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.

Let's Go Paddling

Mason and I have decided to try a new sport, kayaking. We rented kayaks twice over the past few months and decided that it would be more cost effective to just purchase two entry-level 10 foot kayaks.  We ordered them weeks ago and they finally arrived on Monday.



We took Mason's out for a spin yesterday.  Why not both?  Well, I have yet to figure out the easiest way to transport both at the same time.  One fits nicely in the back of the mini-van but the second, not so much.





I was lucky enough to see a young manatee surface as I paddled around the mangrove island pictured above. More kayaking pictures to come ... 

The Pick of the Patch

Florida's strawberry season is among us, my friends. We couldn't wait to start picking. Luckily, a new U-pick farm has opened near our home. It is much closer than the farm in last year's post.





Someone special decided to join us this year.  I just assumed that Darin had picked fruits or vegetables as a young kid. Nope, he says this was his first time ever. As you can tell from his bag, he just couldn't stop picking.  He was really enjoying it.



As an added bonus this farm has tomato fields as well.



Of course one of the best parts of picking is the free sampling.



I'm sure you have seen red peppers, green peppers and yellow peppers but have you ever seen or heard of purple and white peppers? This was a first for me.

 

Nothin' but Net

Seems like fall football just ended yet we are already into the height of basketball season.



We have spent a couple of nights in the Shark Tank at Gulf Coast High.
 

Why you might ask? Because drumline performed during halftime of course.



Mason has decided to give youth basketball a try this year.



With only one practice and one game per week it isn't too big of a commitment but yet enough for him to get a feel for the game.

The Billionaires Club

A few months ago I was perusing the band's online calendar and noticed the drumline was scheduled to perform at the Naples Winter Wine Festival.  This three day festival is the most elite and exclusive charity event in all of Collier County.  It includes sixteen celebrity chefs, 28 vintners, hundreds of bottles of the finest wines ever produced, plus one-of-a-kind items and trips that are auctioned off at the Ritz Carlton. Tickets begin at $8,500 per couple.

When I mentioned the festival to Mackenzie last month she said, "We'll probably wear our drumline t-shirts with jeans and you'll just drop me off at the Ritz". Meanwhile I'm thinking, "I doubt that but we'll see." In her defense, the drumline had played for the United Way charity earlier this year.  It was a very casual event at a local park.

On Wednesday, I got a text from Mackenzie at school telling me that the drumline had to take a bus, dress in full uniform, and was in need of chaperones.  I hadn't chaperoned any of her other previous trips, but she knew I would jump at the opportunity to attend this festival, sister "had my back" on this one. Apparently the band director has been trying for five years to get his drumline invited to this premiere event because of all the other opportunities it may provide.

Before boarding the bus, the students were informed by the band director that they were not to engage in conversation with any of the attendees, they were not to touch or even breathe on the Ferrari F12berlinetta (auction item), or gawk at any of the billionaires and their wealth. They were told to think of themselves as hired help and their job was to perform.

The students were not paid any money to perform but they were given a free lunch.  Once they arrived at the Ritz Carlton they were ushered into a private room and treated to pizza.

 

After lunch they were escorted out to the lawn to perform a number of cadences while the guests mingled and enjoyed wine and appetizers.

 



An announcement was made for the guests to follow the drumline into the tent to find their seats so the live auction could begin.

 

Inside the tent the drumline played a few more cadences before exiting.



My favorite part of being inside the tent was seeing the drumline performing on the large screen monitors.

 

All of my photos were taken using my iphone. I left my good camera at home because I didn't want to be considered a gawker either. I was surprised by how many members of the press were in attendance. The Naples Daily News posted some great pictures of the band.

On a side note, over 8.5 million was raised at the live auction. The Ferrari F12berlinetta sold for $750,000.