Hertford, NC Trip

Ok - It's been awhile; I know. I just got back from a trip to NC to check on the progress of the house. My Daddy drove up from GA and met me there so he could inspect the work up to this point. I was both surprised and happy that he only had a few "recommendations" for the contractors, and he was overall pleased with the quality of the work thus far. I was pleased that all of the floor joists were of the "engineered" type, which should make both floors much sturdier. NEW PICTURES!!!! www.sltodd.com/newhome.htm

As always, I enjoyed my trip in Hertford; and once again, the flight home was horrible. To make a long story short - my flight to Nantucket from Boston departed at 8:00 pm; at which time I was on a plane from Philadelphia, enjoying a bird's eye view of downtown Boston from the air, circling the city as we waited on permission to land. I slept in Boston at the Roadway Inn - the cheapest I could find - $89.00 - on Lydia's and my anniversary. I finally got home at 10am this morning.

Here's a few funny church bulletin entries that were listed in the Cape Air magazine on my flight to Boston............

The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.

Miss Charlene Mason sang, "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.

Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Jack's sermons.

A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.

Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community.

Potluck supper: prayer and medication to follow.

Valentine's Day (Belated)

Self portrait by Abe

Love is Many Things

Love is a Valentine.
Love is kissing.
Love is hugging.

Love is your cousin.
Love is your friends.
Love is my mom.
Love is my dad.
Love is helping cook.
Love is when my brother gives me a piggy back ride.
Love is when my dad reads me a bedtime story.
Love,
Abe
2/14/07

Island Fever and New House Photos

Sorry bout not posting in awhile - I'm sure all three of you who read this were going through symptoms of withdrawal. This whole dog gone island has been sick with various forms of stomach viruses, head colds, and fever. But hopefully this family is just about over it all. I had to work all weekend, thanks to the quick response of our local Verizon technicians. 48 hours to replace a circuit card! I would have been busted down to Seaman Recruit if I troubleshot at that speed! The worst part was I missed Noah's basketball game. Lydia said it was the best he's played yet - and they won! The wind has died down a little to 20 mph and it's not as cold - maybe 23deg for a low tonight. The sun is shining, too! Every thing's getting better - I'd better call Lydia and have her grab a lottery ticket on the way home. Anyhow, if you feel like it, take a look at some new photos our wonderful new neighbors sent us again. www.sltodd.com/newhome.htm OR www.sltodd.com/feb11housepics.htm

Steven

First Floor Framing

Looks like the boys have been busy down in Hertford. The Fitzgeralds just sent us some new photos of our house. Click HERE to go directly to the pics; or go to www.sltodd.com/newhome.htm to see more.

Oil Change

Today, I changed the oil on our Jeep Commander myself for the first time in the new garage at the station. This isn't my first time changing oil - I've been doing it since before I got my first car - but what I've found is that the later model car you own, the harder and messier it is when you go to change the oil. If I didn't live where I do, I would have taken it to a shop and got an oil change, fluids topped off, tires checked, and a multi-point inspection for $29.99. Instead, I bought 7 quarts of oil and a filter for almost $20 and changed the oil myself. Deal, huh? Sure it's a deal if you enjoy searching for the 13mm metric socket that fits on the oil plug of your "American made" vehicle; pulling out the plug and having a half quart of dirty oil flow all over your new mechanic's gloves, down your forearm, and exiting via your armpit onto the new garage floor; having to call your wife to look up the location of the oil filter on the internet, because the filter is under a skid plate and colored black, the same color as every other thing under the vehicle; finding out that the latest and greatest of oil filter wrenches (two different designs, mind you) won't fit in the tiny opening where the filter is located; finally getting the filter off after pulling your shoulder out of socket and having another quart of oil spill down your freshly cleaned arm; taking forever to get the new filter back on because you can't see the threads; putting the plug back in; pouring new oil in the crank case; cleaning up all that mess you made; disposing of the old oil and filter; and last but not least, having your wife chew you out for ruining another shirt. If you enjoy all that - then I guess it' all worth the $9.99 you could have paid a mechanic to avoid all of the above. Personally, I would rather get a sharp stick stuck in my eye.

Now - on to the van!

Pirate Party.......Arrrrrrrrrrrgh!

Click here for pictures!

Today was Abe's "Pirate Party". After two solid days of cake and cookie baking, craft making, grocery shopping, wood working, hole digging, stencil tracing, knot tying, party planning, and house cleaning - the two hour party is finally over. According to Abe, it was "wicked awesome!" Once again, I think about how much I need to get these kids out of New England! Just kidding, my North Eastern friends! Funny thing is I just watched a news program about how parents should strip down the parties and just let the kids eat cake and play in the yard again. I totally agree. I wish I had seen that program before we sent out the invitations! Next year.

Besides the work, the party was fun - and I think the kids had a good time. We were worried this morning, because we woke up to rain; but by the time noon rolled around, the sky was just overcast and the temperature was a balmy 33 degrees - perfect treasure hunting weather! The party was from 2-4 pm, and here was the schedule of events.......

1. Kids arrived and started making their own pirate flags with various markers, crayons, glitter
glue, etc.
2. Kids made their own parrot with fake feathers, eyeballs, and the above.
3. Kids colored pirate ships and solved pirate puzzles.
4. Kids played "Pin the Pirate on the Treasure"
5. Kids received the Pirate Facts lesson from Tater Todd the Treacherous Tyrant.
6. Kids and adults went on treasure hunt. Kids were divided into five teams of two. One
member was the "pacer" and the other the "digger". Each team was given a map with clues
to find each treasure (a wooden box filled with loot).
7. After warming up, we had cake and ice cream.
8. Abe opened his presents.
9. We barely had time to break open the pinata.
10. Kids went home!

Abe's Birthday, Basketball, & SUB-Arctic Blast

I thought it was cold last week until I walked outside this morning. Compared to today, last week was speedo weather. 7 degrees with -14 windchill. I thought my face was gonna freeze off before I finished my three minute commute to the station.

On Wednesday, Noah had his third basketball game this season. It was a thriller! 40 - 38. Noah's team lost, but they played their hearts out, all the way to the buzzer. Noah is starting to really slim down and get taller. Lydia and I are happy that he enjoys sports so much. It keeps him moving and lets him socialize with other kids his age - since there are none his age near our home. Cory is starting to practice lacrosse now. He seems to really enjoy it so far.

Last but not least - My little man is one year older today. I asked him how it felt to be seven this morning, and he said, "Strange." I'm sure he's happy to be over his two-day stomach virus he had earlier this week; especially since he has eight of his buddies coming over for his Pirate Birthday Party!

Cory's Birthday and an Arctic Blast

20 degrees, 40 mph sustained winds, gusts of 50 plus - I'll let you do the math. I almost got frost bite today staking down the trampoline so it wouldn't blow away. Storm - no. Just the normal beautiful S'conset weather in January. I feel sorry for Cory and Abe since they both have birthday parties this month. Cory had a banana flavored ice cream cake and couple of people over. We sang happy birthday to him and he blew out all 16 candles. Check out the VIDEO (remember, it takes awhile!) We're gonna try and have a few more people over for Abe's party. It would be a shame for him not to have a party on his seventh birthday.

I had a great night last night. About 3 a.m. I woke up coughing and couldn't stop. I took some Dayquil, since we didn't have any Nightquil. I should have just got up, made some coffee, and went to the station to work out. But instead, I laid in the bed with both eyes wide open listening to Lydia sleep soundly. At least I stopped coughing. About 4:30 a.m. I heard what sounded like someone trying to break down the back door. I got up, got dressed, and went out back to find my big trash can being blown all over the back patio. I threw that in the garage and went back to bed for some more ceiling staring. Fifteen minutes later I heard some rackit up in the roof gutter in the back of our house. I knew immediately what that was, and I also knew that it wasn't going to stop anytime soon unless I did something about it. Once again, I got up, got dressed - this time with coat, gloves, hat, and boots - went to the garage, grabbed my step ladder and flashlight, and proceded to search in the gutter for whatever the boys threw on the roof. After throwing the little plastic football as far as I could out in the tower field, I put the wooden step ladder back in the garage. It was only then that I noticed my aluminum step ladder was missing. Now I had something to think about when I went back to bed. Was it the Brazillian house painters? The neighbor? Or did I let John the Coast Guard housing guy borrow it and forget about it? Stay tuned - I'll keep you posted.

Foundation Pictures

Our neighbors pulled through for us once again. We have some new photos on our website of the foundation work on our house.

MLK Day

I can't tell you how sick I felt last night when the Chargers Lost. And yes, that's Lost with a capital "L", not a typo. In every situation, the Chargers dominated. The Patriots could not stop our running game. Blocking was outstanding. Tackling was great. Rivers was hitting his receivers in the hands with the ball. Our defense pretty much shut down any offense they had. Our punting was superb, pinning them behind the ten yrd line on more than a couple of occasions. What happened? I'll tell you what happened - The Chargers turned the ball over 4 times. The receivers could not catch perfectly thrown passes. Stupid personal foul penalties gave an otherwise stagnant Patriots offense field position and first downs. What happened in the end was the Chargers losing the ticket to the AFC Championship after it was placed firmly in their hands. The Patriots were trying to provide an armed escort for the Chargers to the AFC Championship, but I guess the Charger players didn't want it. I think I would feel better if the Patriots would have crushed us. Yes, the Chargers Lost that game; but the Patriots darned sure didn't win it.

Having said all that - HEY! It's just a GAME! And I'm not even playing in it! But after waiting 30 years for this team to come together and get great players; it's hard to watch them throw it away. It's the Old Yeller Syndrome - I should never have let myself get so attached.

Well, until next football season, GO COLTS!