When Your Pet Chicken Commits Suicide....

I was feeding and watering the chickens (9 of them) this morning and all was well. Thinking I'd give the omnivores a treat, I went inside the house to get some cantaloupe that had been in the fridge a few days. Upon returning, I spread the melon wealth around the back yard then turned to the "pen gate," as we call it, to offer the food - I stopped in my tracks and yep....

One of our chickens was hanging from the gate, just like the dramatized-version photo above. I walked up to the chicken (Blondie), gently grabbed her body and waited for her to twitch or something. No reaction at all; just a limp warm chicken in my hands.

After I disposed of the body, I searched for a suicide note. I found nothing. I guess we will never truly know what made Blondie do it.

No, I haven't told the girls yet. We now have 8 chickens.

Carry on...

Because on the Road, 3600 Miles Always Goes As Planned.

My two passengers are ready for our big crazy road trip. We are less than two weeks from departure. Here is the map of my dreams:

My "plan"...

• Leave Texas on June 22 and drive to ABQ (site of Breaking Bad for those of you in the know). 
• Leave New Mexico on June 23 and drive to Flagstaff, AZ.
• Leave Arizona on June 24 and drive to San Jose.
• From June 25-July 5 - Possible Day trip to Yosemite NP. For sure several day trips to Santa Cruz area beaches like Capitola City Beach. 
• July 6th-July 10th - Malibu, CA (Tent camping just off the beach under the trees. Yes, there are toilets and showers!)
• July 11-July 13 - Anaheim, thus, Disneyland
• July 14/15 - Phoenix
• July 15 Drive to Alpine, TX (possibly stop on way back home)
• Arrive back in Dallas July 16 or 17th

Whew...I'm getting a little tired just typing all of that. I mean, it's only 53 hours on the road. Big whoop. I've done it before. However, I'm hoping this trip will be seamless. 

If you have ever been to Disney....this might ring true

The Thoughts Everyone Has Had While Visiting Disneyland

Friday Nights are Wild

Can an Adult Have a Great Day at Six Flags?

I must preface this by letting you know that mostly because of her upbringing in Southern California on Disneyland my mother will say "Six Flags Sucks" any time the park is brought up in conversation. As a result, I grew up with a lackluster view of the place. Still, I've had some good times there, mostly back in high school - the best time in life to be on an adrenaline rush like the Texas Giant or the Shock Wave.

 

As an adult, I've pretty much considered the place lame.

Yet today, I think I may have had a great day at the I-30 icon.

Weather? Check. This is unusual in Dallas, TX.

Children? Check. There were no melt downs.

Rides? Check. We got on the "family friendly" rides that made it fun for us all. Brooke played up.

 

The only downside was the unbelievably crappy food service. I mean, I could have gone into hypoglycemic shock before even eyeing the damn food counter. SO SLOW. SO FEW food registers. If you are going to charge $10 for a hamburger, don't you want everyone to hurry up and buy one? Nope, not this dumb place.

I will stop my gripe here. I think you get it.

 

If you want to take your kids I suggest going in the spring like I did today when school is still in session and the lines are short, the sun is still happy and hopefully you have generous coupons.

 

On the bus with the physics students.

The Cape

Scout and Brooke in front of Superman Ride (closed for wind).

The Bugs and the Daffy

"Rodeo"

The well known Log Ride always pays dividends.

To snap or to chat?

This is the sort of stupidity I post on snapchat. noun. Adolescents love to snapchat. verb. I'm not sure where my snappy opinion will land. Right now, I'm testing just how adolescent I can be.

Ode to the Final Pig

I've grossed out my last biology student. Since this is my last year teaching biology for the foreseeable future, I'm at that point where each time I do something at school, I consider it "the last time." I figured I would give the infamous fetal pig dissection a proper farewell post.

 

Dear pig of utero:

Your spleen challenges many to identify you.

Your hooves cause students to stare.

Over your eye lids there is many a hair.

Oh how the identity of your sex will cause them to vex.

"Can I have gloves?" is such a request.

I prefer my shocking bare hand to the chest.

Some kids will get nauseous.

Many boys will stall.

The odor will linger.

Still over and above any, the intestines thrill all.

 

Never Say Never

 I would NEVER be a teacher. I would NEVER buy a Prius. I won't live in Texas when I'm an adult.

People. This Prius is amazingly frugally awesome. I will drive 3000 miles from Texas during my teacher summer-off and only spend about $290 in gas. Total.

2006 called, and they want their blog back.

It is time.

I speak to you here from the digital podium, to spread the word. I'm bringing blogging back. Again.

Whether I am daydreaming about future adventures or working around the house making domestic adventures come true, thoughts and experiences beg to be shared. 

Let's catch up before we move forward. Some pics from the past year......

Future Biomedical Engineers (Scout, Hudson, Brooke)

Brooke at Tyler State Park

Ear Piercing at Northpark Mall

Coach and Player

Biologist By Day

Ear Wax Extractor by Night

Horse Rider

Brooke, Superstition Mountains, AZ

On the trail in AZ (Superstition Mountains)

They Clean Up

Scout's second ER visit

Arm Break #2

White Sands National Monument, NM

These Three Love the Pool