Old School Girls Dinner

January 26, 2026

We were well past due for a get together, and right now we're a collective mess- me with my eye, Mo with gallstones, and Kelly to sick and hoarse to even attend (thankfully Fran is healthy)-but even reconnecting for a couple of hours sitting on the couch is good for the soul.

Nearly 30 Years

January 9,  2025

Tonight I met up with Mo, Kelly, and Francine for dinner and drinks. Mo pointed out that we have been friends for nearly 30 years now! Through many ups and downs--marriages, divorces, health scares, job changes, children, new houses, to name a few--we have borne witness to more than half of our lives together. We are all very different, and yet similar in many ways as well. I feel incredibly fortunate to have walked alongside these women for so many years together. Cheers to many, many more.

Thursday Night Social Hour

January 4, 2024

Since Bree is still on her extended stay with me, we decided we needed a social hour get-together with Mo. It is just a wonderful feeling when your daughter is old enough to become friends with your friends. Talking, laughing, eating, and drinking together with these two brings me all kinds of happiness, and I am here for anything that brings happiness to me and to others. If we aren't actively seeking that in our lives, then what are we even doing?

Girls' Night

March 22, 2022

Girls' Night

Tonight we were supposed to have dance class, but we have been trying to schedule a Girls' Night Out for a long time now, and our night schedules are making it nearly impossible! I teach on Mondays and Wednesdays, and Francie teaches on Mondays and Thursdays. I've been a traveling fool on the weekends, and Tuesday night is our dance class night. Mo graciously offered up that we could skip dance this week and just go have a cocktail together. (Ha ha--Mo was not sad about missing class. She's a trooper, but it might not be her favorite thing I've ever dragged her to.) Anyway, we needed to catch up and give updates on what's happening in our lives, which is a lot right now, apparently. You just can do that in counts of eight on the dance floor!

Dance Dance

March 15, 2022 Tonight Kelly joined Mo and me for our dance classes, which made for much mirth and merriment. We aren't great dancers, but we do know how to laugh, so it all evens out! I am so thankful to have this group of friends that has been going strong for better than 20 years. I think we need to have another reunion of all of the Old School Girls this summer. There is never a dull moment when we all get together.

Meeting Someone New, Part Two

March 12, 2022

Last night I got to meet Rafe's parents, and tonight he got to meet my best friend and her husband. Turn about's fair play! Rafe and I actually spent the afternoon looking at Oscar Nominated Short Films to watch on Youtube--unfortunately there aren't many there yet, but we did catch a few. (Obviously, I am looking forward to the upcoming Oscars. I missed the traditions of the Academy Awards during the Covid years!) Afterward, we met up with Mo and Scott and a group of friends at Sequoia Brewing to listen to Night Heat play. It was great to have Rafe and Mo meet, and match faces with names. Nicholas has also already met him, so I am looking forward to my girls and Lisa getting the chance to meet him as well.

Gratitude

 January 9, 2022

There is a lot going on in the world that causes stress, anxiety, and sadness.  That's why it's important to take time frequently to think about the things for which we are grateful.  Here are five things I am grateful for today:

1.  I am grateful I am getting to spend time with Nicholas while he is staying with me, before he moves to start his new job.  Since the kids are all grown up, the extended times with them are fewer and farther between.

2.  I am grateful I get to text or talk with my kids several days each week.  I like to talk to them, and they like to talk to me!

3.  I am so grateful that although Nicholas got Covid, he is experiencing relatively mild symptoms.

4.  I am grateful for Lisa and Mo.  Man, I don't know where I'd be without those two.  They are my sounding boards, they make me laugh, and they check in on me all the time.  I do the same for them.  Having best friends makes doing life wonderful.

5.  I am grateful for a seemingly endless supply of books.  So many ideas and stories we can inhabit for a time.  It's kind of mind-blowing to think about the millions of ideas and perspectives out there that we can enjoy and learn from.  That's pretty cool!

The Last Hurrah Before We Go Back to School

January 6, 2018

This weekend my sister and my niece came up for a quick visit.  Lisa already had to head back to school last week, and most of the rest of us start up again on Monday, so it was nice to get a get-together in one more time before we hit the ground running with the new semester.  Today was a whirlwind--we had brunch with Nicholas, Danielle, and Taylor, then drove Danielle to the airport so she could spend a couple of days with her dad.  Then Lisa and I got together with Mo for a bit before heading to REI (for a couple of hours!) to pick up some much-needed gear for the trip we'll be taking in early spring.  Naturally, we ended up at Me N Ed's (a Clovis must-have) in the evening and were joined by our friends Bill and Renee.  Lisa then met up with an old friend in town while Doug, Taylor, and I hung out at home and watched a little Black Mirror.  When Lisa got home we went out walking to make sure we got our 10,000 steps on our Fitbits (especially in light of all the eating we did today!)  Lisa and Taylor will get up bright and early in the morning to head back to Fullerton, since Taylor has to work tomorrow.  I will be getting back into school mode ahead of Monday's professional development day, but today was all about family and friends!

Girlfriends' Get Together

December 29, 2011

One of the things I love so much about vacation is that I get a chance to see my work girlfriends without all the papers to grade and the bells dictating our time. We all got together at Alex's house, had a little gift exchange, ate food, and just had time to relax together. And of course, those with little ones shared their babies with us for the afternoon, too. Gotta love baby time! These girls are a great group of people, and I feel so lucky to get to work with them every day.

Katie Taylor and Taylee Pope.Debbie Garner cuddling Richie Bragg.
Mo and Allison
Alex and Daphne
Victory and Daphne