San Francisco

Joe and I spent a much needed weekend away in San Francisco. We had a great time. Here is the weekend in pictures. More posting later...
Sea lions at Pier 39


Cable Car at Union Square
Really yummy steak at Bobo's
Super delicious ice cream and hot chocolate at Ghirardelli Square. We went back again right before we headed to the airport.

There are no pictures, but we went to Oakland to see my friend, Lauren. Then we drove to the Modesto area to see my friend, Kissten, and her cute 9 month old, walking son, Ethan.
We went to dinner at Fisherman's Wharf. I had yummy crab!
Then we hopped on the cable car to have a drink at Top of the Mark. What a beautiful view!
We went to Alcatraz.And took a ton of pictures by the Golden Gate Bridge

We also went to Lombard street. I wonder how often residents need to get new brakes?

tough

Relationships are tough.

I blogged again!

Up Yours, Blogging Month!

I am kind of grumpy and do not feel like blogging today.

Therfore, I am no longer going to try to blog everyday this month... just when I feel like it!

My rents

My parents are the greatest! I have always been close to them, but even more so now that I am older. I really enjoy my time with them and they always make me laugh!

I love when I call and they both get on the phone at the same time.

Right now, I am pretty sure I am the golden child because not only do I get to talk football (Go, Skins) with my dad, but I am the only one of his kids who voted the way he did. So we have been having fun.

They are so silly, but loving. They are supportive and understanding. They really are the best. I just wish they would move back.

So sad

Personally, I am not incredibly sad that McCain did not win this election, just as I am not overjoyed that Obama did win. However, McCain's loser speech made me sad because he is just a sweet, little man. I may not have wanted him to be my president (or maybe I did... I keep my views secret), but I do want him to be my best friend. I love sweet, little old men. He did give a nice and respectful loser speech. I called my dad and let him know that I have replaced him.... with McCain. I think he understood.

Lotsa Random Stuff

I am going out of town this weekend. I will not be blogging Saturday and Sunday!! I will blog about my weekend when I get back though. I guess I am not going to make my blogging goal.

I have a lot of stuff I kind of want to write about today, like how wonderful my class is or how much I love Buster or what I just did at the grocery store or how great my parents are or my stud bowling skills... but I feel like tonight's blog will be focused on the elections.

Today I went to Starbucks at 7:05 and proudly stated that I voted and they needed to give me my coffee. You are probably thinking to yourself, "Self, Becky sure is dedicated, she voted right when the polls open." Nope, I voted absentee... just happened to get to Starbucks at 7:05. I happily enjoyed my tall coffee in a grande cup filled with Splenda and milk.

Then I got to school and saw a student from my first class who is now in jr. high. She hugged me and was as tall as me! She also got her mom to snake me an "I voted sticker".

Something about the sticker made me proud. I am proud to be in an American. I am proud that my vote counts. I am proud that I do my civic duty. I am not proud that I get summoned for jury duty yearly.

Then today I taught my class about the electoral college. They did not believe me when I told them that a candidate could get the most votes, but still not win the election. That got me thinking. The electoral college system is old and was created when people didn't trust others to vote for them. I think we should change the rules back to the popular vote.

My last bit of election related information... I love Tina Fey's impersonation of Sarah Palin. It makes me laugh so hard! I love when she talks about Joe Six Pack and Mavericks. She makes being a maverick sound cool. So although I don't really go against the rules, I am hoping you will all call me a maverick from now on.... purely because it sounds cool.

Thanks and goodnight.

oh, by the way, I bought every flavor of Jolly Green Giant Steamers at the store. I couldn't decide which one I wanted, so I came home with 6. They were on sale and I was hungry!

Parents, Politics and Pigskin

I am having a parent issue in my class and it drives me crazy. I honestly feel like I am doing a really great job and more importantly, I always put the kids' best interest first. Well, this week a student copied his book (not even research) report directly from Wikipedia. So he got in trouble, yada, yada, yada.... but his parents wrote me a nasty gram stating that he did not do anything wrong. His dad accused me of giving his son acute stress syndrome nearly resulting in a 911 call! Seriously!? I told our principal that I want to meet with him (with her) and put him in his place and he suggested Friday at 5:00. Seriously? Why do parents need to be like this? I feel sad for the poor kid!

I am not the most political person and I never talk about politics. My next comments, in no way, should reflect my stance on Prop. 8.... just something that I find funny in the advertising of it. First off, I have yet to find a standard that states kids must be taught about marriage. Regardless, teachers pick and choose their battles. I am not even going in depth about the elections tomorrow due to fear of being criticized. But whatever. Second, I think all kids have learned about gay marriage through all of the "Yes on 8" commercials that play nonstop on the radio and TV. I am pretty sure children are learning more about gay marriage through this campaign than they will ever hear elsewhere in their lives. So those are my views on the campaign - not the prop.

Finally, I would like to write about the Washington Redskins. I am so pumped because I think they are finally going to the Super Bowl this year. They are on fire. Then I watched Monday Night Football and they just killed me! They were in the end zone most of the game, yet didn't seem to score. It was sad. As a side note, I did watch Monday Night Football at the gym which got me to stay on cardio a lot longer. I did get caught yelling at the TV though. Joe and I have been going to the gym every Monday as a commitment to our health and each other. Mondays stink. I teach all day, then tutor for 3 hours, come home for 20 minutes and head back to the gym. But I think it make me a better person.

2 days down, 28 to go!