Setting my goals and setting them high

The lying weather people said it was going to stop raining and get sunny this morning. They lied! It is going to be rainy again but we are supposed to "be clearing up and sunny tomorrow". The bastards. I would rather have them error on the side of bad weather. Tell me it is going to be rainy and then if it sunny, cool! But to tell me it is going to be nice and then it really is crappy......mood killer!

The girls lost their last home volleyball match of the year. They played a pretty good Nevada team and won one game. They played pretty well we just don't have the talent they do. Volleyball is probably more predictable than any other sport. More than any sport, the better team wins in volleyball. Every once in awhile you have an upset but it is not as often as other sports.

It was senior night, we have 5 on the team. They were all crying and carrying on. It is always a bit sad when their time in the uniform is almost over. Jess said she will cry next year.

Drew worked the concession stand and learned how to count change back. He said it was easy and he like working. He is good with math so counting change is pretty simple and he is a smart kid so I would trust him if I was running it.

I am looking forward to the weekend for one simple reason. I WANT A NAP! As sad as it is, that is my goal this weekend. To take a nap one of the afternoons.

I guess you have to hang on to the little pleasures in life to make it through.

Off to start the day!

More young he-men are eating rare tenderloin

Weather is terrible. Cold and rainy. I hear Nebraska is getting some snow. That would be really bad.

Senior night for the volleyball team. Last home game.

Drew has joined TSA, it is a industrial technology program that starts at the middle school and is pretty big at the high school. They do a bunch of technical school type stuff. Auto mechanics, Computer Aided Drafting, and a lot of other stuff. It is a club type thing. I think he is working in the concession stand tonight for the volleyball game as part of the club fund raising effort.

So I accepted the weekend teaching job for next spring. I decided it would be a good experience and I really don't miss any of the kids events during that month. I am sure I will be complaining come March but I get what I get.

I really don't have any plans for the weekend but I do need to get a haircut. I might try to go Friday during lunch but it will depend on the weather. I also can vote right now if I want. The county auditors office is open for voting from now until November 3rd so if I go out, I might stop off and vote.

Trash day so the ladies will be out in their heels and such. I hope they have waterproof mascara or they might have to pass another ordinance.

Off to start.

Things that make you go....hmmmm

Class went well last night. It is going pretty fast. I only have 6 more classes in each of the classes left to teach. Amazingly enough December will be here before we know it and I am done with one class December 2, and the other December 8. This year really seems to be moving along.

I was contacted by my boss at DMACC and he asked me if I wanted to teach another class in the spring. I am already teaching Monday night and Wednesday night but he offered me a third class that goes Friday night and Saturday. It only goes 5 weeks but is Friday from 5-9 and Saturday from 9-2:30.

The money sure is tempting but dang that is a bunch of teaching and a bunch of hours to put in. I am not big on the Friday night class. Saturday wouldn't be that big of a deal. The other issue is the class is at West campus so I would drive Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. I could really use the money but I need to think this one over a bit. I also need to check the sports schedule and see what it might interfere with. Kill myself for 5 weeks....I wonder if it is would be worth it.

The volleyball team won last night. They played a poor team so it was an easy victory. I don't feel bad about missing this one. It was about an hour drive and it was over in three quick games.

Nancy is off today. She has to go to Boone and take care of her dad for the day. Her mom is in the hospital and her sisters and her are taking turns taking care of her dad. It has been a very stressful and difficult time for her.

Early morning meeting today and then class to teach tonight.

Off to start.

I can see November over the horizen...It isn't pretty.

Busy day ahead. The weather is going to be ok today but cold and rainy most of the week. I hate wet weather in the Fall. It would be nice to be able to burn leaves.

Jess has a game tonight and it is away. She has Senior night on Thursday.

The first part of my week is loaded with meetings and work. I have a full day today and tomorrow. I teach class tonight and tomorrow night. I am hoping the end of the week is slow.

Nancy supervises a lab this week. They teach DMACC classes at the school for a small group. They asked me to teach it but I just couldn't fit it in. They will bring in an instructor from Ankeny and Nancy will just supervise in case they have trouble. I think she has class this Tuesday night and next Tuesday night.

Not a big fan on Monday but the sooner it gets started, the sooner it is behind me.

Off to start.

The search for a college begins

Still cold with a little rain this morning. The weekend is going to be nice.

The girls won the volleyball match last night. They played OK but the setting is just awful so we don't get that many kills. Jess played well and really did a nice job at the net with a bunch of blocks. After she started blocking the kills, the other team started hitting around her and then hit a bunch of balls out of bounds so she did well.

One cool thing. Yesterday Jess went to the University of Northern Iowa for a college visit. She went on a bus with 60 other kids. Anyway, they took the tour and then when they were getting ready to go to lunch, a lady from the AD office came up to the group and told Jess the Track coach wanted to meet with her. So the high school weight lifting coach went with her and she had lunch with the head track coach, the assistant coach and the cross country coach.

He told her he had seen her run at the State track meet and is interested in her joining the track program there. He also said he wants her to come on another visit so she can meet the track team and see all the facilities. She said it was awesome! He also said he and the volleyball coach work closely together so they would see of an opportunity to play volleyball there as well.

She was on cloud 9. He gave her his card and said NCAA rules prohibit him from calling her but he can email her. He told her to email him and they can stay in touch throughout the year. She said he was really nice and laid back.

She said everyone was asking her about it on the bus on the ride home.

Tonight we have a home football game and I am sure the kids will both be headed to it. Saturday Jess has a FCA bonfire at Dawn's parents house. I am not sure when it starts but it will be a whole night event.

Drew is done with football so he has his evenings free now. I am going to shoot some baskets with him in the evening so he can get some practice in before the basketball season starts up. He also wants so start lifting weights again so I will have to get my tired butt up and take him in the mornings.

Ok, the weekend is ahead and I can't wait.

The day after

The weather is cold but the sun started to shine at the end of the day. Today more cold weather, maybe some clouds and dry.

My tenants are just killing me. They finally paid $900 of the 1500 that they owe but swear they paid $500 in a night deposit, in cash and the bank must have stolen it. I told him that until we get it, they still owe.

They also can't get the furnace to start. For some dang reason every winter we have to have the heating guy go to the house and replace a part to get the pilot to light. So as some money comes in, back out it goes.

I think they are finally making money consistently enough to keep paying rent, which is a good thing.

Jess has a home volleyball game tonight. They are playing with a breast cancer awareness theme. The girls are going to play with pink and white volleyballs. They are going to wear pink and white socks and wear pink ribbons in their hair. They also sold t-shirts that go to the Susan G Komen cancer awareness campaign.

I think there will be a big crowd and it should be a good thing.

Thanks everyone for sending me a birthday email yesterday. It was very nice and a big pick-me-up. I can't tell you how much I appreciate all of you. We don't get to talk or see each other much but you are a very important part of my life. Thank you. Thank you.

Today is trash day and I hope the ladies freeze their butts off.

One meeting today and nothing on my agenda for tomorrow.

I read a birthday quote yesterday. "Three things happen to a person as they grow old. First, they lose their memory. I can't remember the other two."

At 40, nobody wants to see the birthday suit

Well I made it to 40...Whooo-Hoooo!

Weather is rainy and cold but when you are celebrating what could arguably be the greatest moment in history...a little rain isn't a big deal!

Both of the kids had games last night. Drew's team lost and Jess' team got second place in the tournament. From what I hear, the both played well.

I have a meeting this morning and the rest of the day is open. I also got my new desk chair yesterday so that was an early birthday gift.

So we bought a conference table for the office and we received the top about a week ago. Since the chairs arrived we figured there must be a problem with the base of the table so Nancy called the company to find out what the delay was. Well, wouldn't you know it....THE BASE WAS SOLD SEPERATELY!!! What the hell!

We had to purchase the bottom of the table separately. I want to ask them how many people just buy the top of the table but after thinking about it, the guy could have said "Just you!".

Ok, so we are ordering the bottom.

The last presidential debate is tonight. I suppose I will watch it to see if McCain goes into the gutter to shift momentum.

The government is literally forcing healthy banks to take money from the bailout in return for shares in the company. Sort of like a hostile take over without the Democracy part. What country are we living in?

So the Republican party is "concerned" about voter registration fraud by a grassroots voter registration group called ACORN. Here's the thing. It is VOTER REGISTRATION!! You can register Mickey Mouse to vote but guess what...He won't show up! How about the years of voter suppression in minority and poor neighborhoods? How about making it mandatory in some states to have a valid drivers license to vote. Who do you think that hurts? Get a grip!

Ok, enough rant. I think it is time to get back to aging.

FYI, all my parts seem to be still attached to my body. I am hoping that is a good thing.