Friday, November 10, 2017

Reasons

Time for the details.  

Non-family readers of this blog no doubt wondered why the Geofamily made the decision to leave the town in which we lived for nine years and relocate to Manhattan.  

The reasons, of course, are there and came from differing routes.  

First I need to make public the belief that while living in Norton, Kansas fit our needs well back in 2008, Geogal and I never intended to reside there for the remainder of our lives.  After Geoana completed high school we always intended to look elsewhere.  This isn’t far-fetched as both Geogal and I have careers in which we can locate employment nearly anywhere we land, provided there is a certain population base.  

So why did we move our plans ahead by two years?  (Geoana is now in 11th grade.)  

1) Stress level.  Geogal and I reached the point where we were both unhappy in our jobs.  I was a management-level person and as 2016 progressed and became 2017 I noticed ailments I had never before experienced.  Specifically, acid reflux and increasingly disrupted (and non-restful) sleep.  To go along with the physical I realized I also became more impatient and short-tempered.  These attributes are not a typical component of my personality and I definitely didn’t like the person I was becoming.  “What is next,” I thought, “an ulcer?”  Plus, when you live in an isolated rural area the job opportunities are not sufficient to allow an easy transition. 

2) Education opportunities.  In this section I need to take great care in what I write as I don’t want to either come across as “badmouthing” or exhibiting sour grapes for all the world to see.  I also will add that Geoana had some very good teachers while in the Norton schools.  These are true education professionals who went above and beyond the typical requirements and as such Geoana had a better-than-average experience, particularly in the lower grades.  However (and admit it, all of you reading this knew there was a “but” coming up), at the high school level all three of us realized Geoana wasn’t being truly challenged.  NCHS does not offer advanced placement classes and given Geoana’s desire and drive to enter the field of engineering we want her to be better prepared for college-level classes.  Geoana also flourishes in forensics and was open to being on a debate team, again something her erstwhile school didn’t offer.  

3) Social.  Geogal pointed out not long ago that while we lived in Norton the longest period of time (nine years), we had the least number of friends out of any of the places we lived.  Sad but true.  While northwest Kansas certainly has its share of friendly folks it is difficult to ingratiate oneself socially if you’re not originally from this area or otherwise have family connections.  It is true that in some sections of rural America you can live in a place for 20, 30 or even 40-plus years and still not feel as if you belong.  That described us well.  Compounding this problem is the numerous local large clans.  Geoana often had none of her peers to call or otherwise be social during holiday times as “So-and-so is spending time with her cousins today.”  While both of our families still remain well out of state (Texas and California) we hope being in a more populated area, particularly one with a large state university, might ameliorate this issue.  

4) Life more abundant.  I’m borrowing this term from Christianity but it indeed is relevant here.  Readers of this blog are well-aware some Saturdays (or even Sundays, gasp!) are likely to be consumed by road trips necessitated by grocery-and-supply shopping or transporting Geoana to a 4H event.  While we enjoyed this diversion during our first year in Norton, afterward it got downright monotonous.  I realize not all highway driving is comparable to California 1 from Morro Bay to the Monterey peninsula or even Interstate 70 through the heart of the Rocky Mountains but seeing nearly endless cornfields broken only by land not suitable for tilling gets old quickly.  No matter what the season.  Maybe we decided it was time to spend our leisure time with true recreational pursuits rather than necessary retail chores.  After all, if we live in “civilization” we can likely knock out shopping duties on a weeknight rather than sacrifice a whole Saturday.  


So, dear reader that should give you an idea of why we decided to reside in Manhattan and say farewell to Norton.  I agree, it is not the “safe” or “comfortable” thing to do, but maybe life should involve some significant new journeys!  

Tuesday, November 07, 2017

One more!

Why not do another entry about the Astros?  Besides these are thoughts and tidbits that really didn't fit into the previous entry.  

I admit I looked at the postseason with doubt (what Astros fan wouldn't after all these years?).  Taking care of the Red Sox was a good start.  Then I learned New York knocked out Cleveland.  Oh, great.  When it comes to MLB championships I fall into the ABY crowd.  Anybody But the Yankees. But that series came to a satisfactory end.  

Time for the Big One.  I remember prior to the Series starting asking the baseball gods to have the Astros win at least one.  Who wants to be known for being swept both times you make it to the WS?  

Game One.  Oh, rats.  Then Game Two settled my brain.  

Fast forward to the near-end.  True, the Astros lose a heartbreaker in the form of Game Six.  

And I confess, I didn't immediately check the 'net or any other media for the results of Game Seven.  Just other stressors on my mind causing baseball to go to the bottom of the list.  

Then Geogal had a the privilege of telling me the Astros did indeed win.  That was all I needed.  Fire up the MacBook and read all about it!  

How about this for trivia?  I believe the Astros are the only MLB club to represent both the American and National leagues in the World Series.  Plus they might hold that distinction for a long time.  

Congratulations to all members of the Astros organization.  

Monday, November 06, 2017

For the long-suffering Houston sports fans...

....Enjoy this!  All of you have earned it!!!


  • My brother-in-law, who shared (via Facebook) that he was born the same year the franchise began and he's wanted this his whole life.  
  • My cousin Kenneth H., who endured every televised moment of the Astros' 1980 postseason even when it didn't have a happy ending.  
  • All the fans who saw the Astros make it to the World Series in 2005 only to be swept by the White Sox.
  • People in southeast Texas who suffered loss due to Hurricane Harvey.  
  • All of us who remember (and endured) the "rainbow-uniformed" Astros of the 1970's and early '80's. 
  • Houstonians and others who sadly watched younger franchises such as the Royals, Marlins, Blue Jays and Diamondbacks hoist the trophy.  
  • Folks who treated going to the Astrodome as special.  
  • Everyone in the above categories who is sick and tired of Houston being treated as third-rate by the sports media.  
  • Speaking of the Astrodome, those who remember the Astro Nuts and Chester Charge.  
  • Lastly, not baseball-related but still pertinent:  All in Houston who ground their teeth because of the number one prime time drama from 1979 onward being named after and taking place in "that other city in Texas."  

Sunday, November 05, 2017

Finally, return of the entries!

Greetings to all who still check this site periodically.  

My last entry noted our impending move.  In August we pulled the trigger and now live near Manhattan, Kansas ("The Little Apple")  I'll give more details in the coming days, hitting both the high and low points.  

What else about which to write?  The Houston Astros finally winning a World Series.  The New Mexico State University Aggies having a fairly good football season (yes, winning four games is considered "fairly good" in Aggiedom).  My latest TV and other broadcast-related thoughts.  Adjustment to life in a different area.  Spiritual journey.  And so forth.  

Now that the move is complete and my evenings are again my own (October was consumed with me putting in time devoted to home-study in order to complete continuing education for one of my professional licenses) I hope to re-establish the regular blogging habit.  

Stay tuned for some interesting (I hope) stories.