2016 - 1. The start of the year.

January 2016

New Year's Eve
I arrived back in CA from SC on New Year's Eve.  Ali, my friend from work, and I decided to go to the Temecula Grape Drop.  Yes, it is an extremely small version of the New York Ball Drop but get this......there are no barricades you have to stand in and I did not have to pee in a cup because you cannot leave the area to go to the bathroom.  Temecula is Southern CA wine country, hence the grape, and it was a bunch of grapes.  The city does two drops, one at 9:00 am and one at 12:00 am.  Ali and I decided that we should do the 9:00 grape drop for a few reasons.  1) I was just coming off of east coast time, 2) she is 45 minutes north of Temecula andThe we did not want to drive home late at night with drunks on the road, and finally 3) we both wanted to sleep and not feel bad the next day from being up so late.    The 9:00 pm drop is supposed to enable party goers to celebrate with the east coast but it seems to be more for the little kids.  There were a lot of kids around until 9:00 and when the grapes dropped, the majority of the families left.  As Ali and I were walking to the car, you could see the hard party goers coming in and being obnoxious.  I guess it is sad to say that I was in bed by 10:00 and asleep by 10:30 pm.  LOL!!!  Let's go with I had just gotten back from the east coast - sounds better.

The Grapes that will drop!

They really don't drop that far, only to the balcony area right where the curve is. LOL!
But the idea is there and it was a great evening!

I spent the next two days working at the apartment trying to get my act together to go back to work and of course hanging out with the cute kitties:

Husky

Squeak

While I know that I needed the break, coming back after literally taking 10 days off from doing any work has been very tough for me.  I feel like i have been away too long and I forgot what I am supposed to be doing. LOL!!!  I really have not had a TRUE break since summer of 2009 and it seemed weird to literally be able to sit around and play games on my phone.  In retrospect, there is a 1,000,000 other things that I need to do like update a resume, work on various lists for work, spend some time reflecting to make some decisions, updating a website, and several other items.  Basically I write that to say that the first week back to school has been a challenge!

I did get to go to Tom's Farms.   This is  little place along I-15 that you can stop at for lunch.  They have a small grocery store, a few shops, a wine tasting area, and several restaurants.  It was very interesting and fun for an afternoon.  However, of course I ended up at the outlet malls on the way back for some quick shopping.  Of course, I should have stayed away from there.

I just have a lot to do and no time to get it done.  Everyone needs something and I have been unable to find a concentrated amount of time to sit and get it done, even at night.  The first week back I had decided to try and leave each day by 6:00 pm to try and I made it by 7:00 but of course I was behind all week.  Soooooo.....I know that sounds like I can't get my job done but it really is that I just help a lot of other people before I get to my work which causes me to need to stay late.  A lot of the items I work on need to be done with concentration and therefore are better to do when there are not a lot of people around.  That means leaving at 6:00pm was not really an option so I thought...let me stay till 7:00 pm and come in 15 minutes earlier.  That has not worked well this week because in the mornings we have had teachers who are out, parents who need to be seen, and issues with students from the counselors so the 15 minutes in the morning has not been beneficial.  This past week, staying later was not great either because:

• Monday - Football Coach Interviews - left around 10:00 pm 
• Tuesday - Evening meeting with Teacher, Soccer and Basketball
• Wednesday - IB Parent Meeting till 9:30 pm
• Thursday - IB Parent Meeting till 9:45 pm
• Friday - Stayed till 5:00 pm to get things done and then left to go to a Ducks game 
• Saturday - Monday - IB / MYP Training in LA

The Ducks game was so much fun!!! Jennifer is a season ticket holder so we sat in seats where she knew everyone so there were lively conversations happening about the game as well.  I was a little disappointed there were no blood and guts on the ice.  As an athletic trainer, I am always up for some blood but nope - nothing!  There were broken sticks!!!!!  But not because of fights!

Jennifer, me, and Ali at the Ducks game!

Our photographer was suppose to get the ice in the background.
He did not do such a great job.

We had really good seats and could see the entire rink!   Thanks Jennifer!!!

This weekend I was in Los Angeles for an IB training.  This training started on Saturday and goes until Monday.  While I don't mind going to different types of training, I have to say that right now there are 100 other things that I want and need to be doing right now rather than sitting in the hotel room.  The training for MYP (Middle Years Program) Heads of School started on Saturday morning and went from 8-4:15 pm and then again on Sunday from 8-3:45 pm and will continue on Monday from 8:00 - 11:30 am.  Part of me wonders what I am going to learn tomorrow for 3 hours and 30 minutes that I cannot go home and be with Squeak and Husky.  I know this is probably more for those traveling via plane to give them another day so they can leave in the afternoon rather than earlier on Sunday.  However, I am worried about Squeak who has been throwing up pretty much every day 1 to 3 times a day.  She has a vet appointment on Monday at 4:30 pm but I would still like to be curled up with her in bed.  I have changed her food three times since November, trying to find something that does not bother her tummy but I am not having any luck. I think I might have to do a prescription cat food for her now.

I did make it to Manhattan Beach tonight for a walk on the pier and the boardwalk.  It was a quick trip and I did not do any shopping or go into the sand but here are a few pictures of the scenery.

Aquarium  & Cafe at end of Pier

As I start the year of 2016, I have considered how to handle blogging.  While I hate writing, which is why while I was working on the PhD I did not continue and then afterward I had every intention of picking it up again but just could not get motivated to do so.  So now....one of my New Year's Resolutions is to start blogging again.  So the three New Year Resolutions include:

1. Begin my blog again.
2. Eat more healthy.
3. Do something fun each weekend.
4. Reflect on relationships. 

I considered trying to go back and updating what had happened over the past 6 months but decided that if I did that I probably would continue to not do any writing and I really needed to start this again just to remember the positive things going on and laughing terribly.

I am working on all of these right now.  So here is to #1.  One of the ladies I work with keeps telling me my skin looks better.  I am chalking that up to resolution #2.  As for #3, The Grape Drop, Tom's farm, and Manhattan Beach are my fun things so far,   In addition, I do have a Google Doc list that has a bunch of things I want to do in the California area.  I am continually adding to the list and identifying other things to do in the area.  Other friends also make suggestions on things to add as well and go with me to do different things.  It is a fun list to look at and see what we can mark off at different times and always find something to do.   Let me know if you have suggestions to add to the list.  I think #4 is the hardest for me because I assume that all relationships are good but I know that I need to work on many of my friendships and spend more time with friends and have better conversations with them to strengthen our friendships.