As I sit here waiting for a polyacrylamide gel to finish running, I thought I would take a moment a write something. It is a gorgeous day. When I got up to teach at Core this morning, I was actually a little cold. For August, it is unbelievably nice. Perhaps this is a little payment for the lousy weather we had for the first 6 months of this year.
I have been watching two big digger things (as Michelle would call them) demolish a building just to the north of me. It has been interesting. Unfortunately, I keep missing all the cool things. Every time I turn around, they have knocked down a wall or collapsed a huge section of concrete slab. The shovel operators are really good. They will rip out a steel I-beam and then use the I-beam as a battering ram to knock over concrete pillars. We have been discussing how cool it would be to run one of those thing - at least for a few minutes. I think everyone with a Y chromosome secretely wants to drive and operate large machinary. Earthmovers, cranes, bulldozers, you name it. The bigger and more powerful the better. Does that mean that the dump truck drivers at Kennecot are the epitome of manliness? Well, I hope not.
Michelle bought me a new shirt the other day - without me. She bought it because she thought it would look good on me - and because it is in fashion. I somewhat reluctantly put it on today (mostly just to make her happy). I feel like I should also have on a pair of flip flops, have hair over my eyes, a bottle of beer in one hand and a cornhole bag in the other. It is actually a nice shirt and at least it fits.
Dan gets braces tomorrow. Once again, I am signing my life and all paychecks for the next two years away just so my dear children can have straight teeth. I guess I shouldn't complain, maybe someday they will be buying me false teeth.
It all started with Michelle Lewis from Ohio, and Jason Clark from California. We met on a bus in Chicago in January of 1992. This is a blog that documents our crazy life.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Caleb's Birthday and more Caleb
Caleb just turned 15 on August 14th. For his birthday he chose a buffet restaurant called Pizza Ranch. You can have all the pizza in all varieties you can stuff in your body, plus salad, chicken, mashed potatoes, breadsticks and dessert pizza. Yummy food. I tried to get pictures of him, but most of the pictures that I took of him at the restaurant he was hiding behind his I-tunes gift cards. Then that night was time for cake, ice cream and presents. I told him I must have pictures of him smiling or there would be no presents. The next day he brought his drum home from band to tighten something on it. So if you haven't seen a picture of Caleb in a while, here you go.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
This one is Fun!!
I got this idea from a friend's blog and then saw it again on a family blog. Would love to have you participate just for fun.
Here are the directions:
1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments
Here are the directions:
1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments
Friday, August 15, 2008
Hardest time of the year
I'm up late because of the Olympics. They are awesome. So many extraordinary athletes. All that aside it's been a hard week and month. Every year school starts again in August and as much as I look forward to that, it's sad as well. When all the children go to school it's so quiet in the house and while that is wonderful, it's lonely as well. Caleb is now a sophmore in High School. Wow, can't believe that, in just two years I'll have a high school graduate and all that goes with that. I just don't know where the time went. Today being his birthday I had some time to reflect on his birth and those years have just flown by.
Daniel will be at the top of his school as an 8th grader in middle school. He is excited and asks every day to get all his supplies together. Daniel has actually enjoyed supply shopping. Too funny. Jared is starting 7th grade at the same middle school and seems confident, but at the same time scared out of his mind. I hope he does well.
Brenden will be in 6th grade and at the top of his school for Roosevelt Elementary. I went to the ice cream social today with the children, and that was so fun for all the children that attended. Alyssa is eager to start school in 4th grade and Scott will be in 1st grade. I am so pleased that Scott got the teacher he did. Her name is Mary and she is actually our neighbor 4 doors down. I've heard wonderful things about her. I signed up to be a room parent for Scott and I'm excited for this. I was a room parent for Alyssa's class last year and did an okay job, but hope to do much better this coming year for Scott's classroom.
Their excitement is beaming. Tomorrow we plan to swim one last time if the weather is good. They all want to go to the pool again.
Why is this the hardest time of the year? I think it's just got to be all the stress of getting all the supplies, all the registrations, all the money needed for fees (over $300 is what the schools want) and that was without yearbooks. I choose to do yearbooks later on when most get them at registration I decided not to. I will send money in another month. Then top this with my business still struggling since the flood. It's not doing well at all. And our leak in the ceiling and this and that. August is always hard. Just trying to get through it. Then of coarse everyone seems to need shoes and clothing.
Caleb must have grown 2 inches this summer in height and feet. He went from a size 12 band shoe to a size 14. Wow, that's big feet I think. I don't think Caleb has any clothing that fits except for a couple pair of shorts and shirts. Then there's the other 5 children that all want an outfit for school. How do people do it I wonder? I hear some take their children school shopping and buy many outfits for each child. I will be lucky to get them each one item at Stuff (a nice consignment store). I love that store and when you get a chance to visit you must visit this place. It has the best used stuff ever. Caleb has worn some really nice clothing over the last year and you'd never know it's used and who really cares about used stuff as long as it fits and looks nice. I feel blessed to have that store. All the children also need haircuts. Caleb received his haircut today and Jared on Monday, but that leaves 3 more boys and I know Alyssa really wants one as well, but she may have to wait for a month or so. Just trying to balance out all these fees and extras that come with August. So stressed right now and I think I just wrote a book.
Daniel will be at the top of his school as an 8th grader in middle school. He is excited and asks every day to get all his supplies together. Daniel has actually enjoyed supply shopping. Too funny. Jared is starting 7th grade at the same middle school and seems confident, but at the same time scared out of his mind. I hope he does well.
Brenden will be in 6th grade and at the top of his school for Roosevelt Elementary. I went to the ice cream social today with the children, and that was so fun for all the children that attended. Alyssa is eager to start school in 4th grade and Scott will be in 1st grade. I am so pleased that Scott got the teacher he did. Her name is Mary and she is actually our neighbor 4 doors down. I've heard wonderful things about her. I signed up to be a room parent for Scott and I'm excited for this. I was a room parent for Alyssa's class last year and did an okay job, but hope to do much better this coming year for Scott's classroom.
Their excitement is beaming. Tomorrow we plan to swim one last time if the weather is good. They all want to go to the pool again.
Why is this the hardest time of the year? I think it's just got to be all the stress of getting all the supplies, all the registrations, all the money needed for fees (over $300 is what the schools want) and that was without yearbooks. I choose to do yearbooks later on when most get them at registration I decided not to. I will send money in another month. Then top this with my business still struggling since the flood. It's not doing well at all. And our leak in the ceiling and this and that. August is always hard. Just trying to get through it. Then of coarse everyone seems to need shoes and clothing.
Caleb must have grown 2 inches this summer in height and feet. He went from a size 12 band shoe to a size 14. Wow, that's big feet I think. I don't think Caleb has any clothing that fits except for a couple pair of shorts and shirts. Then there's the other 5 children that all want an outfit for school. How do people do it I wonder? I hear some take their children school shopping and buy many outfits for each child. I will be lucky to get them each one item at Stuff (a nice consignment store). I love that store and when you get a chance to visit you must visit this place. It has the best used stuff ever. Caleb has worn some really nice clothing over the last year and you'd never know it's used and who really cares about used stuff as long as it fits and looks nice. I feel blessed to have that store. All the children also need haircuts. Caleb received his haircut today and Jared on Monday, but that leaves 3 more boys and I know Alyssa really wants one as well, but she may have to wait for a month or so. Just trying to balance out all these fees and extras that come with August. So stressed right now and I think I just wrote a book.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Ceiling falling in Literally
It all started with a brown spot in the kitchen ceiling.
then two brown lines, then bubbled out plaster, then it felt wet.
Today the bubbles are large, the brown is bigger and it looks like the ceiling will fall at any moment.
Why haven't we rushed to call someone? Because many reasons . . .
Jason doesn't do plumbing
We don't know a good plumber and not sure who to trust
It's not coming from the toilet or shower
In fact we don't know where it's coming from. Looks like a pipe.
So today I have called around to some good friends and asked who is a good plumber, who can they trust. People that have lived in this area for years and years.
I finally have a name of a plumber, and will call.
I would take pictures and send, but our camera is so old (was one of the first digital cameras) that it won't sync with my computer (that is new). We used to put our pictures on our old computer. That computer crashed last week, so we won't be able to send pictures for a while, or until either
1. That computer downstairs gets fixed
or 2. I get a newer model of digital camera.
I e-mailed Cannon, the maker of my current digital camera and they said that my camera is too old and doesn't have software to be compatible with my updated computer. Bummer.
I'm off to call the plumber, wish us luck. I hope this isn't too major. We have enough stress right now.
then two brown lines, then bubbled out plaster, then it felt wet.
Today the bubbles are large, the brown is bigger and it looks like the ceiling will fall at any moment.
Why haven't we rushed to call someone? Because many reasons . . .
Jason doesn't do plumbing
We don't know a good plumber and not sure who to trust
It's not coming from the toilet or shower
In fact we don't know where it's coming from. Looks like a pipe.
So today I have called around to some good friends and asked who is a good plumber, who can they trust. People that have lived in this area for years and years.
I finally have a name of a plumber, and will call.
I would take pictures and send, but our camera is so old (was one of the first digital cameras) that it won't sync with my computer (that is new). We used to put our pictures on our old computer. That computer crashed last week, so we won't be able to send pictures for a while, or until either
1. That computer downstairs gets fixed
or 2. I get a newer model of digital camera.
I e-mailed Cannon, the maker of my current digital camera and they said that my camera is too old and doesn't have software to be compatible with my updated computer. Bummer.
I'm off to call the plumber, wish us luck. I hope this isn't too major. We have enough stress right now.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
It's Saturday!
I am tired. I somehow got roped into being the cycling merit badge counselor for our troop. This morning, after I got done teaching my Body Step class, I had to race home, load up the bikes and Dan and I headed out with some of the scouts for a 25 mile ride. I really love to ride and 25 miles reallly isn't that far on a bike but I was already tired. It is at times like these that I wish we had a hot tub. We still have one 25 mile and one 50 mile ride to do to finish the merit badge.
Other than that, it has been a good week. I had a very successful experiment at work (I have been detailing my troubles and now successes on my work blog) and am about to get a new calling at church. I have been a sunday school teacher for the past 2 years. It is time to change. Oh, I am being called into the E.Q. presidency again. It will be a nice change. Have a great weekend.
Other than that, it has been a good week. I had a very successful experiment at work (I have been detailing my troubles and now successes on my work blog) and am about to get a new calling at church. I have been a sunday school teacher for the past 2 years. It is time to change. Oh, I am being called into the E.Q. presidency again. It will be a nice change. Have a great weekend.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
Mindless blather
After the brutal winter we had, I swore I wouldn't complain about the heat of summer. I lied. When I went downstairs this morning at 4:45 to get ready to go teach, I noticed that I could barely see out my windows. After looking at them dumbly for a moment or two I realized that they were fogged over. Since my thermometer is set at 75 degrees, that meant that the dew point was over 75 degrees. That never bodes well. Sure enough, when I stepped outside, the humidity was oppressive. I know that those of you out West have been getting hammered with hot weather and that Adrianne and Mike are essentially in a pressure cooker so you will know how miserable this weather really is. At least we are not burning like you guys out West.
Flood clean up efforts are ongoing but slow. Many people have just given up. The same is true with some businesses. We lost our Aldi supermarket to the flood and our bank. I don't know if Aldi will come back but the bank is already rebuilding. There are some businesses that I hope will remain closed such as the Peking Buffet. It is a psuedo-chinese grease pit. Both Michelle and I got a little ill the last time we ate there. Even if it does come back, we are not going there again.
Flood clean up efforts are ongoing but slow. Many people have just given up. The same is true with some businesses. We lost our Aldi supermarket to the flood and our bank. I don't know if Aldi will come back but the bank is already rebuilding. There are some businesses that I hope will remain closed such as the Peking Buffet. It is a psuedo-chinese grease pit. Both Michelle and I got a little ill the last time we ate there. Even if it does come back, we are not going there again.
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