Spring Break Trip

I am home from a very interesting trip--interesting good, interesting bad/sad, interesting-the list goes on.

The things we saw in Spain were very interesting, informative, intriguing, historical, unbelievable as much of Europe can be. As I look back at the pictures, I realize that we crammed a lot of education into one short week.

The tour director(s) did not know that people could walk/stroll (see and absorb things) so she had us "running" every where we went, therefore it was very grueling physically, even for some of the younger ones on the trip.

The worst and most stressful part of the trip was the PROFESSIONAL Pick Pockets. Pick pocket attempts on 3 of our men were foiled without any damage. However, another one of our men was left in Spain due to the fact that Pick Pockets got everything he had, money, credit cards, hotel key, and last but not least his Passport. As a former police officer and a current Police Science Instructor he knew all the right things to do--copies of everything in a separate location from the things he lost. He just had to wait for the American Embassy to open Monday morning so he could get a Temporary Passport so he could fly out of Spain. He was actually able to fly out on Tuesday.

Our trip Itinerary was changed for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday due to the British Airways strike. The tour company rearranged the Fri and Sat we were to spend in Barcelona and we crammed all the important things into Friday. Saturday we flew out of Spain into London so we would already be in London on Sunday instead of trying to make connecting flights on Sunday which probably would not have happened. They also added a city bus tour of London and another "running" night tour. We actually flew out of Spain on a different airline. We were able to fly out of London "as scheduled" on Sunday. We were delayed about an hour while they put together a flight crew for our flight.

To sum it up...I am glad I went to Spain, but I will not be returning to Spain.

One more thing. I think all of us headed to the closest TEX-MEX place between DFW and home to eat some "REAL" food. On all of my trips the places where the tour company provides a meal they try to Americanize the food a little. Well the only way Spain knew how to Americanize the food was to add French Fries to the meal. Even deserts were interesting-how can you mess up a desert?

There is no place like home!! This is the first time I have felt it so strongly.

PS When I figure out how to post some pictures the way I want to post them I will do so. I just have to wait for a grandchild to help me.

Spring Break

Today all the school personnel left at the end of the day for Spring Break. Some teachers and students will be doing fun things; and some will be getting some much needed rest.

Since I retired in July, Spring Break is not as significant for me as in past years. However, I still travel with my school friends and retired school friends.

So, I will be leaving tomorrow, Saturday, March 13 for Spain. I will return on Sunday, March 21.

I wish for all my friends and family a wonderful, restful, joyful Spring Break.

February is fast drawing to a close...It will be March before we know it...a day and a half.

I have enjoyed retirement soooooooooo very much. However, this past week I had two full days of errands to accomplish. I felt like I was back at work by the time I got home at night. I got my Swine Flu shot and I got my hair permed. I am trying to get all my duck in a row before my spring trip. It is amazing how paper filing can get the best of you, but I am getting there. I am trying to get caught up with my reading and return all my library books. Oh, don't forget there is laundry and dirty dishes that have to be taken care of.

I have spent time this past few days communicating with my high school class mates trying to find pictures from my home town to include in my story.

Today is a beautiful day. The sun is shinning and the dogs are enjoying it very much. I am enjoying being lazy to some degree.

Mee Maw

February 24, 2010...what happened to the time between July 31, 2009 and now. I started out keeping a journal...that went by the way side...now I may go back to blogging and try to keep that up...I do better on a computer than with pencil and paper.

Currently I am writing my life's story for my kids and my grand kids and my great grand kids. I have talked about this for a long time that I needed to do it and I jotted down notes, but never started writing. I woke up this past Monday morning with a good idea for a start and plan to follow. I have been working on it ever since in all my spare time. I have time line charts and notes and I am trying to pull it all together and start filling in the blanks. I have also been on a mission trying to find pictures--I really want a picture of the house where I was born. So far I have not found it.

I will try to do better at keeping up this blog.

Mee Maw

Retirement

I am finished! It was sad! First time in 40 years I have no keys, no ties to MISD. When I pushed the send button (telling everyone "Good Bye" that was it!

I celebrated--went for a pedicure, then went for a LARGE Dairy Queen Blizzard, then went to see a friend and share another cup of coffee. We have solved may problems over a cup of coffee during the last 40 years.

Retirement

Well today was emotional. I handed over the flash drives of NM testing stuff. I handed over my NM keys.

The first time in 40 years that I have not had keys to NM.

Retirement

August 1, 2009 - First day in 40 years that I have not "punched a time clock."