The Big NYC

I'm home, guys!

Oh how I miss the big city when I'm not there, and how it feels so weird to know that the city is still moving even though you aren't there. We hit the city in full force.

Tuesday -
Arrived about 5:30, checked in, then hit the city in full force. Was emailing DaninOKC back and forth to try to meet, but he had plans, and we were hungry, so I found a turkish restaurant. The people smelled Mike thought, so we went to a Thai place. Went back to the hotel and watered ourselves at the hotel.

Wednesday -
Mike had breakfast planned with his friend Kat, and I made plans to meet with DaninOKC. Got on the train and headed down to Times Square, then over to Penn Station area. Finally, the 2 of us met on a street corner and made our way to Penn Station so I could nibble on food. We talked a lot about work stuff, heard about each other's adventures, and more. Wished I could have introduced him to Mike so he could give a critique ;-). Glad we got to meet up again after all these years. Here's to meeting again, but not with so many years in between!

Found the BF back at a cafe where his friend had just left. We walked to Central Park and up on the upper east side. Spent the afternoon in Times Square getting tickets for broadway. We saw WarHoarse at Linkin Center. Had a lot of fun beforehand doing some shopping uptown at Century 21 stocking up on ties, before heading to dinner at a Tapas/wine bar. We drank a bottle, then headed to Linkin Center to the expensive restaurant there for a drink - we liked the bar atmosphere as it wasn't pretentious and it was classy. WarHoarse was amazing. The plot was very thin and weak in my opinion, but what redeemed it was the mechanics and choreography with the horses. Back to the hotel for another drink, a toffee Christmasy thingy.

Thursday -
Up and off to SOHO. HAD SOOO MUCH FUN!!! Loved SOHO.  Had breakfast at a french bistro. My new favorite store there is Fish and Eddys. Shopped 5th Avenue and went to Uniqlo where I bought a scarf, then a couple of universities for postcards etc. for my classroom. Headed uptown to the hotel and to get prepped to meet up with friends of Mike's who he was reconnecting with. Met them at our hotel, went to Therapy, the gay bar, for a therapy session where we got to know each other better. Walked down to a Thai place in Hell's Kitchen. Back to the hotel for a drink.

Friday -
Up and ventured to Brooklyn, but turned around when we didn't like the area the train dropped us off in. Went back to Manhattan, found a Russian restaurant, and enjoyed some of Mike's favorite dishes. We walked up to Linkin Center area again for Century 21 and a few other areas. Met up with his friend Kat again for dinner with her 2 friends Mike had met at Thanksgiving. We went to Ching's, the drag queen, show place, for so-so food, and the big bowls of drinks that you all share. We downed 3 between the 5 of us. First time ever for me doing one of those big punch bowl drink things. After, I was insistent we go to a country bar I found on Yelp. Her 2 friends were 2 latino guys who didn't like country, but they played along. We sat, talked, and swayed/danced to a little bit of the stuff.

Cowboy dancing at the country bar

Hate the song, but it was so funny watching a group of gay guys dance to this shaking their asses. The jukebox never played our song, "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?"

Found another bar down the street that was cash only, and we ended up being the center of attention as we danced to random stuff. Went to a diner down the street for breakfast/a smoothie.

Saturday -
Off to Jersey, got a car, then went to his parent's. Grabbed his mom and went to a polish deli. Got grub and then went back to their house. Went to the mall, then his favorite pizza place. Met up with his Friend LaR. DELICIOUS PIZZA. Went to a liquor store and then hotel. We all drank and ate cake in the hotel room. We settled into bed and at 1:50am the fire alarm starting ringing telling us to evacuate. We didn't see any smoke outside the window, so we got up, got dressed, packed up all of our electronic toys, and walked down the stairs. We get to the bottom when the alarm stops and we see a flood of people making their way out. We go back in and get undressed. LaR called us to say there were a few guys smoking MJ in a room down from us that sat off the alarm. Mike was livid at the hotel.

Sunday -
Up at 10, off to a Joisey breakfast, the pork roll thing, then off to the shore to check out what remained after Hurricane Sandy. In some areas, not a lot. We went back to Mike's house and his mom made perogis, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, and more for LaR and I. YUM. Went to Lord & Taylor at the mall after. LOVE THAT STORE. Got a $225 blazer for $39. I'm gonna be styling at work.

Monday morning-
Up at 4:30, at the airport by 5, 6:00am flight riding first class, baby.

Merry Christmas, guys!!!

Party Time

Wow, this week has been full of parties...

Wednesday
Principal had her goodbye party - it was one of those must attends as she walked through the building shooing everyone out to go to her party. It gave the impression she was taking attendance and her wrath will remain for those who didn't go. Sissy and I show up about an hour into it as we were stuck at school, and after the principal did her first shot of tequila. We ordered our drinks at the extremely slow bar, found our seat, and chatted with the math teachers. We watched the principal do her 2nd shot of tequila, and she became social. That lead to her thinking she and I needed dinner plans when we come back from Christmas break, and well, she put it on her calendar on her phone... hmmm. After, she sent out an email guilting those who didn't attend...

Thursday
Had a Christmas party for all the tutors I work with at Mike's. It was a potluck and white elephant. We had like 10 people show up. Hilarious to watch all my coworkers dance to Just Dance on the Wii. We stood around talking a lot. Mike taught everyone to play poker, and Sissy had a good time. Sissy and I danced to the Ting Tings. We played poker until nearly 11, then after everyone cleaned up Mike and I finished the wine left over. Bed about 12:30



Friday
Up at 6, and that was tough. Drove off to work. No students!!! We got to enjoy a day of doing grades and getting organized without admin or students. Good time! We had a cookie exchange, Sissy and I had baked chocolate chip cookies in our inebriated states the night prior. We also had cream cheese cookies I baked. Sissy told stories about her daughter having fun at the party too. She's 2 and danced along with everyone. She refers to me as Uncle Mike, and Mike as Uncle Mike 2. It's too cute!!! Mike's heart melts for her. She wanted chicken nuggets and he made them up for her, he found a kitty for her to play with, it was all too cute.

Weekend was good, relaxing. Now it is off to do errands before NY.

Found a most awesome bar I am going to be at, a gay, country, line dancing bar, in the Hell's Kitchen area, called Flaming Saddles, on 9th Avenue. Should be fun.

NYC Holiday

About to leave for my NYC holiday and planning my stops.

So far this trip will be acting like a local. We are going to do some window browsing at Macys, Lord and Taylor, etc. We will be doing lots of local eateries. Holiday dinner with friends there. Exploring Soho. We want to explore Brooklyn. May also meet up with Dan in OKC. May see a show if there are cheap tickets... BF doesn't want to see Avenue Q.

What are some must dos? Any thoughts?

Gifting and trips and the like

What's happening guys?

Let's see what's going on...

Gifts.
Bought Mike's Christmas gift, but may return it, as I have several other good leads and ideas based on shopping with him this weekend.

Travels.
We are going to go to NY from the 18th to 21 of the month, then to his hometown through Christmas Eve. I jet back to Cali on Christmas Eve for Christmas con la familia y entonces un viaje a Vegas con mi familia. When I arrive back we are jetting off to Texas to do a roadtrip from Texas/Oklahoma to Cali.

Birthday.
My birthday is right after we get back. I would love to do a dinner at Mike's with my friends like Gonzo, Sissy, The Guy and his BF, Mike's friends J&B. Or maybe go to a nice restaurant. Maybe go to brunch at the fancy hotel nearby. A surprise party may be cool.

Work.
It is going pretty well. I have another observation sometime in the next 2 weeks, most likely this week. Fingers crossed hoping it goes well. Please don't come into 9th period.

Moving in.
I paid my first bill living in Mike's house tonight - the water bill.

Leg.
My leg, my supposed torn meniscus, turned torn ligaments, then shin splints are still undiagnosed - going to pester the doctor for an MRI. Physical therapist determined therapy wasn't working and referred me to orthopedics. Need to make an appointment with them.

For my medically inclined friends, I have a popping still in my knee. After a day of standing I have what feels like a pulling pain in the muscles below my knee along the inside and outside of my leg. It can occur on either leg. Shin splints? No sé.

Elex Michaelson just came on ABC7. This fool can't tell a story to save his life. He also needs a haircut. And a nose job. I'm waiting for Robert Holguin to come on before I can go to bed. Robert does it for me.


In Flo Rida's video he seems like he is trying too hard here.

The only episode of Letterman I will watch all year

So feeling the Christmas mood this year!

Alternate Plans

You really don't expect me to sit at home alone all day during Thanksgiving Break, do you?

Nah, I didn't think so, so here's what I've been up to.

Was supposed to go to Oklahoma, but that didn't happen due to the cost of flights, then the wedding didn't happen, and well, that's about all I know. OKC is definitely in my winter break travel plans.

Monday -
After I said goodbye to my BF who was off to NY for the holidays I headed out to grab lunch and do a little shopping. I was in a funk. I was ok after a while. I went to physical therapy. Went to the gym in the evening.

Tuesday -
Went to my parent's where I did some stuff around the house, washed my car and waxed it. Decided I NEEDED to go somewhere. Got in the car and just drove. Was going to head to San Diego, but decided it was a bit far. Was thinking of WEHO, but wasn't feeling that, so I headed to Oil Can Harry's for gay country dancing. OMG. SUCH FUN. The atmosphere there was warm and friendly. I have to admit the dances they did I had never seen. Lots of couple dances. MUST GO AGAIN.



Wednesday -
Washed and waxed my mom's car. Went to lunch with Jack Off Buddy at a Mexican place. Visited the doc for new anxiety meds. I'm on Zoloft now. Feeling tired this evening and was thinking of heading out, but didn't. Celebrated our family Thanksgiving and listened to my sister's stupidity. Decided instead to watch "Prayers for Bobby."

Thursday-
Will be out tomorrow night after turkey day.

Friday-
Going hiking with a former teacher in the morning, then shopping, and then picking up my BF.

Family Drinking - Celebrating the Election

Got out of work Friday ASAP, but that meant meeting with my evaluator discussing my performance this year. I got C's on everything, which stands for adequate. We are graded on an A-F system, like our students, and C's is pretty much what everyone gets. If you have Ds or Fs you are put on an improvement plan. I was last year. The principal liked my lesson overall. I can only tell you of 2 teachers in total I know of who have ever received B or As in my school. Happy with that. 

Got to my BF's house and he'd already picked up the rental car. We were off to start our ObamaNation weekend. We had a 3 hour drive, so I told my BF about everything on my mind, made some parent phone calls, and relaxed. We arrive at his cousin's house about 6pm along the coast where we are offered a pomegranate cosmo. Sat down and talked with his cousin and aunt. Such a great time. His aunt said how much she loves me, and I am family now. She talked about what a cute couple we are, and for 82, was a real hoot. This is probably my 5th or 6th time seeing her. She was so sweet. She said we argue like a married couple. His cousin cooked up some fish tacos and we had a bottle of wine to go with it. Mike ran to get pies and we had pie and port after dinner. We talk for a while. We excuse ourselves about 11 to go to our hotel. Arrive at the hotel and fall asleep cuddling. MMMMM

Woke up to the pretty rain outside and got up at 6am. Showered and picked up his cousin. We drove in the car for about 30 minutes before she got car sick, so stopped at rest stop, dashed to bathrooms in rain, switched seats, she sat in front, and I sat in the back on my phone playing Words with Friends. 

Get to our hotel where our wine tour van is about to pick us up in Paso. Go to the first winery where we taste more than a dozen wines and toast to Obama. We have so much fun and get some great pics of us drinking the wines. We get back in the van and head to the next winery. The next winery was snooty and expensive, so they were stingy with wine, and the people were not pleasant. We didn't like the next one either. We were working up an appetite so we went to the next winery and picnicked outside where we were served some wine outside. Back on the bus it is nearly 3:30pm and we had a recommendation to go to a different winery, so we head there. The gal at the bar was sweet and very knowledgable. Got a delish dessert wine. My BF was ready to talk politics when we were toasting to Obama and made a conservative couple upset. A few things were said, and his cousin and I excused ourselves out to the buses and let my BF go at it... he came out feeling more confident than ever. We are about to head back to the hotel, but the smelly smoky cute guy and his lush gf were there with us, the girl thought Mike's cousin was her best friend, and babbling, and his cousin babbled back. We went into the winery with them for entertainment value. OMG. SO HILARIOUS. She was solving world problems and discussing fashion. Mike and I chat the british lady behind the bar. We bought some tast wine. We head to the hotel after. 

Back at the hotel we nap - I nap in front of the heater in the hotel room - like when I was a kid. We get up a bit later and head to dinner. Walk to dinner at an amazing restaurant. I HAD THE MOST DELICIOUS risotto and pork. It was divine. We had great dinner convo about family, work, politics, propositions, and education, much like when I first started dating Mike. His cousin got to see just what I was telling her about Mike. It was tooo funny!!! 

We go back to the hotel room for the night where we make love. 

We get up Sunday morning and go to a huge antique shop, his cousin bought lots, then we head to a Hearst Castle. Took the tour, walked the grounds. His cousin was enamored by the place, and we are wanting to head back again soon, preferably before XMas. Stop at a beachfront restaurant for our first meal of the day - it was 3pm ish. We have some more wine and chat about doing another trip together soon. 

I get to drive home and play some wonderful songs from XM radio. Mike's cousin and I belt out the following song: 

Get back to her digs and drop off the wine, check out her new place, and then head home. 

I wanted Coffee Bean on the way home and found the address on my phone - it was more than 30 blocks down a street in Ventura. Mike didn't believe me when I told him. He was mad I didn't "know" where it was, and told me to "learn to use my damn phone... not pay for a such expensive phone, learn to use the maps..." He was kinda mad, but it was funny, we don't really fight. LOL. We were best friends after I bought him a drink. 

Once we got home we unpacked and relaxed. Off to bed since he had to get up early today. Spent the day around the house relaxing and went to physical therapy. 

Spent the evening with the family... 

A little bit of this and a little bit of that

Blogging at midnight when I should be sleeping... a little bit of everything on my mind.

Are these not the coolest shoes? I want a pair. 


Spent the weekend going from the mountains to the desert. Chaperoned an all night field trip, then Sissy and I went to breakfast at Dennys. Oh, we did dance Gangham Style. Yum red velvet pancake pops. I was up like 26 hours. Wow.
Went to the mountains for 30 degree temps and a delicious dinner when I woke up. Found some real estate. Back home for the night where we went to Palm Springs the next day. Met some friends of Mike's and spent the night there.

Productive weekend. I washed my BF's car, vacuumed both of ours, cleaned the dash and all the important stuff. Picked up around the house, did massive amounts of laundry.

Sweater weather is here. YAY!

My new favorite song. Partial to Joan Baez, but the guitarist has the sexiest voice of all the Zac Brown Band members.




This song was in my head all week, and thanks to Joey for helping me figure it out.


Enough hickness. Here's another diddy I'm digging. Ok... it is country... but it is sexy.


This was in my head also all week, and it became a catch line at school.


Speaking of work we don't need to talk about that. Drama. Principal is leaving. Mixed feelings on that as much as I despise her some days. She isn't all bad, but she's not all good. Whoever you get can be worse.

Sister apparently wrote a thesis and had to defend it. Of course the world revolved around her and everything had to come to a standstill for that. Did you feel it? I dunno... my sister didn't seem like an expert on whatever it was she was presenting.

Oh, and speaking of my sister, sister story time. I have free Vegas nights and told my parents I'd take them as a part of their Christmas gift. I got 4 tickets to the show they really want to see.

So I haven't told them the part about the show, but I did say that I got 2 hotel rooms for the 4 of us, and we would be staying at a nice hotel. I have it all planned as far as shopping, restaurants, etc. We were in Red Robin eating, and my sister said we weren't going. She couldn't go. She had to stay home to care for the house. She had to care for the dog. She had to work. She couldn't work in a hotel room. There's tons of drunks in Vegas. There's smoking. And I wanted to say something and say she had to go because I have 4 tickets, but alas, I didn't. She broke out crying in the middle of the restaurant. UM. She's 23? 22? I forget, but WTF?

So that's what's going on in my neck of the woods as Al Roker would say. He annoys me BTW.

Out on the town

Been out partying like a rockstar recently... here's a quick rundown

Villa Blanca
The place to be seen in Beverly Hills, Real Housewife of Beverly Hills Lisa Vanderpump's restaurant. Awful food, lots of fried food, but it was fun socializing with Mike's coworkers and the people of the company he was wining and dining the other day.

Sprinkles Cupcakes
Went the night of Villa Blanca and drove up last Monday night with my coworker, Sissy, to get some.

Dinner with The Guy and his BF
Met The Guy and Rob for dinner last Friday night. Great time. We took them to our favorite steakhouse, and they were impressed as they'd driven by it, but had no idea how good the food was. 5 glasses of wine, beef sparerib, and tons of appetizers. Great time chatting about Mac products, Samsung, work, and more.

Conference for the program I teach
Highlight of my week because I LOVE these conferences - the information presented is always soooo relevant and inspiring - and I don't say that often. Sissy and I got to hang and flirt. We had the others jealous of us.

Friday Night
Mike and I went out to the fish house we like for dinner, chatted with a hilarious Asian bartender, who it turns out lives right by my parents. She was a blast. Went to 2 new microbreweries and had some good beer. A little buzzed after, which made shopping in Marshalls and Target mucho fun.

Tonight
Dinner with J&B at the steakhouse, microbrewery tour part 2 tonight.

Lots of functions

Work functions have kept me busy.

Weekend before last I was chaperoning a football game. I missed out on a party with Mike, and J&B because we got home much later than anticipated.

Did get to see the space shuttle at like midnight in the middle of LA streets. Surreal.

Spent the past weekend in Laughlin, and will never go back. Old people. Bikers. Texans.

Booked every weekend between now and the end of the year including:
- Dinner with friends
- Home visits at school
- Tim and Faith weekend in Vegas
- Vegas con mi familia
- Wine tasting in NorCal
- Weekend in PS

Another work function in the desert

Doing a business dinner with Mike this week, where I get to be the poster-boyfriend

Palm Springs Bar Suggestions

Hi guys,

Sissy (coworker, used to call Tagalong) and I get to go to a conference out in the desert. SO EXCITED. It is just she and I. We, of course, will have the evenings free. We need to find a good watering hole.

I have my favorite eateries out there, so in the eating department we are good.

I "know" of places, but have never been to many. We are open to any area in the desert from Palm Springs out to Palm Desert. We want a place where we can dance, a younger crowd, straight or gay bar is good; and it is a Monday and Tuesday night. Is there such venue?

I know Toucans, and Toucans is fun, but mostly older. Any thoughts to help sissy and I out?

2 parents

Had a parent night at work tonight. Traduce toda la reunion a Espanol por los padres mientras Tagalong (my sissy) led the meeting. Had a great turnout - probably 75 parents out of 200 in a poor minority area.

And after, I was thinking how much of an impact I can have, and how great it is.

One parent, the sweetest lady, she has 2 great kids, she's very traditional Mexican woman. I had her son last year and he caught the lazy bug, but I did give him an excellence award for being very responsible and always was willing to improve. He came in and gave me a huge thank you. I didn't really know his mom last year. I saw my roll sheets this year and noticed the last name, but thought nothing because it is a common hispanic last name. The first week I got an email the mom called, spoke to her on the phone, and she told me I had her son last year. She praised me highly for motivating her son in her limited English, but she tried, and was great. She always was so joyful and dressed in her best. Her daughter wears 2 hearing aids and often misses information, so I've talked to mom many mornings this year when I'm on duty asking about what we are doing in the class and making sure her daughter is doing ok. She is always so sweet and respectful and loves how I'm so approachable. She brightens my day. She always speaks so respectfully and shakes my hand, and it is just sweet. It makes me want to do a good job because I want her daughter to be successful. And her daughter is just as sweet and respectful. It just dawned on me, like 5 minutes after I published this blog that tonight she was speaking Spanish to me this evening. Sissy told me after the meeting Danny's mom didn't know I spoke Spanish, and I chuckled thinking of another Danny that she has that I had last year. Nope, It was this lady, and she was telling me how amazed and glad she is I am her daughters teacher because of that.

One other parent is a great grandparent raising her great grandkids still remembers me, asks about me, and calls me at work just to talk and ask if I'm keeping tabs on her greatgrandson. I don't have him this year, Sissy does, but whenever something is going on I chat with her. Her respect and praise makes it worth it.

And that's why I love the program I teach, and the lives I impact.

Portland-Seattle

Hey guys!

What are the must dos between Portland and Seattle? What are the things to do in Portland besides the famed Voodoo Donuts?

How is walking/public transit?

Thinking of flying there, using public transit/walking as much as possible, then renting a car, driving to Seattle, dropping it off at the airport in Seattle, then off to Downtown Seattle.

iPhone 5

1. What kind of smart phone do you have?
the new iPhone 5

2. Necessity, accessory or my right arm?
Necessity and accessory - I like to stay in contact, I like to be in the know with news, etc... and who can't resist a sexy iPhone in their hand, and a white one at that?

3. Top three favorite apps?
Pandora, Facebook, Yelp

4. How much do you use your smart phone for calling, texting and data (email, games, movies)?
WWF is a daily thing. 
Calling is important too. 
Texting - not a fan, but you send me one and I'll send you one back
And internet right in your hands? Sign me up.

5. Phone sex? Sextxting? Hookup apps?
Uh... no.

6. Has your smart phone replaced your camera?
Nope, only when I don't have one nearby

Bonus
It's 3 am. You're in trouble. What's the trouble and who do you call?
My BF or The Guy, then my parents. 

Ritcheeeeeee

My kids are hilarious. They're Mexican and love the oldies. They love that I love the oldies too. I burst out into song the other in class and a few kids sang along too... They could not believe I knew Ritchee Valenzuela.



And I know Selena too.

And the cruising oldies



And who doesn't like Angel Baby?



I found an awesome way to incorporate these and other oldies into my next unit I'm teaching at school, so I'm jazzed.





Bound to be the coolest teacher jammin the oldies... ;-)

Drinking Weekends

Friday before last was sister's birthday, so I went to Fridays with the family to celebrate. Sis was in a bitchy mood and I wasn't feeling it. I left about 8 and went back to join Mike.

Saturday AM 

Erased my Samsung Galaxy SIII and were off to Frys to return the phone. Easy return. They were even able to reverse the upgrade. Found out they had a 64gb white iPhone 5, and it was the 2nd to last one. It was mine. Long time since computers were slow, but the girl was cool and flirty. Back in the car I texted The Guy, and then chatted with him about how great my new toy was. He didn't have one, and won't be for a long time. WOO. We drove down to Long Beach and shopped BR. Stopped at Maggianos where we were the hit in the bar with my new iPhone, a cool bartender who was jealous of my phone, and 2 drunk girls. 1 gin and tonic, 1 glass of chardonnay, 2 shots of tequila with cinnamon and orange that drunk girl raved about. Tequila with cinnamon is not the biz, but hey, fun pics of us and them. Slept on the car ride home. Slept more when we got home.

Sunday
Out and about, went to Petco and other stores... didn't find alot. Did some lesson planning and made out and fooled around in bed.

Monday-Friday
Work week wasn't bad, but benchmark testing and people drama made work tiring.

Visited the parents on Wednesday and Thursday.

Friday I went to a retirement party with my mom at a buffet. Left about 9. Did get caught up with The Guy and my best friend on the drive to the buffet.

Saturday
Today we went to the post office to get a package, dry cleaners, Mike made waffles. Went to PS away from Carmageddon for BR and lunch. Triple tequila shot margarita and lots of drunk photos, and one made its way online, courtesy of my BF. Drove back for another BR and lots of touching on the way back. Back here and one of us crashed on the couch. I'm watching Big Bang Theory

TMI Thursday: Drink! Drink! Drink!

TMI Thursday: DRINK! DRINK! DRINK!

1.  Are you a cheap date?

Nope. I like Jack and Coke, or sapphire and tonic. Don't try to skimp me on cheap whiskey. It has to be jack, Black velvet is ok, or Lord Calvert. Southern Comfort doesn't cut it.  Expensive drinks. 

2. What is your favorite drink? (you can have different ones for different occasions)

A night with friends at a nice dinner or the one I love: wine, especially red in the winter

A night out with friends: sapphire and tonic or jack and coke

At a Mexican restaurant: a margarita

A night out where I'm getting tipsy: jack and cokes with a sapphire

Always open to try new things

A romantic night out, a night at a steakhouse: a Manhattan... call me old fashioned

3. Worst experience?

This. No rum. EVER. Mimosas are nasty. Rum and coke is horrible. 

4. Beer goggles?

Sure...

5. What's the funniest thing you've done while drinking?

I get very touchy and hit everyone/everything. I love a good bulge in a guy's pants.

Bonus

Ever drunk dial?

Nope... only texted...

My whereabouts

Last few weeks I've been at school until 6pm or later everyday.

Weekend before last we returned Mike's rental car after him being out of town all week and then we went shopping at the mall and had lunch. We met our friends J&B, then we went grocery shopping and off to Mike and their friend's youtube party. HORRIBLE. Sitting listening to Diznee freaks and teachers talk about life. Weird people. We were there until after midnight, then went back to their house where we talked a few minutes, then went to bed. Woke up about 8:30 or so, showered, and then decided to go to lunch at the Mexican restaurant we had brunch at last time. Many refills of champagne, even calling the waiter back many times. Good convo. Slept all evening. Did lesson plans. Mike made fishies for dinner. Brought some for Tagalong the next day. She loved it.

Last week I was at work until late nearly every evening and then running to the city my parents live in to go to physical therapy, dinner with family, and shots. Busy. My BF was home all week, but it was 9 or so every night until I saw him.

We finally got together Friday night and we pondered a trip to Vegas, but then decided to do that on Saturday. I threw that out randomly as I realized I had free hotel rooms and wanted to get away. We decided to go to dinner at a restaurant I picked because I was having a bad week. We talked a lot at dinner and then came home to bed.

Saturday we got up and packed the car to go to Vegas. I slept about half the way there. Parked at Planet Hollywood and then walked all around the shopping areas looking for BR sales. Found some blue pants for work at one. YAY! We then went to Mario Batali's restaurant in the Venetian for lunch. The pizza was pretty good and cheese was great. We didn't eat there last time since it seemed so expensive, but it wasn't for lunch.

Went to hotel off strip and relaxed. Decided to walk around there, then tried to take trolley over to strip. LONG LINE. Mike said we would go in the bar, have a drink, chatted about our friends J&B a lot, flirted. Then we decided to find a restaurant in hotel. About to do steakhouse, but M wanted fish. We had a great view at the kitchen seeing in and chatting with chefs as they made our food. It was really good and enjoyable. Nice dessert too. Went back to the bar and drank. Tried to go to rooftop bar, but huge line. We went to tables instead and played video poker at the bar and M won $540.00 on a game. Paid for the trip. We went and had a drink, then went to bed about midnight.

Up about 8 or so. Down to bar for mimosas and breakfast. Talked about phones. BF is getting a new one for work. iPhone didn't impress me. Found a Sunday ad for an electronics store that was super cheap. Same phone he was getting. We go in and I decided to buy an awful Samsung android monstrosity. I liked it and really enjoyed it for the ride home. Made my BF jealous as we tried to figure out voice and navigation etc. He played with it while I planned lessons. Bed about 10.

Monday at work was tough. Admin drama.

Tuesday was worse. I was at school until 9pm.

Today was a conference I went to that was amazing.

Back to work tomorrow. BOO.

You think you know, but you have no idea

You think you know what teachers go through, but I'm going to give a super short abbreviated version just to get it off my chest. 

Principal told coordinator and I we needed to go to a certain venue for a field trip. We agreed and coordinated it. We paid for students who couldn't afford, and other teachers did the same. We were then ridiculed because so many students couldn't go. So what happened? So the trip wasn't canceled coordinator and I scrambled to the bank to come up with $800 for the trip to still happen. She's a single mom, 2 kids, can hardly afford this, yet we did it. We did it without complaining... well... we were manipulated by our administrator. Manipulation is another thing teachers deal with. We were told if we cared about the kids we would do it. And we do. And so we did it. And the kids will enjoy it. But don't tell me teachers don't care... we are sacrificing our wellbeing and risking running short for the month to see that our students have a good time.

Just some thoughts

Some random thoughts about things I'd like to do in the future in my relationship -

Have a love affair with downtown LA and find a nice rooftop bar to go to
Have dinner at a rooftop restaurant in Downtown LA where we get dressed up to go
Be surprised on my birthday - maybe with friends, or just an adventure
Find some great outdoor patio restaurants in the IE to visit
Go out with friends like The Guy and other couples more - this should start happening soon
Save even more money for vacations and getaways like mentioned above

When and if I get paid

I blogged about it a while back I think - I'm getting paid a per diem stipend for teaching an extra time each day. While there were issues and we didn't get paid this month, I have been told that we will be backpaid for this, so I should not worry.

My only thought now is what to do with the money? It is several hundred dollars per month that I didn't have before, so what do I do with it?

Option 1
Pay down my student loan. My loan currently hovers at $20,000. I could use that extra money to put close to $1000 toward that every month. The good thing about that is I get up to $2500 tax credit each year for the interest paid toward it, and right now I've only paid about $800 in interest toward it, so I could put more toward that.

Option 2
Put the extra money into my 403B retirement plan. I have a few thousand in this plan and a set amount that goes into it each month. Extra money would be nice...

Option 3
Put it in the stock market - I do pretty well in investing and right now my portfolio has jumped in value $1,000 over the past year. Stock market investments can return up to about 10%.

I talked to my dad and he just says to pay down interest... what to do...

Offroading weekend

Tuesday

- After visiting with my mom and dad getting shots, we went to Olive Garden, and then headed home. Went to Mike's afterward to watch and meet with my kitty.

Wednesday

- Got home after work and hung out with my cat, relaxed, and did some chores around the house.

Thursday

- My bf made dinner and we hung out at home.

Friday

- I had a miserable day at work. I was mad at everyone and everything. I got home and bitched to Mike about the principal making an error on our pay - not submitting timecards on time and so we were not being paid for our extended day. I talked about the legalities/union issues to Mike who basically said we teachers need to just refuse to work and not follow the union. He said 60 teachers is stronger than the union, so we just release the kids and start teaching at the old time. Um... obviously he's never stood in front of 35 kidlets all at once like that... he'd understand why you wouldn't do that.

We go to a Modern Mexican restaurant I'd been wanting to try. I was texting my cousin, so invited her along, and she met us there. We chatted about her not having a car, her new job, working as a cocktail waitress, and religion. 3 margaritas and a glass of wine had me feeling pretty fly. Head home watching the moon and chatting...

Bed about 10:30.

Saturday

- Up about 8 and shower. He makes Ina's pancakes for breakfast. They were delicious. We started talking about things to do, and I suggested a trip up Hi-way 395. He changed his rental car to start during the weekend and we head to pick out a rental. We get a 2013 Tahoe, which was pretty nice, and needed. Head up the 395 and stop at Mt. Whitney Park; then Manzanar, the Japanese WWII internment camp; and then decided that we needed to find a hotel. Mike and I switched positions and I drove while he found a hotel. This was only his 2nd roadtrip where he never booked a hotel. We find a hotel in Mammoth, so I drive us there. We enjoy the nice 30-50 degree temps. We get the hotel, drive around, and then unpack at the hotel. We go out to the shuttle for dinner. Go up to the bluegrass festival and see no food places. End up going to an upscale chain restaurant. Mike and I get to talking to 2 older ladies in their 60s who were out drinking without their husbands. They had suggestions for us how to spend the day/night. We chatted about work with them since they were former teachers. By the end we were all hugging and saying our goodbyes. The food was delish- mussels, bread, crab cakes, and mas. We go to the bar at the hotel to see some women rockers. We discover we are the oldest there, so finish our wine quickly. Go back to the hotel where we tickle and I fall asleep in his arms.

Sunday

- Up about 7:45ish and we jack each other off. I coudln't get off. Damn anxiety meds. I am going to go get some new ones. I hate not being able to get off. I haven't gotten off in over a week. No more Prozac para mi. We go to the bakery for breakfast, then drive up to Mono Lake (2x the salt of the ocean). Then we go to Bishop for the Bristlecone Pine Forest. Beautiful drive up to nearly 11,500 feet. LOVED IT. Offroading. Dinner at a steakhouse where we chat about my sister and her car accident before I met Mike - somehow we got to talking about insurance. Mike wanted dessert. I wanted to go bowling. I overruled him and we went bowling. He won the first game like 105-75, then 104 for me and 88 for him. The final game he won too. Drank a pitcher of beer. Back to hotel for bed. Bed about 9.

Monday

- Up early for breakfast in hotel - cinnamon roll. Then off to Vons for nothing, then got gas, then Subway. Got sandwiches. Met the friendliest workers at this Subway - we really enjoyed it. Headed to Manzanar Concentration Camp again, then to a park we found that had another offroad path. We head home after this and arrive about 6 so I could do some lesson planning.

Tuesday


- Tough day at work. I was at work until 6p.m. Don't tell me teachers don't work.

Rough Week

Tuesday of Last Week -
Went home to visit the family and get shots. Not a bad evening - I know Mike was a little disappointed I didn't come home.

Wednesday -
Mike texted me he was getting in at midnight and back at midnight. He walked in around 11:30 or so and I was long gone - fell asleep a while before he arrived. I was tired.

Thursday -
Up early, made some small talk with him, and he got up too, to give me a hat he bought me the previous weekend. We made plans to meet up for dinner. After work I left as quickly as I could to drive down to the south OC to meet him and his coworker, M, whom I'd met before. She was so excited to see me, as I was excited to see her too. Mike suggested we go to the beach for dinner, and head that way. Hit some traffic. Talk about my day. I had a girl get her period for the first time ever in my class the other day if that gives you an indication of the day that I had. 3 glasses of wine and mussels and other seafood. It was nice to chat, flirt, and make fun of Mike/him make fun of me. We talked about work, college, her kids, California, and more. After dinner we put our arms around each other and headed to get dessert. I got fudge and when Mike saw a toy that was appropriate for me, told her I needed it, and she bought it for me. I thanked her. We get dropped off at her hotel, back at my car, at about 8:30. We tell Mike we still could use a night out, but he was tired, and in pain after his rib. We drop his rental car off and head home, chatting about random stuff.

Friday-
Work was long, got out, and we hung out at home. Talked to The Guy about trying to make plans this week, but his health scare has prevented him, and his boyfriend was getting his wisdom teeth out. We made fish and veggies for dinner, and rice, since Mike was napping when I arrived. We did go out for dessert, and we had some treat - I forget what. We go to bed about 10.

Saturday-
Mike is up at 6 and I sleep in until 9. We shower and then get dressed. We go to the pet stores in his city, the next one over, and then we go to the shelter in RC. We go to the shelter by his house and a few more. We go home and look at kitties. Pizza for dinner.

Sunday-
We get up, go to breakfast at McD's by his house, which was so slow and disappointing. We head to the pet stores this time looking for litter and food, but it was all so expensive. We decide to go to another shelter and end up at one with a beautiful 7 week old siamese kitty. Mike said it was mine and we went to WalMart for some prepping things like a crate and food and bowls. We talk about the kitty and the plans all evening long while I lesson plan. We go to bed about 9 after I pick out my clothes and he packed for his trip. Talked about my concerns of bringing the kitty home alone.

Monday-
Long day at work. Kids are out of control. Admin is not in control. My kids are good. Long day. Drama over a few activities at work. Out of work, call my mom, and it turns out my sister's dog died today, which crushed me. The dog was at the gate this morning and my dad had to convince her to go and lay up on the grass, then my sister was getting ready to go to school when she again refused to move from the fence. When my dad got home from work he took the dog to the vet since she seemed off, and she had a stroke and died on the way. I'm crushed. We've had the dogs 11 or 12 years and both are/were very active. Both are sisters who can't be separated. When they were being spayed they had to be in the same crate because they couldn't stand being alone-despite being in pens next to each other. My dog knows something is up and is super lonely - I know it is only a matter of time for her. I thought my dog would die first given the number of health issues. Oh well, had to persist and get to the vet. I was not looking forward to it, but the kitty put a smile on my face. Got its nails trimmed, took it home and played with it in the office. It has been a bittersweet evening.

Broke my boyfriend

Busy weekend... here's how it went down

FRIDAY
Got out of work at 7 on Friday night. No bueno. Principal and admin have a new field trip policy that left my coworker, Sissy and I scrambling. Mike was a little ticked I was home late. He hadn't even packed! We went to Olive Garden where we had some pasta and really bad service. The neverending pasta bowl was good. Our main course came when we finally got our wine. We get out about 9:30 and head to the movies. We saw the Meryl Streep movie, "Hope..." whatever the title was. It was cute. That was a true Meryl Streep classy porn movie... hahaha... that's what we characterized it as. The movie was over at 12. Walking out I was harassing Mike over something and he was harassing me over something, then he thought he should kick me in the ass, so I thought I should trip him. As I tripped him he leans over and goes falling in the pavement. I catch him before he goes down. I felt horrible and told him that. Dropped him at the airport. He told me as I was driving home via text he thought he broke a rib. I told him I hoped he didn't, and sent well wishes. I was really worried about him and didn't want to drop him off at the airport feeling like that.

SATURDAY
I stayed in bed until 11- My BF did call me about 10 as he was driving to his parent's house and that was nice. He was in pain, though from the night before. I was still in bed. I slept all night, and I hadn't done that in weeks- probably a month. I was so nice and refreshed. I got up and went to Target and the outlet mall. Apparently a student of mine saw me there. Didn't see much. Went to the other mall up the street, the outdoor one, and then headed to LA to visit Sissy. She was in LA and thought we should meet in LA to do some work, so crazy me drove to LA to meet her. We worked until about 7 or 8 and then she figured she should head over to see her family, so I get ready to go. She had an idea that we should sweeten the principal up, and took a trip to Sprinkles for cupcakes. I texted blog reader Bruce to see if he was in WEHO, since I figured I was in the area, and sure enough he was. Made plans to meet and hung out at Micky's with a friend of his. It was good catching up. It was crazy to see 2 kids I went to high school with in the bar, Sean O, and Steven. Sean was a year older, but he sat off my gaydar in HS, and whenever we see each other we kind of stare each other down and then pretend the other doesn't exist. I was getting pretty worked up with the go-go dancers and the flesh they were showing. We left about 12:30 or so. Head to my car and head home. Had to stop to get gas in Pomona... GRRR. Home about 2:30 and bed about 3. Did I mention stopping to get gas is my least favorite chore? It isn't even just paying for the gas - it is the time, having to touch that icky pump, and the weird people around.

SUNDAY
Mike shot me a text early in the morning to talk about how he was in pain, like a workout pain, in his chest. He said he would go to the doctor if it still persists later this week when he gets home. I spent the day vacuuming, dusting, went to the store for stuff for dinner, made dinner, and lesson planned. Busy and productive. Spent some time with my NJ wives.

MONDAY
Up for a long day at school - it was pretty good.

Getting into planning

I need to plan some dates for Mike and I. We tend to go to our favorite restaurants over and over. We have neglected a few of them, so I have a few dates planned.

Next time we will visit our favorite steakhouse.

When the weather gets cooler we will go our French restaurant.

One friday afternoon I plan to send him a text, tell him to be ready for me when I get home, and to be dressed up since we are going to a fancy dinner at a restaurant I know he has wanted to go to, but is very expensive. I want to swing that one as spontaneous, but also for a special occasion. We have I guess our anniversary-ish- as I don't know how long we've been going out. I would say we went to the next level about December nearly 2 years ago. Craziness! WOW! I've known him for almost 2 years - we started talking in probably September 2 years ago. I may, in the middle of next month, say that we've known each other for about 2 years, so need to celebrate.

I also want to go see my little cousins in Ok, as well as best friend, so am going to try to swing that for Thanksgiving Break.

Still need to track The Guy down and his boyfriend to do something with my BF and I.

Need to go with Blondie from work and her girlfriend on a double date.

Of course I am going to need a happy hour soon with my Sissy.

We are going to go see them!!!

THRILLED.
It was an expensive purchase, but worth it.

Weekend Away.... wheeee!!!!

Friday

BF made it back after travel delays that prevented him from coming Thursday. I had an ok day at work. I was exhausted, especially since the heat is taking everything out of me. Again 90 degrees in my room. I came home and took a nap while my BF played on the computer. I woke up about 5:30-6, then we headed out to dinner somewhere - can't remember where. We came home after dinner and I went to bed about 9:30. My BF stayed up. 

Saturday

Woke up at 8:30 and showered. We plotted out our day, then packed. We drove down to DellMar in SDiego. We used the rental car he had, which was nice, a top of the line Taurus. We discover it isn't very cool down there - 88 and humid didn't beat the 110 and humid in Mike's mind. I was fine with it. We walked to Banana Republic and found a crepe place after where we sat and enjoyed a bottle of white wine and savory/dessert crepes. We go back to the hotel and our room is finally ready - we were in a deluxe hotel that was hundreds of dollars a night, but nothing out of the ordinary from a typical hotel room. Mike was disappointed and fired off some emails at the manager. We were also not treated very well at check in. We rested up and then changed for a night out. We ended up at an expensive $20 per plate sushi, and only 3-4 rolls on a plate. We just had some beer and 2 rolls there. We walked back to the hotel so we could sit looking at the beach. We ordered a bottle of wine and sat flirting talking about his need for animals/buying a rental/vacation home. I told him more about my parents not seeming to have it 100% that I'm moving out. We go back to the hotel about 10 and lay down to relax. I get bad heartburn and sleep upright most fo the night. Boo. 

Sunday

Up about 8, went to breakfast at an outdoor place where I had eggs benedict. Another expensive meal. We calculated we spent about $200 just on food alone this weekend. We go back to the hotel, pack, and then head to a pet adoption event where the dog he wanted wasn't. We get in the car and drive through the desert to Pallm Springs - opposite direction. We wanted to see what clearance was going on at our favorite stores. We go through the crazy thunderstorms along the way on these mountainous and easily floodable roads. We stop at the fish bar we like, not where we get fish tacos, but the other place. Had a vodka and tonic, which was good, and a few other appetizers. It was fun to go there again - it'd been maybe a year since we were there. Back home I lesson plan and we head to bed about 9:30 when he is done packing. The TV is on for maybe 5 minutes, but we're all over each other, making out, and then you get the idea... 

Monday

He left for a business trip. Hot again at work. Feeling bitchy today and tired. It's a Monday.

Working hard and playing hard with my sister

Just a quick update - super busy week. Spent the entire week with my BF at his house because honestly, I was too tired at the end of each night to drive back home.

School started over a week ago, and the 2nd night of school and 3rd night of school we had back to school night. Idiots disguised it and called the first a parent night - parents went to 1 set of classes 1 night and another set another night. We had several parents come, but 2 nights in a row was killer. I had already worked 2 other nights until nearly 9pm at school with my coworker Tagalong. Working until 9 every night was a killer.

My kids this year are surprisingly well behaved. I'm teaching mostly 6th graders. No complaints yet. Hopefully this keeps up, and I'll have a fantastic year. I'm getting jazzed walking in everyday actually being able to teach.

Well, after working 4 nights from 7am-9pm I told my coworker, Tagalong, that we needed to go to happy hour- partly so she could meet Mike. We go to a Mexican restaurant at the far end of town and run into about half the staff from our school, some other teachers from other schools that she knew, and one of our "favorite" student's dads. Of course this was after 3 drinks, but the dad was cool, and he was supportive of us, and agreed after putting up with his son we needed a drink or 3. Mike and Tagalong talked about education and her life, lots of little things, and they came out really good friends. He kept telling me how much he likes her during our time. We left about 9pm when she had to go home to her hubby and kids. She told her hubby and he knows that I am the wild child, and Mike is her brother in law. She calls me her brother. I call her Sissy now. She wrote us on Saturday telling us how much she loves us and can't wait to do it again, and I know we're going to need it.

Oh, and it was 95 degrees in my room today. Damn AC broke. It is 110 outside.

So the weekend was pretty chill, we went to Target and a few other places, to breakfast one morning and sat and talked.

So I'm home for the first time in a week to say hello to the family, but unfortunately I won't get to see my BF until Thursday.

Songs keeping me going

Work is crazy. Thankfully I have music to help get me through...





... And the story of my life... I have 2 lovers at work and 1 at home.



It is so hilarious. I call Blonde Lesbian my girlfriend as the kids always saw us together, and we are close like that. She often leaves posts on my facebook calling me boyfriend etc., or tells everyone we are on a lunch date. Then there's Tagalong, and she's my sister, but for a while, we were seeing each other so to speak. And then the one at home, well, he's just a little jealous of these moments, but a little bit of jealousy is always good.

Tired - Late Nights

Monday Night
- Decorated my classroom all day
- Gym
- At work until 6, then went shopping for my classroom. Got home at 9:30pm

Tuesday
- Up at 6:30, shopping before school
- Decorated my room/lesson planned all day
- Welcome BBQ from 6-9
- Home at 10

Wednesday
Day 1 of school
- Long day. Kids.
- Parent Night

Thursday
- Day 2 of school
- Back to school night

Friday
Day 3 and I'm exhausted with all these parent nights...

For AEK - My GI Procedure

I had a GI procedure about a week and a half ago. I have had this problem for at least 10 years where I get particularly meat stuck in the back of my esophagus. It isn't like the food goes down wrong, it just gets stuck. Sometimes it felt like there was a bone or something in the back of my esophagus preventing food from going down. I had always reasoned I took too large of bites, and it is probably true.

In April I ended up in the ER because I couldn't get any food or water down - the meat was stuck, and I threw up anything I tried to get down- that always happens. I have found over the years drinking a large amount of water really quickly helps push the meat down when this happens. My regular doctor told me he wanted to schedule me a GI procedure to scope my throat and see if there was something causing it. So here's what I learned...

The procedure was a blast getting to be under anesthesia... I remember burping constantly during it since there was an object being put down my throat.

The doctor said she dilated my esophagus to help enlarge it to make sure that food goes down easily. I had no idea that was possible - The Guy's boyfriend reasoned it was soft muscle. It seems to me that would be a temporary fix.

She said that I had some acid reflux damage and put me on a pill to heal and deal with that. She said to take 2 omeprazoles a day before breakfast and dinner to deal.

She said that it could also be a food allergy and asked me the type of foods that it happens with - breads and meat. She reasoned maybe gluton. She referred me to the allergist for that. Grrrr. I am not giving up my breads.

She said that I also have 2 things going against me - I have allergies and I'm an asthmatic. Like there are receptors on your skin that when aggravated by something in the environment cause you to break out, you have those in your throat too. People with asthma and allergies are often extra sensitive and have more receptors, which can cause an issue. She said it could be food or anything from the environment like dust getting into my throat causing me pain. She said the omeprazole should take care of that.

So far so good... hopefully this continues.

Sis' job offer

Since we haven't had a story about my sister in a while, partially because I'm not around, partially because there's too much to chronicle...

My sister is in grad school pursuing a masters in the humanities field, but there is almost no demand for the thing she is getting her degree in. She has taken a lot of math classes in a field, and being a woman, interested in math, it opens a lot of doors for you. She was approached by a large corporation that is interested in having her work for them. The company is a household name. She received a formal offer with the offer to pay for her to finish her masters here at home, or in her new city. They offered to pay relocation 1,500 miles away. They offered her a salary that even I am jealous of since it'll be thousands more than I am making a year, and will make for several years.

She is very interested in working in this field and doing this job. So why did she turn down the offer? She would have to move. Her tuition is already being paid for. She is waiting for another opportunity. It is hard to go to a more prestigious company than this one. So what is she doing in the meantime? She is being a professor... hahaha... yeah... right.... TA... She is also being a webmaster making crap for some random company. She makes $600 a month, and is happy with that. My dad even told her to take the job, even if for a year, she could come back home, no problem. He told her she would be making more than me... didn't matter.

Relationship Status

About a year or so ago I changed my status to "in a relationship." Today, while I was at work, Mike changed it to "in a relationship with Mike." The response has been overwhelmingly positive on facebook. WOO!!! Who knew?! It was a big step. My ex gf from high school - the 2nd to last GF I had liked my status, and hadn't told her, or even spoken to her in 3-4 years. Now the family is going to see who didn't know...

Mindnumbedness

Teacher trainings are nothing but mindnumbing pain. We sit and do campy activities that have no practical application to the classroom or real world, and generally bore you to death. Here's to another 32 hours of those trainings.

Back to school

Thursday Night

Head to Mike's after my parents finally released me after being around them for 72 hours. Damn surgeon said something about me having to be monitored for the 72 hours following my GI procedure. We talk, I tell him about my week. 

Friday 

BF overslept on accident. I slept in. We got up and headed to breakfast, then I headed into work where my coworker and I did stuff from 10-4. I kept texting my BF that I was ready to leave, or needed a drink, or something along those lines. I told him to plan a weekend trip, but he said it was too hot. He finally appeased me by taking me to Lay-Z-Dog for dinner. Poor service and poor appetizers, but he appeased me by taking me out of the house and getting me a drink. After that day at work I needed it. We spent the evening on the couch watching chef shows and housewives. 

Saturday

We have omelets for breakfast and do little tasks around the house. I remember we did fool around in the evening as I was falling asleep in bed he insisted on tickling me and starting it... 

Sunday

FB's for breakfast (not fuck buddy's). We talk, read the paper, and oh yeah, I slept in that morning. We drive around the city, neighborhood, and then go to the mall in his city, the outdoor mall, and look for pants. Find nothing. Head home and shop online. Decide to postpone purchase. We watch our housewives on the couch and make some bag fish and pollenta. We both cook a dish. We sat down to a bottle of wine. 

Monday

First day of school! Mike was up nice and early to cook me breakfast. I demanded. I needed energy to go, and some motivation to get out of bed. He made me a mushroom and cheese omelet. Highlight of my day. I took photos of it and told everyone of how lucky I was to have breakfast made for me on my first day of school. 

And Mike harassed me all weekend about going back to school. 

Dumb day at work. 

Go home to visit parents, get mail, discuss random issues. Go to Mike's where we have a great convo about common core standards, teachers/meetings, and professionalism. 

Bed about 11 after all the chef shows. 

Tuesday

Up to do it all again... better day at work... 

Buy a house?

My life took a turn I never thought it would - I am about to move in with a guy. I had been setting a personal timeline in my mind to move out by the time I am at the end of the 2nd year of my job. Housing prices are crazy here in California, so I figured I would be moving into an apartment for a short time.

I have been looking at houses recently on a website and eyeing a particular neighborhood, an older neighborhood, built post WWII and the houses in the area range from 1946-60. The houses range from 1,000 to 1,600 square feet. The houses are all well kept and almost all have redone kitchens and bathrooms. The costs range from $140-180k.

I don't plan to be moving into one of these as I'm about to move into a nice modern house with my BF, but I have been encouraged by our friends J&B to have a house as a rental. Mike says it should be local so I don't have the problems J&B do.

Being a teacher I can qualify for some special programs for low down payments etc. I have been playing around with some statistics and seeing what I can afford using online mortgage calculators.

Sample
$165,900 house
$15,000 down (9%)
Loan left is $150,900
Interest rate about 2.75-3%
Term - 30 years
Monthly payment would be about $616.04
Property tax rate about 1.25% to be about $2,100 a year
Insurance about $1,000 a year
Monthly payment about $872 including taxes/insurance

The house could be a good investment, a place to move into if things were to not work out... Would be nice to rent out because I am local and can keep an eye on it - not like J&B who have investment properties all over.

I know that no more than 1/4 to 1/3 at most should be dedicated to your house payment, and that would be a little less than 1/3 of my income.

Should I save for a larger down payment and more expensive house?

Thoughts? I'm sure this won't be in the next couple months, but something I think about over the next several months. There is one house though, that I REALLY like at the moment and has a Palm Springs look and feel to it with modern updates and this funky Victorian bathroom. The bathroom would need help.

Moving in

Wednesday Night
Conference ended and headed back home. Texted Mike with status updates since our flight kept getting delayed. When we landed I asked where we were going to party since Tagalong and I were wide awake. He asked if I had been drinking jack and coke. I said no. I gave Tagalong my phone and she chatted with him unbeknowest to him. We make it to the baggage claim and she yells a hello to him, he comes over and gives her a hug, and I meet her hubby. FUN TIMES.

Thursday
Headed home to visit family, left about 3pm when my mom and dad took off for some appointment. Mike and I went to PS to visit Banana Republic and the fish place we like. Rained on us a little. Went to the city to the south of me to buy a door handle since it wasn't on sale at the Lowes near him.

Friday
Hung around, went shopping, and more.

Saturday
We went to dinner at Chevee's. This was the same place he mentioned I move in the first time, and he brought it up again asking when I was going to move the rest of my stuff in. I told him it will happen one day. I said I didn't have a lot, mainly clothes and shoes, and my yearbooks etc. were in storage. Once we have a place for my shoes I'll probably move the rest in. I said that I guess that since I am moving in one thing we need to discuss is expenses and he said I would just pay for the water and electric bill. He wouldn't make me responsible for his mortgage because I get nothing out of that. I joked he is home all day and that I hardly use any water/electricity compared to him. I more or less agreed.

So I have a question- when you decide to move in with someone like a BF and take on the responsibility like a utility bill, do you make a contract, what do you do?

Sunday
Mike took off on a business trip about 4:30 in the morning.

Monday
I had a procedure with the GI doctor and was under anesthesia for several hours. It was pretty trippy I recall being in there, burping a lot, as the GI doctor was in my mouth probing around, and could vaguely see the doctor/nurses moving around, but I wasn't in pain. Slept all night.

Outed to my boss

The AP and Tagalong were on the same flight together going up to the conference. The AP asked how my trip was to Spain. Tagalong said I had a great time, but Mike had a hard time accepting that Tagalong and I were apart because we were texting each other once I got home. My AP asked who Mike was, and she told. The AP asked what my parents thought since they both seem very conservative, and that was it, that was all she told me. I loathed this woman finding out because she is very judgmental, born again Christian, but so far things are ok, and in fact we have been mostly friends over the past week or so.

Tired of everyone

Wednesday  *********4TH OF JULY*********
I spent the early morning with the family where my parents were just hanging out. My dad and mom were talking adn doing random stuff. I get over to Mike's about 11. We hang out watching TV, then go shopping. We go to the outlet mall and a couple other places. We stop at the supermarket for groceries, as well as Target. We get lots of fake meat. We even get charcoal. This was the first time Mike BBQ'd food. Delish. He BBQd veggies and veggie burgers. We then took off to go see fireworks at the baseball stadium. We had to wait a while until the game ended, so we waited in the hood where some crazies talked about pot smoking and blew up fireworks that nearly sat trees and other things on fire. The fireworks were pretty good.

THURSDAY
Spent the day with family, left after a few hours because I was tired of them, headed back to Mike's. Spent the day with him enjoying each other.

FRIDAY
Spent the early part of the day with Mike playing around on our computers. Went to physical therapy, or tried, but was stuck on the freeway and went 4 miles in 45 minutes due to construction. FAIL. Went home instead where my mom was bitching about wanting to get a cedar chest out of storage and her horrible decorating/house ideas. I got tired of her quickly and left. I went to Mike's where he was busy cleaning because J&B were on their way. Did a beer and tortilla chip run, then B showed up shortly after. We chatted about work, our vacation, and Mike's house. J showed up when his coworker who lived down the street from Mike dropped him off. We had a drink and ate tortilla chips, looked at the backyard, and chatted about decorating etc. We headed to the baseball game about 6:15. We grabbed hot dogs and beer, then sat waiting for the game. B and I sat next to each other talking about work, and it became too much for Mike, so we moved, and let J and him sit next to each other. We talked about discipline and he told me how when the kids act up he tells them "they're not going to college," it's cute, and I'm thinking of doing it. The game was good. The score was 4-2 when we left in the 9th because J was tired and had to work Saturday. We drove back, then made small talk and said goodbye.

SATURDAY
We woke up and fooled around. I rushed home to get my suitcase and stuff for my conference for work. My parents were gone and Mike had already insisted I just spend 20 minutes there, but since they were gone, I spent less, and was back by 1. We went to LA to the Discovery Science Center for the Cleopatra exhibit. We went down to the OC after for Nordstrom Racks and Banana Republic. Ended up at a watch store where Mike finally got his white watch. We made it back late in the evening.

SUNDAY
We were up at 7am and out of the house by 7:35. We stopped at McD's for breakfast. I was the first to arrive out of all my coworkers. Enjoyed meeting up with all of them at the airport and heading to NorCal for our conference.

SO here is the recap of last week... wooo!!!!

Black Sheep

I'm up here at a conference for the program I teach getting tons of new ideas. Principal brought 26 of us along because this prog. is the vision for the school. Good idea, but everyone has their idea how to run the program and it just doesn't work - and I have 10 years experience with the program.

Well, this conference has been a vacation.

Arrived up here SUNDAY

SUNDAY
- Met 5 coworkers at airport, talked, caught up, and these weren't ones I was close to. Walked all over the city and found a super expensive restaurant. Not good, but good wine, and good conversation. Talked to the 6th grade teacher who seemed in her own little world. She was cool. Tagalong and I were supposed to hit the town that night, but her flight was delayed. Instead I slept as the principal, AP, and Tagalong texted me all night long as they arrived into town. I kept waking up listening to my phone buzz.

MONDAY
Up early and at a tense group session with all 26 of us, and 6 who never should have been here. Nothing accomplished and lots of misunderstandings. We headed off to our sessions and then met up to discuss what we learned. Suddenly the principal had a new vision for the school that shaped all around this. Lots of flustered people - namely tagalong and myself. Dinner at Changs with principal and coworkers I flew up with. After dinner Tagalong and I hung out in her room, went to the closed liquor store, then took a taxi to the open liquor store where we got wine coolers, pork rinds, Reeses, and Skittles. Talked and planned until 2am.

TUESDAY
Up early. Met my Santa Fe group again. I'd met Dakota from the fitness center my first night and met her coworker David in the morning. He went out of his way to be friendly with Tagalong and I. We walked to the conference together. Tagalong and I did lunch, then headed to the meeting with our principal. David was there at the time we arrived back and watched our frustration as the principal had this new vision and didn't understand. We discussed at the meeting, then came out in the hallway where he bought us drinks because he felt bad for Tagalong and I showing our disgust because this was so awful. Seriously. You don't know. We were coaxed into drinks with him and Dakota, then we went to dinner with our group at Joe's Crab Shack from 7-10. We agreed to meet up wtih Dakota and David after. They called us, we chatted, and we got it squared away. We met at our hotel, then went to our food place from our last conference. We got to talk more with the 2 of them and heard their story, shared our struggle at work, and they were surprised. Good stuff. We enjoyed that. We had 1 camacazie, 3 jack and cokes, then went to a dance club where all of us danced and had 1 more jack and coke. We had a blast. All of us were black sheep not getting along with the rest of the group, but had the greatest time. We ended up at Tagalong's room where we debriefed and hugged before departing our ways. Bedtime now at 3am. We closed the club down BTW. David knew I was partnered as I mentioned my BF many times, but I politely turned down his offer, and Sis (Tagalong) supported me. I went back to my room, texted Sis I was ok, and am here now. I am priding myself in turning down his offer because I do love my BF and he's long term. I am glad we got to meet up with other black sheep. Tagalong and I refer to our selves as brother and sister now. She's my sissy. She's fun.


WOOOOOOO

Daddy's got some new shades

I have been in the market for some new shades. Expensive ones. Partly out of spite. JK. No, really, I think expensive glasses are sexy.

My bf and I were talking over the past several days as we've tried on 10s of frames that he goes for cheap sunglasses because he is harsh on them and sometimes loses them. I, on the other hand, do not. I bought 2 relatively expensive - at the time they were for me - $75 Spy sunglasses. I have 1 pair that had an accident in Vegas as I dropped them from a 4 story floor in Vegas, and only got scratched up. They work, but only as backups. I have 1 pair for 1 car, I have 1 pair for another, and here is my third. Pretty sexy. I got them for 30% off. That made them even sexier.

Altura Credit Union's poor customer service

I've blogged about my displeasure with Altura Credit Union before, where I have had my money for over 10 years.

I switched to Bank of America last summer and could not be happier. I like Keep the Change and Add It Up. I am making more on my money than Altura.

I am not having my card declined anywhere. I went to México y Europe this past year and not once did I have Bank of America calling me saying these were fraudulent charges.

I have kept my savings account with Altura, but today, I am moving most of the money from it. I also have my money in the military credit union where they almost always have better rates than Altura. Altura used to match rates with them, so when CDs were paying 5 and 6 percent I would just call up one bank and ask if they could beat the rate another was offering, and most of the time they could.

Times have obviously changed, and savings accounts/CDs are not paying what they used to. Well, today I called up Altura asking whether or not they match the rates of another bank just like I've done many times before, and the gal working at Member's Services, Christine, was super bitchy. She asked what she could help me with. I said I had an account with them for several years and see that another credit union is beating their rates, and would they match. Christine started out saying, "no, we can't do that. Why would we do that? If you don't like your money here you can take it elsewhere." And that was what she told me. And Christine, I am. Part of it was the rude customer service on your end.

Oh, and my new credit union is paying 2.5% on savings accounts as opposed to your meager 0.02%.

Taking shots

Thursday Evening
I went on a search for dinner, got a salad, a fake chicken dish with mushrooms/onions/garlic, and dessert. Mike got home and I made dinner, a fake chicken dish, that he doubted because he's not into fake chicken. He doubted my cooking the entire time, but lo and behold it turned out pretty well. We had dessert too, a lady finger and amaretto sprinkled dish with ice cream. It was pretty good.

Friday
We got up and I headed to physical therapy. AWFUL. OMG. I nearly blacked out and fainted. It was bad. Do not show me pictures of bones. Do not use models of skeletons to demonstrate the meniscus in my leg and what is wrong with it. That's just nasty. I felt myself start sweating, I told the woman, and got really vocal with her I WANTED THAT SKELETON OUT OF THERE. I couldn't take that much longer. So the physical therapist said her job is to find me an exercise machine I can use while I repair my torn meniscus. Um? Really? Um. Ok.

So after that I head to Mike's, tell him of how bad it was, then we head to Magic Mountain. We only get on about 4 rides, and it was pretty fun. We would have liked to gone on more rides, but it was hot, and we had no patience. We gave up. We decided to not come back. We got a funnel cake and left. We went to Marshalls, TJMaxx, and Big Lots. We found a sushi place for dinner, a sushi boat deal. Fun times chatting about our week, my family, etc. Fool around at bed.

Saturday
We drove up to SB to meet his cousin and his aunt. They were so happy to see both of us, told his cousin of my job since last time we saw them was last 4th of July weekend when we were going up north for this job interview. We chatted about anything and everything, her family, my family, Mike told how he knows my family is crazy as is his, our trip to Spain, and more. We go to dinner with his cousin at a mediterranean place. We did a shot of tequila since his cousin thought Mike and I needed to be loosened up after arguing over a parking space... small stuff... lol... our normal. We did a shot, then we ordered a bottle of wine to drink. We had some delicious pizza, hummus, and calamari. We then walk down to downtown for a drink in a bar her friend owned. She met a friend there, introduced us. I had a glass of wine there. We go see her new bungalow she rented that is charming and in a beautiful location. Then we were off to a karaoke bar since I told her someone wouldn't let me do it. So we are off and picking out our songs. Mike's ordering us the drinks- 2 gin and tonics for me. We listen to a bunch of karaokeing of songs like "Because I Got High," Katy Perry, and then us. His cousin sang Sting and I sang Amanda Perez. Mike was dying of laughter. I was laughing at times to his cousin totally jamming out to me that I got so off with the words.




Txted my coworkers to tell them I was doing karaoke. Tagalong and Blondie loved it.

No one cared. Good stuff.

Back to the hotel about 12

Sunday

Woke up an hit McD's. Stop at a BRepublic on the way home. Good times. Drop rental car off- we had a Chrysler 300. We go to the mall across the way. I drive Mike's car since we had to pick up his from the parking spot. We go to Nordstrom Rack and Last Call. Then we go to Chevy's. I also drive his car around the corner to that. He said I could because it was around the corner. Lots of chat about work there. We also chatted a lot about working coming back down. We talked about where we see ourselves in a few years. Leaving the restaurant I still had the key and was willing to let him drive, but he said I could, so I did. It was fun.

Monday
Woke up at 7, showered, and was off to a day of appoitnments with the dentist, chiropractor, and more.  Head back about 3pm. We do a quick clean of the house as his coworker, the older gay guy, was in my city car shopping. We go to the grocery store and then relax, chat about cars. He arrives about 6 and we sit at the kitchen island as Mike dishes out veggies, then pasta, and bread. It was healthy. We hear about the tragedies of renting a house out, gay young military guys, and dilemmas over Mercedes. We fall asleep about 11 on the couch and plop into bed about 1.

Tuesday
Up at 8:30 - I slept in since I was exhausted. We have about 15 minutes together before I leave because my sister had emailed me my parents were doing allergy shots earlier today than usual. We head there and then around town with my dad.