This Day

Today is October 31... Halloween. My disdain for everything Halloween is well known and I will not bore you further with it. Let's just say I'll be glad when it's over.

This date also brings to mind two other things...

In 1517, Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five theses to the church door and started the Protestant Reformation. This is a big deal to those of us in the reformed church. One of the things Luther disputed was the phrase, "When a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from Purgatory springs". He believed (and so do I), that the notion that anyone could buy his way into heaven (or out of Purgatory), runs counter to what Christ did. Christ died on the cross and paid the price for my sin. This is a free gift from God. An unmatched mercy and grace to His people. The idea that Jesus' crucifixion was somehow not enough and I had to kick in a few bucks to make it into Heaven, simply doesn't make sense to me. Christ died for me. He doesn't need my help to finish the job.

On this date in 1990, I spent my first day in a classroom as a teacher. Many people may think I started my career as a teacher at the beginning of the school year. That wasn't the case. In 1990 I started as a teachers' aide and didn't receive a teaching job for 2 months after the school year began. Back in 1990 the kids still wore costumes to school on Halloween. You can imagine how that went... My first day as a teacher I was dressed in a costume and my classroom was full of clowns, nurses, monsters, mummies, hoboes, vampires and everything else you can think of. Along with first day jitters and simply coming to grips with having a classroom of my own, I had kids in costumes to boot. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since that day.

Tired

This is how I felt last night...

And sometimes "Y".

This just tickled me. As an English teacher, I can really appreciate the humor here.

God's Promise

We've had a lot of rain the last few days and we certainly needed it. This evening we received a momentary rainshower while the sun was shining. The conditions were perfect for a rainbow and God certainly delivered. The photo below was taken right out my front door. It is a glorious reminder of God's promise in Genesis to never again flood the earth. Hurricane Patrica's remnants brought us several inches of life giving rain, but it was a far cry from 40 days and 40 nights. I will not need an ark to get to work. Enjoy the beautiful rainbow photo.

Surprise!

I sooooooooooo want to do this!

Healthy Halloween

In light of today's politically correct and liberally influenced world... I give you the Halloween of the 21st century!

Yum!

Yesterday's post showed my grandkids on board the pumpkin train. Although ALL the photos are good, the one that caught my eye was the one in the lower right. Elliott is shoving something in his mouth and it appears to be chocolate and cream (Ho Ho's, Swiss Cake Rolls???) Whatever it is, it's clearly not carrot sticks or celery. Notice he's not nibbling either. He's cramming it into his face like there's no tomorrow! Oh to eat like a two year old again!

CUTE!

The Pumpkin Train

The grandkids took a trip on the Connersville Pumpkinliner. Just because I don't like fall doesn't mean they can't. Did I mention Elliott loves trains?

Pigskin?

So why do they call it a pigskin then?

Autumn

My feelings on autumn are well documented. I won't rehash them and bore you. Today is cloudy, breezy and cool. As autumn weather days go, this one is pretty nice. But anything else about the autumn season you can keep. Keep your harvest pumpkins and hot apple cider. Keep your sweatshirts and cuddle weather. Keep your beautiful fall foliage dropping from the trees. Keep your frosty mornings and chilly nights. Give me summer any day.

I love my kids...

I love my kids, but I still don't think the empty nest is going to be all that bad...

Transformation!

I never really viewed myself as a fat person. Looking at the photo below shows how we can often deceive ourselves. I've always known that I carry my weight in my face and my midsection. Whoever called a guy's gut a middle age spare tire was NOT kidding.

I am well into the sixth month of my diet and things are still going well. I haven't cheated in months and probably won't eat anything I'm not supposed to until Thanksgiving. I have been pleased with the results so far. The photo below is not the best representation of the results, but it does give you a pretty good idea of where I started and where I am now. It really is a transformation.

McFly!

Today's the day! It's back to the future day! Are we going to see Marty McFly or Doc Brown running around? Are we going to see kids tooling around on hover boards? Isn't it funny how a movie made 30 years ago can affect pop culture today? People are losing their minds because today marks the date in the future that Marty McFly traveled to in the "Back to the Future" movie franchise. As evidenced by the photo below, you can clearly see today's date noted in the movie 30 years ago. Who among us doesn't remember this iconic time machine?

Well, anyway.... Happy Back to the Future day!

Happy Birthday, son!

Happy Birthday, Michael! On October 20th, 1993, my one and only son was born. Michael turns 22 today and it seems like only yesterday I was holding him in my arms. Michael has two lovely sisters (one older, one younger). He is the thorn between two roses, and I say that affectionately. I am so proud of the man Michael is growing into and I am so eager to see what God has for him in his life. Michael is a great guy with a solid head on his shoulders. I have always been proud of him and nothing about that has changed. Happy Birthday, son. I love you very much! Thank you for being the best son any guy could ever ask for.

Here's the stud muffin birthday boy with his pretty younger sister :-)

Boom!

Did you hear there is a company producing land mines made to look like muslim prayer mats?

Prophets are going through the roof!

Colder

The weather is turning colder. Winter isn't even here yet and I'm already longing for better weather. I could definitely see myself here right now:

You can't keep a mole man down

Mick the Mighty Mole Hunter strikes again!

After successfully slaying my first mole yesterday, I went around the yard and stomped down all the tunnels that were snaking through the yard. I have been told that moles are usually solitary creatures, that is, even though your yard has been ripped to shreds, it's usually one mole inflicting all the damage. However, after carefully studying and analyzing the tunnels, I surmised there had to be a second mole... and I was right!

This morning I went out to set another trap. As I was making my game plan, I noticed movement in one of the tunnels. That little bugger was up early and was hard at work destroying my yard. I guess moles don't take weekends off. Mick the Mighty Mole Hunter sprang to action! A few calculated shovel strokes later I had the culprit... Mr. Mole's brother. I quickly scooped him out of his moley lair and tossed him onto the grass. I will spare you gory details of the rest of the story. I'm sure you can put 2 and 2 together... Suffice it to say Mr. Mole #2 is no more.

It has been quite a weekend. Here's the score:

Mick the Mighty Mole Hunter- 2
Mr. Mole & his ugly brother- 0

I will continue to monitor the mole tunnels for further activity (just in case Mr. Mole and his brother have a homely step-cousin). However, I'm relatively certain these two guys were the only ones. But if I'm wrong, I'll be ready. Moles quake at the sound of my name!

Here's Mr. Moles's brother. Eradicated without the use of a trap.

Mr. Mole's Obituary

Mr. Mole is dead. The war is over. After many lost battles and some frustrating misses... the new mole trap did the trick. Mr. Mole has gone to the great molehill in the sky. My prowess as a mole hunter (and ultimately my masculinity) has been restored. On Friday morning, Mr. Mole met his demise and my promise to eradicate the vermin was fulfilled.

Everybody sing along. You remember the tune from the Wizard of Oz, right?

Ding Dong the mole is dead, the mole is dead
Ding Dong the wicked mole is dead!

Oh, and by the way, I said I would spare you the horrific photos in the event of my success. Well, I'm too happy to resist. There's no blood, so I decided to go ahead and show you the dead little #%&*#@#!

The Mole Lives

The mole lives... for now. Every day this week I have come home from work to find my mole trap sprung. Every day has yielded the same results... a miss. Not to be deterred, I went out and bought a second trap. The dragnet has been set. The noose is slowly tightening. Mr. Mole better watch out. Stuff's about to get real.

Where the Sidewalk Ends

Teachers will get this joke. Do you?

The war rages on!

The war with the mole rages on! I came home to another tripped trap today and my results were the same as before... empty! It's time for a strategic change of attack. The trap has been set a little bit deeper and concealed a little bit better. I am honing my mole trapping skills and it's only a matter of time before I pull that furry little piece of destruction out of the ground. Ask not for whom the bell tolls, Mr. Mole. It tolls for thee!

As I battle the mole, I can't help but think of Carl, the assistant greenskeeper waging a war on a gopher in Caddyshack.

Autumn

Guess which one I am...

Strike Three!

When I got home from work today I saw that my mole trap had tripped again. With high hopes I pulled it out of the ground only to find I had missed again. Strike three! Yer out! This little mole is proving to be quite elusive, but as I stated earlier... I will get him. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Fear the reaper Mr. Mole. Your days are numbered. You have gone and messed with the wrong guy's yard! This means war you little $&*%@!

Holy Moley!

I'm trying not to make a mountain out of a mole hill, but there is a war going on in my own yard. A mole has taken up residence in my yard (the WHOLE yard) and he is tearing the living daylights out of everything. He is inflicting complete and total destruction on what used to be a fairly nice lawn. The war has been raging for weeks and the mole is winning. I have set traps for the little bugger and he has tripped it only once. Unfortunately the trap didn't get him (Swing and a miss. Strike one!). I did see him moving in one of his tunnels last week. I jabbed a big, long screwdriver into the ground where the earth was moving, but I missed him that time as well. (Swing and a miss. Strike two!). I have been keeping a close eye on his activity and I have strategically placed my traps where he seems most active, but up until now, I haven't gotten him yet. I have done extensive research on mole trapping and I feel encouraged when I read that it is tricky and difficult. However, this little pest clearly has no idea who he's messing with. I have a steely resolve that will see me giving up only after I pull his bloody carcass out of the ground. I will not surrender until I have won this war. I will keep you posted, but will spare you any gruesome photos. Watch out crafty Mr. Mole. I'm coming after you and it's only a matter of time before you die a horrific death.

No thanks!

No thanks. I already have one...

Church Work

I got up at 6:00 this morning and went to church. We had an all church work day and I was in charge of the event. I spent about 8 hours working at church (along with several other joyful and willing servants). In honor of being at church by 6:30 on a Saturday morning, here are some humorous church message boards...

(Can't say I approve of the rainbow flag in the 5th photo though)

My Grandpa

21 years ago today I lost one of the most important men in my life. My grandpa Meyer died on October 9th, 1994. Michael was just 11 days short of his first birthday. I remember this so vividly because when we found out Tami was pregnant in 1993, Grandpa hoped beyond hope that it would be a boy so the Meyer family name would be carried on. God blessed us with a boy and indeed the Meyer name has passed into another generation. It's a good thing too... my siblings and cousins had all girls. Now it's up to Michael to have a boy one day. My wish is the same as my grandpa's... for the Meyer family name to go on.

I think my disposition and personality traits come mostly from my grandpa. I understand he and I were a lot alike. I sure do miss him.

A big fan!

Surely I can't be the only one that sleeps in front of a fan all the time...

I think it's the white noise more than the air flow that helps me sleep.

More Humor

Not the funniest, but it's the best I got for today...

Guns in school

In light of recent events...

If teachers are ever armed, I will be the first to sign up for training in the use of firearms.

Breathe!

I must be in a silly mood. This photo and caption just tickled me :-)

Breathe, Frank! Breathe!

Intellectual Joke

Not everybody will get this joke. If you have any knowledge of mythology, it will make perfect sense to you. I thought it was really funny.

"Hi, it's nice to mee..."

Sports Today

This photo is from a recent Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game. I know it is legit because I saw the video clip of what happened. The announcers noticed this group of young girls on their phones taking a bunch of selfies. They commented on how things have certainly changed in the way fans view sporting events. In fact, during their commentary a batter hit a single and not one girl even looked up or noticed. The announcers laughed at that. It's amazing that these young ladies are at a professional baseball game and all they can think of is taking pictures of themselves. This is truly sad. When I go to baseball games, I am totally absorbed in what is going on. I go to see a baseball game, right?

I can't win!

I haven't cheated on my diet in ages. I have resisted temptation after temptation after temptation. Yet, not only have I not lost any more weight, I think I may have gained a few pounds. I haven't had the courage to get on the bathroom scale to find out the real truth. It's one of those situations where I can't bear to look. I try SO HARD. I give up one of the things I enjoy most about life (eating delicious food) and I still gain weight. It's disheartening. Now, don't get me wrong. I haven't put a bunch of weight back on. I'm still much skinnier than I was back in April or May. But to deprive myself of so much and to be so disciplined only to have negative results (weight gain), is enough to drive a guy crazy. I know part of it is age and I also know another part is I haven't gotten to exercise much since school started again. The diet can really mess with your mind. Several times I have thought about chucking it all, eating and drinking whatever I want and letting my weight balloon to whatever it may. But then I remember how hard I've worked and realize I'm still down a bunch of weight and to throw all that away would be foolish. I'll start losing weight again. I know I will. It's a marathon and not a sprint. I just need to give myself a little pep talk to keep on running.

The battle of the bulge is a constant struggle and it will be for the rest of my life.

We paid our dues

Whenever Tami and I are around our grandkids, we always comment what a complete blast it is to be with them. We also comment how tired we are and how glad we are that we no longer have little ones 24/7. We did our time. We paid our dues. That season of life has passed. There are lots of things that we remember about raising our kids, but there are lots of things we have forgotten. Sleep patterns are one of those forgotten things. Once kids become teenagers, they sleep even longer than their parents do. But when they were younger, the kids were always up at the crack of dawn. Thank goodness those days are over.

October

And so it goes...

The calendar turned to October today. Along with it comes the chilliest day of the year and the promise of a wet and even chillier weekend ahead. Autumn is here. The filtered afternoon sunlight and the falling leaves bring feelings of sadness for me.

October is also the month that contains my LEAST favorite day of the year. Halloween.

October? I'm not glad it's here.