Thanksgiving and Beyond

Well, it has been awhile since I have blogged.  Not because I have not wanted to but really, time has just gotten away since November 17th.  So let me start by making you a little jealous.  I had the entire week off for Thanksgiving.  Yes, that is correct - a full 5 days.  Due to budget cuts five years ago districts in CA furloughed and they have left the two days of the week of Thanksgiving in as holidays and therefore we had the full week off.  It was very nice!! To the point that I was a little bored having that much time off by the end of the week.  I know, I know, I may be the only person to say that!!

It's Squeak!!!

Well my kitty came over Thanksgiving.  She arrived on Friday afternoon and I am so happy to have her hear.  She walked back and forth and all over the apartment for about three days consistently just crying.  I cannot tell if she is mad that she had to take plane ride or she is "yelling" at me about being gone so long or if she is talking to hear herself talk.  She has been on or around me every instant that I am at the apartment and follows me around.  In addition she sleeps right next to me, which is a good thing the last few days because it has been cold and she is a little furnace.  To the point you have to take off some covers.

Well the break was quite interesting.  On Saturday my visiting family went to LA so that we could do the tourist thing.  She wanted to do a GrayLine Bus tour and while it was good, I think we could have found a better one.  On Sunday we stayed around the area so that my mom could see the area that I live.  I took her to Menifee, Temecula and Murrieta and showed her some of the places that I go to shop like Ranch 88, Trader Joes (she has not been in SC), Sprouts and the places that I typically go.  We ate dinner at the Roe's that night and Jessica and Michael both had their parents come.  It was a loud and exciting evening with everyone around.

Hollywood Sign

On Monday, we made our way to the California Science Center to see one of the most amazing things I have had the chance to see.  The retired Space Shuttle, Endeavor, is housed there and on display.  The four story Science Center is a great opportunity for elementary students.  They have a fabulous Ecosystem and Human Body display for elementary age students. The claim to have a Air and Space Museum but there is not much there really to look at.  It may be packed up because they are going to be building a new area for the Space Shuttle and therefore things may be stored.  The Endeavor display was amazing and I am so excited that I had the opportunity to see it while it is stored horizontal. When they finish the new building it will be attached to two Solid Rocket Boosters and Fuel tank with levels of which you can view different aspects.  The pictures here do not do it justice.  If you get a chance to visit you really should visit.

On Tuesday, we went to visit my school and check on the new radios that the district is putting at the school.  It is always interesting to hear how people view the differences in the campuses from the East and West Coast schools.  The JW North Campus is beautiful in its own way but very different so therefore it is interesting to see others interpretation of the school.  It is in an industrial area and is considered an urban school.  It is interesting to think I have had the opportunity to work in a rural, suburban and also urban school district.  This makes me happy to have had all these different experiences in which I can grown and learn professionally and share my knowledge with others.

Thursday was a fun day.  We joined the Roe's at Michael's grandparents house so there was a total of 30 people there from four generations.  The Roe family has been so sweet to adopt me and show me the love and affection they have for their family members to me as well.  I am quite a lucky girl to have such fabulous friends in my life.  Of course, Roe was up to his old tricks, trying to embarrass me and anyone else in front of his family members but thank goodness they all know him so well.  Jessica and i just take it in stride and try and dish it back out.   It was a hard day while fun simply because I did not get to talk with everyone that I hoped to on this day.  If I did not get to talk or text with you, please know that I miss you.

Jessica, Mog, Michael and Riley

On Friday I stayed around the apartment to get some things done and picked up my car that was getting the bumper fixed.  I know, not the new car, the Yellow Escape.  When the tire blew out, the bumper got messed up and I was finally able to get that fixed.  I was worried it was going to turn out poorly when I saw the color but California Collision was able to get the right color and make it look fabulous.  The inside door panel also got fixed as well.  Hooray!!!!

On Saturday, I got caught up on my work and we went to my BFAW's (Best Friend at Work) house for dinner.  It was great to see Megan!  I love the fact that I work with someone that I truly love and miss when we are not at work.  I know her husband Ryan, thinks it is strange but I really enjoy that we get along so well.  Ryan just shakes his head at us but it is fun to get together and not talk about work but about clothes, her child Willow and our pets.  I also got to see the new Disney movie Frozen and let me say AMAZING.  The music and storyline was fabulous.  The color and animation was great as well.  If you have not seen it, you really should.  However, for those of you that know me, you know I am a Disney freak so that may be another reason I loved it.

On Sunday, I took the older Roe kids to Disneyland for the day.  Michael and Jessica went out of town and I have not done anything with Elyse or Kennedy recently so it was a good time for us to be able to do something together.  Now, I have been to Disney with a 5, 6, 7, 10, 13, 18 and 23 year old and I must say that I really enjoy the 7 and under or the 18 and older group.  It was a totally different and unique experience taking a 10 and 13 year old to Disney.  Not good or bad, just different.  It also reminds me that if you are not a Disney fan Disneyland may not be your thing.  This is a great reminder for me so that when others go with me I remember this.

Kennedy, Me, Elyse

Monday it was back to work and after a long restful week I was ready to go!!!  However, this past week it seems I have not stopped!!!!  Monday was full of challenges and they have not stopped.  Last week I deal with irate parents with religious issues, a mother who thinks her child who is chronically absent should have a A if she does all the worksheets but fails the test, stolen phones, stolen golf cart from the custodial shed, and two Winter Assemblies for various groups on campus.  I did not get home before 9:00 pm on any night.  It is good for me to stay busy!  It keeps me out of trouble.

I wanted to hike on Saturday but the weather ended up being bad and I had to go to work because my secretary was getting married at the school.  Yes, you read that correctly.  My secretary got married at the high school.  She wanted to just have the other Assistant Principal, who is a Bishop in his church, marry her fiancee and herself but she made the mistake of saying something to the secretaries and therefore a quick wedding ceremony and reception was planned for friends and family.  It turned out beautifully and I took the cake and got a few photographers from the yearbook and school newspaper to come and take pictures.  It was absolutely fantastic for a wedding that was put together so quickly.  I was excited to be a part of the day.

So as I start this week off I know already that I have supervision and it will be a week of late nights for me again.  I am hoping for some stress relief this weekend in the form of hiking if the weather is nice.  It has been really cold here the last few days but it is suppose to be 70 this weekend.  I will have to check later this week.

I miss all of you and thank you to each of you that have been sending me information and keeping me up to date about life back in SC.  Can't wait for this summer for visitors!!