second mesa

So one day I learned how to get in on this whole Second Mesa action. (Thanks, Jere!) So here’s what’s been going on with us. We’re here in North Carolina, and the moving in has been slow. (We couldn’t move in until the first day of class, so we’re still not all unpacked yet. We’re sharing the house with Laurie’s sister (Vicki) and the fleas who decided not to relocate with the previous tenents.

Aside from the itching, we’re all healthy. The kids developed some pretty wicked tantrum skills in Virginia though, so now we’re in the midst of a “re-training” process. It hasn’t been pretty, but they’re starting to get better.

My program is going good so far. It’s a two year program, where the first year we take 12 hours each semster, and help with game day operations for all the different sports. The second year we intern in the athletic department and write a thesis. I’m also teaching weight training, self-defense, and golf. And of course, there’s always intramurals.

This is my class after our football game Thursday. (Laurie couldn’t make it, due to her raging Relief Society luau.) It’s been a while, so you might not recognize them, but Malachi is seated in the front, and Amelia is on the far right of the first row standing. (Seems like it’s been that long, right?)

The lady in green is Dr. Hedgepeth, our “Social Issues in Sport” teacher. She had heard tell of the sportsmanship issues certain members of our team had during our one point loss last week, so she was there to investigate. We won this one 26-0 though, so there wasn’t much to get all huffy about. It was fun having her there anyway. (By the way, “SPAD” = SPort ADministration.)

Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know that we’re all still alive and kicking. (Actually, Pookie does most of the kicking.) Good luck to all that are embarking on new adventures. Maybe some day I’ll get pictures posted from our year in limbo. Maybe.

It’s time for our fall family tradition, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk to Cure Diabetes. We walk every year, but every other year we try to collect a few donations. Becky is way ahead me on that end, as she’s already been doing this the past several days. She’s even recruited another ‘team member’ who will be walking with us (thanks Abbi). So head on over to Becky’s walk page for a visit and donate if you’d like to. Thanks to all of you who’ve already donated. We really appreciate it!

And, if you haven’t been visiting Becky’s blog (and why haven’t you, she updates more often than me, plus her stories are better as well) then head on over there and catch up on all the stuff you’ve missed.

Well, I made it here safely late Saturday afternoon and am staying near the Chargers stadium (about ten minutes northeast of downtown) at the Homestead Suites. However, I hope to find a place soon. I’m looking in a neighborhood called Rancho Penasquitos – it’s in North County and about 10 minutes from work. You can’t see the ocean from where I am, but it’s only 10 minutes away. Everything is rolling hills and valleys here, so when driving, you’re either going up or down a hill – there aren’t many flat places. Work is going great so far, and everyone is very friendly. Better yet, I already feel appreciated!

I’ll update you all as soon as I find a place to live.

Love,

Melissa

And soon Melissa will to. I hope I’m not spilling the beans to anyone that our sis hasn’t spoken to yet. If I am, oh well, maybe you should give her a call and speak to her more than once a year. Anyway, I’ve given her a couple days leeway so it should be all good. So, if you’ve not heard, Melissa’s trip to San Diego went extremely well, so well in fact that she will become a full-fledged SoCal-er in a few short days. And guess what! Lucky for us boys in the family, the company is moving her for us! I don’t know what’s more exciting, the prospect of Melissa moving to San Diego for a new job, or the fact we won’t have to help relocate her library. It’s been a couple years for me but believe me, you’ll never forget an experience like that. Congrats sis! Good luck and expect visitors!

Hey everyone, I got a call on the cell last night on the way to the library. It was Pops, letting me know that his cell phone number is going to change. What’s it changing to? Well of course I wouldn’t give that out over the public internet. Let’s just say if you haven’t spoken to him in the past couple of days you may want to give him a call. Good luck Pops!

Well here she is… the newest addition to our little family.

New Addition