In Training

This weekend I went on my first real long run for the marathon training. It was probably 11 miles +/- . It took 2.5 hours which is what the real measure was. I ran into a fellow runner whose name was Neil. It was enjoyable to meet someone also training and we ran together for about half the time.

Today I am still a bit sore in the legs (can't understand why!:) I did catch up on some rest this afternoon.

Also I insisted that Sarah drive to and from her friend Candace's house this afternoon. Going there she did great. On the way back coming to our street, she came in pretty fast to a turn and... my life flashed before my eyes. She managed to squeal around going left but that curb came pretty fast toward us.

Fortunately I kept calm and had her drive around the block and come back and do the turn the right way. Learn by doing.

I told my father about this and he said "I've been there".

My tuxedo history

Saturday afternoon I went to purchase a new tuxedo. We had a black tie event Sat. night to go to and and afterward the Museum Collage party next month so I figured the old one from 1998 was due to be replaced.

It got me thinking about my first tuxedo which I purchased in 1984. I had to special order the pants, size 31, from Reynolds-Penland in Austin, Texas. That store of course is no longer - at the corner of W. 24th and Guadalupe, I think its a Gap now.

For the first few years, I had this red plaid tie/cummerbund which I wore year-round. Looking back it was probably more Christmas-ish but that is what I started with. I ended up getting a black bow tie and cummerbund (which I think I bought at a resale shop). That was in 1987 and I just replaced the set on Saturday. Interestingly the new bow tie was a little bigger. Things change over 20 years! The new cummerbund was much nice - more substance to it, heavier material.

The new shirt was a nice update.

The second tux was purchased in 1998 in Houston at Jos. A. Bank. I remember my salesman Eric as being a nice person. I purchased the shawl (rounded) collar which was a bit more preppy/Eastern which was desirable as a Washington & Lee student. It has been a few places as well such as my sister Elizabeth's wedding in 2002 but mainly served the purpose of being able to look my best at the "Black Tie Optional" parties which women love to get dressed up for. A man who know what to wear is a prize. I also enjoyed wearing it to several stag dinners at the Houston Country Club with my dad in the 90s.

The old style wing tip shirt (my first one) has also gone the way of rumble seats. As time went by, the tip which could be worn any way at first were "always supposed to tucked in". Now I don't think you could find one easily.

Shoes: Originally I wore a very fine pair of black Luchesse ostrich boot with my tuxedo. You can imagine what those preppies in Virginia thought of them. They did look good though and were memorable. Eventually I got a pair of black loafers and then a pair of wing tip shoes. I've never had a pair of patent leather shoes or the bow ties slipons favored in New York. In fact at our wedding in 1990, one the rules I laid down was "no plastic shoes".

At our wedding, I did not wear my own tuxedo but rather rented the white tie and tails which I felt very sharp wearing. That was July 14, 1990. They say you need to wear those to a State Dinner at the White House. If (WHEN!) I go, I'll plan to buy my own. In fact we saw Alonzo Saturday night and he was talking about going to a State Dinner where he sat at the table with the King of Spain as well as Meg Ryan.

I still have and use the cuff links and studs I purchased in Alvin-Dennis in Lexington, Virginia in 1984. Basic black. When I was back in Lexington in 2007 I told Mr. Alvin Carter that I still had and used them, and he seemed pleased. He did inquire what happened to my size 31 waist though.

Second Day Back

Still working to catch up from a week's vacation. The messages have at least been listened to. THe mail has been opened. The office tidied up a bit. But I have not been there too much.

Yesterday was a funeral for Judy Badders, wife of Father John. She had Parkinson's Disease but that was something she had lived with. But she got some type of infection that led to blood poisoning and she died a few days later.

Surprising, Cecily came to the funeral. A surprise since she had a big falling out with our church and Fr. John (who she worked for before working for me). In short after 7 years of bitterness and anger the two reconciled. It was a powerful thing to witness up close and I am glad to say I've been encouraging it for a long time.

It reminded me of a reconcilation I had with my friend Joe. An important thing in my life. That's certainly something to be proud of. Anger is not part of God's plan for anyone.

Today I had to take the M-B to San Antonio to get checked out under warranty. I'm glad we bought the extended warranty. The ABC light had come on (a sophistication suspension monitors system which counterbalances the car, lowers the height, corrects overspin, etc.). The local mechanic thought it might be a defective sensor since it checked OK on his computer. But I thought it best to have to fixed under warranty rather that start looking for things that might go wrong.

So I have a rental loaner car today. I may go back to pick up the car on Wed. afternoon or if not then Friday afternoon. 500 mile drive up and back today to San Antonio.

Sugarland - Hidalgo TX -09/09/09

When we went to New Orleans last May we wanted to see Sugarland at the Jazz Fest. That didn't work out so we saw them locally.

What a great show! Matt Nathanson opened with a solo set which finished with Brandon Bush and Kristian Bush. They are great musicians. Then Billy Currington did a nice show. You forget how many hits he's had in a short time. "Good Directions", "Don't" and so on.

Sugarland was really good. It was impressive that both of them Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush play many different instruments and differenty styles of music. Good songs were

Everyday America

Genevieve

Baby Girl

Stay

Joey

and so on

I didn't write the setlist down but just sat back to enjoy

Sunday Sept 20 - Home

I ended up staying up late last night catching up on the blog. I therefore was a little late for church but glad to be back. Afterwards, I picked up some movies and filled up the car with gas and settled in at home to catch up on laundry and NFL football.

Susan and Sarah came back from the Island (hosptial charity fishing tournament) & we got a sandwich for lunch at Which Wich. Now Sarah's doing homework and Susan is napping and I'm watching more football.

Not have internet access, I was away from my fantasy football but I am back now. I've got a nice lead with the 54 point performance of Chris Johnson (TEN)

Saturday Sept 19 - Travel Day

Up at 0400 to catch Aero Republica flight to Panama City from MDE. As appropriate, Luis Antonio drove us to the airport. O's mom got up to see us off. Panama was an interesting airport, kind of a crossroads for Carribbean, USA, and South America. Very flat and tropical. Panama used to be part of Colombia before the USA stirred up a revolution.

Continental fight 873 to IAH was about 3.5 hours. Customs took a while to get through. After clearing through we had a long layover. I was ready for a little time and so I arranged to me O at the gate. I stopped at a shop and bought some shoes I saw - figured I might not have the chance to get them later. I had another lunch at Pappasitos - chicken wrap. I picked up USA Today, perfect to catch up on sports, movies, weekly news. We got back to MFE about 7 and I was home at 7:45 p.m. in time to watch the UT/Texas Tech game. I went to get a hamburger and fries. Welcome back!

Friday Sept 18 - La Giroconda

Up at 0815. Luis Antonio coming at 0900 to take me to the Da Vinci Exhibit at the Casa Madero de Plaza Mayor. We left with Luis and his daughter Luisa. I thought she was going with us, but she just drove us to the Metro. We got on what they called the Metrorcarril rail and then rode to the Metrocable which was a gondola ride up the mountain. Up the mountain is a poor area, lots of shacks made on the side of the mountain. But the cable gives access to transportation to the many people who live there. So its a pretty progressive idea.

Luis is like me. He likes to strike up conversations with others. He talked up everyone in the cable cars, 15 minutes at a time, up and down :) The Metro was very clean - there were ladies dressed in white uniforms cleaning up.

After a ride through the Metro ("Riding on the Metro..."), we ended up at the Da Vinci exhibit. It was an interesting collection of replicas for of course, things like the Mona Lisa or the Last Supper are not traveling items. There were a number of wooden invention machines that he came up with. Some were pretty ingenious like the spiral energy or the circular hammer (hard to describe. Many of them had circular energy transferred to linear energy.

The Last Supper was a good description. It is a mural about 8 M long x 4 M high and there is a door underneath. It is located in Milan. Gilbert said he had been there.

The Mona Lisa was a good exhibit. It has been analyzed more than nearly any other work I can think of. For example, did you know there are mountains in the background? Likely an amalgam of various places, no one knows. Also the position of her hands looks like she has six fingers. And did you know she has no eyebrows or eyelashs?

La Giroconda is "Mona Lisa" in Italian. It was purchased/commission by a French king, hence the reason it is in the Lourve in Paris.

The exhibit was neat to see in Spanish. Renaissance is Renacimiento. La Cena Ultimo. El Hombre de Vitruvio (Vitruvius Man).

We then had lunch at a local cafe where the Cazuela (frijoles) were good. We did a little shopping at the bike shop and Luisa picked us up. We had dinner at home and Luis Guillermo's family cam over to say goodbye before we had to leave early the next morning.

Thursday Sept 17

Up early at 0615 for cycling. Rained all the way there. I was concerned about riding in such heavy rain, but like going hunting, you don't know what the weather will be like at the spot until you are there. As on cue the rain stopped when we got to the ready point and we rode for about 1.5 hours. Some climbs were pretty good but manageable. We went through the town of El Retiro and it was pretty quaint.

We had breakfast thereafter. There are two kinds of arepa, white corn and yellow corn (choclo'). The yellow is better I think. Also had chorizo which is dried, much different than here. Also finally had a good cup of tinto (coffee black).

Fruits and flowers here are amazing, Trees with white leaves (Guayacan) are very pretty. I'd have taken a picture but they are located here and there and we did not stop.

That afternoon, friend Samuel picked us up to have lunch with a group of friends. We went to Puro Peru, which I was happy to see since I had found out about Peruvian cuisine. Counting me there were 6 professional men, all about 50 (I'm the baby). One of them Jaime was an attorney, fluent in English.

We had several dishes. The ceviche was awesome, big chunks of fish. Also have a limonada, which is a fresh limeade. Fried shrimp, arroz Peruvana which was better than the other night. Excellent. There was a filet of fish with a good sauce. There was a beef dish, very spicy. Dessert were a pudding "like a Milky Way" as Samuel said, and a good cheesecake. We ordered several dishes and passed them around. Good sample. Excellent place, all open aired just like many of the restaurants here (no need for air conditioning).

That afternoon we were back in the apartment. Gilbert helped me with some Spanish. Difference btwn Espada (sword) and Espalda (back). At the Botero Exhibit, we had seen pictures of the Virgin Mary with a sword painted on. Gilbert said this was to signify Luke 2 "when sorrow will pierce your heart like a sword". I read the verse in the Sagrada Biblia in the apartment.

Later O said we were going to visit a young girl where he was going to give her a medical check as a favor. WE went to this nice apartment and met her mother C and then the girl game in. She was 13 years old. Oscar said she was OK, recommended that she monitor what she eats, no big problems.

I found out on the way over that one of the reason's O wanted to go there was to talk to the mother, which he did privately.

Then we went to H's apartment .

The apartment they lived in was out of a movie. It was on the 15th floor of one of the higher ares of the surrounding mountains. The balcony goes all around the full floor. There was probably more balcony space outside than most apartments have space inside. Three bedrooms plus a nice study with a glass desk. In the master bath, the toilet and shower were hidden behind frosted glass doors. CD's hidden behind TV. Closets hidden behind wall decorations.

We had dinner which was very nice: the Aji chicken soup, salad with pears, tomatoes, and cordonis (which I called huevos pequenos, little eggs). As the server heard me say this, she couldn't help but start laughing out loud :)

We also had a chicken casserole and a tasty jugo (juice) Lula. Finished with orange sherbert with orange slices on top. There were pretty flowers in the apt. which smelled really good.

Afterwards, I ended up talking with K (en Espanol). She has a passport from Spain so it is easy for her to travel throughout European Union. H is working on getting one as well.

H liked reading business books like me. We discussed the book Outliers which we both liked a lot. He gave me some other book ideas.

The good night had to come to an end. An interesting look into other people's lives. I

Wed Sept 15

0815 Oscar banged on my door telling me to get ready for cycling. You'd think he could have just told me what time to get up and I'd do it but he's the kind of person who likes to be in charge. As a result he has complimented me several time on being easy going. So we're a good pair. This has definitely been a trip of following along, kind of like being a kid again - someone else makes the plans and pays this bill. There has really not been anything to pay for.

After breakfast of Arepa con huevo (the local version of a tortilla with a fried egg inside, we went went to the Rio Negro area to go cycling. Rio Negro is the "county" if you will where the airport is near. The cycling was not as steep as last time but still good climbs. Some rain but good weather, ususally about 20C (75F).

We had lunch at the apartment and O went to visit a friend so it was nap time again. I thought perhaps I should do something but then figured just rest. There is a lot of security in the buildings (24 hr doormen monitoring all coming and going) so I figured they'd probably not like me just walking around unescorted.

At 1600 I went shopping with O at EXITO which is the Wal-Mart of Colombia. Looks just like it, everything from produce on one side to washing machines on the other. Lots of multinational brands, Coca Cola, Nestle, Kelloggs, Bimbo. O bought a supply of local things. He even liked to buy his underwear there (I let me do that shopping in private). We bought some produce, esp. a tart little berry (can't remember the name).

That night we went to Luis Guillermo's and Liliana apt. which was right across the street for dinner. We had the sopa (Aji) which is apparently common to Bogota. Then the people from dinner Sat. night came over and they had a business meeting about buying a ranch together. I went to play Wii with the boys Sebastian and Santi and another boy Miguel, Moises' son. We played FIFA 09 which was very realistic esp. after seeing the soccer game live Sunday. We also played Wii Resort which had bowling (fun), archery (fun) tennis (not too good at it) and table tennis (terrible). It made you want to go play for real.

The 2 boys go to the same German school as Ignacio's daughter Maria Camila. We had fun playing - the international language.

Tuesday Sept 15

0610 flight from the smaller Medellin airport EOH to Monteria (MTR) in the north part of the country, in the state of Cordoba. We took a turboprop over the mountains. The airport was like somethink from the Amazing Race. We got picked up by Moises in his Nissan truck and then picked up another person Juan Camilo. After a breakfast in a little cafe, we drove to the finca (farm). It was about 20 km outside of town and then 30 km down a red dirt road. We were out there!

At the place there was a nice bunkhouse. It was like the hunting lodge (smaller, less fancy) in Abasolo, Mexico we went to. We went out to the arena where horses were mounted and ready for us to ride. We went on a 2.5 hour horseback ride to see the cattle. That was pretty neat even if I was not quite dressed for it. But I enjoyed it. We rode through canals (forded through) and in genenal went over various terrain. I got very wet (from feets in water and water kicked up while riding) and the others thought that was pretty funny.

Then lunch. Pasta and spaghetti sauce. I later heard the cook had been reading the recipe all morning. Then I found out we would not be staying but would be driving the 6 hours back to Medellin. We took a short nap and set out about 3:30pm.

I rode with Juan Fernando who worked for Moises. We had a good talk back and forth. I got better at listening. It makes a difference when it is just the two of us.

On the way back it was a tough ride. Rained the whole way, dark, 1 hour on dirt road, twisty mountains road all the way (remember the mountains we flew over in the morning) and passing lots of cars around curves and going fast. And the check engine light came on! We got things fixed with a little help. We got back at 0130 Wed morning. What a day!

First Communion

Sara and Ana Maria. See how the location was open air. Most all restaurants there were like that. Weather is so good, not hot and not cold makes it very nice.

Monday Sept 14

Oscar left early for interviews at the medical school. I was planning to go to the Museo Antioquia with mother Alicia, her sister Gloria, Luis Antonio and Gilbert. At the museum (we drove there) the main exhibit was of the Colombian artist Botero. He specialized in oversized subjects with interesting details such as flies buzzing around or volcanoes erupting in the background.

Also little pieces such as bullets in the air in "Death of Pablo Escobar" or droplets of blood "Sufrimiento del Cristo".

The big subjects ususally had smaller other features, like small breasts or small feet. Also the Colombian flag was either there in a small way or the colors looked like the flag colors.

After we went to the Jardin Botanico and had lunch at a place In Situ. It was an awesome spot. Excellent. People were there it looked like they came there from work, not tourists.

The gardens were pretty but it was pretty crowded with school kids. Pretty orchids we saw. Also this cool plant called La Lincona which is kind of like a bird of paradise. We also saw 2 iguanas high in a tree.

The fruits and flowers of Colombia were awesome. Beautiful and tasty things that I've never seen. Very unusual. They were for sale on the sides of the road or wheeled around in big carts. So plentiful. I wish I could remember all the names.

Hooters of Medellin

Sunday Sept 13

Up early at 0600 for cycling. I was completely out of it on the drive over there. We stopped for breakfast and I had to walk around outside to try and clear my head. This place was El Ranchito near the airport. After breakfast and coffee I felt much better. O joked that I would lose breakfast on the ride but I figured he was just being macho - he'd probably say that to Lance Armstrong.

We started the ride with Tio Luis following in the SAG car. We rode w Cousin Carlos also (dad of Sara from First Communion yesterday and Luis's son in law).

Glad we had the SAG. This climb was like going up the mountain to Angel Fire. UP and up and up. Very steep. I thought of quitting but I had breath and was able to pedal steadily. The bike I was on was borrowed from O's brother in law Jorge and it was a bit small esp. when I had to stand on the pedals. So I tried to stay down. I made it up to the top.

Then it was down the mountain. Wow! Exhilirating! I got up to about 50 Km/hr without pedalling and had to ride the brakes down since there was a little wetness on the road. Figured I'd live to ride another day.

Then the ride was rolling hills into the town of La Cena and then San Antonio where we stopped at the home of Jose Ignacio & Ana Maria (from Friday) and met their 3 children

Also there were Jorge & Blanca (Jose's parents). The farm had been in the family since 1925. Rustic and nice. Very nice family. The parents only speak English to the children at home and the children go to the German school so they are tri-lingual. Why can't we do that in America?

Back to lunch with all the family at Montongo, a big restaurant with fast service. Had the house specialty, AJI, like a tortilla soup. Then back to Apt. for the obligatory nap.

Then off to soccer (futbol) game between Medellin Independiente (RED) and Nacional Antioquia (GREEN). Medellin won 3-1 and Oscar was very excited. Like a Red Sox/Yankees game, lots of fans with strong feelings. I saw Diego and Diana (Thursday) there. Both "end zones" were full of the opposing fans. Strong feelings made everyone wear neutral colors. We were in good seats (about "30 yd line") in the shade (sombra) like a bullfight (better seats in shade).

We went with brothers Hector and Luis Guillermo & his 2 sons.

After going back to the apt. O said we would go to a business meeting - might be "kind of boring."

Anything but! We went to Hooters of Medellin which could have been transplanted from any place in the US. It was in an area of restaurants called Parque Lleras. At the meeting were Rodrigo and Ana and their son Alejandro "Mac" - 12 yrs old. Also Juliana and Jorge (dueno/owner of the bike I'm riding and brother/son of Blanca).

While the adults had their business meeting Mac & I talked in perfect English (he goes to the English bilingual school called Colombus). We played games on his iTouch and had hot wings. He was like Sarah, mature for a young person. They say only children are like that - used to being around adults. The evening was a lot of fun

Saturday Sept 12

I woke up at 0800 and had huevitos revueltos (scrambled eggs) w Gilberto.

Oscar had been out but got back in a hurry (that'll be a common theme...) and was ready for bike riding. We drove towards the airport, up the mountain and stopped at a store, Caballo de Troyo, a gift store run by Nelson. We unloaded the bikes and started to ride up the mountain.

It didn't take more than a minute or two for me to get short of breath. I got pretty worried - had not experienced that altitude problem. I tried to breath in/out as best as I could and to keep going. I thought "What if I was NOT in shape?"

I found a rhythm and kept going and did OK. Then we turned around and went down (bajar). That was much faster - the reward (prometido). Oscar said he prefers to climb (subir) as it was safer/slower. I'm the opposite. We rode about an hour.

We had to go to the luncheon for the First Communion of Sara and Ana Maria. Lots of family. Like a Thanksgiving.

The father of Ana Maria is Jose Vicente, husband of Dora, O's sister. He looks German (blond hair/blue eyes). He spoke English pretty well so we talked in English.

Luis Antonio teased me a little as I ordered some "Agua" which they knew as "Water" which sounds like "Guaro" which is liquor (Whar-Oh). So when I ordered something, they'd croak "Gauro!" :)

Luis Guillermo thought that was funny. He's O's brother, and is married to Lilian and they have 2 sons, Sebastian 13 and Santiago (Santi) 10. Santi was a mother's boy, stroking his mom's hair.

I had the sotomillo which is a type of flank/ribeye steak. I had the Jugo de Fresa (strawberry juice) and also a "Canada" (Canada Dry Ginger ale). There was good service at the restaurant, San Carbon. I saw some Americans there but was happy to be doing things my way even if I am a bit lost sometimes.

Back to the apt. for a 1.5 hr nap. Not sure why I am sleeping so much. Then Oscar & I left for dinner with some friends. They were children of his former partner. He was talking about getting into the farm/cattle business with them. He talked of education, work, sacrifice. One woman there was 8 1/2 months pregnant so she was most uncomfortable on the hard chairs. The restaurant was in a nice area El Poblado and was upscale. It had 3 different types of food, steak, Italian and Peruvian (Peruvan). So of course I tried the Peruvan rice dish with seafood mixed in.

Friday Sept 11 - Medellin Colombia

Our flight left IAH Houston for BOG Bogota at midnight and it was a 5 hour flight. I took some sleep aid (benadryl) and it went pretty fast. After clearing customs, we found a place for breakfast in the airport about 0600 (things were opening up).

Diana had taken Ambien to sleep and said she felt like she was hung over. I imagine that the drug affects the same parts of the mind/body as does alcohol, so I would expect a similar withdrawal feeling. Glad I didn't have it.

We then flew by Copa Airlines to MDE (Medellin) arriving about 8:30 am. Oscar's uncle Luis Antonio met us at the airport to drive us back. I thought he was Oscar's dad at first. On the way down the mountain we saw lots of cyclists

Oscar's parents live in a high rise - very nice place. Staying there was Father Gilberto, the priest who married Oscar & Blanca in 88. He is a priest now in Stockton, CA. We had breakfast with mother Alicia and Fr. Gilberto. Gilberto suggested I get some sleep and I slept for 3 hrs.

At the apartment are 2 housekeepers, Maria Elena & Olga. Maria seemed to flirt a little - don't think she has many visitors like me :)

We went out for a drive in Oscar's 83 Mitsubishi. On the way I noticed all motorcyclists/motor scooter riders (both riders) wear ID vests and mandatory helmets with the same ID number on. Oscar said it is a response to previous violence by cyclists.

We visited Jorge and Blanca, O's wifes (also Blanca) parents. Their son's Pedro and Jose Ignacio & his wife Ana Maria came over. We went to dinner (menos Pedro) at a place Hato Viejo and had a typical Colombian dinner of rice, meat, chicharonnes, egg & beans. Lot of food. Also figs for dessert - very sweet. I was full and we went back to the apartment.

Trip started

I left McAllen today and am now in Houston. There are 7 people total in our group. One of the couples Diego And Diana I had met. Their son JP is in Sarahs class.

We are starting on a good note. Wevhad a nice dinner at Pappadeax and are now in the Continental Presidents Club which is a major step up from the gate.

On the trip are
Diego & Diana
Juan Diego & Beatriz
Oscar
Jaime
Gregory (Goyo)

Gregory Turley

Expensive - worth it?

Nobody said that private golf was cheap. I found a list of the most expensive golf clubs to join. Interestingly Dallas National is on there. Maybe I might have to wait a bit longer for that invitation.

Of course the best way to go is as an honored guest. As America's Guest, I have enjoyed many a fine round at some of the best places around. Some things you just can't buy with money.

Top 100 Golf Courses

For years, the golf magazines have rated the "Top 100" courses. Typically they mirror where the major tournaments have been played over the years, with a bias toward East Coast/Midwest private courses.

With the advent of a course building boom there has been pressure to revise the rankings to include newer courses and also public-accessible courses. Donald Trump is an example - after he builds his "great" course, he wants it recognized as such. As a result the lists have changed quite a bit. Looking at the most recently one I saw, there was only one course in Texas, and one that has only been around for about 10 years, Dallas National. I saw it on a map and drove by on my last trip - its on the near east side of town which has not developed like the other three sides.

Also recently added Whispering Pines, a course I have played. Dad likes that one a lot. He had some "hook up" that allowed him to go there when he wanted to. Never asked exactly what the deal was - figured I didn't need to know. Also off the beaten track - 2 hours north of Houston.

There are several blogs out there about quests to play all 100 top courses. While I don't have that quest, I have played some good ones. In the future, I'll describe some of the places I have golfed.

Labor Day 2009

We returned from South Padre Island today. Got back home about 12:45 pm. Glad to not have to drive back to Houston like the Wren family.

We enjoyed our weekend with them. Saturday we had an mid afternoon lunch at Tom & Jerry's. Then we rested through dinner and we went to the store and fixed a lite late dinner at home, watching some movie on TV.

Sunday we went to the beach and had fun. The weather was mild with it being a little overcast. At 3:00 the girls went to Schlitterbahn. We were able to drop them off and they stayed til 7:00. I said that it was nice they were old enought to do that. Nicole said "Finally!" Then we tried to see a movie but there was no 9:30 show after all so we came home and stayed up late.

Today after getting home I did go to the movies, seeing "Extract" which I liked. It was about a middle aged married guy and his life at home and at work. So I could relate to a lot of it. Then I went to the store, fixed dinner, washed Susan's car and it is now nearly bed time. After napping each day for the past 3 days, I need my sleep!

Busy before Holiday Weekend

The Friday before Labor Day is always a busy day. When no one is working on Monday and fewer people that Friday before, there is a rush to finish things.

I did attend a mediation today and settled a case which I had been working on for more than 2 years. I took the case on a pro bono basis (free) after a request from Dr. Carlos who used to employ this person. He suggested she talk to me and I took the case. It was a family law case: this couple had married in 1988, divorced in 2002 and then got back together enough to have a 4th child outside of marriage in 2004. So we had over 20 years of problems to deal with, many years of unpaid child support and no child support for the newest child.

Long story short, we came up with numbers to resolve the money and came up with a solution as to who the youngest child would live with. Glad to come to a resolution.

Another good part was being able to use a mediator friend. This person had been a local attorney but had his law license suspended. As on a type of probation, he was not able to work as an attorney. He was able to be a mediator though (don't need to be an attorney). So I pushed for him to get the work. He was effective and it was also a good way to show that I don't think he should be put on the scrap heap. He'll be back soon enough.

The Wren family is coming to South Padre tomorrow for the 3 day weekend. They are bringing both sets of "girls", 2 teenage daughters and 2 fuzzy dogs. I am planning to do some bike riding and some surfing.

Fantasy football line up is set for next Thursday's game. I guess I'll miss it though since I'll be on a plane to Bogota Colombia Thursday night. That's coming up fast. I don't have to take my bike so that reduces the hassle of luggage a lot.

Georgia On My Mind

When I was in Houston recently, I asked my dad "What would be a good way to get tickets for the Masters?" He answered very uncharacteristically: a ticket broker/scalper. The thought of him purchasing a ticket from some stranger on the side of the road was crazy. He'd NEVER do something like that. Seemed a very unsporting approach - like shooting a deer at a picnic table.

Turns out, he was not himself, having been suffering from the after effects of prostate surgery and the insertation of a catheter. That would make anyone uncomfortable. After a bit of recovery time and thought, he let me know Monday "I have 2 tickets for the Wednesday April 7 2010 practice round". So mark your calendar, I'll be in Augusta, GA then. Still thinking about travel plans...

Fantasy football draft was Sunday and as usual, I got all excited at the auction and bid heavily on players I had intended to target. But good ones. I got

Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona

Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego

Greg Jennings, WR, Green Bay

Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee

Tony Gonzalez, TE, Atlanta

and so on

It was like an exam. After 3 hours of the draft I came home and slept for 12 hours. Must have needed it.

Monday, I did a half day of good work and then fly to Houston arriving at 3:00 p.m. and saw the Texans v. Vikings on Monday Night Football at Reliant Stadium. I went with my fellow dads from the Indian Princess program, John, Paul and... Fred (not Ringo). We had a good time. I took 2 pictures which I should post, one of the field (far away) and one of the roof (very close to us!). A good time. Texans lost 17-10.

NFL fans are a rowdy bunch. We were sitting next to this guy who was somewhat rough (lots of F-bombs). During halftime, I was in the restroom and about to wash my hands when all of a sudden I was next to him as he was trying to get into a fight with some other person - "Let's step outside" and so on. Needless to say, I ditched the sink and hit the door asap to get away from that mess. I didn't see him later on - hopefully they shut the door on him as he steped outside.

A 7:45 a.m. flight back and I was back at work at 10:00 a.m. Day turned out ok. I filed a bankrtupcy case - my first in several years and had court until 6:00 pm

Tomorrow a probate matter and Susan said that Sen. Arlen Specter will be at the Cantu residence for a fundraiser and to see the hospital.