Venting on Deadlines

I don't get it. The editor calls and wants you to rush out, cover a meeting in a nearby town with a board that is often volatile, but the deadline is 9:30. and 10 if you get lucky. So, go out there, cover what you can in your alloted one hour and 15 minutes----never mind that you tick off the board members because the meeting generally lasts 5 hours or more and they are saying, 'hey, where's the press going...you are missing the best part.'

"Well guys," I reply, "I am on deadline"

Feeling good, I turn in two pieces and a picture by 9:59, check with the night editor and they have the stories--yeah, can go to bed.

Next morning, get up, peruse the paper...and where the heck are the stories?
Next day, same thing......where are they?

Typically when this happens, my stuff will appear 3 or 4 days later and I am sitting with egg on my face and afraid to run into members of that town board--becuase they are still wondering why I had to run out of the meeting for the mysterious deadline.

Why oh why do I have a deadline, when the powers that be don't use my stuff in a timely manner? Why can't I simply turn in my copy two or three days later because obviously, it doesn't matter.

somebody help me out here!

Two more days!

It's almost time for our pensacola guests to arrive. We have cleaned the house, the carpets, powerwashed the siding, and done major grocery shopping! Holy Cow, haven't bought like this in a while. There is a lot to do yet, but i'll be in Madison all day tomorrow for a conference on the Young Living Essential oils that I distribute for. Actually I don't distribute them much, mainly just use them ourselves--anyway, this is a raindrop massage class and I am looking forward to it. on saturday I'll finish by changing the bedding, vacuuming, dusting, laundry, etc and we should be al set.

Just talked to Matthew on his webcam today--Matthew is our nephew--that thing is amazing. He and his wife Cheryl are both deaf and this web cam helps a lot. He talks into the microphone--and signs back and forth to Cheryl while I type the answers. The only thing better would be if I had a webcam too--but of course, I don't know very much sign language, so maybe it wouldn't be such a good idea! I can't wait to see him put the baby near the camera so I can see him.

Well, guess that is about it--I had better do a bit more around here before I have to leave to cover the meeting in Randall tonight. I hope they don't get all carried away about stuff again.

zachary

Here is Zachary--our Bishon/Poodle Mix playing with Frankie, our parakeet. Four years old and a genius. He can hear and smell a banana being opened from an acre away....he can find mint chewing gum hidden in a field........but he can't seem to keep out of the road. genius

Countdown to our Pensacola guests

We are trying to get all sorts of things done before Peter, Diane and her parents come for a week long visit next Saturday. I still want to wash windows--I hate that job and if time, shampoo the carpets again--hate that job too! We'll see if I can manage to do all of that with trying to work too. Have to do a bit of extra shopping too this week.

Today I have to work on at least one of my stories--this one is on an outdoor Mass coming up in Kenosha next week--that one is due by Monday, so better get busy.

Here are a few pictures of

my office/sewing room/doll room

hope you like them!

Birthday Boy

Give a Big Texas Roadhouse Yee-hah to Blaise on his 54th Birthday!

Swimming

We went to visit my cousin Mark and his wife in Madison on Saturday for his birthday. Here is a picture of Erin as he came up from under the water in the pool.

Makes you want to just jump right in and join him, doesn't it?

Birthday Boy

Happy 54th Birthday to my sweetie, Blaise! The little passenger is Linzy, our 4 year old granddaughter!

Mrs. God

Teaching the Catholic faith to a roomful of often mischievous first graders may not appear to be an enjoyable experience for most adults, but it is for me. I have taught first grade for longer than most of my children are old, so nothing should ever come as a surprise to me, right? Wrong.
All sorts of questions and perplexing problems are presented to me on a fairly regular basis:
“Why does that man in front of the church wear that big long green thing?”
“Why do we kneel so much?”
“Does God know when I kick my dog……..even if I do it in the dark?”
Sometimes it takes enormous restraint to control my laughter in trying to acknowledge my students.
A friend of mine was extremely frustrated with her third grade student. Upon asking him what the four marks of the Catholic Church were, the poor child thoughtfully responded, “Mark the Apostle, Mark the teacher, Mark the preacher, and Mark the Gospel writer.”
A high school teacher was equally stymied when she reviewed the subject of sin with her class. “What are the two types of sin?” she asked. An energetic fellow raised his hand and bellowed, “I know, Mortal and Vertical.”
My own son, after receiving the sacrament of reconciliation for the very first time, jumped up in the air and blurted directly in front of the confessional, “YAY! I have no sins!”
One frigid day in early January, a new student entered the room with her grandmother. She was quiet, reserved, and obviously uncomfortable. She had long chestnut hair and brown soulful eyes. We welcomed her to our class and then I proceeded with our lesson of the week according to my usual routine.
Always wanting to encourage participation from the children, I began to coax answers out of them in whimsical form. I feel that laughter is important and helpful in absorbing the lesson. If they aren’t enjoying anything about my class, I have doubts that anything will be retained. All of the children responded with answers as well as a fair share of questions…..some on target, some way out of the ordinary. All except my new little girl Emily—she remained steadfastly silent. No amount of cajoling would produce even a whisper from this waif of a child. Her head was lowered and it appeared as if I and the rest of the class ceased to exist in her world. Not wanting to embarrass her, I kept on with my routine.
Class was finally over and little Emily slipped out before I could take her aside and talk to her. Her grandmother must have been right out the door, for when I went looking for her, she was also nowhere in sight. Being a bit on the sensitive side, I felt like I failed this child. I began to question my lesson plans as well as my style of teaching. Maybe I should have been more “teacher-like,” using workbooks, and writing extensive lessons on the chalkboard. Maybe I made her uncomfortable because I tended to joke around a lot; I don’t know, but for the first time, I was unsure if I was up to the task of a room full of six and seven year olds.
The week passed by rather quickly, and my thoughts settled on little Emily and my first grade class fairly often. Sunday morning found me sitting at my desk taking attendance. As I began to check off the absences, a dark shadow loomed above my head. Looking up I recognized Emily and her grandmother. Emily gave me a shy smile and scooted off to her seat. Her grandmother shook my hand and introduced herself. “Emily couldn’t stop talking about your class all day last Sunday,” she remarked.
“Really?” I questioned, “She seemed so quiet and reserved, I was hoping she wasn’t uncomfortable.”
“No, she loved your class and said she learned a lot and that you were funny,” stated the grandmother. “Only there is just one thing?”
“Yes?”
“Well, I asked Emily what your name was and she said, ‘I think it is Mrs. God……….’”

Fr. Dacian Bluma

We went to visit our dear friend, Fr Dacian Bluma in Mishawaka, Indiana yesterday. He is 85 and the former chaplain of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and probably the most holy man I have ever come to know. Over the many years that Blaise and I have known him, he has been there for spiritual advice, helped in sadness, grief and shared in our tears and laughter. He most truly exemplifies the life of Jesus Christ and what being a priest is truly meant to be.

He has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer and was given 3-6 months to live. Although his body is ravaged with cancer, is frail and yellowed, his face radiates heaven. He appears ready to go home to the loving arms of Jesus.

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant..........."

Here is a poem that Blaise wrote for him years ago, and it still applies today.



Dacian

His walk is like that of a whisper
Never loud or distracting.
Words drip softly from his mouth
As honey from a comb.
Yet in wisdom
They clap as thunder from the very throne of God.

He seeks to be nothing
Yet has an abundance for those in need.
Humility surrounds him tightly as a garment.

His gaze penetrates deep
Exuding understanding
Compassion
Knowledge
And always anticipating servitude from himself to others.

With his heart and eyes fixed on Jesus
God’s love ripples out to those near by.
If praise is offered him
He seems transparent
So as to allow the praise offered to flow through him
Back to our Father.

….and so his pilgrimage of faith continues

Praise be to God.
Dacian

Bluebird of Happiness

I am just so hooked on our birds--sorry if I print too many, but I can't get enough of bluebirds, I have waited 47 years to have them!

Here are a couple more in her graduation dress.

You would never know she was dealing with mono and a throat infection that day, would you?

Graduation Day

Molly graduated last Sunday, June 3--here are a couple of pictures of her receiving her diploma and with Erin, Kelly, me and Blaise--isn't she a pretty little thing?