Another Sabbath Day!!
This is to remind me spring is just around the corner!
Sunday, Feb, 28, 2010
Another overcast day in Paradise (Colo. Springs). Things are quiet in our home as Church isn’t until 1 a.m. and we have no prison assignment today.
It was a very busy week. Monday and Tuesday were taken up with my Judge assignment at the State DECA competition held at the Broadmoor Hotel in the Springs. They gave me a room for the night and Bobbie came and spent the evening. We ate dinner in the hotel and had time to talk without distractions. The judging was fun, most of the time. I heard presentations from 9 different groups; the ones I had read their manuals. In the afternoon, I read 9 more manuals from the two other judges in my section. Our task was to select the top three in each of our sections; which would make 9 groups who would give their presentations to us on Tuesday morning.
My description is a bit confusing, I know. However, Tuesday morning. we listened and asked questions of those top 9 groups, knowing we had to select 4 of those 9, who would go on the Nationals competition in Louisville, Ky. in May 2010. The young people were all dressed very nicely and did professional presentations. Three of the presentations were clearly outstanding; both with their manuals and verbal pitch. The students were to take on the role of being a Management Trainees making a presentation of a new training program to the owners (us, the judges). We finally decided upon the 4th winner, who was selected because their manual was stronger. Some of the manuals were poorly done and nobody seemed to care about editing and proofing.

A couple shots from the DECA competition. The students holding the trophy are from Air Academy High. All bright capable young people. Most need to learn writing and editing skills.
The rest of the week was three days of being a Sub teacher. Two days of PE at Air Academy and the other day at Discovery Canyon in the Technology Dept.; one of my favorite assignments. I like the kids and they like me. It is 6 classes of 6th, 7th and 8th graders. The classes last on 1 hour, which makes the time go pretty fast. The PE classes are a little tougher; although I did get a chance to go bowling in one of the classes.
Our final dog training class was Wed. night. Abbie did O.K., not great. She likes to be near me most of the time and doesn’t do well at staying for very long when I’m not standing beside her. She was required to sit for 1 minute and lay for 3 minutes with me being away from her by 6-8 feet. Everything else went well. She heels, comes, stands and sits better than most of the dogs. Oh well, I had almost no time to work with her over the 7 weeks of class. Plus, she doesn’t get enough exercise as I’m gone most of the day, every day. Plus it is winter in Colorado.
We still haven’t decided about spring break. I was going to Ecuador, if our granddaughter, Olivia was going. They have decided it is too expensive and didn’t think it would help her with her Spanish in a country that speaks lots of English. Now I don’t know what we are going to do, if anything. Maybe I will just take off and go somewhere.
Things are gearing up for the Nov. elections. The precinct caucuses are being held on March 16th. I went two years ago and was selected to represent our District. Then I went to the El Paso County caucus, which was a joke. I decided not to bother with going to the state meeting in Denver. The County meeting was a waste of time and you never did get to vote on anything; just see who could yell the loudest. Plus you had to pay to attend the County session. It was a joke!!
My free time is taken up with trying to find host families for International students. I can find the families, however most families want a specific student from a specific culture. Right now, I would have two placements if there was a Japanese girl and a Spanish speaking girl available. There are a couple of families who are considering it. There is no money involved for me and more time taken than I really like. I’m not sure this is something I want to do long term.
A pic to end this post.
Tami and her Mom (Bobbie)
I sent this pic of Abbie and Camryn to the Red Cross, who was looking for a pet who was some kind of hero in the family. Abbie has been a real help by being a calming affect on Camryn.
This is my International looking picture. I use it on Face book or in any story about the program. The hat came directly from Austria when we were there several years ago.

This is Anna, Camryn’s little sister. Anna saw Camryn and Bobbie’s pic I posted on Facebook and wanted to know if I could post one of her. Anna is 5 and our youngest granddaughter.

This pic is 7 of our great-grandkids that were in Maryland during our family gathering in July 2009. Doubtful we will ever have them all together at one time. No. 17 is due now and No. 18 is not due until mid Jan. 2010. We all went for a walk and ended up in the river. It was on a Sunday and I’m still in my white shirt and tie with pant legs rolled up.
This is Camryn with Mike Boyle, who I went to college with at Cal Poly. He has a radio show about resturants in Denver and comes to Colo. Springs each Sat. morning featuring some place that has a good lunch. Today it was L&L Hawaiian BBQ. We went and Camryn loves Mike which is why we got a picture of them. Mike always waves when he sees Camryn.

This is Amelia, Ethan and Emery, all cousins and grandchildren of daughter, Tami & Scott Hollister. This makes 16 great grandchildren for us with two more on the way. Christy is due in 10 days and Samantha is not due until late January 2010.