You Have Got To Be Kidding.

I just sent the following email to Governor Blunts office. For those who don't know, it has been proposed by the Governor to sale off some of the assets of MOHELA, which is the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, to private institutions and use the funds for capital improvements.

I have to say that I was neutral to the “MOHELA” plan that has been working its way through the legislature. I understand that the leadership in the legislature has managed to get this to a vote and in the process projects were cut in districts of opponents of the sale.

After having lost my wife to Inflammatory Breast Cancer last September 18th, I find it very disturbing that the population of mid-Missouri, both Republican and Democrat, will be penalized by the elimination of funds for the expansion of Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. It is sad that the lives of cancer patients, now and in the future, can be considered collateral damage in the great game of politics.

My hope that you, Governor Blunt, can be the one person to stand above the partisanship and push to reinstate the funds for Ellis Fischel. Mid-Missouri cancer patients deserve better.

Thank you,
Marty Matthews

Peace and Deep Thoughts,
Marty

Relaxation Suggestions.

My dear friend Shelly posted in the previous comments that she thinks a good "message" might be just the thing I need.

Now Shelly, what kind of guy do you think I am that I would darken the door step of a massage parlour?

(Please send your references to my email inbox.)

I'll post more later.

Peace and Good Cheers,
Marty

RELAX.

It was kind of a stressful weekend again. Not as bad as last weekend, but still stressful. It's not that anything "bad" has happened to induce this feeling. I think it is the culmination of many small things, piled one on top of another, that is weighing on me.

So I have decided to take a friend's advice and "relax".
Just relax.
Slow down.
Take a deep breath.
As soon as I post this I'm going to email Christa's yoga instructor and see if there is a morning class that I can take after I drop the kids off at school. I think I need to take some time for myself to "relax" so that I am ready to enjoy the good things in life when they come along and there are many good things in this life.

Peace and Good Cheers,
Marty

The Title Is In The Picture.

I have to say that the days that I can go, set, and drink coffee in the morning before anything else, are the good days. Just seeing the usual faces and saying "hi" to the usual people is very relaxing. No surprises. Just "the usual". The only thing that can make it better is when there is someone to share both the coffee and the conversation with. There is always someone to "chit-chat" with, but an in depth conversation can really get the brain churning. Or maybe it is the coffee. Maybe I need to do a study on this.

More later.

Peace and Good Coffee,
Marty

It Is In The Mail.

I got my State taxes in the mail at exactly 6:35 p.m. I had a whopping 25 minutes to spare. Now you have to understand that I filled my Federal statement electronically, in the middle of February, because I was getting money back. I waited until today for the State return because I owed them a grand total of $34. There was a point to be made. I'm not entirely sure what the point was, but I made it.

If you have not sent your taxes off yet you have 22 minutes. Better get moving.

Peace and Good Cheers,
Marty

How Many Days Until Friday?

I have to say that last weekend was extremely long. It wasn't any one thing that made it that way. It was the culmination of many little things. As soon as I post this I'm headed to bed. My sleep has been erratic at best over the last couple weeks and didn't get any better this weekend. To many thoughts, to little time.

Elora was really a challenge. She and Rowen could hardly be in the same room with each other without arguing over something. I will say that at least half the time Rowen is the instigator. Even when that happened, Elora certainly knows how to take the argument to the next level. After having butted heads with Rowen and then butting heads with me, Elora came in, after she had been in bed for an hour, and said that she didn't feel well and the she wanted her mother. We talked about Christa for awhile then she went back to bed and went right to sleep.

From other things that have been said by the kids over the last week, I think that the realization that Christa is not coming home is starting to sink in and they are all starting to talk about her each in their own way. I think this is good.

That is all my news. I hope all is well with you. Say a prayer for Virginia Tech.

Peace and Good Memories,
Marty

I've Resorted To Talking About The Weather.

The question of the day is should we be concerned with the fact that they are predicting snow on the evening of Friday the 13th? They have scaled the prediction back to around an inch of accumulation and the high tomorrow is "supposed" to be around 45 degrees. If that holds true any snow should be gone by tomorrow evening. Anyone up for a snowball fight?

Tomorrow I have to take Eilish to gymnastics at 9 am and then take Elora over to one of her friends house for a birthday party at 10 am. They are going to go to a movie and then go back to play and have cake and ice cream. It will be just Rowen and I for a couple of hours. We will have to find something fun to do which for him means going to McDonald's (a.k.a. the second level of hell).

I hope everyone is well.

Peace and Good Cheers,
Marty

You Don't Have to Yell, The Washer Is Running.

The new washer is in and I didn't have to go to the laundry mat. I've decided that the new washer is large enough to wash the kids in, all be it one at a time, if it should become necessary. It could make bath time very interesting.

The only down fall is that the new washer is way to quite. I can actually hear the television over the washer while it is running, without closing the two doors that stand between the two. I should be caught up on laundry tonight or tomorrow at the latest.

It's a good thing.

Peace and Good Cheers,
Marty

P.S. It never hurts to have 911 on speed dial.

P.S.S. First person to hurl during the spin cycle will be asked to leave the island.

Laundry Is Backing Up. If You Don't Hear From Me Soon Call 911.

I hope everyone had a happy Easter. I know I did. I got to go to Lowe's and buy me a new washing machine. Jealous aren't you. There is that one sound that we all know and dread. The sound of grinding gears. It comes in many different frequencies. But, no matter what the specific sound is, we know what it means. Pain. In this case the "pain" of buying a new washer. Delivery is Tuesday.

That's all for know.

Peace and Good Cheers,
Marty

P.S. Prayers for Brady and Barb.

Just a quick note, Sue and her mother opened their antique store on Wednesday. They had the store blessed by the Episcopal priest and then it was off to the races.

Mark sent me a link to a gallery of pictures from the store. If you have a minute check out some pictures of White Cat Antiques.

Peace and Good Cheers,
Marty

Pictures From Spring Break.

My Mom took these when she was here over the kids spring break.

No this is not part of Eilish's bar routine.

This may actually be part of Elora's routine.

Probably part of the Batman training program.

My Zoom Zoom Zoom.

Peace and Good Cheer,
Marty