries!!

yep, true story. 

today i was informed by a precious friend at school that she did not feel i was myself. 'not the firecracker, spunky julie' i think she may have been right, but i'm working through that. i am actually in the middle book about prayer that is taking me back to when i used to actually prayer journal-i was am a huge becki tirabassi fan, and 'my prayer partner' was a huge deal to me! i went through that binder and the extra packs of paper... i was consistent-and God was faithful! when did i stop doing that? what caused me to lose that focus? obvious answer here, but i really miss that, and i am actually going to begin to do this again, because one of the things that strengthens my relationship with God more than anything is that communication and awareness of my need and that he truly is the only one who is always there-no fail-

and to be honest, when i am not in a cycle of prayer, my focus is dimmed and blurry...my passion watered down. i begin to let things that shouldn't bother me, bother me. i need to settle myself and fall in love with my prayer life again. 

so today my knee was still a bit stiff- it felt kinda like something had been strained-perhaps just over-worked..i tried to start my walk with a run, but two steps and i was convinced that it was just going to have to be a walk, so we took off (me and the band...you didn't realize NEED TO BREATHE were into walking?) guessing that people didn't really appreciate me singing at a certain point with one of the songs i may or may not have had on repeat for the last half hour...deal wit it! it was a beautiful day and i couldn't keep myself from smiling! and amazingly enough, by the end of that walk, i didn't even notice my knee, so hopefully it's just as good tomorrow as it is right now (says me as i sit on the couch exerting 0-force) that's what fresh air, positive music and exercise will do for ya!

i'm missing excitement. my life was never meant to be boring...i am in dire need of something. not sure what, but do you ever just kinda feel antsy but with no real reason why? totally me. something's gotta give. 

goodnight!

julie

100LoveNotes, lunch-fun and social emotional learning

tuesday night. deep breath as i prepare to simply enjoy the thanksgiving break!

so many things. today was the fourth day of getting up early to go walking with an accountability partner-and i don't hate it! early on the weekends, but even earlier on weekdays (meaning i am up by 4:40-reminiscent of working for the comair and having to get up in the wee hours to prep the planes!) so yes, good start-i need to force myself to get up for the remainder of the break (hard to create a habit if it gets interrupted mid-stream).

i inadvertently became a part of a lunch-share...only because i kept nicolette from getting veggie burgers one evening, so i offered to take sauteed veggies because i had an abundance. what beats food and fellowship-although truthfully it's mostly just food because we all have lunch at different times. it makes my heart long for the times we had meals together in 4th grade with gigi...and going to her house to cook fun meals. miss my friend!! i truly do enjoy cooking and sharing-as well as not cooking, and just enjoying! (and i think the world of these two, they have become the friends i've been missing over the past couple of years).

i'm very excited about a new resource that we will be using on our campus. i am helping roll it out with our 4th grade reading classes first, and once we figure it out and get going with it, we can share it with 3rd and 5th grades. (i really think olivia and susan will benefit from them, but there is so much going on right now, that i think we will have to push it for january, regardless of how good it is).  i love it because it lends itself to close reading and text sets/units. i really am beside myself, and i am thrilled that nafia is equally excited about the possibilities that it presents! to see a teacher excited about a resource that i believe in is reassuring, because the truth is that if a teacher doesn't see the value in something, it is very unlikely that they will appreciate or use it. i think i built up the case! i am looking forward to see what all can be done with it!

i am super excited about the beanbag that i have acquired, as well-thanks to olivia and solange for picking them up (i didn't leave school until very late); note to self-bring cash monday!! they are oversized and very comfy! apart from the never-ending group text that went from beanbags to starbucks to jeans back to beanbags and smiley emoticons...i am a terrible group-texter and i wish that i had the app to make me appear to be involved in the text, but actually be in stealth mode.

so, yesterday i spoke of letters and such, and today i was basically ushered out of the classroom when i went in to offer assistance in preparation for the computer diagnostic assessment...they were in the midst of something super secret! so it really tugged at the heartstrings when i was presented with a sweet note from a student and a super sweet note from the teacher, one of my friends. it meant a lot. the idea was spawned from the reading of an article about 100 love notes-(this isn't the exact one that i read, but it is the same story) how cool is that?! i love that she got the students involved, because at that age, it often takes some prompting to think beyond oneself...this was a great practice for them-social emotional competency. #100LoveNotes

i felt pretty special-as an instructional coach, we don't get many of these.

 and it just got better to hear about one of the morning meetings that blossomed from an authentic moment of gratitude..the students were saying what they were grateful for, but then they went a step further at the request of a companion, to say why they were grateful for the person next to them-difficult to receive if you aren't prepared! we love hearing these things, but could it be because of doubt and lack of exposure to hearing such things that it is difficult to accept? we should do these things more often. we certainly should express ourselves more freely, without fear of how it will be received...because who really cares?! and like one of the girls said (and i paraphrase from a paraphrase....) : we should say things like this more often because you never know when someone isn't going to be there, and you won't have another chance...wise words! i find myself living vicariously through my teachers, and i love it!

that's how i will be spending part of my day tomorrow-letter-writing because i have time and nothing to make me feel guilty! no distractions-i need to get back on track with the letter-writing! i would've started tonight, but i had to get my hair did...by myself- i didn't want to pay alejandro huge money if it was something i could do on my own...so we will see if the quality is close. i was happy with how long his brazilian blowout lasted, so we shall make a comparison...it was half his cost..now i can tip myself and spend that $ on something more fun! and i do have several things in mind.

thanksgiving is just around the day-corner, and i am excited because one of my friends will be in town, so i will get to hang out with her and another dear friend, who lives in the metroplex, but as far away as possible. and this weekend the lighting at vitruvian begins and i think it starts off with some live entertainment-i love what they do down here in the addison area.

alright, it's time to sign off so that i can get up at a decent hour to walk/jog? tomorrow (if i actually jog, i deserve a cookie!!)
night!
julie

give dad a project and then reach for any stinkin' thing i want!

today i  became convinced that dad needed something to do...

don't ask me how i knew...

so i told him about the little stoop i was wanting to build for bruno and chaco at the window height, and he took on that project. he's also been out fishing. but as i have mentioned before, our little pond is a catch-and-release pond, and so the fish are fairly predictable, and they know the drill because they've been caught and released so many times that i think they pull the hook out themselves and jump back in.

last night as i was laying in bed trying to fall to sleep, the neighbor whose apt backs up to mine was playing a loud techno music with a blaring bass, and i was not at all happy about that. it was around 10:50 p.m. so i dealt with it for as long as i possibly could. at 11:20 i was seriously contemplating going over there and pounding on the door.. but i was so tired i did the next best thing, when there was a lull in the "music," i banged on the wall hoping that a.) the person in said apt didn't have a shotgun to blow through the wall and b.) they didn't come around to my door drunk demanding a fight....maybe when i'm fully recovered i could take them, but not last night. 

thankfully neither of the above happened, instead the music desisted. praise YAHWEH! and when i woke up this morning there was no note on my door and i had no need to go leave a nasty note on theirs, although i was tempted to go introduce myself and let them know that if it happened again i would report them to the main office and then to the police... but again, i did not (i figured that they probably just didn't know what time it was because they don't have a clock nor understand how to read the night sky constellations to keep track of time).


this morning i had to get out for a bit, so mom took me to michael's so i could gather a few things (including bold oil-based sharpie markers to continue the outlining of the murals-the other ones were too small). then we stopped at walmart to get a couple of things (i needed a small pillow to put between my knees to keep my back in line so it doesn't spasm). on the way out i noticed this gem of a car...please notice that it has 5 antennae...

trying to get in touch with the mother ship?

 and tonight we decided to try to go out to eat at applebees. when we got there, i couldn't do a booth, so we got a table, then i had a delicious garlic sirloin with a portabella mushroom cap filled with steamed spinach and a little cheese-so delicious!! mom said i definitely didn't get my taste buds from her or dad! i had a hard time sitting for that long, so i stood and talked for awhile...i'm sure our server was wondering what in the world i was doing.

on the way back, we stopped at walgreens so i could try to find a "medline reacher" i read reviews that it could pick up anything from a penny off the floor to a can of vegetables...that's pretty good! i told dad to drop a penny on the floor, and sure enough, i was impressed! it will be worth it because i will be able to do some of the things mom has been helping me out with.

accurate enough to pick up a paper clip...

strong enough to get my water off the bottom shelf of the fridge without having to bend...

 yes, i think i will use this long after i am done "needing" it! 

the sterile bandage came off today (ok, it didn't exactly come off, but today was the day i got to remove it). hopefully that will help the incision site to heal quickly.

other than that, just trying to think of things to keep dad busy...
julie

surgery, smurgery, this was actaully much easier than both acl surgeries.

yesterday i went in for my operation and i was so hungry while we waited to be called back to the back. i really wanted to have a cappuccino swirl, or a hot chocolate (dove) from the machine...and the water fountain was also calling my name...grr. so when we went back, and they had me put on the silly gown and then the nurse put these sock-thingys on...they went all the way up to my knee (they're anti-embolism socks to prevent clots and such...$50 dollar socks!) i get to keep them at least! and if insurance doesn't pay for them, i'm off the hook.

attractive, right?

the last thing i remember the anesthesiologist(spelled it right the first time around without spell check!) saying was, "so, how did you rupture your disc?" and i replied, "maybe when i fell in the cave...or lifting weights." and that was the last thing i remembered.

i am very thankful for a great doctor and a capable anesthesiologist!

i woke up and i was a bit wobbly as the nurse walked me to the bathroom. i kept wondering why she was walking me to the bathroom because i really didn't have to go. but being under the influence of something i tried because i figured it was the only way i was going to get to leave...then i couldn't find my bra, the nurse found it in a baggie under the gurney. and then they wheeled me off in the wheel chair.

when we got home, i slept for a bit and then came out and text some people to let them know how it went. ate dinner...laid on the floor and watched some t.v. and chit chatted with mom and dad.

then i read the instructions and noticed that i am supposed to be working my way up to walking for a half hour. so this morning we woke up and had some breakfast, then mom and i went for a walk with the boys. they're not used to walking with two people and they get more tangled up that way, but it was good. so i showed mom around the complex. i probably could've walked longer, i am not tired or hurting, but everyone keeps saying don't over do it. well, i don't think i am...we walked for about 20-25 minutes-not fast, but it felt pretty good.

the boys did well, and we will probably take another short walk this afternoon-stir crazy

the hardest part is that i am only supposed to sit from 20-30 minutes at a time and only 3-4 times a day, so i will have to finish this later (or from a laying position).

a few days ago i was getting ready to throw something down the garbage disposal, when i looked down and found this little guy that kinda' creeped me out:

i saw the little green shute poking it's little head up through the opening...

 in my head were visions from little shop of horrors!
 
 i was shocked that the little guy could survive in the garbage disposal, then a little grossed out at the thought that it did...then i thought, hmm. if there were a nuclear holocaust and i needed to grow my own vegetables....actually, i think it was one of the chia seeds.

ok, back to resting for a bit,
julie

cutting it close at the grocery store and being a good human

first day back-thought i was up at 8:30, and time seemed to go by really fast when i looked at my computer clock...i had forgotten to change the microwave clock when i got back. so i was actually up at 9:30, and time was not, in fact, flying by before my very eyes. good thing.

and when i got on the scale this morning, i thought i had gained more weight than i did over the weekend....shea makes me eat things that are bad for me. (but in all fairness, we ate some things that were good for us as well, and she let me talk her into putting ground flax seed into her smoothie!) so i was pretty thrilled about that. and i wouldn't have it any other way!

we walked for a bit today and then i debated on whether to walk up to tom thumb or drive, so i walked. i took my recyclable bag and bought some of the necessities. i needed my veggies, fruit and salmon. when i got up to the cash register, i had only put $34 in my pocket because i didn't want to take my bag with me. so i was watching very closely as the gal was ringing everything up. so when it got up to 31.54, i only had one thing left to ring up and i asked her to price check it first-$1.50....i did it! i was within a dollar of my allotment! so i got the blackberries!

as i was leaving the store, there was a young guy sitting on the brick wall outside by the grilling mesquite wood and as i walked by, i was taking my jacket off to tie around my waste because it was warm out, and he said, "excuse me, miss, do you have a couple bucks? i'm trying to get enough money to buy some groceries."  i told him i had no money left, finished tying my jacket and then grabbed the 80 cents in change and went back and gave it to him and wished him good luck-i should've offered him some of my veggies or something. hindsight.

i was very happy that i had remembered to grab the remote gate opener from the car before i left so that i wouldn't have to wander down to the pedestrian gate...i guess i could've used the access pad...again, hindsight...next time!

nothing fancy

when i got home chaco found something and was chewing on it and i knew it wasn't food, so i tried to get it from his mouth. afterward our discussion was something like this:
chaco: why are you always sticking your hand in my mouth?
me: why are you always putting stuff into it that doesn't belong?
chaco: because i'm a dog and that's what we do.
me: well, i'm your human, and that's what good humans do.
chaco: good humans put their hands in others' mouths?
cannot wait for tomorrow-another beautiful day of spring break! i have some drawing that i must finish, but perhaps i can do that outside!
julie