Happy New Year!!!

Can you believe it's gonna be 2005 in just under 4 hours. Amazing!

Seems just like yesterday that everyone was so concerned with Y2K.

The freight train of life just blew by that date and just keeps on a 'chuggin!

Hope you have a very Blessed New Year!

"Tower" Up

In June of 2001 our church applied for a Low Power FM station. (LPFM) The LPFM is a small station that should have the listening radius of about 10 miles. It was designed by the FCC to fit in between big stations where there are 'signal holes' to allow more choices, give non-commercial corporations an opportuntity to broadcast and a way for them to make more money! :)

Anyway, Sept 2003 we we received our Construction Permit, so we began raising funds. By Aug Sept 2004 we'd had $24,000 of the approx $30,000 it would take to build it out and put it on the air.

So we ordered the 100' tower in Oct and 5 weeks later it showed up. We dug an 8 1/2 by 8 1/2 wide by 4 foot deep hole and filled it with the anchor bolts and 10+ yards of concrete and assembled the tower and now...

...Today the crane is going to show up and we're going to stand it up into place. Awesome.

I've got a bit of work to get accomplished this morning then, I'll get to the church around 9a, when the crane is supposed to show, and take pictures, video and assist in getting that tower erected.

Then, THEN I just got an e-mail from our treasurer letting me know that we're close enough on funds to go ahead and order the $20,000 of equipment we'll need to have. So after John (Our LPFM Affiliate Dir) returns from his vacation in WI, I'll hand him and check and tell him to get the ordering process going and - Lord willing - we should be on the air by the end of January. A full two months ahead of the deadline to get on air.

I'll tell ya about how it goes later!

So Sad or Missing Bits or Pieces

24,000

Wow, that is a LOT of people to be killed when the tsunami hit Sri Lanka and surrounding areas. That is so very sad.

Found this odd story though. All those people were killed, but they can't find any dead animals. Even though they aren't considered as 'smart' as we are - they do have a 6th sense or instinct that lets them know to make tracks and get outta dodge.

It's neat to see all the world coming together to help. Read a story recently (can't remember where though to post a link) of a list of every country in the world and what they were sending to help in the rescue, recovery, rebuilding effort.

Can't believe that 'politicians' are using this experience for opportunities to take pot-shots at each other. Man, as I get older and older, I'm getting to the point where I detest just about anything that is political. I really, REALLY don't like many politicians at all. They're there for their own good - for the most part - and that's about it. YUCKY!

Recently I've been recording, at work, from the Discovery Channel a program called American Chopper - Orange County Choppers, a family business that builds awesome bikes. It's neat to see the bikes and the process and the human interaction with the building of a chopper. I recorded 4 full tapes (6 episodes per tape) with NO problems, but the latest tape I did, for some reason I got another program in the middle of an episode and completely missed another program on one I cut off the last few minutes of one.

Don't know what the problem was, but it was annoying the beejabbers outtta us. That just happens occassionally, when we record something and miss bits or pieces. Gotta get TiVo someday! :)

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

Possible Threepeat, Terrible Twos and One Merry Christmas Weekend

Well - Back to work.

After a good weekend, a great weekend - it's always hard to get back to work. But I'm getting older now and the time between the weekend goes faster and faster. Of course the weekends go faster! :)

A vicious cycle! :)

Doreen and I are thinking that Natalie has finally hit her terrible two. Case in point, yesterday afternoon at my in-laws building project, Doreen and I were moving some lumber and all of a sudden heard some screaming. One voice saying No, the other saying yes. I run around the corner and see at the front door, one girl is on one side pushing trying to close it, the other is pushing trying to open it and screaming at each other. They both got a good thumpin on the butt for fighting and sat down - apart from each other.

I tell ya, they have been "at" each other a LOT lately. Wow!!! AAAarrrrggghhhh. Drives me nuts - so we're cracking down on this and hopefully, we'll minimize it a bit, but we gotta get it under control a bit cuz I'm tired of hearing the fighting and crying.

It's looking like - barring a complete blowup - I should wrap up the 'championship' for this years Nelson/Pester Pigskin Pick'em contest. Minus tonights games, right now I'm in the Lead with 152 points, Doreen and my brother-in-law's sister-in-law Mary are tied for second with 145 points and my dad is 4th with 143. So in the next 17 games, (Tonight's Monday night football, Eagles at Rams and the 16 games scheduled next week) I've got a buffer to get 6 games wrong and Doreen and Mary have to get them ALL correct for me to win. (No one in our group has done that yet, ever.

That could be a challenge with some playoff locked teams not playing their starters waiting for the playoffs. With the 2nd stringers win the game or not? Will the teams out of the playoffs have a HUGE chip on their shoulder to take down a playoff bound team to hurt their momentum or just to win to end the season.

It'll be interesting to see how it plays out. Here's a Blog from the beginning of the NFL season with info on the previous 'Champions' of the Nelson/Pester annual Pigskin Pick'em Contest. I'll have more on the 'comments' of one particular player later - but for now, let the final 17 games begin!!!

Have a good week as we wrap up this year!

The Post Christmas Assemblage

Hey,

Hope your Christmas was Merry!

Ours was great, albeit green. Had a 20% chance of snow, but all we got this morning was a HEAVY frost and Cold. 11 Degrees. Burrr.

We had a LOT of fun opening presents with the girls tonight. They got Barbies, 2 Barbie Cars, 1 Barbie Horse, 1 Barbie Bathroom get-up & 1 Barbie Baby set. They got a dress up set, a neat Hullabaloo game, some Home-made dolls from great Grandma March and, and, some other stuff I don't remember! :)

Man they cleaned up.

Doreen got some very nice apple decor for our kitchen and some $$$. We gave her a Miracle Blade Knife set (She'd been complaining lately about such DULL knives in our house.) I got a VERY warm Bronco blanket, a Bronco Pen/light and a laser straight thingy.

ALL very cool.

One thing I NEVER realized is how much 'assembling' goes on after Christmas. This is the first year our kids didn't just get 'baby' toys, and this stuff they've gotten takes a lot more in putting it together, putting stickers on - getting it functioning right. I think it took us maybe 30 to 45 minutes to open the presents, then an hour to two hours, taking everything out of the boxes with all the tape and twistie ties (there were 7 twistie ties on one Barbie I opened. 2 Arms, 2 legs, 1 torso, 1 neck, 1 hair. Ridiculous!!!) then getting it all together with stickers and making sure part "A" went into part "B." Wow!

All the while the girls are wanting to play with this, that, this, those, this and the other thing. (This being the one thing I'm struggling to get out of the box, every time I think I've just about got it - I find some hidden tape somewhere else holding it firmly in place. He, he, he)

It was cute watching them though. I tell ya what - seeing their excitement, truly made Christmas a LOT of fun!

I can't wait for next year. (My pocketbook says I can though - He, he, he!)

Merry "Aftermath" of Christmas! :)

Merry Christmas Eve

Hey y'all hope you are planning to have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.

We really feel like we've already had our Christmas last week with family in Minnesota - but it's kinda sinking in that Tomorrow is really Christmas day!

Tonight the girls got to open their first gift, a toy dinnerware set from Grammy & Papa. We couldn't hardly tear them away from it when it was bath & bed time! Thanks Grammy & Papa, you done GREAT.

Doreen's been hearing some Christmas songs by Avalon recently and telling me about them. So finally I remembered to check our music library at work and sure enough we had it, Joy - A Christmas Collection. So I snagged it and brought it home to listen to. It's a very good album. We listened to it right after we got home from Wal-mart (Which was an absolute NUT-House this afternoon. They are closing at 6p for Christmas Eve evening and Christmas day and will open back up Sunday morning at 6a. I stood in the 20 items or less line for 20 minutes, at least. The other lines were a LOT LONGER!!! By 5pm they were already encouraging shoppers to make their final selections and get in a checkout line. Meanwhile people were still STREAMING in. Wow, glad we got out when we did!) Anyway, we listened to it, but the phone was ringing, the girls were fighting and the microwave was going and the refrigerater was opening and closing, so I didn't really get to enjoy it. But after everyone else but me is in bed, while surfing the web and the family Blogs (Which I enjoy reading religiously at least twice a day to keep up on stuff) I've been able to really listen and enjoy it. Cool album - Doreen was right - I do like it.

My favorite song on it, really suprised me. Cut 10 is We Are the Reason - originally recorded by David Meece in the 80's. I LOVE that song and it is so powerful. Hadn't heard it in years - and I just really enjoyed hearing it again for the first time in a really LONG time.

So what is your plans for Christmas?

We're headed to church, with a special Christmas program that Doreen put together with some music, a couple of poems and stories, more music and stuff. Should be very good. The only challenge is we've got to take Doreen's Marimba to church - that's always a big job - so she can play a medley.

Then we'll come home and if the girls fall asleep - then we'll all take naps then eat a lupper (lunch & supper combined! ***GRIN***), or if they stay awake, we'll eat then all take naps. Later in the afternoon, we'll go take care of a friend's Amazon Parrot, then back home to have pizza, salad & Mayfields ice cream. Some of the Best this side of the Mississippi! :) Delicious. Doreen picked out Jamocha Fudge and the girls and I of course LOVE Mint Chocolate Chip. Yummmy! Of course we'll have to have a sample of both!

Then we'll read the Christmas story, and then open some gifts.

It is a day we're really looking forward to!

So you all have a Very Merry Christmas!!!

3 Minor Trips + 1 Major Trip = 1 Tired Boy.

This afternoon will make the 3rd trip to Chattanooga (1 hour 15 min one way) this week.

Tuesday morning we got home at 6:30a and slept for 3 hours. Got up, breakfast, fuss around the house and load the windows onto the pickup and head to Chattanooga.

Yesterday, work, home, load doors onto pickup, head to Chattanooga. This time though my family went with me and thankfully Doreen could drive and between the girls fussin' at each other I caught a snooze or two. The trip started off awful though. We got 25 min away and realized we'd forgotten important paperwork and had to turn around and go back home and pick it up, then head out again. Aaarrgghh!

We did have some fun after delivering the doors and stuff - we went to the absolutely crowded mall and ate at Taco Bell, then rode the Carousel they have in the food court, then played at the playplace.

Today, after work, I gotta head down there again to deliver more materials. This time though, it'll be me and the girls. We'll drop off Doreen to clean the church - something we do every other week. Then, get down there - drop off our stuff, talk with the 'framer' a bit - then back up and help Doreen finish the church and then home again jiggity jog! :)

I'm tired, real tired, right now of long trips in a vehicle. Done TOO much of it lately! :)

Have a Merry Christmas Eve!

On Frozen Pond

Man, Is it GOOD to be home.

It's always a kick to travel and visit and stuff, but it's ALWAYS GOOD TO GET HOME AGAIN...

...especially from the frozen North.

Buuurrrrr.

We had a GREAT time visiting Doreen's sister and family in Aitkin, MN. It's fun for the cousins to play together and get to know each other better and enjoy playing. The Play Shelly wrote was a lot of fun. And running around with Doreen, Joelle & Natalie in the snow was a blast as well.

The below freezing temperatures at times were a little bit, well, chilling - through and through! It was neat to see whole lakes frozen over though. Absolutely Amazing!

We left yesterday morning (Mon at 10:45a eastern) and it was 19 degrees. We heard the Twin Cities had 'freezing rain' and since we were 2 1/2 hours North of them, Doreen drove first. The roads were clear until Minneapolis, and just a bit wet so Doreen drove all the way into Wisconsin - where we stopped for lunch and switched drivers.

I drove in 'sick' weather, snowing, blowing, icky flat out nasty stuff for HOURS, sometimes only going 30, 35 MPH. I saw 3 accidents (after they'd happened), 1 really bad one. Then one guy in a pickup pulling a trailer blew my doors off, about 20 miles down the road he'd spun into the median. Couldn't help but chuckle a bit!

Finally around the Dells, WI we ran out of the BAD, BAD weather. The roads were clear the rest of the way home - thankfully.

One pretty big 'burp' on the trip was just to the west of Chicago, Joelle, who had been complaining a bit of an upset tummy, hurled everything she ate at supper. So I had to quick pull over and Doreen and I are trying to clean her and her seat up and get her fresh clothes and calm Natalie from crying at the whole event. Wheeeeew. What a stresser! She felt better after that though! :)

We got to the house this morning (Tue at 6:30a) 19+ hours later. Wheeew. It was a balmy **GRIN** 41 degrees. After being in the Cold in MN - didn't even feel like I needed a coat. :)

We threw the girls into bed and jumped into bed ourselves and all of us slept until 9:30a and felt much, MUCH better!

We just finished 'brunch', getting all the 'junk' out of the van and into the house, getting the laundry started.

Just checking our e-mail and news on the web and now I've got to load about a dozen or so windows on the pickup and take them to the framer of my inlaws apt/studio in Chattanooga, an hour and 20 minutes away.

More driving.... :(

Feels like we're on the road again in our truck.

...Almost.

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

Temperature Here -13 to 12, Temp at Home 38 to 52

Why I live where I live! :)

This morning when I got up it was - 13 degrees! COOOOLLLLLDDDDDD!!!!

Last night when we headed out to the Christmas play, we got in the van and it was 7 degrees. By the time we got to the church 17 minutes later it was 2 degrees. The play was at 7:30 and we hopped back in the van and headed home about 10p and it was -3.

Dang man - that is COLDDDD! Ice Cold.

Randy (Doreen's sister's husband) just talked to his brother Brian who lives in Florida. The temp there is over 78 degrees. That means, there's almost 100 degree difference between there and here. WOW!

The play, one of the main reasons we came up here, was VERY nice. Doreen's sister Shelly wrote, directed and produced the entire thing. It was from the point of the angels during Christ's birth. Very cool and unique.

We're headed back home tomorrow morning. It's been fun and stuff, but can't wait to get back a little bit of warmth!

Until later, buuurrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

:)

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Hello from Minnesota,

Oh it's COLD up here. We had snow leaving Tennessee and into Kentucky, but once we got into Indiana, nothing but clear skies.

The trip up here, took us 18 hours of driving time, but we stopped once in Wisconsin to sleep for 3 hours. Doreen and I were bushed.

We got up, drove into Minnesota and ate breakfast at Denny's and then drove on into Mineapolis, MN and I got to do one of my favorite things. If we get an opportunity - I like to take photos of NFL stadiums. So we drove around the Vikings Metrodome and I snapped a few photo etc. Very cool.

Then we headed to the Mall of America - the biggest mall in the USA. We wandered around inside a bit, then went to Camp Snoopy - an inside amusement park with rides and stuff. We had a LOT of things to ride on and had fun doing. It was cool. Then we headed to Brainerd, MN and Doreen's sister's place.

This morning we got up ate breakfast, chilled a bit (no pun intended) then jumped in snow gear and went outsided to play in the snow. Fun, Fun, FUN! Natalie got fussy at one point so we sent her inside and Doreen, Joelle and I slid up and down the hill and really enjoyed it.

Right now they've got about 4 inches of snow on the ground and it's snowing pretty hard.

This afternoon we're going to make Chocolate mice for the church play afterparty. Yummy, yummy! We'll see how many are made and eaten today! :)

"Pester" ya later!

On the Road Again

Today we are leaving for Minnesota for a week.

I'm wrapping some things up at work I've been NEEDING to get done, then I'm out of here by 11:30a. Gotta make a quick stop at Wal-mart to pick up my father-in-law's med's. Then boogie home - do a double check that we've got everything, pack the last minute things - hop in the van and head North.

We'll get this all done hopefully before or right at 1p because according to Mapquest it's 1128 Miles, estimating it'll take us 18 hours 40 minutes. That's averaging about 60mph. Hope we can do it! That'll put us there about 6am tomorrow morning. Aye, yai, yai! Then it'll be sleepy time for Steve & Doreen!!! :)

We're going up to see Doreen's sister and family. We're also maily going to see a play for their church Shelly's written, and hopefully be able to sneak in an hour or two of ice-fishing or even hunting Randy, my brother-in-law. (We'll Ice fish together, but he'll do the shooting if we hunt - don't wanna buy an out of state tag there in MN. Mondo expensive!)

Hope to be able to get online and post while I'm there, but not sure if that's a possiblity.

Later alligators!

Where's George Milestone

Since March 2002 I've been a user of Where's George. Basically, when you get paper money (Any denomination between $1 and $100) you log it into the site using the Denomination, Serial # and Year it was made. Then you mark the bill by either writing or with a stamp that says the website on it.

When the next person who logs it into the website with the same 3 items, I get a hit and e-mail telling me where it was hit, how far that is from here, the days, hours and minutes it's traveled etc. It's kinda cool!

Well - I hit a milestone today. Of the 706 Bills I've logged in, worth $3,545, I got my 100th hit. Yeee haw! This bill has travelled 548 Miles in 2 Yrs, 17 Days, 8 Hrs, 58 Mins at an average of 0.73 Miles per day. I entered it Nov 27 '02 and it got hit yesterday in Ozark, AR. So far for every 11.7 bills I log in, I'm averaging 1 hit.

Way cool.

THESE are the GREAT Memories

I’ve got precious girls. They are always doing VERY cute things. Natalie is in the midst of potty training right now, and getting quite proficient at it. It’s cute watching her run to the bathroom. Well, now she wants to clean up her own little potty after she’s tinkled. I was snoozing on the floor and vaguely heard her run to the potty and tinkle. Then I her ‘flush’ her potty. Then turn it around - dump the contents into the ‘big’ potty then flush that one. We got in there by then to finish clean up -but can you believe it? Too cute!!!

Then this afternoon, we had someone come by wanting to look at our house. For the first few minutes, Joelle and I were finishing the wrapping of a gift for Mommy, so we were ‘locked’ in the Bronco (spare) room. So we got done and Joelle put the gift under our tree and then found Doreen and the people interested in the house. She basically took over the showing process and took them all around the house telling them all about it. VERY CUTE!

She did tell them about the leaking sink in the bathroom that daddy fixed. He, he, he! We’ve got a little realtor on our hands! J

One other quirky part of this story. Was that when she showed them her closet - she said, “These are my Sabbath dresses.” The lady turned to Doreen and said, “Sabbath, are you Adventists? We are too.”

What are the odds?

Have a great weekend!

Days of Our LifeTalk - A Drama in Progress.

OK,

Here’s the full blown story at work…

3 or 4 months ago now, we get a new President. He’s supposed to be this great leader with radio experience and will take the ministry to the ‘next level.

Well, he comes in and has a couple of meetings with us then basically drops off the face of the earth.

About a month and a half ago, we’re ready to ‘launch’ a new live interactive talk show, and we tell him about it, figuring he’d be excited because one thing he said is he’d like more live SDA shows. So we’re starting one - and he puts a halt to ALL new programs in the works. He’s been listening and studying and ‘soon’ will want to make some programming changes. (Mind you, he doesn’t tell us what those changes are. We’re kept in the dark.)

So we try a couple of times to get this new program running, but always he says no, always! With no or just a very vague reason, always!

Well, the people we ‘agreed’ to have host and finance the show are kinda upset because we backed out like this. (These are General Conference officials - not good when you’re trying to stay in their good graces for a number of reasons.)

Finally we move on from that topic.

Then, in worship we find out (not from him but the COO) he’s hired an engineer to ‘build out’ the studio in Collegedale. So I just said in passing, I hope we get to help ‘design’ the layout. The response from the COO was that he didn’t think so, that the Prez has it all laid out like he wants it.

Oh - that just lit my fire. #1 - He’s hired an outside engineer when we have 2 completely capable engineers, without telling anyone. (Felt like a stab in the back to our guys.) #2 - He’s ‘planning’ a studio with VERY little radio background of his own and not talking to the people who have to run and maintain it. (Stab #2) #3 - He’s not talking to us AT ALL ABOUT ANYTHING. He showed up one day for 20 minutes, we go to have staff worship and he waves and walks out the front door. Aaaaarrrrggghhhh!

I was hot, but didn’t say anything - because I’ve learned popping off at the mouth causes more troubles than keeping quiet.

So - the COO calls me into his office to tell me that while he doesn’t understand everything the Prez is doing but to keep cool, it will all come out soon. I lay it out for him - about how upset I really was and can’t understand why he doesn’t communicate with us, why he doesn’t trust us, why he’s planning things without any input from us on what we’ll be using and maintaining and be responsible for should things fail.

The next day, we hear he’s called a staff meeting on the following Monday with one on one meetings to follow after the general meeting.

Well, basically we’re all pretty much steamed. And the morale had dropped to it’s lowest ebb ever there. Then there’s the uncertainty of what he’s got planned because one thing he wanted to discuss one on one was “Job Reassignment.” What did that mean.

So we get to the meeting and he basically told us that the ministry was not nearly as strong as it needs to be. He laid out a number of things he’d like to see happen to strengthen it and help stabilize it financially. To do that we’ve got to build an SDA donor base. We’ve got a very strong Non SDA, but religious base, but not strong donors. So he wants the ministry to become a Multi Media Evangelistic ministry.

Basically, he wants to add making TV programs. That’s what it comes down to.

He’s looking at other ministries, It Is Written, Evangelistic TV that also does radio. Voice of Prophecy, Evangelistic Radio that also does TV. Amazing Facts Evangelistic TV & Radio.

So we’re going to do both.

Now, that’s fine - but my concern is we’re going to do both without adding staff. We’re a small staff of 9 full time and 2 part time and can hardly keep up. We’re adding a WHOLE other dimension to the ministry, and be expected to keep up? Hummm? Not sure if that’s going to work.

There is a LOT of little things that have to be done to keep either going and not just any ‘volunteer’ he thinks he can find to come in will be able to do it.

Well, in my one on one meeting he asked what I thought of the general staff meeting. My reply was #1 - I like the evangelistic ‘thrust,’ #2 - I like that we’re not going ‘ultra conservative’ and CUTTING everywhere, but trying to build the ministry instead of trying to salvage and barely hang on to what we’ve got, #3 - the realistic outlook on the financial situation. (Which is not his fault or the two previous Prez’s. The ‘founder’ squandered over 4 million (Yes!) dollars that was supposed to be in a trust to keep LTR ‘running’ forever! We’re still trying to recover from that.)

I also mentioned that I was disappointed by the lack of ‘team’ atmosphere and the lack of communication from him.

He listened and said that “All” was going to change as of this meeting. (The jury is still out on that one.)

Then he started talking TV with me. Would I be interested in doing the TV shows, etc. So for the next 30 min we talked programs, editing, equipment, etc. Guess where my job reassignment is? Right - LTR TV.

I told him that my passion was production, preferably at a ministry. And that if he wanted me producing in radio, I’m there for him, or if he wanted me in TV, I’m there for him.

We’ll still be doing a LOT of cross over work, because we have such a SMALL staff - it can’t be super split - so I’ll still be doing both - A LOT.

Anyway, I found out the next day he ‘released’ one of our engineers, thus further cutting our staff.

I hope ‘his’ plan works out, without us having to put in 80 hour weeks, because I just WON’T do it. The max I’ll even think about it 50. I’ve got a family and am not going to trade time with them for time at work. If things don’t get done, we’ll - that’s just too bad. He’s asking an awful lot of a VERY small staff.

Because of his ‘lack’ of presence at the ministry, I’m not just sure that he really understands ALL that we do and ALL that is necessary to keep the ministry running and is over looking a LOT of very small buy VERY important details.

This should be interesting. For now, we're back to 'normal' just waiting for the "Move." They’re estimating that we’ll be moving the ministry from Vonore, TN to Collegedale, TN and the Campus of Southern Adventist University by the end of Jan the beginning of Feb.

We’ll see!

Tah, tah for now!…

Wore Out

Yesterday was a heck of a day.

Got up at 4am to get ready for work.

Went to work and did a bunch of stuff between 4:45 and 7:30. Then jumped in the car and drove to our church in Athens, TN.

Once there - began working on prepping the hole for the foundation of the antenna and the completing the final assembly of the tower. It is now all in one piece.

After we finished assembling the tower - we took a quick lunch break, then back to work finishing tying rebar into the foundation hole and positing the bolts for the bottom of the tower, then waited for concrete...

...and waited

...and waited

...and waited.

Finally the concrete arrived and the driver couldn't get his truck up the hill. He took too many sharp turns (that were unnecessary) and was too timid with the throttle. So the guy I was working with got his tractor with a bucket and started shuttling concrete up to me and I'd push/shovel it into the hole. We started the concrete about 5:20p and I finally left the site at 9pm. I moved most of the 10 yards of concrete we ordered.

I'm sore, I'm tired, I'm just flat out wore out today!!!

Shocked or Well Behaved Kids

Hey ya,

Busy, busy, busy here in our lives.

This weekend I had to chuckle because Joelle wanted to plug in our Christmas lights on Sunday. "Fine," was my reply, "but just plug them in and leave them alone."

Can you see what's coming.

She plugged and unplugged (daddy with warning to leave them plugged in and quit playing...) and plugged and unplugged and plugg... ZAP! :) Crying... come over to daddy for a hug... daddy softly chuckling - Lesson learned, I hope! :)

Yesterday, we had to take my father-in-law's minivan into the shop. Some hose for the power steering had been re-called and it needed an oil change because we're leaving for Minnesota in it on either Tue or Wed of next week. Dropped it off at the dealer, packed in our car and headed to the Olive Garden for lunch.

By the way... I had the grilled chicken breast with noodles and broccoli in a garlic sauce - I think that's the BEST thing I've ever gotten at an OG! Wow!

Our girls were, EXTREMELY well behaved. They both ate without prompting, or excessive spilling, or consistant wigging. It has been the best meal we've had 'out' with our two youngins. That was way cool!

In fact they were so well behaved, an elderly lady (Who was sitting 3 tables over with two other ladies who were obviously having a GREAT time sharing stories and laughing - it was funny listening to them.) came over and mentioned that they were noticing how well behaved our girls were being and really appreciated seeing two girls sitting and eating like little ladies.

We hope this means that some of our work on these two is paying off! Plus, they are just REALLY good kids to begin with! That was a very nice compliment.

After Joelle finished eating, she quietly started singing "Silent Night." A lady at a table across from us sat just listening and watching Joelle. She also mentioned what good girls we had - and to enjoy them cuz they grow old fast! (She was having a meal with her teenager.)

Love my family!!!

Tennessee Plane Crash Kills Four SDA Church Officials

This is so sad for our church leadership here in the Georgia-Cumberland Conference.

The communications guy, Jamie Arnall I had worked with 2 times and talked with a number of times.

Very Sad indeed.

Story

Too Dang Much Happenin' Right Now

Man, I AM Swamped.

This week after our meeting (And I've gotta give ya the lowdown on that soon) at work, it has just been absolutely NUTS!

The nuttiest thing going on right now is what happened yesterday, going down today and keeping me busy next week. The church I go to applied for a Low Power FM radio station 3 years ago. We've finally raised the funds needed to begin assembling the station.

Yesterday, the tower arrived - so I had to go help take delivery of that tower. 100' of galvanized steel tower in a BUNCH of sections.

Today, I've got to go between 8a and 10:30 and begin assembling the tower while another guy from the church helps by putting re-bar in the 10'x10'48" hole for the base of the tower. Then I've got to run back to work and do a live show, then back to continue tower assembly and wait for the concrete truck to show up to pour the foundation.

Then next week we're having a crane come in and erect the tower in 2 sections. Aye, yie, yie, yie! Not to mention I've got to take my Father-in-law's mini-van into the shop in Knoxville because a part (A hose) has been recalled and we're taking that to Minnesota leaving the 15th. Want it to be running right etc!

Man, I'm swamped right now. Gotta slow down. GOTTA SLOW DOWN!!!

Later 'gater!

Top 10 Words Looked Up in Online Dictionary

Found this today. Kinda cool. The only word I didn't know was #10. I know it now! :)

Merriam-Webster's Words of the Year 2004
Based on your online lookups, the #1 Word of the Year for 2004 was

Blog noun [short for Weblog] (1999) : a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writerClick on each of the other words in the Top Ten List for their definitions in the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:

2. incumbent
3. electoral
4. insurgent
5. hurricane
6. cicada
7. peloton
8. partisan
9. sovereignty
10. defenestration


Link to Story.

Still Have a Job

Just got out of the Meetings with our Speaker-Director.

I still have my job! :)

He's got some big plans and promised to be a better communicator from this point on - so we'll see.

Thanks to those of you who've been praying!

It is much appreciated!

Great Weekend or Today's the Day

Man, with all the drama at work, this weekend at home was really simple and just FANTASTIC!!!

I've already told you about the activities on Saturday, let me tell ya about our Super Sunday.

The girls didn't wake up until after 8am. Ohhh yeaaaahhh! In fact, I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep so I snagged my book and read a few minutes, when we heard them finally stir - the go into full whirlwind mode! :) Having the kids sleep in like that always makes a GREAT start to a Sunday!

We had breakfast, then my in-laws came over and we put up Christmas in our house. We put up the tree with lights and ornaments. We hung the stockings by the chimney with care - we really did. We put lights in the front window and have little decorations around the house that just give it a holiday feel. Very nice.

We finished in time for lunch - ate a nice meal and then everyone, except Doreen and Joelle, ended up taking a nap. Boy did I feel good! :)

After Natalie & I got up we put on some warm clothes and headed to the park for some playtime and a walk. Good to get a bit of exercize - hadn't been able to recently.

Got home, snagged a quick simple dinner then the girls went in their room to play. Doreen watched some football and I made some fresh apple juice. A week and ahalf ago we bought a bag of apples and just hadn't eaten them all and they were getting soft. I like a good crunchy apple, not one that's mushy. So I cut 'em up - threw them in our champion juicer and made 2 1/2 quarts of fresh apple juice. The girls drank some, Doreen wanted hers later, and I threw a bit of cinnamon in mine and drank it down.

Oh my word was that yummy!!! :)

Watched a bit of football when I got everything cleaned up. Up until the Sunday night game, I was perfect on my picks for this weekend. Man that was awesome. But then I found out this morning that My Broncos let me down and got beat by the hated Raiders. *&#@!##@$% Can't believe they got beat. How annoying. Not only do they lose 1st place in the division to the Chargers, they blew probably my only chance ever to get a perfect week with Pigskin pick 'em. Dag-nabbit! :)

Well, I couldn't watch the game cuz we don't have access to ESPN, so I kept up with the score through the beginning of the third quarter with my Sirius radio. Doreen and I watched Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, then we watched two shows of American Chopper that I had taped at work. They build the !Black Widow Bike. Awesome, AWESOME bike man. $150,000 bike though. Ouch!

Then I went to bed at a very decent hour to get plenty of sleep for today.

Well - it was nice to have such a great weekend because with the 'drama' that may be unleashed today with our Speaker-Director/President, it has helped calm my nerves. Family is really great for that! I didn't even feel a bit of 'dread' driving in today. But that's probably because I was surving around my Sirius radio trying to find out of the Broncos won or lost. Of course, once I stepped in the front door it was like, oh great, "it's" gonna hit the fan today. Should be interesting. I'll let ya know what happens

Nice to Be at Home

How are ya?

Good! (Right? LOL)

Sounds like many of you had a very blessed Thanksgiving! I just LOVE blogs and being able to keep up with family and friends and what they're up to on a regular basis.

It's not that I'm a bad brother, but I haven't talked with my sister Staci since we were out there in October. It's not that I don't love her, but calling and talking isn't high on my list. But between her blog and my bro-in-law Scott we're able to know whats happening in each other's life. (That is if she reads my blog! He, he, he - Hi sis - how are ya? *GRIN*) At least we can keep up with them.

Well - the ongoing saga at work continues. I would love to just enjoy my job for what it is... but we've got all this drama with our Speaker-Director (Just got a piece of mail today with his NEW title on it. It was an upgrade from President Humm - it would be nice if he actually was a speaker on any LifeTalk program and if he actually communicated with more than 1 employee I'd agree with the director part, but I digress.) Friday was pretty OK, because only 3 of us were there - and we pretty much stayed out of each other's hair. I didn't feel like discussing it with those present. Monday the Big announcement comes down. (Jaws music playing in the background - or Twilight zone if you wish! :)

Friday was cool though. Did my work and got home and everyone was asleep - so I crashed out on the couch for about 30 minutes. Joelle got up to go potty so Doreen asked me to make sure she fell asleep. (Turns out she was only faking being asleep when I walked in.) So, I climb up in the bunkbed and within 10 minutes we're both out like lights! I just LOVE Naps! :)

Woke up and grabbed a quick snack (hadn't eaten since 5am) and then started cleaning around the house because our friends the Vences (formerly known as Heather McRae) was coming over with Rebekah and Grandma Betty for the girls to all play together. So we got the house spic-n-span and they show up. The girls played together so nicely and we had a good conversation. Then the rest of the Vence clan shows up and we have a nice meal and good conversation. (A group of us did end up talking Shop for a bit, just to see where we all stood on the Monday meeting - but it was good.) They went home and we crashed.

At 3am I woke up - because of the lousy alarm I had set - and headed to work to downlink a set of 2, thirty minute programs we have to grab off the satellite every weekend. I got to work and realized I'd grabbed Doreen's key. No key to the front door at work. So I ran back home, swapped keys and got back to work - got the programs, auditioned them and headed back home with enough time for another 90 minutes of blissful sleep.

Got up showered and we went through our Sabbath morning routine. For some reason we were running WAY behind today. Typically we're ready to leave between 9a and 9:05, but we didn't get in the car until 9:21. Still made it on time - barely.

I got to tell the childrens story today - and I think it went well. Had a great sermon and delicious potluck and home to put the girls down for a nap. Natalie crashed in the car, so we just transfered her to her bed, minus shoes and she didn't even bat an eyelid. Joelle got into some comfy clothes and asked to sack out on the futon in the Bronco room. Within 3 minutes she was out like a light. I tell ya - there's some magic in that room! :)

Then Doreen and I read for 30 minutes or so. (She - the Guidepost, me - Atlas Shrugged) Then we crashed. Did I mention that I LOVE NAPS???!!!

After waking up, my in-laws come over with pizza and cake and we have little family birthday party for my mother-in-law's b-day today. Joelle JUST loved it. She LOVES to sing happy Birthday. It was cool!

We had a nice fire going in the fireplace (It's been in the 40's here the last couple of days.) the girls watched the little drummer boy and the adults talked. Then we put the girls to bed and we just finished watching For Richer or Poorer with Tim Allen and Kirsty Alley. Funny, funny movie! (By the way Scott, we're down to either 3 or 4 movies left to watch. Gimme a 'short list' of the addition to your collection you'd like to have when we send 'em back.)

Now I've just checked news and info on the web - decided to write a blog and now I'm gonna go join Doreen who's already close to dreamland.

Night y'all!

Happy Thanksgiving 2004

What a NEAT holiday.

It's really very simple and just a blessing!

We basically celebrated Thanksgiving last week with Doreen's sister and family here from Minnesota. So I'm at work today and this afternoon we've gotta clean the church for Sabbath.

We can still be thankful though! ;)

Cute Joelle story that emphasizes Thanksgiving.

Yesterday, my in-laws volunteered to watch the girls while we did our grocery shopping. (We pretty much figured Wal-mart was going to be a mad-house, and it was!)

Sandra told us that Joelle brought a picture over that had everyone in it, the Ottos, Pesters, Great-grandparents etc. She went through and named EVERYONE, then put the picture back. Joelle then went to stand next to Sandra again and then announced, "The perfect family."

That is so special - that is the true spirit of Thanksgiving.

I'd have to agree with her -- we've got the perfect family!

Have a happy holiday!

Doing Better - Still Annoyed Though

Hey,

I actually didn't DREAD coming into work today. Maybe because I knew it is Thanksgiving and I'd be the only one in the office. That helps because I know I can get actual 'radio work' done and not worry about the office politics.

Got an e-mail from the Prez yesterday about our Staff Meeting on Monday. His 3 points he wants to discuss in the general staff meeting are...

#1 - The Direction of the Ministry
#2 - The Move to Collegedale
#3 - Job Assignment Changes

All three have challenges. #1 & #2 have been planned without talking to the staff. We've had NO input and suggestions. He is planning it all independently of any of us who have done radio, have degrees in broadcasting, who have to maintain and use the equipment... and I could go on and on - but I'll stop there, cuz thinking about it is getting me worked up! :)

What the heck does #3 mean. Are some people going to lose their jobs? Is he taking the power from everyone? What does that mean? Aaarrrggghhhhhh! I HATE BS like this!

Then after we 'meet' and listen to him talk - we each get our own special little meeting with him. Don't I just feel special. :(

Do I listen to him talk, do I tell him what I think, will I lose my job, will I be given more responsibility that I don't have time for, will responsibilities be taken from me?

Monday is NOT going to be a good day I'm thinking. Too much up in the air. Too much having to 'walk on eggshells.' Too much DRAMA!!

Oh well! Only 96 hours until D time. (Drama time! LOL)

Pentecostal Daughter

My oldest LOVES birthday parties. It doesn't even have to be her own. She just loves to help people celebrate another year.

My in-laws invited us out to eat last night, and after we finished, paid and walked out we stood on the steps of the restaurant for few minutes talking. Earlier, we'd decided to have a birthday party for my mother-in-law on Saturday night, her actual birthday.

So my father-in-law tells Joelle that on Saturday night, 4 sleeps (that's how we help her grasp the concept of time right now), we're going to have a birthday party for grandma.

Joelle lets out a huge "WHOOP" gives my mother-in-law a MONSTER hug. After about 5 seconds of hug, she lets go and runs, jumps and skips around with her arms in the air with a yell, that we can only describe as something we've heard in a Pentecostal meeting when people are gettin' the 'holy spirit.'

Then she ran a couple of circles, still yellin and gives grandma another hug.

We laughed and laughed and laughed! :)

It was SOOOOOOO cute!

You just had'da been there!!! :)

Can't Shake the Funk

Darn-it.

Today isn't any better.

Typically, when something pretty 'negative' goes down in my life - a night of sleep will give me a better outlook on it all.

Not with all this crap going on at work.

I was actually fine getting up, taking a shower, dressing and getting my lunch together - but on the way to work, this sickening dread came over me.

I REALLY DON'T WANNA BE HERE RIGHT NOW, OR AT ALL! I don't have motivation to do anything.

What is with this funk? Very FEW times have I felt this way and you know what, I don't much like it!

Doreen and I, and my in-laws (who are still in town) talked this subject around the block six or seven times last night.

I did forget about it all for a bit while watching
The Rebel Billionaire (Sir Richard Branson is like the leader I'd like to have here right now instead of 'little dictator') and The Amazing Race 6. Needed those two hours to not think about 'stuff.'

Well - hopefully today will get better. With ALL the rain we're having, it'll be a challenge! :)

Right Now - I Hate Work!!!

I'm going to have to agree with my Brother-in-law's Scott's blog from Nov. 18.

I don't even want to go to work tomorrow. Don't want to look at the place. Don't want to get more accomplished there. I don't want to do anymore for them right now.

Background, about 4 months ago we get a new President. I've seen him in the office 2 maybe 3 times since he became President.

Anyway, we've had little or no communication with him since he took the helm. When we have talked with him - he's been very vague on the direction he wants to take the ministry, etc. We've needed some decisions made and he's put them off. For the last two months we've done nothing new - just all the same old stuff. We've had opportunity to add some new quality programs and have been stopped dead in our tracks.

Well, we found out today that our new president has hired a freelance engineer to build our new studio facility at Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, TN. Supposedly he and our president have completely worked the entire facility out, studios, rack room and office space all out WITHOUT talking to ANY of us who currently work there.

This man knows LITTLE or NEXT TO NOTHING about running radio. He was previously a church conference president. And yet he wants to build us a complete studio without our input. We are the ones that have to operate it and keep it functioning. This is OFF HIS DESIGN.

Supposedly we have financial issues - if so, why is he hiring an outside engineer to do the work when we have 2 very capable full time engineers.

This has been a brewing issue for the last couple of months and we've all felt like we're walking on egg shells. Now this bomb is dropped on us.

We have a general Staff meeting scheduled for Monday at 10am for our President to lay out his vision and direction for our ministry. Our Chief Operating Officer has requested that we listen to him first and then talk with him privately about our concerns.

My question is - why should we listen to him when he hasn't even attempted to listen to us - AT ALL???!!! WHY?

Dog-gone it - this has me both ticked off and sick right now because this man has done nothing to foster a feeling of 'teamwork' and staff unity and basically made it him against us and I hate to see what is going to happen Monday.

I'm not going to say anything at the meeting and just listen - then probably come home and puke - then decide what to do.

At this point I have NO interest in working for this man AT all. If he doesn't even show us the least bit of respect by at least communicating with us, instead of just keeping us in the dark, I don't want to work for someone like that.

I don't know! Crap!

All I know is right now - I HATE WORK!!!

What a Shot!

Sports Office 1

Sports Office 2

Fun Famliy

Rough Bunch of People!

A Proper Pose

Racing Girls

Blah - Blah - Blah

Hey,

Ok - a quick, vague explanation to the Aaarrrggghhh Post from Thur Nov 18. You know where you get into one of those situations where it's kinda catch 22 type thing? I got myself into one of those no-win situations. Things were happening and I didn't feel they were quite fair. So I could #1 - said nothing and just simmered inside or #2 - spoke my peace and then look to be the bad guy. So, I kinda felt that either way I was gonna be unhappy for a while - so why not (nicely, I might add) tell what I felt and see if that made any difference. WRONGO. Boy did I end up being the bad guy for speaking up. Doreen and I talked about it later and we came to an understanding as to why everything came down the way it did. Part of it was a mistake, part of it was not clearly communicated and part of it was not fair to part of us - so it was a multiple problem, that eventually got worked out - but did cause a bit of trouble for a bit. I HATE those situations.

We had a GREAT time with Doreen's sister and family visiting from Minnesota. Gatlinburg is a cool place to play. LOTS of stuff to do. We hit Ripley's Saltwater Aquarium. Beautiful! We played miniature golf, rode go-karts, did some shopping, went on this HUGE slide (The kids REALLY loved this one) ate lots of good food, stayed in a comfortable Chalet, enjoyed watching the kids interact and had some good time to visit.

They split Sabbath afternoon - and we just hung out with Doreen's folks and grandma. After we put the girls to bed, they played a game called Upwords which is a 3 dimentional version of Scrabble. Not for me so I watched Tomb Raider. (Almost done with your movies Scott.) Then crashed.

Sunday I wasn't feeling so good - so I just lazed around ALL day pretty much. I watched an edition of American Chopper. Cool show. Love watching them build those bikes.

Got a call from my brother-in-law Scott, who had to 'rub' in that he was watching the Bronco game and I was forced to watch the Tennessee game and the Cowboy game. Glad to hear though they did score two touchdowns within the first four plays. Awesome! :)

Later in the afternoon we did have a Thanksgiving Banquet at our church. Man their was a TON of good food and we had a neat little program. My wife and her dad played the marimba and piano for a couple of duets. At the end - everyone watched my 'end of the year' slideshow/video and seemed to thoroughly enjoy it!

Came home and crashed.

Now we're back into a work week. I'll be working through Thanksgiving because I took the holiday last week with family visiting - so no holiday this week. In fact on Thanksgiving we'll probably be cleaning the church! :)

This morning I got up at 3 to take our Pastor and wife to the airport and bring their car back to keep it where I work LifeTalk so they didn't have to pay $8 a day for long term parking. That adds up pretty quickly. We'll take the car back they day they return and leave it in short term a couple of hours before they arrive so they only have to pay a few bucks. Just trying to be friendly!

Hey what's the deal with the "Malice in the Palace" there in Detroit? Both the fans and players were wrong on that deal. Hope some of the 'fans' that got involved will be dealt with just as harshly as the players who have multiple game suspensions.

Can't believe our society has gotten so out of hand that we have stuff like that going on. YUCK!

Just like the NHL lockout. Both sides have gotten so greedy that they won't even talk. (Worthwhile talks that is) to try and meet in the middle and get the season going again. Do they NOT realize this is NOT helping to improve their fan base? I mean HELLO! Quit screwing around and come up with something and play, or just completely dissolve! Both sides need a good spanking and thumping up side the head for throwing tantrums and get back to hockey!

Anyway - hope you enjoy some of the photos I've posted.

Those are my thoughts for the day. Now I've gotta get more 'dust' to fill the empty space left in my head! :)

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

Aaaarrrrgggghhhhhhhhh....

'Nuff Said!

Fun, Fun, FUN

We're havin' lots of fun now!!!

Yesterday afternoon, Randy (Doreen's Sister's Husband) and his two oldest and me and my oldest went on our first Geocaching treasure hunt. This is what we were searching for.

It took us only 10 minutes to get to the location - but probably 20 to find our bearings the first time and actually find the Latitude and Longitude where we were supposed to find the treasure, but finally got there. After some searching through the leaves at the base of the stump we found what we were looking for! Way cool dude!

Then we hopped back into the car and headed to the video store to get Spiderman 2 to watch - IT'S NOT OUT YET!!! RATS! Doesn't come out until Nov 30. CRUD! :( So we picked up Stepford Wives instead. Pretty funny movie with a pretty good twist at the end!

Watched the rest of Monday Night football after everyone split, then crashed. I spent a few hours at work this morning then came home early to get ready to head to Gatlinburg, TN.

Did a few things around the house - then called Randy to test out our new toys. So in about an hour, we shot up a box of clay pigeons. We'd alternate throwing and shooting our 12 gauge shotguns. WAY COOL DUDE! In the beginning, we were missin' them ALL over the place. After we got more comfortable with our shotguns, we were nailing those skeet! Most excellent dude.

I've gotta make a couple of sound tracks now for Sabbath so they can practice their songs - then I'm gonna take a 30 minute nap and then we're gonna eat one of my favorite meals, Lasagna, garlic bread & salad, then go.

FUN FUN FUN!

Update y'all later after we get back!

How Much do You Match Your Zodiac Sign!

Yup,

This is kinda what I expected on this! :)

Try it for yourself - it's kinda fun!

Have a terrific Tuesday!

You are 73% Taurus

How much do you match your zodiac sign?

Family Visiting Or Suprise Purchase

Well, Doreen's sister Shelly and her family are visiting from North Central Minnesota. (Hubby Randy, Calvin 7, Carlie 5, Colby 2 -just 39 hours older than my 2 year old Natalie.) They got here late Saturday night.

We had a great Sabbath. Church was a blessing, potluck was yummy. Got in a Sabbath afternoon nap, then went with my in-laws to a friends house who has a home built recording studio. My father-in-law, friend and I spend the evening recording a song to make a sound-track for my wife, her dad and sister to sing with on Sabbath. That was a TON of fun.

We got home and the girls crashed and I popped in "Princess of Thieves." Ok movie - but I expected a 'princess of thieves' to be a bit more 'proficient' in her thievery and not so bumbling. Decent movie - probably wouldn't watch it again though! :)

The movie finished up and I jumped on-line for a bit and Doreen flipped through the channels and then we heard Shelly and clan arrive. We popped up and scooted over to my in-laws to welcome them here. Talked for a bit and then crashed.

Sunday, after breakfast we headed over and talked for about an hour - then Randy and I headed to a friends to help move a desk and a couple of other bit pieces of furniture into a newly finished upstairs.

When we got back - we checked out our shed, which had pawprints across the sidewalk in front of it... coming from a hole in the ground going right under the shed. It was the prints of a skunk that Randy and Shelly saw going in when they got here. So we've got an UNWANTED neighbor under our shed.

We had 45 mins while everyone was finishing getting ready for the day, so Randy and I went to Wal-mart to get some 'bug-bomb' to try and flush the skunk out. All we had to 'finish' it off is a little .22 target pistol I've got - so we made a quick decision and bought a couple of 12 gauge shotguns. (I had done some audio editing work and from another source I had about $440 of cash in my pocket. So after some quick calculations in my head I figured I could spend $100 without too much getting in trouble, so I bought a New England single shot, cool gun.) The only catch was they people at the sporting goods desk were SUPER slow. It took about an hour and 15 minutes to get everything processed in this transaction - meanwhile everyone's basically waiting for us. Ouch!

Anyway - we finally got the guns, threw them in the trunk and met up with everyone - swapped car seats and kids - and headed to Collegedale to visit our property to show Randy and Shelly. We had fun walking around and stuff, then we headed to Chuck E Cheeze for dinner and playtime for the kids. What a blast - but what a NUTHOUSE. It was packed. It was hard not to turn around and not trip over someone! :) (Translation someone=kid blowing by ya. LOL)

Finally finished our pizza and all our 'game' tokens, got the goodies at the giveaway desk and headed home. Everyone went over to Larry & Sandra's house. Randy and I got out our guns and threw down a little Debbie cookie down for bait and went 'a skunk huntin. Sat for 40 mins with nightscope, headlamp and 12 gauge shotguns unfortnately and no skunk. So I set off a bug-bomb underneath the shed to try and smoke him out - nothing. So we figure he had already left 'home' for his nocturnal activities of eating and stinkin'. So we're gonna give it another shot today (pun intended) after I get home from work and see if we can snag this little bugger. (Translation snag=shoot into oblivion)

Well - it was a GREAT weekend. This week should be good. I'm working on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. But Wed and Thur we're going to be in Gatlinburg enjoying the sights and sounds and fun up there with everyone and another famliy of friends from Collegedale. Can't wait to tell y'all about it!

Have a Wonderful Week!

My favorite cartoon! This one today REALLY cracked me up. Have you ever had a day where you felt like you kept smaking your head against the sneeze guard at a salad bar? I have - I can relate - I know exactly what those kind of days feel like.

The Croup

Well, it's official. After visiting the Dr yesterday, both our daughters are officially sick. Both of them have a mild case of the croup and are doing better with the medication we were prescribed.

Sunday night Natalie woke up - coughing, breathing quickly and croaking like a frog. Poor little girl. She had worked herself into a panic and trying to cry - but couldn't get a big enough breath to cry. So I held her for a few moments - and she calmed down and did much, much better the rest of the night.

Now she's on steroids to clear this stuff up. Joelle just has a wicked cough, sore throat and a runny nose.

Doreen's doing MUCH better and I've not gotten this yet, (Knock, knock, knock on wood! LOL)

I've been working on a video for our Thanksgiving Social at our church in two weeks. My computer does all right - but it's just woefully pityful when it comes to video editing. I wish I could afford a full power video editing system to really do some cool stuff - but that's like 2 1/2 miles down the list of things we need/want. :)

This is actually the first time I've gotten a video done for any church event and not stayed up to 3 or 4 am the night before we show it! :) The reason...

Doreen's sister and family is coming down from Minnesota next week and I won't have time to be working on it - cuz we're gonna be playing. Oh yeah!

Well, better get back to work - have a Wonderful Wednesday!

Crying at My TV

It is VARY rare for a tear to roll down my cheek while my TV is on. A movie or two has caused me to ‘well’ up. I still get ‘teary’ when I watch the replays I have of my Denver Broncos winning Superbowls 32 and 33. One program on the air now, constantly touches my heart and pretty regularly I get teary. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is that show. Doreen and I absolutely LOVE it. Every week, Ty Pennington and Crew spend and hour (This week it was a 2 hour special) showing us how they and 100+ construction workers take a home that is in pitiful shape and fix it up to be extremely functional, good looking and just plain cool! I can guarantee that just about every week, I’ll get choked up, or have tears rollin’ down my cheek, because they help REAL people.

Most of TV is trash – as my brother in law, Scott – will attest to. We enjoy some reality shows (Amazing Race, The Apprentice and Survivor), but mostly we just watch sports and movies.

We make sure though – that every week we either watch or tape and time-shift Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

This week’s two hour show, was for a family where the parents are deaf, they have a son who is normal and a younger son who’s blind and autistic. They were living in a dump and putting all the time and money and effort into helping the younger son.

EXM: HE came in and gave them a new home complete with ALL the gadgets and doodads to help them in some amazing ways.

That is ONE awesome show!!! It’s worth the time to watch it every week.

On to the rest of life – most of my family is still battling being sick. I’ve still got a hint of it myself, but not as bad as I felt Sabbath. Hopefully we’ll get all well soon!

The Broncos won this weekend – by playing like I know they can. It’s about time!

Yesterday, Doreen and I got out and did what I “hope” is the final mowing, weed-eating of this season. It REALLY needed it, and it looks great now. I’m extremely sore from all the extra weed-eating I did around our fence line and the ‘plateau.’ (A ½ acre plot my in-laws bought across the street to ‘protect’ our view and investment purposes.)

We’ve got family coming from Minnesota this next weekend, arriving Sat or Sunday. We're looking forward to a week with them. We'll spend 3 days playing around Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, TN having fun. It'll be a nice break from all that's been going on lately.

Have a great week!

I HATE Getting Sick

For the last week or so, my daughters and wife have been sick. Joelle has had it worse than Natalie. Doreen had it worse than both the girls.

Last night before going to bed - I noticed I had a bit of a sore throat, now this morning it is ABSOLUTELY on fire.

Aaaaarrrrrgggghhhhh!

Thank Heavens!

I AM so thankful that we know who our next President elect is with out a TON of legal brew-ha, ha, ha! It's not that I don' t appreciate lawyers, because in some situations - they are extremely necessary. I just hate it when the legal system gets misused and abused!

It is so nice that Kerry cowboyed-up and took his medicine and did the honorable thing and conceded instead of fighting, wining and pouting like a big baby. (Can you say Gore?)

Watched the election coverage until 9:30ish and realized that NO-One would have an inkling until the next day or two - so I crashed.

Well - we took Joelle and Natalie in to get pics today. It's time for Natalie's 2 year old pictures. (Post 'em when we get 'em back) They did great.

Now we're getting ready to watch Survivor and the Apprentice. Oh yeah!

Kids Say the Darndest Things or Wishing for a Landslide

Well,

Here it is, the Wednesday morning after the election and we still don't know who's going to be our President the next four years. I'll be happy if this gets resolved today and not WEEKS from now! It just makes me long for the days of the landslide victory - no legal wrangling, (you can read that as legal BS!), no arguing about how many provisional or absentee ballots are out there and no more difference of opinion over 'exit polls.' (Even More BS)

I'm hoping that by noonish or late afternoon we've got a president elected - or at least we've got a canidate (Mr Kerry - I'm talkin' to you) come to his senses and realize he's been beat - not by much, I'll give him that - but he's been beat and to not pull a Gore and drag this thing out. Concede, take defeat gracefully. Don't act like a 2 year old throwing a tantrum!!! :)

All washed up.

I was watching some of the election returns last night and actually getting into a bit of it - then I flipped over to CBS when Fox and ABC went local. Baaaaddd idea. Dan Rather just needs to RETIRE ASAP. A field reporter in Ohio told about how the polls had just closed and it was still too early to predict the vote of the people of Ohio. Then Mr Rather, very seriously said, "Let me repeat this to you to make sure I understand, the polls have just closed in Ohio and it's still too predict the vote of the people of Ohio. Am I understanding that correctly?" So the reporter repeated his statement, then Mr Rather went on to 'report' the finding of the reporter, that he repeated, that he had repeat the report and then reported on the report! DOH!!!! AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH! I could sit at an anchor desk and do that. How incredibly ANNOYING. Get OUT man. Move on! Aye ayi yai! After this and the debacle of the 'forged' Bush papers story and a number of other things - it's time to retire Mr Rather!

On to a much more interesting topic...

Yesterday Joelle found a 'sucker' cup we had around the house for some reason. I think at one point it held a mirror on a wall in the bathroom or something. Anyway, Joelle started playing with it - sticking it to my face, books, walls, the refrigerator, well I think you get the idea. I went to give both my girls a bath and so I got them undressed and ready for the tub. Before I put Joelle in, I pulled the sucker cup off her chest - where she had most recently stuck it - and tossed it on the counter and dropped her in the water. I brushed their teeth, then started walking out of the bathroom to get something to finish the job and I hear Joelle pipe up as I'm walking out the door, "Daddy - where's my boob?"

I stop dead in my tracks and just start laughing. Oh that was SOOOOOOOO funny! I of course had to tell Doreen the 'line' and she got a pretty hefty chuckle out of it!

I LOVE MY GIRLS!!! The are extremely precious!

Natalie's 2nd Birthday

We had a good day, all things considered.

Joelle and Natalie both have been battling a running nose the last couple of days. Last night Both Doreen and I came down with kind of a sore throat. Doreen worse than I - with a runny nose etc.

So today the girls were playing a lot and I was kinda the referee with Doreen chillin.

We had a couple of friends visit with some presents for Natalie and then we made a birthday pumpkin pie. The girls had a blast helping.

We had lunch and put the girls down for a nap - and Joelle wasn't going to sleep - so I went and lay down next to her to "help" her quit talking and wiggiling and she immediately crashed.

So I slept for 25 mintues myself, then got up and headed to Wal-mart for some stuff we needed.

I got home and put stuff away and flipped the TV on for my Sunday sports, then we had supper, opened more gifts and just watched the BRONCOS LOSE (Don't get me started again *GRIN*) and played.

Now they've crashed and we're watching our FAVORITE show of all time. Extreme Makeover, Home Edition. AWESOME SHOW.

After it's over - TV off - make lunch for work - then Beddy-bye time!

Nighty night!

why, Why, WHy, WHY????

Today they acutally had the Bronco Game on Fox here so I could watch it in Tennessee.

When I turned on the TV the Broncos were up 14 to 3. Yeah baby. They looked sharp and were doing everything they were supposed to be doing.

I flipped over to watch the end of the race - go Jimmy Johnson, pull the race out for Hendrick motors that deserved it after losing 10 team members and family in an airplane accident last week. Very touching.

So after the race - I flip back - and they're LOSING!!! What the heck??!! So I continued to watch and they looked lethargic - again. Making dumb mistakes - again.

Why when I get to watch a Bronco game - do they lose?

That TICKS me OFF!!!

Come one guys - you were kickin butt at the beginning of the season and now - NOTHIN!

CRUD!

Informal/unscientific Poll

Ok,

The election is next Tuesday. Doreen and I are registered (independent) to vote. Got our info ballot and location of where we're to go to vote.

Thing is - I don't really feel like it. I mean, I will cuz, well just cuz.

But who know's what's gonna happen. Heard a news report today where Flordia is already having problems with their registration and absentee ballots. Both Bush and Kerry have hired legal 'guns' in Florida and many other closely contested states to "Make sure the election is fair."

I mean is this what we've come to? Every election the friggin lawyers in this country are gonna be paid big bucks because of the way things happened 4 years ago? What kind of free country is that? Will our vote count or will the judicial branch of our gov't have to make the final judgement every 4 years?

If I hear ANYTHING about hanging or pregnant chads this year I'm GONNA SCREAM! If people aren't smart enough to vote properly - THEY SHOULDN'T BE VOTING!

I TRULY hope this year the winner is VERY clear so we don't have the lawyers all screamin' bloody murder about ballot tampering, etc so they can make money and hold us all hostage to a judicial system that is swimming in red tape and very biased - depending on the 'court' to find out who our next leader is going to be.

Ok - I'm done bellyaching about this.

Let's do an informal poll. You can leave an anomyous comment if you wish.

Who are you going to vote for to be our next President: (Listed in Alphabetical Order)

A. Michael Badnarik & Richard Camagna (Independent/Libertarian)
B. George W. Bush & Dick Cheney (Republican)
C. John Kerry & John Edwards (Democrats)
D. Ralph Nader & Peter Miguel Camejo (Independent/Green Party)
E. Michael Peroutka & Cuck Baldwin (Independent/???)

Have fun!!! :)

Here's a Creepy Fact for Your Halloween

-Hundreds of years ago when there wasn't enough room in the graveyards, old graves would be dug up and reused, Sometimes they found scratch marks iside the coffins left by people who were burried alive and had tried to claw their way out. The reason for this is that before they knew lead was poisonous, beer and whiskey had been drunk out of lead cups. The combination of alcohol and lead sometimes made people unconscious for days. They were often mistaked for dead and quickly buried. The fear of being buried alive led to the idea of tying a string to the deceased's wrist. The other end was pulled out of the coffin, through the ground, and attached to a bell. Someone then sat out all night-the graveyard shift- to listen for the bell. This is where the term "saved by the bell" comes from.

The Curse is Broken!

After 86 years, the Boston Red Sox finally win a World Series.

Wow!

Now, I'll have to admit, I was pulling for the St Louis Cardinals. But they were thoroughly outplayed by the Red Sox. Pitching, hitting, base running, everything.

Congratulations to a very good team to a group of players that deserve a championship!

Of course with ALL the players scheduled to become free agents this off season, it'll be interesting to see how it all pans out next year!

Red Sox with the 4 game sweep in the world series.

Sssssshhhhhhhhh!

Can you believe it? The "Big" bats for the St Louis Cardinals have all but been silenced. The Boston Red Sox pitchers have really helped put this series where it is right now. They've put a major shuuuushing on the Cardinals bats.

I figured that since both Championship series went to 7 games, I figured the World Series would be a bit closer - but so far this has been a sweep.

It wouldn't bother me if the Sox win because they haven't won one in so long - but my preference is that the Cardinals take the Pennant.

Oh well - maybe next year St Louis. At least after game 3 last night it looks like it's a lost cause!

At least it isn't the Yankees winning another World Series! :)

Spelling's OUT in Our Family

Yesterday afternoon I was thoroughly enjoying some time to relax after a busy weekend and a hectic day at work catching up after a much-needed vacation.

I was sitting in my recliner reading Clive Cussler's book called Serpent. It's an excellent read.

Joelle and Natalie were playing nicely and occassionally coming over to me and we'd talk for a moment about whatever they wanted then go back to what they were doing. Eventually they required my full attention which I was more than willing to give them.

We were playing and they seemed to have LOTS of energy so I said to Doreen, "After supper we should go to the P-A-R-K." (Specifically spelling the word park out in case she didn't like the idea, or had other plans, so the girls wouldn't know excactly what I said and be disappointed if we didn't end up going.)

Doreen agreed and immediately Joelle said, "I wanna go."

So I responded, "Go where sweetie?"

She answered, "The park."

You should have seen my jaw drop to the floor. My 3 1/2 year old had the knowledge to know what I spelled.

Unbelieveable - I figured I had at least another year of spelling things before she started catching on.

How WRONG I was.

And how unbelieveably smart my daughter is.

(Yes, I know - she inherited her Mother's brains - because even at age 34, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer!!! LOL)

Sports Thoughts

Well, this morning I feel like dis-owning the Broncos as my team. Of course this is just a morning after, dissappointing feeling because of the unexpected loss last night.

They just really blew it. They didn't come out with the same intensity of the Bengals and were just outplayed! Oh well. Next week is another game. It should be interesting to see what happens. They play the Falcons - I believe - and Atlanta was just BLEW out, so they're gonna lookin' to recover as well.

Hopefully the Broncos come out on top.

Onto another sport - Game 3 of the World Series is on tonight. The Red Sox play at the Cardinals 'nest' tonight. Will the Card's come to play or get their butts handed to them again? We'll see.

Ok, same sport, different topic...

Between the ALCS and the World Series, Curt Shilling, pitcher for the Boston Red Sox did an interview with ESPN's Peter Gammons about pitching and baseball and how he was able to play through the pain in his ankle etc. One thing he mentioned that 7 years ago he became a 'Christian' and didn't feel rigth asking the Lord to win, but just that He'd (God) give him (Curt) the strength to play and to do his best.

The next day I saw an interview TV and a few days later heard another interview on radio and both times Curt had to be 'bleeped' because he was droppin' "F" bombs and a few other choice words of the extremely vulgar variety (cursing). It kinda took
me off-guard because of the 'claim' of Christianity. Now I really like Curt because he's who he is - he doesn't just give these 'pat' answers to interviewers, he's intense, he's tough, he's one of the best at what he does and he's got quite the hilarious sense of humor. I also like him because he is a Christian and isn't afraid to let others know he is Christian. (I've read a few blogs where he was being thoroughly flamed because of that recent admission.) He's a stand up guy, yet he freely drops the 'F' bomb etc. I'm not questioning his sincerity as a Christian, but should swearing be a part of one's vocabulary for one who claims to be a follower of Christ? Would Christ drop the 'f' bomb and others if He were here today?

I highly doubt it - but would love to hear your thoughts on this topic that probably doesn't concern one's salvation, but yet one that comes up from time to time!

A New Hobby for the Pesters???

Our family may have a new hobby very soon.

The week before Thanksgiving we have some family (Doreen's Sister's Clan) coming to Tennessee for a visit. We're going to spend 3 days in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge playing around among many other things.

Recently they've gotten into a hobby called "Geo-Caching."

Basically it's people from all over the world who 'Cache' an item or container of items then leave a Longitude and Latitude on a website with a description of the location and 'hints' on how to get there. Then we go find it.

The website is, Geocaching.


Last night Doreen and I were looking at some of the 'Caches' that have been stashed around where we live and in Montrose, CO (Where my family lives in CO and where we just finished a 2 week vacation) and saw lots of 'Cool' places to visit etc.

Of course I have to admit that one reason why this interests me is because we'll need to get a GPS unit. That is WAAAYYY Cool. I'm a techie (Not to be confused with Trekkie - although I do enjoy Star Trek) and I love electronic gadgets - so this is right up my alley.

Occassionally we sit around home and wonder where to go and/or what to do - this is a great opportunity to get outdoors, see some beautiful countryside, teach Joelle & Natalie about maps, tracking, and getting from point A to B. It's also got a unique twist on it as well.

We'll let you know if we decide to do it and how it goes!

Hope you find your day ahead is GREAT!

This is Me!

Oh Crud!!!

A loss to the Cincinnati Bengals is NOT good.

Bad - BAD Penalties, a lot of them didn't help either.

Couple of BAD interceptions to Tory James & Deltha O'Neal didn't help much. A R Droughns fumble.

The Broncos deserved to get their butts waxed and all the hair ripped off!

Joelle & Natalie could have done just as good as they did.

Don't know what happened - but it's past midnight - 7 minutes to play and they're down 23 to 10. I'm going to bed!

This is probably the only game I'll get to see this season and they lose.

That is BAD!

Nighty, Night!

Ok - Pick it up

It's half-time and the Broncos aren't playing up to their potential.

Come-on guys!

Pick it up!

Better win this one! :)

Oh Yeah

The Denver Broncos & Monday Night Football.

It's ALL good!

It'll still be good if they lose - but it would be AWESOME if they did win!

This is my first FULL regular season Bronco game I'm gonna get to watch. I got the 1st half of a game on vacation in Colorado - but we had to leave to get to the concert on time.

Hope to post in about 3 hours of the Broncos dominating the Bengals, but we'll see.

Enjoy the game!

AL & NL Championship & World Series

Woah,

Wasn't the AL & NL Championship series awesome?

Ok - I was wrong, the Red Sox weren't whipped. They came back from 3 games down and beat thosd D--- Yankees 4 straight games to win the series. That was awesome.

Then the Astros and Cardinals went back and forth with the Cardinals finally coming out on top.

Now games 1 & 2 of the WS has happened and while the Red Sox have made a jillion errors, they've bested the Cardinals. Now the series moves to St Louis. Will the Cardinals be able to come back? Who knows.

They're my 'favorite' in this Series - but, I wouldn't mind seeing Boston win. They've been without a Championship long enough and deserve one.

Isn't it just fun watching?!! Exciting if you ask me!

Game 3 Tuesday night.

It's Officially Over

Hey,

Our vacation is NOW OVER! Booo hoooo hooooo!

We sure enjoyed our 10 days in Colorado with family and just relaxing. We REALLY needed it.

It was fun getting home though - not sure we were gonna make it though! :)

We checked into the airport at 6am on Thursday and the lady at the counter asked us if we wanted 3 free tickets. (That's how many we bought to fly out) What's the catch was my response. Turns out that they were overbooked all day and the plane was going to be too heavy because of all of the 'meat' hunters were taking back with them. So we decided - yeah - why not. Besides, never look a gift horse in the mouth! :)

She booked us on the next flight and we talked arrivals and departure times to make sure we'd get all the way to Knoxville. Then loaded up in the car and headed back to my folks place with mom.

We headed back to the airport with what we thought was plenty of time before departure and found out the plane left 10 minutes before we checked in. I dropped the ball and screwed up the flight time in my head.

The lady was VERY kind about it and worked it out for us to fly back home on Friday. She said it was easier for them because on Thursday they were overbooked and overweight all day and so having extra seats available on the flight we missed helped ease the 'standby' list and weight. Cool!

We went back home - the girls watched a movie, I napped, read a book and helped mom when she needed it making applesauce and enjoyed another day with family!

We got home Friday - late! But we were home! :)

Now we're back and getting caught up on all the junk you usually do after 2 weeks away from home.

Sunday - we had to move some lumber from Tellico Planes (20 minutes from home) to our building site for my In-Laws apartment in Collegedale. We moved an entire home's frame worth of lumber in a day - piece by piece. Boy, am I super sore today!!!

Picked up our mail this morning, an entire shopping bag of mail, junk and catalogues.

Getting caught up at work today. Voice mail, e-mail, a desk piled with junk while I was away. (It was clean when I left! LOL)

Plus all the normal work I have to do daily.

I LOVE vacations, but hate coming back and getting caught up.

It was worth it though. :)

Colorado Relaxin

Things couldn't be better right now.

We are having a great time visiting in Colorado. I had forgotten how beautiful the Rocky Mountains are. They are AWEsome! I enjoy the Smoky Mtn's are OK, but the Rockies are, well, God's Country. Right now they've got a bit of snow on the peaks so it enhances them just that much more!

Right now the kids are watching Dumbo with Doreen. Mom's mending a shirt and Scott is reading a Dale Brown book.

This week while we've been here I read one of my favorite author's books - Clive Cussler's "Fire Ice." Great read!

Yesterday was great - playing golf in the morning at a par 3 course with my dad and 2 brothers-in-law. We all pretty much suck, but still had fun. I couldn't get a handle on the distance. I kept wackin' the ball WAAAYYYYYY over the greens. I was typically using the Pitching or Sand Wedge and laying off - but getting a solid hit on the ball and off she'd go. Still had fun though! :)

We went to a corn-filed maze and the kids enjoyed part of it and what-not.

Then last night we went with Staci and Scott to a concert of Matthew West, Mark Schutz and Avalon. What a GREAT concert! Doreen and I tried to remember the last concert we've been too - it's been a while! :) We thoroughly enjoyed it though. And a BIG thanks to mom for watching the kids while we listened so some great music.

Today we're just chilling. We'll probably carve some pumpkins and then after Staci get's off work we'll go bowling.

I'll have to post more later cuz I gotta run to the restroom!

Yeah - I know, more info than you wanted to know!

Later!

Whipped

I tell ya - I really don't like the New York Yankees. I was hoping that this would finally be the year that the Boston RedSox beat them and get to the Big Game.

Nope, last night Pedro got beat and now they're down to the Yanks 2-0 in the series. Yuck - the Yankess will be back in the World Series - again. Gag me with a hairy baseball bat!!! :)

On a brighter note - the St Louis Cardinals rocked the Houston Astros last night. I happened to flip the game on at the bottom of the 6th inning. The game was tied at 4 a piece and St Louis scored 6 runs. Yeah Baby! They of course went on to win that game.

Most excellent!

Well - whatever team makes it to the Series from the NL, Houston or St Louis - I hope they CRUSH the Yankees!

"Some People Think it's funny but it's really hot..."

Yesterday was a good day visiting here with family in Colorado.

Most all of us squeezed in naps and generally took it easy.

After lunch and a nap, my tummy started rumblin. This was NOT a good sign! :)

It rumbled and rumbled and rumbled. I finally went in to sit on the 'throne' and what came out was a LOT "runnier" than usual.

Oh man! I HATE that.

So the rest of the afternoon I'd rumble and run. :)

Turns out that Mom and Doreen had the same rumbly problem without the runs. That was a blessing. An even larger blessing though was that the girls didn't get rumbly or runny!

We analized everything we ate yesterday and it looks like that the only thing that Mom, Doreen and I ate that no one else did was some 'healthy' jellybeans, gum drops and a M&M type food. We tossed the rest of those! :)

Anyway, I'm feeling much MUCH better this morning!

Today we're headed to Grand Junction. Gonna see my sister Cindy's house and visit with the twins an let all the kids play at a "play-plex" and all sorts of stuff. Should be fun!

I'll let ya know!

Aaaahhhhh Vacation!

We made it!

3 Airplanes, 4 airports and we made it will very little trouble. The only hiccup was I thought one arrival time was a departure time and so we were in the middle of eating when they started boarding our plane - however - the plane was delayed so we finished scarfing our meal down and got on the plane on time.

It's nice to be here visiting and chilling. After we got here, we had to run to Wal-mart and get some stuff to change diapers and what-not. But then we came home and just chatted sitting around the table. It was good catching up - in person. My sister Staci and brother-in-law Scott came down and we all talked for a good long while.

They finally had to leave to put the kids down and so my folks and Doreen and I watched a movie and crashed.

This morning, I rode along with my dad up to Grand Junction on his truck to help him drop a load of empty wine bottles at a winery in Palisades. That was a lot of fun. Dad was running the forklift getting the palets out of the truck and I was inside with a palete jack running 'em from the front back. We did pretty good and emptied the entire 53 foot trailer in just under and hour and a half.

We got back and found out that Mom and Doreen took my girls and Bekah (niece) to McD's to the indoor playland. We ate lunch and put the kiddos down and I fell asleep in the recliner.
We're all chilling right now, soon we'll have to take another trip into town.

Try and keep ya up-to-date on our relaxing as it happens! ;)

"We'll Be There, We'll Be There..."

"... in the next 24 hours, we'll be there!"

Can't wait - looking forward to spending the next two weeks relaxing, playing and enjoying family!

A quick weekend recap;

Saturday we played hookie from church. They had a social/service/event where everyone was invited on a hike. It was up 3 1/2 miles a mountain side. Natalie isn't up to that yet and we didn't wanna carry her. :) So we didn't go to that, we didn't want to go to church cuz it'd be like ghost-town around there. So we played hookie, slept in - as late as the girls would let us. We went to a beautiful waterfall, then decided to go for a nice walk around a lake.

It's 3 miles around the lake - and unfortunatly we ended up carrying the girls well over half way. OUCH My back still feelin' it. It was still very beautiful and we did enjoy most of it! :)

Saturday night we went to the church bonfire and enjoyed some yummy roasted weinies and friends and the awesome scent of burning wood in the open. That was AWESOME! Of course, Doreen and the girls enjoyed Cedar Lake veggie dogs and I scarfed down the best Hebrew Nationals this side of the Rockies.

Sunday we did lots of cleaning up around here. I did the garage and shed (with Lots of Doreen's help), the inside and outside of both cars and Doreen did a thorough inside cleaning getting ready for our trip out west.

Today Doreen did a TON more here at home while I had a bunch of loose ends at work to tie up today. Got all but one done and that one was insignificant.

We've been cleaning and packing and getting ready. The girls have been 'hyped' all day long. They can't wait and neither can we! :)

All the responsibilites of work and church and more is slowly easing off our shoulders. Not completely there yet, but getting there and hopefully by the time we step on that airplane - we'll be doing good!

Oh yeah!

Cast Off OR Over-worked

It is now officially off. Joelle is cast free. This morning before getting in the car to go to the doctor’s office, Joelle said she didn’t want to go right now because she was scared. Doreen re-assured her and they stopped by work and picked me up and up do the Dr’s office we ride.

We get there 15 minutes early, sign in and sit down for :35 seconds and get our name called. That has NEVER happened in a Dr’s office before. Doreen was walking over to the bathroom and promptly turned around and walked right back to go into the exam room with all of us.

A couple of minutes later the tech walks in with the cast cutting machine and gets ready to do the job. Joelle lays down and was a bit nervous, but as soon as the tech started cutting, Joelle started talking to her telling her all the stuff we have planned. Going to a bonfire Saturday night with her friends and leaving on Tuesday to fly on an airplane to go to Colorado to visit Grammy and Papa. It was CUTE! She didn’t even whimper this time.

After the cast came off - we cleaned her arm up and the she and I were whisked off to the X-ray room. It’s just NOW the official time of our appointment. The x-ray tech has Joelle put her two arms in two different positions - and Joelle pretty much instinctively put them there as quick as the tech put the film down.

The Dr looks at the x-rays and pronounced her officially healed! We walk out of the Dr’s office 10 minutes after our official appointment was scheduled. I repeat - that NEVER happens! Boy, they were on the ball today and did a GREAT job.

So the girls dropped me off back at work and I begin furiously editing spots. I arrived at work at 5a originally, auditioned 1 hour of programs and edited a spot and a half together before the girls got there to pick me up to leave for the Dr’s appointment at 8a. We get back by 10, the girls come in to show off Joelle’s no-cast arms and then take off. I stand around for another hour talking about LifeTalk’s move and some options we need to consider, then begin working on another spot.

I co-host a live call in show - today was a Bible Quiz. We typically average between 5 and 10 calls during the hour, today 26 calls on air.

After the show, I’m a bit worn out cuz live radio call in shows take work - I walk out to the car and snooze for 15 minutes.

When I get back in - refreshed after a power-nap I spend the next 3 ½ hours editing and mixing down about 50 spots and then have to quit. That’s a BOAT-LOAD of spots/editing/mixing. Much, MUCH more than I typically have to edit in a day. Wheew - wears me out just thinking about it. I’m trying to wrap up this special project before leaving on vacation on Tuesday. I’ve got 16 more to do on Monday and I’m all ready to go!

Yeeeeeeee haaaawwwwww.

We are SURE looking forward to this trip. That’s basically all Joelle’s been talking about today. Natalie’s still to young and completely oblivious to what lies ahead - but we are really anticipating a very relaxing, fun time visiting in Colorado.

Have a Happy Sabbath and a Wonderful Weekend!

It's Friday Right? No??? DOH!!!!

This week has been the LONGEST I've had in quite a while.

I know the reason! It's twofold. #1 Because my daughter is supposed to get her 2nd cast off on Friday. #2 Because we're going on vacation to visit family in Colorado next Tuesday. We're so looking forward to those events that it has just made this week DRAG by. Slowly, agonizingly slow!

Aaarrrggghhhhhh!

Well, at least it's Thursday!

:)