Today I arrived in Mexico City for a business trip (my first of the international variety). With a rain starting up my plan to go find a nice local restaurant was foiled. I opted instead for the next door W hotel. It was around 7:00pm when I was certain that I felt the whole building begin to sway. Nothing too bad, but with my experiences in the past in Guatemala I was sure that it was an earthquake. I quickly asked my server if there had been an earthquake and he looked at me wierd and told me it was just the draft I was feeling from a nearby open door. What? Are you serious? I was confident that I felt the ground shake and the building sway.
Once back in my room at the JW Marriott I went to cnn.com and found this.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/04/27/mexico.earthquake/index.html
Draft from an open door? That guy was crazy.
This brings my earthquake encounter to 5. This one was among the most mild, still a rush every time.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Things I HATE!
Hate is a strong word. Usually when I say I hate something I really don't mean it. The phrase is often modified with "I don't really hate it, but I don't like it." These my friends, are things that I really do hate.
1- 60 hr work weeks. Not by me, but by my wife Erica. In fact 60 hrs is a low ball estimate of the real amount of time she puts in during a one week period. 60 is just an estimate of the time she puts in at the actual school. She leaves every day no later than 7:00am. She returns every day no earlier than 6:00pm (i would only be so lucky if she actually was home at 6 just a couple days a week). Saturday mornings she is usually headed to her classroom. As a result--I haven't been able to spend much time with my wife lately. I hate 60 hr work weeks.
2- Not spending quality time with my wife. As mentioned above, the work schedule plays into this. Also the fact that last weekend we were apart, this week both of us have been putting in long hours at the office, and next week I will be gone for work. That means I will not be seeing nearly enough of the person I love. I hate not spending quality time with my wife.
3- When people underestimate/under appreciate teachers. More than once I have mentioned to someone the amount of time Erica puts in to her teaching. That person usually says, "Doesn't she teach kindergarten?" I am confident that if those people could see her classroom, the projects she puts together for her students, even the way she interacts with her students and the way that they adore her. Their attitude would change from "What in the world is she doing?" to "How in the world does she do it?" I hate when people underestimate/under appreciate teachers.
Funny how things work--because of these things I hate, I end up loving something even more. I love the dedication Erica gives to her commitments. I love the detail and attention she gives to each of her students. I love meeting the parents of the children she teaches. Without fail when they notice I am around they seek me out and tell me how lucky I am. They tell me how lucky our children will be (when that day comes). They thank me for sharing her with their children. They marvel at the education Erica delivers to such a young age. They make me very proud. They make me feel very fortunate to have found her.
If you are a parent with a child entering Kindergarten at Dalton next year, I have a secret for you. All that money you are spending to educate your child at 5 yrs old would have been enough to cover my 4 years of tuition at the University level... with some change to spare. All that money you are spending to have your child in Ms. Gardner's class.... it will be a bargain. Worth every penny--and then some.
1- 60 hr work weeks. Not by me, but by my wife Erica. In fact 60 hrs is a low ball estimate of the real amount of time she puts in during a one week period. 60 is just an estimate of the time she puts in at the actual school. She leaves every day no later than 7:00am. She returns every day no earlier than 6:00pm (i would only be so lucky if she actually was home at 6 just a couple days a week). Saturday mornings she is usually headed to her classroom. As a result--I haven't been able to spend much time with my wife lately. I hate 60 hr work weeks.
2- Not spending quality time with my wife. As mentioned above, the work schedule plays into this. Also the fact that last weekend we were apart, this week both of us have been putting in long hours at the office, and next week I will be gone for work. That means I will not be seeing nearly enough of the person I love. I hate not spending quality time with my wife.
3- When people underestimate/under appreciate teachers. More than once I have mentioned to someone the amount of time Erica puts in to her teaching. That person usually says, "Doesn't she teach kindergarten?" I am confident that if those people could see her classroom, the projects she puts together for her students, even the way she interacts with her students and the way that they adore her. Their attitude would change from "What in the world is she doing?" to "How in the world does she do it?" I hate when people underestimate/under appreciate teachers.
Funny how things work--because of these things I hate, I end up loving something even more. I love the dedication Erica gives to her commitments. I love the detail and attention she gives to each of her students. I love meeting the parents of the children she teaches. Without fail when they notice I am around they seek me out and tell me how lucky I am. They tell me how lucky our children will be (when that day comes). They thank me for sharing her with their children. They marvel at the education Erica delivers to such a young age. They make me very proud. They make me feel very fortunate to have found her.
If you are a parent with a child entering Kindergarten at Dalton next year, I have a secret for you. All that money you are spending to educate your child at 5 yrs old would have been enough to cover my 4 years of tuition at the University level... with some change to spare. All that money you are spending to have your child in Ms. Gardner's class.... it will be a bargain. Worth every penny--and then some.
Monday, April 21, 2008
I will be busy for a minimum of 4 days...
Gm. 1: UTA 93, HOU 82
Gm. 2:Mon., April 21: at Houston, 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Gm. 3:Thu., April 24: at Utah, 10:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Gm. 4:Sat., April 26: at Utah, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Gm. 5*:Tue., April 29: at Houston, TBD (TBD)
Gm. 6*:Fri., May 2: at Utah, TBD (TBD)
Gm. 7*:Sun., May 4: at Houston, TBD (TBD)
* if necessary
Gm. 3:Thu., April 24: at Utah, 10:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Gm. 4:Sat., April 26: at Utah, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Gm. 5*:Tue., April 29: at Houston, TBD (TBD)
Gm. 6*:Fri., May 2: at Utah, TBD (TBD)
Gm. 7*:Sun., May 4: at Houston, TBD (TBD)
* if necessary
Friday, April 18, 2008
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Signs of Spring
WARNING: Mild use of explicit language
It's that time of year again--the world is experiencing rebirth. My Kindergarteners talked about signs of spring, after returning from break to buds on the tree out our window. One smirking that "allergies" are a sign on spring...quite clever for a 5 year old. We're all enjoying prolonged sunlight and greener grass. But aside from the sappy stuff, this morning I realized I have my own personal sign of spring.
An extremely close friend, someone I love more dearly than I can explain, was attending college in...actually, I'll withhold the state to protect her identity, when she decided to get ready for summer and take up jogging. Not an exercise fanatic or natural athlete, this was an impressive personal step. In the afternoons she donned her sneakers and headed out, part of her route through a less than desirable neighborhood. One day an old black Lincoln town car, with tinted windows and huge rust holes cruised up slowly behind her. She ignored the car, determined to keep up the pace, until the driver leaned out the window and loudly called, "Damn girl, that shit is wobbling!" And that dear readers, ended said friend's jogging routine and confirmed the activity wasn't for her.
Stay with me, this story ties directly into my sign of spring. Today I took my 1st jog of the spring, after a call from Jason on the golf course revealed that it was sunny and warn out. I entered the park and joined hundreds of other runners. That's when it hit me...my "stuff" was wobbling. And now, like in years gone by, the sun stays out for longer, birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and I feel inspired to start running again. But alas winter hibernation (despite periodic gym visits to validate my membership) has done my body no favors and my tail end is moving on its own accord. Looking forward to feeling firm again, my favorite sign of summer.
It's that time of year again--the world is experiencing rebirth. My Kindergarteners talked about signs of spring, after returning from break to buds on the tree out our window. One smirking that "allergies" are a sign on spring...quite clever for a 5 year old. We're all enjoying prolonged sunlight and greener grass. But aside from the sappy stuff, this morning I realized I have my own personal sign of spring.
An extremely close friend, someone I love more dearly than I can explain, was attending college in...actually, I'll withhold the state to protect her identity, when she decided to get ready for summer and take up jogging. Not an exercise fanatic or natural athlete, this was an impressive personal step. In the afternoons she donned her sneakers and headed out, part of her route through a less than desirable neighborhood. One day an old black Lincoln town car, with tinted windows and huge rust holes cruised up slowly behind her. She ignored the car, determined to keep up the pace, until the driver leaned out the window and loudly called, "Damn girl, that shit is wobbling!" And that dear readers, ended said friend's jogging routine and confirmed the activity wasn't for her.
Stay with me, this story ties directly into my sign of spring. Today I took my 1st jog of the spring, after a call from Jason on the golf course revealed that it was sunny and warn out. I entered the park and joined hundreds of other runners. That's when it hit me...my "stuff" was wobbling. And now, like in years gone by, the sun stays out for longer, birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and I feel inspired to start running again. But alas winter hibernation (despite periodic gym visits to validate my membership) has done my body no favors and my tail end is moving on its own accord. Looking forward to feeling firm again, my favorite sign of summer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)