Down Time

This past Christmas our lovely daughter, Bean, gave us a gift of a stay at the Queen Victoria bed and breakfast in Cape May. Cape May is one of our favorite spots for relaxation. We decided to go the day after Easter. At first the weather was supposed to be really bad but that worked out OK. Apparently, this is a great place for "down time". If you have ever been to Cape May in the summer season you know that there are horse and carts which transport people around the cape (for a fee, of course). I never paid much attention to the Hansom Cabs since I have seen so many in Manhattan. As it turns out, the hardest working creatures in the Cape are the horses. Well, just as we needed some down time after a busy run in school and Church, so do the horses. I realized that when I drove by a horse ranch and my wife pointed out something I have never seen before. If you look closely you can see it too! Just to the left of center, behind the fence, you can see one of the horses lying down, sound asleep. This is my assumption because I really don't want to think that I may have just put a picture of a dead horse on my blog.

For those of you who have been to the Cape I have added some other familiar images to help you look forward to your next visit.

IT IS EASY TO SEE WHY BRIAN IS SO SCARED

Hey, who is that kid in the SHAZAM shirt? It's Sargent Rich crime fighter! Brian is thinking, "Dear God, please don't let me grow up like that"! Meanwhile, Kevin is totally afraid to look to his right. He just puts on that smile with the hope that everything will be OK.

Double Trouble

How great is technology? I just received a call and found (much to my excitement) both of my daughters on the other end of the phone. It is so exciting to be able to talk with both at the same time! One in NJ and the other in San Fran. The only problem is that they both continuously spoke at the same time also! It is tough to have two daughters but way over the top to have them talking to you simultaneously. What did I ever do to deserve that? I try to be a good person. They just wont leave me alone and now I am getting double teamed. For those of you who knew me 30 years ago, remember how I had a full head of hair? Not any more. Daughters make that happen. Wanna have kids? Be careful you just might have daughters.

Suddenly Summer

Many of you have "regular" jobs which require you to work all year around except for a little vacation in the summer. Even my public school teacher friends, like my wife and all her English teacher co-conspirators in Freehold, think they have it pretty good as far as vacation goes. Well listen to this. I now have 40 days left with my students. Yes, I have to continue to go to work but I will have all my days at work free to contemplate visions like the one right here. Cape May is looking pretty good and looking like it is not so far in the distant future. In the meantime, I would not turn down another snow day.

HAS ANYONE SEEN SUE?

Last night when it began to snow my bride went outside to look at the beauty of the quiet snow falling upon our own little Christmas tree just beyond our deck. She sat on the chair and decided to stay a while. We haven't seen here since! The chair is still there but Susie is gone!!! I guess I'll just have to retire by myself unless someone can find her and return her to me. I would appreciate any info you might have.

Snapshot of Retirement

Silence is Golden

Wednesday morning, 8:20 AM and not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse. (Fish don't count). This is the middle of the week which is known as "Winter Break" at St. Joes HS. It is the time for all of us at St. Joes to reconnect with some old friends ( Regis, Meredith, Matt, Dr. Phil, Jack McCoy) and many other people we have neglected because of the work thing. Don't get me wrong. The week is not a total waste. I did some things which you would consider productive. I repainted the kitchen cabinets (and then I sat down for several hours). Today (later on) I am going to stand up for a while. I can't wait until we move to NC. Once there, I plan to putter around the garden, do a little painting (still life, which is what I will be living), and, perhaps, build some cabinetry for several rooms in our new house. Just kidding! I do, however, plan to stand up down there now and then.

Once I go back to work my students have about 48 days of school left before they finish. I hope I have the stamina to hold up that long.