4:07 a.m. - Woke up at my usual 3:00-3:30 a.m., and I couldn't go back to sleep. Normally, I can go back to sleep, but not today - I guess my brain was just working too much. I notice too that after umpiring, or doing anything at length that is physical, it's like my body is running on overdrive or something. So I just decided to get up and "crunch numbers" and write in this blog. For me crunching numbers is looking at my spreadsheet of my financial picture and updating numbers and hopefully feeling comfortable about where I'm sitting. I made two good decisions this past summer - working two months at FedEx Ground and starting back up working for USSSA softball umpiring. Those two efforts have allowed me to make a little over $3,000. In the grand scheme of financing over a year, that's a pretty low percentage, but I normally make more than that over a summer, and I took a big hit in the spring without any umpiring dates. Tomorrow, IESA (junior high) softball starts, so that will bring in a little money, and USSSA softball will take a couple weeks off, but it will start back up for "fall ball" starting Labor Day weekend. By that time, too, I'll be working a little volleyball in Iowa. If I can just work at least a couple of days a week at umpiring or officiating, that will go a long way in helping my financial picture stay healthy.
I need to mow the yard, fill up the chlorinator, and if all goes well, perhaps work on the weeds in the swamp. I would like to get some new blades for the weed wacker, though - maybe a trip to Aledo or Moline would work. We are also thinking steaks on the grill for supper. I think I'm going to start a book now, and perhaps that will help me fall back to sleep for a couple of hours before waking up for the day.
10:34 p.m. - And now I can't sleep again! An email was just sent out to the community stating that our first day of school is now canceled, so the BOE can meet to discuss reopening of school. The message stated, "this may delay the start of the school year longer." I've been preparing my brain and course and classroom for the possibility of a sudden switch to full remote learning if there was a COVID outbreak in our community. And I've been telling everyone that we'd be lucky if we even got to September with the "A/B" day schedule. My fear now is that the administration and BOE is considering postponing the start of the school year, perhaps until after Labor Day. I don't know that for sure; it's just a guess. The reality is that putting off the start of the school year isn't going to do anything but delay what I believe is the inevitable, which is full remote learning/instruction for a long time...likely all of first semester. The science says a vaccine may be ready by the first of the year; the science says the spread of the virus isn't decreasing; and the politics refuses to scale back social distancing requirements.
This had been a nice day. I got the yard mowed; I finished wacking the swamp weeds; I helped dad with his generator; we had a nice supper; I took care of the pool; I ran the sprinkler in the front yard; I just purchased kleenex and masks and batteries for my classroom! Now I'm wired and frustrated, so sleep is not an option. I'm going to try to read my book; maybe that will help.
Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus. (8/16)
Yesterday, Rock Island County cases reported jumped by 20, and the cases seems to be increasing similar to that 10-20 range each day. Perhaps we are looking at the virus infection rate increasing in our area. The troubling part about that information is that we will soon be entering the cold and flu season - ugh.
- 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.
- As of June 29 (4 months), there were 142, 461 positive cases and 6,902 deaths.
- As of July 31 (5 months), there were 178,837 positive cases and 7,495 deaths.
- ILLINOIS PREVIOUS DAY
- ILLINOIS YESTERDAY
- ILLINOIS TODAY
- ROCK ISLAND COUNTY
- YESTERDAY - 1,850 positive cases; 39 deaths
- TODAY - 1,869 positive cases; 40 deaths
Things I Could Do or Need to Do In the Future- Get IHSA shirts into the HHR
- Get Amber's car down to Slayden's.
- August 17th - institute day
- First day of "classes" Tuesday, August 18 - A day
- August 17 - 10 a.m. - Zoom meeting for Cooperating Teacher
- Complete volleyball test - Illinois
- Complete volleyball video and test - Iowa
- Paint the shed.
- Continue working on restoring the channel of the ditch.
- Replace seals and gaskets in the pool motor.
- Possible Campground Sites
- Spring Lake Park - Macomb - not far, but I'm not sure what else might be available to do in the area.
- Scott County Park - nice thing about this is that there is the Rhythm City casino nearby.
- Dubuque? Not far, and there are casinos up there too.
- Galesburg Area...we could invite Mr. Johnson and Mr. Danner for an evening out.
- Lake Storey...you had mentioned this area, and it's not a long trip
- Galesburg East Campground - Knoxville, IL
- Cabin Fever - Victoria, IL
- Geneseo and Loud Thunder will both be pretty in the fall.
- Mount Carroll is where the Peterson's said we might want to try, and that's not a long trip. Timber Lake Resort...not sure if this is the right one...it's a little pricey, but we could splurge a little.
Things to do for Ms. Mitola
- provide calendar and other shared documents
- invite Mrs. Hasson to visit Ms. Mitola's classroom
- routinely evaluate her performance - form, informal, how many times per week?
- help her with professional portfolio
- meet/talk with CS student teacher supervisor
- by second week of September - Ms. Mitola takes over advanced sections
- by end of September - Ms. Mitola has all sections
- by second week of December, I take over all sections and Ms. Mitola wraps up
Things to do for school
- form Khan Academy groups of students for sections
- start to "long term plan" where Mrs. Mitola will take over
- figure out FREE READ WEDNESDAY - to begin Wednesday, August 26
- could use the book that I made video/audio recordings of over the summer - Rest of the Story
- Mrs. Mitola could pick a book after that...
Prayer for My Heart
Holy Spirit...
Help me have...
a pure heart, that I may see;
a humble heart, that I may hear;
a heart of love, that I may serve;
a heart of faith, that I may abide in the spirit.
Amen
