Passing Torches

   Orange was put to sleep on November 22nd as he had a blood clot that started the night before causing him to go lame. Jim and Betty had us over before they left for St Louis and we also got to see Debbie and Linda who was driving them. Jim had a health scare but is doing better and their trip to Florida was delayed only by a week. Sandy and Andy were over for Thanksgiving as well as the week before Christmas. Gramma left for Florida early in December with Gloria but because of her defending of Mark and complaining to Jane about her siding with Andrew we did not see her after November 18 when they were all over for pizza. We had Christmas at Phil's and Jane went early by bus while we left Saturday the 23rd and stayed until the 27th while Phil and mom went to Texas to look for houses for him when he moves there in January. We've had a little snow this month resulting in one snow day and below 20 degree temperatures since Christmas. On December 17th we were blessed with Paul Vincent's birth. He is doing well but had to stay a few extra days because of jaundice, so we have not been able to go see him yet but it will be soon in the new year. Changes forever come and go, peak and ebb, life is a gift and hope pushes us on. Jane will be home tomorrow and MSU won their Holiday Bowl football game. 2017 is passing the torch to 2018, starting the lighting up of the challenges awaiting!

Driving With Mr. R

   Lukas passed his road test today and now has a drivers license. Sometimes there is no immediate need to reach this level of Independence but when it is achieved, we, rejoice! On September 30th we attended Grant Schertzing's wedding at St Adelbert Basilica in Grand Rapids with the reception downtown. The Art Prize was also going on so we walked around for awhile afterward. Jane and I won the couple married the longest as older couples left before the dance, a bittersweet win. We visited Jim and Betty at there new place and had a good time as they are all settled in now. On the weekend of October 14 we went to Southfield to be with Phillip as he was running in the 40th Detroit Marathon. Jane stayed at the Westin with Winston as Lukas and I watched Phillip finish the race at about 6 hours. We were only there though 2 of those hours as it rained and was windy walking from Ford Field were we parked to the finish line. Silas was here to visit last weekend and Sharon is doing well but looking more pregnant this time around. I was working when they got here so I left work 5 minutes early and when I opened the front door I could hear Silas say Pa Pa's here. Jane was changing him and told him,no he's still at work, so I walked in the bedroom without Jane knowing and Silas said Pa Pa again. Jane said he's not here and I said yes I am to her surprise. I've worked everyday at Elmwood and on a Friday they had off at Gier Park in a 3rd grade where I've had most of the students since kindergarten. The cool and rainy weather finally came 2 weeks ago as it was a very mild Autumn. MSU beat PSU today making them 7-2 turning around my expectations of their football season. Continuing our home improvements we had a new marble counter top put in the main bathroom and new faucets in both baths.

Hot September

   I've worked each day at Elmwood except one afternoon at East for Gym since school has started. I am the building sub there again this year as they called 5 days before the first day to offer me the position. I've been to the doctor 3 times for hypertension medicine so I can lower it. Aunt Lola passed August 31 and had her service Friday September 2nd at Palmer Bush. We went to see Silas the weekend of the 16th with Lukas and had warm weather which kind of stayed around with 6 straight days of record temperatures from the 21st-26th [95,94,93,92,92,92] degrees. The heat was influence by 3 hurricanes that created mayhem in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico. Health care, tax reform and division amongst the people of the United States is unresolved because of the lack of leadership by Mr. Trump! On Friday August 25th my brother Jim and I went to the Lugnut's game meeting Greg there on Oldsmobile night. Jim and Betty have moved to Lansing as Jim's dementia has been difficult for Betty to deal with at the lake away from family support. They finally finished Willow on Thursday the 14th. With the hot weather this September it certainly will be remembered as an extended summer, global warming or not.

Summer is Over

   We got back from our 10 days in Grand Haven on Tuesday. Jon was there for 2 days, Phillip 8 days, and Simon for 9 days. April and Adrianna were up for the second weekend when Silas was up and their are now nice new windows on the porch.  Silas had a great time with the beach and the sand but had a fever from teething that slowed him down and concerned us. The solar eclipse was Monday the 22nd but we watched on Television as it was better than what we could see.  I finished my summer at Silver Sneakers at the Y today as I start working on Monday at Elmwood as the building sub again.  Lukas and I were at Phil's dog sitting July 26-August 2 while he was in Florida with Kevin, Jason R. and Andy W.. We went to the First Ladies Museum and the Canton Brewery in downtown Canton. Earlier in July we visited Silas  for 2 days and some blueberry picking and Valplayso.  This summer Jane and I only went to 4 concerts at the parks but we went to Kalamazoo for a day.  We went to Jim and Betty's at their cottage for the last time as they are now moved back to Lansing because of Jim's health. I now have hypertension and have started taking Losartan Potassium for it and hopefully it will normalize my blood pressure. They finally paved Willow the middle of July but still have to put the final layer on the road so traffic is still restricted until then. NOAA confirmed 2016 was the hottest year on record as well as highest level of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases. Global warming is real and the Earth is changing because of it and we will realize these effects soon. Trump is continuous chaos and his demise should be emanate. Summer is about over as we await the Fall.

Time to be Me, to be Free

  I finished my last week at Elmwood with field day on Friday the 9th and saying goodbye to the 4th graders, Mrs. Mosher, Mrs. Holland and Mr Haas walking through the students at day's end. I worked 4 days in Holt at Washington Woods in 6th grade the following week. I am now back at Silver Sneakers at the YMCA 4 days a week. Last Saturday Jon, Sharon and Silas were here for Jim and Peggy's surprise birthday party in Mason. They also told us Silas will have a new sibling in December or January. We went to Christina Lound's daughter's open house in Holt on our way home from Mason. Phillip was also here for Father's Day which wasn't an official day until president Johnson's proclamation in 1966 and permanent until Nixon in 1972. No wonder I have no remembrances of celebrating it as a young boy.  They have been tearing up Willow now for 2 weeks replacing pipes, curbing and raising dust and making noise. Our mailboxes have been moved to the church parking lot and during the week can we only go east toward Waverly Rd. We had 3 days of 90+ temperatures last week and this week a couple of inches of rain after a dry spell. Summer is here and it stays light out until 9:30 making for full day to stay busy. The new kitchen counter is in with a back splash and the dishwasher gone a true improvement! " Kow Kow calculator turn on your love light you smooth operator let it shine".

It is the Last Day of May

     May has flown by and it has been cool other than 3 days over 80 degrees. Phillip was here for Mother's Day and Jane's birthday, Memorial weekend. Lukas , Jane and I were in Indiana this weekend to visit Silas and spend time with them for Jane's birthday. The weather turned out fine and we had a very good time still having time to get back home to see Phil for a day. On the 7th we went to the Starlight Theatre as saw Man of Lamachia with Gregg, Denise, Jim and Betty. They got back from Florida earlier in the week and Betty had a good check-up in Ann Arbor but Jim is aging and now needs his other shoulder operated on. I've been working daily at Elmwood with a couple of days at the other Waverly schools with just over a week left until summer break.  Lukas is done at Inovolan and is signing up for unemployment while Simon is still working at Watershed often. May passes into June and the world keeps turning despite Trump's tweets and messed up rule. In God we trust cause we can't leave that to man!

April Jury Duty

  Jane got home the 22nd of March from dog sitting at Phil's. She is still waiting for Greyhound to reimburse her for the layover in Detroit caused by a rider complaining about lack of heat on the bus in Cleveland that made the bus late. I was with Rich for his 3 scrutinies during Lent that led to his baptism, confirmation and communion on Holy Saturday at St. Gerard. We had Brad change the lights in the kitchen, hallway, bedroom and bathroom along with switching the connection of the breaker for the range to the dryer's. Simon is working out on Grand River for Water Shed Wellness. He has been there since March 16 and works about 3 days a week. Friday was Lukas' last day at Inovolan as they are closing their office in Lansing. During spring break, the first week of April, I was able to go each day to The Y for Silver Sneakers. Jon, Sharon and Silas came up Friday the 7th for our birthdays. We went out to MSU that Saturday for the Science Day activities and had a beautiful day after Thursday being cold and snowy it was sunny and near 60 degrees. On Monday the 10th I had to report to Eaton County in Charlotte for jury duty. April was the first time I have ever been summoned and when they called the 14 of our large group of people and I was number 5. We sat in the jury box and were questioned by the prosecutor and defendant's lawyer and one person asked to be dismissed because his bad knee would bother him during the trail and Judge Cunningham did. The lawyer asked to dismiss juror number 12 because he was too involved with police officers but she denied him. Then the prosecutor asked to dismiss number 5 and the judge dismissed me. Thank you, I was out by 10 and able to get to school by 11. It must have been my response about following the judges rules for narrow deliberation to which I said I could have a problem if it went against my conscience. Phil was here for Easter with Winston and we had Ya Ya's chicken and Mark was over. Trump has been president for 100 days and we have survived but are watching very closely. I usually work with the first graders at Elmwood and actually only cover classes 2 days a week. I was able to read a 2011 Newbery Award book, Moon Over Manifest, while there were breaks and really found it a very good book for all ages. MSU beat Miami but lost to Kansas in the NCAA's. Our neighbor Ian cut up the tree that fell during the storm as he's been clearing out the overgrowth on his property behind us.

Heavy Winds Elmwood

   Another lent has begun and last Sunday I was at St. Mary's for Rich's Rite of the Elect.  Monday I began my new job as Elmwood's building sub as they called the Wednesday before to ask if I'd take the position before another school asked for me. I will be there everyday and be paid as a premier sub $115. On Wednesday there was heavy gusts of wind and the school and our home lost power at around 11:30. A dead tree on the border of Dottie's property was blown down pulling up the roots and is now stretched across the backyard beyond the fence. The power stayed off until Thursday morning about 10:20 so there was no school or ability to communicate as the temperature fell to 52 degrees in the house. Also that morning Minky had somehow got into the crawlspace behind the wood wall and Simon had to take the wall down to free her. Jane left for Canton Friday morning and got to Cleveland about 4:30 to help Phil with Winston and his healing from getting fixed. We had Brad, the electrician, fix the stove wiring and replace 4 light fixtures today. Simon has redone the kitchen cabinets painting them white and with new handles.   MSU will play Miami in the NCAA this week.  February was the warmest one on record in Lansing at 35.5 but we are supposed to get some snow tomorrow. So now is the time of reflection and renewal to rise with Him in the new spring of life.

Them Changes

  The last 2 Sundays I've been to St. Gerard's for Rich O'Boyle as we had the signing of the book today at the 11:00 mass. Gramma was over yesterday as she is leaving for Florida tomorrow and we had Delucas pizza. We only found out Saturday morning so there was no time for any fancy dinner but Jane had made peanut butter pies for desert. On Tuesday I was assaulted by an autistic kindergartner at Colt. Zayden had taken a girl's sweater and after getting it back from him I told him to return to his seat as we were on group carpet. Before I could predict his reaction he hit me in the crouch and chest,  so I removed him from the group and called the office. Three days starting last Saturday we had record highs in the 60's but it has cooled back off but still a mild winter will effect the plants spring cycle of development.  Overdoses of Trump have doubled since his election and the Nation is in peril! People are losing their minds but still we stand strong defending Truth. By the way I was told by an East student my hairline looks like a long john which is okay as long as he doesn't eat it. We know the use of ashes to help worship God for the upcoming Lent.

Valentine's Day Trump Card

   Trump is president and he is very active as he promised. Spending a lot for his trips, security, and separate residences. Jane and I saw The Lion today and Hidden Figures a month ago, both good movies. We got a new 17' Equinox as the lease was running out on the old one but did not get as good of a deal and I wish I would have waited 2 more weeks! I attended the service for Gregg Plenar who died in December. He was my first friend on Woodhaven and we hung out a lot for until high school. I substituted for his grandchildren at Waverly and he picked up Cooper at Winan's last year. I'm still busy subbing and except for a snow day the weather has been moderate. Jane and I went to Becca's shower at Gier Center and I talked with Brad's dad who also retired from GM. We all visited Silas in Valparaiso this weekend and had good time seeing how he's grown and talking more. Trump's cabinet is taking shape and he's pushing his agenda mixed with alternative facts and lies. A Ball of Confusion that is what the State of the Union is today.  St. Valentine of Rome died 269 is no longer an official saint but was probably executed for the faith by Claudius 2 and is the patron of Love.  Trump very unpresidential!

The Doors at 50

   Rich Oboyle has asked me to be his sponsor for RCIA and his baptism into the Catholic church. I attended mass with him at the 9 o'clock  mass on December 11th and will be at other services until Holy Saturday evening. It was an honor that he called in November to ask me to be his sponsor. The week of December 5-10, Jane and I helped babysit Silas in Indiana as Sharon's sister was still in Iowa. We made a snowman and though he was sick for a day we had a great bonding week and listened to the Charlie Brown Christmas tree song and dance. On the 12th we had 9" of snow cancelling school my first day back from taking a week off. I am still subbing and got to go see Moana at Celebration Friday the 16th with 17 second graders from Lyons School. Jon and Phillip arrived on the 22nd and we had dinner on the 23rd with Gramma, Mark, Adrianna and April. Jane made 5 pies, ziti and green beans. We had a full house but had a close meaningful Christmas. I was able to go to Silver Sneakers 4 times during winter break and see some of my friends. We went to mass on New Years Eve and woke up just after midnight to the fireworks in Mar-Mor. 2017 will definitely be a year of total change and we may all be lost. Lukas found out his job will end in March as his company is leaving the state. I got a $5 raise for the new school year, isn't it great to have teaching responsibilities for $80 for a full day and $45 for a half? It has been really cold this week but all the snow melted when it warmed up after Christmas. When the music's over turn out the lights, it is your only friend until the end of laughter and soft lies and the days we tried to die. This is the end as The Doors live on open or closed, perceived or imagined!