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Check out the new project in my life :)

War of the Scales

Summer :)

     School's out and summer is here! Life was nutso in May, and the calendar was FULL!
     We made it though, and now it's time to RECHARGE!!!
     I started my summer break with a fun motorcycle trip to the Lind Combine Derby. This was fun on all levels :)
     I loved the ride over and back. We traveled with a group of riders, and this was my first time doing so. I was nervous at first, but it ended up being a blast!!! Great people and BEAUTIFUL scenery!!
     Then the Derby itself...OMGAWSH! I have NEVER seen anything like it!!! We are definitely going back next year. I don't know if I enjoyed the Combine Derby or the grain truck races more.
     Good times!
     Then we came home from there,and I left for Vegas!!!!! This was a fun, fun, fun trip!!!!!!!!!
     I stayed with my sisters, and spent lots of time with my mommy and daddy, and then Cody and his wife and one of their friends came up for the weekend. SOooooo let me just say, it's a blast to be in Vegas with your adult son!!!!
     We did so many fun things, and we laughed so much and so often, that I definitely feel like I had an ab workout :))
     I will post another entry just about the Vegas trip soon!!

Stumble Upon

I have recently stumbled upon my new favorite website:STUMBLE UPON It rocks!!! It takes the stuff you like as a filter, and then it finds you super cool websites that you otherwise wouldn’t ever probably find!

So to start I am going to share some of my favorite artsy new websites I have discovered through SU! I will blog some other lists in the next couple of days like books, quotes, fitness, cooking and food.

Here is one of my favorite cool random things: http://wonderfl.net/c/iNy0/fullscreen It’s fun and I would love to know what it took to create it!

As well, this is pretty wild http://darkpsychedelic.ru/FV_18.html .

Kaleidoscopes remind me of when I was a little kid: http://inoyan.narod.ru/kaleidoskop.swf

Street art ROCKS!
http://www.streetartutopia.com/?p=2014

Cool Money Shots
http://dcist.com/2007/11/15/photo_of_the_da_129.php

Super creative photos
http://www.pickchur.com/2009/07/when-a-photograph-is-not-just-a-photograph/

Inspiring
http://www.goodmorningandgoodnight.com/

Cool blog with wicked pics! After you see this page, go to her home page.
http://myloveforyou.typepad.com/my_love_for_you/2010/03/kate-mcgwire.html

A SLR Camera Simulator!!! Great tool to practice!
http://camerasim.com/camera-simulator.html

AMAZING photos, breathtaking
http://gipsypalace.com/national-geographic-contest-for-2010/

Fun play of things backwards!
http://ifyouwatchitbackwards.com/

Unique architecture
http://dornob.com/lofted-forest-home-organic-curves-natural-materials/

OMGawsh so stinking cute!!
http://www.pbh2.com/wtf/for-sale-one-useless-but-adorable-cat/

Animals and art!
http://www.illusionking.com/body-art-hand-animals/

Art meets photography, talk about mixed media
http://thewondrous.com/amazingly-creative-drawing-vs-photography/

I want this shirt!!! Some of my favorite ways to say good-bye!!
http://www.threadless.com/submission/308022/the_goodbye_shirt

Awesome advertising
http://gencaykarakus.wordpress.com/2009/05/19/10-creative-advertising-ideas-from-students/

FUN
http://littlegreatideas.com/willyou/index.php

Relay 4 Life

     Geez, I've been relaying now for...I am not even sure how long! I will have to figure out when my first year was.
     Our Relay was started by Shawn Townsend and Marty Staggs, who are both fighting cancer right now! I admire their strength and courage!!! They are both such good men, surrounded by such good families. We love them all!
     While the lights are still on and day is with us, I walk laps for those FIGHTING cancer right now!!!
     I also walk laps of appreciation for those who are in remission and I hope for them to stay there!
     I walk laps of appreciation for the health of my loved ones, friends, and myself!
     This year by far was the most emotional for me. Once the lights go out and the luminaries are on, I always walk a lap in memory of specific people who have lost their cancer battles.
     This year, it was more laps :(
     YOU ARE MISSED:
                    Carol Downey
                    Parker Brown
                    Missy's Daddy
                    Jeanelle and Jolene's Mama
                    Jonnie and Justin's Daddy, and Janet's Husband
                    Jose DONUT Rodriguez

MY HOPE IS THAT ONE DAY WE WILL CURE ALL CANCER...

MAYbe

     Well, if you read my MAY WILL BE post, you know that it's been nutso!!!
     The past two weeks were especially crazy, but they have been FUN and AMAZING!
     I especially loved going to two musicals! Our local community theater performed 7Brides 4 7Brothers, and I have such special connections to that show. Besides just loving the music and story, and having several people involved who I care about, it was the first musical that I ever directed, back in Cashmere. And, my leads of my show, fell in love during the show, and got married with a 7Brides 4 7Brothers theme! Cool, huh?!


     Then we journeyed over to Spokane. First, I LOVE Spokane. I was born there. I have MANY special memories of that place, especially Riverfront Park!
     Anyhoot, we saw Wicked, which was PHENOMENALLY! I read the book, but HOLY SMOKES...the musical gave me goosebumps!!! One of the best I have ever watched!!!!
     I love that I can give this opportunity to my students and other people in life. I love sharing these kinds of experiences!
     My MIL told me that she was so glad that I was in the family because since I have been I have introduced her to many new experiences and things she would've never done before.
     These past few weeks also felt like BIRTHDAY BONANZA!! We had so much happening in the birthday realm, lots of surprises and get togethers, and treats, my goodness! I had three VERY special people in my life (1 hubby and 2 kiddos) in one week, ZOIKS!
     May is almost over! Probably feels like a whirlwind because it was! LOL!
     I am looking forward to mellow time. We are planning on a camping trip next weekend with friends and family, that will be restful and recharging, and a wonderful way to finish out May :)
     BRING on June!!!

Motorcycle MAMA :)

     People who know me well, know that I have LOVED riding on the back of a motorcycle for years, about 15 or so. I decided to learn how to drive last year at the end of the summer, and so Rick bought me a cute little Honda Shadow, a perfect bike to learn on!
     Then, this past winter I decided to use my tax return and buy myself my very own big girl bike! I bought an ER-6 Kawasaki 650r!!! She is absolutely BeAuTiFuL!!! And, for that reason I have named her Belle :)

     The weekend of Mother's Day I took the motorcycle training course, and it was AWESOME! I can't believe all that I learned about driving a motorcycle!! I aced the written test with 100%, and the driving test with the same :)) Woot woot, smart motorcycle mama!!
     The past two weekends following the class, we have gone on some decent rides, and I can't believe the practical difference I feel from after taking the class compared to prior. I LOVE CURVES AND CORNERS now!!!!!!
     I love the freedom I feel being on my motorcycle! It's amazing. I feel so confident and alive :)
     The scenery is so beautiful everywhere we go! Whether we go for a quick ride up to Salmon Meadows or a longer ride up passed Omak Lake, around to Nespelem, over to Republic and Keller and back around through Tonasket home, a nice 200-mile ride.
     We saw wild turkeys, deer, lots of baby horses and cows, longhorn cattle, pigs, and a GI-NORMOUS bear!!!! He was so big that when I first saw him, I thought he was a strange-looking horse. HELLO!!!

     I also love the smells when we ride!! Up in the mountains, it smells fresh, crisp, and like pine!!! Ahhhh, so relaxing :)

     I am excited because Ricky also bought a new bike (so, he has two including his big cruiser), and we are planning so super cool (and, longer) adventures this summer! I can't wait to drive some of the rides that I have been the passenger for so many years on, like the North Cascades Highway!!! That will be a fun one, for sure!
     I look forward to the many miles that I will add to my bike. So, far I have 2000 already!!!!!

     I am pretty dang proud of myself for accomplishing this! I can mark a couple of things off my bucket list: Learning to drive a motorcycle and buy my own bike!

Lucky ME :)

     I have been reading my students' poetry books, and I have laughed and cried. As well, I feel so lucky to have the job I have.
     My students trust me, and they share their little hearts on the paper that I have the priviledge to hold and read. WOW.
     Sometimes I think I need to pinch myself! I know I worked hard to be a teacher, but CERTAINLY I never truly understood how incredible it would be.
     I love teaching! I can't believe that I am paid to do what I love every day :)It's been 12 years, and it just gets better!