Our Cat the Huntress

The birthday box from Scott's Mom included a DVD for Gypsy called Kitty goes Hunting and Kitty goes Fishing. Gypsy at first didn't notice it but when we moved her scratch tower in front of the TV, something she was already on because of some catnip, she immediately took notice of the video and has been fascinated ever since when we put it on. She even gets angry when we turn it off and lays down in front of the TV and cries. She doesn't paw at the screen or jump at it she just lays there and watches intently so maybe calling her a huntress isn't the right term maybe its kitty couch potato. Either way she has absolutely loved her gift and we have taken some really funny pictures many of which are posted on Katie's face book page. Thanks to Maryanna for our gifts and for Gypsy's gift.

Speaking of packages to us in the mail, a lesson learned on Friday. The customs officers open all packages to residents at the post office checking for items that may be subject to an import duty. There was some very innocent catnip in our box that looked a whole lot like something else in its plastic baggie. It was a new and unique experience explaining to the very suspicious customs agent that it really was just catnip for our feline roommate and not something else. Fortunately all the other cat stuff in the box made our explanation sound very reasonable. It continues to be very hot and humid down here making our days consist of trying hard not to be outside after 8:30 a.m. and before about 6 p.m. Fortunately the storms have stayed away so it seems a fair trade off.

We are three weeks in to our fall quarter and basically settling in to our regular routine. Teaching and working during the week, watching the Horns on Saturday (64-7 over UTEP yesterday) and trying to get some exercise in. Yesterday morning we got up at 5:00 a.m. and went to the college to do a graduation banquet benefit walk of about 5 miles that raised money for the graduating seniors banquet tickets. We hadnt done a walk that long in a while and both of us were sore yesterday and are feeling the effects today. We head up to Miami and Orlando the first weekend in November so that is our next off-Island excursion.

Back from Texas

After a quick 54 hours in Texas, Scott is back on Island. The Horns won 34-24 over Texas Tech so he is in a good mood. We have a six week stretch now before we head up to Florida in early November for our fall seminar in Miami for two days and then to Orlando for a quick weekend getaway to see Scott's brother Kevin and his family along with Scott's Mom. Thanks to Gary and family for letting Scott stay with them.

Scott headed to Texas for UT-Tech game

This weekend I am headed back to Texas for my birthday present from Katie, getting to attend the Texas-Texas Tech football game Saturday night in Austin. We celebrated my birthday early here since I will be gone Saturday. Thanks to all the people who sent me cards and on line cards. We also want to thank everyone who sent us their condolences on Ginger.

Ginger RIP

Yesterday after several months of problems our cat Ginger had to be put to sleep. She had lost control of her bowels, was very sad and was just not able to control herself. After a talk with the Vet we made the decision that there wasnt any other option and went forward with the final procedure. We will miss her a lot.

Record numbers for our Fall quarter

When we first arrived at ICCI there were 92 students attending the school for the summer quarter of 2007. That fall, our first full quarter of work, we raised our enrollment to 138 students and set a goal of getting to 200 students by the fall of 2009. The fall is typically our largest quarter for the year. Each quarter for the past seven quarters we have steadily increased our enrollment seeing decreases in our overall numbers only in our summer numbers when a lot of students take a quarter off for holiday. Even in the summer quarters though we saw increases in numbers over previous summers and every quarter that we have been here since summer 2007 has seen at least a 5% increase over the same quarter the year before and in many instances 10 and even 20% increases over the previous year. Three days into the fall 2009 quarter and with late registration closing on Friday we are currently at 216 students, exceeding the goal we set two years ago and increasing our numbers over last fall when we had 162 students, by almost 30%. Of equal significance, our seat count is up dramatically. Seats are the number classes a student takes. One student may take three classes and therefore have 3 "seats". You would rather have 1 student in 3 classes than 2 student each in just one since you make money per seat not per student. So financially the important track has been on the number of seats and this fall we are looking at over 450 seats already registered for. In the fall of 2007 we had 304 seats so we have increased our seat count in two years by over 150 seats for the fall quarter. We are very proud of the increase and believe the college is on a great track as we head into the 2009-2010 calendar and as we head toward the 40th anniversary of the college next September.

Scott doing much better

After two weeks of PT, Scott is once again his old self and having no residual issues with his back. It seems now very likely it was his hip and not his back and with the hip now back in place all is right with the world.

Knock on wood but this storm season continues to be quiet.