April Fool's Day, is not officially considered a holiday, is most definitely a notable day that is celebrated in many countries on April 1. The thing that is so special about April 1 (April Fools) is that it is the day for playing hoaxes and practical jokes of varied sophistication on others. The aim of these jokes is to bring embarrassment to the gullible.

Superstitions have it that the practical jokes are meant to be played before noon, and that those that are performed afterwards will bring bad luck to the perpetrator. This limitation is widely losing it's value as a superstition as it is believed to have been conspired up by annoyed parents and school teachers who were wanting a respite from the day of pranks, as well due to the fact that many major hoaxes throughout history have appeared after noon.

Another superstition is that anyone who fails to respond in the proper spirit of tolerance and amusement to the jokes played on them is also said to be liable to suffer from bad luck. Weaker sources indicated that being fooled by a pretty girl will be accompanied by marriage, or at bare minimum a  friendship with her.

It is a time when family, friends and loved-ones get together and celebrate the general good feeling and timeless traditions that mark this season.  Sparkling decorations, melodious Christmas songs, delicious meals, delectable cookies, satisfying chocolate and milk concoctions and pretty stockings filled with goodies and gifts seem to fill every household as each welcome the holiday seasons to their midst.

Mistletoes are found in every nook and cranny for sweethearts longing to share a sweet kiss, parents grant their beloved children with tender hugs and wondrous gifts and everybody wears that enchanting, one of a kind smile that welcomes the holiday spirits. 

There are more to the holidays than meets the eye, though.  With the number of gifts being exchanged during the holiday seasons, it is no wonder that although holidays can be fun and cheerful, stress is something you cannot avoid completely.

The holiday season prompts the retail sector to seek various methods of increasing their sales and this account for a lot of people to mill about the stores, malls and shopping depots all over the country.

Too much people moving about and the lack of parking space when going out shopping can really dampen the holiday spirits and put some people in a bad mood, much like Scrooge, a Christmas character (whom we can talk about in another article!) feels during this time. Peak season for retail stores usually start at the beginning of each winter season and ends with a much publicized winter sale or clearance sale at the start of January.

Stress becomes a regular visitor during the holidays, indeed!  And what about the various preparations needed to celebrate the holidays?  You go out and buy the Christmas tree, decorate your whole house with Christmas ornaments, prepare the food for your family and guests and of course do the cleaning up after. Sometimes, if you really think hard, Christmas season is as tiring and as stressful as all the other holidays put together!

But is the holiday season really a time for celebration or stress, or is it more than just a mere season?  If you really look at it, the holiday season is not just for celebrations, decorations and gift giving.  Christmas is a time for giving the best gift in the whole world and that is love.

This powerful and stirring emotion has been pushed so much into the background of the celebration even though this very much is the reason why we celebrate Christmas in the first place.  During Christmas, we celebrate the birth of our Savior, the one who sacrificed his life because of his love for us.

Wouldn’t it be more significant if we learn to live our lives like He did and share our love with others too especially during the holiday seasons?  Helping those in need and sharing your love to the unfortunate persons would surely make your holiday more meaningful than ever.

That sounds like a good deal if she is truely pretty and it's not just April Fools. Along the lines of relationships some people believe that being married on April Fools' Day is not a good idea for a man, and that forever in the future he will be ruled by his wife.

The origin of April Fool's day is not clearly known, but it is generally accepted to have come about as a result to the changes in the calendar system. The New Year celebrations used to begin on 25 March and last for a week, ending on 1 April.

In 1582, King Charles IX of France brought in the new Gregorian calendar, in which the new year began on 1 January. Unfortunately, some people did not hear about the change, and many others simply refused to break the tradition. These people became the object of so-called 'fool's errands' and tests of gullibility.

5 Rafting Trips For Families And Beginners

Whitewater rafting can be fun and exhilarating.  It can also be scary and dangerous if you venture out by yourself in an area that's rated way above your experience level.  But, are there rafting trips which offer fun and excitement, but still mild enough for beginners and children?  Absolutely.

Here are a few you might consider. 

1.  Little Gore Canyon – Near Denver, Colorado

With a rating of Class I to III, the Little Gore Canyon section of the Colorado River offers mild yet exciting whitewater suitable for beginners and families with children.  You can enjoy Little Gore Canyon in a raft, kayak, inflatable kayak or a canoe. 

Companies which offer rafting trips for families in Little Gore Canyon include:

Bill Dvorak's Kayak & Rafting Expeditions

Providing expeditions since 1969, Dvorak's was Colorado’s first licensed outfitter.  They offer 2-day family expeditions in Little Gore Canyon, with meals included.  For more information, call them at 800-824-3795. 

Rancho Del Rio

Offers half and full-day trips with lunch included, as well as an overnight and three-day trip with choice of three meal plans.  Call them at 970-653-4431 for more information. 


2.  San Miguel River – Near Telluride, Colorado

A rafting trip along the San Miguel River near Telluride, Colorado will provide you with Class II and occasional Class III rapids, along with spectacular scenery of red rock cliffs and alpine terrain.  This trip is great for beginners and families with children over 10 years of age. 

Companies which offer rafting trips for families along the San Miguel River include:

Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Trail Tours, Inc.

Trip leaders average 3,000 river miles (the state of Colorado requires 750), and they offer shuttles around rapids for kids and elders.  Mild to Wild offers 1-day, 2-day or 3-day trips down the San Miguel River, including meals on the river and in camp. 

Bill Dvorak's Kayak & Rafting Expeditions

They offer 1 to 5-day family rafting expeditions along the San Miguel River, with meals included.  For more information, call them at 800-824-3795.  If you wish longer trips of 6 to 12 days, you can combine a trip on the San Miguel River with a trip on the Dolores.   are available by combining the San Miguel with the Dolores.


3.  Upper New River – South Central West Virginia

Beginners will appreciate the "beginner-friendly" rapids of the Upper New River, rated I to III in difficulty.  An added feature is the incredibly beautiful scenery and the belief by some that the New River is the world's 2nd oldest river. 

Companies which offer family rafting trips on the Upper New River include:

Rivermen

Offers a 1-day family rafting trip package on the Upper New River which includes 2 nights lodging, 1 breakfast buffet, 1 lunch buffet and 1 dinner buffet.  You have many different types of lodging to choose from, including cabin, RV, camping, cabin tent or the Quality Inn.  If you want more adventure to go with your rafting, Rivermen also offers multi-sport, multi-day adventure packages, such as a rafting and climbing package, a rafting, climbing and jetboat package, or a rafting, climbing, jetboat and horseback riding package.  Call them at 800-545-7238 for more information. 

4.  South Fork of the American River – near Sacramento, California

The South Fork of the American River is a favorite in California, rated a Class II and III and suitable for beginners and children ages 7 and above.  The 3-mile, Class II "Coloma to Lotus" stretch of the South Fork is a perfect place for novices to try out rafting.  You will also enjoy the scenery of oak and pine forests. 

Companies which offer family rafting trips on the South Fork include:

O.A.R.S.

Has been in business for over 30 years and offers a 2-day rafting trip on the South Fork, which includes lunch and dinner and overnight camping at River’s Bend Resort in Coloma, as well as breakfast the next morning.  Call them at 800-346-6277 for more information. 

American Whitewater Expeditions

Offers half, full and 2-day trips on the South Fork, as well as family midweek specials of 1 and 2-day trips.  For those of you in Southern California, American Whitewater Expeditions has a special 2-day South Fork trip with round trip deluxe bus from Orange County, Los Angeles or San Fernando.  And for those family members or friends who don't wish to raft but wish to camp at the company's campsite, they have a special of 2-nights camping and 4 meals for $69.  Call 877-825-3206 for more information. 

5.  Upper Main Salmon River – near Sun Valley, Idaho

This section of the Salmon River in the Sawtooth Wilderness Area provides mild Class II rapids with some thrilling Class III rapids to provide the beginner and veteran alike with a very enjoyable rafting adventure. 

Companies which offer beginner and family trips on the Salmon River include:

White Cloud Rafting Adventures

Offering half and full-day Class II and III trips suitable for beginners and children.  Half-day trips include a snack, full-day trips include lunch.  They also offer half-day scenic float trips for those who want an even milder trip down the Salmon River.  This trip is a smooth and easy float with Class II rapids.  Call them at 800-571-RAFT for more information. 

Whichever river and outfitter you choose, do remember to apply sunscreen and wear water shoes or tennis shoes (no flip-flops), and bring a change of clothes.  And do be careful, whitewater rafting can be addictive.

I Might be a Preschool Teacher

So, kindergarten starts next week, Wednesday to be specific, and I am wondering why, until yesterday, I didn't know ANYTHING about my responsibilities that begin next week. All summer I have been waiting to find out anything about what I am going to be doing as the assistant teacher... I even asked a few times but my lovely boss is impossible to get a straight answer from.

So, yesterday the regular kindergarten teacher was in to start setting up the room and I asked her what the deal is with the "Kindergarten Ice Cream Social" which is tonight, which no one ever really told me about, I just happened to see it on the white-board calendar at the front entrance of the school. She said it's no big deal but then we continued to talk about other details of our upcoming year, none of which I had any clue about. She informed me (assuming I already knew) that I am coming in at 9 and staying until 6. Is it just me or is it commonly understood that when an employee's hours are changed, it is common courtesy for the employee's boss to inform them of this change??? Just wondering...

But here is the really great thing that I learned from my conversation with Linda..... I am teaching Spanish. ?!?!?!?!?!?!? I'll let you in on a little secret... I DON'T SPEAK SPANISH! The most Spanish I know is what I picked up on during my internship when the 3-year-olds had Spanish for 1 hour a week with Senora Enriquez (who actually knows the language... imagine that!). So, now I have less than a week to get enough of a grasp on the Spanish language to teach it to my 20 kindergarten students, many of which have been at this school for 4 years, learning Spanish all along.

In summary, I am so excited to be working at a school that values me enough to inform me of my own responsibilities so that I don't sound like an idiot when parents ask simple questions. Lovely place.

Kindergarten started two days ago and I'm starting to see what might be a trend. You see, the first few days of class have not been altogether successful. My teaching partner even said today that this has not been a good first week and I certainly agree. Now, when Mrs. Randolph is in the classroom and in charge, the kids (for the most part) sit and listen and do what they are told. However, as soon as she is gone or busy with something else and I am in charge, it is like a different classroom. It is as if they don't even notice I'm in the room...

I was wondering today how I have managed to "get a bad class" in every teaching experience I've had so far. That is when it occurred to me that maybe it's not the class that is bad, but perhaps the way that I manage them is. If that is the case, I need to learn how to have and show authority like Mrs. Randolph and I need to do it quickly or I am going to have quite the frustrating career.