Friday before school starts back

We're heading to South Padre Island for the hospital fishing tournament, Fishing For Hope to benefit the Hope Clinic, a free clinic. No fishing for me this year, but I look forward to enjoying the festivities. When you're no good as a fisherman, it can be more like work.

We're even leaving early today, so I'm heading home shortly which gives me a few free minutes to update you. I got all my to-do list items done on the work list, so I'm feeling good about that.

I went for a run this morning, my first of the week. I've been enjoying some well earned rest after last week's triathlon. I finished in 1:50 and my coach noted that my swim was the best event. So I really improved this year and am already planning next year's event. See the results from the Gator Bait Triathlon. I'm in the 45-49 age group.

School starts Monday so this is Tax Free Weekend - no sales tax in TX on back to school items: clothes, school supplies, backpacks. I'll look to buy some clothes under $100 myself, preferably at the surf shop.

Getting ahead

Its Sunday again, looks like the last time I posted was last Sunday.

Yesterday I was in Boerne TX and completed the Gator Bait Triathlon, my last of the season. It was a good time and I met my goal of under 2 hours. Both the bike and the run course were uphill going out and downhill coming in so I made up some time on the back end. My time was 1:57:58 or so.

Today, its another hot day and it seems like I'm doing everything I can to avoid breaking a sweat. Even staying inside is not easy to stay cool. I'm going to the movies again - only drawback to that is the hot car. Can you tell I'm ready for a little cooler weather?

I'm planning to finalize my paper tonight on will and probate and email it tomorrow morning. I'm ready to complete that and work on some other matters. I had to let my assistant go, so I'll be on solo voyage for the few weeks or so. So more paperwork around the office.

Monday August 9

Today was 8-9-10! I was thinking that yesterday was 8-8 which is always a good day for me for whatever reason. 3-3 or 2-2 just don't have the same ring.

On 8-8, which was Sunday I went to church and then went out with Susan for her Sunday midday errands she likes to do. We got home and relaxed and then Sarah and I saw Dinner for Schmucks which was better than I expected. Not completely slapstick so it was good.

Today I went to court for my friend Anthony. He was probating his deceased wife's estate. Then I had a meeting at church. Our new interim rector seemed surprised to see me on the board. He's got some things to learn... We also have a new head of school. She was formerly at my former church, St. Thomas the Apostle so it seems she was ready to make a move. Very smooth.

That meeting lasted nearly 2 hours. I did get my new photos for the office so they turned out great. Such a fine subject! I worked on my probate presentation most of the day so I'm getting ahead on that. I should turn it in on Monday August 16, a day ahead of schedule.

First week of August

and it is really HOT! I went out for 9 holes of golf at 5:00 p.m. and I was spent at 6:45 p.m. Thanks heavens for hitting the showers like a knocked out pitcher before heading home. It seemed I could not get out of the sun. Interestingly the thermometer on the car read 131F when I got in. But it couldn't have been over 115 :) Phoenix style!

The River Cities Triathlon was a lot of fun as was the long weekend in Dallas. I finished in 2:09 and hit my main goal of staying strong on the run. When I got home, I've taken a bit of "vacation" from the tri lifestyle. It can leave you in a mild fatigue state a lot of the time. Plus the mental side is tough to maintain as well. Know thyself.

Work is going OK. I'm doing a seminar on wills and probate in October so I'm working on that material. Like a school term paper I don't want to wait until the last minute. Did that a lot when I was young and dumb.

I'm working also on clearing out some files and getting some extra billing done. Some of the cases stay around a long time and the large files make it hard to quickly start work on something. So I made good progress.

It's nice to be home for a weekend. Hope to see a movie this weekend.

July winding down

It seems like things are quiet this week maybe because people are on summer vacation. I did sign up a new client today. Another publicly traded company. I always thought I'd be able to have some as clients and I do. It is interesting that the bigger the company the more people are involved. You're not dealing with the officers but you're still with people with responsibility for their areas. Very Important People

My friend Todd has been saying "You never call" so I caught up with him today and we had a drink and dinner. It was a good time. We have similar ways of thinking. He took me afterwards to pick up Susan's car from the airport. She's driving back from San Antonio tomorrow.

I met the other S 65 Mercedes owner in town tonight. Saw his car and him at the HEB. We had a good discussion about our favorite subject. I had seen the car there before and even thought it was mine. I had wondered "Why did I park here?"

On Thursday I head up to Dallas for the big triathlon with Jeff on Sunday, the River Cities Triathlon in Shreveport. I've heard about it from him for some time so it will be fun to do it together. He's been a real inspiration to me with his marathons and triathlons. We'll stay with his/our old friend Joe Haynes who is the local TV meterologist in Shreveport.

July update

Sarah has been in Houston on vacation this week. She comes back tomorrow. There's a lot going on when she's here and now... it's kind of quiet. So I'll look forward to seeing her.

I've been getting some good golf in this week. Shot an 87 today which was a pretty good score. Held up to the pressure by a birdie on 15, scrambling bogeys after bad tee shots on 16 and 17, and a nice par on 18. So I had a good day. Also played 13 holes after work Tuesday and 9 in the evening Friday. So I'm putting in some time.

Also had a good training day for triathlon purposes. Swam for 25 minutes this morning followed by a 2.5 mile run. Held a pace half way with Larissa who is in college and ran on the UTPA Cross Country team. Then she pulled away but I finished pretty strong.

Next week I've got a dinner Tuesday night with an attorney from Dallas. My local contacts from Merrill Lynch helped set it up. Then Thursday I might go to South Padre Island to see an old friend before leaving for a weekend in San Antonio on Friday. Busy week coming up.

Back from vacation

After a seminar followed by vacation followed by a holiday weekend and a personal day, I was ready to come back to work and earn some money. I started by returning lots of calls, paying the bills, signing up the new clients. It was a good break. I'll have to do it again like this - first time I can remember being so rested. It really helped to get away from it all.

Key West was a great vacation spot. We enjoyed a trip in celebration of our upcoming 2oth wedding anniversary. Its a place we had always wanted to go. We went scuba diving one day, shopping and dining another day, beach and massages one day, wave running, and touring. There was a good book there: Quit Your Job and Move to Key West. A great sentiment.

4th of July weekend seemed a little much after the time off, but it is my favorite holiday so I rallied and had a good time at South Padre Island. We enjoyed the beach, the fireworks, the holiday party. Monday my sister Elizabeth and my 3 nieces came so we stayed until Tuesday night and enjoyed the visit.