Rebirth

After many months of consideration, I have decided to try my hand at this blogging thing again! It would be impossible to pick up where I left off, as so many things have changed since May. As a result, I believe I have a little catching up to do.

On May 8, 2010 I graduated college with a BA in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Expeditionary Learning & Environmental Studies. Yes, that really long title is printed on my diploma.

I received many gifts.

And then I walked across the stage, spoke for 60 seconds, tried really hard not to cry but ended up doing so anyway, and then it was over.

 

I’m in the dress with the pink flowers. No, we didn’t where caps and gowns. As a result there was nothing to throw in the air at the end. That was a bummer. But that old guy in the picture is the president of the college, so at least I was in close proximity to the man I gave all my money to for four years.

On May 9, 2010 I left Arizona on a two week road trip through the southwest with my parents and Lola; destination: Idaho.

 

First stop: Grand Canyon National Park. I went to college in AZ for four years and this was my first time visiting the GC.  After two full days, I had definitely seen enough of that giant hole in the ground, so we moved on.

Lola absolutely hated being in the car. She drooled constantly. At one point she was in the front passenger seat of my car (we took two cars because I was moving and had all my earthly possessions in the back of my jeep) and she jumped under my legs while I was driving! It was scary. She had to ride with my parents for the rest of the trip.

When we got to Bryce Canyon, UT it was snowing. This was not a good sign of what was to come for my new life in Idaho.

Hoodie and down jacket. In MAY. Lame.

Shoshone Falls, ID. I seem to be missing a few days worth of pictures. It appears I became pretty lazy with the camera.

May 17, 2010 I arrived in a little mountain town in Idaho. Lola and I moved into our new home with K, the fanciest single-wide I ever did see.

Lola was really excited to see her Dad! We hadn’t seen him for almost a month!

There was a fire in the wood stove every day, well into June. It snowed multiple times between my arrival in mid-May until almost July. Then it was 80 degrees everyday and I was once again regained my sanity.

I went to work as a cook at the restaurant where I had worked the previous summer. I worked for a new chef and although I was nervous at first, it turned out to be an awesome summer!

K and I spent our free time hunting and gathering. Well, he hunted, we both gathered. The above are some of the stinkiest mushrooms I’ve ever encountered. Fortunately, they taste good.

Photo evidence of previously mentioned summer snow. At least the lake wasn’t frozen by this point.

Evidence of K’s ability to grow lettuce. I had some of the best salads of my life this summer.

K tried to get Lola to go swimming almost daily. We lived less than two blocks from the lake, so everyday we would walk her down there.

And then he would get in the water and bribe her with treats. She hated every second of it.

I “golfed” in my free time. The restaurant where I worked was in a golf course clubhouse, so golf was free. I never improved. In fact, I think I got worse.

I saw some pretty sweet fire works on July 4th.

But then on July 31, 2010, I packed up my life once again and moved back to Arizona!

I sat in 2 hours of traffic at the Hoover Dam.

I was less than pleased to sit in traffic for hours with no air conditioning in 110 degree heat.

But I was more than pleased to return to the desert, even though my summer vacation was cut short dramatically.

BECAUSE I GOT A TEACHING JOB!!!!!!!!!!

On August 9, 2010 I started teaching high school science full-time at a wonderful charter school in Prescott, AZ.

My students and I get to play with jello.

And clean up simulated oil spills.

And go hiking.

Not a bad gig if I do say so myself. Don’t get me wrong, teaching is not without it’s challenges, and there have been quite a few since I started, but it’s more than worth it. I’m absolutely in love with my job! I still have to remind myself that I get paid to do it!

Lola and I are currently living in a shiny new 2 bedroom apartment (which is way more room than we actually need) and patiently awaiting K’s arrival in October when the fire season ends.

Here’s to a new future for CrazyBananas!

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