Grant, Eric, and I Play Monticello-Part 1

Written on 5-26-25.

     I am sitting in our Alto at the Wooden Shoe Group Site, and it’s cooling off at 7:40 in the evening.  Grant, Eric, and I played at the Hideout Golf Course in Monticello today, and it was so fun!  They had never played there before, so it was a kick to watch how they reacted to it with its mountain beauty, elevated tee boxes, and challenging layout.  Grant played better than I have ever seen him play before.  Usually, it comes down to Eric and me, but he mixed it up well this time.  

On to golf…

It’s fun to be able to type that, because I have not played since Troy and I played at UNM North.  How long ago was that?  Let me check.  It was on April 11th, so nearly two months ago.  Too long.

I didn’t get any birdies, but they each got one.   Eric got his on hole #10 with a close approach.  Grant got his on the par five #14 with a close approach, also.

Written on 5-27-25.

We all played well.  It was close, like I wrote yesterday.  After much deliberation, we went with the usual points game: 1 for a fairway, 2 for a G.I.R., 3 for winning a hole, and 2 for the bonuses of long drives on par fives and closer to the pins on par threes.  

I started off well by winning...

End of School 2025

Written on 5-23-25.

     I am back again, and my classroom is nearly ready for whomever the new Gifted teacher will be.  I only have to stack the tables and chairs and grab my pun calendar off the wall to check out of here.  Here comes summer!  

I have enjoyed this diversion.  It got me back into the schools to see what is really happening there, and I really liked working with my students.  It has been wonderful to earn some income this year, too, after Mom and Dad’s passing.  I asked Copilot if I should take the job back in December/January, and one of the best questions (with paraphrasing) it spit back at me was, “After it is over, will you have any regrets?”

The answer to that was...

Tim and Eric Bring Baby Theo Into the World!

Written on 5-22-25.

       I am sitting at my desk at Park Avenue Elementary, and it’s the second to last day of school.  Big things are happening.  Belinda is ‘rewiring’ again after 34 years at Park Avenue.  We ‘rewired’ together ten years ago.  My stint as the gifted teacher long-term substitute is coming to a close, too.  Bev and Curt are on their way to visit their newest grand baby, Theo.  He is Tim and Erica’s baby, and he was born on May 19th, and everyone is happy and healthy.  Bev just sent a picture of them visiting Rowan, James, and Casey.  They went out of their way to stop and see them and Danielle.  We head to Canyonlands and our Wooden Shoe Group Campsite again, but this time with the Banashes.  Kody won’t be coming this time, though, and I know it will be hard on him and us as we get the camper ready to go.  We are having the walls retextured at our house, also.  See? Many things are happening.

I have had two fifth grade groups today, and they took all of their stuff with them, so I only need to stack furniture and get a few more initials from people.

A Garage Sale, a Hidden Valley Reboot, and Belinda's Second "Rewirement"

Written on 5-17-25.

     I am sitting in the ever-reducing shade in our garage.  It’s just now 12:30, and Belinda and I are having a garage sale as part of our Kokopelli neighborhood yard sales.  One customer told me he had been to 17 in our little community here.  We have done fairly well.  Many early birds came when we were getting set up.  I am always amazed at what sells and what doesn’t.  We have not sold our armoire or our flat screen television.  We have sold some gauze and a Star Wars belt, though.  The Edgertons threw in their stuff, too, and we rallied to put it all together.  Things are winding now, and it’s getting a bit windy.  It’s been so wonderful to meet and visit with everyone, strangers and friends alike. 

Some lady just told me (breaking news) that they are trying to revive the Hidden Valley Golf Course, and her son was working out there to get it going again.  Wow!  I had heard rumors, but that information sounds reliable.

We have one week of school left, and Belinda is retiring after 34 years at Park Avenue.  What a legacy!  They held a small party for her and three others (one of them was Zoe Daney) this past week.  It’s hard to believe that 34 years of service can be quickly honored with a few words from the assistant principal during an hour celebration, but that’s the way it goes.  She served our community, her school, and most of all, her students, very well.  I am so proud of her.  She has been a steady presence, role model, and leader at Park Avenue.  She will be missed at Park, but I am looking forward to having her at home more often now.  Although, she has said she will be a substitute there next year, so she isn’t really going anywhere; she is just gaining more and more freedom.

Breakout Presentation and Preparing to Break Out of School

Written on 4-27-25.

     I am writing on a Sunday evening, which is out of the norm.  Usually, I write on a Sunday afternoon, but I watched Ep. 3 of Andor Season 2 with Guy (using FaceTime) and went to the store instead.  We had a busy weekend here at home getting stuff done (cleaning, shopping, doing laundry, etc.), so I when I found this moment to write and catch up a bit, I took it.

We have a month left of school now.  The last day is May 23rd, and it will be here very soon.  I have been spending multiple hours (off and on) getting ready for my breakout presentation on Time to Teach in Santa Fe on May 7th.  It’s shaping up to be a great hour.  I still have much to do, though.  I will make a list of what needs to get done here…

1. Get my books ready for sale and practice selling some.

2. Figure out how my Square app gives receipts.

3. Check to see if I can attach my MacBook with an HDMI cable, or do I have to use their computers with a flash drive.

4. See if I can even sell books there.

5. Practice, practice, practice.

6. If I can’t connect my Mac, get my presentation set up with whatever format they will have.

7. Decide if I will do a handout, and then get it ready.  Upload it to the google link they have provided by tomorrow.

8. Get my business cards and brochures ready for handing out.

That is all I can think of now, but my mind will churn until all of those are taken care of.  I just saw the info on the PDF that I should upload that handout by tomorrow, so I had better get on it.  I have never used one before.  Maybe I will skip it.

Oh, I was asked to attend the Aztec Honor Graduate Banquet by Kyle Vandruff.  That is coming up on May 5th at 6:00.  What an honor!  I didn’t intend to make a pun there, but I like it.  This will probably be the last one I will attend, because my final class graduates this year.  Sigh.

On to golf…

What is that?  I haven’t had time to play or even think about golf since I played with Troy.  I have been sick with allergies, though.  That hit super hard two weeks ago.  This past week, I also had a small cyst removed from my left eyebrow.  It is healing nicely, but that has interrupted golf, too.  

I know I have golf coming up soon, though, and that is exciting.  Grant, Eric and I will play in Moab or Monticello right after school gets out.  We will be camping at Wooden Shoe again.  Then I will bring my clubs to Virginia to play with Guy and his father-in-law, Garth Sr.  I will dream about playing those two times as I am getting ready for the end of school and my impending presentation.