A pretty darn good day

I got to sleep in some this morning.  I originally intended to get up around 8, but I ended up sleeping until 9.  That was fine though.  I got up and filled my car with gas and then found a car wash that I was able to go through quickly.  I then went to Walmart to get just enough stuff to get my by until payday which is Wednesday.  I picked up a few packets of dog and cat food and a few frozen meals for lunches.  After that I cam home and mowed my lawn (again) and then did some house cleaning and put together another set of shelves.  I have just one more to do and my bookshelves will be ready for me to unpack all my books.  I then got ready to head to Six Flags for some coasters.  My friend Brent came around 3:00 and we headed to the park.  It took about 30 minutes to drive across town.  We went inside and then rode a fairly tame coaster to begin with, then headed to Superman.  It was a great ride as always.  We then rode Goliath, Poltergeist and then Superman again.  I bought a picture of me and Brent on the coaster and looked for some Marvin the Martian things but didn’t find anything I didn’t have to have.  We left the park around 6:30 and headed downtown for dinner.  It seems tonight was some kind of “Zombie Walk” but we were able to find parking and then we went to the Menger bar for a top shelf margarita.  From there we went to the Riverwalk and walked until we found a place to eat.  I can’t remember the name of the place – but it served Mexican food so we had another margarita and I ordered fajitas and he had a chile relleno.  The food was really good and I was completely stuffed.  We walked back to the car and drove back to my place.  I had a wedding gift to give him that I hadn’t before so I gave it to him.  He headed home and now I’m heading to bed very soon.  It was a really nice day spent with a good friend.  Just an FYI – Brent is my friend from high school who just married his boyfriend Leo, but Leo is still living in Minneapolis at the moment. 

Tomorrow is inservice meetings so that means I have to get to school early to set up the projector, ELMO (visual presenter), and a computer.  It’s going to be a busy week in the library.  I have two classes coming in Tuesday, then on Wednesday I have a monthly meeting.  Thursday are two more classes and I can’t remember what’s going on Friday.  I’m still loving the job so I can’t complain too much at this point.  The only down thing right now is that the library guy hasn’t replied to my last email yet.  Not sure if he’s been busy this weekend and hasn’t had a chance or what.  Guess I’ll wait and see.  Maybe I should call him??  For now, I’ve got to get these contacts out and get to bed!

A pajama kind of day

It’s 6:00 p.m. and I haven’t changed out my pajamas all day.  I tried to sleep in some, but with animals wanting in and out this morning it was difficult.  So I got up and made some cinnamon twists that I had in the fridge.  They were pretty yummy.  I had them with half a cup of coffee (with lots of cream and sugar).  I’ve mostly sat around and watched t.v. today.  I did finally get one of my shelves put together.  I’m going to try to get two more put together this evening.  I’m also going to clean a little since I’ll have company tomorrow.  I think we’re going to go to the park in the afternoon and then go have dinner and drinks downtown. 

I think I might just get dressed to at least go pick up something for dinner.  It’s back to some slim pickings around here. 

A busy day in the library

So much for the relaxing few days I had.  But then again, I do like staying busy.  Today I had students coming in to take make up tests, students using the lab, and three English classes that still had to have their orientations.  Students are figuring out that they need to have passes before school and that is making my job easier.  The scavenger hunts seemed to be a hit again.  Surprisingly, even one of the teachers helping her ESL students had some issues doing the hunt.  It might be something good to have the teachers do sometime. 

The library guy emailed me again.  He even emailed me late last night because the time stamp on the email was after 2:00 a.m.  He said that he would be happy to show me around San Antonio.  Hopefully that is a promising sign.  I guess if we do meet and such that I should come up with a pseudonym for him at some point. 

Not sure what my plan for tomorrow is.  I kind of want to go to a bookstore.  I guess I’ll figure it out in the morning.  On Sunday, my friend Brent from Austin is going to come down and we’re going to Fiesta Texas.  I finally get to ride some coasters!  Woo hoo!

Earthquake?

Sometimes I feel out of touch with things going on in the world.  I find out about the death of major people only when someone mentions it on facebook.  I was on CNN tonight checking up on events and read that there was supposedly an earthquake 50 miles south-southeast of San Antonio around 7:20 this morning.  They said that people in SA felt it.  I certainly didn’t.  I was probably in my bathroom putting on makeup or doing my hair at that point and I didn’t feel anything.  I’m kind of disappointed. 

In other news, the email conversations with the librarian guy here seems to be going well.  This is kind of surprising to me.  I know I can be a negative Nelly, but the way it usually works (if I contact the guy first), they respond out of kindness and then it fizzles within about two emails.  This guy, however, writes rather lengthy emails with anecdotal stories and has so far responded just about daily.  And in the last email he gave me his number and said that I could call if I wanted.  I’m probably going to be too shy to call at this point, but I gave him my number in the last email so maybe he’ll call me. 

I talked to my sister and dad last night and they are going to go to Vegas during Thanksgiving with Josh and I.  It will be great to have family there. 

Blurbs

The great coffee experiment

So I’ve discovered that the milder roasts of coffee with lots of creamer and sugar isn’t too bad.  I actually had a cup on Monday when I woke up pretty tired and it did seem to help.  I still haven’t finished a full cup, but I got pretty close.  So we’ll see how it goes.  I may become a coffee drinker yet.

The Animals

They are still hit or miss on the potty training.  My schedule can be erratic so it’s difficult to get it work.  Sometimes they use the wee wee pads, sometimes they don’t.  I should probably ask my rental company if the homeowners would let me install a pet door.  That would help with sleeping at night as well.

Work

Work has actually been rather slow this week.  Yesterday it was so quiet that I had to put on music.  I even started a new blog just for my library ramblings.  I plan to cover books, technology things, and helpful information for students and teachers.

Dating

I haven’t talked to the guy I went on with once in a few weeks now.  I wasn’t all that interested so it doesn’t bother me.  Now I’m emailing a guy locally who is a librarian.  I also have email conversations going with a guy that lives in Washington state.  Other than that, nothing going on in my love life these days. 

Out and about

I enjoyed sleeping in this morning.  I got up around 10 and took a shower and got ready to go out.  I headed out around 11:15 to a shopping area that has lots of restaurants and a movie theater.  I at lunch at a Greek restaurant and the food was really good.  Then I headed over to the theater and watched “The Help.”  It was a good movie as well.  I really enjoyed getting out and going to the movies – even if I did it alone.  I was surprised that the small theater was as full as it was.  I know the movie has been showing a while, but there was a pretty good sized crowd there.  Mostly older people, but a variety.  After the movie, I went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond and looked around.  I bought a towel rack for the kitchen and a small coffee sample back of a lighter roast coffee to see if it helps in my quest to become a coffee drinker.  I haven’t tried since last weekend so I plan have a cup in the morning.  From there I headed up north and went shopping at Kohl’s.  I tried on several things and couldn’t really find anything that I loved.  I almost bought a pair of pants, but I talked myself out of it when I found shoes on sale instead.  I bought two pair of shoes (though I really don’t “need” more shoes).  After that I headed over to another part of town and picked up a steak burrito from Chipotle for supper.  I got it to go and came home to eat it.  It was a little cold when I got here, but it was still good.  Now I’m a little bored.  There’s not much on t.v. and I don’t have anything I want to do online either.  I guess I could start a book.  Or I could just go to bed early.  I’m enjoying my second beer right now, so I may fall asleep pretty soon. 

Tomorrow’s plan is to go to the store, clean house, practice my clarinet, and probably watch some t.v.  No promise that I’ll get any of this done, but we’ll see.  Oh, I have to mow the yard yet again.  Ugh. 

Another weekend

Today was spent at a meeting regarding positive behavior interventions.  It’s basically strategies for maintaining discipline.  I was asked to participate in the meeting.  I think it is because they don’t have to get a sub for me when I’m gone.  But I think they also kind of like me as well.  It’s always hard to replace another person who has been a fixture within a school, but I think they realize that I have a lot to be bring to the job. 

I’m making some changes regarding the library.  I appreciate that I have a lot of students that want to be in the library before school, but it is getting hard to manage.  Most of the boys have been gunning to be one of the first four to play games on the computer.  But then we had a student that had a backpack stolen.  Then I’ve also been overwhelmed with just the numbers.  I have to deal with checking in books, checking them out, monitoring students coming and going and it is a lot to handle.  So now I’m implementing a requirement that students have a pass before school.  They can pick one up the day before from me or a teacher.  The computers also are going to be a positive behavior incentive.  I’m hoping this will alleviate some of the issues I’ve been dealing with.  Of course I’m still happy that students are excited to visit, but I certainly want them to actually use the library.  I have been checking out a lot of books though.  I hope they keep it up.

After our meeting today I went to the payroll office to get my paycheck issue resolved.  I had to fill out yet another form to get the check deposited in my local bank account – although the next check will still go into the account back in Canyon.  I came home and the house was quiet.  I didn’t hear Mollie barking like she usually does.  I couldn’t figure it out.  Then I opened the back door and it turns out that I had left Mollie outside.  Boy did she let me have it.  I certainly didn’t mean to.  I remember hastily shutting the back door this morning to keep Lucy from getting out, but I guess I didn’t realize that Mollie was still out there.  She was fine, but I did feel bad.  I let her yell at me and I gave her some extra love. 

I’ve spent the evening watching episodes of Psych and Monk.  I have such an exciting life.  Tomorrow I’m thinking of going to the movies.  By myself.  And maybe some shopping.  I feel the need to get out of the house. 

Ready for November

I’m not necessarily looking forward to another birthday next month, but I’m looking forward to the fact that I’ll get to spend some time with Josh.  He’s going to come back to San Antonio the weekend of the 12th so we can go to dinner and celebrate our birthdays.  The weekend before that, he’s going back to Canyon to see his girlfriend and go to the high school musical.  We are also going to Vegas for Thanksgiving.  We’ve both purchased our airline tickets.  I’ve reserved the hotel and he has bought show tickets for Penn & Teller.  I’m starting to feel more of a sense of loneliness here.  I’m making new acquaintances at work and in band, but can’t say I’ve developed any friendships yet.  I do miss my friends back home.  I haven’t heard from Marty or Matthew or really anyone lately.  It’s not horrible, because I’m kind of a loner of sorts and most of the time I don’t mind being alone.  I guess I’m missing a few of the connections I used to have.  I know it takes time to develop those connections so I just need to be patient.

Nothing more to report really.  Going to work.  Come home.  Make dinner.  Watch t.v.  I did finish reading “The Help.”  Now I guess I need a new book.  I should find some things in my library to read so I can start making more recommendations to students.

Back to library stuff

Finally no orientations this week.  I did have classes in the library and lab today, but nothing that I had to really help with.  I did some work on the website, shelved books, and set up a Halloween display of scary books to read.  These middle school kids really like the scary books.  Tomorrow we have another campus visit and the library is reserved for the visitors in the afternoon.  I’ve learned my lesson and I’ll be working in my office while they’re here – rather than get kicked out of my own library.  I stayed late setting up the display today.  I think it turned out pretty well considering that it’s my first.  The previous librarian left all her seasonal decorations.  I think she probably decorated more of the library, but I just did a display of books to read.   I don’t have much more to share so I’ll leave you with pictures of my book display.

A Rainy Sunday

Well the rain came in last night around 3 in the morning and it’s still raining.  There was a pretty good thunderstorm around 3 that kept me and the animals up for a while.  Normally thunderstorms bother me a little, but I think this house is more insulated because it didn’t seem as bad.  It could also be that my bed isn’t under a window like at the last house.  I fell back to sleep around 4-something I think, but then I slept intermittently after that with Lucy wanting outside, then wanting in, the animals being antsy, and hearing random bursts of thunder.  I’m glad I mowed the front yesterday – it is way too wet today.  Today is grocery day for me so I took a shower and then headed to Walmart around 11:00.  It was still raining pretty good, but I wanted to beat the church crowds.  I got groceries including stuff to make chili (without beans) and rice for supper.  That’s my comfort food on a rainy day.  I thought about going out today and watching a movie, but I think I’m just going to curl up on the couch and watch t.v. instead.