Garage Painting

So I waited like 6 months since I finished sheeting the garage and no one has come to paint it - so I guess it is up to me. Here is the start of the primer coat... more updates to come (just for you garage update fans!) :)

As you can see there is much more to do - you have not missed all the fun yet - come on down!

Think about this

I will post some holiday pictures and things soon, but for now.... think about this:


"No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery." :)

Summer is Wonderful

Just in case you missed this

This video has been passed around a lot..... but you need to see it. If you missed it or if you just need a smile - click below. :)

A new twist on an old saying

"Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a lifetime...... take Sari fishing and she will catch all the fish and laugh incessantly when you slip off the rocks and step in the water, or when you stick yourself with the fish hook (twice)".


Our kids are at camp so we have been hanging out and having fun..... we ordered Chinese food and watched a movie the other night, went for a big walk and had a camp fire in the backyard last night and then (as I mentioned) went fishing at Rafferty tonight. Sari caught 2 fish - a good sized jackfish and a small Walleye.... I caught nothing! I may need a tetanus shot after all the hooks I got in me - but that is another story.


So we miss our kids (just thought I better throw that in there just in case they read this sometime) but we are having a nice week together. :)

You might need it someday....a letter to my man on our anniversary

Here I sit, wishing I was with you and wondering how that could still be after so many years...okay so 15 years isn't so many years in terms of history but we have done so much in so few years together. If I say it feels like my whole life or a long time, I mean it in the way that says I can't remember not having you in my life. When I think back, I know there were times when you were not there, but even then, I know God had you in mind for me. What an awesome thought to think that you and I were thought out before we even knew one another. Okay so maybe you think that is not a grown up way to think (yes I am projecting what you might think here) but I am truly in love with all of it. I am in love right now with the sounds of our girls as they "create" their breakfast in their grandparents kitchen. After much kibitzing back and forth Katie prances into the living room only to spill her EGGO all over the blonde wood floor and Murphy is at the ready waiting for the okay to lick up the syrup. "Okay!". He rounds the corner with such vigor that his back end slips out and he nearly breaks a leg to get to the syrupy mess. Good grief. Megan then says, "that is why I like my eggo dry"...as if to say, you would never have spilled that, if you were smart enough to have your Eggo without syrup...what a conclusion. I love that you and I have been given these two and that they are a reflection of us. Sometimes to our chagrin and most times to our delight. I like that word ‘delight’ - it is how I feel about you most of the time. I delight in your humour, your hilariousness, your mind, your integrity, and your growing and changing world. I forget to tell you and I forget to dwell in the loving-you-parts. I let you down and I disappoint you. I wish those things could change. I would love to be the person who never makes your life difficult and that I was always "agreeable" and then I remember that we would be so boring without our "bickerson" ways and the challenge of loving each other when we both think we are righter. Yes that is not a word..... You have given me more joy and more pain than any of the people in my world and for that I am thankful. You are a true best friend. I could not ask for more. Whenever we are not together it feels like the ship has lost its main sail and we are not sure how we will get there without the strength of that sail. We flounder around until we are home again and there you are the piece of the puzzle that was missing. Notice you are not the rudder....hee hee and neither am I .... I thought if I put in enough of a pause there you would think I was about to say I am the rudder....I am not thank goodness.. Thank you for loving things that are open ended adventures like canoeing, biking and hiking. These have turned into some of our best times for our family. The memories are too many to mention. If I could give you one gift I would give you the gift of finished scrapbooks....not because I have nothing better to do, but because to look back over where you have been, just for a moment, is such a blessing. We will not dwell in the past because it makes us sound old, with nothing left to do, but it is a great view into a life of adventures together. Thanks for the grand adventure and for the ways you fill many moments with unusual trivia and the way you with bother with the things I would never think of...someone must look after those details....right?!?!? Thank you for balancing me and for being a wonderful dad to our kids. They are full of goofiness and adventure...currently brushing there teeth at the same time over the same sink and singing at the same time...just because they can. Megan then tries to sit on Katie calling her "Santa" in her whiniest voice and Katie says "Santa is closed" and they both giggle and go on to the next thing which today will include riding bikes which were made a hundred years ago which grandpa just happens to have in his back yard. This also, giving heed to the ever popular saying "I might need this someday". So today when we are not in the same place I hope you will crack open your box of memories and bask in them and then keep them close, you might need them some day on a day when time no longer finds us together. Happy Anniversary to the man of my dreams. Thank you and I love you.
Love
Me

A week in our life

So I know that I have not updated this in a while..... so I thought I would just give you the summary version of our last week - then maybe you will understand why I have not written. We have.... been to a "fireworks" party in Bienfait for Canada Day, watched a rodeo parade, went to the rodeo, hooked up the unit heater in my garage so that I have heat in the winter (pictures to follow for those who love the "garage reports"), went for a Motorcycle ride to Lampman with Skip (got caught in the rain on the way home and got soaked), went to the Souris Valley Theatre (live professional summer theatre in town), went to "Rodeo closing night fireworks", canoed on the Souris river, went fishing (caught nothing), went golfing (had a nose bleed from the 2nd tee until I got home - not sure why - did not help the golf score), went to a friend's house to celebrate her b-day (and played pool in their basement) and worked on getting the camper ready to go for next week (painted the hitch and bumper, checked the water system, tried the furnace - it works).

Add into that: working every day, getting ready for lessons at Estevan's Weekend at Camp, the kids have been swimming in their pool every day (seriously 4 hours a day even at 21 degrees), we put a new salt water chlorinator on the pool this week, Sari and the kids have been biking every day..... and a whole bunch of other things.

Write back if you would like specific details about any one (or two) parts of this post! :)

Wild(ish) Hogs (aka: Paul and Tim's Excellent Adventure)

Sari and the girls went to Dauphin to see her dad for Father's Day, so I was home alone this weekend. However, I did not have to sit around doing nothing.

A buddy of mine from town was telling me about a motorcycle ride that he went on from Estevan to New Town, North Dakota, to Williston, North Dakota and then back home. He said the highways are nice. Scenery is nice. It is a good time.

When I told Paul Quilliams about this, he said, "You and I should do that sometime!" Sometime turned out to be this weekend. I had no choice..... Paul left 8 messages on my answering machine on Friday night saying, "Are we going to New Town???? Lets go! I will buy you a hamburger!!" Literally, 8 messages (but he never did buy me a hamburger).

We went from here to Portal, ND and then to Bowbells, over to New town, across the Missouri, over to Watford City, to Williston and back home. We left at 7 am and got home at 4 pm. We put on something like 540 kms (The most I had driven in a day before was 220 kms). It was great though - we just took our time - stopped lots - looked around - had lunch...... Paul even brought his camera so here are some of the 40 pictures


Bikes in front of Stanley, ND court house (While we were sitting there some middle age dude drove by - honked, shouted and waved at us as if we were rock stars - not sure why. Maybe he wished he could go too)
Paul just outside of New Town
Missouri River behind us
Watford City - more about this in a minute
We went so far we went back in time...... rest stop at the Pioneer Museum in Crosby, ND

So as we are going out of New Town I kept seeing signs for "Watford City" but nothing for "Williston" which is where we were supposed to be going. I turn to Paul, point at the highway and then shrug as if to say "Is this the right road?" He had no idea what I meant, so he just nodded "Yes" :) So we eventually ended up at this intersection in the middle of nowhere way south of Williston - added probably another 100 kms to our trip.

The best part - I went to the stock car races last night and ran into my buddy who told me about this ride. I told him that we got a little lost at New town, he looks at me and says, "So - you did not ride the 1804 highway?"

I said "No, we missed that part!"

Trevor looks at me and says, "THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE RIDE!!!! The rest of it is ok, but the 1804 is twisty and turny and up and down - right beside the river - it is THE BEST PART OF THE WHOLE THING!!!! It is what makes the whole trip worth it!!!!"

Oops! Well - at least we have a reason to go again in the fall! :)

Relay for Life

The Canadian Cancer Society's "Relay for Life" has been going on in Estevan for 5 years now and we have not done anything with it. However, this year Sara's aunt and a few others organized a church team and it was a hoot!

Seriously - what could be more fun than staying up all night, eating, visiting, telling stories and watching grown men in dresses Belly dance? (Ok - that last part was part of the "Entertainment" - a "Mr. Relay" beauty pageant - and I use the word "Beauty" very loosely. It was very disturbing to watch - but terribly funny at 2:30 in the morning!) :)

The four of us made it all night without sleeping (It was over at 7ish so we did get an hour or two before going to church). I preached on no sleep and I think it went better than normal - maybe that should be my new strategy - I should write a book "Sleep Deprived Preaching - How an all night bender may help you connect to others!" (Actually - maybe the morning did not go so well - maybe I was so sleep deprived that I just think it was good - maybe that is why I am being called to an elder's meeting!)

Anyway - it was a good time. Met and talked with tons of people. I even got to do the Sunrise church service - it was great! I wrote a newspaper article about the whole night because it was so inspiring and good. Check it out here. As for the rest, a picture (or two) is worth a thousand words, right? (Warning: Happiness seems to wane from daylight to dark - but it really was not true. The night was the best part)

Katie - ready to roll
Bill and Mary - not sure what they are ready to do
Some of us were cold and trying to stay alert
Some of us had no problem "staying alert" thanks to the "candy and sugary snacks" table
Some of us were happy on the inside
And some of us got a chance to wear out "Aviator's hat" in public. Why? Why not? :)
Then there were those who looked like this most of the night (there is no "after" picture in church the next day though)
And then there are others that, if I posted their pictures, they simply would not be impressed - so lets just say.... a good time was had by all.

I am already looking forward to next year.

An Intellectual Moment

For those of you who may be confused. :)

Track and Field day

Track and Field is always a fun day..... for the parents anyway. Go to the school. Hang out. Visit. Eat too many hot dogs. Laugh as the kids work themselves silly...... it is a great time! Made even better this year by the fact that Sari works there, so we were "Insiders" (get to eat the good snacks in the staff room, crank music over the school's intercom just because). Too many pictures to post, but here are a few........



Half way through the day I hear the loud speaker saying, "Mr. Pippus, please report to the 100 meter dash". Turns out they decided to have a "Men's race" - all the teachers and whatever Dads they could talk into it. I won't tell you who won...... but let me just say, "HA! 40.... years.... old!!!! Take that!!!!!!" :)

Let me also say that my legs still hurt three days later. :) I always think, "Stretch!!??? I am too young to have to stretch!" Then after stuff like that I think, "Man I am so old! I should have stretched!"

Sari's office

I was at the school the other day so I took a couple of pictures of Sari's office - just for those of you who are too far away to come and visit her. :)

First, from the doorway....
Then looking the back.....

Megan's B-day

Just a couple of quick pictures of our birthday girl, some of her friends and her new bike.

A quick reminder

Please live in such a way as to make your funeral easy for your preacher!

I did a memorial service today for a man that I did not know. We know the family through our kids and so when they needed someone to say something about "Grandpa" they wondered if I would help.

Now I don't mind telling you that I hate calls like that! It is very difficult to say something nice, accurate and meaningful about someone you have never met. I have been to too many funerals where the preacher either...

1. Gets up and says a bunch of things that everyone knows was not true (I have been to a few where I wanted to lift the coffin lid and see if I was in the right place... "Are we talking about the same dude here?") or.....

2. Reads a bunch of sappy poems and silly things that really just fill in time, but say nothing.

Fortunately, this family had a lot of good memories to share, stories to tell and things to say. In fact, I took notes on our conversation and filled up three pages of paper - and I did not list everything that they talked about.

In the end, I think the service was really nice! I was really glad that I went and that I was able to help them.

"Larry" lived in a way that gave me something to work with and something good to say. By the way, none of those good memories and nice things had to do with how much money he made, what kind of house he lived in, what kind of car he drove or where he had been. Every good memory centered on people - relationships - times spent together.

So that is your (and my) reminder for the day...... Live this day (and all the rest of your days) in a way that makes your funeral easy for the preacher. I don't want to what to struggle to come up with something nice to say about you. :)

It is coming!!! (and "How Cool am I now?" - Read "PS" at the bottom)

Summer is coming..... and so is our back yard.

The back yard was completely destroyed last year in the "Garage Building Project" - so it is now in rehab (and doing quiet nicely I might add).

How do I know that summer is coming???? Well, by the appearance of the pool in the back yard. Our kids (and 1/2 the neighborhood kids) lived in this thing 2 years ago (it did not get put up last summer - see "Garage Project" above). The kids were so happy about seeing it again today that they started "swimming" in it when there was less than 3 inches of water in it (Yes - they are that desperate).

Our new, higher fence and the garage make it much more private than it was so that is nice too. Anyone wanna come by for a swim???????

(Not the best pictures - taken at the end of the day in the shadows - but you get the idea.... and I am sure this is not the last you will see of the back yard this summer)



PS. The air conditioning on my truck quit this past week so I re-charged it myself!!! Had to jump the "low pressure switch" (thank you internet for the info on how to do that) - added the refrigerant - everything works - $50 for the starter kit and $15 dollars for more stuff after that! You can't even get into a garage to have them look at it for less than $90 - and now I have the stuff to keep filling it till it dies completely!

If you have read previous posts and comments, you will remember that there has been a debate about how "cool" (or not cool) I am now that I am 40..... so how cool am I that I fixed my own a/c????? In my truck I am freezing cold (for $50!!!!) - that is how cool I am! :)

Something Cool! (?)

Monday night we were sitting around the fire pit in the backyard when I looked up and saw a light streaking across the sky. I have seen lots of satellites at night (especially at the camp) but this one was much bigger and much faster - so I decided to try to figure out what it was.

Turns out that it was the "International Space Station". How do I know? I looked it up on NASA's website. It has a listing of all the satellites, the ISS and any shuttles that may be overhead and when you can see them. All you have to do it go to this site.......

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/home/index.html

Then go to "Real time data" at the top - click on "sighting opportunities" and then fill in the country listing on the left and follow the instructions. In the end, you will get a chart for every day - time, place to look, how long the pass will last, etc.

This month "Popular Mechanics" has a whole section dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the moon landing, so I am getting excited about space stuff again. I have read several astronaut bios, etc, so I think the NASA site is very cool. Lots of stuff to see and learn. Go have a look.

PS. The ISS goes over Estevan at 10:37 tonight, so I am dragging Sari off to a dark location to watch it..... "Wanna see the Space Station baby?"..... who could resist an offer like that????? :)

The Mother's Day Present Adventure

Over the years, I have proven poor at buying presents for my wife (something about actually having to listen to her when she says, "Oooh - that is nice" so that I know what I should buy - or something like that - I was only 1/2 listening at the time). Anyway - many times my presents have been "ok" but not "great"....... However, this year's Mother's Day present topped them all!!

Every time we see a Red Willow bush growing in a field somewhere, Sari always says, "Those are so pretty! We should have one of those in the yard". So this year I decided that I would get her a Red Willow for Mother's Day (Unconventional, I know, but at least it was something she wanted, right?)

Unfortunately, our tree nursery closed down, so I was left to find a wild one to dig up. After talking to several farmers, I determined that most of them consider this stuff no better than a weed and that I could dig up whatever I found - so the search was on.

Last Friday (two days before the big day), I was off work and Sari and the kids were at school. I was going to do some work on my motorcycle, or on our camper, but it was -1 outside. Since it was too cold to work, I decided to go dig up a willow.

Willows like water, so I started my search in the Souris river valley. After driving for a while I came to a bend in the river that had a ton of Red Willow bushes, so I stopped the truck, got the shovel, ran down the bank and started digging. Surprisingly, the Willow came out very easily (muddy ground) so in no time I was done and ready to go back up. That is when things went wrong!

I told you that I was going to work on my Bike and camper - so I was dressed for that: work boots, big fleece coat, sweatshirt, etc. Unfortunately, I have had my work boots for 10 years and there is no grip left on the soles - worn completely flat - not a good thing on a muddy riverside!

As I started to climb back up the bank, with a shovel in one hand and a Red Willow in the other, I started to slip. By the time I threw the shovel and willow away, it was too late. I spun around and bellyflopped off the 4 foot bank right into the Souris River. Over my head - fully clothed - wallet in my back pocket - all by myself - 20 miles from home - at minus 1 Celcius!

I scrambled up the bank as best I could (think muddy and steep climb) - grabbed the shovel and the STUPID WILLOW - got to the top of the hill - checked to see if any cars were coming (b/c it would be embarrassing at this point to have to retell this story to a stranger on the road side) - got to my truck - peeled off as many clothes as decently possible (and then some) and started driving back to town.

On the way out I was thinking, "What if I have an accidental and die out here on the road? Sari will always wonder what I was doing going out of town this morning". How much more so if they found my truck abandoned by the side of the road and my body floating in the river a 1/2 mile away? :)

Anyway - got home - had a hot tub (b/c by now I am feeling a little hypothermic) - dried out all the important papers in my wallet and waited to show Sari this stupid willow....... and she LOVED it!!!! Seriously! One free willow was worth more than the hundreds of dollars of other presents I have ever tried to buy her. In fact, we planted it in a prominant spot in the yard just so that she can see it every day.

So the moral of the story: Learn to listen when your wife says, "Ooh - I like that" and then almost drown yourself in the process of obtaining whatever it was - and you will have the perfect gift! :)

I hate it when people do this....

So I went from a blog a day for 3485789347893476 days to nothing for almost a month. That is wrong! I hate when I go to other people's blogs and they have done nothing with them - so if you have kept coming back - thanks!

Needless to say, things have been a bit busy - I went to a conference in Caronport one weekend - then back to Moose Jaw for my Granny's birthday - then we went to Dauphin for Easter - the next weekend we went to Minot - the next weekend I organized a car rally - then my mom and Laurie came down here and then we went back to MJ for the Air Show last weekend (or something like that - it is all very blurry in my mind).

In there too - both kids have been in plays - Sari is swamped with year end stuff at work (scheduling field trips, getting purchase orders done, etc - all while learning a new computer system b/c they switched from Macs to PCs) - I have been working on my truck to install a brake controller for the electric brakes on our camper - I have also been working on the electric brakes on the camper so that they work (wires all broken - have to take hubs off etc) - I installed a new ignition switch on my motorcycle and I had a new front tire put on today. And that is just some of the stuff from the past 3 weeks. Here are some pics to fill in the details......

Car Rally winners in their "winning" hats (why give a trophy when you can make people look silly?)
"Play" people
Katie and all the grade 7 girls got picked up for the spring dance (one of the Dads drives a limo so....)

Mom and her husband Laurie

Poor Debbie!!!! :(

If you have been reading the deluded comments at the end of my last post, you will notice that my nice, sweet sister Debbie (and Justin for that matter - though he is neither "sweet" nor my "Sister" - though I can see how you could be confused about the "sister" part) :) are convinced that the Flames are going to beat the Hawks... so much so that Debbie is going to appear on this blog wearing a Hawks jersey while burning her Flames one (ok - maybe not the last part but that would have been good to put in the bet too) :)


So we went to Minot yesterday. I dropped the girls off at the mall and then I hit (Literally) every motorcycle shop and Peavey Mart type place in town - it was the best shopping trip ever!!! :) I did not get much (no one really has anything in stock) but I did buy some riding boots - so that was nice. I also tried out a bunch of stuff that was overpriced (gloves and stuff at the Harley shop) that I can now order online from home.


And from the "Its a small world" department - we ran into our friends the Lawrences and the Davenports while there (well actually we heard the Davenports were there b/c they were coming back from Bismark so we planned to meet them) - then too we saw a bunch of other "Estevanites" that we recognized as well.


Anyway - check back to see a picture of Debbie wearing the jersey of a good team for once! Go Hawks!!!! :)

Go Hawks

Well - we just picked our family hockey pool. My sister and her husband are the big pushes behind this and it is a lot of fun - when I win - which I am going to do b/c I took at grand total of 6 Blackhawks in my 16 player pool (doesn't sound like much I know - but when 8 people are picking 16 players - to get 6 from one team is a lot).

The best part of this is that the Hawks play my sister's favorite team - the Flames - in the first round - so it will make that round interesting anyway. :) One of us will be happy at the end anyway!

I have sort of been a closet Blackhawk fan for years - I have a couple of jerseys - so it is time to "come out of the closet" so to speak and stand up and cheer for them.

GO HAWKS! (Booooo Debbie!!!!!..... and Justin for that matter) :)

Country Music - Wa?

So Sunday night I am cruising through the TV channels and I came across the "Academy of Country Music" awards.

Several years ago, after not listening to country music for a long, long time, I came across the exact same awards show and decided to watch it. That night I saw Keith Urban (singing "Days go By"), heard Sara Evans and got my first look at "Big and Rich" - and it totally blew me away.

That night made a country music fan of me again. In fact, it led to seeing Keith Urban live at "Countryfest" in Dauphin (still probably the best concert I have ever been to and one of the most fun nights ever) and to a whole summer of listening to "Selected" Big and Rich songs (Selected b/c some of them are too far over the line for me). In fact, I cannot drive through Montana without hearing the cool sounding harmonies of "Big and Rich" because they were the soundtrack to that entire vacation.

So I began watching the ACMs the other night with the same sort of anticipation - preparing to be blown away again ...... "Ooh - we are gonna hear something cool tonight!!!"

And I waited....... and waited....... and waited.......... NOTHING!!!!! NOT ONE GOOD, FUN, UPBEAT SONG IN THE ENTIRE THREE WASTED HOURS OF MY LIFE!!!!!! NOTHING!!!!! ZERO!!!!! SLOW - BORING - UNINTERESTING SONGS - BRUTAL LYRICS (and that was just the first two songs - it got worse from there)

The only 1/2 interesting song was "Shutting Detroit Down" by John Rich - a song all about the plight of the people who are losing jobs in the auto industry (Google that one - I really liked it). The rest of it was terrible!!!!

So needless to say...... I was not converted back to country music this night.

However, there must be some good stuff out there...... there has to be right??????? So - if you are a country fan, here is your assignment..........

Find me a good current country song! Just one or two. Anything from anyone. Send me a "Youtube" link or something.

That is it. Can you do it? Anyone????? Bueller? :)

Adventures with Animals

No the title of this blog does not related to Western Christian College's Homecoming (though - come to think of it....) :)

I am writing this at 9:11 am on Sunday and I have never seen everyone sooooo tired! We were at Homecoming in Regina and we did not have any "early nights". Friday night we hung out at Jen and Justin's and stayed up till 2 am and then last night..........

We left Regina at about 10 pm and started out for home. At about Corrine we came around a corner only to see something on the road - whether it was already dead or not I am not sure - but it was after we hit it. Skunk!!!!!! :( You know how you often smell a skunk and think, "Oohh - well it will go away soon"? Well this one just did not! The stink got worse and worse. Almost and hour later we stopped in Weyburn at 7-11 to get some snacks and as soon as I opened the door it smelled like we had dragged the skunk all the way from Corrine with us! The girls and I went inside - Sari sat in the van and she said it was so funny to watch people walk past - they would be talking and then "Eeeewww" and run away. By the time we came back out there was no one parked within 100 yards of us! :)

So we sucked it up and got going again - almost home - Sari and Megan are sleeping - it is getting to be about 12:15 am and I am thinking, "Well, we are almost home" and just then a huge buck (at first I thought it was a cow it was so fat) jumped out of the ditch and onto the road. So I slammed on the brakes - Sari woke up with a shriek (Seriously - I have never heard a sound like that before - I think the deer ran away not because of the van racing towards him but because of Sari's "Deer whistle" scream!). The kids screamed - junk flying everywhere - I am not sure what happened to the dog in the backseat - but we got stopped and the deer took off. So we took the last 10 miles or so a little slower and finally made it home.

When we went to get stuff out of the back of the van - I think we found the rest of the skunk! Somehow the smell was worse when we got home than it was in Weyburn! In fact, it was so bad that we did not even park in the garage - just left it outside so that it could air out. I have never smelled anything like that.

Speaking of never smelling anything like it.... did I mention that we saw some of our former classmates this past weekend? :) The reunion was fun - nice to see people again - but next time maybe we will go home in the daytime!

Now, if summer would just get here

This past weekend, we joined the "We own a camper" set.

Now before you think that I lost my mind or that Sari must have had some really good blackmail scheme against me (I have hated campers forever - love camping - think tenting is the only way to go), you must know a few things.......

1. We did not spend $30 000 on it (Not even .5 % of that) so it is not new

2. It is in really good condition (bought it from some friends of ours who said that it was good)

3. If we wanted to re-sell it, we could make some money (based on ads I have seen for similar ones)

4. If we are going to camp in bear country, we need a trailer (I have made Sari tent in the mountains of Montana with me - every time the wind blew at might she screamed thinking a bear was attacking us - fun times!!!!)

5. If we are going to spend more than a few days camping, a trailer is the way to go (even I will admit that)

6. Trailers are way more fun in the rain than a tent

7. We bought a "better" truck on the premise that we could use it to pull a trailer (so I had to get one)

8. My lobbying for a newer motorcycle was stopped by Sari saying, "You are going to get a better motorcycle when I still don't have even one trailer?" (If you heard her say it, you would not have been able to say "no" either)

9. I think there is a new motorcycle in the deal somewhere for me! :)


Anyway - good roof - decent shape for its age - tandem axle - everything works.... will make a good summer playhouse for the kids too. Good starter - just to see if we like it.

Camping here we come!!!! (If the snow ever melts so I can go get the thing!) :)

Granny's 90th

Last Saturday, we went to Moose Jaw to celebrate my Grandma's 90th birthday. It was a quick trip (up and back) and a long day, but it was fun. We laughed a lot and had a really good time.

As I kid, one of my big memories is going to "Bonanza" with Grandpa and Grandma. Even yet, when we are in MJ my mom plans at least one evening out there - so that is where we took Granny. About 27 of us gathered - some cousins that I have not seen in years were there. It was great.

A couple of pictures. I stole these from my sister in law Tracy. She was shooting them around the "real photographer" - that is why none of us are looking at her, etc. Her pictures were way better than the ones we took - yikes! :) Anyway.........

Me, Debbie, Kurt, Granny and mom


My family getting pictures with Granny

Going Downhill Fast!

So Tuesday things went really downhill for Katie and me (well as downhill as things can be in flat Saskatchewan) as she and I went skiing.

The grade 7 and 8 kids got to go on a ski trip to Mission Ridge at Fort Qu'appelle. They needed a couple of parents to go and Katie asked if I would be interested. It took some rearranging of my week but I got to go (I figured that it may not be long until having Dad go on the ski trip is not as cool as she thought it was this time - so I better take advantage of it and go).

Katie did really well - only fell twice. I had a great time skiing with her and her friends. To make things even nicer, I called my buddy Ian who lives in the Fort and he was able to take the afternoon off and join us - it was really nice to spend some time with him too. It was a long day (left at 6:30 AM and did not get home till 9:00 pm) but it was a great day. So much fun that we barely took time to take pictures - we got a few of Katie and her buddy Angela - imagine the rest. :)

Weekend roundup

Not much to report this weekend - too cold to do much. Sari stayed home from work on Friday - not feeling well. I went and did some wiring at the church building (fixing lights, etc) and then did some shopping (Peavey Mart, Can Tire, etc). Watched curling and just hung out that night.

Saturday we got watching a show called "The 10 best family vacation spots in North America" (or something like that), so that got us thinking re. vacation, buying a trailer, etc. We got the travel books out, went to CAA and got some more - talked about it for hours but really have not decided anything yet. Then we all went and got groceries and just hung out that night - watching hockey.

Today at church I told everyone that we were going sledding and that anyone who wanted to join us was welcome - so about 15-20 people showed up. It was cold (-22 with the WC) so Rhonda (who lives across the street from the toboggan ) invited us all over for hot chocolate, etc - so that was nice too. A couple of hours of exercise and visiting - good times. Now we are just getting ready for the week again - doing laundry etc. I know - sounds like an exotic and exciting life - but it is a happy one anyway.

Have a good week! :)

194

That is what my blood pressure was at when I went to give blood today - 194!!!! (For those who may not know - 120 is normal - 160 is high - 190 is pushing explosion or something).

To clarify - I don't mind giving blood at all. Needle - no problem. Blood - who cares? In fact, when I was done giving blood I could have jumped off the bed and left (but they make you stay for a cookie and coke, etc). I have given blood like 10 times - never fainted - never had a problem - always feel good during and after - but my BP is often high.

What I don't like is just the "getting there" part - all the sitting and waiting and then all the questions - poke your finger - go here - go over there - go behind this divider thing and sit at this table while a nurse asks you some very personal questions that will either be just embarrassing or borderline lewed and crude (either way - my Blood pressure is going up). :)

If I could just walk in, lay down, give blood and leave - I would be a superstar.

Anyway - as I said - rushing to get there - 90589034589 things to do - go through the process - 194! She asked if this has happened before - I said "yes - one other time I came to give blood" - told her about family history of BP problems - etc. She was really good. Said I could not donate in that state (the pressure would shoot the needle right across the room) so she said that she would ask the rest of the questions and then check it again - this time it was under 160 (so I could donate and I avoided being sent out to have a cookie till I calmed down - that would have been really embarrassing)

Anyway - I told her that I thought it was "spikey high"- normally I think I am in the "below normal range". I had to wear a heart monitor for 24 hours a few years ago (I was having chest pains) and the reading all came back great - low pressure almost all the time - a few spikes.

She then told me that I should get a BP monitor for home and take it a few times per day - if it is still high go to the doctor. Oddly enough, Sari stole one from her parents one time (thanks Dave and Marilyn) and so I checked it at home - 123 over 60 - back in the "good range". So I am going to keep an eye on it and try to cut out some of the stressful things in my life - cut down on coffee - exercise more - etc.

Maybe I need a vacation - or a "paid stress leave" (as Lenny suggested). A hot holiday is good for lowering BP don't you think? The heat thins your blood I hear. If the church paid for it and I did not have to worry about that part I would be really relaxed. Alternately, I ran into a buddy at the hockey game tonight - a guy from the race track named Trevor - he and a bunch of guys are going the NASCAR Stock Car race in Vegas this weekend - Vegas would do something to my BP! :)

Any of the above options would be fine. I will send out the petition later in the week (if it does not stress me out too much). :)

Partying with Mumpy

Sari and Katie having been away since Wednesday (they are at Ladies retreat in Kenosse) so Megan and I have been partying.

Thursday night we went to the movie - "Hotel for Dogs". Megan was really excited about seeing it (she is a dog fan) and it was not all that bad - cute movie. Friday we went shopping, running around and visiting and then that night we went swimming. It was really nice - not too many people there. It was really cold outside and there was not much we could do outside, so it was nice to sit in the hot tub, goof around on the diving board, water slide etc. After that we went to 7-11 for Megan's first ever (though I did not know that at the time) "Big Gulp". Then home to make popcorn and just hang out.

This morning (Saturday) we made brunch and then went tobogganing for 3 hours. It was fun. We ran into our friends the Davenports over there, so I challenged their boys to go off the jumps with me, raced them down the hill, challenged them to surf their sleds, etc. I am sore tonight, but it was worth it. :) Then we came home and took Murphy for an hour long walk in the badlands behind our house. That was fun b/c the snow is so deep that he kept falling in the deep snow - 4 feet deep in some places - he had to jump to see and then he would run and fall - good times. We climbed hills - jumped off - slid down other ones - it was a good time.

So some of it cost money, but most of it was just the fun of hanging out together. We miss mom and Katie, but it is nice to have some time with just the two of us - though Megan may be happy to have mom's cooking back. ;)

Chick or Dude

So I am shopping downtown yesterday, come out of a store, look up and ask myself, "This person who is coming in - is that a chick or a dude?"

In my opinion, that is a bad question to ever have to ask, so I have a solution.

When I get elected Prime Minister, I am going to bring in a law that says that all women must wear "Elizabethan-type gowns" and high heels everywhere they go (they will get bonus points for long hair too).

Now, I have stated this for years and have had some questions thrown my way, so let me clear up the confusion before it starts.....

1. What about winter? Answer: What about it? Winter does not override the law. You still have to follow the speed limit - winter or summer - right?

2. What constitutes "Elizabethan type gowns"? Think "Prom dress" or some long bridesmaid's dresses (only nice enough that you would want to wear it again). Better yet, think "colourful Wedding dress" - that should get you started down the right path.

3. What about the guys? If women have to dress in gowns, do men have to dress formally too? My answer: Why not? With my job I am in semi-formal attire most of the time anyway and with my thinning hair a top hat may be a good deal - so I say "sure".

Think of how pretty everyone would look! Now I will grant to you that gowns and High heels may be difficult in snow like we had here last week (25 cm) but as the old saying goes, "Beauty is painful"! :)

One day you will never have to ask, "Chick or dude" again - thanks to me! :)

The Story of Gordon Lawrence

So it has snowed a ridiculous amount here in the past 24 hours.....

When I went to the office this morning, I barely made it. Instead of parking my truck, I basically abandoned it.... Just turned off the main road and plowed it into the snowbank at the side of the road because there was no where else to go. It was awful!

Then it really started snowing!! 20 - 30 cm in one day. No graders out - only big oil field trucks on the road. It was bad.

When I went to go home, I figured that if I could just get out on the main road I would make it. It had not been graded, but it was packed down enough for my truck to get through. The problem was getting to it. I got stuck 3 feet from the snowbank where I started... so I shoveled..... stuck.... shovel..... stuck.... shovel (you get the idea).

As I look up, I see an oil field truck coming. Rig pigs (I mean "gentlemen that work for oil field companies) are not always the kindest and most encouraging people in these circumstances. I have been given several lectures by them in the past when I have been stuck - and I was bracing for another one.

This guy spins his truck around and jumps out - as happy as could be. I tell him that if he would just pull me back to the side of the road that I would just leave the truck there and walk home. When he asks where I live and I tell him "all the way across town" he says, "Well, I think if you get off this street you will be fine. Tell you what - I will get you out then I will follow you home to make sure you get there".

Sure enough - that is what he did. I got home without too much trouble - did not get stuck again, but he was right behind me - just in case. I jumped out of my truck and asked him if I could give him something for helping me - he said "no". So I stuck out my hand, introduced myself and thanked him. He said, "My name is Gordon Lawrence - and you are welcome" - then he drove off.

So - if you ever meet a Mr. Gordon Lawrence.... be nice to him - just in case. He deserves it! :)

PS. On another note: I then spent 2 hours with my snow blower - I cleaned out the alley behind the garage - the parking spot so Lenny can use it this weekend - came around front and cleaned the walk for us and the neighbours - pushed the neighbour's car off the street - got the snow blower because he was stuck in the street again - pushed him again...... in short - I am glad for my free, good working snow blower.

However, I do have one complaint..... I have used it like 6 or 7 times and I have had to fix something on it 2 or 3 times. Today, a bolt came out of one of the wheel clutches and I had to repair it before I could keep going..... so here is the question..... "Is a free snow blower that you have to fix 30% of the time better than an expensive one that just runs and runs????"

I say "Yes it is" - what about you?

Working, Pools, Hockey and a Road Trip

Most of Friday and Saturday was spent working on the garage - fixing last little things that did not get done earlier - returning ladders and stuff to Skip - taking leftover wood to the dump - etc - etc. Nice to get some of that stuff done. Then Sari and I started organizing it, bringing stuff out of my work room in the basement (Apparently I have been buying stuff for a garage for years - I am going to need to build on to this one to get everything in). It looks really good and is starting to get organized and usable (as opposed to everything just being crammed in there) - I will post pictures later in the week.

Changed oil in the snow blower while it was nice too - so it is ready for the next big storm. Hopefully that is in like November. :)

Friday night we took the kids swimming - that was a lot of fun. Swimming is something that sounds like a lot of work to get ready for (somehow) and then none of us wants to go when it is cold outside - but we always have fun when we do it. Pool was a little packed, but it was still fun. I always like sitting in the hot tub looking out the windows at the snow - seems odd to me in a nice way (And I can still do a front flip off the diving board - so I am not OLD yet..... he keeps telling himself)

Saturday night I took the kids to the Bruins' game against Weyburn - it was bad. We took a ton of penalties and lost 8-2. Then today (Sunday) Shady Shane, Randy Bye (Kim's husband) and I went to Weyburn for the back end of the "home and home" series. Shady has been talking about wanting to do this all winter - so this was the day. It was fun - though the Bruins lost again (5-3). I had not been in the Weyburn rink for 20 years I bet. Lots of people from Estevan there and we made a lot of noise when the Bruins were up 3-1..... not so much after that! :)

Sari and Mumpy have been sick again this weekend - head and chest colds this time (as opposed to the stomach stuff last weekend). All night long one would cough, then the other. Finally at 3:30 or so Katie yells out "Will you two quit coughing already?????" The funny thing: She claims that she does not remember doing it! The other funny thing: I wanted to yell it myself, but restrained myself (for once). Hopefully, for their sake and ours, they are getting better.

And so ends another weekend..... looking forward to Lenny and his family coming down next weekend - and the Daytona 500 too! :)

Saskatchewan Highway Hotline - wa?

So we were in Regina on the weekend - I had a camp board meeting and it was a good opportunity to visit the Mooney Clan.

As people arrived at the meeting, the common theme was, "Man the roads are terrible! You can't see a thing out there" (We had gone up the night before so we missed that part). When the meeting ended around 4 pm, again we kept hearing how bad the highway was and how the visibility was so bad. Trinda even called back to tell us, "If you are going home tonight, you better get going now while it is still daylight because it is terrible out here". So, we waited, ate supper and played a couple of games of "John Madden Football".

At 9pm I checked the highway hotline: "Blowing snow, swirling snow, icy patches, reduced visibility" on every highway leaving Regina. We debated staying there until Sunday am and then coming back, but then decided that if we were going to go we better leave Saturday night b/c then if it takes 6 hours to get home at least we are not late for church (I was doing class, preaching and leading singing today so I figured I needed to get back).

Deciding that the highway south of Regina (#6) is always bad, we decided to try #33 (through Stoughton). Highway Hotline report at 9pm still said, "Blowing snow, swirling snow, icy patches, reduced visibility", but we decided to try it.

With crying children in tow (they were scared of heading out on the bad roads at night) we got to the ring road..... not bad. Turn on "Arcola street".... looks good. Out on Highway 33..... and it is beautiful!!!!

Not a patch of ice - not a snow drift - not a cloud in the sky - you can see for 904890348569348690 miles. Every once in a while a gust of wind would pick up some snow and make it hard to see for 4.3 seconds - but it was good winter driving conditions all the way home.

Now here is my question: "What were the Highway guys looking at when they made their 9pm report? Did they even go out there, or did they just guess?"

I can just see them sitting at their computer..... "Hmmm - lets say it is raining with 80% chance of a sand storm" - or whatever else they want to say. Maybe it is like a game show....... "I am going to take 'slippery sections' for 100 Alex".

I don't get it. Either someone somewhere isn't earning their paycheque, or they do not understand their job description. Something is wrong one way or the other.

PS. On a side note: We heard (and then bought) the Beyonce song "Single Ladies (Put a ring on it)". It is fun - we played it 18 times on the way home and then another 10 on the way to and from church this morning. All of us singing at the top of our lungs, minivan speakers distorting they are up so loud - "Aaaalllll the single ladies........" If you have no idea what I am talking about - Google it - you will like it - it is fun! :)