THE GETAWAY

Each year my wife and I take a little trip. We call this our Birthday (mine) and Anniversary (ours) getaway. We usually don't venture too far, last year we went to Williamsburg, VA which was a jaunt for us, this year we head north to Vermont, Cabot Cheese country, Green Mountain Coffee country. Yes, we indulge in both. Vermont is also Ski Country which we don't indulge in.
Though this year we are staying at a Ski Lodge. I've never been to a ski lodge and if it has to be smack dab in the middle of summer so be it. I'll enjoy the greenery at the off season rates and not be freezing my tush off on the slopes.
We've been to the area before just not "that" area. We'll visit some of the "old" places we've been to before and I'm sure we'll find some new ones.
But the main reason for the trip is to spend some quality time together. We are away from the normal day to day activities and no computer or phone calls (we don't turn on the cellphones) and the computer stays home.
Along with this romantic getaway we'll also get a chance just to kick back and take it easy for a couple days. Once we come back we hit it hard with our computer/school room getting painted and the kitchen gets an overhaul. I'm already looking forward to our trip to Main in August.

CHANGING TIMES

I had a very nice birthday party yesterday to celebrate my 56th. It was nice to have some of the kids home for this event. Though I guess I have to realize that the family dynamic changes from time to time and we all have to adjust. Life is ever changing and that's a good thing I feel.

Yes, we all want to have it that same old, same old way and yes I do like it that way, but I cannot be afraid of changes. I have to learn to adapt with those changes and make them work for you the best you can.

What works for me is the Serenity Prayer:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

This little prayer has yet to fail me as long as I keep it in my thoughts and prayers.

It's That Old Hot Weather Again

Yeah I know, more weather talk. Like I said before, it's the only thing that really changes around here. Today we are back in the hot box after a brief reprieve from the last heat wave. The good thing is that school is now out for the summer so I don't have to endure my 90 degree room. So the heat is a little more bearable. I've said this before and I'll say it again, I don't mind the heat but it's the humidity that kills me.

Today is also my birthday celebration, no it's not my birthday, that's in a few days. Debbie's kids will be over for the meal and of course presents for their dear old step-dad. Regardless of whatever we celebrate it is always nice to have the kids home, even without the presents.

I'll grill chicken on that new grill that I received for Fathers Day/Birthday under the new canopy which is working very well. $32 well spent. It has stayed up, pretty much though some semi serious storms but nothing hurricane-like yet. I'm already looking at how I can improve on this feature in the future as I know this cheapie won't last long. Also managed to get the deck painted on which the grill and canopy sit so thanks to my father in law and Ryan it was possible to get the painting done without any anguish on anyones part.

Today was also our pastors last day as our minister at our church. He has accepted a new assignment in upstate NY. Parting is a sad time but I know we will meet many more times in the future. Now we must prepare to meet our new minister next week. I'm sure all will go well.

IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN

The last day of school has finally arrived, in fact in as little as an hour I should be on my way home. This summer break will be 66 days and I will probably say that it has just flown by. But that will be then not now. Right now I just want to savor the time off.
I have many projects in line for the summer which you will receive "blow by blow" reports on during the progress of each and every project. The first project will be to try and relax for a couple days and then Debbie and I are off to Vermont to celebrate my birthday and our 84th month Anniversary.
Looking back I see I have been blogging on this site for a year now. I didn't realize it when I took a look back and saw what I wrote last year. I didn't want to repeat what I wrote last year. Well it could happen you know.
Yes, this year as in other years there are co-workers that are moving on with their life to other jobs and challenges. I wish them the best, I really do.Me? I'll be back doing what I do, teach music. Only this time around I have a curriculum I have to follow. Yeah right. I've been teaching 29 years without a written curriculum so I kind of doubt I'll be following it too too close. Let's put it this way, I'll give it the old college try and see what happens. No promises.

Hey! Which Way?

I don't have a lot of pet peeves but one that crops up more than enough times is the turn signal on the car. Why do people NOT use it? Like I'm supposed to know where they are going, where they are going to turn or even stop. I'm sorry but I'm not your travel agent. I'm sure glad brake lights do work when you step on the brakes otherwise I and a lot of other people would be in a world of hurt.

How much does it take to push down or up on that little stick on the steering column?
I come to an unmarked intersection many times when another car meets me at the same time. I'm yielding right of way cause they are on my right. But no, they insist that I go first. They wave me through, blink their lights and almost get out of the car to direct the traffic (meaning me) through the intersection. I'm not one to argue so I go on through knowing very well that they should have gone first. Their loss, my gain (I guess).I get to where I'm going 10 seconds earlier.

Oh and another pet peeve, well not really a pet peeve. Have you ever noticed that when you are in a hurry to get someplace that everything gets in your way? You have to stop at every stoplight, if you turn against the traffic there is a string of cars 10 miles long it seems and then you get the dreaded slow moving vehicle in front of you. Then to really top things off there has been an fender bender so everyone has to slow down super slow and rubberneck. I mean if there isn't blood and gore I don't want to waste my time looking. It's a fender bender folks. No big deal.

FATHER'S DAY 2005

Happy Father's Day to all those fathers who read this. I'm not one to get mushy or sentimental over these days that are fabricated for the greeting card industry. But it is nice to get a little attention from your loved ones. So Thank You.
My two biological sons live in ND with their families and I was able to talk to them at length today and it was good to talk with them about anything I wanted to talk about. It was nice and I enjoyed it. I made a promise to myself to do this more often as I haven't in the past. I always think you have to have something important to say when I call them and I realize I don't have to.

I guess that's why when I call they say "What's up?" Meaning.....why are you calling, what's wrong,who's sick or who, God forbid died. Though today they did know I called cause it was Fathers Day.

I also seem to wait for Sunday to call also and I know I don't have to. yes they do have a life also but I don't have to wait for any specific day to call them or for any specific time, though I do take that into consideration, especially the time as I live in the Eastern Time Zone and they are in Central. So I try not to call during meal time or bed time or early morning. I feel anytime is fair game though calling them at work to BS wouldn't go over to well with their bosses I would think. I know my boss wouldn't like it either.
I grew up learning that I use the phone for business or gathering information not for BS sessions. So I guess I have to learn to use the phone more often just to make contact with the ones I love. So heads up guys, I'll be calling more often cause I have a phone plan that doesn't count the minutes.

REEDICKULUS

This is crazy!! Monday and Tuesday I melt. Temps in the 90's with 100% humidity, Wednesday is cools down a little and today it's 59 degrees. Now I don't mind heat, I hate the humidity. I've said this before, but I hate the cold. So Monday I would be happy to walk around naked but today, Thursday I'm looking for my winter coat. We've got to find a happy medium.

I think we will find that happy medium though. Here's why. The hot spell usually comes in July and then it's seasonable. I think we had our July now and temps will moderate to be a fantastic not too cool and not too warm a summer. That's what I'm thinking anyhow.

You may think that's all I have to write about is the weather, well actually that is about all that really changes constantly here enough for you take notice.

School is out for the summer next Wednesday. I'm home for a couple days then back to school to take a class on web design for beginners. I plan on working on our schools web page next year so I figure I had best learn how to do some of these things. Both of my sons are computer geeks and they're proud of it. Brian is a web master and Paul is a programmer. They each have their own web pages which are fantastic. They blow me away. And I plug along with my little mac.com page that pretty much does everything for me. Their web pages are pretty much failproof. The thing is the school doesn't subscribe to Mac.com, everything here is PC. Hey, the class is three hours long so not a lot is going to happen but enough to get me jump started.

Since I work most of the time from my Mac I cannot add pictures to this site like I would want. This doesn't work with Mac. Maybe once the new Macs come out with the Intel processors will help, but what do I know. You may say get a PC and maybe someday that will happen now that Mac is leaning toward the PC with the Intel Processors. Time will only tell.

Hot, Hot, Hot!!

We are now in our 7th day of over 90 degree temps. Last year we only had 6 days total that went over 90 degrees. The good news is that relief is on the way but when that happens it's not always pretty. Severe thunderstorms are forecast and when cold hits hot we get weather.
Schools are being dismissed all over the state of CT but not us. I think they are waiting for someone to expire from the heat. Even our technical school right here in town is dismissing early. So needless to say we are here for the day.
We have been pretty lucky this year with some decent weather until now. We have six days of school left and they can't come fast enough for me.
Last night I came home to no electricity. Debbie said the lights were since around noon. They did some back on around 4:30 but about and hour later were off again until 8:00. So we did the best we could. I grilled burgers and we had salad and chips for supper. A nice summer meal. Then later we went for a ride in the car so we could see who had lights and who didn't plus enjoy the cars' A/C. By the time we cam home the lights were on and they stayed on. YAY!!
Let's hope the temps will moderate soon. They say 70's by Thursday. Let's hope.

THE CONFIRMATION

Today is my step-sons confirmation. A big day for him. We are having a big celebration for him, his brother and sisters and their significant others will be there. His Grandfather will be singing during the service and we'll be cheering him on. We can cheer him on can't we? Otherwise we'll sit quiet.

Ryan loves church. I raise two sons who were never crazy about church. probably because we made them go every Sunday. But with Ryan, he is the one urging us to go. When Debbie and I were first married we didn't go to church at all, it took Ryan to get us going.

We started going to a little Methodist Church down the road from us, only a five minute drive. I think we are going on out 4th year since we became members and we have come to love the people of this little church. They are very much family for us. We care about them and they care about us. A nice situation.

Afterwords it's Chinese Take-Out for dinner. That's what Ryan wanted and that's what Ryan gets. We only get Chinese a couple times a years as the aftermath the next day is not pretty, but we do love the food. It will be a grand time for all.

We'll get to use the aforementioned cabana on the deck for the first large family function as it is supposed to be warm and sunny again today. Hopefully it will all work out to our advantage. The next family function will be my birthday where we will use the new grill.

It's Only The Rain

That sounds like a good title for a song. "It's Only the Rain". So I do a quick google and sure enough there are a few different songs out there with that title. (Sigh) Thought I had an original. Nope.

Anyhow, it's raining out. Finally, after a week of hot and humid we get some wet and cool. Actually the rain was warm cause it has been so hot the cool rain actually felt good. Looks like it will be a little cooler next week. I can only hope.

Just finished watching "White Noise" starring Michael Keaton and if the makers of the movie would have not taken their theatrical liberties with the spooks it would have been a believable story. I know, I know, It's only a Movie.

So let the rain come. The only downside of this is that I now have to mow the lawn as I figured I wouldn't mow until it rained. But that will have to wait until the grass is a little drier than it is right now.

La Di Dah

It's official we now have a heat wave in CT. Seems you go three days over 90 and you have a heat wave. For me any minute you go over 90 you have a heat wave. I don't mind the heat, but I don't hate it either. It's the humidity that saps all the energy out of you. So when you have temps in the 90's and humidity in the 90's guess what you get? Fog. Yep lots of it too. So I have to drive with my lights on in the daytime.

Which helps me segue to my next topic, my car. I have a Hyundai Sante Fe. It has been a very good car with no trouble whatsoever until recently. My dashboard lights keep flashing on and off, found out the parking lights were doing that also thanks to a considerate driver who stopped at light got an told me though I thought she said my headlights.

So I take the car to my dealership explain the problem, leave it there for the day and they can't find anything. Well what they did was turn the car on and watched it to see if the lights would flicker. I told them it acted like a loose or shorted wire and therefore you have to drive it. Duh! So when I pick up the mechanic and I got for a drive while I describe what all goes on. Nothing happens. Of course, the car makes a liar out of me. I think it's just getting back at me for not having a garage.

We get back to the shop and the mechanic sticks his hand under the dash and starts wiggling wires and low and behold we have light flicks and come to find out it was the remote starter wires as I kind of suspected.

The car is back in the shop again today so they can break down the dash so the mechanic can get to the all the wires and find out which one is the culprit. All I can say is I hope that is it.

Tomorrow the Sante Fe gets a new windshield as I picked up a couple rocks on Sunday from a passing vehicle. The insurance company I have is Geico and they are great. Claims I've had have all been handled quickly and professionally. They scheduled the glass replacement and the glass company confirmed it with us. All I did was report the claim. Now, that's an insurance company. They handled everything else.

With any luck that'll be the end of my car woes for some time. I'm hoping. Even got the oil changed so I'm good for the summer.

Tonight it cheesburgers on the grill.

ENOUGHS ENOUGH

Come on Connecticut, make up your friggin' mind. A couple weeks back you wanted us back in the deep freeze and I accused you of wanting to be the North Dakota of the East Coast. Now you want to be the Florida of the NorthEast?

It's not even officially Summer yet and we have temps in the 90's. So we are a month early for those temps, right? School is still in session and I'm not even going to go into the issue of my hot classroom, been there. Complaining doesn't help. I'll live with it. Actually, if I stay out of the cool and just in the hot room it's not too bad as long as I don't do a lot of moving around. But once I feel the cool I'm miserable.

One solution to keep cool is to drink water, lots of it. I'm lucky in that the water cooler is only a classroom away, but the bathroom is on the other end of the school. But I need to make three trips to the water cooler to every one trip to the can. Works for me.

The other solution is to call in sick for the remaining 10 days of school. The Boss may not be too keen on that one but at least I'll be cool. Never fear, that won't happen. I'll tough it out and reward myself at the end of the day will a cup of nice and cold DD Ice Coffee. Hey! The have different flavors now. Any one care for a Marshmallow Ice Coffee?

Yes, Life is Good!

THE SAGA OF THE CANOPY-PART 2

The cheap canopy for Ocean Sate Job Lot went up quite easily. With help from my 85 year old Father In Law, we had it up in about an hour. One thing bugged me though. What were the Velcro strips that were on the canopy for? This bugged me for sometime until later that night, in fact I was bed drifting off to sleep when it hit me. DUH!!! I had put the canopy on inside out. So no problem we'll just turn the canopy part around to the right side and be done. 15 minutes tops.

Wrong!! The canopy came off alright and in our (my father in laws and mine) wisdom we decided to "firm up" the sections of the joined piping with screws so that if a wind did come up the whole thing wouldn't fall apart. We figured maybe another 30 minutes to get the job done right.

Well, 2 1/2 hours later we were still struggling with it. Seems the frame kept coming apart. So we had to enlist my son, Ryan to help hold it together while we kept adding screws to firm it up. When we were done, the frame wouldn't "true up" at all. Looked like something was out of kilter and removing screws as I thought that is what screwed it up (literally). Still nothing.

Finally, I decided to put the canopy back on and let it go, we were all hot, tired and cranky. So we put the canopy back on which fits quite snug by the way and it looked okay except for a part of the roof that was sagging. Ryan pushed the part of the frame that was not true and it just popped into place.

So the secret is that the canopy is holding the whole structure together. So while the canopy is on right this time we can now add all the screws we want to "firm it up".

Lesson learned? Yep. Next canopy, and there will be another one as we do like what it achieves will be a "pop-up kind" with sturdy corners. Just gotta find the right size for the right price. But now I won't be afraid to spend a little more money as I now know what I want. So far the canopy has held up under some wind, though we haven't had any terrible storms yet. Summer is just starting.

HOT & MUGGY

Okay, now it's HOT AND HUMID. Seems we went from almost freezing our cahoonies off to now trying to turn them in a liquid. Seems we missed Spring, wait......I think we had about a week of Spring then it was back to the cold.
Now, I don't mind the HOT. It's just the heat and humidity that comes along with it that I don't care about. My room at school is small, 14 X 20 I would guestimate. I teach music so when those little bodies come in the room notches up a degree or two. No A/C. Only the people in the office get that. The rest of us can sweat and we do, quite readily. I'm just glad I have the older kids at the end of the day otherwise the pre-adolescent odor is something to behold. Some kids use deodorant some have no idea what you are talking about and figure I went this long without it, why bother. Boy have they got a lot to learn.
Anyhow the fans, all three of them are going at top speed so at least the air is moving. My room is at 82 at 8:30 in the morning and by the end of the day will be 88 degrees. This is my sauna and welcome to it.

I'm Happy............Are You?

What's this? Nothing to complain about? How can that be. Seems there is always something to complain about even if it's just the weather and I can't even complain about that at all as it has been very very nice for just being the first part of June. Though I'm told Sunday is supposed to be a "hot one".

All is well with me and the world. My concert rehearsals are going remarkedly well. I'm getting good support from Staff, Faculty, Wife but I haven't check in with Ryan aka livingdeadman yet, but I'm sure he's on board also. My programs are done and printed and the set decorations go up tonight. Kids are rehearsed till they are sweating out the songs through their pores. I even lined up a videographer to film the program. This is a first for me. I usually think of having the programmed videoed when I see the parents with theirs. Then I think, "I should have done that". Too late, maybe next time.

Speaking of concerts, our Citywide Instrumental concert went over well. The kids did a fantastic and well as the only adult trombone player in the group (ahem). And...we get to do it all over again in an outdoor concert at the city park. Yes sir, a fun time is guaranteed for all.

So yeah, all is well. Everything and everybody is cooperating or falling into place and there are no glitches. Though I suspect the nasty glitch will rear it's ugly head sometime soon.

The Late Night Show

Tonight is one of those nights I don't get home till later. Usually I'm home around 4:30 but tonight it will be pushing 9:00. Our city has two Citywide Music Programs a couple weeks back it was the chorus, this time around it's the Band. I'm not the director but I play with the band to help them along, mainly in the low brass section playing my son's trombone. It's fun and I don't mind the longer day as it is coming to the close of the school year and things will start slowing down. So I'll stop at the local DD and have myself a Steak Sandwich and an Ice Coffee and I'll be good for the evening.

I'm also working on my own Spring Program called "Listen To The Music" and yes of course we will sing the songs from which that title came. The only thing is the "Doobie Brothers" name will not appear on the program. But then again the kids around here have never heard of the group so not to worry. Now if I can find a song by the Sex Pistols.