Fun Sunny Saturday

Tulip Fields in Mt. Vernon, WA

Finally, it was sunny again. And so in good ole Washingtonian ways, we took off for some fun. One can not let a good sunny day go by and not celebrate it in someway because, after all, next week it could be snowing. We headed north with the boys to Mt. Vernon where the Tulip Festival was taking place. There is a lot of tulip farming there so at this time of the year (actually most of the time a little earlier) the tulips are blooming and it is a sight to behold. I have posted some of the pictures so that you can see what I saw. But I must say, it is more outstanding in colors in person.

Everyone is so happy to be looking at things we celebrate in Spring!

I will put up more pictures tomorrow... I took a lot. Some with the boys in them too.


The Welcome to the Service Providers by Deb Casey at the breakfast below.

Donette letting the Service Providers know about the newest IBEST programs, especially the Caregiver Program (the one she teaches).

Community Resource Provider Breakfast

This morning the breakfast event took place at 8 am and was done by 10 am. I believe it was a success. I have many evaluations saying that it was so I am very pleased. I will have some pictures up maybe tomorrow.

After the breakfast, I left the college to make up for some time that I had coming to me because of working the last two evenings. However, at 1:30 pm many of the community college reps in the area came together for a meeting to share about what is happening at our colleges and to share ideas. One of the ladies is Norma. She is about 61 and her and her husband are getting a divorce after 40 years of marriage. She discovered that he had another lady on the side and he also beat her when she discovered him. She showed up to on of our fairs with a bruised face. Today she is healed and but going through the difficulties that divorce brings. She tells me that the lady that he is involved in is a bible "thump er". Hmmmm that makes it difficult to tell her I will pray for her. So I will anyway and be her friend.

James, Kari's boyfriend, had his gallbladder out today. I have the boys this weekend so that she can help him. I think tomorrow we will go see the Tulips.

Have a great weekend! If you are a blog free blogger, see you Monday.

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

April 24th, was the national date for "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day". In the middle of everything I was doing to prepare for the breakfast this morning, I picked up Riley when I went to pick up the flowers for the center pieces for the tables. I took him back to the college and brought him up to my office. He met everyone and Phillip gave him a little pig that was in his gift basket from his In Service winnings. Riley thought it was so cool because the nose lights up and it makes a noise. Next, we went across to see one of the speakers and he saw the pond with a fountain in it that impressed him. On we went to the Automotive program where I could show him how they fix cars when they don't work.

Dan, the instructor in Automotive, asked Riley if he would like to see the race car. Of course Riley did. We went to see the car and he let Riley climb up in to the front seat of the car. He asked Riley if Riley knew how to drive a car and Riley said he did. But then he said, "can I talk to my grandma?" He was all of a sudden worried that he would have to really drive it. He was so cute... such a little guy in this big race car.

I talked to Riley about jobs and how the people around us are at their jobs making money so that they can buy things. He really got the idea that training/ education = work = money etc. I made it really simple and he had lots of fun. He told me that he wanted to be the guy riding the lawn mower. OK... That's a job. :-)

I had dinner with Susie (my best friend that works at UWT). She worked with me years ago in the same school district and that is when we became friends. She was at the Teen Expo event last night too.

Keep me in your thoughts this morning. This is the one of the events that I am "lead" on as coordinator. It should be great... I am nervous about how many people will come through the door tomorrow. The room holds 80 people. We are at 75 expected. There isn't much room for many more but those that assist me with this event thought that it was best when we used the smaller room rather than the Main Dining Room which is too big. Well, anyway... It's Show Time. Maybe I will have pictures to show you.

Have a fantastic Friday. You know what? I will be in So. California this time next week. Wow, does time fly! And so will I ;-)

That's How I "Roll"

Well, I made it through yesterday despite the lack of sleep the night before. We had In Service yesterday which meant two hours of a lecture by the President of the college, 2 workshops, a lunch, recognition awards, and gift basket raffle. Then off to Graham (45 minutes to an hour drive) for a post secondary night event. Whew...

The President spelled it out for us on how important it is for everyone to be involved in recruiting and retention of students. He put up there in charts just what is expected of ALL of us. Of course, I live and breathe this in the position I am in. So we took the opportunity after his speech to put out an invitation for summer fair volunteers. I had put one out a week or so ago and didn't get much of a response. I think now I will get a bigger response.

I went into a workshop regarding "Communication". The first activity the instructor had us do was to divide two groups. One side was the side that "had to finish ALL their work before they could "play". The other side was the ones that could work, find a place to stop so that they could go play, and then resume their work. Can you guess which side I am on? I am on the "can stop and go play side". I can find a "stopping point" and go play... and while playing in my mind I am figuring out what else to do in my work... then go back to work and get more done. I discovered this created all kinds of emotions in people when he asked both sides what they thought of the other side. One lady on the other side was really "into" it and said she thought we were slackers. I made a joke out of it by pretending to turn around to look for the person she was talking to. Of course, those on my side of the "fence" thought they all were tense, no fun, and could "get a life" as they put it. Interesting... One way to show how we judge and miscommunication sets in.

Ironically, I was one that was recognized and given a reward at the luncheon for "Keeping the People/Project Rolling". So, I went forward in front of 300 people (including those that had been on the other side in my workshop and thought me a slacker :-)) to receive my reward. They said something about my organization and ability to keep people moving towards a goal with my "To Do Lists". Ok, that is true. I have To Do Lists and I just know how to use them. And I know when to stop to walk away from them.

Speaking of To Do lists... I have the big breakfast tomorrow that I am the coordinator of (taking a deep breath) and I better get going. My To Do list calls. I have an event tonight as well. I will try visit some of you but I am not promising anything until I can "walk away" from my to do list.

Have a great day and enjoy it!

Just Say "No"

I am not speaking of the college recruiter, I am speaking of the military recruiter. Aaron, since he is graduating high school, has a Navy recruiter calling here at the house. Aaron had been trying to duck the guy by not answering the phone but yesterday, I guess he forgot, the recruiter called and Aaron answered the phone. The military recruiters are applying pressure to high school kids to join the military because of the "war". Aaron has a hard time saying "no" to people... He can't even say "no" to his grandmothers or dad when he wants to say "no", let alone a recruiter from the Navy. Right now there isn't draft and there is hope that the some of the military will be brought home soon because of a new election for President. So, the military has never been an "After High School Plan" for Aaron not that we have anything against the Navy. Anyway, Dave was really angry about it all. I felt sorry for Aaron because he has a lot of pressure at this time of life. He just found out that he isn't getting a good grade in Math either. Dave's anger was fueled mostly by fear... He could see Aaron, not saying "no" to this guy. Dave will now make sure that Aaron isn't bothered by the recruiters.

In the meantime, I am off to Graham tonight for an event. All the discussion about recruiters etc made it hard to get a good night sleep. I won't be done until after 9 pm. I'll pace myself today and try to rest when I can. Have a good day today!

Not too hot and not to cold... just right as rain

The weather wasn't cold nor hot today. I didn't go out somewhere to participate in an event but worked really hard on the breakfast for Friday, and time went by really quicky. I know it rained off and on today, but rain here in Seattle is called "liquid sunshine". I didn't get the boys tonight because I will have them all weekend this weekend. I can home cooked dinner and watched American Idol.

Well that's something... I actually watched it through. Which means, it is gaining more interest to me as in the past years. Well, they are down to 6 now and it was bound to happen. They chose a song composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and was also coached by him. He is a composer that writes songs to tell a story, so if the singer is just singing and not "playing a character while singing" then they could run into trouble. I think that Jason ran into trouble because of not be in character. He struggled. Syesha Mercado sang "One Rock 'n' Roll Too Many'' from Starlight Express and did really well because she could act the part. I agree with what they said on the show that she was in her element.

Brooke White sang ''You Must Love Me'' from Evita. She started but because nerves she had to start again after a few words. The question was if she should have faked it or if what she did was the right thing to do. I believe some could have faked it but that she did the right thing in that situation. I don't think one could have faked it and that being honest was the best thing to do especially since it was at the start of a song.

David Archuleta sang ''Think of Me'' from Phantom of the Opera, Carly Smithson sang ''Superstar'' from Jesus Christ Superstar and David Cook sang ''Music of the Night'' from Phantom of the Opera. Carly showed her abilities that I am sure many knows she has. It was the two Davids that gave me goose bumps in a good way... the showed that they could be creative and sing in more than one or two genres.

These young people are all very good singers and they will all be given more opportunities. The two weakest this week were Jason and Brook. My guess it that it will be one of those two, just based on this performance alone.

Tomorrow we have an In Service Day. That is why I had a lot to get done today because one of our days this week is taken up by In Service. This is where my garden gift basket will be won by someone. I also work late at night tomorrow at one of the high schools farthest away in Graham, WA. So since I have a long day tomorrow, I better get to bed.

Have a great Wednesday! It is almost the weekend again.

OK... This Isn't Funny

Is There an End to the Rainbow?

Everyone here is complaining about how we are missing Spring because of the weather. During the weekend we had hail, sleet, snow, rain... then some sun... then we would start it all over again. The blossoms on the trees have stayed longer than normal... it seems like nature is a little confused. Back in February when the groundhog came out and predicted there would be 6 more weeks of winter, I wonder if he meant 12 more weeks. We are coming up on that soon, if I am counting right.

Renee and I were out at a high school visitation together and she said "Look! Is it snowing?" I went outside for a moment and it looked like hail but it was soft like sleet. Then all of a sudden it started to actually snow. I went back inside to her and said "This is ridiculous." I heard that we have had a record cold April. I don't know but I would bet that no one here really wants to set a cold record... I am not hearing "Wow, we set a record." It is just harder on the nerves when we are in snow and there are tulips coming up.

Met with my SIL this evening for dinner. Her husband, Dave's brother, is back in North Carolina and will have to be there for three more weeks. I will be back from California before his North Carolina trip will come to an end. Maybe by then we will have warmer weather.

I am going to go to bed earlier tonight. So I wish you all a good evening.

Wow and Pow Wow

Yesterday I was at the Pow Wow the college I work for at an information table. It was so nice to see a Pow Wow there and those that attended seemed really glad to be there too. There are drum cores (a few circles of men with one big drum in the middle of their circle that the beat together) and dancers on the gym floor. The "whipman" is the one that tells the dancers what they will be doing. He has a whip like the one in this picture above. In the old days, they would actually have a real whip, I was told last night when I was talking with one of the tribe members. There is food being sold outside under a canopy. I actually had my first "Indian Fry Bread". It was a little greasy but it was good. One can put jelly, honey, or butter on it. I put butter on (it not knowing any better on how it is made). If you have had "elephant ears"... it is a little bit like elephant ears. It probably wasn't good WW points wise either. They also have vendors there selling blankets, jewelry, purses, and other things. I bought a small dream catcher for my master bathroom which is decorated in a Northwest theme (trees, moose, cabins, bear etc). I also have a small emblem that is from Vancouver Canada which will be their logo for the Olympics when they host them in 2010 on a shelf in the bathroom too. HERE is the link to the information on the logo. It is called Ilanaaq which is the Inuktitut word for friend. Their friend who will help them greet the world. Oh, and I couldn't take a picture of the pow wow dancers without permission because it isn't proper pow wow etiquette to do so. Sorry.

My Wow in the title of this post is because Judy has made me a blinkie! It is under her MY READS. I think it is great because it has a garden theme. I am so wanting it to be spring (be warm) and start to garden. It also has a ladybug... and I love ladybugs! I like the new red bug Volkswagen's because they look like ladybugs. Dave is always asking me when I am going to buy one since I point them out all the time. Thank you Judy!

Well, I better get to bed... this is going to a long week with the breakfast I am coordinating on Friday morning. Lot of things still to be done. HUGS