North Dome

When I was a young person, my family frequently went to Yosemite National Park for our summer vacations. From Palm Springs, it was a day's drive to nice, refreshing, cooler air! We'd spend a week there, going on hikes, hanging out, doing various camping activities, etc. My mom and I would take art classes and my dad (and brother before he got too old to vacation with the family) would go hiking, running, or rock climbing (these activities changed depending on the summer). Ma was an artist; I have a couple of her pieces. I put green and brown paint on the paper and explained that it was trees.

Anyway, looming above the place where we stayed was North Dome.

It doesn't get much press, so to speak. It's not on any t-shirts or postcards. (Sometimes it gets into one of Half Dome, on accident because it's across the valley) No one ever talks about going to the top. It's just there, looking all dome-y and beautiful. Several years ago, when Dad asked where we should hike next, I said "North Dome! if it's possible". I didn't even know if you COULD get to the top!! YOU CAN!!! 

To make 3 years seem short... the next summer they'd had so much snow that the trail was closed at the end of July!! the summer after that, I didn't travel to California... SO.. I was DETERMINED to get to the top of North Dome in 2013!! And then I banged my knee...

Post-surgery, I had a FABULOUS physical therapist who knew my goal and destination. We worked very hard all of June and into July to get my knee where it needed to be. I also worked to get the rest of me back in shape since I hadn't hardly moved since the initial injury in February.

And so, after a quick 20 year HS reunion in Big Bear, Dad and I set out for Yosemite! We had years before decided to go the "easy" route from the "backside" not from the Valley floor. We are SO smart!! We camped the night before just a little way from the trailhead on Tioga Road.

We drove into Toulumne Meadows that afternoon and bought matching Yosemite jackets because they're cool and also because it was about to rain! It rained on and off all evening, into the night. There are some amazing views off of Tioga Road in the back country!

We woke up Tuesday morning early, cleaned up camp and set off on our adventure! We ignored the clouds :) 

We had continually said that this hike wouldn't be too strenuous because there wasn't much elevation gain or loss at any one time, according to the topo map. It lied!! We went straight down, then straight up, over and over! Or it seemed like it anyway!! We got to a ridge that appeared to end at a dome. Nope, not the right dome. This was about when dad asked, "where are we going?!". It is an odd hike when you don't see where you're going the whole time! In fact, we had not yet seen North Dome at any point on our trip!! We kept hiking anyway :) 

About 3 miles into the ~4.5 mile trip, we saw Half Dome to our left for the first time. We got out the binoculars to see a few people on top and a few climbers on the face. We knew we were at the correct angle so North Dome must be close!!

We walked out onto another dome of sorts, and there below us, was finally NORTH DOME!!!!

The only "problem" was that according to the map and sign posts, we only had about a mile left... HOW were we supposed to get there from here in a mile?!?!? And we knew it was supposedly like half a mile from the base to the top. We could actually see that trail from here! 

Well... some steep scrambling down off this dome, into some trees for some more steep down, and we got to the .5 mile sign! 

We practically raced up the side of the dome! Okay, I did. I was mildly excited!! I actually cried at one point. It had been such a very long journey to finally get to this point!! Years and years of wondering if there was even a trail, snow, George, knees, etc. BUT, WE DID IT!!!

Two months, almost to the minute, from my knee surgery, here I am!! It IS possible to get to the top of North Dome!! And it was SO worth it!! The views were amazing; the hike was challenging; and the knowledge that I can do whatever I put my mind to is once again engrained in my brain!! :) If you look at my face in the pictures, I was just a wee bit excited to be there!!

Dad and I took pics, had a snack, and left quickly at the first raindrop. On top of a dome is not where one should be in a thunderstorm!! Luckily, it never actually rained on us. In fact, we got back to the car and enjoyed our entire evening without rain!

On the way back, we were going to make a .3 mile side trip to Indian Rock. Unfortunately, we were tired of going up hill (maybe just tired in general) and did not want to go further up hill so we opted not to. Also, before the turn off we actually saw it from the trail. We took some pics and decided that was close enough!

(It's between the two tall trees - a weird rock outcrop with one very skinny bridge-like part)

The last .7 miles was UP an old, somewhat paved road. At the top was a Park volunteer sitting and reading. It was cool to have someone there to greet us!! Three hours to the top, three hours back. Not too bad!! According to the tracker on my phone, we went 10.11 miles. No wonder we were tired!! 

About a week before this adventure, I realized that I would really want to take a shower after the hike so I reserved us a spot at Camp Curry in Yosemite Valley. We drove down and were able to check in right away. Camp Curry has normal cabins but mostly tent cabins. It's a wood frame with canvas sides and top. This is where we stayed most often when I was a kid. It's rustic, but with a bed and shelter :) The showers were very small, but felt oh so good!! 

After we cleaned up, we rode around the village on the shuttle bus. This is THE way to get around Yosemite Valley! Everything in the Village was closed except pizza which didn't excite us so we went back to Curry where we had yummy burgers on the veranda (think big porch). After dinner we walked around Curry Village, I had an ice cream cone, and we enjoyed the people watching. Yosemite is a great place to see all walks of life!! We hopped back on the shuttle, stopped for a quick visit to The Ahwahnee Hotel ($450+ per night!) and then rode the shuttle all the way around back to Camp Curry! When I was a kid, I would ride that shuttle around and around and around!! 

Wednesday morning, we explored the Village - the Store, Sport Shop, Ansel Adams Gallery, Visitors Center, Indian Village (set up like it would've been all those years ago) - bought our souvenirs and left the Valley! We made the traditional stop at the Tunnel to snap a pic of the view. North Dome is behind El Capitan on the left. It's not visible from here at all. It's actually not visible from the Village even!

After 8 hours on the road we got back to Big Bear to a VERY excited Slugger!! He had stayed with Uncle Dave, Aunt Loni, and Cousin Cyrus (a big old beautiful black lab) and Cousin Luna (a small, old fighter). He has hardly left my side since :) If you ever want to feel loved, get a dog, leave for a few days and then come home!! 

Overall, this was an exceptional 72 hours!!! Thanks to my mom and dad for those vacations to Yosemite all those years ago and to dad for helping me realize this childhood dream!!! I couldn't ask for a better adventure partner!!

Lucky Numbers...

This is not a post about the lottery, sorry! It's about the movie "Lucky Numbers". Last summer in the midst of my movie mania, acclaimed director Nora Ephron died. I researched and there's only one movie of hers that I hadn't seen. Lucky Numbers. I could not find it anywhere, without actually purchasing it. Since I'd never even heard of it, I assumed it wasn't one of her best and therefore didn't think I needed to own it. I let the idea of watching it slide.

It's on TV right now!!! So, Rest in Peace Nora Ephron; thanks for the movies.

UPDATE: There's a reason I've never heard of it... Wasn't a love story either which surprised me.

Must be Summer...

It is June 1. School's out. I'm starting my second movie of the day. Apparently this is now a tradition!

I think a few things will be different in my movie watching this summer. First I doubt that I'll get 75 in. I will be traveling and hosting visitors too. Okay just one as of now.

Second I still have a long list that I want to see but this year I'm going to include movies that I may have seen but its been so long I have no recollection.

Tonight's double feature includes two such titles. Mermaids was this afternoon. All I remembred was teenage angst. Yup, that there was! And now I'm watching Peggy Sue Got Married. I really don't think I've ever seen it. And now I must stop typing so I'll know what's happening!

UPDATE:  I had NOT seen PSGM. It was okay. Not sure why everyone raves about it. Maybe it's just iconic of the era or something? At least now I can mark it off the list :)

Serious CHANGE!

To keep a long thought process relatively short... I got a dog. I will never stop missing George. George is not being replaced. I truly believe George would approve of this change. I can say all this and I know it. But I'm still pretty emotional about it, but dog and I didn't sleep all that well last night so I'm blaming it on sleep deprivation!!

Anyway, dog came to me with the name Bernard. He is adorable, energetic, protective, smart, funny, and so far a really great dog. But the name really isn't doing it for me! While on our first real walk today (2 miles!!) I called him Slugger. It just kind of came out. And I LIKE it!! He's sort of the color of a baseball bat, and of course I love baseball so it fits me more. I've been calling him Slugger a bit (Bernard some too) and he seems okay with it. He comes to clapping better than to his name anyway so I'll just start clapping and saying Slugger :) According to the interwebs, it IS possible to change his name. This will be his 3rd name at least. Though no one knows his original name.

So... HERE's SLUGGER!!

2012 is over

This has not been a kind year. Well, I keep thinking that, but really, overall, it wasn't bad. There was just one really really big downer that kind of put a pall over the whole year.

When I look back over 2012, it will always be the year of George. For the first 8+ months, I spent as much time as I possibly could home with her. It wasn't an overly cold winter but we spent lots of hours huddled on the couch anyway. Summer was pretty hot, though not nearly as hot as 2011. George still cuddled with me fairly often. As she lost weight, I think she preferred the soft couch against her frail bones. Or maybe she knew. I did not travel or have any adventures this summer because I refused to be away from her more than absolutely necessary. And I am SO glad that we had that time together. I tried very hard to appreciate every moment because I knew there wouldn't be a whole lot left. And I was right. The rest of 2012 has been about adjusting to life alone. I found George one week after I graduated from college. I have never been an adult without her, so this fall has been about learning who I am as a non-pet mom. I don't particularly like it! My heart is still healing but eventually a dog will join me in life. I'm not looking for one yet though.

So, as 2012 comes to a close, I can't help but cry and miss my George. But I also look forward to what 2013 might bring. Maybe fewer tears, a new furry one to love, definitely some travel and adventures. As my very wise dad said, "life isn't better or worse, just different". My opinion: some days it sucks. Some days it's not bad. So, yeah, basically, just different.

I also keep thinking back to the year 2002. Ten years ago. In September, I'd had my thyroid out, including the cancer hiding in it. On December 30 (?) we buried my mom's cousin's husband (Cecil) after a short bout with lung cancer. Betty Sue (the cousin) hugged me and said, "I'm so ready for this year to be over. Aren't you?" Or something along those lines.

Yes, yes, yes, I am ready for 2012 to be over. Adios, Farewell, thanks for the memories.

Who shoots a 5 year old?

Today, a man entered an elementary school in Connecticut and killed kids. And adults. And himself. Apparently, he'd already killed two people before he even got there. From what I've read, the gun he used can be bought at WalMart.

As a teacher, school shootings are something I think about. I spend all day, five days a week, with teenagers. They come from all walks of life, have home lives of all sorts, and believe and think all kinds of things. I often wonder what's going through their head. Sometimes, I have to wonder if he or she could be the next gunman. Kids are mean. It's not bullying, they just express their opinion, without thinking, not necessarily targeting any one person. Who knows when it'll be one time too many. Honestly, I think things like: "what will be my reaction?" "how will I be able to protect these kids?" and I pray a lot. Yes, it's scary to think, it could be AHS, any day. But I can't live in fear. No one would ever learn anything if we spend all our time under desks and in corners. It's also scary to fly in an airplane, drive on a freeway or back country road.  I can't and won't stop doing those things either.

Earlier this week, our school went on lockdown. The principal came over the PA and told teachers to lock their doors, but to keep teaching. Those two words, "keep teaching", told me I wasn't in danger, but something was up. My kids were taking a test. I stayed calm; they finished their test. We were still on lockdown about 25 minutes later, and they questioned if we'd have to stay in class. I told them that it was probably just about the need to know where everyone was because a student wasn't where they should be or something. A few minutes later, before class was over, the principal came back on and said lockdown was over, they'd been looking for a non-student, he was found off-campus. It was really quite uneventful. I now know that a student had brought her older (23?) boyfriend to school and he apparently showed off his cool taser gun. There was no threat, but it was very much not welcome! To be safe, we locked our doors.

During the lockdown, I prayed. I didn't feel scared. I can not imagine what I would feel if there was an obvious threat, such as the sound of gunshots down the hall. I do know that I would continue to pray. I know without a doubt that God has put me in the classroom to do everything I can to give my students a successful life. I hope and pray that I will never need to do more than teach math, offer an ear, and be a positive influence. Because that part I like. The scary fear part, I could do without, but sadly it  has become a part of life, not just in schools.

I could go into my opinion on guns and gun control, but I won't. You don't need to read that. But I will continue to pray. Always.

Gracious God, on this sad day, I pray for peace and understanding for the parents and families, the school personnel, the other students. So many will never ever be the same. I pray, Lord, for all the angry, sad, confused, sick individuals in this world - please help them to find other ways of expressing themselves. And, Lord, I pray for our country and government that educated, non-partisan conversations can happen so that no one ever has to return Christmas presents to the store because their babies aren't ever coming home from school. Thank you Lord, for always being with me and my family and for being the most important presence in my classroom. Amen.

New Life

As happens when life changes drastically, life is catching up with me! In the last two months, I have started "doing" more. Getting out of the house more. I hate it because I can. I wish I still needed and wanted to race home after work. But I don't. So, I don't. However, it's beginning to wear on me! I was out "late" 3 nights this week, and a different night, I didn't sleep well. Yup, Saturday morning sleep in is going to be NICE!!!! I don't hate being active. I have very much enjoyed all the activities that are keeping me away from home and awake. But, man, I think I'm feeling my age, or something!! I am currently so tired that I can't seem to find the energy to turn off the light and go to sleep!!

Needless to say, Thanksgiving break couldn't be coming at a better time!! Monday is the only day of the year (I think) that I wish I still work in FWISD cuz they get the whole week and we have to suffer through another day and a half! I say suffer cuz getting kids to do anything productive will be virtually impossible!! Oh well!!