For the 4th year now, I had the privilege of working on a worthy fund raiser.  For those not aware, or new to JU, my wife's nephew was killed in an Auto Accident 14 years ago.  It really devastated her sister and brother-in-law.  But instead of letting it ruin their life, and that of their other children, they made something positive about it.  R was about to go to college on a scholarship.  But died before be could attend.  So in his memory, each year on the last Saturday in February, they hold a fund raiser to raise money for scholarships for children in the area in which they live.  This is not a "egg head" type of scholarship.  The recipients just need to show dedication and the ability to work in college.

And each year, the entire family converges on the small town of Brawley California to help with the fund raiser.  Pulling it off is a lot of work, and my small contribution is welcome and needed, but by no means as big as my BIL and SIL.  They work at it for months of the year.  I work at it for a mere 10 days.

When first I started on this endeavor, I was totally clueless.  So I just did whatever was asked.  Now after 4 years, I know the routine well, and since it is our "vacation", and I have the entire time off, I do all the stuff that needs to be done to get ready, and whatever else I am asked to do.  This year was a lot of dirty work, and grunt type stuff.  But I cannot claim altruism.  After all, Brawley is in Imperial Valley California.  For those not familiar with that name or area, just watch the national weather in the summer.  See that band that stretches up from Mexico into Arizona and California marked 110+?

Yea that is us.  But in February, we are not that hot.  The week saw temps in the 70s and 80s (to be fair, they did get a hard freeze back in January). 

So working outside in that weather for someone from the east coast not called Florida, is not really a chore, but a joy.  Even if it is tiring.

The event could not have been better this year.  The day saw sun and temps in the low 80s, and a lot of good music, the food, and a lot of work.  But it went over very well.  I have bruised hands, sore feet and tanned legs to show for it.  But it was fun.  It is kind of a family reunion where we get to see the family that we may not see again for another year, visit with them as we work, and meet my wife's old school mates (and yes flames).

By Sunday, the day after, I was pooped.  But my wife and friend wanted to go to Mexico for Drugs (prescription kind as they are real cheap there), so I tagged along to make sure they were not hit upon by some 80 year old geezer pumped up on Viagra.  I got home that night and crashed.  I really did not recover until Wednesday - a day after returning to work and the DST foofaraw!

I really enjoy the fund raiser as while we do work, it is in February, and warm (it actually sprinkled one day - rare as they only get 3 days of rain a year).  It is for a good cause.  And we actually get to meet some of the recipients as they still live in the valley for the most part.

So that was where I was half of February. And this year, I was so busy, I did not have time to even read my latest Certification books!  What a shame.

Oh, one thing that I really was amazed at.  A lady moved into the valley this year (great retirement place due to the lack of rain and humidity), and asked to help out!  Now that is the kind of neighbor that is going to be remembered long into the future!  I worked with her, but did not get her name as I was doing the grunt stuff (putting up circus tents, etc.) and she was doing the less strenuous stuff (thought I was going to say the girl stuff, eh?).

So anyone wanting a working vacation in a very sunny part of California in the middle of February, let me know!  We can always use more help.  This year I only managed to sell tickets one day due to doing other stuff, but it never hurts to canvass the town!