Webb Hill

Oh my gosh!  Yesterday afternoon, Bill and I climbed Webb Hill.  For those of you that are not familiar with this landmark in St. George, it's the huge hill that sits on the south side of I-15 across from Walmart.  It's above the Shell station and La Quinta Hotel.  I suggested the climb, since we were doing nothing, and Bill wanted to get out and either go to Zion (which I didn't want to drive to, so late in the afternoon).  I thought a brisk walk around the loop here in Bloomington sounded ok, and suggested that.  When I remembered Webb Hill and the time he and Ashley climbed it, I thought, why not? I thought it would be a twisty, winding, medium endurance hike, and so we headed off.  As we started the walk on the path that was marked "no motorized vehicles beyond this point," I thought nothing of it.  About 1/4 mile down that trail, Bill said, "here's where we start the climb."  I looked at the rocks, incline (as in straight up) he was indicating, and thought, you've got to be kidding me.  It was crazy. Barely a path, and straight up! As the distance between Bill and I became further and further apart, I entertained thoughts of stopping and waiting for him to get to the top and then coming back down and join me on the trip down the hill.  If you know Bill, you'll know that he is the ultimate cheerleader, and I have hiked with him more than once, as in Angel's Landing where he wouldn't let me quit. So I plodded on, and finally made it to the top.  I'm not kidding, that was pretty darn close to the most vigorous physical activity I have had the privilege (ha ha) participating in.  On the way down, we sort of got off track, and began following a different path.  When Bill realized it, he had me head across an area, not walked on by any human being.  I called back to him, wondering if there were any rattle snakes in the area. He calmly responded with the affirmative.  Oh yeah, I'll flush them out for you, Billy-Boy. I sort of felt like a mountain goat as it wandered the cliffs and crevices of all those lonely mountain tops. : )
We made it to the bottom of the hill, and then on to our car.  I can't tell you how hot I was, and how much pain I felt in my back and right quad. This morning I feel pretty good, considering my climb yesterday.  It's sort of like childbirth, once it's over, you forget the pain, and are ready for more children.  Hmmm, am I really going to try another climb like yesterday?

Webb Hill is that brown monstrosity in the background.  Pretty impressive, huh?

Help! I'm in the "Clash of the Titans" loup!

I taught a small Greek mythology unit, and timed it so that the last week of school (this week),  I would show "The Clash of the Titans."  Well, it worked out well, except, I have 6 classes that get to see this movie, and I'm just about ready to pull out my hair (if only I were Medusa, my hair would be snakes, and I could freak out my students). Yeah, it's only a joke, but I do think I know most of the dialogue by heart :-)

Our weather, here in Southern Utah, has finally started to warm up, and dry out.  I really shouldn't say that, since it may jinx our weather.  It's been an amazingly cold Spring. I'm not complaining, mind you, but the hot weather does get to me at times.  We still don't know if we're heading down to California after graduation, but with Summer and Tyler and kids coming down over Memorial weekend, we may stay.  I'm heading to Portland on June 2 for a visit with my mom.  Looking forward to seeing her, and my brothers.  It's Rose Festival week when I get there, and historically, that means rain...we'll see.
I'm excited for the school year to end, and I hope and pray my students use their heads this summer.  There are a couple that don't like me (what's new?), since one of them failed (my Reading for Pleasure class, how hard can that be?), and the other, a cheer leader, got a D-.  Now I'm not making a statement about cheer leaders, but this girl....

Summer's finally on its way!

I think (hope) the weather has finally decided to calm down a bit., allowing summer to become a reality.  Although, Erin texted me earlier today, letting me know they were getting some severe thunderstorm today, and the flooding in the midwest, and the snow up north...what am I talking about...summer?  Good old St. George has the beginnings of nice weather, even though the rest of the country has gone a bit crazy.  I'm attempting to plan my summer as my students take their finals (I'm so glad I''m not them).
It looks like I'll be making a few trips here and there, to either help my kids drive to their destinations.  I know it sounds sort of like a chauffeur service, but I'll take anything that lets me see my family.It looks like I've got most of June and a good portion of July taken care of.  I doubt I'll be doing much resting, as in doing nothing this summer, but I'm ok with that.  Bill found out he has to teach a Psychology class most of the summer, so he won't be doing much traveling, dang it.  We are making a quick trip to California right after graduation, and maybe we can get away again around the end of July.
Since most of you came to St. George last summer for an informal reunion, it looks like we travel this summer.  It will be fun, though.

End of the year testing

I'm at that time of the school year, when all of my students are taking their "end-of-levels" tests.  I love it!  When I said that their score on this test was going to go on their final grade, some groaned, one even asked me if it was going to be graded on the curve.  Yeah, right.  He argued with me, telling me the state may be grading it on the curve.  I love it.  So many students don't know what grading on the curve is.  Some think that it just gives them a better chance at passing.  You know what gives them a better chance at passing?........STUDYING, ALL YEAR LONG!!! Anyway, that being said, it is actually pretty boring for me, except I get to read.  Considering I had a student teacher for the past 12 weeks, I've had it pretty easy, huh?

Ha Ha, I thought this was pretty appropriate!