The School Year Begins 2008 – 2009

2008-2009 School Year

Tomorrow begins a new school year for many of us.  I know some of you are excited, some of you are apprehensive, some of you are dreading every passing moment that brings you to the inevitable and some of you could care less.  As I mentally prepare myself for tomorrow and run through my mind if I have everything I need to greet a new group of students – academically and personally – I can not help but think about former students and where they are now. I am not going to go over 19 previous classes – I do have to be at work tomorrow morning – however – I would like to say a little something about the former students who are still here in Manteca Unified. Seniors at Sierra:  You are the last class I had the privilege of teaching at Lathrop where I began my teaching career.  This group of students was a fun class to have and a smart class.  I hope that you will make a lot of wonderful memories throughout your senior year as you work your way toward that diploma. Juniors at Sierra:  You were the FIRST graduating class at Veritas- a small graduating class – but the first class.  It was such a great experience to break in a new school with all of you.  It will be exciting to see you graduate in 2010!  Sophmores at Sierra and Lathrop High:   I think I will always remember this group as having way too much drama and not enough boys to balance things out.  So many tears through your 7th & 8th grade years.  You kept me busy and constantly in need of daily updates on what was going on and why everyone was crying.  Not to mention the kleenex supply I went through.  We should have made it into a reality show.     BUT – you were also a good group of students with a lot of intelligence and insight into so many things.  I hope your sophmore year brings you less drama and more enjoyment.  Those who are attending Lathrop High – you will be the first graduating class – serve your school well! Freshman at Sierra and Lathrop High: A very unique, quirky and very fun group of students.  (For details – see my blog about my homeroom.)  You are the LARGEST graduating class from Veritas to date.  You rock!   You are a group of students with so much potential – I have had a sneak preview at your STAR scores - and I have seen what you are capable of doing.  So go in to the high schools and show those teachers what you are capable of doing.  I want to see you ALL get that high school diploma.  Class of 2012! Tomorrow morning as many of you are sitting in your new classes and meeting new teachers, I will also be meeting new students a beginning a new class.  As usual, I will take my deep-first-day-of-school-breath and hold on to that until the last student steps off campus on the last day of school.  Good thing I have 19 years of experience when it comes to holding my breath.

I love Alaska

I have decided that I was born in the wrong state.  Don’t get me wrong – I think California is one of the best places to live, and if you had asked me 2 years ago if I would ever want to live in another state, I would say no.  However, that was before I went to Alaska.   I LOVE Alaska!  I would love to live in Alaska.  This was my second cruise to Alaska and I fell deeper in love with this beautiful country than I was before.  It is INCREDIBLE !!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BEAUTIFUL ALASKA!!

I have many pictures of my trip to Alaska, but they do not do true justice to the beauty of amazing place. 

 However, I will try to share what I can.  I will try to be less of a talker and show most of my trip through pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Sunset from the ship      

 

   

The evening view from our room  

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Our first stop was Ketchikan, Alaska – it is a rainforest.  We took a tour of the city by horse-drawn wagon – with a “guide” dog.  Ketchikan is also known for it’s many totem poles – they are pretty cool – all hand carved.

                 

After our sight-seeing tour we walked down “Creek Street” and did some shopping.  Creek Street was famous for all the brothels that were there during the Gold Rush.  The most famous one being “Dolly’s.”

    

  

       Creek Street and Dolly’s (light green house) behind us.

  Polar Bear in Ketchikan    

      “Whale of a time” in Ketchikan!

After a day in Ketchikan, out next stop was Juneau. 

 

 In Juneau we spent most of our time out on the ocean, in a regualr type boat, whale watching.  It was so awesome.  The water is calm and as smooth as glass.  As you sit there and wait for the whales to make and appearance you can observe Bald Eagles swooping down and plucking fish right out of the water in front of you.  Sea Lions swim right up to the boat to see what you are up too.   

 Checking out what we are up too. 

    Keeping us company on our whale watching tour. 

 

Then there are the whales – Humpback Whales – gentle giants of the sea.  As you sit there you can hear them as they ”blow” into the air and you see a spout of steam rise from the water.  Then as you watch this big, graceful, beautiful creature emerges from the depths, just long enough for you to catch a glimpse, then they are gone again.

    

 

Two whales before they surface

                                                                             

 

A Humpback Whale close enough to touch . . . . . . . .  almost.

Captain Larry (white beard) and Captain (?) who took us out looking for whales.  These two guys know everything there is to know about whales and the ocean life in Alaska.  They are AWESOME!!!!! I could have talked to them all day.

 Captain Larry, Captain (?) and Me                        

After whale watching we did a little shopping because we had to get back to our ship.  We only had about 5 hours total in Juneau which was stupid because there are MANY things to do!  You can even hug a bear in Juneau – I did.

   

After Juneau we went to Skagway – a very, tiny town in Alaska.  We were there for the 4th of July and there was a parade and games and bake sales and all the other things you would associate with a small town.  We were going to go to a “Mushers Camp” where you get to meet sled dogs and even ride a dog sled – BUT my husband over slept and all the “Musher Camps” were full.  So I went shopping and spent money and he did not complain – what a great guy!

Me with a Skagway moose right before I enter the store to spend $ !!!

We left Skagway and headed to Prince Rupert, Canada – another small, quaint town.  I Bought one tiny souvenier and that was it.

   Prince Rupert, Canada 

 

 

Our ship in Prince Rupert, Canada – which was our last stop.

Then we began our journey back.  The ship had many activities to keep people occupied.  We had some great entertainment, almost every night.  Of course nothing could beat the ALL-YOU-COULD-EAT-CHOCOLATE BUFFET!

So I will now just plug in a few pictures of some of the things we saw – on and off the ship.

ON SHIP:

The Carousel Lounge had Merry-Go-Round Horses you could sit on – very uncomfortable -the horses did not move.

 

 

  ICE SCULPTURES at the Chocolate Buffet – decoration only                                                               

     

THE CHOCOHOLICS BUFFET!                                                                    

    

 

Seattle Space Needle   

   

Eiffel Tower

 

    Motorcycle man    

ALL MADE OF CHOCOLATE

Beautiful scenery from the balcony of our room:

          

I must confess that these pictures do NOT do justice to this beautiful place.  If you EVER have the chance to go to Alaska, GO!!!!!!  I am already contemplating my next trip.  It will be a few years off – but I am already starting the plans.

I LOVE ALASKA!!!

 

 

 

Going, going, gone. . . . .

Currently, I am sitting at my brother’s computer in Vancouver, Washington – just on the other side of the Oregon border. We drove up here yesterday and spent the night with him and his family. It was wonderful to my twin neices – 5 yrs old and their baby brother – 7 months. I LOVE the weather in Washington. I NEED to move to Washington. It was about 70 degrees yesterday – AWESOME!!!! I LOVE the cool weather!!

Now after a very restful night’s sleep – we are putting stuff back in suitcases and getting ready to go to Seattle to get on the ship and we are OFF TO ALASKA! I have decided that I will write, by hand (gasp) some entries about Alaska that I will add to my blog when I get home.

So keep checking back because you never know when I might stumble across an internet cafe in Alaska and add something to the blog. I will keep you posted.

Bon Voyage!

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Happy 4th of July! I am sitting in a small internet cafe in the town of Skagway, Alaska. Look it up on a map. It is the last Alaskan city on our stop. The trip so far has been wonderful. I LOVE ALASKA!!! I want to move to Alaska!

Okay – brief update – of my adventures so far.

Stop 1: Ketchikan, Alaska

We took a horse drawn “bus” tour of the city and learned some of the local history and saw some beautiful, beautiful things. Did you know Ketchikan is a rainforest? It is – honest!

Stop 2: Juneau, Alaska

We spent the least amount of time in Juneau which kind of bothered me because there is SO much to see and do in Juneau. We did go on a Whale Watching tour. We went with a local company – “Orca Tours” and it was the best trip ever. We spent about 2 to 3 hours out on the ocean – which was as calm and smooth as glass – watching these beautiful, gentle giants of the deep – humpback whales – swim and surface all around us. When the boat’s engines were off you could hear them exahaling as they surfaced. Of course, you could also see the water as it rushed out (250 mph) of their blow hole. INCREDIBLE sight! As we were watching the whales, huge American Bald Eagles were flying overhead and swooping down into the ocean to pluck fish from it. AWESOME! I could have stayed on that boat all day, it was very peaceful, very relaxing and beautiful.

NATURE ROCKS!!!

Stop 3: Skagway, Alaska

I am typing this in Skagway. I love Skagway – it is a quaint little town, and I do mean little. We saw part of the 4th of July parade when we first came into town. I REALLY wanted to go to the “Musher’s Camp” where they let you drive a dog sled team and everything. . . . . however, my husband slept a little late this morning and we did not realize how fast the “Musher’s Camp” excursion would fill up. Oh, well, maybe next timed. THERE WILL be a next time – I LOVE ALASKA!!

So, I just decided to do all my shopping here. They have some really big stores here, just for tourists, that have tons of things to buy. So I will shop!

Tomorrow we are stopping at Prince Rupert Island in Canada – I have NO clue to what awaits us there.

The cruise has been awesome. The entertainment each night is hilarious, we have met some really nice people, have had some wonderful food AND the Chocolate Buffet is still coming. Either Thursday or Friday night they will have a chocolate buffet where it will be ALL the chocolate you can eat! Can’t wait!

I have to say that even Mrs. Vermeulen would like the cruise. They have fitness classes almost all day. You can do yoga, pilates, spinning, jogging, weight training etc. I think they have exercise classes that are made up just for people on a cruise ship. I of course am not getting up at 8:00 a.m to do pilates or yoga. I AM on vacation!

Okay – running out of time – literally – just wanted to update my Alasakan adventure.

Watch this space – there is more to come and hopefully I can put pictures in when I get home.

Puppy Love

Crushed By Puppy Love
( A tribute to those first moments when boy sees girl
as something more than a “Cootie Carrier” ).

This is not what I expected
I find it hard to breath
My stomach’s feeling queasy
I walk with weakened knees

I must put on my bravest face
I can’t show my distress
I’m on a roller coaster
I feel a deep need to impress

Sweat glands working overtime
A heart that’s beating fast
Perhaps I should get some help
Perhaps this sickness will not last

I remember when it started
The moment I was woozy
The moment her eyes looked at me
Her smile had been choosey

Now sparks are shooting in my brain
And I find it hard to think
She wrote my name on her notebook
I’ve been taken to the brink

She’s a perfect, flawless angel
Sent from God above
I know what you are thinking
But THIS IS NOT puppy love

There’s no one quite as pretty
There’s no one quite as kind
There just is no one better
You can look, but will not find

My parents offer sage advice
They say this will not last
They say – feelings will go away
Just a memory in my past

How could they know
How she makes me feel
They’ve been married quite a while
And I know this feeling’s real

I think I’m feeling better
It comes as a surprise
I thought I die of ecstasy
By looking in her eyes

Suddenly I’m swept away
The sickness comes anew
Another girl – she looked at me
Now what will I do?

This is not what I expected
I find it hard to breath
My stomach’s feeling queasy
I walk with weakened knees….

- Glenn A. Hascall -

 

 

Quitting – is an option?

This Blog site is still driving me crazy – I am about to quit!!  However, I will trudge along for a few more days – and if it does not get better -I am out of here!