Joe Cocker

  Jon and Sharon were here this weekend with their sonogram pictures of the son to be. They will be in Iowa for Christmas so we got together early and had an enjoyable time.  We have a real tree this year, a Fraser fir  from Horrocks at $42. All the boys were here for dinner Saturday night.  We had Kroger baked chicken with wedding potatoes and green beans. Earlier in the day we went to the Jenerette's, Pam and Charlie, and 4 couples of their neighbors for a potluck which was fun.  On Thursday I was subbing at Elmwood in the afternoon and the Waverly Reflections group sang for the school and I recognized many of them though I hadn't subbed for any of them for at least 3 or 4 years. Their teacher had all the members introduce themselves and say what Waverly schools they've attended.  The girls went first and many mentioned teachers there that they had and then the boys did it and 3 mentioned that Mr. Pratt had been their substitute teacher. It's break time now though Lukas is still working at Akers during the week. Joe Cocker died of lung cancer today at 70, known for his raspy voice and spaz like movement while singing, we'll have to get by with a little help from our friends.  But it's really nice to hear principals tell me they're glad to have me in their buildings, we all need to hear we're appreciated. Gramma left for Florida and the sunshine 2 weeks ago.  "Solstice"comes from the Latin words meaning "the sun stands still." After appearing to move away from Earth for 6 months, the sun seems to stop briefly and then begin to return, as the days will become longer for light until summer's solstice.

November Over

   We had a family Thanksgiving with all the boys and Sharon for turkey and fixings. Gramma and Mark came for pizza on Wednesday as they were going to Petra's Thursday and we wanted them to see Jon before they left Friday morning for Iowa.  The west coast of Michigan and the U.P. got record snowfalls for November and the ice was forming 10 days earlier on the Great Lakes.  But that was nothing compared to Buffalo's 7 feet of snow off Lake Erie, fortunately we only had about 4" here though the polar vortex gave us single digit wind chills.  I came down with a chest cold 2 weeks ago that started effecting my voice last Friday and is now deep in my chest causing coughing fits. I've been working every day but may take it easy depending on this cold. Lansing Catholic, Ithaca and Sexton all lost in the High School Finals after having undefeated seasons.  In Ithaca's case it ended their nationwide leading winning streak of 69 games.  MSU ended their season 10-2 and await a major bowl invitation.  Mister Man has now been gone 2 months so he may have passed on leaving us 3 indoor and 2 outdoor cats.  Next April the results of the DEQ study of the GM sites will be released saying the parking lots and foundations must remain to cover up pollutants and prevent them from spreading to the ground water. The only likely development would be solar farms BWL has proposed since the GM bankruptcy in 2009 left $3 million for redevelopment.  That was a small price for GM to pay for the billions of dollars it will cost us the tax payers for the plant sites they dumped on us through the RACER settlement. Advent the time of waiting, Lord help us, our trust is in you not corporate America!

All Saints Day

  Again we had zero kids for Halloween as it was cold and few trick or treaters out.  Andrew has been at St. Lawrence for a week now with depression but should be out Monday. We went to Greg's play at Riverwalk last weekend and had dinner with them and the Rivets at Clara's. I've been busy subbing mostly in Waverly and was at Winan's on Mrs. Blackwell's last day with her walking a last time through the halls with all the students biding farewell. St. Gerard's had their mission and I attended 2 days of inspired singing and spirituality. Jane and I went to Frankenmuth for a Sunday that was a beautiful sunny day. On September 26th-28th we went to Valparaiso to see Jon and Sharon's new house and found out we're going to be grandparents next May. It was a very nice weekend of weather and meals by Sharon. Jane's doing very good with her therapist and except for it's effect on my Monday jobs it is worthwhile. Phillip is busy with classes and the Lear Center. Lukas is working about 20+ hours a week at MSU but must start seriously looking for a full time job. It has been a warm Autumn and the trees are just now losing their leaves. We voted by absentee ballot and I'll probably do that from now on. MSU is 7-1 playing well and in the Top10 in the polls. All us saints are sinners but the Lord loves us so we can still make the world better despite our humanity.

Walking Around

     There was the Alvarado reunion at Hawk Island in July with below average attendance but it was a nice sunny day.  We all got new shoes at Playmakers sale and I had new brakes put on the Malibu.  Jane and I took walks often and went to Hunter's Orchard and Hawk Meadows parks.  Jane started seeing a counsellor about her family and has enjoyed finally do it.  We saw the James Brown movie and went to Folk Fest in East Lansing and saw Thornetta Davis sing.  We had the K of C haul away all the old lawnmowers,  air conditioners and metal before leaving to Grand Haven for a week.  Jane and I spent the whole week together undisturbed and she did shopping and I did breweries. WE went to Holland, White Lake and Muskegon.  When we got home we left to Canton Ohio the next morning to help Phillip move back, about 900 miles in 36 hours.  Phillip started work and classes at MSU the next 2 days. Lukas graduated from MSU with a History degree and is stilling working there.  Jon sold his house and he and Sharon bought a home near Valparaiso. Sharon began her new job as an assistant professor at U of Indiana, Gary.  I've been subbing some and was not invited to proctor at Cooley last term as they are cutting back due to decreased enrollment.  I could have taken a long term at Winan's again but this time it was for an open Specials class due to their losing the Spanish teachers because they cut them back to .4.  I also would have had to go to Colt in the afternoons and there was no definite date as to how long the job would be and to what was going to be taught.  I attended the funereal of Dan Phillips at Resurrection and Bobby Lee Richardson who I worked with at GM and shared the same birth day and year, died.  This summer we did not have a high in the 90's and it never dried out so everything stayed green and the flowers all did well. A very nice summer that went quickly as the cooler days are now beginning. Phillip got his offer from Marathon and will wait to find his destination next spring.  Time is always moving on with us or without, walking our trails.

Poetic Prose

   Some write poetry naturally and everything they do is prosaic. Last night my mind was filled with thoughts stopping me from sleeping. A dog kept barking hauntingly echoing fear in the solitude.After writing down a poem that demanded action, I read Dylan's Chronicles for an hour. But sleep would not come and more words filled my restlessness until sirens pulled me from the bed into the near full moon daynight. The next three full moons are Supermoons or perigee moon, when it is closest to Earth making it appear 30% brighter and 14% bigger. Orange was entering through the fence gate and I called him to come in. He took his time finally crying on the fencepost that he was ready. Back in bed I found Jane fighting off a millipede that had entangled itself in her hair and brought her into my mania. When dreams came they were the replay of the night's events demanding I recount these strange happenings. Was it the three movies we saw this week for $2 at Regal Cinemas opening or the majestic July nightsky that was like a luminescent highlighted painting?  I finished Graham Nash's Wild Tales and have been staying busy with some local concerts during the week. With all the rain everything is growing and very green. Yet we haven't had too many muggy hot unbearable days. Strange days, strange nights, isn't life strange when you're the stranger?

Father's Day 2014

   Basil, my father-in-law passed away Sunday June 8th at around 6:35 at Sparrow Hospital. He entered emergency May 27th while Jane and I were at Black Lake with the UAW retirees. We had beautiful weather there and had great food and presentations that included Bob King. We left Thursday afternoon after lunch and the final speakers to be with Basil who had water drained from around his heart earlier. We got there at 6 and he was back in his room recovering but very alert. We found out he had multiple organ failures and was still physically ailing. Over the course of the next week he made little progress and the doctors indicated he may have cancer. It was finally decided on Saturday to keep him on comfort only care and move him to a bigger room which may be a transition to Hospice if needed. His visitation was at Tiffany's Thursday and Friday the funeral mass at Cristo Rey with burial at St. Joseph's on a cool windy day. John and Sharon were here and stayed for Mandy's open house on Saturday. Phillip had to stay in Canton for his job as there was a job fair at The U. of Ohio Friday that he and the other interns were in charge of. We moved him down there May 17th and returned the 18th after getting him acclimated to getting to his job at Marathon and grocery stores. Luke is finishing his classes at MSU this summer and working each morning at 7 there. I have at least one more half day of school before I'm off for the summer. Jane is handling Basil's death well and now the future with Grandma living with Mark and how much Petra demands will be the challenge. Wiley died May 22nd after being sick a day and passing away during the night in Phillip's room. He was cremated and we have his ashes and paw prints in the living room after his 14 1/2 years as our dog. It has been rainy this spring and only a few hot days so far has made it quite comfortable and everything green and growing.

Filed Taxes Online

Today I filed my federal taxes online for the first time. I had done them on paper and filed my state by mail in February because I was getting money  back from them. I had to pay the federal and I wanted to check my figuring with the software and they came out the same, so I'll probably E-File again next year. The snow finally went away in early April setting a record of over 106 days with snow covering the ground and being the coldest winter since 1950. Phillip bought a 2013 Cruze from Bud Kouts and is practising for his drivers test for his license. There was another snow day March 12 but I've been working everyday until last week's spring break. The Ybarra's got back from Florida March 27 and sold their house and moved out the 30th into Mark's. Jon and Sharon were here that weekend for our birthdays and I had told Gramma they needed 2 Men and a Truck to move them but they managed somehow without our help. MSU and Michigan both reached the elite 8 but both lost to the teams that went to the final with Connecticut, a #7 seed winning it. We went to the Caesar Chavez movie with Luke this week and the MSU Science Fair last Sunday. We had the temperature reach 70 for the first time since last October this weekend and spring is finally showing it's signs of life. I finished cleaning up all the branches and cutting them this week with some piles of brush still out back.  Green is slowly appearing and buds are opening up to bring renewal to the earth and souls seeking new life.

Arctic Vortex

   The polar vortex continues to keep us cold and snow laden.  Mr. Chahine next door has recreated the cedars of Lebanon with his snow piles between the driveways. It turned out to be 3 days of canceled school the first week after break. We've had 2 more days off because of minus wind chills and recess has only happened twice. This has been the coldest and snowiest winter in around 40 some years. Snow banks block your view at many corners or exits and it's been below freezing for a long stretch. We took care of Kaiser for a week as Andrew checked into the hospital for depression and we have been taking care of the Ybarra's mail and plants as they have been in Florida since January the 8th. I'm back to subbing at my old schools again and the teachers are happy to see me.

Spartan Nation

MSU 24, Stanford 20, 2014 Rose Bowl makes a green and white new year! People also got back their power after 8 to 11 days without it due to a lack of urgency by BWL as 40% of BWL customers lost power. Dottie decided to cut down all the trees on our properties border so the clean up is easier but it looks so bare now and without that shade it will effect us this summer. I cut all the wood up in the fenced in backyard with the electric saw for the Ybarras.  Jim Phillipich's mother died Christmas Eve and I attended the funeral Monday.  I went to the cemetery and luncheon with Steve Martin and talked to Tom Roman and Dave Ellis at the funeral.  John Rashid died on New Years Eve and I was hoping to see Raymond at Tiffany's but he wasn't there.  We had some cold nights and are supposed to get a lot of snow and then a couple of days of zero and below weather this coming week. Change is definitely the theme for the new year so I'll trust the Lord to adjust and grow into the unknown. We had 15" of snow and wind chills of  -22, with school canceled for 2 days.