I'm not really much of a Spring Breaker, but I sure did enjoy the time off. I did manage to get away for a few days and went down to Arizona to visit Bill and family. We played lots of games and did a little sight seeing. One of the days we went up South Mountain, which has an amazing few of all of Phoenix. 
The kids were cracking me up, because that morning when they were getting dressed, they both decided that they wanted to wear blue, because I was wearing blue. When they came downstairs, dressed and ready to go, they kept saying they were on "Aunt Sharon's team." I'm not sure we ever split into teams, but I at least got a picture of "team blue!" 
My favorite part of the visit was getting to see Bill take off in an F-16. It still amazes me that he can actually fly something like that! It's so cool! 
I also got the chance to make Bill his favorite dessert, strawberry shortcake, but I forgot to take a picture. Anyway, now I'm all ready for school to start back up!
Although I can get around most cities just fine, I apperently become directionally challenged when it comes to taking longer trips. I decided to go to Arizona to visit Bill and family for part of my spring break. I've been here once before, and on both trips I've managed to make wrong turns, or miss turns, and add about half an hour to my trip. This last trip I decided to take a different route, so as to avoid all the extra traffic at Hoover Dam. I wound up in California! I had to turn around and backtrack until I found the missed turnoff! I eventually made, so all is good now. Hopefully I will be able to find my home in a few days without too many detours...
I have never been a superstitious person, but after the last few days I might become one. There was a Friday the 13th in February, and just about everything that could go wrong did. Yesterday was even worse! Not even a minute after school started I was called down to the boys PE locker room because one of my Downs Syndrome students was standing on the bench, chain around his hand, shirt off, trying to find one of the football players to fight him. Apparently he had a dream in which this football player had hit him, but it was just a dream. He wouldn't calm down until the campus security monitor told him he could go talk to the police officers. So we walk him over to the campus police office and he tells the officer about his dream. He calms down a little bit, but you could tell he would still go off in a split second. We took him up to the Deans office and had to explain how he was going to be suspended for a few days. While we were waiting for his brother to come get him, we had to put him in one of the other self-contained units, but he wouldn't go. The AP walked in the room and he started hugging me and wouldn't let go. The SPTA for that room came out and walked around campus with him for a while. When the brother finally came, the student wouldn't leave the classroom! He didn't want to go home because he likes school. The brother, although not mentally challenged, was just as hot-headed as the student. The Dean was still trying to explain things when he took the chain from her desk and walked out! I can't wait until my meeting with them next week.
Of course, I also had to deal with arguing teachers, a toothache, an Assistant Principal that was mad at me and my Instructional Assistants for not doing a job she never told us to do in the first place, pushing around a dead electric wheelchair, dealing with an instructional assistant that was 2 hours late and left early, and all the normal paperwork that I deal with on a daily basis. The only good part was that the cooking teacher was having a special lunch and she let me come in and eat for free. I can only hope that next time Friday the 13th rolls around, it's better, or at least a weekend!
After cleaning out my dad's apartment this last weekend, I just have to say that I am grateful for all those who helped. The church members who came to help were amazing, especially considering some of them helped dad move in all that stuff just a few months ago. Dad's friend Jerome was also an amazing help, saving us many trips to good will by finding places for all the useful household items. He even helped us cart most of dad's books to the library to donate. The apartment managers were also very helpful and understanding. Of course, Kat, Rick and Holly were also selfless with their time and energy. I am especially grateful for Holly, who was brave enough to tackle the bathroom! It was not a pleasant task!
After cleaning out my dad's apartment over the past few days, I've realized that there are just some things you don't want to know about your parents. The fact that he was over 60 and still wearing short shorts and using sun-in makes me laugh.
After looking at the kitchen, I'm grateful to know that he was never hungry!
It was kind of sad that he had pills and cough drops in every room and in all coat pockets. It has been fun to meet his neighbors and friends (they keep coming by to figure out who is making all the racket!) I probably could've lived without finding his porn collection, but I guess it will be a funny memory for a long time. It makes me nervous about what I'm going to find next!
So, I recently discovered that Las Vegas has a China Town. We went there today for lunnch. It was really interesting to see all the business names in foreign characters, when we were only a few blocks from the strip. We had a lot of fun, and the food was really good. It's too bad it was raining, I didn't get to take any pictures!
After being in Washington the last few days, I've realized how much I miss the green. Not the I have any plans for moving back to the rainy, frizzy hair states. Everything out there is just so pretty and peaceful, from the green trees to the water and ferries. It also reminds me of how far I've come since I've lived in the northwest. Of course, like always, I forgot to take pictures. I even had my camera with me! I guess some things will never change!
