trip to the emergency room

i got the garage door fixed yesterday. it was as cold as a witches...and they came the same day i called. so i can park in the shelter again. i even have that side cleaned out!

i went out for happy hour sliders at the local tavern and when i got home there were wrappers around the family room. cory hadn't put away his xmas loot and the dogs got into it. there were the remnants of 2 candy bar wrappers and 2 orbit gum packs. i remember getting an email from az. gal pal sharon roberts about the sweetener Xylitol. it is poison to dogs. it makes their blood sugar drop and can cause convulsions and damage their liver.

i called the local emergency vet and they told me it is serious and to bring them in. one pack of orbit has twice the limit for 50# darby. they got their stomachs pumped. by the results of their stomachs, apparently darby was the worst gum eater and york the worst chocolate eater. the dark chocolate is much worse than milk chocolate. after 2 1/2 hrs and $450 i brot them home. they couldn't have any water for 12 hrs or food for 24. in addition york had to have a charcoal infusion to stop the chocolate absorption. they were not happy campers but all is well this morning.

more snow last night. another 2 inches! i complain about the snow but it has been helping with the weight loss. 17 1/2 # so far...

so...be careful of the food around the house...and despite everything, the dogs are still cheaper than a husband!

the sunday after..

well we survived the christmas days! i went to travis and cheryl jones house for xmas eve. they and their three kids, ryan, josie and jake had the jones family xmas. they have made me an honary member. mom judy jones was there...my tropical travel buddy. penny and john lawrence with their kids shauna and tyler...penny and i are pals and mexican food aficionado. jennifer and paul lovelace too. they are all siblings. they took me in after dale left. i had a great time eating shrimp and exchanging gifts.

i got home about 930 and the garage door wouldn't open but about 3 feet. in my finest xmas attire i crawl under the door to discover the spring on the garage door had broken. the biggest storm in 20 years had started. cory was off at nadines house having the other xmas. at about 4am cory called to say he was stuck in the snow on a main road 10 blocks from the house. he had stopped by to see his longtime pal, jon bury. the wind was howling and the windchill was very low. no AAA card in his wallet. i hear the door open about 430 and a guy heading home stopped by and helped them move the car onto a side street and brot them home. the nice guy works at olive garden. so at 430 we had the stockings down and started our xmas.

the tree is magnificent. i have ornaments from all the travels and adventures. cory's preschool ornaments have their own quadrant. i look at the tree and remember going to san juan capistrano with patty and the little boys when cory was 6 or 7. we took the train from santa ana and had a great adventure. there is an ornament from catalina. it has Rosie's at the end of the pleasure pier. i remember going there as a child with the johnsons and with marty just last spring. there are some from BVI and my trips with judy, hawaiian shirts and ones from rome, paris, london, venice and all over.

the dogs have been having a great time in the snow. between 7-10 inches. the most snow in ages and it came off and on for 3 days. it took about 4 hours for me to blow the snow off the driveway and sidewalks. then we got another 2 inches. maybe i can even get a pic or two!

happy new year to all!

wow it's just a few days till christmas. the weather alternates between cool and cold. the forecast is for a white christmas. the tree is up and cory is home. they dogs are napping. they get to spend a lot of time resting. most of the shopping is done. the house is a wreck and the garage is worse. there is always the frustrating part of what to do next...i guess i'll just have to follow moms advice...make a list!

i went to weight watchers last night and , as they say, there is 15 # less of me. i wasn't too sure what to expect as i had gained 1 1/2 # the previous week. not sure what i did right or wrong although i did indulge in some christmas cookie madness. i think working in the garage did help.

i've decided on the xmas menu. prime rib, twice baked mashed potatoes, green salad and phyllo crusted pumpkin pie. i' didn't realize that most of the calories are in the crust. since the crust isn't my favorite part it's an easy fix.

i almost got to go to italy and germany this coming summer but it fell through. maybe spain and portugal next year! i may have to stay here for the summer...what the heck? i guess i'll just have to put up the wading pool. anyone interested in coming to kansas? i'm not so sure if it's kansas or me. it must be kansas!

merry christmas to everyone. may this new year be the year of your dreams!

ah, the holidays are on us!

it's sunday and there will be 2 weeks of school monday before the winter break. it's been gradually getting colder. the rain turning to sleet turning to snow is happening outside. i noticed this when the dogs came in from their romp and the paw prints appeared on the clean (sort of clean) kitchen floor. off to the tub for a nice footbath. the tree is up and looks great. cory brot up all the boxes after thanksgiving.

i've been doing some shopping and bargin hunting. the dillards clearance center is having 60% off the lowest ticket so i got 60$ jeans for 9$. they even fit. i rejoined weight watchers and have lost 11.5# as of last monday...the verdict isn't in for this week. i keep waiting for the gains to come but 5 weeks and it's a steady drop. i haven't seen the effects in my clothes or face yet so it doesn't seem too real.

cory has been home for the last 2 weekends. he's got 2 weeks left too then he has 1 month off. i think mom is laughing...he comes home, takes over the TV, eats whatever is handy and the house looks like firefighters have been dopping their pants all over. even with all of that it's great to have him home. he's planning on moving home when school is out in may.

cory wants to teach. i suggested he get a special ed certificate. he may be able to get a job as a para educator while taking classes. that way he can get the experience in his field and get paid. i told him he'll have to pay rent and groceries if he moves home so he'll need a job.

with the warm weather i haven't been feeling to low this year. i don't have summer plans so i don't have anything to look forward to after school is out. i have to box up my room and move to the high school. i'll know more about the specifics in january when we meet for the first time at the new school. it will be sad to leave my friends. i've worked with some of them for 9 years. that's a long time for me. there are some of the greatest people i've ever worked with. i can't imagine having a better place to work. i'll survive and will thrive.

happy holidays to all.

a day to play...or clean

we had marathon parent conferences for the last two days. so as a favor to the staff we have friday off. so by 1030 am i have edited cory's paper, done a load of dishes, 2 loads of laundry and eaten cinnamon toast. oh yes and fought york for a bra and undies from the clean laundry basket.

it is cold, 40, and windy so yard work is not in my future. it rained the last 2 days. the acorns are thick in the grass and lots of those leaves that everyone says are so beautiful are coating the yard. it's this time of year i truly hate kansas. the fall leaves are pretty only if you don't have to rake them. i have been the yard blowing process but it takes weveral times to get all the leaves off the trees and out of the yard. without moving them the grass dies and mud is the spring fun. the carpet, bed and dogs wreak havoc.

so my mind turns to the interior...my favorite part of home keeping. i blame my dad for the fact that i can't just pick up but have to deep clean. so i will do the corners and move the furniture. there are pee spots on the carpet that need to be hot shotted. then who knows what will turn up.

cory leaves tonight for his 2nd cousin's wedding in the st louis area. he's planning for a good time.

there is not much else new my life. i don't even have plans to travel this summer. i'll probably spend the same amount of money working on the house. i really need a big storm...mama needs a new roof.

******* cold weather

i suppose it couldn't hold. the summer wasn't as sticky or as hot as usual. so they say since i wasn't here much. but the fall was as good as it gets. 70's and 80's which is perfect to my point of view. unfortunately all good things must pass and so has the nice weather. highs have dropped to the 40's and of course the heater isn't working. i called the service company but they can't come till tomorrow. the space heaters worked fine as long as i stayed near them. the dogs don't care too much but at night they were cozied up next to me. the days have been grey too. none of this does well for my disposition.

saturday was carla's 51st birthday. of cousre i had it on the calendar but then didn't notice it. we were going to go out to dinner when ruth called. she and her family have been friends of carla's for many years. their daughters went to oak park elem together. oddly cory was their youngest tim's 6th grade buddy when he was in first grade. anyway we went there for dinner. her husband ron has been working in las vegas as a construction manager. he too had lost his steady job and got this gig. so he flies back to ks every few weeks.

school is much the same. the kids this year are nice and bright but could stand a bit more motivation. i guess i shouldn't complain...they are good and as compliant as 9th graders should be. there is a night football game tonight. last year was the first one we'd done and i do say that i was sleptical about a night game for freshmen but the kids had a blast. it took me back to the first time cory played baseball under the lights. so i've changed my view. i'll be doing the announcing. it's going to be in the 40's so the press box will have it's advantages. the kids are getting hyped up for it.

the flu has hit us in kansas too. i've been averaging 3-4 kids missing each day. today is the last week of the first quarter. we're watching roman polanski's "oliver twist". the kids take notes over the movie. i want them to look at the structures of scoiety, the lives of the people, education and technology. since we're studying the industrial revolution in UK. it will also give the kids absent a chance to catch up.

cory was all excited to get his first A on a college paper. not bad for a senior. he's taking alot of history. civil war, sin cities and the like. he's living with andrew and working. he got a job w/ ku athletic dept in their game parking lots. ah to be in college again with mom and dad paying the bills!

well i better be getting back to enjoying the weather...

pennautier in the languedoc

i just spent 3 hours figuring out how to get pics on the blog and the b letter bounces my curser so i have to retype a bunch. all i got was the previous entry. so to keep my frustration level low i'll load a few areas at a time and it will be like touring france again! god knows that i need a diversion.


the bridge over the fesquel river is 2 lane and the petenque courts are just above the kids on the
bank

we stayed out in pennautier about 5 min NW of carcassonne. it is small and the house is in the OLD part of the village. the house itself has 3 floors 1 1/2 baths and 2 bedrooms. it was only 11x30 feet so about 1000 sf. there is no back door just the openings on the front. the whole house couldn't be photo'd since the street was about 2 small car width's wide. at the end of the street, we had to pull in the side mirrors to get out. motor scooters are very poplar.

these stairs went up to my room on the 3rd floor. they were very steep and i never drank anything after dinner.

many of the lentels in the town and dates of 16--. it is very lively. these kids lived within a few doors of ours. they came by every evening. they all have dogs at home.

every night we drove by these petenque courts at the bridge the men were playing. we stopped to watch and they let me take pictures. they reminded me of don drew and his friends. not sure but they seemed to meet and play a few fames before heading home to eat dinner. some watched and some played but they all had ongoing conversations. i didn't see any beer but maybe they had drunk it all. just a sociable, lively group of friends or neighbors.

saturday

every day in pennautier the neighborhood kids came to visit. they wanted to know about us and america and practice their english. they all took it in school. morgana, the only girl in the bunch, has a great command of english. they were all characters and loved that we'd spend lots of time talking to them and had cookies and candy. when we got home, we sent a package of pokeman cards and lanyard lacing. also included the movie "twister" to show them what kansas is like!

i'm home

i figured that i've been home 4 weeks out of 11 this summer. this is the longest stint before school starts. we reported for work thursday last. i've had my dream about school so i must be ready...

the house was in one piece and peace. the dogs are happy and well and cory calm and alive. he has been working for the 2nd summer at the parks and rec. working at the ball fields mowing, cleaning and sweating. school starts for him in a week or so. he's rented an apartment with his buddy andrew corson. they have been buddies since they played baseball together in 7th grade. cory has one more year and andrew graduates in december.

cory and his friend jon bury have taught york to sit without a treat as an inducement. i think darby can do it too!

tomorrow the real start of work begins with the annual content in service happens. thank god it is only a few hours in the morning. the school board has finally decided to go ahead with the grade level reconfiguration. it is official...next year high will be 9-12, junior high 6-8 and elementary k-5. as i understand it this has been driven by the advent of full day kindergarten. so it looks like i'm going to the high school next year. the potential to teach more than 9th grade is open. they will also add a pre AP 9th grade world history. finally...i've been advocating this for the 7 years i've been in olathe.

i've also been hanging out with gal pal judy. we've been travel buddies to the Caribbean. she is the aunt in law of my old husband. she was the only one in his entire family to call me when dale left. i will be forever grateful for her friendship. one of the things we do is get into living right. she is big into self help. we talk about diet and exercise and all things that will make our lives better. we talk alot, do some and wish for more!

we have been making recipes for a weeks worth of food and shopping for food some. she also introduced me to a new card game phase 10. it is by the makers of the card game uno. lots of fun and a bit addictive. her daughter penny and have also known each other for quite a while. we often go to movies or our to eat mexican food. she is alot like her mom. in fact they work together in the real estate office. ERA manning of kansas.

wow time flies

it is already july 16th.  i leave for kansas in about 5 days.  vida is in the east picking up emily.  they'll be back sat nite so off to the airport then.  i have 3 days on my own here at the cottage.  i rolled out of bed at 830 this am.  got the paper, read it...such that it is.  then got in work clothes to paint.  

got the edging done and there is one spot on the front corner that i can't get to.  the step ladder has too big a footprint and the extension ladder is too awkward for me to move onto the deck.  i have to wait for the wanderers to return.  i ran some errands for the house including installing a hand held shower for the 2nd bath.  

right now i'm cooking brownies  and watching the grey whales blow as they eat in front of the house just like nearly every night.  there were two adult bald eagles playing tag off the bluff with a large non adult watching from a safe distance.  the boats are sailing and pounding the waves. 

 kite sailors are flying every which way.  it is hard to figure which kite goes with which sailor. from here it looks like they will tangle all the time but i've never  seen it happen.  the coast guard moves out into the bay for a look see and the ferries are on their crisscross schedule to whidbey.  

the olympics are all cragy and look closer than they are.  i see them and don't understand why they are so hard to paint.  yet, i know only a few get them right.  mt ranier is just a bit to the southeast and dominates that quadrant.  there is only a slight breeze up here but i see whitecaps breaking on the bay.

the trip up to vancouver was great fun.  we ate and drank in unaccustomed style.  we stayed on the 29th floor with a gorgeous views of west vancouver and the bay beyond.  the little balcony had a glass rail.  it can still feel my knees weak thinking about walking out there.  the city is in full pre olympic build.  high rises are finishing up.  the olympic village nearly done.  the vancouver hockey stadium sits at the edge of the water with high rises west and chinatown east and oddly a costco across the street under the apartments.  location, location, location!  everything was green and clean and crisp.  we window shopped, well i actually bought, on robsen street.  we went to the rembrant exhibit at the vancouver art museum.  i think i need to talk to my accountant...i do teach that era of history!  the pass thru border and customs was easy both ways...less than an hour.  vida told me tho to not say a word as the customs agents asked the standard questions.  ah, she knows me well!

vidas dad is 89 1/2 and hard of hearing.  he is a trial to her and a joy. he is in good health with full use of faculties sans the hearing.  walking into his house is like walking onto the factory floor without earplugs.  we have done some chores for him.  yesterday i was up on his roof power washing the roof and gutters.  2 downspouts were clogged.  i was barefoot and saved myself the price of a pedicure.  we also have wacked away at some shrubs.  he has been miffed at comcast since the all digital changeover.  he lost some channels so i have been working on that for him.  we got cable boxes and upgraded his service so he can get golf and old movies.  i did learn that the que on the phone is substantially shorter if you say you are not a current subscriber.  13 min wait vs 2 min!  as i always say you never know where you're going to learn.

sunny days

potlatch beach is as sunny as it gets.  it is about 80 and that's the best seattle has to offer.  we have been busy.  vida picked out a new color for her cottage.  kind of a sea green. sooo....

we've been painting.  only the front and one side are to be painted.  the rest is natural cedar shingles which look very nice.  the painting is going very smoothly but the eves are a bitch.  two coats since it's been ages since it was painted.  the house is only one coat of b. moore fancy stuff. thank god!

 the cottage has been added onto several times.  there are rafters overlapping rafters....we had to get the extension ladder from the other house and it was delivered by another friends husband...nothing is easy or simple.  vida climbed onto the roof to paint the eves and siding.  she's delicate but not necessarily agile any more.   it was a riot.  the  steep pitch of the roof made it necessary for me to abandon my eve painting on the front and hold the ladder steady.  the view over the sound and onto the olympics was just breath taking from the higher elevation.  when i turned 180 there was vida contorted trying to get the bits way up between the two rooflines painted.  oh my god!  i nearly giggled my way off the ladder.

vida's dad (89)  is driving up from bellevue for the afternoon.  i think hamburgers are on the menu. mmmmm.....  she got her stove changed over from natural gas to propane yesterday.  we had marty's clamguini.  it is one of my all time favorites.   tomorrow is the 3rd and we're headed to vancouver b.c.  with another friend sue.  i didn't realize the 2010 winters are being held there.  everything should be getting spruced up.  more when i return!

saturday at potlatch

a perfect day.  it's the kind of summer day in seattle that makes you ask yourself why aren't i living in seattle.  

we didn't go anywhere but around the  cottage.  it really is that.  there are 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. there is a utility/office and the rest is open to the view of everett bay.  the interior has been upgraded by vida and tom over the years.  but it is quirky at its best but elegant in that comfortable beach way.  not all things are plumb or square and i understand this winter when there were arctic blasts some of the pipes froze and space heaters couldn't add enough to really warm you.  but... you still wish you could live here.

vida's daughter emily is catching a plane to penn for 3 weeks of dance camp.  it's her first time alone but at 15 she's been around the world a few times...literally.  em is a bit nervous and i'm sure vida and tom are too but they are all stoic in letting their fledgling lift off.

i'm sitting in the front room looking out on the incredible view.  the mukeltio ferry's are making their runs to whidbey island passing each other on their route.  being saturday there are all kinds of sailboats, cabin cruisers and even dinghys l enjoying the sun and water.

tide was out around mid day and there were several boats out on the mud flats/sand bars.  one rather large cabin cruiser appeared to be enjoying the afternoon waiting for the tide to comeback in and let them leave for home.  another small skiff was out there and its occupants were out walking of the flats.  it's about the same place the whales were out playing last night.

it's now 530pm and the tide is mostly in, the wind has kicked up and i've had a bit of dinner and aperitif just waiting for the whales to arrive.  all looks right with the world from here.

thursday from seattle

i'm sitting here at my pal vida's house on potlatch beach just north of everett washington.  i've been here for a day and a half.  it's always good times here on the res.  it's been overcast but not really rainy...you know the typical june seattle day.  

it's about 7pm and we're listening to the beach boys on the mac and watching the tide come in.  just a few minutes ago the daily visit of grey whales started.  they are about 300 feet off the bulkhead.  we're up about 130 feet on the high bank.  there are usually two but today they are spouting and eating together.  just like pals visiting and eating.  their flukes are often about 3 feet out of the water.  

to top that off there is a bald eagle that landed in the tree about 40 feet from the house.  vida says it often roosts there.  

i have pictures that i'm not sure i can upload.  we're just 45 minutes north of downtown seattle but there is no sound of cars, planes or trucks.

14 june sunday

we're in avignon. the popes palace is nice but it's hot today. yesterday we were in lyon. we drove down from paris.

lyon was at one time the center of frances silk industry. we looked and looked for this place that makes thier own designs. it was a site i found on the internet at home. like all our adventures it takes three trips and four retracings to get where we were planning to go! it was in a courtyard near the hotel de ville of lyon. they had beautiful hand painted and hand screened scarves qnd ties. i spent my fortune on them. lyon is a very pretty city on a point of the rivers rhone and ???

down to avignon and warm weather. the place were staying is 20 min from the city and a million miles from civilization at the end of a track. i'll be home in " days and will catch up on posts there.

11 june thurs

wow! we made it to paris. lets see what we've done.

we went to mont ste michel. 1000 steps up they say! i say thank god they aren't all in a line. there is a village along the bottom of the abbey. the causeway out to the rock is for driving and parking. they post the high tide time and tell you which lot has to be vacated before the posted time. i didn't know that it the rock was used pre roman times and in the 1700 and 1800 as a prison. the benidictines returned in about 1967. it is spectacular and the views are incredible. the only draw back was the rain. we had rain since we left the south but it mostly went away when we were out in the sites.

that night we stayed in a farmhouse owned by some brits. it was the least interesting of the places so far. we also went to st malo where they have the first tidal energy dam. it was really neat to see. tide was coming in and racing thru the turbines. regina was a bit bored but i was fascinated.

the next day was the sites of d-day. it was quite surreal inTHAT THE 65TH ANNiVERSARY WAS THE SATURDAY BEFORE. THERE WERE reenactors all over the place. they were for the most part wearing US uniforms but speaking french and the queens english. they have an impressive array of WW2 us army vehicles. i guess thats not too surprising because the us left most everythingthey brot over in 41 in the uk and france. i talked to some of the guys and it's really big like it is in the US. some even travel to the us for gatherings. they were often men and women in their 20's and 30's as well as older folks. going to utah, pont du hoc, omaha juno beaches and seeing guys in us army uniforms with vintage military jeeps, convoy trucks and staff cars was unbelievable!

we stayed at the neatest b&b in eu that night. we had another adventure getting there. we almost got stuck on a farmers track . the ruts got so bad that we bottomed out several times. the cows came to the fence thinking we were bring dinner! on the third try we found it about 9pm. the bedroom was about 20x20 with a huge bathroom. the owner had been born there and was part of the original beaumonts who controlled the area for 700+ years. i thought of barb and wayne.

so yesterday we went to dinkirk. the bray dunes north is where the evacuations of several hundred thousand french, british and belgiun troops off the beaches that were cut off by the germans in 1939. there are still german bunkers that had built after that.

we later went to vimy and the canadian WW1 memorial. there are still trenches and bomb craters in the area that have never been flattened in intervening 90 years; they have several semi restored trenches that i have alot of pictures of.

i'll give you more info tomorrow about chartres, versailles and paris. just realized that we have less than a week left! so sad. regina is a great traveling companion.

7 june 2009 sunday

we are now moving into northern france. yesterday we left the warmth of the south and met the wind and rain. we arrived in rocamador about 1pm with a light drizzle and only three reversals. we are getting much better at reading a map and french roadsigns. we've begun to love roud abouts since we can read the signs over again if we need to!

our last night in pennautier we are at the local chateau du pennautier. they have a restraunt and wine room. our dinner wasset for 730 but about 710 the raIN CLOUD LET LOOSE. we were dressed in our traveling finest. everything below coat line was drenched and the alley was running about 6" of torrent. we drove around the town once and the rain stopped. we decided to change got there dry. the food was very good and the dessert was wonderfu!

regina was complaining about her knee after hiking the stairs up to the town and then following the 14 stations of the cross about 1000 ft up to the top. the grand staircase was a trial but it was easier when we found out that the pilgrims went up on their knees.

tody we went to chambourd. very impressive. we finally found our hote but will need gas before we get out of town. more when we get another computer. our host is letting us use their computer. xxxooo

6-5-09 fri

so yesterday was a driving day...we thought that going to mezemet, castres and castelendury would be a good days adventure. up into the montaigne noir!

we got sidetracked by the grotte limousis. it is a limestone cavern with stalagtites, stalagmites, etc. i took alot of pics there but still can't upload easily. the cave was cool and beautiful. the climax of the tour was a light and sound show in a room with crystal formations.

on the way to mezemet regina read of a town called hautpoul. very authentic and on the way. we drove up a lane that is almost a broken single line on american maps. at the end is a parking lot and a madonna on the high point of the outcropping. there was a small road down to the village. the guide said those with a car can drive there so down we went. i missed the no entry sign and regina said LATER that she thot i knew what i was doing!

the first hairpin turn was a 3 point turn for me and i had the car leaning against the house wall. the next obsitacle was an archway. there already was a car parked by it. i pulled the mirror in and lined up. better judgemet arrived and another 3 point turn got us out.

the madonna of hautpoul has a commanding view of the mountains and valleys below. we parked in the lot this time and hiked up. the village and ruins were lofty and looked inaccessable. there were lots of thank yous to the madonna. i had visions of girls trying to get pregnant and consumating their desires atop the rocky hill top. don't know why that vision but i teach jr hi...what can i say!

back at the house we were planning on having glacee with the neighbor across the alley. it never worked out and we were left pondering if we had understood her, or the time, day or intentions. kind of like expecting to meet someone at the designated time and place but being there wondering where the communication breakdown occurred!

we are like the pied pipers in the neighborhood. kids up and down the alley come to visit. i think there are 6 regulars and we added 3 more yesterday. last night we added 2 parents to the group. the language barrier only adds to the comedy. everyone speaks a little of a common language. french, english or spanish.

today is the last full day in carcassonne. we went to ville basse in the city and walked around. we wanted a vegeterian pizza for lunch. it came with cheese, olives and tuna. not quite what we had in mind. at least no anchovies!

tomorrow we leave early for rocamodor and limoges. we don4t know if we will find an internet for a while so think kindly of us while we travel north. bonne jour!

3 june 09 wed

so what have we done...sunday we went to the cite. the old part of carcassonne: the medeivel city. it was raining until about noon. then it was great. we toured the castle this time. really interesting. the views from the fortress were 30-40 miles. the church was open and is spectacular.

the house is tiny and dark. all the neighbor kids stop by. they love to try english. we were doing vocabulary monday. last night the 10 yr old from around the corner brot his english workbook. they learn daily and have quizes. pretty good but the written is easier than spoken for me too! they stay up till about 10 pm playing in the alley. there were parents out there too visiting with neighbors. regina feeds them chocolate and cookies too. she's not a teacher for nothing!

yesterday we went to minerve. the city is on a point where the canyon turns back on itself. in 1210, 140 cathars were burned at the stake. it is really pretty and isolated. we went to caunes minervois to see elisabeth who carla, anna and i stayed with 2 years ago. i had a framed picture of her and her son lars. he is now living in australia. her husband is still the same...sleeping at 11 AM after too much wine the night before.

her house is still for sale at 850,000 € with 4 ensuite bedrooms and 3 attached apartments. the pool is nice and has a view of the valley. such a deal!

we've been driving the heck out of the region

narbonne was very pretty then off to rennes le chateau of da vinci code fame. up at the top of a lane and 1/2 car wide road i knocked off part of the spring housing - not important parts- on the way up practicing like parnelli jones. the church is small but quite decorated. just as odd as the book makes it out. alot of new ager shops up there too but it really is a hamlet 20 min from the stores of couiza. not a place i'd need to see again.

today was biezers and bize minervois. the cathars were slaughtered there in the 1210 crusades. some 20,000 killed by the pope and king of france in an unholy crusade to add the aude to the kingdom of france. the famous quote is "kill them all and let god sort out the christians in heaven".

in bize we went to the olive coop. i only spent 30€ this time. the pincholine olives are the best.

on the drive to biezers, regina got her first look at a town market. it is quite big stretching for 20 blocks or more! didn't spend much.

our biggest fight of the trip has been how to get the f...ing gasoline into the car at the credit card pumps. in 5 trys it hasn't worked yet.

more later...xxxooo

1-june-09 or monday. i know it's monday!

i'm in carcassone at a cyber cafe. holy shit! the key board is all different. so what have we done...the air trip went very well.

we bypassed barcelona and drove straight to lloret de mar. it reminded me of san juan capistrano beach. hotels and condos everywhere. it took us 3 hotels to find the right place. we had to pee so it made it that much funnier. we both had booked a massage thinking the trip would be tense. it was. the gal spoke french or spanish only but not a word of english. it was a good massage but the instructions took much longer to understand than normal.

the drive from there to cadaques was spectacular. the rocky cliffs were punctuated by sandy coves or bays that had condos or towns. it seemed very remote even tho there were towns every 20 km or so. it must be beautiful to sail along.

cadaques is the home town of dali. it is also a fishing village. we didn't go to see his house but it is touted to be a bit odd. go figure. the hotel was in the next cove - port llegat. quiet and rocky. we drove out to the cap 'd cruz...a point in the first national park of spain and has a lighthouse. the headland is rocky and windswept. dinner was in town on the main beach. it is lined with bars and places to eat.

the next day we headed to carcassonne. crossing from spain into france was a breeze. the spanish guards checked out the young couple ahead of us and passed the old ladies right on thru.

at perpignan we headed into the interior. we planned to stop at rennes le chateau of da vinci code fame but it was getting late. we drove thru the "gorges de galamas". it was spectacular. we didn't understand that the main part of the gorge was single lane. it worked out ok but were not sure if a horn toot is always friendly.

we easily found the house in pennautier just north of the city of carcassonne. the deal was to call the owner and she would meet us at the house. the pay phone in the town wouldn't take the credit card as we thot it should. we asked the bar owner but he didn't speak english. off we went to town and couldn't get a phone to work there either. after asking at 2 cell phone stores, we decided to look for a young person who we thot could speak english and had a cell phone. regina asked a gal and gave her 5 euro to call for us. finally! the house is on a 1 way street and seems to be 10' wide x33' long. it is over floors. last night i got to thinking about being on the top floor with 1 window to the interior terrace 12' below and a staircase my dogs would have a hard time negotiating...i got claustrophobic big time. all i kept thinking about was dad telling us on our travels to look for a way out in case of fire. god it took a long time to fall asleep!

now that we know where this cafe is i'll be online more often and tell more tales of out travels

5-23

we are in loret de mar on the costa brava in spain. we arrived in barcelona 7am about 1/2 hr early. we flew delta and for the first time ever there were no problems. we rented the car and of course we have too much luggage to fit in the trunk...so off we go. there are round abouts everywhere and they can be exilerating! i´ve only taken one picture so that will wait.

the first thing we did after stopping at 2 hotels to find ours was have a massage and a pedicure. the gal working on my feed spoke french and spanish but no english...my feet havent seen tender care for years. she gets out these toenail clippers that looked like giant needle nose pliers. affter a few passes she gets out this dremmel tool and gets a look in her eyes like a deranged dentist. i get the giggles and try not to fart on her (it was a long trip).

after a relaxing massage drenched with aromatic oils we got in the car and began looking for an internet cafe. so here we are 30 hours after we left kansas and still awake and dying. dinner and sleep should put us to rights.

this is a very good sized tourist town. lots of young people who speak french, englisn, german spanish and tons more. i know nothing about the town except the phonecians and others after set up trading forts along the coast. it is like driving from santa monica to san diego in june.

we go to cadaques tomorrow the home of salvatore dali i think. it is a rustic fishing village with a national park around it. don´t know when i´ll get back to you. xxxooo

5-23

so i'm trying to load some pics. cousin barb saved the day. these are the living room - green and the dining room blue

5/22/09

today is the last day of school!!!!! the kids were here for 1/2 day and we had a great lunch and closing ceremony. this is the greatest building to teach in. it is always alot of fun and the kids are always entertaining. we are losing 2 great teachers this year. one, jenny vanderpool, is retiring after 25+ years in math. they had a great buy out package and she took it before they started a new book and math curriculium...smart girl. she is a true christian woman. the other one leaving molly preuss is taking time off to raise her girls. what a fun thing to do. they will be missed.

i am spending my last day cleaning up my room. it looks so lifeless. no kids or fun things on the walls. that's kids in the class and stuff on the walls! we have summer school here and you never know what will sill be here when you return. it was rather anticlimatic to see the 7th and 8th graders off on the busses today. 2 months and they'll be roaring to go again.

i leave for france in 5 days! i still haven't found out how to import a picture. i have 4 days to figure it out. i have the last things to do here then it's home to get the trip ready!

5-2-09

wow it's been a long time...i started the blog but i got stuck in Hindi and had to help my way out. the living room is now a bit of limish green. i cleaned the carpet and had some girlfriends over to help me rearrange the furniture. i moved some of the art around and the furniture. the dining room is done too. now i have to get all the extra crap out and clean up before i leave for france.

we have only 3 weeks of school left. there is alot to do. the jr hi track meet was last week but we got lighteninged out just at the start of the last event - the men's 4x400 relay. i got to supervise the stands. it was fun to watch. these kids are about 12-15 yrs old and can be amazing athletes. i have one week to teach and i'm going to do chinese history. then the following week they start their final. it is a game they design. it must include all the units we studied and be knowledge based. i've had some amazing games over the years.

the last friday of the year there is a big party for the freshmen as a send off to high school. the parents fund and organize it. i'm the liaison for the school. there are inflatable games, food, poker and guitar hero type games. only a few kids aren't able to come. so there will be about 290 there for 4 hours. the dance is a alot of fun. the next week they have 3 1/2 days to finish the year. the last 1/2 day is fun too.

the next wed regina and i leave for france. we have all our accommodations set out, passports and driver licenses. we still need to pack and buy some euros here.

i'll try to post some pics and blog from there. i'm going to try and take some pics of the living room and dining room so i can practice! more later!

4-11-09

long time! the weather in kansas is still as unsettled as ever. there was a track meet at school thursday and with the wind, clouds and temps it was a freeze fest. the kids did great. they are such fun to watch. 60 today with lots of sun. it's making everyone nuts and tired.

cory is due to come home tonight. tomorrow is easter and we're having ham, scolloped potatoes and cupcakes. they dogs are going to get baskets too. they need a bath so that's slated for later in the day.

i had planned to finish the living room this week but haven't touched it. next week is the last track meet so i should have more time in the afternoons.

the trip for france is coming along. i think we have places to stay for all but 3 nights. i'm really excited about going. it seems that time is moving quickly. about 6 more weeks.

the reality of the recession is finally hitting kansas. i have 2 friends that have lost their jobs. i am glad that i am secure in teaching. i can't imagine the stress it will make for them.

3-29-09

wow time flies. you'd think it'd go slower in kansas but it doesn't. yesterday was blizzard day.they had been predicting 5-10 inches for a few days. it started to rain in the morning and it changed to sleet. the trees were coated with a thin layer of ice. in the late afternoon the snow came. it wasn't as much as the thought. the storm moved farther south. western kansas got heavy snow but i only got about 1-2 inches. it's 7pm sunday and most of the snow is gone. i went to lawrence today to see cory and he said they only got ice. so far olathe has planned for 4 snow days. so far we've had none. the big snows have been on the weekend. everyone has been bummed. there are rumors that we may get out 2 days early to help cut costs. funny what teachers pray for.

so yesterday i didn't even get dressed. i did finish putting the dining room together. i ate cheese sandwiches and watched chick flicks. absolutely did nothing. great day!

i got the paint for the living room. it is a limish green. it should take a week or so to finish it. i'm trying to declutter at the same time. i need to remember not to let darby near while i'm painting. she likes to lick fresh paint. odd dog.

we're still looking for places to stay in barcelona, tours, lille, lyons and avignon. it's not as easy as it looks.

3-21

i'm back from california. it was great to see marty. the grey hair is a shock but i don't usually looking the mirror too much either. we talked and laughed and caught up. things are going well in the northwest. carl has a new business started. it helps websites work better and get better search placements. marty is still playing the stock market. it seems like it's getting more stable of late.

the cruise was exactly like other cruises. it was fun to get to see catalina. we hiked up to the botanical gardens and wrigley memorial. barb's house still looks the same. her contractor was in the house working but we didn't go in to see what was going on. the hills were so green and rugged. the mock orange and pepper trees were so fragrant. we walked to the casino. marty hadn't seen it without the diving bell out front!

the one thing i wanted to do in avalon was go to rosies and get some clam chowder. the biggest shock was no rosies. apparently joe has bought it and it was getting a new awning and other work. it should reopen late june. i was crushed. we went to joe's and i had rock cod fish and chips with a side of chowder. good but not quite the same.

the weather there was spectacular. about 65 and clear. the cruise boats must have made a huge impact on the businesses. nearly all the shops were open and lots of passengers had shopping bags with them.

the next stop was ensenada. i'd never been there but marty had gone there by bus in college...but she doesn't remember much. old age or too many tequila shots i don't really know! we decided to take the wine country tour. it really was pretty good. we went to two about 45 min from the boat. there are 40+ in the area. marty says the wines were pretty good. she even bought a bottle. we walked around town when we got back. hussongs is still there. the silver jewelry ranges from cheap and cheesy to absolutely top drawer. neither one of us spent any money.

the flight home was short and long. sleeping in my own bed was wonderful.

3-11

2 more days till spring break! the kids are off the wall. on top of vacation, there was a full moon last nite. the temp was 18 when i left for school today and about 30 when i came home. god, i love kansas!

it is supposed to be in the high 60's in san diego. i meet marty at noon and catch the bus to the boat. catalina is the 1st stop. we'll just walk around and reminisce. lots of good memories there. may check out cousin barb's house. on to ensenada. the only knowledge i have of it is the end of the newport ensenada race and hussongs cantina. we then have 1 day crusing around before back to sandiego.

i made reservations for seattle a few days ago. i'll leave june 22 and return july 23. i hope vida can stand so much time with me...i can always go see marty and jill or hang out in everett.

the trip to france is moving along. we are booking b&b's along the circle route. limoges, tour, mont st michel, normandy, dunkirk, somme, lille, paris, lyon, avignion...we are open to suggestions!

3-7

i hope this is saturday because i didn't go to work! the dining room is looking good. i'm freshening up the trim. now comes cleaning the carpet and cleaning out the furniture and crap. i had the china cabinets so packed with stuff that you couldn't see anything.

so i need to buy some crates for the excess glass and stuff. don't know if i'm ready to get rid of it but i can put it away.

the last three days have been beautiful for march in kansas! the dogs are in hog heaven. they are out in the yard and barking at everything. they are ready for a walk but they're going to have to wait. nothing like a little spring fever.

only one more week of school then off to san diego. can't wait! xxxooo

3-4

the snow is all gone now. we are expecting 75 degrees tomorrow. i'm getting sick so i won't be at work tomorrow.

the dining room is getting a new coat of paint. it is a shocking change from the drab olive from years ago. for family you might remember gay tourquoise from the fernleaf upstairs. it's sort of that shocking but more of a strong tiffany blue. the more i paint the more i like it. moving the furniture is the bear. the teflon sliding pads are great tho.

next on the project list is the living room. i'm thinking bright lime green.....sort of. with the economy in the crapper i think i'm stuck in kansas so i'm going beachy! no more dull.

the plans for france are moving forward. the flight, car and first week's lodging is set.

less than 1 1/2 weeks to spring break. i haven't checked the weather yet cause i don't want to jinx it.

xxxooo and hope i feel better tomorrow in the nice spring air!

feb 28

last night i got to chaperone the school dance. i haven't missed one since the one i forgot and had to pick up cory on a mic. 4 dances a year for 7 years. they are always a riot and the kids can be viewed in their more natural haitat.

i finally made the reservations to go to france this summer. regina and i are going to leave the day after school is out. we'll be gone for 20 days! more in that later!

i can't believe that there is only 2 weeks till spring break. i can't wait to see marty and get warm.

it's snowing again. it was 70 just 2 days ago and now we have about 3 inches on the ground. it's still comming. the dogs love the snow. they don't seem to get cold and they romp more than usual. it is pretty and it makes the sounds mute but the snowblower needs to be cranked up. the driveway is 3 cars wide and i can't just do our drive so i do part of the neighbors and their sidewalk.

i need to clean but that's no fun. i'm not sure i like a clean house more than i hate to clean. marty once told me that the person who hates the dirt most is the one to clean first. i guess i'm having a standoff with myself!

catching up 2-26

don't freak out. i'm not really going anywhere. i have learned from my cousin barb that i can do this. she's much more tech savvy than i am but...i can do it!


school is flying by and i am thinking ahead to this spring break and summer. marty and i are going to meet up in san diego for a 4 day cruise. i'm really looking forward to being warm for a few days at a time. yesterday it was 70 and it's supposed to snow tonite!

i'm finally paying bills on line and it sure is easy but i have to figure out the best was to track tax stuff for purchases and stuff. i have quicken but not sure i need to do all that stuff or set up a spreadsheet. any ideas? i got a new computer at home but i'm having problems with outlook dropping emails and denying mail i've sent.

i need to put in info on cory...he still likes ku but is coming home during break and dog sitting darby and york. he called tues nite after the obama speech. he called to say how much he think obama rocks. hard to believe that a kid who didn't even want to vote would watch the address and call his mom about it. of course, last nite he called to ask for help starting a paper on the corelation between the bill of rights and the declaration of independence, hobbes and rousseau. he's always a surprise. we constantly are at odds but he sent me an email last fall that said simply that he doesn't say it enough but he loves me....what can i say!

it looks like i'm going to france this summer. a girlfriend and i from my last teaching in shawnee mission are planning on flying into barcelona and spending 20 days touring. we hope to spend only $3500. after i get back, i'm heading to seattle to see vida. this has been the year from hell and we can commiserate together.

more later when i get the mood!