35th Alvarado Reunion

   July 13th was the 35th Alvarado reunion at Hawk Island Park on a warm breezy day. Gramma , Gloria, Petra, Mark and Andrew were there as well as Lukas and Simon. We were there from 12 to 4:30 and had a good time visiting with family. Jane has been having Gloria over or going to Petra's as she will be returning to Florida this Saturday. On Monday the 8th and the 9th we had the roof replaced by Streamline so we hope there will be no more leaking.  Clete's mother Martha died and we went to Charlotte for her funeral on the 2nd. We had 3 days of 90+  temperatures last weekend and it has thankfully cooled off now. Summer is half over and will get busier in August as trump battles The Squad and divides the country further in his greatness quest doomed to fail by his ego. This kind of blindness is sad and destructive.

Summer is Here

   We have been going to the Y everyday and I did 12,000 steps the first 2 weeks and 14,000 this week. We saw Natchez Trace and Root Doctor last week at the free concerts. On the 20th we went to Valpo and delivered the settee to Hannah at the Panera in Michigan City on the way down to Valpo. We had the boys for 22 hours Friday and Saturday as Jon and Sharon went to Shipshewana overnight. We took them to The Industrial Revolution for dinner and then Meijer's and horsey rides. We went downtown to the farmer's market and water park Saturday morning. We met with Brandon and Taylor for pizza at DeLuca's Monday  to give them their wedding shower present as we have Jane's family reunion the new day of the shower. The heat of summer arrived this week as we put the air conditioner in the 27th as the 80+ temperatures have set in. Jane and Mark picked up Gramma and Gloria in Flint tonight and she didn't get home until after midnight.

Long Run to Summer

   It has been a cool spring with only a few days above 80 degrees and plenty of rain. I ended up with a sinus infection from May 10th through the 16th which sent me in for antibiotics at Redi-Care. My allergies were also to blame as the pollen seemingly burst forth all at once causing congestion and a sore throat. On the 21st I took over Ms. Hamilton's 3rd grade for the rest of the school year. We spent Memorial Day weekend in Valpo and had a great time with Silas and Paul at the La Cabana and the water park downtown. June 7th was the last day of school and field day. It was sunny, warm and a half day with Ms. Hamilton there. It was back to the YMCA this week and we had dinner with Peg on Wednesday and Jim and Betty on Friday. Six days until the Summer Solstice and peace for those who deserve it as the unprecedented Unpresident is becoming greatly unhinged by his collusion  delusion conclusion!

April Come She Did

   I turned 68 this month as my license and plates were renewed. Jane and I went to Cracker Barrel for lunch and with the boys to DeLuca's for dinner. We went to the Y all spring break week and fish fries every Friday mostly at the K of C Hall. We were in Valpo for Easter and brought Spanish rice and blueberry-rhubarb crisp to share along with buckets for the boys of Easter goodies. We still have not warmed up too many days  with only a couple of days above 70.  Larry put in the new shower door in the bedroom bath as we fix things up in the bathrooms. I had a wart removed from my left bicep by Josh the 3rd and Lukas and I went to the MSU Science Fair on April 6th. April has come and soon to be gone like living in the USA. The primrose blooms have given the assurance of new life having risen as our hope and promise!

Cold Spring

   January ended with a complete week with no school due to snow and the Arctic vortex freeze, -17 and wind chills and then 2 weeks with 2 days off each due to snow and icy conditions. Larry was able to finish the bathrooms and so now the floors are complete. Jane and I went to Valpo February 15-17th and we all went March 15-17th to celebrate 3 birthdays early. Jane stayed until the 22nd to watch the boys and returned by train and bus on Friday. Jane got back from Houston Monday February 11th as her flight came in at 10:30pm and fortunately we avoided snow again. Life goes on and we stay busy as warm weather still has not made an appearance.Trump declared a National Emergency to steal funding for his wall after congress did not give him what he wanted. Congress rejected it but trump vetoed  and the courts wait to decide it's fate.

35 Days

   The government shutdown lasted 35 days thanks to trump and congress. That was 5 weeks of delayed paychecks for over a hundred thousand workers. Yet most congressmen took their checks without a thought of the struggles of lower paid workers. I was able to go to Silver Sneakers before school restarted along with a couple of snow days since then. On January 3rd we got a 3 year lease on a black demo Equinox from Pat Iding. Jane and I had pizza with Peg at Falsetta's and found out they are having problems with Rachel about Andy's house. We ordered the flooring for the kitchen and bathrooms and Larry has done the kitchen but because of the cold and snow wasn't able to get to the bathrooms yet. Jane left for Texas Saturday the 26th at 5:30am and the roads were in good shape as she is avoiding this polar vortex that along with the snow has closed school for 4 days now. It is -12 degrees now and colder tomorrow as I am alone with Simon at April's and Lukas at Joe's. I went with Mark, Scott and a librarian friend from the prison to the Robert Burns' 260th birthday Dinner at Eagle Eye last Saturday. It was entertaining with the Glen Erin Pipe Band and Highland dancing but not something I'd attend again. No wall but no more shutdown is needed so give him some wall where needed and plenty of money for real security safeguards.

Searching for Peace

   We had the dormer worked on by Larry Fulger right after the snowstorm. It took 2 days and $650 but has not leaked yet. Luke picked Jane up at the Amtrak Station Friday the 30th in the afternoon. Jane took Gramma to visit her friend and to the senior mass and dinner at Christo-Rey. On the 8th of December we went to Petra's for a dinner for Gramma before leaving for Florida with Gloria. Jane got her share of Gramma's gift to each of her children which she put in a Money Market account. On Friday the 14th Jane and I went to Mrs. Bard's for the Elmwood Christmas party and had a good time. I began winter break on Friday the 21nd and we left for Valpo Sunday and stayed until after Christmas having a quiet day with the boys and going to Jon's church Christmas Eve. There was very little snow in December and it was not overly cold. There will be lots to do but it's time to catch my breath and find peace away from this troubled world.