Last year

254 days until retirement.

My last academic year has started.  Sinclair has been a huge part of my life for 24 years.  It is strange to be aware that I am doing things for the last time - the last fall payroll, the last time I will be teaching this class.  In terms of interaction I am much more involved with first year students.  So this is my last first year class.  Even though I am obviously excited about the move to Bluffton I want this to be a good year for the students.

We have the added excitement of an accreditation site visit in a few weeks.  It will be my fourth and my last.  They haven't asked for any additional information from the written self study and that usually means that they have found everything they are looking for.  It doesn't do to get complacent, however, it isn't over until it is over.

I went back down to Bluffton before classes started.  It was a interesting trip.  My friend Marta went  with me.  We made it down OK except the air conditioner went out.  That wasn't too bad on the highway.  On Sunday the temperature was 95 and it was absolutely miserable in the car.  We were able to get the car in to be fixed on Tuesday morning but didn't get it back until Wednesday afternoon.  Unfortunately it was an expensive fix.

That kind of put a damper on the sightseeing.  Marta did get some shopping done at the outlet malls.  At her suggestion we rented a golf cart on Tuesday.  It was fun tooling around Sun City in the golf cart.  I am definitely going to get one when I move down there.

 We also got over to the pools this time.  The one nearest to me is really a beautiful pool.  When I looked at it before I didn't pay much attention to it.  Even the outside one has strategically placed umbrellas so I can get out of the sun.  One night we went late and we had the whole pool to ourselves.  It was wonderful to be in the water at night. 

The more I am there the more I love Sun City.  It really does feel like home.  I thought I would go down again over Thanksgiving but I don't have very much time them.  I think I will go a longer time over the Christmas vacation.