This was my wife’s first Mother’s Day with two children. Last year, around Mother’s Day, we were booking flights to Ethiopia in preparation of picking up Dawit –– our almost 5-year-old, after a two-year adoption process.
My daughter cried in my arms when I told her that her best friend was moving to California this summer. As her quiet tears dropped onto my shoulders, I realized I didn’t have the words that would comfort her. I only had words an adult might understand. New job. New opportunities. New adventure. Change. But those words fall flat to a girl who just turned 8; a girl who’s shared many of her childhood adventures with her best friend of five years.
Since I have extremely short hair, it never made much sense to me to go to the salon to get my hair colored. I knew my roots would show almost immediately and I’d have to shell out a bucket of money to re-do it less than three weeks later. I thought using one of those “washes out in 28 shampoos” colors at home was a better plan because a) it was a lot cheaper b) the returning gray would be more subtle because it would show up gradually and c) if I screwed up the color, I only had to live with it for a month.
Occasionally, it absolutely makes sense to splurge. For me, that splurge usually comes in the form of flowers or plants and this time of year, my gardening gloves are itching to hit the dirt. As long as our budget warrants it, the budget will include garden spending in the spring.
Clay City High School held its junior-senior prom on May 5 at the Holiday in Olney, IL.
Clinton Rauch and Baylee Gill were crowned king and queen.
Prom Court: Dylan Wolfe, Brooke Anderson, Nathan Dulaney, Kaylee Kuenstler, Mitchell Noll, Alana Grassi, Jordan Noll, Clinton Rauch, Tyler Edwards, Baylee Gill, Katelyn Hosselton, Lily Kessler, Cole Hildebrand, Megan Kessler, Dustin Charles, Kaylee Gill, Jordan Brown, Sydney Lynn, Ethan Brown, Sierra Frank.
Flora High School’s 2012 Prom was held on the steamy evening of Saturday, May 5, at FHS’ Conley Gymnasium.
Following the traditional promenade and introduction of students and their dates in front of the school, the coronation was held, allowing families and guests to move straight into the gym rather than having to return to the school later in the evening.
After the introduction of the Prom Court, the King and Queen were announced, with Andrew Ludwig and Helen Leib, respectively, being crowned.
Not only do costs vary from company to company, they also vary wildly within the same company, depending on where and when you pick up the car. Renting a car at an airport can double or even triple the price you’d pay at “off-airport” or “neighborhood” rental locations.
Lori Reardon’s great-grandmother used to make an angel-food cake for each of her 12 grandchildren on their birthdays. Each cake was topped with a rich, “secret” frosting. Now Reardon’s mother makes the angel-food cakes for her extended family -- 24 cakes a year.
There’s nothing like traveling to Europe and discovering just how stupid you really are. For instance, it’s vitally important to understand the delicate connection between interior lights... and the toilet.
Weekly financial Q&A, with advice on impulse spending and finding a part-time job after retirement.
“Ugh! What stinks?” asked my son pinching his nose. “It smells like something died in here!” I glared at him. I had spent the past 20 minutes looking in every nook and cranny in the kitchen to find the source of the stink.
It seems that finding underwear on the floor and wet towels on the bed are a constant. I also used to want to scream when I found half-eaten bowls of cereal swimming in milk sitting in the sink, or rings on the table from glasses that had wet bottoms.
The annual Flora Academic Foundation was held Saturday night in the commons of the Flora High School.
A larger than usual crowd was present to recognize the achievements of the high honors students, Illinois State Scholars, the Flora Scholastic Team as well as retiring teachers and support staff.
The meal was served by Mike’s Market.
Opening day of the swimming pool will be May 26 and the closing day is August 12. General admission will be $2 per person, Aerobics is $2 per person, Swim lessons will be
$1 per person and Aqua Zumba is $5 per person.
Private parties are $65 for 1 hour and $90 for 2 hours.
Smith Mill, a rebuilt grain mill run by a water wheel located in rural Rinard, just south of the Wayne County line on Bluemound Road, will be open to the public for the first time ever this Sunday, May 6, from 1 to 4 p.m. The event is free of charge.
The mill was constructed by Bob Smith and is a labor of love that has taken him over 25 years to put together, using components from a Newport, Pa. mill which Smith salvaged after he purchased the contents of the building it was in back in 1986.
“It was built in 1875 and had an 18-foot diameter by five-foot wide wheel,” said Smith. “I had to rebuild the wheel anyway, so I decided to narrow it down to 38-inches.”
The Clay County Fair Board is attempting to raise enough funds to save the Clay County Fair held every July in Charley Brown Park.
When the fair board heard that the state was cutting funding for all county fairs, they took it upon themselves to raise enough money to save the annual event and have a carnival as well as other everts this year.
As part of that attempt, a Clay County Fair Fundraiser was held Saturday at the Louisville United Methodist Church’s Life Center.
The weather is warming up, classes are getting close to finished, and seniors are getting ready to don their caps and gowns. Just one thing first: Prom.
Flora High School is holding its prom this Saturday, May 5, at Conley Gymnasium. The event will kick off with a promenade beginning at 6 p.m., which will be followed immediately by coronation. The dance will then continue on until 11 p.m.
I’ve been working with a mom of an adorable, 2-year-old, whom she adopted as a newborn. They read, play on the floor, and participate in social and educational programming. His language skills are excellent. He hits her as well, for no apparent reason.
I read books about people who did things like go live with the Amish, or start herb farms, and I dreamed of doing the same. But I’ve reversed course now. I’m going for a messy, complicated life.
Weekly financial Q&A, with advice on sticking to Dave's Baby Steps plan, and tips for a young professional athlete.
