Another Day Still at School

I"m not done yet!!

Memorial Day

Although I spent the greater part of Memorial Day at school donating my time in order to help get me ready to check out for the summer, I was reminded constantly that Memorial Day is set aside to honor our heroes.  I couldn't be in Streator, IL, at the cemetery to decorate the graves of my military family members, but I had them in my heart.

First and foremost, I remember my father.  A member of Tom Brokaw's Greatest Generation, Floyd Covill was born into poverty and raised during the Depression.  He found a way out of his family's plight through ahtletics.  He was chosen one of the top 25 high school athletes during his senior year, and was selected by Illinois State Normal University for a college scholarship.  He went to ISNU to study education to become a teacher, all the while playing football for the Redbirds.  (He was inducted into now-ISU's Football Hall of Fame.)  After college, he was offered a position with a professional football team in New York but took teaching/coaching positions, instead, to support his young wife and family.  When World War II started, he accepted a commission with the United States Naval Reserve and launched into active duty.  Lt. JG Covill was assigned to the USS Henrico APA 45 (a troop transport) on which he served as Navigator for the duration of the war, then remained on active duty during the Korean Conflict, and other duty after both wars were over.  Years later, he retired as a Commander and resumed his teaching career.  Dad rarely spoke of the horrors of war, so I errantly assumed that he hadn't seen any.  I was wrong.  He simply chose to protect his family from those memories because THAT is why he went to war to begin with--to protect his family from having to live with foreign domination.  Dad had no politics, to speak of.  He taught us respect for authority.  When I asked if he agreed with one president or other, his response always was:  "He is the Commander-in-Chief!"  Commander (USNR Ret.) Floyd Darwin Covill passed away in 1994, but I will always and forever salute the man whose service to his country and family was second to none. 

I remember my Uncle Bud.  Lt. Colonel George Edward Armstrong, my mother's brother, joined the US Army as a career man in his younger years.  He also served during World War II and Korea, decorated with a Purple Heart and the Army's Silver Star, among others.  During the Korean Conflict, Uncle Bud's unit was under fire when he took a hit in his left thigh.  He thought the Chinese were throwing rocks--until he felt his own warm blood running down his leg.  They wanted to evacuate him for medical care, but he refused to leave until he was sure that the situation was secure and his men were safe.  When he was forced to retire in his 40's due to diabetes, the Army hired him back on as a civilian, doing the same work in Washington DC, but with higher pay!  Uncle Bud was highly intelligent and wise, self-effacing, a wonderful storyteller, and easy to listen to--with the patience of Job.  When my mother (his sister) died in 1986, we begged to know how we could possibly get along without her.  His advice:  Close ranks.  He was right, of course.  And when he died, years later, the flag in our hearts flew at half-mast for months.

I remember my brother, EM3 F. Douglas Covill, who joined the Navy a year after high school.  Serving for 9 years, mostly on the USS Kawishiwi, Doug had tales to tell.  His ship was involved in the eventual evacuation of troops from Vietnam in the early 70's, and his eloquent writing style in his newsy letters home always were a focus of attention in the family.  When Doug shipped out of the Navy, he went on to become an electrician and engineer in a die casting factory in Chicago--then another company later.  Doug died suddenly on December 31, 2005, at the ripe old age of 52.  I'm not over the shock yet.

There are others:  My Uncle Bob who served in a shipyard.  My Aunt Rosie, with the Coast Guard.  My ancestors who served in the Civil War.  I honored them all this Memorial Day, 2006.

World's Greatest Spectacle in...Sweating!

Six members of the Hendricks County Amateur Radio Society, of which I was one, left K9PZ's house in Avon, IN, at 4:30 this morning for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in order to work the 500 as a fundraiser for our club. (I think this is the 4th year we've done this.)  Once again, we were assigned to Gate One at the corner of 16th Street and Georgetown Road, which is waaaaaay far away from the employee parking lot.  (Probably 1 1/2 miles.)

We managed to catch one of the last shuttle rides from the parking lot to our station before they shut the shuttles down when the track opens.  Standing at Gate One before dawn, I was amused: birds were chirping the sun up, and helicopters were beating the air overhead.  Ahhh...Mother Nature at her finest!  We had fire trucks; we had ambulances; we had police cars; we had a religious person on a microphone across the street, extolling a world full of sinners; and, when the track opened, we had cheery people carrying coolers to our checkpoint, and we ripped their tickets.  Nothing special there.

Traditionally, the race begins at 11:00 AM.  This year, however, for reasons known only to God, the race was to begin at 1:00 PM.  As the crowd of track-goers began to increase, so did the temperature.  By 10:00 AM, there was a sea of race fans, all seeming to converge on Gate One!  By 11:30 AM, the heat was beginning to take its toll.  Both track workers and fans alike were dropping like flies.  (Several of us noted that we had been drinking water like crazy, but no one had to take a bathroom break!)  There was no break at all in the crush of people entering the track.  By noon, we had been instructed to stop ripping tickets and just ask to see tickets as we waved fans through.  (This was the first time we had ever experienced that.  Regular track workers say it happens all the time in the last hour before the race.)  It was clear to me that track attendance was up, and it was clear to a lot of us that running the race two hours later than normal in high temperatures was a BAD idea!

As the final ceremonies began, the crush at the gates ended.  Several of us went to the stands to watch the beginning of the race--the parts that I love!  The balloon release, the songs, the fly-over, Taps, and "Lady and Gentlemen, start your engines!"  After the cars got through the first two race laps (and into their first caution flag), I went back to Gate One to try to snag a ride for us back to the parking lot.  We waited an hour, but at least we didn't have to hike it in that heat.  Back at the vehicles, we had an easy exit and trip home. 

Did I mention that it was hot???   Forecasts earlier in the week said it would be 88 degrees today, but the actual temperature got to 96.  The ice in the coolers of water at Gate One melted just about the time we needed it most.  (No more ice would be delivered, generally because golf carts wouldn't be able to get through the crowds of people.)  Megan and Nathan attended the race with Meg's father and wife.  Thank goodness they had seats in the shade!!  I felt sorry for the folks sitting in the sun.  (Some of those stands began to thin out about halfway through the race.  I know why!)

We were a bedraggled group that arrived back at our vehicles in Avon.  I had every intention of mowing my lawn after the race today, but my motivation completely evaporated in the noonday sun!  After I got home, I laid down on the couch to cool down for a bit and don't remember anything for an hour after that.  ZZZZzzzzzzzzz....

Had a brief visit with my grandchildren at the Heffelman grandparents' house before coming home for good.  What an exhausting day!  I hope we made some decent money for the club.  I'd hate to think we went through all of that for peanuts!

Oh...had a cell phone call from my daughter on their way home to Muncie.  They have had a flat tire and are limping home on the "donut" tire.  Awaiting word that they have arrived before I fall into bed....

Free at last!

Well....maybe not free--but reasonable!  The kids were wild today.  That was not unexpected, but it made for a LOOONG and stressful day.  Have to go back on Tuesday to turn in grades and complete the checklist for the end of the year.  I have too much to do to pretend that I can get away in just one day, so I may go back and work over the weekend.  THEN, and only then, will I be truly free for the summer!

I will be working at the Indianapolis 500 as a fundraiser for my radio club on Sunday.  Since the race starts two hours later than usual this year, we will be working longer, and the forecast is for 88 degrees!!! 

For now, I'll just enjoy my one day of sleeping in until next week when I can do it more often.  Yay!

"No S. S.!"

I put some words on my board at school last week:  No S. S.  Translation:  No Stupid Stuff!  The kids are just crazy right now and don't seem to be thinking of consequences.  In fact, we made the news today.  It seems that a couple of sixth grade boys have been exposing parts of their anatomy (that should remain personal and private) to the girls, and engaging in activities (that should remain in the privacy of the bathroom or bedroom) in the classroom.  A parent got drift of it--only because she overheard her daughter talking to a friend on the phone--and the fun began.  A bunch of angry parents descended upon the administration claiming that the teachers had failed to protect their young ladies from sexual harassment.  The teachers and administration were blindsided.  The young ladies had not reported the aberrant behavior to anyone!  The investigation continues...  In the meantime, they need to add MIND READER to the list of hats we teachers wear...

Yesterday, Megan was out of patience with the children, so Nathan took them fishing at the golf course after work.  Robin caught three fish and Ryan caught two.  (Nathan, who probably spent all his time baiting hooks and seeing to it that the children didn't kill themselves or each other with the poles) caught one.  The children sounded so excited about it on the phone.  Ryan said Daddy has a box with the fishing supplies in it.  It's a "tickle box".  I just laughed and laughed about that!

Two more days of school with students...then one more teacher day after the weekend...and I'll be free of school for a few weeks.  I will be working the Indy 500 for my radio club on Sunday, and (of course) the forecast is for 88 degrees!  Why it has to get inordinately warm THAT day is due to that doggone fellow Murphy.  Somebody ought to shoot that dude!

Skywarn net up on our repeater now due to severe weather conditions.  Please, God...don't let my car get hit by hail until my garage is cleaned out.  Someday.  Maybe....

Dayton Post Mortem

Here it is in a nutshell:

Thursday--teach school, throw things in the car, meet a SATERN guy from Chicago to caravan to Dayton, arrive Hara Arena about 7:30, make connections, set up the booth, head for the "roach" motel in Lewisburg.  Crash.

Friday--head back to Dayton, make connections at the Arena, greet everyone contributing to the booth, talk to hamfesters, coordinate everyone for dinner at a Chinese buffet, follow the caravan to the University of Dayton to find our dorm, sit up and gossip.  Crash.

Saturday--back to the arena, get ready to address the MIDCARS forum for Major Pat, moderate the SATERN forum, greet people at the booth, coordinate a caravan to find supper, back to the dorm.  Crash.

Sunday--back to the arena, greet people, tear down the booth (noonish), drive from Dayton to Muncie (a full 1 1/2 hours), have a great dinner with my family, talk to my daughter.  Crash.

Monday--watched the grandchildren while Meg did some grocery shopping, played outside,  employed the children to help clean up the back yard, left for home about 2:30.  Four days of school with kids left.  Looking forward to free days ahead!

More later.  I'm just too pooped to write much more.  The dawg and I are home...and I have to be ready for school tomorrow, dammit!

See my grandbabies at http://family.mamabeararts.com

:)

Rush, rush, rush

I am SO not ready for the Dayton Hamvention!  I leave for Ohio on Thursday after school.  Will meet one of the SATERN particulars from Chicago at the Washington Street Fazoli's just off I-465 (because construction has the I-70/ SR 267 area of Plainfield so messed up), then we will caravan to Dayton in order to get to Hara Arena just in time to set up the SATERN booth before they shut things down for the night there.  I don't have a room reserved!  Will play that by ear.  If I have to, I will sleep in the stinkin' car!  (I am hoping that the motel I have stayed in for the past few years will still have a room.  Need to call tomorrow!)

Before I can leave school on Thursday, I have to have two days' worth of lesson plans laid out for the sub.  (For the past couple of years, I have taken the Monday after Dayton off, for my own mental health.  It is the nicest thing I have done for myself in ages!  This year, I will have to drive up to Muncie to pick up the dog...so there won't be much "mental health" about it.)

It's just that everything telescopes in May with so much to do.  I am just running from one thing to the other without doing anything well.  <sigh>  Maybe next year I will be relieved of some of my Dayton responsibilities so I can actually enjoy the hamfest!  And RIGHT after that comes the end of the school year.  This year, since my laptop computer is still at Meg's (I forgot it!) so will be away from the Internet for the weekend, I think I will take my grade book to Dayton and work on grades in my "spare time".

Meg is in her first week of weight watching and having success.  She inspires me.  I really need to get serious about taking off about 50 pounds.  I can do this...but maybe not this weekend...

One more Monday of school.  I look forward to a few days of relaxation before the next round of responsibilities hits.  In fact, I need to start making my "to do" list now, or the summer will get away from me!

I'm blabbering here.  Time for bed!

Dedication on Mother's Day

Meg and Nate left for church early this morning in order to practice with the choir for their final performance before the summer "off" season, leaving me to get the children breakfasted and ready to go.  Meg had laid their clothes out for me, so it wasn't a big deal, although I always worry that we'll be late.  So far, so good!

Meg and Nate go to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Muncie.  It is a modern, unobtrusive, brick building set in a little patch of woods.  One entire wall of the sanctuary is glass, overlooking the trees.  The first time I worshipped with them, we sat and watched deer walk through the woods.  Really peaceful!  The U.U. Church is truly non-denominational in that it embraces all world religions, drawing wisdom from each.  It preaches only the dignity and worth of all people, along with stewardship for the planet and its creatures.  Meg and Nate are happy there, and the children love it, too.  Many of their ceremonies and traditions mirror Christian traditions (because many of their members are Christian)--and today was one of those: a child dedication.  Robin and Ryan were "baptized" today!

Families of the children to be dedicated were called to the front of the sanctuary, one at a time.  The parents said the full given name of each child.  Then the Director of Religious Education took a long-stemmed red rose, dipped the bloom  in water from their last water communion, and touched it to the child as the minister said:  "We touch your head so that you may learn to think clearly; we touch your lips so that you may learn to speak the truth; we touch your heart so that you may learn to love deeply; we touch your hands so that you may learn to serve others."  The child then received the rose.  The parents and congregation responded to a charge to guide each child in truth and love, with the hope that the child will come to know what was done for him/her today.

My grandchildren were angels!  Robin, who is totally civilized, was her usual princess self.  When it was Ryan's turn (he's only 2 1/2), he did a couple of circles around his father's legs, getting a chuckle from the congregation, until the DRE got down on his level with his rose.  Then he stood stock-still with a fascinated look on his face as she touched the rose to him.  And his rose was his constant companion for the rest of the morning. 

Later in the day, we went out for Baskin Robbins ice cream to celebrate.  Yum!

I left for Plainfield around 5:30 without the Frodog.  Meg and Nate are dogsitting for me because I leave Thursday for the Dayton Hamvention.  Meg already called to say that the pooch appears to miss me...but then she acts that way after they leave here.  Wish I could read that dog's mind!

So...I spent Mother's Day with my baby and my baby's babies.  Have I mentioned how proud I am of my family??

Royal Flush

Friday evening, Megan and the grandchildren came down so Meg and I could attend a baby-sitting-provided, 3-hr. craft event.  (Bring whatever you are doing!)  I sorted pictures; Meg captioned pictures in her scrapbook; others did other stuff.  The grandchildren were happy as little clams in the church nursery.

Nighttime for a "sleepover" at Gwamma's House isn't always peaceful.  The children are generally wound way out of control by then--contrary to adult exhausted behavior.  They can't simply be put to bed.  Someone has to be there with them to assure they will go to sleep, but there are rituals to be done...and that takes time.

At one point after we got home, Meg told me, somewhat stressed, that there was a missing rubber bathtub toy--and the toilet had been  flushed.  When Meg asked Robin where the toy (a seal) was, she would only respond with glee, "In the ocean!  In the sea!"  It was somewhat quickly ascertained that the seal from the 4-critter set of bathtub toys had been flushed.  (Apparently Nemo had been rescued by being flushed to the ocean.  Robin was just helping another sea creature reach freedom!)  It was also equally quickly ascertained that the toilet wouldn't flush properly.  Surprise, surprise!  With the toilet in my bedroom (which leaks at the wax seal) still in a state of disrepair since I had to cancel the appointment back when my brother died, we were down to one toilet--and it wasn't working!  We went to bed, deciding to worry about it in the morning.

Saturday morning, nothing but water would go down the afflicted potty.  It rose to the surface, but never overflowed (thank goodness!).  I put in a call to a plumber ham friend's answering machine.  He called back fairly promptly, saying he had to be in Plainfield and would stop by.  His comment was that he would use a tool to try to get the seal out of the pipes, but if that didn't work, he would have to reschedule for Monday in order to pull the toilet.  My assessment of all repair situations is that nothing goes right the first time, and the plumber's assessment of my situation was not all that rosy.  Because of the type of toilet it is, he wasn't promising much.  He said we would be "lucky" if it came out at all.   To my total joy and surprise, the  blue seal emerged on the first try, and was immediately discarded.  The toilet flushes again...and I am a happy camper!  It only cost me $50.  (I had visions of this being an expensive venture.)

I am in Muncie now.  There is a child dedication service, like baptism, at the kids' church tomorrow that will include my grandchildren.  Couldn't miss that, of course! 

 The Frodog will stay in Muncie until after I get back from the Dayton Hamvention.  Meg called to say that the pooch appears to miss me already.  She'll get over it!

Indy 500 Festival Mini-Marathon

I volunteered to work the Indy 500 Mini-Marthon (13 miles or so) as a radio operator for the second year.  Mike Palmer N9FEB organizes the communications, using 94 radio operators all along the race route and other strategic places such as local hospitals.  I'm not sure how the 500 Festival people ever got along without us!  The race took place yesterday in absolutely drop-dead gorgeous weather--not a cloud in the sky, cool and sparkly in the early morning.

My assignment is right at the entrance to the Speedway track on 16th Street at the tunnel.  At that location, I am only a spotter.  (Other locations at mile markers and "pits" are responsible for starting the race clocks, maintaining flags that indicate the status of the race and conditions, summoning medical attention for the injured, etc.)  I parked right across the street at 6:30 AM and took my place among other volunteers and "yellow shirts" (who are the tracks' Safety Patrol people).  There were also people from a hired security company, police, National Guard--you name it--all there to help the race run safely.  Also present, plopped right in the middle of the street, were the Gordon Pipers.  I was treated to bagpipe music for the entire race to the track!  A shiny, huge, red racing semi was parked across 16th Street so the runners would have to turn into the track...and then it was time to begin.

The wheelchair racers are started first, then the regular runners, minutes later.  The entrance to the track is near the 6th mile marker--almost halfway.  Last year, because the day was warmer and more humid, the runners were stressed by the time they reached the track.  This year, they looked considerably better.  And here is what I saw:

*Typically, the race is quiet.  Runners are conserving their breath so they aren't talking. All you can hear is the padding of their feet on the pavement...UNTIL they get to the track entrance.  Then there are whoops and hollers and cheers that go up as they enter the tunnel.  Several slow down a little to take a "Hail Mary" camera shot of the entrance on the fly; others stop and ask bystanders to take pictures of them at the entrance before returning to the race course.  Many check their watches.  Some fling unnecessary clothing (t-shirts) and water cups/bottles to the curb.  Many have earphones in their ears, attached to radios strapped to theirarms.  Most are running; some are jogging; the tail-enders are walking--but all 35,000 of them are having a good time!

*One runner was pushing a wheel chair with a woman (daughter?  wife?) in it.

*One runner had his blind partner holding onto his arm.  Another was "tied" to another with a scarf.

*One participant was a fireman who walked the whole course in full fire call-out gear, including breathing mask (raising money for Muscular Distrophy).  We tracked him carefully.

*One tall, muscular woman tripped and fell right in front of me.  She hit the ground on her side, rolled back to her feet without a scratch, and continued running without hesitation.  She virtually just bounced!

*The radio calls for medical assistance were few and far between.  There were the usual blisters and chafes and a couple had some respiratory distress, but the race was MUCH safer this year than last. 

When the track entrance was closed, I was free to go home.  I was back at my home-on-a-slab by 10:45...in time to do the SATERN nets on HF.  (Band conditions were so bad that I couldn't hear the nets, anyway!)

The Mini is an event I will volunteer for another year.  It's fun!

Another day, another mowing

Today turned out to be lovely after overnight rain and morning clouds.  When I got home this afternoon, I decided to take a short snooze on the couch before chopping the dandelions down again, but the dog came to me, whining, about something going on outside.  Okay...so we went out.  Ack!  The neighbors moving in next door had two yappy little dogs in the back yard, and Frodo just didn't know what to do about that!  At first, she charged the fence and they all barked at each other enlessly, but on future trips out, Frodo seemed considerably outnumbered and confused about what to do next.  Bark, of course!  I hope this isn't a sign of things to come.  I'm not sure the neighborhood can take THREE yappy dogs at the same time!

Yesterday, Meg and the children were in my driveway when I got home from school.  Meg came to work on my computer.  (It needed to be cleaned of unnecessary files, etc.)  In the meantime, the children and I muddled through the evening.  Don't know what it is, exactly, but after about 4:00 PM daily, my normally delightful grandchildren become agitated and testy (mostly with each other).  Boredom?  Fatigue?  Who knows?!  In any case, they systematically tore up the house, and Grandma (who was already tired) was impatient.  Finally, I plopped them both in the bathtub, put them on separate couches in their jammies with sippy-cups of milk, and plied them with Dora the Explorer videos until Meg was done.  It was only moderately successful in settling them down.

Robin has an affinity for getting "all warm and snuggly," which consists of dragging out every pillow and blanket in the house.  Sometimes, she buries herself in them to get...well...all warm and snuggly.  Other times, she uses them to create tents and things she calls her "home".  (Ryan's creations are "dams", as in "I am building a dam!"  Go figure!)  I'm afraid I am the guilty party that got them started on that whole bit when Robin was sick one time.  I understand that it is fun and makes one feel secure...but it sure doesn't do much for the situation of  keeping the bed linen clean and in place!  (And btw...even though they have a zillion blankets at their house, they still fight over who gets what blanket to play with!)

I have a zillion things to do and haven't done any of them tonight.  Some things never change!