Cinco De Mayo

The classes I've been subbing for this past week have either had messed up lesson plans or students off task. The spring weather is more normal now but the early warmth has caused problems for the cherries, grapes, apples and pears causing much damage to the fruit crop. I read Sanctuary by Falkner,The Bomb Party by Graham Greene and Miss Lonely Hearts by Nathaniel West during exams at Cooley this spring. Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of my brother John and 38th for my dad's passing. I went to 2 concerts at LCC last week and they were both very good. One was the Jazz Band and the other the Lansing Concert Band, both playing music not usually heard. I've mowed the grass 4 times and the average temperature for April was less than March's. Jane is still having pain in her jaw and is back on medication while she now has to send proof of job inquiries for her unemployment.  Freedom is worth protecting and to cherish it is to know it's value and need with the responsibility required.

Over 60, Is It True That I'm No Longer Young?

Lather was 61, April Fools Day. After the warmest March on record with temperatures broken daily for over a week in the upper 70's and 80's, due to an abnormal jet stream. The highest March reading of 87 degrees was recorded which previously had not been attained until late April.  This week is spring break and Holy Week so I have been catching up on yard work from the November snow storm and due to the early warm weather cutting the grass today, when late April is usually the first cut.  Also back on February 15th the Eaton County Road Commission cut down the around 100 year old ash tree that was by our driveway because it was a victim of the ash borers. It is so different backing out of the driveway without having the tree blocking your view and to look across the street unimpeded. The tree lived so much longer than I will and now is fire wood for Basil and a man on Delta River Drive who came by, cut up and hauled away the rest. I ended my para-pro job at H B Woods for Scott March 6th as he got a Dewitt employee to take over but it was good for me as one week I lost my voice and wouldn't have been able to teach anyway. Is it true that I"m no longer young or is it all just a state of mind still without determined borders? Like Lather I should be told I"m not old and Fools who admit to it are better off than the plain old foolish. MSU ended up in a 3 way tie and then won the Big 10 tournament and then made it to the sweet sixteen but lost to Louisville. But Draymond did take the career rebound lead in his last game.

Draymond 1,000 Rebounds

Tonight Draymond Green had another double-double and got his one thousandth career rebound for MSU in their win over Nebraska. That makes Draymond the 4th Spartan to do so.  Tom Izzo could get his 7th Big Ten title with a win in the last 2 games. I have been substituting as para-pro for Scott at Herbison Woods and following him through his day of half work, part play, mostly pain in the ass.  My laser surgery came out fine and is looking good. I lost power last night by putting my foot on the surge protecter switch so this is a 2 day blog. We are currently tied for the 4th mildest winter for temperature at 30.4 degrees due to the jet stream as the 6" snow Friday put that total at about normal.  President Obama's healthcare mandate of forcing benefits on religous groups who oppose abortion gives the freedom of religion an unfortuate challenge. As much as people need better healthcare it cannot be forced unwillingly upon everyone against their conscience on moral issues.  Just as their is freedom from religion where I would not force my religion on anyone, including having my own family to go to church with me. So too this mandate is endangering the freedom of many to participate in medical procedures they morally oppose. Freedom makes this  great counrty what it is and belief in a life giving God cannot be ignored  by public policy that dosen't protect human dignity and rights.  I trust the legacy of Draymond Green at MSU and his dedication to doing right will follow him throughout his life and future career. No one is perfect but we must do right by all to be remembered long beyond our time on earth as being a positive influence in leaving the world as a better place.

Mild Winter So Far

On  Saturday January the 21st there was a mass for Uncle Tomas at Christo-Rey and a dinner.  There was an excellent meal attended by about a 100 people with rolls and cookies donated by Paneras', along with chicken and rice from the church funereal group. Money found in Uncle Tomas' safe paid for his funereal though there is a question as to what happened to his monies.  I had my laser surgery done on my forehead to remove the mass of veins that looked like a pimple by Dr. Landis last Monday. Lukas' surgery on his nose seems to have helped with his breathing , and Phillip is doing an internship with Christman's downtown this term and is keeping busy.  The weather has been very mild for late January and early February with little snow or temperatures below 20 degrees.  Thoughts are evasive in this political year that leaps into corrections that weigh our futures.  The Super Bowl was won by the NY Giants with a boring halftime show by Madonna.  I watched the game sporadically and even missed the commercials which are the major purpose for this diversionary game.

Uncle Tomas' Final Walk

 Late Saturday night Uncle Tom was discovered on the basement floor, again and was taken to the hospital.  He had bleeding in his brain and this time his prognosis was not good so no surgery was done and he died the next morning at 8:30, with his family present before they took off the life support he was on.  He was cremated as he did not leave money or clear directions for a funereal. His daily walks have come to an end on this earth, but many will remember the man who walked to the mall for so many years as a religious routine.  On Tuesday I met Gabor Hardy at his friend's place in Okemos for dinner and reminiscing. We had a good visit talking about people and places we had shared memories of from school.  On New Years Eve we went to World Buffet with the Hokesema's and then to their house for games and the ball drop. Luke and I went to midnight mass at Christmas for the first time in many years, as we earlier had dinner with the family here. Jane found out from a customer of Fabiano's, she ran into at Panera, that she no longer worked there any more. Luke had nose surgery and they have begun their new term at MSU as Phillip is on the Deans List for last term. Life is a walk and one day it will be our last but like Uncle Tom we should cherish them until we no longer are capable.  The walk of life is our journey uniquely made by us.

Broken Branches and Bark

Last week I proctored at Cooley and read some new books. The curious incident of the dog in the night-time/Mark Haddon, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?/Phillip Dick, Olaudah Equaino, and Of Love and Other Demons/ Gabriel Garcia Marquez. These books deal with autism, futuristic robotism, an educated slave, faith and religion.  Christmas break comes early this year so I have until the third of January off but I have been busy teaching, a lot of kindergartens.  The boys are on break and did well with their classes. Jane got her unemployment extension and still no call back to Fabianos.  Helen Reck died 11/19/11 and we attended her funereal in Dewitt, the day before Thanksgiving, and worked at Christo-Rey Center for their Thanksgiving dinner before our family gathering in the afternoon.  November 30th we had 8" of wet snow that broke many limbs over night and making a snow day from school. The branches are still around our yard and both Riches next doors probably to wait until spring like the dead tree out front. The war in Iraq was declared over for us on 12/15/11 with an $800 billion cost as well as 4,500 US lives and we pray the best for the people of Iraq on their own.  On the 18th St. Vincent's burned destroying the store and contents. The world goes on and we must persevere until our time of accounting is celebrated or pretended to be passed on.  There is a meaning out of our reach now but to be revealed in time and sweat or tears.

11/11/11

It's Veteran's Day, 91 years ago my father and family set foot in Lansing, after an all night trip by train from Ellis Island.  Lukas spent the last 2 weekends at the Eaton County Jail and has a new outlook on his future.  Jon is settled into his new job in Gary and has an apartment in Merrillville, as well as a new silver Malibu, he drove up in today for the weekend.  I went to a night of reflection at St. Gerard's with dinner and a talk on service by Fr. Osborn.  We got our first snowfall yesterday but it's not going to be cold enough for it to stay.  The economies of Italy and Greece threaten the global monetary situation, as the occupy Wall Street groups face winter and growing apathy of no return.  America is still the blueprint for good government for a world filled with turmoil and mistrust of humanity.  In God we trust comes from belief and only faith can sustain it to completion.  Honor our veterans, always have hope and belief in the greater good attained together, not on hidden agendas.  Number eleven, number eleven, number eleven!