So, in addition to Virginia, we have now been to Arizona this summer. I really can't figure out what is wrong with me, living near the Canadian Boarder we should plan these warm climate excursions during the COLD months!!
Unfortunately, someone thinks planning to have kids in school when it is snowing is preferable to empowering the population's mass migration towards the sun. I just solved numerous health problems here - vitamin D deficiency, osteoperosis, depression... change the school calendar to allow more winter vacations. Well, you teachers probably don't like that. When I was a kid the school had a trimester system. We started in September, went to school for 3 months and had a month off in time for Christmas. Then back in January for 3 more and then another 1 month vagation. Alas, you see where this is going, we came back to school for the months of May, June and July... but got August off. I really think it is superior to the mass cramming of education we do to our kids with a huge break at the end of it all just long enough for them to forget everything. Not to mention that teachers are grossly underpaid considering they are the ones responsible for ensuring a vast majority of our kids grow up to be intelligent and well informed. I think the teachers I've met do a pretty good job, despite having to work somewhere else over their extra long summer break to pick up the slack in their paycheck! Some though fall short, just look at George Bush and the number of people that voted for him - good argument huh!
Wow, sorry for the rant!! It is from too much time in the heat and a lack of chocolate I am sure...
Anyway, back to Tucson! I visited my parents' beautiful new home nestled at the edge of a state park (I think) Anyway, there will be no efficiency apartments built behind their house destroying the view of the saguaros on the hillside. We basked in the warm sun, swam in the pool, ate good food, and essentially tried to soak up as much family bonding as possible in 5 days! My sister and I henna-tatooed our bellies. The picture on her blog is better as it has both bellies, but we took it when I had mine covered, so here Mom, a picture of my henna'ed belly for ya. Ande took this btw, maybe she got Annie's photography gene?
