Reflection fun

Some of the fun that we had in Washington DC was the wonderful black walls and water fountains. With these in mind we had a lot of fun with reflections in the walls and water. Below are some of the fun pics we took.

This could have only been cooler if my son had gotten their faces in the wall.

Can you find the pic that this matches from my camera. Photo taken by son1

Some fall colors reflecting in the pool.

My personal fav from son1. Only would have been better had the trees directly reflecting into the water been as colorful as the ones off to the far right

Son1 changed angles and got more wall less water... still a neat shot imo

Vietnam Wall meets Washington Monument Photo by son1

I was taking a picture of the Heart Icon left by someone at the wall. Photo by son1

Hubby1 in the brown shirt looking at the names. Photo taken by son1

Air & Space Museum half of an engine reflection makes it whole Photo by son1

Love the laser etched walls Photo by me

Fun with their reflections (yep this is the matching picture from son1's camera...he thinks he's slick holding his cam at the end of his hand and taking pics of me taking pics of him...)

Could have been more color in the water but I like it anyways Photo by me

hubby1 and son1 reading a note that made me cry from a gal who just found her dad's name on the wall. He died when she was 3 and she never met him. photo by me

Rose reflections photo by me

My version of Vietnam wall meets Washington Monument

Washington DC pics and fun

Had such an exciting week last week. Flew to Herndon, VA and was able to take my guys with me! :) They had never been to the east coast and I had only briefly got the "quick and dirty" tour of the National Mall at night 4 years ago. We were able to see quite a bit in my opinion and then they were able to see some sights while I was in training. Below are some of my favorite pics from the trip.

Must see:
Arlington Cemetery:  Tomb of the Unknown (changing of the guards every hour)
Arlington Cemetery: Arlington House
Arlington Cemetery: over all
Air and Space Museum in Herndon, VA
Air and Space Smithsonian
National Mall: Lincoln, Washington Monument, World War II (for fun pics with Washington Monument), Korean War, Vietnam Wall
Old Town Alexandria, VA: Lee-Fendall House (tours on the hour)

Opening Closed Adoption Records

So a few months back I went to LA to try to get my birth certificate and was told that since I was adopted out of San Bernardino that I had to go there. Fast forward to today...I go to SB to ask for my birth cert. and if I could petition to open my adoption records. Gal at the counter tells me I can't open my records they are closed and that's that. This was a frustrating moment and almost disheartening. I had found a petition years and years back online but chickened out of going through with it... why? Who knows. We get to the counter for the birth certs and I'm told that I have to go back to LA!!! WTH! How frustrating. So here I sit researching what I need to do to open my records. I mean I don't want to hunt my birth parents down or anything. I'm sure they have their lives and they don't care or consider whether I lived or die... cold I know but it was just a time in their lives of bad choices.

I have now been through 3 different departments in the Superior Court of SB. Don't tell  me I can't open my records!!! Dang if I will get this done!!!! Was just told to call back in 10 minutes to talk to an Adoption Clerk!!! Now I'm rockin'!!! :)

Now to figure out the birth certificate mess!!!

So adoptees out there who are hearing the same story... for SB county contact the Superior Courts. Some research done says that you may have to show up to court to present your request for the opening of the records and some judges are easier then others with this request. I hope for each of you that if you are wearing these shoes of opening your records that these may be faded footsteps to follow in the changing sands but that you too may be challenged enough to follow my steps and get somewhere.

Best Shot of the day....

This kids face cracks me up. Eyes closed and trying to catch a ball.... just not going to work kid. The ball doesn't look at your open glove and say  "Hey I'll be safe in there from that evil bat. Let me jump right in there." LOL!!

....Not so Fun...sorta

So everything is typically just fun 4 me... I love to smile, laugh and make others laugh with me... However today started off great with a sunny game of baseball followed by a lot of great pictures of the game. On the drive home my car decides that it's just going to have a melt down. Not literally of course BUT lots of warning lights come on and a message of change oil soon. Onstar to the rescue with their lovely diagnostic test. Basically I'm looking at my gauges as they run their test.... my car is seriously on mega overheat... we are rounding 260 degrees, with change oil soon message along with my traction. This all coupled with the following facts made this all the less fun.
4/22: take car to dealership for passenger airbag issues registering my big ole butt in the seat. "Fixed"
9/30: take care to dealership for passenger air bag issues. Told my extended warranty has a deductible... (WTH?) and then lucky for me there was just a software update and that only costs $70 so they will wave the $100 and I'll pay the $70. How about no. You must have not fixed the true problem when I had it here last time so I won't pay the $70. They then "wave" the $70 on a one time "good faith" clause. WHATEVER btw they give report cards saying that they check all fluids and all was ok and nothing needed to be added. They did not ask about oil changes however they were greatly concerned with my tires.
10/9: driving home on 60 freeway, car overheats, change oil soon, 260 degrees, transmission and traction issues. Get a tow to the dealership where I'm told my oil is at 0% and most likely it's the water pump. umm... ok... Water pump got it... now here's the kicker Onstar emails you monthly diagnostic tests of your car. On 9/15 and only 835 miles ago I had 45% oil life and now it's 0%. I DON'T THINK SO!!!! WTH!!!

No fun for me today...or tomorrow... or Monday.... GRRRRR

Winter Baseball: A time for learning

So the season for Winter ball has started and with that the influx of baseball pics. If you are ever at the ball fields I'm the one with the camera slung around her neck! HA!

The Glue

I was talking with a co-worker after he was done visiting some of the schools I work with. He precedes to tell me that I'm the glue that is holding the schools together. (First thought that runs through my head...yeah duh I'm their manager isn't that what I paid to do...) So I continue to hear him out. I tell him well I guess I should go buy a bottle of Elmer's Glue and replace Elmer with Carrie. He says make sure that you buy the blue kind. (Purple stick kind I think he's referring to). I again hear him out for his explanation as to why. He continues with you are like the blue glue... you are visible to your schools via online, emails, phone calls, on site trainings and workshops. However once everything is settled and the blue fades the glue remains to hold everything together.
(Second thought... Well this is a first for me. I'm referred to as a bottle of glue.) I share the story with one of my schools and now they are calling me the "glue" that holds them all together. So my final thought here... maybe it's not so bad to be glue.