MSU 17 OSU 14

  Michigan State beat #2 Ohio State to put themselves in the driver's seat for the Big Ten Championship. I'm finishing my subbing for this calendar year as I have rotor cuff surgery this coming Tuesday. We visited Silas in Valparaiso last weekend and had a beautiful time visiting Gary Indiana. Jon showed us where he worked and Sharon's University campus. We drove by Michael Jackson's home place which dead ended by Roosevelt H.S. athletic field. We had our first snow today that has brought us back to the reality of the wintry cold and snow we had evaded. Dr. Noud will do my surgery at St. Lawrence outpatient now that my new cardiologist, Dr. Naum cleared me after an EKG that required me to see him. This week I taught classes about Joe Hill whose 100th anniversary of his execution was the 19th. I told them he was a singer and union organizer who may have been unjustly accused of murder to quiet him up and played them the song about him and how some never die. Phillip got the job in Canton with Marathon in HR this week and is looking for a house to buy. Isis and the terrorists attacked Paris last week and it is sad the world will never be the same because of their misguided religious beliefs which certainly are wrong by any standard of humanity!

Leaves are Falling

   I've been subbing about everyday and have a date for surgery on my rotor cuff November 24th. We've had a moderate Autumn that is seeing the colors blowing off the trees to met the coldness of the shorter days of light. They finally trimmed some branches off the dead ash tree behind the garage and it won't be the only bare tree around soon. The politicians continue to fragment fact and opinion in their debates that if nothing else has created interest as to who will survive words of mass destruction. Jane and I went to Byron Center's Tanger Outlet Mall the 10th of October and then to the Rockford Brewing Co. for the beer tasting I purchased during the summer. It was a beautiful fall day and a relaxing day for a drive on some back roads home. MSU is somehow 8-0 after a miracle ending to the Michigan game.  Don't worry be happy because what's going to happen will work out according to a plan we can only have faith in the Lord.

When I'm 64

A supermoon lunar eclipse is happening right now and 1982 was the last time this occurred. It will become a blood moon during the total eclipse because the refraction will give a orange and red tone. We spent our week in Grand Haven the 15-22 of August with all the boys there the first 2 days. It was warm and sunny and it was the most time in the water in years. Jon, Sharon and Silas left later on Sunday and Phillip left Tuesday afternoon. Simon and Lukas were there all week and we went up to Muskegon on Thursday as 6 to 8 feet waves were crashing in on the beach and the pier. On the 29th Gabor and I went to Mark Neering's funeral in Sterling Heights, it was a week short of his 64th birthday. Ray Morris was there and Gabor was relieved when he saw Mark's urn as he was apprehensive of an open casket. We visited with his family and bade out farewell as Mark had suffered from ALS. We attended the dinner afterwards and shared memories of Mark. I started the first 4 days of school at Waverly East with Pat Albright subbing for Mrs. Blodgett's 6th grade. I've also been in Mr. Dimick's 5th grade as they are hiring a new assistant principal. I've also been to many doctors appointments as I ruptured my left bicep tendon and needed an ultrasound and MRI. They probably will not operate on the tendon as I have no pain and full mobility of the arm but I will find out Thursday about my rotor cuff. Jon and Sharon came up this weekend and we went up to Jim and Betty's so they could see Silas. Phillip was here also for the MSU v. CMU  tailgate and recruiting for Marathon Pope Francis was in America for 6 days and I believe it will change the world and our country for the better as his message was for the poor and families and their importance to a just society. He is the pope of the people and all should be able to respond to his simple teaching.

3.77 inches of rain

 Yesterday from 11-2 we had 3.77" of rain at Capital Region Airport to set a record for August and the 6th wettest day ever in Lansing, all the other days occurred in June or July . Saginaw Street was impassable at many locations and the water was backed up halfway into the Ritter's yard at the corner. Jane and I made it to all the City of Lansing concerts this summer on Wednesday nights as well as Friday night of the Great Lakes Folk Festival enjoying the Scottish Celtic music of The Tannahill Weavers from Glasgow. It has been a good summer without too much heat and enough rain to keep everything green. The Republicans have been entertaining with the Trump alternate reality show dealing with racism, sexism and lots of money convincing the rich who is looking out for them. Shadows on the pavement but no bodies do we find, where is yesterday?

June was Hottest Month ever Recorded

  The heat index has been soaring over most of the U.S. this summer as June was the hottest ever recorded for planet Earth and the year will surely break records. 4 continents are experiencing historic droughts in California, Brazil, South Africa, and North Korea but global warming can't be a reason for all this? Or perhaps it's the Middle East effect of chronic lack of water being forced upon all by the threat of Islamic interference with world politics?  Well at least we can swim in our oceans to safely escape the heat and dry conditions?  What? They had to detonate a World War 2 bomb shell that showed up on a beach near Tampa last Sunday. There are millions of unused bombs off the U.S. coast that had been dumped by our military before it was banned in 1970 by the Pentagon. These were left over from World War 2 and dumped to the seafloor usually 50 miles offshore and Korean  and Vietnam munitions later were added mostly in the Gulf of Mexico.  But a 2009 report to Congress lists there are sea disposal locations dating from 1917 that include 26 in the Northeast, 17 in the Southeast, 9 in the West, and 20 near Alaska and Hawaii.  A 2012 study by Texas A&M oceanographers estimated there are 30 million pounds of bombs in 7 main dump sites in the Gulf of Mexico. Please forget about the 5.5 million acres of wildfires in the U.S. mostly out West as they are not causing the mass killings and violent incidents that have been heating up the headlines this summer. Otherwise things might be just fine if it wasn't for Donald Trump spewing hate and ignorance into the political state of buying votes and influence. Is it too late to hide our heads in the sand and declare global warming does not exist? Wait, too many politicians have already beat us to that punch again! Well, Jane and I did go to Potters Park Zoo and we survived the Alvarado Reunion and our wellness check-ups. Here in Michigan we have avoided the 90 degree temperatures and have enjoyed some concerts in the park in Lansing and our yard looks better than it ever has as far as landscaping.

Them Changes are Big

  Starting on June 17 when an idiot killed 9 people at the Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston SC trying to incite racial rioting there has been a climate of unity and divide in our nation.  Racists use it to espouse their hate but true Christians will overcome the walls of despair created by the evil ones. Add to the problem the Supreme Court's decisions on the Affordable Care Act and the same-sex marriage, SCOTUS ruling the controversy only increases. ObamaCare is not faultless but it is necessary to give health care to as many as possible. I believe in the legality of same sex unions but as a Catholic I cannot call it marriage. The Supreme Court's ruling is not sacred and now marriage has been redefined as a civil business matter.  As a nation there is so much that brings us together but currently there is two extreme ends that are trying to tear us apart again like the days of the Civil War. An example is the Confederate flag still being flown in Southern state's government property. They can still sell that flag for Southern history privately but it represents the fight over slavery which divided our nation and cost many lives and is the shame of our democracy. I pray our country will remain true to God's laws and the guidance they have given us for direction and personal freedom and beliefs. I can't keep from crying sometimes, my mama she's dead and gone and I'm so all alone, thank you God for your mercy and consolation! Our minds are going through them changes that have us running and hiding but we are going somewhere cause life is filled with changes.

Magna Carta 800 years

   June 15 was the 800 birthday of the Great Charter that limited the power of the monarch by the rebel barons on King John of England. It's principles influenced our Bill of Rights and quoting author Derek Taylor,"the Magna Carta is a bastion against tyranny and over-mighty government."  The school year is over and I'll be working for EDUstaff in the fall. I've picked up a couple of jobs at Horizon to extend the school year along with my $225 bonus from Lansing in May.  We visited Jon, Sharon, and Silas from Friday May 29th through Sunday the 31st. Lukas and Simon went with us and we visited the Fair Oaks Dairy Farm that Saturday. It rained so hard leaving to go back to Valpo Jane decided we better stay the night and leave in the morning.  We've been to 2 of the Lansing Concerts in the Park on Wednesdays.  We were at Amanda Fabiano's wedding Saturday at St. Gerard's and stayed until midnight to help clean-up. Phillip left for Canton Ohio June 5 and is staying at the Staybridge Suites until the company apartment is vacant. His room is bigger than the place he lived in last year and he gets breakfast and dinner 3 nights with a king size bed. The weather is heating up and we have had plenty of rain this month which makes for regular grass cutting.  Jane got all her mulch down with Simon's help and her flowers are planted.  Phillip bought up a trimmer that has helped with lawn edging and the fences.  I pray that we all be nice to one another and respect our differences.

Memorial Day 2015

    I've been working as many days in Lansing to get my bonus for teaching which was $100 for March and April, and should be $250 for May.  Phillip graduated from his master's program May 8th with a brunch at the Marriott at 11 and then ceremony at The Breslin at 3:30. The brunch was very nice because the 36 students in the Human Resource and Labor Relations program all had the chance to interact. He will be leaving for Canton in 2 weeks and will be busy finishing up all details on his move. Mark invited us to take the Boyers place at the Lugnuts game Saturday as Gabe is acting up again. It was Eat-a-Palozza so all food was free and they even won the game. We were over to Mark's the week before as Jane made Ziti, green beans, and carrot cake for a belated birthday and Mother's Day. I went to Chet Rupp's funereal Saturday as he was the last of the older group of  the Holy Cross St. Vincent's. I went to the cemetery with Peg Saturday as it was a beautiful day and visited the family graves. We live in the greatest country and I pray God will still show favor on us despite our turning away from Christian principles that helped us be the world leader and beacon of hope.

After Easter, Silas

  March 7th was Sharon's baby shower at Verndale Clubhouse here in Michigan.  About 25 were there and Debbie and Lori helped Jane get it together.  She got many nice things and the weather was good.  On March 26th Silas Joseph Pratt was born, 5 weeks early. He had to spend his first week in PICU, so we did not go to see him until this Friday and Saturday.  He has a full head of black hair and is doing very well and is so cuddly and light.  Lukas went with us and we had an enjoyable visit and great weather.  On St. Patrick's Day I had dinner with Gabor and John Kelley at Suzanne's in Okemos.  This is the 3rd year we've done this and Gabor and I did it one more year.  MSU went to the Final Four and lost to the eventual winner Duke just as they lost to the winner last year.  I've been subbing everyday and turned 64 quietly as an April Fool.  Spring break is over so I'm ready to finish out the school year working in Lansing as much as possible to get the bonus pay.  I earned the $100 for March and should also in April, so unless the other districts decide to give incentives it's Lansing for May!  I attended Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter services and read my Black Book throughout lent.  The temperatures are getting near 60 and buds are appearing all over as life is resurrecting.  Dippy has also come back but is staying outside with Rusty as he lost his buddy Chocolatte.

Where the cold is!

   Saturday afternoon listening to XM Radio after days of below zero temperatures and wind chills up to -20+ and 2 days of closed schools boredom has set in. The Great Lakes are freezing fast with the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory reporting that 85.4% coverage of ice.  Last year they reached 92.5%, and their highest recorded being 1979 at 94.4%. Malcolm X was assassinated on this day 50 years ago in NY City, I remember it was snowy here and when hearing about it on TV, I thought, good he deserved it for being a racist. Later after reading about him and changes he went through I realized he was really right about many issues and an important leader.  I look at the rabbit tracks leading paths through the formerly untouched snow. I reflect on all that I do not know about life and worlds ignored or unknown. Weeks pass and some die and others are born, while the living continue on slowly expanding or decreasing understanding in life experience.  Bare trees silhouette what they hide as I blindly try to look beyond to what is really real. Lent has begun and our covenant with God will renew the sacred promise of living like Christ to make our world better and all humanity.

February a Cold New Year

   On Christmas we had lasagna with the boys and Mark over. Jane and I went to see the movie Big Eyes before New Years and we all enjoyed MSU beating Baylor in the Cotton Bowl. In January I worked mostly in Lansing schools and there has been snow days and an ice day to slow down on. February 1st brought 12" of snow and it has gotten cold again. We leased a new Silver Topaz Chevy Equinox from Pat Iding and have been driving it over a week now. Jane is preparing for the baby shower in March. Phil is back to school and working at the Lear Center. Luke is still at MSU but seems to be working less hours and has his insurance through the state health exchange now and Simon also will soon be on it. Oh yes it is Friday the 13th and there are a few in denial about global warming, I'm not waiting to decide who's right but gas has gone as low as a $1.79 and is back over $2 now and rising, who knows what is manipulating the market but big oil will make us pay in the long run.