Jasper's in da house

Galadrims Midnight Son or "Jasper" has taken over the house. puppy toys, puppy treats, puppy food, puppy bed, puppy leads & collars. He is leaving his mark. He's a very easy going Aussie. That's not to say he doesn't run laps around the house or want to you to play when trying to get something done but he pretty much just goes with whatever is going on. Even on his first night in a new home he NEVER even cried once! No littermates, no mom, no familiar surroundings and still a happy dog. Of course it helps knowing what he likes since we got him from Tony's sister, Jennifer.

Just wanted to post a picture for everyone to see. Super busy with work, photo class at BPS, scrapbook supply orders arriving almost every day for people, spring cleaning, puppy play time, and tax deadline is looming... I better get on that!

Club 33

OK, so I don't get hour long lunches, and I don't get a yearly bonus, and I don't get tickets to the Dodger playoffs sitting in the executive booths, in fact I don't get really any perks as a teacher. I do work great hours and have fun most days with the one drawback of often having to bring my work home with me. This however was the absolute best "perk" I could ever get. A student on campus found out how much I absolutely LOVE all things Disney and offered up a chance for me and 2 other teachers to eat at Club 33 in Disneyland. 

I jumped, took it and had a great time. All the expected Disney magic and customer service was there and more.

On another note I spent Friday evening with the group that we began 2 years ago for CKU. We've had several additions to our group and only 1 has moved away. There are another 5-6 who we also scrap with that weren't able to make it this time. We support (read enable) each other in our hobby and scrapbook addiction. Even more importantly these get togethers are fun "girly" time.

Catch Up

So CHA (in Anaheim) was over a month ago... I'm finally getting pictures on my computer so I can post one. We 7 girls went to CHA at the end of January. We had a really great time visiting with friends we've made through various corporations and businesses, taking classes and seeing all the new products. 

This last weekend I found myself back in Anaheim. I went for 3 days to a conference for work and the medical academy. We took 2 students with us for demonstrations and they did an awesome job!! Oddly enough I found myself in Anaheim again the next day for Disneyland. This was no ordinary trip though...

A WONDERFUL student who found out how nuts I am about disneyland and Disney in general has all the right connections and I went to Club 33 with 3 others for lunch. Let me just say, it was a once in a lifetime chance for me. As soon as I get those pictures on my computer I will post one. I even got out of there with Club 33 mouse ears.

It Never Rains in Southern California

Never believe everything you hear. The last 10 days have only brought 3 without rain- or snow in Palmdale.

On the other side it is Southern California and what better way to spend winter weekends than at Disneyland?

Exactly!!

January is full of birthdays for our family and that means lots of visits to see Mickey! Colby, Jennifer, and Zachary's birthdays were celebrated there. 

Me time

I spent yesterday at Remember When scrapbooking with friends. The group in the picture is most of us that went to CKU last June, 4 are missing. There were another 6 there with us from a variety of connections. It was great to have such a large group of us together. Usually its just Trish and me or we catch up with Lori, Steph, and Amy. I had a good time but in the 11 hours there I didn't get nearly as much done as I would have at home. I will have to take a few photos of what I did and post later. There was much too much socializing going on but a large part of this is about friends and enjoyment. Thanks for the fun girls!

Life in California

Sometimes I love my job. I got paid for this:

I spent last Saturday working. We went to Ventura Beach, ate lunch at a resturant on the beach, then went to a Winery for wine tasting-and got paid for it too. We were collaborating on next years program. We really did work a little. Honest.

I'm on spring break this week; trying to catch up on everything that needs to be taken care of; things we haven't had time to deal with. I leave on Monday for a Conference in San Diego for 3 days. Oddly enough it is at a hotel on the beach. I will be home for 2 weeks before I leave for another conference - no idea where.

In between conferences we did get tickets to see 3 Doors Down and Puddle of Mudd. We will be going to Vegas in April for Vacation. Yes, I am on Spring Break now but Tony can't get off work. In late April after my tax collecting friends finish their "year" we get to get away for a girls weekend and scrapbook. To top it off somewhere in there I REALLY want to go to Disneyland. Its been ages (Well, OK, since December) my passes are collecting dust. I have all of June, July and half of August for R&R.

I can't believe that there is only 9 weeks of school left - 9. One will be for AP testing, one will be for CST's and the last week for finals. That only leaves 6 teachable weeks - 35 days. Woo Hoo! Only 35 more lesson plans before summer. But really, who's counting????

Zach has been busy with his first real semester of college and auditions (now that there is work again). Amanda has another car to drive now that Sparky has been replaced by Charlie, a '99 Camry.

Spring must have arrived in So Cal, we're all coming out of doors now that the 45 -55 degree days are fading away. Boy am I glad I live here.

Huntington Library and Gardens

Photography is what started the whole scrapbooking thing. Sometimes its just nice to go back to the basics. I did nothing to this photo but add the "frame" The second picture I saturated the colors a little and added the frame overlay.

The banner was a picture I took on the same trip. This trip was mostly flowers; we went months ago but I have just gotten around to "managing" the photos. Sometimes its all about the architecture, sometimes the people I go with, and sometimes the flowers.

On a side note: Guess who will be at House of Blues on Sunset May 3rd - Puddle of Mudd. Guess where I'll be on May 3rd. Tony mentioned it yesterday when were we discussing what a great time he had at the Linkin Park concert. He does pay attention after all - most of the time.