Monday's Memory

GWC Band Tour--1969


During my second year at Golden West College, I became good friends with several members of the band. I sat with them during the football games and went to their parties. In the spring, they were going on tour to Colorado, and I went along with them, kinda their mascot! (I actually played the base drum in one number.) Anyway, it was great fun. They played at the University of Northern Colorado, which is where I ended up going to school. On our way back, we went to the Grand Canyon and spent the night in Salt Lake City, so I got to tour Temple Square. I love this picture because I'm wearing my KABRII sweatshirt from high school. KABRII was our school "sorority". I wish I had kept that sweatshirt--it brings back all kinds of great memories.

It's official--continued

This week the district and SVEA hosted a retirement reception for those of us who are retiring in June. There are 20 of us through-out the district, but I'm the only one from San Joaquin. Many of my friends from school came to help me celebrate. We individually went up to receive our plaque and a really cute "bucket list" pail. I guess I'm one step closer to the reality of being a retired person! I'm really excited, but, surprisingly, have actually shed a few tears. I've realized that I'm going to miss my friends at school and seeing past students coming back to share their successes with me.

Gardening in a Box!

Todd and I got to spend some fun time this past weekend making container boxes for their garden.

Todd's Mother's Day Present

Several weeks ago, Kathy posted this picture of Todd on Facebook, saying she and Todd were having a date night and that she thought he was "hot in an apron." I found out this past weekend that what Todd was making was this candy dish for me for Mother's Day. I LOVE IT!

Claire's recital

I flew up to Utah for Chaire's first dance recital this past weekend. It was so fun to watch all of the little girls, but of course, my eyes only saw Claire. She was darling--twirling, skipping, and laying on her towel all at the right time. After the show, we went out for ice cream to celebrate her job well done. I'm not sure how much she loves to dance, but I do know, she really loves to get all dressed up and wear makeup. Watch out Kathy and Todd--I think you may have a problem with boys when she gets older--she's a beauty.

Explosion!

Amy, Todd, and the kids came over tonight for Todd's birthday dinner of hamhock and beans. The kids were in the other room playing a game and the adults were in the front room talking. All of a sudden, we heard a loud pop and then the pressure cooker looked like "Old Faithful", with steam and liquid spewing out from the blown safety valve. Let me tell you, it was quite a mess. The pictures really don't do it justice. But I learned a lesson from this experience. As I was getting upset and calling the whole thing a catastrophe, Amy and Todd saw the humor in it. They laughed while they helped clean it up and ended the evening by saying that now they know what to get me for my birthday! I would like to be more like them, to see the humor in life, not to take everything so seriously. I need to cry less and laugh more. Thanks for the great example, you guys.

Lego Land

Today was teacher appreciation day at Lego Land, so Amy and I got in free! It was a chilly day, so we didn't go to any of the "wet stuff". Instead, we spent time visiting the things we missed last time we were here. The kids could have spent most of the day just playing with the legos, making and racing cars, and the video game room. But there were other areas to explore.





My favorite was the miniatures. They had entire cities all made out of legos; New York City, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and even the southern California coast line. But the best had to be the Star Wars scenes. They had all six movies displayed with the famous landscapes, people, and spacecraft included. This Millennium Falcon was about 3 feet across. It took 143 hours and 19,000 pieces to make!!! Holy Cow, Chewy!

And, of course, we enjoyed the rides, too!

The Other Todd's Birthday

What are the odds of naming your son Todd, and twenty-some years later, your daughter marrying a Todd?! My guess would be pretty small. But then, I never go with the odds! I have two Todds in my family. What's really strange is that their birthdays are only 3 days apart plus a few years. Today is Amy's Todd's birthday. He has been a wonderful addition to the family and I love him dearly. Happy birthday, Todd.

Cool birthday glasses, Todd

Happy Birthday Todd

Todd turned 35 today...and, as with Amy, I wonder where in the world the time has gone. This morning, as I wrote the date on the board, I commented about it, and the fact that it was Todd's birthday. The kids all wanted to call him and sing "Happy Birthday" to him, and so, of course, we did. After he was serenaded to by 30 kids and a teacher, his comment was, "I don't think I've ever been sung to by so many people!" The kids loved it and it was a fun way to start his special day. Happy birthday, sweetheart. I love you.

Monday's Memory

Lake Powell, August 2005

One of my "dream vacations" was to spend a week on a houseboat. It came true on Lake Powell. We were able to "borrow" Todd's Uncle Ed and Aunt Luanne and their boat. It was amazing. We spent the week on the lake, using the speed boat and seadoos.

I finally got brave enough to use one of the seadoos, and got going really, really fast, the wind blowing through my hair. When I got back to the houseboat, however, the others were all laughing at me, telling me how slow I was going! Well, it felt really fast!

Every day we took the speed boat, exploring all of the inlets. We would jump in the water to cool off and get deeper in some of the narrower places.

We were able to all be there to celebrate Luke's 1st birthday with twinkies and ding dongs!

We had all kinds of contests like diving off the board on the back of the boat---or the jumping contest off the cliffs into the lake. The funny part of this one was all of the crazy things the guys shouted out as they jumped. And then, not to be out-done, the girls "jumped" off the edge of the lake.

And of course...lots of sun and relaxation.

Claire's birthday

Claire turned 5 today...a milestone, because she is now old enough to start school in August! Happy birthday, Claire.

Monday's Memory

Betty, Cindy, and me

Puddingstone Dam

When I was in 3rd-5th grades, we lived in La Puente. Our neighbors were the Steeles, a family that paralleled ours quite well. Betty was Milo's age, Jimmy was mine, Larry was the same as Mark, and Cindy was Mel's age. We spent a lot time time together playing; flashlight tag on long, lazy summer evenings, watching the Micky Mouse Club, playing with hula hoops, and Betty and I dancing to the music on American Bandstand. One of our favorite things to do was a day trip to Puddingstone Dam for sun and swimming. One time, Mom had to walk across the hot cement to get Mel to the bathroom, and burned her feet so badly that she had huge blisters on her feet for weeks. But my most vivid memory from Puddingstone is that it was the place of my first kiss. While we were swimming, Jimmy told me to go underwater with him, and he kissed me!!! I guess a girl never forgets her first!

Fun in the Sun

Our Palm Springs weekend had to be postponed a month because of rainy weather...but it definitely was worth the wait. The weather was perfect and the pool was also. Lots of sun and lots of pool time. We ended the long weekend at my favorite, Bob's Big Boy. After our dinners, Carson, Amy, and I shared a hot fudge brownie while the others dug into a banana split. I can't believe it, but we polished them both off! The adults actually had to fight the kids off.

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!

I turned in all of my papers today! My last day of school will we June 21st! I'm retiring!! All I can say is YAHOO!!!