Broken Head--Introduction

Through the miracle of find and replace, I was able to change names and other personal information in my Broken Head story.  I will post a new chapter each day.  Sorry, I don't really have any pictures to go along with most of the posts.

It all began with gel and hair spray–remember this as an important component of the story.

            JohnDeere and I stood up with CJ and Mr. Painter at their wedding on September 25, 2010 at Our home town United Methodist Church.  Us girls showed up at 9:00 a.m. to have our hair done.  I took my laptop to make a CD to play in the sanctuary while people were being seated, and I brought some papers to grade to keep me occupied since I was sure there would be down-time.  Of course there wasn’t any extra time because we were all talking and doing our make-up, but hey, I made an attempt.

            Around lunchtime I went to help Pam get things around.  I talked to the boys as they headed out to inspect A friend’s wrecked truck.  The night before, in the Collamar curves, after a night of partying, he ran off the road and hit a tree. 

            They came back, we ate, I made JohnDeere’s hair pretty, we went through the ceremony, stood in the receiving line (my feet hurt so badly I wanted to cry–so I begged Chellie to switch me shoes as she went through the line), finished pictures at the church, then headed to the reception hall (PAL Club, A neighboring town).

            When we arrived at the reception, we took more pictures, ate, and I gave a speech about how marriage is like a wedding cake.  I said that even though both people represent different layers of different flavors, their ultimate job is to support each other and keep it sweet!  Little did I know that I would soon eat those words–literally.

            We finished off the night drinking and dancing.  JohnDeere and I had fun as we worked up a sweat “dirty” dancing–then he was my own personal air conditioner as we slow-danced and he sweetly blew the sweat off my brow.

            Everybody seemed to leave early and we started cleaning up around 10:00 p.m.  We threw away all of the tablecloths, put up the tables and chairs, and cleaned up all the vases.  As things were finishing up–around 11:00–we’re nothing if not efficient–I was in the kitchen searching for leftover snacks.  I loaded up a coffee filter with Chex mix and headed back into the main room to see what else needed done–secretly hoping they said “nothing; you can go home.”

            As I munched and walked across the room to find someone (it seemed like no one was around) I noticed a few people walking out the big door at the other end of the building.  I passed Lydia (Mr. Painter’ niece) and I said, “Where are they going?”  She said that her dad had come in and said something about a guy falling out of a truck and they were going to see.  I asked, “They’re going somewhere/leaving–or do WE have an emergency?”  She said, “I think it’s here,” so I headed out, too.  I knew if it was at the reception it meant someone I cared about was involved.

Busy

I am pretty busy right now with school and my scrapbooking hobby.  My next scrapbook will be of John Deere's broken head--it has only taken me a year to get around to it.  Sunday I typed up the pages from my journal that I kept while he was in the hospital.  I considered putting it on here, but I have some pretty specific and personal details.  So I guess I will just have to print copies for anyone interested in reading it.

I also have spent a lot of time getting ready for the Meats Judging season.  Yes, I'm an English teacher, but I help the FFA chapter at my school with a Measts team.  People look at me pretty funny when they walk by my room after school and see giant pictures of raw meat and animal carcasses projected on the screen.  Last Saturday we had a "Meat Meeting" barbeque at my house.  It was cold and windy, but fun! We grilled steak and hung out.  I was glad to have a chance to meet many of the students' parents.

My Master's Degree has kind of taken over my free time as I am in week four of my 6th course.  Only four more to go and I will be finished--I will be a much happier person in April when I am done!

Parent teacher conferences are this week--sarcastic--yeah!  Next week I am taking my students to see a live production of Julius Caesar--then we have fall break.

Over fall break, I am going to a 24-hour scrapbooking "crop" with CJ. I can't wait!  I just got a Cricut Expression--actually it should be delivered sometime today.  I am sure it could keep us occupied for 24+ hours. 

John Deere is working harvest hours (7:30-6 weekdays and 7:30-4 on Saturday).  He now has fireman training two nights a week, so there are some days when I don't see him at all.  I miss him and worry about him working so much.  Today I said it would be nice to have a day to sleep in and do nothing--he said maybe Christmas!

 

Broken Head

"The Great", CJ, Meg, and Me

 Just about a year ago, my best friend, CJ got married.  John Deere and I were both in the wedding.  It was a really fun day: getting dressed up, eating lunch together, taking crazy jumping pictures, and the like.  When the reception was over CJ and her new hubby--lets call him Mr. Painter left for home and we all stayed and cleaned up.  As the reception hall cleared out of trash and people, I set out to look for John Deere in hopes that we would be heading home.  Well, I found him lying on the cement.  He had fallen out of the back of a pickup truck while they were taking trash to the dumpster.  "The Great"--our fellow bridal party member and nurse, was checking him over, others were standing around waiting around for the first responders. They transported  him in an ambulance then loaded him in a helicopter.  We found out later that he had fractured his skull from ear to ear--like a broken-head-band.

I kept a journal of his ensuing hospital stay and recovery.  It was the scariest time of my life, but I am posting today to say thank you to God for bringing him back to normal.  He really answered my prayers that week--which I was sending to Him on rapid fire.

Also, to anyone who reads this, thank you for helping me (and him) get through this.  I don't know what we would have done without all of our friends and family there to help us.

John Deere, Chellie, and Mouth

A Busy Week

Wow-- has this ever been a crazy week!  I was hoping to upload some pictures of lots of things yesterday, but the camera and computer were not cooperating--maybe next week.

So--this is how it went this week:

Monday: it was a Monday--ugh!  But, it was also my birthday--yay me!  The husband took me out for dinner and then we visited with some friends until past my bedtime.


Tuesday: The husband had a meeting, so I tried to catch up on grading, housework, etc.  Not much was accomplished because I wanted to go to bed early.

Wednesday:  Woke up at 4:30 because John Deere had to go to work early--he was headed south with a coworker to try and complete a two day project in one.  I was headed to Chicago with a group of students for a field trip--what a day we had ahead of us.

My class went to the Hull House Musuem at the University of Illinois--Chicago campus.  It was a cool experience into the life of Jane Addams, a social activist and welfare pioneer in the 1900s who worked with the very poor immigrant populations of Chicago at the time.  It made me think of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle when we were there.  After that we took Chicago's downtown walking poetry tour.  I was in charge of leading 15 15-year-old students through downtown Chicago, but it was awesome--they are such a good group!  I will post pictures later of all the cool city sights.  But now, my class is making a poetry tour of our town. They had to pick a place and write some poetry, later we will record it in our own voices and make an MP3 file and map that anyone could use.  We hope to give it to the Chamber of Commerce and public library so others could take our tour!  I am soooo  excited about this!

Thursday: Last night we closed on our mortgage re-finance.  We have cut our payback time in half with almost 1/2 the interest rate.  We are super excited to be saving tens of thousands of dollars, and we will have our mortgage paid before we are 40!!  Awesome


Friday:  The goal is just to make it through school today.  Lots of vocabulary quizzes and jeans day mean I am pretty comfortable.  I also have to post my last assignment for the course I am currently taking.  I am now officially 1/2 way done with my Master's degree!  Thank goodness for one year online programs!
It is cold-- 42 now, high of 60 today, so when I get home I am going to make some chili and unwind from this crazy week--maybe do some scrapbooking!

Tomorrow it is off to Indy to see Chellie for Parents and Family Weekend-- Maybe Sunday will be relaxing?!?

Old Tractors better than a Young Wife?

My husband loves antique tractors--he loves them so much that he left me alone all weekend (even though I am still scared of the boogie man) to go and watch them.  I know that he drove three hours, woke up early in the morning, and walked around all day for two days straight just to watch old tractors--many of which were just sitting there--he wouldn't do this for anything else!   I had no desire to go with him, but he was pretty excited about it when he got home!  He even took MY cool new camera so he could take a ton of pictures--I will post some later.

Anyway, if you like old tractors too, or you want to see just how crazy my hubby is check out www.halfcenturyofprogress.org.

What does your hubby like more than you?  I have accepted my place in his heart, but I don't think I will ever share his love.

I did help him restore one once-- I am doing an awesome job stripping paint from this tire--don't you think?  He loves John Deere and these little lawn tractors called David Bradley-- I would hate to know how many he really has-- I have heard tell that there are parts for more than 6 David Bradley's in our barn--and at least 3 full size antique tractors.  I am sure that after his weekend retreat he has the restoration bug again--Uggh.  I am glad he has a hobby, but sometimes I get tired of tractors stealing my hubby.