Good Lord, I didn't know how long it had been

I have decided that having a blog needs to be convenient and calming for me. So..... you will get posts when I feel like it and I hope you're not too disappointed when it takes me a long time (not that I have anything particularly interesting to say).
What you have missed in the past two months: Trip to San Fran with Marker, Looney, and people-magnet Brooklyn. We had so much fun!
Putting up our condo for sale. We've had some good times here but it's time to move on.
Krista couldn't wait to eat chocolate at Ghirardelli Square.

Brooklyn enjoyed looking at the sea lions.

Jimmy and I rode tandem across the Golden Gate.We were so lucky to have such beautiful weather, all the San Fransiscans enjoyed it too.


This picture is from the top of a tower that Jimmy and I walked and walked and walked and walked to. Then we walked and walked and walked and walked to meet Krista and Mark waaaay across town. While we walked we passed through one of the many porno streets. Apparently "sex isn't dirty unless you're doing it right."

Too soon for summer dreams....

As a teacher, you often think, "I'll do it over the summer." I love the snow and I love the winter, but I am already thinking of the wonderful possibilities of summer vacation. Not because of the warm weather, the stress-free days, or no report cards. My Bike! Oh how I love it! I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike! I want to ride my bicycle! I want to ride it where I like! This is my theme song for the summer. I love how I feel when I'm on my bike. I feel free and I love that I get to challenge myself physically in ways that I have never been challenged in my entire life. I love that it can be the hottest summer day but the breeze I get on my bike makes it feel like the sun can't even kiss me (yet, lots of sunscreen is absolutely necessary). I am brave on my bike. I am strong on my bike. I like who my bike lets me become. I can do anything after I have gone for a half day bike ride.

I donned my red, starred cape at work on Friday and rode one of the award bikes (a reading award for the students) and raced through the hallways honking the horn and it gave me a taste of my own orange stallion. I can't wait to train for the MS 150 with Jimmy. Soon.......

Swingtown

I'm back into the swing of things at work, but my students aren't. They are completely noisy and naughty and sometimes I want to scream. And then I make them miss recess and feel so guilty when I make them cry. So, I keep trying to focus on the positive things they do and to show them how much I care about them, because in all of the paper ripping, glue-stick-lid-losing, not-10-inch-whisper talking, writing on desks, washing windows with snow, pushing, shoving, "you're not my friend," chaos; I have to remember the little seven year old hugs, smiles, hand-holding, "your the best teacher, Mrs. Walton," special drawings, special stories, trustful and honest folded arms and think about what a great job I really do have.

Jury Duty-Free

Having jury duty for the first time, and if I'm lucky the only time, taught me a few things. Although an interesting experience, I now know that I don't want to have to ever need to take someone to court, when it comes to good lawyers you will probably get what you pay for, being a judge would be hard work (but it would kind of kick ass to have so much power mwahh-ha-ha!), and I hope I don't ever have to go on the stand as a witness. I feel lots of civic pride and I'm happy I was able to help, but I'm so grateful to be back at my regular job doing my regular thing. When you tell your students you have to go back for jury duty and they cry, it sure lets you know you're making at least some kind of difference.

A picture of the building I spent 6 long days in. Did you know that the statue of Scott Matheson inside this building sure looks a lot like comic book guy, Stan Lee? I do now. I said "Hi Stan" each morning. We're friends.