Green chile, the Sandias, and regular life.

Thursday, August 28, 2014
Fisherman and I have settled into our new home and are slowly but surely navigating the new surroundings at our respective schools.  Fisherman is at Rio Rancho High School and I at V. Sue Cleveland High School.  My school is truly a marvel.  I get excited to come to work in the morning (very early in the morning) as I drive out to the middle of the desert and the sun peeks up over the Sandia Mountains - I marvel at the true beauty of New Mexico...home.

V. Sue Cleveland is the home of the STORM!  The students at this school take care of this award-winning campus with their heart and soul.  Every ounce of the integrity of the school is maintained by those who inhabit this building.  The freshmen start out and inducted into the STORM culture from day 1.  I am AMAZED at the level of participation and enthusiasm.  The campus itself has won architectural awards, Green awards, academic rigor awards, and is in line to win the New Mexico director's cup - an award that looks at the entire picture of the campus (what percentage of the students are in Advanced Placement classes, extra/co-curricular activities, sports, clubs, etc.)  Whew!  I love it here!

Please don't get me wrong, I loved being at LaJoya - in fact, that is the standard that I measure all other schools by...but I honestly don't see myself leaving this school until I'm ready to hang-up my shingle.  Here is virtual tour of my school.



I will take some photos of my classroom soon and post, but for now, the video will have to suffice.

A few days ago, fisherman and I were on our way to the grocery to do our weekly haul, and I captured a whiff of NM Hatch Green Chile being roasted.  My wee little heart skipped a beat I was so happy.  I meandered slowly as we entered and I lingered slowly as we exited to make sure I could soak in ALL the goodness of the moment.

Finally, last Friday, Fisherman and I packed up our little wagon on Friday after school and enjoyed a quick little drive to Farmington where we were able to join in the festivities of my sweet nephew turning 5, I can't believe he's 5!!  I hung out with my parents, visited my aunt and uncle, and ate some home grown veggies from Dad's garden.  It was joyous and I reveled in the glory of being so close to family.  It was a marvelous weekend and I almost had to pinch myself to make sure it was real.  Fisherman, even snuck out and did a little of what he does best...fish!

Being home...enough said.

Love from the 505,


HOME.

Monday, August 4, 2014
I sit here in our "local Starbucks" writing this update to the wild world of Fisherman and I as our new house does not yet have internet.  That's right, our new house.  Fisherman and I are in Rio Rancho - a suburb, sort of, of Albuquerque.

In the midst of an almost complete meltdown, I somehow landed a job here in Rio Rancho AND {{bonus}} so did Fisherman.  We are both wild with delight about being employees of the Rio Rancho Public Schools - I, at V. Sue Cleveland High School and he at Rio Rancho High School. In no uncertain terms this is a miraculous.  The following captures our story.

I flew from Anchorage to Albuquerque on the 25th of May.  I spent 3 glorious weeks playing with my nephew and niece. During that time I interviewed at Farmington High School, Piedra Vista High School, Rio Rancho High School, and even at V. Sue Cleveland High School to no avail.  My three weeks to catch my breath and catch up with some much needed "little peeps time" - I was forlorn, truly.  I have NEVER, repeat NEVER doubted my abilities in the classroom.  This is the world where I feel completely at home and know EXACTLY what I am doing.  After at least 100 or so applications out and innumerable interviews, I was at the END of my rope.  I made my reservations to rejoin Fisherman at his mom's house in Montana.  I was set, I had ticket in hand and bags were packed.  I landed in Bozeman and the next day I got called for a second interview at V. Sue Cleveland High School.  So Fisherman and I loaded up our little wagon, once again, and trekked back down to New Mexico where I met with the interview team and was offered the job.

I know I have stated it previously, but if one would ever like to really gauge their self-worth, try applying for a teaching job.  The entire process was brutal.  Places I thought I was a "shoe-in" turned me down flat with a canned auto-generated email.  I feel blessed beyond measure knowing that those who think I'm a rockstar kept verifying that through many background checks, and recommendation phone calls.  In short, thank you all!

I would also like to send a GIANT "shout out" to my main squeezee for dealing with my tumultuous moods and depression of multiple rejections.  Could anyone wish for anything better than really seeing a true reflection of your best self in your partner's eyes?

So now, we are both employed and begin another school year here in 4 days.  This is year 17 for me...seriously, 17.  I can literally almost not believe it - I am still as nervous as the first classroom that I had all those years ago.

Segue...

Fisherman and I have been living the gypsy lifestyle for such a long time that I could not even remember what we owned and what we did not.  We have spent the last week moving our lives into our first "home" as husband and wife.  While we did have a home in Sand Point - the only thing that was ours in that home was our clothing and the bed we ordered that was shipped up on the barge.  ALL of our wedding gifts and things that make it feel like our own home have been packed and waiting for their owners to take possession.

Our house is so cute.  Fisherman did not get the garage he wanted but besides that it is quite possibly perfect.  It is starting to take shape and I am rejoicing in using the household goods that belong to us.  By the way, the toaster is rockstar, and the ninja chopper - freakin' awesome!  I enjoy cooking in our big ol' kitchen and using the exact products that are required.  I longingly caressed our wedding china, and am beyond ecstatic to have items that my Grandma lovingly used in her kitchen to prepare meals with a side of sass and love, also now inhabit our kitchen.

I am quite simply, in Heaven - employed, domesticated, sublime Heaven!  So, friends, thus ends this epic long post.  Come visit us, we love guests and can't wait to have you in our H-O-M-E!

Love,

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