Category Archives: Life in General

Spring Sightings

Saturday, April 7, 2012, @ 7:32 amadventure, Family, Life in General, Reading, teaching, Weather, Writingbluebonnets, children, geography, history, making the days count, reading, spring flowers, teaching, weather, writingClay

Spring has officially sprung. Olivia and I can attest we both woke up early this morning seeking relief from the severely stuffed up noses. Yesterday, I was stuffed up, but nothing like this morning and O went to bed last night tired, whiny, and complaining about her itching eyes and stuffed up nose. Continue reading Spring Sightings →

Thursday, before Friday

Thursday, April 5, 2012, @ 5:18 amFamily, history, Life in General, pets, Reading, teaching, Weather, Writingchildren, education, Family, geography, great days, hard work, making the days count, pets, reading, seventh grade, teaching, weather, writingClay

I woke this morning trying to breathe, it took almost an hour of blowing my nose and trying to go back to sleep, before I gave up and started the day. Ivy wanted nothing to do with me, or my waking ideas, and is still sleeping soundly – as only she can.

“We have so much time and so little to do. Strike that, reverse it.”
Roald Dahl from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Continue reading Thursday, before Friday →

The List – Part 2

Friday, March 30, 2012, @ 7:14 amadventure, country, Family, history, Life in General, model railroads, pets, Reading, teaching, Writingchildren, church, education, Family, fishing, Grayling, great days, hard work, history, making the days count, Mega Millions, reading, scouting, Spring Break, teaching, The Lottery, writingClay

Over a year ago, I wrote ‘The List.’ It was blog post about winning the lottery, or more specifically, what I would do if I won the lottery. With tonight’s jackpot listed as $540 million or a half billion, it was hard not to think about it as I drove home, yesterday. I mentioned to grandpa and grandma that a lot of good could be done with that much money and it could. So, I decided to dust off last year’s post, revise it, and repost. Continue reading The List – Part 2 →

Spring Break Part II

Wednesday, March 28, 2012, @ 8:07 amadventure, food, Life in General, Reading, teaching, Weather, Writingchildren, Family, fishing, Grayling, great days, hard work, making the days count, sports, Spring Break, teaching, water sports, weather, writingClay

Sunday’s post was brief, but it cut into my morning time. I usually try to get up before anyone else and enjoy the quiet time before the day begins, but yesterday Olivia got up with me, and grandma and grandpa were already up and moving. By the time I was writing, the cottage was in full motion with everyone moving for the morning. I started to write but, realized it was futile to continue and stopped, vowing to finish at night when everyone was spent from the day. But, I forgot I was one of the ‘everyone,’ and fell asleep on the couch, reading one of my spring break books – Scat by Carl Hiaasen. Even Ivy had gone upstairs by the time I woke up at 1 AM and stumbled upstairs and climbed sleepily into bed. Needless to say, I didn’t write last night. Continue reading Spring Break Part II →

Spring Day

Friday, March 2, 2012, @ 6:37 amFamily, Hobbies and Fun, Life in General, Reading, teaching, Weather, Writingchildren, education, Family, great days, history, making the days count, reading, seventh grade, spring storms, teaching, writingClay

Spring has sprung, at least for a brief moment earlier this week. Wednesday morning, I walked out of the house and it was 50 degrees; it was the same morning the storms rolled across southern Illinois. Right now, we are back in the mid-30s and cloudy; it looks much the same as most of January and February did. Nevertheless, it is spring. Continue reading Spring Day →

Stamps, stamps, and more stamps

Tuesday, February 28, 2012, @ 9:35 amadventure, Family, history, Hobbies and Fun, Life in General, Reading, teaching, Teaching and Learning, travel, Writingchildren, education, Family, great days, history, making the days count, patriotism, politics, reading, seventh grade, stamp collecting, teaching, writingClay

lovestamp_1973 — Love postage – circa 1973

For those of you who know me and maybe those of you who don’t – I like stamps. My last post included a mention of stamps and I have mentioned stamps and letter writing several times. But, I love stamps, postage stamps, commemorative postage stamps to be precise. Continue reading Stamps, stamps, and more stamps →

President’s Weekend – 2012

Saturday, February 18, 2012, @ 9:58 amFamily, history, Hobbies and Fun, Life in General, model railroads, pets, Scouting, teaching, Weather, Writingchildren, education, making the days count, reading, stamps, thank you notes, UP 1989, UP Heritage units, UP Railroad, US commemorative stamps, weather, Wonders of America - A land of superlatives, writingClay

It is the second long weekend of the calendar year and I am home, Beth and the kids are skiing in Michigan and having fun. They took off Thursday evening because the kids had no school Friday or Monday, making escaping the city and running off to the north woods a three-day fun-escape and much more inviting than staying home and cleaning the basement or other chores. I won’t be cleaning the basement, either I have a stack of papers to grade and get back before next Tuesday and I have time to make it happen. Continue reading President’s Weekend – 2012 →

Olivia’s Dad, WOW, what a week

Saturday, February 11, 2012, @ 12:21 pmFamily, Life in General, Reading, sports, teaching, Writingchurch, hard work, making the days count, reading, scouting, seventh grade, third grade, writingClay

I can hardly believe that the week has passed me by. It was a busy week full of activity and teaching. However, the best part, or parts, was sharing it with Olivia. A normal week, depending on the season, can be spent at basketball games, scout meetings, outings, church, managing homework, and having dinner together. But, this week was different. Our week began with the Super Bowl where I was out numbered 3-1 in favor of the Giants and ended with the Daddy-Daughter Dance Friday night. There was a lot in between. Continue reading Olivia’s Dad, WOW, what a week →

Super Bowl Sunday

Sunday, February 5, 2012, @ 4:12 pmCooking, country, Family, history, Life in General, Reading, sports, teaching, travel, Writingchildren, education, Family, football, making the days count, Paris, patriotism, politics, reading, restaurants, scouting, World War I, writingClay

: Go Pats!

I remember my first super bowl – or the first I remember watching. It was Super Bowl 4 – the Dallas Cowboys vs. the Baltimore Colts. I didn’t know much about football then, but being from Houston I was rooting for the Colts. The team I rooted for didn’t make it and never would. The Houston Oilers aren’t around anymore. Continue reading Super Bowl Sunday →

Winter Break is over

Sunday, January 8, 2012, @ 6:26 amCooking, Family, Life in General, pets, Reading, teaching, Weather, Writingchurch, eagle scout, eating, education, Family, Grayling, great days, Guys Read, hard work, making the days count, pets, reading, scouting, seventh grade, teaching, weatherClay

moon0105 — Thursday night's moonrise and the sunset highlights the trees

Winter Break is over. I suppose that is a good thing. I need to get back to work and have a bit more structure in the day, but I have certainly enjoyed the time to rest, relax, and restore. I have enjoyed cooking, reading, and spending time with family. I have my regrets – I didn’t accomplish as much grading as I wanted, I didn’t clean up my desk and organize my personal office like I planned and sadly, I have been restoring my waist line and not vice-versa. Continue reading Winter Break is over →