Rainy Daze

May had record rain here as tornadoes destroyed Joplin Missouri and reeked havoc across the South and the Plains. Spring was cool and rainy and the warm weather is just now taking hold. Jane unexpectedly was laid off April 26, after the tip-jar controversy. April bought a house on South Washington and is in the process of fixing it up and moving in. For Mother's Day we went to Christo-Rey, Saturday night with the Ybarra's and then grilled on Sunday. Jane had her birthday at Sharp Park and has been busy planning the Ybarra's 65th anniversary.The boys are done with school and I've been busy subbing everyday. The grass has been growing with all the rain making green and mowing a norm. Knowing what tomorrow holds is no longer a priority as time becomes more fleeting with age. If I'm here to share a thought again, you'll find me here, but no one is looking.  A weather alert is surely on the horizon flashing back to some yesterday.

Easter Rising

The day after the last blog we had a record 83 degree temperature followed by the return of the 30-40 highs. We hit the 50's today with the promise of a late spring starting with the glory of Easter. I'm back at Riddle subbing for Mrs. Mathew's doing reading recovery for 2 weeks. I proctored at Cooley and read C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, Mere Christianity, and Surprised by Joy, which was fitting for lent. Good Friday was also Earth Day as green is quite fashionable now for profit. Gas has been hitting the $3.99.9 mark to help keep the masses wondering about what tomorrow will bring. We tore the rest of the carpet up in the family room leaving bare floors to collect dust and the waste of felines. My right foot has been paining me for 3 weeks now and rest has not relieved it. Easter will gather part of the family and the hope of reward draws closer with each breath for complete life in faith with Christ. Jane took Friday off work to protest about the loss of their tip jar and lack of appreciation of the job she and Sharon do. Letters keep piling up everyday and I fall behind more time being of the essence.

Tracking Spring

February set a new record for snow as a second 10" snow day came on President's Day. We have only had a day of 70 degree temperature so far as 50's are the norm. Spring break was this week and Jane and I went to Frankenmuth overnight for the first time in years. The Ybarra's went to Florida for a month and we fed Uncle Tom breakfasts on the weekends with Andy and Sandy. They flew back on Tuesday and Grampa is glad to be back as he said it was too long and hot. I also began my 6th decade which definitely makes me a senior citizen. The Earth quaked in Japan at 8.1 on March 11 and radiation will increase on our planet. A 7.1 aftershock yesterday further stressing the nuclear plants damaged at Fukushima. Gas prices keep going up as panic over Libya and the Middle East in general leads to greed and speculation. I've been busy subbing and was at Riddle all last week in Mrs. Crutcher's first grade. Lukas and Phillip have only a month of school this term as they drift in or out of the house. Without love where would we be now? Take one day at a time and the tracks of spring will follow in time with or without us.

Midwinter's snow

On Groundhog's Day we had 12.2" of snow which closed the schools for 2 days. The storm system that brought it started in Texas and finished up in Maine covering one third of the USA with snow. The day before I picked up a new Malibu at Bud Kouts for 39 months on lease of $149.65 a month. I traded in the 98' Malibu which was on its downhill slide with 127,170 miles. I've been working steadily since break including the week after New Years at Elmwood for Ms. Sartor who had come down sick at her parent's. The boys are busy with school but had a snow day which MSU has few of. The turmoil in Egypt may be the precursor to a downward cycle in history but I'm not a prophet and only note things of possible importance. We must go on living and trusting for the Lord has plans that are beyond our understanding. Love one another and create peace in your daily life.

Decade Ending

2010 is about over, another decade has passed. My problem with the 1800-3004000 phone calls which began on November 10th ended December 28th, as on Christmas day, the good Lord revealed the source of my 4:02 and 4:05 a.m. misery. The caller ID revealing SecureCare Technology 1512-3668505 as the contact to stop what the FCC did not do for me despite my 4 filed complaints. I proctored at Cooley and read Tortilla Flat and Survival in Auschwitz, by Primo Levi. I also read the short novels Bunner Sisters,by Edith Wharton, and The Monster, by Stephen Crane, and The Pupil, by Henry James. Jane got her new stove thanks to John Fox, April's dad who did the electrical work and Simon and April who bought the exhaust hood which is still to be delivered. We ended our 3 weeks of under 32 degrees temperature and the snow melt this week. Jane's car got new brakes and I'm babying my transmission for as long as it will last or a great deal comes up for a new vehicle. Thank you Lord for another year and the blessings of health and family. I recollect on the 6 decades of life, as another begins with new challenges of age and experience.

Passing of Time

The school year is passing quickly and I'm staying busy at Elmwood subbing for Mrs. Mosher who is doing the resource room. Making note of time passes us by as we busy ourselves without reflection. The Fall was mild and the snow came over the weekend with 5" and the temperatures dropping into the teens and 20s for the high. Gloria and Holly were here in October for Wyatt's baptism and Petra's dinner ambush of Simon bringing unneeded drama. The boys are finishing their classes and we managed their schedules. Jane is working many hours as usual for Christmas time and she had Thanksgiving here. MSU had an unbelievable football season and I was able to see Brandon and Mandy perform with Eastern's band. The Republicans triumphed during the elections and Obama will now have to show skills in negotiating health care reform and revitalizing the economy. We finally got the ceiling in the hallway fixed and tore out the carpeting there to await some replacement and the diminishing of the cats. Recovery is progressing and sustainability is still in question but life goes on with the passing of time. Nothing profound but openness allows us opportunity for progress.

Ask Your Leaders Why?

I have been subbing the last 2 weeks and normalcy is returning to the seasoned man. I am concerned that my blood pressure which had always been normal has varied the last few months and an episode at Elmwood Wednesday where I became disoriented and could not recognize names on the class list I had been in the day before and the feeling that I was in a dream. Lukas is at MSU taking 4 classes as Phillip is doing at LCC. Jon took a job working for a lawyer in Valparaiso and was here for Ryan and Christinas's wedding, Labor Day weekend. Jane and I went to Owosso to have dinner with Suzie and Rachel last Sunday. Jane and I had our 35th anniversary on Labor day at Boyer's and will celebrate at a later date due to the wedding and Jon being home. Yesterday we had a record 2.28" of rain, and1.46" in 1 hour, as I was subbing at Riddle. It became very dark and the lights went out for 10 seconds when lightning struck close by. We are back to cooler weather and the seasons of our minds are going through their changes. Seek release and leadership will find a way to keep us on the road to anywhere that brings us home. But who are our leaders and what if we decide not to march anymore?