beer.

Jess, Candice, and Jenna came to visit this weekend!  I LOVE getting to spend time with my friends and am so happy that we are able to make the time to see each other so often.  I wanted to do a 'Richmond' activity with them because Chris and I have decided we need to start experiencing our city a little more.  So, I thought a tour of a local brewery would be perfect.  After all, our favorite beverage is beer. :)

The tour was fun.  Jess and ADD Candice (love ya) thought it dragged on a big long, and to be honest, it could have been a liiitle shorter, but it was fun!  We got to learn about how the beer was made, ate some yummy nachos and tater tots and it was better than shopping and spending money (the tour was free!). 

Grizzly McGee on the left there was our tour guide.  He had the hole in his shirt right in the middle of his shirt...didn't seem to bother him.

DEUCE DEUCE!

Where they bottle the beer...

Ummmm ferminator?  I'm glad there wasn't a test :)

We all tried a different beer after the tour:  I got the pilsner, Jess got the smoked chocolate stout, Candice got the golden ale, and Jenna got the lager.

I hated all of them.  So did Candice. :o)

I guess I really am my father's daughter - aka redneck!!  Give me a Coors, Miller, Budweiser, Michelob, etc. and I'm a happy camper.

Time for bed...long day of work (only 9 months left!) and class tomorrow.

halligans.

There is a bar in Shockoe Bottom in Richmond called Halligan's Bar & Grill.  Chris has been eying this bar for well over 2 years, but we never went in because we felt like phonies.  You see, a Henrico County firefighter owns the little bar and it is FULL of firefighter paraphernalia.  The bar is open to everyone, not only firefighters, but I guess Chris and I just thought that people would know we were 'wanna be's' so we never went in.  Today we were driving around enjoying the nice weather and we just happened to drive by and decided that since Chris is now in recruit school that we have earned our keep!  The bar is really small, but pretty awesome.  It was a long awaited dinner and well worth it!

This is inside the bar!!

updates.

Holy moly canoli.  I know I have fallen off the wagon a bit with the blog and I really do apologize. Chris and I am been completely overwhelmed and busy, busy, b.u.s.y.

Updates:

Chris

LOVING Recruit School.  He is excelling academically (95 average), has lost 15 pounds, made friends, and absolutely loving every second.  He's much happier than he has been in years.  Today (311 day) was his first 'burn' and he found it exhilarating.  Graduation is on June 9th and I can't wait to see him up there.  He's earned all of what he's got right now.  I'm so proud of him.

Mallory
I am still miserable at my job, but I'm now on the countdown until I can quit there full time - 9.5 months! Yahooo!  There is a light at the end of the tunnel!  My classes are going well...the workload is picking up a bit, but that is to be expected at the end of a semester.  I actually was able to start my practicum this week (hours spent in a public school classroom).  I am in a 1st grade classroom for 40 hours.  This week I spent 10 hours in the classroom and it has absolutely confirmed that this is not just a phase, but I have finally found the right profession!  My supervising teacher is great.  She was in the Navy for 8 years, then discovered her love for teaching while over in Italy doing something with the Navy in a school.  She was born in Turkey and speaks Turkish, Italian, and English!  She has made me feel completely welcome and comfortable and I am so thankful!  With this particular practicum I only have to do a few simple tasks and mostly observe, but my teacher has allowed me to grade papers, read one on one with some of the students, read to the class, and the best part..............LAMINATE AND DIE CUTS!!!!!!!!  HEYOOOOOOOO.  Sadly, the equipment is still the exact same as it was many years ago when Lauren, Ashley, and I would help Betsy get her classroom ready for school!  It was awesome.  I love laminating, don't judge me...

Anyway, so I mentioned above that I was able to read a book to the class.  Well, yesterday my supervising teacher (I'm avoiding saying her name because of the confidentiality issue - I don't want to be the next 'teacher' on the news for airing dirty laundry on my blog!) asked if I wanted to read a book to the class and of course I did, so I said absolutely! She hands me the book....

I love Sundays y Los Domingos

Shit.  I may have barely passed Spanish in high school, but I at least knew y Los Domingos was Spanish.  So, I start reading the book and there are a few Spanish words - no big deal.  Then as I read on more and more of the story is in Spanish....it got to the point where HALF THE BOOK WAS IN SPANISH.  OMGGGG.  Can I just tell you that I have a severe sweating problem?  Like, I've actually been diagnosed with hyperhydrosis.  So, the more and more Spanish that appears...the more and more I keep sweating.  Let me paint the picture for you - wet hair, dripping sweat under my shirt, and wet upper lip.  F.M.L. for REAL.  And the cherry on the sunday?  Sweet little Caroline in class was BORN IN MEXICOOO!!  Thankfully, I got through the story, was able to dry off shortly after the reading, and gained a little confidence!  Maybe next time I'll flip through the story before I agree to reading it to the class, eh?

Until next time...