Sunday, December 25, 2005
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Snow Day
Well, no we didn't get to go shopping today. Not that it would have been much fun.
We woke up to a few inches of snow, but it got colder as they day went on so the roads never melted the snow.
I did get to try out the traction on the new studded tires. Every other time it has snowed there was just a wet slush on the roadways. Today it was really cold. The girls were all excited about the snow and geared up for a snowman building project. They lasted only a few minutes after wee couldn't find their gloves right away.
I told them to wait indside while I dug them out of the car, but they didn't listen. Oh well. They refused to go outside the rest of the day.
Which is the reason I had to run around town by myself. HeeHee.
Robin says I should be able to go start the shopping tomorrow. I hope so, although I am disappointed that we won't get to do it all together. At least this way I can get her something. I am actually going to have enough money to find her a real present.
We have had to cheat the last few years, buying each other stuff we needed or shared.
I also got the bulk of the Christmas cards done and in the mail today. Hopefully they will get down there by Friday.
Well, I must go. I have to see if I have any boxes left in good enough shape to mail presents. No, I haven't done that yet either.
We woke up to a few inches of snow, but it got colder as they day went on so the roads never melted the snow.
I did get to try out the traction on the new studded tires. Every other time it has snowed there was just a wet slush on the roadways. Today it was really cold. The girls were all excited about the snow and geared up for a snowman building project. They lasted only a few minutes after wee couldn't find their gloves right away.
I told them to wait indside while I dug them out of the car, but they didn't listen. Oh well. They refused to go outside the rest of the day.
Which is the reason I had to run around town by myself. HeeHee.
Robin says I should be able to go start the shopping tomorrow. I hope so, although I am disappointed that we won't get to do it all together. At least this way I can get her something. I am actually going to have enough money to find her a real present.
We have had to cheat the last few years, buying each other stuff we needed or shared.
I also got the bulk of the Christmas cards done and in the mail today. Hopefully they will get down there by Friday.
Well, I must go. I have to see if I have any boxes left in good enough shape to mail presents. No, I haven't done that yet either.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
The Office Party
Robin and I have finally found a real babysitter. (You know the kind that come to your house on the weekends)
We had to if we wanted to go to her employer's Christmas dinner.
The girls loved her, especially since she had bracelets for them to play with.
We ate steak and shrimp at this place that had really expensive dinners in really small portions, which was located right on the Columbia River amid the snow covered Horse Heaven Hills.
I guess it's officially Christmas.
We haven't got the Christmas bonus yet though, which means all the stuff we have on layaway will be put back on the shelves. (Those bastards at Walmart won't wait and it's only been a week or so that we put the stuff in there.)
Of course when we went by the layaway department today it was impossible to get anything out because of the lines.
Now we have to look for everything all over again and hope that we find everything again, too.
So, basically we will have to start from scratch on our holiday shopping whenever Robin finally gets her bonus check this week. (Which could be as late as Wednesday... scary)
It's that time of year when people start getting physical over hard to find items and I am going to have to deal with all those crazy people who wait to the last minute.
I'm hoping the bonus is deposited Monday since Robin has that day off. She has Friday off too, but I really don't want to wait until then.
We had to if we wanted to go to her employer's Christmas dinner.
The girls loved her, especially since she had bracelets for them to play with.
We ate steak and shrimp at this place that had really expensive dinners in really small portions, which was located right on the Columbia River amid the snow covered Horse Heaven Hills.
I guess it's officially Christmas.
We haven't got the Christmas bonus yet though, which means all the stuff we have on layaway will be put back on the shelves. (Those bastards at Walmart won't wait and it's only been a week or so that we put the stuff in there.)
Of course when we went by the layaway department today it was impossible to get anything out because of the lines.
Now we have to look for everything all over again and hope that we find everything again, too.
So, basically we will have to start from scratch on our holiday shopping whenever Robin finally gets her bonus check this week. (Which could be as late as Wednesday... scary)
It's that time of year when people start getting physical over hard to find items and I am going to have to deal with all those crazy people who wait to the last minute.
I'm hoping the bonus is deposited Monday since Robin has that day off. She has Friday off too, but I really don't want to wait until then.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Two Days In A Row
I managed to get into the office today. It's amazing.
I really like Caillou.
Well, I guess we are not going to be moving to Houston. Robin still hasn't heard from the company she interviewed with a couple of weeks ago.
She does have a couple of more interviews set up for January though. Baltimore and Washington DC. I'm sure you're just pleased to hear that.
Oh, great. I gotta go. I now have two girls on my back.
So much for being able to use the computer two days in a row.
I really like Caillou.
Well, I guess we are not going to be moving to Houston. Robin still hasn't heard from the company she interviewed with a couple of weeks ago.
She does have a couple of more interviews set up for January though. Baltimore and Washington DC. I'm sure you're just pleased to hear that.
Oh, great. I gotta go. I now have two girls on my back.
So much for being able to use the computer two days in a row.
On A Totally Different Subject
I missed the big 10-year high school reunion this last year, despite having talked to the old class president a year in advance.
Today she sent me the photo album from the reunion. (It only took her a whole year and a half)
As I watched all 148 photos play back, I recognized only half of them. I only remembered a third of their names.
I did see a few ex-girlfriends holding up kids, which was kind of cool. I don't know why it made me happy. I saw a few guys from the football team, though no one I was particularly fond of.
A part of me is glad I never spent the money going across the country to see people I barely paid attention to in high school. Another part of me is wondering if there is something to be said about those I was closest with. We always felt we were above it all anyway.
Not better than everyone else, just more aware of certain things. We thought outside suburbia. We were Pre-Columbine, but knew it was coming.
The new generation of a social conscience. We weren't fighting to end a war, we were fighting for an answer.
Our best voice silenced too early, the rest of us just went to the backroom and moped around.
I've been thinking about Kurt so much this week. I've been remembering a lot of things, thoughts I had back then, about who I wanted to be. What I thought my generation was capable of. Now I've come full circle.
Those things I thought about saying and doing, they are coming back from the depths of my memory.
My friends weren't at the reunion because we only tolerated those other types while we had to. I remember now.
Today she sent me the photo album from the reunion. (It only took her a whole year and a half)
As I watched all 148 photos play back, I recognized only half of them. I only remembered a third of their names.
I did see a few ex-girlfriends holding up kids, which was kind of cool. I don't know why it made me happy. I saw a few guys from the football team, though no one I was particularly fond of.
A part of me is glad I never spent the money going across the country to see people I barely paid attention to in high school. Another part of me is wondering if there is something to be said about those I was closest with. We always felt we were above it all anyway.
Not better than everyone else, just more aware of certain things. We thought outside suburbia. We were Pre-Columbine, but knew it was coming.
The new generation of a social conscience. We weren't fighting to end a war, we were fighting for an answer.
Our best voice silenced too early, the rest of us just went to the backroom and moped around.
I've been thinking about Kurt so much this week. I've been remembering a lot of things, thoughts I had back then, about who I wanted to be. What I thought my generation was capable of. Now I've come full circle.
Those things I thought about saying and doing, they are coming back from the depths of my memory.
My friends weren't at the reunion because we only tolerated those other types while we had to. I remember now.
What Day Is This?
If there's one thing about winter time up here in Washington I still haven't gotten used to, it's got to be the darkness.
The temperature is rarely above 30 anymore and there is always this freezing fog and drizzle making things wet and slippery.
It also makes taking the girls out for an afternoon stroll impossible. This week has been especially cold and dark.
I haven't even been turning off the Christmas lights during the day anymore, but niether have the neighbors.
The temperature is rarely above 30 anymore and there is always this freezing fog and drizzle making things wet and slippery.
It also makes taking the girls out for an afternoon stroll impossible. This week has been especially cold and dark.
I haven't even been turning off the Christmas lights during the day anymore, but niether have the neighbors.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Christmas Songs
We had another one of those moments last night. I have been thinking about it all day.
We bought a Christmas CD for the girls last year, which we play every now and then while we are driving around town. We were out last night driving home when the girls requested that we play the CD.
Once the music was on Chloe decided we needed to go look at "the lights."
So I drove all over Richland, in almost every neighborhood, so the girls could see all the houses lit up with lights and inflatable Santas and polar bears and penguins and reindeer.
Most Christmas songs on the CD have been heard around the house on an almost daily basis since I put the seasonal music channel on while I am cleaning the house.
Usually the girls play in their room, watch movies, or mess up the living room I just cleaned while I wash the dishes.
Last night it became clear that the girls love the Christmas music as they sang along to Jingle Bells, word for word, Frosty The Snowman, Santa Claus is coming To Town, etc..
As I drove through the lit up neighborhood with my two girls singing Christmas songs, I knew this was one of the happiest moments of my life.
We bought a Christmas CD for the girls last year, which we play every now and then while we are driving around town. We were out last night driving home when the girls requested that we play the CD.
Once the music was on Chloe decided we needed to go look at "the lights."
So I drove all over Richland, in almost every neighborhood, so the girls could see all the houses lit up with lights and inflatable Santas and polar bears and penguins and reindeer.
Most Christmas songs on the CD have been heard around the house on an almost daily basis since I put the seasonal music channel on while I am cleaning the house.
Usually the girls play in their room, watch movies, or mess up the living room I just cleaned while I wash the dishes.
Last night it became clear that the girls love the Christmas music as they sang along to Jingle Bells, word for word, Frosty The Snowman, Santa Claus is coming To Town, etc..
As I drove through the lit up neighborhood with my two girls singing Christmas songs, I knew this was one of the happiest moments of my life.
Monday, December 12, 2005
The Holiday Video
I feel sorry for that old man at the mall these days.
We tried again unsuccessfully to get a picture of the girls with Santa this evening at the mall. We video taped the whole debacle again, so you'll get to see the event when we send out the video later this week.
It's not all just holiday stuff.
It's 8 hours long. Do Not Try To Watch It All At Once. You've been warned. Not that it's all that entertaining anyway. My computer won't edit video more than three hours long. (You know with music and all that jazzy stuff)
Instead you will get some heavy breathing and windy static with very little narration. But you will get to see a small part of the area we live in and the girls playing in the various parks.
The video starts off in the early fall and continues to today. There is around the house footage, some scenery shots, fishing with Brian, the trick or treat outing, and you get to ease drop on whatever we are talking about.
Right now I am only sending the video to grandparents, but if anyone else wants one let me know. (Remember you can always watch it at Christmas time)
Sorry about the heavy breathing in some parts. It's not easy being a big fat guy.
We tried again unsuccessfully to get a picture of the girls with Santa this evening at the mall. We video taped the whole debacle again, so you'll get to see the event when we send out the video later this week.
It's not all just holiday stuff.
It's 8 hours long. Do Not Try To Watch It All At Once. You've been warned. Not that it's all that entertaining anyway. My computer won't edit video more than three hours long. (You know with music and all that jazzy stuff)
Instead you will get some heavy breathing and windy static with very little narration. But you will get to see a small part of the area we live in and the girls playing in the various parks.
The video starts off in the early fall and continues to today. There is around the house footage, some scenery shots, fishing with Brian, the trick or treat outing, and you get to ease drop on whatever we are talking about.
Right now I am only sending the video to grandparents, but if anyone else wants one let me know. (Remember you can always watch it at Christmas time)
Sorry about the heavy breathing in some parts. It's not easy being a big fat guy.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
A Trip To The ER
I can remember some time ago when I sent parents into a panic everytime I stepped out the door. Like the time I gave them a heartattack when I came home having been "poisoned" by some tropical fish.
What the Japanese-speaking local probably meant was as poisonous as a bee sting, and it would only hurt me if I happened to have those type of allergies.
Being an eleven-year-old kid from Texas, all I heard was, "Um, this fish poisionous."
Something definitly got lost in translation.
Which is kind of like what happened last night.
Only instead of not understanding Japanese, I couldn't understand screaming three-year-old.
As Robin and I were rounding up the girls to put them to bed, Mikayla decided to run ahead of us and close their bedroom door. Chloe apparently wasn't in on the plan.
So standing in the doorway instead of running in, Chloe got the door slammed on her hand. It closed.
When we opened the door Chloe went nuts. After half an hour of straight screaming and yelling, we went to the emergency room.
I couldn't understand anything Chloe would say. She couldn't understand me asking her to move her fingers.
She held her fingers in a very odd position and they were swollen, so I it looked like it could be dislocated or something.
At midnight we are sent home with an x-ray making us look like every other over reacting parent clogging ER's all over the country.
She woke up this morning like nothing happened. She played like nothing had happened.
Of course, I'm using the word morning loosely. Apparently codeine will make a kid sleep for twelve hours straight.
What the Japanese-speaking local probably meant was as poisonous as a bee sting, and it would only hurt me if I happened to have those type of allergies.
Being an eleven-year-old kid from Texas, all I heard was, "Um, this fish poisionous."
Something definitly got lost in translation.
Which is kind of like what happened last night.
Only instead of not understanding Japanese, I couldn't understand screaming three-year-old.
As Robin and I were rounding up the girls to put them to bed, Mikayla decided to run ahead of us and close their bedroom door. Chloe apparently wasn't in on the plan.
So standing in the doorway instead of running in, Chloe got the door slammed on her hand. It closed.
When we opened the door Chloe went nuts. After half an hour of straight screaming and yelling, we went to the emergency room.
I couldn't understand anything Chloe would say. She couldn't understand me asking her to move her fingers.
She held her fingers in a very odd position and they were swollen, so I it looked like it could be dislocated or something.
At midnight we are sent home with an x-ray making us look like every other over reacting parent clogging ER's all over the country.
She woke up this morning like nothing happened. She played like nothing had happened.
Of course, I'm using the word morning loosely. Apparently codeine will make a kid sleep for twelve hours straight.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
By The Way
I have reactivated the comments feature.
Hopefully the spam will not reappear.
Anyway, comment away.
Gotta run now, I'm fighting my way to Hill 30.
Hopefully the spam will not reappear.
Anyway, comment away.
Gotta run now, I'm fighting my way to Hill 30.
Christmas Cards
I'm doing it right now: Our first Christmas card list.
Ok, ok I know I should have done it sooner. Compiling Christmas card lists has never been something I ever really thought about. I'm horrible at keeping up with anyone.
So if I haven't called and asked for yours yet, send me your address in an e-mail to the rev hotmail account.
Ok, ok I know I should have done it sooner. Compiling Christmas card lists has never been something I ever really thought about. I'm horrible at keeping up with anyone.
So if I haven't called and asked for yours yet, send me your address in an e-mail to the rev hotmail account.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
The Unexpected
Well, with so many uncertainties facing us with Robin's work hours and the headaches associated with living half a country away from family and friends we had decided to begin a small relocation effort.
After a few quick nibbles on the line, Robin scored a phone interview on Thursday morning. Since the interview apparently went pretty good, we think there might be a chance we'll be Texans to begin 2006.
Have I mentioned how much I hated living in the enormously overbloated and overpoluted mess that makes up the greater Houston area?
But the drive is so much shorter.
After a few quick nibbles on the line, Robin scored a phone interview on Thursday morning. Since the interview apparently went pretty good, we think there might be a chance we'll be Texans to begin 2006.
Have I mentioned how much I hated living in the enormously overbloated and overpoluted mess that makes up the greater Houston area?
But the drive is so much shorter.
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