Tex-Mex Love

Yesterday I survived the GRE. My scores are another story, but I think I did well enough to get into my school of choice. So naturally I felt the need to kick back and reward myself a little. I went to one of my favorite places, Chuy's. It's an awesome Tex-Mex restaurant that has several locations around Texas. Much of the decor centers around Elvis, patrons' dogs, local artists, hub caps, and wooden fish. The strawberry margaritas are damn near perfection. Although I didn't have one yesterday since I had to drive an hour back home. Boo. They also make an amazing creamy jalapeno dressing/sauce/dip. Most request it with the chips and salsa, but it's also the sauce on the fish or shrimp tacos and is dressing on their salads. Usually I order the same thing, but sometimes I feel like change just for the sake of change. I always get the Deluxe Chicken Enchiladas. They have an amazing creamy tomatillo sauce. Yesterday though I felt like a change. I ordered the Chuychanga, a chicken chimichanga with the fabulous deluxe tomatillo sauce. In the photo you can see my little piece of Tex-Mex heaven. Normally there would be some sort of pico de gallo and salad garnish, but I'm not a veggie lover so I always opt out. I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch on the patio after the stress of taking the GRE. Ahhh love!

I'm Not Ready!

Here it is after midnight. No surprise there. I never fall asleep before midnight these days, but tonight I really needed to. I'm taking the GRE tomorrow. Eek!

I'm attempting to get into graduate school so I can become a school counselor. I need this, I mean desperately need this. After six years in the classroom, I'm ready for a change. I want to continue working with children. I feel it is my true calling. However, I think I can reach students more effectively in smaller groups. Classes of 30 are becoming overwhelming.

I have studied for this test, but obviously not enough. I feel so unprepared. I've been going over the study book and making flash cards. Tonight I was lying in bed going over the flash cards again. It just seems incredibly daunting. Sooo here I am, with a glass of wine, watching Muppets from Space trying to breathe slowly. This does not bode well for tomorrow. Please just let me do well enough to get into a decent school! I'm not asking for Harvard here, just not the University of Phoenix in Guam okay.

If I can make it through this test, I'll be on my way and waiting on one less thing. Isn't that the point, to change the things I can? This is something I have some control over. This is a way to move my life forward. Wish me luck and that I don't have a panic attack at the testing center!

I'm THAT girl

A couple of days ago I was reading an advice column on The Frisky. A woman was asking how to let her friend know that she was tired of picking up the pieces every time it didn't work out with a guy. Her friend seemed to always settle for losers. The columnist suggested going out for a drink and just explaining that she's tired of seeing her friend go through this over and over and that maybe she should suggest therapy to her friend to find out why she keeps picking guys that aren't good for her. I read the comments at the end and all of them were along the lines of "I have a friend like that. It's hard to tell them you can't deal with the crying anymore."

I emailed the column to one of my best friends who is always there for me when I have dating drama.  Immediately after reading it she replied, "When do you want to go have that drink?". She saw exactly the same thing I did. I'm the friend who keeps settling for losers and calls crying when it doesn't work out. I'm THAT girl.

I'd like to say I turned into her after my divorce, but that's just not the truth. I was that girl from the very beginning. I've been on this great search for love since I was probably six years old. In school, I always "liked" somebody, but rarely went out with them. I had one serious relationship that lasted from my junior year of high school to my sophomore year of college. We broke up and I was devastated. Within months I met my future ex-husband. We were married for almost eight years. Now I find myself back in the land of the single. Maybe I just don't know how to date. I was in serious relationships during the ages most people are out living their single years. But then, how does one learn to date? Suggestions welcome!

The Beginning

For those of you wondering what is in store on this fairly ordinary blog, it will be pretty varied. I've been toying with the idea of posting the debacles that are my life, my general feelings at times, restaurant reviews, book reviews, and anything else that I might want to share.

I'll start with me though. I am a 30 year old woman who still feels like a 17 year old girl at times.  In the past three years my life has taken some very dramatic turns. Most of the time I can find humor in it all. My friends and family certainly have! 

I'm wrapping up my sixth year of teaching middle school with plans of starting my master's to become a school counselor. It is impossible to be happy teaching middle school students unless you can laugh at yourself because believe me, they are laughing at you! Those kids have the ability to humble me like no other, but they also make me feel so incredibly loved. I go to work each day with a purpose.

I'm also SINGLE. That is capitalized because it seems to be a huge theme swirling around my current situation in life. I was married for a long time and then suddenly I wasn't. All those plans little girls make about a home, family, etc., yeah, I threw those right out the window. I moved back to my small home town and next door to my parents. Most of the time I wonder what the hell am I thinking, but the rest doesn't work with out LOVE. I never saw myself starting fresh at 30, but here I am. Oddly enough, I'm HAPPY with my life. Just missing a few things to be complete. I'm on that ever so popular quest to find the love of my life. I'm looking for the right man and hoping for those babies someday, but in the mean time, I am LIVING and enjoying the adventures my new life is presenting.