What? Summer is over?

Uggh...why does summer always go so fast?  Tomorrow is my first day back for this school year.  How can that be? Nothing against the school year per se it's just that I  haven't accomplished all that I had on my summer to do list yet so I think I need to wait on going back to work. Maybe if I'm lucky I can start back about mid October.  Should be finished with my to do list by then.... What do I have left to accomplish?  Well if you must know...there is still a pile of books that I wanted to read.  I haven't spent enough time in the pool (although if you saw my tan you may beg to differ). I wanted to explore some of the small communities around Austin such as Salado and Fredricksburg.  Seeing a movie in the Alamo Drafthouse was on my list but I was able to experience that last night. Check!  But there were so many other places here in Austin I wanted to explore...art museum, Umlauf sculpture garden, paddleboating on the lake, walking along Town Lake.  What about Schlitterbahn?   Where has my time gone?  Sure I have been to some exciting and fun places this summer like California and Portland.  But doesn't summer know that I need more time?  Am I the only one feeling this way?  Surely I think not.  The only good thing about going back is that this year will be the first of 3 that I have remaining until I am eligible for retirement.  Not that I will retire mind you but having the option and knowledge that I can is always a good thing.  Maybe I can get all my things done once I hit retirement.  Here's hoping this school year will be fabulous, enriching, and entertaining!  Welcome back to the real world!

Tuesday in Grapevine

Today we slept in a bit.  We had to attend the luncheon with Elizabeth today.  She was being recognized. Found out later that she and I were supposed to sit at the head table.  Oh well, we were fine at a table in the front row with Natalie, Christy, Jerri, Nadine and Debbie.  After the luncheon we went to the exhibits again and then back to our room for awhile.  This evening we went to AMC Grapevine to watch Bridesmaids.  We had dinner there as well.  It was so cool because they had leather recliners for you to sit in and watch the movie.  I loved it!  In the morning the girls are heading back to Austin and I am going to Arlington to hang out with Wendy and have lunch on Thursday with Yleen.

Grapevine

So Natalie, Christy, Elizabeth and I apparently look like flight attendants. Some random scary guy asked us that as we walked down the hallway to our room at the Sheraton DFW. We ate at Uncle Julios for dinner which was slightly scary as well because of a portrait hanging over our table. A picture will be posted later. Then we went to WalMart cause Christy forgot her personal hygiene items like deodorant, etc. Once we returned to our room, Christy realized she was short one bag and some of her stuff was missing...left at WalMart. So Monday morning we stopped at WalMart before heading to the Gaylord for the math conference. The line entering the property was long.We got our stuff at registration and tried to get into 2 different sessions and couldn't. We gave up and checked out the exhibits, grabbed a Subway sandwich meal and went to sit in line to see Kim Sutton. After that session we went to our room and got ready to go to the lazy river. The lazy river was great. On the way back Natalie and Christy want to "plank" and I am to take their pictures.  After takingone picture, I tell them to hold on because there is something wrong with the camera but actually Elizabeth and I are walking away,leaving them there.  :)  Now we are back in our room while Christy gets ready for a date.

San Antonio Fun...a little bit out of order...sorry

After spending 3 days in San Antonio with colleagues learning about PLC's, Lester and I spent Friday, June 24 in San Antonio together.  We met the kids at Sea World for the day on Saturday, June 25.  Then we came home and I prepared for another trip to San Antonio.  Monday and Tuesday were spent learning about the SIOP method of instruction for ELL's.  I shared a room with Jennie and we invited Jane and Shannon to our room on Monday night.  We played games and tried to see how many LARGE marshmallows we could get in our mouths.  Check out Jennie and Shannon's attempts in the videos.

On The Road Again...

Been home from conference in Portland for 3 days and now doing laundry and packing for a conference in Grapevine. Leaving tomorrow, the conference runs through Wednesday, and then spending some time with my friend Wendy before heading back home on Friday morning. One good thing about this conference is it didn't cost a thing to register and we are staying at the Gaylord! Should be a fun time! Then maybe I can stay home for a bit....

Portland continued...

So Tuesday we decided to do a little shopping after our day of learning. We checked out an interesting store called Cargo and also visited Powell's bookstore. Then we went to dinner at Old Town Pizza. It is in a 110 year old building that is supposed to be haunted, although we dined uninterrupted. We had a fun time visiting at dinner. I've had a really fun time learning and laughing with my friends. Now it is time to go home.....finally!

Portland continued...

After today's assessment sessions, the IP's decided to go to Hubers Cafe for dinner. It is supposedly the oldest restaurant in Portland. The inside was so charming. Then we went on a river boat cruise on the Portland Spirit. As we cruised down the river we saw lots of interesting things, including a teenage boy who came running out of his house, waved to us, and then mooned us! Following that we met up with administrators at a club called Dante's for "karaoke from hell" as it was called. We had a great time but arrived back late and exhausted.

Portland

First day in Portland, I met my nephew, Jacob, and his friend, Hanna, for dinner at Deschutes Brewery. We had a wonderful visit. Sunday mom, Denny, Jodi and Mike came down to spend the afternoon and evening with me. We drove to Tillamook to see where they make the cheese. We had ice cream too. I had a 3 scoop sampler-wild mountain blackberry, Oregon strawberry, and root beer float. YUMMY! Then we drove to Cannon Beach to see Haystack Rock and the beach. It was beautiful but cold.

Vacation is coming to an end

Friday we spent the day on the Santa Monica beach and pier. The weather was gorgeous! Saturday morning they dropped me at LAX for a flight to Portland for a 4 day conference on assessment. Lester, Lauren, and Michael began the long drive home. They made it to Las Cruces, New Mexico that evening. They made it home on Monday afternoon. Unfortunately when they arrived home they found that the air conditioning in the house was not working. Hope they get that fixed before I get home on Wednesday evening.

So many sights to see

Thursday morning began with a 75 minute walking tour of Hollywood  While we did this Jennifer Aniston was busy putting in her footprints and handprints at Graumans Theatre.  There were tons of people watching. After lunch we went to Universal Studios.  Then we went to dinner at Musso and Frank's Grill. This restaurant has been there since 1919 and famous people like to go there but we didn't see any. Bummer!

Hooray for Hollywood!

Wednesday began with a Starline tour of movie star homes. We saw the homes of people like Bob Barker, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox. After the tour we walked along Hollywood Boulevard looking at all the stars on the Walk of Fame. Then we went to Madame Tussad's Wax Museum. It was so fun. It was very interactive and the wax people looked so real. Then we came back to the hotel and swam for a bit before going to the Hollywood Improv.There were several comics that we didn't recognize but there were 2 that have also had roles in movies...Owen Benjamin from House Bunny and Nick Kroll from Date Night. We had a great time.

Dolphins And More Dolphins

Tuesday we left Anaheim and drove to Dana Point for a 3 hour dolphin and whale watching cruise. We had a great time on the boat and saw tons and tons of dolphins. They were right beside the boat, splahing us with their spray and making noises. So cool! We saw one fin whale from a distance as well. There was another passenger and his family on the boat....it was the guy who held the assistant superintendent of human resources job in EISD just before Lester...Steve Ebell. How weird is that? Afterwards we drove part of Pacific Coast Highway up towards Hollywood. We stopped for lunch in Laguna Beach at Ruby's Diner. When we walked in, there sat Christy Cox, one of our 4th grade teachers and her daughter. What a small world! Arrived in Hollywood and checked in.

Disney Fun

Spent all day Monday at California Adventure Park and Disneyland. Ended the 4th of July watching The World Of Color water show at California Adventure Park. It was so cool! Got back to the hotel a little after midnight. My foot is killing me but had a great time!

California Here We Come!

Before leaving Vegas Lauren and I went down to the Mirage to see the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. Siegfried and Roy have a dolphin research center and a lion habitat. Then we headed out for California. We stopped for lunch at Buffalo Bill's Resort and Casino on the Nevada California border. I wasn't hungry so I went and found a Wheel of Fortune game. The kids had each given me $15 dollars to try to win more for them. I won $95 for them to split. Then I won $100 more from my money! I love Wheel of Fortune! After arriving in Anaheim, we checked into our hotel which is within walking distance of Disneyland and then went to Bubba Gump's for dinner.

Vegas Style

After lunch, Lester, Lauren and I drove down the strip from the Stratosphere back to the Luxor. We passed several Vegas style wedding chapels including the Little White Wedding Chapel and it's tunnel of love. Lester refused to go there and renew our vows. I told him I guess that shows how much he loves me. Lauren and I gave him a hard time all afternoon about it. :) Then we saw a great show called "Nathan Burton's Comedy Magic." When we got back to the Luxor, Lauren and I went to see the "Bodies" exhibit and the "Titanic"exhibit. Both were very interesting but the Titanc was my favorite. There were several places that were created to give you the illusion of being on the ship including the Grand Staircase. You got a boarding card of a real person when you entered and at the end you could see if they survived or not. After dinner Lester and I walked to Mandaly Bay. I won $1300 playing Wheel of Fortune!

Vegas baby!

So we arrived in Vegas around 1:30 on Friday and went straight to In and Out Burger for lunch.  Yummy!   Then we checked into the Luxor or as Michael called it the "Suxor."  They do not have wifi only wired and it took an hour to figure it out. The room was HOT! and not cooling and the tv remote was not working.  We called guest services.  An hour later we called again since no one had come to help yet. They said we did not have to sit in the room and wait for them so Lester and I went downstairs to gamble. Two hours later (and $300 poorer) we returned to the room to find they still had not been there.  We took the kids and walked down the strip. I overdid it. I could barely make it back to our hotel.When we got back at 9:30 the staff still had not been there to solve the problems. Lester went downstairs to talk to them and came back telling us we were leaving.  Lauren and I thought he meant leaving the Suxor but it turned out they moved us to a suite with a hottub in it. Sat in the hottub for a long time soaking and then crawled into bed.  Yawn!

Our adventure thus far...

We arrived in Roswell on Wed. night and found the spaceship shaped McDonalds as well as the street lights which look like alien faces.  The   next morning we visited the International UFO museum. Then we began our drive to the Grand Canyon. We stopped in Winslow, AZ to take a picture of us "standing on the corner."  We arrived at Yavapai Lodge on the south rim around 10 pm. Got up this am in time to catch the 4:30 sunrise bus tour. Amazng!  Saw deer and elk.  Now headed to Vegas baby!  Pictures coming soon.

Vacation here I come...

Finally able to get away with the family.  Heading in the car to LA.  Hope to get to Roswell, New Mexico by this evening.  Maybe if we slip in under the cover of darkness the aliens won't know we are there....I'll keep you updated on our travel and fun.

It's Always Something

Well, Friday we went to my family Dr to follow up on blood thinner meds.  I was out of the injections and wanted to see if I needed to continue them or could I change to oral meds since my abdomen is black and blue from the injections.  I have to continue injections for 5 days while I begin oral meds and then I will continue on oral meds for about 6 months.  All the while I will have to go in every few days to have blood work done to monitor all of this.  In the process of blood work they found my blood sugar was too too high and Dr thinks I have diabetes.  I am really upset...about a lot of things actually.  Tired of being in this cast and the inability to get around, tired of going to the Dr and finding out there is something else wrong (granted the diabetes is not related to the broken leg, but...), upset about this diabetes deal and what that means.  I know I need to lose weight.  I'm sure I could eat better.  But I am NOT happy about this!  And you can't make me be happy about it.  :)  I know I need to keep it in perspective....this is something that can be controlled and dealt with.  It's not the end of the world. But...
Sometimes a girl just needs a pity party I guess.  :)

Surgery Follow Up Today

Today I went back to Dr. G for follow up from the surgery on my leg on the 17th.  First they took off all the wrap and plaster cast.  Boy did that feel good!  That thing was so heavy.  Then we got our first look at Dr. G's handiwork.  I have an incision on the outside of my left leg starting just above the ankle and going up about 5-6 inches with about 18 staples in it.  Then there are also 3 staples on the top of my leg right where your leg and foot meet and bend.  They took xrays and Lester could see that there was a metal plate and 6 screws in the fibula and one screw in the tibia.  Everything was healing very nicely. She took out the staples one by one. Then we went to the casting room for a lighter weight cast to be put on.  But first the girl had to "help" me position my foot in the neutral position.  Basically she had to help me bend it upwards and because of the broken bone and the swelling it didn't want to do that...talk about hurting.  :(  Then she put on a lighter fiberglass cast in bright pink.  I have to keep this on for 3 weeks and then they will put on a different cast.  That one will stay on for 3 more weeks before they will fit me in a boot.  Dr. G gave me 2 rules-no getting it wet and no weight on it.  I can go back to work as long as I follow his two rules.  Now my only concern is getting around my campus.  We'll see how it goes tomorrow.

Crazy Dream

I had a dream last night that I took all this stuff off my leg and found out it was completely healed and I could walk on it.  I went to school in the morning and everyone was so surpised it was not in a cast or walking boot and our school nurse got mad at me for taking the wrap off.  She made me put it all back on until I saw the Dr later in the afternoon. Guess my subconcious was thinking about going to the Dr today, huh? 

Day After Day... Waiting for Tuesday

Every day is the same.  Wake up around 9, struggle to change clothes and clean up, eat some breakfast and fall into my recliner EXHAUSTED.  It takes a lot of energy to do all of that by yourself with a broken leg.  Then I spend about an hour doing some work and checking email at school.  I might read for awhile, watch "Kitchen Boss" and soon it is time for lunch.  Most days Lauren or Lester bring something home for lunch.  I might take a short nap after lunch as I wait for it to be time for "Say Yes to the Dress" and "Cake Boss."  Amazing how bad daytime tv is and yet I get sucked into some of the craziest shows. (Although "Cake Boss" is not crazy.)  Then if it is a really good day a friend or two may come over for a visit.  So many wonderful people have brought us delicious dinners and come to visit.  Just the company makes the day better.  We really appreciate all that our friends have done for us.  You are all amazing and I am so lucky to have you as friends.  Really looking forward to Tuesday when we return to the orthopedic doctor for follow up from the surgery.  I want all this wrap and stuff off my leg at least for a little bit.  Anxious to see how it looks and hear how it is healing.  Also very anxious about what he will tell me as far as the next step and when I can return to work.  Will let you know as soon as I know.

Out Comes The Nerve Block

Today the nerve block came out.  All the meds in it are finished and so Lester and I had to take the tape holding the iv needle in place off my leg today.  Not too bad.  It was pulling off the tape that hurt. My toes have come alive and most of the tingling and numbness is gone.  The pain is not too bad so far.  It is a little easier to move around because I don't have to worry about the iv. This week I'll be home in the mornings by myself and then Lauren will be here for a bit in the afternoons before she goes to work.  Shortly after that Lester and Michael will be home. We'll see how it goes.

Post Op Days Meds and a Scooter

So this nerve block is wonderful!  Pain meds not so much.  The pain meds make me nauseous and with any kind of exertion I start sweating profusely, get very nauseous and feel like I am going to black out.  This has happened when I tried to sit up to the table to eat dinner like a normal person, when I tried to take a bath this morning and at the end of my outing to Target today. Lauren and Lester were headed to Target for groceries and a few other things and Lester made me go along saying I needed to get out a bit.  I was glad to be able to go but I had to use one of their motorized carts and drive it around the store.  Kinda embarrassing expecially when I needed to reverse and it made a LOUD beeping sound.  Not obvious enough in this huge leg wrap and on the scooter, it had to also make a loud noise.   Thursday night we had great BBQ sandwiches and a delicious chocoloate cake courtesy of the girls in Lester's office.  Last night Jodie and Michelle brought us Chuys since we normally go there every Friday night.  Tasted so good, only thing missing was the beverage I normally have with it but unfortuanately it's not allowed while on pain meds.

Surgery Day!

So here is what the leg looks like under that cast.... be warned...it's not pretty.  Today I had surgery.  We went in planning to have 2 screws inserted in the fibula but when he got in there he found I had also cracked the tibia.  He inserted a plate and 2 screws in the fibula and then one screw in the tibia.  No weight on this leg for 8 weeks as of right now.  I also have a nerve block that is keeping it numb for the next 3 days in addtion to pain meds. I kinda look like peg leg.  I'm home and feeling fine.  :)

Saga of a broken leg

So the Italian cast was one of those old style plaster casts.  In the pictures you can see the comments Lauren and David wrote on the cast.  Lauren wrote "Made in Italy" and "What happens in Italy stays in Italy except a broken bone."  David wrote "I think you took  break a leg a little too serioulsy."   Monday the orthopedic doctor did xrays and sawed off the plaster cast.  Boy did it feel good to get that thing off.  But what we saw underneath didn't look so good.  I'll post a picture of my foot but be forewarned it is not pretty.  Then they fitted me for a walking boot although I can't put any weight on it.  I am scheduled for surgery on Thursday morning.  He said I broke the fibula, tore the ligments between the fibula and tibia and pushed my ankle out of place.  He will be putting in 2 screws during surgery.  I can't return to work for 2 weeks after surgery.  Stay tuned...More of this saga to follow soon.

Home Please

Waiting in the Charlotte airport for our flight home to Austin. This morning there was no one at the reception desk of our hotel to call us a taxi to the airport at 5:30. Michael walked down the street to a taxi stand twice to try to get a cab without luck. Finally at six he went across the street to another hotel and they called us a taxi. Having a broken leg has gotten us a few travel perks. We go straight to the front of the line every time. We've ridden the carts in the airports and passed through customs without waiting in the huge lines. In Rome we we lifted up to the airplane in a lift. We got reassigned seats in the bulkhead on the long flight from Rome to Charlotte and row 1 on our flight to Austin. I am so ready to be home and I think Michael is too. He has been such a good help. I will try to post pictures this weekend. Hope to see some of you soon.

Ready to come home

If you know me, the title of this post might surprise you. Not that I don't want to come home but I'm not usually the one wanting to stop traveling. I'm usually the one wanting to go more. But I guess a broken leg does that to a person. We spent our last day in Florence shopping the street markets and visiting the Duomo. I checked out the inside of this beautiful cathedral while Michael climbed the 463 steps to the top of the dome. Of course we had our favorite for dinner. Can you guess what it is? Yep, you are right...pizza! Sure will miss that. Have to get up early tomorrow. Our flight from Florence to Rome leaves at 7:15 a.m. And I need extra traveling time since I won't have the wheelchair until I get one at the airport. I'll make another post on Friday and then this weekend I'll upload a few pictures for those of you checking in.

Pizza Pizza Pizza!

Today we slept in. Yea! Then we went to our favorite pizza place- had pizza for lunch AGAIN! That is all we have eaten since arriving in Florence. It is so good we've decided American pizza just won't do any more. Then we went to the Uffizi Gallery which houses the largest collection of Italian renaissance paintings. Impressive. Then we returned back to the hotel for a break. No big plans for this evening other than dinner and getting a prescription from the farmacia. I think we are trying something different for dinner tonight...branching out a bit. Tomorrow we will finally get to visit the Duomo and then take a bus tour of the city.

Two amazing sights today!

We started our day by going to the Accademia Museum to see the David statue by Michelangelo. It was so amazing. It is huge and very life like. I wish we could have taken photos. Then got a wheelchair rental for the next three days. We did a little market shopping, had lunch (pizza) and took the train to Pisa. The Leaning Tower was so incredible. Took pictures but can't get them uploaded here till I get home. I'm really glad we decided to make that side trip. I'm sure Michael is worn out from pushing me but it makes going a little easier. He's doing an awesome job of taking care of me and I've learned my lesson that I need to
Listen to him. :)

Damn crutches!

So I am not good at using these damn crutches. I can only go 4-5 steps before I have to stop. As much as I hate to admit it I think we are going to try to find a wheelchair, else we won't get anywhere. We arrived by train in Florence today. After checking in to our hotel Michael went and got us some lunch...pizza! Yum! Now we have both taken a nap...this is wearing us both out. It rained while we slept. I no longer like the rain. My left leg is hurting today as well as the right which has to do all the work. We may stay in tonight except for dinner. Not sure what we will do about that yet. Tomorrow we hope to get the wheelchair and see the Duomo, the statue of David at the Accademia and maybe a bus tour of the city. Let you know more tomorrow.

Excitement in Assisi

Day 3 we take a train to Assisi. It has been raining and is still drizzling. Assisi is beautiful. It sits on a hill so all the cobble stone streets run up and down the hill.Despite the rain I convinced Michael that we needed to go out and see a few sights since we plan to leave for Florence tomorrow afternoon. We had been out about 2 hours when I slipped going downhill. I fell and broke my leg. Luckily one of the many people who came to our rescue was a man who was a nurse and he helped me keep my leg still and that helped with the pain till the ambulance arrived. The ambulance took us to the town of Perugia about 25 miles away. At the hospital they did X-rays and put on a cast. Most of the people working in the hospital only spoke Italian. Luckily the doctor helping spoke some English. He said I broke the fibula. 3 hours later with several prescriptions and other info written in Italian, we took a ninety euro taxi ride back to our hotel in Assisi. The trouble is that the taxi drops you off at the bottom of a hill and you have to walk up the hill and up a flight of stairs to get to our hotel. I cannot put weight on my left leg and I have no crutches. I have to get them at the farmacia tomorrow. We finally made it up. We had not had dinner yet so the owner of the hotel called his son who owns the family restaurant to bring us 2 lasagnas and salad. Other than a little pain, some uncomfortableness, and the inconvenience, I am fine. I joked with Michael that I had never broken a bone or riden in an ambulance before and that I had to come all the way to Italy to do so. Michael reminded me that he'd had not even wanted to go out in the rain today! Onward from here...

Day 2

Today we went to Vatican City. St Peters Square, the Vatican museum, St Peters Basilica and of course the Sistine Chapel. All were amazing sights to see but the Sistine Chapel was incredible. Sadly we weren't allowed to take pictures of it. Sunday morning we will visit the Galleria Borghese before taking a train to Assisi.

Buongiorno Roma

After a crazy taxi ride and getting checked into our hotel, Michael and I headed out to experience Rome for our first day. We have seen the Colosseum, the Forum, the Pantheon and Trevi fountain. The ruins are amazing and it is incredible to see the size of the Colosseum. We had our first pizza for lunch...boy was that good! Now for a power nap since neither of us slept on the plane. Then out for dinner and more sights. Wish you were here! Pictures from today coming soon.

Leaving on a jet plane...

After a very turbulent landing in Charlotte, Michael and I are about to board our transatlantic flight to Rome. We should arrive in Rome on Friday morning around 9 a.m. Roman time. Can not wait to see which movie choices we will have on the plane. Hoping for The Kings Speech.

There's a First Time for Everything

Trying blogging for the first time.  Maybe an old dog can learn new tricks.  I guess if kids can do it, I can too.  Just thought this might be the opportune time to try my hand at blogging since I leave for a week long trip to Italy tomorrow with my son.  I can blog about our trip and keep my family and friends informed as if they were with us.  I'll try to keep you posted on our adventures and share photos along the way.  Ciao!