Monday, October 19

4:59 a.m. - Yesterday was eventful.  I got up early event though I didn't need to - I guess for no reason except that I'm old, and that's what I do.  In the morning, I ventured over to Loud Thunder to scout out a campsite for the upcoming weekend, and then I headed to Muscatine to do some shopping.  I spent more money than I expected at Farm-n-Fleet, but that's not uncommon.  After getting back home I went to work on the hot tub, and Amber headed to Shivers and Shakes.  I didnt' thing I was going to get the hot tub done, but eventually I got it filled and hooked up, and it's currently heating.  I watched the Bears win too.  And then something really weird happened.  Taylea came over to check on Sophie the grand dog, and it seemed okay, and then Sophie had an episode and basically seemed to have died.  She slipped a little on our floor and sat down and then laid down, and just went lifeless.  I thought for sure she was dead, but slowly she came back around.  It was really weird, and then same thing would happen later in the evening.  And this morning, she is walking around and still alive, and I thought for sure she would have another episode overnight and not come out of it.  Through all of it I watched the Bears Hallmark movie, which I really enjoyed.  Karrigan eventually arrived, along with Kollyns and Kasyin, and I figured Karrigan just wanted to see Sophie one more time before she died over night, but Karrigan and the girls ended up driving back home later in the night.  

And now on to today.  Today appears to be pretty light with official stuff, which isn't good.  That means something will find me.  And I'm not supposed to have any officiating tonight...also not good.  And maybe I'm wrong; maybe it will be a quiet, simple Monday.

OTHER THINGS

• get basketball assignments in this blogger 
• Nov. 5 - 10 a.m. - Milan Optical
• Dec. 1 - 7:45 Hussain Moline
• Dec. 4 - 7:50 Dr. Blew dentist appt.
• Mar. 19-24 - trip to Kourtney in Florida

Fall Volleyball-Basketball 26 Schedule

10/19 - OPEN

10/20 - OPEN

10/21 - BLCOKED MENTORING MEETINGS - Take camper to Loud Thunder

10/22 - VVB at Rock Island - 5 p.m. Jim Hartshorn

    ride with Katy?

10/23 - BLOCKED

10/24 - VVB at EM Christian - 8 a.m., 9:30, 11 with James Hu

10/25 - BLOCKED

10/26 - OPEN

10/27 - OPEN

10/28 - JHGBK at MerCo - with Clint Gingerich

10/29-11/2 - BLOCKED HALLOWEEN WEEKEND

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

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

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

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

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 - OPEN

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 - OPEN

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, October 18

5:01 a.m. - Yesterday was a busy one.  I did get in a little inflatable hot tub time to start the day, and it felt great with the cool temperatures on the outside.  After soaking for a bit, I started the process of emptying it out to get it transitioned to the basement.  Hopefully I can get it all put back together today and get it heating up to enjoy soon.  Then it was off to pick up Juanito to have him help me do some work at mom and dad's.  We got a rack of hay loaded in the loft, and then I had him help me work on some fencing things that mom had been wanting to get done.  I think we were gone a couple of hours, and Juanito enjoyed all of it.  I guess it's all about perspective...something as routine and mundane to me as loading hay and fixing fence was a whole other world of experiences for him.  He's a good guy and a good worker, but he was a hoot when he was trying to give the horses a treat.  He was just like a little kid - afraid and giggly - it was fun to see.  After returning him home, I set out to then get things done around the house - the mowing was first.  After that, I clipped the hedges (hopefully the last time before winter).  Then I continued work on the hot tub as well as wrapping up the storage of pool parts that were still around from last week's winterization by Pete the Pool Guy.  While I was doing that, Amber was taking Sophie the granddog to an emergency vet.  Sophie was sounding weird and drooling unusually.  The vet clinic kept Sophie overnight, and so far it seems like some type of infection in her mouth?  I don't know what's going to happen with that today.  I know the vet bill, so far, was over $1,400, so I'm glad I'm not going to be responsible for that bill.  In the evening, I helped Amber put some groceries away and enjoyed some grilled cheese and tomato soup - yum!  Then I tried to stay awake for the Notre Dame game, but I struggled.  I did wake up to see the end to watch Notre Dame fall short at the very end.  A lot of highly ranked teams got beat yesterday.  

And now I'm up early again...because that's how life goes at my age I guess.  I am sore from yesterday's activities, but the quiet of the house feels good, as does the cup of coffee.  The weather is cool outside again, and it looks a bit breezy, so I hope the hot tub I left outside didn't get blown around.  I need to purchase a couple of small tarps - one for downstairs and the other for me getting decorated like a sundae in January.  Then I can work on the hot tub downstairs, even if it's during the Bears game, which is at noon.  And the rest of the day?  Oh, I'm not sure, but I'm confident something will find me.  I thought about perhaps getting the garage organized for winter, including getting the grill and the Blackstone in the garage, but I think there is time for that a little later on in the month.

 OTHER THINGS

• get basketball assignments in this blogger 
• Nov. 5 - 10 a.m. - Milan Optical
• Dec. 1 - 7:45 Hussain Moline
• Dec. 4 - 7:50 Dr. Blew dentist appt.
• Mar. 19-24 - trip to Kourtney in Florida

Fall Volleyball-Basketball 26 Schedule

10/19 - OPEN

10/20 - OPEN

10/21 - BLCOKED MENTORING MEETINGS

10/22 - VVB at Rock Island - 5 p.m. Jim Hartshorn

    ride with Katy?

10/23 - BLOCKED

10/24 - VVB at EM Christian - 8 a.m., 9:30, 11 with James Hu

10/25 - BLOCKED

10/26 - OPEN

10/27 - OPEN

10/28 - JHGBK at MerCo - with Clint Gingerich

10/29-11/2 - BLOCKED HALLOWEEN WEEKEND

11/3 - OPEN

11/4 - OPEN

11/5 - OPEN

11/6 - OPEN

11/7 - at Sherrard JH 8 a.m. - 2 games 

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

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. - Marcus, 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

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

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. - ???

12/20 - BLOCKED

Saturday, October 17

4:57 a.m. - I got my insurance check yesterday!  It cost me $250, which I didn't expect, but I got $2,250 from the deductible amount I had paid for my knee surgery.  That gives me a little better wiggle room for cash flow, which is good, because yesterday a shock on the driver's side of the Escape rusted out and broke, so Trent down at Slayden's thinks he can fix it for around $400.  Get some money back, pay some money out!  Also yesterday was the opening night of the Hallmark Channel's Countdown to Christmas, and tonight is another movie that has a Chicago Bears theme!  I still think it's ridiculous to think Christmas before Halloween, but I do like me some Hallmark Christmas movies.  And also yesterday, I finished my book, which was AWESOME.  And if I had the funds, I'd buy a copy for everyone I know.  It was such a wonderful love story but much, much more than that.  The writer's style, and the theme of connecting people and how a place and books can connect people really resonated with me.  And also yesterday, I found out I'm going to have to find a different long term sub for the PreK paraprofessional position.  That sucks, because Kenzie would have been a great fit, but I'm very happy for her, and we'll find a good fit for that PreK position.  And yesterday (yes, yesterday was a long day) we had our annual Fire Safety Day, which is always a big hit with the students and a big even for our local first responders that host the students at the fire station in Illinois City.  And finally yesterday, for supper, I went by Taylor Ridge Methodist Church to support their fundraiser.  I picked up some pork chop sandwiches and gave a donation.  

And in all of that mess yesterday, I also had a couple of parent situations that I had to sift through.  

And on to today.  It's going to be a busy day, but busy for a different reason.  I'm taking Juanito with me to mom and dad's this morning to load a rack of hay.  I'll be teaching him a lot, and he'll likely be enjoying it because it's something he's never done.  And then when I get home, I need to do some yardwork and maybe do some winter prep work.  I'd rather be camping, but I also have some work I can get done this weekend that will make next weekend a good camping weekend.  So let's see what we can get done today.

Next week is the last week for volleyball.  And I actually have a couple of extra days off, which is nice.  It will be nice to get past the volleyball season and squarely set my sights on basketball.  The leg isn't where I want it yet, but I still have a little time before the first week of girls basketball begins.

 OTHER THINGS

• get basketball assignments in this blogger 
• Nov. 5 - 10 a.m. - Milan Optical
• Dec. 1 - 7:45 Hussain Moline
• Dec. 4 - 7:50 Dr. Blew dentist appt.
• Mar. 19-24 - trip to Kourtney in Florida

Fall Volleyball-Basketball 26 Schedule

10/19 - OPEN

10/20 - OPEN

10/21 - BLCOKED MENTORING MEETINGS

10/22 - VVB at Rock Island - 5 p.m. Jim Hartshorn

    ride with Katy?

10/23 - BLOCKED

10/24 - VVB at EM Christian - 8 a.m., 9:30, 11 with James Hu

10/25 - BLOCKED

10/26 - OPEN

10/27 - OPEN

10/28 - JHGBK at MerCo - with Clint Gingerich

10/29-11/2 - BLOCKED HALLOWEEN WEEKEND

11/7 - at Sherrard JH 8 a.m. - 2 games 

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

11/19 - at Sherrard JH BKB - 5:00 p.m. - Gabby Suarez