winding down 2022

So much for me writing more often in 2022 – that did not happen. Life has been busy…like so busy, especially these past five months. With eight classes going on at University #1 and no fewer than six at University #2 in their sessions, things have been a bit chaotic for me with trying to keep up with things. 

So now it’s winter break for both universities. I have one week before all hell breaks loose again. It may even be worse hell this time because even though I only have six classes for University #1, two are brand new for me. I still have to design and build these courses – procrastination is my middle name. I told them I would do ONE new class, but they assigned two new classes and now there are enough students enrolled in them, so they will go live January 9, ready or not. These are both business classes. Even though I majored in business, and for God’s sake, even got a freakin’ doctorate in business, I really do hate business. I know business and money makes the world go ‘round, but I don’t have much interest in it. 

Enough about work. Here we are – Christmas Day! I would wish a Merry Christmas to the entire world, but I know life for much (if not most) of the world is quite tragic in one way or another. The world has always had evil people, but there seems to be so much more evil and greed than there used to be. Standards for ethical behavior have relaxed. It causes me to wonder if the trend, the downslide, will continue. God has blessed me with the best possible life. Great health, family, pets, work, shelter, and enough to eat. Life doesn't get much better than that!

Baby Catherine is a delight. She is now 14 months old, walking, jabbering, and doing new things every time I see her. She has a marvelous sense of humor, and she LOVES books. She can entertain herself with books for quite a while, but she also loves being read to. Sarah went to a conference for four days in November and I had privilege to stay with Catherine and her daddy, who, I might add, was a tremendous help. I didn’t realize baby Catherine was capable of eating as much as she eats. Her dad set me straight and convinced me to offer her double of what I was putting on her plate. It makes me smile to think about her and to think I might get to see her again this week.

Sweet baby Catherine

Someone and I took a brief (4-day) vacation to Daytona Beach, Florida last week. We had great flights down and back – direct and on time!  Flights that are on time are especially wonderful. We played 36 holes of golf the first two days we were there, in weather that was partly sunny and mid-70s degrees. On the third day, the rain poured and we drove north (out of the rain) to Jacksonville to visit my mother. She seemed to be doing much better as compared to last summer when the girls and I visited her. We took her to lunch and shopping a little bit. It was nice to visit her and my brother who lives nearby. We headed back to our motel in Daytona, but stopped in St Augustine for a walk around the fort there and a walk through the historic district. I liked it but Someone was bored. Someone doesn’t enjoy random adventure. The weather cleared by the time we returned to Daytona. 

Daytona Beach - view from our motel balcony

On our last day of vacation, we were going to play golf. BUT, we learned that Space X had two launches scheduled for that day. We drove south and spent the day at Kennedy Space Center. It was the first time either of us had visited and we were both impressed with the exhibits. We did a simulation of taking off in a space shuttle – that was fun and exhilarating…but in reality, I would be too claustrophobic to strap into a space shuttle…I think so, anyway.  The first launch was postponed for another day. The second launch was moved forward a few hours. We caught a bus to the Banana Creek observation area, 6 miles from the launch pad. The launch was pushed back again, but finally it launched just a few minutes before the cut-off for cancelling the launch. It was FABULOUS!  The most amazing thing to me was how bright it was from so far away, and also, that the rocket had disappeared from sight before we ever heard the rumble of the take-off. Space X launched two communication satellites for the O3B network on that rocket.  The network provides broadband Internet access. 

Someone and I at Kennedy Space Center

Launch pads are about 6 miles away (across the water)

I hope we get to see a rocket launch again someday. There is plenty to see at the space center. I'd like to go back and see more of it. From the Banana Creek observation area, you can see launch pads for NASA, Space Force, and Space X. 

When we got back to Kentucky, the temperature dropped to near zero. We’ve had a blast of winter in time for Christmas but in a few days, we are warming back up to the 60s. Hooray for that!  I like winter, but not a lot of winter, and definitely not frigid cold. It has been so cold that Gracie would only go outside when absolutely necessary. I love my dog. 

Our Gracie