Two phrases I will never say, a dream lives and comments to commenters (16 of 30)

I am not a "Foodie".... in fact, I am possibly the furthest thing from one.  I think eating is mostly utilitarian and that is about it.  Oh sure, I have had some good meals... even memorable ones.... but overall eating is about "not starving to death" and that is about it.

So imagine my confusion today when Sari and I were watching this show about Italy and this restaurant owner (explaining how he has become successful) said, "I cook with LOVE" and "I learned to communicate using food".  Wa?

The only way I could communicate using food would be to throw it at you.  :)
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I was going to use this as a quiz, but instead I have decided to just give you the answer (it is too easy to look up):  The oldest ever NHL rookie was Connie Madigan who made his debut with the St. Louis Blues in January 1973 at the age of 38.  38!!!!

So you know what that means right????  I still have a shot!!! And if I make it I will set a new record too.

Better get my autograph sooner rather than later.
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My "It is what it is" total is now up to 7 times in three days.  Henry Burris said it 3 times on Thursday, Roberto Luongo said it once yesterday and I heard it 3 more times today.... twice on a show called "Top 10 NASCAR Bonehead Moves" (it was pretty good - you should look for it) and once more on the football game tonight.

I am telling you, it is an epidemic..... if you hear someone say it - write a note in the comments section.... I bet we can hit 20 times by Halloween.
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T-shirt of the day....... (you supply the music)

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And lastly this evening.... a couple of comments to the commenters.....


Well played "Mr. E"... turning my "Quiz game" into a "See if you are smart enough to figure out who I am" game.   Well I am not, ok??!!  :)  So I will need something more.... initials..... a location.... something before I can write the big cheque.


And Jennifer:  Nice observation about the irony about me ranting about the internet on the internet.  The fact is though that internet friends are the only real ones I have and if I can't go over to the neighbour's place and try to get to know them better (as I suggested people should be doing) because they said that they would call the police the next time..... and I am tired of talking to those guys.
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Ok - that is it.  Have a good Saturday.  Keep commenting.  :)

A sad day, quiz answer and other stuff

I just about cried when I heard this.....

NORTH BATTLEFORD BACON PLANT TO CLOSE IN 2013

Can you imagine????? What is wrong with people????? Less bacon is not a good thing!!!

If I had to vote for the two best foods, they would be Bacon and Potatoes.... and not necessarily in that order.

In fact, how can you tell that bacon is the best food out there?????  Because they use it to make other foods better.  Order a burger, "Do you want bacon on that?" (No one ever asks, "Would you like Broccoli on your burger?")  You can buy steaks wrapped in bacon!  You can even buy little "bits" of bacon to make salads and other awful things stomach-able.  

So - in honor of bacon's awesomeness - here are the "t-shirts of the day" (dee dooo daaa daaah dee do.... you are writing your own theme songs for "T-shirt of the day" from now on)

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An update:  I saw an interview with Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo this morning.... guess what he said about his very slow start to the season..... "Well - it is what it is I guess" (I am telling you - boycott this phrase with your life.... see previous post if you are confused)

I will update the "It is what it is" count as the weeks go on.
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And lastly today...... someone (anonymous) wrote in with the correct answer..... Colbie Caillat was passed over by "American Idol" twice and now she is selling records like crazy.   Apparently, the female singer of the group "Lady Antebellum" was passed over too.  Which just goes to prove that it is not always about talent... sometimes it is all about timing and getting a break.

I have often said that about hockey players, etc.  It is not necessary the best player that makes it.  Sometimes it has to do with timing.  If you get drafted by a team that has a lot of goal scorers - and you are a goal scorer... you may not make it.  If you happen to be a checker, you may make it.  

I remember Brett Hull in his "Hall of Fame" speech a few years ago saying something like, "Who knows who the best hockey player in the world is???  There are probably a lot of working class guys playing rec hockey who could have played in the NHL and maybe made the Hall too - they just did not get the chance". 

So the next time you think you are a failure.... listen to some Colbie Caillat and smile.... life is not over just because someone says you can't do something.  Maybe they are wrong.
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Ps.  Dear anonymous.... thanks for answering my trivia question, but I am curious/need more detail:  Did you know the answer or did you look it up? (I stumbled across it on Wikipedia one day)   And who are you... I cannot award the prize unless you claim it. 

Ok - have a happy Friday everyone!!  :)

A Quiz, a statement and "T-shirt of the day" (14 of 30)

The quiz: 
Name the current top 40 pop music artist and former Grammy winner who was rejected by "American Idol" - twice!!!  (Not even getting to see the judges the first year and then having them pass in the second).
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The statement:
If there is a phrase that needs to be dragged outside and taught a lesson, it has to be... "It is what it is".   I was watching SportsCentre the other day and I have come to realize that this is now the go to phrase for every coach and every athlete in every situation...... especially when they have no idea what else to say.

"Coach - how did your team blow a 54 point lead with 23 seconds left to go in the 4th quarter?"

"Well, we tried hard, gave a 110%, left it all on the field,  no regrets , but I guess it is what it is".

Henry Burris, of the Calgary Stampeders, used this phrase about 7 times in a  2 minute interview the other day.   He was trying to explain why he played so poorly the last little while and why he has been benched and all he seemed to come up with was,  "Blah... blah.... blah.... it is what it is.... blah.... blah.... it is what it is.... blah".

Anyway - I am urging a boycott of this phrase.... but I doubt it will help..... but that is ok .....  it is what it is I guess
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T-shirt of the day (da dah dah dah dee dee da.... new theme music)

And a bonus t-shirt (dee dee daa da .... well you can sing the rest yourself)

Ok - that is it for today!  Thanks for your input to the "serious blog" Susanna.  Anyone else?

And - don't forget - take a guess at the top 40 pop singer that "Idol" totally missed.

Hello? (13 of 30)

Hmm - so my "serious blog" from last night netted an overwhelming response of nothingness.  From this I can only conclude that....

a.  You are still formulating your response
b.  No one is actually reading this thing and I am pathetically wasting my life ranting into a vast, bleak, lifeless cyberspace
c.  You don't turn to this blog for intellectual discussion and therefore completely disregarded my attempt at real, thought-provoking conversation.... but have no fear... today's blog will pull us out of the deep end and back to the safety of the (very) shallow end of the pool.


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Did you here this on the news:

US woman shocked by $201,000 cellphone bill

If not, click here to get the details (it will make you feel better about your own dilemmas if nothing else)
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And a new feature: (dah da da dah)...... "T-SHIRT OF THE DAY" (Read that slowly and dramatically with a really deep, manly, echo-y voice as if it is really interesting and exciting).   For the next several days, I am going to post a t-shirt that made me smile..... are you ready?????

(Da da da doo deee da da........that is the theme music for "T-shirt of the day")

Ok - that is it.... shallow.... non-thinking.... no effort on either of our parts..... :)

PS.  There is happiness in the land again as Sari and the girls came home today.  Even more happiness tomorrow when I take my motorcycle in to get the new tire installed - just in time to take the plates off of it.  Oh well, at least it will be ready to ride next summer.

PPS.  It is not too late to jump back into the deep end.... the "comments" section on my last post is ready and waiting for your deep, thought-provoking responses...... hello?

A Serious question(s) (12 of 30)

So after reading my "That was Creepy" post (see below),  my mother-in-law apparently told Sari that maybe she ought to be heading home... that maybe I was in need of some sort of mental help (I am paraphrasing here).

Be that as it may... Sari and the girls are still not home (so what does that tell you..... hmmmmm?).  But, in order to prove that I have not gone "completely off my nut" so to speak, I have a serious question for you.  One that I would really like some feedback on..... please give me your thoughts.  (PS.  If you go to church with us in Estevan, you are going to hear this again at some point - so either check out now or jump in and help shape the conversation).

Ok - here is my train of thought and what prompted it.....

1.  I saw a story on the noon news today about a new company in the States that is called "Rent a Grandma".  The idea:  instead of getting the 15 year old from down the street to look after your children, you "rent a Grandma"... an older lady who comes in and looks after the kids, maybe does a little baking, runs some errands etc.  Not a bad idea, right?  I mean, they have experience with kids.  They all have their criminal record checks done.  Best of all.... you know that they aren't going to be spending all night ignoring your kids while texting their boyfriends (or likely not anyway).

So here is the part that got me thinking:  People were RAVING over this idea.  I mean - it is a good idea - but they were going on and on about how nice it is to have this older person around, how they are benefiting from their experience, etc, etc. (Ok - hold that thought and let me bring in "Exhibit B")

2.  When Steve Jobs (the "Apple guy") died last week, there was this big outpouring of emotion.  I mean, people left flowers outside of Apple stores.  People were crying.  Several people on the news said stuff like "He changed my life".

Really????  I mean - he may have changed the way we listen to music, or the way some people use their computers or their phones, but "changed my life"?????   To the best of my knowledge, those people never met Steve Jobs.   Besides, even if he did "change the world", he was not doing it for humanitarian purposes.... he was not a "Mother Teresa" figure working with the poor in the streets of Calcutta (though I am certain that he was very generous with his money, helped people etc)..... he did what he did FOR PROFIT.  He was running a business!!!!  He was trying to create products that people wanted!!!!

Now - here is my question(s).... honestly help me out here.

What is going on here????  Are these stories a commentary on our society today????  (Let me explain)

Is "Rent a Grandma" a good idea because it is a "good idea" or are people so disconnected from their real families that they are longing for a "Grandma figure" (and Family in general)?  Could it be that people are so scattered all over the world - and so isolated from their loved ones - that any connection to someone who looks like a caring, motherly/Grandmotherly person is great (even if you have to pay for her to hang around)????

As for Steve Jobs:  In actual fact, Henry Ford did as much to "change the world" of the average person as Jobs did (maybe more).   Think about all the people who drove Model Ts and who still drive cars today.  Think about the assembly line (which he helped to perfect and popularize)..... now think about this:  Was there the same outpouring of emotion when he died????  No way!

So the real baseline question:   Are we just so "connected" to our world that the passing of Steve Jobs impacts because we have had access to people that we otherwise would not (so it is a "good thing")..... or....

Is our world so "disconnected" from real relationships and real people that we long for a real Grandma and we cry when as stranger dies as if he was a real friend of ours.


My bias (probably obviously if you know me or can read between the lines) is that I think that we are hopelessly isolated.  I think people know more about what Oprah thinks than they do about what their parents, their siblings and certainly their next door neighbour thinks.

I think we cry over Steve Jobs because we long for relationships, but do not have real ones.... so instead we get emotionally attached to movie stars, people in magazines and football teams (Just listen to how dismayed people are that the Riders are missing the playoffs.  I mean - nothing has happened to the guys in the coffee shop who are all down about it.... IT IS NOT HAPPENING TO YOU - WIN OR LOSE!!!) 

I think that we watch the news and think that somehow we are involved in something, so we react as if we are when really we are just sitting there.  Every night when I walk the dog - every house has the TV on and ... when I can peek through the window... I see two or three people just sitting there staring at it .... in house after house after house.... including my own (much more often than I like to admit).

So - are we better off for being "connected" or have our "fake connections" made us more isolated?

What say you?

(Ok - obviously I have had no one to talk to for several days.  We will go back to our regularly scheduled blog of silliness tomorrow).   :)

Research and a Video (11 of 30)

So I found this show "Dumbest stuff on Wheels"... it is sort of an "America's Funniest Home Videos" only with a lot more carnage.

Anyway I have watched one episode so far, but here are my observations up to this point:

1.  All the stupid things (like trying to jump over a moving car, or strapping a seat to the top of a car and then sitting in it while your buddy drives down a hill and into a lake) are all done by men.

2.  All the "caught on security cameras" incidents (like the driver who tried to leave the parking garage and ran into the steel post beside the gate, or the one where the car runs off the road and into a shop) are all done by women.

I will continue watching the show (I have 2 more on saved) and update you as I get more data.... but I think I see a trend here.   :)

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Hey - I know that this video has been around for a while (I am sure that I have posted it before) but it is still funny so I am posting it again.   Have a good week!

That was creepy!!! (10 of 30)

So I am out in the front yard raking up leaves - not because I want to, but because all of my "goodie-goodie" neighbours are out doing their yards and I felt like a jerk for having 14 feet of leaves on mine (By the way - have you noticed that the theme continues here... I work and Sari and the girls flit off to Dauphin.  Does anyone feel sorry for me yet??? No???? Interesting!)

Anyway  - back to leaves - I am out front and this guy is walking toward me.  Now, it is election time so I think he must be campaigning and since I don't recognize him I figure that he must be the "Green Party" candidate (no one knows the "Green Party" guys... not even the "Green Party" people themselves).

Turns out that he is not campaigning... he is selling security systems..... now here comes the weird part:

- He gives me his pitch and then says, "Other people whom you may know (he used "whom") have purchased our system..." and then he proceeds to list EVERY PERSON that I know in Estevan.  I mean EVERY LAST ONE!!!  It was like he was looking at my friends list on Facebook - if I had a Facebook page (spit!)

- Then he says, "Did you have a flood this spring?" (WE DID!!!  How did he know that???)  "We can put in a water monitor for you".

- Then (somehow) he slipped in the fact that he was from Israel.  I said, "I have been to Israel".  He said, "Where did you go?"  I told him and when he heard "Galilee", he says, "I am from Safed".  SAFED!!!!!  That - of course - is the home of "Kabbalah" the freaky, Jewish, mystical religion where weird things happen (Madonna is into Kabbalah - enough said, right?)  I even think that he smiled and winked when he said "Safed" too.

- Then I asked him, "How did you get from Israel to Estevan?  Like, how does that happen?"  His response..... "I don't know".   I DON'T KNOW!!!  How do you you end up here and not know how???? (I am guessing some rip in the "time/space continuum" or some "time travelling portal" or something.  Sort of like the way that the Ghosts of Christmas past/present/future in "A Christmas Carol" can move from place to place and through time with no effort)

- Then, when I told him that I was not really interested in his security system, he looked at the neighbour's house and said, "The people who live there are not the home owners, they are renters, right?"  (How did he know that????  Huh????)

- Now, those same neighbours just put a huge, inflatable black cat in their yard.... and dude did not go to their house!!! We all know that ..... whatever he would be called... (You know... there are times when I wish that I had read more science fiction stuff in the past and then I would have 46904369 names for "other worldly creatures who enter the human sphere" to use right here - but sadly I am not that much of a dork.... so I do not have a suitable name for them - so lets go with "Bruce")... we all know that "Bruces" (or would it be "Brice"?) do not like black cats, right?

- Then he just smiled and left (so obviously he was not really a salesman - they never take one "no" for an answer).  When I looked up like 3 minutes later.... he was gone.  No where else on the block.  Vanished!

- Oh and, to top it all off, after he left (like around 5 pm) it got very cold and dark outside!!!  (Now you doubters will point out that "It is the middle of October in Saskatchewan, you bonehead" - and you may have a point - still.....).   It was weird man.  He knew too much about me and my neighbours to be a "security salesman"..... I think it was some sort of "encounter" or something!!!

One another note:  When he was still here I thought about ramming a stake through his heart (you know, just in case) then I realized  (1) he was not a vampire so that likely would not have helped and (2) all my good stakes were in the garage and I was too tired to go get them.

Anyway - as you can imagine - it was a FREAKY experience.  I am just glad I survived.... but I have learned my lesson:  No more work for me! I am going to lay down and watch TSN the rest of the weekend.  :)

It is party time!!! (9 of 30)

Woooooo..... the girls are gone for three days (they went to Dauphin) so it is "Paaaarrrrtttyyyy tiiiiimmmmee" around here...... I am going to clean out the evestroughs, rake leaves, go to Peavey Mart, get my snowblower running, clean up my garage, recycle the oil from the oil changes I did yesterday, put some storage shelves together..... and probably cry myself to sleep because it is so quiet around here.  :(

Hurry home soon girlies. 

A Confession (8 of 30)

I am a word greek! I like knowing where words come from, why we use them the way we do, what they mean, etc. Therefore, one of my favorite places on the web is the video portion of the "Merriam-Webster" site.  It is called, "Ask the Editor".

I cannot upload the video (the picture above is just a screen shot), but I can provide a link, so click here to sample it.... or if you want to get REALLY CRAZY try this one...... do it.... I challenge you to watch these videos (or any of the others on the site) without smiling..... I can't.

WORD GEEKS UNTIE!!!!..... er....... UNITE!!!!

Here to help (7 of 30)

To some, life is difficult..... nothing but one confusing wrong turn after another.

However, it does not have to be that way!!!

Most of the time, all we really need is just a nudge in the right direction and a few simple rules to remember. To that end, I thought I would share some helpful signs. Pay attention and everything will be fine.

Now then, that wasn't so hard was it?  :)

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Ps.  These make me think about the sign that I saw outside of the picnic area in "Woodlawn Regional Park" one day..... it read, "No Camping Aloud". 

So if you camped silently.......??????

I called the RM administrator and the sign was gone the next day (before I had time to take a picture of it)

Weird, mind-blowing thought of the day (6 of 30)

Ok - here is the weirdest thing I discovered today...... are you ready????

Below is a picture of the band "ZZ Top" (Which should be properly pronounced "Zed Zed Top" in Canada).... 

Now - the guy one the left - his name is "Dusty Hill" (In the early 80s he accidentally shot himself in the foot with a gun that he was carrying in his boot)

The guy on the right is "Billy Gibbons"

But freaky thing.... the guy in the middle... the drummer.... his name is "Frank Beard"

FRANK BEARD!!!!!!   The only guy who does not have a beard in a band that is known for their great big beards..... his name is "Frank BEARD"!!!!!!!

BEARD!!!!  Isn't that FREAKY!!!!   Did that just BLOW your mind????  

You are going to be up all night trying to figure that out I bet!
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That is all I've got.... that is my only bullet.....  my best thought of the day (sadly)......

Actually that is not true.... I have had many good ideas today... I have been very creative.  It is just that most of it has been poured into sermons and classes for church on Sunday.  (Do you realize that a long weekend is not a good thing for someone like me?  I still have the same amount of classes and things to prepare whether I have a full week of work, or three days or two days or..... it is not like pumping gas where if you miss a day of pumping gas you just don't pump gas that day.  If I miss a day, it just means I have to work harder the other days of the week.....  now you know how difficult my life really is).

(Back to the train of thought here) All my really good ideas went into my sermons and classes for the weekend - so if you want to hear something better than my "Zed Zed Top" observation...... see you Sunday!  :)

I'm Back!!!! (5 of 30)

So - this is just a check-in blog - just to catch up and say "hi".  I hope you had a good Thanksgiving long weekend (if you are in Canada).  We had a good time with some good friends - it was nice.

I would write a great big blog tonight, but there are two reasons that I am not.....

1.  I just got home from a meeting and I still have lots to do tonight

2.  I am trying to keep the laundry going (Sari is out tonight so I will advance things and try to get them caught up).

Which reminds me, did I tell you that I "faith healed" the dryer?   Those of you who have read this blog over the years may remember the time that I faith healed the water cooler.  I will look up the actual post about this if anyone is interested - but, literally, I tore the thing apart 5 times and just before I was going to throw it in the back of the truck and haul it to the dump, I told Sari I was going to faith heal it.  I put my hands on it and prayed (With a southern accent)..... "Lord - we love this water cooler and we don't want to spend the money on a new one - so I ask that you heeeallllll this one!".... and I plugged it in and it worked!!!  In fact, that was several years ago and it is still working - I am looking at it right now - come over and see it sometime...... $3 to look at the miracle cooler...... $14 for a cup of water from it (Healing properties may vary - results are subjective - see fine print at the bottom of this post for more disclaimers).

Anywho.... I came home one night and Sari said that the dryer kept stopping - about every 5 minutes or so.  Leave it for a while and it would start again.  I told her that it must be overheating and that would mean......

a. The vent was blocked and it was not moving enough air (cleaned it out - nothing)

b.  The thermostat was shot and it was getting too hot and locking out (check it - seemed fine)

c.  There was something wrong with the motor.... maybe something wrapped around it (we had a string from a hoodie wrap around it once) or maybe it was too dirty and getting hot.

So she and I tore the whole thing apart..... I mean top off - back off - drum out - heating coils out.... everything.  Vacuumed the whole thing out.... put it together..... nothing!   Took it all apart again.... cleaned it out... checked it some more.... back together..... nothing!   Started at 9 pm.... at 12:30 am we went to bed defeated.

The next day I announced that I was going to go downstairs and that I was going to start the dryer because I had feeling that it was going to work.   Went down, started it up and it has been working perfectly for 2 weeks now.  TWO WEEKS!!!!!

What changed?  Why did it work the next day and keep working?  Why is my water cooler still working?  Why did my brother-in-laws old car start after I put my hands on it and fake prayed? (Well - that time I noticed a couple of spark plug wires that were on the wrong plugs - so I changed them - but he was impressed that it looked like I healed it).   The answer:  I don't know! 

All I know is that they work now and I did not have to replace them.... and a couple of good stories to go with them.  :)
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I said that I would add some pics along the way.... so here are some random shots from the Oregon trip...

Have a good week!  :)

Half a concept is better than none, right? (4 of 30)

In our household, it is my job to look after recycling stuff (In the last post I wrote about doing laundry and now I am talking about recycling.... and I know exactly what you are thinking.....  You are thinking, "Golly, doesn't anyone else in that household do anything???"  The answer - of course - is "Sadly no"!) ......so when the stack of cardboard boxes avalanched on me today, I decided to load them up.

We do not yet have curbside recycling, so there is a drop off depot in the middle of town which consists of several containers for things like cardboard, tin, magazines, newspaper, etc.  When I arrived today, a young woman was standing by one of the "cardboard" bins, slowly and deliberately throwing in each piece one... at.... a.... time.  I thought that was a little odd.

Once she was done this labour intensive operation, she got in her car and DROVE from the "cardboard" bin to the "newspaper" bin..... THREE WHOLE FEET!  I thought that was a little odd.

She then stood at the "newspaper" bin and put in each sheet one.... at.... a..... time.  I thought that was a little odd.

It was only after I walked from the "newspaper" bin to the "tin" bin that I realized that not only was she driving the three feet between bins, but she left her CAR RUNNING the entire time!

Now, I am not Environmental Scientist or anything..... but if you are recycling 4 spaghetti boxes and 2 newspapers while letting your car idle for 4 HOURS..... I am not sure if you are exactly going to win the "David Suzuki Award for Environmental Awareness".   :(


But 1/2 a concept is better than none at all, right?

The whole thing reminded me of a good buddy of mine who used to yell, "Save the environment" as he threw his pop bottles out the window of his truck..... it all evens out, right?   :)
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I have decided to include a few pictures along the way.  Here are a couple from this summer by the ocean in Oregon........

That last one is not technically a "family picture", but he did remind me an awful lot of our lazy dog Murphy so........
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Well I said that was doing "30 blogs in 30 (ish) days" and we are coming to one of those "ish" parts.  I am going to be busy over the Thanksgiving long weekend and I am not sure how much blogging I will get done.  However, I promise I will be back by next Tuesday if nothing else.  So, catch up on the previous blogs if you need to, vote, comment.... the interaction is the fun part for me. Thanks for reading and see you Tuesday, if not before.

Ok?  OK!   :)

A question and a couple of pictures worth seeing (3 of 30)

Ok - so by reading this blog you have unknowingly been roped into an on-going discussion that Sari and I have been having...... you must settle this for us once and for all......

When you are doing laundry (hey - come on - I have been known to be helpful once in a while.... in fact I can hear the washing machine sloshing as we speak) and it comes time to fold the clothes, what do you do when something is inside out?

Sari says that part of folding the laundry is getting things in their proper orientation before folding them and giving them back to their owners.

I say, "BAH!"   I think that if you are too lazy to turn your own clothes right way out (or at least make sure that you are not turning them inside out when you take them off), why should I waste my time sorting this out for you?   My solution is to fold them inside out, or one leg of the pants in and the other out, or however I get them.  That way you are forced to fix it yourself.... what am I, your mother?????  You are lucky that I am washing and folding your clothes in the first place - there is no way I am going to turn them right side out too!

Now, I think I even have Biblical backing here..... think about when God made you.... how did you come out... inside out or right side out?????   If God takes the time to make sure our babies are not inside out before he sends them to us to be cleaned (and fed, etc), you should too.   I rest my case!

Sari - if trying to defend her case Biblically - would probably say something about "Grace" or about "Treating people better than they deserve to be treated"..... but don't listen to her.... everyone knows that the Bible says nothing about laundry anyway.

So - there you go..... fix it for them or leave it alone and make them fix it themselves.... what say you?
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So here is a super cool picture that I came across today. 

I am really interested in the "International Space Station"... I have even tracked it online and made my family go stand out in a field in the middle of the night and watch it cross the sky (Comment if you would like the web site that allows you to do this)..... but how could you not be impressed with something that comes up with photos like this.......

The India-Pakistan border appears as an orange line in this photograph taken by the Expedition 28 crew on the International Space Station (ISS). The fence between the two countries is floodlit for surveillance purposes. Srinagar (left), Islamabad (bottom centre), Lahore (centre near the border line) and Delhi (top centre) can be seen as brighter spots.

Cool - no?
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And, lastly, no matter how bad your day was.... it probably was not as bad as this......

Usain Bolt of Jamaica (left) takes the baton from Yohan Blake, as Darvis Patton of the U.S. falls before handing the baton to teammate Walter Dix, during the men's 4x100-metre relay final at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu. Jamaica set a new world record with a time of 37.04 seconds.
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Ok - that is all..... vote now!  

A Movie review, a quiz, a joke and a story (2 of 30)

So I hope this blog makes some sense to you.... I trying to write it in the living room while Katie has "Julie and Julia" blasting away in the background..... WHAT A STUPID MOVIE!!!!

"Oh look, I learned how to cook, I wrote a book and now I am leaving my husband" (ok - I realize that last part did not rhyme and that it was not in the movie.... but it is still true).

Obviously the very fact that I know anything about this movie shows that I live with three women who out vote me when we go to rent movies.  The last "man movie" I saw was Rambo (like part one when I was like 13).

The poor husband in this stupid movie is sooooo supportive.... and then..... blam.... he gets the shaft.  What is up with that????   Poor Eric!!!   :(

Now if this was a movie about a chick who was bored with her life and then decided to go out and buy a Harley... then it might have at least some merit. 

Although, I will admit that I like Amy Adams' voice..... it is very soothing.

Now that I have offended every female who reads this blog.....  :)

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Last night I said that I thought that my new motorcycle tire would cost me about $200...... so this is the quiz.... it is an "over/under"...... higher or lower that $200..... what is your guess? 
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I mentioned too that we saw Jerry Seinfeld last month.  Here is one of the jokes that I remember..... 

I am married now.  I still have some single friends, but I can't hang out with them.  My single buddies think they understand what being married is like - but they don't.  They are all like, “Well I have a girlfriend and we have been dating for three years.  That is like being married, right?"

 Ya right.... it is almost exactly the same except you’re playing paintball and I'M TAKING LIVE FIRE IN IRAQ OVER HERE!!!!  :)

(For some reason Sari doesn't think that joke is as funny as I do.... I am not sure why)  :)
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And lastly, the story....

The people at the Hospital have been telling us "clergy" that because of a bunch of new privacy regulations we need to get over there and get new security badges.   If we don't we may be banned from the hospital.   

So the other day I called the "Badge lady" and made an appointment to see her.   When I arrive at her office she says, "Ok - write down exactly how you want your name to be spelled on the badge".... so I did that.

Then she said, "Sit down over here and I will take your picture"..... so I did that. 

Then she looked at the paper, typed my name into her computer and printed my new security pass as quickly and as painlessly as can be.

The only problem:  I had never met her before..... She did not ask to see any ID... She had no proof that I work for the "Church of Christ" or that one even exists in our town. 

It was absolutely bizarre!!!!

But you are all safe now..... I have security clearance!  ;)

Summer recap and something I never thought I would do (30 blogs in 30 ish days: #1)

Ok - clearly I do not have the time to recap our entire summer to you and you do not want to be put through the torture of having to slog through all of that stuff......  so, in the interest of catching up, I have decided to summarize it in "two word" descriptions.... with no explanation (if you desire more detail you will have to write and ask).  Are you ready?  Here is our summer.......

Big flood.... Paul's basement..... Sandbagging Adam's.... sewer backup.... Insurance claim.... Fair rides..... Grandma's memorial...... in-laws home.... motorcycle Dauphin.... Camp's 50th.... Newport, Oregon.... Live music..... State parks.... Ocean girls.... big aquarium.... Sea lions..... beach walks.... Sponge Bob.... Air Museum.... lighthouse tours..... beautiful pictures.... collecting seashells..... long hikes.... nice restaurants.... great vacation..... seventeen days.... fun kids.... Sweet wife..... In Regina..... Debbie/Dorian..... Minot shopping....Parents here.... Motorcycle Bismarck..... Friends BBQ..... TSN here.... Bike rides.... dog walks..... Stock cars..... Iced drinks..... Walked Wascana..... Jen/Justin.... Lenny's cabin..... Buffalo Pound.... boat rides..... School starts..... New job...... Grade eight..... Grade ten..... Shingled house..... Musical practice..... Good friends..... Tooooo fast.... Good summer..... Happy family..... Great life!

I am sure I missed a bunch of really good, cool stuff in there, but that is a good summary anyway.  We had a nice summer - we spent a lot of time together and (surprise) we still like each other!!!

Although, several times on the trip I got the feeling that the "girls" (Sari included) were trying to get rid of me.... they constantly made me feel like I was unwanted in their "little club" and kept telling me that I could not go with them..... "Ladies change room" - as if that is a real thing!  Well, we will see what happens next time they try to pull that one on me!  I'll show them...... YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME OUT!!!!!!!!

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From the "I did not think I would be doing this today" file..... I hammered a nail INTO my motorcycle tire yesterday.   Seriously... I was going to go for a ride when I noticed something shiny on the tire.  "That can't be a nail can it?" I thought.  Yep!   So I began to pry it out thinking that maybe I was lucky and it went in sideways or that maybe it was not that long.  Nope!  It just kept coming out and out and then.... Psssssssss........ so I quickly grabbed a hammer and nailed back into the tire!   It has held air for two days now, so I think I am going to leave it like that.

Actually, I just did not want to have to push a bike with a flat, so this way I can probably ride it over to the shop.  Generally, they do not recommend patching motorcycle tires, so I am looking at a couple of hundred bucks to replace it.   The big problem:  It was a roofing nail!   Stupid jerks who shingle their houses and then leave nails all over the place...... (You may have noticed the inclusion of the two words "Shingled house" in the description above).

Oh well - I saved like $1600 by doing the roof myself, so I can buy eight + tires and still be ahead..... right?

Ok - that is all for tonight.  It has been a long day, but we are caught up and back on the "blogging track" - so there will be more to come. 
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One last thing:  Next time you see Katelyn, ask her to sing, "Sherpa of the Universe" for you.  It is a song that she made up while carrying a bunch of our stuff across the tidal pools in Oregon (hence the "Sherpa" reference).  It is a glorious song about the hard working children in our family.

Writing songs about oneself and the hardships that they face (so that others can bask in the glow of how great we are) is a grand family tradition at our house...... well, not so much a "family tradition" as "something that Tim does"..... but I figure that if I sing enough songs about how great I am, then the others will catch on and then they will sings songs about how great I am and then I will not have to do it any more (Oddly enough, this plan does not seem to be working.... maybe they are slow learners).

Anyway, it was a proud moment for me to hear Katie singing her own song about herself.... good self-esteem is important, you know!  The song itself was pretty good too... up-beat, catchy..... the only thing that would have made it better is if it had been about me!   :)

IT`S ALIVE!!!!!!!! (ish)

So I took a wee break from blogging. Ok, it was more than a wee break. In fact, it was more like a "jail break"..... but, I am back by popular demand ("Popular demand" in this case consisted of one person writing to ask if I had died or something.... but that made me more popular than I normally am, so......).  The funny thing is that I looked at my bookmarks today and thought, "I should just delete that blog... no one wants to read it anyway", so the blog received its death row pardon just in time.

Actually, I enjoy writing the blog because it forces me to pay attention to what is going on around me during the day (I know that I will have to write about something, so I have to think about things and notice details), so I am going to start again. However, the blog is always much more fun when you know that at least a few people are reading it.... and it is even more fun when they comment (the conversation is the best part).

So, if for some reason you have continued to check this blog even though nothing has been posted for like the last four months.... I am very proud of you for carrying on with your life - such as it is. :)

Here is the deal.... I am going to begin another round of "30 blogs in 30 (ish) days" starting this weekend. If you come across this site before then, please leave a comment. It will encourage me to write.... and it will help me make sure that I do not tell a story about you (unless it is a good one..... if you don`t sign in though, all bets are off).

Thanks! See you in a few days!

There are no stupid questions..... or are there?

So I am having a busy week. I am arranging a funeral for one the elderly ladies from church... she hasn't died yet - but if she criticizing my sermons.... (ba dump bump! Thank you... I am here until Tuesday) :)

No - actually I really am doing a funeral tomorrow. It will be an easy one (if there is such a thing) because this lady left lots of nice things to say about her.... but the week is busy - and lonely. Sari and the kids are in Dauphin. I was too until Saturday when I came back to the camp so that I could speak at Clearview's 50th anniversary party. I rode my motorcycle up to Dauphin and back... beautiful weather..... 987 kms..... it was great! But none of that is the purpose of this post.

The reason I am writing this is to share with you what was possibly the most stupid conversation I have ever heard. It went like this.....

I was sitting outside of "Subway" at Clear Lake waiting for Sari and girls to come out. In front of me at one of the picnic tables sat a man and a woman - both of whom in the 40ish age group. She is telling some story about some friend of hers (I know this because I am "evestroughing" - as Ian Muirhead used to say). His contribution to the conversation is laughing like "Butthead" (or was it "Beavis" - I don't know... I never watched that show) from "Beavis and Butthead". Seriously, every three seconds - no matter if what she said was funny or not - "huh huh huh" (or some sound like that.... insert the stupidest laugh you have ever heard right here).

Anyway - after she is done regaling him with this story about her friend's new perm - he looks around and (in a sufficiently "Beavis" sounding voice) asks, "Which way is north? I am always confused when I am here." The wife/girlfriend/whatever says, "I don't know. I never know my directions anywhere" (SURPRISE!!!!)

By now the approximately twenty year old apparent daughter of the wife/girlfriend has arrived and has heard the question and says, "Well it is just after noon and the sun is over there (pointing at the sun)..... so that is south. That means that (pointing east) is east and that (pointing west) is west and so that (you guessed it) is north"

Then Beavishead asks the question of the day..... "Ah ..... Huh huh.... like ok... the sun is in the south.... but how do you know that (pointing east) is east? I mean.... how do you know whether the sun started over there (pointing east) and is going over there (pointing west) or whether it started over there (west) and is heading that way (east)?"

Now I am no astronomy major or anything.... but I am pretty sure that UNLESS YOU HAVE ACCIDENTALLY CHANGED HEMISPHERES the sun generally moves from your left to your right when you are looking at it!!!!!

I am not sure how he even found his way to Clear Lake much less the "Subway" (maybe he came on one of the tour buses - Thus begging the question "How did he find the tour bus?" .... but that becomes a entirely different discussion).

I kept waiting for him to poke himself in the eye with his sub while trying to eat it (I would have put money on that happening next), but to my dismay they left before that happened.

Just goes to show that you can be entertained anywhere as long as you learn to be a discreet evestrougher.

Whew!

Hey everybody... good news.... the town did not get washed away in the flood, but we did get 477 mm of rain in three minutes.... the dam at Rafferty was so close to breaking open that it was bowing in the middle and had actually moved 17.2 feet down stream... fortunately it didn't burst but that was only thanks to the 50 holes where the water broke through.... those holes would have been a huge problem except Rafferty has these big fish in it (something about water from Boundary being pumped in there and we all know that Boundary Dam contaminates that water so it creates mutant fish that are the size of Cadillacs) and the fish plugged the holes as they were getting sucked through thus preventing the rushing water from eroding the dam too much.... then someone saw Godzilla knocking over the smoke stacks at the power station while King Kong attacked from the north and climbed the water tower... fortunately they were both stopped by the alien invasion that took place at 3 pm.

Ok - you may have figured out that the truthful part of this report ended at the "but" in the second line. However, the paragraph above does give you a sense of the conversations that have been taking place around town this past week regarding the flood. Every story is bigger and better (which actually means "worse" in this case) than the last.

Now, don't get me wrong, the flood has been terrible for some... many people have lost their homes completely (water right up to the eavestroughs and higher in some cases) but the thing is.... most of us haven't lost anything (or very little by comparison)... yet people are losing their minds!!!!! It has been absolutely bizarre to watch. Normally rational people have said and done some very odd things in the last week.

Anyway - the good news - outflows from the dams are down - the water is receding and there is at least some hope that this will end soon.

As long as there are no "Sasquatch" sightings in the next few days I think we will be fine!

A Dream come True - sort of

Be careful what you wish for.

For years I have been saying that I would like to get the experience of "sandbagging". I am not sure why.... I understand that sandbagging means you are in big trouble... but none the less it looked like something that would be.... memorable. Part of the team holding back the water, etc.

It is not so much fun after all!

I got to experience it today and it was simply a lot of hard, wet work. Don't get me wrong. I was glad to do it. It was fun being "part of the team" - but after more than a month of flooding.... we have all just about had enough now thank you!

I can't even describe what it is like.... my garage has about 10 feet of available space as we have stuff from 3 families (Including most of our basement stuff) out there. I am not complaining.... just stating the facts and how things are.

I said something to one of the guys about the rain suit he was wearing this morning and he replied, "I think I have been working in this thing all month" and I believe him.

Everything is good overall.... no one has been hurt... things can be replaced... but especially for those who homes have been completely flooded - it is hard.

Who woulda thought?

Flood Update

Joel and Amy are now living at our house after they and everyone else in "Willow Park Greens" were evacuated late last night. Flowed from the dams are reported to be at 650 cubic meters/sec and may still increase. Highways 18 and 47 on the south side of the city are closed. It is unreal.

So we are going back to pioneer days..... now that we do not have a basement to use we have two families (not to mention a dog and a cat) all living in 900 square - and sharing one bathroom. It is like camping.... only not. :)

I am not complaining, it is just absolutely bizarre. I just hope the water plant, the sewage plant and the power plant (they are getting low on coal b/c they cannot haul any to the plant) keep going. Things would be a lot worse if we lost one of those.... oh - and more rain on the way.

And I am not writing this to be a "fear monger" - it is just unbelievable - that is all.

Water Wa?

We live in on the dry dusty prairies. I count on summers filled with 40 + temperatures, blazing sunshine that will burn your skin in 23 seconds and wind so dry that you only have to mow your lawn once all year.... in the spring right after the snow melts.... a week later it is so hot that it all turns brown and your mowing days are over.

So what is up with this???????


That is what 400 cubic meters of water per second (twice the previous high amount) being released from Rafferty Dam looks like (these pics are from Paul Quilliams.... he Dennis Jocelyn and I rode motorcycles to Weyburn to a car show and stopped at the dam on the way home. I have some video that I may post tomorrow so you get the sound).

The valley that was flooded is super flooding now. The trailer court in town is on evacuation alert. The village of Roche Percee has been evacuated (from what I hear) and Minot, North Dakota is not going to be pleased about this (They are flooding already). In Weyburn, we saw manhole covers being held down with sandbags as water shot out of them like a fountain.

And the worst part.... rain water is still flowing in and the dam is right at the top.... who knows what will happen next.

Dry prairies, right?

A quick catch up

So it has been a while.... lets see - what has happened......

- On Saturday June 4th we had a memorial service for my Grandma who died in December. I was really close to her so I thought that the day would be hard when it came - but it wasn't. In fact, it was a nice celebration and a good time with the people that she loved. It was a good day after all.

- And now for something completely different: We had the city back sewage up into our basement again (2nd time in 8 years). Lift station quit again (2nd time in 8 years) and now we have to completely redo the basement (2nd time in 8 years). It is not all bad - insurance pays for everything - but, believe me, that is not the way you want to get a new basement.

- As a side note, both times it happened we were away at church. Kinda makes me wonder if it is a sign that we should stop going. :)

- The girls (including Sari) are counting down the last days of school (I keep reminding them that not everyone gets the entire summer off and that - for the good of their health - they should curb their enthusiasm - but they don't listen) :( Year end exams and reviews are part of the household right now

- We are planning a trip to Dauphin as soon as school is out to see Sari's parents and siblings (most of whom will be home - sorry Joel - but we see you all the time anyway). That will be fun. Hoping for nice weather and a good Canada Day at Clear Lake

- Then (if we ever get all the little things fixed on the van) we are planning to head to Oregon for 10 days or so. Why Oregon? Why not? Actually the kids have never seen the ocean - we have never been to Oregon - so that is why. And besides, if the van is going to break down why not be in a foreign country several thousand miles from home, right?

- We may be purchasing a new vehicle (see above)

- Speaking of new vehicles, I have put almost a 1000 kms on my new bike in the last couple of weeks. Ordered saddlebags for it last night. Should be fun for a trip (Speaking of that - Jeremy - how did your Newtown ride/sleeping in the field behind the Casino go? I have been wondering) :)

- In between storms (meaning for about 5 minutes in the last 6 months) Sari got out in the yard, planted flowers, etc. She should get a summer job doing that - I don't think she is ever more happy than when playing in the dirt.

- Sari has a new job in fall. She will be at the same school but she will not be the secretary anymore... she is becoming the "School and Community coordinator". It is a new position designed to support the kids, promote stronger families, give kids the skills to use their talents, etc, etc (Basically - she gets to make it up as she goes - just anything to help the kids be more confident and stronger). She was not technically qualified for the position (as per the job description) but her boss told her to apply b/c she loves the kids so much and was already doing the things that the job would require anyway. Being the "Mommy of Hillcrest" has become not only her mission but her paid job now - so that is exciting for her.

- Katie continues driving lessons... you have been warned.

- Megan has begun drawing everything in sight. She gets that from her mom - I can't draw anything - but she is getting really good.

Ok - that is a bit of an update. I will try to be more consistent about writing here..... if the city keeps it lift station working I may have more time. :)

I have an incredibly nice and understanding wife

I know that you likely know that already (She would have to be to put up with me, right?), but that was proven even more this past weekend when she let me go out and buy this....

That is a 2008 Suzuki Boulevard M50 (an 800 cc bike - for those who care). Shaft drive, fuel injected, all blacked out... I looked and looked and finally decided that is what I wanted and she was nice enough to say "Go buy one".

Well - she actually said, "If you don't stop talking about buying a bike and just go do it, I am going to kill you!!!"

One of my buddies pointed out that I am the only guy he knows who had to buy a bike to save his marriage. :)

I was looking for something that would dependable and have low kms and this fits the bill. My brother (aka "Lenny") is wanting us to go on a big trip sometime next summer - so "Miranda" (as I am calling here - or "Mandy" for short.... it is an "M" 50, right?) will eventually get saddlebags and a windshield etc.

A nice, light bike that is fun to ride around town, easy to move around the garage and yet big enough to hit the highway..... look what you get when you marry well! :)

This last pic is not of me (of course) - but it gives you the idea.

My Weekend

So here is what I did with my weekend.... what did you do with yours?



Ok - that isn't me.... but that is insane.

Anyway - I did do something bike related this weekend... I bought a 2008 Suzuki Boulevard M50 (an 800 cc motorcycle). I will post pics and tell the story (b/c there is a story) later, but not now.... I am working here!! :)

A Day at the Farm

About a month ago we had a chance to go to Mom and Laurie's farm. As part of that, we were got to help with the calves... tagging, immunizing and "ringing"... MOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! (Sound effects are free... you have to imagine the smell yourself)

Here are a few, non-graphic, photos.

Megan holding a rope that is holding a cow
Megan and me (I am wearing - "Fashion du Lenny"... in other words - my brother's work clothes. I did not wash them, but I am sure that stuff will come off when they dry).
Sari taking a well deserved break (She smiled like this most of the day.... happiest I have seen her in a long time... you can take the girl off the farm but......)
Grandpa Laurie with his groupies
Grandma Farmer (she really is a farm wife now... I am completely and totally impressed - she was telling me about farm things all day).... You can also see Sari working in this one too (at the right of the pic)

All in all - a very fun day (except for the "baby boy cows" - but we will not think too much about that.... MOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!) :)

Rafferty Water Release

I have never seen these outlets used and the field that is full of water is usually dry as a bone. At one point they were letting 200 cubic meters of water out of the dam every second.

Some Gravelbourg Pics

The crew of kids

Something we had never tried before.....

A description of it is here (read down the wikipedia page to the picture of the pan that is used)... and here we are doing it..... mmmmm!!!!

The Divas... as Jeff called them
I am not sure this is her having fun... or how she got through the weekend (it is only punch by the way)

A Nice Long Weekend

Ah - what a nice weekend!

On Friday night we headed out to Gravelbourg to spend the weekend with Jenn and Jeff Jacobs (and their kids). It was really nice! Not really enough sleep... but tons of laughs, good food, fun, a trip to the "Snack Shack" for ice cream and rain (Ok - maybe we could have done without that last part - especially after getting caught in two huge storms while walking downtown after Jenn said, "It is really nice outside".... but those will be good stories later too).

It was also a "preacher swap" so I got to preach there. If you would like to be encouraged about a congregation in a small town that is bucking the trend of churches that are getting smaller and closing shop.... check these guys out. They have not only expanded their building but are welcoming all kinds of new people. It was a fun morning. My mom and Laurie came to church too (their farm is not that far from G'bourg) so they got invited to Sunday lunch at the Jacob's home too. We came home Sunday night, but wished we could have stayed longer.

Today we worked in the yard (first time this year we have had a chance between doing other things and rain), so that was nice too. Ended the night with a BBQ and a drive.

All in all - tons of fun! We will definitely do the "drive to the end of the world" (as Sari calls the trip to Gravelbourg) again soon.

(Pics to follow.... and I mean it this time. Check back for those)

Ok - I know.......

Ok - "30 blogs in 30 days" did not really work.... and neither has posting pictures of Crunchy's play etc.... but I have some good excuses!

1. I am not allowed to touch Sari's camera without permission (that is somewhat true) so she is going to have to post the pics.

2. We have been busy/away....
a. We went to MJ for Easter. Actually first we went to my mom's farm and played with the cows (ear tags and some other - more nasty - things)

b. Then we we went to MJ and hang out. I preached there on Sunday... we had a picnic in Crescent Park and then walked around Wakamow with most of the family - went and watched hockey at my brother's.

c. Then we came home - got the van fixed (no big deal) - and headed for Minot. We had a really nice time (After we got through the "Hotel reno"... that resulted in a new room and a discount of about 1/2 price - so that worked out). The girls went shopping on day one.... we had a "Tim Day" on day 2 (Went to motorcycle shops, went for a drive, walked around a park, played catch with a football, it was beautiful outside - like 22 degrees... I had to rescue a soccer ball from the river after SOMEONE kicked it in there - had to tightrope walk out on a fallen tree to retrieve it). Came home after a couple of nights and several hundred dollars spent.

So now we are enduring the worst snow storm of the year (believe it or not). Seven inches of really heavy and wet snow... not sure how we will get to church tomorrow... we will see I guess.

So there you go. A quick update. Hopefully pictures soon. Thanks for reading. I promise I will write more consistently - I hope. :)

Cars, concerts and Crunchy (27 of 30)

So I have not blogged lately b/c we have been a little busy. Here is a quick recap (in reverse chronological order).....

Today (Saturday) I went with Dennis Jocelyn to the Majestics Car Show in Regina. After that was over, we toured every motorcycle shop in the city, sat on and drooled over bikes for a while and came home. It was fun!

Last night (Friday) Sari and I went to the Grand Opening concert at our new hockey rink in town. The acts were Tom Cochrane and Kim Mitchell... neither of which are my favourite dudes in the world... but it was a live concert in our town and if you don't support what comes maybe nothing comes, right? It was ok... fun to be out with Sari, fun to run into people that we know, but it will not go down as the greatest concert in the history of the world (at least not in my books anyway). Good crowd though - and a really nice rink (I had not been in it before that)

The night before (Thursday night) was Megan's (One of her nicknames is Crunchy - just in case you were wondering what the title of this thing meant) yearly school play. It was fun to see her in that and nice again to see and visit with a bunch of people. Hopefully by tomorrow we will have some pictures up.

So there you go.... more updates to follow.

"Brothers from Different Mothers" (the dudes we saw last night)

A fun night out (26 of 30)

Sari, the kids and I had a fun night tonight.... we saw a couple of guys who call themselves "Brothers from Different Mothers". They juggle and do comedy.... they were here as part of the "Koncerts for Kids" series, but it was a good show for the adults too.

I would embed some video on here but the best video had its code removed... so if you want to see a bit of what they do click here.

They are touring through our area.... if you get the chance, go and see them. You will be glad you did.

PS. Thanks for the tickets Mariann! :)

You know you live in Saskatchewan when.... (25 of 30)

You go to the beach and then head home to shovel the rest of the snow off of your front yard. :(

That was our experience this afternoon.... Katie wanted to go for a drive (hence the beach.... but it was not swimming weather for sure)..... then a drive through the valley and back home to get the remnants of the snow fort spread around the yard so that it is not there until July.

Spring is coming right?

Well it was like a homecoming (24 of 30)

So we just got back from Regina and Sari's "something more than 6 year homecoming" (ok - 6 plus 14 or so - just in case anyone is trying to guess..... I was trying to be discreet there but you would have guessed anyway). She went over and made an appearance on Friday night and got to see most of the people who were coming (missed a few who did not show up until today).

The girls and I did not go to the school, we just hung out at the Mooney's place.... but when you think about it that is like "Homecoming" for us (we have spent so much time with them over the years that we have joked about buying a house together so....). It was fun to see them, play with the boys, stay up too late, go for a walk this afternoon..... it was the best homecoming ever! :)

And why didn't somebody tell me? (23 of 30)

How did I miss out on this?

The "Suspended" is killing me (22 of 30)

Get it? The "suspended".... Sari and I spent the day putting up a suspended ceiling in Katie's room. That is the first one we have ever done.

It looks nice. It was easy. And we did not fight at all (which is possibly a record for two "oldest children" who both think that their way is the right way).

Anyway - a good project on a snowy day.

Growing up (21 of 30)

We were with a group of old friends tonight (or maybe I should say "longtime friends") and it was interesting to watch the girls interact with them... we could barely get a word in edgewise - but it was fun none-the-less.

When your friends become your kids friends... that is pretty nice. Lots of laughs - lots of stories - a fun night! :)