360 Miles in a Day: Joshua Tree Day Trip!

Each year, when possible, my cousin Dennis visits from his home in eastern Washington. He usually spends the weekend at my sister's who lives nearby. This year, there was a family BBQ on Saturday (with campfire sing-along and ukulele!)

Over pina colada's and BBQ, Dennis and I planned our second annual Fathers' Day road trip: Joshua Tree National Park here we come!

Joshua Tree catching some rays!

Dennis and I comprise two of the three living men who share the name of our ancestors. His dad and my dad were brothers: the only offspring of their parents. Our dads' each had two girls and a boy. I followed that pattern, and Dennis has not yet married. So, in my mind, this road-trip, which fell again this year on Fathers' Day, is a celebration and a bit of a tribute to our fathers. Theirs was a relationship full of cuts and barbs: call it sibling rivalry, or slight dysfunction: either one fits. Dennis and I get along much better. We share a fair amount of family history, we were both residents of Anaheim until Dennis' family moved to northern California when he was in junior high. We also shared a set of grandparents, and we have a common faith (Christian).

Matt from BC on a boulder 

With the help of Google maps I gauged and semi-planned our 130 mile (each way) trip. Google estimated a two and a half hour drive to the western edge of the park. (I guessed closer to two.) The park itself is about 45 miles wide. The drive was two hours each way. We left Orange County at 8 am, and returned at 7 pm. By my estimates, that means we spent about 6 or 7 hours in the park, sight seeing, picnicking, and visiting with other park visitors. We also took pictures, each of us having taken up as a hobby, the profession and passion of our grandfather.

A view from a "window"

Besides the sights, we conversed at length over various topics. Both of us talk for a living: he's a minister and I'm a teacher. We also struck up "instant" friendships with Matt, a rock climber from British Columbia, Canada, and an unnamed family (mom and two teenagers) from the Netherlands. The National Parks is generally populated with a kind and out-going visitors!

Over the course of the next few blogs, I'll be sprinkling in some of the photos from this road trip. Besides the conversations and the pictures, I also brought home a slight sunburn courtesy of the 95 degree sun we enjoyed. (It's a dry heat and there was a pleasant breeze!) ;-)

Where the trees live!

It was a memorable day set against a memorable landscape: enjoy the pictures!

On the Second Day of Summer Vacation... Fathers' Day

A view from my patio.

"School's out for the summer!" So goes the rock ballad, and so begins my summer break: 10 weeks of time off without pay. (Good thing I save during the year... so those 10 weeks are really a break, not a worry.)

The school year ended smoothly: final duties were fulfilled, parties happened, goodbyes were said, and I left my classroom well situated for a new beginning in the Fall. And summer began.

What lies before me? Summer plans? (I've got a few, but not much I really have to do. It should be a summer of  doing-because-I-want-to's -- a mix of relaxation, productivity, and fun.

A view from under mini-patio

I'll be watching DVDs with my wife, taking walks with my dog, working in the yard, building a fence, installing two new screen doors (?), AND helping out my daughter and her family who arrive July 3rd. Grandparents R' Us is about to open for business. (And, I'll be reading on my new Kindle!)

This weekend my cousin Dennis is in town. We had a BBQ and sing-along last night, and today we are trekking 130 miles south to Joshua Tree National Park. He's never been, and I know the way!

Today is Fathers' Day. Last year Dennis and I did a shorter day trip on his annual visit from eastern Washington. I think it's a fitting tribute to our fathers. Dennis' dad and my dad were brothers. Both have passed on, but we, their only sons, are "hanging out" today. It wasn't a big, planned tribute. It just is. And I think that our Dads would be glad. I am.

Heidi: my security system!

A liquid amber: with seating for two.

Geranium blossom

Happy Fathers' Day to those of you who provide positive male role models for youth. As a dad and educator, I know of few other higher callings. Fathers should be in the business of youth development: helping our beloved sons and daughters become the people they choose to be.

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. ;-)

Mothers' Day: My Daughter, the Mom!

Happy Mothers' Day to all you moms out there. (And all you women out there who provide support and care to children, whether they are your own, or not!) There's more to motherhood than biology.

A special thanks to step-moms, foster moms, adoptive moms, single moms, plus the aunts, grandmothers, and ladies who just love kids!

Here's a video I made to pay tribute to my daughter Joanna: a great mom herself!

A Spring Masterpiece? Please include humor!

I'm six days in, to a ten-day break from work: so far, so good.


In addition to paying my taxes today, I've been catching up on some correspondence: my son, a co-worker, a former professor, and an old friend -- not necessarily in that order. Actually, I started with who I owed a response to the longest. I was about a month behind. (Last of all, comes this blog. I'm a bit behind here too.)


My writing is often reflective, as I'm sure you've noticed. Someone once said, "I don't know what I really think about something until I write about it." That's what happens when I write: I find out what I think about things.


A co-worker recently wrote this as part of an exchange on FaceBook, after we had established that sometimes I am a royal pain, she wrote: "True, true - (but) I like your talent of caring, working hard, ever learning, knowing scripture and making your co-workers laugh!"  My favorite part of her quote is "...and making your co-workers laugh!" 


Another co-worker's husband quotes John Wooden on FaceBook: "Make each day your masterpiece."


One of my favorite things about my co-workers is that we make each other laugh. 


Recently, a co-worker asked, "Now what are you laughing about?"


I replied, "You. Again."


And we both laughed.


It seems that many of us at work take turns providing comic relief for each other, and most of the time, it's not on purpose. 


But that's what makes our daily work at school a masterpiece: We make each other laugh!


Sometimes we chuckle.


Sometimes we just say, Tsssss...


Laughter: it's a wonderful addition to our daily masterpieces.


Laugh on! (Or at least say, Tsssss...)