The World College Near Las Vegas, NM

If you travel the state of New Mexico you see names that make you wonder if the locations were named by visitors from other parts of the United States or the world.  For example you will find San Antonio, Pecos, Chili, Milan and Midway just to name a few.  Then there is Montezuma, New Mexico just a short drive north of Las Vegas, New Mexico.  Montezuma is home to the World College, that offers an International Baccalaureate to a global student body that has the opportunity to live and learn through an experiential curriculum. 

I visited the World College as a member of the 2019 Leadership New Mexico class.  The World College does offer public visits on pre-scheduled days through out the year.  During our visit we had the opportunity to meet with students over lunch in the cafeteria.  When I entered the cafeteria I was immediate struck by the amazing Chihuly glass feature.  The feature is classic "Chilhuly" with glass extensions protruding from a center structure.  The feature glistened in the well lite eating area. The dinning area included many windows providing natural light to highlight the blond wood paneling surrounding the room.  A fire place anchored the north wall, reminiscent of the days when the room was heating by wood. 

Much of the Castle that demands attention was remodeled through many generous donors from many countries throughout the world.  Various parts of the interior memorialize the generosity through name plates or photos of the donors.  The Castle is surrounded by a large deck, complete with chairs to allow students opportunities to socialize or just set a while a gaze out on the beautiful countryside that surrounds the grounds.  I found myself rocking in a chair while being warmed by the sun reflecting on how such a place would be a wonderful opportunity for students to study with a diverse set of colleagues.  I image that any graduate would be well prepared to work within any international setting. 

Our Leadership class toured The Castle.  The rooms were small, but cozy.  The decor was amazing.  Talking with students provided a wonderful window into the depth of learning that occurs.  Many students have hobbies that they cultivate while attending the school.  The flexible schedule allows students the time to explore their interests in depth while providing the foundational education necessary for all learned citizens.  I couldn't help buy wonder how our educational system would be different if we abandoned standardized tests and allow students to study their interest and passions in a similar depth. 

Las Vegas, New Mexico: The Historic Plaza Hotel

Las Vegas, New Mexico.  Yes, you read that correctly.  The city of Las Vegas is not only in Nevada, but also in New Mexico.  When I had the opportunity to travel to Las Vegas, NM I was looking forward to visiting the historic downtown.  I was not disappointed.  I also discovered there was more to see in Las Vegas than I expected.  I book my stay at the historic Plaza Inn named "The Belle of the Southwest" after opening in 1882.

The historic charm is still visible today.  When I entered the hotel my mind quickly flashed back to the late 1800s.  I quickly learned Las Vegas and The Historic Plaza Hotel was a popular location for Hollywood film crews.  Filming in Las Vegas began in the early 1900s with silent movies.  Since then films such as Speechless (1994), Red Dawn (1984), Convoy (1978) and Easy Rider (1969) are just a few movies to use Las Vegas, New Mexico as a backdrop when filming a movie.  The Historic Plaza Hotel places pictures of important guests and starts outside their quest rooms to inform others about who has stayed in the various rooms.  Most recently form first lady Michelle Obama stayed at the Historic Plaza Hotel.  To learn more about the films shot in Las Vegas you can visit the Las Vegas film site.

The first floor of the hotel is home to the reception desk, a makeshift store with local jewelry, books, and collectibles.  The first floor includes a dinning area and bar.  As I walked into the bar I could picture cowboy travelers from "back in the day" drinking, sharing stories of the travels, or playing cards at a table.  The current hotel captures the charm of history beautifully while allowing modern day quests the amenities they have come to expect when traveling.

My room was on the third floor, accessible by both elevator and stairs.  The stair cases are beautifully done and certainly hint at the time before ADA required accessibility for all quests.  I can imagine early 1900s quests traveled with less luggage than I did.  However, I could resist taking the stairs and wondering through each floor to look at the pictures of previous, famous guests.
The hotel is set in the center of the historic downtown Las Vegas city.  The hotel sits in the middle of a public space in that the surrounded by historic buildings on each of the four sides.  The area reminds me of the "city-center" spaces common in the east and western European cities.  Today the area is a wonderful location to sit and watch the coming and goings of guests and citizens of New Mexico.  I visited in the fall when the leaves were turning color.  The fall backdrop made for some lovely sites during the sunny, cool day.  I enjoyed my stay and look forward to sharing more about the other discoveries in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Elephant Butte Lake RV Resort: July 4-7, 2018

Elephant Butte, New Mexico is a small resort town located just north and east of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico off I-25.  Elephant Butte Lake is the largest lake in New Mexico.  The Rio Grande River runs into Elephant Butte from the north and exits the lake in the south.  However, the lake and river are controlled by a dam built in 1916 by the U.S. Reclamation Service (Bureau of Reclamation today). When built, Elephant Butte Lake and reservoir was the largest at the time. 

On July 4th we boarded our RV and headed for Elephant Butte Lake RV Resort to enjoy a long weekend.  One would have thought that this weekend the area would be over run by tourist, but it was not.  June 30th Elephant Butte Lake held its famous fireworks show, the largest in New Mexico.  During that weekend over 75,000 people were in the area.  Consequently, this weekend it felt like we had the area to ourselves. 

We arrived at noon and checked in on July 4th.  The people running the office are very friendly and kind.  They made us feel like family.  We were assigned lot 64 in the lower bowl which was a pull in site for our 38 foot Tiffin Allegro red.  Pulling into the site was easy.  The hook ups were easily accessible and well placed.  The site included a picnic table which we always appreciate. The park was clean and quite.  The park is pet friendly. This included a number of well placed pet paths and stands with bags and baskets for cleaning up after your pet. It was clear that a number of the RVs were parked for the long haul a fact confirmed on Friday night when a number of cars pulled in by their campers and unpacked for the weekend. 

The area has a number of opportunities to enjoy the beauty of New Mexico.  There are bicycle paths Tahoa speed boat with tube from Sports Adventure near Elephant Butte State Park.  The rental price was reasonable. The staff was friendly.  The boat was well used and worn, but the motor was well kept and ran very well.  The boat allowed us to enjoy the large lake and sunshine without sweltering in the July New Mexico heat.
around the little city of Elephant Butte.  Traffic is light if you wish to roam on back roads.  There are a number of ATV trails, something we did not try.  We decided to spend an afternoon on the water on Friday.  Thursday, July 5 we rented a 16 foot

Sports Adventure includes Paparonis' Pizzeria which is only open on Friday night , Saturday and Sunday, a fact not well published.  Went went to Sports Adventure early to have a pizza only to find out that the Pizzeria was closed and would open Friday night.  Snacks would have to tide us over while we spent the afternoon on the water. 

Friday we went to Riverbend Hot Spring Inn and Spa and took advantage of a two hour special to enjoy the mineral hot springs and relaxation area.  I needed the hot springs to easy sore muscles from tubing the day before.  The staff was friendly and accommodating.  This is certainly a place we plan to revisit in the winter months of New Mexico. 

Saturday came before we knew it and it was time to pack up and head back home.  However, this is clearly a camp ground and location that we plan to visit on a regular basis. 

 

Sharpening the Saw

Growing up, I always wanted to be a teacher.  I played school after school.  I loved to read history. I pretended to teach history. I really believed I was going to be a teacher when I finally went to college to begin to study to be a teacher.  Like many college students I changed my mind several times, but in the end I became a teacher.  A secondary social studies teacher.  After five great years of teaching middle and high school students, I had an opportunity to teach history in college and my journey in higher education began. 

Why did I want to be a teacher?  To make a difference of course.  I heard that reason so many times when I interviewed my secondary teacher candidates about why they wanted to teach.  When I probe deeper, many of them explained that they loved to learn, they enjoyed the subject matter, teachers had made a difference in their lives, and they wanted summers off.  I had to tell them that often having the summer off from work might not be exactly like what they were expecting.  I had to tell teacher candidates that there were continuing education requirements to complete to keep their license, there was the natural love of learning that might lead them back to school and then there were second jobs during the summer to earn extra money to pay off student loans.  I think I only had one summer off in my career; the summer between college graduation and my first teaching job. 

One of the seven habits of highly effective people is "Sharpening the Saw".  This habit I must practice often and be attentive to my need to recharge the batteries.  This year I decided to be daring and take two consecutive weeks off.  I have only done this once before.  I figured this year would be a good time for a two week break.  I had settled into the job, the college was on a good course, and nothing on the calendar was calling for immediate attention.  I didn't know how I would respond to this time as I don't get the opportunity very often.  What I discovered was amazing. 

I enjoy work.  Most days I love what I do and I love the challenge.  I have come to expect problems, embrace problems and become creative in solving problems.  I love building teams of effective administrators and watch them grow into more than they thought they could be.  I also enjoy life.  I have hobbies I embrace and wish I had more time to spend doing them.  This two week adventure bundled some of my favorite things - time with family, riding my Harley, and visiting historical sites while traveling. 

Riding a motorcycle helps free my mind of all the clutter.  While riding, I don't have time to think about work because I have to be focused on all that is going on around me.  I am anticipating what other drivers might suddenly do. I'm scanning the horizon looking for wildlife. I'm thinking about the other riders who are following me making sure I'm leading them in a safe way.  The first day or two of a trip I just ride.  No radio on. Just the sound of the bike and my thoughts.  Half way through the first day I no longer have many thoughts.  The next day and a half I'm just taking in the sights, sounds and smells.  Somehow on a motorcycle my senses are heightened.  I fall in love with the great outdoors again. 

By the third day I can listen to music or an audio book.  However, most of the time I prefer to ride in silence.  This trip took me to southern Texas to Corpus Cristi and Galveston.  During my visit to these cities I got to enjoy the ocean, great sea food and a visit to the USS Lexington.  Spending a day wandering around the USS Lexington allowed me to learn more about World War II and the USS Lexington's role in the war.  When I visit historical sites I love to buy a local history book.  It is all about the visit and the book allows me to enjoy the visit after I return home. 

Time in Galveston about a year after hurricane Harvey showed me a community still recovering.  The power of nature was still on display.  The peace in nature was on display each evening when I hung out on the balcony of my hotel room and listened to the waves.  I find peace in nature.  In peace I find renewal. 

The trip included meeting my family from the Midwest.  Once we connected we traveled to San Antonio and spent several days.  More great food, a calm trip on the Riverwalk by boat, a great deal of wandering, and a stay in the historic Menger Hotel was the apex of the trip.  The night before we planning to leave to return home to New Mexico I suddenly realized I hadn't thought about work for a while.  The main reason is building a team of administrators who I trust to take care of the daily things that happen.  Creating great teams to understanding the vision and strategy allowed them to feel confident in carrying on while I was gone.  It also helped me relax and free up my mind while I was gone. 

The next morning we boarded the bikes and before long we were back in New Mexico.  As we neared home I became aware that I was more relaxed than I had been in a long time.  Having two weeks allowed me to clear my mind, have stress exist my body, and create the peace and space I needed to begin thinking creatively about my return to work.  The lesson of a two week vacation embracing all the reasons I went into the teaching in the first place cemented the need to be aware that I need to practice one of the most important habits of highly successful people, "Sharpening the Saw". 

A Day in Corpus Christy

Today we took a day off the bikes to visit two sites in Corpus Christy.  The first site we visited was the USS Lexington, a class 16 World War II Aircraft carrier.  The museum on the water was a treasure.  I am a novice historian who enjoys a good history site when traveling.  The UUS Lexington provided a wonderful opportunity to visit each of the decks on the boat.  The boat included a number of historical displays that told the history of this version of the USS Lexington.  The front hull of the ship included a memorial to Pearl Harbor.  Further, the movie, Pearl Harbor used the front hull to shoot a scene.  The front hull included a memorial to the original USS Lexington a CV 9 that was sunk in 1942.  The $14.00 entry price for an adult and $12.00 for a senior is well worth the visit.  During our visit the two different aircraft were being restored.  American historical sites are a treasure and allow Americans an opportunity to visit and learn about the site or the event that is being commorated.

We broke for lunch at Pier 99.  Pier 99 is a seafood restaurant on the north shore.  It is located within walking distance of the USS Lexington and the Texas State Aquarium our afternoon site.  We enjoyed a beach cocktail and seafood.  The food was appropriately priced.  Service was good and the portion was plenty.  The meal and atmosphere was wonderful.

We spend the afternoon at the Texas State Aquarium.  It is small in comparison to acqariums I have visited in Atlantic, Chicago, and Washington DC.  However, the exhibits were very well kept and enjoyable.  The exhibits captured the habitat of the Carribian and the gulf around Corpus Christy.  I highly recommend it when visiting the city of Corpus Christy.  Tomorrow we are back on the bikes and heading to Galveston.

San Antonio to Corpus Christy

The motorcycle ride today took us from San Antonio to Corpus Christy, Texas along Interstate 37.  The southern route provided us a very please ride after leaving San Antonio.  The road was generally straight through rural country that was very green and lush this time of year.  The temperature was in the low 90s and sunny with above average humidity.  I’m use to the low humidity of the high dessert in New Mexico, so the humid temperatures remind me of the importance of drinking plenty of water or gator aid.

The route was about 160 miles.  We decided to stay at the Emerald Bay Hotel. The Emrald was built in 1965 and allowed us the opportunity to stay on the beach and enjoy the sunrise and sunsets during our two night stay.

I-37 posted a 75 miles per hour speed limit the majority of the way between San Antonio and Corpus Christy.  The route is lightly traveled and a nice ride for a motorcyclist of any level of experience.

A year ago a hurricane hit the Houston area.  Corpus Christy was not directly hit, however one can still see the effects of the strong winds from that hurricane.

Fort Stockton, Tx to San Antonio, Tx By Motorcycle

Today we left Fort Stockton, Texas and traveled 312 miles along I-10 to San Antonio, Texas on the second day of our trip.  We had a perfect day to ride. It was overcast with light winds at the beginning of the day and about an hour west of San Antonio the sun appeared, the temperatures rose, and the wind kicked up.

Today was another perfect day for the riders who like to push the throttle.  After leaving Fort Stockton it wasn’t until Ozono, Texas before seeing a gas station.  The 82 mile stretch included good views of buttes some with large wind turbine farms.  The road was lined with large yuccas and brush which were eventually replaced with trees as we traveled closer to San Antonio.

About 60 miles west of San Antonio we began to see more traffic and green grass along the side of the road and in the median.  The grass was interspersed with wild flowers making the ride a beautiful pallet of colors.

This route is not marked as a scenic route in the Harley Davidson Touring Book, but it will not disappoint any type of rider.

Las Cruces, NM to Fort Stockton, TX by Motorcycle

Today we began a trip from Las Cruces, NM to Fort Stockton with an ultimate destination of Galveston, Tx.  The trip to Fort Stockton was 287 miles.  The trip include mostly Interstate travel along I-10.  The trip is rather easy with the exception of trying to get through El Paso, Texas along I-10.  Today a large stretch of I-10 was closed in El Paso and the detour took traffic through the outskirts of the city.

I exited the highway at the Transmountain Road exit 6.  Transmountain is a very nice road around El Paso and through the Franklin Mountain State Park.  The speed limit is 55 along the curved road that is a gradual climb to through the mountain pass.  The road allows you to look down upon the heart of El Paso giving you a breath taking view.  Several pull outs along Transmountain allow you to pull off and take pictures or just take in the beautiful view.

After coming through the pass on Transmountain we took US 54 west and backtracked our way pass the El Paso International Airport and back on I-10 East.  The detour took longer that expected, but once back on I-10 the travel was routine.  Just east of El Paso we stopped for gas as the Rest Stops and Towns along the I-10 stretch of road is scarce.

Once you are well outside the city limits the speed limit increased to 80 MPH.  This allows the light traffic the opportunity to move along the Interstate.  For the motorcyclist who likes speed this is a perfect trip to get on the throttle without a great deal of worry about speeding.  This route also includes a Boarder Patrol Check point prior to the I-10 and I-20 split.

The scenery is classic dessert.  Yucca plants abound along the highway.  This May 13th the brush was green despite the high temperature and recent lack of rain.  There are views of mountains along the way that break up the long stretches of ranches the I-10 cuts through.  Occasional glimpses of pea an farmers within large ranches is breathtaking.

Once we arrived in Fort Stockton we choose a hotel on the west side of the city allowing us easy access to a gas station for a morning fill up prior to beginning our trip to San Antonio.