Post - Las Vegas

So I spent 2 weeks in the Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada. I only lost $2 gambling ($30 of Michael's) but lost a lot to accommodations and dining. I am now certified in Orff-Schulwerk Level One and I feel really refreshed. I met some great musicians and great people along the way and I got to hoop in 4 new states. I hooped with a mostly naked cowboy, Elvis, PeeWee Herman, Danny DeVito, and some classmates in our dance studio. I hooped somewhere else in Utah, and at the 4 corners monument which was really fun.

I decided to come back to Santa Fe without going to San Francisco because I was totally gonna run out of money unless I broke into my savings. It will have to wait (I know...that's totally un-Kathleen to say, but what can I do?) I also just wanted to get back and rest in my hometown even though I am homeless. I've stayed at Michael's the past 2 nights and am moving into Grace and Gerard's house in like an hour. A LOT of work ahead of me. Don't care right now. As I finish my Brewtus at Applebees...and a waiter just gave me this for having the most beautiful smile he's ever seen...

Michael says I'm still skinnier than I was...but I'm definitely bloated from all the eating at restaurants and not having any energy to run while I was living in a hotel and in school for more than 8 hrs/day then having homework and the stress of driving in that ridiculous city.

The Color Run is on August 25th. I want to run the whole thing.

Life's a trip.

Dad & Anna's trip out here was so fun :) We ate a lot and walked a lot and shopped a lot and I got to do a lot of the touristy things that I have not done yet like see the Loretto Chapel stairs and shop for souvenirs. We went to Tomasita's to see the Mariachias, to a flamenco show at El Farol, and up to Hyde Park to bumble around on some rocks. They helped me move from one school to my new school and some of my stuff from my house to Gerard's parents' garage. I cried when I dropped them at the airport. I love those people. I was just happy that they were there with me.

So I made it alive to Las Vegas in one day. The plan was to drive from Santa Fe to the 4 Corners to hoop there one day, and then sleep and finish the drive the next day. I had spent all of Friday and Saturday morning cleaning out my house completely so I could hand over the keys and get my deposit back. Saturday morning saying goodbye to Michael I was too caught up in all the Michaeldom and I asked/decided to go to his friend's wedding that was going on that day/night. The wedding was in the Basilica here in Santa Fe which was gorgeous (Catholic comments another day) and then the reception was at a casino in Espanola. I saw one of my students (Kinder) there and pulled her up to dance. She laughed and laughed. Then I danced with Michael for the rest of the evening. I laughed and laughed. The band was New Mexican Spanish music. Michael and I twirled and tangoed and for a couple hours I was flying. We took silly inappropriate pictures in the photo booth which was such a hit that the prints were passed around the reception hall without us knowing. Eventually we decided we needed more food and got all-you-can-eat crab legs in the casino. A silly, unbelievable, spontaneous night.

I left Sunday morning - now taking the shortest route to LV. Down I went to Albuquerque where I caught I-40W. If you remember last year's roadtrip, I spent quite some time on this highway. Back again I was. Taking the trip further West. I thought about all the things I've learned in the past year. How much I didn't know then. How scared I was. and here I am just as scared.

I stopped a couple times for gas/to pee. One homeless man told me, "Don't leave - I love you!"
My big stop was Meteor Crater, AZ. I hooped the shit out of that site. 50,000 years ago a meteorite fell and made this big hole and it's astonishing. You stand right up by it on the rim and dude it's fun. When I tell people what I'm doing when I'm hooping they think I'm the coolest person ever. Feels good.

It was tooooo long a drive - I will never drive 11 hours (in the car - 12 or 13 in all) in one day voluntarily again.

I spent two nights in the Las Vegas Hotel which was beautiful but I spent most of the time sleeping, and now I'm in the Riviera for two nights which is less beautiful but there's free Wi-Fi.

My homework...just kidding...

My Orff course is awesome. Pedagogy, games, movement, recorder, and special things for school. Today my movement teacher asked if I've studied dance. It was because I was totally the best oyster interpretive dancer there. Or I'm just not afraid to be silly. I like wiggling and that's what I'll do. There's some really nice people. Rock 'n Roll.

Fifty Shades of Tan

I walked into a Starbucks today to start reading Fifty Shades of Grey. I walk in in my little blue dress which I've worn about 20 times since I bought it last month and I smile at the cute boy sitting in one of the comfy chairs. I turn to order my iced soy caramel macchiato, and I hear him turn to his friend and say "daaaaamn." I stiiillll got it.

Yeah buddy.

So, I'm only about 12 pages into this crazed book. All I know about it is that it has an irresistible, tantalizing, gorgeous man who thinks he can control anyone with whom he comes in contact.

As I bash myself over the head over Michael, I've decided that it would be the greatest book ever to write the same story based in Santa Fe...the land of adobe and dirt...starring Michael as Mr. Tan...in the new trilogy...Fifty Shades of Tan.

The cover of said book...circa September,2011.

I had a wacky week of babysitting...a fun 9 year old boy and 11 year old girl who I really got along with at a carnival and at Cliff's Amusement Park and Waterpark in Albuquerque - where I had wayyy too much fun. Lots of rollercoasters, lots of screaming, lots of laughing. Then a 4 year old boy who literally threw rocks at me. Then a 6 year old girl with a brain of a serial killer.

All this babysitting is awesome for getting extra cash. And I always remember the phrase of an old friend..."but I LIKE sitting on baby."

I need to find out tomorrow exactly how much time I have to travel (i.e. when exactly I have to report to school), so I know which route to take to Las Vegas/San Francisco/wherever else I want to go. I could stop at the 4 corners, or Sedona, or upper or downer. Unfortunately I might have to go the straightest route possible and boom feet in the Pacific boom get home. Either way, I'm hooping across America a little more and that makes me happy.

If you don't know already, I got a new job. I am going to be Santo Nino Catholic School's music teacher. It's the same salary with much better behavior and literacy in children. I'm scared and excited. I will have to lead the choir for mass every week which scares the shit out of me. I went to church today and sang in Spanish like a boss.

I don't know where I'm goin, but I sure know where I've been.