Fuego! Fuego! Fuego es que Quiero!

So Diamond Bar is on fire! Jose and I are safe, our house seems to be safe, and the dogs are safe. God is good. But there are a number of people much closer to the fires than we are that we should be praying for.
Diamond Bar High and Walnut High are both evacuation centers, so work tomorrow should be interesting.
But all is well. Just checking in...
Jill

Bad Blogger, bad, bad blogger!

Hey all,

It's been a busy fall. I can't believe tomorrow is Jose's last football game of the season. While his boys have improved a ton, they don't exactly have a winning record, and it's been a real trying year for my husband. I know we'll be excited for a good game tomorrow and then to be finished with football for a few months!

We decided not to go to Europe after all (Sorry Mel!). I think the economic troubles kept a few parents wary about spending the extra cash and the prices were going to go up, so we decided to stick with the original plan and just take this year off. Anyone want to open their home for a free vacation for the Marquez's?

I am soooo excited about fall. Today is Veterans day (thank you Veterans) and I can taste Christmas break (any excuse to get up and immediately take a nap is fine with me). I'm thinking about Thanksgiving and shopping and all other kinds of good things. But the weather this week is supposed to get into the 90's. How fall like can that be if we're barbequeing Turkey! No thank you! Bring on the sweaters.

Not much else is new with us, Just trying to get some Christmas cards ordered and grade some essays...
Take care and keep us updated on how all of you guys are doing! I think my readership is down to one or two now (I've been a bad, bad blogger).

Three Friday Favorites

1. My new job. I'm really enjoying being at Walnut High. If I had anything to complain about it's that the teachers aren't super friendly, but compared to where I came from, this place is heaven!
2. Our Saturn Outlook. last Summer we decided to buy a bigger car (so we didn't have to keep calling my mom to help us take big things home from the store!). Now that gas prices are a little lower we're driving it more. On Star is awesome!
3. My dogs. Seriously. I don't think Gipper and Nancy could be much cuter. They are adorable.

Have a great weekend!

7 Fun Facts

Let's face it, we all love reading other people's blogs when they share fun and personal stuff because it's an insight into their lives that we may not otherwise learn (thank you anonymity of the internet!). So here are 7 fun facts about Jill (and Jose).

1. I've been meeting with the same group of women for 8 years once a week. They are as close as sisters and an important part of my life. Small Group Woo Whoo!
2. I've been to multple places in the US, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, England, France, Italy, Belgium, and The Netherlands, but I hate to fly.
3. I'm going to Germany, France, and the Alps over spring break. Come with us!
4. My favorite thing to teach in World History is World War I. I do a mean Rasputin.
5. My current favorite Starbucks drink is a non-fat green tea latte (thanks to Annie)
6. I play the guitar and the piano, and am slowly taking drum lessons.
7. My husband is the funniest guy I know.

Your turn!

So long!

It's been way too long since my last post. To update:

Walnut lost to Diamond Bar in the Branding Iron game... oh well. Good for Diamond Bar.

Jose has started classes at Cal Poly for his masters degree. He's so smart!

Jill is still playing off and on in the band at church, it's really fun.
Church is going awesome! God is doing big things at Vantagepoint (www.vantagepointchurch.org)

Jill is starting her 8th year of meeting with her small group. What a neat thing to be apart of. These ladies are stars!

Summer is all the way over and now we're already planning our next Europe trip! - Spring break
2009 - France, Germany, and the Alps. If you want to go, adults are 2800 and students are 2600 (that's the all inclusive cost - not counting your lunches and suveniers). Send Jose or I an email. We're taking signups now! (www.eftours.com)

Gipper and Nancy are still awesome. Gipper had an eye infection, but nothing an 80 dollar trip to the vet can't fix.

More to come, but please, don't give up on this blog! It's just been busy!

The Branding Iron

So tonight is the big game.

Diamond Bar (where Jill graduated from and Jose currently works)

Vs.

Walnut (where Jill currently works)

Who's gonna win?

I'm Game

I found this from a friend, it seems kind of funny. Here's to things to do while waiting for my husband to get home from football practice...

The Name Game

1.Your rock star name (first pet, current car): Vanilla Outlook

2.Your gangsta name (favorite ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe): Minty Flip Flop

3.Your Native American name (favorite color, favorite animal): Green Cocker Spaniel

4.Your soap opera name (middle name, city where you were born): Courtney San Dimas (Yes, Courtney is actually my middle name...Surprise!)

5.Your Star Wars name (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 of your first name): MarJi

6.Superhero name (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Blue Milkshake7.NASCAR name (the first names of your grandfathers): Harley Wilbur

8.Dancer name (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy): Alien M&M

9.TV weather anchor name (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Bowe Brea

10.Spy name (your favorite season/holiday, flower): Fall G. Daisy

11.Cartoon name:(favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now): Cantelope Diamonds1

2.Hippie name (what you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Eggo Crepe Myrtle

13.Movie star name (first pet, first street where you lived): Vanilla Eaglespur

Your Turn!

Getting Ready for School

With the switch to a new school district, the calendar for the year is different. So this Monday will be our first day with students. It's amaziing how fast I feel like this year is going to go. All of you teachers out there know that the years keep going more quickly. Well, with the schedule in Walnut, we find that the school year starts earlier and ends earlier (hooray!). So while June 4th will be an awesome last day of school, August 25th has approached all to rapidly.
What does it say that I'm already thinking about Spring Break?

Summer Time!

So after all those posts about how much we were looking forward to summer, I've been having too much fun to post!

After summer school was over we went to Yuba City and hung out with the family. It was lots of fun and Grandma sure knows how to cook! But after 82 years we thought she should take a break, so Jose and I made enchilada's one night. I don't even think she likes them, she just likes not cooking!

We got back and went camping last week. Originally we were headed to Yosemite, but a small fire changed our plans (and, some of us were less than thrilled that there were no showers because the snow pack was light this year). So we found a spot in Lake Arrowhead called Dogwood. It was excellent! Clean showers, I packed the toilet seat covers, what more can a girl ask for? We Went hiking, swiming, and Fishing. Here's a picture of everyone after the hike (Mario took the picture, so just imagine him smiling).

Now, tomorrow brings our first meeting of the new school year... Can you believe it?!

I'm already thinking about Christmas break! Summer don't go!

Looking Forward to the End of Work...

It has been a while since I've posted, sorry to all my fabulous faithful readers!
I think this has been the busiest summer Jose and I have had. It feels like the act of actually getting a new teaching job has been a part time job.
To get into the Wal.nut district we had to interview, sign a letter of intent, get an updated TB test, have it read, get a physical (drugs, overall health, vision, hearing*, etc), fingerprinted (by the meanest old lady alive... so mean I didn't even want to make a joke to her!), and other things I can't think of right now.
Then there is the whole act of moving your classroom. You have to clean your old one, pack all the important stuff, and then move it to the new place and unload it all.
So this might not read about how busy we are, but I'm telling you, I'm actually looking forward to Yub.a City this year because I'm anxious to have nothing to do. Just endless days of playing cards with my grandparents and reading chick lit.


Here's a picture of the Walnut Trees in Yub.a City. Awesome.

Here's to summer vacation (finally) and hopefully two great new jobs in the fall!

Working for a Living

Have I mentioned how much I'm looking forward to Summer School ending? Each morning Jose and I complain to each other about how much we don't want to go to work.
But then we realize how blessed we are to have jobs at all.
And then we feel bad for taking work for granted.
And then we don't want to go again.
It's a cycle people.
Only 10 more days of summer school though. I'm stoked. Who's with me. Are you working during the summer? Tell me what you're doing.
Seriously. Teachers are pretty spoiled when it comes to vacation, this I know (and part of why I am a teacher in the first place).

I promise, we're not Disneyland freaks

We had some friends come in from Norther California this weekend, Chris and Kristy. They stayed at the beach and we met them at Disneyland on Monday. Since they bought full price tickets (ugh) we stayed and watched Fantasmic. All afternoon Jose and I had been asking ourselves what job we would want to do if we had to work at Disneyland. At first I said a job in the parade, or a perfomance job of sorts. Then, all of a sudden, I knew:

I want to be Mickey in Fantastmic. The Mickey that dances and shoots fireworks otu of his arms to the music. I was born to be that Mickey.

Jose said he would want to be security so he can make that outfit look good.

What job would you want to have at Disneyland if you had to work there?

changes and stuff

It's been an eventful spring. Jose made his decision to leave the school where we met and got hired at Diamo*nd Bar High. I have been trying to leave for a few years, because my current position has me signing temporary contracts amongst other issues. Well, as of today, I am a Mustang... I've been chosen to teach at Walnu*t High. I am in shock. For many reasons. I'm sad about leaving this place for the last four years, but really, I'm excited for a new job that I can hopefully make my home.
Boy, the brandin*g Iron is really up for grabs, isn't it?

Why does this taste funny?

Yesterday morning I was having a hard time waking up. So I stumbled into the bathroom and started brushing my teeth. Something was different, so I looked at the toothbrush and thought that Jose must've used it by accident. I continued brushing. Not until about 15 seconds later did I find that I was brushing my teach with sunscreen. SUNSCREEN! SPF 50! Oh ew!
So I spit.
Then I rinse.
Then I spit again.
This continues as I look around the counter desperatly for something to take this terrible taste and poison out of my mouth! I see out of the corner of my eye the ACT flouride rinse. I don't think about how strong that cinnamon flavor can be instead I take a big, BIG swig of it to rinse.
At this point, my mouth is on fire. Cinnamon and SPF 50 do NOT mix (kids, don't try this at home).
I spit, I rinse, I calm down.

I'll tell you what, a little sunscreen will kill the weekend right out of you. Happy Monday.

The Brahmanther

Jose and I got to go away for a few days since football begins tomorrow. I'm calling Jose a Brahmanther. He's going to spend the next 6 weeks working at Diamond Ranch and coaching at Diamond Bar.
I'm actually pretty excited for football to start as I like it, and this year Jose is stepping down from Varstiy to be the head freshman coach. I shouldn't say 'stepping down' because it's actually more responsiblity, but from where I sit, I get to have my husband back on Saturdays this year. Varsity requires more time, even from the 0-line/d-line coach. So it'll be an interesting transistion back to Freshman.
Looking foward to it.
And I'm looking foward to the end of school. We have one more week of teaching and 5 weeks of summer school. I shouldn't even be counting down yet.

Disneyland Mania

Last weekend we went to Disneyland twice. On Friday we went with my cousin Beth who is soon to be leaving the country (she's nursing with Mercy Ships - I'll try to find a link if you're interested, it's really cool) and some friends from work.

Then on Sunday we went with our friend Jim and Patty (fabulous people!). Well, since we went after church, we were wearing our AdventurePoint t-shirts (have I mentioned that we are helping to start a church and Jose and I run the childrens ministry... until we hire someone... hopefully soon?), and while the t-shirts are cute for church, what I forgot was that the word GUIDE is written in White on the back. So here we are walking through Disneyland with a shirt that says GUIDE on it.

Yup. I was asked directions.

I just pretended like I knew (the poor lady was frazzeled) and I told her where the Jedi show was (I actually knew!).

It was awesome.

Jim and Patty took a picture of us, so this is what we looked like walking through Disneyland.

Next time I'll dress more appropriately.

Garage Pictures

Here is Jose, Jim, and Jonathan after putting up most of the dry wall on Saturday. The other Jonathan had to leave for his plant ID class at Calpoly, so these guys did the bulk of the work.

They worked tremendously hard but then it got awfully hot after lunch, so things slowed down. Last night Jose and Jonathan did some sanding and hopefully this Saturday we can get some paint going. Woo Hoo! (notice in the picture on the right how Jonathan is working and Jose is supervising... I love it!)

To finish or not to finish...

So Jose and I have been living in Diamond Bar for about 2.5 years (we bought the house a few months before we got married). The previous owners were Del and Diana, and they had different ideas about what a house should look like. So largely we have spent the last 2.5 years fixing what they did to the house. So what's cool is that the house really feels like we've put our finger print on it and we love it. But now we've come to the garage.
Last weekend Jose and Jonathan and Jonathan and My brother Jim put up drywall because even though Del was a handyman, he never got around to finishing his own garage. But now, I'm finding that some people don't think a garage needs to be finished at all! Even though we'll be working again this coming Saturday finishing it with paint and everything else, it looks great! It feels like a prettier work space and it's much more inviting to do the laundry.
So, you know our opinion: Finish the space! But let me ask, how many of you think that a garage doesn't need to be finished? I really thought everyone agreed that we should finish the garage, but I'd like to know for sure (so here's my completely unscientific poll).

4 BBQ's and 2 movies

Memorial day is the day of barbeque's, right? (and remembering of course)

This year was a new record with 4 (one on Sunday two Monday, and one today). Let's just say that I've had more red meat in this one weekend than in the last 3 months combined. Not that I don't enjoy cow, but it's just not that weight watchers friendly.

We also saw Indiana Jones as well as Narnia. Anyone want to chime in on how they felt about Indiana Jones? It wasn't bad, but it felt like a movie about how great the Indiana Jones movies used to be (although the film major in me got really excited about some of the Spielburgian shots with all the shadows). I thought Narnia was a better film (so was Iron Man if I think about it). Am I anti-American because I'm not loving Indiana Jones?

I'm digressing...

This picture is the one that belongs on the previous post. I just want to keep things equal (and I like posts with pictures).

Summer come soon!

This is my 7th year of teaching. For Jose it's number 11. Each year seems to go by more quickly than the one before it. While I love teaching, I love not teaching even more. So yesterday after a lovely weekend of being outdoors in the heat, all I could do was sit in the class and try hard not to hit my head against the wall. Summer come soon! I am ready for a new set of kids in the fall, and a chance to watch all those reruns over the summer that I didn't get to see during the school year (like marathon's of America's Next Top Model).

Today wasn't as bad as yesterday, but I'm guessing that by next week (after Memorial Day weekend) it's going to be impossible to get the kids to learn anything. If the schools and State of California are going to continue to demand that state testing be so valuable, then why isn't the school year over after testing? Now the kids are mentally checked out, but I have lots more to teach.

And BTW, I'm planning on teaching summer school. Summer won't be here 'till August!

This is not good people.

Just because I can

My husband is constantly drawing these cute stick figures.

He did a depiction of the previous post.

Now you can tell what kind of blog this is gonna be.

I probably scared all of you.

10:00 PM

Okay, this post is not for small children or conservative Christians.

Every night about 10:00, there is an even that happens in our house. It's not pretty, it's not fun to watch, but it's how God designed things. Gipper decideds to have his way with Nancy. Now, Nancy has never actually let Gipper go all the way (she's got her morals) but it's quite a show.

The thing is, sometimes we have company that will stay past 10:00.

How do you explain this to friends or family? Inside, outside, even locked in the bedroom, it's obvious something is going on. And yes, before the comments come, they are both fixed (or altered as the vet now says).

So consider yourself warned. 10:00 can be dangerous.

Mother's Day Restaurant Happenings

For Mother's day Jose and I took his mom out to dinner on Saturday, May 10th, which is Mexican Mother's day (for those of you who like me until recently were Hispanic Holiday's challenged, Mexican Mother's Day is always May tenth unlike US Mother's day which is always the second Sunday in May -- sometimes they're the same day, but not often. I think next year they will be). We went out to Carmine's in Arcadia, it's just great Italian food. Then on Sunday Jose and I and Jim and Stacy took My mom and Stacy's mom (and dad) out to a cute restaurant in Laguna called "the beach house". It was a very popular place and good food... but have you ever had a waiter that just didn't get it? It actually became a funny experience (only funny upon reflection by the way, not at the time). Let's just say that at Denny's I get better service. Including a cleaner bathroom. It's probably a lovely place on a non-holiday, but I am just plain restauranted out. I think Dad's get it better on Father's day. It's really hard to screw up a BBQ in your own back yard. The parking is good, the food is cheap, and the bathroom is nearby.Who's with me?

Running the Race

This weekend Jose Ran a 5k! I don't have any pictures because I wasn't able to go, as I was setting up the children's ministry at church.
But Jose did great, coming in at 27 1/2 minutes, which is awesome. If you see him, give him a shout out.
I can't believe it's already May. When you're a little kid, the time seems to go by so slowly but the seasons seem to change faster and faster each year. Summer will be here before we know it! (as well as summer school)

Introducing Nancy!

Name: Nancy

Nickname: Nancy Pants, Mrs. Gipper

Age: 1 year this July

Gender: Female through and through

Marital Status: Trying to trap Gipper

Occupation: Lady of luxury

Describe your ideal first date: Starts with a chicken strip from costco, a stroll through the dog park and then cuddling by the fire.

Meet Gipper

Name: George Gipp

Nickname: Gipper, Puppo, Skipper Gipper, et al

Profession: Guard Dog/Comedian

Age: 2 years this past Januaray

Marital Status: Single, but I think Nancy Pants might be the apple of my eye

Gender: Male, although I suppose now that's debatable

Where do you see yourself in 5 years: Performing in New York

Facebook or Myspace: I don't have opposable thumbs. What do you think?

Obama, Clinton, or McCain: I still heart Huckabee

France and Spain 2008

This Spring Break was our fourth trip to Europe together. Jose has been more than that, but before me, does it really count?

So we started in Spain. We arrived in Madrid at 7:45 AM local time making for a very long first day. Jose, Melissa, Lindsey and I even ended up finding a park where we could fall asleep. And we did. Good thing the students didn't see us. Better yet, what were the students doing while we were sleeping!? Since we all came back in one piece I'll assume nothing bad happened!

In Madrid, we saw a flamenco show, ate Tapas, and saw the Plaza Mayor (where the movie Vantage Point was filmed - check out the second picture), ate really gross ham, tried Sangria, went to the Prado Museum and the Royal Palace (Beth is going to get married there) saw first hand how messed up in the head Picasso was (but the Guernica was cool), lost Melissa, found Melissa, spoke Spanish fluently, and got a starbucks mug from Madrid.

The 3rd day we went to Barcelona. On the way we stopped at Carsacone for lunch. VIPs was great. Not V.I.P.'s, but VIPs. We switched busses and headed towards the former olympic city. It was cool to see the Sagrada Familia -- the church that has been under construction for 200 years or so. We got familiar with Gaudi's archetecture and saw the Mediterranian first hand. We ate Paella, saw the new Olympic center, bought souveniers, saw statues of Christopher Columbus, saw a building shaped like a pickle, went to a local food market, went to the Parque where one of the seasons of America's Next Top Model was filmed (and one of the Cheeta girl's movies), drank coffee, and got a starbucks mug from Barcelona.

Two days later we went to Paris! We took a night train from Toulouse to Paris. It was not comfortable but slightly better than a bus. At least we got to lay down, but Lindsey and I were put with our tour guide Vera and then two strange guys. Lindsey tried to speak to them in French, but they weren't having any of it. When we got to Paris we had breakfast and then hit the pavement. We first had a bus tour of the city, saw the Eiffel tower, went to Versailles (personal favorite place of mine), ate Chinese food, ate crepes, went up the Eiffel tower (this year to the top), walked up and down Champs d’elysee, went to the Louis Vuitton store, walked out of the Louis Vuitton store very quickly, remembered why I love Jose, ate more crepes, saw Napoleon's tomb, visted St. Chapel and saw the stained glass, and amongst other things, got a mug from starbucks.

All in all, not a bad trip. But after 4 years in a row, I might be ready to take a year off. If we go somewhere next year, where should we go?

Signing off for now...

Jill

I think I'm ready to go live

So I'll add some pictures soon, because a lot of the fun of blogging is getting to see pictures of people. Jose and I just got back from our trip to Europe over spring break so we have some fun ones to add. Maybe I'll add some of Gipper and Nancy too.
Stay tuned!

Favorite Lines

Here are two things that have happened in my classroom that I thought were hilarious (but may not translate well over email, don't be disappointed).
#1
Courtney: Denisha, I can't beleive Mr. B cursed at you!
Denisha: Yeah, I was so mad! Lucky for him I was asleep.
#2
Mrs. Marquez: Naomi, put that away right now. (Gives the teacher Care Bare State for a good 30 seconds as the obstinate student pretendents not to notice)
Naomi: (after a pause). Don't stare. It's rude.
Mrs. Marquez: (just laughs)
Naomi: (puts her stuff away)

Leap Day

I am sitting at my desk, waiting for traffic to die down, because heaven forbid I try to leave work before 3:20. Only one way in and one way out. Who thought of this? I'm excited because I'm going to go the district office to try to change my stauts and get paid for my master's degree that was just conferred...woo hoo!

I am shocked at the number of kids in my classes who didn't know what 'leap day' was. Just to avoid confusion: The year is actually 365 1/4 days long. Not just 365. I think I'll take my leap day in summer next time.

Question: If you could take one day and make it your perfect day, what would you do?