Back to School

Today was the first day of school for most public schools in Texas. I had a hard time making my self get out of bed at 5:45 (I am SO not a morning person!), but once I left for work, I was wide awake and ready for the day. My day started out greeting parents and students and helping them cross the street to the school. It was super humid and I could feel my make-up melting off my face! Temps reached around 100 today and when it is that hot in Texas (94 degrees or above to be exact), kids can't go outside to play. Since it was the first day, none of the kids were coming to the computer lab, so I had a busy day helping out wherever help was needed. My first "job" was to do an activity with a class of kindergarteners while their parents were attending an orientation. Wow...nothing compares to working with kindergarteners on their 1st day when they haven't even learned any procedures!! I had such a rowdy bunch and I was very glad to take them back to their parents after an hour of chaos :)! After that, I helped supervise nearly all of the lunch periods. It was fun getting to see a lot of the kids from last year, especially when they came up to say, "Hi Mrs. Kerby!" and give me a hug. I spent the rest of my day observing a first grade class so I would get an idea of what a "first day" looks like in the classroom. Overall I had a great day, but my feet were KILLING me long before the end of the day from standing for nearly six hours! I think I'll be wearing comfy flats tomorrow. Wish me luck as I will have over 130 kids throughout the day tomorrow!

Emergency

Today I had something happen to me that I have never experienced before and I hope it never happens again. I was driving back to the school after my lunch break when I noticed a man running on the sidewalk and then I watched as he fell face first into the grass. A million thoughts ran through my mind during the next few seconds. At first I thought maybe it was a kid that was just being silly. I decided I better turn around through a church parking lot and make sure that the person was ok. When I pulled up, I noticed a white unmarked van with a sketchy looking guy in the driver's seat putting on a shirt. I instantly thought, "What if this is a trick to get me out of my car and then they are going to take me?" I know this sounds ridiculous, but I am so programmed to always be cautious. I decided to take my chances and I started running to the man who had fallen while I dialed 9-1-1. All of this took just a matter of seconds, but seemed like forever. The principal of the school I'm working at had been behind me and she came to the scene and called the assistant principal to bring the defibrillator from the school, which was only a few blocks away. Thankfully, at the same time a nurse came up and immediately started CPR. Nothing seemed to be working. His eyes were fixed and dilated and there was just a faint pulse, but no carotid pulse. He gasped for air a couple of times after the CPR, but nothing changed. The police were the first to arrive and talk to me, which is when 9-1-1 let me go. By the time we had the defibrillator and shocked him once (also no response), the ambulance and fire truck had arrived. I think it took them 10-15 minutes to arrive on scene, which seemed like an eternity to me. No one had a clue who this man was. I don't think he had any identification on him since he was just out for a jog. He was a thin black man who seemed to be in his mid- to late thirties and it was during the hottest part of the day. I just pray that he survives and that they find his family. I was pretty emotional and shaken up after the ambulance arrived and my principals and another teacher couldn't have been more supportive. One of them even drove me back to the school and sat with me for a while. They told me that they would take me home, but I knew I would feel better being around people than sitting at home alone replaying it in my mind. I am definitely not writing this for sympathy or kudos from anyone (I'm not the one who possibly lost a family member today and I feel there's more that I should have done looking back)...it's just a way for me to put my thoughts down and let go of something I have no control over.

Has It Already Been 10 Years?

This past weekend was my 10-year high school reunion in Oklahoma City. Tim and I weren't able to make it up there for the Friday night festivities, so we drove up on Saturday morning. I took Tim to Soda Pops, a fun diner near my high school, for lunch. After lunch we tracked down some of my best friends from high school who were not able to go to the event on Saturday night. It was great to see them again and introduce them to Tim. Saturday night I had a great time catching up with old friends who I hadn't seen in several years. The picture above is me with my friends Julie and Dinah. I was a bit disappointed with the whole event...not the greatest planning or advertising (so a fairly small turnout considering my class was almost 600), but it was still worth it to see people and reconnect. Maybe next time I'll have to get more involved in the planning :).

On a separate note, I started a new job today. I got a call from a principal last week who asked me if I could start the school year as the computer teacher for the elementary because the regular teacher had to take early maternity leave. Unfortunately, it isn't a permanent teaching position, but I am happy to get to attend in-service this week and be there from day one of school next Monday. I'm not sure when the other teacher will return, so I'm just playing it by ear. There's still a good chance that another teaching position will open up because enrollment keeps increasing and if it does, I hope to get it. Keep your fingers crossed!

Joy's Wedding Slideshow

This slide show is pretty massive, so I don't blame you if you don't watch it all. Unfortunately, my computer kept freezing up when I tried to put them in order, so they are a little jumbled. Enjoy!

Wedding Weekend

I'm finally getting around to blogging about Joy's wedding and our weekend in California. I had an awesome time visiting my old hangouts and showing Tim the West coast! In fact, we are ready to go back so we have more than 2 short days there. We flew in to LAX on Friday and by the time we settled in to our hotel, it was time to drive to Malibu for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. We stayed at the Marriot in Marina del Rey and it was FABULOUS (pictures to come soon)!! It reminded us of the hotel we stayed at in New York only this had the California flare to it. As you walked in, the smell of fresh flowers was overwhelming. The decorations were very modern and they always had complimentary fruit infused water.

Joy and Todd's rehearsal dinner was at the Michael Landon park in Malibu across from Pepperdine. We had Wood Ranch BBQ (one of my faves!) and just enjoyed the scenery. From there we went to the chapel to run through the whole she-bang. I was a little worried about how everything would come together, but it went rather smoothly. After the rehearsal, a group of us headed to Casa Escobar in Malibu for some drinks and appetizers. It was a great place to sit outside under the heat lamps and relax before the big day. What's funny is that that building used to be a Pizza Hut when I was in college. I'd have to say that Casa Escobar is a step up from the run down pizza place! Another bonus was that my sister loaned Tim and me her little Mercedes for the weekend...lots of fun on PCH!

Saturday morning I drove the Mercedes to meet Joy and the other girls in the wedding party at Main Attraction nail salon in Santa Monica. I had a relaxing manicure and pedicure. While I was sitting at the nail dryer table, I was doing a little people watching of the street outside. I saw a guy that I knew and I was trying to figure out where I knew him from when he looked in the window and smiled. I was so excited because it was VINCE VAUGHN!!! I told the other bridesmaids and they ran outside to see him. You would think I would get used to seeing famous people after living in Malibu for four years, but this was the first time that I saw someone who was actually famous at the time...not someone from a tv show that aired years ago! That made my weekend.

We chilled at the hotel's super cool patio until it was time to get ready for the wedding. Tim and I decided to leave early so that I would have time to show him all over Pepperdine's campus. Plus, I wanted to be there to watch Joy get her hair and make-up done. The campus was as beautiful as ever! During my senior year, they started construction on the hill next to my apartment and now there is a beautiful graduate school campus and executive center. Tim and I drove all the way up to the top to see Pepperdine's Hero Garden, which was built in dedication to those killed on 9/11. It was really peaceful and beautiful up there. Joy was getting ready at our friend, Kelly's place in Malibu. Her make-up and hair stylist did a great job. Joy seemed so relaxed and happy! All the girls got ready there and we enjoyed having some bubbly before the big event.

I was worried that Joy had gone out of her mind when she decided that she was going to go to a flower market the morning before her wedding and put together her own flowers for the wedding with the help of a couple of bridesmaids. These would be her first floral arrangements. Afterall, (she told us) you can save money and just follow the directions on MarthaStuart.com! Well, sure enough, her flowers were very pretty. I was extremely impressed with the way they turned out. Her bouquet was made of ivory roses and hydrangeas. The bridesmaids carried a single orangish-red sunflower. The wedding was very beautiful and was over before we knew it. Thanks to all of you who prayed that my anxiety would not keep me from being the matron-of-honor at her wedding!! I was so happy that I could do it!

Their reception was held back at the Marriott in Marina del Rey. We enjoyed a nice dinner, yummy cake, and some dancing. After that, we saw them off and then went to bed. Weddings are exhausting! The one thing we didn't think to do that night was sign the marriage license, so Joy called me the next day and asked me to drive to their hotel and sign it. I guess that was slightly important! Before we left that day, I had to get my Coffee Bean fix! For those of you not familiar with CB, it is similar to Starbucks only way better in my opinion! Love their Ice Blended Mochas! Tim and I drove to Venice Beach and when I pulled into the parking space, he said that the guy in front of us was famous. I couldn't see his face, so I left Tim in the car to stare while I got my drink. When I walked back to the car, I saw two little girls talking to him and they mentioned Spy Kids. I've never seen that movie, but I could finally get a better view of him and recognized him. His name is Danny Trejo (look him up on imdb.com) and he often plays an inmate. Tim was thrilled to finally see a "star." We came home Sunday evening to temperatures in the 100s and immediately wanted to go back to CA where it stayed between 60 and 75 degrees the whole time! Gotta love the heat in Texas in August! I'll post pictures soon, but until then, here is a snapshot (that I would crop if I wasn't at work) of us at the end of Saturday night. Doesn't Joy make a beautiful bride?!

Quick Update

Well, the big event is almost here. Joy is getting married in just a few short days in sunny California! Although it will be a quick trip, I am really looking forward to being with Tim on his first trip to the West coast. I am a bit stressed out for my sister, but I'm trying to remind myself that it is not up to me to pull this thing off! She just finalized her music this week, does not have gifts picked out for the wedding party, is doing her own flowers for the first time EVER on the day before the wedding, etc. We are day and night when it comes to some things, but I'm sure that everything will come together in time for Saturday! I will have a lot to post about next week. The weekend following this one is my 10-year high school reunion in OKC. I have mixed feelings about going, but I know I will enjoy getting to see some of my friends that I haven't seen in a few years and will especially enjoy getting to show off my hot husband :)! Did any of you go to yours? As for the job hunt, I still don't have any news. I promise to let you all know as soon as I hear something. More to come soon...