[a quick record today]

The day began with the birthday phone call from my parents. We visited briefly about the weather, our health, their grandchildren, our plans for the day -- the usual for us.

My next move after that call was a long, hot shower to rid myself of the evil flu that has slipped through the web of the flu shot to infest my bones and flesh. The shower helped to relieve the congestion in my head and to lift my spirits and sense of well-being enough to permit me to fulfill my commitment to the Salvation Army bell ringing at Wal-Mart.

Jami and Josh departed for Topeka before I left with the two younger boys for Wal-Mart. Josh had his academy interview in the offices of Senator Pat Roberts (not to be confused with the televangelist RobertSON) today. The senator didn't conduct the interview himself, leaving that to an aide and an army colonel. Joshua thinks it went well. But I wonder whether their asking questions about gays in the military and women in combat (Josh has liberal ideas on these matters, bless him) wasn't a litmus test. Roberts is a republican (not the worst of the conservatives, but...) and might be qualifying appointments by political leanings.

In any case, I think the academies have become less appealing to Joshua since he has had a chance to consider offers from some other attractive colleges. To have choices, as always, is a good thing.

The stint I did at Wal-Mart from ten to eleven for the Salvation Army went very well. I set Owen and Taylor loose on Wal-Mart and Staples (next door) while I stood out before Wal-Mart ringing a bell and panhandling for the Salvation Army, a project of the fellowship.

It was fun. I visited with plenty of folks I see regularly, caught up with a few that I don't often see -- all the while ringing that little bell. The bell, I was instructed, should never stop ringing. It rings still in my ears.

Many of the donors were my students, who in many cases seemed somewhat surprised to see me outside the classroom (but again, that's a subject for another entry).

People were generous and friendly. I don't know what the take was because the bucket remains locked. One contributor made the astute comment that he preferred the tin buckets they used in days past -- the sound was more satisfying than the muffled "thunk" offered by the current plastic buckets. Some folks dropped in their pocket change and lint, others offered folding money. But my perception is that at least one person from every group (and often all persons) that entered or left the store during my shift donated something. I don't think it impossible that we collected two or three hundred dollars during the hour.

I enjoyed it and I'll do it again, maybe even volunteering for another shift this year if Sam needs more help. But I was glad to get home and supine on the couch.

The flu took a firm grip on me in the afternoon. Jami and Josh were away in Topeka until 5:30, Christmas shopping probably. We had committed to tend Taylor's friend and classmate hyphenated Ben (Ben to us, Benjamin to his mom) and his younger brother, hyphenated Jonathan (always Jonathan) while his mother supervised the docents at their home, which is on the Christmas tour this year.

These surplus kids arrived at 1 PM, happy meals in hand, and stayed until 5 PM when their dad picked them up. I'm not complaining. I'm just suddenly curious about why I was tending his kids and he wasn't. Doesn't really matter though -- the kids played well together. Jonathan, a kindergartener, kept up with the older kids, whining only a time or two about not getting enough of a turn at this game or that.

A bucket of chicken for supper, a little surfing on line, and away to bed and sleep by 8 PM.

I think the kids might be reading this. I've found hits on the stat pages that I don't recall making myself. That probably won't make a difference, but it does condition me a bit.

Well, there's a contradiction. But I can't deal with it now.

Not quite a placeholder of a day, but not my best day.