Catching up

I've been a little delinquent on writing lately, so I'll try to catch you up on things. First, thanks to all who read my blog and thanks to all who post comments. Also, when I'm in Des Moines I will talk to Chris and using the speaker phone I will dictate my entry to her. It's not as easy as sitting down at the computer and writing it myself. She does a great job with it and is so very, very patient. Thank you, Presh. I want to thank all the visitors to Des Moines who come to the school. Tylie, Lynor, Denese and Sally. Kay and Homer, David, Tom and Jane and if I missed anyone I'll add them later. A special thanks to those who haul me to and from Des Moines. Chris and I will be on way to St. Paul for our son's wedding. Zach and Dana will be married on Saturday. Great guy and great girl. Well, enough of this stuff, as you all know: It's all about Kenny:)

Update on classes:

Computer class is going very well. Cip (sip) is a great teacher who uses applicable situations to teach shills on the computer. For instance, I write a document to another teacher who is in charge of putting out a newsletter. In the process I've learned many important keystrokes. It's a bit harder for me right now to edit word processing without seeing the document on the screen. As I've said before there are no monitors for the computers. I've also entered a list of keystrokes to a document on the computer. This reinforces my memory of the keystrokes. God knows I need help with my memory.

Braille has a teacher. Rebecca has replace Mary who retired last month. I have only had Rebecca for a teacher for a few classes. She is very organized and very patient. A soft-spoken instructor, (most teachers are except Cip). Rebecca is the instructor who does the newsleter and she knows sign language as well as Braille. Pretty cool. I'm seeing progress with my Braille. I'm giving Rebecca most of the credit now that Mary is gone. I listen to a cassette tape in class with my name on the tape in Braille. I can actually read my name in Braille. I can write my name and read my name now and I'm only 55 years old. Yowzer!

In shop class I'm working on my picture frame. I've used a radial arm saw, a miter saw and a power sander while making the frame. I've used a variety of clamps in the precess. One, in particular, was like teaching an albatross to run. A very awkward tool, the frame clamp, was really a help while gluing the frame together. Rick is probably the most laid back, patient teacher of all. Never one to get excited. Rick is always calm and collected amongst shaded students using power tools. Rick also knows his music. He might get some tickets to hear Iris Dement when she comes to Ames. If he gets the tickets, I'm there, man. Iris is on my list of performers I would like to see before I die, or she dies. I don't think either one of us has plans of leaving soon, though.

Cooking class also has a new teacher since Mary has retired. Larry took over the kitchen chores just this week. My first recipe was tofu cinnamon rolls. They tasted a whole lot better than they sound. Larry has already orchestrated a fine lunch made by the students under his supervision. I'll give a more detailed update on Larry as I get to know him better. Oh, yes, he also drives the "white whale", the name we call the bus which takes us on field trips.

All the time I have to write now. More later.