Are you okay?

That was the big question I was asked this week because I didn't post a new entry last weekend. I didn't think too many people followed my blog, so I was a little shocked when I got so many phone calls and emails. Well I'm back....I just needed to take a little time for ME last weekend and hang out in a real city for a bit. Friday I went to dinner and the movies (Just like old times Frankie!!) with some coworkers in Gallup, NM. A group of coworkers decided to go see the new movie "The Women" starring Meg Ryan, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Eva Mendes, Annette Benning and Debra Messing. It was a cute, feel good movie and I would recommend it to everyone. The rest of the weekend, I went to the beautiful city of Flagstaff. I rented a suite (complete with a jacuzzi...niiiice!), explored the city and spent my afternoons shopping! Flagstaff is a community rich with cultural diversity, beauty, as well as amazing educational and recreational activities. Flag is located at 7,000ft, it's home to Nothern Arizona Univeristy, and National Geographic cited the city in its list of "10 Great towns that make you feel young."

Flagstaff has a strong tourism sector, due to its proximity to the Grand Canyon and historic Route 66. I'm trying to talk my parents into coming out so we can take a train ride that takes you straight to the Grand Canyon. For a reasonable fee, you can sit in the glass dome car to experience all the breathtaking views.
School was very busy as usual. We just finished with Parent Teacher conferences where we held a raffle contest (Oh yes, guess who was in charge?)that went over very well with the parents. Think people just like to win stuff and since we were nice enough not to charge for the tickets, they were all over my table in the lobby! Anything to get the parents out, I guess. I was also asked to be the line judge for the girls' vollyball games! Yes...you all can start laughing now. I know you are! Never played a game in my life, but now I'm the one deciding whether the ball is in or out! hahaha! I was hesitant at first, because I'm on every committee known to man in that school and I'm getting a little tired. But I heard the words "You get paid $25 per game..." and suddenly my interest was peaked! I said sign me up!! :) We'e won our last two games and the girls seem to really be enjoying it. Next up I have to start planning for our haunted house and Red Ribbon Week. Plus I'm starting a 3rd grade self-esteem group on Thursday. Think I'm going to lay low this weekend and get some much needed rest.

Have a good weekend everyone!

It's Fair Time!!

So I didn't get to post anything Friday because as I thought, we were scrambling to put the finishing touches on our float for the parade Saturday. I thought everything turned out great even though the women painted on the float looked like Geishas to me. I asked if we were going to get darker paint for her face, but I got looks like "What are you talking about, we are this color." I mean, some of the Navajo are darker than me! But anyway...
She had blue eyes of all things, but no one seemed to think this was odd; so I quickly shut my mouth and kept on painting.... The morning of the fair, I was up at 2:45 because we were all supposed to meet at the transportation department to leave at 4am. I guess me being the military brat that I am, when I'm told to be somewhere at a certain time, I'm there and usually at least 15 minutes early. Well I forgot who I was dealing with and that everyone functions on Navajo time, which usually means everyone is 30 minutes late. We were supposed to leave at 4 and didn't depart until 5am!!! I thought I would KILL someone as they all strolled in with no care in the world. Everyone knows I HATE being late - for anything!!!! I digress.....
So the fair is held every year in beautiful Window Rock, Arizona; a town about 20 minutes from where I live. The fair lasts from August 31st to September 8th. There are pow wow and ceremonial contests, bull riding, a carnival, fry bread contests and various vendors selling jewlery and arts & crafts. The parade was a 4 mile route with 180 floats!! Our district was the 107th one. The theme this year was all about the women- "Navajo women, our strenth, our endurance." Everyone had to display that slogan on their float somehow. I swear I've never seen so many floats and Natives in one place. There was an estimate of 30,000 Native Americans there that day. The parade started promptly (surprise!!!) at 9am and somehow I got talked into riding on the float! I thought it was really disrespectful since I'm not Navajo, but all I kept hearing was "C'mon, everyone thinks you are anyway!!" hahaha! Lucky I did, cause that parade lasted for 3 hours and at some points, going uphill! Overall, I thought it was a great experience. You can check out the fair's website for more info at www.navajonationfair.com and I've posted more pictures on http://s295.photobucket.com/albums/mm154/quidama/