Starting the Day

How is this for starting the day? Sitting on the deck, nice temperature, this view and watching the birds. I think it is a fantastic way. Add a great cup of chai tea and I don't think it could be beat.

Shelf Life on Endorphins

I just got back from a wonderful week in the mountains of New Mexico with four of my good friends. (We actually picked up a new friend in Albuquerque.) Bottom line, we laughed for the full eight days. You know what they say about laughter being the best medicine, so now I am hoping that this great medicine we made together will hang on for everyone for a long time. Most of them are starting back to school this week, and I am giving praise (again) for retirement.
Last week we heard a statistic that was overwhelming. At the district from which I have retired, there were 400 openings for this school year, sounds good right? Well for those 400 openings, there were 20,000 applicants!
The age of teacher shortage is gone, at least here.

ADVICE

No one asks for advice
and who would take it anyway
but
just in case
two pieces of advice that I STRONGLY share
1) You can't please everyone
2) Gee I already forgot #2

maybe it was the margaritas
but I knew it was a good one.

Great fun in New Zealand

Parasailing off a mountain, hiking on a glacier, cooking classes..........that was a great vacation!

Brockett

This photo is not staged, I promise. Poor little Brockett is getting so old. Tom and I both know that it won't be too much longer that he will be with us. He is loosing his sight, his hearing, his appetite and now he is having trouble walking. I have a call in to the vet today, as Brockett has not been using one back leg well for three days. He has certainly given us much joy. Just the other night I came into the living room and this is what I saw. Brockett has never been a toy playing dog, although we keep a few around. I know it was an accident that he had his arm around this one but isn't it so darn cute?
Just had to share it. Wish I knew a way to share the joy he has given to Tom and me.

Photos from Emily's Dance Recital

I finally got some photos from Emily's dance recital. They are beautiful, cuz she is beautiful and because my daughter is a fantastic photographer!
ps the girl w/Emily is Elana, one of Em's good buds.