Catching up after....6 months

This happened the last time I went back to school, but my classes then were easy compared to my classes now.  I struggle to keep up, and wonder why I don't understand some of the information.  Is it me? Is it the instructor? Can I actually conduct a survey and write some ridiculously long paper? I have to say that I do not doubt my abilities, I just doubt the timing and the scheduling.  As long as I have someone helping guide me I should be ok. If not, then...

Joe and I have been enjoying the last year with Andrew, as he works on his college applications and starts to solidify his plans for the next few year.  Although, we all know plans can change just like that!

The three of us are heading to NYC for Thanksgiving, staying with Marie and Stephen, and of course visiting with Jessica.  I am so impressed with her convictions about school, and happy to see her excited about her future.  Yes, we did good.

I'll take pictures of the new kitchen this weekend and post them. The majority of the work is complete and it looks fabulous!

This picture was taken about 6 weeks ago, in Scott and Trish's back yard.  Great friends!!

Seriously, it's been a long time...

Again, here I go with the good intentions! Not excuses, just reasons. We had a pretty nice February, with turned into a very wet March. Little sun. Boy, do I miss sun!
The Professor for this past class gave us TWO projects a week! The directions were lousy, the rubric poorly written, and the font was too small for me to read. But, I managed to get through, and now I have a whole week off. Yea!!
We're heading to LA tomorrow, with college tours at Pepperdine and Marymount scheduled. We'll visit the happiest place on Earth too.
Jessica comes home next month and we are so looking forward to having her back.

It's starting to feel like winter....

Alaska has been blanketed with snowfall, so much it looks like there will be a new record. Sacramento set one too....for the least amount of non-rainy days. With temperatures hovering in the high 50's, low 60's, it's easy to see why so many call Northern California home. Very nice weather, until today. A northern storm is headed our way and the rain has started. We need it, desperately. But I don't like it. Only 5 more months until the heat begins (and then I'll get to experience my "winter weather" again when I head up to visit mom).

I'm getting ready to start my graduate classes in February. They'll keep me busy, but it's better if my time is more structured.

Jessica heads back to NYU tomorrow. She's been home a month already. We don't have the same spring break this year so she'll just stay in NYC. A friend of hers attending Johns Hopkins might try to stay with her for the week.

Joe and I are taking Andrew to visit some colleges in the LA area for spring break (and of probably Disneyland).

Not much else going on...just have to get through the next couple few months of rainy, yucky weather!

Christmas Season

There is usually so much going on this time of year which makes it more important than ever to remember our values and stick to our beliefs.

Consumerism is alive and well in the USA, but subscribing to the theory that Christmas is all about gifts perpetuates, and substantiates, the global thought that Americans are materialistically driven. What ever happened to a few quality gifts under the tree instead of multitudes of junk?

We all know those people, you know the ones I'm talking about, the ones who start shopping in July and buy so much stuff, there's hardly anywhere to put it? Who have to say the cost of each gift, where it was bought, and then make sure we know it's a designer label. Do the people receiving the gifts actually appreciate them? Probably not! The Christmas message is lost amongst the glittering bows and festive lights. Pagan symbols designed to sell an artificial feeling of warmth and good cheer.

I'm not a particularly religious person. There is no church I frequent on a regular basis, but, I am spiritual and I have faith. What I don't have is a bunch of gifts under my tree trying to trick me into thinking I'm showing love for my family.





And speaking of family....

I am so happy and excited to have Stephen join our family. The wedding was simply spectacular!!

Updates...

The countdown is on. Jess and I are heading for NYC on the 24th of August, in 2 1/2 weeks. The time will fly by, I'm sure. We've been busy getting items together. Bed Bath & Beyond has this neat programs for kids going far away from home. Items are ordered at the store with one of those handy clicker things, and stored at the store location nearest the school. Great!! Some things we have to take with us, such as towels (the purple ones she really wanted are not available in NYC) and a few other miscellaneous items. She picked out some really great luggage (2 pieces only) and is *supposedly* starting the cleaning out of the black hole that is her bedroom.

Andrew came home from camp having burst blood vessels in both his eyes. He was horribly ill from a fast-moving bug running through camp. Now he looks like a vampire. I'd post a picture, but it is really creepy. Not much can be done about and the blood will be absorbed eventually. Think of it as a bruise that can be seen. Under the skin the blood pools (that's why bruises discolor) but on the eye there's no where for it to hide. Yuck!

I have one more week of summer vacation then I'm back to my high school job. Looking forward to it this year. I really am the kind of person who needs structure. Even though I really like my time off, too much of it leaves me bored.

Beautiful Saturday morning. So far this year we've only had 3 (maybe 5, can't remember what they said on the news) days of temps over 100. Our usual summer has over 20. No complaining here!!

Andrew is heading to the American River today with his troop, Joe is working on a home improvement project, and Jessica is....sleeping :) I'll probably squeeze a run in when I drop Andrew off.

Family pics...

My sister Marie and her fiance Stephen

My brother Carl and our Uncle Peter

My brother Carl and his son Jesse

Mirror Lake, near where I grew up. I learned to swim in this lake, which is not as cold as it looks.

My nephew Jesse, my sister Marie, and my brother Carl. Can't wait to see them at Marie's wedding in November!!

Thanks to my cousin Brenda, whose photos I copied from her blog site!!

What's been going on....

Not much, really. Two weeks ago Andrew came home from camp for an all too brief 18 hours. When we took him back we detoured down Highway 1 to San Francisco. We had a fabulous lunch at Marshall Cove right on Tomales Bay. Sadly I did not take pictures of the food, but these pictures show the view made the food all that much better.









And who can forget Harry Potter? (well, I can because I haven't seen it yet. I'm waiting for Andrew to come home so I can see it with him). Jessica went to the midnight showing with some of her friends.

Recurring themes.....

yeah, I know, it's been a while.....

Wow, so much has happened, and I've facebooked most of it, so I'll just post pictures today. These are from our Yosemite trip. There's not too many pictures of us, mainly because NOBODY looks good camping, and also because Yosemite is just too beautiful to be left out!!

This first picture is El Capitan, a very popular mountain for climbing. It's the first "vista" spot coming into the valley and a nice place for pictures. Notice all the cars.


This is right after the park entrance, at the summit. Only snow I saw all winter!


The valley floor is full of deer. I think they are used to all the people, because they were always around. This is in front of worker housing.


Justin, Jessica, and Madeline. If you look closely you might be able to spot the deer between Justin and Jessica.





Upper Yosemite Falls


Half Dome


Cathedral Mountain


Upper & Lower Yosemite Falls


The Mist Trail. A very wet hike to the top of Vernal Falls. Adventurous souls can continue to the top of Nevada Falls. Maybe next time.



Another view of Upper & Lower Yosemite Falls


Andrew and Joe and the Mist Trail. Jessica and I stayed behind to watch the dogs in the morning, but we managed the hike in the afternoon. We came down the easy switchback way, which added a thousand vertical feet and an additional two hours to the hike.



Andrew by Vernal Falls.







Half Dome, again.


Another picture of beautiful Upper & Lower Yosemite Falls.



We picked a great year to visit Yosemite. California snow pack is almost 200% of normal, which means the falls that normally run dry by mid July will be flowing all summer. Even though it was cold, very cold, we had a good time with our great friends. I'm hoping to visit again next year and tackle Nevada Falls, although this time we'll leave the canine at home so we can all hike together. If you'd like to visit Yosemite, remember reservations have to be made through the National Park System 5 months in advance. They start on the 15th of each month at 7 am. If you log in at 7:05 you'll be too late and all the sites will be taken. So plan early, pick out your dates and campsites (and have alternative dates/campsites in case your first choice is taken). The BEST way to get around the valley floor in on bike. There are miles of paved bike trails, and some roads have been shut off to cars and are bicycle only.

Blogging in the morning again....

My last day of work this school year was yesterday. My supervisor and I were able to pack up the PIP room and move all the boxes to their summer storage. *If* the program is in the state budget for next year we'll have to move them to their new home, a different school somewhat closer. I really enjoyed working at Sunrise Elementary, but the distance out there was horrific, plus, with only one colleague it was isolating at times. The lack of adult conversation really gets to me after a while. You may not know this about me, but I really like to talk :-)

So, Joe asks "what are you going to do today". Of course my reply was "are you going to ask me that every day" (thinking, this is going to get annoying and old really fast). "no, just today because it's the first day you don't have to drive out to Sunrise" (okay, you're forgiven). "I'm going to run with the dog, clean the house, head over to the library, make a quiche for dinner". Should take me all day. My house tends to get messier than others. I blame the kids and the animals. Really, I have so much dog hair on the hardwood it could be combined to make a whole new animal.

Today is Jessica's last day of high school, although it's not a whole day for her, that was a few days ago. She's had AP testing this week, and Thursday and Friday of this week are graduation rehearsal, with graduation on Monday. Andrew has reverse minimum days Thursday and Friday, very short day on Monday (graduation), a whole day on Tuesday and Wednesday, and minimum days Thursday and Friday next week. It seems like there is some potluck, bbq, or get together every day until then. Can't keep track of it all.

Joe and I enjoyed our trip to LA immensely. Kinda surreal to be at Disneyland without kids, especially since ours are such good troopers and like all the rides. Besides, they travel well and are fun to be around at this age.

And it's the end of spring break week....

My favorite way to blog is either with a cup of coffee (morning blogging) or a glass of wine (evening blogging)! Wonder what that says about me? No need to answer that question, I think I know ;)

It's been two weeks since Andrew's Eagle Project. The concrete has cured long enough and the forms came off today. The edges look great. A friend from the troop, his stepson, and another of Andrew's friends all came to help finish the project. It looks great. I have to get the finished pictures off Andrew's phone. I realized when I got there that the memory card in my camera was full (thanks, Jessica) and couldn't take pictures. Besides, the actual first flag raising won't be for just over two weeks, and I'll get plenty of pictures then.

This is my last week seeing students. I'm a little bummed. I really enjoyed working at the elementary level, and my current layoff status means I won't be working with them next year (although, there is a possibility our program will survive state budget cuts, but I'm not optimistic). And I'm thinking it's time I branched out and looked for other "real" jobs. I've only worked part-time since Andrew started Kindergarten, and even then I was home for 7 years before that. I really haven't worked full time in almost 20 years. Ack! What a scary thought, but an exciting one too. I put the time in raising the kids, and to be honest, they are fantastic kids. We couldn't be any prouder of them than we already are. Now it's my turn. There is no hurry so I'll put the feelers out and just see what happens.

Speaking of jobs, Jessica had a callback from Starbucks. I can TOTALLY see her working there. She has to call the lady back on Monday (during school, shhhh) and arrange for an interview. I hope it all works out, she's a great girl and really needs work experience. She has applied for federal work study next year at NYU, but I really think it would be a good idea to have something this summer as well.

When we came back from helping Andrew finish his project, we did some work in the backyard. Seriously, we have had NO sun so far this year. Normally we are swimming by this time of the year. Anyway, Joe had to fix one broken step, and in the course of how things usually work around here, one broken step has now led to a whole staircase remodel (outside staircase). No rest for us.

Next week (Tuesday) we head down to LA for a few days WITHOUT kids. I'll get to spend a day in the hot LA sun, by the pool of the Hilton (I LOVE it when someone else pays the bill) while Joe attends meetings. Then we're off to Disneyland and lunch at the famed Club 33. It's a super-exclusive restaurant inside Disneyland and it really is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to eat there (it's a work thing). Then we'll hit Universal Studios (probably) before heading home at the end of the week.

And did I mention that while we're away we will miss two of Jessica's awards dinners? I know, I feel guilty, but we asked her and she really is okay with it (very adult like of her), and besides, Andrew will be attending with her. I love that they will have the opportunity to spend time together, without mom and dad, before she leaves for college (I'm almost crying as I write this). The week after school ends we are headed for Yosemite, then it's home for a few days then we're off to Grandma's house in the Bay, home again for 10 days, and he's gone at camp for 7 weeks. When he comes home we'll be together as a family for only a few weeks before she leaves. It's the end of an era and it's coming up fast. Our family will never be the same AGAIN. We're still coming to terms with it. Some days excited, and others sad. I'm sure to mention it again (at least a thousand times!).

Jessica and I have plans on Friday to watch the Royal Wedding, from the time she gets out of school to the time it ends. The DVR will be set to record all one million hours (slight exaggeration) and we are excited to watch them all! On Saturday I'm throwing a birthday party for my best friend Trish. Excited to start the summer party season! We have great friends and love getting together with them for comedy shows, concerts, and bbq's all summer long. This year will be even better because Trish and her family are camping with us in Yosemite. We've talked about this for 10 years and it's finally happening. Yeah!!

So, my glass is about empty and it sounds like dinner is under way (made by Jessica and Andrew tonight). Happy Easter everyone!


This picture was taken at the EMHI conference in San Diego this past January. Me and Trish, always kinda crazy!

Crazy busy....

Boy have I ever dropped the ball! I can't believe it's been almost two weeks since I've blogged. Update, lets see...
Andrew's car wash was a success. He raised $300, combined with all the other fundraising it was almost enough to cover the entire cost of his project. Joe and I donated all the food and consumables for the car wash and project.
I was thinking the project was about a 5 on the 1-10 hardness scale. But after all the work done (still a bit more to do), and the comments from some of the other Eagle Scout parents, I have to amend the rating to be a 10. One of the dads (who has two Eagle sons) said it was the hardest project anyone in our troop has ever undertaken. To be honest, had we known what all was involved, we would have encouraged him to do something different. At least no one can accuse him of having a "soft" project.





He still has to take the forms off the concrete and raise the flag pole. After that it's all paper work. Once he has all the signatures, he can turn the whole binder in and ask for a Board of Review. Ideally this happens within a few months of completing the project, but since he's going to be gone this summer it might not happen until August or September, which is fine. He's got the hard part done.

Jessica declared her intent and accepted NYU for the fall. It's exciting (and scary) for mom and dad, but it's where she needs to be, I really feel that. She starts end August/early September sometime. She won't be coming home for Thanksgiving this year since we'll be heading out that way for Marie's wedding (so super excited), but she will come home for Christmas.

I've resigned myself to another layoff, and am looking at other options. I can be a classroom substitute teacher, or just start looking for another job. I might just start looking for something else. The writing is on the wall for the state of education and I'm just not liking what I'm reading. Besides, I'm tired of being laid off every year.

Joe and I are heading to LA the first week of May for a meeting he has, then it's back here for graduation followed by Yosemite. Otherwise we're just winding down the school year (finally, my kids are the BUSIEST I know, and I need a break)and relaxing with great friends this summer.

Busy, busy, busy...

I have 10 minutes to spare this morning, so here it is....
We've been so busy lately. Andrew's car wash is today (am leaving as soon as I write this), and the project is next Saturday. Joe and Andrew will take the flag pole down on Friday night just to get a jump on things. It looks like rain for Sunday so it's super important we get everything done on Saturday. If he cant' finish, or if it rains, our rain date isn't until May 14th. Please, oh please, let us get done!! I have a few sewing projects I want to start, plus other exciting family news that requires me to do some planning (of all kinds).

This is not that news! It looks like Jessica will be heading for NYU this fall. She hasn't sent in her letter of intent yet, but this is what I'm hearing from her. I'm excited for her. There are so many opportunities available for NYU students I just know she'll have a great time and get a super education. Most of their class sizes are less than 15, versus the other college choice of UCSB, whose class sizes average 50-75, with some common classes upwards of 100. It will be a change for her in many ways. We live in a city here, but not a BIG city. Also, she's never lived in snow, which requires many adjustments. She doesn't own a "winter" coat or boots. I know, it's just details, but really that's what I do and I do it well:-)

Got to run. Will try to remember to post pictures soon!

A common theme....

My blog posts seem to be about my kids, a lot. I don't apologize for that. They are good kids and I'm super proud of them. I'm only mentioning this because one of my brothers-in-law attacks my position on politics (worst thing in the world to talk to relatives about) yet can't take the heat when applied to him. Maybe he doesn't feel as passionate about his subject as I do about mine, or maybe he's just letting the fire die? Who knows. I definitely have my opinions and find it a hard balancing act to not let them spew out to the point of offending others who think differently (although, I really DO think mine are the best)!
Politics relates to my family in a strong way. Joe and I are conservative (more to the middle than the extreme right) and we believe in strong family values, such as the ones represented by Sarah Palin. Do I believe she is ready to be president? No. But I do think someday she might be, and if not then she is certainly a role model for a strong woman. Someone who puts her family first, yet still has interests of her own. Of course her kids make mistakes, just like all our kids, but she never apologizes for how much she loves her family and the lengths she'll go through to conserve that closeness.

What's with the weather???

Two tornadoes in two days, thunder & lightening, hail so thick it covers the street and sidewalks. I thought it was supposed to be spring? A few years ago it was warm enough to swim this month. I guess this is what we call climate change. Bah! I don't like it!






(can I just say...the spelling on tornadoes looks wrong, like the "e" shouldn't be there, but my handy dandy computer says it must, so there it is!)

....what's it all about anyway?

Sometimes life hits us with something we didn't expect, and forces us to accept change or a new way of thinking. It's a reminder that life is not static, but an ever-evolving entity that moves us along a twisting highway of experiences. Some people accept change well, and others do not, but in order to fully appreciate the world around us we need to be open new ideas and beliefs, otherwise we'll be stuck by the side of the road with no chance of navigating our way through the murky fog of the future.

~food for thought~

Why can't it ever be about me?

Friday's are my favorite day of the week, filled with the glorious sense of weekend opportunities! The reality is, however, it's never about me but always about everyone else. Now, I know what you might be saying...."take the time for yourself", "make time", "if you don't take care of yourself how can you take car of everyone else?". I know all this, in fact, I've said it myself to others. In my defense, I'm staring down the end of 13 years of Jessica's soccer games. 2 months and she's done, and I will most likely never see her play another game again. I'm bummed and excited all at the same time. The reason my kids really are great kids is because we've invested the TIME needed to make them that way. Of COURSE they are problematic at times, and there are parts about them that irritate me, but overall they are true public servants, kind, compassionate, stewards of the Earth. They will endeavor to work hard and enjoy their lives. What more can a mother and father ask for?

(and the answer to that is one sunny saturday to run up to the nordstrom rack)

And I'm actually allowed to say this....

Jessica got her acceptance to NYU! I'm so excited for her (secretly I want to ditch the fam and go to NYU myself). She did not get into the program she wanted, but into the Liberal Studies program, with guaranteed admittance to her program during her junior year. They said only a "handful of selected students" are chosen for this honor. I think it means she gets to design her own education, allowing her more opportunity to explore areas of interest. Sounds good to me! Of course she hasn't decided if NYU is where she wants to go (why the heck not, I ask?). She's waiting to hear from the rest of the schools, which should be releasing their decisions any day now. Of course, having said that, she does have her Dartmouth interview this coming Monday (which seems kind of late to me), so it may be a while before the decision is actually made. And when it comes down to it, the decision is really made by her AND the tax man!!

So super proud of her!!!!!

More Stuff....

Serious Eagle Project planning is under way! Andrew has a great project lined up with the execution date of April 9th. So thankful! He is getting the 'fumes' in a bad way....car fumes and perfumes....as committed he is to Boy Scouts, he's looking forward to being done with this stage so he can focus on other things, like getting a job to get a car, and girls (eye-roll). My ever so handsome son has a very cute young lady texting him constantly. Not sure how I feel about this, will let you know. Anyway, with all this 'fuming' going on, he's reluctant to focus his attention (at least the amount I believe he needs to give) on his project, no we are nudging him gently (ok, not so gently) to GET IT DONE!!

Link to the Elk Grove Historical Society Newsletter, with information about his project.
http://www.elkgrovehistoricalsociety.com/gpage12.html

Cake in oven is done, got to run and check it.

Oops...forgot to add this a few weeks ago!

Ruthann's 75 birthday party..
L-R
Back row:
Jeff (married to April, Joe's sister), Me, Yasuko (married to Joe's brother Philip), David (married to Joe's sister Mary), Ann (married to Joe's brother Richard)
L-R
Middle row:
April, Joe, Philip, Mary, Theresa, Sue, Richard (all 7 siblings, youngest on the left and oldest on the right), Ruthann & Burnie
Front row:
*Andrew (Joe & Julie)*, *Michelle, Rachel, Emily (in front of Rachel) (Philip & Yasuko)*, *Nicole, Kelly (Mary and David)*, *Rebecca, Andrea (Richard & Ann)*

A few people were missing. Theresa's husband Scott, and her two boys, were back in Vermont, and Sue's boyfriend Rick was at their home in Hawaii.

I'm not one to shy away from having my picture taken, but I had no idea this sweater was an unfortunate choice for the picture. It really makes me look dumpy! I've been the same size for a while, and am not usually considered large, but this picture does not present me at my best!

A week off....

Not really by choice, but I'm going to enjoy it nonetheless! One school holiday, two furlough days, one dentist appointment, and a short meeting on Friday (okay, that's work, but it's only a few hours so I'm not really counting it).

Andrew comes home from snow camping today. I'm hoping he wasn't too cold, but he is old enough to know he needs to wear his warm base layer, so I leave it up to him to figure it out. He probably had a great time. This is his second time on this outing and he said the first snow camping experience was the best camping he's ever done. Really??? Freezing cold and no real bathroom facilities???

Jessica is heading up to the mall with her friends. Exactly where I don't want to be on a state holiday, with thousands of other people heading to the same place!

I might actually hang out in my pajamas all day (ha! I have never actually done that in my life, wonder what it feels like?) Maybe I'll hit the couch with a book after I get my exercise in.