Because my sister in law did it!

So Katie was bored and posted the fourth picture in her fourth folder - so I decided I may not have time to wax poetically right now, but I can post a picture!

That's me in front of a tank at Fort Irwin, CA when I visited Holly & family in June 2007.

One more from my other picture folder:



This is lining up for Christmas morning 2000. Mom and Dad still lived in Oak City, Rob is the only one married, and Mike is holding Mom's teacup poodle Wookie.

I miss. . . . I find weird. .. . I like. . . .

I miss:

people who know how to merge on the freeway

driving faster than the speed limit

teaching history

I find weird:
that people slow down at the top of the hill - not the bottom

for all the rain that falls, freeways and roads are full of water

the clouds/storms come in from different directions depending on the jet stream


I like:
my student's interpretive dances of the physical geography of the Middle East

the rain

trees

I'm a slacker . . . .

. . . . really a tired, runny nose, stressed out teacher who is trying to figure out how to do her job!!! My students are great. So great I don't know what to do with them. When I finally make it home, I'm so tired I can't think straight and therefore can't really make an intellegent post. My students do their homework. They have discussions that are actually about what I ask them to discuss. I rarely have to repeat instructions. They are quiet when I ask them to be. It's a little scary. I've never had students like that! My students in Northern California has moments like that, but not every day. I really like my students too! The great thing about being in a school with one grade is that they aren't in such a hurry to be "mature" like the seniors and they have time to just be themselves. They like it too! I don't have any crazy stories. They are pretty logical. One did ask if Genovia was a real place and if they could research it for our United Nations project. (the answer was no). I'm doing the project with my students and I chose New Zealand - so if my New Zealand friends are reading this - let me know about any major events/political issues that come up. I promise I'll post more as things settle down for me at work!

Preparation

I recently completed two weeks at our yearly session. I work for The Pacific Coast Banking School, where I just coined and trademarked the phrase, Teaching the Business of Banking. Doesn't it just sound prestigious? Honestly, it is. I listened for two weeks as high level bank executives from all over the country taught, laughed, worked, ate, talked and especially drank. At our yearly Economic panel, now in it's 21st year, we bring in the ABC's of Economics and have them forecast for the next year. Our 'A'cademic, is one of the most highly sought after professors of economics in the country. Our 'B'anker is the chief economist for USBank. Our 'C'onsultant is the chief economist of Weyerhauser. No one liked what they said this year, predicting that Washington Mutual would be bankrupt before the end of the year, and that inflation will rise 4.2% in the next year and that although the dollar will appear stronger, it's only because other countries are weakening. I could go on, but I won't. I will say this though.

Each economist hedged their forecast this year on the election. This was their only common thread. If Obama is elected and implements even half of what he says his economy agenda is, the country will dig a financial hole for itself so fast that within two years we'll crumble and it will take YEARS to dig ourselves out, if we can.

With the extremely recent financial problems, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Countrywide Financial, and now Washington Mutual, I hope we all take a serious look at what we can do to secure our financial futures. Robert gave a great post a few weeks ago about budgeting on his blog. Mel is reading a great book about financial security that advises to have cash reserves of 6 months. I was at a friends this weekend who really got my mind centered on food storage.

We have the benefit of not having to rely on an Economist to know what lies ahead. We have a prophet who has told us that perilous times shall come. I'm rededicating myself to being more prepared.