Friday, April 23

5:24 a.m. - It's over; it's all over.  Volleyball 2021 is in the books.  I ended up working 12 IHSA varsity matches and 22 f/s matches.  Last night was Moline at UT, and I hat to admit that I finally started "seeing" more things with alignment.  I still didn't call anything, and I don't understand the strategy and why, but I at least started seeing alignment things along with my line-up cards.  So tonight is an off night, and this weekend is A LOT of softball umpiring.

Yesterday at school, there was a meeting of the RTA officers, and I'm really dejected about the association and the school board and the administrators.  There is a lot of work that needs to be done, and there is currently a lot of "bad" that exists, and the RTA needs officers that are enthused, energized, and have the leadership skills to bring the membership together, make improvements, move things forward, and confront the "bad".  I know I'm the kind of person that needs to be in the position of leadership to help that effort, but these past two years of seen the job from the inside, and I lack the enthusiasm and energy.  I still have the grumpy old fart confrontation ability, but when I launched the PSC I recognized that while a lot of the membership is willing to fight, not enough of the membership is.  It sort of reminds me of the Republican Party right now.  There have been some strong leaders that have stepped away from the party because the Trumpsters are too vocal and there aren't enough sane people that are willing to step up and face the opposition.  I truly believe that's what exists in our Association.  There are too many that just are willing to accept what is and afraid to be confrontational.  And I get it.  Confrontation is uncomfortable and awkward and includes risk.  The job is really big, and I'm convinced that when I would lead, not enough would follow, which would make leading futile.  And a futile leadership role doesn't jive with a marriage, children, grandchildren, teaching, officiating, camping, and enjoying life.  That's selfish, I know, but that's where I'm at.  

Today is sort of a weird day.  English III will be pretty quiet.  I didn't get the online college presentation I was looking for, so students will be watching video clips.  It's not a bad day, since this is "prom" weekend.  It's not an official prom, but apparently a group of parents have rented something somewhere in Iowa for the students.  It sounds noble....nobody wants students to lose another prom, but I fear the consequences of our students dancing and shouting and becoming a superspreader even of the virus.  

I'd really just like to get through the day and go out for a quiet dinner date with Amber tonight.

I weighed myself today.  After doing the best job of fasting correctly last night, I weigh less this morning than I have for a month.  I feel good about that, but it also makes me mad.  If I just do things right, things will go better.  So, huh, my health and weight is up to me...damn it...I have got to get back to the discipline and persistence I had a year ago.

Daily

• edit agenda on the Stream with the day's recorded class session - for April 21
• create the next day's agenda and schedule post to stream - through April 30
• add assignments/activities/resources to Google Classroom as needed - through April 30
• score assignments and record into Lumen as needed
• respond to student/parent emails and update grades
• schedule FRW assignment - not again until May

Things I Could Do or Need to Do In the Future

• finalize 4/26 basketball date with Gillespie
• spray weeds in the yard with RoundUp
• April 27 RTA virtual meeting - 2:15 p.m.
• update 5-star list
• make new seating charts for week of April 26
• return USSSA jacket (I now have label)
• Thurs. 4-22 5 p.m. VB at UT with Chet (He is picking me up at 3:45 p.m.)

• Chester G. Lien (18292) 9909 132nd St. Ct. W. Taylor Ridge, IL  61284

  C -- 30

  
  

• James (Jay) J. Bizarri (64947) 14106 138th Ave. W. Taylor Ridge, IL  61284

  X -- 3

• purchase a speed sensor from AutoZone
• pay Amber for roku stick
• renew GMC license plates
• record participation points for 
• MTI
• Electrician Apprenticeship
• Black Hawk/Online Learning
• open the pool
• get camper out of storage - replace LP tanks, replace spare tire, get water lines ready
• Determine new time/date to work with Arda.
• Continue working with TK to organize financial management things.
• talk to TRS about whether or not to buy back years
• fix the green door
• plan big adventure - dates are July 25-August 7
• East to PA or West to SD

Upcoming Spring EVENTS - volleyball, JH basketball, softball

• Sat., 4-24 - USSSA
• At Dav. West Field #2 - 9 a.m., 10:30, noon, 1:30 - 4 games
• At Crow Creek Field #2 - 5, 6:15, 7:30 - 3 games
• Sun., 4-25 - USSSA
• at Crow Creek Field#3 - 10:40, noon, 1:20, 2:40, 4:00 - 5 games

SOFTBALL  (Orange indicates possible camping weekends.)

• Mon., 4/26 DH at Orion 4:30 with Jim Cahill
• Tues., 4/27 at Rock Island 4:30 with Doug Humphrey
• Wed., 4/28 at MonRose 4:30 not sure of partner....Gerald Assignment
• Thurs., 4/29 DH at Sherrard 4:30 with Jason Danner
• Fri., 4/30 BLOCKED OPEN
• Sat., 5/1 BLOCKED OPEN/USSSA?
• Sun., 5/2 BLOCKED OPEN/USSSA?
• Mon., 5/3 BLOCKED OPEN
• Tues., 5/4 JV at UTHS 4:30 - no partner yet?
• Wed., 5/5 DH at MerCo 4:30 with Jason Danner
• Thurs., 5/6 DH at Orion 4:30 with Lennie Galloway
• Fri., 5/7 BLOCKED OPEN
• Sat., 5/8 BLOCKED OPEN/USSSA?
• Sun. 5/9 BLOCKED OPEN/USSSA?
• Mon., 5/10 at MonRose 4:30 not sure...Gerald Game
• Tues., 5/11 DH at Ridgewood 4:30 with Jason Danner
• Wed., 5/12 at UTHS 4:30 with Sergio Villarreal
• Thurs., 5/13 JV at Sherrard 4:30 with Steve Vandervinne
• Fri., 5/14 - personal day OPEN CAMPING West Lake or LT?
• Sat., 5/15 - CAMPING West Lake or LT?
• Sun. 5/16 - CAMPING West Lake or LT?
• Mon., 5/17 DH at United 4:30 with Jason Danner
• Tues., 5/18 at Moline 4:00 with Leah Glaser
• Wed., 5/19 OPEN
• Thurs., 5/20 DH at West Central 4:30 with Jason Danner
• Fri., 5/21 BLOCKED OPEN
• Sat., 5/22 BLOCKED OPEN/USSSA?
• Sun., 5/23 BLOCKED OPEN/USSSA?
• Mon., 5/24 at AlWood 4:30 with Jason Danner 
• Tues., 5/25 JV at West 5:00 with Jason Danner
• Wed., 5/26 DH? at North Scott 5:00 with Jason Danner
• Thurs., 5/27 DH at MerCo 4:30 with Jason Danner
• Fri., 5/28 - personal day CAMPING in Black River Falls
• Sat., 5/29 - CAMPING IN BLACK RIVER FALLS
• Sun., 5/30 - CAMPING IN BLACK RIVER FALLS
• Mon., 5/31 - returning from CAMPING
• Tues., 6/1 - DH? at Assumption 5:00 with Jason Danner
• Wed., 6/2 -  OPEN - may be IHSA Regionals
• Thurs., 6/3 - DH? JV at Burlington 5:30 no partner yet - may be IHSA Regionals
• Fri., 6/4 - BLOCKED OPEN - IHSA or USSSA - may be IHSA Regionals
• Sat., 6/5 - BLOCKED OPEN - IHSA or USSSA - may be IHSA Regionals
• Sun., 6/6 - BLOCKED OPEN/USSSA?- 
• Mon., 6/7 - DH? at Burlington 5:30 with Jason Danner
• Tues., 6/8 - DH? JV at Muscatine 10 a.m. with Jason Danner - may be IHSA Sectionals
• Wed., 6/9 - DH? JV at North Scott 10 a.m. with Ralph Henning -  may be IHSA Sectionals
• Thurs., 6/10 - BLOCKED - may be IHSA Sectionals
• Fri., 6/11 - BLOCKED OPEN - IHSA or USSSA -  may be IHSA Sectionals
• Sat., 6/12 - BLOCKED OPEN - IHSA or USSSA - may be IHSA Sectionals
• Sun. 6/13 - BLOCKED OPEN/USSSA?
• Mon., 6/14 - BLOCKED - may also be IHSA SuperSectional
• Tues., 6/15 - OPEN
• Wed., 6/16 - OPEN - may be IHSA State Finals
• Thurs., 6/17 - DH? JV at Burlington 5:30 with Don Wilgenbusch  - may be State Finals
• Fri., 6/18 - may be IHSA State Finals
• Sat. 6/19 - may be IHSA State Finals
• Sun., 6/20 - OPEN
• Mon., 6/21 - DH? at Burlington 5:30 with Jason Danner
• Tues., 6/22 - 8 a.m. at DENTIST -- DH?  at DeWitt 5:00 with Jason Danner
• Wed., 6/23 - DH? at West 5:00 with Jason Danner
• Thurs., 6/24 - DH?JH at Wilton 10 a.m. by myself?; DHJV at 5:30 p.m. at Burlington with Jason Danner
• Fri., 6/25 - at Justin Sharp Shootout - TBA (Also Heartland Shootout Weekend)
• Sat., 6/26 - at Justin Sharp Shootout - TBA (Also Heartland Shootout Weekend)
• Sun. 6/27 - OPEN (Also Heartland Shootout Weekend)
• Mon., 6/28 - DH? at Assumption 5:00 with Jason Danner
• Tues., 6/29 - JVDH at Dav. Central 10 a.m. with Cole
• Wed., 6/30 - TRNY at 8 a.m. at West with Jason Danner
• Thurs., 7/1 - DH at Muscatine 5:00 with Jason Danner
• Fri., 7/2 - DHJV at West 10 a.m. with Jason Danner - DONE WITH HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL

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