5/12/09 Drove the Caldwell HS Boys baseball team to New Philadelphia this afternoon. They won the regional game playing against Strasburg. Caldwell won 8 to 5.

5/13/09 Was supposed to work at the Wilds giving tours but they needed someone to drive a donated bus from Columbus back to the wilds. It was a Donated mammogram bus from Ohio State Hospitals. The Wilds wants to convert it into a mobile lab for Hell bender research.

5/14/09 Drove school bus this morning and afternoon both for the same route. took my daughter for a BVR appointment only to find out they set the appointment for the wrong counselor so will have to re schedule.

5/15/09 got an early AM call to teach but had to decline as my daughter had a mental health appt. The mental health called shortly before the appointment to cancel because the therapist called in sick so I lost $70. This evening I drove the Caldwell HS girls softball team to Woodsfield for a game. Caldwell lost 10 – 0. It was a quiet trip home. Lynne’s mom came up to spend a couple days.

5/16/09 Not scheduled to work today so we all drove to Bowerston Ohio to visit her cousin. She has cancer in the liver and just got the word that the cemo is not working so they discontinued she was happy we had come up.

5/17/09 No work today either so worked on getting my old trailer re wired.

5/18/09 Had an appointment to get my daughters medicaid & food stamps transferred to Noble county, Then had to go to the wilds to do some one to one bus training with one of my group members.

5/19/09 took my daughter to another assessment appointment today. Drove school bus this afternoon. Had a discipline problem with a student had to write him up.

5/20/09 Drove bus this morning then later this morning we went to the dentist for our 6 month checkup and cleaning. All was well. Rode with a driver this afternoon as I will be taking his route tomorrow morning.

Monday 5/11/09 Had a little informal meeting at McDonalds this morning with the guys from the ham club. Talked about putting up another antenna at the airport where our ham gear is located. Went to Marietta today. Took Rachel with us. paid her water bill and got some groceries. Went up to visit a friend Jerry. She has been having some health issues so was glad for some company.

rained on and off all day’ Taught our stained glass class tonight in Cambridge.

5/9/09 Saturday. Went to work for a meeting at 8am. They decided they didn’t need me to drive so went home then went to Nelsonville to visit Lynne’s mother for mother’s day a day early. Nad a nice visit. Stopped by Rachel’s house in Marietta ans set the trash container on the curb for pickup monday. While there fixed the screen door handle that had been broken off. There was an old junk door there and was able to make the handle and latch fit it.

05/01/09 Friday Happy May Day (Bealtane) Had a lot going on today. This morning I worked at the Wilds doing a special group tour of 2nd graders from the Lubeck, WV school. They were a great group of kids. one of the new drivers ran her bus off the road and nearly tipped the bus over. fortunately they got everyone off safely off. Really scared her. This afternoon we went to Campus Martius Museum. took Rachel with us. They were having a “save the museum” rally. Afterwards we went to Rachel’s old house and helped do a little cleaning. What a mess. The previous occupants had really trashed. Irene and Joe stopped by to collect his stuff. Rachel had crocheted an afghan she wanted to give then. After she gave it ti her we took her and left.

5/2/09 Saturday Worked at the Wilds today. Worked at Carnivore. The repairman for DISH came and fixed the dish so we have TV again.

5/3/09 Sunday Went to the Wilds to do program training at carnivore for the new guides.

5/4/09 Monday Had a dental appointment this morning to fix my broken filing. The dentist made it a little lower so it would not make hard contact with the other teeth. Hope this holds this time. Had our stained glass class last night. 3 people were absent.

5/5/09 Tuesday Happy Cinco de Mayo! (Mexican independence day) Doesn’t sound like there was not much partying in Mexico this year due to the swine flu. want t Campus Martius for pioneer living to 3rd. graders. Taught candle making.

5/6/09 Wednesday Left for a little trip. stopped in Marion area to visit family and leave a copy of my grandfathers WWI diary at the Marion Co. Historical Soc. Visited my aunt Glenna and aunt Dot. My cousin Debbie and her husband Pat from PA were also visiting so got to have a visit with them too. Went on to Mansfield tonight had supper with a friend Mark who; grandfather was also in WWI and wrote letters home. He was in the same company as my grandfather.

4/28/09 Tuesday My daughter had an eye appointment this morning. It had been 3 years since her last exam and she needed her glasses changed. I had to go to sign since I am her guardian. Drove bus tonight. This is the “rough” group but they are doing better. I don’t seem to have a lot of trouble with them.

4/29/09 Wednesday Lynne was too sick to go to the museum today to volunteer. I went thoiugh and taught candle dipping to 3rd graders from the Coolville school. I then had to go to the court with some apers relating to the guardianship. Went over and talked to the lady who did the employment evaluation for my daughter. They will get things transferred to our county. Tried to call home several times but for some reason the cell phone service was not working in town.

04/24/09 Friday went to Campus Martius Museum to volunteer. Taught 3rd graders about pioneer living. I let them do candle dipping. The kids all had a great time. After we left went to the Social Security Office. I had an appointment to become my daughters official payee now that I am her guardian.

04/25/09 Today worked at the Wilds. Today was the first day. It was officially Ecothon a foot race. Then a tour of the Wilds. I was stationed at the Carnivore Center to help guests and talk about the animals. Went well for the first day.

04/26/09 Sunday. Worked the garden plot again today to get the clods broken up and ready to plant. Went to Marietta to check on my daughter’s house and deliver papers to her mother in law.

Monday 4/20/09 to the bank this AM to open a guardianship account then took my daughter with us to Marietta to take care of more guardianship business. Paid my guardianship bond. Went to Vienna WV to get some garden plants for a our garden then stopped at a nursery on the way home. While there a reporter from the Marietta Times who interviewed us for a story. After we got home went to Cambridge to teach stained glass class # 2. Got one in the group we will have to really help get done.

Tuesday 4/21/09 Worked in the studio fitting glass then in the afternoon drove school bus for Caldwell. in the evening went to my diabetic class This was the last class.

Today is Earth day. Went to the Wilds to finish up the bus inventory. Finally got it all done except for restocking a couple items missing in a couple first aid kits. Will take care of that Saturday when I work the Ecothon foot race.

4/6/09
Lynne & I worked at the museum doing Achievement advantage again for one of the Marietta schools. These 4th graders were not as nearly prepared as the ones we did on March 27. I hope they got something out of it that will help. In the evening we taught our first Stained glass class in Cambridge. Have 5 students. A nice class size. Everyone was real enthusiastic and really got into glass cutting. Part of our teaching strategy is to have them cutting glass the very first class not only to get them excited about class but to help overcome fear of the glass. We always wait 2 weeks after the first class to allow time to enlarge the patterns they have picked and to get their glass & supplies. The next class will be in 2 weeks then weekly for the next 7 classes.

4/7/09 Drove bus for Shenendoah this afternoon. This was an exceptionally long route. Not more kids just a lot of miles on back roads. Had a couple boys who were moving seats so I had a talk with them before letting them off.

4/8/09 Drove morning route this morning for Shenendoah. good group of kids no problems.

4/9/09 Achievement Advantage again today. Another school from Marietta. They were a world of difference from the 4th graders we had on the 6th. They were well informed. The surprising thin I noticed was they could not describe a canal as in the Ohio Erie Canal. When asked they would describe a canal boat but could not seem to grasp what a canal was. I described it as a large man made ditch you could float a boat on. Not sure they really got it or not. After we left the museum we went to Kmart because I needed a new pair of shoes. they had a buy one get one 1/2 price so Lynne get her a pair too.

4/10/09 Worked at the Wilds today doing bus inventory. This consisted of inspecting the buses, noting any body damage and anything needing taken care of right down to the first aid kits. several of the buses were in the shop or out for training so did not get these done.

4/11/09 Went to Lynne’s mom’s for a visit today. We took the American Chestnut trees down for Lynne’s nephew to plant on the farm. Hope they do well & don’t get the blight that kills them.

4/12/09 Easter Sunday rested

4/13/09 Went to the Wilds today to do some more bus inventory and meet with Ashley who is helping with the Carnivore program for training. Lynne came along with the camera to get some photos of the interior of the intensive management where visitors are not allowed. We had a special escorted tour and got lots of great information too.
We had made an appointment with the director about selling a stained glass Rhino. Due to a miscommunication we were waiting at one building and she was at another so we did not connect. Lynne was pretty upset and just said for me to do what I wanted. That evening after we got home we took my daughter Rachel out to the Chinese resturant in Cambridge. Had a nice time. we then went to Kmart about my shoes. Every store I went into that had an anti shoplifting device was being activated by the shoes. At the Ymart they decided the shoes had a security chip embedded in the sole that needed de activated. the Kmart in Marietta where I bought them did not do that. The man took care of it and no more problems.

4/14/09 Had Wilds training today at Lake trail. rained and cold all day.

4/15/09 Had wilds training today at the Wetlands. cold & wet today again. slogged along a walking trail. glad I had my boots. The wetlands have been drying out because the beavers had abandoned the beaver dam and it had eventually broken down. while walking the trail we discovered more beavers had moved in and there were 2 new dams being built great news.

4/16/09 Arrived at the Wilds early to inventory the last 2 buses. It was my turn to present training at the carnivore center. They had invited the volunteers so it was a big group. Had a great presentation. Had a chance to talk to the manager about the Rhino sun catcher she was anxious to see but it had been removed from the car so I assume Lynne isn’t interested. now. Oh Well. Was a beautiful day for a change!

4/17/09 Today was court day. we were first on the docket. The judge held the guardianship hearing in chambers instead of the court room as I was expecting. He read the report, asked a few questions of the investigator, my attorney and me. He decided that it had to be broader to include her finances too. Then it was all over. His signature on the orders finalized it. The whole thing lasted perhaps 15 minutes. I had always dreaded being someones guardian but always assumed if it had to happen it would be an aging relative not an adult child. It had to be done though for safety. Just was hard to do. Spent the rest of the day running all over town getting things changed, getting bonded required by the court and doing necessary things for the guardianship. Didn’t get everything done so will be back at it Monday. We had a special party for my daughter Friday night with all her relatives to show support for her. a beautiful day today.

4/18/09 Drove to Athens county to attend a memorial service for a dear friend who had died in January. He was well liked and there were lots there. another beautiful day. When we got home I mowed the got out the roto tiller. We have decided to put in a small garden so I tilled up about a 10′ X 10′ area in the back yard. we had bought a few seed packs and some broccoli plants. want to get a few Brussels sprouts too.

On Tuesday 4/31/09 found me driving school bus. It was a really long and weird route. I had done it last year but couldn’t remember all the stops. fortunately Had a couple good helpers so made it without incident. March ended like a lion lots of wind & rain.

Wednesday 4/1/09 April fools day Nice day. Sunny and up in the 60′s. I stopped at the school to deliver a CD of my grandfathers WWI diary to the history teacher who had requested it for her class. She was the same one I had subbed for on Monday. She said that kids had all commented on the little holocaust exercise we had done. She said that were still discussing it and how it made them feel. Since it was a nice day I decided to rent the chipper and clean up the tree branches & brush pile in the yard. Looks a lot better back there. Had to go to Marietta to take care of a few things this afternoon, Lynne was too wore out to do our shopping today after today.

Thursday 4/2/09 drove this afternoon the route is notorious as a “bad” route to a rough community in the next county. I had taken it before. No serious troubles except the usual noise. Fortunately it only takes about 15 minutes via interstate and most get off at one stop then the bus gets real calm. At the end of the route I found one kids grade card on the floor of the bus so dropped it off at the school office on the way back in. Perhaps he thought if he “lost” it he wouldn’t have to show it to his parents! This evening we went to Cambridge to do our grocery shopping

Friday 4/3/09 Drove the same route this morning. The big group got on last but always quieter in the AM. Had a haircut this morning and picked up our baby paw paw trees we had bought. Had a couple boxes to mail for things I had sold on EBAY. Went down to Marietta this afternoon. Volunteered at Campus Martius Museum this evening from 5:30 to 8 for a special evening program. Sure was a lot of running today.

Saturday 4/4/09 Work today at the Wilds. Took the group out to pasture for more training. I had to drive the big bus as I am the only one with the proper CDL license.

Sunday 4/5/09 (today) The last day of training at the Wilds. My group has now grown to 6 in size. Went on 2 pasture tours with the group. Most are getting it on. One woman is doing very well looks like she has really studied. I talked to her and asked her if I could nominate her for a promotion to a higher level. She was ecstatic and readily agreed after I had carefully explained the additional training requirements. I turned in her name to the director & she was accepted. I think she will do well. There are a couple more i think may be good but they just aren’t quite there yet. Got home tonight & wrote letters to our representatives trying to help keep the budget for the museum.