Good Pictures and Thanksgiving Limbo

Those pictures of Rachael are fantastic- they sure do grow up fast! I know it's just around the corner for us. As soon as kate ordered a Christmas card with a montage of photos of the kids, we managed to get a decent shot of the three of them together. We went for a hike up Sunshine Canyon and we got a very cool close up view of the Fourmile fire burn area. We hiked around the edge of the burn area, crossing from the areas that weren't burned into areas that had clearly had a very intense fire. It was a day where there was fog and clouds stuck down low in town and we were above the cloud layer- it made for some great atmospheric photos- the kids even cooperated for some group shots. Our plan was to head to Durango tomorrow to spend Thanksgiving with the Bowers, but there's been a huge storm that's been hammering southern Colorado- Wolf Creek Pass is supposed to get 4 feet of snow over the next 48 hours, and the NOAA website has posted a traveler's advisory stating that travel conditions will be "life-threatening". For now, we're sitting tight in Boulder and seeing what shapes up with the storm- if it clears up by Tuesday, we'll head out. For now, we're relaxing at home and enjoying the rec. center pool and the nascent "Dellwood Freeride Park" My first attempt at emebedding a video- it's short, so I hope it works! Congratulations, Rachael!

Finished high school and all grown up!

My first baby has grown up into a beautiful young woman, as these photos of Rachael on her formal evening will attest.

She had a wonderful night, and enjoyed the "after-party as well, even though it meant sleeping a large part of the following day!



A photo of "the moment" from last Friday night:

It's been a BIG week! My head is still spinning...

Beds and Lenticular Days

I feel like I've been a little lazy with the posting because I haven't had anything really interesting to add, but I'm compelled, nonetheless. I'm on break for 10 ten days- that's something exciting!

The weather geeks tell us that because of the "El Nina" ocean current pattern in the Pacific this year, it will be a windier winter than usual. With the winds, which are always a big minus, comes the added benefit of more spectacular sunrises and sunsets. This is what I was greeted with when I went out to get the paper this morning. We get these spectacular displays because of the lenticular clouds that form when there are high altitude winds over the front range.

The father of Kate's best friend from childhood, Pammy Johnson, passed away recently, so we were honoring Tom Johnson in our own strange way here. Kate and Pammy had a favorite game that they played with Tom; it's called "Beds". Essentially, it's tag where beds in the house are home base and the parent is always "It". We played a several family games of beds over the last week and it was a hit! It's well-suited to Reid's default level of energy. Another thing that Tom Johnson did frequently (according to Kate) is make breakfast for dinner because that was the limit of his culinary skills. We had a delicious scrambled egg and bacon dinner in his honor.

It's so exciting to hear about Rachael's big graduation activities and it brings me back to my own high school days. Her health challenges remind me of walking with a cane in my graduation procession because of the laceration on my foot. I'm glad she's doing better and I hope she can fully enjoy the well-earned celebrations with her buddies. Dad- I loved the description of morning in Brisbane. It felt like the beginning of a novel, but perhaps I've been having too many writing conferences with 5th graders (not that your writing is that level!) As winter starts to squeeze its fist tighter around us, it's nice to think of warmer climates and the people I love who are enjoying them. We're off to Durango again and we're all looking forward to family, food and enjoying the great outdoors!

Australian Morning

We are finding waking up a very different experience in this Aussie neighborhood compared to mornings in Boulder or Niantic. The sky begins to lighten about 4:30 andthe light is greeted by the first birds, often an unusal one that whistles in a rather deep tone and then gargles to a higher pitch. A half dozen crows respond with loud caw-caws that pierce the ear for several minutes before they fly on to another yard where they repeat the message. Various assorted voices then join in, often a cooing dove or two who provide a continuo for ten or fifteen minutes. Finally the chickens make themselves heard with low guttural gurgling. Soon a footstep is heard upstairs - a soft movement as activity returns to the house. Crows continue to add their frantic calls as the chickens quiet down. Gently running water is a reminder that the school day will be starting soon. A muffled rumble announces the first departure as the gate adds a brief squeak, the motor bike exits, and near quiet descends sometimes broken by a growl or whimper as Chai seeks attention. The chimes send out their first notes of the day as a slight breeze stirs after the calmness of the night. The notes are mellow and rich providing rich sound without melody. A swish announces the sliding door is opening as the next departure looms. A moment of metal grinding metal punctuated by a few words in Vietnamese assures that the neighbors will be at work on time. The doves provide another chorus of gentle cooing, a bark punctuates the ear piercing call of the magpies arriving for their morning bath, then silence descends as the soft purr of the engine says the house is now empty except for the stay in bed guests. A look at the clock reveals 8, time to begin another day with exercises and breakfast on the deck. Another warm, cloud and sun filled day has begun.

From there the days have been filled with a wide variety of things from swims to today's visit to Rachael's school where she gave gifts to several teachers and we toured, by car, Queensland University of Technology - one the colleges to which Rachael has applied. We then drove to the other end of the city to deliver some after prom clothes to a boy's home where tonight's "after the prom" party will be held. Several girls will be arriving here in the late afternoon to dress and be delivered to the event by Ken. The seniors had no school today - time to prepare for the event! Actually, this week is basically marking time til exams are corrected and diplomas prepared for handout after the senior breakfast on Friday - the last offical day of school. Of course, graduation, where 'certificates' were distributed, was last Friday so it is all rather confusing.

We have had several very interesting discussions on college and I learned some things this morning when I just walked in to the counselor's office at Kelvin Grove while Rachael was saying thank you to teachers. As I keep saying, the two systems are so different it makes it very interesting comparing what grandchildren are/will go through.

We understand there is snow in Boulder - we'll see that soon enough. Meanwhile, we've been enjoying some lovely weather here. We hope it holds for the weekend when Mom and I are going to visit friends on the Gold Coast and get in the ocean.

Chai and buddy in the "Puppy Park"

Bath time.

May 12, 2010

GRADUATION DAY FOR THE PNEUMONIA PATIENT

Quiet pizza lunch on deck before a nap.

With a few friends before the ceremony.

Gelati with family after the event.

Done by Dad after session with Emily.

It was a good day - enjoyed by all. Amazing what antibiotics and pain killers can do. R is being guided to take it easy but she feels much better so wants to move about as we all do in a quick recovery.

Oh my!

Mom just pointed out it is Thursday - not Friday. Show how relaxed we are. Dad

Hillbrook Celebration Ceremony

Its Friday morning - Elli and Ken are at work, Emily's at school, Rachael is in bed ( I have not seen her, only heard a few weak words to Mom) and Mom and I have finished breakfast on another nice Queensland day. Showers are predicted for the next week so we have a mix of sun and clouds with temp in the upper 80s with a breeze - very nice.

Last night Mom and I went to the Hillbrook school wide celebration of the year, i.e awards for acheivement, effort, and commitment for all the classes. It was held at the Anglican Cathedral - an impressive gothic structure completed a few yars ago. It confirms that the great gothic cathedrals are great for vocal music - the school choirs did two numbers that were very nice, one accompanied by powerful drums and trumpets - but not for speaking. When the first ones were built the Mass was said in Latin which few understood and often chanted. Even with the latest technology, the acoustics were awful - I came out with stressed shoulders from straining to understand. Fortunately, most of the ceremony was devoted to names being called out and students walking up to get awards. That was easy - just looking. They had a TV screen inplace of the altar and several cameras trained on the recipients. What a contrast between the beautiful dresses and careful grooming of the girls and the grubbiness of most of the boys. Occasionally boys wore kahki slacks and a white dress shirt, a few times with tie, but most were in t-shirts, jeans, a few shorts, and very sloppy. My sexist reactions were negative and I would have them all in school uniform if that is the way young men dress for an evening of celebration - I see it as a sexist put down of the girls reflecting an attitude of, "Its their role to dress up and look nice for me but I can do anything - no need to show the girls, or anyone else, any respect - I can do whatever I want." I'm gald to see Matt has a 'preppy' wardrobe - it may be just as sexist but he does have a nice style of dress for many occasions. Enough from the old generation on that.

There were two talks - the head gave an interesting but totally inappropriate, too long speech on passion and its role in success. One clever point at the end compared fast food chains - conformity, identical food world wide, same logos, etc. with the Michelin Restaurant Guide which sets out criteria for excellence and then encourages individuality and passion in each restaurant in a competition to achieve Michelin's famous and prized four star status. The highlight of the evening were three speakers - an Aussie that worked to get street kids in Hanoi off the streets and two women -20 year olds - who had been rescued and were now passionately following an education - inspiring,

With all the turmoil of the night before and the day and the need to have someone stay with Rachael, Elli and Ken decided not to go after Emily announced she had two assignments to complete and did not want to attend. She had been saying that since we arrived but we assumed she would come with us but the undone homework trumped attendance at the celebration. For us it was a treat seeing Hillbrook on display. They have the ceremony down well but no one can rein in the Head - the result instead of ending at the scheduled 9, we left at 9:30 -with still two things to come but Ken was going to pick us up at the train station. He had driven us in which was such a help.

We'll keep you posted on the next developments. We'll go to graduation even if Rachael isn't able. She sure looked awful last night and the cloudy area on her lung looks huge to me although it isn't very dark - from a medic's view I recall the very dark spots are the most dangerous.

Love to all. Enjoy the Boulder snow. Hope our leaves were raked but if not, they can be done when the snow melts. We did make arrangement for it to be done by Recession Yard Work. Also, Keith Donohue and Karen had a baby girl on Nov. 4th so hopefully he can get to the deck building after mid-month.