A new house?

Here are some pictures of a rental: exterior only. This is a temporary post for someone special!

Kalana is checking on dishwasher situation.
No fridge.
No washer/dryer. Hookups are in garage. (May be back door access.)
Floors were redone two years ago. (The tenant is moving out... bought a house of is own.)
She has an appraisal with a schematic, if you're interested.
They are a family owned business with 35 or so properties; well kept up, pride of ownership, even in a property management company.

South side

Front door (nice light)

From driveway to front door (sidewalk)

A/C into living room (hidden by palms)

Along driveway to gate

Looking from garage door (nice driveway)

Over the gate to back yard

Over the gate to back corner

Over the gate (patio 2 years old) no patio roof

Front door has rain guards

South side had planters and gate access

Roof has attic fans (2) for cooling

Front yard (auto sprinklers - front & back)

Front door zoom: tenant is the gardener!

A cute cat! (Bonus pic.)

Yes, the appointment was canceled.

Voice recognition software: A trial with a wedcam microphone.

This blog and entry is being compost using windows seven voice recognition software.


I'm hoping this software will enable all some of my students who has struggled with writing, to create a first draft quality cheeses of writing.


The result may still require editing, but it should enables my students to look smarter on paper. If you also say the considerable amounts of time.


The best part? The software is three! (hits included in windows seven.) New line

A view off the balcony: San Clemente Inn

Now I will edge what I've written. 

This blog entry is being composed using Windows 7 voice recognition software.

I'm hoping this software will enable some of my students, who have struggled with writing, to create  first draft quality pieces of writing.

The results may still require editing, but it should enable my students to look smarter on paper. It should also save considerable amounts of time.

The best part? The software is free! (It's included in Windows 7.)  

Zoom in! A gazebo!

Now I will edit what I've written. 

Now I'll try it again, editing as I go...

This log entry is being composed using windows seven voice recognition software. I am hoping this software will enable some of my students, who have struggled was writing, to create a first draft quality piece of writing. A

The results they still require editing, but should enable listings to look smarter on paper we should also save considerable amounts of time.

And the best part? It is freedom! (it is included in windows seven.)

Shuffle board anyone?

(this is still going to require editing!) 

That's all for now. Voice Recognition is found on the control panel (Speech Recognition). It includes 1/2 hour or so of tutorials, which I listened to. Not a real steep learning curve, but it still takes some patience and practice. I think I'll try it with a hand held microphone next time.

The School Year is Ending! Summer is Starting!

It's been a great year: ups and downs, but the downs were not as low as the ups were high.

Life has its challenges, and sometimes it has its tragedies. This year... no personal tragedies.

A few big challenges got resolved: things like collective bargaining agreements, under-staffing to support needy students, and doing more with less at school. I'm grateful for reasonable resolutions to difficult problems. It's not always easy, but it's not impossible either. For that I'm grateful.

The ups? A smooth transition to a new co-worker/aide, some meaningful give-and-take in my credential program, but the biggest up? My son-in-law got a job at the local college, and he's bringing my oldest daughter and their children to town. I can't remember ever crying for joy... but I did. Big sobs. Big joy. Awesome up!

There are only twelve working days left in the 2010/11 school year: my thirteenth in the profession. It's been a good year, and summer looks promising.

Savoring the good times... looking forward to new joys. I'm grateful.

But it's not the big events that define a year, it's the daily laughter, the student growth, the meaningful meetings, the small groups, the kids, the moms and dads, the co-workers, the yard, my wife, and my children: scattered but doing fine.

I even got a new car. But look how far down the list that is! It's not the stuff that makes life good, it's a good life that is the stuff. Life is good... especially this year. ;-)