At Hair

Bringing back some flavor

When I was in San Pedro, I learned how to cook an Italian breakfast with eggs, potatoes, sausage, cheese, and seasoning. It sounds like a regular breakfast and it probably is, but for me it was new. Now that I am home I have mixed the same ingredients and put them into a tortilla and made it into a breakfast burrito. I also am making cookies. Something has happened since I have been back home. I have finished reading 12 years of Slave and now I am cooking. Hmmm.  Sounds like I brought back a bug from Guatemala. A good bug:)

Back to the Bachelor Life

I'm a bachelor again and eating by the bachelor's food triangle. 

From San Pedro to Antigua via Xoxomeil

Pictures from our ride

Worker traveling from one place to another in an open, very packed truck bed. No seat belts, just hang on and pray. 

Fruit stands. Nana and Grani would stop at all of them. 

Tammy talking to our taxi driver as we travel to Antigua. Notice how she expresses herself as she gets her point across in Spanish. Isn't she amazing. I love her. :)

Tammy thinking of what to say. 

Tammy asking a follow-up question. 

Tammy rethinking how to ask the clarifying question so Antonio, the driver understands. 

Tammy holding her own in the Spanish language. 

Tammy on a roll as they talk back and forth. 

Tammy satisfied with her delivery and his responses. A

Marcus standing in front of our Hostel on my last day before I left. We were glad to share the early morning with each other. Isn't he handsome. He grew taller and is filling out. I love him too. 

More San Pedro meeting families and new friends

Marcus singing to mama Maria at her home. 

Mama Maria and Angelita looking over their deck saying goodbye to Marcus and me. 

Tammy and Marcus' host family. 

A family that we bought some textiles from in San Pedro. 

Eric, his mother and his sister

Eric's family in their modest home. What a wonderful family. So happy and so regular as the brothers and sisters struggled for the best chair. 

No pictures of Jenny Marie I guess but these are the kinds of fish her dad catches at his fisherman job. 

These new friends and families will be a joy to visit each year. It was such a blessing to meet such thankful people filled with so much hope. Eric and Maria were so thankful for the sponsorship to go to school. They are both doing well at their studies. When we went to each families house they immediately greeted is with warm welcomes, handshakes, hugs, and bread and coffee or juice. Their kindness was overwhelming. 

Iced Vanilla Latte

This is what I got when I asked for an iced vanilla latte or in Spanish I said, "queciera un latte de yealo con vinilla"

They brought me a hot latte and a second drink of cold coffee with a scoop of ice cream in it. 

Lake Atitlan, The Kayak, And the Hole

Tammy, "Let's go kayaking."

Darren, "Okay."

Tammy, "This wall wasn't here the last time we stayed here."

Darren, "which kayak do you want?"

Tammy, "The smallest one."

Darren, They all look the same."

Tammy, "you take the yellow one then."

Marcus got the blue kayak. Tammy got the purplish one. Darren got the yellow one. 

Out we go onto the lake. 

Ten minutes out. 

Darren, "do you have water in your kayak?"

Tammy, "A little"

Darren, "My boat feels tippy"

Tammy, "oh common, they are all tippy. Stop whining.

Darren, "No I'm serious. My boat is sinking."

Marcus, "can I help?"

Darren, "No. I just need to get home."

Darren trying to paddle while balancing on a boat. 

Darren, "Tammy. I think I am sinking."

Tammy, "you're okay.  It looks like your front is too low. Try scooting back."

Darren, "no I'm sinking. There is a hole in the boat."

Tammy, "all the boats have holes in them.

Marcus, "do you need help?"

Darren, "No I need to get back to the dock. I'm sinking."

Tammy, "Oh, now I see.  You're going to have to get off and swim to shore."

Darren, "No I'm not."  As I try to paddle and balance in the boat.l

Marcus, "Do you need help?"

Tammy, "No he's trying to stay in the boat and he's not going to be able to."

Darren, "Oh crap."  Darren tips over into the lake and is completely drenched.  

Tammy, "eeeeeeeee". This is Tammy laughing at Darren. 

Darren, "cannot be repeated because Marcie will be disappointed."

Darren swims to shore with the boat and walks to the beach through the sludge empties the boat of water and the rows back to the hotel. 

This was really funny even for me. 

Juliana and Marcus in Antigua

All day we walked to stores and the ladies would say, "hola, bien pricio" and would not stop talking intolerant we passed their shop. We didn't stop at their stores, because they kept talking. They scared us away. But then we walked through the park and along came Juliana. She was smart and asked about our family and told us about hers. We don't know if she was telling us the truth but bought from her anyway, because she was easy to get along with and told a good story. 

Church Day March 31

Tammy, Marcus , and me at church. Marcus and I went in for a few minutes and sat in the service. 

I made it to Guatemala

Tammy and Marcus met me at the airport in Guatrmala City. It was good to see them both. Tammy was beautiful and Marcus was bouncing all around when he saw me. We hugged and then Tammybdid her magic and before I knew it we were on our way to Antigua in a shuttle with one other traveler. 

We got to the hotel on Antigua an I

Hour later and now we are eating dinner at Pollo Campero a fast food place that has waitresses. They are really nice and I was happy they had air conditioning. I also got a Pepsi Light. 

Guatemala or Bust

I'm on my way to reunite with my family. Today is March 28, 2014. On Monday Marxh 31, 2014 Tammy and I will have been married for 19 years. 19 years. . . I know that we have been together that long, but it doesn't seem like it. I don't know why it seems like we just met and poof, 19 years later. 

This idea of time moving so fast is a concept that I have never really understood. I never really cared about time. If something took ten minutes I was fine letting it take an hour as long as I was happy.  My parents taught the value of spending time with family and I find that I am never as happy alone as I am with Tammy and Marcus. Well I get to see them soon and that's awesome.

That's my plane. I am tired and hope that I get to sleep. 

A random meeting at the airport tonight. See who it is:).   Yep. Maddy Murphy going to Washington DC with Ferndale teachers Bryan Millerin and Eliza Zacchro. 

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Looks pretty good doesn't it. We'll try eating this for breakfast everyday for forty days. That's right. Talk about chlorestoral. For the past forty days I have eaten fried or hard boiled eggs and a piece of toast for breakfast. I know I should not complain. So mantle people around the world don't have food to eat at all. Forty days. To be honest, it's all I know how to cook without making a huge mess. AND I have mastered the art if getting the perfect balance of runniness to firmness. It's all the the cooking spray and the medium heat and of course the flip. Oh yes, the flip is the most impotlrtant part. We'll, maybe not the most important, but the most fun. 

What's for lunch you ask?  A frozen burrito. Oh yes. And what's for dinner?  A frozen burrito. So what I'm am telling you is that being a bachelor may sound like a good idea, until you have had forty days of eggs and burritos. No greens. No fruit. Just protein and carbs. Still two months to go. I hope my arteries can take it. 

Everyday is a New Day: Shout Put To My Wife

Over the past month since I have been away from my wife and son I have realized that I am incomplete without my beautiful wife, Tammy, and exceptional son, Marcus. 

When I was married almost 19 years ago on March 31, 1995, I thought I was already complete and that by getting married I would make Tammy more complete , because I was so charming :).  No, that's not completely true. I wasn't charming, but I did think I was complete. I couldn't have been more wrong.  

Don't misunderstand me. I was a fine catch . . . College football player. College track runner,  teacher, coach, Sunday school teacher, and Isuzu Trooper owner. The trooper has a story all it's own. But those things were about what I had done or accomplished, not about who I was or who I was to become. 

This post is not about my parents, so you will not here much about them, but they created the foundation of the Christian man that Tammy would later mold into her own image, which I have come to appreciate and admire. 

Tammy has the unique talent to be right about everything. You may be thinking that your wife or girlfriend thinks they are always right and I suggest that you continue to support their belief as your life will flow much more easily. In my case, it is true. Tammy is right. I don't know how she does it but she does. It has to do with her quiet strength and caring spirit and her intense and organized appeal. It is what drew me to her so long ago and what makes want to be the best person I can be for her. 

I can't do justice to her in a simple post, but I can give you this to support my claim. When we are driving and I think we should turn left and she says we should turn right, I turn right and without exception, it is the correct move. No lie. I still have the male brain, so I have to argue my point , but I know deep down that she is right and I will be following her lead. 

So, what is my point of this post?  My point is that when I think that I am "complete" or "right" or "done growing", I have the truly "Better Half" to help me remember that every day is a new day and I can be a better person because I "get to" reflect about who I am and what I do. 

Tammy!  I love you and wouldn't be the person I am today without you. Miss you. 

Math Champs, Pizza and Pizzaz and Snow Again

BMS Middle School Math Champs Team

I am helping coach the math teams this year and the jids are great. We did not place today, but for the amount of practice we had, we did well. It was a fun day, but really cold. One funny moment happened with Luna today. I took her with me to Whatcom Community College and she was happy to be with me in the truck. I took her out to pee and run a bit, so I walked her down to a wooded area the threw the ball down into an open space in the middle of the trees. Neither Luna or I knew that where the ball landed was so mushy from the formally melted snow. The ball just stuck I. The perma-frosted mud and so did her paws. She was dirty up to her elbows. It didn't stop her though. I think she likes it more because it was so mucky. She tore around until I got her attention, but the dirty dog was already a very dirty dog. Oh we'll she had fun. I didn't get a picture though. 

Driving Home from Pizza and Pizzaz at Baine School District

The pizza and Pizaaz is a community talent show sponsored by the high school choir.  Lots of great talent. The picture above is what I faced on the way home. Bless her heart, Tammy face timed me while I was at the school tonight and asked me how the electric car handled in the snow. I told her I haven't been driving it the past week and she seemed shocked. She quickly said it was okay that I drove the truck, not wanting me to feel bad, but really, I haven't been able to get the car out of the driveway until two days ago and now the snow is coming down hard again. I wonder if I will still be able to get the car out tomorrow. I had to use 4x4 to get up hillsdale tonight. At least I'm home and resting. 

What happened to all that free time I thought I was going to have???  Church tomorrow and then I'm coming home to clean more and go to bed early after I get some school work done for the board meeting Monday night. 

February 26 - Meeting my Legislators on the Hill

On February 26, I got the chance to talk with Representative Vincent Buys and Senator Ericksen. I spent the morning with many of my administrator peers learning about the bills on the house and senate floor. I then met with the legislators about educational issues. It wa a awkward, because I did not know what to expect. It was clear that they were booked up and meeting with a lot of people. 

While I was at the Capitol, Governor Inslee was signing "The Dream Act". I heard that people were gathering to observe the bill signing so I joined in the crowd. There was a person passing out "signing Pens" to mark the occasion. I was trying to find out what I needed to do to get one, so I asked a woman next to me who had one of the pens in her hand, "What do I need to do to get one of the pens?"  She looked at me kindly and said, "You can have mine."  I said, "That's okay. I don't want to take yours." She replied, "That's okay,  I can get another one, I'm the governor's wife."  I took the pen and thanked her, then told her that I was friends with Stephanie and Jeff Inslee the Governor's cousins. We talked for a few moments and then we botched moved on. That was quite a coincidence, that of all the people in the room I got the pen from "Trudy" the governor's wife. That was fun and she was a class act. 

Home in the Snow

February 24 and 25. This what I woke up to the morning of the 24th. School was cancelled February 23rd. I was at my mom and dads that night and got the call. The picture above shows our electric car covered I snow. I could not get it out of the driveway until Friday the 28th. I drive my truck to work and was happy that I had fixed the starter the week before. 

The First Five Days

February 2, 2014 - This video shows me driving home from the airport after dropping Tammy and Marcus off at the airport.  I wanted to make sure they were okay and I missed them already.  

Face Time Photos Bellingham to San Pedro.

Monday, February 3 - I was groggy and went to work.  It was a LID day or better known to most people as a teacher work day.  The day went pretty smooth for the most part.  I was looking forward for the day to be done, so I could go home and get some sleep.  I got home about 5:30 pm and made my dinner, which consisted of frozen burritos.  I would come to not like burritos after another few days of them.  I went to bed about 10pm.

Tuesday, February 4 - I was a bit groggy when my alarm went off.  I am used to Tammy and Marcus being at home, which normally makes me not hit the snooze button, but since they were gone, I hit snooze a half dozen times starting at 5am.  The next thing I knew it was 6:15am and I needed to leave at 6:30am.  Because I had not slept well, I think I was dreaming and thought I had already got out of bed and was downstairs already.  "Oh no!" I said, when I actually woke up and realized I was still sleeping.  It was 6:30am now and I still needed to get ready for work and feed the goats, dog, chickens, get the car ready!!!  Oh I was frustrated, but I gave myself a break, since I knew I was transitioning.  I actually thought that the worst was behind me.  I was about 5 minutes late for work, which was not too back considering I woke up so late.  The day went okay and I got home that night and went to bed at a decent time thinking the next morning was going to be much better.  Boy was I wrong.

Wednesday, February 5 - This was the morning from HELL!  I'm not kidding.  I think the devil was having a good ole time.  I woke up and was a little less groggy, but was going to just make it to work.  I fed the goats, the chickens, and the dog.  I got all my stuff ready and then went to get in the electric car, our Nissan Leaf.  It was not charged enough to get to work and I found out the charging unit at the Blaine, WA waterfront was not working, so I had to take the camper.  My truck needed a new starter, so I couldn't take that.  I got in the camper and realized there was no gas.  I was stressed, because the goats had taken longer than normal, the Leaf was not charged, and I had to transfer my gear to the camper, which was out of gas.  I started the VW up and drove down to the Cheveron station.  "Yes." I thought to myself, "I am going to just barely make it to work on time."  I got out of the VW and unlocked the gas cap.  I reached into my pocket only to find . . . nothing.  No cash.  No wallet.  Nothing but receipts from miscellaneous stuff.  I had one chance.  I walked into the Cheveron station and embarrassed asked if I could leave my cell phone, get some gas and come back  in a few minutes.  I explained that I did not think I could make it back to my house, because I was too low on gas.  The female gas attendant said, "Sorry, I wish I could, but i could lose my job if I did."  I said it was okay and then went back to the  camper van, frustrated.  I was stuck, so I started looking in all the nooks and crannies and found $1.62.  I then took it back inside, paid the lady, and went home.  Now I was going to be really late.  Not only that, I had to teach a class and then go observe some teachers.  What a mess.  I went home and looked for my wallet.  It was no where.  I grabbed some cash, drove to the gas station and got gas.  Now I was 30 minutes late and I wasn't even out of Bellingham.  By the time I got to work, I was 50 minutes late, completely frustrated and felt embarrassed that I could not get my act together.  The day did not go well.  I was essentially late for everything that day and just wanted it to be over.  The day ended and I drove home in the VW van that I was cursing at earlier that day.  As I was getting on the freeway, I started to think that I was not ready to be a bachelor again.  I have become so dependent on Tammy as my partner and Marcus as my son.  It dawned on me that I had not prepared myself for the changes that had suddenly been thrust on me.  I needed a plan, but what should it look like?

The next few days went reasonably well and then the weekend came.  I had a chance to regroup.

Face Time Photo Bellingham to San Pedro

It's Really Happening!

Okay. . . I can do this. . . I can do this!

Well, maybe not.  Over the past few months since Tammy, my wife, announced that she and Marcus my son were going to Guatemala for three months as part of his GAP year, I have wondered how I would feel when they left. 

At times, I thought that I would enjoy the freedom.  I started to get excited about being able to get up and have the house to myself.  I could just use the fireplace to heat the house, watch TV as much as I wanted, use Marcus' video games, stay at work late, help at the BAAY theater, and do whatever else I wanted to. 

As time got closer, I started to get worried.  I was afraid that I would feel sad.  A few days before they left, I had an emotional moment, where I had pressure in my chest at the thought not hearing AC/DC in the car or the record player at bedtime.  After a few minutes I pulled it together.  For the next two days, I was stable and had no more emotional issues. 

Then came Super Bowl Sunday.  It was a day of highs and lows.  The Seahawks were in the Superbowl and Tammy and Marcus were leaving for Guatemala.  We watched the game and then took them to the airport.  We kissed and hugged and then we left.  I watched Tammy and Marcus walk into SEATAC airport.  It would be the last time that I saw them for two months until I went to visit them in San Pedro and another month after that until they came back to Bellingham.  I was surprised that I did not cry when they left.  I had a confused feeling, but I did not cry. . . until later.

I was driving home and I thought I would put in Marcus' AC/DC disc.  As soon as I did, I knew it was a mistake.  Bam, it hit me.  I got the rush of panic and an overwhelming urge to cry.  So, I did.  I also took the CD out.  I wasn't ready yet.  It was the first time that I have felt that alone since Tammy and I got married eighteen years ago, on March 31, 1995.  It wasn't the first time that I have been without them.  There was the week they spent in Bothel with her parents.  There was the time that they went to Mexico, but they came home early, because it got too cold.  I think they just missed me too much :)  This was different.  Three months was a long time.  A really long time.  I stopped that night to charge my electric car in Burlington.  I played with Luna and played Scramble on my I-phone in the freezing car.  By the time I got home, it was midnight and I went upstairs, got in bed and went to sleep.  I was out.  The emotional day had taken it's toll. 

All-in-all, I felt pretty good about the way I dealt with my family leaving.  I came to realize in the days following that I was in for a transition that took me back to a time in my life that was much less structured and full of quiet solitude, time management, sadness and a stress that I had forgotten existed.  Bachelorhood.