Category Archives: Uncategorized

I grew up around the corner from my maternal grandparents, Leroy and Donna Barmes, who lived on the southwest corner of South A and 8th Streets in Elwood, Indiana, and at a very young age I began devouring every nugget … Continue reading →

The windy 35- degrees doesn’t feel chilly but the dull grey sky gives the atmosphere a slight edge. It was such a nice relaxing weekend, four days of restructuring, online book discussion, a great walk with Mama Kay and Laura, … Continue reading →

These are the moments I treasure. 3:30 AM nature break. Does anyone still say, “nature break?” Ive not heard the phrase in years. So, I woke, rose, walked the few steps to the bathroom to relieve my bladder. There. Grateful … Continue reading →

The past several mornings have greeted the day with dazzling sunrises but this morning there’s a strong effort by the clouds to shield the sun from appearing. At least the cardinals are not holding back: two sang to me around … Continue reading →

Tonight, while researching for a project, I happened onto my maternal great-grandfather’s registration card. John William Garrett Clary was born near the northwest corner of Duck Creek Township near Elwood, Madison County, Indiana on August 31, 1898. The registration card … Continue reading →

My Thursday was entirely different than planned but it certainly was not lacking in enjoyment and involvement. My zoom lunch and a rescheduled lesson (which I never do) both went different directions, however, that did not prevent me from accomplishing … Continue reading →

Once again, the early morning sun is blinding and wrestling to get to the west side of my house to the deck where I’m currently engaged in a funny political historical story with my son via Zoom, drinking my coffee … Continue reading →

At 7:35 AM, I actually walked about the deck with my coffee, Zooming with my London-based son, and enjoying the brilliant sunlight splashing the sides of the house, desperately attempting to grasp the backyard with its golden fingers. Now, the … Continue reading →

I teach process, a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end, from the beginning of my teaching day to the very close of the teaching day. The “P-word” as it as often referred to … Continue reading →

Monday, I posted about Dave Barry’s LESSONS FROM LUCY which I loved listening to on audiobooks. I found this expertly written assessment on the book by Rosepoint Publishing. The full read can be found here: https://rosepointpublishing.com/2019/04/02/lessons-from-lucy-the-simple-joys-of-an-old-happy-dog-by-dave-barry-a-bookreview/ Here are some of … Continue reading →

A family friend, John Moore, sent a book around for the family to read, LESSONS FROM LUCY. Humorist Dave Barry wrote a syndicated humor column for the Miami Herald for more than two decades and is the author of many … Continue reading →

“Rainy Days and Mondays” always seems to be the go-to song when we have wet starts to the work week and we end up with the lovely, dreary ear worm with Karen Carpenter’s voice chewing inside our heads. It’s an … Continue reading →

A February Sunday afternoon in 2011, my son Quintin and I were traveling through east central Indiana when we spied a huge plywood sheet with the hand painted letters: F R E E P U P P I E S. … Continue reading →

 THE ROAD NOT TAKEN. By Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where … Continue reading →

Someone asked what my weekly schedule is like. Well, here it is. It’s the best life I could hope for. I work from home, work with incredible students throughout the week, and enjoy a lot of time with The Quartet.

I finished by teaching evening just after Mama Kay, from next door, had left a tub of chicken orzo soup and a gift from her daughter, Laura. The soup was delicious. The gift sent from Laura was a large D. … Continue reading →

I remember my parents taking me with them to a drive-in movie so they could watch M*A*S*H and since it was the second feature, I would be sound asleep. Looking back, I could never understand why my parents, with me … Continue reading →

The books of L and K in my large World Book Encyclopedia set were the most oft used books since they contained the sections on Lincoln and Kennedy. Classmates in kindergarten had little to no idea who Lincoln was. It … Continue reading →

One week ago tomorrow, a wonderful human being slipped away quietly, leaving a huge void. I really didn’t get to see Don much, these past few years, except at holiday or family gatherings but there was never a beat skipped … Continue reading →

Last week when it became more apparent we’d be in for a solid polar belt this weekend, the oral vomit of anxiousness and complaining began in full force. This morning, it’s embarrassing to read posts about the horrible weather. Why … Continue reading →

I try my damnedest to be of good attitude and generally make every day a great day but sometimes I really must work at it and fight off the weight of moving forward. Yesterday was a busy day that bounced … Continue reading →

I grew up knowing the phrase, “let the sunshine in” from the popular “Aquarius – Let The Sunshine In” from the musical, HAIR. After a steak of grey days, I always throw back all the curtains to make sure the … Continue reading →

March 10, 1846 – February 1, 1850 Eddie Lincoln, the second son of Mary Todd and Abraham Lincoln, was named after the Lincoln family friend, Edward Dickinson Baker, was one month shy of his fourth birthday when he died.  Eddie’s funeral … Continue reading →

Even when we had guests, usually friends of the boys, joining us for dinner, we set our cleaned plates on the floor for Flyer to lick clean. One friend assisted me with clearing the lunch table and taking the plates, … Continue reading →

The summer of 1948, only three years upon assuming the office of president with Franklin Roosevelt’s death, President Harry S. Truman was in a political battle for The White House against Thomas E. Dewey and while shouldering the weight of … Continue reading →