Nebraska vs California + Grandchild Conversations + Criminal Minds + Teacher Salaries

There Is No Place Like . . . Nebraska

Temperatures reached 80 in Norfolk on WED. Today's forecast = high of 43, low of 26, rain & thunderstorms expected. BLIZZARD WARNING from 10:00p tonight thru 7:00p SAT. Whiteout conditions, blowing & drifting snow. Accumulations of 6-11" expected, localized amounts up to 12" possible. Travel will be extremely dangerous & not recommended. SAT = high of 29/ low of 18, 100% chance of precipitation.

BUT, you ask, aren't you headed to Lincoln later today for Brianna's confirmation on SUN. Okay, here's the forecast for Lincoln. 100% chance of precipitation today, high of 75. SAT = rain, snow, wind, 80% chance of precipitation, high 38, low 23.

Postscript:  This is for you Iowanians. I am only stating the facts, not looking for sympathy.

. . . California

From Omaha World Herald (3/26):  "In rural Northern California, a bid to create the 51st state . . . Supporters of a breakaway state say they are sorely underestimated & point to the number of passionate people who show up to their events. One man put it this way: 'We're not a bunch of dumb rednecks.'" COMMENT:  It is comforting to know that there are smart rednecks in California.

Conversations with my Grandchildren

Yesterday (THU 4/12) I took Bentley, age 4, to Skyview Park, since the temps were rather moderate. I'm still taking it easy re:  exercise, so I mostly followed him around at the playgrounds. We did take along a fishing pole & "box w/the worms in it." That would be my tackle box. More on that later.

After we fished for about 10 minutes from the fishing dock on the north side of the lake w/zip, nada results,I said we would drive over to the rocks (rock & gravel jetties) on the south side of the lake. Bentley said, "There's a road on the other side." I said, "Yes, we're going to drive on that road & fish on the other side." Bentley:  "Papa! That's what I said. (Pause) You don't have to say everything that I say." Duly-noted.

Postscript:  on my 2nd cast from the rock jetties, I snagged a rock. As I was preparing to break off the line, since I was hopelessly caught. Before I could do that, the fishing pole snapped. Fortunately, it was one of my cheap poles. 

1st fishing expedition of the season:  unfulfilling yet disastrous.

License Plates

Some of you may recall that Lois & I track license plates each year. The rules are simple. We check off a license plate but only if we see it outside that particular state. Three years ago we got all the states, although it came down to Louisiana on Dec. 30. Two years ago we got all but 3, & last year all but 2. TUE 4/10 was a bountiful day, because we got 2 plates that can be hard to obtain:  Connecticut & South Carolina. That brings our total to 31--not bad for the middle of April. Road trips will put us in a position to get a lot more:  Mall of America probably over Memorial or Labor Day weekends, Texas in the fall, Washington, D.C., also in the fall, & maybe Florida over Christmas break.

Dept. of Shameless Joke Stealing

From Norfolk Daily News "late laughs" (4/6):  "Earlier this week, the Church of Scientology premiered its very own television network, which will stream on various platforms. It's like any other network, except every show is a cult hit." (SOURCE:  The Late Late Show with James Corden)

Criminal Minds

NDN (4/3):  "Suspect sings 'Cops'. A teenager sang the theme from the TV show 'Cops' after he was arrested following a chase in Haworth, New Jersey. Haworth police said the 16-year-old was driving a stolen car when officers gave chase on SAT. Officers pursued the vehicle through a golf course before the suspect bailed out. He can be heard singing on dash cam video, 'Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do?'" COMMENT:  This may be an example of a DUMB redneck.

L.O.L. Educator *

* Looney Old Lutheran Educator

OWH (4/8):  "Avg Salary of Elementary School teachers in 2017"

• MN $63,490, Cost-adjusted rank #6
• TX $58,760, #7
• NE $56,070, #13
• IA $53,710, #21
• CA $77,990, #23
• NC $45,690, #43

COMMENT:  What this survey doesn't address is whether there is a corollary between teacher salaries & academic achievement. COMMENT #2:  I guarantee that these avg's do NOT take into account the salaries paid to parochial school teachers.

Choosing to Understand Myself *

* SOURCE:  At the Crossroads: Devotions for Lent, by David Kehret. Creative Communications for the Parish, 2016.

"The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water." Proverbs 20:5

"A critical crossroad of our individual lives, although one that does not affect us in isolation, is the need, even the urgency, to come deeply to terms with the memories & motivations within. That is scary stuff, & we often go to extremes to avoid such knowledge. Yet God already knows it all. And if God knows it all, perhaps it might be good to become better acquainted with it ourselves."