A fork in the road in the middle of a parking lot

Not even sure of the weather today. The satellite is acting up and I really don't care enough to fix it this morning.

I have to do my last presentation for the staff today. It is a support staff group who really won't use any of the things I am talking about but they wanted me to do the presentation for them for "fairness". Whatever.

The days are going fast. It seems like I have a bunch of things in the hopper and need to setup a calendar to keep things straight of when I want them finished. Sometimes stress comes from not being organized. Once I lay it out and get things ordered, it will be a bit better.

Drew has freshman orientation today at 1:00. Jess is one of the student body representatives at the orientation so they will go together. It is hard to believe that I have two in high school.

So last night I went to the store and saw a lady who works at the school and her husband coming out of the store. For some reason, the husband must hate me. I am not really sure why but every time I say hello to him, he just turns his head and snubs me.

I don't really know the guy and I haven't had any issues with his wife, she is always nice as can be. The guy is just an ass. So anyway, I was in a grumpy mood but I said hello to him and her. He again, snubbed me and she said a cheery hello. I actually stopped in the parking lot and began to turn around and follow him to ask him what his problem was.

Instead, I took a breath and let it go. I went into the store and did my business. I still can't figure out what the hell the guys problem is. I don't know him and I know he knows who I am. It is like the third time he has done that. He acts like I killed his dog or something. Life is too short to deal with people like.

I start teaching again on Wednesday. The head of the computer department of DMACC wants us to do a pre-test in our classes that is online. It is kind of a pain in the butt to setup and I only have a day so I will take a look and try to get it figured out before tomorrow.

I have a full class for Wednesday. There are no more seats available. Monday I have 9 students.

Ok, off to start and see what the day brings. I will fill my Tums bottle and take it with me.

Busy but productive....TGIF

I made it to Friday and it has been quite a ride.

The weather is going to be rainy off and on but cool. The weekend is supposed to be really nice. Sunny and cool.

Jess has scheduled an official visit to Iowa State for track. We are going up Friday night the 16th of October. She is staying Friday night and Saturday night with the team. They are going to a football game on Saturday and she will be hanging out with the team the whole weekend and we will pick her up on Sunday.

She is pretty excited. The volleyball coaches also want to meet with her so it should be a big weekend for her.

Drew hurt his heal Thursday and it seems to be the same thing that Jessica had her Freshman year. It is when they grow a bunch quickly the bone in the foot separates a bit and causes pain in the heal. It will go away sometime this year but I remember her fighting it most of her freshman year. She hasn't had problems with it since.

Work has been going pretty good but a bit of drama in the department. I might have one of my techs looking for another job. It is a long story but whatever.

No plans for the weekend. I need to go into work for a bit on Sunday but Saturday I am going to just hang out and maybe do some yard work. I also need to clean the garage and work on the scooter so it may be the perfect weather for that kind of thing.

Ok, the day awaits. Who knows what it will bring. Can't wait to find out!

Off to start.

It is going to sound like a chicken farm

I think it is going to be rainy on and off today.

The teachers start back up today and I am anticipating it to be a long rest of the week. The phone will be ringing like crazy and people will be getting on my last nerve.

Last night I went to the DMACC adjunct orientation session. It was pretty good. I hated to drive all the way down there but it turned out to be ok. I am glad I went because I was able to get my books for my classes.

I need to start working on lesson plans and get my syllabus updated and ready to go. A week from today I start teaching again. I am kind of looking forward to it.

Did I mention that Jess is taking my class on Monday night? It will kind of weird having her in my class. Usually I talk about her and Drew a little during some of my lectures. I guess I will have to cut that part out.

A busy day ahead so I better get started.

Off to start.

We all live in our own personal "wild"

It has been rainy most of the weekend but it stopped long enough for us to play in the golf tournament on Saturday.

Jess and I played and we did the usual, not very good. We did have some good holes and others that were not so good. The best thing of the day was our attitude. We really didn't get upset about how we played. It was the last time for us to play so I wanted to just enjoy the time with her. I am going to miss her when she goes off to college.

Drew went to the state fair and he said he had a good time. He went down with friend. They spent most of their time on the rides. He did get a foot long corn dog and a smoothy, which he threw up later going on spinny rides.

I told him, he really got his money worth because he got to taste it twice. He said it wasn't very good the second time. He cracks me up.

Yesterday, I worked until two. Jess and Dawn went to Des Moines and had lunch with some of the club volleyball team girls and their moms. Drew hung out with one of his friends.

When I got home I watched a show called "Black Gold". It is kind of a reality show about roughneck crews working on oil rigs. They had a whole season marathon so I watched them all. Well most of them anyway. I am a sucker for marathon reality shows. They get a hook in me and I just can't stop.

The kids came home and asked what I was watching. When I told them it was a marathon, they just shook their heads and said "Dad!".

The teaching staff start back up on Wednesday so I have a couple days of freedom left. Most have been back already but they don't officially start until Wednesday. Summer is almost over. The good news is football season will be underway shortly. It makes things a bit more bearable.

I watched a movie this weekend called "Into the Wild". I read the book but wanted to see the movie. It is about a guy who graduates from college and then just goes off and drifts. He takes no money and tears up all of his identity. He just lives in the wild and then eventually goes to Alaska.

The story is pretty good but it gives you a fresh look at what freedom really is. Not something I would want to do but how he lived was truly free.

Ok, enough rambling for today. Off to start.

Sometimes you have to just shake your head and say "What the hell?"

Friday....whew!

Weather is the same.

We got quite a bit of work done yesterday so we are hoping to get a good handle on things today.

Jess and I play in a father-child golf tournament tomorrow. We play in it every year but this is the last time for her. It will be Drew from now on. It is once again a last time. This year is going to be full of them. I am going to be sad as the seasons end and it is the last time to see her play all the sports.

Drew is almost done with 2-a-days. I am sure he is going to be glad. I don't think it has been too bad for him but mostly just a bunch of conditioning. I don't think they have had a lot of hitting yet.

So yesterday I took the scooter to the school so I could pick up the title for Jess' car. The damn thing died on me at the school and would not start. I had to push it back home. What the hell! It seems that it will run great for weeks at a time and then just die and not want to run. I need to get it looked at.

The tenants haven't paid their rent yet. They told me they would pay today. It is just such a sucky position to be in. The market is still crap so I can't sell it. The tenants suck but I hate to kick them out. I am not sure if I could get a renter right away.

They are supposed to pay a late fee when the rent is late. They have yet to pay it on any of the months they have been late. They have only paid on-time once in over a year so they owe well over $600. I doubt I will ever see it.

I am kind of in the mood for BLT's for lunch today. Nancy if you are reading this....how does that sound today?

Ok, life is moving along so I better get in motion or I will be left behind.

Off to start

You know how I feel about trash day

More hot humid weather today.

Jess had her senior pictures taken yesterday. The weather was good so they did some outside shots. She had pictures in the morning and then they went back down last night to get outside pictures at the river and by a railroad car. They should be available to look at online early next week.

Drew is suffering through 2-a-days. It is hot and humid so they are working hard. Today they have the first day of full pads. He will really be suffering now.

Not much on the agenda today. I have a conference call this morning and will spend the rest of the day working on computers and office work. Not too bad of a gig. Lots of work but all of it inside in an air conditioned room with a soda always a reach away.

Molly gets her hair cut today so she should be beautiful when I get home tonight.

The full staff comes back next Wednesday so I need to enjoy the next few days of modest peace.

Ok, off to start.

How many balls can I juggle and what happens if one falls?

Middle of the week and the weather is still pretty good.

Yesterday went well. The new teachers are young, they tend to seem younger every year, but that makes things easier for me. The younger teachers have used all the technology we have before so it is an easy transition for them.

We have a bunch of computers to run up and get going but that shouldn't be too bad. The big problem we have is once the new staff return, they need things. They can't print, or can't logon or whatever. We just don't have the time or manpower right now to handle those little things. It makes things rough.

Today we will go to my favorite building...NOT..the elementary and do a little work over there. Then it is off to the lab to work on 50 or so computers. whoo-hoo!

Jess has senior pictures today. Drew is still doing the 2-a-day thing. He is grouchy after the first practice but not too bad after the second. I remember the thought of getting done with one and knowing you had to go back later in the day and do it again. 2-a-days suck!

One of the girls on the volleyball team got busted for drinking. She is suspended for 2 weeks. She was one of the setters so it isn't good.

So I was looking at my class list for DMACC today and I have 10 students in my Wednesday night class. As I was looking through the list I saw a familiar name. UGH! One of the students that I failed last semester is back. I hate it when that happens. She rarely came and was not that solid to begin with.

There are several technology instructors and I kind of wish, if you fail one, then you go to another one for the next try. I guess it is either a compliment that she came back to my class even though I failed her or my class was the only one that she could work into her schedule. I hope she does well this term. I absolutely hate to fail students.

I had a dream last night that I forgot about class and it was 5:30 on the 26th (My first day of class) and I was sitting at home in my shorts and t-shirt watching the tv. The news came on and said it was August 26th. I freaked, looked at the clock got changed and was heading out the door. Of course I couldn't find my shoes and was in a panic. I woke up and was very glad it was a dream.

Ok, enough rambling for the day. I feel a bit chatty.

Off to start.