Some times life is

We have had a very wet August and the ground has become very soggy. Our backyard is quite muddy and this has been a shi-- week. Last Sunday we had over five inches of rain. In the evening at one point water began backing up in the toilet and over flowed a little. The rain subsided and the toilet did too. When we went to bed I was nervous because more heavy rain was forecast and I decided I would check the basement anytime I woke up. At 1 AM rain was cascading down and I went to the basement and saw back flow pouring over the top of the toilet.

The liquid was rising and the floor I had put in looked to be in danger. I feared the sump pump might not keep up. Claire and I grabbed John's rugs before they got wet. We began taking everything upstairs. It was chaotic, it was frenzied, it was nerve wracking. I wanted to cry but couldn't. The kitchen filled with boxes and games. The dining room filled with piles of things from the cabinets, then the living room. There was no place to walk. Evey time I returned to the stairs with a basket Claire had the stairs stacked with more stuff to carry up. Time went by and Claire hustled despite her bad leg. I tried to keep up. Amelia woke and asked if she could help.

I was so proud of her. It turned out Claire and I had both been contemplating waking her and drafting her. But both of us had been afraid she might be underfoot, asking questions, whining, crying, and an additional problem. But she asked no questions, whined not, and responded well to two parents drafting her for help--even though we often were sending her in opposite directions on different tasks. At one point I called Brian to see if there was anyway to stop the flow and tried to call for help from over at Mother's.

The crappy storm water kept coming and we emptied the room of everything but the soggy floor. We put the couch and chairs up, checked the other rooms for what might be in harms way yet still be saved.

It was now past 3:00 AM and fluid still poured in. There was nothing left to do but pray that the sump did not fail. I came upstairs and went online to ascertain what time the various chains would be opening. I also began reading about sewage back flow and how to prevent it. At 4:00 I decided I'd take a nap and be on Lowe's doorstep when they opened at 6:30. We had been planning to have Mother and the Lynches over for dinner Monday night. I looked at Claire and said, "I think it is safe to say we will be having none over for dinner."

I went to Lowe's and bought squeegees, mops, cleaning fluid, and literally the last sump pump to stick in the toilet should it begin flowing again. I no longer trusted my house to be safe in any way.

When I got home Amelia was up and asking many questions. The six year old had returned. I was trying to talk to Claire and feeling very stressed. I looked at Amelia, raised my voice about as loud as I can and shouted, "Will you just shut up!!!" Amelia looked shocked. Understandably so. I had known I was wrong even as the words came out. Feeling terrible, I immediately apologised, told her I was wrong and cried as she hugged me. I still feel terrible about yelling at her.

After having coffee I called two plumbers. I would have paid anything to have one understand what I wanted and come install it. Instead the first didn't know anything about back flow devices. The second suggested I talk tot the Village, my insurance company, etc. He talked to me about septic fields and my sump pump. The two calls were frustrating in that I wanted action so I decided to leave the plumbing call until things had been straightened a bit.

The rest of Monday was spent squeegeeing out the basement, taking up the floor, washing and bleaching it, and drying it in case it might be possible to salvage it. In the evening I did some more research on what I now know as "back flow prevention devices." Tuesday I went back to work as this was the week that new staff come in for training and then all staff come back for inservices. Claire got a hold of the insurance company, a disaster cleaning company specializing in sewage which was willing to come the following day, and a plumber who will come next week.

This is somewhat remarkable as there has been considerable flooding around the area and Midwest.

Slowly a sense of order is returning. Things were moved and removed. The basement was scrubbed,steam washed, sprayed, rinsed, etc. Some kind of microbe killer was sprayed all over. The bottoms of our walls were removed. And ever since three industrial dehumidifiers, and eleven fans have been running. It has sounded like a jet is running in the basement since Wednesday.

In some ways we have been lucky. We lost nothing of value except the floor while there are places in the Midwest where water took everything including the foundation.

Four photos of summer trip

Pere Marquette Trail Travelers


The Cabin

Fenton Place Snack

Fenton Place Turnstile

Madeline is coming!!!

Amelia has invited her grandmother over to visit when her one year old cousin Madeline comes to town. Despite repeatedly telling her that Madeline will be staying at grandmother's in the crib she has built an itinerary for Madeline. She has set up a play area in the Monkey around room, sorted her stuffed animals and identified a collection as Madeline's for the duration of her visit. She has also identified a set of books to be read to her, movies that could be watched, and music to share. The park and lake are on her agenda too. She talks of adjusting swing sets, sandboxes, and her pool all so Madeline's visit will be memorable. You put a lot of effort into preparing for your little cousin's visit when you are six--and a half.

Twinke Twinke Little Star

Summer flies by and I miss much of it as I now work year around. The summer work is much more laid back as the phone does not ring constantly with the urgency of a crisis. This year Amelia is participating on a tball team, taking guitar and swimming lessons so i often feel like I am missing something.


I have always wanted to take guitar lessons but am somewhat tone deaf and haven't found the time. But Amelia has been coming home and teaching me. Together we are mastering Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. She does a great job of encouraging me and provides a great deal of positive reinforcement.

Shaela had a high school graduation party today. Claire and I were preparing to put money in a card. Amelia was very inquisitive about why people give graduates cash and then insisted on giving something also. So we set her up with her own envelope. She ran to her room and got one of the two dollar bills she possessed--the result of picking up sticks at a penny each. She then asked her mother whether we would be giving her twenty when she graduated.

Do you laugh or do you cry?

I suppose in every one's life there is at least one person who can drive them senseless. My wife went off to appointments this afternoon and I was home alone with Amelia. She has not seen Abby for awhile so she was eager to play with her. Abby and Amelia are best friends who can at times bring out the worst in each other. Abby has been on vacation and I somehow didn't fully remember what can happen when they get together.

I thought they would like to get together and so I let Amelia call her. Amelia left to get the phone and it was sometime before she came back and reported that she had, "waited patiently after getting a busy signal like you taught me to." So Abby came over and I told them they could play outside but that if there was any fighting or arguing she would have to go home as I didn't want to spend the afternoon entertaining them. I had things to do.

After awhile Amelia asked if she could have a banana and then she asked if Abby could have one also. I suggested that they split one and then split a second if they were still hungry as they often don't finish what they start.

I went back to doing my bookkeeping on the computer and they ran off.

Sometime later the two girls walked in holding four dishes and informed me they had made a "fruit salad shake." Looking at the bowls I saw evidence that milk, grapes, oranges, blueberries, apples, strawberries, and bananas had all been used. My mind immediately envisioned the kitchen.

The girls were beaming with pride and described how they had started making a fruit salad and added yogurts etc. My grandmother used to make a huge bowl of marshmallow fruit salad, that I hated, for every family gathering. Their salad resembled this. I generally prefer that my fruit maintain their individual identities. How can two girls who prefer a separate dish for each food they eat make something like this?

They told me how good their salad was and encouraged me to eat it and asked me what I thought. Because they were so proud of their concoction I felt compelled to try it. They asked me what I thought and I acknowledge my preference for unscrambled fruit.

I reminded the girls that they had not asked to make something and I asked if they had cleaned up after themselves. Amelia got a sheepish look and said, "Oh ya, we forgot. Lets go clean up Abby!" Given the vision I had of the kitchen I thought I'd better get up and go along.

There was not a clean surface in the kitchen. Amelia and Abby were wiping up a spill on the floor, dishes were everywhere, chunks of apple and the top half of strawberries were on a cutting block. Grapes sat on a counter. The ice bucket and a ice tray were on yet another counter. Four glasses of melted ice water sat on the table. Numerous other bowls had been brought out for preparing this mess.

As we cleaned I reminded them that they need to ask before taking food or undertaking a project. Amelia has been feeling very independent and wants to do and thinks she can do everything. Its a quality that I admire but realize needs to be reigned in. Today I could see why Claire sometimes seems so exacerbated with Amelia when I come home.

I hope I remember that.

Its not a Vacation if there Isn't a Wedding

We left the Park for Dubuque and a bed and breakfast called the Hancock House. We stayed in the former master bedroom that was on the second floor. It was a pretty house, four doors from Claire's sister. We hung out with relatives of Claire's nephew and fiance Friday night.

Amelia had a rollaway bed but they put a feather tic on top of it and on Sunday morning she said she was never getting up because it was so comfortable. She then wrote a nce entry in the guest book.

Saturday was hot but we walked down town and the rode the Fenelon Place Elevator which is described as the world's shortest, steepest scenic railway, 296 feet in length, elevating passengers 189 feet from Fourth Street to Fenelon Place. It was originally built to save a buisnessman the hassle of the much longer trip up to his house from downtown. I was worn out by time we walked down and up several huge hills to get back to Anita's and took a nap back at the Hancock house until it was time to go to the wedding.

Sunday after a late breakfast we went to the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium which I highly recommend. There were a lot of hands on exhibits. After washing your hands you could touch eels and various mollusks and crawdads. There were exhibits about steamboats, river history, railroads, and river wildlife. Outside there is a paddle wheel dredger (you can sleep there too), other boats, a remote control boat pool, log cabin, and a wigwam.

I will put up some pictures next week.

Floating for Two

We took a family vacation the week before last. In many ways it was our first. So many of the trips we have taken have either been as a result of set itineraries. There is a wedding... This trip had no set agenda for five days except going to Pere Marquette State Park.

Claire and I have different ways of traveling. She starts packing way in advance and doesn't forget the kitchen sink. I throw stuff in one small bag the night before and hope that I remember to grab the toothbrush in the morning. While I wonder if we need the sink she notes I am packin three cameras, a computer, an Ipod, and a portable DVD player--although in all fairness the Dvd player helps Amelia pass the time. I like to leave at the crack of dawn and come back at the last minute. Claire says she would like to lounge in the morning but is cleaning or doing something by 8:00. I truely can sit till 10:00 or later So Tuesday morning I felt like I was flying standby as I waited for Claire to announce we would leave. I wanted to ask but didn't. It tried my patience but I was trying to give her the leisurely start she had dreamed of. So at noon we were leaving , literally eating sandwiches as the car pulled out of the driveway and I'm wondering why we didn't stay home for fifteen more minutes. Claire does not need to go far while I pre fer something somewhat far and new.

The trip to Pere Marquete grew out of a trip Amelia and I took this spring to see Dad. She and I spent a night at the lodge built by the Conservation Corps in the 30s because I had always wanted to stay there and Amelia always wants to stay at a hotel with a pool "to swim" although she does not. We had a good time and thought it looked like a place that Claire would like. We came home and told her about our trip and how it was the kind of place she would like. On this trip I learned that she had heard that we wanted to take her there and so she planned our vacation there. So we drove six plus hours to a place I already knew--but we had a great time.

Amelia has not yet learned to swim. She will be taking lessons this summer and is looking forward to them but she doesn't want to do any of those things that everyone wants you to do when you learn to swim. Her idea of swimming involves a life vest that she has now out grown. (We are getting her another for boating and canoeing.) She can hop in three feet of water for eternity, enjoys it and calls it swimming.

Now I am not a great swimmer having been taught in what always felt like a 'let me drag you out to deep water and let you go' fashion. I still don't like to have my head under water. I think I was 40 before I actually learned to float on my back and figured out it was easy, could be done forever, and doesnt require putting your head under water. So I can empathize with a six year old who doesn't want to leave the 3ft 6in mark and calls hopping swimming.

I stayed in the pool for hours on end for those four days playing with Amelia. I would occassionally offer to help her float and she wanted no part of it. We had alot of talks which ended with me saying that I wasn't going to make her try anything she didn't want. I spent a lot of time floating on my back--I have grown to love it--as I didn't want to be on the opposite end of the pool from my girl as I am not a terrrific swimmer. By the third day she let me hold her in a float position once or twice and wanted to be pulled around the pool.

On our final morning before checking out we went to the pool one last time and Amelia said, "Popi, I want to do it." "Do what?," I asked and she told me she wanted to float on her back. I said think of something pleasant, visualize it, and keep it in your mind. She did that and began to float on my hand. After we had done it several times I asked if I could lower my hands but stay right there. She agreed. She floated but in her excitement went down. We talked about keeping focused and then she floated for a minute and a half. Amelia told me her pleasant memory, which should not have come as a suprise as she has cited it before; it was the day she got Mulligan and Boz out of barrels at the Rain Forest Cafe.

Amelia was so proud as was I, and then we challenged each other for Mulligan repeatedly so of course she had to float longer then her father on the final float. It was the highlight of my vacation.

We went hiking, saw deer and birds, took in KAmpsville and the Koster site. The Koster site was a little depressing in that the old limestone house has fallen into a bad state of repair--its roof has collapsed in and the farm house looks care worn. Ted Koster kept an immaculate place--now it looks old. Of course the hole is gone. Th 93 flood also wiped out most of Kampsville as I knew it--there are a lot of empty lots. In the museum there was a 1976 photo of someome standing in front of the grocery store that is now the museum that Claire swears is me--although I am a doubting Thomas.

A Lesson in Odds

Amelia and I went to the Harvard Milk Day arnival last night after work. It was threatening rain when we left and I was unsure what to do but I knew Amelia really wanted to go. We waited in a very long line to buy wrist bands--only to find out you had to have prepaid and were in line to exchange. It began raining while we were in line and they said they were delaying the rides for an hour. So we walked around and Amelia looked at the games. She noted the big stuffed animals and wanted to play all the games. I talked about the games being rigged to be more difficult then they looked and delayed playing anything by insisting we look around. It began raining harder and Amelia looked at it as a good time to ask to play a game under a trailer awning. It was continuing to rain harder and harder and I was getting worried about getting soaked--despite rain gear and an umbrella. I insisted we go to the car and the sky fell as we sat drawing on the foggy car windows.

After almost an hour the rain passed and the setting un came out. Amelia reiterated her desire to play games. I reiterated that the deck is stacked against the consumer--particularly a six year old one. We agreed that she would play one of those that guarantees a winner. I noted that you usually win the small cheaply made toy. My irritated daughter said I know. I know. So I said Ok one and only one game. I give the woman a five and she wants to sell me more games and i say no thankyou. But more is cheaper. No thankyou. I'm cold, wet, I don't want to play carnival games. I am not paying for multiple tries.

Amelia takes her rod and she casts her magnetic fishing line into the water. A pink duck and a yellow duck start to come out. Amelia later tells me she liked the pink one but ducks are supposed to be yellow....... So the duck has a C on its bottom and the lady tells her that means she gets a choice, Amelia is now beside herself walking around the outer edge of the booth checking out each animal with a great deal of intensity and saying "Papa I won...Papa I won!"

She was so happy and excited and I was so happy for her although I felt compelled to remind her that this was unusual--then I felt compelled to remind her to choose wisely--and that now was the time to go for the big one if she ever wanted the big stuffed animals. She almost chose something small and I could tell she was looking for anything monkey. Later she would tell me that she had been looking for one.

Ultimately she selected a penguin who is known in cartoon world as "chilly Willey" but she says, I am not calling him that....," as she hugged it so tight. She was so filled with pride, joy and happiness.

I loved the night, I loved the rain. I loved holding that penguin, which I insisted she not take on the muddy rides--and the logic of that was the only reason she let go of it at each ride. I had to laugh at how poorly my lesson in odds was going to stick.

A lesson in perspective

This week the Department had a graduation party for a dozen homeless students who graduated. It was nice to see how resiliant these students were. They had truely overcome many obstacles and had established direction to their future. It was neat to see how they bonded with my staff and how much one had done to insure that they would get into life improving situations.

At the party as a social mixer they slapped a post it note with someone's name on it on our back. We then had to try and establish who we were by asking yes/no questions to evryone else there. Two Of our Assistant Superintendent's were there. One had "Fergie" on her post it note. She got very contradictory answers from people as she asked questions. Depending on your age you either thought Fergie the Dutchess of York or you thought of a member of a musical group called Black eye Peas.

I was Julia Roberts which I never figured out through the use of yes and no.

Were is it? Where am i?

My sister does a nice blog that will document my niece's development. My future sister in law does a nice blog that shows off her fine photography skills and provides insight into her life as an immigrant in Ireland.

I started a blog last year as I started my new position as a school administrator. I thought it might be a nice way to document my growth over time and the trials and tribulations of a new job. Well I got worried that I might say something that would land me in the hot seat--then I forgot the url and what email address i had used. That is one of the problems with passwords, secret codes, etc. You have to remember where you left thwe car keys before you can drive.

I am the father of a very curious and intelligent six year old. When she was born I started to keep a diary thinking it would be a wonderful gift when she grew up. Well I haven't lost that--I think--now where did I put it--but i know that i have not made that many entries. A good idea but life has a way of getting in the way.

You drive an hour to work, put in a full day, drive an hour home and sometimes it is all you can do to pay the bills and give your daughter some attention.