Perpetual Change

On the road again

I just got back from a wonderful Thanksgiving in Texas. It was my first time to the state, and I must agree, it is BIG! I had a great time on South Padre Island, though it was definitely much quieter than for the spring break crowds. My brother taught me a bit more about kiteboarding, and I saw the most amazing sand castle that I have ever beheld. Apparently the sand is really good for sculpting, but the red tide kept us away most days. There is also a LOT of wind, which makes little comet tails behind shells embedded on the beach. It is quite a beautiful pattern. And all that wind and shallow water makes it a God-given wonderland for kiteboarding. My brother is pretty happy there.

After the holiday, my sister and I drove back to Florida. I think we could have made it in 2 VERY long days, or four 8-9 hour drives. We decided to take 7 days. We got to stop and see many wonderful people and I have to say thank you to them all for their incredible hospitality. Thank you. I hope I can return the generosity sometime.

Scott, Shannon, and their three beautiful Luina girls introduced us to San Antonio with homemade pizza and ice-cream sundays. The pizza was from scratch and excellent. We also got to see the Alamo, and do a little coloring before we left in the morning. Hannah's first tooth came out while we were there.

Then, Jake Lambert, Zool, and their buddies in Baton Rouge cooked up some fresh deer steaks, duck and bacon appetizers, and turkey gumbo for the Patriots/Saints game. It was a culinary delight, and the game went very well too! The boys are thinking of making a trip to Italy where I could return the favor this year.

After that, we spent an evening crawling through the French Quarter of New Orleans with our cousin Tim. He was in town for work. His company puts on conferences. This one was for 20,000 hematologists. Hope it went well, Tim, and you are feeling better. We walked around the Garden District in the morning, and boy, are they pumped about the Saints.

Next, came Tallahassee. I took my sister to all my favorite places - Momo's, Leon Pub, Kya's jerked chicken. She got to meet a few of my professors, Dante Laudadio and Chas LaTour, formerly of the courses: Wine and Dinner. I met with the director of graduate studies for Social work, and that seems promising. Anne Garee, my former piano technician teacher, treated us to the best concert that Tallahassee puts on annually, Prism. And Mike and Sarah Watters along with their darling daughter Lily, showed us true Southern hospitality in Crawfordville. They have a lovely new home that they built themselves.

Finally, we stopped in Tampa with a friend of Catherine's. She and her husband live in an apartment on USF's campus. She runs the hall and is getting her Master's in Higher Ed Admin. Janelle and Davey opened up there home for us as well.

Finally, we drove home, and I went back to work (more on that later). I can't wait for my next trip, oh wait; that is the keys this weekend. Sure you don't want to come?

posted by jjs @ 9:42 AM