#MountainBikingFail

 

Toward the end of the summer, my husband, Dan, and I experienced some mountain biking disappointments. It was kind of sad.

The first weekend, we were thwarted by a surprise thunderstorm. To be fair, we were in the mountains. An afternoon thunderstorm here and there is not unusual. But this one was crazy.

We had this grand plan to ride a couple of longer trails. Instead, we were stuck in our car in the state park parking lot, in the most treeless spot we could find, hoping we were out of the way of the Ponderosas that surrounded us.

 

 

This particular thunderstorm was the one that started the wildfire in Cascade, Idaho this summer. Even in McCall, we saw the remnants of a lightning strike as we drove to an overlook at Ponderosa State Park. (Don't worry. We waited until the storm passed.)

 

Tree struck by lightning at Ponderosa State Park

We headed to the Visitor Center to report the lightning strike, but someone must have beaten us to it because we passed two fire trucks on their way up to the site.

 

Needless to say, we did not mountain bike in McCall that afternoon.

 

We were able to ride a flat path around Cascade Lake after the storm had passed. Little did we know, that a forest fire had been ignited across the lake that afternoon.

 

 

The following weekend, we decided to book a hotel room and stay the night. That way, we would have an extra day if a thunderstorm hit one of the afternoons. If both days were nice, we would bike one day and hike the next. We were packed and ready to go.

 

Then I woke up in the middle of the night . . . with the stomach flu.

Thanks, kindergartners!

Finally over Labor Day weekend, we made up for the two weeks of mountain biking fails. Our hiking and biking days were smoky due to the wildfires, but it was worth it.

 

 

And more recently, we were able to go on a less smoky day trip. #MountainBikingSuccess!

For the latest blog updates, visit and "like" Rebecca Turner-Duggan.

Beginning of the Year Funnies 2022

 

The 2022-2023 school year is off and running, and once again, the kids have provided the best blog material. 

 

We are already starting our third week, and I am late getting my beginning-of-the-year stuff posted due to some recent out-of-town commitments. 

 

Oh yeah, and the first week of school, I caught the stomach flu from the Petri dish I call my classroom, so that was awesome.

 

 

 

Other than that bump in the road, the music room has been a fun and funny place so far!

 

The kindergartners have loved the songs "The Jellyfish" and “Slippery Fish" this year. At the end of "Slippery Fish," the whale lets out a huge burp (which is probably why it's a favorite), and the kids have added their own, “Excuse you, Mr. Whale!” to the end.

 

 

All of the younger kids still love Copy Cat. 

 

The other day, one of the kindergartners whispered, "How's Copy Cat doing?" while they were walking by in their silent, single file line. I gave him the thumbs-up sign.

The first and second graders, who have known Copy Cat for a while, have always given him a high five or a hug as they exit my room. This year, some of them have created secret handshakes with him. 

 

I'm not sure Copy Cat actually knows the secret handshakes, but the kids seem satisfied . . .

 

 

We also sing our school ROAR song the first couple of weeks of school. The younger kids, especially, request it every class. 

One afternoon, when we finished singing it, a second grade girl announced, "I LOVE the ROAR song!" 

Then she started belting out, unprompted, "THIS GIRL IS ON FIRE . . . !"

Our school has a mascot named Jaggy. Jaggy is usually a teacher or, more often, a student teacher who has been persuaded by the principal to don a costume that is about 100-degrees inside. 

 

This year, the kids have decided that I am Jaggy and that I have always been Jaggy. They just know it. Maybe it's due to my awesome Copy Cat puppeteer skills, that I must also be the life-size puppet-type creature . . . ?

 

Fun fact: I have never once been Jaggy. I'm usually busy teaching class.

 

Then there is the third grader who comments on my appearance everyday, in particular, my makeup (of which there is very little). 

 

Mostly, she likes my makeup, but a couple of days ago she said, "Your makeup . . . it's okay . . ."

 

I wasn't sure how to take that. 

 

The older kids have their moments from time to time. It has been difficult to get the upper grades to sing because we have been doing so little of it the last couple of years due to COVID restrictions. 

 

Finally, I told my shyest fifth and sixth grade classes that I would give candy to any of the kids who appeared to be singing, even if they were just moving their mouths. 

 

Enter the strongest group of singers I have heard in two years. 

 

Lesson learned: I am not above bribery.

 

The upper grades tend to be more worldly in their humor. 

 

The kids were having a hard time hearing the bell outside for recess, so it was changed to a slightly obnoxious, old-school, clangy bell that scared the younger kids to death. 

 

One sixth grader commented, "It sounds like a jail break bell." 

 

I probably shouldn't have laughed so hard at that statement, but he wasn't wrong.

 

But the best moment so far came from a fifth grade game of "Around the World." During this game, the kids try to get around the world by being the quickest to name the treble clef pitches from flashcards. 

 

One of my fifth grade girls was beating everyone until she came to a boy from a self-contained classroom. He happened to name the note before her, and I'm not sure which kid was more excited. The whole class clapped for both of them, and she gave him congratulatory a high five. 

 

That kind act of good sportsmanship restored my faith in humanity just a little. 

 

 

 

 

 

For the latest blog updates, visit and "like" Rebecca Turner-Duggan.

Summer Favorites

The summer is coming to an end, and I will be heading back to the classroom soon. This seems like an appropriate time to share my summer favorites . . . before the real circus begins in a few weeks.

The Boise Hawks

My husband, Dan, and I scored some free tickets to the season opener, and my brother, sister-in-law, nephews, and father were able to join us. 

 

 

My birthday

Yay for summer birthdays! Of course, it would be better if they would just stop now that I've hit forty-five. But I guess it doesn't work that way. 

 

 

Hello Dolly

Faithful readers will remember that I began my summer on stage. It was my first time in two years, and it was a blast. I'm excited for the next one.

 

The Boise Foothills

Yes, Dan and I escaped to the mountains a lot this summer. But we have a pretty phenomenal trail system locally. It does get hot, so you have to get up early in the summer months. 

 

Idaho Shakespeare Festival

Attending the Idaho Shakespeare Festival is one of our favorite summer traditions. It has been a little hit and miss with COVID, but we have enjoyed getting back into the swing of it this year.

 

 

Hiking with my brother and my nephews

I love hiking with my nephews and brother. We were only able to get together once this summer (so far), and it was worth it!

 

 

Three road trips to Sun Valley  

Dan and I didn't travel far this summer, but we did visit Sun Valley three different times. I'm trying to convince him that we should just buy a vacation home up there, like the celebrities. (Spoiler alert: That's highly unlikely.)

 

For the latest blog updates, visit and "like" Rebecca Turner-Duggan.

Dan Goes Fishing

Several years ago, I wrote a blog post about how I entertain myself when my husband, Dan, goes out of town. Last weekend just happened to be Dan's annual fishing trip with his father, and I once again filled my days with some fun activities. 

 

 

One day, I went on a solo hike in the foothills and cooked myself a tuna steak with lots of tomatoes. (If it wasn't already obvious, Dan doesn't like tuna steak or tomatoes.)

 

 

I saw a hawk and a deer while hiking that morning.

 

Another day, I drove down to Thousand Springs State Park and hiked with my brother and my nephews. 

 

My nephews are super fans of the Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario Brothers franchises. They showed up for the hike as several different Sonic characters.

 

The twenty-something worker at Ritter Island recognized them right away. 

 

"I see we have Knuckles and Sonic visiting us today!" 

 

 

In fact, we had ALL the friends with us, and they hung out in my brother's backpack. Every few yards, the boys would stop and say, "I want Luigi now" or "I'm going to be Tails now," and my brother, Steve, would patiently dig through the backpack to find the requested mask or stuffed animal.

 

 

"Usually, we only have two friends with us, but they decided to bring all of them today," Steve said.

We also had to stop a few times to help the boys with debris poking them in their shoes. Other than that, we (and all the toys) had a great time hiking. 

Aunt Becky learns all about Sonic the Hedgehog from Desmond.

 

Now we are hiking with Sonic and Shadow.

 

Osprey in her nest

 

Osprey guarding his nest

 

Eventually, it got a little hot for the Sonic masks.

 

 

Time for lunch!

 

Aunt Becky counts Benny's freckles. My favorite 💕!

 

Of course, not everything was fun and games with Dan out of town. I may or may not have watched too many true crime TV shows that weekend. I may or may not have had a little trouble sleeping at night.

 

 

For the latest blog updates, visit and "like" Rebecca Turner-Duggan.