Mid-May Supermarket Style. . .

Soft air, partly sunny, and quiet following the Young Master's departure for school aboard the big yellow bus this morning. Perfect for another cup of coffee and then a trip down the road to the supermarket for the week's groceries.

Normally, the Grand Duchess handles this particular chore, but she is away at a conference in South Korea this week, so yours truly is picking up the slack. In any case, a good excuse to get moving today, brush my teeth, dress presentably, and take care of things before lunch. That frees me up for re-mulching duties this evening after dinner once the Young Master plants himself in front of the TV for an hour or so before bedtime. I'll don some older clothes for that particular task of course.

Classes have been finished for just over two weeks, final course grades were submitted last Monday, and the Spring 2025 semester/term is now well and truly over although one failure contacted me just a few days ago to ask about extra credit possibilities. Over a week after final grades were due mind you. This particular ne'er-do-well did so little during the normal 15-week course -- either independently, or with his learning team -- that his cumulative score was well below 50% or the equivalent of 0.0 according the final course grading system in use at my institution.

Sigh. I think the question currently under discussion should not be whether a college or university education is worth it, but rather that there simply are many who are not college material. The elephant in the room if you will. Of course you never hear that observation uttered in polite company anymore.

But the sun is out, the birds are singing outside, and there is not much to do here at home until I shuttle our son to an appointment after school. Looking ahead, there is a conference combined with a visit to my sister at the start of June, time away with the family in Northern Michigan some weeks later, a few related projects during the high summer, and some planning for the fall come August. Otherwise, just various and sundry lawn care and yard duties outside a few times a week. Suburban Dad stuff weather permitting. In any case, I can almost feel my blood pressure grow lower by the minute. Ahhhh. . .

-- Heinz-Ulrich

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