School year winding down
Mood:
celebratory
Topic: Chelsea
Well the school year is winding down now. Chelsea definitely has senioritis - can't wait for the school year to end. She is state treasurer for HOSA - Health Occupational Students of America. This is the first year for the state chapter and they had a convention at the school. Students came in from Toledo, Kent, Columbus, Dayton and elsewhere.
I was asked to fill in as one of the judges for Medical photography. I was glad that I did it. Although I am very much an amateur, I have picked up enough to recognize what makes a good picture. The girl that won it had the best picture - it captured a moment. A fellow had had a stroke and had asked to have solid food for the first time instead of a feeding tube. The nurse was helping him eat a cracker and had a hand on his throat to help him swallow. She had a look of concern on her face and the patient had a look of determination. A fellow judge said that it was Norman Rockwell scene. At the awards ceremony she was beaming when she walked back to her seat with a first place medal. So it was rewarding to be a part of that.
Chelsea was on a biomedical debate team arguing whether the US is prepared for a biological attack or not. Her team won, saying that the US is not ready - hard to argue that assumption. She gets to go to the national convention in Florida. Should be a good time for her.
Joe's grades are finally inching up. Still is struggling with algebra, but the remainder of his grades are actually pretty good, A's B's and a C. I think he got behind in math early and just couldn't catch up. Also Chad has 'helped' Joe by giving him his old Dodge Dart. It has a V8 engine, so the gas and insurance will be expensive, not exactly the kind of first car I envisioned for Joe, but I don't want to temper his enthusiasm. He has been doing some work on it - installed a new carbeurator(sp) and so forth.
Chad has been having Joe stay over the past couple of weekends to help do some work around his place. I like to see the two sons getting along, but miss having the extra labor on the homestead. Oh, Joe got to compete in the last track meet. He did better than his last meet where he missed the call for the 200m dash! He was 7th in his heat this go round and didn't place in the long jump. We are hoping that they do the triple jump again at Madison on Thursday, hopefully he can repeat his performance from the first track meet.
Speaking about the homestead, we are expanding our livestock operation - adding some chickens and pigs. I was talking with farmers and with corn going higher because of ethanol, the price of meat will have to go up to compensate. So we will be growing more to keep our costs down. Plus we are raising extra so that we can share it with the Deeters and with Chad and Sarah.
Chad and Sarah are having regular meetings with the midwife. I joked to Sarah that her belly has almost caught up to mine! His place is looking nice - lawn well taken of, and he had Joe tear down an old shed at the back of the property. The garden is planted. They have it all looking nice. The garage as one can imagine is crammed full - but well organized. Once they get ahead, I can see them putting up a pole barn with a good portion devoted to a shop and the remainder for storage.
Little Elaina had tubes put in her ears - just had bout after bout with ear infections, which seems to be a family trait. Vanessa reports that she is doing well after the procedure. All is going well South of the Ohio River. Vanessa did make a casual inquiry on a property and now they are deluged with real estate proposals. But they are not ready to take the plunge yet.
Posted by christ77
at 11:37 AM EDT