February 22, 2011
6:42 PM williamjohn.shields: hey dad
6:43 PM me: Hi William how was your trip?
williamjohn.shields: it was great
Really beautiful
6:44 PM me: Before I forget get me the phone of the school and you'll have the 2 boxes in 5 business days
williamjohn.shields: oh
right!
me: Great, relaxing I take it.
williamjohn.shields: let me just give you my number
6:45 PM there’s no school number per se
me: That'll work
williamjohn.shields: +639483629936
me: Great thanks
Are you there for a bit?
6:46 PM I have to pickup Mom in Wheaton
williamjohn.shields: oh ok
for a little while
6:47 PM me: Ok, I'll be back in 10
6:55 PM me: Hi honey its mom
6:56 PM williamjohn.shields: hello
how are you?
6:57 PM me: Just getting home from nj after work. Wanna hear about the trip
williamjohn.shields: sure!
6:58 PM me: How was the boat ride
williamjohn.shields: oh, my trip!
the boat ride was fine
very long
but the deck is covered in bunk beds
so I slept
6:59 PM but then I had to spend all day in manila
me: Did u travel back alone
7:00 PM williamjohn.shields: after manila
but on the boat with my friend Caitlin
me: Where is she stationed?
williamjohn.shields: nueva ecija
south central Luzon
7:01 PM me: Did ya have fun
7:02 PM williamjohn.shields: it was a lot of fun
romblon is probably the most beautiful place I’ve been
and the town romblon itself is really neat
very Mediterranean
or what I imagine that would be
and they mine marble there so everything is marble
me: Wow
7:03 PM Going into the house from the car
7:04 PM Dad here
7:08 PM Still there?
williamjohn.shields: still here!
me: Flag ceremony
7:09 PM Great
Jeannie had cataract surgery last week
williamjohn.shields: how did it go?
7:10 PM me: Mom has been away since last Wed
It went great, she can see
7:11 PM Rosie had an allergic reaction to her chemo, so she had to spent a few days in hospital
7:12 PM But she is home now, all is well
williamjohn.shields: oh no
7:13 PM me: You heard about Andrew’s adventures at Chinatown Coffee I understand
williamjohn.shields: yes, I did
7:14 PM me: That worked out, Andrew didn’t have to pay anything
williamjohn.shields: I understand everything turned out ok
oh good
me: Yes, all is well
7:15 PM And you are well? How is your skin?
williamjohn.shields: I went to a doctor in manila on Monday
he told me to use moisturizer
me: And?
williamjohn.shields: which was frustrating
but coincidentally
the one shower I have taken since
me: Why?
williamjohn.shields: caused no reaction
so there's another one tonight
shower that is
7:16 PM we'll see how it goes
me: There are teams in package, different types
williamjohn.shields: thanks
i'm not sure how much moisturizers will help
I’ve tried before
7:17 PM me: Another reaction or shower?
williamjohn.shields: I would just rather they be straight with me
and tell me there’s nothing to do
rather than try to bullshit me about moisturizers that wont work
me: I understand
7:18 PM williamjohn.shields: anyways, this is just making me upset
me: Ok how's school?
When did you get back?
williamjohn.shields: Monday night
so yesterday was the first day back
its ok
they waste so much time on extracurricular here
7:19 PM its ridiculous
me: Very different approach to education
williamjohn.shields: yeah
in some ways its understandable
7:20 PM builds community, etc
but its also borderline negligent
me: Different philosophy and culture
williamjohn.shields: and sure, practicing dance routines is good for building community, character, etc
but at the end of the day
me: Anything else interesting?
williamjohn.shields: its just practicing dance routines
7:21 PM and I’ve been coming around the cultural reason for it
but at the end of the day
they're not properly educating the students
at least in ways that almost all other Asian countries are
so good luck Philippines!
7:22 PM me: I understand, they do not have the tiger country approach
Part of it is isolation but part Philippine
7:23 PM williamjohn.shields: yeah
I mean
this is a pretty unlikely country
and pretty impossible to govern
7:24 PM me: I had a Philippine guy work for me when I started at GU - nice guy but so laid back it could be called Lazy
7:25 PM williamjohn.shields: sounds about right
me: Yeah so spread out
What do you do with the extra curricular activities?
7:26 PM williamjohn.shields: watch them
they usually last forever
and are stupid
I mean
they're not even cool
me: Work and learning were very low priorities
Ha-ha
williamjohn.shields: its like beauty pageants
7:27 PM my office is full of teachers that have classes right now
part of it is they have so much paperwork to do
they have to skip some classes
but once they've skipped five
its pretty easy to skip the sixth
7:28 PM me: Yikes
williamjohn.shields: yeah
sorry
just venting
7:29 PM me: It's ok, vent away
williamjohn.shields: no i'm done
how are things at home?
7:30 PM me: Good generally, Mom and I have been working so much we haven't done much else
7:31 PM williamjohn.shields: oh bummer
listen
I have class now
but maybe ill catch you in a bit
7:32 PM me: Ok, I'll be around, have a great day we love e and miss you
9:41 PM williamjohn.shields: hey dad
9:42 PM me: Hi William, how did class go?
williamjohn.shields: alright
had to do some light disciplining
but nothing too bad
how is your evening?
me: Before I send tomorrow can you think of anything else?
9:43 PM williamjohn.shields: I don’t think so!
thanks though
I’ve been really kicking myself for not taking the GRE before I left
me: Ok, the usual, catching up with Mom after her trip.
williamjohn.shields: so I think that I will ask you to bring my GRE book when you visit
do you guys have any better idea of when you're coming?
9:44 PM me: Can it be arranged to take in Manila at some point?
williamjohn.shields: oh
maybe!
I should look into that
me: I will put it in the box
9:45 PM Not a problem, there is room.
Anything else?
9:46 PM williamjohn.shields: no I don’t think so
9:47 PM me: It is almost definite that Mom is going to get a big promotion.
9:48 PM williamjohn.shields: that’s wonderful!
to what?
me: Everything about title et al is tied up in University politics but the promotion will happen.
9:49 PM williamjohn.shields: right
me: In theory Assistant Budget Director Associate Budget Director and slight chance Budget Director
williamjohn.shields: wow
that’s really great
obviously she deserves it
9:50 PM me: Yes, it is. She has deserved it for a long time.
williamjohn.shields: but I’m glad it's finally happening
9:51 PM me: Tell me about your trip, that is what you have not said before.
williamjohn.shields: romblon is beautiful
9:53 PM me: She has been concerned about added stress when it was discussed in past but she really won't be under any more than she has for years - she has been doing the job for a long time - just not given the credit
williamjohn.shields: right
that’s great
me: What did you do?
williamjohn.shields: kind of just hung out!
ate a lot
went to the beach
there's a beautiful old Spanish church in town
me: Had fun with friends?
williamjohn.shields: this was on the island of romblon
on the island of Tablas I visited my friend's site
9:54 PM me: I'll look it up
williamjohn.shields: the next day we took a 4 am jeep three hours to the port
where we took a boat to romblon
me: Hear about earthquake in Christ Church today?
9:55 PM williamjohn.shields: no
bad?
me: Sound great. I look forward to photos.
williamjohn.shields: I will post them soon
9:56 PM do you and mom have any idea when you might come here?
me: Unfortunately yes, close to surface, early report 65 dead, Cathedral down and many other buildings
9:57 PM williamjohn.shields: that's horrible
e
9:58 PM anyone you know hurt?
9:59 PM me: BRB
10:00 PM Not that I know of
10:01 PM I'm back, Andrew had a question
williamjohn.shields: oh ok
do you guys know when you might come visit?
10:04 PM me: Oh, your question, I don't really know. I am try to IEF to let me use my IEF frequent flyer miles for Mom. It is still up in the air because one of the people that has to be consulted on the unusal request wife had a bad stroke and is only in office a couple hours a week
10:06 PM I can go when I chose, it will be part of a China trip to Shanghai and Shenyang. I'd probably have to go to Paris as part of travel. It would be a spectacular trip for her.
10:07 PM williamjohn.shields: no kidding!
I’m just trying to think about the things to do with you guys
think about what kind of thing you want to do
me: She is thinking of just making the Philippine leg of the trip due to time.
williamjohn.shields: oh!
too bad
10:08 PM me: Be with you!
Explore
williamjohn.shields: naturally
but you don’t want to come all the way over here just to go to Narra
we don’t even have to go to Palawan
me: I'll probably give a talk in Puerta Princesa.
williamjohn.shields: really??
10:09 PM me: Sure, easy to arrange
williamjohn.shields: that’s awesome
10:10 PM everyone who comes here goes to el nido
but that’s very far
me: Don't worry about agenda
williamjohn.shields: and I’m not sure how comfortable the journey would be
but I hear Honda bay is very close
me: Is that the underground river?
williamjohn.shields: or rather, it is very close
but I hear its nice
no, but that is only an hour from Puerto Princesa
and near Honda bay
we should plan on both
I haven’t been to either
10:11 PM me: Good, don't
williamjohn.shields: I haven’t been north of Puerto Princesa yet
10:12 PM me: Don't worry about our comfort, I'm use to it and Mom is no delicate flower.
williamjohn.shields: oh I know
me: Great to go some place new to both.
10:14 PM On a separate trip I will be going to Cambodia. One of the things I am thinking is that if IEF approves thus for Mom we can use our mile to have your join mew in Cambodia
10:15 PM williamjohn.shields: yes!
I would love that
me: But don't count on it. I was talking to Australia about their Philippine program when you called.
10:16 PM williamjohn.shields: yeah?
me: It is in Masbate
williamjohn.shields: oh
we're not allowed to go there
me: Maybe I'll end up there
10:17 PM Too far south?
williamjohn.shields: no
me: I'll be able to go
williamjohn.shields: its in the northern Visayas
but it has a history of political violence
me: Oh, well it will I'll still go
10:18 PM williamjohn.shields: that’s great though that you get to go
me: That remains to be seen
10:20 PM But the location is not a problem, I have contacts there
10:21 PM williamjohn.shields: awesome
well i’m looking forward to you guys coming
10:22 PM me: Me too as I said we miss you
Regardless I will be coming
williamjohn.shields: still maybe in the summer?
10:23 PM me: Yes, that's the plan. I have to go to Argentina in early June
10:24 PM williamjohn.shields: oh that’s great
I've always wanted to go to Argentina
me: I'm getting far behind in travel, Ghana is also
Also in the offing
williamjohn.shields: wow
that’s great
10:25 PM me: And Eritrea
10:26 PM Problem is time, the program is so busy planning on hiring 2 maybe 3 people in next couple of months.
williamjohn.shields: where are you going to put them all?
10:27 PM me: Good question, I think we'll turn Board room into offices
10:28 PM I re opened the warehouse; I hired Dan Hutchinson from across the street to run it.
williamjohn.shields: oh awesome
10:29 PM me: The first floor is all boxes, but I'm bring in so much money they can't say anything
10:30 PM williamjohn.shields: Hahira
making yourself indispensable
me: They are talking about making me Vice President IEF
10:31 PM Not indispensible, but they would lose hundreds of thousands if I left.
10:32 PM I personally just want to be left alone, which is pretty much the case.
10:34 PM williamjohn.shields: yeah
well
time to ride home for lunch
good talking to you
10:35 PM love you
10:36 PM me: Ok, always a pleasure, talk to you soon. Sign up for Flickr I want to show you some things that you can't see without logging on.
Love you