Fall

Today is the first day of fall September 22,2012. In keeping with the fall tradition here in Michigan it is of course overcast and rainy. The leaves are beginning to change, and usually it would be apple cider season. Tim and I got all the fall decoration out. Pumpkins on the porch orange leaves center piece, and the harvest top treatment in the dinette.

It time to start Christmas shopping

Simply September

September started off with some new members joining our family. The smallest addition to the family has 4 little legs, and his name is Sammie. Victor, our other dog, is not too happy to have the little guy join the family. But with Victor's bad heart we know our days with him are limited, so we decided to add to the family now. Sammie was named after Uncle Sam, and is Timmy's dog. So far Timmy is doing a great job and is never very far from the puppy.
 Sammie  is a brown and black Shih Tzu we bought from a breeder in Muskegon. He is an alert, lively, little dog. Happy and hardy he is packed with character. So far he has made friends easily and has responded well to patient training. He is playful and spunky, and loves to cuddle. Right now he is 9 inches long, about the size of my shoe. He is an affectionate little dog and likes to be with people. He has tried to make friends with Victor-but Victor is having no part of it! Instead Victor seems to be spending time with my brother, and looks at me with accusing eyes. I remember the same look on my daughters face when I brought Timmy home form the hospital. 

State legislature very unfriendly to teachers

September finds me back at work teaching eight, 45 minute classes a day and traveling between buildings on Monday and Friday. Our Republican governor is also handing me a nice 8,000 dollar pay cut. The legislature  passed several laws this summer. I now have to pay 3% toward my retirement Medicare part B. (for when I retired in another 13 years-provided they don't change the law yet again.) Another 4% to maintain my pension,(provided they don't change the law again) and 20% of my health insurance premium.  All of this because the the former Governor Engler "borrowed" from our pension fund in 1991 and never paid it back.  A bit disheartening to now make less than a manager at WALMART and hold 2 advanced degrees. I love teaching but they are sure making it almost impossible to make a living after all the laws they have passed. I remember when it was supposed to be a shared sacrifice...except so far the only state workers taking cuts are teachers. Just as we all start back to work we are slammed by the legislature. I realize the state is in recovery mode-and I could understand any one of the three cuts-but ALL 3-Gee- how cold can you be?

Meanwhile the state had a surplus in the k-12 fund-but instead of restoring the cuts to education, the governor redirected the funds to departments that needed it more. Above and beyond the money taken from me, is a larger issue dealing with giving so much power to state government.  The state is acting too much like a dictator taking local control away, and acting like a schoolyard bully-pun intended! I remember when Republicans stood for less government-but apparently that is no longer the case. So much as I am tempted to leave the state and work elsewhere, I do love Michigan. I am just praying that the November election will place some people back in lansing with some common sense.

Victor Goes to College

Our beloved Shih Tzu Victor after getting a wonderful dog check up 4 weeks ago, collapsed with a heart attack. I gave him mouth to mouth and cpr and brought him back. Our vet sent us to MSU small animal hospital. Victor  had a physical exam, EEG, blood work, xrays, ultra sound, and stress test.

 He is in wonderful shape-except for a bad heart.  His little heart mummer has gotten worse and the left ventricle of his heart is enlarged. They gave him medication to help his heart pump-it should buy us 6 months to a year. When the heart fails there is other medication-but after reading about the side effects we have decided this is the only step we will take. We have seen too many family members suffer, and want to enjoy him and allow him to spend his finally time lively and happy.

The little guy stole my heart and made me into a dog person.Vido below shows the MSU Animal Hospital.

It has been a crazy 6 months. I lost my cousin Skip, my cousin Susie, my Uncle Sam and my sister-in law Terri. My Aunt was in and out of the hospital for knee surgery, I got diagnose with diabetes, and then fell on the dock injuring my knee.  The days were filled with  tears, hospital visits, prayers, funerals, visitations, and unless work. The pool pump broke, the pool filter broke and we had to replace the main power lines coming into the house. It was like an out-of-body experience. Sometimes I felt like a total stranger even to myself.We just dealt with life as it happened to us...it was all that we could do.

 Terri, Randy at the table

Jon Cousin Susie and Aunt Jean

Aunt Geri, Uncle Sam and Aunt Jean Popma

Cousin Skip and his wife Pat

Along the way there were some happy moments. My son Jamie came home to visit in June, and I spent a day at my best friend Gary's cottage. The pool has been my refuge during the long hot summer, and I've read many, many books on my ipad. I have a couple of weeks of summer vacation left and hope to get in some time for fun.

Tim and Jamie Star gazing