CHRISTMAS 2005

  On December 1st Simon was released from jail on lesser charges and on the 28th we will find out his final sentencing.  Dippy is now an indoor cat and has only went outside twice.  We went to mass at Holy Cross at 10:00 this morning as a complete family.  I proctored at Cooley last weekend and subbed in Lansing last week.  We had dinner at Ybarra's yesterday and Mark had presents for everyone.  December the temperature was below freezing the first 3 weeks and only reached 40 the last 2 days.  Jon got a full ride offer from Valparaiso Law School and is seriously  considering accepting it.  Phillip and I have both been going to physical therapy with my shoulder  now much better and his elbow has more bend but  his MRI shows he may require surgery.

ADVENT

   I now am in Lansing's substitute system and have been busy since I finally got an email through to Queen Hildenbrand and she fixed her error.  Simon has been in the Ingham Co. Jail since October 23rd another chapter in his journey to find himself or make us old.  It is a grey day warm but rainy as opposed to the snow on Thanksgiving.  Advent began yesterday as we face a different Chistmastime with Simon perhaps spending  time in Mason with only a 20 minute visit a week.  It would be easy to be depressed about this and I know he is but bad choices he has made hurts us all.  Advent is a time of waiting looking to the light of the world the CHRIST.      We all need to reflect on what life means and our purpose in the plan of this world in regards to an afterlife.  Our hope of peace on earth and goodwill toward men will have added importance this year.  Phillip will have to see a specialist about his elbow and I will begin physical therapy this week for my shoulder.  Dippy showed up last Tuesday all cut up and beaten and I have been nursing her back to health and she does look and sound a 1000% better.  But it has created a territorial problem with the other cats and Melon is now crapping in the hallway.  This week will give some answers to our questions and will usher in December.

A Slow start Subbing

    We finally got Dippy fixed last Wednesday as she prematurely gave birth to 3 fetus' Tuesday night.   I let her outside yesterday afternoon and true to form has not returned as she left 4 weeks ago when we 1st planned on getting her fixed.   Blanco and Melon are very happy being housecats and now sleep with us when they aren't chasing each other all over the house.   It has been a great Fall with warm temperatures and our needed rain turning everything back to the green life.   I've been subbing only about 2 days a week with only 2 jobs not at Elmwood.   I miss not being in the classroom everyday with students.   On the downside my shoulder is still restricted and painful due to the  day the hornets attacked me and I overextended my bad left shoulder trying to get away.   Jon won $75 at the Holy Cross festival on Saturday night while Lukas got to drive home as I finished off the Pale India Ale.   Time will take it's time and we need the patience to understand the waiting of time's course and our destiny.

Passing time

   September is halfway into the first month of school as I return to substituting and waiting for a job.  I've had one half day assignment at Elmwood so far but am signed up with Ingham, Eaton, Lansing  SD's along with St. Gerard.   It has been the hottest summer probably Lansing has had and drought like the past 6 weeks.   Both Lukas and Phillip are now at Waverly and Phillip was on the freshman golf team.   Jon has moved into a dorm at Williams Hall for his senior year at MSU.   I miss the predictability of teaching at WPCA everyday but I don't miss the pressure of parents, administrators,  weekly newsletters and lesson plans.    The computer is working right for the first time in weeks, so I may take my pleasure in this hazy day rambling.   The ground is rock solid and the grass brownish yellow as leaves begin to fall in this extended summer.    Hurricane Katrina has changed our country and the lives of  people as we humbly come to grips with nature and the belief of Intelligent Design.   Lansing radio's morning takes on a new look and sound tomorrow as Oldies 97.5 is now current and Rich Michaels moves to WMMQ.

Have I Ever Made Daily Entries?

   I am sitting in the classroom I will soon have to abandon because my teaching contract has not been renewed.   I've spent many hours in this room since last August and I'll miss these now barren white walls and my former students.  It was a learning year that overall I throughly enjoyed, working with some dedicated teachers.  Some students will forever be remembered and maybe some will be better from our year together.  i HAVE THE LIGHTS OFF AS i OFTEN DID.  Caps lock can create a diversion in a journal just like it prevents logging on  passwords.  Jane is working at Fabianos today,has it been 6 years now?  nEXT WEEK WE GO BACK TO gRAND hAVEN AS CAP LOCK CONFUSES ME AGAIN.  I'm stretching for material as you can read, no wonder I limit my blogging.  Until I become enlightened again I'd better quit before showing the emptiness within.  I did back to back entries the first 2 days but they were themed and based on intellectual material.  The Daily Planet is playing now waiting on the wall.  I know the uneveness of these floors as I paced them so often during class but nevermore cried the RAVEN, nevermore.    The fever of savage city life       still grips the streets       Hunger and loneliness      or a full stomach and loneliness           day after day            night after endless night     The huddled masses    huddled in shelters ...AMERICUS 1     Lawrence Ferlingetti    2004               

Termination Destination

It is another hot day as this summer gives me my last days at WPCA.  I will soon be turning in my keys and lose the high speed internet access.  The fourth generation of feral cats were born in May as Dippy had four kittens and they now live in the garage.  The Tom Cat has chased away Cloney and Pirate Eye who survived the winter in the garage.  Dippy's kittens are Blanco, Diablo, Melon, and Santana with Blanco being almost all white and also called Pinky Lee.  Melon is orange, black and white mostly on her head which is short for Melanoma.  Diablo has two black patches like horns on his head and Santana has the orange, black and white across his body.  I finally found I could access my journal from school, getting around the inital blocks.  I'm still recovering from an upper respitory and eye infection.  Luke is taking Drivers Ed. and Phillip is playing baseball for Mark's Dewitt 14-U team.  So go the days of our lives cliched as soap operas.

Last Day of School

The last day of school with students was June 8th.  We didn't have any sad good-byes.  Jennifer Tran brought in cupcakes for the class for her birthday and Jane came in for the last 45 minutes as I gave each student a personalized card and some candy.  On Friday the 10th after all the teachers had their final meeting I went to see Mr. Whipple, the principal, about my evaluation.   I was blindsided by his words, "We are not offering you a contract for second grade next year".  He justified this sighting poor performance survey ratings and complaints from parents about not wanting their child in my class.  First we went over the purposely low-balled evaluation I was given and after looking at the criterea he change many of the low marks up.   He then had me schedule a meeting for the next week to check on my status after he "checked" with whoever wanted me out.  He then confirmed at the meeting that I was OUT and my para-pro had been TALKING about me to other parents.  I have found out they have hired a parent from the school who is a friend of our assistant principal, Ms. Benson.  After all the year without being given any indication that my performance wasn't good enough I'm glad I won't be working for the new administation.  Thank You Dr. Bosshart for having faith in me, and my fellow teachers who supported me and made this year special.   On the last day of school Jennifer also brought in eggrolls which I thought were for me, as she never said anything about them when we passed out the cupckes.   When everyone left I checked out the package finding exactly 24 eggrolls probably meant for the class.

April Fools

April 1st is my birthday and I've seldom had to play the part of a FOOL on my birthday until this year.  Debbie Dunckel is one of my 2nd  grade team teachers along with  Tina Back at WPCA.  She is very much into birthdays and pranks  so on Friday April 1st  she called me at 6:05 am. to tell me school was cancelled because of a heating problem.  She calls me on the phone tree when something comes up so I was indeed fooled by her call.  She had also put up a happy 18th birthday banner on my door and had written a birthday message on my board at school , so the secret was out.  I had more birthday than the last 10 years combined with her class twice singing me happy birthday along with my own class and the 1st and 2nd grades singing it at the Moral Focus assembly, which included parents as we were having our PRIDE CARD presentation.  I surely celebrated my birthday more than I would have without their help and the special cards from my students, teaching it's priceless.   I had dinner with my family at Finleys that night and Jane and Phillip went to Florida the next morning, so Luke and I have been on our own and doing well.