It's been such a long time....

Or so Boston sang.

We have all been really busy around here (of course) with lots of work, play and family time. Plenty of stuff to keep us occupied, and for me in particular stuff to keep me from adding to the blog. Oh well, such is life.

Julie is still at her job, I'm in my 11th year with my company, and the kids are still dutifully attending school. Austin's 13th b-day was earlier this year in June, Alexis just had hers a few days ago and Carlee is next on the list for the kids. After Carlee's b-day, they will be no more single digit kids in this house. WOW!

Christmas is moving in on us at full steam, without any brakes to slow it down. I don't think I am ready for it, even if we have all the decorations up. Maybe it is just me, but for some reason, I'm not in the Christmas spirit just yet. The snow I dealt with today didn't help my attitude, or spirit. But that was probably because I was in all business mode and wanted to get home.

Anyway, that is the latest update for anyone left reading this. I know it isn't much, but it is what I have to offer for now.

Neal

31 million miles

It is not very often you get to view your home from 31 million miles away. NASA just provided images from the Deep Impact spacecraft showing our little blue planet from about 31 million miles away. Here you can read the details of how the photo was collected.

And here you can just sit and wonder...

I am tired

Here is a rundown of my driving in both personal and work vehicles since Thursday last week.

Thursday night 120 miles to E-burg to visit Julie's grandma and stay overnight. (Plan was to leave E-burg and go to Seattle in the morning)

Friday 0200: 120 miles back to Pasco for an emergency work call.
Friday 0800: 120 miles BACK to E-burg to pick up Julie.
Friday 1000: 120 miles....arrived at Vashon Island for the weekend.
Saturday.....various small trips on the island.
Sunday 1230: 85 miles to Chehalis to drop of Austin and Alexis with their mother
Sunday 2000: 215 miles to the house.

Total: 805 miles

Work on Monday: 400+ to Sandy, Oregon and back home.
Work on Tuesday: 400+ to Grand Coulee and back home.

Total: 800 miles

The week is not even close to being done. I already hurt, and am really, really tired.

Untimely death

Sad news from the old home town today. Ex NBA player, Kevin Duckworth, of Trailblazer fame passed away at the age of 44.

I remember going to one of my first games, and getting his autograph. Although busy with pre-game rituals of warming up and shooting hoops, he took the time to come over and talk with a group of us kids who were there court-side.

I met him years later in Vancouver, I think he was running a restaurant or a gym or something. We spoke briefly in the parking lot, and I left with the feeling that he was the same genuine guy who used to represent the Blazers back in the day. As I reflect back now on the first encounter and the encounter in the parking lot, I can honestly say he was a good guy, and am happy that I cheered for him during those years. He was an ambassador on and off the court, to the end, for the NBA and playing hoops.

Good bye Duck!

Photo Update

It was certainly time to update the photo at the top of the blog. My how time changes us. Everyone is taller, older, and with the exception of me better looking...haha.

It looks like summer has finally decided to arrive, with upper 90's and into the 100's for the weekend. Julie is off with her girlfriends to Silverwood to get a weekend away. I have a long time friend coming to visit me here in Pasco. I anticipate a good time had by all parties for the weekend. We get the full force of the kids once more for the summer, but this time only on Sunday night. Monday morning I will be driving the kids up to Vashon Island to visit my Dad and Step-Mom for the week, and then Julie and I will join them on Friday. We are all excited for the trip and time with the family. We haven't been up there for a couple of years now.

Julie and I attended a PGR (Patriot Guard Riders) mission yesterday to send off troops from the 81st Brigade, Washington National Guard. This was a small number of local soldiers who were being honored, along with their families, for their service to our nation. The dinner was the typical spaghetti feed, with donations going to help the Elks Lodge assist the families while their loved ones are overseas. The evening was bittersweet because as we cheered for the soldiers and families, we know full well the risks involved with their duties. We provided a challenge coin to the senior ranked soldier with the request to "Bring it back home..." I am thankful for these men and women, and thankful for their families sacrafice too. I don't know which is harder, being a soldier or being a soldier's spouse.

The Lazy Blogger

That should be the new name for our blog. I've pretty much fallen off the blog entries as well as blog readings. I do not know why, maybe life away from the PC. Or maybe it is life is so "normal" that I don't think about sharing it with all of my family, friends and virtual hobo's passing on through our camp.

I certainly cannot complain about how things are going right now. Well, with the exception of being able to fund a small country with our food and clothing budgets. Every single time we blink, Austin has grown an inch in height, or 1/2 size in shoes. It is no different with the girls either. Here we are, already into August and Julie and I just look at each other eyes blinking and saying, "Where the heck has the summer gone?" I do not have the foggiest idea, really. Yesterday was the 4th of July. Honest! So much is happening, that we tend to lose track of what has happened. Friends visiting, work, travel, play. Sure it makes the summer fly by, but wait, where is summer at? Maybe summer seemed shorter because of the late global warming we experienced in June? Snow on 10 June...I couldn't believe it either.

So here we are in August, summer is winding down. Kids have come, gone, come, gone and will be back once more to send summer 2008 into the memories of their youth. We can only hope that what we did will create a memory, one not based on the amount of money we spent getting there, nor spent getting into a location. Those memories are good. I think the best memories are how we got there, or what we did once we arrived. Not just the "thrill ride", or something else that is obviously a cool point to remember. Sometimes you hope the kids will remember a point on the road where something special happened. Maybe a walk or a hike, or seeing a sunset, hearing the roll of thunder, something not man-made. Or if it is man made, hopefully it is unique in its architecture.

Where has summer gone? I cannot say for sure, but know that like the Keith Urban song says, "These are the days we will remember."

Here we are...

Okay, I've been busy and a procrastinator as well. Let's just call it blogger's block for the sake of the writing.

We successfully made it through the Christmas and New Years holidays without any major incidents, or family emergencies. January, for me at least, seemed more of a blur because of work stuff, weather stuff, and personal stuff. We did get to enjoy some snow. The unfortunate part was that snow covered the ice that had fallen for some hours prior to the pretty white stuff. Therefore, the roads were a mess. The town didn't shut down, but it sure did hamper travel.

So here we are in February, coming into our first anniversary. We're very excited about our celebration, and very happy with our first year. Looking back, it was a great first year, because we grew more together, had a lot of fun times with each other and as a family, learned more about us as individuals, and where our limits were too. I feel very blessed to have Julie, and happy that we can spend as much time together as we do. Even with our times apart, mostly due to work, we both look forward to making it back home and updating our lives and adventures.

An update on the kids for you all. Austin and Alexis are in a play in Vancouver, one you may have heard of, "Annie." Carlee is busy playing her basketball, the same team and coach as last year. She is doing better on her defense! All the kids are growing taller and therefore taxing our clothing budget...yes I appreciate my parents wanting to freeze me now. I am sure that a pair of jeans on Austin lasts maybe one or two visits tops! Shoes? HA...

Well, that is the cliff notes version of our lives from December until now. I'm excited for one of my favorite sports to begin soon, NASCAR. Yes, go fast and turn left. Laugh if you will, but I see people every day who cannot drive even the regular roads without goofing it up. Try it at 180 mph and see how you do.

Write you soon!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas,
from the Miller's

Summer 2008!!

Celebrate!

Happy Birthday Alexis! As of December 3rd, my baby girl is one year closer to the double digits. The big nine! This is it, from here out it's a full speed charge towards those "dreaded" teenage years. Where, oh where did the time go? It is hard to believe that she was just a tiny little, fore-arm length baby 9 years ago. Now she's in and out of pants, shirts, and shoes faster than I care to pay for. But, I'm sure my parents thought the same thing.

But for now, I'll enjoy her at this age, and cherish her as she is. My beautiful little girl.

Love you always,

Dad

Updates

Well, snow is falling once again. Maybe 2 inches, but on the roads it's melting. School was NOT canceled or even delayed today. That is good.

I am working from the home office, helping a co-worker with a problem, so no excessive driving today which I am happy for. I can't even tell you how many miles I've driven this month, but it has got to be in the 4,000 mile range.

Jäger is getting bigger, we weighed him last night and he's now at 22 pounds. WOW! Cute as ever, and more puppy like all the time. He wants to play, and play rough at times, but doesn't know the limits of how hard to play with the kids.

Us--we're busy, and busy, and busy! Obviously with Christmas around the corner, the consumer side of the kids is kicking into overdrive. To that I say, Bah Humbug! I'm trying to find gifts that are meaningful, and possibly non-electronic! Time for brain power, muscle power, and social skills to be used again. We'll see how that goes.

Well, back to work!

And on the 26th of November...

We have snow! Not much, but it is Jäger's first snow.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just wishing all who read our blog a blessed and happy Thanksgiving.

The Miller's

His name is:

Jägermeister

Which means: Master Hunter
Why: He's brown with green eyes, like the Jägermeister drink which has a cool looking green bottle and the liquor is brown/blackish. Also, he's a Labrador Retriever which is a hunting dog.

*We will end up breaking the name into the first name of Jäger and the middle name Meister.

Help...I need a name

I'm a 9 week old, 16 lb., little boy. I'm looking for a name....help me please!

Halloween Fun

This weekend we took a trip to the Country Mercantile for some fall fun. It was a cold and windy day and included some sprinkles, but that didn't stop us. It was great family fun and we made some good memories. We then came home to a cup of hot cocoa to warm our bodies and later to a bowl of yummy chili and corn bread. Grandma Susan and Papa Mike were able to join us and help the kids decorate their pumpkins with her artistic abilities!

Want to dance?

Try not to move your head to the beat of this video, or laugh.


LINK

A video to share

As a member of the Patriot Guard Riders, I felt that the video below sums up what we do.

A quick note about most of the photographs though. The photos are done by Q Madp, and I don't know who made the video. You can visit Q's site at the following address: www.iraqwarheroes.org Q makes several trips a month to different services, on his OWN dime, to capture the PGR and services of our fallen soldiers. He takes those hundreds of photos, puts them onto a CD and then gives that CD to the family. Some of his photos, the ones which he deems not too private or intimate, are then published on his site. He accepts donations such as fuel, coffee cards, food certificates, etc. His work for the families is priceless.

Neal

A soldier comes home

Today, a soldier arrived home at the Tri-Cities regional airport.

We were blessed with perfect weather, 60 degrees! The smell of autumn filled our noses, the taste of change tickled our tongues. A mild wind blowing from the west as we waited for his private jet. Just beyond the cold galvanized gate, we stood and waited. Quietly the world hushed as the engines spooled down. Noises of the rail yard muted, I don't know how or why. The flags all fluttered, popping occasionally in salute to our soon deplaned soldier. Honor kept us warm.

Today, a soldier rode from Pasco, through Richland, past Benton City, Prosser, Grandview and finally to Sunnyside.

Today, over 100 motorcycles, 10 cages, and a various number of Law Enforcement vehicles escorted a soldier, his mother, his father, siblings and relatives home.

On this ride home, regular folks gathered with flags to wave him on by. A seaman stood at the corner and saluted the caravan. Mothers and fathers, boys and girls stood silently by as we motored past. Cars pulled off the highway, and some that drove by saluted. Overpasses had people, most with flags, waving as we passed underneath. Life moved in slow-motion as we pulled into Sunnyside. People stopped, waited, waved, cried.

We stopped, and the riders dismounted their steel horses and again silence befell the earth. Only the noises of birds and wind carried through the air.

Today a soldier arrived home for his last time.

Fire aftermath

As you see, the fire was rather devestating to the north face of Rattlesnake Mountain. Not the first time that a fire has burned this area, nor will it be the last I'm sure. Still it will be interesting to see the new life that springs up here post fire. I also am interested to see how the Yakima elk herd will winter here now.

~N