On the Road. Again!

Rode the Harley to Winnsboro Friday evening. What an enjoyable ride! Great weather, and traffic was not too bad. Spent Saturday doing yard work---it was pretty hot there, even on the lawn tractor or the John Deere. Niece Anna and her friend boy Caleb came in that night from the Clemson-UNC game--she is a Clemson alumna, and my second masters is from Chapel Hill, so you can imagine our conversation after her ruffians annihilated my scholars on the football field.

I left early Sunday to run sound system at church I attend in Marion. Then rode to Johnsonville for birthday luncheon. Another good Methodist sermon and marvelous birthday meal.

With 120 trip Friday and about 160 miles Sunday, I had a delightful 280 miles on the Harley over the weekend. The Screaming Eagle mufflers make the Electra Glide sound like a Harley should.

On Monday got teeth checked and cleaned. Overdue for a checkup. Dentist Pat is one of the best! Before lunch ate candy, forgetting how clean teeth felt after the appointment. Please don't tell Pat.

UL students (team 4) put together a good presentation on their chapter (6). Good illustrative posters. Class check showed that most of the students found point on our writing our own life scripts to be most meaningful. I very much enjoy the class and look forward to its meetings. I did get caught today on a sexist remark. In attempting to respond to a question about "what is cultural diversity," which is next assignment, I used the two males in the class as coming from a culture where hunting and fishing are standard (knew this from reading their blogs). One young lady immediately called my hand, noting that females hunt and fish, too. I had to apologize and used the faux pas to point out that I had just inadvertently revealed by own cultural heritage and its assumptions. Since some of the class members have lived or visited internationally---Japan, Bulgaria--they have seen other cultures up close and personal. One student is from Connecticutt, so I noted that her cultural heritage could be different from that of my Pee Dee students. Will be interesting to see what they come up with for Thursday's class....

Until next time, make good decisions......

On the Farm Mowing Hayfield

Another farm weekend. The big hayfield had not been cut this year until three weeks ago when I began mowing it. Did not finish. So Saturday again moved the diesel from town to farm to mow. Took most of the day, with help from Debra who had never driven a farm tractor before, even though she was raised on a tobacco farm. My late Uncle Buddy loved to see his front year freshly cut, calling it his golf course as it was so neatly manicured. Also mowed lawns at farm house and in town. Took old Ford tractor to farm to fix lanes so that we could drive without possibility of high grass wrapping around axles and ruining seals on vehicles. That made two trips to farm (ten miles each way) hauling tractors back and forth. LONG day! Got blistered forehead and neck. Even the new 16 foot farm trailer was not long enough to haul John Deere with front bucket and rear mower, and I was not about to detach either. Found out later the ramps to the trailer are detachable, but they are heavy angle iron and not to be dealth with lightly, pun intended. Had to chain ramps to mower and scrape blade to keep them from dragging on roadways.

Enjoyed First Methodist Church service in Winnsboro on Sunday. Mom and I then went out for lunch and saw lots of homefolks. I stayed over and drove back to Florence Monday AM.

Yesterday was Shannon's and Tim's second wedding anniversary. And today would have been Dad's 91st birthday---born in 1915, he passed away in October of 2000, shortly after his 85th birthday. He would have loved watching me mow the hayfield, load and unload the equipment, and take care of the farmland. I often think of him and how much he tried to teach me; his examples were especially strong and effective. When we would go hunting, he never would let me shoot anything that was not going to be eaten. Once I shot into a flock of blackbirds and got reprimanded for killing birds that we would not eat. Lesson learned! Thanks, Dad. For everything.....

After 911

An email from the number one favorite UL student-now-alumna reminded me that the 911 tragedy occured during the time she was in my class (in 2001) and how we had talked about it then. We were in shock after the newscasts and realization of what was happening. Not unlike the JFK and MLK assassinations and memories of what one was doing on each of those sad times. Journals from the 911 horror remain vivid recollections of dismay and disbelief. Five years ago yesterday.

I am learning much about my students through their blogs. Most have boyfriend dilemmas, stress from beginning college, time-management issues, health problems (which I believe are caused by changes in diet, rest, and life-styles and time management problems!). Hopefully they will survive. And learn. And prosper. One student told me after class today that she was living off crackers and water during the day because, as a commuting student, she could not afford to eat out everyday nor bring something from home that would not spoil. I realize more and more how tough some students have it trying to survive college, work some to support themselves, and maintain relationships. For some it really is a major struggle. one with which I wish I could help them cope, and yet I know that fire tempers steel. My heart goes out to and my prayers go out for each of my freshmen. May the Good Lord bless and keep them. And you, too. --pd

Tucker's First Birthday

Grandson Tucker was one year old this past Saturday, so Mom and I drove to Easley to be a part of the festivities. Step-grandchildren Chelsey and Austin also had birthday gifts since she just turned ten, and he will be five next week. Tucker got to play in his smaller cake, so you can imagine the mess! All three of the kids received nice presents. The older ones got roller blades, for example. Tim, Tucker, Chelsey, Austin and Sally (Shannon's mom) all wore orange as Clemson had a game. I told them that my digital camera gave an error message saying there was too much orange in the pictures!

Mom has a first cousin, Kathleen Richardson Streetman, who lives in Simpsonville, so we made a five-minute detour to visit "Kitty" and spent the better part of an hour on her pleasant back porch. Mom and Kathleen were delighted to get to see each other. We laughed a lot and made several trips down memory lane.

Chelsey and Austin had ridden with me from Turner's Store to Winnsboro Friday evening where we met Tim. On Sunday they rode back to Pee Dee with me to meet their mom. Chauffering a ten year old and an almost five year old is not something I do often enough to know how to best do it. Austin had a grape drink on the return trip that, thank goodness, he managed not to spill in my truck.

It was another busy weekend. At least 400 miles on the road, plus some grass mowing in Winnsboro, plus pulling the new 16 foot farm trailer to Winnsboro Friday evening from Marion. Did attend First UMC in Winnsboro Sunday. Now need a rest from the full weekend!

It's Friday!

Went to River Club last evening. Had several great hands and won the first game, over my four opponents. It deteriorated from there. One guy accidently gave his hand to another player during the "re-deal"(we play Setback, where once the bidding is completed, you discard anything that is not a trump, as called by the successful bidder, and get up to six new cards). We laughed a lot about that. Then I played a strategy that backfired, costing me two points (of six) and allowing the bidder to win the hand, so it was pointed out that if I had not misplayed my hand the bidder would have been "set," hence the name "Setback." Then another player got confused after the re-deal on a later hand and, since he had gotten such good cards on the re-deal, wanted to bid, thinking it was the original deal, and we had jumped over him in the bidding. Wild evening!

The evening had begun on a sour note. Leaving Florence to head to Marion, where River Club meets, I got a phone call from the friend through whom I had ordered a custom built trailer to haul farm tractor. The trailer was ready, but I was in the Toyota SUV, not the farm truck, plus I would need a 2 5/16" ball on the hitch, and all I had was a 1 7/8". Stopped by auto supply place, purchased a new ball and arm since ball shaft was too large for existing arm, only to discover that new arm was too long to fit in Toyota trailer connector. Spare tire was in the way. Kept the larger ball and arm and decided to go back today and pick up trailer, with farm truck, which fortunately did work with the new hitch. Oh, well, as Robbie said years ago, "the best laid plans of mice and men gang oft aglay," or such.

Tropical storm "Ernesto" dumped a lot of rain on us yesterday and last evening, with little wind. It is clear and sunny today, but somewhat cooler, thank goodness....

Tomorrow grandson Tucker Paul Johnson will be one year old, so am headed to his home upstate for celebration tomorrow. My two step-grandchildren Chelsey and Austin will meet me near Marion and ride as far as Winnsboro where Tim (their dad) will meet them tonight. All for now....pd