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.