Farm Fresh!

Where has the time gone!?! My little pullet is finally a chicken! She has started laying eggs...2 a day so far! Thank goodness, now I can justify her presence without calling her either a glorified pet or Sunday Dinner. Some of you may remember I originally had 3 chicks and a goose. I'm down to one chicken and Lucy, the goose (I had to change her name, we were having an identity crisis). Lucy definitely 'rules the roost' and has the last word in the barnyard. I do believe she has learned to quit picking on the 1500 lb variety though because she has begun to walk with what looks like a permanent limp.

Fire situation update: Despite getting granted leave, I've decided to stick around and take care of the other millions of things I have going on...least of all my career, God forbid! My crew just got back last night and are resting up for the next detail, without me. I'm sad ;( Oh well. It's my choice. So nothing new and exciting, just working 24/7 and still have nothing to show for it. Typical.

Ticker

So it seems I'm counting down to my 10 year High School reunion!?! Ahhhh!?! Where did the time go!?! Anywho - thought I'd explain the ticker and that I'll be in the Detroit area for Thanksgiving! Yeah! Will keep you all updated...mark in on your calender!

National Emergency

So it seems we're in a national emergency fire wise and my crew wants me to try and take leave from school to go. It suddenly got really bad this past week and there are new fires popping up everywhere! You'd never know it to look here...raining everyday. I really want to go, but there are some issues I have to weigh:

Pros:
Great Money
Could pay off another debt
Stop humming and hawing about a new truck and just get it
Get out of the Valley again for a bit
Get in great shape

Cons:
School might not let me go
Probably would have to take leave without pay if they did (though my paycheck would still be larger from the fire)
Have to get a babysitter for the 'kids' again
Have to have detailed lesson plans
Have a test to take on the 16th (but could reschedule for about $100)

I'm sure there are a few more. If school is like 'no way!', I get to be on call here (which is no different than it is now really). But I'm torn between going and being responsible here. It's not like it's for that long...14 to 18...what do y'all think?

The Best Boyfriend...EVER!

So I've decide that Maverick is the best boyfriend a girl can have:

1. He loves to fall asleep on the couch with his head on my lap
2. He keeps my bed warm at night
3. He stays up late waiting for me to come home
4. He doesn't mind waiting in the truck when I go shopping
5. He isn't jealous of other men
6. He always answers when I call for him
7. He is always happy to see me
8. He protects me from big scary things...as long as they aren't too loud
9. He always trys to help carry big, heavy things from my truck
10. He gives me BIG kisses at unexpected times

Yes, I know this is a 'repeat' picture, but I came yesterday prepared with new ones and the server didn't work. Now it does and I'm not prepared. What a pain. But Mav looks the same as ever, just a lot bigger and he has outgrown his red collar for a cool camo one.

On another note: I think I am giving up on dating. I seem to meet these great guys, but it never goes anywhere. Maybe things are in a slump due to some bad timing, maybe it's me, maybe it's them and I'm not seeing it, maybe it a combination...?! Anyway, I'm getting a bit down about it all, and with school going great and everything else I'm not going to let a subject such as boys get me down.

Frustrated?

This is me today after our yearly fall High School meeting before the kids come back....ahhhhhhh!

To top it all off I won't be updated this more than about once a week. I'm rather upset about this, but we had to put some blockers on our computers at school because of the student misuse and unfortunetly the program we're using doesn't allow personal passwords. So I'd have to go get the administrator every time I wanted to get on....such as before school and after when he isn't around. I do have access a few other places, but I will be getting my own access by November when I get a new cell phone that has a wireless connection for the computer too....So until then I promise to check all your blogs out regularly, but I can't leave comments! I'm still here even if you can't all see me!

Last weekend was great. Went to Stratsburg to watch my buddy Kelly Wild Horse Race, then followed him up to Cheyenne for the night. Bar was boring, but we hung out Sunday and went out on his bike, played with his colt (which I get to babysit while he's in Iraq) and cooked Elk on the grill. Then I had to drive home in the worst rain storm I've ever seen in my entire life! If I'd known it was so bad before Denver I would have stayed up North, but made it home finally after 7 hours of VERY slow driving.

Just been getting my classroom ready for school. I'm surprised at how organized I am and my good attitude. That was one goal when I got back from WYO...to have a GOOD attitude about school. So far, so good...those crazy women I work with can't help being a bit off during meetings, and afterall, it obviously didn't kill me.

Logic?

So I seem to have figured out why I do stupid things regularly, like go out on fire as one of two girls on the crew and the only one in my squad...I'm below average in the logical intelligence area...hence what makes me the guys' amusement for a 16 day tour of duty. I was locked in a porta potty (they wanted to see how loud I could yell...), duct taped to a bench, had my boot laces tied to my Nomax pants...you get the picture.

Also, I'm debating the logic behind why I'm going to go on a date with a guy who disappeared from my life for about a month and then sort of popped back in. It's of course more complicated than just that...but still...I do sort of like him, but have been a bit 'warned' off. Why would you disappear if you thought I was so great? And any guy I date had better think I'm so great. I'm not selling myself short here!

And wondering how I'm going to juggle my increasingly busy schedule...working 32 to 64 hours per pay period for the Forest Service, teaching full time, running the ranch and baling for another farm after school for the next few months...crazy? Maybe, but I'm going to be laughing it up when I bring home that new truck of mine!

Speaking of trucks...some of you have wondered what I'm looking for. Preferably New - Used, Ford or Chevy Heavy Duty, Diesel 250 or 2500 with a trailer package and 5th wheel hookup. Going to go in search later next week. I would this weekend, but I think I'm heading to Denver to watch some Wild Horses Racing tomorrow.

Enough rambling for now...

Your IQ Is 100

Your Logical Intelligence is Below Average Your Verbal Intelligence is Genius Your Mathematical Intelligence is Average Your General Knowledge is Above Average

A Quick and Dirty IQ Test

I'M BAAAAAACK!

Ok - got in yesterday evening...pretty uneventful fire weather in Western Wyoming which is where my crew got sent. Instead of being pimped back out to more exciting stuff, we decided to stay on in the area and patrol severity for the station there since we were asked and guaranteed 12 hours/day. Saw a lot of landscape, a little fire, a couple of great concerts at the local county fair (Little Big Town, Trick Pony...), went swimming in the lake a few times (actually mountian fed resevoirs), slept a lot...that's pretty much it in a nutshell. Good pay and really good food...hopefully I can afford to buy a new truck now once i sit down and review my finances.

Anyway - will fill ya all in later and with some pics. Getting some office work done and enjoying my two paid days off...

Going to Wyoming!

Thank you gals for all being so supportive! I've been down butloved getting your comments. I'm leaving here in a few for Wyoming to fight fire for 18 days, so I won't be around at all. I plan on coming back in great shape, with a great new attitude. Figured this is good to clear my head and get back on track with school, work and men. Love you all!

Blah, Blah, Blah...

I know I don't normally do this and am the advocate for keeping your chin up, but honestly? I'm tired of my chipper attitude and keeping a smile on my face for everybody else when I want to throw myself on the ground, kick my legs and scream bloody murder...that's right, a good, old fashioned temper tantrum. I figure maybe if I get this all down, or most of it, I'll feel better since it'll be out of my system. I'm not wanting sympathy...just come visit and go to the bar with me instead.

The last few weeks have been harrowing...actually, this whole year has been so far. It seems everytime I think something is going my way for a change it blows up in my face. Within the last two weeks in particular I've had my dogs stolen, a horse turn over on me, another run for the shed door and when I bailed cracked a rib, my boss argue with me - only to turn around and admit I'm right but take credit for my thoughts to our supervisor, been left incredibly lonely during my ordeals, and to top it all off, it hasn't stopped raining and my paddocks are ankle deep in mud so no training is occurring and rodeo may be out for me yet again this year. I am depressed and unhappy and I can't help but think what could I change to fix these situations short of living in a small, padded cell? I really can't think of anything, so please feel free to share any ideas you have. And yes, I just keep wiping the mud off and moving on through the storm.

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately (perhaps why I'm feeling so overwhelmed) about what I want in my life that maybe I thought I'd already have by now. So if this is selfish and greedy sounding I apologize in advance.

I want a real home
Really, I've been bouncing around since I was 18. I want someplace to call home, know it's mine, put in some roots...
I want a truck with less than 200,000 miles on it
I love my truck, but really, she deserves to retire...and no matter how hard I work at it, I just am not getting to that goal.
I want someone to belong to no matter how far apart we are (and vise versa)
I don't want to date anymore. I don't want to play games. I want to have that security and just know (ya know?).
I want someone to come home to
Empty house, empty yard, empty fridge...
I want a family that includes people
I love my dogs, cats, horses...goose, chicken...but sometimes I appreciate it when I'm told I'm being a dumbass...
I want a garden
To plan and plant and cultivate...
I want to be able to go out occasionally and be able to find people willing to go with me
I want a life in short. I never get out and hence have problems meeting people. I try, but it's so much nicer when somebody has your back.
I want to be a rodeo star
I do! Therefore I must have my own training facilities and money to do it...I keep trying but have too many setbacks and age working against me...
I want a dark brown, deep, squishy leather couch
To go in the home I want and to throw my bullhide over. Then I could get some cool pillows to match.

I have very good things going on in my life...just sometimes they're hard to see through all the rain. I know this...I'm just down and out and needed to vent. Thanks!

Fire Pics

Finally posting pics from the fire a few weeks ago. Since then it's been raining like crazy everyday, these may be it for this season unless we dry up or get sent up to another state. Sorry my thumb seems to be in a few of them, I haven't edited them yet!

The fire was on the North side of a natural gateway we call Hell's Gate. This is driving into it around 7:00 in the evening. At this point it was smoking real good, but starting to lay down for the night due to an inversion.

One of my crew members and I getting in for the night before spiking camp. We were right under the fire all night and saw a pretty good light show. Unfortunetly since I was using a disposable camera nothing turned out. An old crew member of mine had the other camera I brought and I haven't gotten his pics yet, so maybe some of his turned out. It was pretty spectacular.


Our drop sight on a spot fire we had some trouble getting put out.















Hanging out and trying to get some shade. It's amazing how many people can fit under a few small bushes when they try!







Our drop sight for re-fueling. Water, food, and
chainsaw oil!

Dognapped!

Of all the crazy and bizarre things that happen in my life, this one takes the cake. First off, my 5 days off were extremely boring and consisted of getting ranch work done, horses rode, and my carpets and floor cleaned by hand...oh yeah, I paid bills also. I did actually go to the modified car races on Saturday night to watch the fireworks and discovered Maverick is very scared of them and can cover a lot of ground very quickly. I walked over two miles to finally find him running back to me, so who knows how far he actually ran.

Anyway...so last night I'm sitting on the couch paying bills and hear a vehicle slow down on the road in front of the place. This isn't strange since a student was killed in my drive last spring and people slow down to see the stuff others have left there (whole other story I'm not happy about and am not getting into...). So a few minutes later I head out to take the dogs for a walk and Mav and Sedona are gone. No biggie since they head over to the ditch all the time for a swim so I started walking that way and calling them. Nothing. So then I get mad 'cause I figure Sedona headed down to harass the Goose and Chicken and start that way. Nothing. Now I'm a bit worried so I go out to the road and am looking around and calling...still nothing. I decided to head out with Dixie thinking maybe they just can't hear me since the wind was blowing and start covering the front 200 acres or so along the fence line. Nothing. I call the Sheriff and ask if anyone brought in two dogs off the Hwy. They don't have anything but let the guys know I'm missing my dogs and to bring them home if they find them. This is now about 2 hours into the search and I'm starting to panic since these are like my kids we're talking about here! Ok- I'm heading out in my truck now to see if they made it down to one of the county roads, thinking the whole time time this is impossible, and that they never leave the property or ever go out of calling distance.

And this Bronco pulls into my drive, opens the door and out come the missing pups. The guys like, "we thought these might be your dogs". Now I have no idea who these folks are, but I'm so happy to see them! I ask where he found them and he replies down by the fence...I'm confused and ask what fence? And he says the white one...I look over at MY white fence at the drive about 100 feet away and ask, "my fence?" And he's like "yeah, a few hours ago..." I'm way confused now because I'm thinking this guy stopped and took my dogs from MY yard. Which he did. I don't know why he brought them back, or even why he took them, but I'm just glad to have them. I'm definitely keeping them in the backyard from now on near Dixie who'll eat anyone she doesn't know who comes too close.

Moi, This Week

I am trustworthy and honest
I want a real home
I wish life was not always so full of obstacles
I hate hypocrites
I miss my family
I hear what I want to
I wonder if I will ever be truly satisfied with anything
I regret not thinking before I speak
I am not growing up, ever!
I dance to almost anything
I sing in my truck
I cry when no one can see me
I am not always patient
I make with my hands new fence when my ponies tear it down (this evening's project...)
I write whenever I can
I confuse myself with love
I need to accept my downfalls
I should appreciate more the forces in my life
I start too much
I finish everything I start

Hopefully something exciting occurs this weekend. I was supposed to patrol for fires, but funding fell through, so now I just have to be available if one does start. I have 5 days off and don't know what to do with myself! I suppose I can get a lot done with the ranch, but it would be nice to be a little bit social at least. I'd try and make a date with Chris but I think he may be a bit mad at me at the moment (see above, lines 6,7 and 8). Though I'm really hoping that isn't the case...
I was thinking of going to Greeley for a rodeo if I had a friend there, but unfortunately I can't get hold of him, so that's out. Plus I really want to stick to the forest if there's another fire. I need a new truck and can't pass up the H-pay or overtime!
Long frustrating week...4 10's can really get to you sometimes...but having Friday off is worth it. Sorry I haven't been very insightful lately, it's hard after a long day in the field to be articulate.

Oh yeah! Almost a week ago Izzy (my little Manx cat) had two kittens! This is a step up since last time she only had one. Yeah, my Tomcat's not gay! I'll get pics up since they aren't as newborn ugly as they once were and their eyes are almost open. 2 cute!

Fizzlin' Out

So I was released back to IA (Initial Attack) late Saturday night. It was a bit of a relief after working a 16 hour shift. We got stuck on top of the mountain when the fire jumped the line. Had to wait until the helicopters had dropped enough water to give us a route down. Then it pooured yesterday which was a bit of a Godsend sinc homes were being threatened. As it was we had already evacuated all the livestock and homes nearby. So from what I know in work this morning the fire is more or less out. I dropped off the film from a camera I dug up yesterday, so I should have pics up by next Monday at the latest.

Burn Baby, Burn!

So I've been complaining all week 'cause Chris has been working on the biggest fire in CO so far for the last week which is only about 60 miles from my house - that I'm not on because out forest is too high risk to lose any resources to another area...so today I get called up for my very own fire about 15 miles from my house! Yeah! I'm hurrying up and waiting for the rest of my crew! I'm going to try and dig up a camera since I forgot mine! Wish me luck!

Surprise!

I'd better not be a eunuch, I like boys way too much! So 70/30 is split down the middle huh? Hmmm...is it me or is that math a bit off? Rejecting traditional rolls. I think that sums it up in a nutshell...

You Are 70% Boyish and 30% Girlish

You are pretty evenly split down the middle - a total eunuch. Okay, kidding about the eunuch part. But you do get along with both sexes. You reject traditional gender roles. However, you don't actively fight them. You're just you. You don't try to be what people expect you to be.

How Boyish or Girlish Are You?

ME!

Thank you all for your great time wasting ideas! I hate these last 15 minutes in the office...helps soooo much!

danielle is the real winner
danielle is too sexy
danielle is now at work
danielle is on her way to hide in the "girls bathroom" to drink her vodka
danielle is willing to risk it
danielle is missing
danielle is alive
danielle is cracked
danielle is sure that chuck will save the universe one day
danielle is not most people
danielle is also known as 'little miss sunshine'


And my personal favorite:

danielle is a sassy little 13 3/4" sable & white bitch who thinks that everyone should stop and pet her

What McLeod Needs

Stealing bright ideas from Yeimy and having been very inspired today at work...

1. McLeod needs patience
2. McLeod needs a life
3. McLeod needs to go grocery shopping REALLY, REALLY bad
4. McLeod needs to chill out
5. McLeod needs to be productive at work regularly, not sporadically
6. McLeod needs to sleep right now
7. McLeod needs to win the lottery

Hmmmm...Vewy, Vewy Interesting...

So who asked if I had dates lines up when I got home? Hell Yeah! Two days spent with Chris this weekend ;)

Anyway - started with the Forest Service last week and have been trying to adjust to the new schedule. I'll get there, just give me time!

Big Fire near us. Hopefully I'll get called up. Our FMO (Fire Managment Officer) just headed out to check if we were needed, but my guess it's going to be a big fat no. Kicker is I bet Alamosa Volunteer Fire was called up and Chris is there since he's not texting me back. Bummer. I'm way jealous.

Your Linguistic Profile::

50% General American English

25% Upper Midwestern

10% Dixie

5% Midwestern

5% Yankee

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

I'm Baaaack!

So we all got back without a hitch! Definitely need to go back and visit again and spend some more time in certain areas...maybe travel the Mediterranean again.

Did you know...?
Four jobs I've have had in my life:
1. Lifeguard
2. Ski Patrol
3. Firefighter
4. Teacher
Four movies I would watch over and over:
1. Gladiator
2. Oh Brother Where Art Thou?
3. My Big Fat Greek Wedding
4. River Runs Through It
Four places I have lived:
1. Calumet, MI
2. Birmingham, MI
3. Port Huron, MI
4. San Luis Valley - Colorado
Four TV shows I love to watch:
1. Don't have t.v.
Four places I have been on vacation:
1. Greece
2. Turkey
3. Germany
4. Baja California
Four websites I visit daily (or more like weekly now):
1. Hotmail.com
2. Blogger.com
3. All my AGD links!
4. EBay
Favorite foods:
1. Chinese
2. Crab legs
3. Italian
4. Tamales
Places I would rather be right now:
1. Back on the Mediterranean
2. Baja
3. On Vacation
4. Out to dinner with someone since I have NO FOOD in my house!

TSM Lives in Greece Too!

Yes! The Shopping Monster lives in Greece also...and Turkey! He's very well traveled and I'm broke until the end of the month. Yeah for me! Maybe there is a big Shopping Monster family spread across the world and they all keep track of where we are traveling so as to attack when we least expect it?

But I did bring back some wonderful jewlery, museum reproductions, art...etc...It seems I HAD to have certain things for both myself and others. Oh well. I thought I would let you all know in case anyone was thinking they may escape him by jumping continents. I do recommend letting the shopping monster take over in Greece though if you have the chance...and Turkey.

Interesting experience I had over there with another woman who came along as her school's sponsor that I need to share. After leaving Ephesus we went into Kusadasi to hit the bazaars. When we stepped out of the taxi a man approached us to shop diamonds. He brought us, and her husband, into the back rooms where the EXPENSIVE stuff was (maybe we looked rich?) and literally drapped us in diamonds. Luckily the Shopping Monster must have been on a Turkish Coffee Break and I managed to not buy anything. But it was quite the experience to be wearing about $100, 000.00 worth of diamonds on my body for even a short period of time...Now I thik I need to marry someone rich and go back to Turkey and shop...

Pictures!

As we wrap up our trip, we have all decided we want to stay in Greece just for the ice cream. It is unbelievable here! It's so good! Ok...off the ice cream trip...the ruins were cool too ;) And pictures are following!

Overlooking Patmos from St. John's Grotto
As mentioned before, this was a rather spiritual island. Not large, but very quiet and rather uplifting is one managed to get into the Grotto when very few people were there.





The Monestary of St. John
At the monestary the women (and men) are asked to keep there shoulders and knees covered out of respect. Unfortunetly we didn't have enough time on the island to get a chance to go through the monestary, but did get to view it from the outside.








Ephesus
Unbelievable! Just amazing to think of such a huge civilization simply not existing anymore. The ruins are incredibly preserved and the marble statues and carvings are beautiful!











Approaching Santorini
I wrote about this yesterday as well, but this is the volcanic chain of islands that used to be one island and a site historians believe could have held the lost city of Atlantis. The towns are all built on top of the island as it is a fairly steep slope to the top. Cable cars and mules make the run up and down regualrly, or you can choose to walk...which is quite the climb. The girls and I choose to ride mules to the top and back, though a few opted to walk down!

Riding the mules to town!
A view of the back of the mule as we approached town. There is a rather good walkway up upon which we rode, but it seems crazy steep when looking over the edge!

Temple of Posiedon
Very cool, but we were all very tired while here. Thankfully there isn't too much to see other than the landscape and we did get a double decker bus for the trip and sitting upstairs while riding along the coast was cool. And yes, we did get a closer look at it and I have many more pictures I will post in an album or slide show soon!

We're off early, so this is my last blog from Greece! Wish us a safe and happy trip back to the states!

Ciao - d

TODAY it's my Birthday?

As usual, I've been cursed on the big day. I fell asleep early last night after a long day with a headache and forgot to put my luggage outside the door to be taken off the ship. SO, when I awoke at 5:30 I was in a bit of a panic and extremely embarrassed about something I'd been reminded to do about 50 times. The good thing is all the kids got their stuff together alright. Anyway, once I handled that situation, we had debarked and I managed to get separated from the 30-odd people I was with in an extremely small bus terminal. What I can't figure out is how I did this, but after about 20 minutes I was convinced I'd been left behind and was now stuck at the port in Pireaus. So I followed good advice of the lost and stayed in one place and low and behold after awhile some one I knew bumped into me. I couldn't help but think about how I'd been joking about staying in Greece as a birthday present to myself and had told the kids not to worry if I disappeared...but I was just joking!
So techinically the day is just starting back in the states and I figure I have some time to make up, but I think I'm going to enjoy a belated birthday because we leave at 3am to catch our flight and I'm tired! So I'm going to bed and will pretend it's today tomorrow once I'm back home.

Ghetto Cruise Ship

The kids are all in compliance that now that we are off the ship we can complain about it. The service was okay, but everyone we dealt with were extremely friendly and helpful, so we didn't feel right voicing our complaints too loudly while there, but there were some interesting occurrences.... I NEVER had hot water. The bathrooms were so small you couldn't turn around, and the shower was a 1.5 x 1.5 foot space you pulled a curtain around. There were a million other students with sponsors who let them run wild. The elevator broke to the 10 the floor. They ran out of towels; don't ask...I think the laundry broke. My boarding pass was wrong and was another sponsor the whole time...a guy no doubt. Nano was claustrophobic in a 7 x 5 room with three other people...So needless to say, other than sleeping we spent a LOT of time away from the cabins and up on the deck or on land. But it was memorable, interesting and we did enjoy it despite the set backs...and like I said, everyone was very friendly...either that or they were laughing at the silly americans the whole time...hmmmmm...

Ship Ahoy!

Despite having pics to load, I'm not becaus ethe service is WAY slow and I'm not paying a ton to miss walking around the island. I'll try and get them up another time...maybe in Athens. We landed in Crete this morning but didn't do much of anything. We just finished riding mules up to Santorini, which was quite the ride! It is amazing here. The city is on top of the mountains, so you can walk, take a cable car, or ride mules. I'll post pics of that tomorrow if I can while in Athens. Santorini is the site of the fabled isle of Atlantis. The island chains were formed from a volcanic eruption around the 1500's BC. A chain of Tsunamis and earthquakes preceded and followed causing the center of the island to sink. Ruins have been found that are quite advanced off the coast. This is our last day at sea and we will debark in Athens tomorrow morning around 7:30. We have an trip out to the Temple of Poseidon and then get to bed early for our 6 am flight out. It has been a great trip and I think everyone has really enjoyed it. Patmos and Ephesus were profound sites to visit for me. The grotto of St. John was amazing. In Ephesus the ruins were massive and it's just hard to comprehend how large this civilization from so long ago was. I promise to get pics up!

Picture Update

We have been in Rhodes all day today and debark in about another hour to sail to Crete. Unfortunetly I won't have pics from here since I took all of them on a film camera. But I did go snorkling today with some other students as a chaparone while my kids checked out the old city and layed on the beach.

Thought I'd update some pics...

At the Acropolis...

Zeus' Temple. We never got any closer than this, but it was pretty impressive anyway. One of the oldest temples in Athens.

Mycanos on the bay....

Mycanos from Little Venice...

Will update with Patmos and Ephesus tomorrow if I get a chance! We're having a great time and getting a great taste of Greece. I would definetly love to come back to a couple different places to see in more detail. Hope everything is well at home! Be back soon!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!

Gobble, Gobble!

We are in Turkey! The keyboard here ıs a lıttle dıfferent, so forgıve me any typos! I also cannot post any pıctures because there ıs no CD drıve, but I have a ton from the Acropolıs whıch I forgot to post yesterday, Mycanos, and Patmos where we spent the mornıng, and Ephasus where I just got back from walkıng though.

After departıng Mycanos yesterday nıght, we traveled overnıght to the Island of Patmos where we took a short excursıon to the Grotto where St. John wrote Revelatıons, and took a short walk up to the monestary. The Grotto was very humblıng and Mom, tell Uncle Jım I bought a candle for hım there.

After leavıng Patmos, I spent the late mornıng and early afternoon lyıng by the pool whıle the kıds caught up on some sleep as we traveled to Kusadası. Upon arrıvıng here we splıt to shop and travel to Ephasus wıth some other people ın the group. The bazaar here ıs HUGE! The shoppıng ıs awesome and I want a Persıan Rug! I fıgure I can hold off untıl I actually have a house to put ıt ın though. As ıt ıs I have a really hard tıme passıng by a lot of the jewlery.

I have to say, thıs trıp so far has been more than memorable and defıneltly educatıonal. I have enjoyed every mınute of ıt and our schedule ıs as such that ıt ıs also very relaxıng and we are not rushed at all. After we leave tonıght we travel to Rhodes where we wıll spend all of the day tomorrow. I am lookıng ınto a snorklıng excursıan for the kıds durıng the mornıng. If I have tıme I wıll stop at an Internet cafe and post pıctures of the last few days.

Ruins, Ruins Everywhere!

As a correction, I know it's Hadrian's Arch...just a Typo.

Anyway, we spent Sunday traveling to Delphi, a three hour trip one way through the Greek countryside. Looked a lot like Colorado! Mountains, Alfalfa Fields and Magpies!

We hiked up to the Oracle at Delphi in the Temple of Apollo. Supposedly according to historians and geological surveys, the 'oracles' chewed hallucinagenic herbs and sat over a crack in the ground that released toxic gases, hence the 'prophetic' advice they gave. Most of the ruins have original inscriptions and are very well preserved despite the razing and burning by the Romans when they introduced Christianity.

Interestingly enough, we drove along the road where Odipus murdered his father, the King of Thebes, which set into motion the prophacy his father had been told that he would murder him and marry his mother when he was born. Myths to us are fact over here.




We departed this morning for Mycanos, from which I am typing this! So I'm going to cut this short so as to get more pics as the sun sets!

I Want A Vespa!

No pictures yet today, but we rose at about 7:30 am (I was up at 6:15 I guess...no jet lag for me evidently...), had breakfast and headed out for a tour of the city and the Acropolis. Our tour guide was horrid, and myself and the director answered more questions about Greek Mythology than she could, so, oh well. All I can say about seeing some of these ruins up close was...humbling. It was amazing to see where democracy was born and walk up the same marble walkways men such as Marc Antony and Julias Ceasar once stood, not to mention Homer and so many other fathers of the Republic.

Currently I'm sitting in an Interest 'cafe' updating everyone who's probably been so patiently waiting. It's been a fairly long day so far...almost 5 pm here, so most all of you are just getting up. We shopped all afternoon in the Plaka district. Hit up the Harley Davidson shop and picked up some museum copies of artifacts....very cool.

Anyway, look for another update and more pics in the next few days!

Oh, Question of the day...who can tell me what a Vespa is? You get the satisfaction of knowing what everybody rides around out here when they aren't on a motorcycle or attempting suicide by riding in a Taxi.

Here, There and Everywhere!

Hello everybody! We have made it to Greece safe and sound! After meeting Thursday morning, we all threw our luggage in my truck, kids in a vehicle, and headed to Denver! Our flight took off Thursday evening and 8 1/2 hours later we landed in Frankfurt, Germany. During our trip we were fed non-stop, drove our flight attendant crazy asking for refills on the water (they should have just given us the whole bottle!), watched Failure to Launch (which was pretty funny and I recommend), and did flight aerobics while Jaclyn mimed along to Kelly Clarkston songs.


Sorry the pics are blurry, but we were doing aerobics....remember?


Our layover was quick and painless...or at least it was for my students. I was trying to get another student added to our flight and ran all over the airport looking for someone to help us after being re-directed a few times. He couldn't make it, but at least we got him all set up to be picked up in Athens later last night.

We met up with another school from the Springs and their three students on the flight, and once we landed in Greece we were added to seventeen students from NM. Our flight arrived around 5 pm local time, which means it was only about 7 am back in Colorado. After meeting our director and getting a short bus tour of the city on the way to the hotel, we finally got to make ourselves at home and take our well deserved showers! I'm pretty sure that was the highlight of the afternoon.

Once dinner was over we headed out for an evening on the town. We got to learn how the subway works here in Athens and then took a look at Adrian's Arch and the Acropolis all light up at night.



Alph Gams, I had to take a pic of the subway sign...notice the first 3 letters!

The man standing by the Arch was a Greek Orthodox monk who just happened to walk by while we were there and stopped to admire the view. Adrian was a Roman General who loved Greek so much he built the arch to commemorate his founding of the 'new' city located the right of the arch, while the 'old' or Plaka District lies to the left. The subway too 15 years to build because when they were digging they kept coming up with a ton of archeological artifacts dating as far back as the 17 Century BC! It was pretty amazing to see some of the artifacts on display.

Afterwards we had an hour or so to check out the changing of the guard at the parlimentary building and Greece's tomb of the unknown soldier. It was pretty impressive. I jumped ona bus and headed back tot he airport at midnight to pick up Marty and hear his layover stories before finally making it back to the hotel at 1:30 and get some sleep!

Exhausted!

Wow! What a week so far! Monday was the last day of classes, but school technically was in session through Wednesday. So, instead of 'school' we went to 6-Flags down in Denver on Tuesday (not even HALF as good as Ceder Point!) and then spent the day at the sand dunes and the mineral pools yesterday. I never want to get on a bus that often, for that long EVER again! It was a ton of fun though and for the most part the kids were fairly well behaved. But man am I TIRED!

I just finished getting my grades finalized, so for the rest of today and tomorrow I'm 'cleaning house' so to speak! I have to remember a CD player for tomorrow though, it is way too quiet in here without the kids running around. It feels so good to be done teaching for the next three months. It'll be nice to have a full three day weekend without worrying about having to grade papers and how long I can get away with working on a Monday morning before students figure out I'm in.

This also marks a period during which I won't have a ton of time to update my blog as often as I have been since I refuse to pay for the internet at home. Since I live so far out of town I can only get dial-up, and that's so darn expensive I figure I can put the money to better use somewhere else. I promise to log in at least once a week though and keep everyone updated on my summer adventures with the Forest Service, fires, and Rodeo. I also plan on keeping a daily log while in Greece at least. We leave next Thursday (June 1st) so make sure you check out my adventures overseas!