Spring Already?
After being caught in a weeks-long cold snap here in east central Florida, when temps got as low as 21° Farenheit, the weather is finally acting more like normal and warming up a bit. It wasn’t too bad. At least I had a chance to wear the heavy wool hooded sweater-jacket I bought in Ireland a few years ago, and last night Mom wore her mink jacket when we took her and Dad to dinner last night. It was their 64th wedding anniversary, so a very appropriate occasion for something like that. All of us “kids” — my brother, sister and I, plus a couple of spouses and grand & great-grand kids — enjoyed their company and the steaks, champagne & strawberries.
We are truly blessed as a family. Over Christmas, both my sons and granddaughter got down here to visit, all too briefly but fun while it lasted. Marti (my sister) and Craig (my brother) live here year ’round, and of course we are here for the winter holidays every year, so Mom & Dad are surrounded by their whole flock this time of year. We will be here for a couple more weeks, until early February, when we take off for our usual westward trek. This year we plan to stop in the Florida panhandle for a week or two, to visit son David before he leaves for three years in Germany & Afghanistan. He’s been stationed at Camp Rudder for two years as a Ranger School instructor and now staff member. While there he’s added a few more accomplishments to his résumé by participating in last year’s Best Ranger Competition and going to Jumpmaster school. If he gives me permission, I’ll post a photo of him here, pushing somebody out of an airplane, taken recently by an Air Force photographer and included on his Facebook page.
The end of the holidays means another semester is starting at MU. The syllabus & assignments for one of my classes were posted yesterday, and I expect the other class will have the same available in a day or two. This term I’ll be taking “Qualitative Research Methods” (J-8008) and “Introduction to Digital Media” (IS LT 7361). Since I didn’t do very well last term, I’ll be doubling down this semester to get a couple of As to resurrect my GPA, so don’t expect very many updates on this blog for the next few months, sorry.
