OMG - I sailed the Potomac

If you would have EVER told me I would be on the Potomac River, the river SO historic, the river our first settlers traveled on - I would have said, "Sure, look for me in Hawaii first." Imagine me saying you are going to the Congo, or the Mediterranean, or someplace you have heard about your entire life and never fathomed you would ever be there.

I boated and fished in the Potamac River and YES, I even caught a pretty big catfish that I would not EVEN touch.

I was awestruck by Virginia and the journey through the mountains to get there. I texted my son, "The Appalachian Mountains are beyond description," and that about sums it up... No words to describe their beauty and depth. My boyfriend and I and his two kids aged 9 and 10 were on a journey east so they could see their Grandma, aunts, uncles and cousins and so I could meet his mother. He spun the trip to me as, "Wanna go to Virginia Beach?" I said, "Really? I have never been to Virginia Beach and I love beaches!!!" Translation: Do you want to go see all the war monuments, the battle areas, the Confederate cemetery, Martha Washington's home and the naval yards in Newark... and oh, yeah, the beach, too. My boyfriend is a history buff and I am not...I am a beach buff.

So we went... two days, 14 hours, through the mountains, through a tunnel that went underwater (this was at the ninth hour and I got EXTREMELY claustrophobic) and we arrived. We were on the first floor and right on the beach. I am not kidding, open our sliding glass door and there's the beach. AWESOME. And that evening... The Little River Band was playing on the courtyard right next to our hotel. For those of you who don't know them, does 'Lonesome Loser' or 'Cool Change' spark a memory? Anyone wanting a great family vacation... make reservations for the Hampton Inn & Suites, Virginia Beach. Yes, I choked at $225 per night but yes, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

OK - so I did visit a Confederate cemetery. There was a tall, black wrought iron sign that served as the entrance that actually said 'Confederate Cemetery.' You turned down a gravel road and traveled through a tunnel of trees - it was so Civil War-ish. It was still adorned with a few Confederate flags and yes, it made me pause. I met all the family who were all welcoming and pretty laid back. Great BBQs, great time.

I will go back - I am sure of that. I will not go back with a 9 and 10 year old in the car for 14 hours - I am also sure of that. Unless we have Benadryl.

It's Thanksgiving @ SCC if you have ever worked retail

So, here it is, June 2nd. After a two week lull, or not so much, the summer 'purge' happened and the hustle and bustle of class shopping really begins. I started my professional career in retail and to this day I equate everything to that experience. So, for those of you who have worked retail over a holiday season, you know what I mean.

June marks the start of summer school or when people really start thinking about their fall classes. In reality, people have been shopping since April here and that equates to Halloween in the retail world. Today is Thanksgiving and the 'official' shopping season has begun at SCC.

People are pouring in to get their 'sale' items... translation: the best classes at the best times. However, the 'early shoppers' already got their items at Halloween (retail speak), or Easter (education speak). Memorial Day is our Thanksgiving and Labor Day is our New Year's... we are wiped, done with holidays and ready to start the New Year with a fresh start.  

SO, when I tell students to start their class shopping at Easter and Halloween, I am really talking retail. Of course, we ALL 'sweet-speak' so you can say the candy holidays! The fun part is remembering to pay for your items...we need a holiday for August 1st. Anybody? Anybody? Maybe I'll ask Ferris.