Busy Busy

I have started a new morning routine so it has been a bit hard to get my blog posted. I got a new membership to a health club so I have been going every morning before work. By the time I get back it is time to get ready and head to work.

After thinking of what the solution would be, I decided to post once a week and do it on Sunday night. This way I can post more content and not have to think of things to write each day. So here we go.

Like I said, I have joined a fitness club. I workout on the treadmill in the mornings and then strech after. It has been a good thing so far so I really hope to keep with it, lose some weight and feel healthier.

Drew finished with Cross Country. He has improved greatly this year and has really thinned down. He has also smoothed out his running motiong quite a bit. His coach told him that if he stays out, he could be pretty good.

Jess has been loving life at Iowa State. She has been really working hard in track practice and has learned that practice at the college level is a lot different than that at the high school level.

She has to take an Ice Bath every day. How sucky does that sound? Anyway, she is getting used to it but says it still kind of sucks but it does help her legs and back recover.

We also learned that Exedrine Migraine is on the banned substance list so they gave her a prescription that should help her.

Dawn has been traveling to Tennessee so it has been just me and Drew in the house for a couple of weeks. Friday, I took Drew to Ames and we had dinner with Jess for my birthday. We ate at Carlos O'Kelly's and the food was really good. It was nice to have dinner with them. I need to do it more often.

Drew had his first date a few weeks ago. He took a date to the homecoming dance. Jess came back and drove them. I think he had a good time.

Jess has two track meets in Lincoln this year. Both are in February, I think they are in the Devaney Sports Complex. The first is the Feb 4th and 5th (The Husker Invite) the second is Feb 25th and 26th (Big 12 Indoor Championship).

I will see if we get free tickets.

I guess we will see what the week ahead brings.

Could I be GLAD it's Monday?

The weekend was wet and miserable. It is going to be better today so even though it is Monday, I am glad to have good weather back. Wet, rainy, cloudy weather is great for a nap but not much else.

Jess was back this weekend. She came home Friday and went back yesterday. It was good to see her.

Drew has date for Homecoming so he went to Des Moines Saturday and got dress pants and shoes. He had that stuff before but he is growing so fast, nothing fits. He wears a size 13 shoe.

I was pretty lazy this weekend. I washed my bedding and made meals and that was about it. I had a bad headache yesterday morning so I took a nap to try to get rid of it. The nap helped but the headache kind of hung around all day. It is better today. I appreciate being pain free.

I haven't checked my calender for this week so I am not sure what is ahead this week. I guess I will get ready to start.

Whew

The weather is more fall like than ever. It is breezy, cool and damp.

Class went well last night but it was a really, really long day. I am glad it is over.

Drew went on a school sponsored college visit to UNI Tuesday. He had a good time and thinks he might want to go there. We have a couple years before we have to worry about it though.

Jess has been fighting a bad cold for the last week but seems to be doing fine. She said she took her first Ice bath for track yesterday. She texted me about it so I will have to ask her how it was.

Work. Is busy as ever and I don't see it slowing down any time soon.

Off to start.

The weather in the fall may be my favorite

Weather has been good and work has been hectic.

Drew has had three cross country meets this year and has knocked two minutes off his time. Last night the meet got rained out.

Jess is enjoying college and had her first big track practice yesterday. I haven't had a chance to talk to her to see how it went. I will talk to her later today.

My classes are going well. I have two classes of ten. It is nice to have small class sizes.

Not much else really going on. It seems that I work, come home and grade papers or do more work from home the off to bed. I really enjoy the weekends now that football is in full swing.

I have been getting a taste for Scotch. I might buy my third bottle soon.

Ok..off to start.

Football season is gere

Finally Friday!

Jess attended her first ISU football game last night as a student. I texted her during the game and she said she was having a blast. It probably helped that they won. She is definitely loving college life.

I am very happy college football season is here. It is cool outside and air smells like a fall day.

Three day weekend but Nancy and I are remodeling our office on Sunday and Monday. Other than that, I really don't have any plans. Maybe I will go get my hair cut.

Ok off to start.

Over the hump

It has been rainy here lately but we didn't get a whole lot in Perry. Ames got 4 inches on Tuesday night and they were supposed to get more last night. I hope Jess remembers to keep her umbrella with her.

Class went well last night. I really think it is going to be a good group. I have one student that is really bad on the computer and I don't think he really cares so at first impression, I think he will probably drop or do poorly but we will see.

I have really made an effort to be organized this semester with my classes and so far it is paying off. If I can keep it up, this semester should be much easier for me.

Work has been hectic this week but I hope that trend ends today. Wishful thinking I am sure but I have a good feeling.

A three day weekend coming up. Jess isn't coming home. She is going to see her boyfriend. What the hell! Anyway, it will be good to have a three day weekend and a short week next week.

The big ten released the divisional split and the schedules for the next two year. It looks like Nebraska has a tough schedule as they are in the same division as Iowa, Michigan and Michigan State but still play Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconis every year as well. The final game of the season is against Iowa so I imagine that will be the big rivaly game each year.

I think there is something wrong with my car. I am not sure what but there is something. I will keep you posted.

Off to start.

Day two

My first night of class went pretty well. I had nine students show up and eight of them are girls. It is the first gender slanted class I have had so we will see how the dynamic is as we go through the term.

It has been really hot lately. Hot and humid weather sucks! I am looking forward to fall.

Iowa State has their first football game Thursday night and Jess is excited to go. She is going with a girl friend th at lives on her same floor in he dorm. I think her name is Carson.

After I got home from class last night, Drew and I watch The Real Hiusewives Of New Jersey, the reunion show. It was fun because of all the fighting. Drew could only take about twenty minutes of it and went to bed.

So, I have started drinking Scotch. So far i have tried Chevas Regal and now am drinking Jonny Walker Red. I have gotten a taste for it and have read a little about it online. The weird thing about the Jonny Walker is that it has a much much stronger taste if you add a little
Water to it. It is really mild straight but if you add a splash of water the smokey flavor really comes out.

We are supposed to get storms tonight. I hope they aren't bad.

Off to start.

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.

Rainy days and Mondays

It is going to be windy and rainy today. We are supposed to have the conference track meet today but I hope they postpone it. It would really to be out in this let alone run in it.

I have been working on the yard to get it ready for graduation. Nancy has been the foreman in the project. It looks much better but we still have a bunch of work left to do.

Saturday morning I was sitting in the living room have a little coffee and watching TV when the doorbell rings. The roofer said the shingles cam in and they wanted to do the roof. It was cool with me so they started at 8:00 am.

The pulled all the shingles off the roof, put down new paper or whatever that stuff is, and shingled the whole roof and my shed by 6 pm. I think it turned out great.

Today the guy who does the gutters is supposed to be here to replace that.

Drew has been golfing pretty well. He shot 59 in the last two meets and was the best on the Perry team. I want to go out and golf with him sometime.

I gave Jess' old car to one of my DMACC students. Her family struggles and only had one car. She always made it to class but had to wait until 10:30 for a ride home. She was going to drop out because she said the classes were hard and it was just a hassle.

I told her she could have the car if she stayed in school. She is a bright kid that has had a rough life. Her mom and her wife came up with her Saturday and picked up the car. They were very appreciative and told me they would keep her in school.

Urbandale school district would like me to come and work for them as a data manager. It really isn't a position I am interested in but the business manager their is a friend so I am going there today to talk about it.

It looks like it is going to be a cold and wet week. Ugh!

Off to start the adventure.

At least my headache went away

It was a productive weekend. The weather was good so Nancy came over and helped me clean up the yard. It was a lot of work and we still have a lot too do but we got the front yard in pretty good shape.

I wouldn't have got nearly as much done without Nancy. She slave drove me but the yard looks great. Thanks Nance.

Drew went on a little camping trip with his friends. They went to the river and camped on Saturday night. I made him text me throughout the night so I knew he was ok. He did fine. I think they had fun and most importantly, they were safe. One of his friends is an Eagle Scout so that was a bit reassuring.

Prom was Saturday. Jess and her group of friends had a great time. They looked really nice. I will get some pictures posted of the camping trip and Prom this week.

My last Monday night class tonight. It will be great to be done. I anticipate it only taking an hour or so and then I am making dinner when I get home. Jess wants Manicotti so that is the plan.

Not much on the agenda for the week. Jess has a track meet Tuesday in Nevada but that is it for the week. I think Nancy and I are going to do some more work on the yard on Wednesday. Graduation is coming up rather quickly so I need to get the yard in good shape.

It is amazing that Jess will be graduated in less than a month. I really hate to think about it but whether I want it to happen or not, time will keep marching on.

Off to start.

Spray on tans....so many questions

The weather has been pretty good this week. Sunny and at time breezy but overall pretty nice.

My last class of the semester went well Wednesday night. They took the final and I was home between 8:30 and 9:00. Monday will be the last class for the term.

Drew mowed the lawn for me Wednesday night. With track meets and teaching, it was impossible for me to get it done so he took care of it. He did a good job.

It seems like I have barely seen him this week. He doesn't go to the track meets because he has golf practice and has been in bed before I get home. Maybe I will take him out to dinner Saturday.

Saturday is Prom and Jess is pretty excited. The weather should be good so that helps.

We had a track meet last night. Jess won the long jump with a jump of 17 feet 1 inch. Her third attempt she scratched by just the tip of her shoe and the coach marked it and had them measure it. It would have been 17 feet 7 inches.

She won the 400 and set a new meet record with a time of 57.6 seconds. She won the 800 with a new school record and a new meet record with a time of 2:21. She told me after the 800 that she can run it faster.

We are supposed to have a track meet tonight at Ballard but it is supposed to rain and maybe some thunder so it is up in the air at this point.

I hope to get the yard cleaned up a bit this weekend and the weather seems to be in my favor. I guess we will see.

Ok, off to start.

OH MY!

The weather was really nice yesterday and I think it will be good again today but more wind.

It was a very good night at the track meet. Jess jumped her personal best, a new meet record and a new school record 17 feet 3 inches in the long jump. She also ran 25.8 seconds in the 200, a new meet record and 57.6 seconds in the 400 also a meet record. She also anchored the Sprint Med relay for 1st place finish and they were 1 second off the meet record. 4 golds and a very good performance.

I spend the day in meetings so it was nice to be outside last night. Today I have one meeting in the late afternoon and then I teach my last Wednesday night class. It will be an easy night, I am just giving the final. It will be a short night and it will be great do finish up the term.

It is kind of weird teaching because I really like most of the people in the classes I teach and every term it is the last time I will see them. It is just the way of it but with each class, I feel a little sadness when it is over. Each class has its own personality, dynamic and characters. They are kind of like snowflakes, where no two are the same. It is very true for classes, they are all unique in their own way.

Oh! After Jess ran the 400 last night she puked and puked and puked. It took her about 20 minutes to feel better, just in time to run the 200.

We have track meets on Thursday and Friday. My grass needs to be cut and I won't get to it until the weekend. Ugh!

Ok, off to start.

up at 3:30 am....what the heck is going on?

I think the weather is supposed to be OK but I am not sure. The last four days have been cold and rainy.

Class went well last night. The semester is winding down. I give a final on Wednesday and then the final on Monday and I am done for the term.

It is kind of weird that when I teach, I don't see the kids. I wake them up in the morning and then when I get home, Drew is in bed and Jess was out. By the time she got home, I was in bed. Just one of those things.

I got up at 3:30 this morning and was wide awake. I hate it when that happens. I have to say, the television at that time of day is a bit odd.

I have to spend most of my day in meetings today. We have money from Microsoft and the curriculum director and I are meeting with each building principal to talk about what core curriculum area to focus on. There is much more to it but I am getting bored just thinking about trying to explain it so I will just leave it at that.

Jess has a track meet in Adel tonight.

Ok, off to start.

What is this? A Sunday night post?

It was a rainy weekend but the week ahead is supposed to be better.

Jess ran at Drake on Saturday. She jumped 17 feet 2 inches in the long jump and that got her 3rd place. That is pretty good because it was all classes so only two girls in the entire state jumped longer than she did.

The weather was terrible that day. It was raining really hard an cold so for her to have that good of a jump in that weather was a good outing for her.

Dawn and her mom painted the front living room for me. I picked a darkish blue color and it looks nice painted. We are getting new carpet and putting a deck on the back. Dave and Nancy are helping with that and he sent the drawings and it looks great.

We haven't heard about the roof yet but I am hoping that can get replaced. I complain a lot about insurance but when it pays, it sure is nice.

This week will be busy. I teach Monday night. Jess has a track meet Tuesday and the Iowa State coach is coming to watch that one. I teach my last Wednesday class and then Jess has track meets Thursday and Friday. Saturday we are going to start the deck.

Drew had his first golf meet canceled because of the rain. He is getting so tall. He is noticeably taller than me now and he just keeps growing.

I am having a heck of a time finding a place that will work on his scooter. The damn thing stalls all the time and I need to get it fixed. The place I bought it at is over 30 miles away and I have no way of getting it there.

Jess is going to lifeguard this summer and I found a certification class for her to take. It isn't until June 23rd but at least she can work July and some of August. The certification is good for three years so she can work next summer as well.

It seems like there is a bunch of things to do before graduation so the weekends are going to be busy for awhile.

Off to start.