The Log Dog Blog: A Lot Can Happen in a Week

One week ago today, we were driving to Canada to pick up Avalanche from summer camp.

Currently, I am writing this in the ER where my mom has been for almost 24 hours

A lot can happen in a week.

When we crossed the border into Canada last Tuesday, the border agent looked at us and said, "Didn't I have you guys a few weeks ago? I remember your license plate!" I found this both funny and charming. If you know C's license plate, you'll know why he remembered it, as we'd had a lengthy conversation with him about it the previous trip when we were dropping Avalanche off for summer camp. He'd been surprised not by what it said, but because it was a Virginia plate and he clearly has a good memory!

Avalanche had a great time with C's parents! They spoiled him with walks and treats and car rides and while he was certainly thrilled to see us, it was very clear how content he was at their house. We have a ten-day trip at the end of July into August and we've decided that we are taking him back to stay with them again! We've already changed our flights to fly in and out of Detroit instead of Washington to cut down on the driving we have to do to get him up to Canada and back home.

Speaking of logistics, I failed to give a shout out to my two best friends in my wrap-up post about our South America trip. When all of the insanity was happening with being stuck in Quito and trying to get home, both of them offered to pick us up at the airport even though we were scheduled to land after 1:00 am so that we wouldn't have to take an uber home. They're amazing and generous and we were so touched by their offers! Additionally, a week earlier when I posted that pic of Avalanche afraid of the storm, one of them offered to get in her car and drive to Canada to get him and then take care of him at our house so he'd be at home for the remaining duration of our trip (which at that point was scheduled to be two more weeks!). How incredible is that? I am constantly reminded of the wonderful, loving, supportive people in my life. So, so, so, so grateful.

The other big news is that I've accepted a job offer and will have a new title (Instructional Coach), new schools, and new responsibilities for the upcoming school year! I initially applied way back in March and the hiring process involved several stages, including video submissions which I recorded and submitted from our hotel zoom in Zurich! I cannot even express how much I am going to miss my friends and colleagues, as well as the students and families from my school. I'm not going to lie...it was NOT an easy decision in the least. I'm not just saying that. I was so looking forward to continuing in my same math specialist position at the school that I love and at every stage of the hiring process, I was sure I was going to turn it down if it was offered to me. However, opportunities like this don't come along very often and I kept coming back to the idea that at the end of the day, we often regret the things we didn't do more than the things we did do. So I took a leap of faith and said yes! Even my best friend, who has been with me every step of the way was shocked when I texted her that I'd accepted the job because she was sure I was going to turn it down!

Am I nervous and second guessing myself since saying yes? Absolutely.

Am I ready to learn and be challenged and grow as a professional? Absolutely.

Am I excited to work exclusively with teachers - my absolute passion? ABSOLUTELY!

As for my mom, they've been running tests but we don't really have any answers for her pain. I don't think she'll be admitted because the hospital is at capacity. Please send good vibes her way! One amusing story from our time in the ER...one of the nurses was chatting with my mom and she told him she was a nurse for 43 years. He looked over at me, noticed my "Rose Apothecary" shirt, and asked me if I was "in the medical field." LOL! When I told him it was from Schitt's Creek, he admitted he's never watched the show, so it was an honest mistake. At least it made my mom smile!