Thursday 8-7-08

Worked my usual 3P-3A shift at the hospital today. Only 2 patients & relatively quiet. Only 1 minor ER today. I put 100 ER charts together last week, so with that job done I finished reading the “Tobias of the Amish” book tonight. I had read the ending already and finally got back to that part and read it all again. I have mixed feelings about this book and don’t wish to say what some of my opinions are. It was written by his son who was only 3 when his father was killed in a car accident. Many feel it is an accurate acccount of Tobe’s life.

About 5AM today a large lighting bolt fried some electrical equipment in the hospital which compromised the fire alarm system. Our maintenance crew was taking turns doing hourly rounds day and night to make sure of an early detection should a fire have occured.

With much sadness I have probably seen our departing DON for the last time while on the job. She is taking a job in a doctor’s office in Newton. I think she’s been here for 9 years as DON and several years earlier as a staff RN. Best wishes for your new job!

mikey

Wednesday 8-6-08

Another sleep filled AM & early PM. For some reason I have been much for tired lately & hard to get up and going. Recently had a refill of all my pills & am starting to wonder if some dosages have been changed, but too tired to check into that.

Took Jim to work at 2PM & dropped off a deposit at UMB. Also a stop at WalMart for several small items, etc etc. FINALLY, got the 2 tax returns efiled after making sure they are OK. This seemingly small task took days to complete as I just simply didn’t feel alert enough to send them off as is. A few very minor changes which really weren’t important anyway.

Went to my men’s meeting at 6:30 & today it was Alvin Y, Lorne K & me. Josh was helping get ready for visitors to their house later tonight. So many problems to talk over & so many prayer requests that we actually didn’t even have time to pray. Guess that can be done on our own time. Many heavy items on my mind lately.

Nathaniel Yoders from Ireland gave a program on their mission. His wife is Larry B’s sister. N has quite a strong Irish accent & we learned there may be 50 Irish accents in this small country that is only about a third the size of KS. My grandfather of at least 8 or 9 generations ago came from Ireland to Nova Scotia before my great-great-grandfather came to KS from NS in 1887 I think.

Had a bite to eat at Bayards late tonight.

mikey

Tuesday 8-5-08

Election Day!!

My parents and I are pleased that Kathy Martin won reelection to the KS board of education. She is a strong proponent of presenting creation in public schools. Lot of incumbent upsets in Saline County however, esp on the County Commission.

Took Jim to & from work again today. Trying to do everything possible to eliminate as much walking for him as we can. It’s a 2 mile walk one way to Smoky Hill Rehab where he was recently hired. Rec a compliment from one family member directed to the DON that she must always make sure they keep Jim working there as he a a Godsend. One other lady complimented his curly hair.

Almost ready to efile 2 large tax returns & made a call to someone else & have most of those questions taken care of, so another delivery of a very large tax return should be imminent.

Today Loyal & I went to Hog Wild Pit BBQ in Hutch to celebrate his birthday of some 5 months ago. First time for either of us to be there & I found it quite nice & was very pleased with my meal. Unfortunately we didn’t heed the 8:00 don’t be late warning, but still got in the door just in the nick of time. We weren’t hurried out either. Good to catch up with Loyal and his happenings such as the KS Youth Chorus tour & their many programs in various prisons which I am all for. Also had a tour of Craig & Rachel’s new house. I think they will have a perfect setup for watching sunsets with their large window facing an unobstructed view of the western horizon.

It was a good day.

mikey

Monday 8-4-08

Slept in quite late today. Didn’t get a whole lot done except taking Jim to work at 2PM & then back home again at 10PM. Ankle is doing much better with continuous Advil on board.

Spent a LONG time researching baptism to help me with a response to a certain young man I know. Grappling if salvation is in effect BEFORE baptism or after. I am of the opinion that a person is saved at the time of the new birth which should be before baptism.

mikey

Sunday 8-3-08

SS on Ecclesiastes Ch 4. Benji, John & Matthew in class along with Julian & Johann. Many are still on vacation. Julian had the sermon on embracing truth. Later discussed at length with Leroy about opinions on possible changes to the SS format. I would be in favor of a longer SS class period and shorter general assembly and use that as a sort of wrap-up or to share highlights between various classes. Also had a great conversation with Brian S.

Dinner at Marvin’s and a delicious meal as usual-meat and potatoes. I was also granted the honor of starting the lettuce salad All of Marvin’s children there except Josh, Phil & Steven Wagler & myself. Later us old 3 men talked the entire afternoon away without any of us falling asleep which rarely happens if I am in any way involved. Lots of politics, gossip and history and freinshaft, etc.

Had popcorn with Marvin & Rosa & youngest ones and more conversation with items close to my heart.

Went to Willards to sleep, but was sidetracked to bothering some young men swimmin. At least 2 had extended stays on the high dive before taking the plunge and took some extensive persuastion to get the task done. Those there: Grant (good to see you again, Kendrick, Lyle & Kristen, Cody & Steven (I think). One is soon getting married.

Singing at Elmer’s & a good time there & discussed the Tobias book with Elmer & made some more connections with that.

Then stopped to see Ryan who was spending the evening with some friends & got acquainted with them. Good to see you again Ryan. Glad to see you are diligently studying your Bible.

Then stopped to see Jim a bit & got some supplies 3AM. Home & to bed at 6AM.

mikey

Saturday 8-2-08

Slept most of the day away. Pain pills are catching up with me.

Jim called and said his ankle pain is really bad. Wanted to go to the ER, but finally took enough Advil to take the edge off and decided against it. Will try Stat Care on Monday & hopes to get a cortizone shot in the offending ankle.

Think I got all the new W-4’s faxed to New Hires for the recent new employees for those I do payroll for. Then picked up a new toner cartridge for my copier & had a meal at Hong Kong Buffet which always puts me to sleep, so guess that’s what I’ll do now.

mikey

Friday 8-1-08

A new month & feels like new years!

July was a rough month & am quite pleased to see it gone. 2nd qtr payroll reports finally done and even this relatively simple task was long & daunting. Helped Jim get moved to Salina which is definitely a positive, but he is quite homesick for MP at times and is completely dependent on me for transportation. Other aspects of MP are best left there.

Had a fun July 4th. Jim & I went sightseeing to ghost towns of NW Saline County: Trenton, Shipton & Marydel. Drove around Culver which is still a town. Just insdie Ottawa County, so fireworks are legal. Seemed to be fireworks going off every 2nd or 3rd intersection & strangely felt like a July 4th of a century ago. Kids looked like kids do these day neverthe less… Also think we found the old Culver school where I think Aunt Loretta graduated from. Must ask her some time.

Even found the old K18 bridge sight over the Solomon River circa 1940 (courtesy of my 1940 KS map that friend Kevin Nisly obtained for me on ebay). Then drove by the big fireworks warehouse at the Ottawa/Saline county line on Old 81. Later watched fireworks from our usual spot on Cloud St just W of Simpson on top of the hill. A nice display, but somehow doesn’t excite me like it used to. Still want to keep the tradition going. It was a good relaxing, slowpaced day.

Spent the weekend of July 18-20 at Golden City MO with Willard at John Coblentzes place. Went to Church with them & saw several people from Roxbury days that I havent seen for at least 18 years. Went to the big tri state farm show at Pittsburg with Willard, Jonathan C & his boys. Later picked corn at Wayne Nissley’s & got 15 buckets worth. Got that all husked & taken care of. I had the easy job of wiping off silk, tho it wasn’t easy for me. Quite challenging to get it off actually. Hard physical work (for me), but mentally relaxing & they are all so fun and easy to get along with. Rode to MO & back with Eli & Lydia Mast in their van.

It seems I had more people & issues to pray for/about that I felt overwhelmed. I think some of that just needs to be left alone & move on with more current things. Afterall, it’s up to these ‘other’ people to respond to the Holy Spirit’s leading. I can’t do it for them.

And yes, Allen Thiessen, I DO know Ike Thiessen’s & some of their descendents who live in the Hillsboro/Lehigh area. Very nice people. Am acquainted with several of Helen’s large Warkentin family. All very nice people. Glad to hear from you.

Now for today, up to 100+ and really don’t mind. Jim is doing well at his new job at Smoky Hill Rehab & even got the job done shortstaffed and just his 5th shift there. Went to WalMart & drove up to the bombing range area. Fun to explore new territory in the dark. Found the entrance to the new training center which is a few miles NW of Smolan. Today was a good day.

mikey

Wednesday 6-25-08

Big news today is that the tax war between Kansas & Missouri is over. Kansas residents who work in Missouri can deduct their property tax (real estate tax??) on their MO tax return that was paid for non-MO property. This will primarily affect Kansas City tax payers on the KS side, Johnson County, etc. Now for the big test in ethics. These same taxpayers will prob need to file an ammended KS return as well to reduce their credit paid to others states. And even more interesting….how many KS taxpayers even bothered to enter the property tax addition on their nonresident MO tax return in the first place.

What a mess!!!

Going thru bank statements & endless credit card statements to make sure I have all the EOY outstanding checks & CC charges entered for one Quickbooks client. One very late CC transaction hadn’t been entered yet (over $2000). That’s why I like to go over things carefully before I deliver a tax return.

Wheat harvest in full swing and another hot day to keep it that way.

Went for my men’s meeting at 6:30 at Center & then a singspiration led by Dwight Miller. Many gone, prob due to wheat harvest. An impromptu song by those with March birthdays (not many), November birthdays (not many more) and then July birthdays. Now it started to fill up the choir up front.

Slept at Willards till 10:30 since pain meds are starting to wear me down. Feeling better & took another load of Jim’s things to his new place in Salina. Had an early AM breakfast at Grandma Max’s. YUMM. Good to see Bunny there again.

mikey

 

Tuesday 6-24-08

Happy Birthday Jacob! 16 today

Mom & Aunt Loretta took Rebecca & Eric back to Oakley (halfway point to Rush) to meet Elizabeth. Left at 7AM & had a early Noon meal at Subway at Mitten Truck Stop. Very nearly missed a collision at the construction area in Hays. Someone came barreling onto I-70 & just barely missed them. Reminded me of my metal cruncher on I-135 at Magnolia when that road was under construction in 1998. For some reason I felt something strange when they left (yes, I was up at 7AM to see them off!!) and felt the need to pray for their safety & remember hugging Mama before they left.

Slept some more & then ran all kinds of errands today. Moved another load of Jim’s things to his new place in Salina & ran around getting utilities set up and all kinds of things like that.

More tax work & software updates later in the day, then some weed pulling to top it all off.

Wheat harvest going well and moving right along. Dad spends a lot of time moving & dumping trucks at the farm bins. So far asthma hasn’t bothered me this year.

mikey

 

Monday 6-23-08

In response to Allen Thiessen, I prepare income tax returns and I have a lot of bad checks given to me. It’s less headache & less stress to cash these checks rather than to have them deposted and bounce, costing both me and my client bank fees and all sorts of grief. I cash most of these and I DO report them as income, lest anyone get the wrong impression. I treat my cash like I would any other bank account & record ALL my transactions. I try to make these check cashing trips when I have other duties & don’t generally make a special trip just to cash checks. Yes, travel is expensive these days.

I’m wondering, Allen, if you have relatives in the Hillsboro area.

Wheat harvest is moving right along. Started at our north corner about mid afternoon (it rained last night) & then moved to the west bank of the farm.

Eric rode the combine & enjoyed that. Rebecca helped pick cherries and that was a big help

I am trying to stay away from wheat dust as much as possible & plodding along with tax return extensions & trying to sort thru a lot of clutter. Desk is looking much better tonight. Went to Conklin to get a flat repaired & ended up needing a new tire. This seems to happen more often than I think it should & wonder if I should have my flats repaired elsewhere.

Eric & Rebecca leave for CO tomorrow.

mikey