Charles and Mock-Trial in Anchorage

Charles had a good weekend in Anchorage for the State Mock-Trial competition. The Mock-Trial helps students understand how the legal system "works". Charles was on the defense team for a day-care owner accused of firing an employee because she had epilepsy. He had 3 others on their team. They would compete against a team for the prosecution. The format was a regular jury trial. They had the basics of the case and then had to write their own opening statement, witness questions, cross-exam questions, and closing statements. During their practices local lawyers would come and watch and give pointers. Charles usually got great compliments. His best friend, Berrett Wilber, was on a prosecution team and was voted the 6th best lawyer. Over all the Sitka High team was 4th out of 9 teams...much better than last year...11th of 12. Charles' defense team won all 4 of the trials they were in.
In addition to the competition, Charles had a great time with his friends and making new friends and getting to sleep little and play a lot.

Extra Long Extra Fun Drama/Debate

Last week was the regional DDF meet in Ketchikan. Meg and Charles both went by ferry and returned by plane. Their performances were by their accounts not too good. They had much more fun staying with friend at local family homes. In fact they got an extra day to be with their friends as the flight they were to be on on Saturday night was cancelled due to fog here in Sitka. They got to stay an extra night and finally got home late Sunday night. Next up is Charles going to the State Mock Trial meet this week in Anchorage and Meg to Idaho for the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival next week and then to Anchorage for the State Drama/Debate meet.

DOCTOR MOM!!!

Lori has sucessfully defended her dissertation!!!! Saturday the 10 she spent 90 minutes on the phone with her committee members answering questions and comments. They told her that the kids must now call her Dr. Mom until she gets tired of it... So CONGRATS to a beautiful, intelligent Mom and Wife!! Hail Doctor Lori!!!

Travelin' Band

This is a busy time for all of us. In the next month a week won't go by that at least one of us isn't traveling for something.

• Right now Meg and Charles are in Ketchikan for the Regional Drama/Debate meet.
• Next week I go on a field trip for work to Klawock and Charles will be in Anchorage for the State Mock Trial meet.
• Following tht Meg will go with Jazz Choir to the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow Idaho.
• She'll recover from that for a couple of days before going to Anchorage for the State Meet of Drama and Debate.
• Lori and I will then spend the next week going to a psych conference for Lori in San Diego. We'll get to spend a few day at my parents before coming back.
• During the last part of that trip Meg will once again go to Anchorage for a Poetry Reading competition.

Finally, by the 14th of March we'll all be home for a while.... I'm tired just writing about it!!

TV Cooking

We are not a TV watching family. The kids will watch whenever possible, but that is usually those high quality shows in Anime. As a rule we rarely to never watch the "major" networks and don't even know what shows are on them. In fact, we might watch 45 minutes of TV if we are home ore not busy. Lori refers to what we do watch as "mindless TV" designed to wind us down before bed. We're a Disney, TV Land, Nick, HGTV, and Food bunch. My favorite show right now is GOOD EATS on the Food Network. Alton Brown is a suave, handsome chef with sophisticated humor.. like me.. OK not the chef part. He is part Monty Python, part Julia Child, and a lot strange... a funny, informative show on cooking. We have picked up some nice tips. Lori (now that she is a veggie) avoids the shows dealing with meat, but enjoys watching me be entertained.

Grizzly Rick No More

For the past 4 months I have been growing a beard. In the past my beards have been shaped and trimmed. This time I decided to let it go; except for the moustache ... that stays off my upper lip. In October is Alaska Day and they have a beard contest. I was figuring on having a nice hefty beard by then. Well, with the new church calling to Bishop I cut it off. The Church recommends that the leaders are clean shaven. Some will have a bit of lip hair, but for the vast majority they are smooth.

When going through the process of eliminating the beard I like to play with it and cut it off in different ways to see what it could look like... Lori and Meg thought it was gross, but Charles and I had fun and got some good pictures. Besides having lousy sideburns....Elvis has not left the building... and Brigham Young is rolling in his grave...