DAY OFF!!!

To Do Today on my Day Off:

-Listen to Weekend Edition/Car Talk/Wait Wait Don't Tell Me (would be easier if they weren't doing a fund drive and making me feel like a horrible person! I swear I'll be a sustaining member as soon as I'm sure I have enough funds to sustain myself!)

-Drink my coffee slowly (microwaving multiply times if necessary) and relish the homemade pancakes Caley so kindly created before he went on his bike ride.

-Perhaps get outside for a bike ride, perhaps just a commuter ride to the store...and maybe downtown

-Purchase thank you cards, and write in them.

And...that's about it. I would go get a notarized copy of my passport for the teacher licensing program application, but I don't think the notary is there on Saturdays. I would also call the insurance company again, but they are definitely not there on Saturdays. What about FedEx? Are they there on Saturdays? I think so...they left a note saying they'd be back for three more consecutive days on Wednesday, but they haven't come back yet, so not sure what's going on there.

Anyway, last night was the Letter D! I made daiquiris! Strawberry, Mango, and ManBerry (strawberry and mango together if that wasn't clear). I LOVE the new cookbook Caley got for Christmas! It has a whole section on cocktails, and we've made several incredible dinners out of it including Hoison Glazed Salmon on a bed of bokchoy sauteed in garlic and ginger. Simply delicious! The homemade pancakes this morning were out of it as well, buttermilk I believe (although, we don't have buttermilk, and I'm not sure what the substitution was because I was still in bed). Other dishes in attendance were: homemade donuts from Erick and Julia, rotisserie "duck" (actually chicken, from Sunflower, which I made earlier that day...) from Trevor, dark chocolate covered almonds from Adam, deviled eggs from Kelly and Aaron, dirt and worms (chocolate pudding and gummy worms and oreos) from James and Mia, doritos of course from Alex, feta and red pepper Dip, and some other delicious things I am forgetting.

Here we are watching the Roomba in action

The Epic game of Jungle Speed (crazy French card game that always draws blood)

And us, after everyone left at a beautifully decent hour of 11:30pm, I like chill parties, I enjoy going to bed before midnight!

By the way, you might notice the improved quality of photos! Thanks to Caley's Auntie Marie for the new lenses! They were a BIG upgrade!

One last picture, yesterday I rode my bike to work at 7:30 in the morning, it was a super foggy day, everything was frosted, it was a lovely invigorating ride! Then I did a double shift and didn't leave until 7pm...that was not invigorating.

Productivity!

I am so productive these days!

Yesterday I did laundry, dishes, went to campus to meet with an adviser, picked up a prescription, mailed back a phone, went shopping (twice!), and went for a bike ride with the girls. Whew!

Today I put away all the laundry, did more dishes, and filled out most of the application for the teacher licensing program at CSU! I was going to go buy thank you cards...but took a nap instead...Speaking of thank you cards, they WILL be done before the end of January!!!!!!!!!!!!! Next on the list is work, 3:30 till 10pm and I have to close by myself, could be a little scary, or just mean that I'll be there until like 10:30 to get everything done. I wonder when I'll get paid for the first time. After that I'll know it's every two weeks, but there's always a lag when you start a new job.

In other news, Sebastian is now the proud owner of a giant play palace. We inherited the homemade colossal cat contraption from Alex and Julia. It takes up a substantial amount of space in our living/dining area, but he really loves it...so we'll probably keep it:)
Teacher licensing is pretty simple if you're a post bachelor candidate. The only class I have to take other than the education courses, is GEOL 120 which is quite humorous because its the exact same class Caley took last semester! Too bad I didn't sign up for it with him just for fun! :) Apparently it's known as Rocks for Jocks for good reason....I am allowed to take it here or at Front Range, so depending on how the cost of tuition and other things add up I might do that instead of at CSU. I'm hoping I can apply for some scholarships and grants and things to get most of my costs covered. I'd really like to avoid getting loans, but that might not be possible, especially if I won't be able to work while I'm in school....BUT I'm getting ahead of myself. Kind of.

I think I'll get the application turned in sometime next week, and then work on some financial aid stuff in the coming months, and hopefully by April I'll be able to make a decision. If I decide to wait, and not go back until next Fall, it would take me two years to complete the program, but if I go back this summer, I will be done only one semester after Caley. Sooo many things to think about!

Anyway, one more pic of the kitty for your enjoyment :)

The New Job!

Well, I have two days under my belt, and I can definitely say, this job is going to teach me to be the best multitasker ever!

I am working in the deli for now, they said something about me being trained for the bakery and possibly cashier as well, but I haven't heard anything more about that yet. I wouldn't mind being in the bakery once in awhile, I don't think they deal as much with customers, just baking :) The customers have actually been really nice. I like when people smile at my weird sense of humor, and I don't have a problem being cheerful all day, go figure eh? I think it's because I don't have time to go into blood sugar debt, literally, there is no time to even think about anything except the next dish to prepare, or the next customer to help. I can't believe how busy it was today! For the last three to four hours, there was a customer at the counter pretty much constantly. As the newbie, I can cover most of this pretty well, learning how to make all of the prepackaged dinners and lunches and stuff will take awhile longer. My ONLY complaint so far is the hours on my feet! I've been wearing my skins, and tried out some more supportive shoes today (first day was tennis shoes, they seem a little worn out...) and that seemed to help. However, I see a lot of leg rubs in Caleys' future:) I'll reciprocate of course, bike riding is hard too :)

By the end of the week, I'll be at around 33 hrs, so not quite full time, but to work another day would be pretty brutal. I think I'll just try to supplement with some hours down at the club helping them with their filing stuff. I'm still pretty bitter about the substitute stuff not working out :( Oh well, next school year I'll be all set to go and sign up for the first orientation they have!! I also want to keep riding my bike a decent amount. It will be hard to motivate after work, but as it gets lighter later hopefully I can just suck it up and do it!

Here is a pic of me on my first break yesterday :) I look kind of dorky :)









And here's one of how we spend our evenings; I am on the couch and yell, "What are you doing in there?" Caley replies from the kitchen, "Oh, just reading primary documents and stirring fudge." I'm excited for the fudge!

This is what I do with my mornings, at least for the time being....











Hopefully today I'll get a job though! Stay tuned for the full update later this evening, keep fingers crossed for good news!

Ok, update time: To date, my list of attempts to get a hold of the substitute coordinator include, 2 phone calls with two voice messages left, 2 emails, 1 visit to her office where I was turned away by the front desk lady, never even made it through the door. I have been informed that there is no possible way to attend the LAST substitute orientation for this school year. There is apparently a slim possibility that there will be one in the spring...but not in time for there to be any actual subbing done obviously. My strategies for trying to weasel my way in include, showing up just in case someone else doesn't show up, emailing all the science teachers in the district for an endorsement or something, or getting on a list at the very least so I can be contacted if someone cancels! The response to these strategies? (mind you, this is only from the front desk lady, the substitute coordinator has not responded to any of my inquiries, at all) WE DON'T DO IT THAT WAY. Point blank. No sugar coating it, no sorry...more in the lines of , "She's already had 12 this year..." To me, this suggests that she thinks I am a lazy, spoiled, slacker or something. NOT TRUE!!!! My thinking on this subjects remains, what harm is there in me just showing up in case??? I understand that they lack space and resources or whatever their reasons are, but wouldn't someone not showing up be a waste of that space and those resources????? I'm sooooooo frustrated!!!!!! I put sooo much into this process, and even obtained two letters of recommendation from two wonderful sources, and you all know how hard it is for me to ask for this kind of stuff......PLUS, I got word today that my actual license has been issued and is active and valid for another three years :( I'm super bummed that this isn't working out for me. I'm more just pissed off that the substitute coordinator isn't showing me the common courtesy of calling or emailing me back, even if it's just to say that none of this is possible :( grrrrrr grrrrrraoinaweofija efoiaew[i so frustrated!!!! It makes me not want to work for Poudre School district at all if this is the kind of treatment I can expect from them.

So, I'm thinking about going down to Greeley for their sub orientation which is next Thursday and doesn't require a reservation, and doesn't require letters of reference (at least at this point). However, if I get a job at Sunflower Farmers Market, I might not even be able to go down to do that! I guess I could just ask for that day off (and Feb. 6th for defensive driving...) I won't know about Sunflower until Monday though, so maybe a miracle of miracles will happen and I'll hear back from Poudre District. Doubtful.

I am pretty excited about Sunflower though. It sounds like I would probably get full time hours, starting at $8/hr which isn't bad...but isn't great...so perhaps supplementing with one day a week substituting or working down at the club might help with that. Plus, you get 20% off at the store on non-sale items, and benefits after working there for awhile. It's the perfect job for where I am right now (less perfect that subbing...but oh well...) It will definitely pay the bills and save us a ton on groceries! Fingers crossed!!

I'll let you know what happens:)

Wish List of Stuff I Want Volume I (leaving room for later volumes)

An accurate bathroom scale to further the cyclists obsession with weight

Redken Ringlet hair styling cream stuff...it worked when the stylist used it! It will work for me too!

Nice smelly candles for the house, sometimes the cat (and the boy...) can be a little stinky :)

A good blender for all those mixed drinks we make, ha, more like for recovery smoothies!

A KitchenAid Mixer! I can tell there's a super baker inside me just dying to get out!

A Thule roof box, I've always wanted one, never gotten even close to getting one.

The rest of Alex and Julia's furniture to match their couch that we now have.

A leak-proof coffee travel mug. My last one melted in the dishwasher, and yes, it was dishwasher safe!! booooo

A good commuter bike that can get me 10+ miles down the road with all my stuff...so panniers are another thing I want as well :)

Anything out of the Sundance catalog!

While I'm dreaming....A SEMI-PERMANENT JOB PLEASE!!!!

Last Day Blues

Well, vacation has come to an end. Today we pack up and head back to winter in CO. I have mixed feelings of course. I absolutely can't wait to get home, we've been away for almost a month! However, going home means I have to go back to the real world...the world where I'm pretty much unemployed, the world where bills need to be paid, dishes need to be done, laundry piles up, and I have to figure out what exactly it is I'm doing with my life! At least I've got a head start on cycling fitness for the spring/summer season! My goal is to commute by bike every day that the weather allows, and it's getting lighter later, so it should be even easier than it was 2 months ago! As Caley said, "Two hours of commuting a day is more bike riding than you've ever done in your life!" Haha, it's totally true:) Another goal is to be super fast in the USAC races to show T.W. (The Whore) that she wouldn't have been able to beat me if I raced for CSU this season! It's a great motivator.

Anyway, pic of me at Paradise Bakery and Cafe...my choice instead of getting my butt kicked at the super fast group ride the boys are doing this morning:)

Great little Recovery Ride

Riding along a nice little bike path is conducive to taking pictures :)

Century Followed by All You Can Eat Sushi!

Like the title says, we did about 105 miles today, it was a glorious day! Partly cloudy, some sun every once and awhile, my only complaint was the wind, but I just sat on the back of the group all day, so it's not like it was that much of a factor :)

Needless to say, I was toast by the time we got home, snacked, showered, stretched, passed out for a few, and then we went to sushi! Delicious!

Caley and I at the sushi joint...he's not paying attention, but that's kind of normal :)

Rest Day!

Caley and I enjoyed our rest-day evening by watching the sunset at the top of Gates Pass. It was pretty cute, lot's of senior couples enjoying the balmy evening.

After our date, we went by Trader Joes. I'm sad to report my first Trader Joes experience left a lot to be desired. The store had and incredibly poor lay out, it was crowded, it was tiny, and the atmosphere just wasn't there. I had such high expectations! Oh well, I guess if you are looking for a few gourmet things, this might be the place to start, but the selection was pretty underwhelming. :(

Anyway, life is great down here in Tucson with 20 teenage boys...as Caley put it after I had a bit of a cranky day, "You're allowed to be a bit of a butt head when you're living with 20 dudes." :)

One more to satisfy the silly girl in me :)

Lackadaisical Saturday

The boys finally all headed out on their morning bike ride (silly boys, I'm waiting until it warms up to at least 60 or 65...) and I have the house to myself! Lovely! I thoroughly enjoy my Saturday morning rituals: coffee, breakfast, Weekend Edition, laundry and just relaxing. Tucson has been amazingly wonderful! The temps have been hovering in the low 70's, the wind hasn't been too awful, and the new house is awesome!!!! Pool included! Too bad the water is freezing and I didn't bring my swimsuit :) I've been keeping a somewhat low riding profile for the past four days. I really really really didn't want a repeat of last year in Santa Barbara, and so far I haven't had any knee pain! Whoo hoo! Today I think I will do a bit of a repeat of yesterday, we rode this awesome route on the Old Spanish Trail. Swoopy road, some pretty smooth spots (mixed in with horrible falling apart spots...) and a tailwind all the way home. I'm actually looking forward to the ride alone with my ipod, no worries about keeping up and worrying about everyone else getting hit by a car.
Here is a pic taken on the first day, we rode up to the base of Mt. Lemmon just to loosen up a bit, it was glorious!

Whirlwind of adventures!

Well, we barely made it out of New England before Burlington was slammed with 33 inches of new snow!! I think Boston got some out of the storm as well, but definitely not as much. Our plane had to be de-iced before we left, new experience for me, slightly disconcerting, but everything went very smoothly, and we had no problems with travel on the way home.
Our good friend Erick picked us up at the airport, and then picked us up again 36 hrs later to drive down to Tucson, AZ for some warm weather training! Our day at home was spent snugging with the attention starved cat

and doing massive amounts of laundry (most of which were leftovers from before we went East...)

The drive down to Tucson flew by...NOT! But here we are, ready for some fun in the sun!!! Pictures to come :)