Road Trip: Central Valley, CA to Flagstaff, AZ

Justin and I started our road trip across America today. We drove all the way from California's central valley to Flagstaff, AZ today. Total trip, including stops, was about 12 hours and about 700 miles. I got lucky and only had to drive right after lunch for about 2 hours. Justin, my wonderful hubby, is amazing!! :) So I took pictures along the way.

Starting off, Spike was a little antsy, but then he settled down. We put him in his cage for a little bit, but then he sat on top of the luggage the rest of the way. Poor thing, he's still kinda confused and he was running around the hotel room exploring, but has chilled now too. I wish I could make it easier on him, but I'm not sure what to do there. It's just a lot of new things to handle.

The drive down HWY 99 in California was pretty uneventful. Once we got on HWY 40, rerouted historic 66, the terrain was basically desert. The hills became more rust-colored as we went south. As we got closer to the border of California and Arizona, we started to see a little more shrubs and trees. We kept passing "Elk Crossing" signs but I was never quick enough to get a picture. For about an hour we took the historic route 66 around the Amboy Crater area (though we didn't stop since we had such a long driving day today). It is a little sad to see so many little business deserted with the re-routed highway. I guess that is progress? I don't know... Finally, once we crossed to Arizona I started seeing pine trees, which for some reason I didn't expect. It's very interesting to see the different geographical features.

Tomorrow is the Grand Canyon- stay tuned!!

CSUS Graduation for my Master's in Education

I know I am beyond slacking in posting lately (sorry grandma!!) But now I am posting, so there. I am going to do better since it was the last day of school. And hopefully I can kinda back-date the posts or something for the books I've read and things like that.

Anyway, so I walked in the graduation ceremony and California State University, Stanislaus yesterday. Woot Woot! Go me! I was technically done with my master's in education in December 2011, but waited until this year to do the ceremony.

And it was really hot, especially in the gown. Luckily it was only about 75 degrees, or I think a few people would have passed out or something. I was a little disappointed, to be honest, because it didn't seem like people took it as seriously. For example, students decorated the tops of their hats. And tossed beach balls around above the graduates during the ceremony. Tacky. That's what I think. I guess others would think that it was just fun, but it was my master's, for crying out loud, so I expected some dignity. They even tried to do the wave at one point. I think they said it was near 1,000 graduates. Maybe with so many it is hard to control.

Needless to say, I'm glad that I did the ceremony, but it wasn't a good as I had hoped. But I do love my mom and grandma and grandpa H. for sticking it out and going with me. Afterwards, we ate at Qdoba, one of my favorite nicer fast-food places. It was laid back, but it was nice.

So here's  a few pictures of the day:

(OMgosh, Crystal, I know this picture isn't centered. But this was the third try and since it was better than the others, I just left it. You should have seen the others...) 

 And since it was outside, I totally got sunburned. Hence the horrid tan line across my forehead. Luckily, the concealer I put on today evened it out a little bit...

Pinnacles National Monument

Last weekend I hiked down at Pinnacles National Monument with my good teacher friend Kelly. It has some crazy rock formations and  cool caves too. It's only good to go about this time of year though, because it gets very hot and dry by about mid-May. I went last year in May, and I was perspiring like gusher. We took a trail that loops around the southern part of the park and through the southern caves as well. It was about the same as the northern route I did last year, except it had a few steeper portions of rocks- like they actually have rails installed and steps carved out of the rock for you to climb up. I'm not sure which one I liked better, but I am leaning towards the northern trail.
I hope to take a few of the youth group kids in the next few weeks before it gets too hot. I know they would love the wacky rocks and going through the caves.

Here's a few pics:

Jar of Dreams

Recently I read Jar of Dreams by Yoshiko Uchida. The only complaint I had was that it was too short! It was a tale of a Japanese-American family in the Bay area who struggled to make their way in America in the face of discrimination. The narrative is from a young girl's perspective. She has an aunt who comes to America to visit for the first time over the summer. While Rinko at first feels awkward of about her aunt, who fully embraces her Japanese heritage, over the summer her perspective changes.

I loved this book, because I made me understand the perspective of others. More than a hundred years ago, my family came over from Germany on my mom's side and Ireland on my dad's side. But I never experienced being an immigrant myself. Sure, I moved to another state after college, and there was a bit of culture shock going from Ohio to California, but nothing like what the family went through in Jar of Dreams. I can't pretend to understand, but reading this book definitely opened my eyes more. As a teacher, I really try to understand my students, some of which are recent immigrants.

Being from Rinko's perspective, all of the things her family faced were written simply, instead of being all political hodge-podge. While America isn't perfect, people still come for a chance of a better life. I hope as a teacher, I am always helping my students have a better life. That's why I read- to understand my world and my students better.

Super Teacher

Last week, we have a spirit week at school. Those are always fun. A few of the days weren't very easy to dress up for... Grease Lightning Day, Mustache Day anyone? But then there was sports team day, superhero day, and of course school spirit day. Those I could do. I borrowed my aunt's 49er's jersey on Wednesday, and it was funny because some students who really like Raiders, for instance, acted like I was a complete nutcase. (In all honesty, I really don't care about the team, I was just dressing up for the day. If I had had a jersey, I would have totally worn Ohio State though).


Thursday was superhero day. I was in a conundrum because I couldn't find my Incredible's outfit. It must be packed and stored with everything else. So I improvised. I made a SuperTeacher logo and wore it under a white button-up shirt. And I pinned on a cape too. The kids liked it, and I supported spirit week. It was a win-win for everyone. :)

Remaking an old chair

Awhile back (ahem, a few years) I found this old chair at a thrift store. I loved the detail on the back of the chair, so I picked it up for a few bucks. But it was an ugly brown color with thin plastic cream seat cover. Finally, over Christmas break, I recovered and painted it. Really, it is pretty easy with a staple gun.  Here's how it turned out:

 I personally love the rick-rack detailing!

Spike wasn't really into posing, but I tried anyways.

Thrifting!

So, Ohio has this going for it: great thrift stores. Crystal and I went today to Valley Thrift. It's a huge store. I don't like that they are pricey on items that come in with tags ($20 for a name-brand coat) but on anything else they are really reasonable. I got a gray/blue cardigan with detailing down the center for $2.99. I found my mom a cute navy tank top for $1.99. Good deal, right?

And of course, I am always looking for the vintage tee to wear around the house and not have to worry about getting dirty. I got two tees for .29 cents each and two more tees for .09 cents each. WOWSERS. Can't beat that. Here's the sweet Atari "Represent" tee and another one about a jump rope workshop. Jealous, my friends? Just check out your local thrift store for your own amazing tee. I know some of the well-known brands in the mall try to make shirts look vintage and worn, but these babies really are. I wouldn't trade 'em! They just bring a certain bit of personality that can't be imitated. I know I should grow out of them sooner or later, but I just can't seem to shake 'em.

To top it off, I found a few books, Island of the Blue Dolphins and Gary's Winter (sequel to Hatchet) AND- AND- drumroll please- a whole paperback set of the A Wrinkle in Time four-book series. Stoked, am I. Indeed. I love finding these so that I can loan them out to students without worrying about what I paid for them.

Crystal found a coat, a few cool lights for their basement, and some horrid green-and-red knitted placemats for her next Ugly Sweater party. I better be invited!

Almond Blossoms

February is a beautiful time of year in California, especially in the central valley with all the almond trees blooming. When you step outside, the air is abundantly fragrant with the smell of the delicate white-and-pink blossoms. Even when I'm driving home from work, I can roll down my windows and get a huge whiff as I'm cruising along the back roads to the farm. There is plenty of things I won't miss out California when I move, but this I will. (Plus the weather- it's supposed to be 76 degrees tomorrow!)

Pictures are worth a thousand words... but not smells. I wish you could scratch and sniff the screen!

Hunger Games Advance Tickets

I am WAAAAAAAAAAY TOOOOO EXCITED about getting advance tickets for The Hunger Games. Really, it is a bit obsessive. I recently read the whole series through again, which is probably my 4th time through. I need to relax about it, but there are just so many facets and it is so deep that it makes you think. For days after, I'm dreaming about it and trying to solve society's problems and bring characters back to life. I cry every time I read them. I'm hopeless!

I am going to the movie on March 24th, a Saturday. And I'm sure I will go again too. It is going to be intense.

I heard that there are going to be four movies. Why do they always split them up??? I know it is partly a money thing, but I just wish they would keep it to three like to original story. I am hopeful that overall the movie will remain true to the book, but of course I always worry with adaptations. Suzanne Collins helped write the screenplay though, so at least you know that her stamp of approval is on it.

So now I just have to wait three weeks. It's gonna be forever!!!

Big Changes

Whew, long time no write. I've been bad. I'd like to say it is because I haven't had my computer, which is true, or because I didn't have my camera hookup, which is also true. It is has just been a big transition the last few months. Justin took a job back in Ohio, and I am finishing up the school year in California. I miss him a lot!!! But that is where we want to be, so I am glad that we are starting to get settled. More than anything, I just want to start feeling settled. I'd like to be having kids in the next two years or so too.... but we'll see.

I really like my school out here, so it's a bummer that I will be leaving. The staff is really great and there are a lot of things to get involved in. I'll miss it.

Justin has been looking into the Guard or Air Force reserves. We would really like to get his school paid for so we can focus on a house. Speaking of houses, it has been fun to go looking. We (I) are way too picky. I want something historical, big, in the country, and cheap. That's a tad bit hard to find. We so want to build, but who builds their first house? That's pretty much impossible.

Unless I write a book or something. I've been thinking about it. Thinking about writing about my first five years of teaching. I think I have a lot of experiences. Not that they are unique to me, but that they would be worth sharing. About staff relationships, growing as a teacher, and definitely students. But who would publish it? I will have to figure out that whole process. But it would sure be sweet to publish a book!!!

Well that's my high hopes right now- a house and a book. Maybe I should just be realistic and look for a job, but I am such a dreamer!!