August 2014 - May 2015

This past fall of 2014 was a busy and productive time per norm.  My duties with PAS were heavier getting ready to begin serving as PAS President on January 1, 2015 for a two-year term. At Christmas, we visited Charlie and co and then went down to Lookout Mountain for a nice Henegar visit. This year we also welcomed little Lula Henegar into the world.

In the spring, I took my first (and probably only ever) sabbatical so I would have time to begin the PAS Pres gig without killing myself (or getting divorced :>)). All has gone well so far and I am almost done with 5 of 24 months. Whew. Long way to go.

David and I have done some traveling to take advantage of a slightly lightened work load for me. We went on a research trip to Trinidad and Tobago which was very interesting. We actually laid the ground work for an exchange program to begin between UTM and UTT. Students from there are coming here in August 2016 and then we'll go there in January 2017 (for the prelims in Panorama just before Carnival).

We also just came back from our 7th Anniversary trip to Washington State and Kauai. In Washington, we visited Olympic NP (which was completely amazing), North Cascades NP, Whidbey Island, Seattle, the Chihuly Glass Museum (amazing too), and went whale watching in the Puget Sound and saw orcas and seals and tufted puffins and more!

Then, we were off to beautiful Kauai for 5 more days. Our accommodations there were not quite what we experienced 8 years ago on our serendipitous find on Oahu, but they were fine nonetheless. On our anniversary proper, we did a "doors off" helicopter tour of the island which was by far the scariest freaking thing both David and I had ever done. It was nice when it was over though and what a memory!

Later this summer, we'll be headed to Tahoe for the Hill Family Reunion. More coming then. Oh, I begin serving as Interim Chair of the Music Department beginning July 1 (although I am really already working hard on that and will begin basically on June 1) so we'll see what happens there. I have been able to hire Dr. Dan Piccolo as my assistant for all things percussion related so most of this semester has been figuring out how to delegate :>)))

Lots of ITP activities, House Band, and Caixa Trio this summer to and back to Governor's School teaching and also my 2nd year of online World Music so a little extra cash.

Oh - David and I have finally decided if the stars align and we can pay off debt and find a piece of land, that we may build a barn house and move. Might never happen, but we are considering it heavily at this point. Not sure how in the world to move from this place, but the solitude and proximity to the job are tempting enough reasons to give er a go!

More later this summer I hope.....

Julie