We have officially expanded our family to include Mr. Cully Gardiner, a 19 lb. dachshund who we absolutely adore. He is still learning how to do his bathroom business outside, but he is adjusting well here otherwise. We decided to keep the name Cully, as it was already on all of his paperwork. I also did some research on the name and say that “cully” is Gaelic for “handsome.” Needless to say, the name has grown on us and our handsome baby is here to stay.
Cully is 10 months old and spent most of his life with his foster mom Linne, who is also the president of the Texas Dachshund Rescue. His story was that he was seen thrown out of a moving pickup truck on a Texas highway when he was a few months old. He got stuck in a culvert (hence why he was given the name Cully) and had to be rescued by firefighters. Cully has been waiting for a loving home the few months following his rescue, and we are happy to be the lucky couple to take him in!
Cully on the way home from picking him up
My introduction to the world of substitute teaching finally happened a couple of weeks ago. I took a dive into filling in for a middle school choir teacher who was on a field trip. I arrived at the school before Mr. Thompson left, so I got to meet with him before becoming the stand-in choir teacher. He told me I’d have the rest of 4th period (7th graders) and then a 6th grade class, a break period, and then another 6th grade class to end my day.
I’m happy to report that no one was injured or died and the kids didn’t make me cry. The experience felt more like summer camp than anything, since Mr. Thompson’s afternoon lesson plans were to let the 6th grade students go outside.
With 20 minutes left to spend with the 7th graders, a few girls asked me a round of questions. Such nosy preteens.
“Are you married?”
“How old are you?”
“Do you have kids?”
“Have you had any miscarriages?”
It was amusing for sure.
The 6th grade classes went okay. I don’t know how well it would have gone if I had to keep them busy in the classroom. I was more than happy to unleash the beasts to the playground area.
I haven’t taken on another sub assignment just yet, since I was more concerned with spending time with Shane than babysitting classrooms of children, but I will try to soon. I am hoping for elementary school next time, since I imagine younger kids will be sweeter and easier to handle.
Hm, what else has been going on. Shane and I went to San Antonio the weekend before last and had a blast (see the cute couple below), Shane’s brother Chase came down to visit last week, and I am seeing Lady Gaga tonight with my friend Cathy. I got these tickets over half a year ago (4 days after I got back from Paris actually) and am happy the show is finally here. I can’t quite say I’m one of Gaga’s “Little Monsters” but I am pumped to see her performance. I imagine it will be pretty damn entertaining and glamorous. I still need to figure out what I am wearing, like OMG!
On the Riverwalk in San Antonio
Lastly, I wanted to say that Rob, Shane’s other brother, left for a year-long deployment to Afghanistan on Saturday. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers!
