California 4/29/08

We spent the day at Disneyland and it was a lot of fun. The weather was perfect and not too hot. We rode all the major rides and really enjoyed ourselves because the lines were not long at all. The longest line we stood in (for about an hour) was in the Nemo submarine line and I wouldn’t stand in that long line again. The ride was cute but not outstanding and if I rode it again, I would wait until the lines were shorter. Of course we rode Space Mountain twice. The Matterhorn Bobsled was good too and they didn’t have that at Disney World in FL the last time I was there. Next to Space Mountain, I liked the Indiana Jones ride the best (even though it practically beat you up when you rode it!). It’s a Small World was closed and Thunder Mountain was also closed when we got there.

The ride I liked least was Splash Mountain. First of all, I don’t like log flumes at all but my hubby just had to ride this! We ended up in the very front and I refused to ride in the front seat so I sat behind him. He is afraid of heights so he kept his head down most of the time. Of course, wouldn’t you know it, the ride breaks while we are on it! We ended up going a few yards and it would stop and we would wait. Waiting drives me crazy and makes me nervous. Then they would move us and stop again. They did this about 4 or 5 times. Plus, every time we took a dip, I would get drenched. Then we finally hit the 50 foot drop and I got soaked! As we left, we noticed they had closed the ride down for repairs. It was about 5pm and there was some sun so our clothes finally dried after a couple of hours.

We also went to the Innovations show to see the Honda robot ASIMO. This robot could walk on its own, kick a soccer ball, and walk up stairs. Apparently it can even run but when it showed us how it could run, the robot fell over and pieces flew everywhere. The host’s face looked priceless and he thanked us for coming and the curtain fell. They quickly got us out of the theater and someone asked the usher if this happened often. She replied, “Never!” Uh oh! I hope they can get it fixed!

For breakfast, we had a sausage burrito at McDonalds and for lunch we shared a spicy chicken sandwich and fries. So other than a box of popcorn, by 7pm I was pretty hungry. We left in the middle of the parade to beat the crowd and ate dinner at Denny’s. I’m so glad we beat the crowd because it was packed when we left.

California 4/28/08

We left Twentynine Palms around 8am and arrived in Anaheim about 11am. Traffic was lighter than expected and we had no trouble finding Disneyland. We found a hotel right across the entrance from the parks so we were happy and there is a McDonalds right across from the entrance too. We went to the park to price tickets and get our bearings. When we could get into our room, I got on the internet and found out there was an Angels game tonight and we were only 2 miles from the stadium so we went there to buy tickets.

As we entered the parking area of the stadium, there was a scalper selling tickets (only I didn’t realize he was a scalper because he just looked like a nice old man who wore a parking attendant’s uniform.) He told us he had 2 tickets for $25 each and we agreed to buy them. Since I only had half the money, I asked Don for the rest. When Don took out his wallet, his judge’s badge showed and the man quickly said that he only wanted $25 total because it was the face value of the tickets and he didn’t want any more. He was only selling them because his wife couldn’t come and he hoped to retire to Texas. He mentioned he didn’t want to move to SC because of all the tornadoes there (what tornados?). I think we made him nervous but we paid the money and left with the 2 tickets. When we got to the stadium there were big signs that the reselling of any tickets were strictly prohibited. The seats were in section 409 and they were pretty good seats. When I looked on the schedule, the seats were normally $20-25 so the poor man lost money on us.

We had fun at the game. I had to try the garlic-parmesan fries but the garlic fries at the Arizona Diamondbacks game was much better. We sat next to this father and daughter who were very nice. In fact, the dad bought me the same candy he bought his daughter. I thought that was very nice. Unfortunately the Angels lost 2-14. Since they were losing, many people left before we did and when we left, there wasn’t too much traffic and we had no trouble getting back to our hotel.

Arizona 4/26/08

We left Tom and Kathy’s house around 7am and headed west. Once we crossed over the California line, we started looking for lunch and/or gas. We stopped at Desert Center which was supposed to have both but the gas station was boarded up. We ate lunch at the café in Desert Center which seemed to be the only thing in the whole town. Amazingly, the food and prices were pretty good.

We arrived at Joshua Tree and drove in and through it to Twentynine Palms which is a town north of the park. We found a Motel 6 and booked 2 nights here. Since there is a Marine base close by, there are lots of Marines around. We had also made a reservation for a guided tour at Key Ranch at 10am for tomorrow for only $5 per person. We did have time to go into the park and do a couple of short hikes and then had dinner at the Carousel restaurant. The food was great and plentiful. When the server found out we were staying to hike in the park, she sat down and showed us some photos she took last week in the park.

Arizona 4/24-4/25

Three of us went to the Biosphere 2 in Oracle, AZ and had a great time. It was really neat even though the tour cost $20 (discounts for AAA members though). The tour lasted about 90 minutes and we got to go into the sealed environment where eight people lived for 2 years. It is a shame that in 2-3 years it will be torn down to make room for a hotel and a housing development. There were different biomes that we saw: a rain forest, ocean, savannah, and desert. There once was a half acre farm also with chickens, pigs, and fish. When we came home, we went out and bought 4 new tires for our car because the tread was getting almost nonexistent. Later that evening, when Kathy came home from work, we met her for dinner. First we tried a place called Dvine but there was no outside seating so instead we went to the Red, White, and Brew.

The next day we went to Roosevelt Dam, towns called Globe, Miami, and Superior and then some antique stores. We also stopped at Tonto National Monument and walked up to the cliff dwellings there. We were able to actually walk through the rooms! It was a really nice day. When we got back I checked the weather for Yosemite and found out that they are expecting some cold weather so we had to reevaluate our plans. Instead of going to Yosemite, we will head towards Joshua Tree, Anaheim and Los Angelos (maybe see Disneyland) and then head up the coast of California on the scenic highway. I’m so glad we can be flexible with our plans.

Arizona 4/23/08

We got up early in order to visit the “future city” of Arcosanti and I was amazed at the possibilities that were mentioned. I wonder if it will ever reach its potential. This project is the brainchild of Paolo Soleri who once studied under Frank Lloyd Wright and he hoped to mix architecture with ecology by showing a place where 5000 people could live on 25 acres of land by following ecological practices. We went to the 10:00 tour because on that tour you can see them pour the bronze which I found fascinating. It was truly an artist’s community because I saw the ceramics shop where they make the bells by pouring the clay into silt molds. After it dries, they put it in the kiln to be baked. After seeing that, we went to the place where they pour melted bronze into the sand molds. It was amazing to see this molten stuff being poured and I can’t imagine how hot that must be to work with. Of course I had to buy 2 bells to bring home because they fascinated me.

On the way home we stopped in Old Town Scottsdale for lunch and ate at a Mexican restaurant which had wonderful food. I don't think I've had any bad food since we've been on this trip!

When we came back to the house, we relaxed and just enjoyed the surroundings. When Kathy came home from work, we all went to dinner at the Red, White, and Brew which was wonderful! By the time we returned, I was pooped!

DSP prompts 4/21-4/23

Monday’s prompt: April is National Poetry Month. Write a poem, link to a favorite poem or tell us why you can't stand poetry.

I’m not very good at writing poems on a whim,
Some might say it is because my brain is so dim
Say what you must
At least it isn’t dust
I think my brain is filled to the brim!

Tuesday's prompt: Take your pick: Write about Earth Day or National Jelly Bean Day (or both).

My favorite flavor jelly bean is licorice but my husband hates the smell and taste of licorice. In fact, if there is a bowl of jelly beans, I will pick out all the black ones and eat them. This of course makes my tongue black and I look like a freakish vampire. Eventually it goes away but not before I get weird looks whenever I talk.

Wednesday's prompt: Today is 'Take A Chance' day. When was the last time you took a chance on something? Or is there something you want to take a chance on today?

On this vacation, we take a chance all the time. We have no set plans and decide each morning what we want to do. We don’t know how well our plans will turn out or what will happen. Sometimes our plans can change on a moment’s notice if we pass by something we want to see or do first. This kind of life used to stress me out (because I’m such a control freak and need a set plan) but I’m getting better at it.

photo credit: scientific bean review by floongle

Arizona 4/22/08

We got up early and went for a hike in the Superstition Mountains. We started on the Treasure Loop and continued on the Prospector’s View trail and finally ended up back at the loop trail for a 3 hour hike. The scenery was awesome as we made our way along the base of the mountains but it sure was hot. By the time we were done, it was already 92 degrees and we were drinking lots of fluids.

After the hike had lunch at Waldo’s BBQ and then we made our way to Hi Jolly where we heard they had souvenirs at reasonable prices. Then we stopped at the Superstition Ranch vegetable market. They had cucumbers 5/$1 and bell peppers 5/$1 and asparagus for $.69 a bunch! I wish I lived here just for the cheap fresh vegetables.

In the evening, the four of us went to an Arizona Diamondbacks game (they won 5-4 against the San Francisco Giants). Then we ate dinner at a place called Fate. We all had these steamed spring rolls and I had some kind of mixed vegetables with chicken over rice. The food was wonderful. By the time we got back around midnight, I was beat!

Arizona 4/21/08

I got up early for a walk with Kathy and Fred (the corgi) and the morning scenery was awesome. It was fascinating to see all the cacti starting to bloom. Then we went to WalMart in Apache Junction to price tires (we have put 3000 miles on our car since we left home 2 weeks ago). We even stopped at the Superstition Ranch Market which has fresh vegetables at outrageous cheap prices. Then we drove into Phoenix to purchase tickets for the Tuesday’s Diamondbacks game but when we arrived we noticed that they give tours of the stadium. Don immediately went back and plugged the meter for 2 hours (the maximum) so we could go on the 1 hour tour. The tour actually lasted 2 hours and it was fantastic. We even got to sit in the dugout before batting practice. After the tour we headed back to Mesa for more exploring.

Since Kathy told me that the hamburgers were great at Tortilla Flats, we went to find it. I thought it was the name of a restaurant and it ended up being a little town with one restaurant on the original Apache Trail. We ended up taking a 5 hour scenic drive along the Apache Trail which turned into an unpaved road to the Roosevelt Dam. This road was, at times, a one lane road with steep drop offs and was pretty challenging.

Arizona 4/20/08

We left Sedona on Sunday morning and headed towards Phoenix. First we stopped at Montezuma’s Castle National Monument. It was a huge cliff dwelling in the side of the mountain and was rather intact compared to others that we had seen. Not being used to lizards who are not intimidated by people, I had to take photos of the lizards. I also saw a hedgehog cactus that was blooming and the red blooms really stand out.

After we left there we headed to Arcosanti designed by Soleri which someone suggested to me on Twitter. It was really interesting because the project had hoped to have 5000 people living on 25 acres demonstrating ways to improve urban conditions and lessen our destructive impact on the earth. Unfortunately they never got enough funding to finance the project but it is still an urban laboratory.

We arrived in Mesa about 3pm and are staying with our friends Kathy and Tom, who have graciously opened their home to us. They also invited 2 other people (Carol and Charles) over for a grill out and we had a great time together. Kathy, Carol and I serve on the Board of Directors of Council for Exceptional Children. We all had a great visit together! I’m surprised at how different the climate is here compared to the Grand Canyon and lots of Saguaro cactus we see all around us. I’m really looking forward to our stay here.

On the Road to Flagstaff 4/18/08

Today we headed south and took a scenic road towards Flagstaff. On the way we stopped and did a nature hike where we even found a bunch of snow. We headed right towards the San Francisco peaks where Mt. Humphreys (the tallest peak in Arizona) is and the scenery was beautiful. We also went up to see what the Arizona Snowbowl was and I guess it is a big ski resort. When we arrived in Flagstaff, we decided to go to the Lowell Observatory and took a tour. After a short movie, we were taken to see a telescope and the Lowell library. It was really neat to see where Pluto was first discovered and that this observatory still contends that Pluto is a planet. After the observatory, we went to Walnut Canyon National Monument to see the cliff dwellings but the main trail was closed due to a major rock slide from December. We did walk around the rim though and saw the dwellings with our binoculars. Finally we decided to spend the night in Flagstaff and got a motel room in historic downtown. We walked around and looked at the shops and had a few beers. I really liked this place right near our motel called Altitudes where we had Bud Light for only $2 during happy hour. After a couple of beers, we were rested enough to do some more sightseeing. Most of the town looked like a college hang out or a return to the hippie days so we felt right at home. We stopped at the Flagstaff Brewery and had some microbrew from Tucson that had a bite to it and it cost $5 so we only had one and moved on. We ended up back at Altitudes for a couple of more beers and an ultimate nacho plate which was so big we couldn’t even finish it. Plus we enjoyed some live music. I like Flagstaff and we will probably stay here on the way home next month.

More Grand Canyon adventures 4/17/08

First thing this morning we started up the car to see if it would start and it did. What a relief! Then I booked another night at the Red Feather Lodge so I would have a wonderful warm place to sleep tonight. Next we went back to the campground, cancelled the next 3 nights at the campsite and packed up our tent. Then we decided to hike the South Kaibab trail so we decided to eat a big breakfast at McDonalds. I was surprised to see that the McDonalds cost more than the breakfast in the park. After breakfast we took the shuttle to the South Kaibab trailhead and started down the trail around 10am. My wonderful husband (who is deathly afraid of heights) agreed to do this hike since he did so well yesterday.

Unfortunately this hike was much different than the Bright Angel trail and had steep drop-offs for most of the trail and Don had a really difficult time on this. He suffered from vertigo a few times but he kept going because he knew I would not do it without him. We went past the “ooh-ahh point” so we probably did about a mile down. Coming up was just as difficult for him but we finished the whole trip in about three hours.

Then came the highlight of my day. When we arrived at the top of the trailhead, we took some pictures and rested. Another couple came off the trail and the woman was pretty upset. She looked tired, and thirsty, and sore and snapped at her husband that she was glad they didn’t go all the way down to the bottom of the canyon. As they passed by me, I noticed that the shuttle had arrived about 50 yards away but I knew we would not make it so we didn’t hurry. But the upset woman had other ideas. She suddenly ran screaming towards the bus, yelling, “Stop the bus! Stop the bus!” but the bus closed its doors anyway. She continued to scream at the bus as it moved around the circle to leave the area. Then she actually ran in front of the bus to make it stop. When the bus driver tried to signal her to move away, she refused to move until he opened the doors and let the couple on the bus. I guess she really didn’t enjoy the hike at all. I couldn’t stop laughing about her all day. I bet her poor husband has not heard the end of this terrible hike and day!

After eating some lunch, we took a shuttle out to see the Bright Angel trail that we hiked yesterday. I was amazed how differently I saw this trail after hiking it compared to the first time I saw it.

We have enjoyed our visit to the Grand Canyon but we have decided to move on. Not sure where we will head next but will make that decision over breakfast.

DSP prompts 4/14 - 4/17

(Sorry to be missing in action this week. We are in the Grand Canyon and getting connected is rather challenging!)

Monday's blog prompt: Monday for most us means back to work. What are some of the jobs you've had in your life?

1. Here is the list of jobs that I’ve held:
2. Camp counselor
3. Chinese restaurant cashier
4. Dining hall worker
5. Babysitter
6. Cultural Life Program worker
7. Concession stand worker
8. Term paper typist
9. Knitting factory worker
10. Motel desk clerk
11. Clothing store clerk
12. Newspaper complaint dept. worker
13. Maid
14. Teacher
15. Adjunct Instructor
16. Teacher Evaluator
17. Educational consultant

photo credit: my job sucks by candrews

Tuesday's blog prompt: In 1955, the first McDonalds opened it doors. How do you feel about fast food?

I really like fast food. I like McDonalds, Burger King, Arby’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Chick-Fil-A. My hubby and I really like the value menus at McDonalds and Burger King where you can get a variety of things for $1. I like them because I don’t have to cook, clean or tip a waitress.

photo credit: fast food bar by believe collective

Wednesday's blog prompt: Share some of the "rules" (serious or funny) that you live by.

1. Do unto others as you want them to do to you.
2. What goes around, comes around.
3. Don’t lie.
4. Care about others.

Thursday's blog prompt: Daffy Duck made his debut on this date in 1937. Who is your favorite cartoon character?

I really don’t have a favorite cartoon character. I remember liking Underdog, Speed Racer, Dudley Do Right, and Quick Draw McGraw when I was growing up. When my children were young, I remember watching the Smurfs with them. Now on a long trip, I usually say (loudly in a whining voice), “Are we there yet Papa Smurf?”

Adventures in the Grand Canyon 04/16/08

Getting connected to the internet has been spotty for the past few days but I’m glad to be on tonight. As usual, we have had a few adventures since my last post.

The past 2 days we have hiked along the south rim of the Grand Canyon and the views have been awesome. I’ve taken about 100 pictures every day. Remember the tripod that I had to buy the other day because I left a part at home that fits into the tripod that I brought? Well, yesterday I lost the same part on the new tripod! I am so aggravated at my own carelessness. I was too lazy to unscrew the part and leave it in the tripod so I just left it on the bottom of the camera.

We took the shuttle to Hopi Point and watched the awesome sunset. It was so cold and windy that I was freezing when we got back to the campsite so we went straight to bed. There was no one else in the campground but us and about 3 other campers. (Maybe someone knew something that we didn’t). For some reason we must have not eaten enough fat because we were both up all night freezing. Finally at 6:00 we got up and went to the cafeteria for hot coffee and breakfast.

Then we decided to try to hike down some of the Bright Angel Trail. We tried to hike down some of the South Kaibab trail but the heights were too much for Don so we had to come back up to the trailhead. I think the problem is that the wind was really gusting and he had slipped on a sheet of ice. I was surprised today that we hiked down a couple of miles without too much trouble. It wasn’t as bad coming back up as I had imagined because the stories sound horrific.

When we reached our car, we decided that since it was supposed to get down to 12 tonight we would ride to Williams (one hour away) and get a hotel room. Who knows what the wind chill factor would be like and we didn’t want a repeat of last night. When we tried to start our car, it wouldn’t start! I ended up calling AAA and they sent a tow truck. I didn’t know that AAA has a tow truck right in the Grand Canyon National Park so it only took minutes for the guy to jump off our car. We have no idea how the battery ran down other than it is a hybrid and maybe it has been only running on battery for the past few days without recharging.

Nothing else can go wrong because we are in a toasty hotel room (Red Feather Lodge) right outside the park. There is a Wendy’s next door and a McDonalds across the street. It has heat, hot water, a wonderful shower, great TV, and wifi! I think we have died and gone to heaven!

Sunset Crater/Wupatki/Grand Canyon 04/13/08

We got up early in Flagstaff and had a wonderful breakfast at McDonalds. Then we headed to Sunset Crater National Monument. I was afraid we wouldn’t be able to do anything since it was only 7:30am but we had no problem getting in and going on a hike. We hiked the lava flow trail which was something I had never seen before. All that rock looked liked the stuff in my barbecue grill at home. We also got to try out my tiny tripod that I bought and even though it is small, it served its purpose. Then we headed down the loop road towards Wupatki National Monument and hiked to some ruins. After the ruins we headed towards the Grand Canyon and arrived there about 1pm. We got to our campsite, set up our tent, and were starving. I’m amazed at how many eating places there are and they were at reasonable prices. After lunch we drove around and stopped along the rim to see the awesome views. I can’t wait to do some more tomorrow. It is so breathtaking that it is hard to describe. Even taking pictures doesn’t do it justice but it will have to do.

Petrified ForestNP/Painted Desert 04/12/08

This morning we drove to the Petrified Forest/Painted Desert and did some hiking. Probably throughout the whole day we only did 6 miles but it is a good warm up for when we do the Grand Canyon hikes. It felt so good to be hiking instead of riding in the car today. Since the weather was much warmer than previous days, I didn’t even need a jacket while we were hiking. We hiked to the Agate House, Long Log Trail, Jasper Forest, Crystal Forest , Agate Bridge, Blue Mesa, and Puerco Pueblo, just to mention a few hikes. We left there and then headed toward Flagstaff for the night. After talking to some friends on Twitter, someone suggested that we stop in Winslow and see the historic La Posada Hotel, which we did. Then we finally made it to Flagstaff. We got a motel on Rt. 66 again in another vintage motel (a step up from yesterday’s vintage motel). I’m just wondering if we look so old and in need of protection because at every motel we stayed at, they have given us the room closest to the office where it is “safe." After a quick trip to Wal Mart to get a tripod for my camera (I brought a tripod but forgot the thing that attaches the camera to the tripod!) and some diet pepsi for me, we ate dinner at McDonalds.

This is a petrified log.

Here I am standing beside a petrified tree roots.

These were petroglyphs seen at the Puerco Pueblo.

Here is the trail in the Blue Mesa.

3 States in 1 Day

Today, we started out in Amarillo, TX drove straight across New Mexico and ended up in Holbrook, AZ. The scenery was awesome along the road because it looked like we could see for miles. We also started out in the Central Time Zone, crossed over the Mountain Time Zone, and ended up in Arizona, were the time doesn’t change, so they were same as the Pacific Time Zone. That in itself was confusing to me and I felt like I asked for the time everywhere we went.

Early in the morning, as we left Amarillo, we stopped at the “Cadillac Ranch.” This millionaire planted 10 classic Cadillacs in the middle of this huge field. We didn’t stop in Albuquerque other than to get gas. When we arrived in Arizona, we headed to the Petrified Forest National Park. We did a whirlwind drive through the park and decided we wanted to spend the night somewhere and return tomorrow to do some hiking. The park is also in the Painted Desert which extends to the Grand Canyon so the scenery was breathtaking. I probably took over 100 photos! Hubby decided we would stay in a “vintage” motel (which I considered “run down”) but he was happy because it only cost $29! Of course I didn’t complain when the bathroom was clean, water was hot, and there was even strong water pressure in the shower. I can’t wait to do some hiking tomorrow!

Here are some photos from today:

On the Road 4/9-11/2008

Yes, we are still on the road and will be for around 2 months. We left on Wednesday morning and spent the night in Russellville, Arkansas. After hearing that we were under tornado warnings, I was a little apprehensive and wondered if I would wake up in the morning "not in Kansas anymore, Toto." The loud booming thunder kept setting off car alarms in the parking lot which meant I had to keep getting up to check that it wasn't our car. So I didn't get a lot of sleep that first night. Then last night we stayed in Amarillo, Texas. The crosswinds were really awful and made it hard to drive. My hubby's hands are sore from gripping the steering wheel so tightly. The scenery has been awesome though as we travel along I-40 and Route 66.

Blog prompt: Let's end the week with some fun. Post a joke, a funny story, a video...whatever makes you laugh.

This morning we passed the Cadillac Ranch. I made hubby turn around (he hates u-turns) so I could take photos of this for a scrapbook page in the future. There were 10 classic cadillacs buried nose deep in a field. It actually looked pretty neat and it made me laugh. I can't wait to show y'all!

Advertising

Blog prompt: How do you feel about advertising? Favorite ads? Ads you can't stand?

I saw an ad yesterday that should have been shown during the Super Bowl. It was the AFLAC commercial with the duck driving a race car. It was really cute. (no animals were harmed during the filming of this! lol)

The one that really bugs me is a radio commercial for Little Cricket (a convenience store like 7-11) where they people call each other dummy. I guess it is the teacher in me that comes out but I hate when someone calls someone else a dummy and it really irritates me to listen to this ad. In fact, I usually change the station when it comes on.

photo credit: Aflac! by antifuse

Spring

Blog prompt: What is the first thing you think of when you hear the word 'spring'?

I think of flowers. I love to see flowers that are beginning to bloom or are blooming. The bright colors just make me happy! We are heading out west for a 2 month trip today and I'm leaving my yard which is just beginning to bloom. My red and yellow tulips are blooming and look bright and cheerful in my front flower bed. Along the side of my yard, the red tips are covered in blooming wisteria. Along the driveway, my azaleas are beginning to bloom in rich hues of pink. The previous owners mixed azaleas that bloom at different times so my driveway looks beautiful for a long time as the azaleas seem to be in constant bloom.

I remember going to Big Bend National Park in Texas during April one year and the cactus were all in bloom. I'm hoping as we head west that we will get to see these blooms again. It is always amazing to me that these cactus with sharp needles can have such beautiful blooms. I guess it is kind of like life: times can be sharp and painful but usually there is a beautiful bloom that arrives if we are patient.

Here are some pictures of our car packed for our trip. Everything we need for the next 2 months are with us.

To Be Young Again

Blog Prompt: Today is Ponce de Leon day. He discovered Florida and searched for the fountain of youth. Do you wish to be younger again?

Absolutely not! I love being my age and I worked hard to get where I am and I love my life as it is. Growing up was hard for me and not my happiest times. Even that is hard to say because I was loved by my parents and sisters and extremely spoiled but I didn't feel happy as a teenager. Of course, being a high school teacher, I realize that teenagers weren't meant to be happy and put on this earth to be in eternal angst so that they could appreciate happiness when they became an adult. I think I'm that person. I love all the experiences that have brought me to this point in my life where I have better judgement in choosing friends and making better decisions.

No Housework Day

Blog prompt: Someone has named today 'No Housework Day'. What your least favorite housework chore? How about the most favorite (or least dreaded)?

I hate, no despise, no abhor cleaning bathrooms! I had to do that when I was a little girl and I still hate doing it. We had a maid come clean the house every other week until we retired and then I couldn't justify paying someone to do what I had the time to do so now I have to do it. I have made a schedule of chores that I need to do and picked a certain day to do each one so I'm not trying to do it all in one day. This helps keep me from being totally miserable.

My least dreaded thing to do is to wash dishes. I don't have a dishwasher (I hate them!) and since there is just the two of us, we don't usually have enough dishes to fill a dishwasher. I like to listen to my Ipod while I'm doing dishes so I don't notice the time go by. For some reason, having dishes go from dirty to clean is instant gratification for me and it makes me feel like I accomplished something.

photo credit: Washed Dishes by (SG)*489

I am Happy With...

Begin today's prompt with the phrase "I am happy with..." and then take it anywhere you'd like!

I am happy with my life! I have a wonderful husband and as long as he is with me, I'm happy! We live in a beautiful house (when we are home) in a safe friendly neighborhood. We were close friends with our next door neighbors before we moved in which made the transition into our small town much easier. My hubby and I love to travel which is what we are doing now that we are both retired. Since retirement, I have been involved in doing only activities that I enjoy doing (other than housework and paying bills) which makes life extremely stress free. I tend to go overboard and what to do too many things and luckily my hubby balances me out by bringing me into reality and cautioning me to think before I leap. We are both healthy and young enough to do all the traveling that we want to do and we are just beginning our adventures. Stay tuned for updates!

Blog Prompts 4/2 and 4/3

Wednesday blog prompt: Sometimes two great things get together and make something even better! Name some things that you think go great together.

1. Hubby and me
2. Hiking boots and backpack
3. Tent and campfire
4. Dresses and heels
5. Toyota Prius and GPS
6. Teachers and students
7. Me and computer
8. Friends and food
9. Diet pepsi and a bathroom nearby
10. Peanut butter and jelly


Thursday blog prompt: Is there someone famous and living today that you find particularly interesting?

This is so easy because yesterday I was fortunate to hear Henry Winkler give our keynote address at the CEC conference. Henry suffers from dyslexia but still graduated from Emerson College and got a graduate degree from Yale University. His speech was extremely motivating and inspiring. Since I am on the board of directors for CEC, we were able to meet with him before the general session for a small reception. I was awestruck and when I went up to introduce myself, I got tongue tied and he immediately hugged me! He met and talked with everyone in the room without acting like it was an imposition. When asked if he would take a picture with the whole board, he readily agreed. In fact, he took control and positioned all of the board members in the right spots, and took a picture with half the board and then the other.

During the keynote address, he even read from book 2 of his Hank Zipzer books. He talked about his school life with his dyslexia and how family and educators dealt with him. It is amazing that he never gave up. He states that he has no idea how he coped and when asked what his “strategy” was, he said he had no strategy except the will to get out of school. He compares himself to a punching bag with sand in the bottom that when punched, it pops back up.

After the general session, there was a president’s reception. Every year the keynote speaker is invited, but they never come to this. Henry Winkler did and talked to everyone as well as voluntarily took a gazillion more pictures. He mingled with everyone there and did not even have an entourage with him. He acted like an everyday person and treated teachers as if we were something he was impressed with meeting. He is the kind of celebrity that didn’t push his celebrity status in your face and seemed truly sincere when talking to you.

Boston 04/03/08

I spent most of the day in a CEC board meeting but the fun happened late in the afternoon. Our keynote speaker was Henry Winkler (The Fonz) who talked about his dyslexia and even read a chapter from one of the books he wrote. He was so personable and accommodating while he took a gazillion pictures. He didn't arrive with an entourage and acted like an every day person. After the keynote address, there was a president's reception and he even showed up there (which was unusual because usually the keynote speaker never shows up to this) and mingled with everyone. Again there was no huge entourage and he took a gazillion more pictures. I can't say enough good things about him and wrote about his address in my Successful Teaching blog. Please drop by and read about his wonderful comments.

Meanwhile, my hubby spent the day sightseeing. He went to the Harvard Museum of Natural History and Beacon Hill. There was an explosion at 1 Beacon Hill and he even got photos of the commotion before any news cameras got there. According to the news, there was an electrical fire that caused an explosion and 2 people were injured. They showed one man with half his suit burned right off of him.

Boston 4/1/08

We bought a day pass for the subway and ventured out on our own. First we headed to Fenway Park and had a tour of the park. It was pretty interesting as we watched them getting ready for opening day next week. We saw places that normally we wouldn’t get into if we were there for a game. I was surprised how small the stadium really was.

After that tour, we went to Chinatown and had lunch. I love getting the Hong Kong Noodle Soup for lunch especially since I was having sinus/teeth problems. I spent the day popping aspirins because every time we went on the subway, the pressure must have messed with my sinuses which pressed on my teeth and caused me excruciating pain.

After lunch we went to the Samuel Adams brewery for a free tour. It was pretty neat and well worth the admission price.

After that tour, we walked on the Freedom Trail for a couple of hours before returning back to our hotel. We went to Whiskey’s Steakhouse and Saloon again for some beers and 10 cent wings.