Shingles and John Adams’ Mopey Face

Well, it’s been a month. Figured we’d update.
Mostly we’ve been working, and getting over colds and then getting sick again, and waiting for spring. I’ve been fortunate enough to only get truly sick once this year, while Kathryn has recently contracted some viral thing that’s turned her nose into a goo factory.
We had a [...]

Let the Games Begin!

Soccer season approacheth. Several months ago, the boys head coach asked me if I’d like to be involved in taking a soccer team to an indoor tournament in Cheyenne. He said they wouldn’t be able to pay me much, but it would be good experience and as an added bonus, it would get me out [...]

Two Fun Links That Are All About Us

We hope our readership knows we’re engaged. If not, well, we’re engaged. June 28 of this year. In the spirit of self-congratulatory celebrations, we invite you to take a quiz about us.
Kathryn’s quiz, written by Paul.
Paul’s quiz, written by Kathryn.
If you’re so inclined, you can also check out our wedding page. Look at pictures [...]

The First Cast of the Year

For the first time since November we had two consecutive days above 40 degrees this weekend. Kathryn worked, and me? I fished.
My traditional first-cast-of-the-year unspools on the only open water around, up at the mouth of the canyon, below the Rise. One has to wade through snow to get to the water, and even [...]

A Little Payback

Mrs. Sigaty, my 4th grade teacher, was my favorite. Having endured Mrs. Paulson’s nebulous presence in second grade, and having survived Mrs. Jensen’s personal vendettas in third grade, I felt like Mrs. Sigaty was pretty much the coolest lady ever. She simply didn’t carry the weight of 25+ years of teaching and South Dakota meals [...]

The Worst Soup in the History of Liquid Food in Cans

Kathryn’s not the biggest soup fan in the world, so I generally have it when she’s not around. She worked today, and since both of us woke up feeling mildly sick, I thought a bowl of soup sounded like a swell idea for lunch.
I keep a few cans of Campbells in the cupboard; mostly they’re [...]

You’d Think They Would At Least Insult Me in Standard American English

For the past few weeks yours truly has been in a funk of some sort. It could be my beloved Illini basketball team; it could be seasonal; it could just be the end of semester. My students are looking like a very tired and fed up group of teens, and they are clearly less and [...]

stuff and stuff

I don’t think either one of us are feeling too inspired to write, but I thought I’d at least keep you informed of the basics.
1. The holidays went well, despite my knee surgery. My best gift? It’s a tie between the new coat and the Grateful Dead box set. I now have every studio album [...]

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

As Kathryn has plugged away at getting enrolled in class, I’ve been nearly – not quite, but nearly – overwhelmed with stuff.
Thing 1: School. If anyone ever tells you that teachers don’t work hard enough, or that they’re paid too much, or that anyone can do what we do, ask them to come visit [...]

Our Cat Don’t Take No Mess, and Today We Learn About Plagues

Three quick stories before yours truly gets some sort of plan together for the week.
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In an effort to slowly reintroduce our formerly feral cat to her native surroundings – and also to save our couches – we’ve been letting her out for brief, supervised intervals. This morning after Kathryn left for work, Lucy and I [...]