Halloween

Today is Halloween, and I am blogging some old memories that make me smile. The first one is Adam at 3 years old. Yes, those are "Underoos"....though my mother was a great seamstress, I must admit to complete failure with a sewing machine! So, poor Adam had to put up with a lot of "store bought" thrown together costumes. So Batman was it that year!


The next picture was in Mrs. Savitsky's Kindergarten class at Kreative Kids. Adam and Erica were the best of buddies. As you can see from this picture, Spiderman was the "Target" special in 1981.


The third picture leads me to one of my most precious Halloween memories. This "dracula" outfit was my first attempt at make-up!! Adam was so excited as he headed off to school for his big Halloween Parade!! Didn't he look scary??? I decided at the last minute to take a half day from school, got someone to cover my class, and made it over to school for the parade.... He did not look nearly as happy as he hastily made his way across the platform...of course, he might have just been trying to look scary...ooooooohhh!!!However, when I walked back with him to Miss Graves' class, he was very sad..he said, "Mommy, my friends don't know me, and they are afraid of me!" Miss Graves let me take him into the restroom, and I washed all that scary make-up off. I am so thankful that I went to his parade!!




My next attempt at a "make-up" costume was when he and David Valenzano decided to go to middle school as monsters! This time, no one was afraid of him...However, Adam developed a case of impetigo the next day....must have been bad make-up!! All because his mother couldn't sew!!! I think he has forgiven me for that one...




The final picture that I have, is one of he and Lori in college...Lori can always bring the biggest smiles from the "boy"!! Such a "Joker" !!

I thank my "little dracula" for giving me so many happy Halloween memories...We used to decorate his bedroom with spider webs, and skeletons, and ghosts, Oh My ... and yes, Adam, you even shared your Reese's Peanut Butter cups...oooops...maybe you didn't "remember" that part :)

The World Series

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Wow...The Rays in the World Series! Would you ever have believed it Sports Fans??
Dean headed down to St. Pete to take his 88 year old mom to the World Series Game 2. Coach Ray Hughes, from Aucilla Christian Academy, who coached Bobby Thigpen in high school, and our good friend from church, went with Dean. As did a contingent of baseball fans from Monticello, including another birthday celebration for Ricky Finlayson, who celebrated his tenth at the Trop.

Ray actually caught a foul ball, and the usually reticent, shy coach from ACA, went absolutely wild!! He brought the picture to church this morning to show EVERYONE!!
Next to Dean's mom, Lori and Adam, and the long suffering fans in St. Petersburg, Ray wins the award for Rays mania!!

Dean had an absolutely wonderful time, as he checked off another bucket list item...It is the 3rd one in this year...We saw a Yankees vs. Red Sox game in Fenway Park....we went to the College World Series in Omaha, and now he actually got to the World Series....Thank You Tampa Bay Rays...... HOOOO RAYS!!!

Teachers, my friends, my heroes

As most of you know, I spent 30 years in a classroom of either 2nd graders, 3rd graders, or 4th graders. It was in those classrooms that I met my dearest friends... some were and are still teachers, some were and are parents of my students, and some were students. This continues today.... What you may not know, friends is that I have returned to the classroom...well, on a voluntary basis for three days a week.

My friend, Anita is teaching her final year of third grade, preparing for a wonderful retirement. She has had some health issues that would have forced anyone else into an early retirement, but she perseveres. Now, before my friends, who are colleagues, shake their head in wonderment....she had finally been assigned that dream class...the sweetest and smartest.....enough said!

So, Anita has graciously allowed me to share in her good fortune...I get to come in 3 days a week and just help her do whatever she needs me to do...I've been grading papers, collecting candy money and forms and getting them into the right hands, taking lunch choices and count, re -explaining directions, making lists, passing out Pizza Hut reading award certificates, re - explaining directions, helping with computers...and so on and so on...trying to do those things that would give her a chance to just TEACH! That is something that most teachers would love to have the time to do....:)

The children are awesome...God gave me the talent...But, my friends....after 8 years of retirement, a full three days a week in the classroom is TIRING! I HAVE kept my retirement promise, so far...I DON'T do Mondays and Fridays!!! I'm sure I will get used to once again getting up in the "wee" hours of the morning, travel to Thomasville (not much further than my commute to Bardmoor), spend my day with the MOST creative thinkers, drive back home, collapse on the couch....get the picture? The only scary part is that Mr. Rodemoyer, the principal, wants me to get on his substitute list, so that I will be able to sub for Anita, when she has to be out...something about continuity....

So to my friends, my heroes....you know I love you and appreciate all you do for the kids. They are lucky to have you and so am I. And to my friends who are not classroom teachers...you know I love you and your kids....you ARE teachers and parents and grandparents.... If you have a moment, and your child or grandchild is in a school with that special teacher...appreciate that teacher for all the love and work it takes to travel with your child for this year.

One More Celebration "Station"

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Dean and I added one more celebration to Rusty's birthday. We picked him up after school and traveled to Clearwater's Celebration Station. During the week, in the early afternoon, you pretty much have the place to yourself. Plenty of good visiting and playing time is available!

We had a great time riding in the race cars, playing the games, and eating pizza. Rusty beat his Grandma handily in Air Hockey, while his Grandpa and he are tied one game apiece!

In holding with tradition, Rusty won enough tickets to get his brother and sisters some great prizes (So sorry about the Play Dough for Ellie, Lori :))and for himself.He ate a ton of pizza, and we had him back home for an exciting round of homework!

Happy Birthday to you, Rusty!!!

Swim FSU

This is how they looked in college and in high school. I am talking about Dean and his swimming buddies, as they met up with each other again at the Pool Dedication for the FSU Swimming and Diving Teams. For the first time in FSU's history, the swimming and diving teams have a facility that they can call their own. They do not have to share their locker rooms with the entire student body, anymore. With the help of former swimmers and interested boosters, this facility, located near the FSU Golf Course, will become the new home of the SWIMNOLES !




Mike and Adie, and Dean I were first met by Allen Orendorff and his wife, Jane. Allen and Dean were both swimmers for Boca Ciega High School, and later teammates for FSU. They are in that color picture...can you find them? We had not seen Allen since graduating from FSU in 1971. Turns out that Allen and Jane visit his mom every Christmas...in St. Pete...needless to say, we will be touching base again this Christmas.


We then met up with two more swimmers, Chester Miltenberger and "Little Dickie Hosford". Chester was two years behind Dean and swam Breaststroke for FSU. He is now a heart surgeon, and stays in shape with Masters Swimming. Dick Hosford was a high school swimmer who was allowed to train with the FSU team. He is now the head Swim coach for Leon High( in Tallahassee), while his son, who also swam for Auburn (after Adam), is the head coach for rival Lincoln High. For those of you who did not know, Mike Price was a trainer for the swim team...and was Dean's first college roommate and "bestest" friend!! In this picture they are left to right...Dean, Chester (Chet the Jet), Dick, Allen and Mike. In the team photo from Dean's Jr. year, can you find Dean, Mike, and Chester?


And finally, Dean is standing near the diving platforms, named for his friend and teammate, Phil "Flip" Boggs. Flip was an outstanding FSU diver, who went on to win Gold in the Olympics. In their Sr. year, at NCAA's, Dean and Flip had so many points between them, that FSU actually made the leader board. Since this was an unexpected development, a sign had to be hastily "hand written", so That FSU could join the ranks of Indiana (Mark Spitz's school) and the other elite swimming schools of the time. Flip died in his late thirties from cancer. I know he was with us that day!

New Seasons

Football Season 2008 has begun. FSU is beginning a new season of football, with some new faces and some old expectations and hopes for a return to the "Glory" days. We shall see about all of that.

Anyway, Mike and Adie and Dean and I were ready to assume the position for the first game of the season against the "Daunted" Western Carolina, Catamounts. To our dismay, rain and lightning delayed the game for nearly two hours...we were troopers, and waited out the first delay, filed back in our seats, and saw the first FSU touchdown..However, on the second delay, we "wimped out"...I should say Adie and I "wimped" out...left to watch the game in a dry living room. I guess the hearty souls of 1967- 1971, who watched many a game in the rain, without those handy dandy
rain ponchos, well, let's just say we've "aged up"!












Another new season began Tuesday, with our Hands and Hearts for horses. This is the therapeutic riding classes that we volunteer for on Tuesday mornings in Thomasville. The Thomas County schools allow their special ed. classes for autistic, downs and other learning disabled kids, to attend, and Tuesday morning is the younger age group..what would be elementary education.




This year, we lost one of our favorite kids, as he aged up to Middle School. David is autistic, and really hit it off with Dean..we will miss working with him. The two oldest boys, Christian and Dante will be with us at least one more year..Christian is also autistic, and Dante..well Dante has a host of special needs..autistic + he has extreme visual problems. They have grown physically, as well as "emotionally"...plus these two ride well.

We have two new kids, Georgie and Colby, both have Downs Syndrome. I can tell already, that Dean and Colby will be another "match made in heaven". Though Downs presents a completely different set of challenges, the horseback riding still gives the kinds of movements that help them relax and open up. Unfortunately, our Colby opened up a little too much this time. Some of his new schoolmates have taught him some "potty mouth" expressions...That sweet smile reminds you that he is simply "parroting" what he has heard. His teacher, Miss Sue, will quickly get that under control...Sue is a real blessing to her kids! And her kids are true blessings to us!!

Labor Day, Birthday,Grandkids

On Labor Day weekend, Adam ,Lori, and the grandkids came up to celebrate a birthday, and the beginning of college football season. Flip also came up to receive his new set of "wheels"...Those vehicles got a ton of use this weekend. A couple of problems were noticed this time,one, Ruthie's legs are getting so long, she is rapidly outgrowing her "Princess Jeep", but she drove her sister, Ellie, around and still had fun with it. Flip's new wheels were great, but he likes to watch the wheels go round and round, rather than the path in front of him. We had one collision with Rusty's tractor, and one with a small tree....vehicle and grandchild continue to "keep on ticking".

Well, my "baby" turned 32 on September 1st..Wow, he's really OLD!!!And as my 4th graders always said, "Yes, but what are you?" OK so I am REALLY, REALLY OLD.
We celebrated with a "traditional" cookie cake, a trip to Barnaby's Pizza, horseback riding, football watching, laughing, playing and loving! Also, Dinah..Lori wanted me to take a picture of the wrapping paper. Seems, you are notorious for wrapping like this?? Makes perfect sense to me!





Great Grandpa, Sweet Willie, loved "seeing" and visiting the kiddos... Plus, he always loves to visit with his Grands...Adam and Grandpa shared and caught up with some of their favorite "stories".



It was soooo much fun, watching Ellie...she loved "grooming" the horses. She especially liked combing their tails and manes. The only down part of that experience was informing her that the comb was for the horses' tails and manes, NOT her pretty blond hair!! She wanted to get on the horse( she thought)..So, we picked out a blanket and put her up on Red's back...She looked around, realized how high up she was, and quickly reached out to get down..Then, picked up trhe mane comb, gave her hair a little swipe, and back to grooming!! The others had their ride, groomed and fed the horses and the goats each morning and evening.
Grandpa's favorite activity was hide and seek with Ellie...She would go into the family room, and Dean would hide in one of two places. Ellie would call out "Gpaw, back to the family room giggling. It doesn't take long for the granddaughters to wrap their Grandpas around their precious little fingers, does it?wheah ah oooo?" Then she would find him , squeal, run quickly in place, and head












Of course, there was the pool, Houser and Salty facing off, eating pizza at Barnaby's, Baxter and Houser tolerating each other, walking, spider watching, bird watching, exploring, playing...what a great weekend. Lori and I are officially announcing that we WERE here all weekend, however, we appear in NO pictures. AND I want to thank Miss Lori again and again...she always washes sheets and towels, dishes, and makes the kids clean up their toys....I don't have nearly the clean-up when I finally get out of bed DAYS after they have left!!