The fact that it has been over a year since I posted to the blog speaks for itself. Busy isn't quite the word to describe it all and I won't bore you with the details. Suffice it to say that I survived and I've been offered another contract for next year, but the newly hired principal, who was my boss last year, was not. Long story with fascinating nuances that I will also spare you of here. To be brief, they hired yet another principal who will be my boss in the upcoming year and I am very excited to work with her. Branciforte Small Schools is what reform in education, social justice and small schools choices in communities is all about and its a crap-load of work to make it function as it deserves to function. The fact that they've had so much turnover in leadership has been, well, destructive at best. And the recovery is only now just starting to begin, I think. It might even turn-out to be stronger in a few years. I like to think so. You know what they say, "Hard times make you strong". Yep.

The kids are awesome. Alternative Education Rules. Schools shape the future. All that.

I cook a LOT less than I used to and I'm lucky if I do a load of wash every two weeks. (Xia helps there) I think that there were three weekends last year when I did not go in to the office. The rest of the time, you guessed it. And if I'm not doing school work, I'm taking a solitary and meditative walk with our dog Lilly. Much processing has occurred on those walks. Critical. In this past year eeping the ship afloat at school and at home was my primary goal. The upcoming year will be much, much better and I'm very excited about it. Xia will be in the graduating class at our school next year. I don't know if I'll be able to hold it together to preside over that ceremony. We'll see.

More to come.

Bye Sha-zang

Well, our old girl passed away today after a quick turn in health. She passed very happy (must have been that opium cocktail the vet let her lap up?) She was surrounded by Xia, Tisha, Conor and me. So although we're really sad tonight, we are also very relieved that she went quickly, purring and surrounded by our attention - just how she liked it :)

Durbin Day in Santa Cruz - a little kiss for Heidi

New Gig

Hi all, I hope you are well and sorry to send a group "its all about me" message......but lots of folks have been asking about my job situation, so here goes.

Due to budget restructuring and the fact that I was placed 'low' on the seniority list for the Migrant Education program in Pajaro Valley Unified School District, my position was closed two months ago. Many of you know how much I loved my job as coordinator of the Out-of-School Youth program there.

I put my heart and soul into that work because I believed it was (IS!) important. But alas, the program will continue without me. I am happy to report that I completed my four stages of grieving the loss of that job. I will continue to cherish my remarkable colleagues there. My last day with Migrant Ed will be June 2, and......I have a new job that I am very excited about :)

Next school year I will be the assistant principal at Branciforte Small Schools Campus (BSSC) in Santa Cruz City School District.
http://www.b40ssc.santacruz.k12.ca.us/
The Board of Ed approved my placement last night. Now I can put all those fancy interview clothes back in the closet, roll-up my sleeves and return to the work of being an educator. It'll be hard work. I feel like I'm getting married or something. Gulp! Xia knows that her mom will be in high demand away from home. We're preparing for the change. She will be on "dinner duty" a lot more often and wearing her walking shoes to school.

Thought I'd let you know the scoop right from the horse's mouth. I'm anticipating a very busy, challenging, rewarding and fabulous year to come. (Hoping this one sticks for another few years.) I keep remembering my favorite quote from grad school is: No one likes a stressed-out principal. Ha ha ha. I guess it's true. That will be my main goal - to appear as if I just stepped out of a healing spa while I am silently mumbling to myself "don't sweat the small stuff" and all kinds of gentle reminders to keep me from losing my mind.

Thankfully, this is an "80%" position. Don't pay much, but might keep me sane in that I can beg out of 20% of the work and see Xia off to school most mornings. Or that's the idea anyway. So, wish me luck. And, please forgive me if I don't answer my phone as often as I used to! Work seems to be much more work nowadays. But if you text or email me, chances are good you'll get a reply from my trusty SmartPhone I do care and I like to know that you are out there living your dreams too.

Life is quite a journey, let's all stay well and enjoy the ride.

Xia's seventeenth birthday party on the beach

Sierra Summit Ski Trip - New Year 2011

Getting ready for the holidays.

Thanksgiving at Tisha & Conor's house

Happy Halloween!

Buon Giorno

Xia and I are the host family of two italian students in the ECI foreign exchange group. Catherine (far left) & Tatiana (far right) love; the Beach, Shopping and Boys. In that order I think.

Dancin' fools

On top of our Summer List is "get in shape". Here is a picture of Miguelina, Liana & Xia after their dance class(es) yesterday. Below is one of their absolutely favorite teachers, Leslie. Today we're going back to the studio for more action - including Zumba for the mom's.

Video of Bryan

This is a video featuring our friend Bryan Alvarez. Although the clip is two years old it gives you a good idea about the work that Bryan is doing. He has now moved into studying plasticity of the brain as it relates to synesthesia. Xia and Bryan share many fascinating e-mail conversations - in that Xia has "full spectrum" connections that are quite vivid.

A couple of weeks ago, we had the pleasure of meeting Bryan and his sweetheart Michelle - also a synesthete and budding film maker. Xia connected with the Cognitive Neuro-psychology Laboratory at U.C. Berkeley via Lynn Robertson, who I sent an inquiry to about a year ago. Really nice people.

Thanks to Bryan's insights and lively creative approach, Xia is very much enjoying the journey of research & understanding the miracle of the mind.

Running with the pack

Here are a few picks from our day trip yesterday. Tisha's sister and niece are visiting from back east so we took them and the canines to Carmel and Big Sur. Hiked the "Pine Ridge Trail - up the mountain at quite a clip (Tisha and her sister are not just hikers, they are triathletes in need of a fix, you get the idea? Much sweat, little chatter.). Of course the view at the top was well worth the $5 parking fee and the exertion. Stopped at Nepenthe Restaurant on the way home to devour french fries and gluten free :) veggie burger patties with cheese.

This was my first vacation day in a long time. Much needed and so refreshing to get away from work.

Exchanging food & giggles

Here's pics of Asako and Yuki making dinner tonight. (Rachel was at a tennis game so Asako came to our house.)

Now the girls are working on an English crossword puzzle together. I just heard Asako read , "when the waiter is good you leave a .....ummmmmm.......CHIP!!!" then they all started cracking up when Xia showed them the correct word in the dictionary is" "TIP".

Thanksgiving at the Vets Hall - 2009

Xia and several of her friends volunteered at the annual community dinner. 1,500 served!

David Bacon visit

Last summer I invited the author of a new book called "Illegal People" to come to our school district and make two presentations; one to staff and one to to the migrant community. He said yes! These are the slides from that event that was held on November 13, 2009. It all went great! We had community TV cover it an everything. Even though he's famous, he's a super nice guy actually, soft spoken and quite humble.

You can also see more about his work on his website dbacon.igc.org

Happy Birthday to me! 47 here I am....

Thanks Xia for the beautiful morning surprise!!

Halloween 2009 The mouse and the computer

Zombies take over Santa Cruz Motion Pacific Dance Company!

Thriller 2009 - Santa Cruz

Xia and a bunch of Santa Cruz dancing ZOMBIES gathered on Cooper Street today to attempt a world record; largest group of Thriller Dancers at one time.