Sunday, July 26, 2009

Well, the busy weekend has officially begun. Last night we met my family for dinner at Rumbi's. It is a restaurant with a Hawaiian theme and good food too. It is definitely a favorite of all ours. Today, I helped my mom at a fundraiser. A local church was helping raise money for mothers and babies in Uganda. My Mom sells Gold Canyon Candles, so she had a booth with her display. If you have never smelled these candles before I highly recommend them. Let's just say I have not bought a Yankee candle in the last five years. Unfortunately the turnout was very low. Hopefully next time they can get the word out about the show.

After helping her load up her car, the mad dash was on to get ready to leave for my workshop in San Diego which starts on Monday. It is amazing all the last minute things you need to do before you leave. My goal was to be in bed my midnight. It is 12:10 right now, so I'm not too far off. I am very excited to be learning about my new position while getting to know other teachers. I also pick up a few good books to read this week during my down time. I am especially looking forward to the cooler temperatures.

It's 12:15 now, so I better get to bed!
C.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

We just got back from visiting my husband's 94 year old grandmother in Tucson. She was visiting her sister last week when she fell and broke her hip!!! She is during remarkably good. In fact, she is doing so well, she will only need a week and a half of intense physical therapy. Next week she will be moving into an apartment in an assisted living facility where her 90 year old sister lives. I know she will be anxious to get back to Kansas later in August, but in the mean time she gets to enjoy the Arizona heat. We will try to make it down again in another week after we get back from San Diego.

I guess I should be thinking about bed. I am having lunch with a friend tomorrow and cleaning house. Fun times!!!

C.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Well I guess it has been awhile since I posted. I can't believe it is July 21st. July is going way too fast!! Yesterday I finally got my gold crown. Nothing is ever simple when it comes to my mouth, but at least this one is finished. I then met my mom for lunch and did some shopping. I guess I'm getting ready to go back to school!!!! I was also able to meet my friend's new baby Lola. She was born on July 4th and is so cute. I don't even think the 110 temperature bothered her at all!!

We have a busy weekend coming up. I'm helping my mom with a fundraiser she is involved in on Saturday. She sells Gold Canyon candles. If you have never smelled them, I highly recommend that you do. They are great! And early Sunday, I will be heading to San Diego. I checked their weather and the highs are in the low 70's!! I have to remember to take a sweatshirt or something. I'm really looking forward to the week. It will be nice to escape the southwest's oven!

I need to go start my meatloaf for supper tonight. I think this is the 3rd time I have made it this summer. It is one of our favorites.

I guess this is the update for now.
C.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Ok...When it's 100 degrees at 10:00 at night, you know that the summer heat has arrived in Arizona. It means that it is time to hunker down or escape somewhere up north. Our highs the next four days will between 110-113!!!! I just have to keep playing in my mind January through February weather back in the Midwest. Shoveling snow, scraping windows, freezing wind chills, and bitter cold nights. Ok...I am better. I'm glad I live in the desert (even in July and August)! My air conditioner and I will become best friends!! Oh by the way, we have yet to turn our furnace on even in the winter!!

Last night I attended two parties at the same time. I'm not sure if you have heard of let'sdotea, but it is a company that offers a wide variety of tea. I love tea and would really like to drink more of it (this time of year I prefer cold tea). But somehow coke in the morning becomes my drink of choice. I'm still trying to drink more water!! Coke just means summertime. Oh well, I'm digressing. My mom and I both went together. We bought some cranberry peach and fresh cherry. We were able to try both and they were very yummy!! They were great cold teas. The other portion of the evening was devoted to Uppercase Living. It is where you can put phrases, scriptures, or other words on your walls (or as I learned last night practically anywhere). I had been thinking about doing this to one of our bare walls in our dining area. I have not quite decided which one I want to get. They had a lot of cute ideas and so very easy.

I decided to be brave and count how many more weeks I have until school starts back up. Much to my surprise it is only 4 1/2 away!!!! The other day I thought it was time to dig through my school bag. I had personally been dreading this since I could kind of remember the stuff I had frantically stuck in the last day of school. But almost two months later, I was tired of looking at it. Can an open bag of pretzels go bad?? I decided not to look, but quickly threw it away. I know why did I keep that? I guess somehow it just found its way to the bottom of my bag. Out of side, out of mind. I know I'm bad!

Well, I hope everyone has a great weekend! As long as our air conditioner stays, we will too!!

C.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

I love summer!! It's a wonderful time to get to do the things I don't normally get to do. Today, I was able to go over to my 91 year old aunt's house for lunch and to play cards (she loves 3 to 13). We had a yummy lunch over at her club house. It was fun to be able to eat lunch while watching those crazy golfers play in the 100 plus temperature! I was glad I was inside. We stopped at Fry's on our way home. I bought some fresh salmon to have for dinner tonight. You can't go wrong with salmon, corn on the cob, and red potatoes for dinner!!

I am watching America's Got Talent wondering if this show is going to suck me in for the summer. I'm not sure yet. I guess I will have to wait and see.

C.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Hope everyone had a nice 4th of July. Besides eating way too much, we had a nice quiet weekend. Half of us were a little under the weather yesterday, but made a nice recovery to end the weekend on a good note.

I was able to talk to my new principal today. She sounded so sweet on the phone. I guess I will be attending a conference at the end of July in San Diego for the AVID program that is being implemented at my school. I know, so tough. My days will be busy, but we will have lots of time to explore the area in the afternoon and evening. I was able to meet her later in the day. I'm really looking forward to being an instructional coach next year.

Tomorrow we are going to go visit my 91 year old aunt who lives in Mesa. She is getting ready to head to Iowa to spend a few months with family and escape the Arizona heat. She lives alone and still gets together weekly with her bridge group.

Well, I guess this is all for now. I want to finish The Shack tonight. Have a great evening.

C.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Happy Fourth of July!!! I hope everyone has an awesome day. I decided to add some patriotic music to my blog for the holiday. I hope you enjoy. I remembered the Sandy Patty rendition of the Star Spangled Banner from 1986, when President Regan celebrated the bicentennial of the the Statue of Liberty (I know this dates me). I thought it was fitting again since they are reopening the crown today. It has been closed since September 11, 2001. I also have included America the Beautiful, by Ray Charles and American Soldier by Toby Keith.

We are celebrating the Fourth with family today. I did make my cupcakes. It's amazing how one box, four eggs, and some oil can taste soooo good. While they may not look like 4th of July cupcakes, they do have a certain birthday look to them, so that is close enough for me! Of course the highlight of the day will be some homemade ice cream!!

I was hoping we were going to get some monsoon rain last night, but I think it right around us. I love thunderstorms!! So if you have some rain falling today, enjoy it for me! I just hope it does not rain out any plans you may have! That is the good thing about rain in Arizona. Here for a few minutes and then gone. I guess we will just have to make do with 100+ temperatures!! I'm not complaining!! We don't have to shovel sunshine or heat!

Remember to thank a veteran or soldier today. Freedom is not free!!

C.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

It has kind of been a lazy day here. I don't think the temperature even made the century mark. Of course, 99 is still pretty hot especially when you are trying to do grocery shopping. We made our weekly trip to Frys and Costco. We really didn't get any groceries at Costco but we did get gas there. I'm making a soup tonight that I have probably not made in a couple of years. It is amazing how you fix something a lot and then you don't have it again for a few years! Oh well, I hope I can remember the recipe since I could not find it! We are living dangerously tonight!

I am going to try salmon patties next time we are at Costco. They were giving samples of it today. I really liked it and I think it would make an easy meal this fall. Sampling there can be lots of fun!!

I'm also trying to decide if I should just buy already decorated cupcakes for this weekend or make my own. I really wanted to make my own, but the thought of starting the oven and going through the work just does not sound fun anymore. Besides the
grocery store's cupcakes look a lot cuter!!

C.