If it isn't one thing it is another.

I seem to have developed something new tinnitus. Such fun - NOT!

I e-mailed my doctor and described my symptoms. He suggested that this was what I have. Now I have yet another doctor's appointment. It is just bothersome and I seem to remeber my grandfather having it. I asked the pharmacist for something to take in the meantime (The doctor appointment isn't until February 25th) and so I have some herbal pills to take, Not much helps so far.

Some of the time I can ignore it completely at other times it is really annoying. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I hear from the guys at Abiff Apparel that they had a lot more "hits" on their web site yesterday. So did I. 186 to be exact. I am awestruck. It got me to thinking that you might like to send me a paragraph and a picture describing who you are and telling a little about yourself. I could then post it on here and we can get to know each other. I will post my "obituary" which I wrote when I was Grand High Priest so you can know a little about me at the end of this post. (if I can find it)

Also I am pleased to have been "Certified" an an Educational Masonic Site by Pietre-Stones Review of Freemasonry. (I always knew I was certifiable) - Just click on the little stone in the upper left hand corner to be taken to their site to find out about them.

Now the Biographical sketch:

JAY COLE SIMSER

Jay Cole Simser was born November 13, 1941, in Ames, Iowa. For the first ten years of his life he was an only child, but grew up in a large extended family consisting of his mother, grandparents, aunts, uncles, great-aunts and uncles and many cousins. When he was ten years of age, a sister, Ginny, was born, and he has particularly enjoyed the role of big brother.

His elementary schooling was in Ames, and he remembers with fondness the dedicated teachers at Beardshear Elementary School who guided his early years. He graduated from Gilbert High School in 1959, and enrolled in Iowa State University as a business administration major. During this period of his life he taught a Sunday School class at the First Methodist Church in Ames, and because of his work with these young people and in the Methodist Youth Fellowship, he decided he would like to be a teacher.

Jay graduated from State College of Iowa (now University of Northern Iowa) in 1965 with a major in Elementary Education, and has never regretted his choice of a profession. Helping guide our young people is very rewarding to him. The first four years of his teaching career were at the Main Elementary Building in the Linn-Mar School District, Marion, Iowa. During his first year of teaching, Jay joined the Masonic fraternity.

Jay returned to Ames in 1969 and has taught in the Ames Schools ever since. He finished his career teaching sixth grade at the Edwards Elementary School. He retired in June of 2003 after 38 years of teaching.

While in college he was active in the College Players Theater Group and continued this interest after graduation. He enjoyed working in the Cedar Rapids Community Theater, the Ames Community Theater, and the Ames Children's Theater group as a stagehand, performer, and director.

One of his other interests is travel, and he had made good use of those two and a half month summer vacations with trips to both coasts and the southern part of our great land. Jay has visited Canada, and spent three weeks with a friend traveling through Mexico by bus. In 1976 he and twenty-one other teachers from Iowa spent five weeks in Egypt on a work study trip.

Jay 's Masonic career spans four decades. He was raised April 20, 1966 in Trojan Lodge No. 548 in Marion, Iowa. He affiliated with Arcadia Lodge No. 249 in Ames in 1970, where he was master in 1980. He served on the Grand Lodge Youth Committee from 1984 - 1989. He is a member and Past Master of the Iowa Research Lodge # 2 and is currently serving on the Editorial Board. He affiliated with Acanthus Lodge No. 632 in Des Moines in April of 2007. He places a high value on his Masonic associations and counts the Brothers and Companions as a part of his family.

He joined the Ames York Rite Bodies in 1970 and served as High Priest in 1974, Illustrious Master in 1976 and Commander in 1987. He received the Knight of the York Cross of Honour in 1988 He is also a member of the Iowa York Rite College and is a Past Governor and he received the Order of the Purple Cross in 1998. He joined the Scottish Rite in 1976,

He was Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Iowa in 1981 - 1982 and has served as Chairman of the Jurisprudence Committee since 1986. He "retired" from that position in 2006. He was admitted and set apart as a Companion of the Holy Order of High Priesthood in 1974 and was president in 1988-89. He received the Order of the Silver Trowel in 1978 and joined the Iowa Past Commander's Association in 1987.

He joined the Order of the Eastern Star in 1966 and served as Worthy Patron nine times. He was a member of the Galaxy Committee from 1973-1976. He currently serves on the Eastern Star Masonic Home Board in Boone. He became a member of Friendship Court No. 6, Order of the Amaranth in 1977 and was Royal Patron in 1977 and 1989.

He was honored by being elected to membership in St. Bartholomew Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine in 1981 serving as Recorder since 1983 with the exception of 1993 when he was Viceroy and Sovereign. He is also a member of the Topeka Council No. 1 Ancient Toltec Rite.

His work with Masonic Youth began with the Order of the Rainbow for Girls Ames, Assembly where he served as Executive Board Member also serving as chairman. He received the Grand Cross of Color in 1974. He also served Grand Assembly as a member and Chairman of the Grand Executive Committee from 1979 - 1982. He was named a Masonic Ambassador to the Order of the Rainbow for Girls and served as Vice-President of the Iowa Rainbow Foundation. He has served as President of the foundation from 1990 to 2000. He was an executive board member of the Nevada Chapter of DeMolay and is a recipient of the DeMolayHonorary Legion of Honor. He currently is on the Advisory Committee of Cyclone Chapter DeMolay in Ames.

Simser enjoyed his work with young people and with the Ames Community Schools. He served as Chairman of the Language Arts Cabinet for the Ames Schools and the District's Multi-cultural, non-sexist committee. He was active in his education association and is a past president of the Ames Education Association and the Executive Board of Mid-Iowa Uniserv Unit of the Iowa State Education Association. He served as a delegate to the National Education Association’s representative Assembly for 10 years. In 2002 he was named the Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club teacher of the Year and he was twice nominated to “Who’s Who Among American Teachers”.

His (current) favorite quotation is "Each of us has a capacity to help others discover the colors in their very own Rainbow." He hopes that with his work with youth he has helped his students and others to discover those colors.

Additional favorite quotes include:
People who are willing to give up freedom for the sake of short-term security deserve neither freedom nor security. Benj. Franklin
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -- "WOW -- What a Ride!"

We are here to be the activity of God expressed in our own unique way. Beca Lewis

So, if you would like to tell a little about yourself sent it to me at JaycoleS@aol.com and I will publish it. Remember you are loved. Hugs, j