Monday, November 25, 2013

Thanksgiving break off to a good start

I decided to drive down to Charlotte on Sunday to avoid the bitter cold (in the teens) and it was a good choice. I got to play golf at Regent Park (45 for 9) and I rode my bike there also. It’s not a great bike trail but it is right next to the golf course. I had some pizza and then graded a couple of papers and then headed back to the Wingate for a nap and some yoga. I went off to P.F. Chang’s for dinner and it was excellent as always, though I had Buddha’s Delight and pan fried shrimp dumplings for a change. I watched the first half of the Denver/New England game and Denver looked unstoppable. The second half was much different and it was 31 all when Denver punted and a Denver player, because of Wes Welker’s mistake, touched the punt and New England got the ball and kicked the game winning field goal with 2 seconds left. I didn’t sleep very well but I graded a few papers and a poetry portfolio and I will go for a walk in Charlotte later and a bike ride before heading home at around 2.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Thanksgiving Break Begins

It is the 22nd of November, the 50th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and it certainly brings back some somber memories. I was 12 back then and it remained the most powerful event in my life until 9/11. I have just started my Thanksgiving break and it is very needed. I have graded about half the poetry portfolios and now I have the tougher ones left. I have about 20 papers to grade so that is 2 per day and that should be manageable. I finished fixing the road this morning and it is in terrific shape. I also sanded the new stairway to the roof of the tractor barn and charged the batteries to 93 percent. After fixing the road I drove into town, played 9 holes of golf (46 from the white tees), road my bike and then headed home for a nap and a walk where I finished the waterbars. I talked with Kelly this morning and things are fine. I was a little down yesterday and I told her why and she cleared up a few things (she hadn’t gotten my second e-mail about visiting during Thanksgiving and she hadn’t gotten my phone message and I hadn’t gotten the birthday card from her and Lucia). I should see them in December. The greenhouse is almost done but the house is in terrific shape, the best in years. I hope to stay until 70 but who knows.

Friday, November 15, 2013

the last two weeks

It is Thursday night, the 15th of November and I only have two weeks of class left. I can’t wait. I got real sick last weekend and that threw me a curve. I felt awful on Thursday night and then Friday I had to take Hunter with Natural Resources around and then work with Mike. It was the hardest working day in a long, long time. However, the tiles are cleaned and sealed in the bathroom and kitchen. The radiator in the bathroom is painted. The guts in the toilet are replaced. I have an easy access ladder to the top of the tractor barn and I have sweep off all the residue and I don’t have to repair the other shingle. The house is completely stained (two coats on the back porch) and I have put the treads on with staples and caulk. I repaired the walking stick with a new tip. All the recycling is gone. The greenhouse is still producing some lettuce but the cold snaps have hurt output. I got the batteries almost full without using the equalizing charge so they are really changed correctly, from 1240 to 1270. My classes are going okay but I am ready to finish up.