Monday, August 29, 2005
I Can See It Now
I spent the early part of the evening playing with my new toy.When we rearranged our bedroom over the weekend, part of the master plan was to ditch the TV, move the computer in and use the new 19" flat panel monitor in place of the television.
I bought a TV card at lunch and installed it in the desktop PC and it works like a champ. The monitor's viewing area is the same height as the viewing area in our original television and only 1" less in width but it's really not noticeable.
I did stop long enough to eat and take the family on a road trip to Wally World. Carmi wanted to buy some new table lamps for our bedside nightstands.
We truly don't watch much TV except for the news...and the Travel channel...and the Weather channel...or the History channel...oh, and the Learning channel...and let's not forget the Disney channel...but it's pretty cool to be working on the net and just open another window to catch our favorite shows.
I can see it now. Eventually I'll have to get another 19" flat panel and run a dual-monitor setup. I need to join Geeks Anonymous. {extended}
I Still Felt Awful
I was driving down Hwy 150 on the way to a computer store at lunch when a doe came from out of nowhere and ran head-first into the Camry. Surprisingly the car didn't sustain any damage but the same can not be said for the poor deer. I'm certainly not a member of PETA and I'll eat a chicken, cow or pig in a skinny minute but I still felt awful about killing Bambi. Rest in peace...Update: Carmi called me at work and asked if I wanted venison for supper. Ha! Ha, ha! Bop upside the head... {extended}
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Two Options
Oh my gawsh...I'll be popping Ibuprofen like candy all day. Even my back side hurts! I certainly don't get a lot of exercise but I'm not a complete couch potato so I really didn't think I was so out of shape. Seems that there are two options...exercise more or work less. I'm leaning towards the latter. Dear? {extended}Another Job To Do
Me and my big mouth. It never ceases to amaze me how such a little thing can cause such big trouble!I had cut grass in the back yard this morning, took a break for lunch and then headed back out just long enough to finish bagging several big piles of grass clippings. When I finished, I came inside at the tail-end of a TV program that Carmi was watching called Trading Spaces.
The credits began to roll and she commented, "I'm always motivated to do something to our house after watching a show like that".
In my infinite wisdom and without so much as stopping to think, I countered with, "Ya know...I have actually been thinking about how we could rearrange our bedroom" and then proceeded to explain my vision with gusto.
A few seconds later she nods her head in approval and crys out, "Let's do it!!".
Just like that, I had another job to do.
We measured and moved and groaned and grunted. When the dust settled at the end of the day, we had a brand new bedroom. Our bodies ache pretty bad right now so it will be interesting to see if we can get out of bed tomorrow.
As an aside, here's a picture of Eliana before I interrupted her afternoon nap. Oh yeah...she really likes stuffed toys...
Saturday, August 27, 2005
I’m Sorry…I’m Sorry…
Carmi was scrapbooking all evening so the Empress and I had a date. Woohoo!I went all out tonight and took her to one of the finest eating establishments in town...the Chick-Fil-A. For eight bucks and change, we dined until full and then headed straight for the indoor play area.
There were no kids in that play area the entire time we were eating. As soon as I emptied our tray and headed for the door with Eliana in tow, we were almost run over by a young boy and girl clamoring to get in. I'm not good at guessing ages but I would say they were probably in the first or second grade and accompanied by a young fellow who appeared to be in his early teens. Kids are kids, I know, but these two were quite obnoxious.
After listening to them scream like banshees for a good fifteen to twenty minutes, they were called down by their guardian and started making their way to the exit. As they headed out, I heard the boy say something like, "A kid with dark hair peed up there".
Now there had been a few more children in and out - two little boys with black hair and a couple of really young girls with blonde hair - but I just KNEW that the brat was talking about mine.
I called Eliana out and as she stepped into view, sure enough...her pants and socks were soaked. She had the most pitiful look on her face and kept saying, "I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." as we walked to the car. I couldn't be too mad.
Not long after E and I arrived home, Carmi called to see what we were up to and Eliana was little miss chatty patty as she talked to Mommy.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Can You Say “Yard Sale”?
Carmi took the day off. She and Eliana made their bi-annual pilgrimage this morning to see the dentist, Doc Davis, who is a member of our church and just an overall-really-nice guy. Both of their appointments were scheduled at the same time but that wasn't a problem as Carmi said the Empress did very well on her own. No surprise to me but Carmi said there was a lot of very serious conversation taking place in the adjacent room!After work, I hustled over to the local mom-n-pop computer store and bought a brand new 19" Acer flat-panel LCD monitor for our desktop PC. I have
We also went to Staples to look for a new computer desk. The "hobby" room where our desktop currently resides is quite cluttered so we thought to move the computer into our bedroom which would require a smaller desk. It just so happened that our friends, Ron and Jennifer Chilton, called before leaving and volunteered to watch Eliana while we shopped. We went to Staples and found the perfect desk and...dang it...they didn't have it in stock. The Associate ordered the desk online and said it would be delivered to my work on Monday.
We're gonna have one big ol' corner desk to get rid of. Can you say "yard sale"? {extended}
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Name That Panda
From the CNN website...{extended}
Good discernment
Carmi has taken the day off tomorrow. She and Eliana will be paying a visit to the dentist for a regularly scheduled appointment.
Tonight the three of us were in the living room playing around before Eliana was to go to bed. I got down on the floor, snuggled up to the Empress, put on my saddest-looking pouty face and said:
Me: You get to spend ALL day with Mommy tomorrow.
E: What are YOU gonna do tomorrow?
Me: (looking even sadder at this point) I have to go to work…
There was a pause and then…
E: Are you irritated?
Oh yeah…that’s a fair assessment and darn good discernment on the part of a 3-1/2 year old.
{extended}Wednesday, August 24, 2005
The Tomorrow Plan
In June 2004, the Chinese government launched one of the most incredible humanitarian aid efforts for the handicapped orphans in their nation. Calling it the Tomorrow Plan, China hopes to provide 30,000 special needs children with free corrective surgeries. Take a few minutes to visit the website for the Tomorrow Plan, watch the video and then consider what you might be able to do financially to help a special needs child in China receive a new lease on life. {extended}Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Anybody have a brick?
Just on a whim, we decided to measure Eliana’s height this morning. Her last measurement was on May 12 but I’m positive that we stood her up to the door moulding only about a month ago and she had not grown any.
Well she must have discovered a stash of Miracle-Gro somewhere because the Empress has sprouted 1” in that short span of time. She now stands at 38-1/4” and still weighs around 34 pounds.
Anybody have a brick I can put on her head? Our little baby girl is growing too fast!
{extended}Down The Drain
After supper, I made a quick run to Bi-Lo and then stopped by a BP on the way home to purchase one gallon of gas. At approximately 9:30 pm and under cover of darkness, I mounted an offensive against the yellow jackets in our back yard. I moved like a shadow to the suspect hole in the ground, turned up the plastic container, emptied two dollars and fifty-five cents worth of gas into the hole and then made a mad dash back to the house. Everything I've read about yellow jackets says that they do not move around at night. Try as I might, I could not stand there and gloat but will check on the carnage tomorrow. {extended}Friday, August 12, 2005
Summer Class of 2005
Here is Eliana and her school buds from the summer class of 2005. Eliana is the serious-looking one in the middle of the top row.
The little blonde-haired girl to E’s right is Anna Kate. She is from Russia and was adopted by a couple in our church.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
I Feel Better Already
Curse you, bee!Oh yeah...I'm talkin' to you...the one that stung my jaw on Tuesday evening.
The itch is driving me insane and thanks to you, I feel like scratching the left side of my face off.
I hope you died a slow and painful death!
AAAAAAAAAARGH!!!
There...I feel better already... {extended}