On Loving Your Job: The Case of Randy

Today emphasized something that seems pretty common sense but I often forget. People who love their job, I mean LOVE their job, can get anyone excited about it. Take my man Randy at Rounders Pizzeria in Austin. Regardless of the fact that Rounders is AMAZING, Randy could get me to order 5 pizzas without ever tasting them, simply because I can tell he's enjoying himself. ( And Randy, if you somehow read this and want to tell me it's all an act please do so. Then quit your job and move to Hollywood because you are gooooooood.)

Recently, I had my first experience with Randy. Chris and Pat had him as a server before, and can agree he is the man. Randy is the best server I've ever had, I mean ever, including those " we made this customized menu just for you and what's fresh" places. Randy wasn't just pleasant, he seemed like her was having a good time being there.  He was warm, laid back, and talked about the food like it was the BEST food ever, but in a realistic way. I never felt sold to, I never felt like I was just another table he needed to get to "tip time" as fast as possible. He made conversation that wasn't forced, he helped us navigate an uncomfortable situation with some reeeeeally drunk guys, and he made me excited to be there. Randy MADE that experience for me.

Teaching I swear is the same way. You can have an AMAZING teacher, who isn't in love with what they do, teach an AMAZING lesson in front of you. The kids are well behaved, they master the objective, case closed. The kids however, just aren't as invested. They can tell this is "just another day on the job" so they should just view the experience the same way.

On the other hand, I've seen a new teacher, who's struggling just to finish a lesson cycle and can't control that pesky back table, who is IN LOVE with what their doing, and the kids can just tell. They try harder, they want more, they ask good questions, they do more than show up and do their job, because he did more than just show up and put on a show. He gets kids excited because he IS excited to be there.

So I just want to take the time to remind you. This is a tough time for jobs, but always be looking for the one that you love, I mean really love. You won't just be good at it, you'll change the way other's see what you do. I mean, it worked for Randy.

First day back and I just want to get started with my kids.
-HK

Here it goes, Here it goes, Here it goes again

Tomorrow I begin my second year of teaching. Yes, I know it's July but teacher inservice starts tomorrow. Kids are back August 2nd.  It's completely different than last year. Last year I sat in my apartment ( that was still not unpacked) and had so many questions. What's the schedule like? Who am I teaching with? What are my kids like? Am I going to suck at this?

This time I'm not full of questions, I'm just excited. Yes, I know summer is over and I should be mourning the loss of waking up at 10am every morning and seeing movies at 2pm on a Tuesday and just laying by the pool for as along as I like...and believe me I totally am, but I'm not put off by the idea of going back to work. I love my job. I love the kids, I love the people, I love making a difference. The class of 2014 did amazing last year ( 100% passing on math, reading, and social studies TAKS and commended scores like you wouldn't believe). I can only imagine all we'll accomplish this year now that I actually know what I'm doing ( sort of). I'm just so excited.

I took that last 3 days to really live up the last of my summer. Thursday was Teri's birthday and we all celebrated at Trudy's. One stuffed avocado, 2 Mexican Martinis, and one movie later I can successfully say we had a blast. I love eating outdoors in Austin, but especially at Trudys. Something about Mexican Martinis and fresh air...

Friday Morgan, Patrick and I fed some ducks at the arboretum and then good ol' Morgan and I did some damage at IKEA. My photo walls are making some serious progress. Then like magic the whole gang got together for dinner at Hoovers. Oh, oh, oh. Garlic cheese grits, mashed potatoes, mac n' cheese and chicken fried chicken. Before I say how delicous it was...what is up with "chicken fried chicken"? I mean really it seems just a little redundant.  Food was great, conversation was better, and we topped it all off with seeing The Girl Who Played With Fire.  Now this was my second go-around on this wheel -o-movie and I just have to say it doesn't hold up to the first one. However, German-giant-who-can't-feel-pain-but-is-afraid-of-the -Prius spawned many a good laugh. (Thanks Morgan)

Saturday was boss boss boss. Tried  Round Rock Donuts ( great! ...still not better than Ken's) and then Juan in a Million for late breakfast. I was so excited...I mean Man vs. Food was there, MAN VS. FOOD, on of my favorite shows.  Look, I'm not trying to be that person...but I'm going to be that person. That place just did not live up to the hype. You get a LOT of food...for a little money, but being the breakfast taco connoisseur I am...it just didn't do anything for me. Too much potato in the Don Juan led to the eggs being lost in the jumble. I didn't hate it, I just wasn't over the moon. Went to Zilker and fed more ducks with Chris. We saw a  GIANT turtle and even a beaver. Seriously, a beaver. He was so cute swimming around with his paddle tail. We had a nice talk while feeding ducks and sticking our feet in the water near one of my favorite spots in Austin. The view of Town Lake with the skyline in the back reminds me every time why this is one of my favorite cities.

Dinner was pizza and beer at Rounders with Patrick and Morgan. Our server, Randy, is the subject of tomorrow's blog post, that's how awesome he was. After good food and some chats we met up with Ben for a round of Dixit. I highly recommend it! You think of a sentence to describe a card in your hand then place it face down. Everyone else picks a card from their hand that they think might also be described by that sentence. Then you flip all the cards over and everyone else tries to figure out which one is yours with the best outcome being some get it right and some don't. It was really fun. I went to sleep but everyone else stayed up for some more Munchkin action which I heard was a very ruthless game.

Today I celebrated the end of summer with Taco Shack ( my #1 favorite breakfast taco spot) then we headed out to Barton Springs Pool for some freezing cold and slimy green fun. That place is pure summer. Something about diving in the icy water, having it take your breath away from a moment, swimming around for 10 minutes, then hopping out to warm up again...then repeating the cycle just says summer to me. Top it off with a pineapple-mint agua fresca at Whole Foods, and I was ready to call it a summer.

Happy Monday Lovies,

-HK

Summer Summary

Miami: Say what you want. I loved that city. Chris and I had an amazing trip. Of course, in the blitz I was in to leave, I kept forgetting my camera in the hotel and when I finally got it...it died.

Beaches:  Pristine. Blue-Green water.

Thriller Miami:  The race-boat tour. Yes, it's campy, but the ride and tour was exhilarating. I just like boats.

Art Deco:  Wish I had pictures, but the Art Deco District was fantastic for people watching and just strolling to look at buildings I have to say Miami is even MORE dog friendly that Austin. Every store and resteraunt, no matter WHERE you went allowed dogs. It was adorable.

Little Havana:  Versailles was a great experience. The food was out of this world good, cafe con leche was the BEST I'd ever had. On the Cuban Sandwich ( which I've become somewhat of a fanatic for over the years): The cuban bread was the best I'd ever tasted...how ever the pork was somewhat lacking. My favorite remains La Marginal in San Antonio.

Vizcaya:  The millionaire's house turned museum was a mixture of beauty and creepy. Spiral staircases, stones faces above every door, built in pipe organ, bookshelf doors, amazing gardens, creepy killer get-away gondolas, and a terrace that opened up to the ocean. It was my favorite stop, although Chris is convinced it the "baby elephant walk" ghost probably followed us home.  There aren't my pictures but look!

Coconut Grove:  Um, can I just move here now? It's cute Austin-y, and fun just to be around. Fairchild Gardens was amazing too.

Back to reality:

 Music Music: Saw Voltaire last weekend in Austin and I had a blast. While I am a Voltaire fan, I have never been to a goth club before. It was an experience and yes I stuck out like a sore thumb. I was super bummed he didn't do Cannibal Buffet  however he did Day of the Dead in Spanish ( it was FANTASTIC) and of course The USS Make Shit Up for all of us Trek fans. Seriously, check this guy out. If you don't love his stuff there's no money back guarantee, just an indicator you have no taste or sense of humor. (Just kidding kids.)

The Birth of a Legend: Had a fantastic time celebrating Chris's Birthday last week and seeing friends in Austin. It's amazing, now matter how many times you go a place, how you can never get sick of it. I probably do the same 10 things every time I'm in Austin and they are still my favorite things. Above all, I return again and again for the food...and of course the awesome people.

Teri's birthday dinner is Thursday and I'm super excited to celebrate the birth of such an amazing friend. I was looking at her freaking sweet camera bag she made at Chris's party and realized that I don't know anyone else who is as crafty ( as in crafts, not as in Boxxy) as Teri. So here's a happy early birthday to that crafty, moose lovin', space expert we all know and love!

Work beings again on Monday and I have dinner with Katherine and Andy ( one of our school directors) tonight. Not ready to be back yet, but I stopped by the school to help Katherine so some small group math work for her summer school class. The kids were hilarious, and I got to see one of my students from last year that I really got to know well. She did her trademark smile and wave while I was teaching but I had to run and give her a hug. Already she looks like a 9th grader, and she said she's excited to be back soon. I'm really going to miss the class of 2014, I know they'll just be just down the hall, and some I'll even have again for Algebra, but those kids were so amazing. Here's hoping the c/o 2015 and I have the same chemistry.

Austin tomorrow, get ready again kiddos!
-HK

Money Money Money and Cars

It comes in and goes out in a matter or days. I just got my bonus for owkr and my education award...and both are already spent...on debt. 

I just applied my $4,700 education award to my loans. It feels AMAZING to knock out almost $5000 in one payment, especially when the money doesn't come from my bank account. Next up my accrued interest will be knocked out too by the government.Yay yay TFA!

And credit cards. ugh. Don't get me started. One raised my APR to 24% for missing ONE payment. ONE. Which I only missed because I was so busy with the wedding. And there's no way to make the interest go back down for the next 6 months. Whatever. I applied my bonus for school to knock out that one and I'm closing the account as soon as I redeem my  points. Bye bye cute  card!

Once my CC debt is gone I can start saving for vacation ( Disney for Christmas!) and a new car.

And I know EXACTLY what I want. Zoom freaking Zoom.

Behold the 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 in velocity red. ( wipe your drool now). Even the picture makes her look fast. I hope to have her by Christmas.

I have the opportunity to hang out in one at the Austin car show a few months back and it stole my heart. I had already settled on a Mazda 3 ( it being at the top of it's class year and year again), but after I sat in a speed and heard all the amazing things other owners said at the show. I was sold. It took awhile to sell me on the hatchback, but I have to say I'm obsessed now. Like, really obsessed. Like I drive past the mazda dealership just to look at them obsessed. I can't wait.

-HK