NGA + Back at the Ranch

The National Governors' Conference is over, and Dick is home at last! It was a success, and things went relatively smoothly over-all.

Dick's weekend was wild and woolly. He estimates that from Thursday at 9 a.m. through Sunday at 4 p.m. he spent a total of 48 hours at the airport. One night he got home at 1:30 a.m. - hasn't done that for at least a couple of decades. His task was meeting, greeting, and finding lost luggage, which there was plenty of. Somehow he missed Miss America! He stood there and talked to her and didn't know who she was! He thought she was an intern or an aide or something. He met Dick Gephart and the President of the AFL-CIO. The high point for him was meeting Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. He has lots of stories - ask him when you see him.

Meanwhile, back here at the ranch, life went on. We have seen the latest Harry Potter movie (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), The Adventures of Pinocchio at the Old Town Playhouse, and gone to a Beach Bums ballgame which they won, 12-9, we have all had rides in the golf car, Dylan has played extensively in the river, and with three computers on the go upstairs, we have played The Game extensively also! Dylan had made sure that we've all been to the Outlands and we have all of the flight paths. In the river, Dylan liked walking upstream and then jumping into the "most currenty part" and floating back down. On the golf car tour, Dylan's favorite part is the bumps!

The last book in the Harry Potter series was released Friday at midnight. Jana's copy was delivered by UPS Saturday morning at 9 a.m. We picked up Laurie's copy at Border's. Jana finished the book before she went to bed on Saturday, and she's not talking. Laurie is about halfway through it, but she keeps being interrupted by real life!

Harry Potter was a really enjoyable movie - lots of excitement - I most admire the values of friendship and loyalty, and good vs. evil that the Potter movies promote. Dylan's favorite part was "when they were in the room and all the globes were falling". That really was a spectacular scene! My favorite part was Umbridge being dragged off by the centaurs.

Pinocchio was enjoyable - the children did a marvelous job, and it was very entertaining. Dylan's favorite part was the whale. I was impressed with the amount of work that went into the production. I hadn't been to the TC Children's Theater before - the production was really owned by the kids - they designed the scenery, they were the stage hands, etc. It seems to be a truly child centered group.

The Beach Bums game was so much fun! Jim and Barb gave us free tickets - it was Child and Family Services Night - so we all went (except Dick). Jim, Barb, Shelly, Chris, Adam, Melanie & Lydia were all there - it was a mini-GenFest at the ball park!
I enjoyed it so much. Dylan liked all of the fun between the innings, and he learned about stolen bases from Auntie Jana. Dylan's favorite part was the taco race and the ice cream! My favorite part was the home run with two men on which gave them the lead. Yaaay Beach Bums! We all really appreciated the opportunity and the fun and the chance to talk to everyone. Thanks Jim and Barb!

Monday Dick and Chip brought back the boat from the Marina, so it's ready to float whenever we are :) They made trips to Walmart and Meijer to get things for GenFest. Later this week we'll go to GFS to get the goodies. Jana bought a mess of Diet Coke and Mentos!

This morning Dick and I are dropping off the Ford for some brake work, and then it's off to the gym.