Monthly Archives: August 2016

This afternoon has been full of God-winks! Griffith and I delivered enrollment papers to Alter High School in. We did not realize two of the administrators would immediately clear their schedules to welcome us with such tremendous warmth, and enthusiasm. … Continue reading →

Ok. Maybe not a chef, but the boy can certainly grill delicious BBQ pork.  Griffith has made BBQ pork, twice, and it’s delicious.  I am not a fan of pork, but I’ve enjoyed it immensely.  I can cook.  I can … Continue reading →

MIAGD: make it a great day “Grandpa CooCoo? Why’d you call that old man that name?” Standing in front of Leesons Department Store in Elwood, painting windows for the Panther Band’s trek to the Indiana State Fair, fellow band member, … Continue reading →

Enrolling a child in a private school is far more extensive than public school.  For a moment, I wondered if I was buying property overseas, or going through another adoption home study.  And after five hours of solid paperwork, while … Continue reading →

The week was fully charged.   As I’m on the threshold of my next week, I’m a mixture of elation, slightly fatigued, and eager to move on to the next phase of the adoption process: finalization.  After a whirlwind week … Continue reading →

Unlike the Titanic itself, playwright Luke Yankee‘s brilliantly conceived, THE LAST LIFEBOAT, produced by the ever reliable Dayton Theatre Guild, not only stayed afloat, it lifted out of the water.  All the planets and stars were aligned: playwright (who was in … Continue reading →

MIAGD: make it a great day Several times throughout the night, I feel one of the dogs rearrange their position.  Before long, the search for a new position ends with a slight body-slam against me, or a head draped across … Continue reading →

August 24, 1814, the prominent buildings of the still fairly new country was set ablaze by the British.  It had been a miserable, hot August day, and President James Madison was out with the troops observing the nearby battle of … Continue reading →

MIAGD: make it a great day It’s A beautiful day here in the Miami though.  We are all enjoying the gentle breezes, sunshine, jolly sound of the wind chimes, cicadas, and birds.  Sometimes, you don’t have to make it a … Continue reading →

MIAGD: make it a great day Ahhhh….  It’s not often the world gets to hear some of the truth when it comes to what foster/adopted children and parents experience.  The other evening I somehow tripped across a video by Josh … Continue reading →

MIAGD: make it a great day Walgreens has tagged their stores as “on the corner of happy and healthy,” but here in Kettering, Ohio, we have one particular corner that is particularly happy and healthy! Yes, I know. Darin is talking … Continue reading →

Improv and inspiration rounded out Friday.   We began the day early with appointments, and some errands.  I worked from the deck the remainder of the day, and when I felt the need to prep my strawberry pancakes, the deck … Continue reading →

One of my favorite plays, THE MIRACLE WORKER,  also made into an Oscar winning 1962 motion picture and a 1979 made-for-television movie, each featuring the wonderful actress, the late Patty Duke, has one of the most incredible scenes in which … Continue reading →

11:30 PM, Wednesday night.   The deck is comfy, though dampness fills the air from five straight days of heavy rains.  Crickets and cicadas are producing a chorus of varying timbres and rhythms.  Tomorrow is my last day of teaching … Continue reading →

Every August, my thoughts, and heart,  always return to my hometown, Elwood Indiana, the home of Wendell L. Willkie, Red Gold, and St. Clair Glass.  A small rural town right in the heart of Hoosierland, Elwood has held its place in history, agriculture, … Continue reading →

MIAGD: make it a great day If you grew up in Elwood Indiana, you were more than familiar with tomatoes, blown glass, and the name, Wendell L. Willkie.  Wendell L. Willkie was born and raised in Elwood, and ran against incumbant, … Continue reading →

It’s moving in on 1:30 AM, and I’m still wired from a very long day.  My deck time was diminished due to the first round of appointments for Griff.  We had a brief retreat at home before venturing out for … Continue reading →

MIAGD: make it a great day  When we moved into our Shroyer home in 2003, it was the first time I’d shared a bathroom with my sons, and I quickly discovered a new teen malady: the inability to replace a … Continue reading →

MIAGD: Make it a great day The arts – music, theatre, dance, motion pictures, fine arts, writing/reading – has a magnetic magic on so many levels, but one of the neatest elements is to see how the arts brings folks together. … Continue reading →

MIAGD: make it a great day I have six students who, he graduated this past spring, preparing to leave for college. While they are excited for this new adventure, there’s also the hesitation, and a bit of anxiety. 33 years … Continue reading →

It’s been two weeks, today, since the arrival of my newest son, and it finally feels like the house is coming together.  The family schedule is still a bit sporadic since my summer schedule is approaching its final week, but … Continue reading →

MIAGD: make it a great day  Fear can come in many different forms, and can resurface in countless ways.  Having raised adopted sons, and a number of foster sons who passed through on respite stays, I noticed how their past … Continue reading →

Summer is winding down. I hate seeing summer come to an end as I love my longer days of teaching, and having an additional day off to go have fun. However, the upside: I have my morning writing and research … Continue reading →