Friday, June 26

5:50 a.m. - Today is my last day of work at FedEx Ground, at least for the month of July.  I honestly should keep working because my financial picture looks a little weak right now, but July is typically my only "off month" of the year, and I'm thinking now more than ever I'm going to need an "off-month".  I resigned from FedEx correctly, and I've been told I can return if/when I would like, so that's good news.  That return month would be August if COVID doesn't cancel summer/fall softball and volleyball.  I just really don't have much choice, but to go back and pick up the extra hours and money if I can't officiate, especially now with the purchase of the new truck/trailer.  That's in the distance, though.  For now, I'm going to help Greg celebrate his wedding, then we are heading to Wisconsin for some camping next week.  That trip will help me gauge my financial picture a little further.  Amber and I had discussed maybe adventuring to the Smoky Mountains or heading to Texas to see some sights and visit Tony in San Antonio, but if my financial picture doesn't improve, we will need to scale down those plans.  The big "wrench" has been the tiling project in my backyard as part of the "neighborhood's" efforts to have improved drainage.  I had not budgeted nearly two thousand dollars to have someone tile through the backyard.  But isn't that how life works?  Just when you think you are getting on top of your finances, life gives a wrench.  In hindsight, maybe all the timing was intentional from the "powers above".  Had Jeff visited earlier before the trailer/truck exploration thing, I likely wouldn't have even considered those purchases; maybe I can accomplish all of this, but I'm feeling a little weight on my shoulders.  And to be honest, if this COVID thing causes remote learning for first semester, we are going to need that trailer to just get away for the weekends. 

Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus. (6/26)

President Trump last night on a FoxNews interview blamed the lingering COVID problem on the fact that we are conducting too many tests.  Huh?  This thing isn't going away, and now China is reporting a new outbreak.  I really think we are going to be looking at remote learning starting the school year and likely going throughout first semester.  And Illinois is set to make the move to the next phase of easing restrictions, and it's just going to come back here too.  The July 4th holiday is coming up, and it's going to increase this issue even more.  The picture of all this just doesn't look good.

• Stats
• February 29 was the first reported positive case in Illinois. 
• March 20, there were 585 reported positive cases.
• As of May 29 (3 months), there were 120,260 positive cases and 5,390 deaths.

• ILLINOIS PREVIOUS DAY
• hospitalizations - 389
• ILLINOIS YESTERDAY
• hospitalizations - 399
• ILLINOIS TODAY
• hospitalizations - 400
• ROCK ISLAND COUNTY
• YESTERDAY -  816 positive cases; 28 deaths
• TODAY -829 positive cases; 28 deaths

Things I Could Do or Need to Do In the Future

• For Darlington, Wisconsin
• Firewood in toolbox - chop up some smaller pieces (mall from Mom's?)
• Bottled water + big jugs?
• Bikes loaded.
• Show/tell mom about cats and pool and watering flowers.
• Inflate spare tire on the trailer.
• road flares?
• walking shoes, new book to read, spray bottle for grill, reading glasses, charger and all cords for phone, ball cap, 
• Get truck to Slayden's.
• Go to Dixon and look at that Trek for Carmen
• Close down accounts at Service Plus, including credit card.
• Apply to Black Hawk State Bank for credit card.
• Write beginning of month payment checks by Friday.
• Send checks out (get some stamps)
• Get clothes ready for Greg's Wedding - black pants...gray or maroon shirt, tie?
• Iron the shirt?  
• Fix the lock on the toolbox on the GMC.
• Paint the shed.
• Put dirt around utility square by shed.
• Wack the weeds in the ditch.
• Continue working on restoring the channel of the ditch.
• Wack the wetland weeds.
• Get the Dodge back home and sell it or get it to Eric H.
• Remove Dodge from insurance.
• Replace seals and gaskets in the pool motor.

Prayer for My Heart

Holy Spirit...

Help me have... 

    a pure heart, that I may see thee;
    a humble heart, that I may hear you;
    a heart of love, that I may serve you;
    a heart of faith, that I may abide in you. 

                                                                     Amen