Vacation - Day 1

Today feels like a vacation day...
I'm sorry for those of you who are not on a school schedule and don't get two weeks off...
It is one of the BEST perks of my job!

While it is Wed and we are several days in today feels like vacation - and here's why...

1.  Received my final grade for my Masters class 94% - huge relief!
2.  No real agenda this morning
3.  Ran 2 miles and felt strong :)
4.  Went shopping with the boys and bought a few things just for me :)
5.  Ate Christmas cookies for lunch :)
6.  Bought two new books just because they looked interesting...Eight Girls Taking Pictures and A House in Fez - The first appealed to the photographer in me, the second the traveler and the fact that I will be in Fez, Morocco in just over 6 weeks!
7.  While I LOVE having Christmas at my house today all is quite and there is nothing to prep for...
8.  Tonight I don't have to cook dinner because we are going out to eat :)
9. After we go out to eat we are going to a Blazer game -
10.  Because for the first time in a long time I am setting the agenda and the agenda isn't setting me :)

I hope you have time for a deep breath!

Frychik

Happy feels good!

I'm happy...
The ball of stress that has been living in my gut since September has dissolved...
Today was a good day I had time to teach my one class, grade some papers, prep for tomorrow AND run some errands :)
No my current Master's class isn't over yet...but its very close and I have my paper written (rough draft) So I'm relaxing and I don't have that stupid voice constantly screaming in my head "you don' have time for this you need to be writing your research paper!" - Man am I sick of that voice!
And while we did accomplish getting a Christmas tree, it sits naked in my living room...no time to decorate it - hopefully tonight.

As I ran errands I made a last minuet unexpected stop at Trader Joe's - I never go there anymore it just isn't on the way to/from anywhere for me and the traffic in that area is a pain! But I was in the area and I decided I would stop.

There I met the loveliest woman!
Before we spoke I noticed her - full length tan coat with a belt cinch around her slender frame...
Beautiful blue eyes and snow white hair - on the top of her head at a jaunty angle a matching beret
I guessed her to be in her 80s - beautiful lines on her face but not many around her eyes which were sharp, focused...
I thought to myself "I hope I age as well"


We were in the coffee/tea section.  I was looking for Chai and anything else that caught my fancy
I twisted a can, noticed it was coffee and looked away...
She said Oh thank you! That is what I was looking for its my favorite!
She then proceeded to tell me how cute my outfit was...
I told her I was thinking the same of her!

She thanked me and told me her husband had bought her the coat in 1979 and opened it to show me it was lined with shearling and I could see how the sheep's wool had aged over the years around the collar - it was a beautiful coat! She could have been a movie start from the 40s.

We chatted for awhile - she's excited about spending time with her family who lives in Battle Ground...
She is a great-grandmother - which surprised me - she was so spry I didn't think she was that old and I'm still wondering at her actual age.

She said she has a bossy daughter-in-law so she doesn't see them too much.  She then explained that the bossy daughter-in-law trys to make her sit in the front seat of the car but she told me she has not intentions of sitting in the front seat she can sit in the back just fine!

I had to laugh at that! I have done the same thing to Jeff's grandparents...I told her so and mentioned that I think us daughter-in-laws were just trying to be respectful...to which she just scoffed!

She wished me a merry Christmas, told me she loved my outfit again and headed off...

I sincerely hope our paths cross again!

I hope your heart has some happiness in it today!

Frychik

Running Away from it all...try it you'll like it!

Stress manifests itself in me in the following ways...

--Cranky, hair trigger
--Loss of any and all self-confidence
--Withdraw from friends etc
--Pulse racing, jittery, physically strung tight!

I was all of these times 100 when I got on Amtrack last Thursday

And then I breathed a huge, long sigh of relief...

Have you ever traveled by train?
It is delightful!
At least it was for me at 1:00 pm on a Thursday afternoon
I had the car all to myself, I kicked off my shoes and propped them up in the seat across from me
Spread my stuff out all over the table
and enjoyed the view!

The only thing that would have made it better would have been if I didn't  have an assignment due for my Masters class that day...
But regardless I was thankful to have 3.5 hours of uninterrupted time to work on it!






I was headed to Seattle for the 2012 NCSS (National Conference of Social Studies)
I was staying in the heart of the city and I was looking forward to some of the speakers -

Rick Steves!
Travel guy!
This man has made his living for the past 30 years by traveling to Europe 4 months out of the year and writing about it as well as filming a TV show...
Needless to say I admire him greatly! ;)

He was a very interesting speaker as well, sharing his insights after traveling the world for 30 years you learn a thing or two!

I was most excited about listening to Sandra Day'Occonor! She spoke about how she had to offer to work for free before a law firm would hire her! Can you imagine! If you don't know she "grew up" to be the first female to sit on the Supreme Court! She is funny and witty and not at all a stuffy lawyer!

The woman on the far right is Gerda Weissmann Klein - hands down the most inspirational! At 15 she was a young Polish girl when Hitler invaded her country.  She would lose her entire family and survive 3 years in a concentration camp before being liberated by the Americans even marrying the soldier who rescued her!  Her talk at an immigration ceremony where 20 immigrants were swore in as American citizens simply brought me to tears! And reminded me that we should be proud of America it goes much deeper than our politicians!

I don't remember the guy in the middle - he wrote speeches for Bill Clinton - he was the moderator.

In addition to listening to inspirational speakers I stayed in a lovely room on the 17th floor.  It was lovely because instead of someone making a mess behind me someone actually showed up every day and cleaned up after me!
Remarkable!

Another thing I loved was getting up at 6 am every morning and going for a run in the city...
I absolutely love getting up early -
No traffic, the vendors focused on setting up for the day, the lack of people...I love it!

Have you been to Pikes Market? It is wall to wall people, jam packed and frankly a bit overwhelming! This is what it looked like Friday morning at 6:30 am...

The same area 12 hours later...

I have a thing for pig heads...
I was thrilled to find this little gem! Complete with the fake eyeballs!
He looks so happy!


Tonight is the first night of Thanksgiving vacation...
It won't get any better than this moment
Tomorrow will be about running errands, getting ready for Thursday...

Thursday will be Thanksgiving...

Then the madness begins!!!!!!!

I received my first Christmas card in the mail today!
There is no stopping it!

Frychik

Me Time

The busier life gets the more I daydream about what I really want to be doing...
What I have really been wanting to do is have some time outside with my camera...
As I rush about I notice the golds are so gold and the reds oh so red and I just want to hit the pause button
and roam the NW with my camera...

This past weekend we got out and hiked...
It was a tiny baby hike
and it rained
so there wasn't much picture taking
but I did snap a few...

Two years ago the neighbors across the street abandoned their house.  They left behind this glorious tree...I would like very much to dig it up and make it mine...would that be wrong?

On our hike we went up to Multon Falls which I have been to about a bazillion trillion gazillion times...
I have NEVER been to the tunnel...I have been within 20 steps of the train tunnel and didn't realize it! So I was excited to explore the train tunnel...
It was drippy...
And dark...
And really gorgeous against the fall leaves and foggy valley...
I love the NW!

I love fall...
I think I have mentioned that...
I hate how quickly it passes!
One day I think oh I need to grab a picture of that...
and the next it is gone...
naked...
cold...
Then I start wishing for snow...
Then I start wishing for tulips...
Then I start wishing for a suntan...
Then I start wishing for pumpkins...

Yes, I'm wishing my life away...
But I always have something to look forward to!

Frychik

PS - Come to Fall Festival this weekend  6-9 pm Kody's game night! Its gonna be fun!  ( I hope!)

Senior Recognition

Senior Recognition...

Another step along the journey that will lead to my first born packing his belongings and driving away...

Sigh... 

This picture amuses me...the various phases of readiness...

There that's better...I threatened them if they didn't look at my camera and smile there would be no hope of passing my class!
Not really...
But I like to pretend I have some control over them...
It's best they think I do...
Or I'm in big trouble!

So the Seniors marched...and yes, it made me think of graduation and the fact that it is so much closer!

And it made me think of the 100s! (well probably not 100s but LOTS and LOTS) of Senior Recognitions I have gone to over the years and how all those kids are long gone and grown up...just like these guys will be in a matter of months...

And I did not cry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

While I was emotional at last years graduation thinking I only had ONE YEAR LEFT! I wasn't prepared for all these other emotional events that would be ripping open my heart through the year....

Its gonna be a long year...
I better drink lots of water or I will dehydrate!







One final picture...

Do you know her?

We don't...
She literally walked into the picture as we were posing and said "I'm the grandma!"
LOL!
We didn't even get any pictures with the real grandmas!

Hug your kids!
They are growing up fast!

Frychik

I Love Fall!

I have to say it has been one of the loveliest falls I can remember and the colors are just getting started...

Last Friday was our first day of rain in 103 days!
Jeff and I have walked in the rain the past two nights...
It's a habit we picked up while living in the South...going for a walk after dinner

Even walking in the rain at night it has been warm and blustery...
I like blustery...

Sunday I "had" to go to Powell's I love it when I "have" to go to Powell's
The sky's were threatening all day but the rain was holding off
the wind was blowing the fall leaves all over the city streets
swirling up into mini tornadoes and landing on the sidewalks, cars, people...

I ordered a Chai at the SB across the street from Powells and just tried to soak it all up...
I hit the pause button
I ignored the books in my bag
I ignored my phone
I ignored the to do list
I just soaked it in...

Then I went into an import store that I have only walked past before...

Then I went home to my to do list :)


Frychik

Kodiak Attack!

Oh baby! It was an exciting weekend!
It was also bitter sweet...

Just in case you don't know -

CAA

WON THE WWU SOCCER TOURNAMENT!!!

Josh's freshman year they were 4th
Sophomore year 3rd
Junior year 4th
Senior year 1st!!!!!!!!!!!

These guys played UNBELIEVABLE soccer! It truly was amazing to watch their focus, their effort and their skill! The passing was so much fun to watch! These boys have been playing together 10 years and it shows!

The competition was stiff and I happened to be sitting right next to a dad from the opposing team...Who couldn't stop bragging about how amazing their team was and how fast his son was and how no one had beaten them and they were so amazing blah, blah, blah..............

I just smiled and nodded...

As the game continued he would comment oh #such and such is really good
and # so and so is really good...
and he just kept commenting until he had named every player on our team...
That's right because everyone of them are AWESOME!

It was a hard fought game and we started out behind...
At the half we still hadn't scored...
It was STRESSFUL!
I was terrified we would lose
Then when we tied it up I was terrified it would go to a shoot out...
Which it has every other year which is incredibly stressful!
Then with only minutes left in the game we scored!

They earned it!
It was such a joy to be part of this with them!
Possibly the most impressive accomplishment was the fact that they took first place and the sportsmanship award! Truly impressive! It has seemed in the past that the sportsmanship award is given to the teams that have no hope of winning...
Not only do our kids have AWESOME skills they are also AWESOME people who play with compassion and heart!
I could not be prouder!

I simply cannot let any of them graduate!
I have a plan...I will fail all of them in my government class... ;)

Frychik

*I was entirely too nervous to take any pictures of the championship game...
All pictures are from previous games or after the championship game.

Top 10

Yesterday I went for another solo ride...
It was windy so I really missed Jeff!
He's awesome to draft behind :)

Riding can be challenging...
It would be so much nicer if there weren't any cars...
Most drivers are nice...
Some are too nice!

Those that fall into the too nice category-

-drive really, really slow past us - please don't do that...it just prolongs the time we are together and stresses me out
-Gets so far over in the oncoming traffic lane that you risk a head on with another car - really its not necessary if you could just scooch over in the lane so you are hugging the middle line we have enough room

Other drivers are not nice!

-Honk when right next to me
-Trys to get as close to me as possible while passing at 50 miles an hour
-Shares various hand signals with me
-Shouts various words that are not at all encouraging

For the record there are many reasons why we (bikers) may not be as far over as you (drivers - although I realize none of you reading this fall into this category and for that I thank you!) would like us to be.

Top 10 Reasons Why Bikers aren't ridding on the shoulder...

10.  Cars often park on shoulders

9. Trash of all sorts - please don't be a litter bug!

8. Bushes, weeds- when your riding by at 20+ it feels like razors!

7. Pedestrians who walk on the same side as bikers we are the ones that go out into the lane...

6. Rough! The shoulder is often breaking apart or not worn down at all so its very rough to ride on.

5. Loose gravel - this can take a biker down in a hurry and its amazing how much gathers on the shoulder!

4. Dead animals and animal parts - yuck!

3. Construction signs - they fill up the entire shoulder so you have to weave out into traffic to get around.

2. Low hanging branches

1.  There is no shoulder! - Most of our roads just don't have a shoulder to ride on but we do try to stay as far over as possible.

And that's why we aren't on the shoulder :)

Frychik

A getaway

Busy Busy Busy!
Gone, Gone, Gone!

But this time we ran away together!
I find myself thankful when all four of us are in the car together...
I find myself thankful when we all sit down to a meal together and there is conversation and laughter...

It is getting harder and harder to find those moments...
So we ran away for 34ish hours to try to find some of those moments...

This was the first picture I took on our minivaca.  We are at CPK which makes the boys very happy.  I LOVE this picture.  I think they are two of the most handsome guys EVER!

We headed to Seattle and took the ferry across to Bainbridge Island...
We have had the opportunity to visit Seattle and Bainbridge several times in the month of Sept. and it is always delightful! The weather has never failed us yet!

I love the island.  It is so laid back and calm and the big city of Seattle is just a short ferry ride away...its the perfect balance.

Being wise parents we let the kids sleep and we took off for a morning jog around the island - a spectacular way to begin the day! We then browsed a farmers market - the picture above are not cherrys they are apples! So cute!

Then we woke the little darlings up and took them to our new favorite breakfast place on the island...we discovered it last year with our friends Darrel and Connie.  Very yummy!

Not sure what happened here...Ty asked him to hold his hat and it suddenly converted my husband into a gangster...

Then we took the ferry over to Seattle - the weather was cloudy but no rain and just the right fall temperature!



Josh doesn't look so tall when compared to the tallest man in the world!
We browsed Pikes Place, I picked up a chai and then we headed to Crystal Mountain and Mt. Rainer

We took a gondola ride to the top. At one point the fog was so thick the cables were just disappearing into the mist...thankfully it was clear at the top.

 However, Mt. Rainer remained hidden behind some haze...I wished we could have stayed until the sunset but my boys weren't interested...

They were interested in french fries and hot chocolate!

Enjoying the view...

And then we drove FOREVER to get home...

It was quick but it was worth it.

I'm sure gonna miss them when they are gone...

Frychik

PS- All of these picture were taken with my phone

Riding a bike

Yesterday I was lured into a trap...

I work with two very strong bike riders...
Well actually that is an understatement I work with one very strong bike rider and another RIDICULOUSLY STRONG bike rider...

As much as I've ridden I have come to realize that it makes me very nervous to ride without Jeff...
If I'm feeling crappy I know Jeff won't mind...
Jeff loves me and regardless of how I ride that day he will support me...
And if I don't want to climb a nasty hill I can whine and we can change our route...
Jeff will change my tire if it goes flat...
Jeff can give me the much needed pep talk as my lungs are burning and my legs are begging for mercy...

When I ride without Jeff I feel very vulnerable...

However, the sun is going down earlier which means its almost dark when he gets home leaving us no time to ride...

So I have a choice
1.  Start running...
2.  Ride alone...
3. Ride with others who are much stronger than me...

This week I choose options 2 and 3

On Monday I rode alone...
I rode one of the toughest (hilly) loops we do and it was 90+ degrees outside
I made it but I was covered in goose bumps halfway through making me wonder if I was having heat stroke...but thankfully no flat tires (I'm a kept woman I know!) and when I did collapse at home (haven't ridden in 3 wks) I had that lovely feeling of accomplishment...

Wednesday I rode with the boys...
My two colleagues had invited a fourth to join us...
He won a bronze medal in Seoul in the para-Olympics...
He rides with his arms...

Which made me feel like a big fat baby...
They pushed me...
I wanted to quit
I wanted to whine
I really wanted to avoid hills!

and when I got home I collapsed and had that lovely feeling of accomplishment...

Go out there and accomplish something!

Frychik

41 teenage girls...

My job as a teacher has led to many interesting experiences...

Yes, I stand before a class of students and lecture...
Yes, I give quizzes and tests...
Yes, I have shhhhhhh'd my share of kids over the years...

But what makes my job really special are the trips...
The many, many trips...
The trips where I leave the comfort of my bed and sleep with a bunch of noisy, energetic teenagers in some far flung location...

Last weekend was Girls Club Camp out 2012

Since I'm a teacher here is a quiz for you

Which of the following happened on this years camp out

a) The sun was sunny and the wind did not blow
b) A sneaker wave just about took my camera and every lens I own...
c) A sneaker wave did get my telephoto lens
d) I was awakened at 2 am and told we had missing girls
e) Missing girls were found in boys shower room...
f) I took great pleasure in waking missing girls at 6:30 am to do various chores...
g) We had an amazing time
h) All of the above


Answer: h


Frychik