Its Friday in the valley and almost everywhere else.
Friday is a day to make sure you got done everything you wanted to do this week.. or..
Today I am off to do intakes at the Junior High. There seems to be fewer coming in next year with speech services on their IEP.
This week brought some very bad news to some teachers. Some in our schools were told that they were not coming back next year. This is not the layoff because there are no funds kind of thing. This is officially a "non re-elect". So some of us suspect it might be because of the budget. People in management are coming down to take the jobs of non permanent teachers because their management job has been eliminated. Some of these people have not been in the classroom for 4 or 5 years. Many have been advising people in the classroom. They may be in for a rude awakening. In normal years they would seek administrative jobs in other districts instead of taking the pay cut to come back into the classroom line of fire. Our district is starting a new model next year based on RTI. This could also confuse the mix. In the mean time the non permanent teachers are left gasping for air and seeking jobs in other districts that may or may not materialize in August.
Our painting class was a lot of fun this week. We are starting to explore new options on watercolor paper. This week we did some collage building on gessoed watercolor paper. We were using all kinds of packing and trash to build texture on the paper. Next week we will be painting on it and starting another new project. In the mean time Kate is exciting about some successes in local juried shows. Yeah Kate! We are having a great time and Sue is getting out to do something every week. This week she even walked from the parking lot to the art room without a wheelchair. It was a bit a stretch to get back to the car in the evening but she did it with a couple of resting periods.
Its hard to believe that we are still in drought condtions with all of the rain that we have had this week. A lot of the rain just soaked into the parched soil with little runoff in the lower elevations.. that is us.
Have a great Friday..
: ) Pat
Friday, March 6, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Puerto Vallarta
Every time I have been to Pv it has been delightful.
I was up early in the morning as we docked a little before 8am. I took a series of photos of the Carnival ship, Pride coming into to join us in the tiny cruise section of the port. The steamy tropical mountains rise above the mist in the early morning. The layers of mountains around the port seperate out and spread before the development. Right in front of the ships park is the local Walmart. I have not been in but I heard that it is somewhat different than stateside's Walmarts. There has been significant development since were we were here last. More condos are built or being built, Cranes dot the new city sections.
The cruise park has great expanses of lawn around the dock. The park is completely fenced in and is secure. A long series of white tents usher the disemarking guest to the taxi and tour bus turn around.
When we first got to Puerto Vallarta the air temperatures had risen another 10 degrees. Many of the first people off the ship were a little older than we were. They were headed back to the boat when we were getting off. It is so nice not to have to tender. These people came on the boat looking tired and said that it was too hot to go ashore. Sounds like a tale for mid February. It was warm when you go off the boat, but once you put your hat on and felt some of the ocean breeze it was wonderful.
Sue got a chance to get off again and took it. She had a great time shoping for a mexican dress, some sandals and a little jewelry. I tagged along and through the merchants off balance. They didn't know who they were bargaining with mammacita or pappa. We had a great time. After mom had had enough, we got her to get some food aboard ship for lunch.. its always nice to have a spot to provide basic sustence and liquid. I had a marvelous lamb shank.
On the way back to the ship I spotted an atm. My ATm card from the credit union worked! It didn't on the ship. So I pulled out the maximum I could at one time.. in pesos.. 1,000. It pitched them out in two 500 peso bills. The exchange rate is 15 to one so the 1000 pesos was really 65 American dollars. So we worked with pesos in the afternoon as much as possible. The merchants were less happy to deal in pesos although after most of the bargaining in English in the morning the merchants translated it with a calculator to pesos and all the receipts were listed in pesos. The 15 to one ratio is a little harder to figure than you would expect. So I basically figured from the 1000= 65 ratio and that means the 500 equals 33 dollars.
Mom was happy to get some rest, while the girls and I set out to walk the river walk shops. Under the canopy of wild exotic trees were a group of wild iguanas that lived up in the trees. They have red highlights on their combs. The shops that follow the walk are particularly nice with everything you could imagine in in stand level crafts. There were also a couple of very nice stores that contained a rather select artisan set of crafts and Mexican pewter. The girls and I found some very nice treasures in a couple of these stores.
We also found a very cool restaurant/bar that looked out over the walk. It looked like a very nice place for a cool drink. The bar was advertising two for one happy hour.. so we got happy. I was wondering how we were going to do the two for one bit especially since we were strictly top shelf margarita drinkers... and there were three of us.. No problem man.. they brought us six. We sipped and watched the crowd walk by. It was getting late afternoon and people were gettting past their siesta. Linzi asked the manager where she could mail a postcard that she had made in Cabo with me up on the deck. He asked the waiter and pointed and described a place back up the walk to the swinging bridge and over to the grocery store. She found it and made it back to finish the drinks.
Heather fell in love with a ring in the silver store and the proprietor had no probems with a mix between my leftover pesos and a few American dollars.
The ride to the river walk in the suburban like truck was 3 dollars each. The driver took 7 passengers form the ship. One passenger was headed to a bar a little further out, he was charged 4 dollars. We were charged 4 bucks each to get back to the ship in a little Honda. The three of us was enough to get the taxi driver to make the run.
The end of the River Walk put us on the ocean. The Malacon fronts the ocean in PV. There are some cool galleries and some really classy stores along the way. Of course it is also the home of Senior Froggs.. the most marketed designer tee shirt/bar/restaurant in Mexico. Apparently there are Senior Froggs both of the coasts and not unlike the hard rock cafes, collecting the ones from the different locations provides some folks a chance to buy something Mexican. We enjoyed the walk at dusk along the other side of the street where the public sculpture meets the ocean.
So we had a great time in PV. Everyone in the family got to enjoy a little taste of it on shore and the port did not disappoint.
: ) Pat
I was up early in the morning as we docked a little before 8am. I took a series of photos of the Carnival ship, Pride coming into to join us in the tiny cruise section of the port. The steamy tropical mountains rise above the mist in the early morning. The layers of mountains around the port seperate out and spread before the development. Right in front of the ships park is the local Walmart. I have not been in but I heard that it is somewhat different than stateside's Walmarts. There has been significant development since were we were here last. More condos are built or being built, Cranes dot the new city sections.
The cruise park has great expanses of lawn around the dock. The park is completely fenced in and is secure. A long series of white tents usher the disemarking guest to the taxi and tour bus turn around.
When we first got to Puerto Vallarta the air temperatures had risen another 10 degrees. Many of the first people off the ship were a little older than we were. They were headed back to the boat when we were getting off. It is so nice not to have to tender. These people came on the boat looking tired and said that it was too hot to go ashore. Sounds like a tale for mid February. It was warm when you go off the boat, but once you put your hat on and felt some of the ocean breeze it was wonderful.
Sue got a chance to get off again and took it. She had a great time shoping for a mexican dress, some sandals and a little jewelry. I tagged along and through the merchants off balance. They didn't know who they were bargaining with mammacita or pappa. We had a great time. After mom had had enough, we got her to get some food aboard ship for lunch.. its always nice to have a spot to provide basic sustence and liquid. I had a marvelous lamb shank.
On the way back to the ship I spotted an atm. My ATm card from the credit union worked! It didn't on the ship. So I pulled out the maximum I could at one time.. in pesos.. 1,000. It pitched them out in two 500 peso bills. The exchange rate is 15 to one so the 1000 pesos was really 65 American dollars. So we worked with pesos in the afternoon as much as possible. The merchants were less happy to deal in pesos although after most of the bargaining in English in the morning the merchants translated it with a calculator to pesos and all the receipts were listed in pesos. The 15 to one ratio is a little harder to figure than you would expect. So I basically figured from the 1000= 65 ratio and that means the 500 equals 33 dollars.
Mom was happy to get some rest, while the girls and I set out to walk the river walk shops. Under the canopy of wild exotic trees were a group of wild iguanas that lived up in the trees. They have red highlights on their combs. The shops that follow the walk are particularly nice with everything you could imagine in in stand level crafts. There were also a couple of very nice stores that contained a rather select artisan set of crafts and Mexican pewter. The girls and I found some very nice treasures in a couple of these stores.
We also found a very cool restaurant/bar that looked out over the walk. It looked like a very nice place for a cool drink. The bar was advertising two for one happy hour.. so we got happy. I was wondering how we were going to do the two for one bit especially since we were strictly top shelf margarita drinkers... and there were three of us.. No problem man.. they brought us six. We sipped and watched the crowd walk by. It was getting late afternoon and people were gettting past their siesta. Linzi asked the manager where she could mail a postcard that she had made in Cabo with me up on the deck. He asked the waiter and pointed and described a place back up the walk to the swinging bridge and over to the grocery store. She found it and made it back to finish the drinks.
Heather fell in love with a ring in the silver store and the proprietor had no probems with a mix between my leftover pesos and a few American dollars.
The ride to the river walk in the suburban like truck was 3 dollars each. The driver took 7 passengers form the ship. One passenger was headed to a bar a little further out, he was charged 4 dollars. We were charged 4 bucks each to get back to the ship in a little Honda. The three of us was enough to get the taxi driver to make the run.
The end of the River Walk put us on the ocean. The Malacon fronts the ocean in PV. There are some cool galleries and some really classy stores along the way. Of course it is also the home of Senior Froggs.. the most marketed designer tee shirt/bar/restaurant in Mexico. Apparently there are Senior Froggs both of the coasts and not unlike the hard rock cafes, collecting the ones from the different locations provides some folks a chance to buy something Mexican. We enjoyed the walk at dusk along the other side of the street where the public sculpture meets the ocean.
So we had a great time in PV. Everyone in the family got to enjoy a little taste of it on shore and the port did not disappoint.
: ) Pat
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Just a lIttle walk this AM
I had my camera in hand.
Dad always laughed at grandma Nelly (mom's mom) because she always wanted to be a photographer. She had a brownie camera and enjoyed taking photos of her flowers. She literally had a quarter of an acre of roses in front of her house in Palisade. She moved on up to a Ansco 120 twin reflex camera that the photographer looked down in the ground glass and focused the image on a 2 and quarter inch paperbacked film. It was a heavy camera that swung from her neck with a neck strap. There were a few settings but it was pretty simple. The classic quote comes from my grandfather Bayard. When she was futzing with the camera and worrying about the results, grandpa would say,"Just leave it the way the man sold it to you!"
And so now we are in the digital age of photgraphy, and once again there are no rangefinders and we are popping off photos from a "digital groundglass." The more things are different the more they are alike.
Check out my new additions to the flickr photostream. There are some photos of the dogwood in bloom as well as the start of the Bradford Flowering Pear tree collection.
Have a great Sunday!
Pat
Dad always laughed at grandma Nelly (mom's mom) because she always wanted to be a photographer. She had a brownie camera and enjoyed taking photos of her flowers. She literally had a quarter of an acre of roses in front of her house in Palisade. She moved on up to a Ansco 120 twin reflex camera that the photographer looked down in the ground glass and focused the image on a 2 and quarter inch paperbacked film. It was a heavy camera that swung from her neck with a neck strap. There were a few settings but it was pretty simple. The classic quote comes from my grandfather Bayard. When she was futzing with the camera and worrying about the results, grandpa would say,"Just leave it the way the man sold it to you!"
And so now we are in the digital age of photgraphy, and once again there are no rangefinders and we are popping off photos from a "digital groundglass." The more things are different the more they are alike.
Check out my new additions to the flickr photostream. There are some photos of the dogwood in bloom as well as the start of the Bradford Flowering Pear tree collection.
Have a great Sunday!
Pat
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Mazatlan Cruising style
The mixing of the ocean waters results in a rocky ride at night.
Mazatlan, is just across the mouth of the Sea of Cortez or the Gulf of California as it spills into the Pacific. This mixing of the two waters must result in changes in the water temperature or something. In the four times we have made this crossing at night each night was a rocker. This trip was no exception.
The NCL Star rocked an rolled all the way to Mazatlan. In the morning we entered the harbor with the Isle of Piedra on one side of us and the busy industrial dock of Western Mexico on the other. We pulled right up to the dockside and there was to tendering. The dock is a busy industrial dock with many imported cars and business shiping in and out all of the time. So how do you cross the dock to the city and shops and the tours.. elephant buses (or at least that is what we used to call them after the trailer connected trams that are used in zoos.) We all boarded one of those and we were off.
Just outside the dock is a rather rough part of Mazatlan so you better know where you are going if you are doing it on your own. This year we took a careful evaluation of all the outside excursions that we had done in Mazatlan in the past and decided to do the little shope with mom, drink a great margarita on shore and call it a day. In the past we have done bird watching, colonial tours to the foothills and watched the Indians come down the 75 foot pole. So what more was there left to do? We all had a great time low keying it and Mom made another stop to the shops which pleased her immensely. We even worked some bargins and got some great deals.
Mazatlan was in the low 80's and after all of the rain and close to rain and cold we had experienced in Nor Cal recently.. it was fun just to be outside and in in a different enviornment.
Besides after a couple of top shelf margaritas it didn't much matter anyway.
Ole
Pat
Mazatlan, is just across the mouth of the Sea of Cortez or the Gulf of California as it spills into the Pacific. This mixing of the two waters must result in changes in the water temperature or something. In the four times we have made this crossing at night each night was a rocker. This trip was no exception.
The NCL Star rocked an rolled all the way to Mazatlan. In the morning we entered the harbor with the Isle of Piedra on one side of us and the busy industrial dock of Western Mexico on the other. We pulled right up to the dockside and there was to tendering. The dock is a busy industrial dock with many imported cars and business shiping in and out all of the time. So how do you cross the dock to the city and shops and the tours.. elephant buses (or at least that is what we used to call them after the trailer connected trams that are used in zoos.) We all boarded one of those and we were off.
Just outside the dock is a rather rough part of Mazatlan so you better know where you are going if you are doing it on your own. This year we took a careful evaluation of all the outside excursions that we had done in Mazatlan in the past and decided to do the little shope with mom, drink a great margarita on shore and call it a day. In the past we have done bird watching, colonial tours to the foothills and watched the Indians come down the 75 foot pole. So what more was there left to do? We all had a great time low keying it and Mom made another stop to the shops which pleased her immensely. We even worked some bargins and got some great deals.
Mazatlan was in the low 80's and after all of the rain and close to rain and cold we had experienced in Nor Cal recently.. it was fun just to be outside and in in a different enviornment.
Besides after a couple of top shelf margaritas it didn't much matter anyway.
Ole
Pat
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Back with Kate
Last night (Wednesday) we started back with Kate Jackson the painting instructor. This was the first night class she has had for awhile.
The classes emphsis will be the new media. Yuppo paper and watercolor canvas. It should be fun. There are a number of new members attending the class. We were introduced as the "groupies" I guess we fit that title.
A mother and son are taking the class. There are many teachers in the group. There is also a graphic artist, and a teacher's aide.
We started out with a progressive name tag. Each name tag got handed to others to embelish and eventually return to the person it is supposed to name. That way we could start to learn each other's names. I started with with Leslie's and she did Trisha's, Sue started off with mine. I ended up with Charlie's. it was a great mixer.
Most people don't have the equipment yet to do the class so it will be interesting to see what it will be like when everyone has a good brush or too and some decent paints. We are fortunate to have many of both. The new paper will be supplied by the teacher via a lab fee.
Sue had a good time and so did I. We got out in the community and had a few laughs with strangers.. can't get much better than that.
: ) Pat
The classes emphsis will be the new media. Yuppo paper and watercolor canvas. It should be fun. There are a number of new members attending the class. We were introduced as the "groupies" I guess we fit that title.
A mother and son are taking the class. There are many teachers in the group. There is also a graphic artist, and a teacher's aide.
We started out with a progressive name tag. Each name tag got handed to others to embelish and eventually return to the person it is supposed to name. That way we could start to learn each other's names. I started with with Leslie's and she did Trisha's, Sue started off with mine. I ended up with Charlie's. it was a great mixer.
Most people don't have the equipment yet to do the class so it will be interesting to see what it will be like when everyone has a good brush or too and some decent paints. We are fortunate to have many of both. The new paper will be supplied by the teacher via a lab fee.
Sue had a good time and so did I. We got out in the community and had a few laughs with strangers.. can't get much better than that.
: ) Pat
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
NCL Star
The NCL Star was made 2001 and refrubished for freestyle dining in 2004.
The 400million dollar vessel can carry as many as 2240 passesngers that are serviced by more than a 1095 support personnel. From the info section:
Cabins aboard the Norwegian Star are finished in rich cherry wood and outfitted with tea and coffee makers and larger bathrooms. Innovative and eye-catching are the ultra-luxurious garden villas -- multi-room accommodations featuring panoramic ocean views, private sun terraces and whirlpools. Dining options are wide and varied with 12 restaurants on board, including Pacific Rim, Japanese, French, Spanish, Hawaiian and Italian restaurants, as well as the main dining room serving the traditional six-course Continental menus. Also available are an indoor/outdoor buffet, grill, food court and other casual eateries. With all these tempting culinary choices -- plus 24-hour room service -- it's nice to have access to a 24-hour fitness center, plus a sports deck with an outdoor jogging track, and sports court. Relax at the Barong Spa, with rejuvenating treatments utilizing both Eastern and Western techniques. The 1,150-seat Stardust Theatre, cinema, karaoke rooms, and 14 different lounges and bars offer an entertaining nightlife. This ship is particularly family-friendly with a recreation center just for younger passengers; a child-sized serving counter, tables and chairs in the buffet restaurant; computer rooms; an arcade; and entertainment with Kid's Crew.
We had a great time once we figured out that not all elevators will get you to all floors. Also we had to remember that our cabin was in the aft or backend of the ship. It was right over the dining area entrance for the main dinning hall, the Versailles and under the floor that had the buffet, the 12th floor. The 12th floor also had the library, game room and the workout area/spa. The best walking track was on the 7 floor and the the best quiet area to sit/lie in the sun or shade was the 13th floor.
You could get lost or have difficulty with getting your room open if you were not familiar with modern hotel like lodging. I came across an elderly lady that was very perplexed. She wanted to get into her room but couldn't figure out how to use her card. Just like many new hotels, the ship had credit card id entry. The passenger puts in the card, waits for the card to register (as indicated by a small green light lighting up and then removes the card, and presses down on the handle to let get into the door. The elderly lady was embarrased to ask anyone to help her. I guess I looked harmless so she asked me. I showed her and she was happy to figure it out.
Such is life. I think that we all think that everyone knows about these things. There are still many who don't.
: ) Pat
The 400million dollar vessel can carry as many as 2240 passesngers that are serviced by more than a 1095 support personnel. From the info section:
Cabins aboard the Norwegian Star are finished in rich cherry wood and outfitted with tea and coffee makers and larger bathrooms. Innovative and eye-catching are the ultra-luxurious garden villas -- multi-room accommodations featuring panoramic ocean views, private sun terraces and whirlpools. Dining options are wide and varied with 12 restaurants on board, including Pacific Rim, Japanese, French, Spanish, Hawaiian and Italian restaurants, as well as the main dining room serving the traditional six-course Continental menus. Also available are an indoor/outdoor buffet, grill, food court and other casual eateries. With all these tempting culinary choices -- plus 24-hour room service -- it's nice to have access to a 24-hour fitness center, plus a sports deck with an outdoor jogging track, and sports court. Relax at the Barong Spa, with rejuvenating treatments utilizing both Eastern and Western techniques. The 1,150-seat Stardust Theatre, cinema, karaoke rooms, and 14 different lounges and bars offer an entertaining nightlife. This ship is particularly family-friendly with a recreation center just for younger passengers; a child-sized serving counter, tables and chairs in the buffet restaurant; computer rooms; an arcade; and entertainment with Kid's Crew.
We had a great time once we figured out that not all elevators will get you to all floors. Also we had to remember that our cabin was in the aft or backend of the ship. It was right over the dining area entrance for the main dinning hall, the Versailles and under the floor that had the buffet, the 12th floor. The 12th floor also had the library, game room and the workout area/spa. The best walking track was on the 7 floor and the the best quiet area to sit/lie in the sun or shade was the 13th floor.
You could get lost or have difficulty with getting your room open if you were not familiar with modern hotel like lodging. I came across an elderly lady that was very perplexed. She wanted to get into her room but couldn't figure out how to use her card. Just like many new hotels, the ship had credit card id entry. The passenger puts in the card, waits for the card to register (as indicated by a small green light lighting up and then removes the card, and presses down on the handle to let get into the door. The elderly lady was embarrased to ask anyone to help her. I guess I looked harmless so she asked me. I showed her and she was happy to figure it out.
Such is life. I think that we all think that everyone knows about these things. There are still many who don't.
: ) Pat
Bob Dylan Quote
Money dosen't talk, it swears. Bob Dylan.
Dear Blogger readers.. what do you think of that one!
I overhead this comment on the way to work via the radio.
The pluot trees (half plum and half apricot) are in total bloom this morning. The peaches are about to blossom. The idea of frost for this year is pretty moot.
Linzi was asking me about the time to plant the citrus trees. This is it. The trees will get a full year of growth. Frost will not knock them down. The smell of citrus flowers are just an amazing occurrence.
Nice to see Acacia back in the blogging sphere. My sister kelly has got some great additions to her Mr. Potato collection that she is proudly showing off on her blog. I have some new additions to add regarding our trip on NCL to Mexico yet to be recounted here.
Today is the first junior high intake. I hope it goes well. Some teachers are getting some pink slips today. CTA is forming a giant promo on the state teacher's day of pink slips March 13.
Have a great day pilgrims
: ) Pat
Dear Blogger readers.. what do you think of that one!
I overhead this comment on the way to work via the radio.
The pluot trees (half plum and half apricot) are in total bloom this morning. The peaches are about to blossom. The idea of frost for this year is pretty moot.
Linzi was asking me about the time to plant the citrus trees. This is it. The trees will get a full year of growth. Frost will not knock them down. The smell of citrus flowers are just an amazing occurrence.
Nice to see Acacia back in the blogging sphere. My sister kelly has got some great additions to her Mr. Potato collection that she is proudly showing off on her blog. I have some new additions to add regarding our trip on NCL to Mexico yet to be recounted here.
Today is the first junior high intake. I hope it goes well. Some teachers are getting some pink slips today. CTA is forming a giant promo on the state teacher's day of pink slips March 13.
Have a great day pilgrims
: ) Pat
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