Resort, Work, Spa

Last weekend was very nice, not as relaxing as I would have hoped but very nice in any case. 

Mrs. Ender and I drove up to the Bedford Springs Resort and Spa.  I had one and a half days of meetings for the University Foundation Board of Directors and Mrs. Ender had a day and a half of resorting and spaing.  The resort is beautiful and you should check it out.  As we approached the entrance I felt like I was approaching The Overlook Hotel in "The Shining."  It was a nice hotel, but I was suddenly on the lookout for homicidal topiary.

The "Shining" feeling didn’t go away anytime soon.  As we walked down the long hallways there were large (reprinted) photos from guests to the hotel over the years (late 1800’s, early 1900’s) and I was checking them out to see if I recognized the bartended in any of them.  I actually told Mrs. Ender that if I saw two little girls standing in the middle of the hallway I was going to run screaming from the place.  No little girls, but I wasn’t riding a big wheel, either.  Oh, and there wasn’t a river of blood from the elevator we passed.

The first day of meetings went well and then the board joined up with a group of about 40 current students that are part of an Institute for Leadership Excellence for a dinner.  There were short presentations between dinner cources and it’s always enjoyable to chat with the students with whom we shared a table.  It is certainly different now from when I was a senior and getting ready to graduate and go out into the real world.  Many of the older folks (i.e. board members) recalled that we were more concerned about getting a specific job while these soon-to-be-graduates are more concerned about getting a job, any job.  Quite a difference.

Mrs. Ender took the hotel’s historic tour (yes, there are ghost stories, but not nearly enough to be an Overlook of the East) and then got a massage and "took in the waters."  I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t get to use the big indoor pool–it’s filled will mineral water from the springs–afterall, I’d brought my bathing suit.

The second day started with a panel of Board members, including myself, describing our journeys from graduation to where we are now.  Then we took questions from the college students.  It was pretty obvious why these students had been selected for a Leadership program, not a slacker in the bunch and lots of really good questions.

After that, we finished up the last half day of the Board meeting, including decisions on the spending rate from the endowments.  Overall, a good (long) Board meeting and a feeling of giving back to my alma mater.

I work all this week and then I have a short work week with business travel and training in Florida.  It had been getting so warm around here that the idea of travelling to Florida wasn’t as special as it should have been.  But the temperature was in the 20s when I got up the morning, so going to Florida, and to the sun, will feel just about right.

I’ve arranged my flight down so I should have enough time to get my rental car, drive to the hotel and check-in and still have enough time to get to the Disney-ESPN fields for the Braves vs Nationals game.  And then, after the two days of training I’ll have one day to do what I want (Disney, maybe?) and then on Sunday I have tickets for the Nationals vs Tigers game.  Spring training baseball, two years in a row.  Last year I was watching the Cactus League and this year I’m visiting the Grapefruit League.

Speaking of baseball, I’m really anxious to get my package of season tickets.  The Nationals sales staff said the tickets are mailed in "early March" and I’ve been reminding Mrs. Ender that it’s early March for the last six days.  Those tickets better arrive pretty soon or I might piss off the missus with my constant "are they here yet" questioning.  I want them to be there when I get home tonight, or tomorrow, but no later than Thursday, maybe.

Other than that, I’ve got nothing.

Ender is out.