Trip Pics

All righty then - I finally got things figured out to be able to get our trip pics posted. Ayi, yai, yai! How annoying!!! It was nothing wrong with the site - of course it was 'user error.'

Enjoy........

We were wanting to get to Florida at a decent time - so we left early. Basically we got the girls outta bed, and into their car seats. Isn't this just so cute?!!!





We spent the weekend with Doreen's Aunt June and Uncle Dick. It was good seeing them again and we had fun hanging out with them.



Sunday we went with Doreen's cousins to the beach down by Tampa Bay. Here's the 'human' fish we caught in the Gulf of Mexico. Man - I couldn't believe how warm the water was, it was like a big bathtub. It was so CUTE to see her diving down and looking on the floor of the ocean for things! What a blast.



The girls saw this replica of Shamu and wanted to get a picture with it - so we did...









Later on, we went to see the actual Shamu perform - and before the program Shamu was swimming around and we went down to see him, and this was close as we could get, so Shamu posed with the girls - cute!



Of course - we had to go to Nebraska for G-pa's funeral. After it was all said and done, we took some time to go Geocaching with family! Fun, FUN, FUN!







Since the girls, had to sit so long on the trip, we decided to play hookie from church and go to the Lincoln Zoo. We had a GREAT time!









Before the Zoo, we stopped by the Sunken garden to see this new 'garden' in Lincoln. We got a photo of the whole family together.

It was a good trip - all things considered!

What's Up? OR Bad Movies!!!

What's the deal - I've been tryig to post some photos of our trip on the site here and have had NO such luck. Frustrating, annoying, flat out irritating. Hopefully, things will get back to normal so I can put some fotoz up soon! I think you'll enjoy 'em.

So what is up lately? Doreen and I have been picking some pretty bad movies lately. Aaarrrgh! The last three we've watched, Anger Management, Fun with Dick and Jane and Shopgirl. They were all sad.

Well, Anger & Dick & Jane wasn't too bad, but for almost the entire movie, you feel extremely frustrated for the characters. They can't catch a break at all and it gets to be too much. It's just 12 things after another knocking 'em down, even farther. The boom, in the last few moments - relief. They both had funny moments, but not enough to save the movies.

Then, THEN Shopgirl, aparently wrote, and produced by funnyman Steve Martin - oh man, man O man. What a miserable movie. It has NO point, the music is awful, the cinematography, while interesting - is TOO artsy fartsy - it distracts from what the story is. Wow - this is just a BAD movie.

Ok - 3 strikes and you're out, we're on to the next batter, so hopefully the next couple of movies we get will be home runs! :)

The Trip!!!

Wow, glad to be back home. Glad to sleep in our own beds on Sunday night. Wow! What a trip.

Ok - so here's the short (probably long... grin) of it... We left a week ago Friday for a 9 hour trip to Florida for a 7 day vacation. Of course on the trip down, we did some geocaching and Natalie caught a cat-nap in her car seat. Thank goodness for portable DVD players. :)

Got there and enjoyed visiting with Doreen's Aunt June and Uncle Dick. Sabbath morning, at Sabbath School, I got a text message from my dad, that Grandpa Pester was in a coma. So I left and called Dad. And got the story - Grandpa had a couple of small strokes earlier in the week, which I knew about. Turns out he had a biggie on Wed evening and wasn't doing so well. Late Fri he slipped into a coma - then later Sabbath - dad called to tell me that Grandpa died.

So for the next few hours we tried figuring out how to work everything out. We bought non-refundable tickets to Sea World - had some other pretty big plans. So what to do - and how to get to Nebraska.

After the funeral got scheduled for Thursday afternoon, we had things in place. We cancelled the hotel and Islands of Adventure. Then we decided to go ahead and hit the beach with some cousins on Sunday, Sea World on Monday and leave for NE on Tuesday Am to get to the viewing Thur evening.

At church, Doreen ran into a cousin of hers that I hadn't met. So they brought the family over to visit for an hour or so Saturday afternoon. Also - Doreen's folks were in Orlando, FL - turns out they had a load to pick up Monday morning headed for West Nevada. So they were there too. We had a GREAT visit.

Went to bed early, got up early and headed down to Tampa, FL to go to the beach with some cousins that lived down there. By the way, we cached on the way down. :)

We had a lot of fun, then cached on the way home.

Sunday morning we got up early and headed to Sea World. And what a fun, FUN day!!! Although it was HOT and it rained pretty hard a couple of times - but we always had it timed to be under cover and so we thoroughly enjoyed the critters.

So Wednesday, we left early, EARLY for NE - realizing we wouldn't make it in one day 3 & 5 year olds. So we drove a 15 hour day and made it to Mt Vernon, IL - exhausted. We all slept, then up early and another 9 hour day to Lincoln, NE. The last hour on the road, Natalie was sleeping and Joelle was getting so wiggily, she could hardly stand herself! :)

We arrived in time for the viewing, then back to my folks 5th wheel where all our family stayed, Ma & Pa, Sis Staci and daughter Bekah, Niece Emily (Cindy couldn't make it cuz of her husband having surgery.) and the 4 of us. We fit nicely.

The next day we said our final goodbyes to Grandpa, then had some good family visiting time, did some swimming, played games and did some caching Thursday, Friday and Sabbath. Instead of church, we went to the Sunken Garden in downtown Lincoln, NE and then the zoo for a bit.

Back to lunch and then packing everything up and head home. We took 2 days heading home, did some caching and took our time, but finally got home and it's good to be home! Oh it's good to be home.

Check out these numbers from our trip...

Miles - 3408
Driving Time - almost 58 hours
Max Speed we drove - 86mph
Average Speed (Moving) - 58.5 mph
Average Speed (Total) - 48 mph
States we Passed through - 8 (FL, GA, TN, KY, IL, MO, IA, NE)
# of days with nothing but driving - 5
States we geocached in - 7 (Didn't do any in TN - this trip)
# of geocaches found - 23
# of fuel stops - 10
Gallons - 148.5
Cheapest Fuel - KY $2.67
Most Expensive Fuel - IL $3.01

Man - what a trip. What an experience - boy, is it GREAT to be home!!!!

Survival Kit for Constant Chaos

Here's a kit for you to survive the Chaos of life...


An ERASER, so you can make all your troubles disappear.
A PENNY, so you'll never be broke.
A MARBLE, in case someone says you've lost all of yours.
A RUBBER BAND, to strech yourself beyond your limits.
A STRING, to tie things together when everything falls apart.
A PLAYING CARD, so you are always playing with a full deck.
And KIND WISHES, to remind you that someone, somewhere cares!!!

Breakfast Quiz

In the middle of the table is a round food tray with five kinds of Fruits on it.
They are:

a. Apple
b. Banana
c. Strawberry
d. Peach
e. Orange

Which fruit will you choose? Please think VERY carefully and don't rush into it. This is great, I was astounded! Your choice reveals a lot about you!

Test results...

If you have chosen:

a. Apple: That means you are a person who likes to eat apples
b. Banana: That means you are a person who likes to eat bananas
c. Strawberry: That means you are a person who likes to eat strawberries
d. Peach: That means you are a person who likes to eat peaches
e. Orange: That means you are a person who likes to eat oranges

I hope you find fulfillment in this new insight about yourself. May it bring you peace and understanding, tranquility and all that other profound stuff.


Waaaaaa ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

Gottcha!

A World in Fluxuation

Ok - so we were supposed to be here in FL for 7 days.

Well - plans have changed!

On the trip down to FL I talked with Dad on the phone a bit. He said Grandpa wasn't doing very well. (I talked with him earlier in the week when G-pa had some mini strokes and then after he had a biggie stroke on Wed.)

Sabbath morning in SS I 'texted' Dad and My sis's as is my usual practice just to 'keep in touch.'

Got a message back about 30 min later that G-pa had gone into a coma Fri night and wasn't doing good at all.

So I walked outside and called Dad to get the lowdown. Turns out that after the biggie stroke, his left side was paralyzed and basically had completely shut down. He was breathing, barely, and that was about it.

Well - that was extremely sad to learn. Then after lunch during potluck - Dad called and G-pa had passed away.

So now, we've changed our plans. Tuesday morning we're getting up bright and early, leaving FL on a 26 hour trip to Lincoln, NE for a funeral. Sad - but sort of calming - because now G-pa no longer has to suffer!!!

Not looking forward to the LONG trip though!

More info later - if time and an internet connection allows!

Blessings!

Florida or Bust

Vacation is HERE!!!

Yeeee hawwww!

I've been at my new job almost 10 months now and lovin it. Although it is good to take some time to get away. I've been working extra trips to try and catch us up financially - so this time is important to not burn out!

Also - I've got an elbow issue happenin. I've got a bit of tendonitis going on in both elbows because of the work I do. So some time off will help those heal!

We're looking forward to spending some fun time in Florida. Friday we leave to spend the weekend with Doreen Great Aunt and Great Uncle.

Then Sunday we're gonna visit some cousins and go to Howard Beach in Tarpon Springs.We're looking forward to that.

Monday we'll check into a motel and then Tuesday Doreen and I have to spend 90 min saying 'NO' at a pitch for a time share. Then we'll head to lunch and then Universal's Island of Adventure! We'll spend another day at the same theme park. Then we'll spend another day at Sea World - then Friday head back home.


Hopefully, we'll be rested, relaxed and rejuvinated!

Tell ya all about it - with photo when we get back!

The Medicine You Need

Prescribed by the Great Physician
*****************************
The next time you feel like GOD can't use you, just remember.
Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
Mary Magdalene was...
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer..AND
Lazarus was dead!

Now! No more excuses!
God can use you to your full potential.
In the Circle of God's love, God's waiting to use your
full potential.

No More Tom-catting Around.

As reported by Eric in his blog a while back...

Atlantic Ocean (March 10, 2006) – F-14D Tomcats from the "Tomcatters" of Fighter Squadron Three One (VF-31) and the "Blacklions" of VF-213 perform a fly-by in formation over USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) after departing for their home port of Naval Air Station Oceana. VF-213 and VF-31 are completing their final deployment flying the F-14 Tomcat. For the past 30 years, the F-14 Tomcat has assured U.S. air superiority, playing a key role in ensuring victory and preserving peace around the world. The F-14 Tomcat will be removed from service and officially stricken from the inventory in September of 2006. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Chris Thamann (RELEASED)

Early or Later

Doreen and I stayed up to 4:30a this morning talking after watching a movie. Oy, I'm a bit tired - and I got to drive to Kenosha, WI this afternoon. Oy!!!

Yesterday, when we were having some conversations with friends, someone mentioned that they're thankful to have had kids 'early' in their marriage - so when they're 40 something, their kids will be adults.

Obviously, Doreen and I started the kid thing 'later' in our marriage. So we'll be 50 something when they're adults.

So - the conversation turned to which is better? Kids early or later?

Well, Doreen and I determined that in our opinion, for us, later is better. I mean, we had 7 years before kids (BK) to just be ourselves with freedom from all the responsibility that kids bring. We got to thinking about 'those' who have kids early and plan to enjoy that 'freedom from all the responsibility' after kids (AK) may not quite have the 'freedom' we did BK. I've heard a number of 'elders' in and around my life say that even though the kids are moved out and gone, they still have all those emotional ties to what is happening with their kids and may even have to help out from time to time - so they don't truly have the "freedom" we did during our 7 years BK freedom.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts! BK or AK! :)

Softball Wife

Doreen has become the softball player in our house this year! She joined a womens team and has been practicing and playing games the last few weeks. It's kinda cool getting out and helping her with some of the fundamentals of the game. Good exercise too!

Here in practice, she's about to put a hurtin' on that softball!!! That's one of the things we've been working on, hitting. We've got about 10 softballs and I'll go out and just pitch and pitch and pitch 'em to her so she get's her 'groove.! (The girls like to jump in and run the bases, play catcher and hit a ball as well - I'll upload some photos in the near future!)

My sweetie in her uniform. I'll try and get some photos of her and her team in action when they have the game in daylight. My camera doesn't do well at any distance at night. By the way, the team name - the Holley Rollers comes from their sponsor, Steve Holley, a painter. Pretty good pun don't ya think!

Fun, fun, fun!

Downside/Upside

Got home this morning from work about 5am. (Yup, we drove ALL night returning from Mississhippy - got some sleep though and that is a good thing!)

For the last 4 months, up until this last week, when I'd come home during normal sleeping hours, a 'doggy' alarm clock would go off barking her fool head off - after she jumped under the bed of course! (Guess there was something under there she really needed to protect! He, he, he)

Of course, even though both Doreen and I knew this routine, it typically would scare the beejeebers outta us.

Well - getting home this morning - I subconsciously expected routine eruption, on the downside it didn't happen. How sad to think about our gone puppy. On the upside though, the routine eruption didn't happen so we both calmly crashed after I crawled into bed.

Another thing, yesterday morning when I was making my tuna sandwiches for my lunch, I always left a 'little something' in the can and called for Sugar. I left the 'little something,' put the can on the floor and was just about to call when I remembered. How sad!

Then this evening, after a little 'Pester' family softball practice - when got home, Joelle ran into the basement and called, "Sugar." She then paused for a sec, then said, "Oh yeah, poor Sugar died."

Oh - Doreen and my heart just went out when we heard that.

Precious yet sad!

Sad News Today

Today, we had a small tragety in our household. Our precious puppy, Sugar, got out into the road and hit by a car and died.

We were over at Larry and Sandra's house helping them move a bedroom suite to Grandma March's house. Doreen, Larry and I were inside, Joelle & Natalie were sitting on the tailgate when we heard Sandra begin hollering. She was rummaging in the pickup for something when she heard the noise and looked up to see Sugar laying in the middle of the road, hurt. I ran over and picked her up - she wasn't moving except gasping to try and get a breath. She was moving her head some - but very little.

Larry and I rushed her to a local vet only 5 minutes away, but on the trip there I keep checking her little heartbeat and by the time we arrived - it had stopped. We ran in and the doctor confirmed the same thing, Sugar was gone. The Dr suspected a broken neck along with massive internal injuries.

Poor little puppy didn't understand. Doreen and Sandra had made mention that we needed to keep her off the busy road and we'd called her back a couple of times when she got to close - but it just didn't register with her that was a 'danger' zone. Unfortunatly, for 2 mintues we got occupied putting the furniture in the truck and in that extremely short period of time, she went out and got hit.

Fortunately, the girls didn't see it, and Doreen kept them in the garage while I got her, loaded her up and took off. At the vet we 'paid' them to humanely 'dispose' of her. I would have liked for them to have been able to say goodbye, but not in the shape she was in.

They both seem to understand and were sad for a while, but seem to have put it out of their minds. Occassionally one will say they 'Miss Sugar' but overall, it hasn't been too tramatic of an experience.

Maybe it's because we only had her for about 4 months, and she was just really getting to be part of the family. But we'll miss her.

I'll miss her hiding under the bed, anytime I came into our bedroom to lay down for the night, then when I got cozied in, she'd come up and want to be petted then the 3 of us would fall asleep.

Sugar Pester March 2005 to July 2006 RIP

Confession...

Ok - I've got something serious I have to fess up to. I need to get this out and not keep it as a secret. It's something I'm not ashamed of though. I think you all should know I've been having an affair with my hair stylist. Yeah, its true. Not at all shocking though when you see the beauty that my hair stylist is...






...of course it's my beautiful wife! :)
He, he, he! Did I get any of ya? Hope so! I've been after Doreen for years to cut my hair. She always claimed that she couldn't do it. Too hard, don't know how, etc! Well, the ladies I've been going to get my hair cut at lately have been doing a mediocore job. $10 a cut, including tip, is just too much to pay to be unhappy with the result. So... I watched closely the last couple of times I went in, and then proclaimed to Doreen that she COULD do it!

This last week, we went and bought a hair trimmer and today was the day she gave me my first cut. I explained to her exactly how they do it at the store, and voila - with a little prompting here and there on how the 'pros' do it - she did it. And what's more I'm VERY pleased how it turned out. As good or better than any of the people who'd been to beauty school and I paid 'em to cut it.

So now, we've got to get through 4 cuts and the trimmers will pay for themselves and then we can start saving that $10 every trip I had to go in, plus I get to keep my hair shorter - cuz I can afford to. I told Doreen that after we 'pay' for the trimmer, she needs to budget in a small amout for herself to 'pay' her for the haircut job!

Kinda, extremely COOL!

Photos & Stuff...

In trying to blog a little more, I thought I'd share some photos with ya before I have to go to work tonight. Gotta go to Kentucky. Oy vie!

Ok, so here are the girls helping Doreen one morning make gluten. Yummy!

One afternoon, we headed out to a park in downtown Chattanoonga. It was a VERY hot day, so we played in the fountain! In the water, I see a little girl having a TON of fun! :)

See if you can find 3 people in this photo you recognize. Oh yeah, we are having fun and staying very, VERY cool!

Joelle hollered to me the other afternoon that she needed help. Turns out she had climbed to the top of her doorway. It was cute, so I grabbed the camera - shot the photo and helped her down. So precious!

Still Alive and Kickin'

Hey y'all,

What do these dates have in common??? (Kinda like the game Tri-Bond!

Jul 02 Hint
Jun 11 Hint
May 20 Hint
May 04 Hint
Apr 26 Hint
Apr 25 Hint
Apr 08 Hint
Mar 10 Hint

Each of these people, my favoritiest family and friends, like me have seriously procrastinated with blogging. (Note; I spared listing those who have at least posted in July.) These are a few of the links I check each day to see if any news of family or friends have been posted to keep up with what's going on with everybody and feel sad when I see nothing. Then I realize, I have been neglegent in posting since the beginning of the month myself. Shame on me!

So I'll share a couple of quick stories and then later in the week, as time permits, I'll put up some photos I'm sure, or at least hope, you all will thoroughly enjoy!

Lately, we've had a 'time' with our dog, Sugar. On the 4th of July, I was in Michigan working and got a call from Doreen - our dog was missing. They'd put her in our fenced in backyard, and headed out to see fireworks. When they returned home - the dog was gone. It wasn't until late the next day that Sugar appeared at a guys house, miles and miles and miles away. He called the number on the tag and Doreen, Joelle and Natalie went over there to retrieve our dog.

To combat that problem, we purchased a 'metal-rope' to keep her tied up when we leave the house. Again - on a trip, I get a call from Doreen, the dog is gone. The plastic hasp on her collar was broken. So, the dog is gone and the collar is still there. No way for anyone to call this time. Sure enough though, a few hours later - she shows up on the front porch.

So - we've gotta find the 'hole' she's escaping through, and then we've got to do some serious training so the dog will learn to stay home!!!

Last Friday, we had a get-together at a friends house to say "goodbye" to the team that had worked so well at My Former Place of Employment. Many of them don't have any idea of what they will end up doing. They're all searching and trying to get some Heavenly guidance on where to go. We wish nothing but the best for each of them.

As a former collegue and I were discussing this event, we decided to have our own little awards show, to have some fun and yet, say "Thanks for being a 'great' coworker." I believe it came off quite well!!! I think we all enjoyed it thoroughly and it gave each of us a time to remember, with fond memories, working side by side in a ministry Connecting Listeners with Christ. It will be time cherished, both the work and the get-together!

Here's another story, and I believe I've saved the best for last. It's about the differences between my two girls.

In searching for 'gag' gifts for these people, we went into the Dollar store for an item or two and walked down the 'toy' isle. Mistake. Gotta remember as a parent to NOT take kids down the toy isle - to avoid the question, "Daddy, can I have (Input whatever toy you can think of here!)?

Well, since we were in the Dollar store, Natalie, my youngest a HUGE Barbie/Dolly/Prissy toys fan, saw a Barbie like character and began begging for it. So I said yes. Then my oldest, Joelle, asked for one and I said yes to here. Not 20 seconds later she saw a bag of little green toy soldiers - and immediatly said, "Daddy, can I have these instead?" Talk about shocking my socks off. My girls are SO very different in their personallities. It is so very cute, and quite fun to watch!

Okie, dokie - watch for some pics to follow - SOON!!! I promise!

Later y'all!

This Week in Photos

It's time for Joelle to learn to ride her bike sans training-wheels. So we (Doreen) just took 'em off. So Sabbath afternoon we went to the local Academy parking lot and did a lot of running. Doreen and I switched off so one of us didn't have to run ourselves ragged.



Here's Joelle's little cheerleader. Natalie's bike ended up with a flat tire - that we gotta get fixed! So she hung out in the truck playing and occassionally sticking her head out the window and saying, "Go Joelle, go Joelle, GO!" Too Cute!



Joelle was getting it but not with a lot of confidence. She was still very wobbly concerned that we were hanging on. Here she's almsot got it - so on the next time I had my turn, when she got going - I ran beside her showing her that she was doing it on her own and riding. She seemed to gain a LOT of confidence, then...



...she took off and just did it all on her own - riding and riding and riding and riding. Too Cute!

This past week at our church was VBS - and it was a "Fiesta!" They had a LOT of fun with all the stuff they did, from the stories to games, snacks, crafts and the Adventure Theater.


Group publishing sure comes up wih some pretty good ideas on this stuff and the children really seem to enjoy it and the best part is they learn about Jesus! We sure love taking our kids to these things!

That's last week in a nutshell!!

Have a good week!

Politics vs Doing the Right Thing

Once again, I'm thinking about church politics and politics in general. We noticed on the way home from church that gas, again, has jumped another $.07 cents since I bought gas yesterday morning. That means in the last 5 days it's jumped almost $.30. That is shameless.

I've got a friend who has a very good friend that works at a local gas station and at this particular station they only make $.06 on each gallon of gas. So who get's the rest? Big oil.

Who is and has been sticking it to the car owners/drivers of the country the last year, year and a half? Big oil!

Who is protecting Big Oil, allowing them to get away with this type of price gouging? Our goverment. Who's in the government? Politicians. Why are they there? To have power, to stay in office, to make money! Is that what they are there for? No - they are to be there for the good of the country. That is definetly NOT what they are doing!

Just like politics in the church. Are they there to help the benefit of the church? Not most of them. Why is politics in church, to have power, to be in control. Why should they be in leadership in the church - to get the message of Jesus Christ to ALL people. Is that what they're doing? Not as efficitvely as they could.

It is sad - so very sad. So many people, in goverment and church politics are making decisions to help themselves and their own, when they should be making the right decision to help others and the cause.

They need to be doing the 'Right' thing.

I am so tired of having companies make HUGE money at the cost of the little people. (A company is entitled to make a good profit, but it has a responsibility to be fair to consumers.) I am so tired of having church politics be played to the point where people focus on themselves and what they get or deserve to where it hurts people in and out of a church and distracts and detracts from the message of the Gospel getting out! I'm tired of living with the devils influence all around us. I'm looking forward to heaven!!!

So, here's to the "Right Thing," looking towards Heaven and a perfect world, once again!!!

Lessons NOT Learned

So with this whole thing with my former place of employment,(MFPofE) I've learned a thing or two about my denomination.

They just don't learn do they??

I remember just as my junior year in academy, high school, was coming to a close, one of the factories that many of my friends worked in, Harris Pine Mills, was shut down. Turns out that the owner in his will donated the whole thing, lock, stock and barrel, over to my denomination. They in turn put the running of it into the hands of a pastor who ran it into the ground and they had to close it.

At MFPofE, the same basic thing has happened. It was 'run' by a pastor and it has basically been run into the ground. Only a true miracle can save it now - which by the way is entirely possible. (You know, with the lack experience and training I have in running a business or ministry like the one at MFPofE - if I were put in the leadership position, I could have done as well, if not just a little better than my former boss. I am not exaggerating there! Yes - it was just THAT bad!!!)

Another conference in my denomination had a moving business built up to move teachers, pastors, doctors, nurses or anyone who wanted to move around the country. It was over-seen by pastors and due to a couple of very poor decisions, and mismanagement it went bankrupt.

Those are the few examples that I personally know of first hand, with 'pastors' running businesses or ministries into the ground, bankrupting them, magically making them disappear, whatever!

I know from talking (listening), over the years, to family and friends talking that this has happened in my denomination over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. Hummmm?!!! Interesting.

The definition of stupid is to do the same thing the same way over and over again expecting different results.

Hummmm!!!!

So, logically I could say that my denomination is being stupid when it comes to these things.

Disclaimer - I'm not trying to diss or rag on, or trash my denomination. I call it 'my denomination' because for the most part - I love my church, it's truths, it's people, it's outlook on life, and mostly it's focus on our Savior. With that said, I'm very disappointed in some of it's leadership, or the very serious lack there-of.

Pastors need to be leading churches! That is what they were 'supposedly' called to do. They can be on a governing board to recommend ways to handle 'businesses' and 'ministries' so that they stay true to the beliefs of my denomination - but they (in general) in NO way should be the majority of leaders of businesses. (Some could and do lead businesses quite effectively - but those people are the exception rather than the rule.) They were taught in school to be a pastor, a spiritual leader, not business people. If they can't hack the position or if they make some terrible decision and do something wrong, or if they need to be moved, move 'em once or twice, but then if they screw up again - don't just move them into leadership. Encourage them to get a job in the real world. Don't make them leaders over something they know absolutely NOTHING, or very, VERY little about!!!

What our church could do with the influx of people and money if businesses and ministries were run by those who had the proper training to make each succeed. Wow - what a thought.

Anyway, I've got these emotional feelings running around in my brain because of the way the boss, and especially spouse, at MFPofE treated me, which lead to my departure and then the latest debacle with over 80% of the staff being fired.

It is so sad that my denomination allows that type of leadership to pervade.

In fact, just this afternoon, I talked with one of those fired, and he talked with a higher-up in my denomination about the latest activities. This higher-up admitted that they knew some things were wrong there, but just did not have the time to look into them specifically, and because the ministry was located somewhere else than Simi-Valley, CA the whole thing was basically off his radar screen and he was sorry the way things happened.

He's sorry? What the heck is that? He's sorry, but he's still got his job and doing whatever it is he does, meanwhile 6 people, 4 families, are left without jobs, scrambling to find something because he didn't keep up with his overseeing of the ministry and let the 'pastor' in charge go crazy as the 'head' of the ministry. I don't even consider him the 'leader.' He never lead - just dictated about a great many things that he didn't and still doesn't understand. That is very, VERY sad!

This higher-up was shocked by the volume of material, and the contents of said material that poured in from former staff memebers, people who had dealings with my former boss and those who run affiliate stations, about how poorly the boss at MFPofE was running the ministry. He said they might look into it. Might!!! *&#$$R@%!@*

What a load of junk! This guy, when he's on the air, spews forth with loads of Christian cliche's, gobbley gook and sound/feel good stuff, then behind the scenes is downright evil to those under him and to those who he deals with.

And these higher-ups feel it's in the best interest of the denomination to keep him in place and let the staff go? What a load of bunk!!!

He said, this higher-up, that while he couldn't divulge everything in the decision making process, that they decided to keep the boss, and wife, at MFPofE and hopefully help the ministry to hang on for a while longer as opposed to bringing the staff back and having to shut it down in 2 months for lack of funds.

It is directly in relation of the lack of following through on the responibilities and charge given to the boss, and his wife, at MFPofE that the ministry is in such a bad position.

Yet, my former boss and wife, still retain their jobs - and if things follow suit, once the ministry folds - and I'm betting that it does (Again which is NOT my wish - I would love to see it turn around - I just don't see how it can so short staffed.) - he will be shipped off to a denomination leadership position somewhere.

Another lesson NOT learned by my denomination.

Will they ever learn?

It is my prayer they do!!!

Unique Thing

Y'all know that I married a very, VERY special lady a long time ago.

Well, this past week she's started a uniqe thing she does. He, he, he!

She takes her cell phone, that is warm because of use or being in her pocket and holds it on her forehead. She says she likes the way it feels cuz the last couple of days she's had a bit of a headache!

Didn't know that would cure it - but whatever floats your boat!

CUTE, CUTE, CUTE!!!! :)

Another "Ant" Story

Got a suprise phone call yesterday, it was Aunt Evie wondering if she could stop by for a bit today (Sunday). She was in the area because of my Matt's, her son - my cousin, graduation from his residency!

Wow, that is quite an accomplishment. After lots of hours of school and hard work, he is officially a Dr. The good thing is now he has a job and will be able to work in a variety of positions at his new job. Awesome! Congrats.

Anyway, Evie stopped by today and we showed her around our new home and had a good chat, and just a very, VERY nice visit!

Thanks for stopping in Aunt Evie!!! :)

Canoe Covered Ants

So here John and I are attempting to drown the ants in the canoe. I'm standing on some rocks and John's actually standing on the canoe in some pretty deep water. What a day - what a trip!


While waiting for lunch to come together I was just looking around and thought this was kind a cool photo!

Sir Gooneys

One afternoon, just for fun we hit our local miniature golf course. The girls are pretending to be eaten by a HUGE snake on this hole! :)

Two little kids pretending to be part of the old woman and the shoe story! :)

Clown & Snazzy

We went to the Discovery museum, for kids, this past week. It is loaded with things to do and touch and feel etc. It is awesome.

They had a little theater room for kids to dress up and lights and music and sound effects.

Here's my little thespians! :)

The Death Test

According to our research, you'll be dead by October 2052 at age 82

- probable cause -

heart attack

YOU DIE: 82.5 years

AVERAGE MALE LIFE SPAN: 72.5 years

As you can plainly see, you have more health & vitality than the average man.

WHY YOU DIE?
56% heart attack
24% car accident
13% loneliness
5% drowning of the lungs
2% wounds

You have 16936.8 days left on this earth.
You've already lived 44% of your life.

So, SO Smart

Doreen called today as I was leaving the bakery in the truck as I spent most of my day running locally, swapping trailers and loads etc.

She was extremely excited. She had just received the results of her test to help her get into Dental hygiene school.

She practically aced the thing. She was so high up that she looks to me, as smart as Albert Einstein.

Lately, she's been a bit concerned that she may not be able to pass that HOBET (I have no idea what that means by the way...) or score high enough to get into dental hygiene school.

I've been encouraging her and letting her know that she can do it.

Ba da boom. Ba da bah, ba da bing - she scored well over the 90th percentile.

She's just plain brilliant!!!

Oh yeah!!!

Thankful for a Lack of Patience

One of the things in my life that I have to seriously work on is patience. You know that prayer, "Lord, please give me patience and give it to me now?" Well, that's me and I am working on it, but still have a long, LONG way to go.

Well - for once in my life, I am so thankful for a lack of patience. If I were more patient, then I would be in a tough, very tough spot. No job and no quick options.

For 14 months, I was patient trying to work with the changes that had to come to where I used to work. It was tough. It was uncomfortable. It was really, really rough.

Finally I got fed up. I was at the end of my patience rope. Doreen and I talked and talked and talked about what to do. Finally we decided to through the fleece out there and the call came. A door was opened and when it did - I sprinted through it and have not looked back.

Sure, I miss radio - my career love - my college degree (lots of struggle to get through college.) I really miss working in a ministry, especially one that was helping to connect people to Christ. But I don't miss the daily trials I had before I left.

Man, I feel for the people that I used to work with, the friends. We had a close knit group. We worked well together. We all had Christ at the heart of everything we did. Now most all of them have been treated horribly. We're praying for them daily. We're doing what we can to help and encourage.

But man, this is one time that I am thankful for being impatient. This was one time that a negative trait had a positive outcome! :)

Wow - I truly am thankful!!!

Injustice!

Here's a quick update on the happenings of my former place of employment. Nothing has changed - only things were handled legally this time. Though badly, very, VERY badly.

When we last left this saga, leadership at my former place of employment (MFPoE)fired 80% of the staff, illegally. Opening up the AMC and the NAD to lawsuits should any of the former staff chose to.

None did. They chose to be kind about it. They chose to be Christianly. I decided to step in and began making calls to the AMC and they were shocked to learn what was going on. They had no idea. So once again, began sharing the atrocities that took place while I was there and the many, MANY that had and were taking place after my departure. The leadership at AMC began speaking with the staff separately, getting their stories.

One story, that was told me was that an AMC leader said we'll work on getting your job back. This person said, if the current leadership stays in place - I don't want it. Give me my vacation time and separation package and I'll go elsewhere. So, at that point the leaders of AMC began asking the right questions on what was really going on there. Thankfully the staff gave honest answers, not mean, just honest.

An opportunity arose for me to contact a number of managers, friends and others who deal with MFPoE. They were encouraged to write or call the AMC leadership to let them know the truth on how they have been treated by MFPoE leaders. Many did.

All the information was gathered and passed along to those who might be able to effect a positive change and possibly salvage the ministry at MFPoE. We were informed that a meeting was to happen on Friday.

So then we waited, and waited and waited.

Monday I heard from a friend, a former coworker, that the results of the meeting changed nothing. Leadership at MFPoE remained in place and the staff fired were still fired.

At that point, Doreen and I were feeling very, VERY sad. For 5 years, I put my all into that ministry. We all did, and we were helping to connect listeners to Christ. Then the change and it was directed away from that focus. We used to have a personal one on one connection with listeners, they became friends. After the change, the listeners were put on the back burner.

I am disappointed in the leadership at MFPoE, for many, MANY reasons. But even more so I am disappointed in the leadership of the NAD. Apparently the leadership at the AMC woke up and got a clue as to what was going on and allegedly were backing and pulling for those who were fired.

But the "Good-old-boy" network, the church politics at the NAD has ruined more than one dynamic ministry and or business helping to support the church. And I believe that is exactly what is happening at MFPoE. Unbelievable. They have made the choice to stick with someone who has come in and run the ministry into the ground. They chose to stick with someone who has taken 90% or better of the personal interaction with listeners, VERY IMPORTANT in radio, off the air. They chose to stick with someone who has taken the focus off of Connecting listeners with Christ.

Why? That is my question. Why? Is it because they put him in there and will look bad if they admit it wasn't the right person for that position and pull him out? Is it because they needed somewhere else to put him because of other problems? What is it? Why? These people were brought in to do a specific job and they have not done anything they had been commissioned to or promised that they would do. He was supposed to be a dynamic evangelist that would be the face of the ministry, putting on meetings in cities that could hear the signal and win souls for Christ. She was supposed to be a marketing genius and would help to raise significant funds. He has yet to have any meetings and the campmeeting I did hear him speak at, a large portion of the audience snoozed through. She turned out materials so bad that I, with no training could have done as well. And I could go on and on and on with many specific problems. That's just not necessary. I just don't understand why the leadership of the NAD cannot see where the ministry used to be and where it is now. To see what was good, bordering on great and now see that it practically useless.

I just, flat out, do not understand.

It is a senseless waste of some good people with talent to help further a ministry and even more so their ability to help people who need Christ to nurture them into that vital connection. It is a senseless waste of a ministry that started out with one station, and thanks to the Lord has grown into a good sized radio network with potentially millions of listeners, that is now being literally run into the ground. It is a senseless waste of donations and money given by many sources and opportunities squandered and thrown away.

The injustice I see is maddening, irritating and annoying. It's disgusting. You know, it's simply evil.

I truly believe that satan saw that ministry as a threat and summoned many, many of his forces to work against it - and weak wills, and those who saw an opportunity for themselves opened the ministry up for attacks that have been very successful.

Programs are having problems, dead air is occasionally heard, and many, many technical issues are now appearing that the support staff is not there to keep things running smoothly.

It is sad - very sad. I can only pray for the ministry to somehow be salvaged.

How?

I guess that's up to God!

Gone and Back

So 16 hours after the scheduled leave time, they finally called with a lead driver for me and we left.

We ran the run and got back in time for breakfast.

Wheeew! :)

...Still here...

Hummm, must be hard to find a fill-in driver on Father's day. 12 hours from my dispach time and I'm still waiting to leave! Ouch! I should have an empty truck by now and on the way home! Boooo hoooo hoooo! I've gotta miss out on a Father's Day dinner out. Waaaahhhhhh!

Getting stuff done around the house though! :)

To work or Not to work, that is the question.

So I was scheduled out at 11:30p for a run up through eastern TN, Southwest VA and one drop in Eastern KY.

I get to the yard, get my trip info, find the tractor and trailer, hook 'em up, weigh 'em out and go inside to wait for my partner.

I wait and wait and wait. Still no partner. 11:30p comes and goes, no partner. So I talk with a coordinator and still no partner. We wait another 30 min, and then he calls in sick. In the meantime - all the standby guys are called in because of all the other drivers that call in sick - so none are left. I am left without a partner to run with.

So they send me home telling me that they'll call me in the morning when they find someone to go with me.

As you can see - I'm still here. They can't find anyone to run with me. I'm almost taking this personally - but not really because this weekend is Father's Day (Which is probably why so many people called in 'sick.') and I get to be at home for breakfast with my family. I'll be gone the rest of the day - eventually! :)

So, To work or Not to work? That is truly the question! :)

Crazy Day Canoeing

Howdy y'all!!

Yesterday we had plans to go canoeing with some friends, two other families. So we did.

Well - what a day we had.

Friday evening, Doreen and I got our canoe out from behind the shed and put it on top of the pickup and strapped it into place. The next morning we threw the rest of the stuff in the bed of the pick up and away we went.

We all met at a gas station and convoyed to the river.

Once we got there, I noticed a 'trail' of ants on the inside of our canoe, but didn't think too much of it. Then we took the thing down and saw that it was infested. Our canoe is an old Mohawk built back in the early 60' so it's got a 'bulkhead' at either end of the canoe. Therein is where these creatures nested and once we put it on the grass they emerged like crazy.

Not knowing what to do we decided to put the canoe up and head home, we weren't gonna ride in that thing. Then one of our friends, John, had an idea - let's drown them. So we hauled the canoe down to the river and submerged it. Not an easy thing to do. All the ants and eggs that were in the hull of the canoe were washed away.

No more were coming out, so we all loaded our gear up and up the river we paddled. What fun. Well, a little fun anyway. I'm not that good of a canoer, so I'm a bit stressed when we get into tight situations cuz I'm worried about turning the thing over with two girls, 1 dog and 2 adults in it, plus gear and other things. We enjoyed it though.

So we went as far as we could upstream, about a mile and turned around and headed back. We got back to the dock about lunch time. So we got out picnic out of the canoes and ate. Then up to the restroom with all the kids, and in doing so we noticed that John & Tami's window of their vehicle was broken out and it was discovered that her purse, stashed under the seat, was stolen. A call to the police was made and then to some credit card companies.

They were done for the day, with no way to lock the vehicle, so we loaded up their canoe and gear and they headed for home. We decided with Kalvin, Kristine and kids to go on another trip downstream then call it a day.

Well, when we got back down to the dock, we looked in our canoe and everywhere, ants, ants, ANTS galore. They were swarming everywhere. We decided not to ride in it, nor take everything out, submerge it again, then load it back up and canoe. So the kids all got in Kalvin & Kristines boat for a short trip while we packed ours up.

I submerged it again to 'wash' out all those 6 legged creatures before putting it back on top of the pick up. Then we hauled everything up the hill and loaded it all up.

We got done just in time for the return of our friends and kids, to help them unload and haul theirs up. Turns out on the return trip, the battery on their trolling motor died. So they had to paddle the rest of the way back.

Ayi yai yai!

What a day, what a trip.

What a story to tell! :)

This is one for the memory!!!

Just a Week.

Hey y'all,

Don't have much to say - don't really have anything to say. It's just been a week with some ups and some downs, but that's pretty much just life isn't it?!! :)

Have a great weekend and hopefully I'll have more to 'pester' ya with next week!

:)

Awareness...

So this past week I had three trips. One to Kentucky, one to Louisana and one to Georgia.

I don't know what it is, but I think that in each truck I drove, on the back doors it said, "It's tick this driver off week."

I'd have to take off both socks to count the number of times I was cut off, or someone just "hung" out in my blind spot, or stop at the red light waaaaaay passed the white line, or lets go slow together in the truck lanes just for kicks.

My goodness man. So many people today are driving without awareness. One of the essential elements of driving my dad hammered into my head. Now I'm not always 100% perfect, but I try. (yeah, don't ask Doreen about this cuz she'd have too many stories to tell - he, he, he!)

Just this week, in our little automobile we about had a head-on with a mini-van that was waiting to turn left, with blinker on when a huge Dodge Ram pickup and driver just plowed into the back that of that van. Aye, ayi, ayi.

I had a SUV pull in front of me to take an exit ramp and JAM on the brakes. I was 3 feet away from climbing into the back of his Cherokee with the front end on my semi-truck!

Then going from one wharehouse to another on Thur, these people must have idiot water stored up in their tanks because on 5 of the 8 turns we made getting to the 2nd warehouse when we were halfway committed to the turn, these people would 'rush' up to the corner, only to have to immediately back up so we could squeeze on around the corner.

I tell ya, if those of us who drive 'large' vehicles (And I put it that way to include you too Sue!!!) drove with the same lack of awareness that so many drivers in 'smaller' vehciles do - this country would be in bad, BAD shape because of so many of the extra accidents and such out there.

Most of us have to drive seriously defensively and constantly aware of what is transpiring around us to keep those 'large' vehicles outta the trouble the 'little' vechiles cause.

Be-aware!!!

Duh!

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

You Are Elmo

Sweet and innocent, you expect everyone to adore you. And they usually do! You are usually feeling: Talkative. You've got tons of stories to tell. And when you aren't talking, you're laughing. You are famous for: Being popular, though no one knows why. Middle aged women especially like you. How you life your life: With an open heart. "Elmo loves you!"

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Doh, I was hoping to be Grover! :) Or maybe even that two headed monster. Waa ha, ha, ha!

Providence

Hey!

Today has been an up and down day. Doreen got up early and went to take her HOBET test. Basically an exam to test her aptitude to begin Dental Hygene school. 3 Hour standardized test. While she was gone, the girls and I went and played soccer in the park, then walked a bit and played on the slide and swings before heading home.

The rest of the story starts last night. I was reading a friend's blog and she mentioned that her hubby, a former co-worker, was dismissed/fired/laid off. That was JUST before crawling into bed. So, I told Doreen and we tossed and turned for a bit feeling for the family.

Then this morning, while at the park, I get the idea to give him a call. Figuring he might be cleaning out his desk or wrapping up a few things, call the office to talk with him. The person who answered the phone started acting really odd when I asked for my friend. I was patched through to another friend - so I asked him what was going on and found out that 3 other people/friends were dismessed/fired/laid off. What the??? Has my former boss gone crazy? He just fired 80% of his staff. Crazyness.

So I spend most of the rest of the morning on the phone talking to these people and others about this situation. I'm in shock because these people are good friends and don't deserve this type of treatment.

At the same time, I can't help but be extremely thankful for how things came together for me to change jobs when I did. To not be dealing with that extra stress for the last 8 months, or having the extra frustration or be in a situation where I just get dismissed/fired/laid-off and trying to decide what to do.

Was that providence? I'd really like to think so, but I tell ya, the decision to put an application at what was to be my current job was very difficult. But we felt like we were in a room that was shrinking and I couldn't last there much longer. So we started trying door knobs. After much discussion, prayer and agonizing - I put the application in with the prayer that if the company called - I was to take the job and if they didn't I was to stay where I was and make the best of it. Over my life, I've watched other friends go through a somewhat similar situation and knew that if things were questionable that I needed to go ahead and try a few doorknobs and see if the Lord had another doorframe for us to walk through that the knob would twist. It rarely ever twists on it's own. Ya know?!!

Well - one of the door knobs opened things up to a doorway that lead to a different job and a more peaceful way of life. (By the way, please help me pray for my friends as they look for the next door they end up walking through. It is interesting to see how the different families are reacting to this - some good with excellent support, some not so good.)

Anyway - needless to say the ministry has been decimated. In it's hey-day in Vonore, we had like 26, or so, people employed there reaching hearts and lives - connecting people with Christ. With some people leaving on their own their positions weren't always filled. Then we had a major shakedown and one point, then things ran smoothly for a bit, then another leadership change - and that lead to my leaving - now this. The only thing I can say is "WOW!!!!"

That was the definite downer of the day, and pretty much it's been hard to not think about it.

But Doreen got home (And overall she feels like she did great on her test) and so we talked about it, which is always theraputic. Then we had lunch, ran some errands, got rid of some junk in our spare bedroom and garage, then went swimming, then home for the evening.

All in all - an interesting day.

Now - I go to bed. Time to sleep blissfully, have breakfast with the family, maybe do a couple of things and head to work at noon - then drive to Lousey-anna! I'll be home Wed night and probably done for the week.

Excellent!

Dog Burial

I regret to have to inform you family and friends that we had a dog burial this week. Because of the nature of it all - I regret to have to inform each of you in this manner and can't take the time to call or e-mail personally. Sorry about that.
Joelle, since the dog was given to the family around her birthday took it upon herself to perform the burial without any assistance from Doreen or me. She was such a big girl and did the job thoroughly. We thank you for your empathy...



...especially with Sugar in this position. Anyone who has ever been buried in sand alwasy finds sand on their 'person' in places one would think sand wouldn't go!

Sugar is such a good doggie that she sat quietly as this event happened and it's the cutest thing.

Yes, both of them got a bath that evening! :)

Have a great weekend y'all!!!

Company Picnic - Lake Winnepesokah

So today was the company picnic. They rented out the local amusement park for the day for us. And what a day it was. We rode just about every ride there - some more than once. We had a great meal, walked a lot, enjoyed time with friends, walked a lot, drank a lot of water, walked a lot, sweated a lot, walked even more, and had an absolute ball. Did I mention we walked a little. :)

Here's Natalie my litle biker chick - concentrating pretty seriously ridin her 'hog' around! :) CUTE.

In fact we went on about 3 rides that make your tummy tingle and Natalie isn't really up for that kinda stuff. Joelle on the other hand is a crazy girl when it comes to that stuff. She can't get enough tummy tingle.

What a fun, FUN day we had!!!

Psycho Drivers

Aaarrrggghhh!

You know - I completely understand why 'Road Rage' exsists!!!

Saturday, I ran into a bunch of goober drivers that really, REALLY drove me nuts.

First, it started with following a friend out to a picnic and the road went up Lookout Mountain. Now, I'm from Colorado and LOVE mountain driving. But taking hairpin corners at 50 mph in a minivan is just silly.

Pet Peeve: Driving together in a 'convoy' with anther vehicle(s) - if I'm in the lead, they drop way, Way, WAY back. Or if I'm following the lead vehicle they blow through yellow lights or drive crazily speeding up or slowing down. Aye yai yai!!!

Ok - so we had our picnic and a wonderful afternoon. Then we hit a couple of Geocaches on the way home. Yeah baby!

So we tried to find one more cache and were unsuccessful. Gonna have to go back and find that one again. Then, trying to get back onto the highway, we missed the turn and headed down to another on-ramp to get on there. Well, we got right in the middle of a traffic jam in downtown Chattanooga due to a graduation.

Well, at an intersection we sat through 2 green light cycles because 4 stupid mooronic drivers pulled into the middle of the intersection then got stuck there, because they weren't paying attention to what was happening around them. Because of these 4 and the traffic ahead of them, no one in the intersection could move through 2 green light cycles. So at the next cycle where I got the green - a couple of them moved so since I was taking a left, there was room and I started to sneak through - and as I got in front of this lady, she realized she could move 1 1/2 foot and acted like she was gonna run into me, then jammed on her brakes and started 'gesturing' at me through her windshield.

Oh man - that got me HOT! HOT, HOT, HOT!!! I tried to roll the window down to holler at her and just tell her what a dumb nincompoop she was for blocking up the intersection. But I couldn't find the right button. So I pulled on through and we got on the interstate and headed towards home.

Then, because of more traffic - I had more merging problems with a couple of vehicles. Argh!!

Then back on a two land road, with a turn lane, someone stopped in front of me, in the driving lane to make a left, not even using the turn lane! THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE THERE FOR - THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT A TURN LANE!!! THAT'S WHAT THOSE CURVED ARROWS IN THOSE LANES ARE FOR!!!

Then, THEN following this big Chevy Blazer around a corner up a hill, they decide at the last minute to make a left, don't use the blinker, just jam on the brakes and turn, don't use the turn lane, don't even look ahead and almost run into an on-coming vehicle and veer back into our lane.

So I'm railing against the quality of drivers out there with each incident and Doreen is just laughing herself to death because of my antics in handling the actions of these poor quality drivers.

What, WHAT, WHAT is the matter with people when they get behind a steering wheel - they just get stupid? Very, VERY stupid?!!!!

I mean, I have problems with people like that on the truck, but it doesn't bother me as much - maybe becasue I've come to expect it out there - and it just takes me off guard when I'm in a little vehicle.

People have just become so incredibly inconsiderate while driving now-a-days. They cut you off, don't merge properly, don't give-way to let people in. Their are so many talking on the phone, they don't take the time to signal and use their blinkers or prepare for obstacles down the road. So many don't even prepare for an exit coming up and jump over 3 lanes in front of a bunch of people to try and make the exit ramp.

Man-o-man O man!!!

Psycho, psycho drivers.

Gym Girls

The latest Bubbie box we received had these two matching gym outfits that are absolutely perfect for the girls. It was very natural for them to strike this pose! They can't wait to start a gymnastics class this next fall.

Two Too Cute!!!

"FIRE IN THE HOLE!"

A week ago when Doreen was at softball practice with her friend Cheryl, I got together with Chery's husband Tracy and the girls, Tracy and I fired lots and lots of bullets at things that blew up...

...got 'hole-y', disentegrated, flew off the ground, looks like a block of swiss cheese and just generally had a lot of fun. The top photo is JP shooting my .12 gauge shotgun. The bottom she's help to fire a .357.

Sweet!

Daddy Coloring Seat

So on Wednesday this week, due to a flat tire on the trailer before we left, and an added backhaul in the middle of Ohio (We try to avoid going thru OH going to and from MI - We all run IN because we can run 65mph instead of the snail paced 55mph! **grin**), I didn't get home until 5a.
So part of my interaction with the girls was to be a comfy seat the girls could sit on and color with their crayons till their little hearts were content! I got to relax, snooze and generally enjoy myself! :)

Adventurers Sunday - Tennessee Aquarium

Last Sunday we had Adventurers Sunday taking the kids to the Tennessee Awuarium. Here Natalie is checking out a beautiful butterfly...





...and here Joelle has landed some odd looking creature she took home with her. We're in the undersea cave!

It was all a pretty fun day!

Fleet

Here's the fleet all in, cleaned up, loaded and resting ready to head out for another busy week of work!

Re-Connecting

So this weekend, we went to a campground, we've camped at a number of times with our old church family.

They were camping there, and we went up to spend the day with them. Hadn't in a while.

It was great re-connecting with some old friends. These are the people that were there before Joelle was born, many of them came to see us/her in the hospital, many of them we helped and worked beside in at the church and did a many great things together.

It was actually Doreen that was feeling this nostaliga after we had to split because it started raining pretty heavy! :)

But then later on, at home the girls and I were wrestling around and Doreen was playing her guitar singing a bunch of song from an old song book she got back in our Illinois days.

She played #134 "Less of Me" and #237 "Try a Little Kindness." Both those reminded me of a friend who LOVED to pick those songs at EVERY song-service then shoot me an evil littl grin. Then she played #93 "I'll Fly Away" which reminded me of a Pentecostal friend, who would sing in his rich bass voice SO incredibly loud every time we sang that song.

Re-connecting with friends and memories - Priceless!!!

Nice!

Fav Pop Song

So while I've been driving, I've been listening to channel 08 on my Sirius Satellite receiver radio. It's all 80's music all the time - NO commercials. Of course I listen to channel 120 - ESPN radio, channel 123 Sirius Speedway, channel 103 Blue Collar Comedy among many others.

Anyway, as I've been listening to a lot of the 80's stuff again, I have once again been reaffirmed of my favorite pop song ever.

Jefferson Starship "Nothing's gonna stop us now."

Love the song. Love it in the movie "Mannequin" just all around my favorite.

So - do you have a favorite pop song???

Thar She Blows

So yesterday, up in Northern Michigan, we had one drop left and we were headed to it when we heard a boom, pop, hssssssss in the truck.

The hsssss continued, but the truck was running ok. Then another boom and it started blowing billows of white smoke everywhere. (We could'a charged them for foggin out the mosquitoes for 'em I believe. *grin*).


So, we're on this little two lane road with no place to pull off. A couple minutes later we find a place, turn it off and whoose, black oil start blowing outta the stacks and lots of other place

Turns out we blew the turbo in the thing. It took about 2 1/2 hours for our cooridnator and garage mechanic to actually figure out what happened, find a shop and a rental truck for us. Then it took another 5 hours for it all to come together so we could swap tractors, hook up to the trailer and boogie for home.

Usually when I'm on this trip, I get home between 1 and 4 am Wednesday. This week - didn't get home until 11a.

Got a good nap while waiting for the rental though!

That experience wore me out and I'm just glad to be home. Gotta go back out tomorrow, (to NC) but hopefully, I'm praying for a mechanically sound truck!

What an experience! :)

Double Sore

Happy Mother's Day y'all - especially to ALL MOMS! Y'all are very, VERY special.

So today, for Mother's day, Doreen met with some other ladies to practice for their softball team. She's not played in years, but still has the moves. Although she is very sore from fielding, hitting and running. She'll get into softball shape soon. Sounds like they've got a pretty good ladies on the team.

While she was doing that, I was at a friends house with the girls. We ran out quickly to show a guy our pickup - pray he buys it - soon! :) Then back and got the guns out and carefully we shot a .22 target pistol, .357 revolver and a 12 gauge shotgun.

Basically we aireated his lawn. Yeah baby!

Afterwards, we ran a couple of errands, ate out at a yummy Mexican restaurant and did some goofing around in the afternoon. We put the girls to bed, watched and was very dissappointed with the restults of Survivor, now I'm blogging, gonna go make my lunch for tomorrow's trip - pack my bag and hit the sack!

It has been a Good, very, VERY good weekend!

The Pesters 2006

Which Bunny??? :)

which happy bunny are you?

you are the cute but psycho happy bunny. You adorable, but a little out there. It's alright, you might not have it all, but there are worse
Take this quiz!








Quizilla |
Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

This can't be good, 2%??

... 76998 other people got this result!
This quiz has been taken 5032485 times.
2% of people had this result.

A Favorite Movie Line

Just recently I watched the movie by Reese Witherspoon, Mark Ruffalo & Mark Waters called, 'Just Like Heaven.' It's a great little movie.

It also has a line that is just the coolest.

"Look around you, OK? See this? This is the world. Join it. Stop swimming around
in your own mind. That is a dangerous neighborhood you should not go into alone."

That one cracks me up every time!

Oh - here's another one that is great. Pat Morita pulls it off perfectly in 'Karate Kid.'

"You uh walk uh highway. Walk left side safe, walk right side safe, walk uh middle get the squish, just like grape. You walk life, walk left side safe, walk uh right side safe, walk uh middle get squish just like grape. You must a find balance. Understand? Ush!"

A movie line, but yet a very, VERY good way to live a life!!!

I'll have to come up with some other movie lines that I love.

What's some of your favorite movie lines.

The Big "3-6"

So as of today, my life is over half over.

Well, the average life expectancy of a male in the USA is approx 70 years of age and today I turned 36, so I'm on the downhill side of life.

I'm hoping that by going downhill, it'll make a few things easier. Here's to hoping! :)

And I don't look at this all in a negative way, I've had a very full and good life. The best part is, I've still got years to go.

So here's to the next 35 years!

:)

Different Directions at the Same Time

Ok - so I had this really Odd thing today. (This is a true story by the way.) As I was driving from a stop in Sevierville, TN to Maryville, TN I was heading West, but driving on Hwy 411 South & 441 North. So basically I was going 3 different directions at the exact same time.

Can someone please explain that to me?

I can't wrap my mind around it! :) (Well, I can by understanding it's the Government that 'names' these roads and directions, and we ALL understand how confused they are!)

He, he, he!

Ghost Town

The year is over, graduation is finished and our bustling little town now has the feeling of a ghost town.

It was kinda odd driving through Collegedale on Friday and seeing the student parking lot almost vacant. Most of the cars are seniors and family visiting for graduation. But compared to how many are there during the season - empty! :)

We really love living here and it's interesting to see the flow of living in a University town. (Especially now we pretty much have to drive through it most places we go.)

Have a great weekend y'all!

Brave Girl

Today, Joelle had her 5 year old well child check.

Everything is in tip-top shape.

She even got 3 shots (vaccination boosters) and 1 hemoglobin finger prick and not a peep. She was a very, VERY brave little girl. All the nurses and Dr's in the area came by and mentioned they were impressed with how well she handled those shots.

In fact the nurse who did the 'deed' told Joelle, "you can come here anytime and give other little boys and girls instructions on how to be brave when I give them shots."

My youngest little girl watched the whole thing wide-eyed and told the staff that when she turned 5 she was going to come get her shots and be brave too!

It was precious and I'm a very, VERY proud daddy of my oldest little girl.

Exxon Chief Says He Understands Gas Woes - "B Friggin S"

Exxon Mobil chairman Rex Tillerson says oil companies do not get together and illegally manipulate oil prices. (HOW COME THEY ARE ALL THE SAME ALL THE TIME, OR AT LEAST WITHIN A PENNY OR TWO. MY EYE!!!)

He tells NBC's "Today" show that he understands gas prices are causing difficulties for people, but the alternative of no gas or long lines isn't attractive either. (UMMM - HOW ABOUT FAIR PRICES - THAT SOUNDS LIKE A PRETTY FAIR ALTERNATIVE.)

Tillerson pointed out that the price of oil is set on the open commodities market and the price at the pump eventually reflects that. (YEAH, PLUS THE HEFTY ADDITION THEY PUT ON FOR THEIR OWN POCKETS.)

Politicians and the public are looking for ways to deal with rising gas prices. (MAYBE GETTING THE GAS/OIL COMPANIES TO QUIT STICKIN' IT TOO US MIGHT WORK!!!)

Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas says the government must encourage alternate sources of energy besides oil. New Yorker Dominic Valente, the owner of a food distribution company, says he's passing on the costs to his customers, but adds they seem to understand. (YEAH, ALL COMPANIES ARE PASSING ALONG THE HIGHER COSTS TO TRANSPORT GOODS TO THE CUSTOMER - SO NOT ONLY DO WE GET STUCK AT THE PUMP, WE GET IT AGAIN FOR BUYING PRODUCTS THAT HAVE A HIGHER PRICE ON 'EM!)

Trucking companies are facing similar problems as they deliver their goods. (TELL ME ABOUT IT - I MEAN JUST A WEEK AGO I RAN 8,200 miles, DIVIDE THAT BY 6MPG, THAT'S 1367 GALLONS OF FUEL. TIMES $2.70 DOLLARS PER GALLON EQUALS JUST UNDER $3700 JUST FOR FUEL TO DO MY JOB.)

I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, I DON'T MIND ANY COMPANY MAKING A PROFIT, EVEN A GOOD PROFIT. BUT DOG-GONNE IT, DO THEY HAVE TO STICK IT TO US IN SUCH A SICKENING AND EXTREMELY UNFAIR TO SO MANY WAY??!!!!

NO THEY DON'T, BUT DO THEY CARE? AGAIN - NO!

THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR IS MUCH, MUCH, MUCH, MUCH, MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN PEOPLE.

SAD, SAD, SAD!

Stay at Home Mom's Salary Worth - $134,121

A full-time stay-at-home mother would earn $134,121 a year if paid for all her work, an amount similar to a top U.S. ad executive, a marketing director or a judge, according to a study released Wednesday.

A mother who works outside the home would earn an extra $85,876 annually on top of her actual wages for the work she does at home, according to the study by Waltham, Massachusetts-based compensation experts Salary.com.

To reach the projected pay figures, the survey calculated the earning power of the 10 jobs respondents said most closely comprise a mother's role -- housekeeper, day-care teacher, cook, computer operator, laundry machine operator, janitor, facilities manager, van driver, chief executive and psychologist.

"You can't put a dollar value on it. It's worth a lot more," said Kristen Krauss, 35, as she hurriedly packed her four children, all aged under 8, into a minivan in New York while searching frantically for her keys. "Just look at me."

Employed mothers reported spending on average 44 hours a week at their outside job and 49.8 hours at their home job, while the stay-at-home mother worked 91.6 hours a week, it showed.

An estimated 5.6 million women in the United States are stay-at-home mothers with children under age 15, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data.

NOT 'JUST A MOM'

"It's good to acknowledge the job that's being done, and that it's not that these women are settling for 'just a mom,'" said Bill Coleman, senior vice president of compensation at Salary.com. "They are actually doing an awful lot."

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, some 26 million women with children under age 18 work in the nation's paid labor force.

Both employed and stay-at-home mothers said the lowest-paying job of housekeeper was their most common role, with employed mothers working 7.2 hours a week as housekeeper and stay-at-home mothers working 22.1 hours in that role.

"Every husband I've ever spoken to said, 'I'm keeping my job. You keep yours.' It's a tough one," said Gillian Forrest, 39, a stay-at-home mother of 22-month-old Alex in New York. "I don't know if you could put a dollar amount on it but it would be nice to get something."

To compile its study, Salary.com surveyed about 400 mothers online over the last two months.

Salary.com offers a Web site (http://www.mom.salary.com) where mothers can calculate what they could be paid, based on how many children they have, where they live and other factors. The site will produce a printable document that looks like a paycheck, Coleman said.

"It's obviously not negotiable," he said.

On average, the mother who works outside the house earns a base pay of $62,798 for a 40-hour at-home work week and $23,078 in overtime; a stay-at-home mother earned a base pay of $45,697 and $88,424 in overtime, it said.

In a Salary.com study conducted last year, stay-at-home mothers earned $131,471. The potential earnings of mothers who work outside the home was not calculated in the previous study.

###

WISH I COULD AFFORD TO PAY MY WIFE THAT MUCH! :)

THANKS FOR BEING A GREAT AT-HOME MOM!!!