It has been interesting to watch as I took three trips this week. On Sat night for my first one, on the way in our out we see this big billboard along the interstate with gas prices for a local convenience store.
Well, I guess some elements of spring are here. On an errand we had to run this afternoon, Joelle was pointing out EVERY tree, bush and flower that was beginning to blossom. It is extremely pretty around here in the spring with the Dogwood trees, redbuds, and other bloomgin' plants! :)
With all that blooming though, comes pollen. Lots of it! Thankfully we have not been bothered by it much, other than this green stuff all over everything, especially our vehicles. In fact I went to get into a white semi-tractor at my place of employement. Instead of white, it had a film of Green on it. Yuck. 
Got three trips in this week. My 1st 3 tripper week since vacation. It was good to get back into it one trip the 1st week back, 2 the 2nd and three this week. Althought it is interesting. 3 trailers full of cases and I unloaded over 126,000 pounds of stuff. And no exaggerating here - I touch every piece coming off the truck. It's all good though, still thoroughly enjoying my job, or rather the stressless of it and the time I have at home. Wonderful!!!
Got back in at 4am from NC and slept a few hours, got up and went in to work for a 'health fair,' Spring Report and Driver bid meeting. All very interesting. It just amazes me how many people buy our product. That is awesome!!!
The bid meeting is where drivers choose what trips they will take for the next 12 months. It is an intersting process to watch. Since it is all senority based, that is all I could do is watch. Don't have enough senority yet. Still 20th or so from the bottom.
Not that I was expecting anything, I was a bit dissappointed to not get picked up as a partner for a bid run. A number of guys I'd run with recently got partnered up, and for them I'm happy. (Most of 'em anyway! He, he) I was just hoping to get a regular partner and a regular schedule. I know it will happen when it is supposed to, and I just need to be patient and wait for God's perfect timing, and I will. For this evening though, I do feel a bit of dissappointment. 
Boy, I don't know what is going on (and neither does Mr Gore) but things are changing. I'm thinking we're getting more 'dramatic' swings in the weather. This winter was cold. It feels like when the time changed, the season 'sprung' forward too. One trip I took the weather was in the teens and this latest trip was 80 something. Don't get me wrong. Not having to wear 32 layers to try and stay warm is nice, but I LOVE spring. I love that time between the cold and the hot. Maybe we'll get a little spring in a bit. :)
Another sure sign warm weather has returned, bugs are getting squashed on my winshield. On each of my trips lately, I could do a connect the dots thing on the windshield with all the 'dots.' :) Of course when I flip the wipers accidentally, eeewwww it's nasty! :)
Favorite James Bond movie - Octopussy - 1st one I ever remember seeing. Loved it!! Still enjoy watching it. Running a close 2nd though would be "A View to a Kill."
Favorite Actor - Roger Moore - Guess it has to do with an 'era' thing. I watched him the most and he was a 'my time' James Bond actor.
That got us to talking movies, specifically James Bond movies. That lead to a small disagreement over who was the 1st actor to play James Bond in a movie. My mom and I said it was Sean Connery. My bro-in-law claimed it was another actor. 
So last night, I had my Hot Fudge Sundae. Boy was it yummy. Then I chased it down with some McD's french fries. Man, I don't think there is anything better in than to chase some ice cream down with fries. Yummy!
At the birthday party, one of the first thing my father-in-law did was to tie a balloon to her collar. She didn't seem to mind too much - although she eventually got stuck under the table when the balloon got caught on a chair.
Then Doreen and Kristine had to get in on the deal and tie another balloon to her tail.
She didn't like that very much and that one came off pretty quickly!
After the kids busted open the pinata and got the goodies out of it - this set of glasses was one of the gifts. Staci, my sister, and Doreen put a set of these on Mocha. She didn't like it too much, but as you see - they've got her pinned pretty good!
Niece Emily making her toss.
Sister Cindy throwing the virtual bowling ball down the virtual bowling alley for a spare!
Mom with her double pump roll. She'd never do that with a 12 lb ball. Of course Wii'ing she got a strike! :)
If I remember right my daughter Joelle did get a strike with this toss.
Sister-in-law Shelly giving the Wii a try.
Brother-in-law Randy with a wicked, wicked spin. Left an open frame though. :) Yeah - of course, it was his first time! :)
Wife Doreen doing her best. Pretty good posture! :)
Niece Bekah wearing some funky stuff on her feet.
Nephew Brian with his Orange/Cheesy grin.
Nephew Calvin wrestling the world's strongest man! :)
Niece Carlie in all her cowgirl regalia.
Nephew Colby doing the splits on the fat man's squeeze at rock city.
Niece Emily wearing something funky on her head! :)
Daughter Joelle wearing a Cheeseball grin holding a HUGE container of cheeseballs! :)
Daughter Natalie chillin out on a trolly car ride.
Niece Sarah driving a video game for all she's worth at Chuck E Cheese.
Here's our puppy Mocha
Sister Cindy holding a butterfly at the TN Aquarium
Dad's trying out our treadmill. (He lasted 30 sec - he, he, he!)
Bro-in-law Scott wearin' his Hair and Beard net required with a tour through the plant where I work.
A Good vacation activitiy is Geocaching. We found 4 here! Awesome.
Sabbath a group, who could, got around made beautiful music. Those who couldn't, sat around and enjoyed the beautiful music! :)
Staci, Brian & Scott playing Nintendo DS. Oh yeah!
Calvin got to run Papa's riding mower around pulling the other kids in the trailer, who were all chanting, "Faster, Faster, Faster!" :) Cute!
Here's my mom, Wii ing, bowling virtually! :)
Joelle climbing the rock wall in Rock City. All the 'older' kids got to do it. Calvin, Brian and Sarah made it to the top.
The 'gang' at Chuck E Cheese. Notice it's all older folks. The kids sat down barely long enough to eat, then they're off playing games.
Balloon heads at Carlie's B-day party.
I'm trying on Carlie's Pinata! Texas sized boot - a little too big! :)
Getting some energy out at the Imagination Station Park.
More game playing at Chuck E Cheese.
After we got done with the Old Time Picture, some adults took the kids out to the Chattanooga Choo Choo train they can climb onto the Locomotive (Non functioning of course, we wouldn't allow 9 crazed children on a an operational one - he, he, he) and see it all. Then after we finished buying the pics, the rest of us joined them for ome fun. (See more pics to follow later!) Here's everyone in a gazebo just up the way from the Choo Choo.
Here's my family, my folks, my sisters and ALL our kid'os. Not at a bad looking group of I don't mind saying so myself! :) Another plus to this whole thing, the days we had outside things planned it was absolutely 'gorgeous' weather out. The one day we got rain, we had an indoor event planned!
My parents, twin sisters and I at the Tennessee Aquarium. All the kids just had a ball checking out all the critters they have in those buildings. If I had to guess, most of the adults had quite the enjoyable time too! :)
The next day was Ruby Falls and Rock City. Both were just absolutely breath-taking.
It was awesome and unique being 260 feet underground to see the unique beauty and then turn right around and go up to the Top of Lookout Mountain at 1800 Ft and check out the view from up there! Awesome!!!
The following day we just hung out at the Collegedale Memorial park together for a while. Dad and Jim, both a Vet and Reserve really enjoyed the memorials they had up all over the place. Of course our kids enjoyed it in their own way! :)
And of course, don't you see the family resemblance! (Even with the two kids that aren't family! He, he, he!) We chilled out in the morning, then in the afternoon we swarmed on Chuck E Cheese's place out there. I tell ya what, those kids would have gone ALL day if we had the money to have the tokens to keep 'em! Whoooo weeee - the energy in that building from ALL the kids, not just our own. If there were only some way to harness that! It would end world hunger! :)
