For Jack

God, in all God's mercy watches now over my uncle during his surgery. Thank you God for all of your mercy, love and care. My hopes and prayers are with you Jack.

togetherness

We are a silly lot

Thanks for the nearly great shot ...

Returning to the past

Thomas and Lois embarked on a journey into the past, per se. They visited the Pennsylvania state for Lois' nurse's group reunion. Thomas called and they arrived just fine and met up with 16 of the 18 persons. Sadly, two passed, but the remainder are kicking.

They plan to visit the Blashfords for a while and see the family, as they've not seen each other in a darn long while. They are in good spirits and I hope ... hope, that they bring back pictures of family I miss. They have plans to return on a day but are open to returning later.

Our thoughts are on Jack

If you have any time for prayers ... make them for Jack, as he has to have surgery.

Saturday, event day

shopping

"I bought a couple of big boxes of Oxycontin", Lois said in a victorious voice. Then, click, it dawned on her that she didn't mean Oxycontin, but rather, "Oxi Clean". Nonetheless, the statement is now documented for humor's sake. Thanks Lois!

one good thing

I pushed someone to finish what she had to do to start her college courses. She came in last night to tell me that she registers next week. Despite my evils, bitterness toward work, general vileness, I did something good. I got someone to complete a task that she needed to do, for her own benefit. I didn't try to push her into going to college, but rather to take the steps to get there since she already had plans to attend.

I am still evil, mind you.

no more the entertainer

The piano, after many delays, was moved today. May Debbie and family find good use with it.

two home skits

stor RAGE

Thomas and Lois rented a storage facility. Here's a peek.

Let us not forget

Thomas & Lois together ...

incidental witness

This cute little critter (young skunk) was eating roadkill. It was one something at night so the lighting isn't good ... sue me!

A raccoon scurried under the bridge after my turn, so I didn't capture it on video, sadly.

pale resistance

Lois is fighting moving or rather the thought of moving. She hates, "the whole Christmas season"+ She doesn't like leaving the homestead, the 30 some year home to which she has grown accustomed. The worst is yet to come with holidays. Imagine, a new Christmas in a new home. Not really a bummer, but radically different. Heck, it could be better and still you yearn for what was. Thomas and Lois are piecemeal getting their stuff to storage in the thought of moving.

The plink plink piano is next up ... Thursday contractually moved to Debbie's. Now, if she remembers, the 70s classic "If" that she liked to play. It is dreadfully out of tune.

+ "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

gift idea for Lois

Can you push these buttons? Can you clearly see these? Note the item on the left is a slipper ... so the remote is about as long as a slipper. Arthritis is not a fun fact.

and Sunsearcher fell asleep

Razzlefrazzle humperdink doodiddle flippyflop boink . ..

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


I guess she commented, but it wasn't in any language I understand.

My day

As well as the other things ... my in-laws came in to where I work today and another worker an "m" hassled him. What a putz. The poor old guy is 90+ and this putz who works there is giving him the above. ++

I got a reprimand for venting at work to no one. I vented to and at no one, yet -- reprimand. I will enter work tomorrow with a heightened sense of being, in that I will leave soon and they'll all be the same. "They'll all go back to being their retchid little selves, but perhaps a little wiser."+

+ Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
++ "Well, I'm sorry for being a shit to you all these years", Bill Paxton in Weird Science

fine

So that any reader knows, Lois is just fine. She did typical things today like coumadin testing and hair cutting and styling, and coloring. I'm thinking she's not a natural red.

plummeting

Well, Marcus' computer fell and is half-way functional now. The laptop is now a desktop, for it doesn't work well on battery. Crap!

Lois had a nasty tumble yesterday, but she's okay. Her tears weren't from pain, but rather from worry that she broke her knees. Far from the truth! Those babies could likely be run over by a car and be fine. She's just fine, but is still in her mixed up sleep cycles. Maybe this weekend will be better for her.

Charlie's home -- with Zesto!

Charlie playing "Chicken Little"

Charlie playing "Chicken Little"

Lori gets home, dogs go wild

Echo greeting me!

Well, I met up with Monkeyjack and family yesterday. We met at Munchies and we had the beer sampler -- 10 beers in 2oz shots. There was a Chardonary-esque beer that was bad, but most were fair. I liked the American Red of Mad Anthony Brewery. I wound up getting an accidental free beer. Monkeyjack was kind enough to splurge and take the whole bill -- I owe him!




We then went to Zesto's ice cream and later to Monkeyjack's place. There, Charlie wanted to show me rented games -- Chicken Little being his favorite of the two.

cards against them

Well, Thomas and Lois hosted cards last Friday and the girls won -- betting the boys badly enough that they couldn't sit down for a week. That makes, I think, 28:1 victories for the ladies over the gentlemen.

Eye'z it

Diane was suffering from eye pain on Friday and was soon in enough pain that she had to leave work. Thankfully Jim got her to hospital where the eye doctor is and he pulled out the handy-dandy laser and fixed the bleeding in her eye. Thankfully, little blood leaked into her eye, so while dealing with "floaties" as it were, she is better now. She is concluding her class by know-nothing professor D. M. Wit, Sr. Schmuck. Thanks God for intervening!

Meanwhile, this weekend Thomas and Lois went to a birthday party, an anniversary party and looked for carpeting.

Marcus worked. He still doesn't much like work.

While Behy isn't in the shot

This is her workplace at "work"






So, why can't we do that at work and get paid?

Train kept a stoppin' all night long ...

I was driving home from work, when minutes from work, there was ... [dun dun ----] a train. I veered right hoping to find the end and avoid it. I turned again ... going to mak --, lights went red and I stopped. That stupid putz backed up, stopped and repeated. After 30 minutes I gave up and drove down several miles out of my way to another part and finally got home 35 minutes later than I should have.

"15 minutes could ..."

Fifteen minutes could save you money on your car insurance or if you are shopping at an expensive grocery store, it could cost you $96.00. That's right! Lois went to Fresh Market and was able to cart stuff equaling $96.00 in fifteen minutes. If you think regular shopping is pricey, try a more organic approach and shop at "The Price Just Ain't Right" store like Fresh Market. I know that Marsh is also expensive.

Marcus and Lois went to pick up Jessica from Driver's Ed and needed a stop between her coumadin clinic time of 2:00 - 2:20 to 3:30. They opted for a shopping center. Marcus checked out prices on office supplies for work and Lois spent cash. Yikes! Imagine what another fifteen minutes would have netted. I think I know where my extra cash could be invested ... overpriced stores like that!

and the world laughs with you

Thanks Diane for this nice little video can watch when I'm down.

flip and burn

Lilly sniffs around, while Jenny and Logan watch Jessica try to lift herself upside-down

this great shot was taken on my camera by someone else, and I don't know by whom

Jessica doesn't smoke, but has a lighter ... she likes fire. Here, the trail of a recently fired rocket towers over her.

hurts

I found a new pain at work. Mind you there are the annoyances of fellow leaders and chiefs who are as much hypocrites as they are mammals. The flow of business and scheduling is hectic and chaotic. At work there are many ways to get minor injuries like burns, cuts, bruises. You deal with fellows (co-workers) and people whom you may otherwise be slow to throw the life safer.

Being a leader, I'm supposed to move left and look right, follow a rough sketch that defies regulations, policy, and follow the chief-in-charge, rather than a set scheme. I field questions, hustle like a paint shaker, then get admonished for working hard.

I found this new pain while looking for someone. I opened up a closet, where people do keep themselves so that they can complete work projects and not be seen/disturbed. I walked in and found a person drinking on the job. I am supposed to send the person home right away, document the event, and essentially sign the termination papers for the person prior to the chief addressing the issue and beheading the person. I didn't send the person home, didn't inform anyone else of the situation. The person seemed legitimately sorry and I suspect and hope that it will be my last hurdle with this person.

I might be completely wrong, and perhaps should have followed the guidelines, "according to the book" that hardly any chief does. It seems like a bill, with so-called leaders having a daily line-item veto or applicability exemption stamp. Since all the leaders have exceptions to the rules, generally as shortcuts, and are hypocrites -- am I feeling bad about what I did? I didn't follow procedure to get a person fired. I feel justified, but unsure whether I did anyone right by my decision.

Mary and Jesus, by James

James' work with pointillism, mother and child. I believe he was thinking of Mary and Jesus when he made this work. He claims that his work isn't good enough. Phft! How wrong he is.

While the Marcus is away, the mice will play.

Sparklers look fun in the night
Father and Jim discussing something ... pool related?
neighbor Mitch has some fun
Jessica finds a "hammock"
Jessica's friend Jessica and Jerrick
Jim, master of all he surveys
sunset on the deck
blurred vision .... Jenny & Logan
clever Diane spilled the ice cream

Logan balances a basketball on his finger

other "related by date" pictures

New Jack swing

swaying and swinging between Strawberry & Chocolate ... Jenny prepares her ice cream

Logan fancies himself an Olympian, not a swinger

old & new footage

My work hours stink, like a skunk stink! Anyway ... here are some pictures.



Okay! I'm all ready for the slide show ...
Lilly is telling Grandma that treats are in order.
Joe made it to 24!
Grandpa, still similing at 71.
Diane was not quite ready for the picture.
July 3rd, 2007 ... Jessica tries to hold herself up on the swing; Jenny & Logan watch
Jessica posed for the shot
Logan -- strong man, holds himself on swing
Jenny struggled a bit
Jessica attempts the puppy & slide maneuver.
Jessica -- happy 15th!

BTW: she's taking driving classes next week.
The score was 24-71 ... Grandpa won.

Dented

Thomas had a prominent dent in his van. Today he followed advice to remove panels and push/punch it back with a board. While it isn't "perfect" now, it is much less noticeable. Way to go!