I am pleased to report that, for the second year running, our very own Michelle has been selected as Teacher of the Year by her peers in the School District. The official announcement was circulated via email by the District Superintendent - Dr Cruz - on Thursday afternoon.
Official celebration details will be forthcoming soon. In the meantime, please join me in congratulating the woman who is my 'Teacher of the Year' every single day! :)
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Hotel Gym Etiquette
Please, if you know that you sweat alot when exercising and you are visiting a hotel gym (or any public one, for that matter) please observe the following basic rules:
1) Don't wear a vest if you sweat alot - it's bad enough seeing the sweat drip down your face, let alone see it on the backs of your arms and under your arm pits. Note also that violation of this rule is particularly bad if you have a large amount of body hair.
2) Don't lean on the equipment - not only does this cause you to be in the wrong posture for optimum workout results, but seeing the smudgy residue of your sweaty arms (see 1. above) over the display and buttons will at the very least distract others from their own workout.
3) Don't constantly look around the gym at others - if you are guilty of 1 and 2 above, pretty much everyone else will be actively avoiding making eye contact with you anyway.
4) Don't check your neighbor's workout display to see how fast they are going so you can increase your own speed/incline/resistance so that you are obviously working out more than them - you are, after all, already sweating all over the place.
5) Do not walk away from your piece of equipment leaving a puddle of sweat under the machine - that is just plain gross.
1) Don't wear a vest if you sweat alot - it's bad enough seeing the sweat drip down your face, let alone see it on the backs of your arms and under your arm pits. Note also that violation of this rule is particularly bad if you have a large amount of body hair.
2) Don't lean on the equipment - not only does this cause you to be in the wrong posture for optimum workout results, but seeing the smudgy residue of your sweaty arms (see 1. above) over the display and buttons will at the very least distract others from their own workout.
3) Don't constantly look around the gym at others - if you are guilty of 1 and 2 above, pretty much everyone else will be actively avoiding making eye contact with you anyway.
4) Don't check your neighbor's workout display to see how fast they are going so you can increase your own speed/incline/resistance so that you are obviously working out more than them - you are, after all, already sweating all over the place.
5) Do not walk away from your piece of equipment leaving a puddle of sweat under the machine - that is just plain gross.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Imagine My Surprise...
... when this afternoon at 3:15, 3 vans full of High School kids wearing red and pink sweaters unload themselves in front of our house and come and knock on the front door.
Imagine my further surprise when they announce that they are my singing Valentines gift from Michelle and burst into song right on our doorstep. The fact that I was still wearing my pyjamas and hadn't yet showered did nothing to detract from how good they were.
It's a joy to know that after 15 years of marriage there are still some surprises to be had.
Thank you, Michelle. And Happy Valentines Day.
Imagine my further surprise when they announce that they are my singing Valentines gift from Michelle and burst into song right on our doorstep. The fact that I was still wearing my pyjamas and hadn't yet showered did nothing to detract from how good they were.
It's a joy to know that after 15 years of marriage there are still some surprises to be had.
Thank you, Michelle. And Happy Valentines Day.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Fishy Admission
I don't know why, but I have been craving tuna sandwiches recently.
I grabbed one from the Subway near the office in San Mateo on the way home last week and consumed it in the car en route. And then I had another one at Tres Casuelas in Kingsburg on Monday before heading out to Fresno with Michelle, Rita and Meleena.
And then, I'm not ashamed to admit, I had two more from Subway only yesterday! Yep, one while driving through Los Banos at lunch time and then another one for dinner in San Mateo last night. The only reason I didn't have another one for lunch today is that I went to a breakfast meeting this morning and had scrambled egg, sausage and some fruit with coffee and I decided that I should have my low-carb shake for lunch instead.
To make up for it, I'll probably treat myself to one as I leave the office tonight and eat it on the drive home. The good news about all this is that, in addition to being fairly healthy, the tuna is Dolphin safe!
I grabbed one from the Subway near the office in San Mateo on the way home last week and consumed it in the car en route. And then I had another one at Tres Casuelas in Kingsburg on Monday before heading out to Fresno with Michelle, Rita and Meleena.
And then, I'm not ashamed to admit, I had two more from Subway only yesterday! Yep, one while driving through Los Banos at lunch time and then another one for dinner in San Mateo last night. The only reason I didn't have another one for lunch today is that I went to a breakfast meeting this morning and had scrambled egg, sausage and some fruit with coffee and I decided that I should have my low-carb shake for lunch instead.
To make up for it, I'll probably treat myself to one as I leave the office tonight and eat it on the drive home. The good news about all this is that, in addition to being fairly healthy, the tuna is Dolphin safe!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
46, 23, 14, 1
These are the important numbers to consider following yesterday's Fresno County 2007-2008 Academic Decathlon competition.
The FHS team, lead by Michelle, achieved a whopping 46 medals - the previous school record (set last year under this coach) was 19! - with a 23% increase in points over last year with the team members receiving 14 Gold Medals between them! As a result they placed #1 in their division and achieved the distinction of Most Improved School in the Fresno County competition.
It was a great result and testament to all the hard work from the students, teacher, and occasional pizza-bringers/poster makers/cheerleaders, etc.
More details on the event, including a quote from Michelle is in today's Fresno Bee Newspaper. The article can be found online here.
We are very, very proud. Congratulations!
The FHS team, lead by Michelle, achieved a whopping 46 medals - the previous school record (set last year under this coach) was 19! - with a 23% increase in points over last year with the team members receiving 14 Gold Medals between them! As a result they placed #1 in their division and achieved the distinction of Most Improved School in the Fresno County competition.
It was a great result and testament to all the hard work from the students, teacher, and occasional pizza-bringers/poster makers/cheerleaders, etc.
More details on the event, including a quote from Michelle is in today's Fresno Bee Newspaper. The article can be found online here.
We are very, very proud. Congratulations!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Baggage Found
You will be pleased to know that as of last night I now have my suitcase again. I got a call yesterday afternoon from the airline letting me know that it was on that day's flight and would be arriving almost exactly 24 hours after I did.
Sure enough, they delivered it to the hotel at around 8pm and it was fully intact - including the XO laptop that I am couriering (spelling?) to my friend Jay in the UK, and Hanako's Airborne and special edition Backstreet Boys CD.
Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to go and spend the $200 allowance the airline allocated to me to get clothes and incidentals, although I was able to get some mouthwash and some strange deodorant paper tissue things to tide me over.
Note: I forgot to bring the cable for my camera so have been resorting to stock photos rather than the ones I've been taking myself. I'm working on getting access to a memory stick reader just as soon as possible to rectify that.
Sure enough, they delivered it to the hotel at around 8pm and it was fully intact - including the XO laptop that I am couriering (spelling?) to my friend Jay in the UK, and Hanako's Airborne and special edition Backstreet Boys CD.
Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to go and spend the $200 allowance the airline allocated to me to get clothes and incidentals, although I was able to get some mouthwash and some strange deodorant paper tissue things to tide me over.
Note: I forgot to bring the cable for my camera so have been resorting to stock photos rather than the ones I've been taking myself. I'm working on getting access to a memory stick reader just as soon as possible to rectify that.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Lost in Baggage Handling
I arrived here in Tokyo yesterday after a great flight on a brand new Boeing 777-300 flown by Al Nippon Airlines to hear my name being announced by the ground crew. When I went to see them the extremely friendly local staff very cheerfully informed me that they didn't think my luggage was actually on the plane and that I should go and see the baggage services desk.
The baggage service desk ladies - all 20 of them! - were also very cheerful and helpful and took my details and started to research where my suitcase might be. As it happened there was a United flight arriving in 10 minutes time and they asked me to hang around to see if it turned up on that. Of course, it didn't so after talking to the friendly ladies one more time (no, I didn't flirt. much.) I had to leave my contact information and head to the hotel without my suitcase.
I am very glad that at last minute I decided to wear my coat rather than pack it as it is pretty cold here in Tokyo, and it's actually snowing as I write this post. As of this morning I still don't have my suitcase and will have to go shopping this afternoon for fresh underwear, some pants and a couple of shirts if it hasn't turned up.
Wish me luck!
The baggage service desk ladies - all 20 of them! - were also very cheerful and helpful and took my details and started to research where my suitcase might be. As it happened there was a United flight arriving in 10 minutes time and they asked me to hang around to see if it turned up on that. Of course, it didn't so after talking to the friendly ladies one more time (no, I didn't flirt. much.) I had to leave my contact information and head to the hotel without my suitcase.
I am very glad that at last minute I decided to wear my coat rather than pack it as it is pretty cold here in Tokyo, and it's actually snowing as I write this post. As of this morning I still don't have my suitcase and will have to go shopping this afternoon for fresh underwear, some pants and a couple of shirts if it hasn't turned up.
Wish me luck!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
C & C's Seafood Platter
I had been craving one of these ever since arriving in Sydney and my craving was finally satisfied on Friday night when we went to Nick's Bar and Grill in Darling Harbour. Chuck and I planned ahead and shared the two person platter that was filled with a combination of mussels, oysters, crab, lobster, enormous prawns (that's English for 'Shrimp') catch of the day fish and french fries. It was extremely tasty as well as pretty.
Earlier, we had managed to catch up with a couple of my NetSuite colleagues - 'Well Tanned' Jo, from the UK and Chicken who had just transferred there from San Mateo - for a quick drink in Darling Harbour.
Fortunately, the platter does a good job of hiding our expanding waistlines... the 2008 diet only starts when we get home from vacation. At least, that's the rule that I'm playing by. ;)
Earlier, we had managed to catch up with a couple of my NetSuite colleagues - 'Well Tanned' Jo, from the UK and Chicken who had just transferred there from San Mateo - for a quick drink in Darling Harbour.
Fortunately, the platter does a good job of hiding our expanding waistlines... the 2008 diet only starts when we get home from vacation. At least, that's the rule that I'm playing by. ;)
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Good things come...
... to those that get up early. Well, around 9am or so, anyway.
Helen whisked us away to Manly Docks yesterday to hop aboard a SeaCat sailing boat for a day on the water. We packed coolers of beer, sausages, steak and prawns and our 'swimmers' and towels and took advantage of all that Sydney Harbour has to offer at this time of year. We pulled up at a nice, secluded bay and spent some time swimming, jumping from the boat and pier and enjoying the barbecue.
One the way back we chilled out at the front of the boat with Michelle keeping her eye out for the big waves that were likely to douse us in the cold water. We were in fits of giggles after Chuck was virtually submerged under the water as the front of the boat crashed back down into the water.
And finally, as we were pulling back into the dock in Manly again at the end of the day, we spotted a 4 foot wide Stingray swimming beneath the boat. I promptly leapt off the back of the boat, grabbed onto it's wings and rode it's back clear across the harbour and back before wrestling it into submission and claiming it as my own catch for the day.
OK, so that may not be 100% true but what is is that Nick brought his friend Kate from Putney along for the day also. More pictures of the day out can be found on the flikr site.
Helen whisked us away to Manly Docks yesterday to hop aboard a SeaCat sailing boat for a day on the water. We packed coolers of beer, sausages, steak and prawns and our 'swimmers' and towels and took advantage of all that Sydney Harbour has to offer at this time of year. We pulled up at a nice, secluded bay and spent some time swimming, jumping from the boat and pier and enjoying the barbecue.
One the way back we chilled out at the front of the boat with Michelle keeping her eye out for the big waves that were likely to douse us in the cold water. We were in fits of giggles after Chuck was virtually submerged under the water as the front of the boat crashed back down into the water.
And finally, as we were pulling back into the dock in Manly again at the end of the day, we spotted a 4 foot wide Stingray swimming beneath the boat. I promptly leapt off the back of the boat, grabbed onto it's wings and rode it's back clear across the harbour and back before wrestling it into submission and claiming it as my own catch for the day.
OK, so that may not be 100% true but what is is that Nick brought his friend Kate from Putney along for the day also. More pictures of the day out can be found on the flikr site.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
An Upside Down New Year
While the New South Wales coast has been afflicted by the run-off from a tropical storm further up the coast for the past few days that has prevented us from enjoying the sea itself (lest we get thrashed against the rocks or washed away) I am proud to say that we have been able to pretty much maintain all other aspects of our lifestyle since my last update. The sun has continued to shine and with that comes the overwhelming desire to do very little (see previous post).
We did venture into the City again on New Years Eve for the fireworks - spending the evening at Vivaz, a Brazilian eating and dancing establishment in the Rocks that had a great Harbour View from which to see the fireworks without actually having to touch the other million or so partygoers; unless that is what you wanted, of course. ;) The fireworks were incredible and, at least from my perspective, once again confirmed that this is the best New Year's show in the World.
And if the fireworks themselves weren't enough of a show, Charles and I danced latin-style with our old friend Paul to get the night started while Helen began her search for the future Mr Lloyd.
Happy New Year y'all!
We did venture into the City again on New Years Eve for the fireworks - spending the evening at Vivaz, a Brazilian eating and dancing establishment in the Rocks that had a great Harbour View from which to see the fireworks without actually having to touch the other million or so partygoers; unless that is what you wanted, of course. ;) The fireworks were incredible and, at least from my perspective, once again confirmed that this is the best New Year's show in the World.
And if the fireworks themselves weren't enough of a show, Charles and I danced latin-style with our old friend Paul to get the night started while Helen began her search for the future Mr Lloyd.
Happy New Year y'all!