My Swimming Golf Cart and a New Generational Baby

Written on 3-31-18.

     I have work to do, but I’m not doing it…obviously.  It’s not much, though.  I need to review and make some changes for my upcoming 2-day Time to Teach training in Bloomfield that will be this Monday and Tuesday.  I can do it later, and it won’t take long. 

     The biggest news today, and I am so excited about it, is that Daryl and Katie are about to have their first baby, which is momentous.  My sister is about to become a grandma, and our parents will become great-grandparents for the first time, too.  The last text said that Katie was taking an hour break before going back to pushing again.  Her water broke yesterday, so I was expecting this baby girl to be here by now, but it’s up to that little girl.  The young man who is the father of that little girl was born when I was doing my student-teaching, and that was when I became an uncle for the first time.  From this perspective, it’s a truly generational thing, and it’s the beginning of this generation’s turn.

     We had Todd and Zoe over her for lunch today, and they were very accommodating with my having my phone unmuted and right next to me while we ate.  They are painting their rental home here in Aztec, so Belinda gave them options for...

Ojo With My Two Girls

Written on 3-21-18.

     Belinda, Danielle, and I are at the Ojo Resort.  I’m here for work, but they are here on vacation.  Both of them are on their spring breaks.  Spring sprang yesterday.  I don’t really get a spring break, but this is pretty darn close.  It just worked out that I was coming to El Rito Elementary at this time, and I love it when B can come with me.  This is Danielle’s first time here, so we are excited to show her the place, have dinner at the Artesian Restaurant, and soak in the spa.  Green chile fries, here we come!  Oh, those are so delicious, I’m holding in some saliva right now thinking about them.  We’ve been talking about this place and asking Danielle to come here since I first started this job last November, so it is thrilling that it has finally worked out.  
     They are taking a nap in Cottage #21 while I sit out on the tiny porch to write this.  It’s crowded here, so I am betting others are here to enjoy their spring break, too.  The parking lot is full, and people are coming and going all the time.  It was like that last night, too, but Belinda and I managed to find a couple of super spots at the spa when we soaked before bedtime.

On to golf…

     I did not yet write that I played at a totally different golf course when I was in Las Cruces.  I played at the Red Hawk Golf Club for the first time.  It was very reasonable, $38.00 to walk 18 holes.  I played with Baxter and his girlfriend Cara sp?.  They were fine to play with, and Baxter started off by saying they were both "hacks."  It turned out, though, that he was more of a hack than she was.  His first tee shot sailed way right, and they never found it.  She did, however, have a few flubbed chips and pitches at the beginning.  I think I made them nervous, but I wasn’t playing stellar golf either, and this was an incredibly tough course with sloping fairways and greens, and multiple bunkers and water on most of the holes.

Time to go to dinner, so I will wrap this up later.  

Until next time…

St. Patrick's Day and Comparing Golf to "The Leaper"

Written on 3-17-18.

     Happy Saint Patrick’s Day…to me.  I am no saint, although I used to tease my students that this day was named after me.  B and I are hanging out on the couch, continuing our relaxing day together.  It takes an effort to be so unproductive.  We cut down a bush earlier this afternoon.  We took a walk.  I caught up my log and my field notes while she cleaned the kitchen.  That’s about it for the productive stuff.

     I watched golf while B took two little naps.  Then I took a very rare nap while she made her dinner.  This retirement stuff can be brutal.  All this lazing around is exhausting.  To our credit tonight, though, we are not watching anything on television.  That bumps up the productive feeling.

On to golf…

      When I played at Hidden Valley last, I had some new golf thoughts I wanted to share.  These sound even better when I am...

"Las-t" Cruces Trip

Written on 3-9-18.

     I am in the passenger seat of our new Canyon, and Amanda, Belinda, and I are headed to Las Cruces for the weekend.  This trip was originally planned because of a staff meeting for the CORE, but it was canceled.  Darn it.  Now, it’s become a pleasure and business trip due to Time to Teach.  We stopped by SAMS Academy to drop off the certificates from their January training, and Coreen asked me about a half-day follow-up on July 30th, so that’s exciting and encouraging.  B and I will work up that quote and get it ready for a Monday delivery.  As soon as we arrive in Las Cruces, we are going to Valley View Elementary where Danielle is doing her practicum work, so she can show us her little 1st grade kiddos and give us a little tour.  I brought materials to drop off there, too, and I may have a meeting with the principal.  We shall see.

     A quick update on some things from the last post.  The travel reimbursement I sent in is ready for my signature; I just got the e-mail.  Since we are going to be in Las Cruces in less than three hours, I am going to see if I can stop by and sign the papers while I’m in town.  That would be...