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Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Tuesday, August 18

4:45 a.m. - Yesterday was the first full regular day of school, and it did indeed feel like a long, long day.  But we got through it!  The weather was nice, so the students were able to go outside, which was a good thing.  I'm not sure if that is going to continue today, but you can't fight Mother Nature.  

Lynn Heath was a sub for Mrs. Zampogna, and she did great.  I believe Kim will be back today, and while our subs did great, having Kim back will be awesome.  She does so much for our building.  The new staff went through their first day, and those folks are still learning.  I did get into the kindergarten classrooms and the PreK classrooms and tried to start learning names with faces.  I hope to accomplish that by the end of the week.

After school, I set out to put the lawn tractor back together, but I ended up breaking a part, so now I have to wait for that part to get here to replace that.  Then I'll see if my most recent efforts paid off or if there is something else yet to do.  

And today....keep helping the staff...keep helping the students.  I have a lot of things on my "to-do list", but I also have my first softball game after school.  I haven't worked any softball since March of '25, so let's see how that goes.   

Things to do for School

  • 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

  • get stuff together to send out insurance stuff for reimbursement
  • get correct measurement of the correct wiper slide material
    • order slide wiper conditioner
  • spray/pull weeds
  • spray Creeping Charlie
  • a hood light switch for the Ford
  • Aug. 27 - 7:30 a.m. - Appointment with Hussain at ORA Moline
  • Nov. 5 - 10 a.m. - Milan Optical

Fall Softball-Volleyball-Basketball 26 Schedule
8/18 - JHSB at Ridgewood - 4:30
8/19 - OPEN
8/20 - JHSB at MerCoJH - 4:30
8/21-8/23 - WEEKEND BLOCKED
8/24 - JHSB at Cambridge - 4:30
8/25 - OPEN
8/26 - JHSB at Ridgewood - 4:30
8/27 - JHSB at MerCoJH - 4:30
8/28-8/30 - WEEKEND BLOCKED
8/31 - OPEN
9/1 - VVB at Rock Island - 5 p.m.
9/2 - OPEN
9/3 - JHVB at Washington - 4 p.m.
9/4-9/6 - WEEKEND BLOCKED
9/7 - FVLine at Alleman - 5 p.m.
9/8 - JHVB at Edison - 4 p.m.
9/9 - OPEN
9/10 - JHVB at Washington - 4 p.m.
9/11-9/14 - WEEKEND/BOE BLOCKED
9/15 - FVLine at Geneseo - 5 p.m.
9/16 - OPEN
9/17 - FVLine at Alleman - 5 p.m.
9/18-9/20 - WEEKEND BLOCKED
9/21 - OPEN
9/22 - FVLine at UTHS - 5 p.m.
9/23 - OPEN
9/24-9/27 - Homecoming WEEKEND BLOCKED
9/28 - OPEN
9/29 - VVB at EM Christian - 5:30 p.m.
9/30 - OPEN
10/1 - JHGBK - MerCo
10/2-10/4 - WEEKEND BLOCKED
10/5 - OPEN
10/6 - FVLine at Alleman - 5:00 p.m.
10/7 - OPEN
10/8 - JHGBK at MerCo
10/9-10-13 - COLUMBUS WEEKEND/BOE BLOCKED
10/14 - OPEN
10/15 - FVLine at Geneseo - 5 p.m.
10/19 - OPEN
10/20 - OPEN
10/21 - OPEN
10/22 - VVB at Rock Island - 5 p.m.
10/23 - BLOCKED
10/24 - VVB at EM Christian - 8 a.m., 9:30, 11
10/25 - BLOCKED
10/26 - OPEN
10/27 - OPEN
10/28 - JHGBK at MerCo
10/29-11/2 - BLOCKED HALLOWEEN WEEKEND

    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

Monday, August 17, 2026

Monday, August 17

4:47 a.m. - Yesterday was productive.  I ended up making a dent on the yardwork.  It took a little work to get there, since I needed to go get mom and dad's mower with my Husqvarna out of commission.  I also got the pushmowing done, and I even trimmed the two hedge bushes that needed some help.  After that, it was time to work on the water items - the pool and the hot tub.  After that, I headed up to Shawn's classroom and worked with Katy and Shawn on our volleyball officiating exams.  We all passed, but Shawn's score wasn't 100% because he went first and we learned from a few of his missed items.  I ended the night watching a couple episodes of Ted Lasso - I love that show.  

Today...well, since Friday was a debacle of a day, maybe today will be like a re-do, and we'll have a better "first day".  This doesn't mean I considered last Friday a bad day; it was just problematic in a lot of ways.  For one thing, the weather is going to cooperate today, so students can play outside!  More importantly, for the staff, the students can play outside!  :)  

Mrs. Zampogna won't be at school, so Mrs. Heath will be there for the first time.  That will be fun seeing her in the building.  After school I'm hoping the parts for the mower deck will be here and I can put the mower back together.  I sure hope I'm right about the  part I need to replace; otherwise, I'm going to have to have it repaired, and I don't really have the money to do that right now. 

Things to do for School

  • 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

  • get stuff together to send out insurance stuff for reimbursement
  • get correct measurement of the correct wiper slide material
    • order slide wiper conditioner
  • spray/pull weeds
  • spray Creeping Charlie
  • a hood light switch for the Ford
  • Aug. 27 - 7:30 a.m. - Appointment with Hussain at ORA Moline
  • Nov. 5 - 10 a.m. - Milan Optical

Fall Softball-Volleyball-Basketball 26 Schedule
8/18 - JHSB at Ridgewood - 4:30
8/19 - OPEN
8/20 - JHSB at MerCoJH - 4:30
8/21-8/23 - WEEKEND BLOCKED
8/24 - JHSB at Cambridge - 4:30
8/25 - OPEN
8/26 - JHSB at Ridgewood - 4:30
8/27 - JHSB at MerCoJH - 4:30
8/28-8/30 - WEEKEND BLOCKED
8/31 - OPEN
9/1 - VVB at Rock Island - 5 p.m.
9/2 - OPEN
9/3 - JHVB at Washington - 4 p.m.
9/4-9/6 - WEEKEND BLOCKED
9/7 - FVLine at Alleman - 5 p.m.
9/8 - JHVB at Edison - 4 p.m.
9/9 - OPEN
9/10 - JHVB at Washington - 4 p.m.
9/11-9/14 - WEEKEND/BOE BLOCKED
9/15 - FVLine at Geneseo - 5 p.m.
9/16 - OPEN
9/17 - FVLine at Alleman - 5 p.m.
9/18-9/20 - WEEKEND BLOCKED
9/21 - OPEN
9/22 - FVLine at UTHS - 5 p.m.
9/23 - OPEN
9/24-9/27 - Homecoming WEEKEND BLOCKED
9/28 - OPEN
9/29 - VVB at EM Christian - 5:30 p.m.
9/30 - OPEN
10/1 - JHGBK - MerCo
10/2-10/4 - WEEKEND BLOCKED
10/5 - OPEN
10/6 - FVLine at Alleman - 5:00 p.m.
10/7 - OPEN
10/8 - JHGBK at MerCo
10/9-10-13 - COLUMBUS WEEKEND/BOE BLOCKED
10/14 - OPEN
10/15 - FVLine at Geneseo - 5 p.m.
10/19 - OPEN
10/20 - OPEN
10/21 - OPEN
10/22 - VVB at Rock Island - 5 p.m.
10/23 - BLOCKED
10/24 - VVB at EM Christian - 8 a.m., 9:30, 11
10/25 - BLOCKED
10/26 - OPEN
10/27 - OPEN
10/28 - JHGBK at MerCo
10/29-11/2 - BLOCKED HALLOWEEN WEEKEND

    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

Sunday, August 16, 2026

Sunday, August 16

6:46 a.m. - Well, yesterday wasn't the day I had envisioned.  It started off good, as I purchased a subscription to Apple TV, so I could watch the new Ted Lasso series.  I love it!  Amber isn't a fan, but I find it wonderful.  So I watched the two episodes of the new series where Ted takes a job as the women's coach, and then went back and started season 1 of the old series.  I may like it even more now!  

Then the  plan was to drain some water out of the pool before going shopping for some new shoes.  I did start draining the pool, and in the meantime I started pulling weeds out of the landscaping around the pool.  About that time, I got a message that Mom was looking for me because the Taylor Ridge Church had water in its basement and needed a shop vac.  When I arrived, I discovered that it needed a lot more than a shop vac.  I don't know what the heck the sump pump system is supposed to be doing there, but it's not doing it.  So I came back home and got my little pump out of the pool and used it on the basement.  After about 4 hours, I did finally get to go look for shoes and used my gift certificate from Dick's Sporting Goods that I've had for a long time.  

Then I came home, and we decided to try to work on the yard.  The yard is a disaster because of all the rain we have had this past week.  And I did get some of the yard knocked down, but then I went through another mower belt - AGAIN!  Ugh.  There has to be something wrong that is causing the belt to get too hot and fail.  So I took it apart - AGAIN - and I'm going to try a different idler arm pulley to see if that is the probelm.  Unfortunately, it's going to take a couple of days to arrive, so I'm going to borrow my mom's mower and try to get the rest of the job done.  (My guess is that I'm going to have to work on the church basement again too, as it rained a lot again last night.)

Later today, I'm meeting up with Shawn and Katy to go over our volleyball tests.  That's a 5 p.m. in Shawn's room.  I may also try to trim the bushes too...they look awful too. 

Things to do for Schools

  • 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

  • SUNDAY, Aug. 16 - 5 p.m. - test taking in Shawn's room
  • get stuff together to send out insurance stuff for reimbursement
  • get correct measurement of the correct wiper slide material
    • order slide wiper conditioner
  • mow the yard
  • spray/pull weeds
  • spray Creeping Charlie
  • a hood light switch for the Ford
  • Aug. 27 - 7:30 a.m. - Appointment with Hussain at ORA Moline
  • Nov. 5 - 10 a.m. - Milan Optical

Fall Softball-Volleyball-Basketball 26 Schedule
8/17 - OPEN
8/18 - JHSB at Ridgewood - 4:30
8/19 - OPEN
8/20 - JHSB at MerCoJH - 4:30
8/21-8/23 - WEEKEND BLOCKED
8/24 - JHSB at Cambridge - 4:30
8/25 - OPEN
8/26 - JHSB at Ridgewood - 4:30
8/27 - JHSB at MerCoJH - 4:30
8/28-8/30 - WEEKEND BLOCKED
8/31 - OPEN
9/1 - VVB at Rock Island - 5 p.m.
9/2 - OPEN
9/3 - JHVB at Washington - 4 p.m.
9/4-9/6 - WEEKEND BLOCKED
9/7 - FVLine at Alleman - 5 p.m.
9/8 - JHVB at Edison - 4 p.m.
9/9 - OPEN
9/10 - JHVB at Washington - 4 p.m.
9/11-9/14 - WEEKEND/BOE BLOCKED
9/15 - FVLine at Geneseo - 5 p.m.
9/16 - OPEN
9/17 - FVLine at Alleman - 5 p.m.
9/18-9/20 - WEEKEND BLOCKED
9/21 - OPEN
9/22 - FVLine at UTHS - 5 p.m.
9/23 - OPEN
9/24-9/27 - Homecoming WEEKEND BLOCKED
9/28 - OPEN
9/29 - VVB at EM Christian - 5:30 p.m.
9/30 - OPEN
10/1 - JHGBK - MerCo
10/2-10/4 - WEEKEND BLOCKED
10/5 - OPEN
10/6 - FVLine at Alleman - 5:00 p.m.
10/7 - OPEN
10/8 - JHGBK at MerCo
10/9-10-13 - COLUMBUS WEEKEND/BOE BLOCKED
10/14 - OPEN
10/15 - FVLine at Geneseo - 5 p.m.
10/19 - OPEN
10/20 - OPEN
10/21 - OPEN
10/22 - VVB at Rock Island - 5 p.m.
10/23 - BLOCKED
10/24 - VVB at EM Christian - 8 a.m., 9:30, 11
10/25 - BLOCKED
10/26 - OPEN
10/27 - OPEN
10/28 - JHGBK at MerCo
10/29-11/2 - BLOCKED HALLOWEEN WEEKEND

    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