November Vacation

Well, it is vacation time. 7 days to forget the world and get some rest. So far I have slept in every morning and managed to get up around 8:30. Lady is crafting away the hours and not to mention doing some power shopping. The drive down was uneventful and quite scenic as we drove US 17 instead of Interstate 64/95. We started the trip off with lunch at El Agave in Warrenton. Saturday was a late dinner at an Italian restaurant and some TV as we started our relaxing rest. Sunday night was spent at Christmas Town at Busch Gardens. This is a must for a family. The lights were great and we even managed to see all the Christmas themes by country. We managed to squeeze in 2 shows, Santa's Fireside Feast and Miracles. Next time we will see a couple others. We rode on a flight simulator as it flew us across the European countryside. We spent time watching a candle maker do his craft. Green Giant even bought a Harley Davidson theme candle. While we were in the "France" theme town, the snow maker came on and the snow flakes created a really nice feeling. The night was cold too as the temperature dropped into the mid-30's. Hot chocolate, cider, tea and coffee were the drinks of choice. We rode the sky-tram and flew over the whole park and enjoyed the lights. Then we rode the train around the park and saw things we couldn't see from the air. Today was the Pottery factory and we saw a lot of "stuff." Tomorrow we will do our first of 2 days in old town Williamsburg. Thursday will be Jamestown and Friday will be Yorktown. So we have enough planned to keep us busy. The 3 bedroom condo is really nice with lots of room. Sorry that everyone has missed this great time. Maybe next time you will jump on the band wagon and come along.

Turkey Day 2010

Well, believe it or not ... Thanksgiving has come and gone. Next up ... Christmas. 2010 has been a short and fast year. I hope everyone spent time with their family and renewed some relationships. I was blessed by having all the family at the house for some part of the day. It would be nice if that could be the daily norm but until then I take what I can get. Lady and Peanut did a bang up job with the meal. I could easily see myself at 300 lbs. if that was a daily occurrence. Wild Mom camped through the holiday and I know she enjoyed it. (Better if I had been there!) Work for everyone resumed on Friday except for Lady. Yes, I had to show up for a bit to get rid rid of a rootkit and trojan virus. Seems like the last two holidays I had to come in and fix a computer.

I am thankful for a loving wife and family. Was this one the best? I don't know because every Thanksgiving has been special. This day is better in my opinion because unlike Christmas it isn't buried under the presents and toys. Yes, we did eat a lot but it is hard to get mad when your belly is full and your eyes almost closed on their journey to sleepy land.

Thank You Princess for a special memory.

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Good Football since the Deadskins weren't playing. Geaux Saints!
Maybe it is time to do with Portis that we do all Turkeys. Pluck him and freeze him. e can't finish a season ... Have Obama pardon him and send him to pasture.

Is it Christmas, Thanksgiving or Halloween? The Stores don't know!

Let me see, it is November already. Anyone know where the time went? Bowling is progressing smoothly as we approach the midway point of the season in a few weeks. I sure hope the second half goes better. I hate being in last place. My job continues to require long hours. Just about when I think I have caught up and have a handle on things, the dam breaks and I am fighting for air all over. The vacation in Williamsburg Virginia at the end of November can't come soon enough.

Wild Mom is off camping in the new motor home and will return in a few weeks. Is that what retired life looks like? Hmmm. Lady's knee is getting better but it is still an annoyance. Though Sunday she did really good bowling when she rolled a 210. Sure beat everyone else that game. We always knew she had it in her. Once she gets the knee better and gets into bikini shape ... snort! The work scene at home remains the same with 3 of 4 persons gainfully employed. We all will be glad when #1 gets off the late shift and gets back to bowling before he forgets and can only manage a 145 average. The Fridge looks funny with all the work schedules hanging there. Great Christmas present though! AJ will have to find somewhere else to stick his pictures. Oops, no pins and staples on that wall! Lew, Lil Princess and AJ are doing well. Lil Princess and AJ are working on their attitudes. Trouble is we like it better before they started. Hopefully, the stonewalling, acting out and not hearing will go away as they get bigger. Is it wishful thinking? Starr left the grassy green fields of New Hampshire for the stubble of the Battlefields of Manassas this morning. Her and Chicken man will be moving in an apartment over on Yorkshire Lane. Isn't there a requirement that says kids will live X miles away from home when they move out? I must have misread the parenting guide. Oh, that is right, they never move out and then the rules are changed. Princess works all the time. Ruling her kingdom requires a major effort with little free time available. Someone promote her and give her a big pay raise!

The emphasis this Christmas will be on relationships and time spent together. So other than the grand kids, gifts and presents will be very minimal from me. I would rather spend time with you and have a meal with you. Lady is planning a great Thanksgiving meal and Christmas meal. So to start ... FREE FOOD with a grumpy old man on the side. I don't know anyone who would argue that the meal won't be great. So let's forget the commercialization and focus on relationships. If you disagree, please tell me.

Where Has the Time Gone?

Gee, I am really behind on this Blog. Needless to say, this past month I have been very busy adjusting to the new position at WAVA. Cheng left in early October and I naturally assumed all his jobs. They have hired another engineer to help out but He needs sometime to learn our system. For those who worry about this stuff, yes, it did mean a small increase in funding to me.

The trip to the Great Smokey Mountains (GSM) was fun. It was restful but we did manage to get in some shopping and sightseeing. One fun part was visiting this artist's shop in Gatlinburg. He came to our church a few months back and did a pottery demonstration while the Pastor spoke. Of course the visit turned from a sightseeing to one of souvenir buying. The 2010 Rennaissance Faire was good as ever. We managed to spend 6 hours watching and walking before we were wore out and needed to head home. I still didn't get Lady to buy the female metal breast plate! Bowling is ok. Both teams are living in the cellar these days. We just can't seem to get over the hump and win the close ones. Lew is averaging 89 and slowly getting better. That is, when I can keep him focused on bowling and not on playing with the other kids or video machines. When he is focused, his scores are more in the 115 range. Wild Mom is well. She enjoyed the GSM trip and then Camp Bluebird a week later. Now her new toy is at home. No, not Squirrel Man, but a 32 foot motor home.

I guess we will never see her any more as she wears the motor home out on the camping trail. Lady is well, though her knee is bothering her a bit. I guess the weather change is keeping it tender. Her Doctor's appointment went well with a clean bill of health. #1 is working and not bowling so well. #2 is neither working or bowling. Peanut is working and chasing after AJ. Of course, room rearranging is the highlight of the day. It is amazing how many combinations you can come up with even with the smallest of rooms. Gung-Ho Jen made it here with minimal hassle and problems. She is all moved in and busily hunting for work. Well, in less than a month, she has landed one ... Wal-Mart. Maybe #2 will check out her technique and learn something. Halloween proved great as AJ was Scooby-Doo, Lil Princess was a princess, and Lew was a super hero. Needless to say, way too much candy was given to such small people.