My new lifestyle begins... Now!!

Well, I've decided to change my lifestyle. No more laying around all night drinking. No, today (well yesterday, really) I'm turning over a new leaf. I will be running every night. I'll be eating healthy for every meal. I will get to work bright and early every day. I will be volunteering every Monday night at the Humane Society (had training tonight). I will only be drinking occasionally (like on my birthday Friday... and maybe Thursday, since I took Friday off from work). Yes, I will be born again; starting out fresh in the world. Everything will seem beautiful, as if it were the first time my eyes could see... or else I will fall into a deep dark depression that nothing will save me from. Wish me luck!!

A quick political post

There is a very good site that you should visit if you are following the presidential election at all. It tries to reveal the misleading and false claims that both parties are using to try to gain votes. Check it out at
http://www.spinsanity.org/

Volunteer work

I'm seriously considering volunteering at the Winona Area Humane Society. Lately, I've had this feeling like my life has little meaning or value to it (not in a "I want to kill myself" depressed kind of way, more of a lack of purpose kind of way). I'm thinking volunteering may help fill this void I'm feeling. I'll be doing something positive for the world. Plus, I love animals of all kinds and just being around them makes my happy, so I'm sure I'd enjoy it. I also think it would be a good way to meet some new people, hopefully make some new friends. That would be good, I think. So anyways, I think I'm gonna go down there and check it out sometime next week. Maybe work a few hours on the weekends or nights. We'll see.

Get a Free iPod

I found an article talking about how you can get a free iPod. Here is a Wired.com article claiming it is legit. If you are interested, please use this link to join: http://www.freeiPods.com/default.aspx?referer=8106271 as it will help me get mine.

To get the iPod, you must participate in an offer (I chose a 45 free trial to AOL) and refer 5 other people who must also participate in an offer. For AOL you must call and cancel before the 45 days are up, but I don't think you can cancel too soon, either. Anyways, you should help me get an iPod and hopefully you can get one too. Write a comment if you want more info about it.

WEAC President Stan Johnson presents the 2003 Great Schools Hero Award to Larry Busching (right) in October 2003. Read more about the award and Mr. Busching here.


I cried tonight for probably the first time in two and a half years after reading Mr. Busching's obituary and thinking about my years knowing him. It just doesn't seem right that such a great man should be taken from the world, especially from a horrible disease as Lou Gehrig's Disease. I hope I will become half the man that Mr. Busching was. The only comfort I have is that he'll live on in the hearts and memories of hundreds of students, friends, and family. I'll miss you...

Rest in Peace, Mr. Busching. I'll never forget you...

Larry L. Busching

SPARTA, Wis. — Larry L. Busching, 61, of Sparta, passed away after a courageous battle with ALS, on Thursday, August 12, 2004, at the Franciscan Skemp Healthcare Center in La Crosse. He was born on Nov. 19, 1942, to Le Roy and Phylis (Gallahger) Busching in Breckenridge, Minn. On Aug. 1, 1964, he married Mary Berndt in Wahpeton, N.D.

Larry earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from NDSU in 1964 and began his teaching career in Gwinner, N.D. Eventually moving to Sparta, Larry began a 33-year career teaching music for the Melrose-Mindoro Area Schools.

While teaching, Larry was a long time WEAC activist and he was a delegate Representative to the NEA for many years. He was a member of the NEA Committee on Employee Advocacy, and served on the Coulee Region United Educators Board of Directors, including a stint as vice president. Larry served on WEAC's Instruction and Professional Development Committee and he also chaired the Employee Rights Committee.

Dedicating his life to music and education, he was presented with a "Great Schools Hero" award for his service and commitment to teaching in 2004. "He reached kids through music and influenced generations of people who have learned to appreciate music because of him." Friends called him Larry, students called him Mr. Busching (even "Dad Busching"), but his family called him wonderful. For all of the years of service and generosity, he will always have a special place in the hearts of many.

Larry is survived by his wife, Mary; two daughters, Tanya (Jon) Vollendorf of Stevens Point, Wis., and Jodi (Dave) Hendrickson of Gibsonton, Fla.; his father, Le Roy of Fargo, N.D.; three brothers, BJ (Jean) Busching of Breezy Point, Minn., David (Marvita) Busching of Fargo, N.D., and Scott (Brenda) Busching of Williston, N.D,; three sisters, Lori (Dan) Gefroh of Underwood, N.D., Connie (Brad) Jenson of Nisswa, Minn., and Lona (Dwight) Batie of Britton, S.D.; two grandchildren, Evan and Greta Vollendorf; many other relatives and friends; plus two grand-puppies, Tiger and Buster.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Phylis on Aug. 12, 2003.

Funeral services are planned for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 17, at the Melrose-Mindoro High School, Hwy. 108. The Rev. James Leary O.F.M. Cap. will officiate. Family burial will follow at a later date. Family and friends are invited for visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 16, at the Torkelson Page-Smith Funeral Home in Sparta, and on Tuesday from 4 p.m. until the time of services at the school. The Torkelson Page-Smith Funeral Home in Sparta is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are available at www.torkelsonpagesmith.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to the ALS Association.

Good News Everybody

It looks like I will, in fact, get the job here at Winona State that Phil vacated. I had an interview with the president, Dr. Krueger, this morning and apparently he gave the HR office a big thumbs up to hire me. I am just waiting for HR to determine the pay step I will start at, then they should give me a call tomorrow to officially ask me to take the position.

I had to bust out the ol' suit and tie for the interview today, and I must say, I am looking sharp. I feel so important when wearing a suit. Of course with me being the procrastinator that I am, I didn't try my suit on to see if it fit until around 6:30 last night. Well, I pleased to find that the suit fit pretty darn well (it is a hand-me-down from brother Dan), however, the only white dress shirt I had did not fit so well. Luckily we have a JC Penny's in town and I was able to get a shirt. Chad was pretty certain I was gonna have to make a last-minute trip to a store last night to get something... I hate it when he's right.

Gabe and Isabella

This is a picture of one of my good friends from high school, Gabe, and his daughter Isabella. I'm not sure how old Isabella is exactly, but I think she was born sometime at the beginning of the year. I'm sure parenthood must be a very challenging and rewarding experience, and I'm sure Gabe is a great father.

A thought on class reunions in general

It was good to see the people in my class again at the class reunion, however, there are people a grade older and younger than me that I would like to have seen even more. What I would like is a giant three-class reunion. Now, I'm not sure how that would work, because a person would end up having a reunion three years in a row... and how do you pick which one to go to? Maybe they just need a better way to set up clique reunions, so anyone who was in your clique could go. The school could host a reunion every year where any clique could plan their reunion for. Then it would be up to members of the clique to say what year they will meet again. I guess the real problem, then, is how do you keep updated contact info. The members of the clique would almost have to voluntarily update their info. I don't know, maybe the whole idea is crap. I just would like to see some other old friends again, is all. Well, enough rambling... I need to get back to work.

High School Reunion

This past Saturday was my five year high school reunion. In some ways it doesn't seem like it has been that long, but in some ways it seems even longer. I was a little leery of going. To be frank, there aren't too many people from my class that I actually want to see. Well, I was pleasantly suprised by how much fun I actually had. Initially I was a little worried because after we got the "So what are you up to now" bullshit out of the way, there was some awkward silences (especially with people who I never talked to in high school anyway). But after a few drinks, everyone kind of got used to each other again, and it turned out pretty fun. About half the class showed up (so that's like 22 or 23 people) and of course Rob Timm and Eli Wortman were there. It was good to see most of the classmates again. I'll definitely try to make it to the ten year reunion. It was too bad that Matt and Jamey couldn't make it. I was also hoping Buddy would have been there. It's been a while since I've seen him. It would be pretty cool if at the ten year, the whole gang could make it, Gabe, Nate, Matt, and Me... and Cole and Buddy and Mike. That would be something. It's been a long time since all of us were together.

I have to quickly mention that last Friday night, Chad went down to the bars with me. I got pretty drunk, as usual, but Chad actually got pretty drunk too. He has probably only been that drunk once or twice before. It was a good time.

Well, I'm going to The Village now. Later.