Orlando, Florida
It's been a long time since I've written anything here. I need to get used to writing more often, but I'm so busy and, frankly, I'm not so sure that I have anything meaningful to say that often-- unlike the many folks who post their opinions several times a day on blogs and especially bulleting boards with nothing useful to say. (I believe that talking just to hear yourself is either an exercise of great egotism or of a simple mind that is too ignorant to know the relative unimportance of their voice.)
I've been in Orlando this week for the national athletic director's conference. It's been disappointing that there are so few AD's from Texas in attendance this year, but at least I got to see some friends I haven't seen in awhile. The hotel we stay at is stunning and the weather has been pretty nice, too, though it's a little cool for short-sleeved shirts which is all I have. Fortunately, there's no reason to leave this hotel/convention center at all until I leave for the airpoort this afternoon.
In one week exactly (if my flights are on time) I'll be arriving at the Iquitos airport for six days in the Peruvian Amazon again. It is obviously my favorite place to relax now. I wish I could describe how much I enjoy it there -- the feeling of total relaxation and escape from the normal worries and pressures of life into a completely different world from the one I know at home is beyond my ability to describe adequately.
While I am especially excited to see my many friends in Peru, there are still a few things I'd like to do there. I may spend a little more time in some of the small villages along the river away from the I'd also like to visit the Butterfly Farm (which is actually more of an animal refuge with monkeys, anteaters, etc.), a herpetariums to see more snakes, one of the native Indian villages to see some native culture, or even Monkey Island which is an animal refuge with lots of free-roaming monkeys who climb all over you. Of course, I may just spend my time at the Yellow Rose sitting at a sidewalk table drinking their great frozen lemonade (or some other suitable cooling beverage).
While I've been taking lots of photos on each trip, I'm considering spending more time with a video camera. I've wanted to to video editing for a long time to make personal DVD's of my trips, but I always seem to go back to still photography. Probably the reason is because it is what I am most comfortable with as I've been a photographer most of my life. Still, seeing video of the places you've been on a big-screen TV is a lot of fun, especially if it has been edited so it looks less like an amateur home movie and a slicker (though still amateur) video production with soundtrack music.
Well, it's time to jump in the shower and get ready for the last day of the conference. We work for four hours then pack everything up before heading to the airport. Hopefully I'll be able to catch an early flight home so I can be in Fort Worth a little earlier. At this time of year, it sure is nice to be home.
