The beat goes on

I have made it to the weekend but it is going to be busy so nothing really exciting about it being Friday.

Budget cut meeting was unpleasant yesterday. It is never good to cut as deep as we have to cut and the outlook isn't good for 10-11 either.

I teach class tonight and tomorrow morning then it is the official start of spring break at DMACC. I will teach the Monday class here in Perry next week but won't have the Wednesday or the weekend class that week....Whoo-Hoo!

Volleyball tournament Sunday all day and it looks like it will be a long day. I think it is about a 3 hour drive and the tournament won't get over until around 8 or 9(If we get to the championship).

Jess has a track meet at ISU Monday. She was selected to be a DARE Role Model. I am not sure what the job is but I know she goes to the elementary a few times or for a day and talks with kids about not using drugs. Our DARE officer selected her as one a small group of kids to do this.

Drew had TSA last night. I think he likes the social part of it as much and probably more than the actual TSA stuff. I think he has a competition here in Perry Monday. He also starts track practice Monday.

He and I spent a half an hour or so working on preparing for his spelling test today. I think he is ready so I am expecting him to do well.

ok, off to start the battle.

My slice of the pie has a cigarette butt in it!

Still cold but getting a little better. Low 30's today.

Class went well last night. I had a long chapter to cover and the material is a bit difficult for the students so it went to 10:00. 5 hours of sleep last night. I guess I will get plenty when I am dead so no worries.

Jess has a volleyball tournament in Davenport Sunday. We will leave after my class on Saturday and stay Saturday night up there. She also has a track meet at ISU on Monday. Thursday of next week they leave for Denver for the National Qualifying volleyball tournament. It is a three day event and they will fly back that Monday.

Next week is Spring break for DMACC so I don't have classes. Whoo-hoo!

Drew has a TSA work night tonight so I will have a bit of solitude in the house. Dawn will take Jess to volleyball practice after track so it will be quiet in the house. I need some alone time. It helps me keep sane.

We have another budget cut meeting today. It is the list of all the cuts and we are going to set priorities on them so in the event that we get additional funding (fat chance) we will know what programs or positions we will restore first, second, etc.

My tenants paid the deposit yesterday. I guess they plan on staying. It is kind of odd and too long of a story to write here but it will be with mixed emotions that I let them stay.

I need the rent to cover the mortgage but they have been such terrible people, I do not look forward to another year of their shenanigans.

Such is life...off to take another bite of it!

This wind blows

Cold and windy today. Winter is back even if it is for a short time. I hate it!

Both kids were home with me last night. We watched TV and hung out. It was the first time in a long time that we did that. It was nice.

A couple meetings today and teach tonight. Next week is Spring Break for DMACC so I won't teach classes at West campus. The following week is Spring Break here in Perry so I won't teach the Monday night class that week.

I need to get through this week and I will be over the hump.

Nothing of note is happening right now, which is kind of a blessing, so the post is short.

Off to start.

I'm really trying

So more rain today with cold and wind to follow. The weather is not helping my mood.

My tenants are giving me trouble again. They owe me over $1,000 and are complaining about just about everything. I think it is time to cut the ties and they need to move out. It may be tough financially until I can get another tenant but this has got to stop.

Drew is still complaining about his haircut but there just isn't anything that can be done. In time it will grow back.

Jess stopped by my office after track practice last night and she was really dragging. I think she was tired and exhausted and really didn't want to go to a 2 1/2 hour volleyball practice.

I could tell by looking at her that she was struggling. She looked worn down and tired. Her eyes were a bit sunken and she looked a little grey. I told her to stay home from volleyball, we could call and tell them she was sick. She ended up going to practice anyway. I haven't seen her yet to see how it went.

I see on the news all the people that are becoming homeless because they lost their job. It is scary that it can happen that quick. It would really be hard to be without a job right now since there are so many people looking for work.

I hear on the news the other day that a school in Des Moines had an opening for a janitor and they received 500 applications. I feel very fortunate to be working a good job, actually working 4 good jobs. The three classes I teach are wearing on me but the alternative keeps me going.

I worry about everyone at home. I hope things are going alright for everyone. If any of you lose your jobs or your house, come to Perry, I have room.

It seems that I am behind in my work and my classes so today I am going to start the morning by getting organized. Create my lists, piles and folders. Set a priority list and get to work. It should be a fun day....whoo-hoo (notice no capital letters or exclamation point on that one).

Nancy (aka: Janet) got a Itouch yesterday. We are going to get it setup sometime today so she can buy music and do the downloads.

Ok, off to start.

Rainy days and Mondays...Today is both

Rainy crappy weekend. More of the same to start this week. Mood-killer!

So the weekend was pretty eventful. Jess played in a volleyball tournament in Ankeny. The won the tournament so it was a good way to start the Saturday.

Sunday, Drew got his haircut in Des Moines and the lady chopped it all off. She gave him a buzz cut so his hair is about 1/4 long all over his head and she cut the bang off too. I am not sure why she did that, he said he told her to use a #3 like always but she must have thought he wanted the #3 all the way not just on the sides.

I think it looks ok but he is not liking it and I am sure he is worried about what the kids at school will say today.

Sunday night I took Jess back to Ankeny. The volleyball team had the chance to be part of a training video. They had cameras up everywhere and they had officials and a director. They setup scenes and create situations. The video is supposed to train high school officials for the season next year. It will be seen nation wide. How cool is that?

It is also good that the lady who runs the club teams, likes Jess and had her be the main person in most of the scenes. Jess even had a talking part. They put a microphone thing on her back hip so it would pickup what she said.

It wasn't a big line, she just said, "Setter back row, three hitters, stack right". She had another line too but I forget what that was. She was the only one that had a speaking part so that was kind of cool. I will have to get the video once it is released.

I think they do these videos every year and they pick different facilities and teams across the country each year, it just happened that they picked our team here in Iowa for this years video.

My class Friday and Saturday was long. I cover so much material and we move pretty quickly. It is a bit much for the students so I decided to slow it down a bit. If we don't cover all the material, oh-well. One of the students was in tears Saturday because she was having trouble. I talked to her at a break and she it fine but this compressed class is rough. Like I said, I am slowing it down, life is too short for that kind of stress.

I have been in kind of funk lately. With all of these classes, I haven't really had a chance to slow my mind down. I am getting things mixed up and I forget where we are in each of the classes. I need to get organized today and get the ship right. I think I have taken on a bit more than I should have with three classes and working all day.

Throw in Jess' tournaments on the weekend and it gets to be a lot. This next weekend, we are headed to Davenport, Iowa for a tournament that starts Sunday. We will leave Saturday after I get done teaching and stay the night. Sunday will be a long day.

Is it April yet?

Off to start.

Fridays just don't seem the same

Weather was really nice yesterday. We had a record high of mid 70's. Today it is going to be in the 60's. Our happiness will be short lived, however, we are going to have rain for the weekend and into next week.

I guess the crappy weather makes you appreciate the good weather all the more.

I kind of took yesterday off from life. I didn't do my usual morning routine and I just kind of had a care free day.

Today it is back to the routine. I feel better and my mood is pretty good.

Jess increased her vertical jump from 27 inches to 28.5 inches. That is a very high vertical jump. I was on the University of Nebraska website and it said the school record vertical for women was 29 inches. I need to go back and double check it but I am pretty sure that is what it said.

We also got a letter from the Airforce Academy wanting Jess to run track for them. We have had a bunch of letters from colleges and the high school PE teacher, who ran track in college and had a tryout for the Olympics in the long jump, said we will get flooded with calls after July 1.

The coaches aren't allowed to call before July 1, of her Junior year. It will be an interesting time. I hope she stays healthy and runs well this track season.

Drew has been working on his TSA project every night lately. I think he has a competition here in Perry on Monday. I teach but I might be able to stop down during a break and see him do his thing.

I teach class again tonight and tomorrow morning. I have a bit of prep work to do for it but I am pretty prepared. They take a test every weekend so part of the class I just sit and wait. It is good because I have so many papers to grade, I can do that while they test.

Jess has a volleyball tournament Saturday in Ankeny. It is hosted by the club she plays for so it should be good.

Ok, off to start.

I might as well have left a blank screen

It looks like the weather is going to be nice today. I hope we are on our way to Spring.

Not much on the agenda today. I teach class tonight and have some office work to do.

It is the middle of the week and I hope the rest of the week goes fast. As a matter of fact, I hope the rest of the month goes fast. Spring break is just a couple weeks away.

Once the weather gets nice, I am going to go shopping for a new grill. I didn't get to do any last summer but that won't happen this year. I also think I am getting another 1/4 beef pretty soon.

Last night I relaxed. I made Queasadillas for dinner and then watch tv and relaxed. The next four days are busy with teaching so I want to appreciate the time I have off.

Not much else to say so I better start my day.