Good-bye AESD

It feels like it took forever, but it's official: I am no longer an employee of Avondale Elementary School District!!! I have waited four years to say that, cuz every time I said I wanted to quit Jesse talked me into staying (based on the economy). Finally, I convinced him that staying there was NOT good for me. Physically and mentally it was taking its toll. And, it didn't help that the 7th grade class this year was the meanest group of students I've ever had. They were almost to the point of hateful to each other, and just flat out disrespectful to me. I just cannot tell you how glad I am that that phase of my life is over! That being said, imagine how surprised I was when on June 1st I returned to my classroom (from taking the kids out for recess, since we didn't have specials that day), to open my door and be sprayed in the face with silly string and students shouting, "Surprise!" Like I said, the 7th grade was outside for a 1/2 hour. While we were out there Mrs. Amavisca asked if she could borrow my keys (she had left hers in her classroom). Being totally oblivious, I gave them to her. Then, when we went back in, my lock down card was in the door window. This seemed odd, I even questioned a couple of my students how it got there, but didn't think much else about it, until the door opened and my second period class (Mrs. Amavisca's homeroom) totally caught me off-guard! They brought in cookies, and hot cheetos / takis, cookies, rolled tacos, cupcakes, and LOTS of pepsi. And, a lot of them made going away / birthday cards for me... I was truly overwhelmed by their kindness! Arnold and Cooper Mark, Izzy, and Xavier Izaiah, Alex, and Daniel Tim Nick and Daniel Jourdan and Nick Erin and Kate Addie and Cynthia Kristina and Sarah Tina and Amy Anjelica and the table full of food! Since I quit my job I've had to start looking for another one... I am NOT good at this! However, I've had a couple of interviews (the one I wanted bombed), and now I get to wait and see what happens. The biggest problem is: I'm really not sure I want to teach. Especially since I'd have to sign a contract and then I'd be stuck for a year even if I don't like it. In reality, I'd like a cubicle job. Some place where I just sit behind a desk, at a computer, and go home at the end of the day. So we will see... I figure God will get me where I belong.

San Diego, Again!

It's been a whole year since we'd been to San Diego, so Jesse couldn't resist when I said that was where I wanted to go. For those of you that don't know, San Diego, or better yet, the ocean there, is my happy place. I don't have to really do anything there, I just need to be there! So, on the 19th, our SEVENTH anniversary, we headed west. There was one BIG change this time... We took our dogs, Rudy (a pit bull) and Rufus (a dachshund) with us. You should know that the boys don't get out very often. Rufus gets to walk to the mailbox, occasionally, but when we put him in the car he shakes and whimpers and basically doesn't enjoy the ride. Rudy, NEVER gets to go out. Rudy was a rescue dog; I found him in a ditch when I was looking for some cotton. He had a broken leg at the time, and since we couldn't afford the surgery, the vet said he'd learn to walk on 3 legs. Well, in the 6 years since we found him, he's become the STRONGEST DOG, EVER! Seriously! The last time I took him out for a walk he literally ran me into a bush. And, I was grateful for the bush, cuz the alternative was a face-plant in the rocks. So, this was a BIG adventure for the boys, and us! And, the ride started out RUFF!!! Ha! Ha! They were barking at everything, including stoplights, and I thought Jesse was gonna abandon ship. Fortunately, once we got on the freeway they both settled down. Our first "official" stop was just west of Yuma, in Algodones, Mexico. The plan was to buy my pain medicine there, since I thought I could get it without a prescription. Unfortunately, they had the muscle relaxer, but they wanted more for it than I pay with my insurance, and neither of the pharmacies we went to had the pain killer. So, our trip to Mexico was a bust. However, we learned that you really should take your passport if you plan to cross the border, even if they can see it on the computer, as long as you give them your ID.

About an hour before entering San Diego you have to drive through the Cuyamaca mountains. It's hard to believe, but we ran into a snow storm! It was foggy and snowy/rainy and cold and YUCK! Seriously, we saw more snow heading to San Diego, in March than we saw in Utah in December! So, of course I had to stop and take a picture!

We stayed at the Motel 6 in Motel Circle, cuz YES, they allow pets! I was so pleased with the boys' behavior... Neither one had ever even seen an elevator before, but when the doors opened they both walked right in, like they knew what they were doing! And, considering how much Rudy likes to bark, he was sooooooooo good! But, I was very careful with him around other dogs, cuz he's very protective of us. That being said, we headed down on the elevator, on our way to the beach, and wouldn't ya know it, another pit bull was waiting to get on. Jesse got off with Rufus, but I shut the elevator door and went back up, and decided to take the stairs down, instead. Good idea, huh?!? NOT! Rudy refused to go down the stairs! Elevator, yes! Stairs, NO!!! Such a goofy dog!!! We finally made it to the ocean. This time we decided to check out Ocean Beach, which is just south of Mission Beach. I like it a lot better! We didn't go to any shops there (they're not right on the beach like at Mission Beach), but there were fewer people, a huge pier, rocks to climb around on, and a "dog beach!"

Renaissance Festival

My mom invited us to go to the Renaissance Festival, yesterday. We were greeted at the gate by a pirate...

We took a couple of pictures...


While we were there, we saw a man selling hair decorations, and I had to have them!

Getting my hair done

Final product!
And, we saw the joust... This "lady" was our "cheerleader!"