Not too bad . . .

Only shot of Seward as we embarked on the McKinley Explorer, part if the Alaskan Railroad, as soon as we landed!

After breakfast and Mass we went to the Dog Track. I was surprised because although it was only about 38 degrees I was able to walk my full two plus miles. A hazy sun peeped out. It was so cold walking west and north into the wind that I needed my hat and mittens but when I turned east and south I had to remove them and unzip my jacket! Then we came home and I watched UCONN men let Louisville beat them in the last second. Oh, how I'm crying. I can't stand it. They never have enough of a cushion. They were ahead by 13 points in the first half but were terrible at the beginning of the second half. They're just like the UCONN of old. I'm never comfortable unless they have at least a 30 point advantage and that, of course, never happens! Maybe the NIT?

Cooking up corned beef and cabbage for supper. Good hot stuff on another spitting cold day.

Quote: Tranquil pleasures last the longest; we are not fitted to bear long the burden of great joys. __Bovee

Walking . . .

Puppy's Pop had to clear about 3 inches of snow off of the driveway before he left at 6:15am for East Hartford and the horseshoe tournament. He came in third and was home about noon. Our road was the worst of the roads he had to travel. Kiddo was up late, 8:30am, and we stayed in and watched the huge flakes fall until about 10. By then the roads were already melting and so when we left for Groton at 10:45 there was no snow on the roads. Even so someone managed to have and accident of the far end of Starkweather and I had to turn around and come back to Route 12 so we were about 10 minutes late.

Watched the UCONN women beat Georgetown this early afternoon and then went walking at the Dog Track while Grampa flew his latest little plane. It turned cold as heck while we were there and my hands never did warm up. I generally get all toasty by the time I hit a mile. Not today! The sun never made it through the clouds but all of the snow has melted except of course for our hill!

Another gray day. I did some vacuuming, dishes and etc. Time to read and perhaps start another puzzle. I have a hooked rug I should finish but I'm not even close to being in the mood so a puzzle it may have to be. It drives Puppy's Pop a bit crazy because I take up a lot of the kitchen table! I just put away the bird puzzle today after I let grandson complete the cardinal and blue jay.

Quote: Cunning is the dwarf of wisdom.__W.R. Alger

I certainly do not feel cunning or wise today. Bleak, that's the word.

Of turkeys and government . . .

With a light snow falling, the Moosup River rushing over its banks the day seemed rather ordinary late winter until . . . there they were. At least 13 wild turkeys were walking, pecking around the tamaracks at a most leisurely pace. One poor little devil was hurt and hopping on one leg but she kept up with the others although always bringing up the rear. They strolled slowly up the hill across the woods behind the garage to emerge near the garden. Taking their time, sauntering and pecking they moseyed over to the spring, over the wall and disappeared on one of the old trails that kiddo and I use when we enjoy playing in the woods creeping up on Grampa as he pitches horseshoes. Nice way to begin a day where the weather is, at the present moment, spitting a fine precipitation of rainy, sleety snow.

End of the month so have to pay bills. I can't believe that the Teachers' Retirement Board is taking out more money for our medical insurance without even giving us a raise. I'm not really complaining too much because it's probably just a matter of time before those ignorant legislators take the pension fund and wipe it out altogether. It's already underfunded by enormous amounts. They'll use it to send us more garbage in the mail about how great they are. They're killing me! There are so many people that work for the state and receive all sorts of perks that no one in the private sector could even expect to attain. I know. My pension comes from the state and I've seen first hand how many people do not deserve the benefits they get but once in a government job they're taken care of for life. It's alarming and disheartening. There's so much waste in the schools and government in our small state can you even imagine what it must be like in the other 49 and in DC? It's too scary to contemplate but the office holders better get a grip sometime very soon before they're out and hopefully we can at least slow down the rate of government growth. OK That's my diatribe for today. And I don't feel any better :(

Quote: No government ought to exist for the purpose of checking the prosperity of its people or to allow such a principle in its policy. __Burke

Homely it is . . .

Leaving College Fjord and Prince William Sound for Seward. We had to board Alaskan Pilots before we arrived at College Fjord (the glaciers are named Holyoke, Barnard, Wellesley, Vassar, Bryn Mawr, Smith, Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Williams and Amhurst) where we saw the Bligh Reef made infamous because of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Sorry my narrative is a bit disjointed. The photos are from 2006 and I'm trying not use crib sheets!

What a homely day. It doesn't get much uglier than this. Perhaps these are the April showers that will bring May flowers but since Climate Change is upon us the months just don't matter anymore. We'll probably have to change the names of the seasons too. I suppose the government could just come up with a weather Czar and declare another disaster so they can tax Americans and Bush for the mess they've made of Mother Nature. Yep, that's it. And the sun will shine in all its glory thanks to the leftwingnuts! I'm glad I've gotten this all figured out. What a relief.

The real sunshine will start today when I get to lunch duty. I'm always smiling when I leave the school and the antics of those little ones.

Quote: The heart gets weary, but never gets old. A loving heart is the truest wisdom. __Dickens

Armatus Training . . .

College Fjord in Prince William Sound. Loaded with glaciers and seals!

Whoa! I'm already pooped. Went to breakfast at Zip's early in the pouring rain and then "home again home again, jiggedy jig." Since I'll be subbing at Sacred Heart next week I decided it was about time I took their on line course on protecting children. I must say that the Armatus Training is quite comprehensive and took at least a couple of hours to complete but it was good to remind myself about safety issues, particularly abuse of children. It is required of all volunteers and teachers by the Diocese of Norwich but because I'm still a certified teacher in Connecticut and have been finger printed etc. etc. etc. I wasn't forced to take the course. But since everyone else is supposed to take it I considered it best to get it completed. It was presented quite well and to the point. I wish I knew the difference between a "pedophile" and a "homosexual." I mean are they often the same, found in one person or are they completely different? I'm not quite up to snuff on these things. Pedophiles scare the hell out of me. I don't really give any thought to homosexuals. But . . . if homosexuals are often pedophiles I'd like to know that. Oh well, perhaps someday I'll be able to ask someone who knows how this stuff works.

Time for a snack and the Bulletin. Should take all of 10 minutes.

Quote: It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable. __Moliere

A raspberry jello day . . .

We've really been in College Fjord for the last several photos. We left Glacier Bay and are going through College Fjord on our way to Seward.

Got a bit accomplished today! Finished up what I could on the taxes; only have to wait for Grampa's brother to finish up the estate taxes to see if we can garner any more deductions! I hope we can. Need some more deductions this year! Also went to Big Y and got that out of the way for the week. Went a day early in case the real snow materializes tomorrow. It's been spitting all day but the roads just got wet. It may freeze tonight though. Also finished listening and walking to Bleak House, 28 CD's. I really liked it. It's amazing how many characters Dickens can keep track of and end the novel with a proper accounting of each. I haven't figured out who my favorite character is. Some are too good to be true and others completely loathsome. Perhaps Bucket, the detective, is my favorite. Probably the precursor of Sherlock Holmes.

Grandson is suddenly into jokes so I dug out 5 old joke books that the big kids had when they were younger! And, of course, I went to Amazon and bought at least one new book of Knock, Knock Jokes. They are so corny but kiddo gets a kick out of them. We'll see what happens when he visits Friday.

Had a nice email from a former student who studied in France for a semester in International Relations. He loved his stay there and although he's not using his French at present is thinking of going to grad school and becoming a French teacher. Hip! Hip! He was certainly a wonderful French student some years ago. It's so nice to hear how the "kids" are doing. I really did have a lot of fun with the students. It's too bad there are administrators in school buildings! Schools only need extremely competent teachers, students who are brought up thirsting for knowledge! and good secretaries!

Speaking of school. I got a call from grandson's school and besides helping out for lunch on Thursday and Friday next week I was asked to sub for 7th Grade Wednesday afternoon. That should be interesting. I pick kiddo up at 3 on Wednesdays so the subbing won't be a problem. I'm just curious how the kids will react. I haven't subbed in a year!

Oh yes. Raspberry Jello! Delicious. I was in the mood for raspberries today. No clue why, but the jello did the trick. Just some comfort food on this gray New England winter's day.

Quote: One great use of words is to hide our thoughts. __Voltaire

Those spots on the floes are seals . . .

Finished reading Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice at 11 last night and don't quite know what to make of it. It must have been very daring in her day but she should have dared even more. Not sure why I never read the classics when I was in high school. Finished making the puzzle at 11am today. Went to Norwich's old Ames' Plaza for the yearly tests. The old Ames is now a Backus Out Patient Center with all sorts of neat stuff, Doctors, diagnostic imaging etc. It is very plush, beautiful, comfortable and everything was done on time. Hope they can keep it up. Very impressive.

Stopped to visit younger brother who came back from his trip to Arizona Wednesday night. He had a nice warm visit and was particularly thrilled about a Rock and Gem show he attended. Right now he's in the process of painting the master bedroom before his wife returns from her extra week stay in Casa Grande. I think I envy her! The weather is about to close in on us once again and she's missing all of the mess. I did get a chance to shine at cribbage. Another plus for the day.

Spoke with Southbridge sister-in-law who has the worst cold I've heard all year. Yikes, they had to put her on antibiotics. Her son will retire from the Coast Guard this Friday. It doesn't seem possible that we have nephews,nieces, and grand kids old enough to be retiring from anything. Older sister fell down the stairs in her apartment complex and broke her wrist. After waiting for 5 hours in the hospital to get it set they told her they didn't have anyone on duty and she had to go back the next day. Obama care is in and she thinks he's the greatest president ever :( Oh well, "Chacun son gout."

OK Now to top off the day : ta da . . . . UCONN men just beat #8 West Virginia. Woo! Woo!

Quote: Nothing is impossible to the man who can will, and then do; this is the only law of success. __Mirabeau