Surviving

Here it is February is almost over. We're looking at spring break in a few weeks. It surely doesn't look like it's going to be optimal weather, but then again alot can happen in a few weeks. The sun is out today, but it's still bitter cold. I forgot to check the bank sign on the way by this morning, but it sure felt as cold as it's been this winter. My ears were cold and began to throb once I entered school in the climate controlled environment. My bike is dirty from all the wetness on the roads and the grime and grit that goes with it. It needs a good bath and scrubbing, as well as lube.

This upcoming Saturday night is the Ottawa's got Talent show. It's a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity. I'll be singing and playing my guitar and harmonica along with another fella I know through school. We're just doing one song and will be on stage for about two and a half minutes. But, it's going to be fun and be a good experience.

I've also auditioned and won a role in a short film being made here in Ottawa. A young couple has written a screen play and will be directing the cinematography. I think that will be another good opportunity to try something new. Who know where it will lead.

Every one in the house has been fighting off some congestion and sore throats, coughing, that kind of thing. Jack seems to have it the worst. Marian has it too. I directed her to take them all to the doctor to see what could be done. Jack's been hacking for a couple weeks now.

I don't have my college class tonight, which I'm relieved about, but I will probably spend that time working on finishing my project for the class. I have some more writing to do. I'll be glad when this class is over!

I'm looking forward to seeing mom and dad this weekend. They plan to attend the show on sat. night. We'll likely go out to eat first.

I don't know much of anything else to write about. I know I need to make this less of a journal entry and put a little more effort into the writing. Especially if I'm to maintain the comparison made between my writing and Garrison Keillor's writing. Very flattering, yes, but I'll need to step up my game to make my writing like Garrison's.

That's all for today. Sorry to disappoint you.

Still cold; but sunny

When I passed by the bank sign this morning at 7:00, on my bike, the temperature was 18 degrees. I found a credit card on the bike path just before crossing the Marais Des Cygnes river. I contacted the bank and it had already been reported as lost and directed me to destroy it.

We ate Chinese food for supper last night.

Marian watched a little boy Jack's age yesterday. Those two are getting to be good friends. They don't like playing many of the same games, but they both agree they like Thomas the Train.

The sun is out today, that's a welcome sight. I know spring will be just around the corner.

Tonight I have my college course to attend.

I just don't have much to report today.

Cold weather, warm feelings

Valentine's day was yesterday, Sunday. I had the pleasure of spending it with my own valentine, Marian. Jack was up before dawn, so that meant I was up before dawn. We played a bit and picked up some of the house waiting for Mare and Leo. They were up in short order then we had a breakfast of pancakes. We opened our Valentines to each other. Mare had a Matchbox school bus for Jack, which he loved so much he slept with it last night. Leo got a nice new ball to play with that he likes to drop from his high chair and watch one of us three pick it up. Marian made me a sweet card and poem accompanied with chocolates. I had a treasure hunt for Marian to find her little assortment of treasures. It led her to the fridge, the doghouse outside, the front porch, the outside A/C unit, the bed of my pickup and back inside. She recovered a couple little silly charms, a valentine's notebook, a pot holder (we needed it), and a token for a free back rub from me.

My mom and dad had sent Leo and Jack their own valentines. They really liked having their own mail. Mom and dad also sent Mare and I one. My sister Clarie sent the family a valentine's card too with a gift card to sonic! My sister is perhaps the most thoughtful person I know. She's thinking of others before herself almost always. She's a great sister who's burdened with a lackluster brother.

Marian's mom and dad came down on Sunday to join us for lunch. Then, they stayed at the house with Leo and Jack while Mare and I went to a musical as a date for Valentine's day. You're a Good Man Charlie Brown was a cute little show. It featured a number of students I know from the high school. It was cold in the auditorium, so we wore our coats, gloves and hats the entire show.

I rode my bike to school today. I haven't missed a day riding since the beginning of January, when it was really icy. I went by the bank sign on the north end of town, it said 7:00, 18 degrees! But, it's only for about 15-20 minutes of riding, so it's not as bad as you might think. I bundle up pretty well for the ride. My ears are the only thing that suffers noticeably. I have not yet found a good article to wear on my head to keep it and my ears warm which will fit nicely under my helmet. I could choose not to wear my helmet, which I'm not scared of doing, except that I would miss using my rear view mirror, which is attached to the helmet. I rely so much on the rear view, it's difficult to go back to not using one.

Maybe the sun will come out today. That would at least brighten spirits even if it didn't warm up all that much.

I've been asked to fill in keeping score for the basketball games tonight, so I'll be here until after nine.

Well, I wish you all safe travels and health and prosperity in your lives. Know that I am thinking of you all and missing your company.

That evil, evil, rodent!

Well, if relying upon a furry North American rodent, the groundhog, to deliver accurate meteorological forecasts for future event planning, his prediction is a six week extension of winter. Myself, I prefer a more optimistic outlook for the approach of spring despite the mammal's illogical fear of its own shadow, which happens to be unrelated to weather in any way. Yes, despite the groundhog's prediction I'll be looking for the sun to prove him wrong earlier, rather than later. Once again, I will be attending the Lutheran Church's goundhog feed with the Johnson side of the family in Humboldt. I'll take my family, of course, and I'm excited about Jack's reaction. He went last year, but I don't think he remembers it. We plan to go down to Humboldt on Friday night and stay with mom and dad, then leave directly after breakfast to go to Lawrence to a friend's birthday party for her son.

Both boys have had a time with stuffy noses and coughing these last couple weeks. Jack couldn't hold down a plate full of spaghetti one evening, and we officially "broke in" the new couch mom and dad had given us. Jack reacted quite drastically to his body's reaction and ran around the kitchen table crying for Mare to "make it feel better!" The new couch looks worse after a month in our house than it did for the nearly 10 years it was used by mom and dad. Jack also experienced his first case of diarrhea, which he found equally distressing. Leo, was having difficulty sleeping through the night because of his little cough and stuffed up nose. Marian even battled that for a day or two. I'm the only one who has remained free of virus, bug, disease, etc. Probably because I gave it to them, compliments of the student body at OHS.

Jack surprises us with the things he says and remembers. Marian recounted him singing some sort of made up song of his and looking directly at her and saying "that song was in your eyes the day I was born." Very poetic!

I was given the opportunity to be the announcer at the varsity basketball game, which I accepted. I did alright, I was told. I only made one blunder during the introduction of players in the girl's varsity game. I soon recovered and became at ease. I'd done this before, but for the junior high football games. There, I was in a box nearly by myself, removed from the small audience. The basketball game was quite different. I was surrounded closely by a fully packed gym full of people. Ottawa won handily in both games.

I've been riding my bike to school each day, despite the sub- freezing (not sub zero) temps. I've been utilizing a front battery operated headlight mom got for me some time ago, and a red blinking led light on the rear. I installed a couple of metal wire collapsing baskets on a rear rack so I don't have to carry anything on my back any longer. That's nice.

I've been reading these really good books written by a man named Chaim Potok. I'm surprised I like them as much as I do. Each book features a Jewish religion called Ladover Hasid. They're really quite informative. They are all fiction. I enjoy learning about their absolute dedication to Torah and their perspective on secular and religious aspects of life.

That's enough for the day. Best wishes and health to all!

The snow is gone, now we want the sun

The snow has finally melted away completely and so has the ensuing slop that follows it. But, we're still waiting for the sun to show up and to stay. So far, the sun has remained hidden behind clouds. It's still cold and today it's windy from the north. The farmer's almanac predicts more snow before spring, but hey, it's just a book!

The boys are well and getting stir crazy from being indoors all the time. So are Mare and I for that matter. So much needs done and I'm waiting on a little bit better weather to begin my tasks.

I finished my taxes. I'm entered in a talent show with another guy set for Sat. Feb. 27th. School is rolling along at a quick pace.

Leo is so close to crawling. He can stand next to the bed and play since he can hold on to it. Jack is just getting crazy. He' s little mister personality. Leo's personality is coming out and I can see what he's going to look like and act like. It looks like he's going to be quite handsome and sweet. Of course!

Mare is doing well. She was a little ill Sat. and Sunday, little bit of stomach issues that came and went. I'm doing fine and seems to be getting busier as we go along. We're all concerned what will happen here at the school as far as jobs go. Kansas is cutting education funding more and more. But I must continue doing my best and hope that is enough to keep me around.

It's been a long winter. Hopefully, the groundhog will let us know we've had enough in couple weeks.

Love to everyone,

cb

A good birthday

I turned 35 yesterday. A milestone of sorts, though just an abstract milepost. It was a good day. Just before school started I received a phone call. Jack had called to say happy birthday and I love you. I liked that phone call.

I had walked to work yesterday just to make the day a little more memorable for me. So, after the 45 minute walk home in the 12 degree cold, trundling over snow and ice, it was a pleasant surprise to find the house all spotless (it's never "dirty", just takes an extra push to put the polish on it) fragrant candles burning, a couple of banners saying Happy birthday (one homemade decorated by Jack and Leo), a homemade heart shaped card with the outlines of Jack and Leo's hands, and a homemade chocolate on chocolate cake complete with candles waiting for me. After the cold, the warmth and inviting ambiance was welcome.

We were treated to dinner at Poncho's from Clarie (thanks, sis). Then, at home I opened some gifts and ate a slice of the cake. I talked to both my grandmas, mom and dad, and Clarie. I also talked to aunt Betty ( a really great aunt!)

It was the first day back to school from break and both students and teachers were a little confused as to what the heck we were all doing there and how to proceed. Of course, it all came back to us and we managed.

There is still a foot of snow on the ground here and forecasts call for 2-6 more inches today and tonight. I know what the students and teachers are all wishing for . . .

Holiday Wrap-up

Hello everyone. Today I am 35 years old. You should all take a moment to congratulate yourselves (or sympathize) on making me who I am. Each of you had a part in it. I hope to be just half as good of people as each one of you are. To make it a memorable day of sorts, I opted to walk to school today. It's kind of a selfish thing to do as it allows me about 90 minutes of solitude. I underestimated the difficulty of walking over and through snow, but I easily kept warm.

Snow blanketed everything over the holidays, and continues to do so. We were happily snowed-in for three or four days over Christmas, with full cupboards and refrigerator.

Santa made an appearance at mom and dad's house. He was a big hit.

Mare and I made it to 12:30 new year's eve. There was a big full moon that night, mom said it was a blue moon because it was the second full moon of the month.

I must say I'm blessed with a warm house, loving family, and full tummy. Really, is there more important things to be found in life?

My wish and prayer for all the people I know, and for my friends and family of course, and even for my enemies, is this: I wish you all abundant, overflowing, heaped-up blessings of prosperity and well-being, everyday.

Let's make it a good year!