The weekend

I was asked what I did this weekend and like the absent-minded professor, had briefly forgot. But then I remembered.....

Friday night I had gone to see the Memorial HS baseball team so I was there for the evening and the night. We even had a fun happy hour time between the games. It was good to get together with Bill and Brian. Memorial lost the first game but won the second. A cool front came in so it was chilly.

Saturday it was raining in the morning so Susan and I went to Dillards for the Big Sale. It was a good sale, 40% off the sales price. I got some new clothes for our dinner Saturday night with my doctor and his friends. We had a good time. The afternoon was spend shopping for a new refrigerator as ours went out after 10 years. So we were able to locate what we wanted and they delivered it that night after dinner. So it was great to get that checked off. Now on to the next home improvement. I've got a good spring list.

Sunday was Confirmation Sunday at church and it was a great service. One of those you don't want to see end. Father Jim was officially received as our Rector and the children and adults were confirmed by Bishop Lillibridge.

In the afternoon we had a cycling and running workout and then I came home and made dinner. A good day.

TU

Sarah got back from Tulsa at 0245 this morning so we finally had a chance to catch up. She said she liked it and the the girls she met in the sorority. But she said it was a long way away and that is was cold there. So she may be leaning to staying in TX.

Fat Tuesday

It's Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, which I figured out today when I saw that the court in New Orleans was closed for the day. It has always been a goal of mine to go to Mardi Gras, but I have not done it yet. I think that it would be a lot of fun, of course, now that I am older, I'd like to be on the right side of the velvet rope, so to speak. Being in a big drunken crowd would not be much fun at this point in life.

New Orleans has always been a good town for me, having had many fun visits there as well as our honeymoon. I think I know it pretty well and I always have like the people I have known from there.

One of my professional goals is to have a case before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Of course, when I do have one, I am sure it will be a very stressful experience, like a trial on steriods. But, no guts, no glory.

Sunday

Sarah is still at the University of Tulsa this weekend - not coming home until Tuesday so we're making the most of the quiet. Today we went to see the movie This Means War which was a typical Reese Witherspoon February movie: 2 1/2 stars.

My strength training is going OK, so much so that it is now time to pay the Piper. But I've got a lot of benefit so far so I think it will be worthwhile.

Tomorrow is President's Day. With no banks and no mail and no court, I'll hope to get a little ahead.

Wednesday is my dad's birthday and I'll be in Houston to celebrate with them. So I'll have to work hard to get a full week in.

Glad its Friday

This has been quiet a challenging week, from court Monday to going to a jail visit this Friday. The jail visit went well - its a long drive there though. Always happy when I'm driving away from that place.

Sarah left to go to the University of Tulsa for a long weekend with her friend Ari and Ari's mother. They were driving to Dallas last night and they are now in Tulsa. She tweeted that she's really ready for college.

Our church Diocesan Council is this weekend so we are going to the big dinner tonight. It should be a good time. I'm getting out of work so I can get in a good frame of mind for the party tonight. A classic sign of an introvert, according to the Time Magazine article.

My usual time of year

As the second weekend of February comes around, you will usually find me in Kingsville, TX, resting and relaxing at the in-laws. We headed up for birthday and anniversary celebrations and a good time was had by all. Mom and Dad have been married 53 years, and that is a long time by any definition.

I enjoyed seeing the 1973 income tax return showing that Dad's total tax withholding that year was $900 which resulted in a $140 refund. If you every start thinking of money too much, just think how little today's dollar will seem in 30 or 40 years.

Weather has certainly changed a lot over the few days. In Kingsville, it was about 48 degrees and felt very cold with the north wind. On the way home going south, the temperature rose gradually by the mile, to 55 degrees. Today it was sunny and 68.

To court today, and it was a tense time with a family law temporary orders hearing. It kind of reminded me of the protective orders that we heard in the municipal court. You could tell the judge anything, but you knew she was going to rule the same way, every time. So we made the most of the situation.

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and I'm in good shape with the cards, candies and flowers.

Happily Home

I got back home Sunday night just in time to watch the Super Bowl halftime and the second half. It was nice to see the whole gang: Sarah, Susan, Spencer, Jack. He was over to watch the game, so that was fun. The game of course was a good one, but the best part was being on the couch, eating dinner and watching our big TV. That makes for a nice night at home.

Today, it was a day to go to court so I was looking forward to that. I mentioned to my friend Julie that I was ready for another case, and since she works for the Judge, it happened just like that. It is good to have friends that can make things happen.

February has two volunteer projects that I'm working on and I think they will be done soon. The first is the History of the Episcopal Church in the Rio Grande Valley. We have the proof for the display and should go to print this week. Also, the Mayor's Prayer Luncheon is set for Wed. Feb. 29 so that should be a good event too.

Skiing was fun, but I'm ready to get back to other fun things: my triathlon training, my strength training and my golfing.

Snowbird

Day 1 of skiing was a good "one". We went to Snowbird which is where it all began last decade. I can't remember the exact year we got started but it was at Snowbird. It is a large terrain resort but with less resort amenities. Snow was good-it snowed all day, probably 2 to 3 inches.

For dinner it was my choice to go to a Diners, Drive-ins and Dives suggestion, the Red Iguana. Now I have to say not everyone seemed to share my desire. They didn't even know about the show! Regardless I thought it was quite good, lots of homemade sauces and a good interior of Mexico vibe. The mole sampler was excellent and I did it Alonzo style with 2 entrees. So Guy Fieri is 3 for 3 in my book: also Joe's Farm Grill in Phoenix and the Highlander in Atlanta.

On the way

Here in the Phoenix airport waiting for our SLC flight, it is quiet. All three of us are tapping Away on devices. Hopefully some good conversation will emerge.

I've already prayed the Serenity Prayer today. Travel with friends can bring out some resentments. Running late, decision avoidance, etc But I'm remaining serene and so far so good.

We plan to get in to Salt Lake at 5:30 and then get our skis, check into hotel and go to dinner.