A Dream Come True

For the last year and a half, Allen has been trying to get his foot in the door for a career in law enforcement. In June, he entered the Sheriff's academy for Maricopa County. He graduated August 28, 2008, after a rigorous 9 week course of studies at the academy.

They had a really neat slide show of the whole class we got to enjoy. As each graduate was given a badge, their pictures were flashed up on a big screen with their name.

Last time class 878 will retire the city's colors. Allen is second from the left on the back row.

Showing off the badge.

Allen asked his Dad to pin his badge on for the first time.

Ladies and gentlemen: I give you Officer Allen LaMunyon!

A New Word...

My brilliant niece, Nikki, had a little post on her blog with this intriguing new word. I love it! and today I was intoxicated with it as we hiked at Thunderbird park this morning. After the monsoon rain storm last night, "petrichor" permeated the air and totally lifted my spirits. petrichor A word for the scent that rises from pavement after rain has begun to fall. Petrichor From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "Smell of rain". Petrichor (pronounced /ˈpɛtrɨkɚ/) (from Greek petros, "stone" + ichor) is the name of the scent of rain on dry earth. The term was coined in 1964 by two Australian researchers, Bear and Thomas, for an article in the journal Nature. In the article, the authors describe how the smell derives from an oil exuded by certain plants during dry periods, whereupon it is adsorbed by clay-based soils and rocks. During rain, the oil is released into the air along with another compound, geosmin, producing the distinctive scent. In a follow-up paper, Bear and Thomas (1965) showed that the oil retards seed germination and early plant growth. The scent is generally regarded as pleasant and refreshing, and is one of the most frequently cited "favorite smells". In desert regions, the smell is especially strong during the first rain after a long dry spell. The oil yielding the scent can be collected from rocks and concentrated to produce perfume. However, it has yet to be synthesized, perhaps due to its complexity. It is composed of more than fifty distinct chemical substances.

Coke Explosion

This is Miss Kennedy. She is a first year teacher and is brave enough to teach science to the Jr. High Kids. Today she had "Wacky Science Friday" and did the Coke Explosion with her 8th grade classes. The ingredients: 7 white Mentos and 1 two liter bottle of Diet Coke. She bought the flask that fits on top of the bottle at a teacher's supply store. It is much better than the paper cone that I have used.

Class, give me a count down... 3.... 2..... 1....... pull!

Whoosh! The kids were certainly "engaged" with this particular science experiment.

Just look at that thing! It only took about 4 seconds for the geyser to gush and then it was over.

Isn't she so cute! I saw her walking her students to lunch the other day, and she is smaller than the majority of her kids. The only way you could tell she wasn't a student is because she was dressed in a cute frilly skirt, and the kids have to wear their uniforms.

The First Day of School at Cordova Middle

These kids all missed their busses today. They had to wait in the office for someone to pick them up. The poor little girl on the right was crying her eyes out, just sobbing! I felt so sad for her.

Sheri and Tina are the receptionists for the Middle and Primary schools respectively. They are both so sweet. I work with some really nice ladies. Last week one of them said, "you have fit in so well - it seems like you have always been here." I'm so glad I have worked in the world of schools before. It made it really easy for me to just step in and get to work. It seems like everyone comes to me for answers to their questions. I pretty much can fake my way through about anything because they think I really know! hee-hee

Mr. Gunn had cookies and milk for the teachers after school the first day so they could discuss all the things that happened. They seemed to enjoy it. We have a really great faculty at Cordova. I am so happy with my new job. It has been way busy, but that will eventually wear off once I can get caught up, learn the proceedures of the Alhambra District, and get organized. I love all of the people! And I love being at the elementary/middle school level. The kids are great.

The kids are all on their way to the bus bay. They look very sharp in the uniforms. I have always liked the idea of uniforms for school.

These two princesses were very happy to have me snap their picture. Aren't they cute?