A Lost Week

Last week was surely an unusual one, with not a single photo.

We started out with a lovely hotpot dinner with Aunt Annie and Ned, Aunt Valene, Aunt B and Uncle Jim, and Auntie Nell. It required an additional trip to St. George, but the meal was certainly worth it. Because we were already down there, and because we love to so much, Bubby and I spent Monday night in the condo. We rose early so I could be ready to teach an 8:00 AM class.

On Tuesday, I was scrambling trying to pack for my trip and cover all of the loose ends at work and home before I left town. Bubby helped me out quite a bit. I drove down to St. George in the early evening, and spent the night at the condo.

I caught the 6:00 AM shuttle to Las Vegas, and caught a plane that ultimately took me to Ft. Lauderdale, FL. By the time I checked into my hotel in Miami it was 7:00 PM. Of course I lost two hours, but it was still a lot of time in airports and on crowded (both flights were completely full) airplanes.

The reason for my trip was to attend a conference on engaged science teaching, sponsored by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). The conference started on Thursday afternoon and ran through Saturday at 1:00 PM. Because of the distances involved for me, my best option for the return was Sunday AM, so I flew out again at 6:55 and was in Las Vegas by 9:40. I was back in Cedar City by 2:30 PM, in time to have dinner with Dan and family and do the last home teaching visit of the month.

Meanwhile, a very sad Bubby was holding down the fort. She called me about Friday night and said, "remind me why we decided that you should go alone? I'm not feeling it at the moment!" I certainly felt the same way about then.

I did slip away on Saturday afternoon and drive through the Everglades to the town of Ochopee, FL. It is near Big Cypress National Preserve. It was a welcome outing after the long hours sitting in conference sessions. The round trip drive was probably 180 miles. I just enjoyed being out the city among real people fishing in the swamps and living normal lives.

I stopped for a bite to eat at Joanie's Blue Crab Cafe. I had half a pound of peel and eat shrimp and enjoyed the live music and people watching. If Bubb had been there, we could have made an evening of it and tried some of the other food on the menu.

Glad to be home, missed Bubby too much. We have sworn not to do that again.

Buboppy