Flying like an Eagle

*This post is dedicated to every FGCU Eagle student-teacher intern who has stepped foot in my computer lab over the past 10 years.

Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) made the nation stand up and take notice on Friday Night.  On Sunday, FGCU made history by becoming the first 15th ranked basketball team to make the NCAA tournament's Sweet 16.

FGCU opened its doors in 1997 and we have seen it grow leaps and bounds in the past 10 years. We have been teasing Mackenzie this year that FGCU would always be her back-up plan for college since it is only 18 miles from our front door.  Of course, she has higher expectations such as UF and Florida State.

Even though I have never taken a course from FGCU, I still feel somewhat connected to the university. I have been on its campus for educational exams and seminars. Many Eagles have completed their teaching internships at my elementary school before graduating. Three years ago, we actually attended a FGCU basketball game because Mason had earned free tickets for a reading a certain number of books.

Do I think that FGCU will will the NCAA tournament? No. Do I think that FGCU will beat UF tomorrow night?  Probably not. Am I along with everyone else in Naples proud to be flying like an Eagle this week?  Absolutely!    

Clowning Around on Spring Break

By far this was the coldest Spring Break in my 20+ years of teaching in Florida. I look at these pictures and cannot believe we were wearing pants, long sleeves and scarves. The weather was absolutely perfect and we enjoyed every minute of it.

I think Darin was a little jealous that we had the week off.  He made a last minute decision to take Friday off and join us for a day excursion to the Ringling Estate in Sarasota.

Our first stop was the Museum of the Circus. The displays included rare handbills and posters, photographs, sequined costumes, performing props, miniature circuses, and elaborately carved circus wagons. Mackenzie's favorite was John Ringling’s private rail car the Wisconsin.










Our second stop was the Cà d'Zan (meaning "House of John"). This mansion was the winter home of the Ringlings and was designed to resemble the Venetian Gothic palaces Mrs. Ringling admired during her travels in Italy.



Our final stop was the Ringling Museum of Art. Although it was easy to get caught up in the magic of the circus, John Ringling's true legacy to Sarasota was his vast love of art. He and his wife, Mable, built an art museum in 1925 that housed their collection of over 500 years of art — most of which was personally selected by John Ringling.



It surprised me that John Ringling died in 1936 with less than $300 in the bank. However, upon his death he donated his artwork and entire 66 acre estate to the State of Florida in honor of his beloved Sarasota.

Zucchini Pasta

A food post on our blog? Shocking, I know! For those of you who don't know me well, I am not a "foodie". I don't live to cook but rather cook to live. After attending a gluten-free seminar Darin went out a purchased a new kitchen gadget. I would have been rather annoyed except for the fact that our current house has a rather large pantry.



Darin said he was going to make zucchini pasta and that it would taste just as good as real pasta.  I had my doubts.



All he did was peel a zuchinni, slice it and saute it in a little olive oil.



I was surprised, it tasted delicious. I highly recommend it. If you stop by my house I might even make some for you.