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Monday, July 13, 2026

Monday, July 13

 5:33 a.m. - This is an important week.  I need to get some things done this week to prepare to better enjoy next week.  All of this can get accomplished...just got to make a list and stick with it and chip away at it.  Part of that is to also get some things done at IC Elementary, even though there isn't a whole lot yet to do.  I say that, and I'm sure when I arrive there will be more to do.

Yesterday was nice.  I got the camper loaded up and back to the house by noon, and then we had a little pool time - Jack and Rhonda and Kristi and Bev stopped by.  And then Amber and I went to Aledo to watch Brinley and Brooklyn play softball.  

Today I'm going to spend some time at IC Elementary, get Amber's bike to her place in LeClaire, fuel up the Ford, and then get to the BOE meeting at the new Andalusia Fire Station.


Things to do for School

  • BOE meeting July 13 - at Andalusia Fire Station at 6:30 p.m.
  • get display project completed
    • finalize placement of schools on district map
  • periodically add to the RR group history report
  • periodically check on mail at post office
  • update attendance each week in SDS
  • send any IEP notices to Mrs. Saey

OTHER THINGS

  • order cat food - did July 13
  • talk to mom about taking care of Bella
  • eye drops and meloxocam
  • grease wheels to camper
  • clean slide rails
  • remove any unnecessary weight from camper
  • get correct measurement of the correct wiper slide material
    • order slide wiper conditioner
  • visit Caleb
  • get Amber's bike fixed
  • mow the yard
  • spray weeds
  • spray Creeping Charlie
  • finish paying knee medical bills and get reimbursed
  • use Dick's gift certificate
  • a hood light switch for the Ford
  • July 18-27 - Trip to Branson, MO (and Strawberry, AK) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D3BB0_IuwRs0WDKqm1Euor9WUH84SeF1DIwKi7OWeS4/edit?tab=t.0
  • July 28 - Bus Refresher Course
  • July 31 - Adventureland trip
  • Aug. 3 - WCOA Banquet in Macomb
  • Aug. 27 - 7:30 a.m. - Appointment with Hussain at ORA Moline
  • Nov. 5 - 10 a.m. - Milan Optical
    Things To Do for History Page
    • What/Where is South Buffalo Prairie School and for that matter West Buffalo School and East Taylor Ridge School?  ugh.
    • Friday Tidbit on the RR History Network Page

    Knee Surgery Dates Completed
    • March 11 - 10:25 a.m. - ORA Moline - Consult
    • April 1 - 1:45 p.m. - ORA Moline - MRI
    • April 9 - Walk in labs at Tr
    • April 15 - Dr. Wang pre-op physical (surgical clearance) 8:45 a.m.
    • April 28 - 9:40 a.m. at ORA Silvis
    • April 30 - 10 a.m. - Milan Optical
    • May 4 - surgery on left knee at Trinity Moline
    • May 5- returned home from hospital
    • May 6 - home recovery
    • May 7 - home recovery
    • May 8 - home recovery - visited ICE for about an hour - 9-10 a.m.
    • May 13 - 8:45 a.m. Post-Op Appt Hussein
    • May 15 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA PT
    • May 18 - noon - ORA PT
    • May 20 - 8 a.m. - with Brandon; 9:20 - ORA PT
    • May 22 - 9 a.m. - ORA PT
    • May 26 - 3:20 p.m. - ORA PT
    • May 27 - 9 a.m. - ORA PT
    • May 29 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA PT
    • June 1 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA PT
    • June 3 - 8:40 a.m. - ORA PT
    • June 5 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA PT
    • June 8 - 9:20 a.m. - ORA PT
    • June 10 - 8:40 a.m. - ORA PT
    • June 12 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA PT
    • June 16 - 10:20 a.m. - ORA
    • June 24 - 9:00 a.m. - ORA PT- Cancelled
    • June 25 - 9:25 a.m. - ORA appt with Hussein
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Sunday, July 12, 2026

Sunday, July 12

5:22 a.m. - Yesterday was a long day of a lot of sitting and listening.  I got to the school (Normal West High) when I wanted to, which was about 8 a.m.  And the speaker that started the day at 8:30 a.m. was good - he was the same guy as the night before.  He spoke about making more of mornings, which is a great message, so it was good to hear.  Then I had a basketball clinic, which was over three hours with one five minute break.  Again, it was good, and I am learning that Illinois shot clock is going to be a bit more challenging than Iowa shot clock was.  The whole 20-second reset thing just makes working with the shot clock more difficult.  Then there was lunch, which was fine, and I did get to set with folks I knew - Shawn, Marcus, Jason, etc...  Then after lunch there was a softball clinic, and Jason and Chris were two of the clinicians, and it was fine too - just more sitting.  They did take us out to the field and go over some mechanics things, and it doesn't seem like too many things are different other than the holding zone has changed somewhat.  I looked for a place to play slots on the way home back to the campground, but I didn't see anything.  So I came back and read my book and watched some television and made some supper and went to bed.  

So now it's pull out day.  I've got quite a bit of stuff to do, but that's okay - nothing crazy, just the normal stuff that comes along with packing up.  Then there is the two-hour drive back home, but traffic should be lighter than coming down.  Then there is the whole unloading thing, but that shouldn't be awful.  The big question is whether or not I'm going to have to mow the yard and will I have the energy to do it.

All in all, so far, (haven't gotten home yet) this weekend has worked out well.  The campground was great, I got to see Shawn's ceremony, and I got in a couple of clinics that now I don't have to do later in the year.  And while I didn't expect to have to clean the AC unit on the roof, that got done too, even if it wasn't easy.  It wasn't a very exciting weekend, but that's also okay by me.  I like quiet and simple, since I know I'm getting closer and closer to chaotic and loud and complicated.

Things to do for School

  • periodically add to the RR group history report
  • periodically check on mail at post office
  • update attendance each week in SDS
  • send any IEP notices to Mrs. Saey

OTHER THINGS

    Things To Do for History Page
    • What/Where is South Buffalo Prairie School and for that matter West Buffalo School and East Taylor Ridge School?  ugh.
    • Friday Tidbit on the RR History Network Page

    Knee Surgery Dates Completed
    • March 11 - 10:25 a.m. - ORA Moline - Consult
    • April 1 - 1:45 p.m. - ORA Moline - MRI
    • April 9 - Walk in labs at Tr
    • April 15 - Dr. Wang pre-op physical (surgical clearance) 8:45 a.m.
    • April 28 - 9:40 a.m. at ORA Silvis
    • April 30 - 10 a.m. - Milan Optical
    • May 4 - surgery on left knee at Trinity Moline
    • May 5- returned home from hospital
    • May 6 - home recovery
    • May 7 - home recovery
    • May 8 - home recovery - visited ICE for about an hour - 9-10 a.m.
    • May 13 - 8:45 a.m. Post-Op Appt Hussein
    • May 15 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA PT
    • May 18 - noon - ORA PT
    • May 20 - 8 a.m. - with Brandon; 9:20 - ORA PT
    • May 22 - 9 a.m. - ORA PT
    • May 26 - 3:20 p.m. - ORA PT
    • May 27 - 9 a.m. - ORA PT
    • May 29 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA PT
    • June 1 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA PT
    • June 3 - 8:40 a.m. - ORA PT
    • June 5 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA PT
    • June 8 - 9:20 a.m. - ORA PT
    • June 10 - 8:40 a.m. - ORA PT
    • June 12 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA PT
    • June 16 - 10:20 a.m. - ORA
    • June 24 - 9:00 a.m. - ORA PT- Cancelled
    • June 25 - 9:25 a.m. - ORA appt with Hussein
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Saturday, July 11, 2026

Saturday, July 11

4:29 a.m. - Yes it's still dark outside, and no, it really wasn't a bad night of sleep.  I'm just used to getting up this early for some reason, so instead of laying in bed or looking on my phone, I might as well get up (after visiting the restroom).

Yesterday...in my previous entry, I already documented the adventure of the air conditioner...which, keeping my fingers crossed, still seems to have been a successful adventure.  One thing I didn't do yesterday was go for a walk, nor did I try to do any strength exercise with the dumb bell I brought, which I'm going to try to do this morning (along with the walk).  Perhaps it was the stress of the AC adventure or maybe the feeling of accomplishment afterwords...whatever the case, I just didn't feel like exercising in the middle of the day all dirty from being on the roof of the camper and wrestling with the AC unit.  Plus, once I took a shower - which was a solid 9-out-of-10 shower house - I didn't feel like getting all sweaty again.  So I relaxed and read my book and made some early supper and headed to the Double Tree Hotel in Bloomington for Shawn's award ceremony.  

The ceremony was great!  I didn't realize there was a guest speaker, and when he said he was going to speak for an hour, I was worried.  And the guy worked his tail off and tried to incorporate everything into public speaking that are "bells and whistles" - energy, enthusiasm, organization, visuals, crowd interactions, give-a-ways, humor, stories, etc...  All that was good, but for me, what added some interest was that he was a former D1 basketball official.  So his stories and humor and energy and visuals were largely centered around officiating basketball.  The hour, then, went quickly and was fun.  Then it was time to award all the award winners, which I didn't realize the IHSA picks one official from its sports each year, and apparently they have been doing this for 27 years.  Eventually it was Shawn's turn, and there was a video clip, and he was invited up to receive his plaque, which was big and gold and really cool.  After the program concluded, I had a chance to congratulate him, and it was just wonderful to see him honored, plus his family was there, and of course there were other officials and their families, and it was just a really cool vibe.  Obviously there are a lot of great officials, but it's really nice to see officials awarded and honored for their work and service.  It felt really good to see the ceremony, and I'm really glad I came down.  There was a social "happy hour" afterwards, but I needed to drive home (to the campground), and I really didn't want to drink, so I congratulated Shawn and got a picture with him and his plaque and drove back to the campground.  I had myself a ham-and-cheese sandwich and some chips, and watched some That's 70's Show, and read a little from my book and went to sleep.  

So here I am - now at 4:43 a.m., and I'm guessing the sun will start to make an appearance.  I've got my coffee, and my books is close by, and soon I'll be watching the morning news - mostly to catch the weather forecast.  The school where today's clinics are at isn't far away, it's on the west side of town (Bloomington-Normal), which is only about a 15-minute drive.  I think I'm going to be there for the morning speaker, the same guy who was last night's keynote speaker.   

After the morning breakout session from 8-8:30 a.m., I'm going to the basketball clinic, which is listed as 3.5 hours, but I certainly hope it's not that freaking long.  Then there is lunch, and then I have a softball clinic from 1:30-3:30.  (I'm wondering why this is only two hours, but I'm not complaining.)  I will be heading home after that...which is a lot of sitting, so I really need to get a walk in this morning, get my shower, get some breakfast, and then head over.  (Breakfast, by the way, is going to be sausage and eggs and toast.)

I'm not sure what I'm going to be doing tonight...maybe I'll go for another walk just because I am going to be doing a lot of sitting today.

Things to do for School

  • periodically add to the RR group history report
  • periodically check on mail at post office
  • update attendance each week in SDS
  • send any IEP notices to Mrs. Saey

OTHER THINGS

    Things To Do for History Page
    • What/Where is South Buffalo Prairie School and for that matter West Buffalo School and East Taylor Ridge School?  ugh.
    • Friday Tidbit on the RR History Network Page

    Knee Surgery Dates Completed
    • March 11 - 10:25 a.m. - ORA Moline - Consult
    • April 1 - 1:45 p.m. - ORA Moline - MRI
    • April 9 - Walk in labs at Tr
    • April 15 - Dr. Wang pre-op physical (surgical clearance) 8:45 a.m.
    • April 28 - 9:40 a.m. at ORA Silvis
    • April 30 - 10 a.m. - Milan Optical
    • May 4 - surgery on left knee at Trinity Moline
    • May 5- returned home from hospital
    • May 6 - home recovery
    • May 7 - home recovery
    • May 8 - home recovery - visited ICE for about an hour - 9-10 a.m.
    • May 13 - 8:45 a.m. Post-Op Appt Hussein
    • May 15 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA PT
    • May 18 - noon - ORA PT
    • May 20 - 8 a.m. - with Brandon; 9:20 - ORA PT
    • May 22 - 9 a.m. - ORA PT
    • May 26 - 3:20 p.m. - ORA PT
    • May 27 - 9 a.m. - ORA PT
    • May 29 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA PT
    • June 1 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA PT
    • June 3 - 8:40 a.m. - ORA PT
    • June 5 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA PT
    • June 8 - 9:20 a.m. - ORA PT
    • June 10 - 8:40 a.m. - ORA PT
    • June 12 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA PT
    • June 16 - 10:20 a.m. - ORA
    • June 24 - 9:00 a.m. - ORA PT- Cancelled
    • June 25 - 9:25 a.m. - ORA appt with Hussein
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