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.