I had my last day of work yesterday, so in my mind, it is officially summer. What does this mean for me? Well, here I go: sleeping in, NOT grading papers, starting to work out again (yea!), spending quality time with family and friends, going on vacation up to Utah, and re-charging my batteries so that I will be (somewhat) ready to return to work the first part of August.

Yes, I realize that this is LONG overdue, but I have finally gotten around to posting a blog about Paul and my trip up to central California. The main reason that we went was for the state Libertarian conference. We got to hang out with friends, learn more about how politics work and had an overall great time. We decided that since we were so close to the Seqouias, we could not miss the opportunity to visit. It was really cold (in fact there was still snow) but it was completely worth the trip. I knew that the trees would be really big and majestic looking, but it was not until we entered the Great Forest that I really knew what John Muir was talking about. I was so amazed with the beauty that I found myself actually choked up.

Apparently today was "Ride Your Bike to Work Day".  The funniest thing about this is that I found out by reading it on one of those Amber Alert signs on the freeway...um, people?  The reason why 90% of the people on the freeway are ON the freeway is because they are either going to or coming home from work...and work is too far away to comfortably ride their bikes there and back...I wonder who came up with this idea?!

I am still here...still trying to blog on a regular basis, but there is this little thing called work that has gotten in the way. Long story short, I took over a sixth grade class for a teacher who became ill enough that his doctor told him that he would not be able to work anymore. He was only 5 years away from retirement, so the distrtict gave him a "golden handshake" (meaning that they are going to honor the rest of this year and the five years that he would have had, still giving him his entire retirement.) Taking over a class for the rest of the year is A LOT of work...any time that I am not lesson planning, I am grading papers or just collapsed on the bed or couch. So things will most likely pick up with my blog activity when I am less busy...say, June?

This past Thursday Paul and I went on an overnight camping trip. It was so much fun! We went to Chino Hills State Park, which is really cool. They have sections for day hikes, camping, group camping, and even horse camping (where you can bring your horses with you). There are all sorts of trails to hike on and the scenery is beautiful (though still recovering from the wildfires this past November)! We got in about 1:00 on Thursday and set up camp, then had lunch (we cheated and had Subway sandwiches for lunch so that we wouldn't have to start a fire so early). After lunch we went on some hikes and then came back for dinner. We had foil dinners with steak, potatoes, carrots, and onion...ohmigoodness, they were sooo good!

I am so glad that I was able to really spend some time with my sister and her family. I think I mentioned it before, but I hadn't seen her since the Christmas before last...so I was really looking forward to her coming. We had so much fun just hanging out and talking. Also, it was really good because Paul has been out of town since Monday, so visiting with family kept me busy and not missing him (at least not too much...nights are still hard!). But Paul will be home on Sunday...yea, yea, YEA! I also had a really good week at work, but I am glad that it is Friday...I am ready for the weekend!

I am so excited! My sister and two of her children are here from Canada for a week-long visit! (I only wish that her hubby and her other child would have been able to come, but they had work and other things going on)  I have not seen my sister for over a year...so I am really looking forward to visiting!

I came home from work today, and the apartment was clean and the dishes were done...I cannot express how grateful I am for my loving husband. He is always so attentive to my needs and tries to do things to help me out. I don't know how I got so lucky, but I sure feel blessed! I love you, honey!

Okay, so today Paul tried to start our Blazer to go somewhere and it wouldn't start. This has happened before, quite recently, and he has gotten it to start a few hours later. So he tried a few hours later, still no starting. Then he tried after I got home...still no starting. So we spent the time between 3:30 and 7:00 trying to jump-start it...and calling my dad to come over and try to take the battery out (but since the mountings were both in really tight spots on the side...not on the top like MOST batteries, it was a no-go). A neighbor (that we don't even know) along with our maintenance man offered advice, and tried to help. The neighbor replaces batteries at Goodyear...and he eventually told us to just jump it and take it to Wal-Mart and have them replace it with a new one.

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day...hopefully everyone will have a good one! Paul and I celebrated last night by going out to eat at this place called Smokey Canyon BBQ out in Riverside. It was the first time that we went there, and it was really good! It is, in my opinion, as traditional BBQ as you can get while not being in the South. I would recommend it to anyone! Then we came home and had a restful and relaxing night at home...sometimes those are the best!