I think it is time

I have had a long break since my last post. I suppose I would tell anyone that reads and has followed the blog that there are things in life that come along that make you want to keep everything to yourself and shut everyone out. I believe it happens to everyone and there comes a time that you must make the choice-- stay locked up or move forward. It is time for me to move forward.

A bit of catching up as a lot has happened in the last few months.

Jess has gone off to college. She is loving it at ISU. She has a good roomate and has found a new girl friend that she really thinks can be a lifelong friend. All summer she worked hard on her ISU track workout and has been very dilligent with her committement to get better.

Drew worked out a little this summer and has been working hard at cross country. He has put in a ton of miles and is getting to be a much smoother runner. I think cross country has been good for him.

I went to California for training this year and it was a really good trip. The training was really good. Nancy, Joyce and I went to Universal Studios and it was a blast.

The trip wasn't without its issues. I get to the airport on the way out and they tell me my drivers license was expired. Yes. It was July and my license has expired in October. They let me fly but the rental car in California was in my name and so was the insurance. Long story short, Nancy drove in LA for about 6 blocks and I made it through the whole trip without getting pulled over and arrested.

School has started and so far thing are going pretty well. We ordered over 200 laptops this summer and it was quite a project. There really is too much to tell so I think we will just move on from here.

I start teaching again for DMACC and my first class for the fall semester is tomorrow. I am kind of looking forward to it. I also teach on Wednesday nights. The classes are smaller than last semester so that is good.

The drum beat starts again.

Hot, Humid, and no AC....UGH!

Weather is hot and humid.

Drew was a bit grouchy last night. He went to the river with his friends but had to walk all the way home and it was hot in the house so he was a bit on edge. I bought Subway for dinner and that perked him up a bit.

He is looking forward to the end of the school year. It is going to be a battle with him this summer. He is going to have big plans every day and I am going to have to temper those plans from time to time so it will be a battle.

We had the track awards ceremony last night. Jess got MVP, most points scored in a season, academic all-conference awards. She also got her State medals and her State Championship plaques.

We got new carpet put in the house yesterday. It was good to have done and it looks really nice. The AC in the house is not working right. The repair guy came out yesterday and thought he fixed it but it still is hot. He will have to come back today.

Two big events left this school year. Friday we have the senior awards ceremony and Sunday is graduation and our graduation brunch.

Off to start.

3 Golds and a bronze

It was a good weekend. Jess won three gold medalsvat the state track meet. She won the 200, 400, 800. She was the first girl in state history to win all three events in the same meet. She also won third in the long jump. I think she could have won but she kept scratching.

It was great to see Angie, Jenny and their families. Jess was so excited that they were there. Everyone had a good time.

Drew spent the day yesterday, down at the river. He loves it there.

Track awards ceremony tonight. Wednesday is Jess' last day of school. Friday night is Senior awards and Sunday is graduation.

Time is moving very fast right now.

Off to start.

Gold is still wonderful even in the rain

The weather was kind of crappy yesterday but the track meet went well.

Jess won the 400 for her first gold medal of the meet. She also qualified for the finals in the 200. It was chilly, cloudy and wet but she did good.

Today she has the long jump. Jenny and Matt were there and she was thrilled to have them there.

Angie and Dale are coming today so I think we will all go out to eat after she jumps today. It is great to have everyone coming. Jess is on cloud nine.

Drew went to the meet with some friends and had a good time as well.

More tomorrow.

Yikes

It is a big day today. The 400 and 200 prelims.

The weather is going to be iffy today. Maybe some rain.

We had team unity at ourbhouse last night. We had 10 people over. It went well. I hope everyone runs well today. Jess is really excited.

I have a meeting this morning and this afternoon Nancy and I are off to the meet. Jenny will be there today and I am excited to see her.

I can already feel my nerves building up so it I'll be one of those days. Nervous anticipation.

Three days left of Jess' high school sports career.

Off to start.

Sad Ending..Looking ahead

The weather is a bit rainy right now but I think it is going to be really nice the rest of the week.

On Friday, Jess qualified for the 4 events she was expected to qualify for state in. She won all for events at districts. Long Jump, 200, 400, 800. She set facility records in the 400 and the 800 and just missed the facility record in the 200 by 3 hundredth of a second.

Saturday was a very sad but amazing day. Lance Corporal Josh Davis of Perry was killed in Afghanistan a week ago and his funeral was held in the high school gym. The Marine Corps was very impressive with the unit in full dress blues and attending to the casket.

A couple hundred freedom riders came in on motorcycles and were in attendance and to take care of any crazy demonstrators. American flags were everywhere. The service was very sad. Military services are always hard. Josh graduated early last year because he wanted to join the Marine Corps. He was killed by a sniper as his squad was searching for an IED. He has a sister in 9th grade and a brother in 11th grade. Everyone in the school knows the kids of the family so it was a difficult day.

It is also very hard for kids at school who have a family member in Iraq or Afghanistan. It really brought home the fact of the danger and risk they face. There were a lot of kids in the counselors office last week.

Jess had a track practice yesterday. She worked on long jump and went for a run. Two more hard practices for the season.

She runs the 400 final and the 200 preliminary on Thursday. She will long jump on Friday and will run the 800 final and the 200 final on Saturday. It should be an exciting week. I already feel a little nervous.

Ok, off to start.

Enough with the rain already

Monday was a very rainy and windy day. Yesterday was cloudy cold but dry. Today we are back to rain, windy and cold.

Jess was supposed to have the conference track meet on Monday but the weather was bad so they moved it to last night. She won 4 golds which gives her 16 conference gold medals for her career. She has never lost a conference event in four years.

Last night she won the long jump with a jump of 16'9. Not her best but she still won by over a foot and a half. She won the 100 meter dash with a time of 12:44. She won the 400 with a time of 57.4 and the 200 in a time of 25.89. I really think she was on pace to get a 55 in the 400 but she really tightened up the last 60 meters. I think the cold was a factor.

Drew had his last golf meet last night. He shot a 61 and was disappointed but we all have ups and downs in golf. I will golf with him this summer so he can practice.

I declined the job in Urbandale yesterday. It just wasn't a good fit and the timing it bad. I am glad that is behind me.

I meet with the teachers at the elementary today to talk about new technology purchases and next year. It should be fun.

It has been pretty busy in the office lately but that has been kind of good. Nothing too hectic but busy.

Nancy is taking Thursday and Friday off to stay home with the new grand-baby. She is way excited.

District track meet is Friday and state is next week so things are winding down. If all goes well, Jess should be going to state in 4 events.

Ok, off to start.