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Thursday, March 5, 2026

Thursday, March 5

4:57 a.m. - I got some sleep last night, which was nice.  Yesterday, I was able to accomplish some things, and we got through the day missing some staff again.  I didn't have any games last night, so after school I went to the farm and got some hay down.  Mom wasn't there, so I visited with Dad.  Then I came home and watched some high school boys basketball on NFHS.  It was a nice eventing just to relax.

Today...survival mode.  Get through the day, which includes an admin meeting and then another admin meeting.  I fear the meetings won't produce much of anything that more things I need to try to accomplish.  Then this afternoon...still no basketball!  I miss it, but I'm relieved to have some time off.  Now I'm just needing to get some rest and get my brain and mind set to get some exercise and start trying again to lose some weight.  I am feeling positively relieved and accomplished after this season - I was able to get healthier, I was able to complete all my game assignments, and I was able to be assigned another SuperSectional in girls and got my first sectional game in boys.  If for some odd reason I'm no longer able to continue officiating next season, I will have had a good final season.

Things to do for School 

  • make a  daily contact with Mrs. Sywassink and document
  • update attendance each week in SDS
  • send any IEP notices to Mrs. Saey
  • Feb. 25 -  PTO meeting at TRE at 6 p.m.
  • Mar 25 - PTO meeting at ICE at 6 p.m.
  • Apr 22 - PTO meeting at Andalusia 6 p.m.

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


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Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Wednesday, March 4

4:11 a.m. - I'm up early this morning...actually I've been up since about 2 a.m, and I couldn't go back to sleep.  Bella must have figured it out because she started whining early too.  A lot was going through my brain, and I couldn't stop the flow and relax, so I might as well just get up.

That's a wrap on the 25-26 officiating season.  Last night was my last game - a boys sectional game at Monmouth United.  It was a good game, and we officials did a good job of officiating the game.  At least I thought so.  The problem is that no one is there to really tell you whether you did a good job or not, so you think you did a good job, but you aren't really sure.

My first junior high girls basketball game started on October 8, my last high school game yesterday ended on March 3 - that's roughly five months of officiating basketball - that's a long season.  There were 46 games (junior high, f/s, and varsity) from Oct. - Dec.  There were 56 games in from Jan. - March.  -- 102 game...that's a lot...and I actually scaled back from previous years, trying to take at least one night off a week and trying to limit myself to only one game on Saturdays as much as possible.  My earnings so far this year in 2026 (Jan-Mar) from basketball officiating, though, is about $3,500, and that doesn't count the postseason games that I've worked the past couple of weeks, as that pay won't arrive until probably next week.  Basketball officiating earnings in 2025 this season were about $2,900.  Grand total for the 25-26 basketball season will be, then, about $7,000.  So it is a lot, and I wouldn't be able to pay for the things I do without that extra income.

The evening was at least something good to get to because the day sure sucked.  It's not been an easy week again at IC Elementary.  Yesterday featured "another meeting" with Mr. Bush, which generally means that someone has a problem with something I'm doing or not doing, so he has to be there to babysit.  It sucks.  I really wish I would just retire and be done with my career in education at Rockridge.  That would be simpler and more peaceful.  Unfortunately, I made a commitment to be the administrator until the new building is built, so I should try to do my best each day to honor that commitment - but geez I truly struggle getting any satisfaction or enjoyment or even pride in much of my day each day.  I'm basically a punching bag a lot of the time, and fireman most of the rest of the time - picking up the slack because this person is gone or this student can't behave.  Roles are critical in the building - all the roles.  And when a role isn't completed, it's just hard to complete what I'm supposed to complete.  Oh well, get through each hour, get through the day, get through the week, the month, the end of the school year, the end of next year and be done and never look back.

Today is Wednesday...I've got student council this morning, and then some meetings, and then after school I hope to get over to mom and dad's and visit with them and get some hay down from mom.

Things to do for School 

  • make a  daily contact with Mrs. Sywassink and document
  • update attendance each week in SDS
  • send any IEP notices to Mrs. Saey
  • Feb. 25 -  PTO meeting at TRE at 6 p.m.
  • Mar 25 - PTO meeting at ICE at 6 p.m.
  • Apr 22 - PTO meeting at Andalusia 6 p.m.

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


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Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Tuesday, March 3

5:17 a.m. - I survived yesterday.  We got through the school day.  We got through yesterday's Supersectional game at Bureau Valley.  It was a great game; Wethersfield lost when they missed a last second shot.  Like usual, it was interesting to work with an official I've never worked with.  I did feel very comfortable working the game, though.  

Tonight is my last game of the season - a boys sectional game at United.  I hope to get through the day, get through the night, and then move on to Wedensday.

Things to do for School 

  • update attendance each week in SDS
  • send any IEP notices to Mrs. Saey
  • Feb. 25 -  PTO meeting at TRE at 6 p.m.
  • Mar 25 - PTO meeting at ICE at 6 p.m.
  • Apr 22 - PTO meeting at Andalusia 6 p.m.

OTHER THINGS

    February

    2 - at Bureau Valley IHSA girls SuperSectional - 6 p.m. -- Hour and 15 minutes from Illinois City to Bureau Valley High School ... leave after car riders

    3 - at United IHSA boys Sectional - 6 p.m.

    4 - boys sectional semifinals

    5 - girls state finals

    6 - girls state finals; boys sectional finals

    7 - girls state finals

    8 - SUNDAY

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