To recap:
Most of February 6th through the 11th, I spent most of my extra time preparing the sermon I gave on President Lincoln’s spirituality on February 12th.
Friday, February 10
My friends, Brody (Fairmont choral director) and Mark Tangeman (former choral booster parent) and I went to Cadillac Jack’s for an “all-you-can-eat-fish-dinner” which was excellent. Afterwards, we headed back to Brody’s for pipes and cigars (I only smoke my pipe) and drinks. Brody had written to a pipe tobacco company asking for their opinion on samples and they sent him a huge bag of various pipe tobaccos. So, we each tried 4 or 5 different bags, and took home one or two – and Brody still had about 25 bags remaining.
Saturday, February 11
I spent some extra time on the sermon, and called my friend, Jeff Carter, to hear his opinion on a few items. He was a tremendous help by refocusing my question – “was Lincoln a Christian?” By the time Jeff finished, the question was, “was Lincoln Christian?” Bingo! That evening I hurried to Monte & Chris Stevens’ to take photos of Nathaniel, his date and their friends as they prepared to go to the “turnabout dance.” Monte, Chris and I then joined 30 some others at the Japanese Sake restaurant for a delicious meal. Afterwards, we drove back to the Stevens’ for mint chocolate chip ice cream and conversation until 11:00PM. Ugh! I had intended to leave at 9:00PM, but they kept regaling me with stories which had me rolling. Still, I was a poor guest by overstaying my welcome. I have learned there are just some people in this world you just enjoy so much that the time literally, and sadly, flies by quickly.
Sunday, February 12
I had gone to bed at 2:30AM and was up at 5:45AM to head over to Our Savior Lutheran Church to take photos of the Dayton Mission Trip as they prepared to head to Slidell, Louisiana, where they would assist with the Katrina clean-up. Even at 6:30AM, Monte and I were in rare form. While they were in Louisiana, they did get to enjoy some of the preliminary Mardes Gras celebrations.
For photos of the mission trip, please visit:
http://www.dcmt2006.blogspot.com/
As usual, the ride to church was coupled with my Sunday morning phone conversation with Mother. The sermon seemed to go well, and many were lined up following the service to thank me. Chris, Adam, my sons and I went to Wendy’s for lunch, and Chris and I – as usual – spent nearly two hours chatting away about anything and everything as the boys patiently amused themselves. Afterwards the boys and I ran errands, finally settling at home around 7:00PM. I got in a kick to clean and shampooed all the rugs and carpets, and tidied up a little more.
Monday through Thursday, February 13-16
Busy week at The Muse Machine offices. Each night I downloaded pictures from the Katrina ravaged area, sent by the mission gang. I then loaded these photos on to the blog site I was keeping for the team. Tuesday was my sister’s 33rd birthday and the boys and I sang “Happy Birthday” her over the telephone. Wednesday I began feeling very run-down and somewhat “yucky.” I ran by the doctor’s and he said it looked like I might be coming down with strep-throat. I canceled lessons so students wouldn’t come down with anything I might have. I took my medicine, slept for several hours and then hurried to Van Buren Middle School for a parent-teacher conference with Jose’s teachers. You can choose autumn or winter for these conferences, and I always choose both. The report on Jose was great, and the teachers seem to love having him in class. Thursday night, the boys and I sang to my nephew, Andrew, to congratulate him on his 7th birthday. Later, Chris Stevens called and we chatted away for – well, let’s say it was after 1:00AM when we finally hung up.
Friday, February 17
I woke to a sore throat, tired and not wanting to do anything. The boys had the day off from school, so I took them with me to The Muse Machine. I introduced them to the staff and then they walked over to the Montgomery County Library and spent a few hours there. They came back around 11:40AM and went to get Chinese, then joined all of us for lunch. We left after 1:00PM and I took a nap for an hour or so. Taught, and then hurried to Action Adoption to teach a pre-adoption course. Normally I stay for a while and talk to Pat Hill, the executive director, but I was pooped and hurried home.
Saturday, February 18
It was a slow morning. I worked around my study and finally we all showered and dressed and headed to Wal-Mart to get salad and soda to take to the Stevens’ for a pizza supper. I got caught in “Stupid-fest” in the self-checkout lane – ugh! What morons! We ate pizza with Chris, Nathaniel, Adam and Nathaniel’s girlfriend, Emily. Afterwards, we drove over to Northmont High School to see a production of my most favorite musical, Children of Eden by Stephen Schwartz. I love this show. The students did a good job despite the fact it is a very big show to produce. 
Eden is a rich, animated production as delicious as Eve’s proverbial apple. But this is not just the epic story of what happens once Eve bites into the forbidden fruit. Schwartz and Caird go one step further, examining ancient familial relationships, specifically between father and children. Like a church experience without the religious fervor, Eden casts a warm spotlight on the consequences of disobedience and the importance of holding faith in others.
After the show we chatted with Monte who had returned from the mission trip, and we got to hear a few of the stories before calling it a night.
Sunday, February 19
Another cold day in the Miami Valley. We went to church, and then to Ruby Tuesdays for lunch with the Stevens family. 
The boys and I drove to Sam’s Club so I could get new tires, but the store in Centerville had closed its auto department for remodeling. The boys and I ran a few errands, and while getting a new keyboard and mouse for my computer, I spied a $9.99 DVD of one of my favorite movies, The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne, Maureen O”Hara and the ever adorable, Barry Fitzgerald. The movie has some of the most gorgeous scenes of Ireland, and the music, beautifully orchestrated Irish tunes, just melts the heart. I could watch this – or listen to it over and over just to hear the music. One of my favorite melodies, “The Isle of Innesfree” is the main meldoy throughout the movie, and it has the most haunting, lovely sound.
And this coming week:
Monday – Muse & teachingTuesday – Muse, teaching, The Music Man parent meeting
Wednesday – Muse, teaching, Matthew’s show choir concert
Thursday – Muse, teaching
Friday – Muse, teaching, Jeff Carter comes to town for the show choir invitational, dinner with Monte, Chris, and JeffSaturday
– Show choir invitational from 7:00AM until approximately midnight
Sunday – church, hurry to Indiana to celebrate my great-great-uncle’s 90th birthday
So – if my blogs are not present this week – you will know why!
The Haasienda on Shroyer... 