Overall, a good month weather-wise, with the monsoon season on its heels. I’d have made a good weather person except for the fact that I failed meteorology – it was just one of two courses I failed, the second one being three dimensional design.

I failed meteorology in part because I was burnt out on taking science courses, took a lot of them at SUNY Cobleskill. I took it as an elective at the University of New Hampshire. This course, at least in my estimation, had nothing to do with reality. The weather was a course in a language I could not understand. I tried. There were maps with all kinds of lines and strange markings. My study partner, who was also failing – she lucked out. There was no record on her transcripts of her having taken the class

As for three-dimensional design – I took this at The University of Alaska, Fairbanks on a whim. It was that September the only course in which there were openings. And with good reason. It was a requirement for art majors and they hated it.

The assignments, one of which was to make something with dowls and rods, did not resonate with me. I could not figure out what to do with the wood and hooks. I do not know what I ended up doing.

These were my only two academic failings. There were other close calls, like when I nearly failed chemistry at Cobleskill. That language also did not make any sense to me. The teacher, a nice guy, he made me promise that I was not going on in the sciences, and consequently gave me a C.

This was just a traipse down memory lane. There are more of these traipses on rainy days, like this one, than there are on clear days.

I should be euphoric. Every so often the side of my head and my ear hurt. This is what I experienced most of today. Then it goes away. It could be that I need to have the tooth implant pulled. The question is, how long can I endure the pain? If the pain had continued like it had earlier today, I would have made an appointment.

I am hoping to put my energies into the next five weeks of work, then take care of the implant and foot issue. The one good thing that has come out of this is that I am now empathetic to those who are experiencing chronic pain.

Today, standing in the rain, under a shelter, watching Mike Purcell, kindergarten teacher extraordinaire, working with a lone student, named Birdie, teaching her about skulls, bones, and teeth. She was almost rapt. Meanwhile, the rain was streaming off our small blue shelter, onto the tarp below.

In this instance, dedication and a strong interest in children went hand in hand. This Summer in the Parks program would not have been as successful as it is if not for him.

And Tyra’s poop is again looking good. We gave her a questionable medication, and thus far no side effects. Sometimes I do believe in hope as in this instance my fingers are crossed.

Next: 177. 6/30/26: A Foregone Conclusion