It's Been a While

It's been a while since my last post. Not much has happened. We had a week off from school for Spring Break. The first two days were absolutely beautiful here in Area 52. It was sure nice to go without a coat and enjoy the sunshine. On Wednesday, the weather turned to crap and we ended the week wearing our winter togs once more. Wife Tilly didn't even wear her new shirt and slack set that she bought for Easter to church. She wore a sweater. It was a different Easter for us. It was the first one without either of our children present. Professor, of course, couldn't come home just for the Easter weekend, and Little Bro had to work that Sunday. His lovely wife, Kiddo, our grandson, and Tilly's parents joined us at a local restaurant for a nice dinner at noon. Then we all went our respective ways, and I took a nap. At church that Sunday, my choir had sung a lovely cantata, so I had had my "music fix."
School began again. The students weren't ready to come back, and neither were most of the staff. But we are all persevering and have only 6 more Mondays to go.
We had our taxes figured last week, and are getting a refund from both the Feds and the State. What a pleasant surprise that was.
I stood in line last Saturday to get the plates for our two vehicles, one of which doesn't run right now. I had forgotten that plates in our state expire on the 15th and the last day. Ours was the 15th, so I had to do a rush job.
Saturday afternoon, it started raining, and suddenly the temp dropped and we ended up with over an inch of snow on the ground by nightfall. What the he--?? Sunday the temp went up to about 55 degrees, so the snow left in a hurry. All of our flowering trees are stunted, and I am sure my tulips and lilacs won't bloom at all. Damn!
We' re reviewing for county testing at school, and the kids are not at all receptive. I don't think they realize just how important these tests are towards our funding and etc.
I ticked off a couple of teachers today because they are always bashing our special ed system at our school and speaking unkindly about some of "my kids" and I had had enough. I told them that they needed more training on how to deal with learning disabled students, and that the teachers and aides in our department were not superhuman! Suddenly the teacher's lounge was very quiet. But I didn't back down. But I did shut up!!!
My men's quartet sang at a neighboring town's Church of the Brethren revival service. It was my first experience at a revival. It was an eye-opening experience. We had a very receptive audience for our music, but the message was very LONG and repetitive. I don't intend to attend another one any time soon. I was definitely out of my comfort zone. Too intense for me!
It sounds like Professor's school production of "Grease" will be a smashing success. She promised to have it video-taped so Tilly and I can see it. I am also homesick. Did I mention that? Montana is a long way away. Can't wait until school is out and she comes home for a visit.
That's about it for my end.
Cheers!
JE

CHRISTIAN WAYS TO RELIEVE STRESS

This is a different kind of list. It was sent to me by one of my very close friends. He truly exemplifies this list. I strive to, but am sure I fall short. I think #35 is the hardest one for me to abide by. JE


An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."

1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the kid in you everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most.)
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36 Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

I Hate Cell Phones

Yes, I have a cell phone. Only out of necessity. Tilly and I have tried several different plans, and for our budget, a "pay-as-you-go" plan works the best. We don't use the thing much. I take it with me while driving the transit bus, because our dispatcher goes home at 4 and I drive until 6:30 (not a good plan, but I don't run the show there) so I have the phone incase I have a problem and need to call someone.
Yesterday, I decided to buy more minutes for the phone. The company I am with has this web site where you can buy minutes on line. And, if you buy on line, you get a better deal than if you call their toll free number. So, I (or rather, Tilly) goes thru the whole buying process, and alas...the darn thing sends me confirmation, and a reciept that I can print out. But...I never got my minutes added on the phone. I tried calling the customer service number and got a series of recordings, asking me to press 1 for this or press 2 for that. Oh crap! I just got frustrated and hung up, never getting to customer service, or getting my minutes.
So, today, the mighty Tilly tackles the problem. She got on the phone and persevered until she got a "real" person. Would you believe that that "real" person is actually in Venzuela? They did speak English and were helpful, but I marvel that we have to deal with people in ANOTHER COUNTRY!! (Are those types of jobs so menial that an American won't do them?) But I digress...Tilly got her point across and I got my minutes, but I wonder if it is really worth the hassle. Do I really need this phone?
Nothing makes me madder while driving either transit, or my personal auto than to see someone talking on their phone. Or to be sitting next to someone in a restaurant and have them spend the whole time on their phone. The other day someone's phone rang in CHURCH! Now, I ask you, is anything that important?
I have caught students text messaging in class, too. I confisgate the phones, turn them in at the office, and the student has to deal with the assistant principal to get it back, which usually involves a call home to Mom, tears, and needless to say, lost minutes on ones plan. We tried outlawing cells at school, but parents had a fit. Yes parents! What if my child needs me? What if they need a ride home? And so it goes. Whatever did we do without cell phones? I know, we called from a pay phone, or walked to a friends and called Mom. Or, horrors of horrors, just waited until we got home to call our friends.
I suppose CP's do have a place. They are convenient, but I wonder just how people who are on the welfare rolls, and free lunch program at school can really justify owning them.
I am seriously considering giving my CP up when my new minutes are gone, but then again, when Tilly and I are out on the road taking a run to our fav mall or just bumming around on a nice afternoon, it does offer a way to call AAA if we have a car problem. Maybe it's worth having just to be safe at our age. Maybe I will keep it a while longer. Did I just talk myself into something here?

Spring Fever

Spring fever is striking the school where I toil. I can see it descending like a cloud. This is not a bad thing, but it sure takes it's toll on the teachers. We are an inner city school, bereft with poverty and apathy. Spring fever doesn't bode well for us.
Today, first period, my most challenged student came into my room and announced, "I didn't do my homework last night." I challenged him as to why, and he informed me that he "didn't feel like it."
Second period, one of my sixth graders said he was tired when he got home from school, so his parent didn't think he needed to do his homework. That remark got Mom a call from the lead teacher. Both were steamed!
Third period, I subbed in a study hall and all went rather smoothly. Our study hall system is a walk in, finish up your homework, then procede on to class. Today, I only had one student.
Fourth period was okay, only Steven got on my one nerve, so I had to eat a slab of chocolate.
By the end of the day, the other aide that shares my room with me, and I were hitting the chocolate covered, nutty bars. One of my kids came in and offered me a life saver, and I said, "No thanks, we're hitting the hard stuff."
I love spring, and all it brings. But it does make the job harder.

Pugs

Tilly and I have a Pug. We did a lot of inquiring ( we thought) before we purchased her 3 years ago. We paid out the wang-wang for her. She is a lovely little companion to Tilly while I am gone. She like me, but is crazy about Tilly. She seems pretty smart, but is undoubtedly the most stubborn canine we have ever owned. We diligently house broke this dog as a pup, but she still doesn't get it.
She will go out doors, wander the yard, bark at the neighbor's beagle, and anyone who walks within a half-mile of our yard. When she finally decides to do her "business" she turns in a full circle in the same spot not once, but many times, (I have actually counted up to 16 circles) then finally does her thing.
The only thing is, she will come back in the house and 15 minutes later, poop on the floor. She has completely ruined out living room carpeting, and has a favorite spot in the dining room. I think she does this out of spite. Is that possible or is she just too stupid to catch on that she is supposed to take care of all bodily functions OUTSIDE?
She is also a notorious shedder. We had Kees before and they shed a lot. But I honestly think that she tops them. She doesn't have a hair on her body longer than an inch to an inch-and-a-half, and she sheds like a cat. We have tried switching food, grooming (actually overgrooming) and still she sheds. I hate the hair. It's brittle and gets in the weave of a sweater or even my slacks and shirts, and is hell to get out.
All in all, I would give her to the first band of gypsies that would go by,(I threatened my kids with the same treatment when they were still home) but Tilly says NO! Tilly did concede to running an ad to see if someone was interested in buying this dog, but when someone expressed interest, she changed her mind. "She wanted to cage her all day while she is at work. Pansy has never be caged, she would be traumatized." So, here we are, still cleaning up after a 3 year old dog, brushing the hair from everything, and still having her lay close and snore in the way only a loving, content Pug can do. Anyone got any suggestions?
JE

I Hate Computers!

I am beginning to hate computers. For over a week now, I have pissed and moaned about my blogging site; that it wouldn't work, was "google's" fault, and that I was frustrated.
Well, a while ago, "wife-type-person" decided to go into the nether regions of our old (literally) PC, and deleted all cookies(I'm thinking Oreos) and cleaned up the hard drive with some magic formula that only she seems to know where to click to find, and PRESTO, suddenly my site is up and running.
So, now I have two blogs and two blog sites. I think I will stick here for a while longer, so keep in touch.
JE

Zounds

I am at my wits end. I can post to this blog from another computer, but when I try to post from my home PC, I get an" error on page" message and it won't let me post. What is wrong? Every since we had to change over to google, I have had nothing but problems. I have started a new blog called Chasing Time. Join me there.
Maybe this problem will resolve itself, but if any one has any ideas, let me know via comments here.
JE

15 Things It Took Me 61+ Years to Learn

I know, it's another list. But it's worth it! This one came from my sister-in-law in TX.

1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

2. If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings".

3. There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness".

4. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.

5. You should not confuse your career with your life.

6. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

7. Never lick a steak knife.

8. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.

9. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.

10. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.

11. There comes a time when you stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.

12. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status, or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers.

13. A person, who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention. It never fails.)

14. Your friends love you anyway.

15. Never be afraid to try something new. Remember: a lone amateur built the Ark; A large group of professionals built the Titanic

When I Was A Kid

I have many memories of my childhood. Some of them are very fond. I shall attempt to share a few. This was a tag from Professor.

For my fifth birthday I received a maroon and cream two wheeled bike. Now, I had never ridden a bike before, so I needed training wheels. Dad installed them a little close to the ground, which made braking pointless. It didn’t brake. I rode out of our driveway, into the gravel road, which went past our house. There was a little hill and then a bridge going across a channel where rowboats were moored for rent. I kept veering left towards the channel, trying to stop. I was hollering, “stop,” but I just kept rolling and rode out into the channel. It was only 3 feet deep, so there was no danger to me, but my bike was totally submersed. Our neighbor got a rake, waded into the channel and rescued my bike. Mom laughed!

We had woods behind where we lived; we played there all the time. We would leave in the morning and traipse back to the woods where we played cowboys and Indians all day. We thought Mom never knew where we were, but found out as adults that she and the neighbor lady would periodically walk into the woods to where she could see us, check on us, and then walk back home.

Going to Grandma F.’s was fun. She lived in town. She bought Pepsi Cola. She let my brother and I stay up and watch the “late show.” She had T.V.; we didn’t.

I wanted to smoke. My dad smoked, so Mom let my brother and I light up. I was about 7. She didn’t let us quit! I think I turned green!

Christmas was always exciting. One year we got real leather boxing gloves. However, our parental unit didn’t think what the smell of leather might do to our dog. Christmas morning we got our “prechewed” boxing gloves.

Parents were gone for a long weekend. Brother and I invited 50 of our friends to our lake house for a “beer party.” The sheriff showed up, but we had a phone call warning us. So Brother and I and another friend, tossed all the beer into our canoe, paddled into the middle of the lake, and started tossing beer bottles and cans into the water. Then we paddled into the shadows (it was after midnight) and bulrushes and waited. Sure enough, the sheriff arrived, knocked on the door, walked around the house, then left. What a waste of good beer!

A bunch of neighborhood kids decided to go “halloweening” aka prank playing. We threw corn at the old man next door’s windows, we lit a burlap bag of cow poop outside another guys door on his cement porch, and hid and watched him come out and stomp it out! We smashed a pumpkin and stuffed it into a mailbox, causing the owner to shoot a shotgun over our heads. We climbed a farm fence topped with barbed wire, getting ripped pants, ran through a field and across an old cemetery where Brother fell into a sunken grave. What a night.

We always ate our evening meal together, at the dining room table, with a tablecloth and real china. Supper was on the table promptly at 6 p.m. We even prayed before we ate.

We prayed at school every day before going to lunch. Lunch was real food, cooked at school by some farm ladies who ran the lunchroom. The best chicken and noodles I ever ate came from there.

Going to church was not optional. When the old Chevy was pointed towards town and church, we were expected to be in the back seat. We never questioned going or complained about it, either.

Natural Highs

1. Falling in love.
2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.
3. A hot shower.
4. No lines at the supermarket.
5. A special glance.
6. Getting mail.
7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.
8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio.
9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.
11. Chocolate milkshake (vanilla or strawberry ).
12. A cold beer on a hot day.
13. Belly laughing.
14. A good conversation.
15. The beach.
16. Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter.
17. Laughing at yourself.
18. Looking into their eyes and knowing they Love you.
19. Phone calls from friends.
20. Running through sprinklers.
21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.
22. Having someone tell you that you're still handsome.
23. Laughing at an inside joke with FRIENDS.
24. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.
25. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.
26. Your first kiss (the very first).
27. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
28. Playing with a new puppy.
29. Finding a really good book and having time to read.
30. Sweet dreams.
31. Hot chocolate.
32. Road trips with friends.
33. Swinging on swings.
34. Making eye contact with a cute stranger.
35. Making chocolate chip cookies.
36. Having your friends send you homemade cookies.
37. Holding hands with someone you care about.
38. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.
39. Watching the __expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you.
40. Watching the sunrise.
41. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day.
42. Knowing that somebody missed you today.
43. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.
44. Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think.

SNOW! (Random thoughts thereof)

• If snow is a gift from God, he can keep it!
• 12" of some things is good. Snow is not one of them!
• I hate shoveling!
• People in my neighborhood are insane when it comes to moving snow!
• White reflects too much light!
• Snow removal is a racket!
• The human body is not designed to remove snow!
• I have sore muscles where I didn't even know I had muscles.
• Snow blowers don't work forever! Mine died!
• Snow shovels must be designed by midgets. (At least the handles are.)
• 15 year old boys can shovel three times as much snow as an over-60 grandpa.
• Snow does cover up a lot of dirt and stuff.
• Snow is beautiful when sitting inside looking out.
• Snow makes people drive stupidly.
• Have you ever noticed how quiet it is after a snowfall?
• When it melts, snow makes a real mess.
• Kids love snow!
• I have had enough snow for this winter. By next year, maybe I will have forgotten!

Robbie, Chelsea, and Sue

One of the patrons of my transit route, Sue, is an unmarried woman, middle aged, works hard and no doubt, has lived hard. But anyway, she has these two Rotweilers. Robbie is 10, and Chelsea is only a year. Sunday last, Robbie went missing. Sue hunted her farm over, drove the country roads and the state highway looking and yelling for Robbie. To no avail. Needless to say that on Monday night when I picked her up to take her home, she was beside herself. She tearfully told me that Robbie was the only living thing in this world that loved her unconditionally. She had finally decided that Robbie had been stolen.
After I dropped her off, I offered a prayer for Sue, and Robbie, too. I just wanted God to watch over Robbie, and be with Sue, for she was grieving.
Tonight, when I picked Sue up, I made up my mind that I wouldn't mention Robbie, but as soon as she got on the bus, she said, "I found Robbie." It seems that Sue had baled hay delivered for her horses. The bales were stacked 6 high and several bales thick in her barn. The dogs liked to play on them and they would run and jump on the top of the stack and cavort around while Sue tended her horses. Well, last night when Sue went to the barn, Chelsea went wild around the hay bales and was barking and whining. Sue went to see what was upsetting her, and when she looked in a small space betweenthe bales where Chelsea had her nose stuck, there was Robbie. He had fallen down a hole in the bale stack. Sue said he had a space about 20 inches wide and 30 inches long where either the bales had not been stacked together, or they had shifted. The hole was about 6 feet deep, so Robbie couldn't jump out. He was trapped. Sue is a tiny thing, probably 90 pounds dripping wet, but she said she moved a "hell of a lot" of hay. Robbie was fine. He was hungry and thirsty, but fine.
Doesn't God move in mysterious ways?

SNOW,WINTER, and OTHER STUFF

Well, we finally have had a skiff of snow. It is beautiful. Last night on my usual transit route, I couldn't help marveling at the beautiful vistas I encountered driving in the country. We had about 1/2 inch of snow, which is just enough to cover up the dirt and stuff. I was heading south out of town and the sun was beginning to set. The sun's rays formed that crystal effect on the snow that looks like millions of diamonds on a soft blue and white velvet background. I was in awe. I forget from year to year, just how beautiful the snow can be.
We have had a very mild winter here in Area 52, with warmer than normal temps, and lots of rain. I haven't missed the bitter cold, but I am tired as hell of rain, damp and mud. So for a while I would welcome some cold, pristine weather, which helps clear up the everpresent sinus malady.
As for school, we ended the semester, and have started another one. The kids are restless, but overall aren't too bad. I think they crave some decent weather, too. We are beginning a new unit in English. We are studying linking verbs, predicate nominatives, predicate adjectives, action verbs, indirect objects, and direct objects. This is stuff that I try to convince the kids that will make them better writers and speakers. It is also in our state educational standards that we have to teach this stuff. I don't think the kids are convinced, but are trying. Time will tell if we are getting there or not, but it sure beats trying to ply them with another outdated novel. (We could sure use some new novels for class, but funding prohibits that. However, the school system spent 185 thousand on a patented "reading" program that is supposed to be so great. I personally think is was a waste of good tax dollars, as it has no strengths for the above average readers. Enough said about that.
Wife Tilly is having trouble getting around today because of the effects of the damp weather on her poor arthritic knees. Maybe tomorrow will be better. Her mom had to go into a nursing home facility this week. That was a sad moment for all of us, but better for her. She is recovering from still another heart "episode" where the emergency room personnel again had to restart her heart. Hopefully being in a skilled care facility, she will regain her strength and be able to once again return home. It will give my 79 year old father-in-law a chance to rest.
We are joyful to know that Professor is back safe and sound in MOFN, MT, and not minding it too badly. She feels more at ease, she says, and of course the fact that she has met "Cowboy" is certainly a plus. Having someone to share your feelings, fun and etc with is always good.
Little Bro has begun his new job as a guard in a prison about 25 miles from here. I wonder why, but maybe he is being led there by a higher power. He seems to like it and is doing well in the training phase.
I continue to sing. I love making music and praising the Lord, but mostly , I love singing with the people I make music with. They are a great group and singing with those 3 guys fills my heart and soul with something that is really not describable in words. It is just a joy.
This hodgepodge of rambling just got too long. It also served not only to update my 1 or 2 readers, but also gave me time to just put some feelings and stuff into words.
-"thought for the day...In making decisions which involved using your head or your heart, go with your heart. You will be happier in the long run, and you will meet a lot more interesting people along the way."

Things To Ponder for 2007

I ganked this from my friend Bob. But Thought all who read my ramblings might enjoy it!



#10 Life is sexually transmitted.
#9 Good health is merely the slowest rate at which one can die
#8 Men have two emotions: Hungry and Horny. If you see him without an
erection, make him a sandwich.
#7 Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach a person to
use
the internet and they won't bother you for weeks.
#6 Some people are like a slinky... not really good for anything, but
you
still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
#5 Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in the hospital
dying
of nothing
#4 All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention
to
criticism.
#3 Why does a slight tax increase cost you two hundred dollars, and a
substantial tax cut saves you thirty cents???
#2 In the 60's, people took LSD to make the world weird. Now the world
is
weird and people take Prozac to make it normal. AND THE NUMBER ONE
THOUGHT
FOR 2007... We know exactly where one cow with mad-cow-disease is
located
among the millions and millions of cows in America, but we haven't a
clue as
to where thousands of Illegal immigrants and Terrorists are located.
Maybe
we should put the Department of Agriculture in charge of immigration.

Back Home Again in Area 52

It's great to have Professy home! Of course it would have been greater if Tilly was over bronchitis, and then the real pits is, I got the flu. For 24 hours I honestly thought I would die. And, I didn't care. In the middle of last night, I knew I was going to recover...I woke up craving a tangarine. The first inclination that the worst was over. Today, I have showered and ate that tangarine and now am exhausted. But there is promise in the air.
Prof and I have had some good visits, but the only thing wrong with them is that they all lead back to our jobs...teaching! Can we never get away from it? LOL!
While she is home, I still want to take that long walk, go for a dad and daughter coffee break, and play some "out for blood" games. We still have another week! Boy a lot to cram in to 7 days. But we will doit. Pray that we all stay well!
JF

A Great Day

Today has been a great day. It started off great with a wonderful Advent Church service, lots of music, lots of praise, and reception of several new members. One of the quartets I sing in closed the service with a rousing contemporary Christian Christmas number, and we rocked the rafters. People actually clapped along, and applauded when we finished. A real WOW! moment.
We came home and hung out for a while, and then we went Christmas shopping. This was not a very successful venture, but I came home one sweater richer! Even though we didn't buy much, and it is getting closed to Christmas, we still had a good time. Then we went to Dairy Queen and had a Moolate . Tilly had French Vanilla, and I had Peppermint Mocha! Then we went for a drive and just enjoyed the day. We watched people out decorating with lights and decided that we would have to go back at night and see what they look like. All in all it was a just a fun day.
There is one catch, though. I have to go back to work tomorrow! Ugh! I think I need to take a "mental health" day and call in sick. Ah! There's an idea. Maybe on Wednesday, 'cause I don't have to drive the transit bus that night. Wow! A whole day to do absolutely nothing. That's almost unheard of for me. Talk about burning the proverbial candle at both ends. Mine should be a stub by now! I have friends that are retired and are enjoying it. I could see how that would be great. I will look into it next when the big 62 rolls around. Don't know if it would be feasible financially, but it might be worth looking into. Who knows? Let's see, what is on the agenda next???
Everyone have a good week!
JE

28 Unalderated Truths About Me

I'm a thief! Ganked it from Professor

1. Explain what ended your last relationship. It’s been so long, but I think she threw me over for another older guy. The BITCH!
2. When was the last time you shaved?Last night!
3. What were you doing this morning at 8 a.m.? Trying to teach a dumb 7th grade girl about the 8 parts of speech in a 1 on 1 session.
4. What were you doing 15 minutes ago?Crying over something wonderful that just happened.
5. Are you any good at math? No! Terrible, horrible, and basically suck at it!
6. Your prom night? Boy! That’s been aeons ago. I think I stayed sober, and the girl I took was a dog! My college formal dance was better. I married that gal!
7. Do you have any famous ancestors? nope.
8. Have you had to take a loan out for school?yes, one!
9. Do you know the words to the song on your Myspace profile?What the hell is a “myspace profile?
10. Last thing received in the mail?bills, catalog (King Size) and Christmas Cards.
11. How many different beverages have you had today?Coffee, Coffee, Frozen Coke, and a Frostie from Wendy’s
12. Do you ever leave messages on people's answering machine?I HATE answering machines. Leave messages only when necessary.
13. Whom did you lose your CONCERT virginity to? Billy Joel! That sounds weird, doesn’t it?
14. Do you draw your name in the sand when you go to the beach? No…peeing in public is against the law!
15. What was the most painful dental procedure you have had? Oral surgery and having a stainless steel post imbedded in the jaw bone for a special crown.
16. What is out your back door? Back yard, dog shit, garage, trashcans.
17. Any plans for Friday night? It’s payday, so we’ll probably go to Dairy Queen.
18. Do you like what the ocean does to your hair? I love the ocean. I don’t have hair, so who cares!!!
19. Have you ever received one of those big tins of 3 different popcorns? Yes, but the cheese stuff is pure SHIT!
20. Have you ever been to a planetarium? yes
21. Do you re-use towels after you shower?Not if we have any clean ones in either bathroom!
22. Some things you are excited about? Have the kids all here for Christmas!
23. What is your favorite flavor of JELLO? I detest Jello! I only eat it when I am sick!
24. Describe your keychain(s).A long, black lanyard, lots of keys and school I D.
25. Where do you keep your change? I carry a little coin holder thingy.
26. What kind of winter coat do you own? I own a leather bomber jacket, a long black wool trench coat, a black wool parka, a red and black nylon down filled coat. (I love coats, can you tell?)
27. What was the weather like on your graduation day?Hot and sultry at high school, and colder than hell and snowing at college. I graduated mid year on the 14th of Dec.
28. Do you sleep with the door to your room open or closed? Open, ‘cause I am nearly deaf without my HA and need to know if the house falls in or something.

All I Want For Christmas

This year, I dont need gifts. I just want the following things:

Snow: not a lot, just enough to get in the spirit of the season.

Wonderful music at church

Spending time with my family

Safe travel as the Professor comes home to Area 52 for Christmas

Plenty of sugar cookies

Singing around the piano

Talking to my Texas relatives

Lots of Christmas cards

Hanging out with friends

Getting recharged for a second semester of school

Singing "Silent Night" at church on Christmas Eve

Touching base with our good buddies in Ohio

Having a chance to sleep in

Taking that walk with Prof

Just being warm and well and content

The Ghosts of Christmas Past

As Christmas time approaches, I get rather nostalgic when I think about Christmases in the past. I love Christmas. Always have, always will. I think sometimes we lose sight of the real meaning of the holiday, but I still recall what it is all about and enjoy all aspects of the season to the fullest.
When I was a kid, we NEVER had an artificial tree. Dad always went shopping for our huge tree. He would bring it home, trim it to fit the stand, and then lug the monster into the living room. Sometimes, it was so crooked that he had to wire it to the curtain rod, but by the time he got it anchored, it was as straight as an arrow. Then he began to put on the lights. This was when my bro and I usually slinked away and hid until Mom gave us the "all clear" signal. Dad and lights were not patient with each other. Then we all decorated the tree. Mom would let Bro and I toss the icicles on from afar, then when we left the room, Mom would patiently straighten them out so they hung just right.
I remember when I was about 9 or 10, I got the neatest set of cap guns. I had admired them in our local "general" store for at least two months. There on Christmas morning, under the tree, were the gold plated, holsters and two "six" shooters. I was the toughest cowboy in the neighborhood. (By the way, I still have them.)
I remember going to Grandpa's on Christmas. Seems like I always got a flashlight every year. And pajamas! Thank God for grandparents who remember it is polite and proper to wear pajamas!
I remember how Tilly broke out in some sort of rash the first Christmas we were married. I didn't know she was alergic to pine sap, so from that time on, we have always had to have an artificial tree.
I remember the Christmas when Professor was about 2, she went to the midnight service with us. I was in the choir and looked out and there she stood, holding her candle, singing "Silent Night." I still choke trying to sing that carol.
I remember when Little Bro's teacher called us just to tell about him telling a little girl in the 2nd grade the whole story of the meaning of Christmas: "it's was Jesus' birthday." The little girl had never heard the Christmas Story before!
I remember when Prof was old enough to read the Christmas Story, from the King James version of the Bible, Luke: 2. I was both amazed and touched! I still am!
I remember the Christmas Day that the temperature plummeted to -25F and we had to drive the old Pinto to Grandma's because the "good" car wouldn't start. We piled in, 4 people, a turkey and all the trimmings, and gifts for everyone, and headed out. The driver's side door latch was broke, so we held the door closed with a "bungie" tarp strap.
I remember the first Christmas after my mom passed away. We laughed, we cried and we had a ball raising a toast to all Christmases past.
Everyone! Have a great Christmas. Yes, Christmas. Not "holiday." After all, "Jesus is the reason for the season."

My Mysterious 6 Things

I ganked this from Professor, but I thought it was an interesting direction to take a blog, and might surprise a few readers:

1. I want to play baseball. I know, you all think, "what?" but it my desire to play slow pitch softball on a community league. At my age, I don't think I could see a fast-pitched ball coming soon enough to swing at it. And I can't run too well anymore, so an old timer's league would be perfect.

2. I want to sing at Carnegie Hall once before I die. I think it would be a thrill to sing a solo in front of thousands of people. I am getting ready for a major solo in front of two or three hundred, and I am already excited and I have another 3 weeks to go.

3. I want to spend at least one winter in a warm climate. I am hoping that Tilly and I can go either to Florida or Arizona (would prefer the latter) sometime and be one of those older couples that just hang out where it is warm.

4. I have this desire to own a red, two seater sports car. Maybe a Miata. Why not? Other than $$.

5. I am basically a person that hates to go to bed at night. I don't mind getting up at the butt-crack of dawn to greet the day, but going to bed is a drag. I guess I have always been this way, cause my Mom always said she thought it was because I was afraid I might miss something. I don't know what I would miss at this stage of my life, but I still have to cave in and force myself to go beddy bye.

6. I love the English language. I love being in 4 English classes this year. I am learning so much right along with my students. I love the way verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs and all the other parts of speech fit together to make a cohesive sentence. Am I wierd or what? It's fun!

This was silly but also true. It made me stop and think.