Monday, November 2

1:00 a.m. - Yes, it's way, way, way too early to be awake.  And yet, I woke up and new I wouldn't be able to get back to sleep quickly, so I just as well may get up and think about life and get something done and maybe read my book and then go back to sleep.  

Yesterday was a good, lazy camping day - the last full camping day of 2026.  We had a good breakfast, and then we made a trip back home.  We got Sailor's kennel; we got the Escape back home; we fed Bella; and then we headed back.  Once back, Amber and I went for an nice walk up to the other campground to see what's going on, and it appears that they are installing concrete pads up there.  I guess that's okay, but I'm not sure it was necessary.  After the walk, I took a nice shower and then commenced to burning firewood with a campfire that lasted all day and into the evening.  The weather wasn't pretty by any means; it was a chilly, cloudy, breezy day - like a lingering October day.  And yet it was perfect for sitting near a campfire and reading a book.  The Bears weren't on, so I wasn't really interested in football, so I just chilled by the fire.  I did end up cooking up the pork chops on the campfire, and they turned out good.  And the end of the fire ended up with a nice finale - I had one campfire log left with a hole through it, and it turned out great to create a "candle log" on the fire - very pretty, and a fitting way to have a last campfire at the campground.  Plus, a lot of other campers were gone for the weekend, so it was pretty quiet.  (Although there are more campers left than I expected.)

And on to today.  I really had hoped the rain would hold off and let me get cleaned up, packed up, winterized up and back home.  I don't think, though, that it's going to work out that way.  Oh well, you can't fight Mother Nature.  I'm really not sure how it's all going to work out, but I'll figure something out. 

OTHER THINGS

• Get mom's porch fixed
• Nov. 5 - 10 a.m. - Milan Optical
• Dec. 1 - 7:45 Hussain Moline
• Dec. 4 - 7:50 Dr. Blew dentist appt.
• Mar.. - Call TRS and get paperwork rolling - 1-877-927-5877
• Mar. 19-24 - trip to Kourtney in Florida

Fall Volleyball-Basketball 26 Schedule

11/3 - OPEN

11/4 - OPEN

11/5 - OPEN

11/6 - OPEN

11/7 - at Sherrard JH 8 a.m. - 2 games 8 and 9:10

11/8 - SUNDAY

11/9 - BOE meeting

11/10 - OPEN

11/11 - OPEN

11/12 - OPEN

11/13 - at Monmouth girls scrimmage

11/14 - OPEN

11/15 - SUNDAY

11/16 - at Sherrard JH BKB - 5:30 p.m. - Gabby Suarez

11/17 - at AlWood VGBK - 6 p.m. (I think) - Marcus, Tony

11/18 - OPEN

11/19 - at Sherrard JH BKB - 5:00 p.m. - Gabby Suarez (NO BUS THAT DAY)

11/20 - at Monmouth boys scrimmage

11/21 - at Galesburg 6 p.m - Tony, Kraig

11/22 - SUNDAY

11/23 - BLOCKED - Marotta interview

11/24 - at MerCo 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

11/25 - at Wethersfield 2 p.m. - Marcus, Tony; at Orion 7 p.m. - Josh, Tony

11/26 - THANKSGIVING

11/27 - at Wethersfield 3:30 p.m. - Robbie, Tony; at Orion 7 p.m. - Josh, Tony

11/28 - at Galesburg 2:30 p.m. - Marcus, Tony; at Orion 5:30 p.m. - Marcus, Tony

11/29 - SUNDAY

11/30 - BLOCKED - night off

12/1 - at Wethersfield 5:30 - Marcus, Tony (NO BUS THAT DAY)

12/2 - at United 6 p.m. - Marcus, Tony

12/3 - at MerCo 5:30 - Tony, Teel

12/4 - at Erie - 7 p.m. - Marcus, Dan Howard

12/5 - at Erie F/S 9 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. - Marcus and Michael Parsons

12/6 - SUNDAY

12/7 - at Sherrard 5:30 - Tony, Teel

12/8 - at Erie 7 p.m. - Berlin, Howard

12/9 - at United 6 p.m. - Marcus, Tony

12/10 - BLOCKED - night off

12/11 - at MonRose 5:30 - Marcus, Tony (NO BUS THAT DAY)

12/12 - at ATown 11:30; at United 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. - Marcus, Tony

12/13 - SUNDAY

12/14 - BOE Meeting

12/15 - at Wethersfield 5:30 - Tony, Marcus

12/16 - BLOCKED - XMAS PROGRAM

12/17 - at United 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

12/18 - at Sherrard 5:30 , Tony, Hu

12/19 - at ATown 2 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

    at Sterling - 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

12/20 - 12/27 - BLOCKED - Christmas

12/28 - at Erie Warkins   5:30 - Josh, Tony

12/29 - at Erie Warkins  5:30 - Josh, Tony

12/30 - OPEN

12/31-1/2 - BLOCKED - New Year's

1/3 - SUNDAY

1/4 - at Riverdale 5:30 - Tony,Teel

1/5 - at West Central 6 p.m. - Tony, TBA

1/6 - OPEN

1/7 - at ROWVA 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

1/8 - at Knoxville 6 p.m - Tony, Marcus

1/9 - OPEN

1/10 - SUNDAY

1/11 - at Sherrard 5:30 p.m. -  Tony, Josh

1/12 - at MerCo 5:30 p.m. - Marcus, Tony

1/13 - at West Central 6 p.m. - Tony, TBA

1/14 - BLOCKED - NIGHT OFF

1/15 - at ATown 6 p.m. - Tony, Robert McGinnes

1/16 - at Cuba 3:30 p.m. - Tony, Eric Geiger

1/17 - SUNDAY

1/18 - MLK Day - BLOCKED - NIGHT OFF

1/19 - at Mercer County 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Scott Verstraete

1/20 - at AlWood    6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

1/21 - at Riverdale 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

1/22 - at ROWVA 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

1/23 - at Fulton noon - Robbie, Tad

1/24 - SUNDAY

1/25 - at IESA/Rockridge - 6 p.m. ???

1/26 - at Riverdale - 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Brad Steinhagen

1/27 - at MonRose - 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Matt DeSutter

1/28 - OPEN

1/29 - OPEN

1/30 - at Alleman - 1:30 p.m. - Marcus, Josh????

1/31 - SUNDAY

2/1 - IESA BOYS SECTIONAL 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

2/2 - at West Central - 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

2/3 - BLOCKED - NIGHT OFF

2/4 - at Rockridge - 5:30 - Tony, Verstraete

2/5 - at Princeton - 7 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

2/6 - at Rockridge - 1 p.m. - Tony, Verstraete

2/7 - SUNDAY

2/8 - BLOCKED - BOE Meeting

2/9 - Erie 7 p.m. - Marcus, Tony

2/10 - OPEN

2/11 - Alleman 7 p.m. - Marcus, Josh???

2/12 - OPEN

2/13 - IHSA Girls Regionals Begin

    - ROWVA boys LTC 1 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

2/14 - SUNDAY

2/15 - ROWVA boys LTC 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

2/16 - OPEN

2/17 - OPEN

2/18 - OPEN

2/19 - at MonRose - 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

2/20 - OPEN

2/21 - SUNDAY

2/22 - IHSA Boys Regionals Begin

Sunday, November 1 - It's the holiday season!

4:29 a.m. - It's daylight savings time, it's November - October 26 is now history!  It was a quick month, but also a month full of long days.  Maybe long days just make for quick months?  Yesterday was a day not at home, not at school, and not around children.  I don't mean that to sound harsh, but sometimes it's just nice to have a quiet day that is only grown-ups.  And I did campground things - I got in some breakfast on the Blackstone, took a shower in the shower house, went for a long walk and worked on hills, started a new book, watched some football on the TV, listened to some high school football on the radio - RR lost.  And then we went to the casino - I lost.  And then we went to the Mexican restaurant we like - it was good, as usual.  And then we came back to the camper and I watch some more football and tried to watch some meTV and went to bed.  There was no campfire, but I'm hoping for that today. 

And what will be today?  Blackstone breakfast, shower house shower, long walk, and then I'm not exactly sure.  The Bears don't play until tomorrow night, so that doesn't help.  I will probably need to take a nap and will be starting a campfire early in order to burn up all the fire would we have, especially the special log I have to burn that has a hole in it.  If I need to run home, I will need to grab some antifreeze.  I do need to watch the morning news this morning to find out the latest forecast.  I'd really like the rain to hold off.

I'd like to start doing some Christmas shopping, but my cash flow is a little low right now.  Maybe I can do some Christmas shopping "thinking".

OTHER THINGS

• Get mom's porch fixed
• Nov. 5 - 10 a.m. - Milan Optical
• Dec. 1 - 7:45 Hussain Moline
• Dec. 4 - 7:50 Dr. Blew dentist appt.
• Mar.. - Call TRS and get paperwork rolling - 1-877-927-5877
• Mar. 19-24 - trip to Kourtney in Florida

Fall Volleyball-Basketball 26 Schedule

11/3 - OPEN

11/4 - OPEN

11/5 - OPEN

11/6 - OPEN

11/7 - at Sherrard JH 8 a.m. - 2 games 8 and 9:10

11/8 - SUNDAY

11/9 - BOE meeting

11/10 - OPEN

11/11 - OPEN

11/12 - OPEN

11/13 - at Monmouth girls scrimmage

11/14 - OPEN

11/15 - SUNDAY

11/16 - at Sherrard JH BKB - 5:30 p.m. - Gabby Suarez

11/17 - at AlWood VGBK - 6 p.m. (I think) - Marcus, Tony

11/18 - OPEN

11/19 - at Sherrard JH BKB - 5:00 p.m. - Gabby Suarez (NO BUS THAT DAY)

11/20 - at Monmouth boys scrimmage

11/21 - at Galesburg 6 p.m - Tony, Kraig

11/22 - SUNDAY

11/23 - BLOCKED - Marotta interview

11/24 - at MerCo 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

11/25 - at Wethersfield 2 p.m. - Marcus, Tony; at Orion 7 p.m. - Josh, Tony

11/26 - THANKSGIVING

11/27 - at Wethersfield 3:30 p.m. - Robbie, Tony; at Orion 7 p.m. - Josh, Tony

11/28 - at Galesburg 2:30 p.m. - Marcus, Tony; at Orion 5:30 p.m. - Marcus, Tony

11/29 - SUNDAY

11/30 - BLOCKED - night off

12/1 - at Wethersfield 5:30 - Marcus, Tony (NO BUS THAT DAY)

12/2 - at United 6 p.m. - Marcus, Tony

12/3 - at MerCo 5:30 - Tony, Teel

12/4 - at Erie - 7 p.m. - Marcus, Dan Howard

12/5 - at Erie F/S 9 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. - Marcus and Michael Parsons

12/6 - SUNDAY

12/7 - at Sherrard 5:30 - Tony, Teel

12/8 - at Erie 7 p.m. - Berlin, Howard

12/9 - at United 6 p.m. - Marcus, Tony

12/10 - BLOCKED - night off

12/11 - at MonRose 5:30 - Marcus, Tony (NO BUS THAT DAY)

12/12 - at ATown 11:30; at United 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. - Marcus, Tony

12/13 - SUNDAY

12/14 - BOE Meeting

12/15 - at Wethersfield 5:30 - Tony, Marcus

12/16 - BLOCKED - XMAS PROGRAM

12/17 - at United 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

12/18 - at Sherrard 5:30 , Tony, Hu

12/19 - at ATown 2 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

    at Sterling - 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

12/20 - 12/27 - BLOCKED - Christmas

12/28 - at Erie Warkins   5:30 - Josh, Tony

12/29 - at Erie Warkins  5:30 - Josh, Tony

12/30 - OPEN

12/31-1/2 - BLOCKED - New Year's

1/3 - SUNDAY

1/4 - at Riverdale 5:30 - Tony,Teel

1/5 - at West Central 6 p.m. - Tony, TBA

1/6 - OPEN

1/7 - at ROWVA 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

1/8 - at Knoxville 6 p.m - Tony, Marcus

1/9 - OPEN

1/10 - SUNDAY

1/11 - at Sherrard 5:30 p.m. -  Tony, Josh

1/12 - at MerCo 5:30 p.m. - Marcus, Tony

1/13 - at West Central 6 p.m. - Tony, TBA

1/14 - BLOCKED - NIGHT OFF

1/15 - at ATown 6 p.m. - Tony, Robert McGinnes

1/16 - at Cuba 3:30 p.m. - Tony, Eric Geiger

1/17 - SUNDAY

1/18 - MLK Day - BLOCKED - NIGHT OFF

1/19 - at Mercer County 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Scott Verstraete

1/20 - at AlWood    6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

1/21 - at Riverdale 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

1/22 - at ROWVA 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

1/23 - at Fulton noon - Robbie, Tad

1/24 - SUNDAY

1/25 - at IESA/Rockridge - 6 p.m. ???

1/26 - at Riverdale - 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Brad Steinhagen

1/27 - at MonRose - 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Matt DeSutter

1/28 - OPEN

1/29 - OPEN

1/30 - at Alleman - 1:30 p.m. - Marcus, Josh????

1/31 - SUNDAY

2/1 - IESA BOYS SECTIONAL 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

2/2 - at West Central - 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

2/3 - BLOCKED - NIGHT OFF

2/4 - at Rockridge - 5:30 - Tony, Verstraete

2/5 - at Princeton - 7 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

2/6 - at Rockridge - 1 p.m. - Tony, Verstraete

2/7 - SUNDAY

2/8 - BLOCKED - BOE Meeting

2/9 - Erie 7 p.m. - Marcus, Tony

2/10 - OPEN

2/11 - Alleman 7 p.m. - Marcus, Josh???

2/12 - OPEN

2/13 - IHSA Girls Regionals Begin

    - ROWVA boys LTC 1 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

2/14 - SUNDAY

2/15 - ROWVA boys LTC 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

2/16 - OPEN

2/17 - OPEN

2/18 - OPEN

2/19 - at MonRose - 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

2/20 - OPEN

2/21 - SUNDAY

2/22 - IHSA Boys Regionals Begin

Saturday, October 31

7:21 a.m. - And it's amazing how just a week can be such a difference.  Last week this time, I was driving to officiate volleyball at a "state" tournament at East Moline Christian.  Now, I'm sitting in my camper at West Lake Campground with what appears so far to be a day that I don't have to do anything else but exist at the campground.  That's why I just have to remind myself many times during a week to "just keep swimming".  Eventually, whatever is happening will end, and something else to look forward to will arrive.  

Yesterday was the second day of parent-teacher conferences, and no, it didn't go as planned, but that's typical.  But once again, we got through it.  I got down to Slayden's and paid my bill for for the Escape and got back up to the school to turn in the deposit and the timesheets.  And I got back to school to meet and talk with the bug guy who wasn't suppose to appear until after 1 p.m. but showed up during the time parents were in the building!  So I made my call to Pest Control Consultants wondering what the hell was going on, and I dealt with that.  At least the technician did the roach treatment again, as the last couple of days have included Mrs. Zampogna losing her mind with bugs on her desk.  So after conferences were over, it was time to button up our book fair display, and then finally it was time to head to the campground.  I got here, and I was proud of myself to get in a walk around the campground before working on supper.  I had stoppped to get fuel and also stopped at Dollar General to get a few groceries.  It was as I was settling in for a quiet, simple night with Amber that I learned a "helper" was coming with Amber.  Apparently Kollyns was insistent with Gigi that she needed to go to the camper and see Jay.  So we spend some time with Kollyns watching Baby Bum and others of her shows before she went to bed.  We got the sofa bed out for me, and I did watch some meTV before falling to sleep, and I did sleep fairly well.  Now at 7:34 a.m., Amber and Kollyns have headed out because we have a rainy day here at the campground, and Amber thought it would be better to just take Kollyns home instead of being in the camper.  

So my schedule is to get some breakfast, pick up the camper, take another walk around the park, watch some football, listen to the Rockridge game, and start a new book because I finished my other book I was reading.  I really liked the book, and it's the first book in the series, but I'm not a series reader, but I really like the author's writing style.  So I'm torn weather or not to just purchase the series.  And later today or tonight when Amber arrives back, I'm guessing that we'll be headed to Rhythm City Casino.  Perhaps we'll even go to the Mexican restaurant as well.  It's Halloween, and I'm not thinking about Halloween at all!  

OTHER THINGS

• Get mom's porch fixed
• Nov. 5 - 10 a.m. - Milan Optical
• Dec. 1 - 7:45 Hussain Moline
• Dec. 4 - 7:50 Dr. Blew dentist appt.
• Mar.. - Call TRS and get paperwork rolling - 1-877-927-5877
• Mar. 19-24 - trip to Kourtney in Florida

Fall Volleyball-Basketball 26 Schedule

11/3 - OPEN

11/4 - OPEN

11/5 - OPEN

11/6 - OPEN

11/7 - at Sherrard JH 8 a.m. - 2 games 8 and 9:10

11/8 - SUNDAY

11/9 - BOE meeting

11/10 - OPEN

11/11 - OPEN

11/12 - OPEN

11/13 - at Monmouth girls scrimmage

11/14 - OPEN

11/15 - SUNDAY

11/16 - at Sherrard JH BKB - 5:30 p.m. - Gabby Suarez

11/17 - at AlWood VGBK - 6 p.m. (I think) - Marcus, Tony

11/18 - OPEN

11/19 - at Sherrard JH BKB - 5:00 p.m. - Gabby Suarez (NO BUS THAT DAY)

11/20 - at Monmouth boys scrimmage

11/21 - at Galesburg 6 p.m - Tony, Kraig

11/22 - SUNDAY

11/23 - BLOCKED - Marotta interview

11/24 - at MerCo 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

11/25 - at Wethersfield 2 p.m. - Marcus, Tony; at Orion 7 p.m. - Josh, Tony

11/26 - THANKSGIVING

11/27 - at Wethersfield 3:30 p.m. - Robbie, Tony; at Orion 7 p.m. - Josh, Tony

11/28 - at Galesburg 2:30 p.m. - Marcus, Tony; at Orion 5:30 p.m. - Marcus, Tony

11/29 - SUNDAY

11/30 - BLOCKED - night off

12/1 - at Wethersfield 5:30 - Marcus, Tony (NO BUS THAT DAY)

12/2 - at United 6 p.m. - Marcus, Tony

12/3 - at MerCo 5:30 - Tony, Teel

12/4 - at Erie - 7 p.m. - Marcus, Dan Howard

12/5 - at Erie F/S 9 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. - Marcus and Michael Parsons

12/6 - SUNDAY

12/7 - at Sherrard 5:30 - Tony, Teel

12/8 - at Erie 7 p.m. - Berlin, Howard

12/9 - at United 6 p.m. - Marcus, Tony

12/10 - BLOCKED - night off

12/11 - at MonRose 5:30 - Marcus, Tony (NO BUS THAT DAY)

12/12 - at ATown 11:30; at United 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. - Marcus, Tony

12/13 - SUNDAY

12/14 - BOE Meeting

12/15 - at Wethersfield 5:30 - Tony, Marcus

12/16 - BLOCKED - XMAS PROGRAM

12/17 - at United 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

12/18 - at Sherrard 5:30 , Tony, Hu

12/19 - at ATown 2 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

    at Sterling - 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

12/20 - 12/27 - BLOCKED - Christmas

12/28 - at Erie Warkins   5:30 - Josh, Tony

12/29 - at Erie Warkins  5:30 - Josh, Tony

12/30 - OPEN

12/31-1/2 - BLOCKED - New Year's

1/3 - SUNDAY

1/4 - at Riverdale 5:30 - Tony,Teel

1/5 - at West Central 6 p.m. - Tony, TBA

1/6 - OPEN

1/7 - at ROWVA 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

1/8 - at Knoxville 6 p.m - Tony, Marcus

1/9 - OPEN

1/10 - SUNDAY

1/11 - at Sherrard 5:30 p.m. -  Tony, Josh

1/12 - at MerCo 5:30 p.m. - Marcus, Tony

1/13 - at West Central 6 p.m. - Tony, TBA

1/14 - BLOCKED - NIGHT OFF

1/15 - at ATown 6 p.m. - Tony, Robert McGinnes

1/16 - at Cuba 3:30 p.m. - Tony, Eric Geiger

1/17 - SUNDAY

1/18 - MLK Day - BLOCKED - NIGHT OFF

1/19 - at Mercer County 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Scott Verstraete

1/20 - at AlWood    6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

1/21 - at Riverdale 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

1/22 - at ROWVA 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

1/23 - at Fulton noon - Robbie, Tad

1/24 - SUNDAY

1/25 - at IESA/Rockridge - 6 p.m. ???

1/26 - at Riverdale - 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Brad Steinhagen

1/27 - at MonRose - 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Matt DeSutter

1/28 - OPEN

1/29 - OPEN

1/30 - at Alleman - 1:30 p.m. - Marcus, Josh????

1/31 - SUNDAY

2/1 - IESA BOYS SECTIONAL 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

2/2 - at West Central - 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

2/3 - BLOCKED - NIGHT OFF

2/4 - at Rockridge - 5:30 - Tony, Verstraete

2/5 - at Princeton - 7 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

2/6 - at Rockridge - 1 p.m. - Tony, Verstraete

2/7 - SUNDAY

2/8 - BLOCKED - BOE Meeting

2/9 - Erie 7 p.m. - Marcus, Tony

2/10 - OPEN

2/11 - Alleman 7 p.m. - Marcus, Josh???

2/12 - OPEN

2/13 - IHSA Girls Regionals Begin

    - ROWVA boys LTC 1 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

2/14 - SUNDAY

2/15 - ROWVA boys LTC 6 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

2/16 - OPEN

2/17 - OPEN

2/18 - OPEN

2/19 - at MonRose - 5:30 p.m. - Tony, Marcus

2/20 - OPEN

2/21 - SUNDAY

2/22 - IHSA Boys Regionals Begin