THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS

Every once in a while, my schedule gets a little crowded. At the time that I'm scheduling things it doesn't seem like a big deal. Then the appointed week arrives and I have to wonder what in heaven's name I was thinking of.

This week begins a month of insanity, all almost totally within my control. Let's start at the end - it's always a good way to tell how the story turns out. So, Saturday, November 8th, our daughter Liz is getting married to Josh Shambaugh. It goes to show you that not everything in this story is insane. In fact, it's one of the sanest outcomes I can think of. They're both getting a great spouse.

Now, starting tomorrow, in my role with the Civic Betterment Party in Glen Ellyn, we finish interviewing candidates for the Village Board of Trustees. It's expected to go well into the night trying to narrow it down to six or seven candidates for three seats.

Tuesday, I'm off to Macomb, IL - the home of Western Illinois University - for a budget hearing for the Illinois State Board of Education. After spending Tuesday night in Macomb, I'm off to Springfield for a visit to the agency to discuss a work-study program that we'll run the following week.

Since I'm already that far South, I'll continue on towards beautiful East Tennessee and my Alma Mater, Maryville College. Wednesday will hopefully be spend in visiting a few friends in Western Kentucky, while Thursday evening will be spent at dinner with three art students from Maryville, who are the current recipients of the Clark Family Prize. Additionally, I'll be able to spend a little time with the head of the Art Department, Mark Hall and his wife Autumn. They are delightful people who have become great friends.

Friday and Saturday are booked with an event I swore I'd never go to - a college reunion. I got snookered into being involved with some of the preparations for this, not realizing that it would actually entail being there!

Counting the drive home (that's right - the drive) that's six days! And it's only the beginning. When I return to Illinois, I'm off again to Springfield for a State Board meeting and another Budget Hearing. There's two more hearings in October in Belleville and Charleston, and Civic Betterment continues preparations for a Town Meeting in November.

The good news is that much of the insanity ends in January when terms expire for both Civicc Betterment and ISBE. I'm not sure what I'll do with free time, but I'm sure looking forward to it.