Archive for February, 2009

Today I made a trip to the T.A.G. room with some kids from our class. The room is pretty small, and it was crowded, with eight kids and supplies. The game I’m standing in is Kalah (some of you might call this game Mancala). It’s really fun! Too bad I can’t play. The pieces are almost bigger than I am!

After school I went with some kids in the class to their chess club meeting.  I thought I could beat them real easily, but I guess I was wrong.  One of the kids brought this weird four way game of chess, so I was caught off guard.  After a couple of tries I finally got the silver player in check.

Sorry I have not been in touch for a while, but I think I needed to recover from my glorious trip to California. Since I have been back in New Jersey, the weather has beentypical winter weather-freezing cold. I hope the weather back in Missouri hasn’t been too severe. I think it is going to be almost 60 degrees on Friday, but I know it won’t last. Hurry up spring! Work at school has been varied and busy. The host students keep busy working hard and enjoying their school activities. They are getting ready for Dr. Seuss Day on Monday. The highlight of the day will be a pie throwing contest. Winning classes for the most reading will get to throw a pie and the principal and other lucky people. I can’t wait to see that mess.

I visited my friends in the tank each morning.  I hated to leave them, but we moved up north to Carlsbad, California for the rest of the week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the view from the room at the Four Seasons Resort in Carlsbad, California.

 

 

 

 

While waiting to get my picture taken there was a class of second graders taking pictures. When they saw me I thought they were going to take me away. Their teacher told them I am like the Flat Stanley project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Boy, they were big!

The man in the picture was reading a book about gorillas to the baby gorilla. It was really neat the way the man was able to communicate with the animal. The picture shows them giving kisses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The view was great, but I am afraid of heights.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucky for me, flamingoes don’t like gnomes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is Mr. Peter Lemon, a Congressional Medal of Honor winner. I was quite honored to listen to him speak and pose for a photograph with him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m buckled in and ready for take-off. San Diego here I come!

Here I am in the cockpit. I’m standing next to the compass.

View from the 5th floor of our room over looking the harbor.

This was the biggest rainbow I have ever seen!

This is the Pacific Ocean in Coronado, California.

The town is known for its hotel which was built in 1888.

Check out this tree. Do you see me?

 

On Friday morning as part of the meeting, there was a comedian for the entertainment. Boy, was he hilarious! My sides were hurting from all the laughing I was doing.  If that wasn’t enough, after dinner we had a comedian/magician to entertain us.  He had a parrot named Luige to help him with his tricks. I’m still recovering from his humor and trying to figure out how the tricks were done.  For one trick, he actually had a person in the audience phone someone on their cell phone to help with the trick. One of the ladies in our group phoned her daughter in Mississippi. The magician had the caller think of a card and tell it to her mother. Meanwhile, the magician had a deck of cards facing the audience with only one card turned away. The caller thought of the 10 of clubs. That was the same card the magician had facing away from the group. It was pretty amazing.

After breakfast on Saturday, the speaker during the meeting was a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Mr. Lemon earned his award after serving as an Army Ranger during the Vietnam War. He is now a motivational speaker who through his story of serving his country, helps to inspire others to be loyal, honest, trusting and courageous in all aspects of their life.  At the age of 25, having served his country and owning his own business, Mr. Lemon decided he wanted to go to college. Because of his GPA in high school, he was denied entrance to  college.  Through perseverance and determnation, he finally was accepted into college and went on to attain a maters degree. I wish all students could have heard Mr. Lemon speak, so they too could be inspired to do the right thing and go after their dreams. I am quite honored to have had my picture taken with Mr. Lemon.

The convention ends this evening, so we will be heading back to New Jersey on Sunday. School is closed Monday for President’s Day. This will give me a chance to recover from this vacation. I am looking forward to seeing the students back at Hainesport School and getting all my pictures posted on the web.  

Enjoy,

The Roaming Gnome (RG)

Greetings all,

Sorry I have not been in touch for a few days, but I have been living quite a luxurious lifestyle. This group at the convention certainly knows how to pick a place to stay.  I am at the Four Seasons Resort in Carslbad, California. The view from our room has us looking out onto the mountains that are snow covered.  It’s been fun going to fancy restaurants and being with people dressed in tuxedos. I assure you that I have been on my best behavior.

Today my host teacher and her husband took me to the world famous San Diego Zoo. What a place! So many of the animals, I am sure, are not ones found in other zoos. We saw animals I didn’t know even existed. Many are endangered species. I had several photos taken and will be anxious to show them to you. I was a little afraid when we toook the sky tram from one end of the park to the other. I felt much better once we were down on the ground.  I have to get ready for another dinner in the grand ballroom tonight so I will close for now.

The Roaming Gnome (RG)

Something tells me I am not in New Jersey anymore. Yesterday morning I was up bright and early headed for the airport. My host teacher and I have flown to San Diego, California. The flight was quite comfortable and I was able  spread out and sleep in my own seat. I even had my picture taken up in the cockpit. The weather was rainy when we arrived, and I am not sure that it is going to be that delightful tomorrow either.

Today, Saturday, turned out to be a cool but sunny day. We were greeted by a gorgeous rainbow out over the marina. AFter breakfast, a group headed over to Coronado. It is a nice town on the ocean. The beach is quite large and the sand is harder than the beaches in New Jersey, from what I am told. I managed to have my picture taken at different locations as you will see when the pictures are posted. We ate lunch at the Hotel Del Coronado. It was built in 1888 and is quite a magnificent place. It has been nice being away from the cold weather of New Jersey, although just when I leave I heard it warmed up to 56 degrees. I think I am heading to the world famous San Diego zoo tomorrow. I will let you know all about the days to come.

The Roaming Gnome

On Saturday, January 31st I went to the Fire and Ice Festival. It was so cold I turned to ice! I’m just kidding with you, it was someone’s ice sculpture! The only problem with his ice sculpture is he made me look too fat. The festival was in Mt. Holly, New Jersey, which is the next town over from Hainesport where the kids’ school is located.

The first four pictures are of my new beach house in Atlantic City, New Jersey. I am kidding with you again, it is actually the winner of the gingerbread house contest under the adult’s category.