Lesson 905: Reading the Fine Print

Good morning, Readers!

Eloise is writing to you

from a rare Saturday morning.

The Lamp Posters had a late night

because Sam played in the Save An Eye Game.

Sam was honored to be a selected player.

The night was perfect for a June football game

on the Paul Weitz field at Harbor Creek High School.

 

The annual High School All-Star Game

known commonly as the City-County Game,

or in the past East-West Game,

is made up of

the County All-Stars

versus the Metro All-Stars.

                                            Harbor Creek and a few other County teams

played on the Metro Team.

The game is the second oldest in the nation!

See the bottom of the blog for a Reading the Fine Print challenge!

How does Eloise know such a fact?

It's because I read the fine print!

    

Eloise is a program reader.

I read them cover to cover--every game,

every school play,

every event.

I love ways information is conveyed to people.

High School sports programs are my favorite reading material.

I would like to reinvent the Sports Programs for Harbor Creek

beginning in the fall, 

and I'm looking for a few interested Questies to help me.

Sports programs typically have roster lists,

jersey numbers,

sometimes school records.

Tonight's program included player photos.

Page after page of tough looking boys--

....here's Sam...

the kid just can't look mean.

The attractive program opened with a letter from Bob Sensor, Jr,

President of the Erie Lions Club,

the organizers of Erie's cherished tradition.

The money helps preschoolers receive crucial free,

comprehensive vision screenings.

It is the necessary first step

when learning to read and write.

Also note that it makes the Envision Blind Sports Camp

happen at Penn State Behrend each year.

I am interested in learning more about this camp

and volunteering.

Another key point that my parents

 and many of their octogenarian friends--

the Lions Club and the Sight Center 

"can access safe, escorted rides

to critical eye care appointments

 in Erie, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh."

The cause hits home for the Lamp Posters.

If you recall,

Two summers ago,

Grandma developed a hole in her eye

and needed surgery to restore her eyesight.

The procedure was not as difficult as the healing process.

My nibby mother had to keep her head facing down

for a week!

It was a very long week for all of us,

but we are happy to say she healed completely.

Eye problems develop with age,

and the support that comes from this event,

helps people that may not have the means to drive to and from

the many appointments eye care requires.

Consider supporting the Sight Center.

If you missed the game,

Erie Gives Day on August 12th is a great way to do that.

Thank you to all the sponsors.

My parents and sister were Sam's personal game sponsors.

Thank you to the many businesses and organizations

who placed a program ad.

Who reads those ads in programs?
I do!

I always try to support those businesses,

and when I'm there, 

I mention the advertisement.

This former Yearbook Editor

appreciates that type of thing.

Heck,

I even placed an ad myself!

You can find lots of interesting things

if you read the fine print.

Info on the coaching staff,

 

rules of the game,

(we teachers like our clearly displayed rules)

The program had interesting information on

past players who went onto be selected for the NFL/AFL.

Game stats are always a fan favorite.

This 1987 game stat was among our favorite.

Mr. Lamp Post played in that game in 1987!

He had something to do with all of Eric Mikovich's passing yards.

Louie scored the winning touchdown in that game

giving the County a victory!

Natalie is wearing her Dad's game jersey

from 1987!

It's been hanging in our basement's Wall of Fame!

Father and Son 

celebrated the Metro victory last night on our Home Field.

Sam wearing a red Metro Jersey

and Louie wearing his blue, 

County Team hat from 1987.

It was great to see our guys play one more time

for such an important cause.

They were announced and ran through a giant pair

of eyeglasses to enter the field.

Eloise must admit,

that as thrilling as it was to Sam play 

one more time,

I was nervous.

Eloise smiled with relief

when Sam announced upon his return home,

Mom, my football career is complete,

and I was never injured in a game

from Littler Gridders in second grade

through the Save an Eye.

And that, Dear Readers,

is all a Momma truly hopes for.

The numbers worked in our favor, too--

even though Natalie did NOT win the 50-50.

Louie played in 1987

and Sam played in the 87th annual game.
Cool!

Thanks to the Lions Club

and the wonderful banquet the day prior.

Here is a framed pic of Young Sam

wearing his Dad's jersey,

setting a goal for himself

to play in the game one day himself!

Check back next week 

for a few upcoming summer events

at the Lamp Post!

We will have a Book Club date

and a new project for anyone who 

enjoys yarn art--

crochet or knitting.

Grab a hook and or needles

and come to the Lamp Post

for our first Cro-slay event!

Ellen Louise and I aren't experts by any means,

but we can teach you the basics!

If you are an expert,

please come and show us your craft!

I also am kicking around the idea of starting a Walking Club.

If anyone is interested,

message me!

If the Erie Lions Club Save an Eye Game is the second oldest in the nation,

what is the oldest High School All-Star Game in the nation?

Eloise

Lesson 904: It Takes Time

Hello, Readers.

It's Friday night,

and some of you might ask,

Where's the party?

Two Fridays ago I had a birthday bash

for my 80 year old mother.

Last Friday 200 + people

celebrated Sam's graduation.

This week was supposed to be

 a recovery week

 but instead I launched into a few projects

that take time.

The first was Sam's written thank you cards.

Whether it is a text 

or post

or handwritten note,

milestone events require a note of thanks.

Our resident lefty put his legion glove aside

and picked up a pen.

I told Sam he had one week from the party date

to get them in the mail,

and warned him that the task was much bigger than he probably thought.

He yelped a few times from "hand cramps"

which I do believe.

Kids don't write too much--they type more.

But the teacher blogs I've been reading this summer

suggest that due to AI

writing assignments are going back to 

on the spot writing,

focusing more on thought processes

than perfectly edited final products.

My only suggestion to Sam

was not to write the same thing on every card--

thanks for the money I'm going to use it for college

would be a no-go at the Lamp Post.

He had to make them personal,

and shouldn't mention money or the gift specifically.

He took his time,

and he wrote literally for hours.

When we have a huge project at the Lamp Post

there are always points when the Captain of the Ship

(or Ringmaster if you read last week's blog)

calls for All Hands On Deck!

Sometimes it is necessary to push through and finish a task.

I addressed the envelopes

and updated my address book at the same time!

Mr. Lamp Post and Natalie put on the stamps

and return address labels.

We always keep the free ones you get

after you make donations to charities.

There are some that bend over the side of the card.

And I realized some are just stickers--

no return address.

If you get one of these on your card---

such as the heartfelt Miss You...

consider it a collector's item.

                                    Nursing a cruelly dumped kitten back to health

takes time.

Look at Whitford after two weeks at the Lamp Post.

We are starting to transition him inside for bits of time

so he can get used to Gus before they have their first

face to face playdate.

If you have any suggestions for introducing a kitten to a cat,

please post in the comments.

The strawberry moon from last week

brought forth delicious red berries!

We made freezer jam

and that certainly takes time--

but it is worth it.

Strawberry Jam tastes like June.

                                            Ellen Louise has completed her requirements

to be an official Speech Pathologist!

The six year program is certainly a time investment.

She walked through graduation in early May,

but still had to work to complete her required hours

until June 20th!

We celebrated at Harbor Ridge on the new upper deck!

And we highly recommend the cherry lime mule!

                                                    It takes time to rest the body and mind

from a busy and rewarding week,

so Eloise is headed to bed.

See you next week 

with a report on the

Semi-Annual Sock Sort--

a highlight of my yearly

Summer Cleaning Crusade!

--Eloise