Today I learned that taking an allergy pill 2 hours before church isn't a bright idea.
I did that a 9:00 and by 10:30 I was asleep on the bed again and didn't wake up until 1:30-2:00.
Next time, I'll check to see if it is a sleepy-time pill or not.
~N
Neal and Julie
Do you have time for a Miller?
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Friday, July 6, 2007
So What Has Been Happening?
Upon the request of my beautiful bride, a long over due update is in order.
Between May and June, Carlee was participating in a junior fast pitch softball league. The season was not too long, which is probably the greatest thing about it. She took to softball like a duck to water. The final regular season game, she was allowed to pitch. Julie had been working with her on technique, being a former pitcher herself, and when the game came Carlee did a fantastic job. She even had the "toe drag" that people look for. Her team went on to a tournament and won first place. Carlee now proudly displays that trophy in her room.
Alexis recently wrapped up her role as a stand-in for a movie that was filmed in Portland. I'm not sure when the exact release of the film is, but will let you all know. The name of the movie is "Untraceable", starring Diane Lane.
Austin, as of last weekend, took his first logged flight. He's been up in small planes before, but this is the first time he took the wheel and was able to actually fly the plane. He flew a Cessna 425, which is a sweet little twin engine turboprop. I'm really kind of jealous that he's received turboprop time and I haven't...haha.
Julie and I have continued to unpack, organize, adjust, re-adjust and generally trying to settle our home. I've been trying to figure out the grass here in the front and back yard. It appears as though the grass is getting watered enough, but then there are brown spots. I'm thinking that next spring I'll aerate it. The yard is about 5 years old, and probably needs it. Julie is finding new and creative ways to decorate. Hanging mirrors, photos, curtains and generally making the house feel like a home. She's good at that. I'm going to work on the garage when the weather cools off more. I really think it is hotter inside the garage then it is outside...go figure.
With summer being here, we have our plans of camping, and recreating outside. Austin and Alexis will be here for 2 weeks starting today or tomorrow. We'll go to a couple of the minor league baseball games, mostly on Saturday's due to it being fireworks and all....go figure! We'll also be closing our our season of indoor football viewing. Our local team the Fever is doing okay. They're not stellar by any stretch, but there are some really good players and I think that if they all buckle down we could see a good playoff run. Spokane is our biggest rival, and they just so happen to be last year's AF2 National Champions. We beat them at our home game, and a week from this Saturday we play them up there. Go Fever!
I'll try to get some photos uploaded of things we do over the course of the summer. And as a friendly reminder, back up your photos off your hard drive. I most of the photos I had taken recently when the drive crashed.
~N
Between May and June, Carlee was participating in a junior fast pitch softball league. The season was not too long, which is probably the greatest thing about it. She took to softball like a duck to water. The final regular season game, she was allowed to pitch. Julie had been working with her on technique, being a former pitcher herself, and when the game came Carlee did a fantastic job. She even had the "toe drag" that people look for. Her team went on to a tournament and won first place. Carlee now proudly displays that trophy in her room.
Alexis recently wrapped up her role as a stand-in for a movie that was filmed in Portland. I'm not sure when the exact release of the film is, but will let you all know. The name of the movie is "Untraceable", starring Diane Lane.
Austin, as of last weekend, took his first logged flight. He's been up in small planes before, but this is the first time he took the wheel and was able to actually fly the plane. He flew a Cessna 425, which is a sweet little twin engine turboprop. I'm really kind of jealous that he's received turboprop time and I haven't...haha.
Julie and I have continued to unpack, organize, adjust, re-adjust and generally trying to settle our home. I've been trying to figure out the grass here in the front and back yard. It appears as though the grass is getting watered enough, but then there are brown spots. I'm thinking that next spring I'll aerate it. The yard is about 5 years old, and probably needs it. Julie is finding new and creative ways to decorate. Hanging mirrors, photos, curtains and generally making the house feel like a home. She's good at that. I'm going to work on the garage when the weather cools off more. I really think it is hotter inside the garage then it is outside...go figure.
With summer being here, we have our plans of camping, and recreating outside. Austin and Alexis will be here for 2 weeks starting today or tomorrow. We'll go to a couple of the minor league baseball games, mostly on Saturday's due to it being fireworks and all....go figure! We'll also be closing our our season of indoor football viewing. Our local team the Fever is doing okay. They're not stellar by any stretch, but there are some really good players and I think that if they all buckle down we could see a good playoff run. Spokane is our biggest rival, and they just so happen to be last year's AF2 National Champions. We beat them at our home game, and a week from this Saturday we play them up there. Go Fever!
I'll try to get some photos uploaded of things we do over the course of the summer. And as a friendly reminder, back up your photos off your hard drive. I most of the photos I had taken recently when the drive crashed.
~N
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Happy Independence Day
Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wiped out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Monday, June 11, 2007
Cool things
It is really cool how far we have come technologically speaking.
For instance, last night I stepped outside on our back patio and watched the ISS fly overhead. First of all, it is a huge piece of equipment orbiting our planet, and getting all of those pieces up there has been an amazing feat of its own. Secondly, the fact that we can now pinpoint to the almost exact second when one can step out is almost unreal. All one has to do is go to www.heavens-above.com and input your location, and look for the next pass. Here this giant structure, and now with Shuttle Atlantis docked, goes screaming by our eyes at a blistering 17,000 mph, at 200 miles above...amazing. Even more amazing then all of this is the fact that we would see none of it if God gives us cloud cover. All the tracking, planning, and straining our necks is for nothing if there is a low over cast.
As we near the 50th anniversary of our first artificial satellite in orbit, Sputnik, the best we could do then was pick up the radio transmission. Now we can almost see the activities in real-time on board the station, or shuttle. We can pull up a website and find the location, altitude and speed of the ISS. Of course, thanks to the pioneers of space, we can listen to satellite radio, geocache, watch 24/7 news or see what the weather in Hawaii looks like. We can download the Astronomy Photo Of the Day, call loved one's overseas or find out what Pluto really is.
Pretty cool things.
~N
For instance, last night I stepped outside on our back patio and watched the ISS fly overhead. First of all, it is a huge piece of equipment orbiting our planet, and getting all of those pieces up there has been an amazing feat of its own. Secondly, the fact that we can now pinpoint to the almost exact second when one can step out is almost unreal. All one has to do is go to www.heavens-above.com and input your location, and look for the next pass. Here this giant structure, and now with Shuttle Atlantis docked, goes screaming by our eyes at a blistering 17,000 mph, at 200 miles above...amazing. Even more amazing then all of this is the fact that we would see none of it if God gives us cloud cover. All the tracking, planning, and straining our necks is for nothing if there is a low over cast.
As we near the 50th anniversary of our first artificial satellite in orbit, Sputnik, the best we could do then was pick up the radio transmission. Now we can almost see the activities in real-time on board the station, or shuttle. We can pull up a website and find the location, altitude and speed of the ISS. Of course, thanks to the pioneers of space, we can listen to satellite radio, geocache, watch 24/7 news or see what the weather in Hawaii looks like. We can download the Astronomy Photo Of the Day, call loved one's overseas or find out what Pluto really is.
Pretty cool things.
~N
Friday, June 8, 2007
An important week
Well this was a very important, and historical week.
(Important) Austin turned 12, which is really to say this is his last year as a pre-teen. Soon he'll be in his teenage years, asking for a car or at least wanting to drive one, finishing school and then off to college. Wow, time really seems to fly by. Happy birthday again, Austin.
I popped in on him on Monday to check out the flight school that he has been participating in. What an incredible program Pearson Museum has set up for kids. A small room full of Microsoft Flight Simulators, all equipped with yokes, rudder pedals and headphones. The instructors are hustling around helping the kids learn how they are supposed to navigate, what altitude to fly at, and speeds for landing. Where was this when I was 12?!
(Historical) Another event occurred during this week, historically speaking, that changed the face of the 2nd World War. D-Day. 6, June, 1944-I've read a book about D-Day and all the planning, tactics, contributions by the many nations and their citizens. It was a huge step in ridding the world of the filth that was Hitler and his Nazi war machine. I heard an interesting audio clip from our then president Franklin Roosevelt. Here is a link to that clip, about 6 minutes long. The Allies ended up loosing about 2,500 soldiers that day...one day, in 1944. I wonder how many Americans thought it wasn't worth it? I don't question it at all.
~N
(Important) Austin turned 12, which is really to say this is his last year as a pre-teen. Soon he'll be in his teenage years, asking for a car or at least wanting to drive one, finishing school and then off to college. Wow, time really seems to fly by. Happy birthday again, Austin.
I popped in on him on Monday to check out the flight school that he has been participating in. What an incredible program Pearson Museum has set up for kids. A small room full of Microsoft Flight Simulators, all equipped with yokes, rudder pedals and headphones. The instructors are hustling around helping the kids learn how they are supposed to navigate, what altitude to fly at, and speeds for landing. Where was this when I was 12?!
(Historical) Another event occurred during this week, historically speaking, that changed the face of the 2nd World War. D-Day. 6, June, 1944-I've read a book about D-Day and all the planning, tactics, contributions by the many nations and their citizens. It was a huge step in ridding the world of the filth that was Hitler and his Nazi war machine. I heard an interesting audio clip from our then president Franklin Roosevelt. Here is a link to that clip, about 6 minutes long. The Allies ended up loosing about 2,500 soldiers that day...one day, in 1944. I wonder how many Americans thought it wasn't worth it? I don't question it at all.
~N
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Memorial Day
Happy Memorial Day.
I hope everyone will be able to take the time to reflect on what it is we are memorializing.
Originally called Decoration Day, it is a day to honor those who have fallen in service of our nation. Now it is mostly a day to mark the 1st part of summer fun, camping and generally anything but our fallen. I fly a flag in front of my house, and I try every day to remind myself why it is there. There are soldiers who gave of themselves to this country from its earliest beginnings. This is a day, or weekend to remember, honor, and reconcile the sacrifices that have been made for our benefit.
So in all the running around you may do this weekend, take a few moments to honor those who have served, are serving, and the ones that will be serving us in the future.
~N
you can read more on Memorial Day here.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Settling In
Well, we are officially one week into the house now. I am noticing a transition from boxes full of "stuff" into flattened pieces of debris. All I can say to this is, "WOO HOO!" Progress is slow, but steady. I'm certain that with the unpacking, there will be redecorating as well. Stuff will be placed, moved, placed again, and maybe even moved back to the original spot. But hey, that is the beauty of owning a house.
The kids are all thrilled by the 1.) Size of the house feels much roomier. 2.) Relative closeness to the park/school. 3.) Many kids in the neighborhood to play with. Julie and I are happy because we can send the kids out to play in the yard, neighborhood, or the park while we finish up cleaning, or working, etc. All in all, it is a fantastic fit for all of us. The funny thing for Julie and I is the fact that all of our possessions now don't fill this house. Not that it is a bad thing, but we have gained a living room and there is no furniture to place in there for now. The good thing is, this is a great staging area for boxes that need to be unpacked, and also a place to keep the flattened boxes for recycling.
Well, back to work here. We need to finish before we head to the Fever game tonight!
~N
The kids are all thrilled by the 1.) Size of the house feels much roomier. 2.) Relative closeness to the park/school. 3.) Many kids in the neighborhood to play with. Julie and I are happy because we can send the kids out to play in the yard, neighborhood, or the park while we finish up cleaning, or working, etc. All in all, it is a fantastic fit for all of us. The funny thing for Julie and I is the fact that all of our possessions now don't fill this house. Not that it is a bad thing, but we have gained a living room and there is no furniture to place in there for now. The good thing is, this is a great staging area for boxes that need to be unpacked, and also a place to keep the flattened boxes for recycling.
Well, back to work here. We need to finish before we head to the Fever game tonight!
~N
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