Monday, July 11, 2005
JANUARY, FEBRUARY TO MARCH 3RD....1995
The year is 1995. January had it’s good and bad days. I was off work one or two times because of icy conditions. Bear and I both had colds and watched all of the football play-offs while we recuperated. We were pulling for Nebraska U to win their Bowl Game and went to bed early when they were way behind and looking like a bunch of misfits. Bear woke up at 2:00am with phantom pains in his stump and happened to turn TV on to check the score. He came back to bed and was deliriously happy………with some 4th quarter miracles, Nebraska pulled it off and won the championship game. We were both happy for Coach Osborn who had been to the Bowl Games many times and somehow never got to win one. Sometimes good news even takes care of phantom pains……
In February I had to go to Jefferson City for a week of training at the Highway Patrol Academy. One by one we were assigned for re-training and we always hated it. The dorms for the young troopers in training were not comfortable nor did they offer any amenities of home. There was a TV in a room down the hall and the showers were to be shared by adjoining doors. Someone invariably forgot to unlock your door and so it was always a question as to whether or not you could shower in time for class.
In the week we were there we were exposed to the new changes concerning Motor Vehicle Laws and then went to the building where the Driver’s Licenses were printed. The next day we had Defensive Driving Class and then retraining on testing applicants. Mid-week we hit the road in a van and had to check for errors the driver committed, with drivers alternating. Each night we went to the gym after the evening meal and worked out, then hit the books for the test coming up on Friday.
We froze our tails off on Thursday with testing on the motorcycle course. I was in luck because they called the tests off before I was due up for a turn. This was one time I was in favor of cold weather. A lot of the brass came to class on Friday, introducing themselves and then leaving. We were tested all morning and I felt pretty good about my grade…the nights of study and long hours in class listening to each speaker paid off. We were released at noon and after lunch in the cafeteria, I headed for home.
The end of the month we took some time off and went down to see John, Barb and little John. We had always wanted to be in Louisiana when Mardi-Gras was going on so this was the time. The next morning we went to one of the local parades with the floats and all the bead throwing and such. It was pretty exciting………at first I didn’t try to catch any beads but when they hit me in the head, all of a sudden, I begin grabbing and hollering like all of the other folks I thought were so idiotic. It was a very fun time………
John always had a new and different experience planned on every trip to see them. This time it was a visit to the Global Wild Life Reserve. We were loaded on wagons pulled by a tractor over 600 acres of animals. It was fascinating because when they saw the wagons they came right towards them…..we had been given bagged feed for them and we could pour it right in their mouths. Nothing can compare with seeing zoo animals up close and personal. They were mostly animals you would encounter on the Veldt. The kids who were the guides kept us informed and laughing.
John and Barb threw a Mardi-Gras party for their friends and it was a fun-night. We had been introduced to them previously so it was nice to revisit them again. No one ever came to a party of John and Barbs without having a good time. Later, the next day, John told us the Monet exhibit was on display in New Orleans so we loaded up and went to see that. We were shown a film of his life and paintings……then took the tour. Notable to say the least.
This would be one year we were able to spend John’s birthday with him. We ate out with more friends and ended up at home where we had the cake and gifts. A friend of John’s was running for Council At Large and our last night we attended a campaign party for him. There was a nice crowd and Marty won the election we were later informed.
It had been a trip to remember and we arrived safely home the next day. Becky had our kitties here and food fixed………we spent the evening telling her about all the fun. Going back to work after time off is always hard….especially when you’ve been to New Orleans………..
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
In February I had to go to Jefferson City for a week of training at the Highway Patrol Academy. One by one we were assigned for re-training and we always hated it. The dorms for the young troopers in training were not comfortable nor did they offer any amenities of home. There was a TV in a room down the hall and the showers were to be shared by adjoining doors. Someone invariably forgot to unlock your door and so it was always a question as to whether or not you could shower in time for class.
In the week we were there we were exposed to the new changes concerning Motor Vehicle Laws and then went to the building where the Driver’s Licenses were printed. The next day we had Defensive Driving Class and then retraining on testing applicants. Mid-week we hit the road in a van and had to check for errors the driver committed, with drivers alternating. Each night we went to the gym after the evening meal and worked out, then hit the books for the test coming up on Friday.
We froze our tails off on Thursday with testing on the motorcycle course. I was in luck because they called the tests off before I was due up for a turn. This was one time I was in favor of cold weather. A lot of the brass came to class on Friday, introducing themselves and then leaving. We were tested all morning and I felt pretty good about my grade…the nights of study and long hours in class listening to each speaker paid off. We were released at noon and after lunch in the cafeteria, I headed for home.
The end of the month we took some time off and went down to see John, Barb and little John. We had always wanted to be in Louisiana when Mardi-Gras was going on so this was the time. The next morning we went to one of the local parades with the floats and all the bead throwing and such. It was pretty exciting………at first I didn’t try to catch any beads but when they hit me in the head, all of a sudden, I begin grabbing and hollering like all of the other folks I thought were so idiotic. It was a very fun time………
John always had a new and different experience planned on every trip to see them. This time it was a visit to the Global Wild Life Reserve. We were loaded on wagons pulled by a tractor over 600 acres of animals. It was fascinating because when they saw the wagons they came right towards them…..we had been given bagged feed for them and we could pour it right in their mouths. Nothing can compare with seeing zoo animals up close and personal. They were mostly animals you would encounter on the Veldt. The kids who were the guides kept us informed and laughing.
John and Barb threw a Mardi-Gras party for their friends and it was a fun-night. We had been introduced to them previously so it was nice to revisit them again. No one ever came to a party of John and Barbs without having a good time. Later, the next day, John told us the Monet exhibit was on display in New Orleans so we loaded up and went to see that. We were shown a film of his life and paintings……then took the tour. Notable to say the least.
This would be one year we were able to spend John’s birthday with him. We ate out with more friends and ended up at home where we had the cake and gifts. A friend of John’s was running for Council At Large and our last night we attended a campaign party for him. There was a nice crowd and Marty won the election we were later informed.
It had been a trip to remember and we arrived safely home the next day. Becky had our kitties here and food fixed………we spent the evening telling her about all the fun. Going back to work after time off is always hard….especially when you’ve been to New Orleans………..
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
