Kelly posted a response that said that she would indeed go if she could not partake in the fancy cuisine of the country. Case in point was her trip to Paris where the food was too expensive and she ate cheese and bread for 75% of the 30 days she was there and in England. Because of the art she was able to witness. The question still remains, knowing this, would you take more money next time to do it differently? Or is that the way she would plan to do it?
And to Tom's credit, the lobster season was pretty much over by the time he went to Nova Scotia..(A reference to an earlier post) and therefore the prices were up and he didn't lobster up. He has eaten and enjoyed lobster in Main and in Boston.. and in fact wears weakly his Boston shirt that has embroidered on it three red lobsters and the letters of Boston. His main goal was to capture the lighthouses of Nova Scotia, for his connections and not to eat the local food. He said that all of the Canadian motels and hotels had only soap and shampoo in them. They were not like California hotels that have so many consumable spa like amenities. Conditioner hand lotion, shower caps and mouthwash seem to be in every room.
"Soaring Over California" took the top position in the Disneyland attraction poll. Some of you lurkers did not vote.. and consequently, Indiana Jones only received one vote.
Second place went to the parades and the extravaganzas, and Pirates of the Carribean. Sorry Heather.(Heather is not a Pirates fan)
On the walk this morning was the latest from This American Life.. the podcast that produces one hour show each week. Past years may be downloaded at audible.com. This is great podcast. It usually has 3 or four chapters. This week was about the devils in us. The segment this morning was about an American that fought in Iraq and came home to recruit and suffered post traumatic syndrome in the form of having a difficult time seeing on the street anyone looking like a Muslim. He decided to join the Muslim student society at the Junior college to overcome his prejudice. I recommend you download the podcast to find out what happened. (Don't you hate the tease?)
Sue knocked on my classroom door 6th period and met my 6th period class. She drove her power chair down the mile and met me at school. We went to the library, Costco and then to Micheals. Our street was slurried today so we had to keep the vehicles off until 5pm.
Congratulations to my sister, Kelly who is making the transition to a couple of new jobs around the Silicon Valley this week. She is already seeing students.
Have a good one!
Pat
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Going Going Gone
At lunch Tom talked about his trip to Nova Scotia. I asked him about what he ate when he was up there.
He said that he didn't have the lobster because it was too expensive. Although there was a lot of lobster up there. He said that He didn't do this trip or that trip because it was too expensive.
I got me thinking. If you can't afford to experience what you set out to do, maybe you shouldn't go. Do you think? Or is it just too expensive to think about it.
There are people that go on cruises and never take an excursion or get far from the boat. The are people in my family that think that is an okay mode. Just get on the ship and enjoy the luxury of the ship. It doesn't matter where it goes. Just stay on the ship and cruuuuze.
There are others that look at the ship as transportation to a place to see. You might have to go into debt to eat the lobster... but by gum you are going to eat the lobster. I guess its all how you look at life.
I am a lobster eater.. although I have only ordered it on land twice and have been very disappointed by it. On a cruise when it has been pre paid for.. I love it.
: )
Pat
He said that he didn't have the lobster because it was too expensive. Although there was a lot of lobster up there. He said that He didn't do this trip or that trip because it was too expensive.
I got me thinking. If you can't afford to experience what you set out to do, maybe you shouldn't go. Do you think? Or is it just too expensive to think about it.
There are people that go on cruises and never take an excursion or get far from the boat. The are people in my family that think that is an okay mode. Just get on the ship and enjoy the luxury of the ship. It doesn't matter where it goes. Just stay on the ship and cruuuuze.
There are others that look at the ship as transportation to a place to see. You might have to go into debt to eat the lobster... but by gum you are going to eat the lobster. I guess its all how you look at life.
I am a lobster eater.. although I have only ordered it on land twice and have been very disappointed by it. On a cruise when it has been pre paid for.. I love it.
: )
Pat
Saturday, September 8, 2007
To Covers
Just past Sonora is a great apple farm stop that we have enjoyed over the years. It used to be Czonka's apple orchard. Now is Covers. It has a really cool mini train to ride. The restaurant is run by the mennonite people and the apple pie is just wonderful.
Every fall we take a trip up there. We used to take the girls when they were little. It is about 60 miles away. On this trip, Sue and I get a chance to see the foothill scenery, drive through Sonora and get a mile high apple pie and some fresh unfiltered apple juice.
They are closed on Sunday, So we have to make a point to go on a Saturday. Sue and I decided to do it today, September 8th.
The trip was great. Sue got to use her powerchair independently in a gift shop (she is getting much better in the fine movements needed to navigate the aisles) and we shared a roast beef sandwich on German rye and had an apple turnover apiece. We were hoping from an apple dumpling,but alas they had sold out. The air was cleaning up there. We have been under a dirty air alert for a half a week due to the Morgan Hill fire by Henry Coe State Park and the effects of the Plumas fire up North. Our football games were all canceled moved to the other teams field due to the bad air. The Atwater team got a surprise three hour road trip to play its game in Nevada City.
All of us Asthma types were digging around for our rescue inhalers to take to work on Friday.
I choked a couple of times but not to the point I needed that. Tom's wife woke up in night and had to use hers.
Back to the apple farm.
The apple farm had reworked its little train for a longer trip. The route now goes up into the apple orchard and the apples on the trees are visible.
We had a great time.
Just a shout out of celebration to my neice Cammie who had a birthday this week. When I get a new address from her I will get something nice in the mail to her!
Love
Pat
Every fall we take a trip up there. We used to take the girls when they were little. It is about 60 miles away. On this trip, Sue and I get a chance to see the foothill scenery, drive through Sonora and get a mile high apple pie and some fresh unfiltered apple juice.
They are closed on Sunday, So we have to make a point to go on a Saturday. Sue and I decided to do it today, September 8th.
The trip was great. Sue got to use her powerchair independently in a gift shop (she is getting much better in the fine movements needed to navigate the aisles) and we shared a roast beef sandwich on German rye and had an apple turnover apiece. We were hoping from an apple dumpling,but alas they had sold out. The air was cleaning up there. We have been under a dirty air alert for a half a week due to the Morgan Hill fire by Henry Coe State Park and the effects of the Plumas fire up North. Our football games were all canceled moved to the other teams field due to the bad air. The Atwater team got a surprise three hour road trip to play its game in Nevada City.
All of us Asthma types were digging around for our rescue inhalers to take to work on Friday.
I choked a couple of times but not to the point I needed that. Tom's wife woke up in night and had to use hers.
Back to the apple farm.
The apple farm had reworked its little train for a longer trip. The route now goes up into the apple orchard and the apples on the trees are visible.
We had a great time.
Just a shout out of celebration to my neice Cammie who had a birthday this week. When I get a new address from her I will get something nice in the mail to her!
Love
Pat
Friday, September 7, 2007
Welcome to Stress Welching on a Bet
My dear friend had a story to tell today. We are a rare group of friends that don't mind telling self depreciating stoies on our selves.
In this context, Ron told a story that reflects our standard teacher stance. A question came up in his class regarding vegetarianism. Is a fish eater a vegetarian. His answer. Most definitely if the person doesn't eat the fish. HA HA.
Then he pointed out the there are people that modify the vegetarian crede my not eating other things like eggs.
Then came up the question of do you become a vegetarian because you don't want to eat small furry mammals like Bambi? Then how about chicken? At this point Ron became animated about chicken being a mammal and thus qualifying as a meat.
The students called him on it.. and just like that Ron bet all the money in his pocket that a chicken was a mammal.
The students proceeded to tour the school to prove there photography teacher was wrong.
He had 760 dollars in his pocket to pay the pump man who was drilling a new well in his pocket, Of course he had ceremoniously counted it out on the table.. in true tot fashion.
When the consensus of the teachers polled identified chickens as not mammals he risked losing this large sum of money. His first reaction was to lock the students out and turn off the lights in his room.
The jig was up and he had to face the open hands as they re- approached the room.
What to do? What to do?
A quick look in the dictionary saved his money. A chicken is also someone who is fearful of an important event. The someone is a person, a person is a mammal..
Lesson: Be careful what you doggedly defend. It might be wrong. And if you do make sure you don't have 760 dollars in your pocket. : )
Pat
In this context, Ron told a story that reflects our standard teacher stance. A question came up in his class regarding vegetarianism. Is a fish eater a vegetarian. His answer. Most definitely if the person doesn't eat the fish. HA HA.
Then he pointed out the there are people that modify the vegetarian crede my not eating other things like eggs.
Then came up the question of do you become a vegetarian because you don't want to eat small furry mammals like Bambi? Then how about chicken? At this point Ron became animated about chicken being a mammal and thus qualifying as a meat.
The students called him on it.. and just like that Ron bet all the money in his pocket that a chicken was a mammal.
The students proceeded to tour the school to prove there photography teacher was wrong.
He had 760 dollars in his pocket to pay the pump man who was drilling a new well in his pocket, Of course he had ceremoniously counted it out on the table.. in true tot fashion.
When the consensus of the teachers polled identified chickens as not mammals he risked losing this large sum of money. His first reaction was to lock the students out and turn off the lights in his room.
The jig was up and he had to face the open hands as they re- approached the room.
What to do? What to do?
A quick look in the dictionary saved his money. A chicken is also someone who is fearful of an important event. The someone is a person, a person is a mammal..
Lesson: Be careful what you doggedly defend. It might be wrong. And if you do make sure you don't have 760 dollars in your pocket. : )
Pat
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Over to the Dark Side
Yesterday I traveled with our union president and another negotiator to hear what the other side of the table was hearing at their semi annual meeting in Sacramento. We were invited to attend by our HR and business person at the District office.
We were on the road at 5AM to avoid the traffic. Our destination was the downtown Hyatt. We arrived in time to register and have a sweet roll in the lobby. The first session was a general session with about 250 members of the School Service in attendance. They had the latest from their sources as to what happened in the budget of Sacramento. They also heard predictions regarding next year and the year following. After a couple of hours of hearing the economics play out, there were others at the mic talking about the future of prop 98, and demographics of health care and the three major plans that are in the works. The topic of declining enrollment was discussed. Thank goodness our district is not one of those. About half the districts in the state are facing declining enrollment.
Lunch was provided at the Sheraton, a short walk away. Chicken with a demi mushroom glaze, salad with a pepercorn cesear dessing, traditional cheesecake with a rasberry mouse sauce.
This year appears to be a year without the crazy parts of the budget. The COLA is fully funded.
Last year the state had more money. It funded a significant about of categorical programs. Everything from Art to Pe teachers on a lottery basis for elementary schools. We got a raft of new counselors from this money. The elementary pe teachers apparently had a problem with their lottery and all schools that were lucky enough to be selected int he lottery were reshuffled and a new group will be chosen. So even though there was money for some elementary districts to get pe teachers,no money was distrubted.
There was a whole group of schools in the bottom decile that received extraordinary support. The state is looking at success rate for these schools to determine if that is the way to go for true reform for all California schools. The results are not in on these schools.
Special ed took another hit in financing. But got some support for how they are counted in the numbers when special ed students pass the test.
It was an interesting but tiring day.
Pat
We were on the road at 5AM to avoid the traffic. Our destination was the downtown Hyatt. We arrived in time to register and have a sweet roll in the lobby. The first session was a general session with about 250 members of the School Service in attendance. They had the latest from their sources as to what happened in the budget of Sacramento. They also heard predictions regarding next year and the year following. After a couple of hours of hearing the economics play out, there were others at the mic talking about the future of prop 98, and demographics of health care and the three major plans that are in the works. The topic of declining enrollment was discussed. Thank goodness our district is not one of those. About half the districts in the state are facing declining enrollment.
Lunch was provided at the Sheraton, a short walk away. Chicken with a demi mushroom glaze, salad with a pepercorn cesear dessing, traditional cheesecake with a rasberry mouse sauce.
This year appears to be a year without the crazy parts of the budget. The COLA is fully funded.
Last year the state had more money. It funded a significant about of categorical programs. Everything from Art to Pe teachers on a lottery basis for elementary schools. We got a raft of new counselors from this money. The elementary pe teachers apparently had a problem with their lottery and all schools that were lucky enough to be selected int he lottery were reshuffled and a new group will be chosen. So even though there was money for some elementary districts to get pe teachers,no money was distrubted.
There was a whole group of schools in the bottom decile that received extraordinary support. The state is looking at success rate for these schools to determine if that is the way to go for true reform for all California schools. The results are not in on these schools.
Special ed took another hit in financing. But got some support for how they are counted in the numbers when special ed students pass the test.
It was an interesting but tiring day.
Pat
Monday, September 3, 2007
Chicago in Sacto and no Destruction
We were in Sacramento Sunday to hear.. rather feel the group Chicagoat the State Fair. We arrived at the fair just before 7pm. It was still hot as the sun had not gone down. There were people jammed into are around both the destruction derby site and the concert site for Chicago. The police were not letting anyone into the destruction derby until the first heat had been completed. Because all of the seats were full. That was more time than the destruction derby fans, Linzi and Sean wanted to wait.
We faced the same issue at the concert venue. However there were many small concerts around including a lively one at the Hussongs cantina for Latin music and the brews and brews where the blues were wailing. We walked over to the fountain area and enjoyed Chicago from a slight distance and saved our ears a little. They had a lot more bass in their music than what generally was recorded in the 80's. It was all good. They are pop band. We recognized about half of what they played.
In the commercial building I got fitted for a couple of full cowhide belts cut to fit, while we were there. The vendor was a firefighter from Indiana. Still just 25 dollars apiece. He reminded me how to cinch them up so I wouldn't get that ratty look around the buckle. Always push the buckle clasp down first then work the inserted hook.
We watched the young private club cheerleaders perform for a while and then did the 8 exhibit areas missing only the industrial art one. Just a few quilts made the show as well as just a few scrapbook pages. Most of the quilts had something more than repetitive design although repetitive design was in each one. there was truly an artistic element in each of them. So just good execution was not going to get it into the state fair. Heather was most impressed by the Raiders quilt. I really enjoyed the grand prize winner. An animatronic seahorse that moved its head and legs and wings.
We weathered through the fireworks.. each one had a serious boom.. always scares the bejesus out of Heather. She covered her ears and didn't have to see them explode.. so that sort of worked out for her.
We ended up with an order for two stone baked pizzas one peperoni and mushroom and the other spinach and blue cheese. Both crusts were thin thin thing... wonderful works of art. A duet was playing and we relaxed to songs from Jonny Cash to Glen Campbell. We had a great time.
We gathered up and headed home. We had a room at the Double Tree. Linzi and Sean had reserved us a room with two tickets to the fair included in the their normal rate. What a deal! Heather went home with Linzi.
The next morning I met with Linzi and Heather and we went to a very nice breakfast spot on the edge of Fair Oaks. Veggie ommlets and yougurt with fruit and honey were the choices. We took and order of yogurt and fruit back to Sue. We took Heather to Amtrak as Rone is going to spend some time with Linzi. Sue and I headed home I-5. What a weekend.
Love
Pat
We faced the same issue at the concert venue. However there were many small concerts around including a lively one at the Hussongs cantina for Latin music and the brews and brews where the blues were wailing. We walked over to the fountain area and enjoyed Chicago from a slight distance and saved our ears a little. They had a lot more bass in their music than what generally was recorded in the 80's. It was all good. They are pop band. We recognized about half of what they played.
In the commercial building I got fitted for a couple of full cowhide belts cut to fit, while we were there. The vendor was a firefighter from Indiana. Still just 25 dollars apiece. He reminded me how to cinch them up so I wouldn't get that ratty look around the buckle. Always push the buckle clasp down first then work the inserted hook.
We watched the young private club cheerleaders perform for a while and then did the 8 exhibit areas missing only the industrial art one. Just a few quilts made the show as well as just a few scrapbook pages. Most of the quilts had something more than repetitive design although repetitive design was in each one. there was truly an artistic element in each of them. So just good execution was not going to get it into the state fair. Heather was most impressed by the Raiders quilt. I really enjoyed the grand prize winner. An animatronic seahorse that moved its head and legs and wings.
We weathered through the fireworks.. each one had a serious boom.. always scares the bejesus out of Heather. She covered her ears and didn't have to see them explode.. so that sort of worked out for her.
We ended up with an order for two stone baked pizzas one peperoni and mushroom and the other spinach and blue cheese. Both crusts were thin thin thing... wonderful works of art. A duet was playing and we relaxed to songs from Jonny Cash to Glen Campbell. We had a great time.
We gathered up and headed home. We had a room at the Double Tree. Linzi and Sean had reserved us a room with two tickets to the fair included in the their normal rate. What a deal! Heather went home with Linzi.
The next morning I met with Linzi and Heather and we went to a very nice breakfast spot on the edge of Fair Oaks. Veggie ommlets and yougurt with fruit and honey were the choices. We took and order of yogurt and fruit back to Sue. We took Heather to Amtrak as Rone is going to spend some time with Linzi. Sue and I headed home I-5. What a weekend.
Love
Pat
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Sat 6:30 AM
Big hot day ahead. 105 forcast
Lindsay came down on Amtrak, Heather and Rone made it to Dublin. I drove over and picked them up at 7:15. Sean is do in this AM.
There looms in the front on the house the most gigantic container ever made. It arrived on Thursday.
Misson today... Shovel the sh...... from the garage into the container.
Friday I gave my first test on construction trades. Below is the bulk of it. They also had to write some sentences regarding these people's jobs.
Electrician Carpenter Drywall Installer Plumber Roofer Carpet Installer Mason
1. Faucet ___________________
2. Toliet _____________________
3. Sheet Rock _________________
4, Lights ____________________
5. Truss _____________________
6. Tar Paper ____________________
7. Plywood __________________________
8. Carpet _____________________________
9. Pipes ___________________________
10. Plugs _____________________
11. wall board _________________________
12. Tile ________________________
13, Foundation ______________________
14. shower fixture ___________________
15. sewage ________________________
16, sink __________________________
17. windows _________________________
Have a great day!
Pat
Lindsay came down on Amtrak, Heather and Rone made it to Dublin. I drove over and picked them up at 7:15. Sean is do in this AM.
There looms in the front on the house the most gigantic container ever made. It arrived on Thursday.
Misson today... Shovel the sh...... from the garage into the container.
Friday I gave my first test on construction trades. Below is the bulk of it. They also had to write some sentences regarding these people's jobs.
Electrician Carpenter Drywall Installer Plumber Roofer Carpet Installer Mason
1. Faucet ___________________
2. Toliet _____________________
3. Sheet Rock _________________
4, Lights ____________________
5. Truss _____________________
6. Tar Paper ____________________
7. Plywood __________________________
8. Carpet _____________________________
9. Pipes ___________________________
10. Plugs _____________________
11. wall board _________________________
12. Tile ________________________
13, Foundation ______________________
14. shower fixture ___________________
15. sewage ________________________
16, sink __________________________
17. windows _________________________
Have a great day!
Pat
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