The fact that I haven't posted since Sunday is some indication of just how busy this week truly has been. Another change since then - the weather is really nice. Today, yesterday and Tuesday have been nothing short of glorious, though it's been chilly at night. I have the Weather Channel on and while I'm seeing continued temps in the 70's, looks like starting Sat. most of the next week will be rainy - ah well -
Discovered more stolen signs - a friend tonight called and said her husband had found one in a trash can! Now that's gall - taking one of my signs down and putting it in the trash. Apparently, the culprit lives in the same apartment building as my friends. I should have it fingerprinted...but not sure that would do any good. People need to understand it's not only just plain wrong, it's a crime to do these things -
Less than four weeks now till the election. It's hard to describe the feelings - SO MUCH to do in so little time. Work still piles up and hearings still have to be held, of course. I'm done with hearings for the week and have at least one appearance during the day tomorrow. Then the weekend!
Monday, my opponent and I are to appear on talk radio together for 1/2 hour. Should be interesting - not quite sure what to expect but we'll try to be as ready as we can. The two candidates for Family Court Judge, Division 2, will be together on the radio in the next 1/2 hour. I'm sure we'll all be listening to each other!
I'm working on getting my Jeep repaired - yes, even though it was Palm Sunday that I got hit, I've been driving around all over the place since then with a badly dented left front fender. Possibly, I'll be able to turn it over to the body shop tomorrow, if I can get his insurance company to get me the promised rental, that is!
Reading to my youngest's class tomorrow - something I've done every month of the academic year during his grade school career. These kids are all my fans - which is nice. I know who'd win the election if they were voting - and it'd be unanimous! :)
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Sign Stealers
It's Sunday...the end of the weekend, the "day of rest." Actually, comparatively speaking, it has been at least less hectic. Went to one church hot dog luncheon and then to a spaghetti dinner, then home. I wanted to take a nap but thankfully, fought that urge, and got several signs out this afternoon. (More on signs later - hence, the title.) This evening, I need to inventory all the campaign paraphernalia I have left, go over my calendar, and get organized for the week.
My wife did get home from Haiti :) However, the East Coast was socked in with fog and she was flying American Airlines which had to cancel many flights late last week due to FAA inspection issues, so for all those reasons her arrival in Pittsburgh was delayed by more than 4 hours. She got home about 1:30 a.m. and I had to get up bright and early yesterday for ten different apperances. I did manage to stop by the house a couple times during the day and then made it home for good about 9:30 last night. I should have been dog tired but actually was in pretty good shape - then. I'm tired today!
I believe I've mentioned that some signs have been stolen. Well, today, I learned about two more, and both were in friends' yards. Also, something interesting...I put one sign out in a certain roadside location, an intersection, a couple weeks ago. I was by there on Thursday and my sign was gone - apparently stolen. I put a new one in its place. Yesterday, as I approached that same intersection from another direction, the newly-placed sign was still there, and I could see my other sign in a shallow ravine right by the road. It was a steep slide down almost into a creek to get it but I got it! Then today...again by the same intersection and my new sign was gone! You guessed it - it was in the ravine! I got this one, too, and replaced the sign once again although I did select a location several feet away this time.
Frankly, the mentality of the people who steal campaign signs has to be about zero. I feel sorry for them - truly - and while I recognize it happens to other candidates, and while a percentage of it could be youthful pranking, I feel rather certain that most of it is done by dull-thinking adults who basically cheat their way through life. For those folks who have robbed me, whether they have done so because they don't support me or because they support my opponent, I hope they are caught and prosecuted. By the way - I've talked directly to my opponent about these things and I never for a minute would consider that she has anything to do with this or any knowledge of it. She's an honorable person and I'm confident she feels the same about me. For our parts, we've run a clean campaign and I'm sure it will remain that way to the end - one month from today now! When we first spoke on January 14 about being opponents, we agreed that we would "keep it clean" and I'm glad to say we have been very successful as far as that goes.
My youngest is getting his Spring Break extended because there's a boil-water advisory in this area, so no school tomorrow. We had an EColi scare last week but all is getting back to normal now. The Water Board did a good job, I think, of getting the word out and imposing the advisory for safety's sake.
A busy week ahead - I have much to do at the office, not to mention three daytime appearances and at least three evening appearances before Friday. Then, when Friday-Saturday-Sunday rolls around, we'll do the multiple-appearances thing all over again. Four weeks and two days! Have a good week, everyone...
My wife did get home from Haiti :) However, the East Coast was socked in with fog and she was flying American Airlines which had to cancel many flights late last week due to FAA inspection issues, so for all those reasons her arrival in Pittsburgh was delayed by more than 4 hours. She got home about 1:30 a.m. and I had to get up bright and early yesterday for ten different apperances. I did manage to stop by the house a couple times during the day and then made it home for good about 9:30 last night. I should have been dog tired but actually was in pretty good shape - then. I'm tired today!
I believe I've mentioned that some signs have been stolen. Well, today, I learned about two more, and both were in friends' yards. Also, something interesting...I put one sign out in a certain roadside location, an intersection, a couple weeks ago. I was by there on Thursday and my sign was gone - apparently stolen. I put a new one in its place. Yesterday, as I approached that same intersection from another direction, the newly-placed sign was still there, and I could see my other sign in a shallow ravine right by the road. It was a steep slide down almost into a creek to get it but I got it! Then today...again by the same intersection and my new sign was gone! You guessed it - it was in the ravine! I got this one, too, and replaced the sign once again although I did select a location several feet away this time.
Frankly, the mentality of the people who steal campaign signs has to be about zero. I feel sorry for them - truly - and while I recognize it happens to other candidates, and while a percentage of it could be youthful pranking, I feel rather certain that most of it is done by dull-thinking adults who basically cheat their way through life. For those folks who have robbed me, whether they have done so because they don't support me or because they support my opponent, I hope they are caught and prosecuted. By the way - I've talked directly to my opponent about these things and I never for a minute would consider that she has anything to do with this or any knowledge of it. She's an honorable person and I'm confident she feels the same about me. For our parts, we've run a clean campaign and I'm sure it will remain that way to the end - one month from today now! When we first spoke on January 14 about being opponents, we agreed that we would "keep it clean" and I'm glad to say we have been very successful as far as that goes.
My youngest is getting his Spring Break extended because there's a boil-water advisory in this area, so no school tomorrow. We had an EColi scare last week but all is getting back to normal now. The Water Board did a good job, I think, of getting the word out and imposing the advisory for safety's sake.
A busy week ahead - I have much to do at the office, not to mention three daytime appearances and at least three evening appearances before Friday. Then, when Friday-Saturday-Sunday rolls around, we'll do the multiple-appearances thing all over again. Four weeks and two days! Have a good week, everyone...
Friday, April 11, 2008
TGIF
I'm thankful to God that it's THIS Friday because my wife comes home from Haiti tonight :) :) She left Haiti yesterday morning to travel by bus to the Dominican Republic, where the group is scheduled to fly out of to New York and then Pittsburgh - ETA about 5:30 p.m. there. I won't see her until later tonight but it should be before midnight! Looking forward to seeing her, of course, but also to hearing about her trip which I know has been blessed in a special way -
Busy, busy day yesterday. Office in the morning and then a three-hour appearance (a lot of fun visiting and eating with some folks), some one-on-one contacts, a community dinner and then a "Meet the Candidate" night in Doddridge County. It was very well attended and an excellent event - a lot of fun. Judy, who has worked for me for 13 years, and who lived in Doddridge for many years, went with me - it's always great when Judy goes with me to Doddridge because she knows so many people.
Today I have another lunchtime meeting and a couple of things I must do this evening, including at least one or two appearances. I also have to get some things ready for tomorrow - another pretty intense Saturday. There are 3 dinners I'm trying to hit tomorrow evening, and all of them are essentially at the same time! Then a couple of things on Sunday...maybe I'll get to see my wife Sunday evening! I know she'll be way too tired to go around with me tomorrow -- maybe Sunday after church, when there are a couple of dinners I want to try to get to --
My youngest is upstairs asleep - this weekend finishes up his Spring Break and I think he's had a good one. He's done a little campaigning with me but for the most part he's had freedom to play and visit with friends. He was at one friend's home yesterday from just after 8 am until I was able to pick him up at 9:30 last night and he had a great time. It's almost 9:00 and I'm letting him sleep a bit before I get him up - I'll be taking him to another friend's house today but should be able to pick him up maybe about 4:00 today -
Will close for now - have a great Friday and weekend, everyone -
Busy, busy day yesterday. Office in the morning and then a three-hour appearance (a lot of fun visiting and eating with some folks), some one-on-one contacts, a community dinner and then a "Meet the Candidate" night in Doddridge County. It was very well attended and an excellent event - a lot of fun. Judy, who has worked for me for 13 years, and who lived in Doddridge for many years, went with me - it's always great when Judy goes with me to Doddridge because she knows so many people.
Today I have another lunchtime meeting and a couple of things I must do this evening, including at least one or two appearances. I also have to get some things ready for tomorrow - another pretty intense Saturday. There are 3 dinners I'm trying to hit tomorrow evening, and all of them are essentially at the same time! Then a couple of things on Sunday...maybe I'll get to see my wife Sunday evening! I know she'll be way too tired to go around with me tomorrow -- maybe Sunday after church, when there are a couple of dinners I want to try to get to --
My youngest is upstairs asleep - this weekend finishes up his Spring Break and I think he's had a good one. He's done a little campaigning with me but for the most part he's had freedom to play and visit with friends. He was at one friend's home yesterday from just after 8 am until I was able to pick him up at 9:30 last night and he had a great time. It's almost 9:00 and I'm letting him sleep a bit before I get him up - I'll be taking him to another friend's house today but should be able to pick him up maybe about 4:00 today -
Will close for now - have a great Friday and weekend, everyone -
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
In Court Forever
Well...not forever, but a long time! That was yesterday. Started domestic violence day at 8:30 a.m. sharp and finished - without a break - at 6:52 p.m. Did I mention that I had a meeting about 30 minutes away from the Court House at 7:00? The folks there were understanding about my being late - I had called - and somehow I was able to get there just after 7:20 without breaking the limit. After the meeting was over, I realized I hadn't eaten anything all day, so I stopped for a bite to eat, put out a couple of signs, and then finally got home around 9:30 p.m.!
Today was better, but also long and busy. There were two "unexpected" hearings today - somehow, they'd gotten left off our docket. One took almost an hour, but somehow, I was able to get the day's in-court work accomplished by 4:30 and this time, I had a chance to grab some lunch. Spaghetti! It was some that I'd taken out from a church dinner on Saturday in Anmoore and it was really delicious. I was home for about 1/2 hour after work, picked up my youngest, and off we went to two campaign appearances. One was a reception for another candidate which was well-attended and the other was a smaller but very lively meeting in one of the communities in Harrison County. As I was getting in the car, got a call on my cell from my wife in Haiti! It was good to hear her voice and she said they're having a phenomenal trip. She said yesterday especially seemed to be supernatural with God's presence in multiple ways which I'll be anxious to hear about when she gets home late Friday. Problem is: I have a crazy, crazy day on Saturday!! Ah well - I'll see her in five weeks -- after the election -- at least!
Today was better, but also long and busy. There were two "unexpected" hearings today - somehow, they'd gotten left off our docket. One took almost an hour, but somehow, I was able to get the day's in-court work accomplished by 4:30 and this time, I had a chance to grab some lunch. Spaghetti! It was some that I'd taken out from a church dinner on Saturday in Anmoore and it was really delicious. I was home for about 1/2 hour after work, picked up my youngest, and off we went to two campaign appearances. One was a reception for another candidate which was well-attended and the other was a smaller but very lively meeting in one of the communities in Harrison County. As I was getting in the car, got a call on my cell from my wife in Haiti! It was good to hear her voice and she said they're having a phenomenal trip. She said yesterday especially seemed to be supernatural with God's presence in multiple ways which I'll be anxious to hear about when she gets home late Friday. Problem is: I have a crazy, crazy day on Saturday!! Ah well - I'll see her in five weeks -- after the election -- at least!
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Spaghetti
Another day, another spaghetti dinner. But...really good spaghetti today, and in fact yesterday too! I'm glad there are other dinners besides spaghetti, for sure, like baked steak, etc., and I'm also glad I like spaghetti!
Went to church this a.m. and as usual, our Sunday School class - we call is Sunday Taco - was the first hour. Our youth minister, two other leaders and I team-teach and each of us has a specific job. I do a newscast - a wrap-up of the week's news, selected and edited by me. There was a terrible story this week out of Georgia, about nine 3rd graders who had an amazingly organized plot to kill, or at least stab, their teacher. Unbelievable! Equally unbelievable on the other end of the spectrum is the plan to make an opera out of the life of Anna Nicole Smith in London...although this same outfit apparently did one on the life of Jerry Springer with some success! Go figure. And unbelievable in still a different way - the story of the "pregnant man" in Oregon. I can't begin to explain it but if you're interested and don't know about it I'm sure you can find it with no trouble on the internet. Sorry not to be more descriptive about that one but...I've got to move on here!
Taxes are finished, pretty much, and my son and I just took our dog, Jack, for a walk. Jack will have been a member of our family for one year on the 28th of this month. He'd been a stray in Knoxville, Tennessee, and my daughter-in-law Alice, AKA "The Dog Whisperer," found him and talked us into adopting him. I'd been promising a dog to the family for a long time but had never quite gotten there - to be honest, I was scared of loving a dog like I had my dog Rinny who got killed when I was 13. I got him when I was 3 - before I had a brother or sister even. I still remember the day my grandparents brought him to me and I tried my best to lift him - he was so heavy! He became my best friend and I miss him still - he's buried in a spot right by the road near where I grew up, and when I drive past there I usually wave-
But Jack did come into our family and he's a good dog. He's bored a lot - we have to put him in the bathroom when we're all gone and he has been in there for up to 8 hours. He can't be trusted to roam the house; he's still a chewer-upper. But for the most part he's good and very loving. I had his toenails clipped one day this week which helps a lot! Because before that, his "very loving" nature often came laced with pain! Jack is featured in my campaign billboard logo.
I've gotten good response to the commercials and am getting a bit of a second wind in the campaign energy department! Tomorrow, I have a very busy domestic violence docket and then a meeting in the evening; Tuesday all day in court and two meetings that night; and also court Wed and Thurs and a meeting Thurs night but not sure of anything on Wed - I might just have to take that night off! We'll see if I get to!
I do not know how the presidential candidates keep up this pace for so long - and I'm sure not traveling like they are and I'm not under the pressure they are. Let's just say that I've made a "fairly firm" decision that I am not throwing my hat into the ring for Prez of the US ever!
Well - I have the taxes done in draft form and so must transpose into "official" form. Annette signed the forms before she left for Haiti - my trusting wife! - and I hope to get them in the mail tomorrow. We're actually getting a refund from the feds, just a few hundred dollars but I'm not complaining, and our State refund was exactly $5.00 which we're donating to a child-abuse prevention fund through the State tax department.
Another work/campaign week starts tomorrow and the election is 5 weeks from Tuesday!
Went to church this a.m. and as usual, our Sunday School class - we call is Sunday Taco - was the first hour. Our youth minister, two other leaders and I team-teach and each of us has a specific job. I do a newscast - a wrap-up of the week's news, selected and edited by me. There was a terrible story this week out of Georgia, about nine 3rd graders who had an amazingly organized plot to kill, or at least stab, their teacher. Unbelievable! Equally unbelievable on the other end of the spectrum is the plan to make an opera out of the life of Anna Nicole Smith in London...although this same outfit apparently did one on the life of Jerry Springer with some success! Go figure. And unbelievable in still a different way - the story of the "pregnant man" in Oregon. I can't begin to explain it but if you're interested and don't know about it I'm sure you can find it with no trouble on the internet. Sorry not to be more descriptive about that one but...I've got to move on here!
Taxes are finished, pretty much, and my son and I just took our dog, Jack, for a walk. Jack will have been a member of our family for one year on the 28th of this month. He'd been a stray in Knoxville, Tennessee, and my daughter-in-law Alice, AKA "The Dog Whisperer," found him and talked us into adopting him. I'd been promising a dog to the family for a long time but had never quite gotten there - to be honest, I was scared of loving a dog like I had my dog Rinny who got killed when I was 13. I got him when I was 3 - before I had a brother or sister even. I still remember the day my grandparents brought him to me and I tried my best to lift him - he was so heavy! He became my best friend and I miss him still - he's buried in a spot right by the road near where I grew up, and when I drive past there I usually wave-
But Jack did come into our family and he's a good dog. He's bored a lot - we have to put him in the bathroom when we're all gone and he has been in there for up to 8 hours. He can't be trusted to roam the house; he's still a chewer-upper. But for the most part he's good and very loving. I had his toenails clipped one day this week which helps a lot! Because before that, his "very loving" nature often came laced with pain! Jack is featured in my campaign billboard logo.
I've gotten good response to the commercials and am getting a bit of a second wind in the campaign energy department! Tomorrow, I have a very busy domestic violence docket and then a meeting in the evening; Tuesday all day in court and two meetings that night; and also court Wed and Thurs and a meeting Thurs night but not sure of anything on Wed - I might just have to take that night off! We'll see if I get to!
I do not know how the presidential candidates keep up this pace for so long - and I'm sure not traveling like they are and I'm not under the pressure they are. Let's just say that I've made a "fairly firm" decision that I am not throwing my hat into the ring for Prez of the US ever!
Well - I have the taxes done in draft form and so must transpose into "official" form. Annette signed the forms before she left for Haiti - my trusting wife! - and I hope to get them in the mail tomorrow. We're actually getting a refund from the feds, just a few hundred dollars but I'm not complaining, and our State refund was exactly $5.00 which we're donating to a child-abuse prevention fund through the State tax department.
Another work/campaign week starts tomorrow and the election is 5 weeks from Tuesday!
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Weekend Update
With apologies to Saturday Night Live, I decided to title this installment "Weekend Update" - so far, it's been a good weekend.
Last night I spent the evening at home with my youngest and finished our taxes! Well..our federal taxes, but that's the big job. I'd worked on them on two previous occasions and had finished 1/2 to 3/4 of them but it still took me a few hours last night. Tonight I'm going to do the State taxes and then I also have to do Son #3's taxes - they should be easy enough - Anyway, it's a great relief to have them done! There's a commercial out now where a couple of guys are talking "across the hedge" about whether they've finished their taxes and they both have what's supposed to represent a monkey on their back - the weight of not having finished taxes yet! That's about how I was beginning to feel, especially in the midst of this campaign - By the way, I'm getting a few hundred dollars refund - which is great - but I'm wondering if I might not have to pay something to the State. Hope not! We'll find out tonight!
Yesterday was a very, very busy day. I had several meetings and ran several errands but also managed to get some office work done. Not as much as I would have liked, but some. I'm definitely behind on my research and writing and other paperwork but I'm actually getting through it at a steady pace. Last Monday evening's effort before my meeting was a great help - I got a lot done then toward organizing, prioritizing and actually finishing a good bit of it.
I'm home this evening too which is wonderful! I've been gone all day - a pancake breakfast, three hot dog sales, a spaghetti dinner and an oyster fry - and three other events were covered for me by others. My youngest went to the breakfast with me, as did a member of my staff, and then I took my boy to a friend's house for the day and went alone to the other five activities I attended.
One of the hot dog sales was in the little community outside Bridgeport where I grew up and where many of my Dad's family live. The community building is right beside the little Methodist Church, and in the cemetery there my parents, grandparents and other family members are buried. I sat beside my parents' marker for a while and talked to them. (I didn't pray to them, of course - but I did talk!) I'm missing them especially right now. I wish my Mom were here to comfort me and I wish my Dad were here to tell me what he thinks I should do. To my surprise, I cried like a baby - I sobbed. Everyone who knows me will tell you, I cry once every 10 years or so. Don't have a problem with crying - not worried about it not being manly or any garbage like that - it's just that I don't do it usually. It was painful but good. I teared up again when I went down the road and stopped (for the 2nd time) at the spaghetti dinner and told a lifelong friend of mine who was there about it - her parents and mine were good friends and both of hers are gone too. My Mom would be 73 and my Dad 78 if they were still here. They should be...but I'll see them again. My Mom never got to see any of her grandchildren. My Dad did, except my youngest - and he knew we were expecting and requested a boy. I'm glad God granted him that wish.
I know my parents would be proud of me. My Dad would be busting with pride over this campaign - he'd be working for me like mad.
I went to a meeting on Thursday, and another one on Friday, where people told me that they had known my parents. They said nice things about them and that was very special to me. One woman yesterday, who had known me when I was small, told the whole group how smart I was when I was little and how she used to quiz me on spelling words and how I always got them right. She said "We knew he would do great things." It was really humbling. I'm glad she didn't tell any embarrasing stories of some of the stupid stuff I did when I was a kid - that would have been humbling in a different way :)
There are a couple of things tomorrow but I'm going to try to take it easy. My youngest is on Spring Break and #3 son's shift started 7 am Friday and isn't over till 10pm tomorrow night, so my 10 year old and I will go to church, go to one dinner, and come home. We're doing a study together on Haiti and we need to take an hour or so out tomorrow evening for that, especially since Mom's there right now!
Many people have told me they've seen the commercials and how much they liked them - the response has been thrilling. And - I got a tremendous, good surprise yesterday - the Fraternal Order of Police has endorsed my candidacy! I did not seek this - in fact, I'm not permitted to seek endorsements - but it's just a fantastic development.
Well, this post has gotten than I thought it would be. To close - and without being able to give more details right now - there have been a lot of "God-sightings" this week. More on that later.
Last night I spent the evening at home with my youngest and finished our taxes! Well..our federal taxes, but that's the big job. I'd worked on them on two previous occasions and had finished 1/2 to 3/4 of them but it still took me a few hours last night. Tonight I'm going to do the State taxes and then I also have to do Son #3's taxes - they should be easy enough - Anyway, it's a great relief to have them done! There's a commercial out now where a couple of guys are talking "across the hedge" about whether they've finished their taxes and they both have what's supposed to represent a monkey on their back - the weight of not having finished taxes yet! That's about how I was beginning to feel, especially in the midst of this campaign - By the way, I'm getting a few hundred dollars refund - which is great - but I'm wondering if I might not have to pay something to the State. Hope not! We'll find out tonight!
Yesterday was a very, very busy day. I had several meetings and ran several errands but also managed to get some office work done. Not as much as I would have liked, but some. I'm definitely behind on my research and writing and other paperwork but I'm actually getting through it at a steady pace. Last Monday evening's effort before my meeting was a great help - I got a lot done then toward organizing, prioritizing and actually finishing a good bit of it.
I'm home this evening too which is wonderful! I've been gone all day - a pancake breakfast, three hot dog sales, a spaghetti dinner and an oyster fry - and three other events were covered for me by others. My youngest went to the breakfast with me, as did a member of my staff, and then I took my boy to a friend's house for the day and went alone to the other five activities I attended.
One of the hot dog sales was in the little community outside Bridgeport where I grew up and where many of my Dad's family live. The community building is right beside the little Methodist Church, and in the cemetery there my parents, grandparents and other family members are buried. I sat beside my parents' marker for a while and talked to them. (I didn't pray to them, of course - but I did talk!) I'm missing them especially right now. I wish my Mom were here to comfort me and I wish my Dad were here to tell me what he thinks I should do. To my surprise, I cried like a baby - I sobbed. Everyone who knows me will tell you, I cry once every 10 years or so. Don't have a problem with crying - not worried about it not being manly or any garbage like that - it's just that I don't do it usually. It was painful but good. I teared up again when I went down the road and stopped (for the 2nd time) at the spaghetti dinner and told a lifelong friend of mine who was there about it - her parents and mine were good friends and both of hers are gone too. My Mom would be 73 and my Dad 78 if they were still here. They should be...but I'll see them again. My Mom never got to see any of her grandchildren. My Dad did, except my youngest - and he knew we were expecting and requested a boy. I'm glad God granted him that wish.
I know my parents would be proud of me. My Dad would be busting with pride over this campaign - he'd be working for me like mad.
I went to a meeting on Thursday, and another one on Friday, where people told me that they had known my parents. They said nice things about them and that was very special to me. One woman yesterday, who had known me when I was small, told the whole group how smart I was when I was little and how she used to quiz me on spelling words and how I always got them right. She said "We knew he would do great things." It was really humbling. I'm glad she didn't tell any embarrasing stories of some of the stupid stuff I did when I was a kid - that would have been humbling in a different way :)
There are a couple of things tomorrow but I'm going to try to take it easy. My youngest is on Spring Break and #3 son's shift started 7 am Friday and isn't over till 10pm tomorrow night, so my 10 year old and I will go to church, go to one dinner, and come home. We're doing a study together on Haiti and we need to take an hour or so out tomorrow evening for that, especially since Mom's there right now!
Many people have told me they've seen the commercials and how much they liked them - the response has been thrilling. And - I got a tremendous, good surprise yesterday - the Fraternal Order of Police has endorsed my candidacy! I did not seek this - in fact, I'm not permitted to seek endorsements - but it's just a fantastic development.
Well, this post has gotten than I thought it would be. To close - and without being able to give more details right now - there have been a lot of "God-sightings" this week. More on that later.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Haiti
The 2:30 wake-up call was not too bad - I kissed my wife "so long" and went back to sleep pretty quickly. Not surprising, maybe, since we'd stayed up past midnight. I don't know what time she left home to meet several others down at our church, just a couple miles away, for a 4:00 a.m. departure from there for the Pittsburgh Airport. She called me from Miami this afternoon, before she boarded a flight for Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, where she's spending the night. And tomorrow, she'll be bused with the 31 others on her trip to Fort Liberte, Haiti, for her 28th trip there.
I'm proud of her and so glad she's able to make the trip again this year. Hopefully, I'll go next year - haven't been in a long time - she started as a high school student and has been returning to the same village, working with the same church and pastor, ever since. We were fortunate enough that he was in the USA when we were married and not only was a guest, he was one of the officiating pastors.
Seems like we're always leaving each other - I go to Camp each summer once or twice, and I have judicial conferences, and she has counseling conferences and of course Haiti, etc. But it's really not that often and when we are apart, it makes coming back together all the more enjoyable - we appreciate each other! I can say one thing for sure - being a single parent even for a week or 10 days is for the birds! :)
Had a very interesting meeting tonight - have been out each night this week and had 2 meetings last night. I also have two tomorrow night - but this weekend is somewhat light as of now. A lot on Saturday though including an oyster fry! Wish my Dad were here - he loved oysters.
Well...our youngest needs some Dad time and I'm ready for some too. We just started reading another book, a chapter each night at bedtime. Goodnight, everyone.
I'm proud of her and so glad she's able to make the trip again this year. Hopefully, I'll go next year - haven't been in a long time - she started as a high school student and has been returning to the same village, working with the same church and pastor, ever since. We were fortunate enough that he was in the USA when we were married and not only was a guest, he was one of the officiating pastors.
Seems like we're always leaving each other - I go to Camp each summer once or twice, and I have judicial conferences, and she has counseling conferences and of course Haiti, etc. But it's really not that often and when we are apart, it makes coming back together all the more enjoyable - we appreciate each other! I can say one thing for sure - being a single parent even for a week or 10 days is for the birds! :)
Had a very interesting meeting tonight - have been out each night this week and had 2 meetings last night. I also have two tomorrow night - but this weekend is somewhat light as of now. A lot on Saturday though including an oyster fry! Wish my Dad were here - he loved oysters.
Well...our youngest needs some Dad time and I'm ready for some too. We just started reading another book, a chapter each night at bedtime. Goodnight, everyone.
