Maria and the Pope?

How can this be? Maybe it is a life-like wax figure John Paul II. Yes, that's it. Maria was fortunate to take a vacation to NYC to visit with her friends Mary and Kerri. While they were biting into the Big Apple, they stopped off at a wax musuem and had some fun. Her trip was a lot of fun and she was able to see many of the sights NYC has to offer.

I have a job

Can you say school? Believe it or not, this is a high school. I work at the Student Success Center which is a part of the Lexington, MO School District and it is aimed towards the at-risk students. The school draws from six school districts in Lafayette County MO. So far it has been a new education for a middle-aged man and how kids operate today. If you look at the building closely you should notice some shaded lettering at the top of the building. It used to say Harolds Roller Rink. Yes, the building is a refurbished roller rink. However, it is fun and the kids and I get along pretty well. The commute is the worst part of the job, it is 50 miles from the house. Travel time is roughly a hour and fifty minutes a day. Hope to cut that time down in a year or two. We are ending our first quarter and I understand there will be some turnover in the students as some will finish with their high school requirements and new students will come from the sending schools. Will keep you posted on events at the building.

Sharon and Don "posing" at my wedding

An excellent picture of Sharon and I on October 15, 2005. We grouped up in Columbia for the festivities and the photographer took an outstanding picture of the two of us.

Don at 42

A not to recent picture of Don, at Christmas. This picture was taken in what at the time was our new house in Kansas City, MO, where we currently reside. I'll try and find more recent photos of Maria and me to post, although we don't look much different now. I might even be more good looking :)

Did someone say work?

Who would ever believe after 43 years Don would have a master's degree? The only bad outcome of such an academic achievement is the fact you have to find a full-time job to justify the schooling. Well, as fate would have it after an extended, and I mean extended, search process, the fantastic and foresighted Lexington R-5 School District has given me a chance to teach to within their alternative setting.
I'm looking forward to the challenge of connecting with the at-risk crowd. The class sizes are small, which will ease some of the management issues that come with larger classes. Lexington is a smaller district but the Student Success Center (which is the name of the school) draws from several of the school districts in Lafayette County, Missouri. Classes start on Tuesday, August 21 at 8 a.m. sharp. More posts coming on my trials and tribulations.