Friday, Jan. 1, 2021

8:26 a.m. - And that's a wrap on 2020.  Last night we just went to Kourtney's and ate a little and played some cards; we were back home by 10 p.m., and I was in bed sleeping just after the ball dropped in NYC.  I guess age is getting to me, as I don't have the same ambition to ring in the new year like I did at a much younger age.  I think the following are highlights for me in 2020

- shelter at home experience that begun in March and started to ease somewhat in the summer

- getting extra time to experience grandchildren

- working for 2 months at FedEx Ground to make some extra cash in the wake of losing so many officiating and umpiring games

- purchase of the new GMC truck and Jayco camper

- purchase of a new lawnmower

- all the camping trips but the longest trip to Pigeon Forge

- the extinction of USA softball and the return to USSSA softball umpiring

- teaching in-person and remote students at the same time

- disappointment, sadness, and frustration that CUSD#300 decided to convert to full in-person learning model on November 9th as the pandemic surged

- cancellation of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's with the Bizarri family

- passing of a long-time sub and family friend due to COVID circumstances

- working as a cooperating teacher for Mrs. Mitola

- the purchase of ski-walking sticks and doing more hiking 

- my brother's wedding in Missouri and his decision to move there

- losing weight down to 210 in the summer but gaining 20 pounds back by the end of the calendar year

- experiencing one son's difficulty with substance abuse and incarceration

- experiencing another son's transfer to the University of Illinois to continue his education

- experiencing daughter's graduation from WIU and completion of her student teaching experience

- Joe Biden defeating President Trump in the presidential general election

- development of a vaccine to help with COVID pandemic

- finding ways to stay financially afloat despite losing over half of my previous year's income from officiating/umpiring

- completed a teeth cleaning, COVID test, and colonoscopy in a seven day period in December just before Christmas

- weird weather year - fires in the West, hurricanes in the South, a derecho in the Midwest, early bad snowstorms in the East

Today, I plan on relaxing.  There is football on, but I really am only seriously interested in the Notre Dame game, which doesn't start until later today.  The Harrison kids are coming over later this afternoon, and forecast is for another winter storm today featuring a mix and possibly 2-5 inches of snow.  I want to relax because I have 12 youth basketball games to officiate over the weekend, which is going to be hard on the knees.  Maybe I'll get in a stretch and ride my bicycle a little.  Perhaps I'll try to clean it a little too; I did order new brake pads and a new cruiser saddle for the bike, which I hope will be improvements that will improve the safety and comfort of the ride.  Maybe I'll try to do a little schoolwork, too, or maybe a little reading of that book that's been sitting on my end table by the bed.

Things to do for school

• plan for return on January 6 - Khan SAT prep; blogger; Indigenous American Unit
• determine weakness areas in Khan Grammar Tests
• score and enter E.B. White Grades

• Daily
• edit today's agenda on the Stream with recorded class session
• create the next day's agenda and schedule post to stream
• add assignments/activities/resources to Google Classroom as needed
• score assignments and record into Lumen as needed
• respond to student/parent emails and update grades
• TUES - schedule FRW assignment for Wed.

Things I Could Do or Need to Do In the Future

• Jan. 4 - HHR to Slayden's
• Jan. 8 - 8:30 a.m. Dr. Wang biopsy
• Find out if insurance will cover procedure - I think it does
• Find out if insurance will cover shingles vaccine - I think it does
• Get 2020 officiating report for taxes
• Listen to Google Tribe podcast
• Listen to IF podcasts
• order a IGHSAU basketball officiating shirt
• fix the green door.
• Check gmail messages.
• Have shin guards fixed somewhere?

Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus. (1/1)

Our world is ready for a return to normal, but I worry that the Christmas and New Year's holidays are now going to throw us into some dark times in January and February.  The roll-out of the vaccine was initially full of great promise, but the roll-out is much slower than predicted.  The result now is going to be even more tragic as more people become hospitalized or die with a vaccine and new therapeutics just on the horizon that are available for some but not available for the majority of folks.  I almost decided to stop looking at "the numbers", but I think I'll continue for at least a couple of months more, even though I'm not sure why.  Despite these concerns, so far I feel very fortunate and blessed that the pandemic has not affected my circle of family and friends as much as many others.  I hope this fortune and blessing continues.


• ILLINOIS PREVIOUS DAY
• hospitalizations - 882

• ILLINOIS YESTERDAY
• hospitalizations - 837
• ILLINOIS TODAY
• hospitalizations - 808

• ROCK ISLAND COUNTY
• YESTERDAY
• RI County - 11,014 positive cases; 223 deaths
• 61284 - 175 reported positive cases
• TODAY
• RI County - 11,067 positive cases;  225 deaths
• 61284 - 176 reported positive cases

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.