Farrah Fawcett

You know, with all this insane media attention to the death of Michael Jackson and his weird and bizarre life, one quiet and very strong woman has been pushed aside . . . Farrah. She lost her battle with cancer the same day that the weird one died. And very little attention has been given to her, in comparison with MJ.

If you get a chance, watch the documentary she made about her battle with cancer.

It made me admire her and marvel at her strength. A few parts broke my heart and some made me angry. But overall, she showed grace, strength and beauty in the face of something difficult.

Summer School

OK, have to catch up whoever reads this. My family came in to celebrate my birthday and to celebrate my nephew's graduation from UT Law School. It was wonderful to have mom and dad here in my house. I liked taking care of them and having them around.

The 50th birthday celebration on Friday night at my department chair's house was great. It humbles me that she did that for me, she allowed me to bring my family to the party. Already, just us, that's seven people. Wow. People she did not know but wanted me to have a great time. Nice.

On Saturday we went to the Sunflower Ceremony at UT and then to a party at a friend of Christopher's house. This friend, italian guy, cool guy, just gave up the house while he was gone somewhere else.

And then, Sunday, after church, we went to the County Line for some steak and good times. I love my family and I love our times together. Its so pleasant and fun.

Wish Anamaría had come. She was at a wedding. In other news, she has MS. She has been ill and it took a couple of doctors to come up with the reasons she was sick, but she does. She has moved to another's family house. She may be the nanny or just wants to get away. All I can do is let her be and pray for her.

Am teaching Summer School at Crockett High School. I really enjoy it. It is easier, funner, a little more relaxed. So far, the Principal seems to be very happy with me. Its weird. I have always been uncomfortable with people praising me like I am some sort of amazing person. I'm just me, OK? Just me. This is what I do and what I like to do.

Granted, now that my former principal left I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I can just be myself.

Get down with the sickness.

Don't know if I mentioned it - I teach high schoolers.

Today, well, typical day. No A/C. And one kiddo sick. He couldn't leave school - too many absences already (skipped quite a few). The students have up to nine absences. He's got nine already. Fever of 99.5. Strep and sore throat. Coughing. In my room. Nurse didn't want him in her office. Mom wouldn't let him go home - guess there's issues there. And he is sick in my room.

Wow.

Thanks.

Incredible experience

Wow

Just got home a few minutes ago from a great field trip. Last Tuesday, Master Sergeant Antoinetta Williams, retired air force sponsor of the ROTC at Bowie (where I work), sent out an email stating that she needed some help. The Colonel would not be able to help take the seniors on their Senior trip and she needed someone to help drive to Ft. Worth. I sent out a response, a bit late on Tuesday, thinking that everyone would jump at the chance to get away and have some fun.

I was the only one who responded.

So, the long and short was this: I got to travel to Ft. Worth - to a Navy base. We ate lunch at the base (after I was dully approved by the powers that be). Then we got to our rooms - an amazing suite with living room, mini kitchen and TWO TV sets (One in the living room and one in the large bedroom). Then we went to the shop - wow, loads of great stuff there. Later that afternoon we met with someone who gave us a great cultural insight into our relationships with others - specially Iran. Great insight and amazing information.

Meanwhile, I was getting along so well with these kids. They are polite, intelligent and loads of fun.

That evening we went to Dave and Busters for some good food and video games. Back to base, bed and up early the next morning for breakfast (again, at the base). After breakfast Sarge and I went shopping at the base store (cool navy, marine and air force stuff) and away from the kiddos. And then, the piece du resistance - a day at Six Flags.

Well worth the trip. I really loved it, specially being able to stay on base with the military personnel and to meet many of them.

I consider myself lucky.

Happy Easter

Back in OKie land visiting the fam.

That sounds so Californiae.

Anyhow, on the way here we (am traveling with my nephew and niece in law) saw the fires that ravaged Texas and Oklahoma. They looked damned scary. We had to close the exterior air vent - cause the smell was getting to us and the stuff was getting in my eyes.

Anyhow, got here WAY late - mostly because of closures and constructions all over I35. Yesterday, we had a campus Way of the Cross. And services were at St. Mark's (one of the three Catholic churches in this small town). Tonight we go to Mass at 8:30 PM.

Side note - wish I could do the one in New York.

Meantime, Mom and Dad are pretty much the same. Dad has a hard time walking. Any little bump on the walkway or cracked sidewalk is a potential fall. He refuses to use a cane - I think cause he remembers his own mother (Abuela Pepa) who always used a cane and died surprising everyone of a heart attack. There is a cane available - María bought it for Mom a few months back. Maybe there is a connection between cane and getting old and dying. Mom is always watching out for him. I think between the two of them, Mom is doing better than Dad. During the Way of the Cross I was holding both of their arms - dad on my left and Mom on my right. Both walk very slowly - Dad seems more frail than Mom.

Dad has such a hard time walking that he just can't step over Gina (a very small pomeranian), even when she is laying down. He also has a hard time remembering where he put things. Oh, the keys he lost last time I was here - it was in his shirt pocket and it got washed and dried. Luckily the car alarm button still works.

Mom is running late to quite a few things though. Don't know how she makes it to work on time but I do know that she tends to run late quite a bit - at least to family things (or church things like the Way of the Cross).

Well, enough. Have a very Happy Easter and enjoy yourselves.

Movie screening

One tradition that we have started during my visits is - watching movies together. Mom's favorite stuff is suspense. Dad loves any sports movies. Me? Pretty much anything.

The movies I have seen, whether with mom and dad or alone, this Spring Break are:

Igor (funny! and more adult than kid - I mean, a suicidal cynical rabbit? DARK humor - a bunch of blind kids singing "I can see clearly now"), The Clone Wars (eh.), Rocknrolla (Guy Ritchie is BACK! Loved it!!!), La misma luna (Great story, very tender, emotionally involving).

Going to eat my Spanish tortilla now!

So, yeah, not much, but there ya' go.

FRAK!

No idea what to title this one. Just, well, its there.

Today dad and I went to Walmart. Turns out that they had left some ham that they bought over there. They could not find it yesterday so they knew they had left it. No receipt. Well, naturally (I expected this) they couldn't do anything so we bought another pound of ham and sliced it.

Come home and mom finds yesterday's ham (the missing ham) in another section of the fridge.

Later in the day, dad can't find the car key. Typical of my parents - they have a key that runs the car and one that opens the truck. Because the "trunk key" broke in the lock and they haven't fixed it so they have a trunk key and a car key. Well, dad can't find the trunk key. Can't figure out where it is.

The part that gets me was mom's comment to me just a few minutes ago. "He does that, you know. He's been doing that more often. Leaving things and not knowing where they are." Which makes me wonder - WAS the doctor correct when she made her "mistake?" (Check an earlier post). Or is this just regular man getting old and absent minded? Cause he already was you know.