Bring Him Home

  Cindy and I went to see the "Martian". It had been along time since we had gone to the movies and they had renovated the theater in our neighborhood and we were impressed. The movie met our expectations but even better was each seat was an electric recliner - and very comfortable. With the price of the ticket - popcorn and soda - we had probably bought the recliner but had to leave it there.

I was thinking how some movies mimic real life.

Cindy left last Thursday for the next month to be with Ashley and family in Denver to be there for the birth of baby Crane - which is a blessing for me and Ashley and all. I will join all for Thanksgiving and the Baptism.

I feel like I was left behind and trying to survive. I have took inventory of the left-overs in my freezer and have calculated how much I can eat without having to cook another meal. We are video chatting but with the time difference it may take a day or so. I won't spoil the outcome of the movie but will let you know if I make to Denver to see everyone.

Take a deep breath!

Things I Don't See Everyday

  We went to Alabama to see the kids...Ok...to see James! Seeing Dene' and Tyler was a bonus. Let me back up. Cindy went to Alabama without me...then came back and got me...then back down to Alabama. You will have to ask her about the details of that. But we did have a great visit and had some wonderful James time. He took his first steps while we were there and it didn't take long before he found out this walking business is way better than crawling. Now he's doing laundry...no really...Dene' has the video to prove it.

 Water fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We really did go to Alabama to see y'all! :)

 

 

 

 

Somebody is helping with homework.

 

 

 

I'm pretty sure I won't fit in this pool!

 

 

Where's the laundry room?

 

 

 

 

 

 We watched the lunar eclipse from our deck and ate popcorn. Everything is better with popcorn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we had a visitor in our yard. He/She was hunting squirrels. You can guess who I was rooting for or against.

 

Sneaking.

 

 

 

I'm sorry to say the squirrels won. They thought the fox was great fun and very entertaining. I thought foxes were suppose to be crafty. How hard can it be to catch a squirrel?

 

 

 

Those are the 3 things I don't see everyday. The eclipse and the fox were fun to see...seeing my grandson...priceless!

 

Go Big Red! (Guest blog by Cindy)

Mike and I volunteered to work concessions at the Nebraska vs. Southern Mississippi game today (on behalf of our parish's Knights of Columbus council- a fundraiser for them). 

 

We had to be there 2 1/2 hours before kickoff.  We had a bit of time to explore before it got busy.

Pre-game

 



Here come the Huskers.

 

Games for kids and who-knows-what

 

Dedicated student fans

 

Our stand faced east and it was a beautiful, clear day (so I baked in the sun until it was high enough not to come in our windows or shine off the metal counter in our faces).  Mike manned the pop-filling and I waited on people (and practiced adding in my head and concentrated really hard to give correct change).

 

 

Oh, that's right - we're here do a job

 

 

We were there from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.  My choices for food (other than the 2 boxes of popcorn I had) were hamburger pizza, Runza®, or a hot dog.  The hot dog was my fifth choice out of the three - which left two hamburger choices.  I don't mind hamburger when I have control over the quality of it, but I tend to not care for hamburger choices outside of my (illusion) of control.  I was very hungry!   So, I had my first Runza®!  

 

Go Big Red!

 

Tail gaiting

 

Time out

 

Hold 'em! (They didn't - see video below)

 

I didn't meant to, but I helped Southern Miss.  In the first half I snuck out to watch a play, and we threw an interception.  During the second half I went back and watched a series of plays and Southern Miss scored a touchdown (which I happened to capture on my phone).

 

Click to hear the Husker crowd



 



It was fun.  But, after 7 hours of being on our feet, we were ready to leave.

 

Where did we park?

 

Final score:  Nebraska 36 / Southern Miss 28

 

 

 

$7,000 in sales in our stand and there are over 100 stands, not counting the specialty things like Colby Ridge Ice Cream.  Crazy number of people.

The Days Are Just Packed (part 2)

I guess it was my turn to have time off from work.  Mike was off for five months with his hip replacements (if you remember his blog "The Days Are Just Packed").  I just spent two months off on "garden leave." (Wikipedia definition of "garden leave")  But, I didn't hang out in the garden.

I spent time with Ashley, Alex, Michael, Liam, and John Paul in Colorado.   It was so much fun!

 

 

 





 

Michael's telling of "Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses" by James and Kimberly Dean

May be my all-time-favorite-thing-ever (click on the link)

I drove across the Rocky Mountains to see my Aunt Mary (my dad's sister) and my cousin, Sandy in Grand Junction, CO. 



I drove through the mountains to see my stepdad.  I didn't know what I was getting into, but it was gorgeous.

 

Just entering the mountains

The picture I couldn't get from my car:  How is this allowed? (click on the link)

 Near the top of Red Mountain Pass (old silver mine)

 

I had a wonderful visit with Jim!

I had an obligation at church for which I had to get home which made the trip to see Mary and Jim kind of rushed, but still so good to see them.  I drove the mountain route north of Santa Fe through Taos on the way home.



I was home for a couple of weeks (or so--time has kind of melded together) before I flew to Alabama to be with Dene', Tyler, and James.  I was there three weeks; Mike joined us for the last week.  Again, we had such a good time!  (Dene's blogs about our visits: First Steps and Other Adventures and   Loving Life with the Grandparents)

Blowing kisses

 

Look who's walking!!

Sweet home Alabama

 

I spent the two months mostly ignoring that I was loosing my job, allowing myself to spend my garden leave having a real break.  I was planning on getting into the job search mode the beginning of September.  I need to say that I was inspired by Whitney's blog "On Directing" to not get stressed because it is worth waiting for the right opportunity.  (Thanks, Whit!) 

Just before I left for my visit with Dene' I got a call from GSK HR and was invited to come back temporarily to work on a project (as backfill for a guy to do his job while he works on the project).   We think it is a great opportunity during which I will continue to work on what I want to be in my next career.

Tree House In The Hills ( where else?).

Our trip to the hills was wonderful. Seeing Mom and Dad and family was just what we needed! And as you can tell from the first number of pictures...fishing...especially with Michael - was - dare I say - the highlight of my trip. There is an open invitation to all my grandkids - call grandpa when you want to go fishing and I will come running and take you fishing in the hills! 

 

Here is the picture blog of our trip with a few pictures mixed in with "Old Man Willow" coming down in our back yard...since my blogging has been a little lacking of late.

 

 

 

 

The baiting of the hook.

 

 Waiting for the big bite!

Still waiting with grandpa.

 

 

Mighty fisherman.

 

 



Here comes the big fish!

 

 

 

A proud Dad and Grandpa!

 

 

The big catch!

 



 James and one of his 1000 expressions!

 

Grandpa and boys.

Tired John Paul and James and tongue.

 

 Makes me ready for bed.

 

 

The Teeth! 

What is a tree house without popcorn? 

Nice James.

 

 

 I have car keys and a cell phone. Now I'm happy!

 

I said...am I cute! 

Tree house...in Mom and Dad's back yard. 

 We went on a hike around a place a gentleman has created on his property. With no religious affiliation that I know of - it is a wonderful place you can get away from the business of life - if that's not an oxymoron when you are in the Hills.  



 Here is "Old Man Willow" - actually a River Birch . It was being eaten by bugs and was the main source of branches and leaves in my yard. There was a trunk that I was concerned about that was gong to come down without notice.  I was happy to see it go . Cindy was a little reluctant. I won this one...since I pick up all the sticks and leaves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The company we hired  had all the "Big Boy Toys" to do the job.

Grinding the stump.

Gone.

New view from our deck. I like it. Cindy is getting use to it.

 There was some forest fires in the Northwest and Canada that was creating a bit of haze through out the Hills. I thought it looked like the Smokey Mountains. It was quit stunning. I also thought our Lord was reminding us that even though our lives seem to be in-shadowed  in haze -  He is still in control. Now that is a Tree House indeed!