Welcome 2008

Christmas was busy, and the new year has not been much less so. Library staff did Christmas luncheon at my farm and had a nice day. Wylie Thomas Johnson was born December 12, 2007 and becomes by sixth grandchild. I spent some time with them the week he was born, taking care of Tucker, his then 27 month old bro. Went back upstate weekend or two ago to help them as Tim and Kevin was on assignment out of state. Had nice Saturday night supper with Tucker and Wylie and their mom Shannon, and Katelyn and her mom Christine, and Sally, ex-wife number one. Wish the kids were closer. It is a three-and-a-half-hour drive from where I work to where they live (but only about half that drive from farm to them).

Again I am teaching a university life class. Have 12 students this time, so classwork will be easier to manage than with the 45 I had in the fall in the two classes.

Am spending much time and energy on planning and fund-raising campaign planning for expanding and renovating the three country libraries in Marion, where I am board of trustees chair (at least until elections next week!). We will need to raise $5-6 million to meet facilities needs if we are to continue to provide the level of programs and services to which we aspire.

We have just about completed the work on the farm house. Still have some electrical work to do, but hopefully the electrician has not forgotten about me. With help from Mom and my sister Jeannie, niece Anna and a few others, we hosted over 80 folks at a Christmas "Open House" so that community could see what had been done at the 1912 farm house.

Winter cold hit me last week and is still holding on for all it is worth. Hope to be rid of it soon!

Best wishes for the New Year. ---pd