Winner, Winner

While I was in class Saturday morning, I received a text informing me that I had won a door prize. Ysabela had signed me up for everything while I was in class Friday. I was excited because I had never won a prize at fire school. On the first break we had, I went over to claim my prize. Ysabela stayed at the hotel because I couldn’t wake her before Wes and I left for class, but I texted her to let her know I had won something.

This is my first prize ever at fire school.

I was really worn out at the end of class Saturday afternoon. While waiting for Wes to get out of class, I was chatting with a guy that I had seen at fire school a year or two ago when I saw a Mexican guy pushing a cart. At this point, you may be asking how I knew the guy was Mexican. I really can’t explain it other than to say I have radar that rarely fails me.

There were familiar looking things hanging off of the side of the cart, so I excused myself and rushed to catch the fellow. When I say “rushed,” I really mean that I was moving with the speed of a turtle stampeding through molasses and peanut butter. (Did I mention that I was worn out?) There was still a bit of distance between us, but I yelled, “Oye!” It’s the Spanish equivalent of “hey!” Anyway, he turned, I moved a tad faster and asked, “Que tiene?” (What do you have there?) Fortunately for my daughter, he was selling chicharrones like vendors sell in Mexico. I knew it! I happily put my purchase into my (already heavy and full) tote and went back to a bench to wait for Wes. When people saw them at the top of the tote bag, I got some really odd looks. They could not figure out 1) what exactly they were seeing and 2) where I got them.

It was amazing to use my Spanish at fire school, and Ysabela was thrilled because I bought two bags of snacks for $3. Wes finally appeared, and we started out of the parking lot. I opened a bag of chicharrones so he could try them. He liked them! Imagine my surprise! We couldn’t find that little Mexican guy in the parking lot, but we did see another fellow with a cart selling them on the road out of town. I pointed him out to Wes, and Wes pulled the truck into a random lot rather quickly. I yelled for the fellow to wait, and we jogged (kind of) across the street to buy some snacks. This guy tried to charge Wes $1.75 each, but I haggled with him, and Wes bought four bags for $6. Somehow Ysabela ended up with one of those bags today.

Chicharrones!

I was thrilled to have been able to buy the chicharrones for Ysabela since she spent her money on a shirt for me Friday. I love that shirt, by the way.