More from Guatemala

Jonas should be making his US debut about now. Dave and I are waiting for the phone call from/to Bob and Judy to ensure everyone is here and to hear about how precious Jonas is in person. I don't want to cut short Bob and Judy's fun with Jonas, so I decided to post some of the pictures that Letha shared from Days 2 and 3 in Guatemala City.

Tuesday they went to the Embassy--evidently there was a diaper "incident"; Letha tells us "it happens." The family spent time sitting by the pool. I chose pictures that would allow me to tell a story.

Wednesday they decided to take a swim; Mike went to the Embassy and picked up Jonas' visa.

Already a Ramblin' Wreck.

Jonas smiles. He must love toys.

Out by the pool. Looks like Jonas is waving.

Does he have an itch?
Did Jonas get a handful of hair? Notice Letha is pulling her hair. It could just be that it was windy, but I like to think she's telling him not to pull her hair.

So, Mike took this picture. In the other pictures, there is no one around the pool. I was just thinking how nice it must have been to have to pool area all to themselves. Then I spied this lady. You can kind of see Jonas in the edge; I wonder if he's looking at the bikini lady.

Mike and Jonas by the pool.
Jonas doesn't look like he's lovin' the hat.

Letha and Jonas enjoy the water.

Letha's caption is perfect: Budda Bellies Float.

Cool Picture

Below is a cool picture that I had to share. No, unfortunatley I didn't take this picture. Someone on one of my fishing boards that I frequent was kind enough to share it with everyone. It is from Caddo Lake in east Texas.

Introducing Jonas

Mike and Letha are in Guatemala meeting their son Jonas for the first time. We've all seen pictures of him since the fall, when Mike and Letha received his file and accepted the referral to adopt him. Each month new pictures come, with Jonas just a little bigger. After a scare in December that Guatemala was going to halt adoptions with the US, Mike and Letha are finally there.

Today, the foster mom dropped Jonas off. A translator was there to allow Mike and Letha to ask questions about Jonas' schedule and habits. After some bonding with Mike and Letha, it was time for Jonas to say goodbye to his foster mom. Letha tells us that both she and Jonas shed a few tears as the foster mom left.

Tuesday, Mike and Letha will go to the Embassy--I presume to finalize paperwork and officially adopt him.

Wednesday afternoon they'll pick up Jonas' visa; Thursday they'll return to Atlanta.

Dave and I can't wait to spend a week bonding with Jonas in Maine. We'll also be able to celebrate his first birthday in Maine.

As Mike and Letha send more pictures, I'll post them.
Foster mom with Letha, Jonas, and Mike
Letha's all smiles. Jonas is engrossed in a toy.

Saying goodbye has to be hard. We're thankful for this sweet lady who cared for Jonas all these months.
Mike and Jonas playing.

Say What?

We are currently in the midst of administering End of Course exams (EOCs) at school. Soon TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) will be phased out and replaced by EOCs, which is a bit more logical. But of course, before EOCs can be started, we have to field test them, and so we are. (I promise this will be a funny story, just hang with me.)

Yesterday a mom called the office to have her daughter dismissed. In a moment of panic, the ladies in the attendance office couldn't find the student. Quickly, it was determined that she was in end-of-course testing, so the sweet attendance clerk, Carolyn picked up the phone talk with the mom.

Carolyn: Ma'am. Your daughter is in end-of-course testing. We can't dismiss her until she finishes.

Mom: She's doing what?

Carolyn: End of course testing.

Mom: What?

Carolyn: End of course testing.

Mom: Intercourse testing?

Carolyn: No. End of course testing.

Mom and Carolyn break into laughter. After several moments of uncontrollable belly laughing, Carolyn whispers goodbye and hangs up the phone.

In a few minutes the mom walks into the office, tears still streaming down her face.

Of course, there were student aides in the office who finally heard the miscommunication. Momentarily, Chris, the gentleman in charge of EOC testing walked by the attendance office. The aides couldn't help but say, "There goes the man in charge of intercourse testing."

A coworker and I chuckled about all the moms who'd be showing up for continuing education and intercourse testing.

A Great End to the Weekend

Most of this weekend, I have spent wincing in pain from my stomach. No other symptoms other than (sometimes severe) pain in my stomach. This afternoon the pain finally subsided, so I decided to fish for a bit at the local Trophy Club pond. This pond typically produces small bass and some nice sized bluegill....so I was very surprised when I hooked into this monster.This guy put up a arm cramping fight for about 10 minutes. I caught him on the lightest flyrod that I own (a fiberglass 3wt). You typically use this rod to catch 1/4lb bluegill - not monster channel catfish! So needless to say, I am a little proud of this catch. A good way to end what had been a not so great weekend. The big guy was released to fight another day.

Dad - sorry to break it to you, but this fish came out of the same pond where we were fishing.

Prom Memories

Dave and I attended Prom Friday night for the fourth time. As an assistant principal, I'm sure that I'll have many more opportunities to attend. When we attended Prom, we thought it was great that the dance wasn't held in the gym. It was at the Dalton Convention Center. Dinner was a separate affair. It seems more and more dinner is part of the event. Even when I was teaching at Rockdale High School, dinner was part of Prom. By having the kids captive, there's a slightly decreased chance that they'll drink before Prom.

Here's a picture of me and some girl friends at my Prom.



A picture of me and Dave. (Look at his cute baby face and my cheesy grin.)


This is a picture of us at his Homecoming Dance.
And his Sweetheart Dance. It seems that Homecoming and Sweetheart Dances don't exist in Texas as they did in Georgia. I suppose that kids get their fill of dancing and dressing up with all of the banquets that they attend.

And, here's Dave's Prom.
Here we are chaperoning a Pflugerville Prom.


We didn't have our picture made together Friday night--drat. However, here's a picture of me, some of my kids, and one of my teachers.


Thankfully, kids were well behaved. In 2004, there was a party-bus incident. Parents go together and rent not just limos for kids, but buses. In '04, kids arrived to Prom drunk. So, their parents were called and they were turned away. In '05 or '06 a girl arrived with an older date who was drunk. We greet the kids at the entrance, shaking the hand of each guest and hugging them to get in close and smell for anything suspicious. The kids check in and show their tickets, then they pass one more round of ticket showing. It's nice that as they're digging for their tickets, they're opening their purses and jackets to dig--allowing us the opportunity to take a peak. Bathroom monitors sit inside the restroom to watch for anything--thankfully Prom is in a nice hotel and nice comfy chair are in the women's lounge.


Even though I gave Dave his "out", he attended with me. Thankfully, Krista, another spouse was there for him to pal around with. He and she watched the kids arrive downstairs, then they moved upstairs and planted themselves for dinner when the photographer happened by and snapped their photo. I know all the kids are looking at the website where the Prom pictures are posted and wondering, "Who is that?"

Rubber Chicken Circuit

(My original title was going to be Banquet Blitz, but I heard the term "rubber chicken" in reference to banquets that I had to steal it.)

Back in my day . . . well, back in Dave's day of high school athletics, banquets honoring athletes were held in the fall for all fall sports and in the spring for all spring sports. The banquets were in the cafeteria at the school, and there was no food. Each coach got up and announced the MVP, Heart and Hustle Award, etc. There was one booster club--the Warrior Club--that met the needs of all the student athletic groups.

Flash forward a decade and move a thousand miles west. Banquets are big business in Texas. Each athletic and/or extracurricular group has a booster club and a banquet. Our inauguration to the banquet circuit was in December with the four-hour football banquet--er, football booster recognition program. We dined in a box overlooking Texas Stadium. You can view my original post if you'd like to revisit the evening.

This spring banquet season has swung into action. Most are held at country clubs or hotel ballrooms. The menu typically features some sort of chicken--hence the name of my post--however, I must say, all of the chicken I've had thus far has been tasty. I've attended the boys' soccer banquet, the girls' soccer banquet, and the tennis banquet. This weekend I'll be attending the theater banquet.

"What other banquets might be held in a school of 2400 students?" you must ask. Here's a list. I'm sure I've left off something, forgive me for the omissions.
Football, baseball, boys basketball, girls basketball, volleyball, boys soccer, girls soccer, cheerleading, dance team, band, tennis, wrestling, choir, theater, swim & dive, gymnastics, track & cross country, softball

I know that parents want to honor the accomplishments of their children, but come on. Twenty-five dollars a plate? Programs printed on glossy paper. Highlight DVDs that must be played in their entirety as entertainment? Center pieces. Dresses, up-dos, suits & ties. These kids don't want Homecoming Dances or Sweetheart Dances; they know that banquet season will come soon enough and then they'll get to dress up.

Ah, rubber chicken . . . if only Gonzo were throwing you across the Muppet's stage.

M&L

(That's me with Mike and Letha at the Stockyards in Fort Worth)

Letha had business in Austin this week, so she and Mike flew in to spend the weekend with us. They graciously agreed to drive up to DFW. I figure them driving here saved us a lot of money--no doggie boarding, no hotel, etc. Plus, I ended up having to work Friday night--in the form of attending the tennis banquet. (I can write an entire post about banquets.)

The weekend was really low key. Dave and I were thrilled to do nothing for a change. Letha seemed equally ready for a break--her work schedule is more hectic than mine and includes weekly trips out of town.

Saturday the weather was beautiful. So, we set up camp in the back yard. It started with two chairs, then a third, then the hammock, then Mason's pool, then the pavilion for shade for Mason. Letha and I desired to banish some of the lily-whiteness from our legs. Mike wanted to even out his tennis tan. Mason just wanted to be where ever we were, but it's tough being a black dog in the Texsun, hence the pavilion.


We went out for sushi Saturday evening. Then, we went downtown to see the larger-than-life longhorn sculptures at Pioneer Plaza. We considered going to Reunion Tower, after driving around, and around, and around, and around again, without finding a place to park, we opted to head for dessert at Papasito's. Dave and I love the fried ice cream, while it wasn't as good as we remember, it was still quite tasty. Not being a fan of coconut, (and the ice cream was coated in it), Letha opted for a sopapilla.

Sunday found us eating a late breakfast and lounging around before deciding that we all really needed to do some Mother's Day shopping. After an early dinner and banana pudding, it was time for Mike and Letha to head to Austin.

We're sure glad they came.