The Mary Davis Home

The Mary Davis Home - Part 2

None of these pictures were taken by me, they came right from the MDH website. I am posting these so that friends who have never seen inside where I worked can gain access. After 27 years I have many stories, tales and acquaintances. But, I wouldn't know how to express them appropriately in a few paragraphs. I enjoyed 98% of my stay there and hope I made a difference in the lives of a fraction of the kids who entered.

The original MDH at this site was just the front part. The large red-roofed area in back was added on in the 90's.

This is the Jerry Carlton library. It was unofficially named after one of the counselors who truly loved the place. He passed away around 2002, I think. Mr. Farber looks like he is explaining a few things to a client.

The classroom.

Activity area with the gym behind the windows.

Another shot of the classroom.

It was a little different area to teach since we had 2 classes and 2 teachers in the same room.

The outside court area. Volleyball, basketball, and whiffleball were the most popular activities. Is that my old buddy Mr. Luken putting up the net on the right?

The gym. That looks like Mr. Gullstrand about to pass the ball into play.

Special Mention to the Following Great Co-Workers When I First Started:

Jeff Sutor, Counselor

Marilyn Tapper, Counselor

John Pogue, Counselor

Jim Glasnovish, Counselor

Robin Glasnovish, Counselor

Rose Medina, Counselor

Cathy Sargent, Youth Worker

Kevin Webber, Counselor

Nancy Woods, Counselor

Rebecca Simmons, Counselor

Pat Johnson, Adminsistrative Assistant

Mike Johnson, Youth Worker

Flo Billings, Cook

Bob Mason, Teacher

Tanny Storm, Youth Worker

Randy Storm, Superintendent

Jim Grundel, Chief of Probation

If I am missing anyone it's probably because I accidentally forgot you, forgot your name, or didn't like you.

There were, of course many many many people who came on board in the years that followed. But the people above were around when I started or shortly after.

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. – Henry Adams

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Flashback Friday

Class, Or Lack Thereof The Dwight Vice gravestone in Oquawka, Illinois. I bring this old chestnut out every so often just to remind me that class is classless. Dwight Vice was killed in his home near Oquawka in 2001. It was one of those things that can generate crime: two guys thought Dwight had a lot of money stashed at home because of his pot-selling sideline to supplement his fishing job. Not really one of those big drug deals gone-bad things. Marijuana was, according to the trial, about the only stuff Dwight sold. But these two guys barge into the house and killed Dwight and attempted to kill his 11 year old kid, Darryl, before they took off with what money they could find. His son, now 23, was stabbed in the back and left for dead. He survived and is wheelchair bound and has undergone several surgeries to repair his wounds. He will be paralyzed for life. None of this is pleasant. Reading the facts of the murder and attempted murder are most unpleasant

Summer Swim

It's Monday and the start of another work week. Except for me. I have the week off because the parents of my daycare charges are taking the week off, too. This is one of those wordless posts I love on Mondays so I can put my laziness in full view of loyal readers. These pics need no words. Why muddy the waters? They were taken at the pool at Sinkhole Estates aka Death Valley. The nice thing about this pool is it is heated in winter. If one must find positives in one's situation, I suppose that is one. But, please, no more.

Florida Air Museum - Part 3

Welcome back to a pretty neat tour of the Florida Air Museum in Lakeland Florida. There's a lot to see and a couple of the old Geezer Gold Wing guys are already sitting down instead of walking around looking at the exhibits. That's John who is wore out and making a call to his wife. In all honesty, John was pretty well bushed before the ride. He told me his daughter's family was down from one of the Carolina's with the grand kids and he must have played with them too much. He's about to take off on his own and head for home, but he's going to miss a couple of neat things out on Hangar A. But, before we walk over there, we have lots yet to see here. If you saw The Aviator with Leonardo DiCaprio playing Howard Hughes, you'll remember that he went up in a plane during the filming of one of his movies to prove a point about flying. He crashed trying to execute a roll and this is a picture of the plane he crashed. Note the propeller

Existing In BFE

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