Earl well to east of us

A few folks have sent us emails about the latest hurricane which is battering the Eastern Caribbean, Earl.  Fortunately, he turned well to the north before entering the far northeast Caribbean and his track is up into the Atlantic.  The Cayman Islands being so far to the west, won't feel any of his fury which seems destined for the North Atlantic.  We are fortunate to be in the western Caribbean and hidden behind the huge mountains of Jamaica.  It doesn't mean we can't get hit (as we learn every couple of years), but it does mean we are better situated than the leeward and windward islands.  Earl waited a while to turn north and that has been bad news for the leeward islands who are getting battered by hurricane winds this morning.  Fiona is forming in Earl's wake but she also is projected to hit the eastern islands only before heading north.  September 15th is the height of hurricane season so we are just getting started with this year's storm season.

This past weekend Kathleen and I attended the graduation for the Tourism Apprenticeship program that ICCI works on in partnership with the other college in the Island UCCI and with the Department of Tourism. The Premier was the graduation speaker and it was held over at the Westin Casaurina Resort on Seven Mile. It gave Katie a chance to try out a dress for our own 40th Anniversary and gave us both a chance to see the Governor's Ballroom in action ahead of the ICCI 40th (as it will be in the same location). 

This is final exam week on campus so things will be intense enough for our students without any storms coming our way.  We continue to hit our projections for the fall each week and are on pace to have a huge class which is quite exciting.  To see the new building going up this fall and the large class will really give us a sense of accomplishment as we step away from the college for a few months and become new parents.  We feel like the college is in a good place and that we can leave for 6-8 weeks and know that everything will be fine.  It took a while to get to this place but with the staff now on hand and the strong foundation with the faculty and student body there is a real sense of stability in the college.  And of course, Saturday is the first day of college football season a national holiday in this household.  Texas takes on Rice to open the season and with the game on ESPN we don't have to go any further than our living room to catch the game.

Gypsy's Newest Friend

Just this afternoon Gypsy started to get very excited by something outside the window. She'd been playing with her lizard earlier so at first we thought that was all it was but when we realized that the lizard was sitting in the opposite direction of where she was looking, we started to look for a new friend.

Swerving in and out of the branches right in front of Gypsy was a snake! About two feet long he was happily exploring the branches for the lizards, snails, and other "friends" that keep Gypsy entertained. Gypsy found this new friend very fascinating!

It was hard to get a good picture through the window but this is the best that we got. The head and the tail are both off the side of the picture.

Fundraising for the College

With our 40th Anniversary this September, we are doing a lot of fund raising for the college.  Below is an article on some recent success we have had.  Of course the big goal is the new buildings for the campus.  We have now exceeded our available capacity in terms of classroom space and must expand.  We hope to break ground on our new third classroom building this fall and longer term the new Library/Conference Center is in the works if we can line up the donors.  We are also in need of more parking which is expensive down here to pave.  Lately I have spent a lot of time doing presentations to companies trying to line up funds for our library and various programs.  In these difficult economic times it is increasingly difficult to get companies to contribute monies to institutions such as ours.

Cayman Net News Article

Shooting Gallery

The storms seem to be coming off the coast of Africa in waves with both Danielle and now Earl swirling out in the Atlantic.  Current tracks have both staying out of the Caribbean and lets hope that stays the case.  The weather folks here tell us that several more storms are lining up in the Sahara so the shooting gallery that is hurricane alley is open for business.  It has been too hot down here to do much outside after 9:00 a.m. so besides morning walks and work, life is just one day after another as we count down to November.  It looks like our fall term may well have record enrollment at the pace we are on and that is keeping us busy with registrations and paper work.  We are also finishing up the institutional self study so we can file all our documents for the new grant of accreditation.  It seems just yesterday we were going through an accrediting visit and now we have another one next January or February since our current grant expires at the end of 2011 and is up for renewal.  This is also week ten of the term so we are both finishing up our summer term teaching assignments and will be taking off teaching for the fall so this is the last of our classroom work for several months.  And of course, football season is just two weeks away so that will help pass the time to November.

Sunshine Grill dinner

To celebrate Scott's appointment to the CINICO board and my completion of another quarter of DU classes, we went out to Sunshine Grill, one of the best burger places on the island.

New Responsibilities

On Tuesday I received an appointment letter from the Minister of Health indicating that the Governor in Cabinet had appointed me to a one year term as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cayman Islands National Insurance Company (CINICO).  This is the position we had mentioned a while back that I was up for but wasn't sure I would ultimately receive.  My experience as a lawyer and in the paramedical industry as well as my work in academia all played a role in this new position.  It doesn't affect my job as the Dean of ICCI or impact us in any way other than the new responsibilities that I will have as Chairman and the additional work it will involve.  It is an honor to have been nominated and a real honor to have been appointed.  Before any of you ask, it is a volunteer position and doesn't carry any salary or other benefits beyond the prestige of holding the position.  I am excited about the prospect and it is an opportunity to give back to the community in a significant way as CINICO insures all public servants and the most at risk segments of the population (this is effectively the public option company down here).  It is a new venture and along with the challenge of being the Dean and the incredible challenge of fatherhood means my life will be quite interesting.  How will I ever find time for Longhorn football???????

Gypsy is Lonely

Gypsy has been looking for friends all over the place. First there was her outside lizard who came to visit and spend time with her (see post below). Then earlier this weekend a few birds started coming around to pull off the leaves from the plant right in front of the window. They were pretty interesting but didn't stick around long.

She's taken to sleeping on a blanket in the downstairs guest room. We thought it was because the sun makes its way into there and warms up the room but now we think it is because she has found a "friend", someone who never talks about this "Baby C"!

Uncle Hank

A quick word on our Uncle Hank who is in the hospital this week. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and the entire Spetter family. Uncle Hank is 91 and is our oldest living relative on my Grandma Rita's side of the family. I remember fondly going to Uncle Hank's house and swimming in the above ground pool as a kid when I would visit them in Lyons, Illinois. As I think back I can remember him taking me as a 10 year old to a flea market one Saturday morning and telling me about his work in the newspaper business. He was always happy to have us come visit and never begrudged us his time. That was so important to us as kids knowing we had an Uncle who cared about us so much. He is loved by us all and we are all with him in spirit if not in person this week.  Get well soon Uncle Hank we all love you very much.

Cape Verde Season

Today is the beginning of the worst part of hurricane season known as Cape Verde season. It is named after the Cape Verde islands off the coast of Africa. The sand storms come off the Sahara cross the Cape Verde Islands and then move across the Atlantic.  While crossing the Atlantic they build circulation and then when they hit the warm waters of the Caribbean they become monsters.  This means heightened awareness of what is going on weather wise for the next 6-8 weeks.  With Katie being 28 weeks this Thursday we already have a plan in place to send her off island if a big storm is coming.  So far the season has been quiet in the our neck of the woods with all the storms turning north and into the Atlantic before entering the Caribbean.  Lets hope it stays that way.

TV Appearance

Here is the link to the television interview yesterday.

TV Appearance



Meanwhile, whatever you may think of his politics at least his taste in colleges is beyond question.

Gypsy's Friend

Lately a lizard has been coming around to "visit" Gypsy. He will parade across the ledge by the window flashing his different colors and enticing other lizards with his "chin flap". Gypsy loves to watch him and he likes to have the audience.

If Gypsy isn't around, he will perch and stare into the window. He will walk across the screen to make himself as visible as possible to the inside; he will do whatever he can to invite Gypsy to play.

This morning we noticed a large gecko that had made its way into our bedroom. Although we pointed it out to Gypsy, she found it terribly boring! Where were the flashy antics? Where were the bright colors? That lizard was a NORMAL lizard...she isn't into normal lizards.

Peering into the window

The normal lizard

Media Blitz and Calendar Watching

Over the past several weeks I have been doing media appearances on behalf of the college.  I have done a couple of radio appearances and a television appearance and with an average of one a week am definitely spending a lot of time getting free advertising for the college.  With our 40th anniversary next month, the new business building about to start construction and the fall term starting in a month there has been a lot to talk about.  It certainly has kept the weeks moving which has been a good thing.  I recently answered some emails asking me what I was up to with some combination of the following: "My life now is a calendar watch.  The questions each day seem to begin with what week are we, then quickly move to when is the next Dr. visit, how long is it to viability, how long until the lungs are developed, how many more days to November, and on and on."  The radio and TV appearances have been a good distraction from the overwhelming nature of getting ready to be parents and contemplating the calendar as it inexorably moves forward is both exciting and scary.  Katie is doing a great job of keeping the baby blog up to date so keep checking that for updates on little Baby C. 27 weeks this Thursday.

Virtual Baby Shower

This afternoon my sister Johanna threw Kathleen a virtual baby shower from her house in Naperville, Illinois. We attended via skype video link and were able to see and talk to all our relatives and friends who attended.  It was a surreal experience to attend a party from thousands of miles away, but we really felt like we were there.  The one big thing missing was not being able to eat all the great food they were having.  We hadn't seen Johanna and her kids Nicholas and Zachary in a couple of weeks and it was amazing to see how much they grow even when its only been a few weeks since we last saw them.  We also got to see our Great Aunt Mary and Uncle Hank and it was great to talk to them along with our cousins Chuck (with Twila and the kids Cory and Christie), Mary Kay, Sue and Eileen; and friends like Maryann Walsh.  The baby shower was centered around creating onesies for the baby.  We saw a longhorn onesie, a kittycat onesie, an airplane onesie, a Ms. November, a rainbow onesie and even a dinosaur one from Nicholas.  Little Zach made his presence known throughout and it was really nice to see and interact with everyone as they made the onesies. 

We want to really thank Jo and Brent for doing this and setting up such a wonderful afternoon and thanks to everyone who attended or who will be sending onesies as part of the broader baby shower in other places across America.  We wish we could be with you. 

Fifteen years ago....

It was the last week of July 1995 and on that Friday afternoon, I drove back to my Mom's house in San Antonio having completed the grueling two and a half day long Texas Bar Exam.  It would be three long months before I got my scores and found out I could practice as a lawyer.  The last Friday in July is always a reminder of that exam and the months of studying for it followed by the long months of waiting for the results.  To all the prospective lawyers in Texas heading home this afternoon I wish you good luck and a good nights sleep tonight.  I believe my first two days after the exam I woke up to eat once on the Saturday after but my first real memories aren't until the Sunday following, so sleep well. 

Cleaning out desk for Hurricane Season

Our desk is downstairs and during hurricane season, if a storm is on the way we move a lot of the electronic items and discs as well as other other materials upstairs into a plastic bin. I was going through the desk inventorying what we have in case we need to move it and came across a CD with some photographs. Upon putting it in the computer, I realized it was old photographs of the 2006 Rose Bowl National Championship game. I was having so much fun reliving the game and the festivities afterward that I figured I would post one of the shots. Here is a random Rose Bowl photo of my friend Gary and I after the game. We had gone to the game as my "bachelor party". I was five months from getting married at that point and he was not yet a Father. Here we are four plus years later and he has two kids while Katie and I are expecting our first. Wow has time flown or what?

East End Dinner

This evening we drove out to East End for a combination date night and celebratory dinner. We went to a restaurant we had not been to in a while, Portofino Wreck View, which sits on the northeast point of the Island. We were treated to a tremendous storm just as we entered East End. The wind picked up tremendously and the waves got huge crashing against the shore. We drove past the blow hole and saw a couple of very large explosions of water out of it. We are celebrating Scott's nomination to a possible government related position and if he gets it will let you know soon. It is a political position and in politics nothing is certain until the government officially announces the appointment. Still, it is quite an honor to even be nominated and so whether it happens or not, today was to celebrate that nomination. If it does happen it will not affect Scott's work or position at the college though it will mean extra work. We had to eat inside because of the wind and rain but sat next to a window and watched it all as we eat. It was a great evening and gave us a good chance to see the eastern end of the island for the first time in a couple of months.

Despicable Me and A La Kebob

This past weekend Katie and I decided to get in the car, fight through the rain and actually get out of the house. We headed over to Camana Bay which has really become a nice outdoor mall after its slow start of just having the Hollywood movie theatres and book store. Katie needed to work on some of her DU stuff so we went to Cafe Del Sol, a coffee shop, and sat in the back, me drinking a Latte and her a hot chocolate while we took advantage of their free wireless. After an hour or so of Masters work we headed over to A La Kebob and got some gyro's before heading back to Camana Bay to watch a movie. We had to choose between the new Twilight movie and Despicable Me. Katie is a huge Twilight fan and I figured we would be going to that film but surprisingly, Katie really wanted to see Despicable Me. We bought our tickets to the early afternoon showing and in addition to the movie got to experience what life will be like in a few years. The theatre was packed with parents taking their young kids to the movie. In front of us were some young girls dressed up like princesses out with their Mom and behind us a family with all three young kids seated in a row between Mom and Dad. Everywhere you looked were families. We even ran into one of our students bringing his young daughter and he said we were "too old to be at this movie" to which we replied "we were practicing for the future". The combination of rain plus it being an early showing probably played some role in the large number of young kids brought by their parents but it was still something of an eye opener to see that many youngsters with their parents.

After the movie we headed home so Katie could focus on getting her school work done. With assignments due every weekend for her classes, Saturday's and Sunday's have become class time. We are now in the fifth week of our summer quarter at ICCI. I did a radio appearance Monday on Radio Cayman talking about the 40th anniversary of the college and the changes at the institution over the past few years. We are both getting a little better at getting our morning walk in between the rain and might actually try some snorkeling if the weather allows. It is strange not having an off island trip in the works and knowing that we aren't going anywhere until we have a new family member. One thing we are working on now is making sure that as soon as our little one is born we get her properly registered and get her a US passport and social security number. She will be a dependent on my work permit so there is a ton of paperwork we have to have ready well before she comes.

Stormy weekend

While we aren't facing anything resembling a tropical storm, we are getting deluged by rain today and last night the storm knocked out our power for several hours. This morning as I look out our front window our parking lot is a lake and the waterfall off our roof is keeping Gypsy very focused. For about a year now we have kept our A/C at 82 degrees Fahrenheit so the loss of power last night and resulting heat didn't affect us that much. Interestingly enough even with the pregnancy Katie hasn't needed the A/C turned down so her body temperature doesn't seem to be fluctuating that much. We both sleep underneath covers at night and it is amazing how much our blood has thinned to where temperatures in the 70's now seem cold. The rainy season is now in full force here in the tropics and not a day goes by that we don't see some rain.

Katie in Texas

This weekend Kathleen is back in Texas to visit her family, do some maternity shopping and attend the wedding of a friend of hers. Gypsy and I are holding down the fort here in Cayman. Gypsy has to wonder what is going on as last weekend it was her and Kathleen alone in the house. She must think we are both nuts. This morning she yelled at me for an hour and I could just make out the words, "where is the girl boy, where is the girl?" While Katie has been gone we got our car window fixed so the plastic window is no more. We are into week four of our summer term and with the height of hurricane season approaching are stocking up. The baby blog is updated with all the info on our visit last week and obviously that will be our focus these next few months (and the rest of lives).

Round of 16

With the storm letting up just a bit I headed over to the sports bar yesterday and got to watch the USA-Ghana match with the ESPN feed. The USA was clearly outplayed and Ghana got a deserved goal in added extra time to win 2-1. I got to walk home in the rain and bemoan the lost opportunity. There were a ton of US fans in the bar and the atmosphere was great even in defeat. This week is week two of the summer term and on Thursday I head to Miami for the summer seminar then right after I get back Katie heads to Duncanville. In between on the sixth of July we have an appointment at which we may or may not find out the gender.