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?

August Disgust 80+

The heat of this summer continued into this week with less than a handful of days below 80 degrees. It has been in the 70's the last 2 days and the low went under 50 last night. We had our week in Grand Haven with no rain until after midnight Saturday. Lukas was with us the whole week, with the other boys coming for a couple of days. Proctoring at Cooley I read Silas Marner by George Eliot and worked 3 days. The end of August is bringing shorter days a glowing sunshine and the return of school routine mentality. Grampa has been having problems with dizziness and balance but no diagnosis yet of why. Blues on the Grand concluded with me missing only 1 show and one cancelled because of weather. Sonny Moorman put on the best show and I still prefer the Square venue though the sound improve over the first night. We have been fighting the flea infestation and Wiley had a ear infection, so added costs. Kittens, cats fill the back porch as I painted the garage and the dormer. My knee snapped one night while sleeping on vacation and is loose and feeling better than it has since winter. Time waits for no one and we must wait for time to take it's time.

Heat Wave

June was very hot and July is continuing a world wide heat wave. We've been in the 80's consistently here in Michigan, but middle and eastern states have been in the 90's and 100's. For those who didn't get enough summer last year a good old fashioned one like 1967 is here now. Blues on the Grand has replaced the Square with a venue I find less friendly and acoustically challenged. The 2 performances I've been to had good acts but the sound and stage set up, leaves you in the sun of the old City Market. I've talked to Jan Fielder from WPCA there and caught up on what's going on. One night we went to The Harrison Roadhouse before the concert for a Shorts Brewing sampling, which I really enjoyed. We spent the 4th at Duck Lake and I talked to Mark Neering and life in Sterling Heights. I found out he met his wife there at Duck Lake as they had neighboring cottages. She is Diana Townes and her family now has the cottage next to the Beckers but they used to be down in the corner from there. Lisa had Wyatt at Sparrow and he ended up with complications from birth and being premature, spending weeks in ICU before coming home and doing very well now. The old Malibu is trying to break me with sensors, brake lines and tune ups, keeping business with Tuffy. I pray it can now run without problems for another year at least. Well, we all have now been to Midwestern Dental and so far it has worked for all 4 of us even though the initial appointments made us wonder if they knew how to schedule them. The 26th Alvarado reunion was yesterday, as the first was at Potters Park July 28, 1984. The next one was there and then one at Delta Mills, a few at Francis Park, and August 3, 1991 to it's location at South Lake Lansing Park. That shows the importance of family, history and tradition that needs to be preserved. Some events are unknown and they pass with no one except those who observed them to carry their existence on. You can't always get what you want but sometimes you get what you need for reasons unknown at he time.

My Good Friend, Howard

My good friend Howard Barrons died peacefully the 16th and was buried today. His son Fr. Brian, co-celebrated his mass with many in attendance. Howard was 90 and I know him from St. Vincent's at Holy Cross where I learned from his active faith the spiritual road I follow. Howard would hug you and was a friend for life who I found out was an all-state fullback at Calumet High School. Only 3 other men who were active in the SVDP Society are still alive from the time I was involved during the 80's. I was gifted with the chance to have gotten hugs and kisses from Howard 2 Sundays ago at the 9:00 mass at St. Gerards, I see it as a commissioning to continue on with good works. Whenever I gave Howard communion at Holy Cross I would say his name because he always would say thank you Joe smiling Christlike. Holy Cross has been closed 1 year now and the school since 2007 and they reduced the price last week on the signs in front of them. Times, places, people change but without love all meaning is reduced and only eternal life holds us grounded to purpose in this world. We all will grow weary and older until we are called home to the heavenly reward of true peace.