New Mexico Day 4

Beautiful weather marked day 4 of our spring break vacation.

We ate breakfast at a Mexican Cafe in Las Cruces where I ate some excellent chorizo and eggs. After a quick sightseeing trip around Las Cruces and a visit to New Mexico State University, we headed west, 50 miles to Deming.

We played golf at Rio Mimbres Country Club. It's an 18 hole desert course that was very enjoyable. The crowd wasn't bad and we had 65 degrees and beautiful mountain scenery.

When we returned to Las Cruces, we went to the famous La Posta Mexican Restaurant for dinner. La Posta was built in 1939 and has alot of history and character. We even saw some of our Kansas friends there (Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz characters).

We leave for White Sands, Alamogordo, and Ruidoso tomorrow morning (plus more golf).

New Mexico Day 3

It was nice sleeping in this morning after a long day yesterday of golf and travel. We ate a quick bite at I-Hop and drove south to El Paso, Texas. This was going to be a sightseeing day because of the chance for rain and cool weather.

We drove all around the El Paso and Mexican border area. We went by the horse track at Sunland then off to the University of Texas El Paso. I have always been intrigued about the football stadium. The Sun Bowl is a unique stadium built inside a mountain. We were fortunate that the gates were open and got to go onto the field. I watch the Sun Bowl every New Years Day on CBS TV. Finally, I got the chance to see the stadium.

We had a great view from the stadium of Juarez, Mexico. The poverty was unbelievable.

We drove around Fort Bliss and Biggs Army Base. The amount of construction taking place at both military bases is amazing . Tax dollars at work.

We drove by another golf course that I would like to play (in warmer weather) someday, Butterfield Trail. It's a beautiful desert course west of El Paso.

We took the mountain trip back to the western side. It was a beautiful trip over the Franklin Mountains.

Of course, we had to stop at the Outlet Shoppes in El Paso. After two hours, we decided it was time to head north for some supper.

We ate dinner at a great steak house. The Great American Cattle and Steak House. As you can see the T-Bone was GREAT!

The drive back to Las Cruces was beautiful as we saw the sun set over the desert ending day 3.

Today GOLF!

New Mexico Day 2

We attended church at the Montgomery Church of Christ in Albuquerque on Sunday morning. It was a very friendly congregation of about 600. We enjoyed the worship service and a lesson on "The Lost Son" from Matthew 15.

After church, we headed south on Interstate 25. It was a beautiful drive with mountains on both sides and snow-capped peaks. The clouds were rolling in but we never experienced rain.

I had heard of a new desert golf course at Elephant Butte, New Mexico, that I wanted to check out. The course was a beautiful layout. We played in 65 degree sunny weather and about 20 mph wind. The wind really didn't have much effect on our golf but the SAND sure did. If you have a chance, golf here at Sierra del Rio. It was our first desert golf experience.

We had a great Mexican dinner at Truth or Consequences, then headed south towards Las Cruces. We arrived about 8:30 at the Comfort Suites to set up our home base for the next three days.

New Mexico Day 1

We left on our spring break trip to New Mexico on Friday evening. After dropping Jack off at the in-laws, we headed to OKC for the night.

Saturday morning I had to stop at one of the best donut places in all the world. The Daylight Donut shop in Edmond. They have the best pine cones. I ate several dozen donuts from that shop when Brian and Allison were attending Oklahoma Christian University.

After getting the donuts, we headed west on old Route 66 towards Texas. We endured the 3 hour trip through West Texas (Allison's home state) and had to stop and get a picture of the Big Texan Steak House. Decided I better not try the 72 ounce steak so early in the day.

We stopped at all the tourist places on the trip westward. Stucky's, Cline Corners........

We were really surprised in the number of wind farms that have been built.

We enjoyed the trip through New Mexico to Albuquerque. We arrived to 70 degree weather and sun. The mountains had snow but it was beautiful in the high desert.

We enjoyed a dinner at County Line BBQ with a picturesque view of the city right underneath

Sandia Mountain. We walked one of the top golf courses in the state Saturday evening and then drove around the City.

Spring Break

Golf, Golf, Golf.

Sun, Sun, Sun.

Food, Food, Food

Tonight we leave for our Spring Break trip to southern New Mexico. We are playing golf at a few courses that I have been wanting to play for sometime. I probably won't play well but I will hopefully be out in 70 degree sunny weather enjoying the fresh air with Debbie.

Friend Day

Debbie and I attended Friend Day at the Mount Hope Church of Christ in Webb City on Sunday. We enjoyed the 400 voices singing and meeting some great people. We have enjoyed visiting several area churches since we arrived in Columbus.

Next week we hope to worship in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the Montgomery Blvd Church on our way to the Southern New Mexico for Spring Break.

Craig Saturday Trip

Craig and his friends spent Saturday at a beautiful place.........the Brooklyn Bridge.

Central School

It has been one of those years.

Roofs falling off,

Football Stadiums needing replaced,

Stolen school vehicle.

Next was a water line breaking under the Central School on Saturday.

Thanks to Terry and John we can have classes. Its nice to have individuals that will Go Beyond the Call anytime. We have several like that at USD 493 and the SEK Interlocal. I really appreciate the faculty and staff and all he hard work they do. Enjoy Spring Break next week!

Home

There's no place like home..........

Good to see Deb and Jack.

ESU Today

My last day away from Columbus. I am interviewing at Emporia State University today. I had great interviews at KSU and KU. So many young adults looking for teaching positions. With the economy is will be very difficult.

More bad news continues from Topeka. Tax revenue continues to drop as well as problems with the KPERS retirement system. Something needs to change before we begin losing families to surrounding states. Many districts in Nebraska are growing and funding is not an issue like it is here. We are losing some of our best and brightest young people to surrounding states.

How About Kansas?

Teachers

One of the highlights of my educational career is interviewing beginning teachers at career fairs across the state of Kansas. They are energetic and excited to begin their dream of working with kids on a daily basis.

I enjoy KSU, KU, ESU and PSU interview days each year. Many times I interview non-stop from 8:00-5:00 with a 30 minute break at lunch. When I leave, I'm brain dead but motivated because of the young people that I have visited with.

If you attend these institutions, USD 493 Columbus is looking for a high school math teacher and an assistant technology facilitator for the district.

Please e-mail me for more information: dcarriger@usd493.com

Busy Weekend

This has been a busy weekend. Friday night we went to Park University in Kansas City and watched my nephew Chris play volleyball. The family enjoyed the match.

Happy Anniversary Brian-Allison

Happy 1st Anniversary Brian-Allison

Reminder

My Board Clerk sent me this text message yesterday while I was traveling home from a long day in Topeka.

A Message for Brian

Wrestling Regional Champions

Congratulations to the Columbus Unified High School Wrestling Team as they won the Class 4A Regional Wrestling Championship at Chanute on Saturday. The CUHS Titans will compete this coming weekend at the Class 4A State championship at Salina.

Columbus

One year ago today Debbie and I traveled to Columbus to interview for the superintendency.  It has been a good 8 months.  We have enjoyed getting to know so many good people that care about the kids of this community.

Humor

Weekend

Valentines weekend. Debbie and I started off Friday evening watching a great overtime game at Coffeyville where the Columbus girls won a battle.

Then we headed to Tulsa to get my tire sensor placed on my truck. Saturday afternoon we were off to NW Arkansas to spend a relaxing day. We did a little shopping and ate at AQ Chicken House. I took Debbie to a "chick flick" that she has wanted to see, Dear John. We watched it at a packed movie house in Bella Vista. I counted about 15 sacrificial husbands and 100 crying women. I survived.

Sunday we worshipped in Bentonville. We always enjoy going to church there. The congregation has grown to about 800. It is a friendly church trying to reach out to the community.

We headed back and ate a late dinner in Joplin at Gusano's. They have great food.

We celebrated our 31st Valentines Day. Each one is very special!

Friday Humor

On the sixth day God turned to the Archangel Gabriel and said:  "Today I am going to create a land called Kansas.  It will be a land of outstanding natural beauty.  It shall have tall majestic landscapes full of buffalo, tall grass, and hawks, beautiful skies, forests full of elk and deer, rich farmland."

God continued, "I shall make the land rich in resources so as to make the inhabitants prosper, I shall call these inhabitants Kansans, and they shall be known as a most friendly people." 

"But Lord," asked Gabriel, "don't you think you are being too generous to these Kansans?"

"Not really," replied God.  "Just wait and see the winters I am going to give them!"

I Love this Picture

Not hard to imagine!

Haiti

Shannon is a great friend from the Central Church in Topeka. If you can help her efforts please contact the Central Church of Christ, 1250 SW College, Topeka, Kansas, 66604.


Dear Friends,

I have been given the opportunity to be part of the relief efforts in Haiti. The trip will take place March 9-18. During my time in Haiti I will participate as part of a medical team addressing the physical as well as the mental health/ emotional needs of the people. We will be doing food distribution as well. I have been told we will be visiting some orphanages, and they would like me to work with the children around grief and loss issues.

I will be receiving more details about the trip in the days to come. I do know we will have one day of training in Florida before leaving for Haiti and one day of debriefing at the end of the trip. In Haiti, we will be staying at a school base in Quisqueya which is also base for US Military personnel providing relief to Haiti. The team that just returned saw at least 1,500 people in the medical clinics dealing with anything from amputations to post traumatic stress disorder to delivering babies.

Through study, prayer, and the prompting of the Holy Spirit, I believe it is God's will for me to go on this trip. I am asking for partners to support me. First of all I am asking for people to pray for me. Please pray for safety of body and mind as our team will be exposed to sickness and severe trauma. Also pray that I will find open doors to speak to others about the love of Christ as I work as the "hands and feet of Jesus". I am also looking for financial supporters. I will need to pay $800 by Friday, February 12th. This covers the cost of the flight from Florida to Haiti, expenses on the ground as well as hiring interpreters. I will also have the expense of the round trip ticket from Kansas City to Florida as well as taking 2 days unpaid leave from work. Please prayerfully consider this. If you would like to contribute please send the money to the church office and let them know you intend for it to go towards this trip. Make the check out to Central Church of Christ.

Thank you so much for your support! Below is a picture from the team who just returned last week.

Your sister in Christ,
Shannon Wright

My Daughter-in-law

Allison:

I thought Dolly said stay off the grass?

Super Bowl Sunday

I am looking forward to the Super Bowl.  

I live in a house divided.  Debbie is picking the Saints, I'm picking the Colts.  I know one thing the BBQ ribs will be good as we watch the game.

GO COLTS!

Weekend Thoughts

Snow

A lot of people like snow.  I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.  ~Carl Reiner

Snow, Snow Go Away

Winter Storm #3 left 5.5 inches of snow on Friday night. That is a total of about 15 inches in the past 35 days. At least its not as bad as the picture above.