Followed by spring break and then graduation.

I do like the generally reality-slapping MN weather for tamping down the hormonal frolic. But you're right --the real test is spring. But then I cut them some slack, cause I've got cabin fever, too.

MAJOR FUCKING COMBAT OPERATIONS ON THE ROOF HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

It's all clean up from here.

I had one of the neighbors exclaim tonight (after eight pm) "I call no nighttime roofing!"

I'm so, so, so happy to be down off the roof.

Now do a rain dance to check it out. :D

My wife and I are going to the Oregon coast for a long weekend to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary.

Who would have thought a sudden summer storm in Glacier Natl Park, MT
would lead to a extended stay in a small mountain community,
meeting a girl, moving to Texas, Massachusetts, New York, and finally Oregon,
now with 3 daughters and with 6 G-kids.
Random happens !

50th?

Congratulations Lamplighter! My 'rents just had their 50th.

Having spent a couple of summers in Glacier, I would have thought a sudden summer storm etc.

Congratualtions! Why not back to Glacier for the Anniversary?

Because that fence is electrified now.;)

very good!

Excellent play on threads.

Only because it came around again very recently, although when I saw it, instant recall.:o

you're not likely to forget that one, are you?

beest went to the pharmacy for me last night while I was with the kids at a swim meet, and got the evil steroid prescription cream for my eczema. And now it's infinitely better. Thanks, honey :)

My intestines got a big thumbs up from the colonoscopy doctor. nyuck nyuck nyuck...

And aside from being happy about the clean bill of health, the experience wasn't nearly as traumatic as I'd been led to believe. They knocked me out for the whole thing, and it was downright easy.

I've heard the worst part is tie between drinking the pre-scan fluids, the day before, and the bill the day after.;)

Just "customized" Hector's Goalie helmet in advance of his first game in the net tomorrow. he likes it :D

I'm a little apprehensive. Not about the injury potential so much as what if he actually hates being in goal in a game situation or crumbles under pressure? All signs seem OK so far, but until now, it's always been his team mates shooting on him and no scoreboard......

Go Hector! What a great name for a goalie too...

Hector, Hector, net protector.

His helmet is navy, his team is Storm, he wanted (and got) green clouds with red lighning bolts. I used self-adhesive holographic paper. veree shinee

Go Hector!

I'm going into school tomorrow as an extra day.
I was invited in by Mrs M, as tomorrow they need extra help.
Because one of the parents is coming in to cook a Chinese meal for the children. And I get to share it :yum:

This age group has done China as a topic for the last few years, and the meal has always been a success. He has two sons in our school - one of whom I had last year, and I often bump into his (English) wife, who I also know as she came in to read every Friday. I feel like I'm making connections :) And that I'm wanted. Oh and free food always helps.

Have all the ingredients in that meal been certified by the "nutrition police"? I've been reading a lot of stupid stories about the authorities in Britain, and the US, meddling is school lunches/snacks.

Once a year we have a "Healthy Lunchbox Day" where lunchboxes are actually examined and judged.
Given that this is well-advertised beforehand, and parents reminded twice, I do wonder about some parents' choices... But 75% in our school seem to have pretty healthy lunches - I was surprised to hear in conversation about children having pasta, couscous, pitta bread, wraps, tuna salad etc.

I think it only becomes an issue in schools were parents either don't know or don't care. Packing your kid off with a prepacked high saturated fat, high salt snack as their main meal of the day is poor parenting.

Bear in mind that many articles regarding "meddling" in school meals are almost always from the right wing press pursuing a "nanny state" agenda. One such paper gave a "Hero of the Year" award to mothers who threw burgers and chips (fries) meals over the fence to children "forced" to eat Jamie Oliver's nutritionally balanced meals. What heroes, eh! Given that they were on free school meals anyway.

All I can say experience-wise is that our school's only hard and fast rule is water or fruitjuice only with lunch. No fizzy drinks. And once a year children's lunchboxes are monitored, and as I said above it is with plenty of notice.

So we've made and eaten cakes and biscuits in class, the children get a pizza making lesson in Pizza Express (and eat their creations) and all that and everything. I doubt Mr C will be using too much oil or MSG. It's about balance.

I got my stained glass clock today ...

Very nice.

Cool, Nirvana, custom made I assume.

The Flyers are undefeated!

So are the Phillies!

And the Sixers.... HAHAHAH

Today was a beautiful sunshiny day, so in the morning I went to the pool and did a few laps, then tried out the steam room-fantastic-I feel like I can breathe again. Then, about an hour before the sun set, I got on my bike for the first time in months and rode across town and back (about 20 kms) and loved pretty much every second of it. Tomorrow, I WILL be riding to work. :)

Well, I'm not exactly happy per se...but I am in a state of peace? I don't know...I'm in a decent mood and feeling good, so...there.

The leg is healing nicely...to those that wondered, yes...I fell off the toilet while taking a shit. I am now a legend in certain circles. I've been in a walking boot for 2 weeks and have to wear it 3 more.

The divorce is still on, but there really isn't a whole lot I can do on that front until I'm back in St. Louis, which might finally happen next week. I need to get home, get my stuff, get my own place and just knock it out. I'm already moving forward.

I've gone through a lot of rejection in my life, but from here on out, though it will still suck, I should be able to handle it better. I've faced the ultimate rejection now...the person I planned on spending forever with told me it wasn't happening. So any rejection from here on out should be Puppy Chow.

Work has been fulfilling, and I am hopeful that these guys will offer me a permanent position in St. Louis when I get back. If not, someone else will. I've made my mark here, and have the praises to prove it.

I dunno...I'm just feeling good about things in general. Can't complain.

A peaceful mind is good Syc.

Went mountain biking this morning despite being quite sore from working out with a potential 2012 Olympic fencer yesterday. About an hour and a half into the ride I caught the flow, mind and body went all quiet and smooth for a few minutes. It was so very nice, bar-ends close to the trees, leaf covered trail hiding the little obstacles that can get in your head, a very fast swooping track. Then one of my buddies flatted and broke the spell, but I kept the natural buzz.

my 11 y.o. grandson is a voracious reader and we I bond over books--like Percy Jackson. So, when I found out the first book of Rick Riordan's new series comes out today (Oct. 12), I pre-ordered from Amazon and sent it to him as a surprise (only $10--couldn't resist!)

His mom called me so he could open it while I was on the phone. He was soooo stoked! I told him it came out today and he was the first to read it!

Kinda special.

That's just lovely Cloud. :) That brought a smile to my face. It's people like you that remind me why I keep coming here.

Chilean miners rescue is underway

:) @ Ali

Also happy about this.

Last day on the water with the boat. It was just absolutely beautiful. Mid 80's, water was flat. Fished for a few hours and got nothing.

Nudity abounds.

The fish never bit.

The day was a complete success.

Me no like the biting "fish"

*Grins*

I handed in my Masters thesis yesterday.

I was supposed to hand it in two weeks ago, but I got ill, and then got into a bit of a state with it all, and ended up with my tutor arranging a 2 week extension to my deadline.

Even so, I ended up having to pull an all nighter (actually, in the end it was 38 hours straight working :P) to get it in.

So, yesterday...having been up and working since 7:30 Thursday AM, I went straight through and into Uni...just about managed to get the last couple of bits done (the front page and contents, bibliography etc) and had to run across campus to the print shop to leave it with them for binding.

Then went and taught a class for an hour and a half (having not slept lol) and then....finally....at 3:30 PM I handed the bastard in at the office.

I now have to wait for my Viva (oral exam with a panel of three examiners, one from uni and two externals). At which point they will probably tell me to go away and tidy it up *grins* before final submission.

The word limit on the research MA thesis is 30k. With lots of furious cutting and pasting, and rewriting and reorganising....I managed to bring it in at 28,700 words :P

I then came home and was so hyped I couldn't make myself go to bed. 2:30 am by the time I got in bed: 43 hours after getting out of bed on Thursday.





[eta] Oh yeah. And I am now the proud owner of an i-phone 4 :)

Just catching up here: Syc - I hope the peaceful mind lasts; Cloud - you rock; Merc, Griff - stopping to smell the roses, great; Dana - well done, grrl! (I've got a poor man's Iphone 4 (an Ipod 4), fun aren't they! :)!).

Kudos, on the accomplishment! I'm happy to see despite all this book learnin' and workin' within the system, indeed, becoming part of the establishment, you've managed to remain true to thyself. :haha:


btw, iPhone5 will be out after the first of the year.

Dana - you've probably mentioned this somewhere - what was the subject of your thesis?

*Smiles*

It was about 18th century British army deserters and their families. Specifically identifying female agency and the role of the domestic in influencing soldiers to desert, and looking at cultural responses to deserters and the relationship between military and domestic spheres.

Oh, why it was women that brought down the Empire. :lol2:

*chuckles*
Ha ha Ok, no. But seriously. What was your thesis about?

Mainly it was all about the cock.

;)

Shut up already, man... do you want her to go & start posting excerpts???


No, seriously, it sounds interesting. It reminds me of Mothers of Invention, which recently made its way onto my to-read list.

A Good sharp Chain on the chain saw ,
a tree in NEED of coming down ,
a Nice cool Afternoon to deal with it ,

Oh and then beer thirty after :D

You need to get that stump carved into a cock shape.

Enjoying bonfire - watching the stars - listening to critters in the woods - and spending an extended weekend camping with the family.

Yzzy that sounds lovely!

I just had a lie-in :) I stayed up late last night just reading and watching tv etc. Then I went to bed and didnt set my alarm. What luxury! *grins*

Get any pictures of the foliage to share? We also accept naked campfire dancing. :haha:

And a big change of pace from the last few days. :)

the kids and i are at hershey park. there is hardly anyone here. it's excellent. $40 for lunch is less awesome, but hey... we'll be here till they close at 9. you should come out. there are no lines.

I love Hershey Park.

As long as you don't have to drive through Hershey highway to get there, I suppose.

Another beautiful day. :)

A Small tractor and a small trailer , :D

That's a big tractor to most home owners, only small on a farm. :haha:

so, we rode every good ride at least twice. and we realized tht they take pictures of you on almost all of them..... we actually paid the $9 to get this one:

as you can see, Spencer became so bored that he nodded off on this ride (The Wildcat...wooden roller coaster) and Ippy was appalled at the state of her hair.... and I... well... you know ....