It is all but winter and I am not ready for summer. The past few months have flown by with the various projects around the house, my work picking back up with requirements, teaching Bible classes and going to school.

The major project that certain ladies talked me into for the education of children is all but done. I just need to put up some trim and add one more light to the bathroom. The whole school thing has forced me to keep my shop picked up and generally organized, but I still need to do more.

Work picking up has been nice. I actually feel like I am accomplishing something and looking forward to even more requirements to complete as my project is going through a major upgrade. If I stay, and yes I am looking at other positions for various reasons, I would expect to visit close to 20 states by the end of September. The travel part, while in some ways is fun, I miss the family terribly and it seems to be likewise for them. Maybe I can take them along on some of the trips. It has happened a few times and has been really fun.

One more class to teach for Bible class and I will be done. I will miss not teaching, but enjoy having something off my plate for a while. With work increasing, I will need it. Last quarter I taught the Level 4 class (4-6 grade area) about the return from captivity and the 400 years of silence. This quarter I am teaching the Adults just the 400 years part. After 2 quarters, I am ready for a break. I do not see how teachers who teach every quarter, sometimes for years at a time, do it.

I am just completing my second college class which was on American History to 1877. If I do not complete the final test, I will still get an 80%. The two classes I have taken so far have been a challenge, but not as bad as I thought they would be. The biggest challenge for the history class was a research paper I finished last Sunday. I did my topic on Joseph Smith founder of the Mormons. The topic was interesting while being sad at the same time. If you want a good book to read about him, read “No Man Knows My History” by Fawn Brodie. It is very interesting reading about Smith’s life. With History complete this Sunday, math class starts Monday. It will be interesting to see how a math class is handled completely in an on-line setting.

I hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving.

I have not posted for three months, but I have been getting my writing assignments in on time. For college that is. After deciding on my major after all these years, I started taking classes this past August. Being out of school for so long had me worried. Could I really do the required work? Plus, be a husband, dad, Bible class teacher, employee, maintenance man of the house, firefighter and on and on. The first class I took was on emergency planning which was mostly review. I planned it that way to help me ease back into the groove. While taking my first class I was teaching Bible Level 4 (4-6 grades) about the return from captivity and the 400 years of Biblical silence. I managed a very high A, but my fears were still not relieved. How would I do on a normal class with papers and such? Now, while teaching the adult Bible class on just the years of silence, I have been taking American History until 1877 which has a lot more writing assignments. With her and her reviewing my writing assignments for “readability,” so far, so good. My next class is a math class and I forget what is on the agenda after that. If I keep up the pace I should earn my BA while he is in college. It will be hard to do considering there are other things I want to accomplish during the same time.

Now since I have seen the election results and posted a new post, it is time to go back to bed.

One other thing I want to mention which is a plug for a company which I would normally not do, but this company is funny. www.despair.com You have seen motivational type stuff like wall hanging, but they have demotivational items. Check out their product line. I really like the one on Government which seems more appropriate with each passing day. Also, I like the one on Blogging; “Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few.” That one is almost as appropriate as the Government one.

If I had kept track of the cost I could have done the “priceless” commercial since I have spent Thursday through today with both of my sons in Pittsburgh. We helped get her and her packed into the car and headed to Florida. Then we did what men are supposed to do; went back to bed for a few hours. We got up, did some house clean up and headed off to Pittsburgh. The organizer of this trip got us a decent hotel, but we came close to a shock. When we opened our room there was luggage already in the room, but luckily, no people to go with the luggage. The front desk got that small problem straightened out; we threw our stuff in the room and were off to the game. We saw Pirates' games both Thursday and Friday and while both were fun, they were not outstanding. What were outstanding were the fireworks after the games. They also had the band REO Speedwagon playing Thursday night which I enjoyed and Collective Soul on Friday which I am not familiar enough with to enjoy. We lazed around this morning and then headed home picking up the dog on the way. Now we are back to the real world. I had a blast spending time with my sons which is becoming harder to find as they get older. One other thing we did get to enjoy; we found a “dive” that served Polish food. The boys were not sure about having Polish food, but when I suggested going back today for lunch, they were all for it. Sadly it was closed and worse yet, we ended up at a Subway. Oh, well. Next time we are in Pittsburgh, maybe we can introduce her to our Polish find. She would have liked it.

Tomorrow will be our anniversary. Twenty-three years ago we were married on a lovely Friday evening. I do not remember as much about it as I would like, because it seemed to go by in a blur. I do remember seeing my bride coming down the aisle and thinking that the prettiest girl in the world was coming down the aisle to marry me. It does not really seem like it was that long ago. It truly can’t have happened that long ago! The time has flown by, well, except those 5 years as an Air Traffic Controller.

When I married her, besides being very pretty, she also had so many other wonderful qualities. She did have some weaknesses, but they were few. Over the years she has not only improved her weaknesses, she has improved her strengths. The most important strength she has had is the wisdom to steer me in the right direction when I start to flounder or a good kick in the pants when I get lazy. She has given me goals and encouraged me to strive to give my very best. Without her, I truly would not be the man that I am today and I thank her greatly for it.

We were watching a movie last night where one of the characters had had a rough time after his wife died. He stated that he had “just fell apart”. I can completely understand how someone would feel that way. I truly have no idea what would happen to me if I lost her and pray to God that I do not have to be tested in such a way. While I have the courage and know-how to handle many types of disasters, I only see failure for myself in this area.

After seeing the woman she has become in 23 years, imagine what 23 more years of refining will produce. Lori, you are my wife, sister, rudder, and most importantly, my friend. My Darling I love you and want you to know just how important you are to me. I hope the years to come will be as good as the ones before. With you, I have no doubt they will be.

Today is Wednesday. I do not have to go back to work until Monday. Maybe I can get some of those Honey-dos of my list.

Thursday update:
Had to inventory a bunch of stuff and she helped.
Removed the door hardware from the pantry.
Installed a new rod in the pantry door (she wants a curtain there instead of a door)
Installed new shower curtain rod (old one now in shop for hunting clothes)
SCRUBBED THE TUB/SHOWER (need to inspect his work for a while)
Mowed the yard in an hour (they say it takes at least 2 hours)
Finished panting his room walls, trim left
Payed bills :(
Emptied all trash cans in the house (took me 15 mins, not an hour)
Taught the Level 4 Bible class.

By the end of the weekend, I accomplished a great deal, but still have a lot to go. I hope everyone had a good holiday weekend and will have a good week.