Alum cave Trail

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Here are pictures from our hike up to Alum Cave Bluffs.  No one has been able to answer my very important question.....If they can install all those stairs on the trail, why can't they install an elevator?

I did have fun sitting at the cave as other hikers came up and telling them that I had to use the stairs too because the elevator was out of order or that I couldn't find it. LOL!

 This is a fun hike with lots of beautiful viewing spots, but oh my Lord, those stairs.....

The Cave in Cades Cove

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Everytime we go to Gatlinburg the day either starts or ends with a drive through Cades Cove.  There is also always something I want to find while we're there.  This time it was the cave...

Everyone wanted to know if I was dumb.....I mean brave.....enough to go inside the cave.  The answer is YES!  Well, you can't go in too far because the park rangers have put up a metal fence to block the way.  I'm sure that is to protect humans and animals.

Skullbone, Tennessee

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There was one more out of the way place that I just had to visit while we were on vacation...

Skullbone, Tennessee 

This place isn't located on a map anywhere and my pictures will give you a view of the entire town.  Seriously!

Apparently, this place used to be the go to area for bare knuckle fights until they were ruled illegal by the government.  The people in this area were so upset that their favorite sport had been outlawed that they decided to rename their town of Gilbert to Skullbone and secede from the nation.  They never did secede, but Skullbone still stands.

If you go into the store, they'll give you a free Skullbone, Tennessee postcard!

I went to Paris, ya'll!

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Paris, Tennessee that is!  LOL!

While I was slaving away in summer school, one of my friends was traveling all over Europe.  I didn't want to feel left out, so we took a little side trip to Paris ourselves.

It was fun listening to the GPS say, "In one mile arrive in Paris"  LOL!

we are back from vacation...

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We are back from Gatlinburg and I have got some stories to tell!

Before I tell you about the vacation though, I should tell you about two things that happened right before we left....

1. After teaching three weeks of summer school, the district decided that the enrollment at our school was too low and we needed to lose 2 possibly 3 teachers.  Our summer administrator asked if anyone wanted to volunteer to take the rest of the summer off...... I DID!   LOL!  I wasn't the only volunteer, but I was the fastest and the loudest.  So, I got to leave for vacation knowing that I didn't have to set an alarm when we got back home.

2. The second thing that happened is the kind of thing that happens in my life all the time.  I decided that it would be best to use screen shots of the text messages between my principal and I to help tell the story.  This way you guys can see first hand I don't make this stuff up.....this is really how my life goes.....

This story started with an email from my principal asking me to attend a job fair while she was out of town.  We need another PreK teacher.  The email she sent me stated that the job fair would be on Wednesday, June 28 at 10:00 AM at the Kroc Center.  I marked my calendar and planned to go.

The day before the job fair, I get this text message...

I didn't see the text message until the end of the day as I was leaving summer school, so after I got into my car I sat in the parking lot and responded...

Don't judge me guys, it was some kind of flying bug!  It came at me right as I was responding to the text!  Luckily, I got away....

My principal responded with...

Now, I have been given permission to start the paper work to hire anyone that I like, but I should have gotten a little suspicious when she questioned what day the job fair was on.  I double checked the email she sent me and it said Wednesday so I went with it...

Wednesday morning, I leave summer school with the promise to be back as soon as possible and head to the job fair.  I get there and I knew right away that it wasn't a job fair, but there was free food so I decided to get some and stay for awhile.  I grabbed a table close to the door so it wouldn't be obvious if I decided to sneak out.



Everyone in the room stood as a lady sang The Star Spangled Banner.  When the mayor got up and started giving a speech I decided to take a picture of the agenda and text it to my principal...

That's right you guys, she told me to just enjoy the meeting!  LOL!

 I am the only teacher sitting in a room full of local politicians, district and department superintendents and community business leaders as they talk about the positive effects on PreK in our community and she just tells me to enjoy the meeting.  By the way, I was sitting there with a bowl full of Hershey Kisses that I brought to place on our table and entice people to come talk to me at the job fair!

My principal sent me to a job fair on on the wrong day, at the wrong place and at the wrong time!

I stayed long enough to see if I was going to win something in the raffle and when I didn't, I just took my Hershey Kisses and went back to school.

I wasn't able to attend the actual job fair because of my vacation plans so I have no idea how that went.  I'm willing to bet that it wasn't as interesting as the day I had though!