Dining with Dogs Have we all gone dog crazy? Well I admit I have! And from what I see in Southern California, everyone else has too. Friday nights we usually go out to dinner. After a long week, it's just a reward to do something special. This past Friday night we were dining al fresco, when I noticed more doggies' dining than usual. Big dogs, small dogs all laying quietly around the table of their owners...

One of our favorite places to visit in SoCal is Laguna Beach. Laguna is about 35 miles from our home, due south in Orange County (The OC) and is located on the coast. July and August is a great time to visit Laguna Beach. The Pageant of the Masters is the Festival of Arts' crowning jewel and considered by some as the most unique production in the world...

Sometimes it feels like the stars are all aligned and the heavens have opened up. I had a recent experience that was so wonderful I have to share it with you. In May, my best friend and fellow teacher Julie invited me to go with her on a field trip she had planned for her English students. Our field trip was to San Marino to tour the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. I had actually gone once before, but going with Julie was a whole new experience...

This past August, Sheryl Crow was in concert at the Hollywood Bowl. It's always an awesome experience to see anyone at the Bowl, but seeing someone from my hometown of Kennett takes the experience to an all-new level! In case you aren't familiar with the Bowl, it is world-celebrated as the finest outdoor amphitheater. ...

It's been a very long time since I've posted a blog. I am still living in beautiful Southern California, going on my fourteenth year! Currently teaching school in the San Gabriel Mountain area, near Pasadena. Lots of crazy and funny things happen at school and some not so funny things, so I will be yapping about those things and also some of our ventures around the SoCal area!...

I wanted to share with you in this blog about where I live in Southern California. Claremont is a small oasis in the eastern corner of Los Angeles County. Our little town is about 38 miles east of Los Angeles. It's about 14 square miles in size and has a population of 34,926. Claremont was founded in 1826 and the government is made up of a city manager and council. Our city is located at the basin of the St. Gabriel Mountains...

I read this story written by one of my good friends, who I also roomed with while at Ole Miss. She is a mother of 5 boys and this story is a testament to her faith and love for her family. She has always been an exceptional lady. She lives in Jackson, Mississippi. I just had to share with you. I know it will bring a bit of light into you life too. Enjoy!!...

My daughter is a student at University of California in Irvine, which is on the coast between Laguna Beach and Newport Beach. For a journalism assignment she wrote the following true observations from a Pet Store at Fashion Island. If you have ever watched any of the Wives of the OC or Laguna Beach TV series, you will recognize much of what she is describing in the following paper. ...

I guess you could say my husband and I are empty nesters. Honestly, I don't like that term. I mean 'empty nesters' sounds like we live sadly alone and unhappy. The term 'empty nesters' refers to: "when children move away, mothers can get what is called "Empty Nest Syndrome", which is generally accepted as the lonely, abandoned feeling of the home being empty", according to Wikipedia. ...

I sent this email to the staff at my school. I wanted to share with you too. This really did happen and it is something I feel needs to be told..... and most of you know that I live in the LA area... I wanted to share something with all of you. Yesterday morning I stopped by a bakery in Duarte or Azusa not sure which one it was they all seem to run together to me. ...

Yesterday I was sitting outside reading the Saturday addition of the LA Times when I happen upon the Home section and laughed out loud, many times and found myself in a really great mood. The article (which you will find below) is written by Chris Erskine. His sense of humor is fabulous and with all the really bad news we are facing now days, this was a spirit lifter. Hope you enjoy as much as me.......

This past Monday we (teachers and staff) were back at our post and at 7:50 AM sharp and with the first bell came all the students into their first period class. My first class was a new group of 6th graders. I teach technology classes at a middle school (6-8) in LA County. ...

Yesterday I was sitting outside reading the Saturday addition of the LA Times when I happen upon the Home section and laughed out loud, many times and found myself in a really great mood. The article (which you will find below) is written by Chris Erskine. His sense of humor is fabulous and with all the really bad news we are facing now days, this was a spirit lifter. Hope you enjoy as much as me.......

As some of you may know, my son is a competitive swimmer. Shortly after moving to Southern California he took up surfing. While at college, he spent many hours surfing and my husband and I often wondered if he spent more time surfing than in class, studying or in the pool. ...

It's been a long time since I have posted a blog. I guess with the budget cuts to California public schools, all the cutting of jobs, pink slips and bumping I lost track of time. I did get my job back 5 days before school started this school year (2010/2011) and was overjoyed! I was not given a pink slip for this coming school year so I am very grateful! Why no pink slip for next year, not really sure could be due to Obama's education money that finally made its way to the school districts. ...

The Christmas season in Southern California has been full of all joys this year. Just like my middle school students, I was thrilled to go on winter recess last week. It's always a joy to know two and half weeks lay ahead of doing just what I want. And this season, so far it has been a lot of nothing! No fighting traffic at horrible hours of the morning, enjoying the warm weather, which quickly came to an end today with a Socal winter edging in. ...

I guess when you choose teaching as a profession, you must accept the fact that your education is on going. With that said, I am now officially a student at the University of California--San Diego (UCSD). Yeah! California Teacher Credentialing Program, now requires teachers to be authorized to teach "English Learners" and in order to do that, a credentialed teacher in California must take several classes(18 qrt units) in Cultural Diversity, Language, and topics relating to Inclusion. ...

It is very odd....but after living in southern California for just barely 6 years, I have been summoned for jury duty two times now. The first time I was excused due to my work but this time, I have yet to be excused. This time I am going into my second day of jury selection for a murder trial. I have no work to excuse me this time around and man oh man, I sure wish I did...

LA hasn't been that much fun lately. Could it be the new is wearing off? Maybe it's the dog days of summer already? No, since summer is not officially here yet, that seems far fetched. Let me see if I can pin point the hum drum. Well, to start with, we have 20 school days left before summer vacation. ...

It's really a small world we live in and communities really come together when calamity hits. Just a few days ago, a friend of my son's was killed in a car accident which not only cost her, her life, but also 2 other people riding in the car with her...