Back in the saddle

Unlike the lucky kids in Michigan, school started this week in Kansas. Alaina and Laura both started Monday, as did Sharon, who will work about 35 hours a week at our elementary school as a para-educator and a lunchroom aide ("Hey, take that Cheetoh out of your nose!").
Alaina actually had to start a day early because she was part of the school's Link Crew, which helps the freshmen get oriented. She also has started volleyball practice. They had tryouts earlier this week and play an alumni game this Saturday. First league contest is Sept. 1 against the East High Aces (think aviation, not gambling). Her team should contend for a league title.
Laura is taking both band and jazz band this year. My guess is that in about eight years, she can start playing Shine weddings. She already does a mean version of Gary Glitter's "History of Rock and Roll." She plans to try out for volleyball next month.
I drove Conor back to Minnesota earlier in the month. He wanted to get back early to hang out awhile before classes start on Sept. 8. The good thing is I got to fly back because we we left his car with him. Even better thing is I don't have to help him move to a new apartment on Sept. 1. He will work about 15 hours a week at the St. Paul Pioneer-Press as part of a class. He gets three hours of credit and he gets paid. Talk about a win-win. We had lunch with my friend Tom Webb who is a business writer for the Pi-Press. We also talked with Dan and Kim's friend Tom Fladung, who is the editor. We walked around the new on-campus football stadium, which is really pretty. Michigan State plays a night game there on Oct. 31. Conor says Chris Gibney has tickets for you Spartan fans.