The Karkowka Sisters. Piano and Violin Duo.

Today I graduated from the NRFU Enumerator school. Got a 90 on my final test and worked 2 hours in the field. I am now somewhat on my own. Monday I will start working for real. I have a list and map of an area out in the country 10 to 20 miles from here. I have to verify the address and fill out a census questionnaire for the addresses that are occupied.

To celebrate I went to a concert tonight. I saw the Karkowska Sisters. They are from Poland but have been in the US for 12 years. I still could not understand anything they said. They have played all over the world. They finally got to Ruston. They were quite good.

Training to be a NRFU Enumerator.

I have been training to be a NRFU Enumerator. In the service we pronouce this "nar foo". It is just like me to be in an organization with FU in the title! NRFU stands for Noreturn Followup.

The first two pictures is of my badge and briefcase. The picture is of Renee Barnes who has been training my class for four days. She is very nice and does a great job. She will be our crew chief when we go into the field.

It is impressive how detailed the job is. I guess it is due to the use of scanners to read the data. Everything has to be just right and inside the lines. There is much interpretation involved with regard to housing status, etc.

Sitting in a classroom chair for 8 hours a day is a lot different than my usual routine, but I am doing ok. Field work will involve finding addresses and interviewing people.

Annual Tech Senior PE Fish Fry

Tonight was the annual fish fry for Tech's senior fitness students. Most of my aqua exercise class was there. I was so proud and pleased that John, Kerry, Katie, and Johnny Lynn attended. I really showed them off and paraded around holding JL in my arms.

Ethan on stage!

Ethan is in the orange bandana. He was in a chucrh program lasr night. He had a lot of lines to speak and was really good. He really enjoyed being on stage. He is nine and the oldest of my great grandchildren
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Johnny Lynn & Christian Steven

Two nice cousins. Johnny Lynn Miller and Christian Steven Newberry. Two of my four Louisiana Great Grandchildren.

Softball and Baseball on Saturday

Yesterday I went to ballgames. I watched the Techsters play Boise State. Great game but we lost. Notice white structure behind the pic of the bleachers. That is the baseball stands. The Tech baseball diamond is right across the street from the softball diamond. A car parked in the right place can get hit by foul balls from both diamonds!

In the pic of the Techsters score board you can see the football field bleachers which are also just across a street from the softball diamond. The track is beside the football field. The Louisiana Tech athletic facilities are very attractive and convenient.

After the softball game I walked across the street and watched the last four innings of the Bulldog's baseball game against Hawaii. Sure was an exciting game but as you can tell from the scoreboard pic, we lost.

The Hawaii team are high fiveing!

The 3 dogs in my life.

From the top. The yellow lab is Charlie. He lives next door but loves to visit. In dog years he is older than I am. The black lab is Midnight. He is middle aged. Just recently sprouted gray around his muzzle. He lives with my daughter Kerry and her husband John. He is a sweet guy. He tries hard to keep all the birds and cats out of the backyard. He thinks that is his duty. The little white dog is Mister. He is the boss of the three dogs. He is not very sweet but is loyal. The bottom picture is of a meeting held on my porch.

These lovely shrubs must be cut!

This is a picture of the front of our Senior Center. We (Lincoln Council On Aging) recently purchased the building and had it remodeled for the use of the senior citizens of Ruston. I volunteered to look into a sign. We decided to fasten letters to the front of the building. The three lines would list the donor of the money that was used to purchase and remodel the building, the title SENIOR CENTER, and the Lincoln Council On Aging. Much to my chagrin it will be necessary to remove or cut back the shrubs, which are really small trees and probably 20 years old. I will blog a picture of the final result.

I am going out for track!

I have increased my track work. It is really a moderate walk. Takes me almost 6 minutes for once around the track. A 24 minute mile. I rest after once around and then repeat. This after swimming. Swimming is sloshing around in the water for an hour. I have increased my track walk to increase my endurance. Next week I start working for the census. On Monday the 26th of April I start four days of training. It is in a classroom at Tech and is from 8:30 to 4:30. It has been a long time since I sat in a classroom for seven hours. After the training I am supposed to work for six weeks. Twenty hours a week. The Monday after the six weeks I am scheduled to leave on my 8000 mile trip.

Breakfast at the VFW.

EveryTuesday morning I have breakfast at the VFW in Ruston. The Post Commander J P Harper does the cooking. He is the bearded gentleman in the picture. The attendance varies from 8 to 12. I really enjoy the weekly visit with the nice people who attend. I hear many interesting tales of local history. Two of the gentlemen have been neighbors on Cooktown Road for 60 years.  One of them told me that they have never had a cross word.

We have a great feed and the price is right. $1 unless funds are running low and then it is $2. We meet for lunch on the second Thursday. I will blog on our next lunch meeting.

Good stuff at Bonnie & Clyde

A visit to Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days in Arcadia.

We had a good time at the Trade Days, but the only purchase was lunch. Top pic is John with his three grandsons; Ethan, Ross, and Christian.

I got to see a line dance show. Jackie and I did a lot of line dancing.

Sat morning at Jefferson Corner.

John, Ethan, Ross, and I went over to attend the Sat Jefferson Corner Liars Club. We were late, only one member was in attendance. However we were soon joined by Karl Malone. Karl has just been selected for Basketball's Hall of Fame. He is possibly the best power forward in history. He played 17 years for the Utah Jazz. He was born near here and now lives near Jefferson Corner. He played for Louisiana Tech. While playing for Tech he was given the title "the Mailman" because he always delivered! He is a great booster of Tech.

He is developing a shopping center in Ruston. The center will have a park with walking trails and a 7 acre pond. The park is to be dedicated to veterans.

I thought John Adams was the tallest man in history. The picture indicates that Karl is a little taller than John.

Movie night at the Lincoln Parish Libray

After I spent some time at the Tea Party Tax Day Celebration I went to a movie at the Lincoln Parish Library. It was a patriotic movie about the battle at Guadalcanal. They had lemonade and cookies. I am still on Nutrisystem so did not partake. After the movie the audience patriotically applauded.

I had a patriotic evening between the Tea Party and the movie. The movie was sponsored by the local Military Museum. I know some of the Museum Trustees through my membership at the local VFW Post.

The Tea Party had a party in Ruston.

The old swimming hole.

On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I attend an aquaexercise class at Louisiana Tech. On Tuesday and Thursday I swim laps. The pictures are of the outside and the inside of the swimming pool building. The class is held from 7 am to 8 am. The laps are between 5 am and 7 am. My laps do not last long. I am in the building less than 45 minutes. The class is also a social event. Over the years I have made friends with a bunch! The three classes are a big part of my week. It is easy to show up for the classes. The laps are a solitary activity and I have to use a lot of will to do them. When I get out of the pool I spend 10 minutes or so in a hot shower. The showers are great! Endless hot water and a lot of pressure.

After the pool I usually walk around the track, one time only, so far. I soon run out of wind. When swimming I rest after a minute or so. I probably could do the same at the track but I am in a hurry to get to a coffee shop. It has been an hour or two since I left the Jefferson Corner Liars Club.