New Bends in the Dr Pepper Float River

This week, Andy and I embarked upon what we called "Andy and Rachel's Totally Texas, Totally Awesome Dr Pepper Foat Road Trip Adventure." This was an event focusing upon two of Texas's most valuable natural resources:

1. Dr Pepper
Do you know why there is no period after Dr in Dr Pepper? In the 1950s, they began using a stylized font, which made the period look like the bottom of a colon (the curve of the "r" looked like the top). Rather than try and fix it, they just omitted it altogether. It's been gone ever since.


2. Blue Bell Ice Cream
Another Texas creation, Blue Bell Ice Cream is the 3rd best selling ice cream in the United States, despite the fact that it is sold in only 18 states. Ask any Texan, and they'll tell you it's the best. Blue Bell was the first to ever invent a "Cookies and Cream" variety of ice cream, and theirs is just divine. Take THAT, Breyer's and Dreyer's!



Our own pictures are soon to follow. Right now, I'm fighting with our internet connection, and I haven't uploaded those pics yet. We also stayed at a Bed and Breakfast Ranch in Brenham, TX, which was pretty awesome--more on that when the pictures come.

In Other News, we got jobs!!! I got a part-time gig at the Good Samaritan, a nursing home here in town. (We got the call on the way back from Brenham, a wonderful end to a perfect little trip!) I'm the activities assistant, so I get to help the residents with art, music, crosswords, and other such fun things. I'm excited--glad to be doing something that I'll actually feel is worthwhile, instead of selling Cutco or vacations packages to Branson. (I respect those who choose to sell Cutco and vacation packages to Branson, it's just not my bag.)

Because it's a part-time position, and I will only come in on certain days of the week, it allows me to work another job, too. So, yesterday, Andy and I pursued another job lead:

That's right. We will be substituting for the Lewisville ISD. We both signed up to substitute in any grade at any school, so it will be interesting to see how that all works out. We got trained and picked up our official badges yesterday, so now we're totally legit. I'm so excited to teach those bratty private school students how to Rock and ROLL! Hardcore. (I know, I just wanted to be like Jack Black. It's a public school, the kids are not bratty, and I will be teaching no rock and roll, unless it's on the teacher's agenda.) It's funny--apparently they want the substitutes to actually teach. I can scarcely remember a time when that happened while I was in school. Usually, it was just, "Okay, here's a video," or "Read silently or work on your homework," or something. I don't know if this is a difference between the school districts, or a change in times, or if it's just something that they set up as the ideal. I'm still skeptical, but I would certainly welcome the chance to teach, especially as I'm somewhat using this as a way to test the waters to see if teaching in a school is something I would be willing to do.

So, that's about it for now. Things are looking up! Stay tuned for pictures from our little excursion.

Hardest Working Man in Show Business

One of those things. I decided to turn to the wisdom of James Brown. I tried to keep it clean, but you know . . . James Brown.

Pick Your Artist:
Hardest working man in Show-biz,
JAMES BROWN

Are you male or female:
I'm Real

Describe yourself:
I Guess I'll Have to Cry, Cry, Cry

How do you feel about yourself:
Say It Loud: I'm Black and I'm Proud

Describe where you currently live:
It's Too Funky in Here

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:
Escape-ism

Your best friend is:
Sexy, Sexy, Sexy

Your favorite color is:
Ain't it Funky Now

You know that:
Santa Claus is Definitely Here to Stay

What's the weather like:
Hot Pants

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called? :
Get Up Offa That Thing

What is life to you:
It's a New Day

What is the best advice you have to give:
Give it Up, or Turn It Loose

If you could change your name, what would it be? :
Mother Popcorn

Your favorite food is:
For Goodness Sakes (Take a Look at Those Cakes)

I suck . . .

. . . at finding work.


I would like to blame it on the economy, but I am pretty sure that it has less to do with the economy and more to do with the fact that I am not altogether very qualified to do very many things. And the longer it takes for me to find something, and the more resumes and applications I put in without hearing a word back, the less I believe myself to be employable.

But, as my senior English teacher wisely told us: "You can always fall back on liquor and prostitution!"

Hmmm.

I don't see anything for either of THOSE career paths in the help-wanted ads. Maybe, in THIS economy, even my fallbacks aren't as certain as they should be.