Part of the reason we went back to California a second time was to get in some beach time that June Gloom took away from us when we were there last time (in July, mind you).  Was that a run on sentence? Anyhoo. Oh, the fact that it was like 109 here helped push us westerly too!

So on the last afternoon that we were there, the sun finally came out and we decided to ditch the zoo (which was fabulous and quickly became one of my favorite zoos) and head to Coronado Island for some beach time.  Here are some pictures from that afternoon!

Today we’re on our way back home. We left early. Very early. Why, you ask? I found out Tuesday that I have a job interview today at 1:30.

I don’t want to tell you much about anything yet. But for a little background info, consider this. I haven’t worked at an “outside” job in 7 years. Not since I had kids (or was even pregnant!). I haven’t been to an interview in 9 years. I don’t even have a resume! Ouch.

The position I’m interviewing for is part time. But I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous to re-enter the working world. How do working moms juggle it all?

Back to the present: we had a great time in California though it was shorter lived then I hoped. We got in what we came for. Playtime, fishing, and the zoo!

More pictures to come, but here’s one from our fishing adventure!

**Post Edit: This didn’t go out yesterday as I thought I had scheduled! Anyway, the interview went well, and here’s their response:

Good day, Jessica,
Congratulations! The interview committee was extremely impressed with you and would like to offer a KG aide position working with Mrs. H and Mrs. P. Please “reply to all” and let us know that you will accept this position.
You will need to attend HR orientation on August 5 at 9:00am. You will need your ss card, driver license, and a blank check.

Thank you,
Mr. B, Principal

WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!

We’re on our way to California.  Yes, again.  Why?  Because it’s miserable here and I have precious few days to escape before school starts again.  2 weeks from today, to be exact.  Can you believe it?  This time, it’s just me and the kids.  And it will be more low-key.  I plan on the beach a lot.  Our Uncle will take us pier fishing, too!  I can’t wait for that…Emma is SO excited!  (Note to self: bring extra hand sanitizer and baby wipes)  We will go to the San Diego zoo also.  That’s it for the outings though!

Right now the plan is to come on Friday very early in the morning so we can meet up with Emma’s (old) kindegarten class for a mini-reunion at the movies!  I really want her to see everyone and get “reacquainted” before school starts back up.  She’ll be so excited!

Pelican hanging out on the pier

Any last minute plans before your kids start back to school?

one-oh-nine = HOT!

This was the temperature when the kids and I went out looking for Jimmy Wayne.  And he is walking in this heat.  All day long.

I challenge anyone reading this to send him a tweet and show him some support.  I’ll take it one step further and anyone in Arizona (Phoenix Metropolitan) to go and meet up with him.  Give him some bottled water.  Bring him some lunch.  WALK with him a bit.  Attend the Celebration Concert on July 31st that is FREE!! You can also walk with him the last 2 miles to reach Home Base Youth Services Let him know that the blogging community supports his quest…and Arizona supports him as well.  Leave me a comment and let me know how you supported him!

Latest tweet from Jimmy:

“The people I have met on this journey have given me a home; not a place or shelter necessarily, but where peace dwells inside of me. ~JW”

So yesterday I decided to pack up the kids, the stroller, a cooler with fresh fruit, water bottles, and sunscreen.  I made up my mind that we would find Jimmy Wayne!  I DM’ed (Direct Messaged) him on Twitter.  To find out where he was.  He was on the 87…the road that goes to Payson.  I asked him if he’d like a Sub sandwich and he replied with:

“Yes!! And Mt Dew ..”

Sub sandwich -check!  Mountain Dew -check! Chips -check!

Okay, call me crazy for doing this.  Actually I was questioning myself the whole way out there (it was a long little car ride…over an hour!).  Would Brett be mad I was trying to find a Country artist who was walking across country?  Would I even find Jimmy? Was I actually going to walk with him?  Here’s the thing.  My afternoon was free.  Clearly I’ve been touched by his story and his campaign to change something that needs improvement.  I mean, I wrote about him yesterday.  We had nothing going on yesterday afternoon…my car had just been serviced so I knew it would be fine.  And I had a full tank of gas.  Why not?  Why not help someone out when it touches your heart.  Stories like this make me want to be a better person.  Stories like this make me want to try harder to get Emma’s Story out.  So that’s my reason and I’m stickin’ to it!

Back to the story.  Jimmy’s nephew calls me and says they’re about 20 miles from the casino on 87.  Okay.  I know where that is!  The problem that I see is that the highway separates with little mountains and hills in between the two directions.  So I’m booking it out there, keeping my eyes peeled for a guy in a red shirt.  Not that I had to look hard.  It was 109 degrees outside.  I’d be floored if anyone else was walking this stretch.  I ended up going about 30 miles from the casino, just to be safe.  I turned around right after a little town called Sunflower.  This is the sign you see when you come upon Sunflower.  No joke.  (click on the picture if you can’t read it!) Uh, you can’t miss this town!

So I turned around and headed back.  About 10-12 miles going west I spotted a car on the side of the road and TWO people wearing red shirts!  BINGO!  I couldn’t pull over fast enough into their pullout area.  So I stopped ahead precariously in between two metal guides.  I don’t know what they’re called…two metal poles sticking up off the ground.  Probably to keep people like me from pulling over on that part of the shoulder.  Genious. Not only do I pull over there.  I then drive in reverse on the shoulder (past these metal guides) for a few hundred yards.  After the fender bender I had last week (long silly story), I was definitely questioning this decision!  I got to their pullout spot, parked and turned the car off.  Jimmy was actually doing a phone interview with someone.  So I set up our little picnic and pulled out all the goods.  Then realized this stuff would get hot fast and put all the goods back in the cooler until he was done.  Except the Mountain Dew.  He wanted that!

What a sweet guy Jimmy is.  We just chatted away about the places he had visited.  He asked about Monsoon storms.  I asked if walking in the ice storms were worse than walking in this heat (the heat is worse, he said). He asked about Brett and what he did.  Asked if I was coming to the Celebration Concert next week.  It was easy conversation with a new friend.  I was so happy to be able to do this for him and help support him on a leg of his journey that’s definitely not easy.  Just standing in the heat was rough.  I can’t imagine walking in this heat.  And 87 isn’t an easy highway either.  It’s twisty and turny and narrow.  Very scary.  I told him I wouldn’t be able to walk with him today, unfortunately.  How would I get back to my car?  And I couldn’t walk on this stretch with a stroller and two kids to boot.  Perhaps I’ll be able to meet up again with him in the valley somewhere.  Perhaps somewhere with sidewalks!

I got this sweet tweet after I left:

@jessicacrozier Thanx for coming out & bringing food! Awesome folks in this world!

Jimmy (if you read this), the pleasure was all mine.  Maybe I’ll meet up with you again next week and can actually walk a bit!  Expect a DM from me…perhaps Tuesday!

Anyway, here’s the moral of the story.  If something inspires you, then do it!  Help out in some way!  I’m so happy I was able to take a few hours out of my day to put a smile on his face and let him know that he’s supported!  Please take a minute to learn more about his story here.  You won’t be sorry…and you will be inspired.

Here’s a quote that is on my Jumping Waves Facebook Page right now:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, It is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

Picnic in the car!

Best of luck, Jimmy…and I hope our paths cross again!  God bless you and keep you safe!