Day 61 -- CPS Training Seminar

Today I was able to attend a continuing education seminar done for CPS, but was also open to CASA advocates.  I decided it would be good to know what the judge had to say to CPS about things concerning these cases so that I could work better with the caseworkers on my own cases.  The courtroom was packed with probably 100-125 people, about 15 of which were CASA and the others CPS caseworkers.  I did learn a few very valuable things, one of which I am hoping can help one of my kids get to go live with his grandparents in Maryland after the July 11 hearing.  Here are a few of the astounding (to me) statistics we were given:

1.  In the Bell County court through which CPS cases are heard, there were 365 NEW cases introduced in 206
2.  There were a total of 687 children in CPS cases in 2016
3.  The court had 3,377 cases on the docket in 2016--that's for one judge!
4. Over 90% of the parents qualify for court appointed attorneys (meaning they are indigent)
5. 50% of all cases have to do with substance abuse of some kind by the parents
6. Texas is the 47th in the country on spending for mental illness/drug problems for these parents
7. Texas is 43rd in the country in spending on CPS, child protection
8. Until a few years ago, Texas was #1 in the country for child deaths at the hands of family.
9. The turnover rate for caseworkers based on numbers in Austin was 46%.
10. If a child in the system is placed in a RTC (Resident Training Center which is for older children), it costs the state between $6K-7K a month per child for them to be there.

The system is broken, the family structure is of our culture is broken, the moral values of our culture are broken, and it looks there is no end to the escalation of children getting caught in this deplorable situation.  

Day 60--Books, Books

Sometimes I have to look really hard to find something new in the day.  But I finally realized that when Bill came home from the office with two boxes from Amazon with a total of 5 books, that it was a new all-time high of receiving books in one day!  I almost felt like it was Christmas, and then I couldn't decide which to begin reading first.  They are most all books that were recommended by the speakers at the REEA conference we were at in Florida but they sounded good so we ordered them.  I'm reading Change or Die right now by Alan Deutschman which lays out some principles for change which is a hard thing for all of us to do--especially the older we get!  I'm finding it very informative and glad I got it.  In the vein of change, I attending my third nutritionist program tonight as well, continuing to learn the newest thinking about what's really good for our bodies and what has proven not to be so good.  I actually hired this young lady nutritionist who is a graduate of "whoop" Texas A&M and she is doing a private evaluation and consultation with me on Monday which I hope will improve my lifestyle eating and my stomach woes.

Day 59 -- Back to the Grind

You know the feeling--suddenly you are no longer in the fantasy world of everything being new--and you are right back in the middle of everything being mundane and too familiar.  That's what we woke up to--an hour early of course because we were gone just long enough to get our internal clock off track.  Bill went off to the office and I went off to the laundry room and catching up on my CASA obligations, etc.  Got lots accomplished but then, it was time for dinner.  We've had such wonderful, beautiful, fancy meals while we were gone, that I just didn't think hamburger helper would work out for us tonight--so I bought some boneless lamb chops to grill.  I've never been a fan of lamb, but after Jeff cooked up about 3 dozen lamb chops in Scotland for us one night for dinner, I've changed my attitude about lamb.  So, tonight was my very first time to not only buy lamb, but also to cook it--and it turned out just pretty good.  I used my magnificent indoor DeLonghi grill and threw those chops on there like I knew what I was doing, made some yummy Brussels sprouts and sliced up a melon--and we had a meal that might not have been as pretty as some we had while we were gone--but was pretty darn good!  And by the way, the melon was a Sugar Kissed melon--first one I've ever gotten but I learned about them from some of my buddies at the Women in the Outdoors event earlier this month.  They were right--there is no finer melon!  Try it--you will be hooked!

Day 58--Headed Home

WeWe slept in late and then got packed for our trip back to the airport in Ft. Lauderdale.  Luckily, on a Tuesday, the traffic on the Keys was not heavy and we were able to take our time going to the airport as our flight wasn't until 4:50.  Most of the keys are very narrow and small but some have a commercial area while many only have residential areas along the water on either side.  We stopped in Key Islamorada which strings along for miles at a little touristy shop and stretched our legs.  Then we went on to Key Largo where we made a stop into the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park we had seen on our way in on Sunday.  It was a wonderful park with lots of beach area, RV parking areas, and areas for divers, tours to the coral reefs, etc.  We didn't have time for the glass bottom boat tour but went into the park visitor's center and discovered they had a great little aquarium in it.  It was nice and there were many educational exhibits in the center.  AND it had bathrooms which are always handy when on the road!

Beautiful coral in the aquarium

This beautiful little fish kept hiding from me while I was trying to get his photo--but I succeeded!

This sign was enough to assure me I wouldn't  be getting in the water--

but obviously not enough for many other folk!

This was a great trip--we might not ever really plan a trip to Miami, but I'm glad we got to go and see the sights and enjoy the Keys for a couple of days.  We made it home safe and sound, no lost luggage or anything--that's a successful trip!

Day 57 -- Key West Bound

Today we got up and headed South until there was no more land!  The Southernmost point in the continental US is in Key West.  We found it and a lot more when we got there.  What a crazy place--incredible traffic on narrow roads, people everywhere, no parking--but we endured and enjoyed anyway!  First stop was in the historic seaport area which was very reminiscent of Galveston's Strand.  The old buildings remain as reminders of a distant past, but now filled with touristy kitschy stuff.  I loved seeing the buildings, many of which looked like they had come from New Orleans.  Bill wanted a shirt so we began looking for a parking place and the first place we pulled in wanted $20 minimum for up to 3 hours--we passed.  Finally found a parking place on the street where we could use a parking meter and put in all the quarters we could round up for a 45 minute period to do our shopping!  Didn't find a shirt, but walked four or five blocks in the area--which was Bill's max walking pretty much.

Beautiful old homes everywhere

Cool old building which now sells T-Shirts from China

First legal rum brewery

Some people obviously weren't thrilled with the distillery!

Sample of the historical district area

Next we went to what was called the Truman Annex--had no idea what it was but it was between us and the Southernmost point of the US so we pulled right in to the guard gate and he waved us on.  Turns out this area is a very high-end homeowner's area with quaint old cottages and houses, all white, and just beautifully landscaped, probably costing upwards of $3-? million.  The name comes from the fact that Truman had his retreat here which he called the "little white house".  Many historical decisions were made in that little white house.  We drove through the neighborhood and then went on to the state park which was our destination to get as far South as possible!

Entrance to the state park and fort

One of the streets in Truman Annex

Beach at state park

Southernmost tip of US

Can't read sign but it has all kinds of cities and how far it is to them from that point

This is truly how turquoise the water is

Giant pieces of coral the size of boulders

Of course, by now it was time to eat yet again, so we decided to leave the hubbub of the historic area and go to the other side of the key and see what we could find.  We found a great very quiet restaurant in an old Victorian house right on the water with a dog beach next to it.  We entertained ourselves watching the silly dogs play in the water--one was a Corgi just like Lucy--couldn't really imagine her diving in like that one did!

Hidden restaurant

View from by chair--this was an appetizer!

View from the table

We drove around a while longer and when we thought we had seen most everything we wanted to see, we headed north back to Marathon.  We got there and actually both took naps which was very refreshing, and then found a great place for dinner about a block from the hotel.

Beautiful Victorian resort

Sitting on back porch poolside  for dinner

All the meals were presented so beautifully!

Day 56 -- Headed for the Keys

I had a hard time posting while we were on the trip so I'm getting caught up now!

Every day on a vacation to a new place is a first.  After attending another session at the REEA convention Sunday morning, we packed up and headed South--to the keys.  We stopped in Key Largo and had lunch at the Hobo Cafe--local color but good stuff.  After looking over Key Largo a bit, we continued our journey to Key Matador where we had a room.  The keys before Matador are called the Upper Keys, Matador is kind of the start of the Middle Keys, and then there are the Lower Keys ending with Key West.  Because it was Sunday, there was horrendous traffic both ways as we travelled on.  The Overseas Highway or Highway One was carrying all the people finishing vacation North and all those beginning vacation South so it was bumper to bumper both ways.  Once we got beyond the swampy part, the water on both sides of the highway became the most beautiful Caribbean blue--one side of the highway being the Atlantic Ocean and the other the Gulf of Mexico--but it all looked so turquoise that it felt Caribbean.  Because we averaged maybe 45 miles an hour, we arrived at Key Matador about 3:15.  We were told if we were willing to wait about 30 minutes, they would upgrade us to a suite so we said "sure"!  They gave us a key to get into the pool area where we sat and had a tropical drink (mango daiquiri for me!), and we enjoyed the infinity pool looking out to the ocean for a bit.

Soon we got to go up to the room and again, we were pleasantly surprised by how nice a Courtyard Marriott could be!  This was a new property but even so, it far exceeded any Courtyard we've ever experienced before!  Full kitchen, large living and sleeping area, large balcony looking out to ocean.

While Bill took a nap, I went down to the pool and read a book.  Then we began a search for a place to have dinner.  Bill read about a place called the Sunset Grill and it did not disappoint!

Crab au gratin--yummy!

Day 55 -- Surprise!

We have come to Miami for the REEA (Real Estate Educators Association) national convention, and it has been vague to me why we are at this meeting.  Bill told me a couple of months ago that he had to come to this meeting on behalf of the Texas Real Estate Commission to accept some kind of award or something on behalf of the commission.  He never could tell me exactly what the award was and he told me he thought they were sending him as a kind of farewell thank you for his service with the commission as his term expires this year, and so he will leave them unless reappointed by the governor.  He has served for 12 years so that is a long time, and he is grateful for that privilege.  So as I have done for years, I came with him as the "trailing spouse" to yet another real estate convention--and I don't mind because I like to travel and am ready and packed whenever he's got to go somewhere.  He told me the main thing he had to attend was the installation and award ceremony on Saturday morning so we got up early and got ourselves ready and went to the 8:00 a.m. general session.  Because I know nothing about this organization nor any of the people in it, I just followed along and listened to the litany of all the things about the REEA organization and its leadership, etc. etc.  I'm kind of following along with the agenda we were given, and it comes time for awards and they give the first one to a real estate online company for their adaptation of their courses to comply with the new Texas updated rules (which are created by the recommendations of the Education Standards Advisory Committee which I  chair and which the commissioners have to ok, Bill one of those people.  I thought that was really nice that the company got an award for that.  Next was an award named for some previous person who has died named Larry Outlaw I think, and the person who is presenting award is talking and a powerpoint is going, and suddenly, my picture flashing up on the large screen powerpoint presentation.  It takes a minute for me to realize that I am personally being given a national award from this national real estate educator's association for my work on the TREC education standards advisory committee which I have chaired since its inception 4 years ago!  I am called to the stage and given a beautiful award for the work that has been done by the ESAC committee under my chairmanship to revise and update the required real estate courses in Texas for licensure in Texas and for our requirements for instructor training.  My dear husband and closest friends had kept this secret for some months in order to get me here to Miami to receive the award.  I am still having a hard time believing it and certainly feel like my whole committee earned the award, not just me.  What a crazy and unbelievable thing to happen to me, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve with a great committee whose contributions to real estate education are honored. So, as it turns out, the whole Miami trip was for me to receive the award and for this I thank all the TREC leadership and education department who made this surprise happen!

After all that hoopla this morning, Bill and I got out and explored a little more of the Miami area.  We decided to go to Little Havana area of town because Bill had promised to bring some people cigars.  It was a busy little area of town and reminded us a great deal of Mexico.  He found the cigars and that's really about all we did down there.

Little Havana

The art in Little Havana is part of the culture

Next we drop out to the edge of the Everglades, but there really wasn't much to see so we didn't linger.  On the way back to the hotel, we had to drive by the Marlin's baseball arena, and they were about to have a game with the Cubs.  Traffic was somewhat crazy.  They have a beautiful ball park from the outside and it is right downtown Miami

Miami Marlin's stadium

For dinner we went to Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant in Miami Beach--it was wonderful!  Two of the TREC staff from the Education Department went with us and we had a great time!

Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant

Lobster, shrimp and stone crab legs

How do you go about eating this thing?

Day 54--Exploring Miami

We woke up early thinking we had meetings first thing this morning--so since we were up before the sun and have an east facing balcony, I was able to get some sunrise pics.

Anticipation

Clouds made it so pretty

There it is!

Meeting didnt happen as planned, so we drove around and explored areas of Miami--a huge city with crazy drivers. We went over the causeway to Miami Beach--saw lots of sights and miles of hotels and expensive homes.  We drove through the Art Deco district of. Miami and saw some interesting architecture there.   We also ended up on th port of Miami and saw lots of cruise ships and cargo ships.

A Loggerhead turtle statue for Clay

the beach at Miami Beach

After Miami Beach, we went over to Coconut Grove which has some cute and funky neighborhoods.

I finally saw my first one of these!

This New Orleans building in Coconut Grove just seemed out of place!

We circled back around to Miami proper and drove through downtown which is a mess of traffic, people jaywalking, and bad drivers.  You can see the Cuban influence in the bright colors, graffiti and large murals seen everywhere.

We drove down to the North Miami River where the fishing boats come in with their catches and where many fish markets are located.  Had a great lunch at a hole-in-the-wall looking place that had great outdoor seating on the river.  Bill found his fresh oysters and I had crab cakes.

Casablanca Seafood and Market

Now it's back to hotel for registration and some welcome receptions.