I would like to lodge a formal complaint.

In light of the objections against Cowboy Day and it's ensuing change to Western Day, and considering the demographics of our student body, I would like to protest the use of
the acronym P.I.R.A.T.E.S.for our upcoming test preparation. I fear that it might be an unjust suggestion of foul behavior by a specific group of people resulting in unwarranted tension between clans including the cowboys, the nerds and the wildcats.

Any suggestions? How about HTHBE - hope this has been enlightening or NTRU - Number Theory is Really Useful or SMART - Self-measurement for Assessment of the Response to Training or READ - Reach Excellent Academic Dreams

But but but but but then I wouldn't be able to wear my pirate accessories!!!! arrrrrrrrrg

Flash!

A few picts. from our Phoenix trip.

The botanical garden is second to none. We spent a day here . One of the perks of The Honey House is its central location & it is right along a canal where many people run & bike. Dan & I walked it every morning after breakfast. The Inn is at the foot of Camel Back Mountain & so as you walk you can see it and depending on the time of day & the shadows cast by the sun, it changes . It is strikingly beautiful.





The view from the guesthouse where we stayed. Before you book a stay here be sure to talk to me. It is a steal at $109/ night , but as they say, there is no free lunch ( just yummy breakfasts!)and so you sacrifice some typical luxuries at a traditional B&B but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.



Jeanette Irwin, the Inn keeper of Honey House was a jewel in the desert. I absolutely fell in love with her. She very much reminded me of my Grandma Puckett even though she is only 12 yrs. older than me. "Sweet" is the best adjective I can come up with to describe her.



After having checked out from the Honey House on Saturday morning we were on our way to South Mountain Park to do some hiking because our flight wasn't due out until 7pm. Just a block away we ran across these folks. They had a box of grapefruit labeled "free" & so we took two. We ate them after several hours of hiking while sitting in the shade on a green at a golf course right by where we had parked the car. Perfect!





A word to the wise. By far, the most expensive part of this trip was the car rental. I am so grateful that we didn't know the total cost until we returned the car because it truly would have ruined a wonderful week. The quoted estimated price for the car was just over $400. The daily cost was $31.00 a day. So we assumed the taxes were embedded in that estimate. Wrong. When we returned the car the total was nearly double at $773!!!

I was LIVID!!!! Fortunately we had enough time before our flight & all of the paperwork in hand and so I got into a long line of folks waiting to pick up their car to wait my turn to release my outrage. I wonder how many people don't have that luxury of time and just say "fuck it" and get on their plane & fly off.

I was very glad to see that the young woman who had rattled down the list of add- on options when we picked up the car including a lame sales pitch "well sir, you are a big man & perhaps could use more leg room. Would you like an upgrade in cars?" etc...

By the time it was my turn, my heart rate & flushed face had subsided, but barely. The biggest add on that we were contesting was an extra 29$ / day for additional insurance. Dan had told her when we picked up the car that we did not need it & even offered to show her our insurance card. Thank goodness she had remembered that.

They pulled her off the line at the counter at that point because I was getting a little loud I guess & there were many people waiting. She went in the back to get a manager. Of course he came out pointing to Dan's initals that had signified an agreement to the additional insurance. I ( and Dan... he suddenly appeared) explained that we did not know what we had agreed to especially since we explained that we intended to use our own insurance as coverage. Reluctantly the manager "met us half way" and reimbursed us about $100. Big whoop.

Before I was finished, I held up the paper and pointed to where it was quoted at an estimated cost of $400 with a daily fee of $31 & said, Sir, at the very least this is dishonest business practice and .... at which point Dan said, "Mary, it's settled. Let's go."

THAT was a bummer. But as I said, until the very last moment our trip was perfect & after an hour or so of simmering I got over it & Dan & I joked about it the whole way home.

F

Sweet Jesus

let the movement against Walker continue . Go here.

Got my LARGE PRINT bible!!

Uh oh.

I'm back. And! The first thing I did was buy a NIV student bible. This definitely goes on my list of things that make me go "Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm".

Where is Flash???????????

Final Phoenix Preparations

Dan..such a happy guy. He's been in a pretty good mood. He is all packed & only wanted my opinion tonight on which pair of dress pants to bring. He really is a big boy now. Self assured, confident & positive he won't look like a geek wearing socks with sandals..he he he

Mary... I'll spare you the details but let's just say that I have taken the responsibility to be prepared for intimacy... you'll understand that later in your lives, but I MUST protect the pride of my socked, sandal wearing tiger by saying it has nothing to do with a little blue pill.He's still a ROCK star.


BIG NEWS!!!I have decided not to bring my laptop!! I have been contemplating whether or not to bring it and made my final decision today after school based on the following:

1) I have ALL units from after break until the end of the year ready to be run off.

b) I will bring my planning book so that I can peek in once in awhile to keep the plan planned.

III We are bringing our new Garmin so my technology fix will be satisfied.

Buster... we are using a different set of luggage than what Dan brings to the shack so he hasn't caught on & isn't anxious. He is all lined up with sitters. Dans brother will let him out Sat. morning & then between Jessica and uncle David he will be well taken care of. Also.. I expressed his anal glands tonight & good thing..they were full. So we won't have to worry about him getting sick.

Dan & Mary based on some sound advice from Steve Kline & Kris Koenig, we will stay the night tomorrow at Holiday Inn Express. For $120 we get a king sized bed, breakfast, free shuttle service and free parking. Can't beat that deal... for sure!

We have a car lined up for rental in Phoenix. The woman who runs the B&B is a retired teacher who loves to garden so it really does sound like a good fit.

Can't wait!! I'll post picts. Won't be back until next Saturday.... SUNSHINE HERE WE COME!!!!

Hope you all have good times whether it be relaxing at home or running a marathon..

Flash!

Flash

I've got big balls.

I think that I am dressed like and may look like Jane Barth today.