It's been ages

I'm sorry it's been so long, but as I said, I got a job subbing for the district where I'd eventually like to work full-time. I worked almost every day this week, and even though I don't like that sometimes the teachers don't give me enough information, I really like that I'm getting to be in different grade levels and see the different schools. I did Kindergarten yesterday, and I came home and told Manny that it reminded me why I don't want to teach Kindergarten again. Honestly, I don't think I have enough patience for the young ones. I did sub for a Social Studies/Science teacher in the 5th grade, and LOVED IT! So, I think that I'll be looking into teaching positions for 4th grade and up. It feels so GOOD to be working again...to be in the classroom...to feel like I'm contributing to the household (even though I do all the "women's work" already)...I mean contributing financially.

I had my first experience with hardcore "gamers." Manny and I went out at 12am to pick up his copy of the new Halo Reach game from GameStop. He's so funny - he said, "Well, this is cool. I have to be the only guy here with a girlfriend!" :)

There honestly hasn't been much to report...my throat has been going wonky again like it was last year in New Jersey, but fortunately, I haven't lost my voice. I am learning more places in Houston and how to get to them because I go to a different school every day. Manny just decided that Fridays and/or Saturdays are always "Date Night" for us, and I really appreciate that. Last night we were sitting all cozy on the sofa listening to a man talk about the difference in how children were raised maybe a decade ago in comparison to today, and he said, "Honey, how about if I go out and get us something to eat?" Well, I'd already told him what I was cooking for dinner, and it really wasn't a big deal, so I said, "Why?" "Well, so that you could have a break from cooking. You cook all the time." So we had little personal pizzas from Schlotzky's. It was so sweet of him!

The library has begun to be a weekly or bi-weekly adventure. I have less time to read books now that I'm working, but there is almost always a space of time either in the morning, or in the afternoon when Manny is not around and I can sit on the sofa and sink my teeth into a good mystery. He always asks me about my book and why I like it...if the writer is good, or just average...I really appreciate that he tries to take an interest in things that I enjoy. He even leaned over my shoulder this past Sunday and asked questions about the cross-stitch I was doing.

Some random facts about Houston:

There are "Adult Stores" EVERYWHERE which I think is pretty awkward.

They don't call Laundromats "laundromats" - they are "washaterias" and if you think that's Spanish, it's not - in Spanish, it's "lavanderia." WEIRD!

There is a completely tactless shop that I pass almost every day on my way to work - Manny does, too. I couldn't believe the name really meant what I thought it was until I saw the ads in the windows, and I just turned up my nose, took a picture for you all and went on my merry way. Can you guess what kind of shop this is?