Road trip, Day 4

Today was an excellent driving day. I was originally supposed to drive into Portland today, but after yesterday, I decided to take it easy, slow down, and enjoy it for a minute. I looked at the route and Crescent City was only a 5ish hour drive north, so I found a cheap beach motel and made a leisurely drive there. Today was a day for sights. Honestly, the northern California coast, north of San Francisco, beats anything I’ve seen thus far. I started the day with coffee on Glass Beach, in Fort Bragg. Ending it now, sitting on the back porch of this cool, old hotel on the beach in Crescent City, California, listening to the waves, drinking cheap red wine from a plastic dixie cup and trying to unwind from the last 4 days of driving.

There are so many random, cool little towns on the coast and situated in little nooks and crannies in the vast expanse of mountainous forests. I'd think I was in the middle of nowhere, and I was, but I'd come across a random little winery, and pub, with a few cars parked outside and smoke drifting up from the chimneys.

Fort Bragg, CA

Glass Beach

coastal driving beats everything

started in a tank top.
not ending in one.

Northern CA

Loleta, CA

A real tree house,
Garberville, CA

my digs tonight

the view isn't too shabby

Crescent City, CA 

 decent thai, cheap wine, and a beach. 

Road Trip, Day 2 & 3

I chose to head to San Diego, rather than straight into Los Angeles, because Cory is there for training and it was a free place to crash. It was a relatively short drive, in comparison to the 1,060 miles from Monday.  Got there, hauled my crap up to the room and then we hopped onto a train to downtown. Wandered for a bit till we found a sun-drenched patio in San Diego’s Little Italy…granted, it was a British pub, where we had fish and chips, but nonetheless. Smelled Italian. Took a taxi to the beach just in time for a clichéd, beautiful Californian sunset, a few drinks at an overtly touristy bar, and then back to the hotel. Was up this morning by 4, and out into a rainy, chilly dawn…the drive to Fort Bragg took 5 hours longer than I allotted. I wasn’t sure when I should get on hwy 1/ 101 and got on a tad too soon, and ended up in Long Beach rush hour morning traffic. It took me several hours to traverse the coastal side of Los Angeles, with all the lights and traffic, but eventually, once I was a little north of Santa Monica, I was rewarded with some pretty spectacular coastal views. I appreciate the beauty of ANY coast, but in the heavily populated areas, like Laguna and Newport, I found it had a very inauthentic feel. Sure, it was asthetically pleasing, but there is an allure to truly historic, salt water battered coastal towns that I find much more satisfying. There is something disconcerting about new towns painted to look old and charming. Charm comes from character. Not paint and manicured bushes. 

Anyway, as the hours passed, I realized it was going to take me much longer to get to Fort Bragg, my stopping point for the evening. I was supposed to get there by 4 in the afternoon. Got caught in rush hour in downtown San Francisco, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, and then found myself white-knuckled, winding through the dark on 128 (google it). It’s a twisty, mountain route. Not fun in the dark.  Needless to say, I was beyond ready to be done with driving for the day. …I checked into Shoreline Cottages around 9pm. Which, are absolutely adorable, by the way. Another place I plan on bringing Caden to.  I had plans to go Glass Beach and explore the town, but all that’s happening now is bed. I'm just glad I got here in time to check in, because it's a Mom & Pop kinda' place, and it would suck if they were already shuttered for the night when I got here. Oh well. Glad this day is over.

Nice, real nice

Fish, chips, wine & whisky in
San Diego's Little Italy

           Day 2

Day 3 drive:

FIELDS OF WINE IS WHAT THIS IS

And super cute.

Shoreline Cottages in Ft. Bragg
Off- season so super cheap

Road Trip, Day 1

sleepy boy

my route

I left Houston this morning under an inky cloak of stars,  haphazardly scattered about the enormous Texas sky. Nuzzled little man gently, and he woke just long enough to wrap his scrawny arms tightly around my neck, and whisper, “Don’t go,” before giving himself back to his dreams, his eyelids fluttering shut, tiny little spasms demonstrating a private stream of unconsciousness that quickly took him, almost territorial like, back into his dream world.

 

15 hours of this, today.

It was a long day, but I feel accomplished.  I left around 5 this morning, and made it through an El Paso rush hour right before 5, and continued on into Tucson. I’m at a Red Roof Inn, and it smells clean, like lavender soap and old leather. Caden called and read to me, my favorite book from childhood, “Bread and Jam for Frances,” a promise of another phone call tomorrow, and then he was gone. He’s in the future, for now, as we are residing in different time zones for the time being. Am so road worn and weary, I'm not washing my face, brushing my teeth. Nothing. Only time to record my thoughts before they leak out, watery and forgotten, and disappear into the air, and then, sleep.

Arizona

somewhere, in some desert

Made it through Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona today, but tomorrow will be a short drive, as I’m only driving 5 hours into San Diego, where I plan on meeting up with Cory and some beaches.

PS- I'm too tired to come up with a creative title.

life in limbo

oh you know. just me y
mi "biker" tattoos
:)

Hola mis amigos. Just wanted to check in and let everyone who is wonderin’ know how the little gringo and I are doing. We are still living and breathing and even having some laughs here and there.  Trying to be positive and look for the silver linings. Life moves on and I believe that the last few months have helped shape and change us both, in positive ways. Thank you so much for all the messages, comments on my blog, emails, texts and phone calls; I don't have the words to describe how much they mean to me. It's been a rough couple of months, and your words of support have had a huge impact on me. Muchas gracias. Estoy muy agradecida.

HA, I'm not unemployed! I'm the official family babysitter.
these are just a few of my nieces and nephews.

Caden is doing very well. He is really flourishing in his new school and received his first progress report. A’s in everything except for math, but he’s related to me, so I’ll give him a pass on that. He had a tough first morning, because he’s got a touch of social anxiety (got it straight from his momma). A few tears that morning -from him, too- but he came home laughing and happy at the end of his first day, so there’s that.  He is overjoyed to get to hang out with his cousins on the daily and doesn’t even really notice me unless he’s hungry.

He’s happy. I’ll take it.

first day of school with his best
friend and cousin

Caden and Jacob with their uncle Joshy
after a cub scouts derby race

               bookworms


Me….I’m doing alright. Moving upwards and onwards. I’m still in limbo with what’s next for us and exploring all my options. No job yet, but I just attended substitute orientation for Caden’s school district, so I’ll substitute and tutor for awhile, until I figure it out. Sitting in a boardroom, surrounded by fellow teachers and thinking about being back in the classroom next week really made me miss my little mexicanos back in Durango. It’s going to be hard for any new class to live up to those kiddos.

I’ve been job searching and contemplating going back to school for my master’s degree in social work. Aiming for the Seattle area, but with me, ya never really know. I’ve had a couple of recruiters contact me about jobs in China and Korea, but I think I’m going to put the brakes on the international teaching for now. Unfortunately, the excitement I originally felt at those opportunities has waned. I hate to let this one experience water down my enthusiasm and interest, but at this point, that is how I feel.

forearm yoga stand!

Meanwhile, I’ve been trying to fill my time by getting back into my running routine. I was a regular runner before I moved to Mexico, but didn't do anything active for the months I was there, so things started out a bit rough, but I'm up to nine miles now, and have my sights set on participating in a 1/2 marathon.  I hope I don't die.

little dude tries, too

Started experimenting with yoga. In the process, was reminded that I'm not an indestructible teenager anymore. I've had a couple of falls that Caden found quite hilarious.

 That being said, I am getting better and really enjoying it.

I made rajas con queso!

I’m also on a never-ending quest for GOOD Mexican food. Tex-mex just doesn’t suffice after living in Durango. I pop in any authentic looking Mexican supermarket, restaurant or taco truck I see, with mild success. I also have tried to replicate some of the recipes….it’s been, uh….interesting in my kitchen lately.
I did find a phenomenal taco truck that is near my brother's house. I figured out it might be okay because every time I pass it, it is swarmed with Mexicans and reminded me so much of Durango. I even got to practice my broken Spanish with the lady who works the window.

chili relenos…nom nom nom

I have no words to describe how impossibly happy I am to find
this taco truck. BEST. GORDITAS. EVER.

So that’s it for me…..for now.  I know that many of you want me to address the developments, or lack thereof, in Durango and what happened, but I just don’t have anything constructive to say about that, and nothing new has happened. I honestly don’t think he will ever be held accountable, and there just isn’t much I can do about it, at this point. I’ve passed on the information to parents and administrators. No one who has any authority has contacted me and as of this moment, have STILL not been paid for my last month of work. A former coworker at ASD told me that the director said he'd quit if they paid me my last month's salary. My recruiters have dropped the school and will no longer recruit teachers for him, but other than that, I don’t expect much else to happen. Although, there is always karma. 

Many of you sent me personal messages in the form of comments on the blog; I didn’t post those because of the nature of some them, but I have no way to respond to you because you posted it as a comment and didn't include your email address; please, if you’d like to discuss something with me or ask a personal question, email me at laurenandcaden@gmail.com and I will be happy to answer you.  I am very appreciative and humbled at the amount of support I received. Saying that, I was also shocked at two very nasty messages, attacking me, personally. I realize that the world is full of bullies and people who hide behind computer screens in the world of modern technology, but in my naivety, I assumed everyone would be behind me and believe my words. I never thought I’d have to defend my character and although I know I should brush it off and not let it sink in, some of the things that were written did hurt. The idea that anyone would ever think I was a bad person, or a liar, or evil,  just floored me.  Granted, there were only two, but to you who sent those messages….did you ever meet me? Did you ever have a conversation with me? I mean….did you read any of my blog? At all? I wonder how you came up with your observations about me, because you obviously don't know me. It's hard to accept that someone has a negative opinion of me, but I just have to let it go. I know how manipulation works, now, and for those who are or were friends with the director, I understand that what I wrote wasn't an easy thing to read or accept. But that doesn't make it less true.  

As always, I miss you, my little readers at ASD and thank you to everyone who has read and kept up with our journey.

hugs and stuff



-Lauren

late turkey post

Lo siento for the absence. Been busy not using my brain.

We are back in Durango after a much anticipated week off.  It’s currently my planning period, and I dragged a chair over to a sun-drenched spot of the hallway to try to thaw out. It's warm here during the days, but it still gets into the 40's and 50's at night, and the buildings get really cold. So every spare moment I find, I grab some sunshine.


We left last Saturday, the 23rd and had a fairly quick travel day, for once. There were a few little mishaps, but everything turned out in our favor. I got super lucky, several times. For some reason, in Durango, they didn't check our bags all the way through to Dallas, because they said I didn't have permission to leave the country (wtf?), so I had to recheck them in Mexico City. Thankfully, they were wrong, but because I had to wait for my bags and recheck them, I was going to miss my flight.  Just as I was beginning to panic, a kindly, wrinkled gentleman grabbed my bags and hurried us to where we needed to go, printed out our boarding passes and then led us to the beginning of the line. I tipped him well, but not enough, because the man was priceless. And then, as we were boarding, I saw my Texas driver's license just sitting at the check-in stand, partying solo.  I have no idea how I lost it in the airport as I didn't even have to use it because we have our passports and resident cards. In a fairly shocked voice, I said, "Hey, that's mine!" and the airline agent replied, "Hey, take it!" Thankful.


Caden spent the whole week with Cory, in Forth Worth, and I was with Matt and his buddy, Frenchie, in Oklahoma for the end of their tour, and then in Arkansas, for Thanksgiving at Matt’s aunt Cheri’s house. She was a wonderful host and greeted us with hugs, presents, and wine for the frenchman and me. So. Much. Wine. Matt cooked the turkey and I think we were all pleasantly shocked surprised that it turned out as well as it did. I cooked everything else and but didn’t really manage to get many pictures to post.  Everything else, you ask? Five cheese mashed potatoes that are now a new favorite. Cornbread casserole. Cheesy broccoli and rice casserole. Rolls. A chocolate pie. You know. Good shit.

Sweetest woman ever with
the sweetest Elvis, ever

 It was a long and interesting road trip. Picture enough music and sound equipment for two people. Then picture three people, each with clothes and toiletries for a week. Now picture all of that stuffed into a golf cart.  Yeah.

The trip involved two pull-overs, but only one resulted in a ticket. Several casinos, shady road stops, hotels and lots of coffee.

The week was too short and I can’t say that I was ready to come back, but we did.  (With an entire suitcase stuffed with books for my kiddos!) I didn’t really get to hang much with my family and friends during this visit, other than the Saturday night when I got into town, when Brinda and Jerry and Stefani and Chris met up with us. That was a wonderful night, dripping in good music, belly laughs, and good company. I miss my friends.

I always have a book with me. Even at a bar.
Frenchie found this amusing.

There were several of you who I really hate that I missed, but I’ll be back in three weeks. This time we are flying into Houston and I’ll be around for two weeks, so if I missed you this time, email me or better yet, download the whatsapp app, and we’ll figure something out. I will more than likely have the use of my car and will be back and forth between Dallas and Houston. No real plans yet, other than Christmas Eve at my folk's. My brother will be in from Afghanistan with his family, so it should be a full house.

I can't forget to mention that Caden got to go back to Venus last week. He said that seeing our old house made him sad, but what made it better was that he got to spend the night with his best friend, Adam. He spent the rest of the week with Tanner and his beloved Mama (Jolene.) He had a blast. He was a trooper, getting on the plane Saturday morning. He managed to keep it together until the
plane took off, and then he crawled into my lap and cried his little self to sleep. I’m so torn. I want to make his life as happy as possible, and he is happy, for the most part, when he is here, but he isn’t shy about his loyalty and yearning to be back in Texas. I told him, though, that even when we are done here, it doesn’t necessarily mean we are going back to Texas. I'm actually resubmitting all my stuff back to the University of Washington today for early consideration for my master's program.  I didn’t get to visit Seattle/ Port Angeles this past summer and it’s starting to make me edgy. Time for a visit.
And maybe another tattoo.
Or two.