Slogging through the blog

Summer time...

2007-07-06T10:55:00.000-04:00

Well, it is summer. Like every other season, my head throbs many days ... seems to be weather related, but who knows.

The summer has been relatively quiet. After school was out, we spent a few days in Mt. Vernon, OH at a teen competition called BLAST, where my boys were competing and hanging out with friends. Since then, we've taxi-ed the boys around town and are currently preparing for them to take a trip to the real mid-west (to St. Louis). When they return, it's band camp time again! That signals the "end" of summer and the beginning of preparing for school and the marching band season.

Spring time in Ohio

2007-05-15T08:34:00.000-04:00

Well, it's been five months since I last blogged here. Internet access has declined thanks to problems with my isp and a lack of finances.

SonFest 2007 at MVNU, Mt. Vernon, OH is going to include Jars of Clay! Other groups that you've heard of (Pillar, The Afters, and more) are going to be there.

See http://www.mvnu.edu/sonfest for more details.

It's been a long 2 months

2007-01-03T09:33:00.000-05:00

Since my last posting, my father died (the day before Thanksgiving), my daughter moved to Tennesee, my two youngest boys flew to London, England with their band, to perform for the Queen on New Year's Day, and my eldest... well, Ben will always be Ben.

Healthwise, my arm is feeling better, but my cholesterol is too high, and I've got some sort of skin infection as well as something wrong with my inner ear. Oh, and a couple good friends no longer work with me, continuing to deplete my work group.

October already?

2006-10-10T09:04:00.000-04:00

Wow - here we are, in october already. And what has changed? Not a lot - still spending more time on xanga than I do here. For that matter, I spend more time on myspace than I do here. On myspace, I find more groups making music available to sample.

the boys at home are working hard at school. the two that have been gone a year now continue doing their own thing - i hope they at least are listening to the advice being given.

as for me, i've been unwell for about 4 months now. doctors say it is carpal tunnel - but i'm not convinced that is the only thing wrong.

End of May, 2006

2006-05-31T12:53:00.000-04:00

Well, another month gone. Yesterday morning, my grandmother on my dad's side of the family died. She is really going to be missed.

After a month, has anything changed?

2006-04-28T08:12:00.000-04:00

Google continues to take over the world. Web pages, search engine, blogging, what's going to be next?

Marching through the years

2006-03-25T09:02:00.000-05:00

Got an email blackmail message recently. As the world community grows, the scum apparently "rises" to the surface.

2005-12-17T05:16:00.000-05:00

wouldn't you think that, after two months, dealing with windows xp would get easier? Instead, the machine has to be rebooted at least multiple times a week - sometimes multiple times in a day.

Healthwise, I'm breaking out in hives - either that or an allergy. Yuck!

2005-10-27T10:12:00.000-04:00

Even more use of Windows - and even more regrets. Was informed this week that entire group needed to use Outlook calendaring. And company policy is that you don't get an outlook account unless your mail moves to outlook. So now I have the limitations of outlook instead of the openness of solaris, text emails, ability to grep, etc.

Sigh.

ugg - windows

2005-10-04T11:17:00.000-04:00

i'm trying to use a new windows machine at work. when I try to start up a stream to a radio station, the stupid thing stops after about 20-30 minutes. On linux, it just plays (unless the server itself has problems).

And man did I have trouble even getting the speakers to play.

Oh well, they call it progress...

2005-09-22T13:01:00.000-04:00

still struggling - my biggest problems seem, at least right now, with the two females in my life - wife and daughter.
Sigh.

2005-09-06T07:41:00.000-04:00

Summer is unofficially over, now that we've suffered through Labor Day (well, I did get some extra sleep - that was nice). Time for the kids to get into the school groove. My two still hasn't had a full week of school... that will come next week.

2005-08-26T09:08:00.000-04:00

well, two of the kids have, in fact, moved out...well, as much of a move as one gets when the person moving has no real new location, so they leave nearly everything behind. I've a lot of hurt over all of this, but I'm old and won't be around forever, so I guess it is okay.

back again

2005-08-09T09:58:00.000-04:00

wow -nearly a month's gone by since the last post. Problems at home vary but continue - one "child" working away from home for a while... in theory. Another "child" determined to do whatever she wants, but still living at home, eating food there, because she doesn't make enough money to do whatever she wants...

Meanwhile, we try to continue life as best we can ... the four of us.

Yesterday, the boys removed an old dresser that was mine 30-40 years ago.
It's made of pressed wood, with a cardboardish type material for the bottom of the drawers. It never did stay together very well, and so when my wife got a newer one, the old one is finally being "put out to pasture". Kind of sad, in a way, to see one of the last pieces of my childhood being thrown away.

2005-07-19T09:43:00.000-04:00

so much confusion over the past month. going through yet another crisis with kids, etc. having to do with jobs, etc.
I wonder if these things ever settle down...

2005-06-27T07:17:00.000-04:00

Well, back to post a quick hello. Most of my time these days is on xanga because that's where the majority of people I know writes.

2005-06-08T14:57:00.000-04:00

life continues at its hectic pace. my health improves slowly. my mind slowly seems to be improving. however, other areas of life continue to be ... stressful.

2005-05-26T15:28:00.000-04:00

Well, I'm on the mend after work on a large hernia. Doc says I've had it since birth - it just got worse after I strained it - probably moving trees this past winter during the ice storm.
Should be back to normal in a couple of weeks.

2005-05-06T11:21:00.000-04:00

health doesn't seem to be improving. Now my knees are giving me fits. Last nite, I almost fell in the basement trying to start some laundry. And now there are more tests the doctors want to do...

2005-04-29T09:27:00.000-04:00

News in the past week or so - more health problems ... blah! Also, went to see the "All Things New" tour stop here in Columbus. Loved it - 3.5 hrs of fun.

2005-04-18T07:22:00.000-04:00

I've been dealing with an increasing level of discomfort. It's not really fun - imagine that. I've also been dealing with stress because of various family member actions and really am frustrated over what to do about that situation.

2005-04-12T08:04:00.000-04:00

haven't been around here much lately.
More time spent on my xanga blog, and I've been dealing with a health issue.
I have surgery coming up that will likely keep me off the net for a while.

2005-04-04T08:26:00.000-04:00

ever feel too old for things? I've been sick for a week or so and feel so out of things that work is just a blur.

2005-03-31T07:06:00.000-05:00

Well, you would think that, given I'm on spring break, that I'd have some time to update
this blog. Instead, I've been vegging out. I've been so stressed over various aspects of my life that I've been using the free time to do chores, watch tv, eat, etc. Just normal stuff that I do every day anyways. The only unusual thing that I can think of that I've done is help my daughter get her car title transferred, get her plates, request info from an insurance company, etc.
She's just about at the point where she can use the car - just needs to sign some insurance papers and send a check.

Oh well, I really needed some down time.

2005-03-24T08:53:00.000-05:00

spring break tomorrow. ever try to do a vacation with no money and 3 teens + 1?
Sigh

2005-03-23T13:31:00.000-05:00

here we are, at the end of march. Weather is, as expected, cloudy/rainy. Temps around 50.
People at home are testy. I have a headache, muscle cramps, and more.

However, I'm better off than others, and so I hang in and move on.

2005-03-21T12:44:00.000-05:00

18 yrs ago today, I was sitting in a hospital delivery room with my wife, as our second child was about to be born. When she finally arrived, my story is (and I will always maintain this is true) that she began attempting to verbalize as I held her - and that she continues to this day to be highly verbal and social.

What a lady she is turning out to be. I'm so proud of my girl. She's applied herself to her senior year studies and has the grades to prove she can do it.

Just a few more months, baby, and you'll be out of high school. Then there's college and whatever follows.

2005-03-18T10:19:00.000-05:00

life is a bit frustrating right now - struggles at home with various family members, headaches and congestion, exhausted, hungry. Sigh. And then there's a problem with someone in email.
Oh well, just another day.

2005-03-17T08:18:00.000-05:00

St. Patrick's day. I forgot my green, and it seems unlikely that I'll get corned beef and cabbage today - out of luck when out of money.

Sigh.

2005-03-15T07:26:00.000-05:00

last night I picked up my daughter at the end of the evening. When I went to go back into our house, my knee seemed to 'give out' (buckle, no longer hold me...). My daughter ran inside, got my eldest son, who helped me back inside. I took a couple of alieve and slept downstairs fitfully. I'm hobbling around today.

2005-03-14T05:50:00.000-05:00

Another week of 'not yet spring' in Ohio - that means weird temperature swings, unexpected snow showers, etc.

Next week is a tough week. First, my daughter turns 18. Then spring break begins and I have to figure out how to keep 4 bored family members out of trouble, debt, fighting with one another...

arggg

2005-03-11T08:22:00.000-05:00

arrrgggg!

migrate already today, plus kids got up late so i had to run them to school.

and in theory i will be out late tonite taxing the kids to an event.

i'm so tired and feel so sick.

2005-03-10T12:10:00.000-05:00

just another day, with lots of work, confusion, chaos, and other normal stuff in it.

weather bodies threaten 1-3 inches of snow. my realaudio radio station appears to be down. just finished up helping in another gnome class - back to debugging the c code. sigh.

2005-03-09T08:02:00.000-05:00

weather is very cold this morning.
yesterday, when I left the house there were a few snow flakes, and that was all.
When I arrived at work - about 16 miles away, the ground and roads had a coat of snow. When I got back home, the ground had some snow, but it was still clearer than on the other side of town.
Weird.

2005-03-08T06:35:00.000-05:00

I really run into some weird things at times - for instance, the Seth Green show Robot Chicken. That show is so warped. There are offensive things, weird things, funny things, and things which are a combo...

2005-03-07T09:39:00.000-05:00

Weekend is a blur. Went to Dayton one day, went to Jackson one day, kind of vegged out, etc.

2005-03-03T08:11:00.000-05:00

life continues to be a cycle of work, care for the kids, occasionally church, then sleep, with bits of variation a few times a month...

2005-03-02T07:22:00.000-05:00

ran an errand, picked up one of the kids after work, fixed a lite supper, sat down to watch some tv, woke up 2 hrs later having blown nearly the whole evening, left at 10:40 to pick up another child 'from work', found out 25 minutes later the child had been finished with work at 7 and had walked to visit with friends... grrrr...

2005-03-01T09:22:00.001-05:00

Picked up my new glasses and the 3 new Miyazaki DVDs last nite, then went home and watched I, Robot. Fixed supper, did some laundry, picked up one of the kids from work.

March is here. There's snow on the ground, and a 'threat' of 1-3 inches by end of day.

2005-03-01T09:22:00.000-05:00

2005-02-28T10:10:00.000-05:00

sunday was hectic - I was exhausted all day. Kept falling asleep or very nearly so thru the day. And then there was the various dramas that occur with friends of the kids, and our own brand on craziness.

2005-02-27T06:54:00.000-05:00

Well, what a day yesterday. Woke up early, went off with the younger boys to Circleville for the day, got a migraine about 3:30 or 4:00 pm. Got home around 7:30pm. Gave up and went to be around 9:30 pm.

But we got to see a lot fo friends and enjoy a lot of talents at a talent competition.

2005-02-26T04:03:00.000-05:00

what confusion!

last night, it seemed like we had at least 4 places people were going to be. And that's how it started out. Then, we found out that someone got off work early and didn't let us know, then they wanted to go out, then they had to work late.
My head is spinning still.

Soon I have to get the boys up so they can begin the next part of the hectic day - and I still don't know where I am going to end up.

2005-02-25T06:06:00.000-05:00

Took the birthday boy out to dinner last nite. Took a chunk of bucks to feed the 6 of us, but I think everyone had a good time. 3 of them also did a bit of shopping. I'm not certain that they appreciated the effort of the evening, but I guess that's one of the side effects of being a parent.

2005-02-24T07:05:00.000-05:00

20 years.

It's been 20 years since my wife and I moved out of the small 2 bedroom apartment, into a house, became pregnant, and had the first of our four lovely children.

My, how Ben's grown. From that tiny ball of noice and motion, into a tall, handsome, loving young man, who is so musically talented.

Ben, you are great - I hope your life becomes better than you can imagine.

2005-02-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

well, work up this morning from a bad dream. Got up, ran some laundry, got ready, went into work. Already have problems sitting in the queue, so my day's work is cut out for me.

Plus, I'm struggling with a migraine - so far, not bad, but enough to know it is there.

2005-02-22T06:01:00.000-05:00

Well, an interesting weekend. Spent Saturday morning and early afternoon on chores. Then some of the family and I ran down to see my mom and grandmother for a couple of days. That was fun - got to also see my brother and sister. I don't see my extended family very often - even though it is only 3-4 hr drive, I'm usually working on chores, or we are running kids around, etc.

2005-02-19T05:55:00.000-05:00

Hmm, what to write about today. Kids - I wonder what the best approach is to help them prepare for life. I mean, sometimes parents toss kids out as soon as they legally can, to get them out of their hair. And sometimes, parents let them hang out to help reduce the cost of school, etc. But then, I know some families where the kids live at home for 30+ years, and the parents are cool with that, and the kids are cool with that.

There are all sorts of families, with all sorts of arrangements.

2005-02-18T07:12:00.000-05:00

I wish I could afford high speed internet - there's so little time I get access to either the net or the phone because the kids are online so much.

2005-02-17T11:41:00.000-05:00

well, today should be interesting. After work, I have to get home and get supper done so that we can take Laura to prepare for the orchestra performance this evening.

Also, I have to make plans for the weekend.

Another of my blogs

2005-02-16T07:04:00.000-05:00

I created the xanga blog when I found that to comment on blogs there, I had to have an account. I hate to give up this blog, which I was doing a little longer.

So I try to do both. Silly, huh?

2005-02-16T07:01:00.000-05:00

I've been feeling under the weather for the past few days, and this time, it doesn't seem to be glasses or migrate related. My stomach feels upset, I woke up several times during the night with an uncomfortable feeling, etc.

I was talking to my mom last nite. I was trying to figure out how I was going, on March 5th, to take Daniel to a band competition, then to southern Ohio for a weekend retreat, then make it to northern WV in time for my niece's wedding at 6 pm.

Mom said that I should not try. That's probably not a bad idea, as who knows how long the van is going to keep going.

Sigh - I hate being poor...

2005-02-15T06:44:00.000-05:00

Monday - Valentine's Day. I'm working hard at not being a normal guy who only says I love you on VDay. So I've been working at it, and tried some different stuff this year - two dinners a bit earlier in the month (cause vday is a school day and work day for the rest of the tribe), and flowers. And we sat and talked. Other than that, did chores, and crashed early cause I had to get up early today.

2005-02-14T07:04:00.000-05:00

Trying to maintain two separate blogs is wearing on me. It's annoying that we have to have an active blog to be able to comment on others blogs.

Ah well - a busy 'taxi' week coming up.
Kids needing to be taken lots of places for lots of things.

2005-02-11T07:23:00.000-05:00

yesterday was a stressful day. but despite all the stress and madness, I still got chores done, made meatball sandwiches (need to remember to reduce salt when using sausage in meatballs...),
went on the weekly grocery run and got to bed without melting down.

2005-02-10T07:05:00.000-05:00

yesterday was a busy day. This morning, when I woke up, there was snow and ice all around. Looks like 2 or 3 cold days in a row coming up.

Ben's wanting to get a laptop, but can't spend much money. Just doesn't seem like it is going to happen...

2005-02-09T06:51:00.000-05:00

I was really wiped out last nite. I did some chores, sat down to rest a bit, and fell asleep - I think a couple times - then woke up, exhausted and with a headache, read a bit (and I still am having problems reading with my glasses), then went up to bed and slept all nite and I still am exhausted this morning. Did some chores this morning, grabbed a bite to eat, and ran onto work.

2005-02-08T07:29:00.000-05:00

My 'favorite' time of year (not!) - when the weather swings from cold to hot and there's not a thing you can do about it.

Then there's the weirdness at my fav. internet radio station. I've not been able to 'get a signal' for 2 days now.
I end up being cranky when that happens.

2005-02-07T05:22:00.000-05:00

stayed up to watch the super bowl.
I don't watch football normally. I wasn't particularly impressed with this game. I had no emotional or other attachment to either team, though.

My wife and I just stayed home and watched the tivo version. I think she was less than happy though - when I would skip through the annoying multiple replays of a play she would sigh/grumble/whatever.

2005-02-06T08:03:00.000-05:00

Saturday was a quiet day this week. Kids were hither and yon, and I didn't get to hang out with any of them. The boys spent the evening at MVNU with the youth group, while Laura worked late.
So my wife and I just watched some tv, talked, and hung out.

We don't have big plans, right now, for super bowl sunday. At least, not that I know about.

2005-02-04T07:43:00.000-05:00

It's Friday. Finally. I don't know why weeks feel so long sometimes.

Last nite, it was father/daughter time. I love sitting and talking to my girl. She has these times when she wants to tell me all about school, friends, the impending graduation, etc.

Last nite was one of those nites - and dad was happy...

2005-02-03T06:53:00.000-05:00

another day - more snow/rain and so forth.

Not a lot going on right now - work, kids, etc.

Today and tonight should be quieter than normal.
Hopefully we can get the oil changed, return some dvds, etc.

2005-02-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

Well, here we go - another day. Got to pick up a couple of students staying after school for music practice this afternoon - hope I remember to drive that way when I head home.

2005-02-01T07:58:00.000-05:00

last nite, I was totally wiped out - went home, took a bath, laid down (bad migraine) and woke up 4 hrs later. Got up, watched some tv with the family, grabbed a bite to eat, ran a load or so of laundry, went to bed again around midnight, read my 40 days of purpose chapter, and was up again around 6am today.

2005-01-31T06:41:00.000-05:00

ugg - nasty weekend. Sick on Friday, semi-okay on Sat, but then got ticked off because of dumb stuff Sat pm. Sunday woke up with a bad migraine and things went downhill from there.

But, here I am Monday and the migraine is letting up, so I'm going to work today.

2005-01-28T08:14:00.000-05:00

Cold today. I'm not feeling well - my stomach is upset, and my joints are aching.
So I'm just going to stay home today, and try to stay warm and get some liquids and hope that things get better.

2005-01-27T09:35:00.000-05:00

well, the home site is temporarily down as my friend upgrades his computer os, etc.

outside, temps are frigid.

inside, Ben's wanting to learn Excel .

Life continues to be interesting.

2005-01-26T06:47:00.000-05:00

As the temperature rises to nearly freezing (nearing 32 degrees F), people are starting to get giddy from the 'heat' - one person mentioned this morning not wearing a hat because it was so 'warm'.

Sigh.

2005-01-25T07:30:00.000-05:00

Growing older isn't much fun. In particular, in this cold weather, I don't feel well most of the time. But we still have to get things done, so we continue.

Worked on chores (dishes, supper, laundry) as well as watched some tv with Laura and the boys. Dropped into the bed, but didn't sleep well because of the cold (and the music playing all night across the hall...)

2005-01-24T13:46:00.000-05:00

here's some current CCM songs that I really enjoy:

Casting Crowns Who Am I
Newsboys Presenc e
Phillips Craig & Dean You are God Alone
Casting Crowns Voice of Truth
Chris Tomlin Indescribable
By The Tree Beautiful One
Third Day / Steven Curtis Chapman / Mercy Me I See Love Salvador Heaven

2005-01-24T13:11:00.000-05:00

Whoops - forgot to add
Mark Schultz - Letters from War
and just about anything from Chris Rice

2005-01-24T10:20:00.000-05:00

Wow - when I read these lyrics
http://www.songlyrics.com/song-lyrics/Chris_Tomlin/Miscellaneous/Indescribable/248856.html
I weep over the wonderful nature of God.
Then I read
http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/thepassionofthechristsongs/iseelove.htm
and I weep over the love of Christ, which is above all other love that exists in the universe.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

2005-01-24T06:09:00.000-05:00

Beginning another cold week here in Ohio.
Temperatures are hovering around 0 degrees F this morning.

At home, I've got chores to get caught up on, and need to help some of the others on some of their chores as well.

This coming weekend, our church begins a group study of the Warren book about finding your purpose. I'm hoping that everyone in the family participates.

2005-01-21T07:18:00.000-05:00

Weather is snow - with an additional 4-7 inches expected tomorrow.

Watched Ella Enchanted yesterday - had some cute moments, but some awkward looking moments near the end.

Eldest son decided I needed to taxi him to a friends house last nite at 10pm, THEN, called around 2am for me to come and pick him up. Sigh - I'm so tired.

2005-01-20T08:14:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited to at least temporarily be able to listen to WNZR via the mvnu.edu web site link. I graduated from Mt. Vernon Nazarene back in the ancient days. We didn't have a radio station back in those dark ages - or at least, if we did, we didn't know it.

Anyways, when they are playing music, they are awesome!

2005-01-19T08:11:00.000-05:00

we had an inch of snow drop this morning around 4-5 am, causing chaos on the drive in. Took me an hour to make the 25 minute drive.

Last night was a quiet night, with some tv, some light supper, and time with the boys, while my daughter was at work and wife was at a party with friends.

2005-01-18T06:57:00.000-05:00

Wow - what a morning. Let's see - the temp outside is 4 degrees, with a wind chill of -10. The kids have today off because of a teacher training. I return to work after a 3 day holiday.

Oh, and Ben was showing me another Invader Zim episode before I left the house.

Laura spent another night at friends last night. And the two younger boys returned from retreat.

2005-01-16T08:27:00.000-05:00

Well, this has been a quiet weekend. Dan and Jon are on retreat in WV, Ben worked until close last nite and Laura worked until 11. That means Joyce and I were "home alone" after 4pm last nite.
Joyce decided she wanted to watch "Gone with the Wind", so we did. She then went off to bed when I was grumpy afterwards - after watching Rhett, I felt an empathy ... not a good thing at 11pm.
Then Ben needed a ride home, so I went and got him, and stayed up to watch some more "Invader Zim".

2005-01-14T09:55:00.000-05:00

Well, I have a dr. appointment this pm so I can see what's going on with these glasses and my eyes. I can't see half the time, and even when I can see, I'm frequently feeling disconnected because of depth perception problems.

Jon turned 14 yesterday - it's hard to believe.
Alas, we couldn't afford to do much. He bought some expensive (sigh) shoes with his b-day money, we bought him a DQ ice cream cake and a couple of pizzas, and we watched a borrowed Invader Zim DVD and some TiVo'd Gilmore Girl episodes.

2005-01-12T08:20:00.000-05:00

What weird Ohio weather. Temperatures may reach 60 today and tomorrow - and be back to freezing by the weekend!

It's rained pretty hard the past day or two as well. It's overwhelming the neighborhood storm drains, and the streets are about to flood.

Then, the two high school kids have end of semester exams the next 3 days - which means they have weird start and ending times.

And, the two youngest have to get packed for an upcoming retreat.

Busy times!

My eldest was watching, for the first time, Big Fish this morning as I left for work. He was at the ending, and as always when I see that movie, I wept at the ending.

However, this was the first time I'd seen the DVD. What ever possessed them to release it without closed captioning?

2005-01-11T07:31:00.000-05:00

"Taste and see that the Lord is good..."

Well, it's raining ... again. But temps should be up in the 50s and 60s the next few days, which should be nice.

We had various dramas last night - a break up, a discovery of at least one intended move, with discussion of another. Life continues to be one of discovery.

If only I could teach the kids to be aware of their surroundings and to take an active part in improving things.

This morning I'm listening to http://www.livefromstudiob.com/ episodes - at this moment, Denver and the mile high orchestra. What a way to wake up!

2005-01-10T13:38:00.000-05:00

Looks like things are back to working, sort of. This morning I tried to update and got a blogger server error message and lost my log entry :-(

Friday, I went with my 3 boys and about 2 dozen other friends to Ohio Deli, here in Columbus Ohio, to eat the "Dagwood Challenge". In 30 minutes, eat a side of french fries, 3 lbs of deli meat, tomato, lettuce, garlic mayo, cheese and a huge bun served together in a form that was probably 2/3 the side of a regulation basketball. There were about 6 of the 12 or so kids which successfully 'ate the whole thing' - and silly me, I was the lone adult also attempting the feat. But I succeeded as well.

Saturday, I went with 8 teens and 2 of my favorite people (Amy and Mike) to Circleville Ohio to their January Nazarene Teen Bible Quiz Tournament. Our team came in 7th in the morning competition, with one of our quizzers coming in 13th out of over 100 teens in individual scoring.

Saturday night, upon our return, my boys went out to eat on their own, and my wife and I went out to dinner at her favorite spot - Olive Garden.

Sunday we went to church a couple of times, I made lunch, we visited with friends at church after evening service, we came home, discovered the folly of trusting TiVo without question (it didn't record the first hour of the new 24 season!) and watched the first 2 episodes of the anime "Fruit Baskets".

What an exciting weekend! And next weekend is a 3 day weekend for me and a 4 day one for the kids!

2005-01-10T13:37:00.000-05:00

Hmm - has the blogger server problems been resolved yet?

Weekend Update

2005-01-10T07:37:00.000-05:00

Well, I tried this once, and got a stupid internal server error. I want to try a shorter message before I type all the previous msg - which blogger lost, of course - again.

2005-01-07T06:35:00.000-05:00

Well , the rain has stopped - temporarily. The temperature dropped again. The heat pump is frozen over, so we are chilly in the house again.

But the worst part is that my new glasses came in - and they are terrible. I think something's wrong with them - because nearly everything is blurry. I'm supposed to give them a few days and then go back to the doctor if things don't get better.

It's not been 24 hrs yet, so I suppose it is possible that things will get better.

2005-01-06T07:02:00.000-05:00

Well, more rain today. Surprise!
Some of the weather critters are predicting that by afternoon it will have stopped and that we might not get rain again until Saturday. Wow - that would be interesting.

Ran the dad taxi service last night - got the daughter from work, ferried a friend of her's home, then went home, the wife then took the girl to buy a new winter coat, then they came back and we all went to church (with another friend taken along), then picked up the oldest from work, the rest after church, took them all by a restraunt because a couple were begging for something to eat and my lovely daughter bought for them (and then forgot to get the one thing I asked for - a code icee - which she can, generally, get for free ... but she didn't forget here cherry icee...) and then took the friend home and then the rest home.

Get the idea that I didn't get much done in there? I did get supper made, and after I got back I got the dishes washed up.

I'm tired just thinking about it...

2005-01-05T06:37:00.000-05:00

Even more rain today - in fact, every day for the next week, with perhaps the exception of Friday, is going to have rain according to the weather channel.

There's mud everywhere, and flooding around a lot of low lying areas.

Temperatures today are hovering around 40 F. That's good - any colder, and all this rain turns to ice and we have an even bigger mess on our hands.

The older kids are working (too much) and the younger kids are talking to friends, getting school work done (they say) etc. Jon auditions for Jazz Band today - I so hope he gets it.

Is this the year of the duck?

2005-01-03T05:58:00.000-05:00

The rain continues - my neighborhood is sinking in the mud, we had lightening and thunder this morning, and they are predicting rain for 5 of the next 7 days - and no sun the other two days.

Another year begins

2005-01-01T13:41:00.000-05:00

Well, it's New Year's Day. Last nite, some of us (the younger boys, my wife and I) spent the evening with the Oates - friends from church. This year, few adults made it over to spent it with us. And we just sat and talked, whereas in the past we've always played games and stuff.
But we had fun, drank bubbly fruit juice at midnight, and went home soon after because our friends had a trip to take today.

This morning, I whipped up some breakfast, began the Christmas thank you note writing - which there isn't much of, given that we didn't get much this year - and put some hot dogs on to cook.
We won't have much to snack on this year due to various frustrating situations that never seem to give us a break.

I'm really sore - I spent nearly the whole day yesterday on my feet, with only a few minutes of break - helping work on the neighborhood cleanup. The younger boys and my wife helped - there were a half dozen or more trailers of branches hauled away, as well as several hundred dollars of firewood cut up. And yet, there is still a lot more to do. I don't know if I am going to make it or not. I really need to get to the doctor about my abdomen pains - but I also can't afford to ignore this work after all that's happened.

2004-12-30T08:30:00.000-05:00

Finally, the weather is breaking. Yesterday the heat pump thawed out and I was able to switch from emergency heat to regular heat. The kids still spend a lot of time on the phone, and I'm watching a lot of older television shows to clear out my tivo buffer.

Nearing the end of another year

2004-12-28T07:45:00.000-05:00

Well, temperatures continue to be quite cold here, with snow and ice everywhere.
The kids have a new favorite movie - Napoleon Dynamite - and I have watched it twice already.
I took a gift card given to me and used it plus about the last of the cash I had to buy a present for the 3 kids that I'd not yet given a gift. So now they all four have at least one gift for Christmas.

2004-12-27T07:48:00.000-05:00

Temperatures are still down around 0 F. People in this area still without electricity - at least 4 or 5 households that we know personally - but the news reported around 100,000 households.
The kids invited some friends over.

Alas, in some regards, it is not much warmer here than their houses. I've electric heat, too many windows, and I'm using the emergency heat because of the amount of ice and snow inside the
heat pump. Once the temps rise over 40 degrees I can try to hurry the melting process along with some hot water.

But even then, this house never gets warm unless the outside temp is over 40.

2004-12-26T06:42:00.000-05:00

Sigh. Over a week gone in my vacation. So far, I've hung out with the kids while my wife and eldest son spent the week in Florida, watched tv, watched Spider-Man II, Napoleon Dynamite, and Mean Girls, had to evacuate from my home due to the Ohio ice storm, and not only missed giving gifts at Christmas (for the most part) but can't even cook much for the family.

For the first half of the week, things were okay. But last Weds the snow began. That wasn't bad - we just tried to stay in. Then Weds nite the snow turned to freezing rain, and the power went out.
Thursday I decided to brave the streets and move to a site where I could at least cook
some food for the kids. We stayed there for a few hours, but then were given the suggestion to move to a local relief shelter for some heat. We tried that, but the conditions at the high school were pretty rugged. Friends of the family volunteered, out of the greatness of their hearts, to share their electric and heat with us for the night.

Friday afternoon power returned - and we returned home. The house is still cold - temps staying in the 50s or sometimes a bit lower - but we have a couple of space heaters.

Saturday, we ran to the airport, where our vacationeers were returning. We returned home, and Christmas afternoon and evening returned to our dear friends home, where we were treated to a wonderful meal and fellowship.

Now we spent the night here at the house. Weather.com is predicting that these temps of mid 20s will rise to mid 50s by the end of the week - finally, some warmth! Also, after payday and bills , perhaps I will be able to buy a few small gifts for the kids.

Even though so many preach that it is better to give than receive, it is hard for teenagers to end up with few to no gifts.

2004-12-17T10:55:00.000-05:00

Being poor stinks.

I mean, I have 2 family members who used all their extra cash to spend a week in FL the week
before Christmas.

I'm at home with 3 other family members, with about $5 a person a day budget, no Christmas
presents, no groceries or supplies, and somehow have to make the best of this.

I'm getting calls every few hours from one of the vacationing family members who appears
to be bored camping.

One of the stay-at-homes has work scheduled nearly every day in the upcoming week. So I won't see her much of the time.

But, I've a lot of reading I can do, internet surfing, TiVO watching (YAH TiVO!!!), etc.
So I will certainly survive. But it's not going to seem like Christmas .

2004-12-16T08:41:00.000-05:00

well, a stressful morning. I overslept - which I never (well obviously not never) do.
Got the kids off to school, then began helping around the house, reading email, etc.
while two family members prepare for a holiday trip down south. Now I'm trying
to get them to finish up the stuff I've been telling them to do for weeks...
Back later with updates.

2004-12-14T14:09:00.000-05:00

Today was my day to go out to lunch with some friends. However, before I could go, I had a class at work I had to help with. Class ran long, and so by the time I reached "The Rusty Bucket", the guys had all left.
So I ate alone - a little Aztec chowder (chicken breast, white beans, garlic, hot pepper, cream and chives), and a 1/2 lb Reuben with a side of fries.
It was a pricey (total came to about $18 with tip) but
after that class, I needed it.

2004-12-13T06:50:00.000-05:00

Well, my prodigal son returned home last night. Ben's intent is to move in with some friends in the upcoming weeks, so he's been spending time with them at their place to get to know them, make certain he fits in, get used to living away from home, etc.

It's hard for me - I really am Mr. Homebody, and love just hanging out at home with the kids. So having them begin the process of living on their own is tough for me. I am beginning to get a bit teary just typing this. Anyways, I know its for the best ... just doesn't mean I have to like it.

This weekend, Laura, my daughter, was so sweet. She took me out to lunch on Saturday. We stopped by an Ethiopean restaurant and had some great food. She wanted to bring home leftovers for the current beau to try out - so I gave up 1/2 my lunch to the cause. Didn't really matter - the lunch portions were so large I was pretty full.

Then, when we got home, she was getting ready for work and I found out we were invited to a little Christmas party.
It looks like it will be the only one to which we are invited, so I said "sure, let's go". We had so much fun hanging out with Mike and Amy Rodgers - they work with the youth at church and are such a fun couple. A few others - most of the Oates family, some of the Ruarks, and Sara Hunter and her friend Tyler, were also there.

Sunday, I found out that, once again, I was being asked to step and and run the powerpoint for the service. So I did it, and things went okay. Sunday School was a bit intense - the topic was supposed to be about forgiving, but the group was pretty interactive and we went in a variety of other directions. When I mentioned the tough time I was having with the kids planning on moving out, apparently I touched a nerve, because two friends came up afterwards and said how they too were either currently, or had in the past, had similar experiences.

For lunch, I made oriental sloppy joes (ground beef, onion, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, beef boulion simmered until the broth was incorporated into the meat).
Laura invited a friend over and they hung out... well, Laura was on the phone off and on through the afternoon, but hung out when she wasn't distracted.

We sat and watched tv after church and then I catnapped until Ben came home (around 2am) after work. We caught up for an hour or so and then off to bed to catch a few winks before work.

Only a few more days and Ben and his mom take off to Florida for a vacation with Hurricane Sara (inside joke).

2004-12-08T08:36:00.000-05:00

Well, they are at it again. The two oldest kids are talking cell phones again. In fact, the oldest went out and bought one yesterday. I can't tell if he did any comparison shopping and looking for the best bargain, or if he just let the sales people sell him something.

That's how my wife and I got into trouble financially - just buying whatever a sales critter told us was good. In many cases, it wasn't - we ended up with too much debt now and it makes each week painful.

Too bad people won't learn from the mistakes of others.

2004-12-06T08:29:00.000-05:00

Man, am I tired. I had a migrain most of yesterday. Then, around 10:30 pm or so my 19 yr old called home and wanted me to come out and help a stranger he had met to jump his car. When I tried to respectfully decline the honor, he got mad and hung up. Then, as I tried to go to bed, another child informed me that there was a strong likelihood of failing a couple of courses because of a lack of understanding material in the courses. Of course, this had to wait until mere hours before they had to arrive at school and face the possible consequences...

So sick as I was, I was up nearly 1 am trying to help them understand things like determinants and solving linear equations with 3 variables (we were not successful, I am afraid), as well as learning things like calculating taxi fare, reading train schedules, calculating interest on bonds, etc.

Sigh.

And of course, the weekend also held such treats as learning that one of the young people is making plans to move into an apartment with friends, and ... oh by the way, have I seen their work badges, their driving license, their bank card, ....

On the better side, Saturday I took the two younger gentlemen to a teen Bible quiz in southern Ohio, where their team came in first in the competition bracket and one of the two had the third highest score in his division.

2004-12-03T07:21:00.000-05:00

current weather patterns are giving me daily headaches. yesterday, I woke up several times through the night nausious and in pain. I couldn't make it up and operational to go to work; had to call in sick. There's a flu bug going around and that may have played a part as well.
However, today I am again attempting to make it through a day of work.

Went to son #2's first orchestra concert. He did well, and as my daughter says "looked cute in a tux".

Well, back to work.