My America

Vacation 2008

This summer Jesse and I took a road trip so I could visit my 40th state... Oregon! We drove west to Los Angeles, then north to San Francisco, where we spent the night. While there we took a bay cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge. Our goal: See ALL of the bridge at one time.
The next morning we headed north once again, this time our quest was Giant Sequoias. We were looking for the ones you can drive through, and we found them!

Are these awesome, or what?!?

Eventually, we reached our destination, of the southern Oregon coast. Talk about a beautiful place, and a great break from the summer heat of Arizona.

These pictures were taken at Pistol River, just south of Gold Beach (www.goldbeach.org). We stayed at the Pacific Reef Resort (http://www.pacificreefresort.com/).

Funky Monkey Town

This year I decorated my classroom with a safari/jungle theme. Each of the students have magnets with their names on them, that are monkeys holding bananas. The name plates on their desks match, and so do the bulletin board and walls. Because the 5th grade teaches early U.S. government, we set up our classrooms like cities. These cities have names, and city officials, like mayor, sheriff, deputy, accountant, mailman... One of their first assignments this year was to vote on a class name, and you guessed it... We're "Funky Monkey Town." I think I might have put a few too many monkeys in the room. Once the town had a name the next assignment was to design a class flag. This is what they came up with... One of my quiet students drew this and the entire class voted anonymously on this winner. Here are some pictures of my classroom and students:

There are 7 times more, guess I didn't get 'em in pictures, yet, but I WILL!
For more information about my school (Centerra Mirage), take a peek at this:
www.avondale.k12.az.us/Centerra_Mirage.cfm

Kittens! Kittens! Kittens!

Seventeen years ago, back when Gary was alive and adamant about "NO MORE CATS," I hid the most adorable, calico kitten right under his nose for three days. Cali was more than a cat, she was my best friend. From the moment we met, outside the Safeway in Springerville, I knew she was going to be mine!

Cali always had the sweetest personality! She followed me where ever I went, and kept me company, especially in 2001, when I was so very lonely. Gary used to say, "When you die I'm going to have her stuffed and buried with you."

Sadly, last year, Cali became very ill. We tried to nurse her back to health, but when she was down to less than 3 pounds, and struggling to walk, we faced the reality that it was time to let her go.

Fast forward now to May 17th. We (Jesse, my mom, and I) took a ride over to see my sister's "new" couch. She told me previously about all the stray cats around her apartment, so I asked her where they were. She said, "Look under the bushes." So, I did. I not only found a cat, but a kitten too! Knowing these were stray cats, I just HAD to have a closer look! The mama cat ran away, which surprised me, since they normally fight to the death to protect their young, but that gave me a better chance of not only looking at, but catching the kitten... He was ADORABLE!!! A fuzzy, long-haired, white kitten that really didn't put up much of a fuss when I picked him up... Can you say, "Love at first sight?!?!?" With Jesse's birthday the very next day I just found him (and me) a free present! We named him Sassy, compliments of all the hissing he did that day, but in reality he's an absolute sweetie; soft and cuddly, just like a kitty should be!!!

Then, just two weeks later, while Jesse and I were on vacation, Linda found MORE kittens. Apparently, the lady that lives in the apartment below her was feeding the mama cat, but she was very wild. The kittens, however, were easily caught and before long were living inside Linda's apartment. Although my mom swore Linda to silence, it wasn't long before she was sending me pictures on my cell phone, of 4 tiny, gray and white, tabby kittens. Naturally, it didn't take much to convince me to lay claims on one... We named her Chuckles (or Chuck, for short).

Linda also kept a kitten, but after just a couple of weeks decided she really didn't want him. She said, "All he does is bite!" She told me she was going to put him back outside, but I'm pretty sure she knew that would just encourage me to take him... And I did! We named him Bailey Boo, and he LOVES us!


Aren't they cute?!?

BTW: My mom kept one of the kittens, too. His name is Smokie Joe.

Salem joined the family in November 2006. He was overjoyed to have playmates in the house. As you can see Sassy and Salem are good friends!