Updates

Stephanie got to show her students the quilt today and present it to the principal, who may put it in the display case as you enter the school. Everyone was excited! This may have helped defuse some tensions from a couple of ongoing controversies at school - as everyone came back from spring break - including the work slowdown. The walkathon and potluck picnic for Vincent's school's Parent Teacher Student Association encountered no rain but somewhat chilly weather Saturday. We had a light turnout - with some elementary school student bidding to whip cream their teachers (pictured above). I enjoyed working with a few parents and a student who helped put it together. (And I got to talk with one of Vincent's teachers, a science teacher who helped illuminate the terrible mid-six weeks science progress report we had received the night before - and who may help intervene to soften the blow.) We raised between $600 and $700 - and are still receiving contributions from some of you - and may be planning soon a somewhat similar fall event - plus perhaps a "Battle of the Bands" at Vincent's school. (I may also be helping, tangentially, plan a fund-raising plant/art sale for Vincent's church youth group.) Frisco's health took a turn for the worse Friday when we plied him with special dogo food and then left for a movie and the plays. We came home to a grim scene and a very sick dog. Stephanie stayed home all day Saturday - except to help when I got frustrated trying to find Vincent at his cast party - and we rationed Frisco's special food and cooked wild rice. He seems to definitely be on the mend now. This extended weekend (I took Friday off) was also full of basketball. The weekend started with the Western Kentucky men's team falling, but the Louisville Cardinals, Davidson Wildcats, and Xavier Musketeers (from neighboring Cincinnati - a team I had picked to get into the Final Four). But all three of these teams lost in the fourth round - including the Cardinals to #1-ranked North Carolina (just as the Cardinal women had done the day before). This left three of my Final Four in the hunt, as I fell back in my pool to second. My Mother has been talking with my sister, Stephanie, and me about having her first of two knee replacement surgeries in early June. However, the doctor has just referred her to yet another doctor to get clearance, and so this may delay when she's actually able to schedule the surgery. The report of one doctor might it sound like her health problems were many, and it seems like they're being very cautious about sending her into surgery, trying to make sure they've considered every eventuality, particularly of possible complications during surgery. The last time Mom talked with the surgeon's office, they were scheduling surgeries in May.