bomb factory

I have a knack for picking great places to live and work.  Have you heard about the bomb factory house in San Diego?  Specifically Escondido, roughly a mile from my school?  Well if you haven't, here are some nice links for you.  We are on lockdown tomorrow while the house burns.  With no heating or air-conditioning.  Should be pretty awesome.

'Bomb Factory' Evacuations

Burn to Proceed

party dress

I am a little sad I don't get to go to a fancy holiday party this year.

Two years ago my work party was at this swanky hotel downtown.

Last year it was a dinner cruise around the bay.

I don't have a reason to wear a fancy party dress this year.

 I just might pull a Monica/Phoebe/Rachel and get dressed up at 

home and have my own party - for 1.

*Minute 1:07 is where it gets really funny.*

i made it!

That's right kids, I made it to my first holiday break.  And not a moment too soon.  I've been 90% unproductive since Friday at 4:00.  A lot of laziness with the intention to stop being lazy.  Intention is worth something, right?  I am finally emerging from my laziness.  I even set a goal for one thing I need to accomplish everyday of vacation.

• Yesterday - clean my room - CHECK!
• Today - finish the home work that was due two weeks ago - I'll do it when I'm done blogging (master of procrastination).
• And that is it so far...baby steps people.  Baby steps.

One more thought before I get moving on that homework....  Last week in my Primary class we talked about service.  Today one of my Primary kids raised his hand and said, "I like to sit on my sister's head and fart."  Apparently we need to go over what it means to "serve".  He is probably my favorite.

Good night!!

ks;m,cxx (translation=i'm tired)

tired.  oy.  shoulda known sitting down would be a bad move. what a long week (already). two more days then a holiday. phew.  a really un-fun way to start a week? a 2.5 hour meeting where you say the words, "your child falls far below the average range for his age." bah.  someone bring me a icy treat of some kind. i will give you a million bones.  or an iou. either way i'm good for it.

'take yo money' joe's

Want to know what happens when you go to Trader Joe's with out an agenda??  This is what happens...

You, or maybe just me, begin throwing anything that sounds good, into your cart.  And get a look at what I came home with (among other things)...Sparkling Clementine Juice, Brie, Peach Blueberry Panna Cotta...and a bajillion pounds of beef....CLEARLY all necessities.

Team Dan & Sarah

September 18th was a beautiful day for Team Sarah.  Our Sarah got married!!  So happy I was able to make it.  Team Sarah has been cheering for Team Dan & Sarah for a looooong time.  Congrats Dan & Sarah!  And as Candy Apples would say, "Welcome to the Wolf Pack Dan."

Getting ready for the big day!  

This made me laugh, Candy looks like she is palming a basketball.

The Mr. & Mrs.

Circa 2006                             Circa Now 

Team Sarah 2010 - Look at how we've grown *sniff*

Newest addition to the wolf pack - Mr. Shurtz.

I'm so excited I can't keep my eyes open.

Congrats, love you guys!

                                              

birthday #22

I've made the decision to start over with my twenties.  I feel good about it.  To welcome birthday #22 (again) I took a trip to Utah.  Lucky for me my birthday landed on a holiday so I was able to take a long weekend.  It all started with an upgrade to First Class on my flight out there.  Hard to top First Class but things only got better from there...

Friday:  Meals on wheels at Sarah's - Friday night is the best!

Saturday:  Boating, after boating enchiladas at Loco Lizard, Birthday dinner with Sandy & Sarah at Donovan's (which included one of the funniest comments ever made).

Sunday:  Baby Andrew's blessing & family gathering.

Monday:  Breakfast crepes by Dad, brunch with Danielle at Ruth's, pedi's with Sandy & Sarah

....thanks everyone for making it a great birthday weekend!  Love to all.

Maria towel - kept me extra safe

Me & KK - our boatess (boat hostess)

Nice shot.

The Hoff on his way to rescue Sandy.

I have mad skills...or maybe I can just get up...

Hipstamatic

Birthday dinner with 2 of my favorite lizzadies.

catch up 2

As of August 15th, this is where I spend most of my waking hours...

...North Broadway Elementary School.  Woot woot!  I keep forgetting to take a picture so instead I snatched* this one of the Principal and some random students off the school website.  Long story short, I was set to do student teaching, applied for a few jobs just for kicks, got the first one I interviewed for and life has since turned into a game of constant catch up.

Oh how special education has changed.  I could go on for a while, instead I'll just share with you what my title is and you'll get the picture.  I am not a teacher, I am a Specialized Academic Instructor - Self Contained or SAI-SC for short.  I have 7 students (all boys!) and 3 assistants and NEVER have a dull moment.  Love those 7 little nuggets, behaviors and all.  

I have still managed to get in a little fun.  Stay tuned for update 3...

*This picture does have special significance for my class.  One of my students ripped it off the wall in the school library....as the librarian was screaming in horror...which of course made two other kids start screaming.  Such fun!!! (really!)

catch up 1

Last time I wrote about setting off the school alarm.  Life kicked into turbo mode just after that and I'm just now coming up for air.  I'll try to catch up.

Mid-August brought my momma to town for a visit.  I picked her up from the airport bright and early and we headed for some breakfast at Richard Walkers.  After that the schedule included these activities: naps, pedicures, Disneyland (where we met up with Brent & family), fish tacos, ice cream, Coronado, Seaport Village, and the beach.  It was so fun having her in town and showing her around my favorite spots.  So impressed with her bravery at trying fish tacos for the first time!  xoxox, miss you!

San Diego skyline

Pedicured toes & Coronado golden sand

Hotel Del

Rockets at Dland

First Disneyland family photo

More catching up to come...

first impression

Did I mention I got a job?  And that I have all boys in my class?  And that I am a little freaked out but mostly super excited?  Well I am...

I managed to make a grrrreat first impression with my principal on Saturday.  I went to my new classroom on Saturday to rearrange some furniture since I won't be able to do much this week.  What I forgot* to do was get the security code for the school.  Ooops.  I set off the silent alarm and had security show up.

Way to go Miss Katie!!!

Poor security guard was scared to death and shook like a leaf as he examined my id.  After he got his wits back about him he shared his dream of one day becoming a security guard instructor.  You know, to help make the profession more respectable.  I didn't have the heart to tell him being a fraidy cat didn't help things.

Oh, and I can't wait to explain myself to my principal next week.

*When I say forgot, I mean it didn't occur to me there would be a code

a mormon, a jew and a jelly fish

Much to my chagrin, one of my favorite people in San Diego moved to Northern Ireland last week.  She moved to marry the love of her life so I can't really blame her for moving, right?  A few days before she left we met for Pho and then went to check out the jelly fish infested bay. 

Crazy huh??

   Jamey eating some jelly fish...

Me trying some jelly fish (looking less convincing)

They were EVERYWHERE!

Good luck in Ireland Miss Jamey!!  Anyone want to go visit in 2011?  

Until then I'll have to find myself another Jewish sidekick...  

my little elvis

One of the first kiddos I worked with when I moved to San Diego was this cute little nugget I'll call Elvis.  It is after all, his middle name.  

He and his family packed up and moved to Atlanta this week.  It was kinda sad saying goodbye to some of my San Diego family but I am excited for the adventures and opportunities that await them in Atlanta.  While his parents packed and cleaned this week, I was able to hang out with him and his little sister.  Here are a few of my favorite conversations with him:

Me:  Elvis, do you like my toes?

Elvis:  Oh yes.  I never before have seen such beautiful toes as your toes with sparkle.

Elvis: Katie, you are important to me.

Katie:  Elvis, you are important to me too!  

Go ahead...awwwww!

As I am helping him wipe after pooping

Elvis:  You are just doing a great job! 

Me:  Thanks Elvis.

Me:  What should I draw? 

Elvis: A cute little mouse, a rat and a skunk.

Me:  Okay but I don't like rats and skunks.

Me drawing requested pictures

Me:  Here you go.  Skunks stink.

Elvis:  But this skunk has candy in his butt if you'd like to try some.

Me laughing

Elvis:  I love your art!  It is pretty and its gorgeous!

All of my hair flipped so it hides my face

Me:  Elvis, look!

Elvis:  Hee hee hee!  You look like a wookie!

Me:  Hahahahaha!  

Elvis:  Do it again!  PLEEEEEAAASE!!!

I will miss the train noises you make (disguised vocal stims), sweet comments, funny comments, crazy conversations with your mom and all of those big hugs.  Good luck little man!!

team sarah

I had the opportunity to take a last minute trip to Utah last weekend to spend some quality time with team Sarah.  Love and miss these girls much!  It was great being together and laughing a lot.  The one thing I still miss quite often is all of my good girlfriends in Utah.  Thanks for a great weekend ladies!

Go team Sarah!!!

rockaway beach

One of my favorite family vacation spots is the Oregon Coast.  Several years ago my aunt and uncle bought into a house on Rockaway Beach.  Since that time we have travelled up there almost every 2-3 years.  I love it there.  It is full of comfort and family memories.  Oh and it is beautiful!!  It is the perfect combination of country, mountains and ocean.  The smell of farms, pine trees and salty sea air are all within 15 minutes of each other.  Ahhhh!!!

This year most of my family made it up to Oregon.  My little brother and his family were waiting for the arrival of the newest family member (you can check him out here, can't wait to meet him!).  We were sad they couldn't make it but happy for the new arrival.

Here are some highlights from the trip...

*801 Pacific Ave*

*Twin Rocks - Rockaway Landmark*

*Scooping up tiny fishies*

*Checking out mussel covered driftwood washed ashore at low tide*

*Writing "Drew Barrymore" in the sand to keep Dustin down at the beach.  

Note his beloved Whip It held tightly in his hand.  

It went EVERYWHERE with him.*

*Oregon Coast necessities:  swim suit, sun glasses, hoodie, cute niece....

and Diet Coke w/a fresh lime*

*Dustin:  Get the sand OFF my feet and out of my shoes!

Me:  Really Dust?  You are still on the sand...but okay...*

*Almost all the Johnsons*

*Don't you all do cartwheels at the beach?*

*Me and my other two cute nieces, miss them*

*And that is all folks!*

sun love

On Friday my roommate and I were laying out in the backyard (this is where I study, really).  A helicopter began circling our neighborhood.  After the 3rd time I wondered what the problem was and watched it circle a 4th time.  I looked at my roommate, shrugged my shoulders and went back to reading.  After the 5th or 6th circling a loud speaker sounded with this message, "...male suspect, 45 years old, no shirt, long hair seen in this area..."  We looked at each other, ran inside and locked the doors.  I checked online and turned the TV on for news of a fugitive on the run.  Nothing.  So what did we do?  Headed back outside to get some more sun.  10 minutes later the helicopter circled again and gave the same message.  This time I was on the phone so I had to go inside to hear.  While inside I noticed police cars patrolling our neighborhood.  Then came the debate: continue laying out in the glorious sun, risking a fugitive jumping the fence to get us OR coming inside where we were sure to avoid the fugitive.  

Solution:  grab some mace for each of us and continue basking in the sun.  Priorities and necessities.

my people

**WARNING: Sappy post ahead.  Stop reading now if sappiness makes you want to vomit.**

Ever stop to notice how the friends you make in adulthood are the friends you have for life?  Growing up we become friends with people because of proximity, school class, church, etc.  While we of course have similar interests with these young friends, the friends we have in adulthood we have chosen.  These friendships have lasted through ups and downs of life, disagreements with each other, and distance.  I dare say that for the single adult, these friendships become even more important.  Friends become family.

2-3 weeks ago I found myself thinking of my friends.  Those I left behind in Utah and those I've made in San Diego.  These are what I like to call "my people."  As I was driving between clients and thinking of my people, my eyes would well up with tears of happiness and gratitude for having such great people in my life.  Then I would laugh at myself for being so mushy.  A few days later, through an unfortunate diagnosis of a dear friend, these feelings were magnified 100 times.

Here is a look at some of my people who have been on my mind recently:

Slideshow generated with Smilebox

mon pere

A few things that remind me of mon pere:

baseball fields

ice cream

finding sand dollars while walking on the beach

paper routes

coconut (ha ha!)

barbeque grills

lionel richie (can you guess why??)

tools

Happy Father's Day to the one I compare all others too!

See you in 6 days for a walk on the beach at low tide.

xoxo

little red

*Pre-ride*

My goal for 2010 was to complete a century bike ride. CHECK!

The first weekend of June I drove, yes, DROVE to Utah to ride in the Little Red Riding Hood century up in Cache Valley. I signed up with two friends but they both had to pull out at the last minute due to a family event and injury. Lucky for me one of my old San Diego roommates, who now lives in Park City, was up for the challenge. I also met up with an old boss from Intermountain Healthcare who I adore and who rides it every year. It took 8 hours (that includes lunch and breaks!) which was a long time of looking at dairy farms. It was a beautiful day! I can say that running a marathon is harder than riding 100 miles. Though my knees may disagree.

I drove all the way back to San Diego the day after the race. Quick trip but worth it for checking off my big goal for the year.

*100 miles - done!*

Next year Ironman 70.3 in Kona???? Any takers?????

dawn squared

In May I had another special visitor. Oy, did I say May? I meant April. Time flies, really it must because I swear she was just here. This little lady and I share the same middle name. I am pretty certain that means we will be friends F-O-R-E-V-E-R. Love having my friends come visit. Some of you should try it sometime. Highlights of Dawn #1's visit include breakfast at Cody's in La Jolla (highly recommend this), shopping, and riding around Coronado on a beautiful day (and napping on the Marriott Resort lawn). Thanks for coming to visit little lady!

La Jolla Cove - smokin' shades!

San Diego skyline (part of it anyway...) from Coronado

momma

I bought you a card months ago (really!) but it won't be in the mail until tomorrow. Good thing you are several hundred miles from home. I hope you were taken care of on your day. So, so, SO happy to say that you are the PERFECT mom for ME! I don't think anyone else could have done the momma job I needed. I love when my friends first meet you and tell me I'm just like you. Especially when you are acting a little silly :)

XOXOXO

See you Saturday.

ragnar revisited

A few years ago I ran the Wasatch Back with some friends.

It was great.

It also took a few years before I could agree to doing it again.

***************

This weekend I ran the Southern California Ragnar.

200 miles from Ventura to Dana Point.

It was fun.

And exhausting.

Maybe in a few years I'll run another.

Maybe.