Building a Story

I just came from a funeral... Funerals are not my favorite thing whatsoever but I've been to my fair share... Like maybe 3-5 every year since I was like 5 years old. 

Today was slightly different. Yes it was very nice, family spoke, the priest sang, music was played and so on... The difference was there was a band! In the mortuary, there was a band set up. 

Carmen was an extremely lively woman who had an extreme passion for dancing, hence the band. I had known her since birth. She worked at the Mendocino State Hospital with my grandpa and they all went dancing on a regular occasion. My mom always thought very highly of her and her family. It was a very nice service, listening to her sons and granddaughters speak about her and her life and all the really neat things that she did. 

My favorite parts were their stories about the dancing. Carmen met her husband one summer dancing, she danced late every weekend even when she had to work early, she even organized dances at our senior center later in life. The music played today was fun, old, good, solid music. And it reminded me so much of when I was a little kid and my grandpa was always dancing. It got me thinking about all of the traditions in families and communities that are lost over time. 

Dancing... How many of us can dance?? I don't mean rubbing up against each other and twerking... I mean actual dances, 10 step, waltz, old fashioned dancing?? So many of the stories today were about all of the fun times that were associated when Carmen and her husband and friends would go out to dance. 

Nowadays when kids or early 20-year-olds go out with friends all they do is drink. Is that really the tradition that we want people to remember? I've never been a big drinker, so for me it's not a huge deal. But I know so many people that can't go out with friends and have a really good time without changing themselves, so to speak. 

I think there are so many things that we are missing out on because we are infiltrated by cell phones, social media, alcohol, drugs and whatnot. We're missing those traditions to carry-on to children and friends because we're "so busy" rushing through life...  

Those stories of good times with others are what people remember... It's good to slow down, take some time, be with each other and enjoy that time... Because once it's gone, we never get it back. 

Make it a good story! 

Picture story: Remember when we went to the giants game and got hulk hands?!

Picture story: Remember at National Convention, it was Halloween and we walked to Joe's Crab Shack and we waited two hours in the rain and the kids learned to line dance in a downpour?!

Summer... A Blessing and A Curse

It is officially summer! Woohoo! Right?!

Now, I may be the only one who feels this way but summer really isn't my thing. I am definitely a creature of habit and routine, so summer kinda screws with that. People always say don't you get tired of the commute, late nights and endless phone calls and texts from kids? Uh not really...

I thrive on the routine provided by the school year. While occasionally, I could pull out all my hair from the stress, piles of paperwork, countless meetings and endless student questions. I completely love it. My days are planned, productive and predictable. I like that shiz.

I've been out of school for just over a week now and my life has been anything but planned, productive or predictable. For starters I've been San Francisco 5 of 10 days... For both good and not so good. Spent last Saturday and Sunday at the Healdsburg Relay for Life with my kiddos. I have been at school a couple of days, cleaning and meeting about the building of my new classroom. I will say, last week I cleaned my house top to bottom and that was EXTREMELY productive and much needed. haha...

Summer is complete chaos. So many things going on with no really structure. I'm still in the Master's program at Chico State, so keeping on top of classes without planned time has become a struggle. I have a couple weddings coming up, a conference in SLO next week (completely pumped) and a couple weeks of laid back relaxation in the future.

I guess I will manage, but I feel like I waste so much time during summer. Maybe it's because I read most nights till midnight and then find it difficult to get up at a reasonable time?

In the last 10 days, I have gone to 2 SF Giants games, so that can totally continue...

 With my kiddos, Top 20 Trip on Thursday

 Met my Bestie on Friday night at the game...

Gotta love how fancy Club Level is!

Cheers to Summertime!!! Before we know it, school will be back in session... I better get things started if I plan to complete them before August 12th.

P.S. Thanks to everyone for the messages, calls, comments and concern about my mom... She's home, doing good and we are watching (and listening to) lots of baseball.

 

Happy Fathers Day to all the great dads out there!!!!



Especially my dad... He's a badass... And a complete pain in the booty! Love ya Grumpy! 

Fair Time is FUN Time!

This past week has been completely wild... Lots going on, lots of big news, lots of crazy!

This next week is the beginning of the Healdsburg Fair. And well in Healdsburg... it is quite possibly the largest local attraction all year. People go crazy for this little country fair, Friday is even a "local holiday" and so there is no school. And by little, I mean they hold the dang thing on the football field. There are animal barns and food booths and to me that's all ya really need at a fair! The cool part is all the food booths are community organizations, so no huge random fair carnies selling greasy corn dogs.

I've mentioned that my program is small (less than 100) and at the fair I will have about 35 kids with animals. I have mostly enjoyed all the kids and animals this spring. It's been a huge change for me, moving my mindset to a May fair instead of a July/August fair. Now, I still have kids showing at our county fair in July and August but really just a handful of veterans that are pretty low maintenance.

Working on pen decorations

Even got the boys working on educational displays!

I have been pretty impressed with most of my kids this year. Some have really just gone above and beyond with their animals. There are always some kids that don't really meet their potential but I feel like most have really tried. I'm pretty excited to see how the week goes... Let's cross our fingers for no drama!

P.S. Went to the Giant's Game last night! Had so much fun! In good company too... We got Fedoras as the giveaway... And of course my fat head was too big! We got hulk hands too! Pretty awesome!

Pretty sad about my fedora 

Had a great night!

Wednesday Wisdom from a Young Owl

Have I mentioned I loooooooooove Disneyland? It is hands down my favorite place in the world. Something about it just calms me, brings out the inner kid in me and allows me to be a princess (besides to my dad). But.....

There's another place that ranks up there pretty high on my list of awesome... AT&T Park in San Francisco! Home of the amazing San Francisco Giants! I love the Giants and going to games. Something about being at the baseball park enjoying a cold beverage and some caramel corn is COMPLETELY relaxing. In the last couple years since moving back to Northern California, Giants games are something that I've worked to make a priority. In the late part of the school year (and summer) a baseball game is that little weekend pick-me-up that a girl needs. 

The spring is a hectic time in the life of an ag teacher... 

State degrees

Conferences

Proficiencies

Field trips

Fair animals

Fundraisers

Judging teams

Speakers

Agriscience

Etc, etc, etc. the list could go on....

But there's a little glimmer of relaxation for me in Giants games. It's a time to escape reality of responsibility, deadlines, phone calls and what not... It's an afternoon of orange and black bliss. Whether I attend the game with my parents or friends, it is always a great afternoon. 

As weeks speed up, deadlines approach and my to-do list gets longer, I can't help but watch games on TV and wish I was there. That's my wisdom for the week-- we work too hard to not have something that helps us escape even if for just an afternoon, something that brings joy and relaxation to our lives. Because if we do not have a clear head and relaxed mind, we cannot fully educate students of what we know. Some of the most important things Ag teachers teach, occurs outside the classroom. In a world full of technology and everything being instant, take time to unplug and relax... Enjoy America's pastime, Baseball! Unless you're a dodgers fan... Well then you stink! Lol

Happy Wednesday!