Snow Day #4

That's right.  We now have 4 days to make up at the end of the year, but I am definitely not complaining.  Teachers were already at school for our Wednesday morning meetings.  The kids don't start until 10:00 on Wednesdays.  At about 8:30, we got the announcement.  We only got 3ish inches of snow (totally guessing here), but the streets are terrible (who knows what it's like in the country for our bus kids?), the wind is picking up, and the wind chill is -20-some degrees.  Tomorrow the high is supposed to be -2, and that's not counting the wind chill... ugh!  Anyway, for me, this couldn't have happened on a better day.  I'd not scheduled a practice with my kids after school because I was supposed to have a mentoring meeting.  It's nice to not have to worry about missing a day of rehearsals.  And, I have grades to finish today.  I was probably going to have to pull a very late night to get done by 8:00 am tomorrow, but now, not only will I finish and get to bed at a decent hour tonight, I'm also planning on having a big nap this afternoon... right when I'm done typing this, as a matter of fact!

The Wonderful World of Technology

Technology is a wonderful thing. Today I can periodically check on Senator Hillary Clinton's Secretary of State confirmation hearings through a blog on the New York Times' website. Cool.


Next week, I'll be watching the inauguration of President Barack Obama live with some of my classes. But through the internet, I'll be able to replay speeches at will, focusing on whatever parts I'd like to show. I know technology has its downside, but being connected with the world is a wonderful thing.

Notting Hill

Jeff just reminded me how much I love the movie Notting Hill.  Hugh Grant is just plain old yummy, in his self-deprecating, totally lovable way.  And I'm not sure Julia Roberts has ever looked more beautiful.  The movie has an excellent soundtrack too. Here are a couple of my favorite scenes...

Weekly Update

I survived the first week back. It wasn't easy. That's the downside of having a great Christmas break... it makes school seem like more of a drudgery than it is. I was glad to see the kids and hear about their breaks, and I was glad to be in the classroom too, but I guess I'm as bad as the kids. I just wasn't ready for my vacation to be over.

We started rehearsals for our show this week. I have a very small cast. I've never had such a thin turnout for auditions before. But, we'll do the best we can. They're very quick learners with choreography, but they're not very experienced singers. We'll have to work hard on that.

Today my new washing machine is being delivered. I was not excited about spending that kind of money, especially out of the money I was saving for my new roof, but it had to be done. I'm excited to try it. It's a front-loader, so I'm hoping I'll use a lot less water. The washing machine I had before was the one I bought from Grandma's previous renter when I moved into the other side of her duplex. I'm sure it was at least 10-15 years old at that point... maybe older! So, it did its job. I'd had to buy a dryer a few years ago, so it was only a matter of time before the washing machine pooped out too.

I have book club today after school. We're discussing The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. If you don't know anything about Randy Pausch, you should really take a look at the website. What an amazing spirit, and what an amazing teacher.

Despite my New Year's resolutions, I had a really down day on Wednesday. I don't know what was going on, but whatever the cause, it was a very down day. Always a glutton for punishment, I ended the day looking through some Sutherlin home movies for a clip of our Arizona reunion. I was frustrated because I cannot find that thing! I have no idea what I've done with the tape that included that footage. However, I saw some great images. I watched video of my cousin Kelly hugging my mom, and it made me think of how I feel about Claire, Kate, and Cameron. I watched video of Kelly scooping me (age 1, I think) up in her arms. Life goes on. Families go on. It was comforting to see the love through the generations. I decided to put in the video of Mom and Mike's wedding. I don't think I've watched it since Mom died. I expected to be upset (glutton for punishment again), and I did have tears. However, it wasn't bad. It was actually fun to look at us all. Jeez, we were young. Matt and Travis look like kids. It was fun to see the Mornin' Crew tailgating group 13 years younger. Brad was still a ham for the camera. Kate and Cameron were so little. Steve hardly had any gray hair! Tim was still married to Sharon... weird. Most of all, it was so great to see how in love Mom and Mike were... how they looked at each other, how they talked to each other, how they had to be holding hands or touching all the time. They were so happy... we all were that day! And, it was just so great to hear my mom's voice. I was emotional, but I wasn't hysterical or anything. I guess I just needed to hear her voice. I went to bed feeling better than I had all day. I'm going to have to remember that little remedy. I've shied away from that tape for a lot of years. I'm glad I didn't stay away from it forever.

New Year's Resolutions

I'm putting them in print, releasing them to the universe...

1.  I will be hopeful, grateful, and positive.

2.  I will make spending time with friends and family a priority.

3.  I will finish decluttering my house this year, in hopes of moving to the garage next.

4.  I will do 30 minutes of some cardio activity per day, only allowing 1 day per week off.

5.  I will eat breakfast every day.  

Happy New Year!

Sweet Child of Mine

There is way too much to do at the ranch to watch TV, but I did watch one movie with my cousins over Christmas Break.  It was Step Brothers.  Um, yeah.  I feel pretty confident that I lost a couple of IQ points in the hour or so that I watched with them, but there was one particular part that did make me really crack up.  Pay particular attention to the kids in the backseat, and be very afraid for my future children.  ;)

Post-Vacation Blues

Today I'm battling the post-vacation blues.  I'm home.  It's fine.  I'm glad to see my dog.  I'm glad to see my friends.  But... sigh... I just have the blues.  There's no other way to describe it.  I miss my cousins!  We had such a good time together.  I know I should write about the last part of my fabulous trip, but right now, it just makes me sad.  Maybe I'll finish it later, but for now, I'll post some pics at least.

The day on the shooting range was one of my favorites.  Here I'm shooting the 38, but the 44 was definitely my favorite.  

Cameron and Claire lighting the flamethrower of death :) for a picnic around the campfire.  In the background, you can see one of the old mining shacks on the property.

I'm modeling by the muddy four-wheeler.  I ripped it up with this baby!

These trees grow right out of the rock by Claire's hidden waterfall.  They're so beautiful, and they could go over pretty much at any second.  The rocks they grow from look like ancient walls of an old castle.  It's amazing.

On my last full day at the ranch, we hiked up the mountain to see where they're clearing some underbrush and small trees.  Here are Kelly and Cameron taking a little break.

the view from the shooting range

On this day, we all rode ATV's up the mountain for a picnic.  Steve and Kelly are leading the caravan in this pic.  It was a BLAST!

Claire, Kate, Celeste, and Briana are in the Mule, waiting to show Brad and Ted the way into the ranch.

Kate and Claire and I in the tepee on New Year's Eve

On TJ & Noah's last day at the ranch, we took the ATV's up the mountain for a short ride.  The sun was just setting over the mountain behind us, and everything was golden.  

Claire and I are standing in front of Elaine Cassidy's bridge.  Miss Cassidy was an "entertainer" of sorts during the mining days.  The boys of the ranch were not allowed by her house.  It mysteriously burned to the ground one day, and she disappeared.  Hmm... ;)

The best part of the trip, though, was absolutely my family.  I'm so lucky and so blessed.  We had a great time together with lots of laughs, hugs, and fun.  And I need to stop typing now before I make myself upset!!!!