Parker County Today January 2016 | Page 88

“We’re Here For You” 1702 Santa Fe Drive • Weatherford, TX 76086 817-594-3435 • Metro 817-341-4830 Store Hours: M-F 8:30–6:00 • Sat 9:00–1:00 DRIVE THRU A: By accident. I’d never planned on teaching until my graduate advisor at A&M gave me two sections of composition for my last year in grad school. I had planned on going into publishing, so I tried to get out of the teaching assignment. He said “no” and handed me my books for the semester. And that’s what I’ve been doing for the last 22 years.   Q: Would you recommend you r career for other people? Why? A: Yes and no. Working with students can be really rewarding—most of the time. The pay in education sucks; the schedule advantages only partly make up for it. And there is little room or incentive to develop professionally beyond your initial education. I need a challenge to stay engaged and happy.    Q: What do you do to relax? A: Hang out at home with my dogs Ollie and Amos, both Schnauzer mixes and both rescue dogs. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The most thorough carpet cleaning on the planet JANUARY 2016 PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY ... or it’s Free! 86 “Super service, always on time and always quick to schedule a time. On rental properties that take a lot of abuse, Valtierra Cleaning makes them look like new carpet. They cleaned up a terrible mess in a duplex and saved me from having to buy new carpet. They are very prompt. Having respect for my time means very much to me.” Bill Kiker Weatherford Retail Grocer Valtierra Carpet Cleaning, Inc. Weatherford, TX • 817-599-9866 Jeff Ukaj Owner of Pastafina Italian Restaurants,  Weatherford and Mineral Wells Q: What do you do? A: Supervise and assist where needed in our restaurants.  Q: If you were to write a book, what would you call it and what would it be about?   A: The Real American Dream. It would be about my story of leaving