Like a Lion

It really is true. March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. Tomorrow is March 1st. We begin the month with heavy rains and localized flooding. Like a lion indeed!

Seriously?

Does anybody take this guy seriously? No? I didn't think so...

An Anniversary (of sorts)

February 24th, 1989... the date that literally changed my life forever. 32 years ago today I had my first date with Tami. A liitle over two years later we were married. I can't say it was love at first sight, and I can't say I fell in love that night. However, I do know it didn't take long to realize I enjoyed spending time with this woman more than anything in the world. I knew instantly she was special. She was intelligent, she was beautiful, and unlike most men, I got to see her in action as a loving, caring mother. All of those things were intoxicating to me, and I tried to spend every waking moment with her. Here I am... 32 years later and even more infatuated with my lovely wife than I was on the glorious night of our first date. Happy 32nd anniversary of our first date, Honey!

Later this week

I will be participating in this later in the week...

You're Late!

I have been teaching for 31 years. Students being tardy to school has always been a problem. However, it seems like the problem has gotten worse the last few years. At my school, when students arrive to school late, they report to the office for a Tardy Slip. Check out the photo below. This is the stack of tardy slips that my students (a class of 15 students) have accumulated since Christmas break. Keep in mind this only about six weeks with two holidays and two snow days thrown in. The quarter is for scale to show the height of the stack of tardy slips. It may not seem like a big deal, but when a student is late to school, they miss a lot of information.

The Big Thaw

The Houston/Katy, Texas area is finally thawing out. The power is back on and it has remained on. Water is still an issue, and it will probably be a problem for quite a while. Temperatures are climbing into the 50's and 60's, and could possibly hit 70 by the middle of this week.

Home Schooling

Thankfully my school district has been doing in person learning 5 days a week since August. However, many schools are still using remote learning to this day. Many parents have had enough! They've had their fill!

I'm this old

 

I'm this old...

Kick me when I'm down

Just like a street fighter who will kick me while I'm down, so goes winter... another round of snow, another snow day from school, another shoveling of my driveway. 

 Ok, so you want me to say it? I'll say it... UNCLE!

Enough Already!

9 inches of snow on my deck over two snowfalls. Enough already!

Winter Roads

As I dodge potholes all winter, this photo seems appropriate...

And the beat goes on!

And the beat goes on! Just as predicted we got slammed with snow overnight. And just for good measure and an additional kick in the teeth, there is a forecast for another 4"-8" Wednesday night into Thursday night. And just for the record because I don't think I have ever said this before. I LOVE WINTER!

Here It Comes!

We got another 2 inches of snow overnight. That is just an appetizer for what is to come. Starting later this afternoon, and on into the night we are expecting 6 to 10 more inches of snow. The grocery stores have been insane! Hardware stores are sold out of salt and snow shovels. Cincinnati is preparing for the Snowpocalypse, Snowmageddon, the WHITE DEATH! Hide your children and hunker down. We are about to get slammed. 

 On another note... The Mortons down in Houston are experiencing temperatures in the teens and got a few inches of snow. The grandkids are happy to see the snow, and I am happy they get to play in it. Houston is not accustomed to this type of weather, and the whole area has come to a grinding halt. Also... sadly the Mortons are without power today. I am hoping and praying they get their power and heat back on soon.

Happy Valentines Day

B Minor

Friday Funnies

Yet more snow!

My commute time more than doubled last evening because of a snowstorm that hit shortly before I left work. The roads getting home were TERRIBLE! This further cements my desire to retire and move south. I've said it many times before, but I will say it again... I've never had to shovel sunshine or humidity out of my driveway.

Movie Trivia

Bonus points if you can name the movie this photo came from.

Answer? ET- The Extra Terrestrial

National Parks

We finished this beauty on Sunday night. 2000 pieces--- a collage of patches from some of our National Parks. Fun puzzle!

Snow Foolin'

Here is a listing of snow totals posted by the Cincinnati Enquirer... 

Walton: 4.5 inches 

California: 4.7 inches 

Mason: 4.9 inches 

Cleves: 5 inches 

Sharonville: 5 inches 

Dearborn Co.: 8.5 inches 

Hebron 5.5 inches 

Loveland: 5.5 inches 

Wyoming: 6.2 inches 

Union: 6.8 inches 

Lebanon: 6.3 inches 

Cheviot: 7 inches 

Taylor Mill: 7 inches 

Springboro: 7.3 inches 

Downtown Cincinnati: 7.5 inches 

Burlington: 7.8 inches 

Florence: 8.6 inches 

Wilder: 8.5 inches

 Middletown: 8.1 inches

 Batavia: 9 inches 

Goshen: 9 inches 

CVG: 9.8 inches 

Wilder: 9.9 inches 

Fort Thomas: 10 inches

 Cherry Grove: 10.5 inches

And an updated list of snowfall totals from Local 12

Snow Job!

The weather forecast was for 2"-4" of snow overnight. I was awakened at 4:40 A.M. by an alert telling me school was closed. A peek out the window revealed a snowfall of closer to 8" or 9". And THIS, ladies and gentlemen, is why my beautiful wife and I want to retire and move down south...

Memory Lane

Just when you thought you'd seen it all... here's a photo of me in our high school variety show dressed in drag. A bunch of guys dressed up as French CanCan girls and we did the CanCan dance. In the first photo I am on the far right. The photo on the bottom is me in the Show Choir. These photos were taken in May of 1984.

To the dads

This is to the dads out there... I'm not the only one who does this, right? I always eat the heels to prevent waste, and so my wife and kids don't have to eat them.

Super Bowl? Super Ridiculous!

Check out the CDC guidelines for attending a Super Bowl party this year.

 * Call ahead to ensure the venue or location has steps in place to prevent the spread of the virus (ask about air ventilation, sanitizer, mask policy, capacity, etc.)--- Do you really think the teenage hostess making minimum wage is going to have a clue about the ventilation system? Yeah, neither do I!

 *Wear a mask at all times--- This one is to be expected. Pull down mask, eat a buffalo chicken wing, pull up mask, pull down mask, take a drink of your beverage, pull mask back up, repeat over and over. Sounds like a good time, huh?

 *Use touchless payment methods if available--- This one is easy. Stay home. It's cheaper and the food is better. 

 *Give people space; follow social distancing recommendations inside and out--- Is this one practical? Not even a little bit! Super Bowl parties are notoriously crowded. 

 *Consider arriving early to avoid crowding and congested areas--- Ok, follow me here. You can arrive early to avoid the crowd. So what do you do when the rest of the crowd shows up a little later on? Do you leave by kickoff? Retreat to a corner where you can't see the TV? This one is just plain silly! 

 *Avoid using the restroom or concessions areas at “high traffic times,” like half-time or other breaks in the game--- This one is ridiculous too! Who in their right mind goes away from the TV while the game is going on? 

 *Avoid chanting or cheering; stomp, clap, or bring hand-held noisemakers instead--- This one is the most ridiculous of all! Avoid cheering? Picture this with me. My favorite team scores a touchdown and I stomp my feet like I am killing a million ants while not making a sound. The people around me will think I've lost my ever-lovin' mind! Or picture this... My favorite team scores a touchdown and I whip out my noisemaker like it just struck midnight on New Years Eve. Again, people would look at me like I was crazy as a loon. No cheering? C'mon! You can't be serious! 

 These are all moot points however. I will not be watching the game. I won't be watching with a crowd, and I won't be watching alone in my own home. I have MUCH better things to do with my time.

Sad, but true

Many people will think this is a joke. Sadly, it's not. Finding reliable people willing to work is getting to be a real problem for American businesses. And the problem isn't exclusive to just low paying jobs. It's a problem that is pervasive throughout the American work force. In short, the work ethic of many people is in the dumper.

I made it

I made it to school this morning despite the ice and snow. I LOVE WINTER!