Archive for the ‘Carol’ Category

Spokane, there we went!

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

Last Friday through Saturday was a baseball blur, with Carol and me trying to cover both of our bases: me with the ‘AA’ Chargers and both of us with the Stallions, the younger ‘A’ squad where our nephew Ryan plays and Jeffrey coaches.

It was great fun to be in Spokane, a city that’s easy to fall in love with, even though the weather was breezy, cool, and sometimes rainy. No rainouts, though, which was a relief.

The Chargers played especially well, their only defeat coming in the championship game, a 1-0 affair against a very good Edmonton baseball academy. All-in-all, a fine weekend.

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Almost-holidays catch-up

Monday, December 14th, 2009

It is quite remarkable how our family moves in so many directions, and yet, despite our varied interests, seems to hone toward home for the holidays. This season we will have all four boys home for at least a week, and we’re so excited that it’s hard to sit still.

A recap…

Carol has nearly completed her graduate courses toward becoming a K-12 administrator. It’s been quite a journey, as she has balanced those responsibilities with her “regular job” as a literacy teacher and her online teaching job with Performance Learning. She will make a fine administrator, anyone works (or lives) with her will tell you.

Tyler is still at Analysis Group in Washington, D.C., and will be promoted to Senior Research Analyst in the coming year. His sights are set on an M.B.A., with an emphasis on Athletic Administration. His first choice: the University of Michigan! He’s also applied to Boston College, Yale, and the University of Oregon. Wherever he goes, Molly will be by his side. He hopes to find out about U-M in January.

Jeffrey has established a thriving business with Jeffrey Paul Designs, LLC. He is a much sought-after photographer in the North Central Montana area, and has recently completed three terrific web sites for businesses around town. He also teaches classes at MSU-Great Falls in the Web and Graphic Design programs.

Spenser is busy up to his eyelids at the University of Michigan and loving every bit of it. His gigs with the UM Men’s Glee Club and the acclaimed a capella group Dicks and Janes landed them a television spot in Detroit this weekend. They also took on Michigan State in the first annual UM-MSU A Capella Challenge on Saturday.

Matty is doing wonderfully at the University of Montana, in his newly-decided major in Elementary Education. He has accumulated scholarships and is also serving as a Resident Adviser in the honors dorm at the university. It’s a lot of work, but he has put himself in a position to leave college practically debt-free. He’ll be looking to do some substitute teaching when he comes home for Christmas.

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Happy Dash to Christmas

Sunday, November 29th, 2009

I like to tell my students that the time between Thanksgiving and Finals Week is like tipping the car forward down a steep incline. Everything speeds up, and you have to ride the brakes a little to keep the car on the road.

Or something like that.

Around this house, things certainly speed up, but in a joyful, very focused way.

To wit:

Jeffrey and Matty did a phenomenal job converting the first floor of our home into a “Christmas-is-coming” motif. The tree was up on Friday, the living room re-arranged (with help from Mom) on Saturday, and the wreath hung above our beautiful front door. No snow yet, but hope remains…

Our Caroling Party invitations went out Saturday: this 22nd annual affair takes place on Wednesday the 23rd this year, so all the boys can get home in time.

Carol got her long-awaited and anticipated birthday (and Christmas) gift, a new bike. We joked that she is like a nine-year-old at Christmastime. With the weather the way it is, she’ll ride her bike to school on Monday, probably Tuesday, too. Watch out, motorists!

Tyler’s home with Molly in Hampden. They went out in the rain yesterday to cut the traditional Christmas tree, and Ty’s spent some time helping them install the home theater that was their family gift.

And Spenser’s hanging out with friends in Detroit and surrounding environs, meeting friends he hasn’t seen in quite a while and anticipating his trip back to the Motor City on the 12th and 13th, where he’ll have an a capella competition on Detroit PBS Saturday followed by an Al Jarreau concert on Sunday at the Detroit Opera House.

Oh yeah: Finals week for both of the youngsters, beginning the week of the 13th.

I marvel at how things seem to fall into place…

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