Coden and the opossum.

February (?!) in the back yard.

I'm a plushy CSI!

Monitoring the rainfall in the yard.

Not posting enough. Here's one.

The Most Powerful #OccupyWallStreet Clip You Will See This Month

The Most Powerful #OccupyWallStreet Clip You Will See This Month

MY Mom! I guess I was born this way--Happy Mother's Day!

My Big Summer Plans!

Best of both worlds?

Basenji Twins!

Fall Leaves, Rihanna

I need to get out more...

So, because I've been living with three dogs for the last few months, and I've also been spending a lot of time at home (due to mysterious possible-intestinal parasites [and/or agoraphobia...but I can't think about that today...I'll think about that tomorrow.]) I've been thinking about poop a lot lately.  Mainly, how to scoop it out of the yard.  I've also been reading a lot of wiki-hows, so I'm going to share my technique for pooper-scooping the back yard.

First, you must have the proper tools.  I like the spring-loaded black jaws of poop.  I got the extra large one, mainly because I'm tall and I don't have to bend over to use it.

Then, you have to make a plan.  I like to divide the yard into segments, and then 'sweep' each segment as though I were using a lawn mower.  I walk the segment, casting my eyes from side to side in an arc just ahead of where I'm walking.  It keeps me from stepping in the poop, but also lets me scoop all the piles in my path.

A hint--look for the flies.  Many times the fresh stuff is covered with flies, which can draw your attention.  Another hint--if you find one poop pile, there are most likely others nearby.  I've found that (these dogs at least) like to poop near each other.  Maybe it's to cover each other's scent, or maybe they just like the company, but most of the time they'll create their own poop garden, which makes finding poop easier, but scooping more difficult.  You should be careful not to overfill the scooper, or it will all come falling out when you try to get that one last poop into the scoop.

So that's that.  I do need to get out more.

Fall in the back yard.

Dogs in motion.

In case you were wondering...

I did get a contract. After all of the calls back and forth, and the confusion and depression, a contract finally came for me on the last day. (the last day to sign and return).

So I now have a contract for the same school system, but it remains unclear as to where I'll be sent. I could be a librarian somewhere, but I could also be a Spanish, English, or ESOL teacher somewhere. I've heard nothing about a re-assignment, and there are only two days of school left (for teachers). I wonder what they're planning. I keep thinking that maybe they've forgotten me, that I'll slide by under the radar and will just stay in the same school--which would be awesome. But I'm flexible. I like things to change.

Thanks to Kristen for reminding me that I left my loyal reader in suspense.

Alright! Maybe more soon....

My job saga...

So, a few weeks ago it was announced that the school system that I work for here in Atlanta was having some budget problems, and was going to lay off a bunch of personnel (officially called Reduction in Force or RIF). Fine.

Seeing as how I've been employed here for five years (but only two in a row, ever, and this time, less than one year), I braced myself for the bad news. I would have time to make some tough decisions, look for another job, whatever. Mind you, this was in March or so, when in January the kind people from my old school in Guadalajara had contacted me and asked if I'd wanted to come back. I would have been in charge of the libraries there (and they are also giving every student and teacher a mac laptop). I told them no thank you, I'm happy here in Atlanta for now--the job is going well and blah blah blah. Two months later, and this!

So in March I get the news that I'm probably going to be RIF'd on x date. So that date comes, and goes, and I've received no registered letter, no email, no notice whatsoever. I even ask my principal and county library coordinator about my status, and they've not seen my name on any list or connected in any way with the RIF. I was stressed out big-time, and had been looking at job listings, both in the U.S. and not. When the date came and went with no news, I thought only the best--that I hadn't been RIF'ed, and that the worst thing that could happen is that they'd reassign me to another school.

Then TODAY, the contracts for everyone came out. I bopped into the office to ask for mine, but it was not there! What?? So I talk to the principal, and he makes some calls. I talk to the county library coordinator, and she makes some calls. The HR person we needed to talk to was 'in a meeting' but the secretary said that they are investigating my case, and that it seemed that I was supposed to have received a RIF letter. But that they had to check more fully.

The kicker is that teachers (and I) have only 10 days to sign their contracts, or they are considered 'resigned'. I don't want to resign. So I wrote to the HR person, and copied the whole world, asking where, oh wherever could my contract be? Since I'd received no RIF letter (nor my principal, nor my coordinator), that contract for next year must be lost somewhere, perhaps sent to another school, and that I'd like to sign it as soon as possible.

By the end of the day, still no news. So what do I do now? Suggestions are welcome. I've heard through the grapevine that this also happened to a couple of teachers at another school, and that they are considering a lawsuit. Do we have a case? Or, alternately, do you have a job for me?

My own little box...

So I'm living in Atlanta again. You know, living in Mexico makes everything seems like a cross-cultural adventure. Just going to the grocery store opens up the door for an amazing variety of people, situations, and linguistic challenges. Here in Atlanta, I'm just going to the grocery store. Yeah, I have to say, it's a little boring. But I suppose I'll have to start making my own fun, rather than just going to the grocery store and calling it a day. That's better, right?

So here are some photos of my new little box. I inherited much of the furniture, and don't really have much right now, but it has possibilities.

First day of school!!

Seaside but still docked...

An update:

I'm now homeless, traveling between friends' sofas in Atlanta, Birmingham, and south Alabama (actually that's my mom's sofa). But it's not as bad as it seems.

My best girl Keely came down to Mexico City at the end of June, and we loaded up the car and drove all the way back to the U.S. The dogs were along, of course, but they were drugged most of the time. The trip was remarkably incident-free, except for being stopped by Mexican police twice in the same day.

Since getting back, I have accomplished several feats:

1. I've gotten a job in Atlanta. I'll be a media specialist at Centennial High School. It's pretty exciting, I know. Who knew it would be so easy? I spent months and months worried about it, then when it came down to it, I had to decide between THREE schools that wanted me. So yes, Sandra, your letter helped!

2. The dogs have been accepted to doggie-day care. I'm not sure it was very competitive entrance exam, but I did get a cute report card for both on their first day. Both got gold stars. So now they'll have something to do when I start working.

3. I also found a house to rent. It has two bedrooms, a yard and a back deck. If you are familiar with Atlanta, it's in Home Park. About halfway between Atlantic Station and Georgia Tech. It's an old neighborhood of little bungalows, and each day there is a parade of youthful Tech students walking/biking to class (yay). I can also walk to the Ikea, Target, and dog park at Atlantic Station. Here's a photo of the deck:















I can't move in to the house until the 1st of August, which is roughly when I start work. So for the next couple of weeks, I'm homeless and jobless. But only temporarily.

What the flu means to me....

We, um, evacuated the city and went to the beach for the, um, disease-free air.

Okay, it was an unexpected week and a half of vacation!