Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Trick or Treat
Happy Halloween!
We didn't go trick or treating except to my doctor's appointment, our chiropractor appointment, and my sister's house. Peanut is too little to get it and we don't want all that candy in the house. I finally finished Peanut's costume yesterday and it came out pretty darn cute. Much cuter than any dragon costume we would of found in a store or online. Plus most of the store ones are made in China and we're not buying anything out of that country if we can really help it.
Blogger is being retarded so no pictures in this post.
No big news at the midwife appointment today. I really like this one and hope she's on call when I go into labor. She's more in line with the labor that I want to have and agrees that medical intervention is only really needed when it's truly an emergency and not when the doctor's timetable isn't being met.
I'm off to another quilting retreat tomorrow so I'm off to pack my sewing stuff and some clothes.
TTFN ~Crystal
We didn't go trick or treating except to my doctor's appointment, our chiropractor appointment, and my sister's house. Peanut is too little to get it and we don't want all that candy in the house. I finally finished Peanut's costume yesterday and it came out pretty darn cute. Much cuter than any dragon costume we would of found in a store or online. Plus most of the store ones are made in China and we're not buying anything out of that country if we can really help it.
Blogger is being retarded so no pictures in this post.
No big news at the midwife appointment today. I really like this one and hope she's on call when I go into labor. She's more in line with the labor that I want to have and agrees that medical intervention is only really needed when it's truly an emergency and not when the doctor's timetable isn't being met.
I'm off to another quilting retreat tomorrow so I'm off to pack my sewing stuff and some clothes.
TTFN ~Crystal
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Seagulls, Seals and Sunshine!
Long time since I've sat down to post, Crystal has been doing them lately, and shes just as busy as I am chasing after the monster. So, here goes.
Saturday September 29th through October 6th, Crystal, Elliot and I went down to Seaside, Oregon
View Larger Map to spend sometime relaxing and enjoying some time off. It was Elliot's first trip to the beach, and thanks to a little help from the big guy, the weather was fantastic! The forecast had called for rain the entire week we were to be down there, but not to be turned down, we set off anyway. Saturday and Sunday after our arrival, it was indeed raining off and on, but not to bad. The rest of our visit, perfect sunshine, weathermen are like doctors, you go to school for years on end, screw up at your job, and still find yourself employed, amazing.
Crystal's sister Dee, her boyfriend Vern and Dee's daughter Taylor came down on Saturday and spent the day with us, then had to get back for work so they left late Sunday afternoon. It was fun having them with us, just sucked they had to leave so soon after getting down there. We were alone just the 3 of us after that for the entire visit.
We went down the boardwalk to what they call an Aquarium, it was more of a hole in the wall with a small stinky tank that you could feed fish parts to seals. Took all of about 5 minutes to walk through the place once you were done feeding the seals, but it was cool none the less. One of the seals had managed to squeeze itself up onto a very thin shelf inside the tank and stare at Elliot and I as we threw food into the tank. I don't know if it was a male or a female, but I named it Shirley anyway, not sure why, just did. This is her/him, doesn't it just look like a Shirley?
After that, it was time to take Elliot out and see the great pacific NW beach front. Thankfully, the weather was great and welcomed us into the sunshine. The seagulls were of course every where. Once they see, or think they see that you have food, they are on you like white on rice. Make sure your sound is on.
This is the view of the beach from our room at the resort.
After bumming around on the beach, it was time to head down Main St. and see some of the shops. Dee's daughter Taylor went on the merry go round with Vern, and Elliot decided he wanted to go too, but not with out a protest first.
Being the softy that I am, it was time to head to the front of the line to pay the man and get us a Merry-GO-Round ride!!! YEEE HAAA! Gitty up you plastic POS horse!
He was then back on speaking terms with me, and the rest of the day we had lots of fun. It was then time to head back out onto the beach, we chased more Seagulls
Played with the brand new sand bucket, his enthusiasm died off when he caught sight of yet another Seagull, Dad's obviously did not.
Then the greatest invention since the sippy cup, SWINGS!!!!
We took a short drive down to Cannon Beach, Oregon
View Larger Map
so Crystal could go and check out a quilt shop, then up the road from there to check out Ecola state park. There was a fantastic walk way out onto the point here where you could see the rocks of Cannon Beach (Featured in the smash hit, and personal favorite movie Goonies) Way out in the distance you could see a lighthouse, I'd hate to have to be the guy that had to paddle his butt all the way out there back in the days before the motor boat!
After days of awesome sunsets, it was time to take one last walk on the beach, snap a photo of the resort, and head back to the hustle and flow of the big city again. We had a great time, and can't wait to get back down there. There's just something about the pacific ocean that gives you that feeling.
Hope everyone is doing well.
Saturday September 29th through October 6th, Crystal, Elliot and I went down to Seaside, Oregon
View Larger Map to spend sometime relaxing and enjoying some time off. It was Elliot's first trip to the beach, and thanks to a little help from the big guy, the weather was fantastic! The forecast had called for rain the entire week we were to be down there, but not to be turned down, we set off anyway. Saturday and Sunday after our arrival, it was indeed raining off and on, but not to bad. The rest of our visit, perfect sunshine, weathermen are like doctors, you go to school for years on end, screw up at your job, and still find yourself employed, amazing.
Crystal's sister Dee, her boyfriend Vern and Dee's daughter Taylor came down on Saturday and spent the day with us, then had to get back for work so they left late Sunday afternoon. It was fun having them with us, just sucked they had to leave so soon after getting down there. We were alone just the 3 of us after that for the entire visit.
We went down the boardwalk to what they call an Aquarium, it was more of a hole in the wall with a small stinky tank that you could feed fish parts to seals. Took all of about 5 minutes to walk through the place once you were done feeding the seals, but it was cool none the less. One of the seals had managed to squeeze itself up onto a very thin shelf inside the tank and stare at Elliot and I as we threw food into the tank. I don't know if it was a male or a female, but I named it Shirley anyway, not sure why, just did. This is her/him, doesn't it just look like a Shirley?
After that, it was time to take Elliot out and see the great pacific NW beach front. Thankfully, the weather was great and welcomed us into the sunshine. The seagulls were of course every where. Once they see, or think they see that you have food, they are on you like white on rice. Make sure your sound is on.
This is the view of the beach from our room at the resort.
After bumming around on the beach, it was time to head down Main St. and see some of the shops. Dee's daughter Taylor went on the merry go round with Vern, and Elliot decided he wanted to go too, but not with out a protest first.
Being the softy that I am, it was time to head to the front of the line to pay the man and get us a Merry-GO-Round ride!!! YEEE HAAA! Gitty up you plastic POS horse!He was then back on speaking terms with me, and the rest of the day we had lots of fun. It was then time to head back out onto the beach, we chased more Seagulls
Played with the brand new sand bucket, his enthusiasm died off when he caught sight of yet another Seagull, Dad's obviously did not.Then the greatest invention since the sippy cup, SWINGS!!!!
We took a short drive down to Cannon Beach, Oregon
View Larger Map
so Crystal could go and check out a quilt shop, then up the road from there to check out Ecola state park. There was a fantastic walk way out onto the point here where you could see the rocks of Cannon Beach (Featured in the smash hit, and personal favorite movie Goonies) Way out in the distance you could see a lighthouse, I'd hate to have to be the guy that had to paddle his butt all the way out there back in the days before the motor boat!
After days of awesome sunsets, it was time to take one last walk on the beach, snap a photo of the resort, and head back to the hustle and flow of the big city again. We had a great time, and can't wait to get back down there. There's just something about the pacific ocean that gives you that feeling.
Hope everyone is doing well.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Up and running...
It's been a while since I last posted. Been busy ever since.
The drive up was a royal pain, but made better with the help of Crystals Dad Ernie along for the trip. He drove the rental truck up, I drove my truck up, we both suffered thru the onslaught of pot holes up the I-5 corridor thru California (no wonder I get so many claims out of that state). 1600 miles, one big right turn at L.A. and we were home in just under 29 hours. Hopefully, that is my last ever drive across the country moving, I'd do it again for site seeing or something, but never a move again. I was reminded how much I missed the great NW right when we hit the boarder for Oregon/California. The trees, the weather, the fresh air, it felt damn good to be back.
On the business side of things, it's really taking off. This week alone I received 11 jobs, thats a record, also set a daily record of 5 in one day. Just goes to show you, God had a plan, laid his hand on our shoulders, and made it happen. We had to work for it, but he did it and continues to show me this is where I belong.
Monday I went down to a local moving companies warehouse to take a look at a shipment that was on a trailer of theirs when it caught on fire. The story is that the driver was driving down the freeway in the middle of no where, when another trucker passed and flagged her down to let her know her trailer was on fire. This occured at 6 am, she called the fire department out, and 45 minutes later they arrived. The trailer was a total loss. Needless to say, the items inside were also a loss. So I went and spent 3 hours taking pictures of stuff that was charred, soaking wet, and stinking to all heck. While I was there, I met a corporate claims manager for Atlas Moving, one of the very big dogs in the moving industry. After a short chat with her about one of her loads, and some sweet talking on my part, I learned that she was unhappy with her firm here in the Portland/Vancouver area, because he was charging too much for his work and taking to long to complete it, and the firm she uses in the Seattle area was generating complaints of rudeness from her shippers. So, I told her what I offer in terms of pricing, and that I had never had a complaint yet. Those of you that used to work with me at 911 may find that statement odd as I think I generated at least one a month working there (and those are just the ones that were reported). She was happy to hear all of this, and made arrangements for me to be put into the Atlas system as a proffered vendor. So, needless to say, 3 days later, I was filling out the appropriate paperwork to get on that list, and as of about 15 minutes ago, it became official. I am now the go to guy here in the NW to serve Atlas and all of its adjusters here in the area. SCORE!!!!
This will likely turn out to be our lowest month yet, mostly because it took almost a week to get in touch with all the adjusters out there and let them know that we were up and running, but we will be ok. I'm confident that from this day forward, the work will be steady and bountiful as the Seattle area is still growing like a weed. Lots of housing up there (someone has to move into them!) and I've seen alot more new housing going on around here in the Portland/Vancouver area than I thought there would, and someone has to move into them also! I seem to be getting alot more people in apartments here than I was down in Tucson, which is ok, just makes finding a place to park a royal pain in the arse.
Elliot is doing very well, he is taking a nap now, which is helping me with my sanity as today is the first of 3 days where its just me and the little man. Crystal is off at a quilting retreat this weekend and probably sewing her eyes out as I type this. I could tell she was really looking forward to it, especially when she was up before me this morning and got up just before 6. I dont think I've ever seen her get up this early....ever. So I got up and dressed and helped her load her new mommy missle
The drive up was a royal pain, but made better with the help of Crystals Dad Ernie along for the trip. He drove the rental truck up, I drove my truck up, we both suffered thru the onslaught of pot holes up the I-5 corridor thru California (no wonder I get so many claims out of that state). 1600 miles, one big right turn at L.A. and we were home in just under 29 hours. Hopefully, that is my last ever drive across the country moving, I'd do it again for site seeing or something, but never a move again. I was reminded how much I missed the great NW right when we hit the boarder for Oregon/California. The trees, the weather, the fresh air, it felt damn good to be back.
On the business side of things, it's really taking off. This week alone I received 11 jobs, thats a record, also set a daily record of 5 in one day. Just goes to show you, God had a plan, laid his hand on our shoulders, and made it happen. We had to work for it, but he did it and continues to show me this is where I belong.
Monday I went down to a local moving companies warehouse to take a look at a shipment that was on a trailer of theirs when it caught on fire. The story is that the driver was driving down the freeway in the middle of no where, when another trucker passed and flagged her down to let her know her trailer was on fire. This occured at 6 am, she called the fire department out, and 45 minutes later they arrived. The trailer was a total loss. Needless to say, the items inside were also a loss. So I went and spent 3 hours taking pictures of stuff that was charred, soaking wet, and stinking to all heck. While I was there, I met a corporate claims manager for Atlas Moving, one of the very big dogs in the moving industry. After a short chat with her about one of her loads, and some sweet talking on my part, I learned that she was unhappy with her firm here in the Portland/Vancouver area, because he was charging too much for his work and taking to long to complete it, and the firm she uses in the Seattle area was generating complaints of rudeness from her shippers. So, I told her what I offer in terms of pricing, and that I had never had a complaint yet. Those of you that used to work with me at 911 may find that statement odd as I think I generated at least one a month working there (and those are just the ones that were reported). She was happy to hear all of this, and made arrangements for me to be put into the Atlas system as a proffered vendor. So, needless to say, 3 days later, I was filling out the appropriate paperwork to get on that list, and as of about 15 minutes ago, it became official. I am now the go to guy here in the NW to serve Atlas and all of its adjusters here in the area. SCORE!!!!
This will likely turn out to be our lowest month yet, mostly because it took almost a week to get in touch with all the adjusters out there and let them know that we were up and running, but we will be ok. I'm confident that from this day forward, the work will be steady and bountiful as the Seattle area is still growing like a weed. Lots of housing up there (someone has to move into them!) and I've seen alot more new housing going on around here in the Portland/Vancouver area than I thought there would, and someone has to move into them also! I seem to be getting alot more people in apartments here than I was down in Tucson, which is ok, just makes finding a place to park a royal pain in the arse.
Elliot is doing very well, he is taking a nap now, which is helping me with my sanity as today is the first of 3 days where its just me and the little man. Crystal is off at a quilting retreat this weekend and probably sewing her eyes out as I type this. I could tell she was really looking forward to it, especially when she was up before me this morning and got up just before 6. I dont think I've ever seen her get up this early....ever. So I got up and dressed and helped her load her new mommy missle
Then she was off to the races before Elliot was even awake. He actually slept til 9 am! Which if you consider he was awake for about 2 hours during the middle of the night, isnt all that great.
Softball is going well, we won our 3rd game (2 and 1 overall) last night 10 to 4. I'm not sure whats going on, last time I played on this team, and this last spring down in Tucson I was hitting the ball really well, this season, not so good. Keep catching the ball with only a small portion of the bat. I'm still getting hits, but I think its mostly cause I keep hitting little bloopers that drop between the infielders and the outfielders are playing so deep (respect yo!) that they get caught when its a shallow fly ball. Its all hits in the in the books, but it's starting to make me mad I'm not making good contact. I'll hit the cages and figure out what I'm doing wrong.
Well, Elliot should be waking up soon, so I have to go prepare to play the human lounge chair again.
Softball is going well, we won our 3rd game (2 and 1 overall) last night 10 to 4. I'm not sure whats going on, last time I played on this team, and this last spring down in Tucson I was hitting the ball really well, this season, not so good. Keep catching the ball with only a small portion of the bat. I'm still getting hits, but I think its mostly cause I keep hitting little bloopers that drop between the infielders and the outfielders are playing so deep (respect yo!) that they get caught when its a shallow fly ball. Its all hits in the in the books, but it's starting to make me mad I'm not making good contact. I'll hit the cages and figure out what I'm doing wrong.
Well, Elliot should be waking up soon, so I have to go prepare to play the human lounge chair again.
New post finally
Wow, I'm a slacker. I have no idea where 2 weeks went since my last post. We are finally 95% unpacked and settled. Areas still don't have everything put away where they are best organized (panty, office, and sewing area) but all the boxes are broke down in the garage, slowly being given to the recycling pickup man. There are still a few boxes downstairs to go through and unpack, but I hide most of those in a closet and they're waiting for shelving or for us to figure out where to put them so Peanut doesn't get into them like DVDs and CDs.
Peanut is doing well. He loves being able to play in the back yard and can go in and out of the house by himself without crashing on the patio again. His favorite activity is picking the dandelions and trying to taste them and watching squirrels and the neighborhood cats pass through along our fence.
Today's a short post. I'm off to get ready to be gone for the weekend. The big 3-0 hits me in a few days so my present is a weekend quilting retreat at Royal Ridges near Yacolt WA. It's the same place my November retreat is, but I'm lucky and can go to the September one too. It started last night, but it was softball night and I didn't have my stuff together or school work done enough to be gone the rest of the week, so I'm going this morning. Woo Hoo! Two and half days of quilting without Peanut telling me "Wanna see, wanna see" over and over. It's much too difficult with little hands pulling and pushing on the fabric and wanting to pull on the thread as the machine is stitching.
Here's some latest pictures:
Taking a break from wrestling with Daddy. And Mike in jeans. So glad he didn't throw all of them away when we moved to Arizona where he wore pants 1 time in 1 year.
Fun with the 3-hole punch and confetti.
Peanut is doing well. He loves being able to play in the back yard and can go in and out of the house by himself without crashing on the patio again. His favorite activity is picking the dandelions and trying to taste them and watching squirrels and the neighborhood cats pass through along our fence.
Today's a short post. I'm off to get ready to be gone for the weekend. The big 3-0 hits me in a few days so my present is a weekend quilting retreat at Royal Ridges near Yacolt WA. It's the same place my November retreat is, but I'm lucky and can go to the September one too. It started last night, but it was softball night and I didn't have my stuff together or school work done enough to be gone the rest of the week, so I'm going this morning. Woo Hoo! Two and half days of quilting without Peanut telling me "Wanna see, wanna see" over and over. It's much too difficult with little hands pulling and pushing on the fabric and wanting to pull on the thread as the machine is stitching.
Here's some latest pictures:
First bike ride at Gramma and Poppys. Their deck is fenced and gated so Peanut has freedom to go in and out all he wants.
Taking a break from wrestling with Daddy. And Mike in jeans. So glad he didn't throw all of them away when we moved to Arizona where he wore pants 1 time in 1 year.Fun with the 3-hole punch and confetti.Movie star smile while riding his new bike in the dining area.
TTFN ~ Crys
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Moved In
We are moved in to our new Vancouver house. It's a 2 story and we're hating the stairs, but our butts will be getting a work out while we're unpacking. The house was a sty so we had to do some cleaning before we could unpack or move any boxes inside. But, most heavy duty cleaning has been done and the rest can be finished as we unpack room by room. I'd post some pictures, but my camera is downstairs and I'm not going down there again tonight.
We got our TV up and running yesterday, Mike got the rest of our entertainment electronics hooked up today, along with our Internet. I got about 90% of the kitchen unpacked and put away, I'm waiting for 1 or 2 more boxes to show up as they get moved into the house for the rest of the items but they're nothing that I can't live without.
The weather is perfect. Cooler at night but not so much we can't leave some upstairs windows open and beautiful in the day time. Peanut sure loves playing outside whenever one of us is out there and he gets mad when he can see us through the window but he's inside, even if we run out just for a second.
Today was Peanut's 19 month birthday, but tomorrow is a sad day in our family. It's Brianna's birthday, she would of been 6, in the first grade, and would started school this week with her big sister. It makes my heart ache so much.
I'm off to try to do some school work before passing out at my computer.
TTFN, pictures soon.
~Crys
We got our TV up and running yesterday, Mike got the rest of our entertainment electronics hooked up today, along with our Internet. I got about 90% of the kitchen unpacked and put away, I'm waiting for 1 or 2 more boxes to show up as they get moved into the house for the rest of the items but they're nothing that I can't live without.
The weather is perfect. Cooler at night but not so much we can't leave some upstairs windows open and beautiful in the day time. Peanut sure loves playing outside whenever one of us is out there and he gets mad when he can see us through the window but he's inside, even if we run out just for a second.
Today was Peanut's 19 month birthday, but tomorrow is a sad day in our family. It's Brianna's birthday, she would of been 6, in the first grade, and would started school this week with her big sister. It makes my heart ache so much.
I'm off to try to do some school work before passing out at my computer.
TTFN, pictures soon.
~Crys
Thursday, August 23, 2007
And so it begins!
Well, Crystal and Elliot flew on Monday the 20th with Crystals mom. I was sad to see them go, but knew it was going to make the rest of the packing and the actual move a lot easier. Elliot riding in a moving truck for 2 days would not have gone over well, so they are safe and on the ground in Yacolt Washington right now hanging out at Grandma and Grandpa Domke's house. I envy them, the weather has been a pleasant 70-80 during the day up there...here? oh the usual triple digits before 10:30 am daily. It sucks, so ready to leave.
I'm almost done packing up the main part of the house. It's been so hot the last few days in the afternoon that I haven't had the nerve to spend much time in the garage getting it packed up. But, supposed to be a good chance of thunderstorms Friday and Saturday, those are usually good for cooling off the air down to around 90, sometimes 85 if its matched with a cold front ;)
So far, I'm using the front living room as a staging area for stuff, until I get the garage packed up and cleaned this weekend. Right now, the front room looks like a warehouse.
It looks like mayhem now, but come truck loading day, it should cut the loading time down big time. Hoping to get it done in about 2 or 3 hours, then if my Dad doesnt have anything else planned for the day, I'm hoping I can talk him into one more day of golf before I go. Thats the only thing I'm going to miss about Arizona, playing golf with and spending time with my Dad and step mom Joy. I know we will get together again in the future, but still, not the same as having them be an hour away.
Monday after I dropped Crystal, Elliot and Judy off the airport, I went to my dads to help him with a "small project". I spent that night, worked on it for 8.5 hours and decided to come back the next day as it was already 10:30 at night, and its an hour drive back to our house. This is what we got done that day.
Doesn't look like much here, but the next day I went back and spent 10 hours working on it, and this is what we finished with.
Dad still has to mud it, and put on the corner rounding strips, and then paint it and it will be all finished. The picture really doesn't do it much justice really, this thing is a monster! 14' long, 6 1/2 feet tall at its highest point. The two tall arch ways are going to need some major mudding to make them more rounded, but shouldn't be too much work, I hope.
I had a lot of fun working with my Dad building it, until about 10 o'clock Tuesday night. We didn't finish the sheetrock til midnight..and I was one cranky SOB before the night was over. But, at least the hard part is done, now he can take his time to finish it. I'm guessing he will be done with it before the end of the weekend, thats just the kind of freak he is. Constantly on the go!
On the work side of things, I sent out my email today to all the different moving adjusters. The email went out about 11 am. Before 3 pm, I already had my first job for Seattle in my email inbox. I think this is going to be a great move for us. Business should double, if not triple. I'm going to be busy, but thats a good thing for our family.
I have 2 of the 4 bedrooms here empty, and I can hear the thunder coming in the distance from a little thunderstorm, that might drop the temperature down to go out and do some more weeding. If not, I can get the master bedroom emptied tonight if nothing else.
For those of you in the Portland area, see you soon! Only 8 more days til I'm released from the surface of the sun!
I'm almost done packing up the main part of the house. It's been so hot the last few days in the afternoon that I haven't had the nerve to spend much time in the garage getting it packed up. But, supposed to be a good chance of thunderstorms Friday and Saturday, those are usually good for cooling off the air down to around 90, sometimes 85 if its matched with a cold front ;)
So far, I'm using the front living room as a staging area for stuff, until I get the garage packed up and cleaned this weekend. Right now, the front room looks like a warehouse.
It looks like mayhem now, but come truck loading day, it should cut the loading time down big time. Hoping to get it done in about 2 or 3 hours, then if my Dad doesnt have anything else planned for the day, I'm hoping I can talk him into one more day of golf before I go. Thats the only thing I'm going to miss about Arizona, playing golf with and spending time with my Dad and step mom Joy. I know we will get together again in the future, but still, not the same as having them be an hour away.
Monday after I dropped Crystal, Elliot and Judy off the airport, I went to my dads to help him with a "small project". I spent that night, worked on it for 8.5 hours and decided to come back the next day as it was already 10:30 at night, and its an hour drive back to our house. This is what we got done that day.
Doesn't look like much here, but the next day I went back and spent 10 hours working on it, and this is what we finished with.Dad still has to mud it, and put on the corner rounding strips, and then paint it and it will be all finished. The picture really doesn't do it much justice really, this thing is a monster! 14' long, 6 1/2 feet tall at its highest point. The two tall arch ways are going to need some major mudding to make them more rounded, but shouldn't be too much work, I hope.
I had a lot of fun working with my Dad building it, until about 10 o'clock Tuesday night. We didn't finish the sheetrock til midnight..and I was one cranky SOB before the night was over. But, at least the hard part is done, now he can take his time to finish it. I'm guessing he will be done with it before the end of the weekend, thats just the kind of freak he is. Constantly on the go!
On the work side of things, I sent out my email today to all the different moving adjusters. The email went out about 11 am. Before 3 pm, I already had my first job for Seattle in my email inbox. I think this is going to be a great move for us. Business should double, if not triple. I'm going to be busy, but thats a good thing for our family.
I have 2 of the 4 bedrooms here empty, and I can hear the thunder coming in the distance from a little thunderstorm, that might drop the temperature down to go out and do some more weeding. If not, I can get the master bedroom emptied tonight if nothing else.
For those of you in the Portland area, see you soon! Only 8 more days til I'm released from the surface of the sun!
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
A sign of things to come?
Well, yesterday we went in for the ultrasound for the new baby. We have decided we are not going to find out the sex, so that was the first thing the tech asked us. Crystal told her no and so she made a note in the charts, and went to doing her business. I watched the screen with mixed emotions, did I really want to find out? I was torn right down the middle, yes...and no.
As our dear friend Ronda once wrote, "it's one of the great surprises left in life". Which I couldn't agree more with, but still, I wanted to know. "We have the technology". Great line from a great TV show (and that probably just dated me big time). Watching the screen I wanted to know! So the tech is looking over the baby, counting fingers, toes, watching the heart...all neat stuff really, don't get me wrong, but get down to the business end already! She passed over several times, and turns out the baby wasn't cooperating anyway. He/She had their legs crossed, thus making it impossible to see the goods.
I left telling Crystal that I thought I knew what we were having, but no dice. Crystal pointed out the legs crossed thing and that kinda deflated me for the rest of the day. Was so sure it was a girl...oh well, only 20 more weeks till we get to find out for real! 16 if its early like Elliot was, but we are hoping for a full term baby this time.
Here are the pictures they gave us from the ultrasound. So much clearer than when Elliot had his done.
Can already tell its going to be tied for the cutest baby ever award...Elliot of course being the other front runner.
Only 2 more days til Grandma Judy gets here, we are all very excited around here, especially Elliot, he is going to love having someone else around to change a diaper on him! WOOT!!!
As our dear friend Ronda once wrote, "it's one of the great surprises left in life". Which I couldn't agree more with, but still, I wanted to know. "We have the technology". Great line from a great TV show (and that probably just dated me big time). Watching the screen I wanted to know! So the tech is looking over the baby, counting fingers, toes, watching the heart...all neat stuff really, don't get me wrong, but get down to the business end already! She passed over several times, and turns out the baby wasn't cooperating anyway. He/She had their legs crossed, thus making it impossible to see the goods.
I left telling Crystal that I thought I knew what we were having, but no dice. Crystal pointed out the legs crossed thing and that kinda deflated me for the rest of the day. Was so sure it was a girl...oh well, only 20 more weeks till we get to find out for real! 16 if its early like Elliot was, but we are hoping for a full term baby this time.
Here are the pictures they gave us from the ultrasound. So much clearer than when Elliot had his done.
Can already tell its going to be tied for the cutest baby ever award...Elliot of course being the other front runner.
Only 2 more days til Grandma Judy gets here, we are all very excited around here, especially Elliot, he is going to love having someone else around to change a diaper on him! WOOT!!!
Sunday, August 12, 2007
19 Days til Zero Hour
Boy is it getting close, panic is starting to set in as far as work goes. I have a dining room table out in the garage to refinish the top on that I haven't even gotten stripped yet. Guess I know what I'm doing this week :)
We heard back from our potential new land lord yesterday, and the house is ours! Here are some pics:
Thankfully, Judy and Ernie were willing to go and look at it for us in person, since we are 1600 miles away. They gave it a glowing review, so we told the gal renting it that we were interested in it, and put in our application. A week later, she had finished with all her research/background check/drug test/STD/SAT's/bloodwork and finally a DNA submission, and we got the house! So that takes a huge load off of Crystals plate when she gets up there on the 20th. Now that we have an address, we can focus on the business end of things, getting a P.O. box, finding out what documents we have to file in triplicate, notarize, staple, sort and file with the various departments of government and all that jazz to be able to do business up there.
Plans are constantly changing as far as my final days here go. I wanted to load the truck on the 29th, get the carpets cleaned the 30th, have our walk thru the 30th, then spend the night at my Dad's and golf with him the morning of the 31st, but they have a cat who apparently goes nuts if another cat comes around, and the airlines won't take blackjack for whatever reason (when did the airlines stop taking animals on board?!) so, I have to stay here til the 31st, which means no golf for my dad and I. Which is ok I guess, he is going to help me return that earlier mentioned dining room table on Monday the 27th, thankfully that will only take a short amount of time, then we can go play golf :)
With any luck, after Crystal, Judy and Elliot leave on the 20th, I can get all the furniture and boxes out into the front room. If I can pull that off, loading the truck will be so much easier and quicker. Thats my plan, and so far I don't see any reason I can't pull it off. Then I can finish doing the patching of the walls, painting, and blinds replacement. Between the cat and Elliot, the blinds have seen better days. Thankfully, the person who put them up didn't bother to make them the right size for the windows, so there are plenty of slats to take out and replace the bent ones with. Not a hard process, but time consuming to say the least.
Well, that table isn't going to strip itself, might as well get something done since I'm up at O'dark thirty again.
We heard back from our potential new land lord yesterday, and the house is ours! Here are some pics:
Thankfully, Judy and Ernie were willing to go and look at it for us in person, since we are 1600 miles away. They gave it a glowing review, so we told the gal renting it that we were interested in it, and put in our application. A week later, she had finished with all her research/background check/drug test/STD/SAT's/bloodwork and finally a DNA submission, and we got the house! So that takes a huge load off of Crystals plate when she gets up there on the 20th. Now that we have an address, we can focus on the business end of things, getting a P.O. box, finding out what documents we have to file in triplicate, notarize, staple, sort and file with the various departments of government and all that jazz to be able to do business up there.
Plans are constantly changing as far as my final days here go. I wanted to load the truck on the 29th, get the carpets cleaned the 30th, have our walk thru the 30th, then spend the night at my Dad's and golf with him the morning of the 31st, but they have a cat who apparently goes nuts if another cat comes around, and the airlines won't take blackjack for whatever reason (when did the airlines stop taking animals on board?!) so, I have to stay here til the 31st, which means no golf for my dad and I. Which is ok I guess, he is going to help me return that earlier mentioned dining room table on Monday the 27th, thankfully that will only take a short amount of time, then we can go play golf :)
With any luck, after Crystal, Judy and Elliot leave on the 20th, I can get all the furniture and boxes out into the front room. If I can pull that off, loading the truck will be so much easier and quicker. Thats my plan, and so far I don't see any reason I can't pull it off. Then I can finish doing the patching of the walls, painting, and blinds replacement. Between the cat and Elliot, the blinds have seen better days. Thankfully, the person who put them up didn't bother to make them the right size for the windows, so there are plenty of slats to take out and replace the bent ones with. Not a hard process, but time consuming to say the least.
Well, that table isn't going to strip itself, might as well get something done since I'm up at O'dark thirty again.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
18 months old
Two posts in two days is pretty damn good for me. I should be doing school work but blah! I'm blogging instead.
Big news from our house:
Today our little big boy is officially a year and a half years old. Hard to believe, but then when I think back to how when he was swaddled up he was the length of my forearm it's not so hard to believe. And we also have tooth number 15th! It broke through last night or today sometime. One more to go and then a break for about 6 months. Then the last 4 and he's good to go until he knocks any out or they fall out in about 5 years.
We've found a house in Vancouver to rent too! Mike saw it on craig's list this morning, called the lady, and then we sent Mom and Dad to check it out. They gave it high marks and we called the lady back and it's a go. Waiting for the paperwork and all that jazz to get here and get back to her. But a big relief that I don't have to worry about driving all over once we get up there to find a place to live. It will be nice to be able to have all the utilities switched over to our name and the phone and satellite guy show up on the 1st to install that stuff. And Mike can let the Weathersby Guild headquarters know our new address and numbers so they can send their email to everyone letting them know where to send us their claims.
That's all that happened today. Tomorrow I go in for a massage and manicure. Haven't ever had either and it's about time I do a little something for myself.
TTFN ~ Crys
Big news from our house:
Today our little big boy is officially a year and a half years old. Hard to believe, but then when I think back to how when he was swaddled up he was the length of my forearm it's not so hard to believe. And we also have tooth number 15th! It broke through last night or today sometime. One more to go and then a break for about 6 months. Then the last 4 and he's good to go until he knocks any out or they fall out in about 5 years.
We've found a house in Vancouver to rent too! Mike saw it on craig's list this morning, called the lady, and then we sent Mom and Dad to check it out. They gave it high marks and we called the lady back and it's a go. Waiting for the paperwork and all that jazz to get here and get back to her. But a big relief that I don't have to worry about driving all over once we get up there to find a place to live. It will be nice to be able to have all the utilities switched over to our name and the phone and satellite guy show up on the 1st to install that stuff. And Mike can let the Weathersby Guild headquarters know our new address and numbers so they can send their email to everyone letting them know where to send us their claims.That's all that happened today. Tomorrow I go in for a massage and manicure. Haven't ever had either and it's about time I do a little something for myself.
TTFN ~ Crys
Friday, August 03, 2007
New Haircut
Well, we finally agree it was time for Peanut's first haircut. Knowing that he would never sit still long enough to let it be cut with scissors, we decided to see if he'd let us use the clippers. He did! It was pretty comical to watch, he kept hunching his head down into his shoulders and trying to grab the clippers. But, with only a few spots missed that were re-clipped the next night, he's now sporting a new, much shorter, buzzed look. It really made his face stand out more and make him look like a toddler, instead of a little shaggy head boy.
And I didn't even cry until both him and Mike were sleeping. I did save a bunch for his baby book. Man, it was long on top. About 3 inches or so long.
And I didn't even cry until both him and Mike were sleeping. I did save a bunch for his baby book. Man, it was long on top. About 3 inches or so long.
Before:
During:
After:
During:After:And please pay no attention to our cat doing the nasty to her stuffed animal in the background of the during picture. She's gotta have some fun too.
That's about the extent of our excitement. We've rediscovered how much packing blows and that flat paint is absolutely the worse thing to put on walls. To touch up the areas touched and marked by Peanut and to fill in the holes in the walls we have to spackle, sand, prime, and then use the touch up paint. Stupid, stupid, stupid flat paint.
I'm off to finish watching my movie. Mike insisted I post so Mom will stop whining that she wants to see pictures. Are you happy now?!
TTFN ~Crys
That's about the extent of our excitement. We've rediscovered how much packing blows and that flat paint is absolutely the worse thing to put on walls. To touch up the areas touched and marked by Peanut and to fill in the holes in the walls we have to spackle, sand, prime, and then use the touch up paint. Stupid, stupid, stupid flat paint.
I'm off to finish watching my movie. Mike insisted I post so Mom will stop whining that she wants to see pictures. Are you happy now?!
TTFN ~Crys
Monday, July 23, 2007
Patience is not my virtue...
I can't stand the waiting part. I've never had a high level of patience. Being a dispatcher for 6 years took what little bit I had, and flushed it down the toilet. I'm getting better, but still not any where close to where I'd like to be. I want things now now now. Like this move, I want to be on the road already. I'm sick of this heat. I hate not being able to go out in the garage and work on something I have to work on because its so hot. Not so much that I can't stand the heat, I can take it for awhile, but alot of the products I use are kinda heat sensitive, and this hot air makes it hard to work with. Oh well, patience right! BAH!
We are down to 40 days now, thats not to bad. Although it will feel like an eternity, I'm sure it will go by quickly.
We spoke to our friends Steve and Ronda yesterday, and it was nice to hear excitement in their voices that we were coming back. If they are even half as excited about it as we are, then I know for sure Steve is close to wetting his pants. Other than family, I miss them the most. They by far what I would call my best friends. I can't wait to give them both hugs. Steven will no doubt try and slip me the tongue too.
I'm hoping to get back on the BOEC softball team too come spring time. I really enjoy playing that, glad I didn't stick with it here though, I've driven past that park and those freaks actually get out and play when its 110 degrees outside! INSANE!!!
Well, I'm off to Home Depot for some lag bolts. I had to build a new base for my table saw, turns out the flimsy metal legs on the factory version, wasn't meant to have wheels attached to it and the thing was caving in...would have sucked if it happened during use.
We are down to 40 days now, thats not to bad. Although it will feel like an eternity, I'm sure it will go by quickly.
We spoke to our friends Steve and Ronda yesterday, and it was nice to hear excitement in their voices that we were coming back. If they are even half as excited about it as we are, then I know for sure Steve is close to wetting his pants. Other than family, I miss them the most. They by far what I would call my best friends. I can't wait to give them both hugs. Steven will no doubt try and slip me the tongue too.
I'm hoping to get back on the BOEC softball team too come spring time. I really enjoy playing that, glad I didn't stick with it here though, I've driven past that park and those freaks actually get out and play when its 110 degrees outside! INSANE!!!
Well, I'm off to Home Depot for some lag bolts. I had to build a new base for my table saw, turns out the flimsy metal legs on the factory version, wasn't meant to have wheels attached to it and the thing was caving in...would have sucked if it happened during use.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
T-Minus 43 days...
Thats right, we are going for it. August 31st is the end of our lease, and its the end of our inhabitation of the surface of the Sun.
Today we called up Southwest airlines where we had purchased plane tickets for a vacation we had planned in late September, early October and found out about switching some plane tickets around. We are flying Crystals Mom Judy down on August 16th, and she will spend a few days with us, then August 20th, Crystal, Judy and Elliot will fly back to Portland and start looking for a place for us to live in. Then August 31st, Crystals Dad Ernie will be flying down here, to help me drive one of our vehicles back up with me. We will likely depart on Saturday September 1st, and can hopefully make the drive in 2 days again. If not, getting into town on Monday wouldn't be so bad either. End the end, we were able to trade in our tickets, and spent a bank busting 99.50 to buy the extra tickets :) Not to shabby!
One of our goals was to try and get a small business loan to buy Seattle, but since we haven't been in business for more than 2 years, the bank told us to pound sand. So, I sent an email to Kent Weathersby (he's the head honcho we got the business from) and asked what he thought about financing the purchase of the new city on his own, and I'd just make monthly payments to him. Being the God sent blessing that he is, he agreed to this. So, once we get up there, and get the fax machine plugged in, we can announce that we are taking claims in all 3 major cities, Portland, Vancouver, and Seattle! WOOT!!!!
I think we are going to be really busy, so Ronda, I really truly hope you might be interested in making some extra money and coming to work for me. If not, thats ok too, perhaps Big Mike might want to make a little extra dough and I can put him to work, or if things really pan out, both of you.
Stay tuned for more details as they unfold. I'm off to work, have an early departure time in the morning for a job. With any luck I'll be able to fall asleep soon. Pretty active thunderstorm rolling through right now making a heck of a racket.
Today we called up Southwest airlines where we had purchased plane tickets for a vacation we had planned in late September, early October and found out about switching some plane tickets around. We are flying Crystals Mom Judy down on August 16th, and she will spend a few days with us, then August 20th, Crystal, Judy and Elliot will fly back to Portland and start looking for a place for us to live in. Then August 31st, Crystals Dad Ernie will be flying down here, to help me drive one of our vehicles back up with me. We will likely depart on Saturday September 1st, and can hopefully make the drive in 2 days again. If not, getting into town on Monday wouldn't be so bad either. End the end, we were able to trade in our tickets, and spent a bank busting 99.50 to buy the extra tickets :) Not to shabby!
One of our goals was to try and get a small business loan to buy Seattle, but since we haven't been in business for more than 2 years, the bank told us to pound sand. So, I sent an email to Kent Weathersby (he's the head honcho we got the business from) and asked what he thought about financing the purchase of the new city on his own, and I'd just make monthly payments to him. Being the God sent blessing that he is, he agreed to this. So, once we get up there, and get the fax machine plugged in, we can announce that we are taking claims in all 3 major cities, Portland, Vancouver, and Seattle! WOOT!!!!
I think we are going to be really busy, so Ronda, I really truly hope you might be interested in making some extra money and coming to work for me. If not, thats ok too, perhaps Big Mike might want to make a little extra dough and I can put him to work, or if things really pan out, both of you.
Stay tuned for more details as they unfold. I'm off to work, have an early departure time in the morning for a job. With any luck I'll be able to fall asleep soon. Pretty active thunderstorm rolling through right now making a heck of a racket.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Catching Up
Crickeys! It's been about a month since I've posted. Lots of things happening since then. We had a nice Father's Day lounging around at home and on the Monday afterwards, we packed Peanut up for an evening with his grandparents and Mike and I went to the Police concert. Boy, are those boys looking their age. It still was one of the better concerts I've seen and we both really enjoyed it. The ride home sucked, at least I think it did since I fell asleep and Mike had to drive.
Not much has been happening around here. We're in the 3rd month of 100+ degree days so Peanut and I spend A LOT of time indoors, being cranky with each other. I've had wicked morning sickness, the stomach flu, exhaustion, and a head/chest cold that took 2 weeks to recover from. Finally, for about 10 days, I'm feeling normal again.
We had a great trip home to stay with Mom and Dad. I was so tired the entire time that I rested, let Peanut play outside, let Mom and Dad take care of him for me, and laid around reading and forcing myself to finish my school work. It was a week I desperately needed. Flying by myself with Peanut was a challenge. Toddler, stroller, backpack full of diaper bag stuff, toys and snacks, and my purse, and a car seat are not things easily carried through the airport by one person. We made it though and next time would be easier since Mike is going to be with us.
No plans yet on when we're moving out of this horrible state and back to normal weather. Looking towards October now, but plans change weekly, and it depends on our cash flow.
The baby is doing well. Heard the heartbeat again yesterday and have our sonogram scheduled for 8/13. Original plans were to find out the sex, but not tell anyone else and let it be a surprise. But Mike would burst trying to keep a secret, I'd yell at him when he let it slip, and Mom wouldn't stop nagging me until I caved and told her....so new plan. We've decided not to find out the sex of the baby until he/she is born. So take that Mom. We won't even know, unless we figure it out from looking at the screen when measurements are being done. Hahahaha!
School started this week for me again. Thank God that last horrible term is over. I have 2 more terms to go and then I'm done. So in January, I'll officially be educated with a college degree that I won't use unless I'm forced to go back into the real world workplace.
Peanut is due to wake up anytime from his nap and I gotta get his lunch ready. Here's a few pictures from June.
TTFN ~Crys
Discovering dirt is good and rocks are fun to sit on and play with.
Riding with Poppy on the best thing ever that must be touched and grunted at every time we went outside.
Looking so grown up in his overalls and tenny shoes that he doesn't were at home cuz it's so dang hot. And perfecting being master of the BBQ'er.
Not much has been happening around here. We're in the 3rd month of 100+ degree days so Peanut and I spend A LOT of time indoors, being cranky with each other. I've had wicked morning sickness, the stomach flu, exhaustion, and a head/chest cold that took 2 weeks to recover from. Finally, for about 10 days, I'm feeling normal again.
We had a great trip home to stay with Mom and Dad. I was so tired the entire time that I rested, let Peanut play outside, let Mom and Dad take care of him for me, and laid around reading and forcing myself to finish my school work. It was a week I desperately needed. Flying by myself with Peanut was a challenge. Toddler, stroller, backpack full of diaper bag stuff, toys and snacks, and my purse, and a car seat are not things easily carried through the airport by one person. We made it though and next time would be easier since Mike is going to be with us.
No plans yet on when we're moving out of this horrible state and back to normal weather. Looking towards October now, but plans change weekly, and it depends on our cash flow.
The baby is doing well. Heard the heartbeat again yesterday and have our sonogram scheduled for 8/13. Original plans were to find out the sex, but not tell anyone else and let it be a surprise. But Mike would burst trying to keep a secret, I'd yell at him when he let it slip, and Mom wouldn't stop nagging me until I caved and told her....so new plan. We've decided not to find out the sex of the baby until he/she is born. So take that Mom. We won't even know, unless we figure it out from looking at the screen when measurements are being done. Hahahaha!
School started this week for me again. Thank God that last horrible term is over. I have 2 more terms to go and then I'm done. So in January, I'll officially be educated with a college degree that I won't use unless I'm forced to go back into the real world workplace.
Peanut is due to wake up anytime from his nap and I gotta get his lunch ready. Here's a few pictures from June.
TTFN ~Crys
After swimming at Todd and Joy's.
Discovering dirt is good and rocks are fun to sit on and play with.
Riding with Poppy on the best thing ever that must be touched and grunted at every time we went outside.
Looking so grown up in his overalls and tenny shoes that he doesn't were at home cuz it's so dang hot. And perfecting being master of the BBQ'er.
Monday, July 16, 2007
The big 34...
It happened, I'm old. Or I feel old anyway. Actually, I don't feel any older now than I did last week. Maybe thats how it happens, you just go along, feeling normal, then one day, some kid on the street yells, "out of the way old man", and you whip around so fast you tweak your neck to see who the little turd is talking too, and realize it's you. His youthful legs carry him away on his bike before you can catch him and show him that with your age you've learned the most effective places to strike in order to create the most pain. Like smashing his youthful little face in...but I digress.
Yesterday was my 34th birthday. How did this happen? Didn't I just turn 13 like 6 months ago? Maybe thats my mental age, a mid puberty adolescent....that would explain why fart jokes are still so funny to me.
Growing old stinks. It's right up there with going to the fridge to get that bit of left over whatever you fancy, and finding mold on it. Or like running late for an important meeting, and realizing you have no clean underwear in the drawer. Or pushing the button on the vending machine for one kind of soda, and getting the kind you hate more than any other soda, and having no more change in your pocket. I could go on and on and on, but I'm sure you get the point. I'm too young for my mid life crisis, so I have to trudge along for a bit more before I can really start to complain too much. Still, its never to early to start researching what kind of sports car I want to have.
Yesterday was my 34th birthday. How did this happen? Didn't I just turn 13 like 6 months ago? Maybe thats my mental age, a mid puberty adolescent....that would explain why fart jokes are still so funny to me.
Growing old stinks. It's right up there with going to the fridge to get that bit of left over whatever you fancy, and finding mold on it. Or like running late for an important meeting, and realizing you have no clean underwear in the drawer. Or pushing the button on the vending machine for one kind of soda, and getting the kind you hate more than any other soda, and having no more change in your pocket. I could go on and on and on, but I'm sure you get the point. I'm too young for my mid life crisis, so I have to trudge along for a bit more before I can really start to complain too much. Still, its never to early to start researching what kind of sports car I want to have.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Happy birthday America! 231 years old!
Ok, I know I'm posting this on July 3rd, but thats just cause I felt like doing it early.
Pretty amazing it only took such a short amount of time to take this country from what our fore fathers had dreams of it being, to the reality TV-drunk heiress in jail-school violence place that is it today, way to go America! How about we start dealing with people the way we did back in our countries beginning. You do something wrong, off you go...or off goes your head, which ever. Bah, enough of that rant.
Everyone in the house is sick right now. It sucks. Last week when Crystal and Elliot came back from visiting the NW, Elliot had a little cough going. Then, the next day, that cough became a big cough and Crystal had the little cough. A few days go by, and now I have the cough. I hope whoever made Elliot sick has a raging case of the crabs soon.
We had planned on going up to my Dads house for the 4th, but they are going on vacation next week, and it hardly seems fair to make them sick before they leave. So, now we are going to sit around the house and likely just watch TV or something.
Things are still on track for moving, we just have to put our heads together and decide how much money we need to have saved up before we go. Next week I'll be going into the bank and talking to them about a business loan to purchase the Seattle branch, and with any luck can talk them into giving a little bit extra so that we will have money to live on. I don't think there will be a problem with work coming in up there, but Crystal being the head of the Office of Financial Dealings, she thinks she gets to make the decision. Last time I checked its my business card that says El Presidente on it, and not hers! Oh well, I don't want to put us in a bind either, so its better that we have some set aside.
We have about a months worth of bills money saved now, so hopefully we can sock away another months worth in the next 2 months and that will be enough for her to relax and we will go. I've been checking on prices for moving trucks, they sure are spendy. Looks like we will be paying about the same price we did when we came down, so at least it hasn't gone thru the roof over the last year. I want to get rid of some of the junk we have around here and hopefully that will allow us to downsize and get a smaller truck too. If I get a smaller truck, and can get my Dad down here to help us load it, we will be set. I swear, he can get make a 4 bedroom house fit into a pick up truck if he had too, its amazing. I call him the moving truck Nazi.
Well, off to do a job now, everyone else is still sleeping. Lucky them :)
Pretty amazing it only took such a short amount of time to take this country from what our fore fathers had dreams of it being, to the reality TV-drunk heiress in jail-school violence place that is it today, way to go America! How about we start dealing with people the way we did back in our countries beginning. You do something wrong, off you go...or off goes your head, which ever. Bah, enough of that rant.
Everyone in the house is sick right now. It sucks. Last week when Crystal and Elliot came back from visiting the NW, Elliot had a little cough going. Then, the next day, that cough became a big cough and Crystal had the little cough. A few days go by, and now I have the cough. I hope whoever made Elliot sick has a raging case of the crabs soon.
We had planned on going up to my Dads house for the 4th, but they are going on vacation next week, and it hardly seems fair to make them sick before they leave. So, now we are going to sit around the house and likely just watch TV or something.
Things are still on track for moving, we just have to put our heads together and decide how much money we need to have saved up before we go. Next week I'll be going into the bank and talking to them about a business loan to purchase the Seattle branch, and with any luck can talk them into giving a little bit extra so that we will have money to live on. I don't think there will be a problem with work coming in up there, but Crystal being the head of the Office of Financial Dealings, she thinks she gets to make the decision. Last time I checked its my business card that says El Presidente on it, and not hers! Oh well, I don't want to put us in a bind either, so its better that we have some set aside.
We have about a months worth of bills money saved now, so hopefully we can sock away another months worth in the next 2 months and that will be enough for her to relax and we will go. I've been checking on prices for moving trucks, they sure are spendy. Looks like we will be paying about the same price we did when we came down, so at least it hasn't gone thru the roof over the last year. I want to get rid of some of the junk we have around here and hopefully that will allow us to downsize and get a smaller truck too. If I get a smaller truck, and can get my Dad down here to help us load it, we will be set. I swear, he can get make a 4 bedroom house fit into a pick up truck if he had too, its amazing. I call him the moving truck Nazi.
Well, off to do a job now, everyone else is still sleeping. Lucky them :)
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Damn, thats hot.
Well, Crystal and Elliot are gone. They left yesterday to go up and visit Grandma and Grandpa (and anyone else she can track down) up in Washington. I took them to the airport just before noon. Did you know in today's high security crack down you can just walk up to a ticket agent, ask them for a "escort" pass and in about 30 seconds, you are on your way down thru security to the gate? They didn't even ask Crystal for her flight info to make sure she really was a passenger, just asked for my ID, and you know how hard those are to forge....man, all that extra money going towards all that security is money well spent in my opinion! Anyway, needless to say, I got to walk them down to their gate and say an extended goodbye. That was nice...sad, but nice.
After I left the airport, I had planned (conspired is more like it) with my dad to go and play golf that afternoon since I would be up on PHX anyway. So, I took off like a lightning bolt from the airport and made it to the course that is my dads retirement community (read that "old farts village") and off we went. When I got to the course at about 1:30, it was somewhere close to 105 degrees out. No biggie, drink lots of water, everything will be fine. Well, in my haste to get to the golf course on time, I failed to go get something to eat, which was my plan, but it slipped my mind, dreaming of making eagles and birdies and what not (I actually was on the green in 2 on a par 5 and was putting for eagle, but missed it and settled for birdie). So, 13 holes later, I had to quit. I was hot, shaky, and hot. I knew if I pushed it, I'd pay for it later, so I rode around in the cart with my dad for the remaining 5 holes and watched him continue to shoot the lights out. Its a good thing I quit when I did, he would have beat me so bad, I'd never hear the end of it. Probably still wont :)
So, I climbed back in the car, and the temperature gauge said 118!
Yes, that says 118 F'ing degrees!!!!! No wonder I was hot! God lord! My dad of course, called me a sissy though, for whatever reason, the heat just doesn't bother him. The only thing I could come up with as to why this is, was after spending some time in Vietnam as a youngster, he just got used to it, or, it was so much more worse there, 118 of dry heat, really can't compare to the hot humid jungles of Vietnam. Either way, he is like a machine, he just played on, and he was only drinking soda and part of a small bottle of water. Machine I tell you!
Anyway, today was a busy day. With Crystal and Elliot gone, I have nothing to rush home for, so I scheduled 5 jobs for today. 3 of them being repair jobs. One of them, had a pine colored bed frame. Anyone that does furniture repair will tell you, the lighter the wood, the harder to onsite repairs. There is just something about it, kinda like white colors. There are 31 million different shades of white, all of them nearly impossible to match. So, I did the next best thing...improvised!
Here is the before shot:
And the after shots:
Can you see the damage? It's actually where that new knot is, no its not a real knot, its one I "drew" on there using my color sticks. Turned out pretty damned good. The shipper even said to me, "I can't wait to show that to my husband, I bet he doesnt even realize that its not a real knot!". This was of course, music to my ears. Had her sign my sign off form saying that the repairs were good and I was off and running. That was my first job of the day. After that, I could do no wrong. Now its alittle after 7, I just finished my reports before I sat down to type this, now I think I'm going to grab some dinner, watch alittle TV, then sack out.
With any luck, we will be moving back up at the end of August, stay tuned for updates as they become available.
After I left the airport, I had planned (conspired is more like it) with my dad to go and play golf that afternoon since I would be up on PHX anyway. So, I took off like a lightning bolt from the airport and made it to the course that is my dads retirement community (read that "old farts village") and off we went. When I got to the course at about 1:30, it was somewhere close to 105 degrees out. No biggie, drink lots of water, everything will be fine. Well, in my haste to get to the golf course on time, I failed to go get something to eat, which was my plan, but it slipped my mind, dreaming of making eagles and birdies and what not (I actually was on the green in 2 on a par 5 and was putting for eagle, but missed it and settled for birdie). So, 13 holes later, I had to quit. I was hot, shaky, and hot. I knew if I pushed it, I'd pay for it later, so I rode around in the cart with my dad for the remaining 5 holes and watched him continue to shoot the lights out. Its a good thing I quit when I did, he would have beat me so bad, I'd never hear the end of it. Probably still wont :)
So, I climbed back in the car, and the temperature gauge said 118!
Yes, that says 118 F'ing degrees!!!!! No wonder I was hot! God lord! My dad of course, called me a sissy though, for whatever reason, the heat just doesn't bother him. The only thing I could come up with as to why this is, was after spending some time in Vietnam as a youngster, he just got used to it, or, it was so much more worse there, 118 of dry heat, really can't compare to the hot humid jungles of Vietnam. Either way, he is like a machine, he just played on, and he was only drinking soda and part of a small bottle of water. Machine I tell you!
Anyway, today was a busy day. With Crystal and Elliot gone, I have nothing to rush home for, so I scheduled 5 jobs for today. 3 of them being repair jobs. One of them, had a pine colored bed frame. Anyone that does furniture repair will tell you, the lighter the wood, the harder to onsite repairs. There is just something about it, kinda like white colors. There are 31 million different shades of white, all of them nearly impossible to match. So, I did the next best thing...improvised!
Here is the before shot:
And the after shots:
Can you see the damage? It's actually where that new knot is, no its not a real knot, its one I "drew" on there using my color sticks. Turned out pretty damned good. The shipper even said to me, "I can't wait to show that to my husband, I bet he doesnt even realize that its not a real knot!". This was of course, music to my ears. Had her sign my sign off form saying that the repairs were good and I was off and running. That was my first job of the day. After that, I could do no wrong. Now its alittle after 7, I just finished my reports before I sat down to type this, now I think I'm going to grab some dinner, watch alittle TV, then sack out.
With any luck, we will be moving back up at the end of August, stay tuned for updates as they become available.
Friday, June 08, 2007
29 weeks to go, give or take 5
We went to the Dr. yesterday to get the first of many pre-natal visits done. They did a sonogram (I think its the same thing as an ultrasound, but sonogram sounds cooler to them I guess) and listened to the new baby's heart beat. Very cool stuff. I was amazed to see the difference with from this baby to Elliot as far as picture quality went with the test. It really is a great time to be alive, technology is changing the face of the earth in a big way. Anyway, here is a picture of our "new peanut", they measure exactly 1 inch long, I wish I would have had my phone out to record the heart beat, but I'll catch it next time. I'm putting my money down now that this one is a girl. I remember the way Elliot's heart beat was when we first heard his, and they say the boys heartbeat is usually faster than a girls, and this was noticeably slower to me. Crystal will likely tell you I'm full of poo...but who doesn't already know that?
It just looks like a blob now...but I'm sure its going to be a good looking kid, just has to cook for a bit longer.
The Dr. told us that since Elliot came early, there is a risk that this one will too, however, odds are that he/she will come later than Elliot did, usually by a week, maybe 2. Then they told us there was a shot that Crystal could start taking at week 18, deep muscle in the arse, that would increase the odds of the child being born closer to full term. Its a once a week shot, the side effects are pain and sometimes difficulty walking the day after the shot, and it gives you a whole 7% chance of extending the due date......7%? And pain for 20 weeks? I'm a gambler, and those are not good odds. Needless to say, I think we are going to take our chances.
We have been doing our research for the move, we've found that our insurance will not transfer up to the Pacific NW, however, we can start with a new insurance company once we get up there, and they will count the insurance we currently have, and waive the wait time for maternity coverage, so really, I guess we are waiting for the lease to be up, and to sock away enough money to live on for 2 months. Hopefully that will be enough of a cushion to get us by til we are up and running up there, if its not, and we know you, be prepared for us to come over for free dinners...alot...no scratch that, gas will be expensive too, be prepared for us to invite you to bring us dinner...alot :)
I gotta go shower and get on the road. Hope everyone is doing well and in good health. For those of you in the Pacific NW, I cant wait to see you.
It just looks like a blob now...but I'm sure its going to be a good looking kid, just has to cook for a bit longer.
The Dr. told us that since Elliot came early, there is a risk that this one will too, however, odds are that he/she will come later than Elliot did, usually by a week, maybe 2. Then they told us there was a shot that Crystal could start taking at week 18, deep muscle in the arse, that would increase the odds of the child being born closer to full term. Its a once a week shot, the side effects are pain and sometimes difficulty walking the day after the shot, and it gives you a whole 7% chance of extending the due date......7%? And pain for 20 weeks? I'm a gambler, and those are not good odds. Needless to say, I think we are going to take our chances.
We have been doing our research for the move, we've found that our insurance will not transfer up to the Pacific NW, however, we can start with a new insurance company once we get up there, and they will count the insurance we currently have, and waive the wait time for maternity coverage, so really, I guess we are waiting for the lease to be up, and to sock away enough money to live on for 2 months. Hopefully that will be enough of a cushion to get us by til we are up and running up there, if its not, and we know you, be prepared for us to come over for free dinners...alot...no scratch that, gas will be expensive too, be prepared for us to invite you to bring us dinner...alot :)
I gotta go shower and get on the road. Hope everyone is doing well and in good health. For those of you in the Pacific NW, I cant wait to see you.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
News
Well, its been a long long time since I got around to making an update on here, Crystal has had the reigns on that for awhile, but no more!
Things have been stirring around here for sometime now, and for the most part, no major disasters have occurred. Sure there is the occasional diaper that blows out (Elliot gets that from his mother), and last night he tried to pee on my arm while he was in the bath, but thats about where the drama ends....sorta.
Crystal isn't doing so well adjusting to the Desert a.k.a face of the sun (and the real heat isnt even here yet), missing her family (I do too actually), our friends (even those idiots we like so much), and we've decided enough is enough.
Last weekend, I was back in Atlanta, GA for a Weathersby Guild Conference. My Dad and I flew in Thursday afternoon (after I left our house at 3:00 am to get to his house and pick him up, then off to the PHX airport) at 2 pm. We had a casual dinner that night with everyone at the Fudruckers near the Hotel where we were meeting. Now, I don't know for sure it was something I ate there...but I was sick the entire weekend. When I say sick, I mean ED was visiting from out of town, and he always brings way too much luggage for his stay...enough on that. Anyway, I pulled the head honcho Kent Weathersby aside and had a little chat with him. A brief play by play of how that went:
Kent: Hello Michael, how is Crystal doing?
Me: She hates Tucson, its too hot, and shes too far from her family.
Kent: Well, perhaps its time to show her physically and mentally, that you are ready to be her Champion, her protector, her provider, and move her back near her family, we talked once before that if you wanted to move your Guild to the Portland/Seattle area, I'd love to have you go there and represent the Guild with a presence, its something we've wanted for along time to be up in the Pacific NW.
Me: Well, I need to sit her down and have that conversation, cause I'm missing my friends and family too, and its really starting to take its toll.
Kent: Well, lets get some research done and look into it, get in touch with some of your adjusters you do work for and see if they could use you up there.
Me: I think I will.
So, anyway, I got home just before Midnight on Saturday, and Sunday morning when I woke up, Crystal and I had a good talk about moving back. When I first mentioned it to her, she looked in my eyes and I could tell right then, if I get her back home, I'll never be able to do any wrong the rest of my life so long as I did this for her. So, we are moving back home! There are still some things we have to iron out, but its a done deal.
We are in a lease on this house until August 31st, so thats the earliest we can go, then, we have to check with our insurance to see if we can move our policy up there, or if we have to start a new one. If we have to start a new one, we have to stay until January sometime...and thats cause our current policy covers maternity stuff...since Crystal is PREGNANT again and expecting January 7th. :)
So, things are coming along nicely. I have spoke with many adjusters and the resounding response from them is "hurry up and move". So thats a nice burden lifted wondering if there is work there. Many of them have told me that the Seattle area is where the majority of their need is, but I'd like to get Portland/Vancouver up and running first, open my own refinishing shop, and then see about getting a business loan to open Seattle. Will then look for someone to run that branch for me, I can travel too and from to help out with big repair jobs, and be more of a manager in that area. Thats putting the cart in front of the horse just a touch, but I'm trying to get a time frame down for my vision of where I see this thing going. Like Kent said to me when he heard this plan, "thats not a bad idea, you don't want to be going out doing service calls when your 60". And he would know, cause I think he is rapidly approaching that age and still working in the field, but, he is damned good at what he does, and I think maybe just a pinch of a work aholic, much like my Dad...and me, who am I kidding. This work has quickly become a passion for me, I love taking something broken and making it whole again, or taking something ugly and old, and giving it new life, very rewarding stuff.
I'm going to miss my Dad and Step Mom very much, but I'm hoping with us being so close to the Beach, and them in the warm weather all year long, we will both have reasons to travel and see each other more than we have in the past. Even living as close as we do (hour drive time), we don't get to see them all that often. I'll also miss the sunny warm winter weather here, but, to be honest, I'm really missing the rain and the cold. Not so cold that I can't feel my own butt cheeks, but that cool brisk fall air...oh baby, poppa is coming home!!!!
Things have been stirring around here for sometime now, and for the most part, no major disasters have occurred. Sure there is the occasional diaper that blows out (Elliot gets that from his mother), and last night he tried to pee on my arm while he was in the bath, but thats about where the drama ends....sorta.
Crystal isn't doing so well adjusting to the Desert a.k.a face of the sun (and the real heat isnt even here yet), missing her family (I do too actually), our friends (even those idiots we like so much), and we've decided enough is enough.
Last weekend, I was back in Atlanta, GA for a Weathersby Guild Conference. My Dad and I flew in Thursday afternoon (after I left our house at 3:00 am to get to his house and pick him up, then off to the PHX airport) at 2 pm. We had a casual dinner that night with everyone at the Fudruckers near the Hotel where we were meeting. Now, I don't know for sure it was something I ate there...but I was sick the entire weekend. When I say sick, I mean ED was visiting from out of town, and he always brings way too much luggage for his stay...enough on that. Anyway, I pulled the head honcho Kent Weathersby aside and had a little chat with him. A brief play by play of how that went:
Kent: Hello Michael, how is Crystal doing?
Me: She hates Tucson, its too hot, and shes too far from her family.
Kent: Well, perhaps its time to show her physically and mentally, that you are ready to be her Champion, her protector, her provider, and move her back near her family, we talked once before that if you wanted to move your Guild to the Portland/Seattle area, I'd love to have you go there and represent the Guild with a presence, its something we've wanted for along time to be up in the Pacific NW.
Me: Well, I need to sit her down and have that conversation, cause I'm missing my friends and family too, and its really starting to take its toll.
Kent: Well, lets get some research done and look into it, get in touch with some of your adjusters you do work for and see if they could use you up there.
Me: I think I will.
So, anyway, I got home just before Midnight on Saturday, and Sunday morning when I woke up, Crystal and I had a good talk about moving back. When I first mentioned it to her, she looked in my eyes and I could tell right then, if I get her back home, I'll never be able to do any wrong the rest of my life so long as I did this for her. So, we are moving back home! There are still some things we have to iron out, but its a done deal.
We are in a lease on this house until August 31st, so thats the earliest we can go, then, we have to check with our insurance to see if we can move our policy up there, or if we have to start a new one. If we have to start a new one, we have to stay until January sometime...and thats cause our current policy covers maternity stuff...since Crystal is PREGNANT again and expecting January 7th. :)
So, things are coming along nicely. I have spoke with many adjusters and the resounding response from them is "hurry up and move". So thats a nice burden lifted wondering if there is work there. Many of them have told me that the Seattle area is where the majority of their need is, but I'd like to get Portland/Vancouver up and running first, open my own refinishing shop, and then see about getting a business loan to open Seattle. Will then look for someone to run that branch for me, I can travel too and from to help out with big repair jobs, and be more of a manager in that area. Thats putting the cart in front of the horse just a touch, but I'm trying to get a time frame down for my vision of where I see this thing going. Like Kent said to me when he heard this plan, "thats not a bad idea, you don't want to be going out doing service calls when your 60". And he would know, cause I think he is rapidly approaching that age and still working in the field, but, he is damned good at what he does, and I think maybe just a pinch of a work aholic, much like my Dad...and me, who am I kidding. This work has quickly become a passion for me, I love taking something broken and making it whole again, or taking something ugly and old, and giving it new life, very rewarding stuff.
I'm going to miss my Dad and Step Mom very much, but I'm hoping with us being so close to the Beach, and them in the warm weather all year long, we will both have reasons to travel and see each other more than we have in the past. Even living as close as we do (hour drive time), we don't get to see them all that often. I'll also miss the sunny warm winter weather here, but, to be honest, I'm really missing the rain and the cold. Not so cold that I can't feel my own butt cheeks, but that cool brisk fall air...oh baby, poppa is coming home!!!!
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Post of Pictures and a Thanks
Quick post of pictures.
Nappin with Marvin. Marvin is 1/2 inch taller than Peanut was at birth.
Playing with Blackjack.
Thanks to Aunt Jen and the kiddos. Peanut got his package last week and loves the books. The Curious George book is read at least twice a day and sometimes he'll sit through Runaway Bunny. The cow puppet is ok as long as it's not on anyone's hand. But it's fun to drag around by the ears.
Off to do more schoolwork. I'm insane and signed up for a third class because I like to punish and stress myself. As long as I force myself to leave my sewing area alone, I'll get a little bit of school work done each day. It's getting harder and harder to not throw in the towel and give up.
Oh, and to rub in our beautiful weather, it's been in the 80's all week and perfect outside. Hahahaha to all the suckers still in the PNW.
TTFN ~Crys
Nekid before dinner of macaroni and cheese.
Nappin with Marvin. Marvin is 1/2 inch taller than Peanut was at birth.
Playing with Blackjack.
Is my hair messed up?
I'm outta here!
Thanks to Aunt Jen and the kiddos. Peanut got his package last week and loves the books. The Curious George book is read at least twice a day and sometimes he'll sit through Runaway Bunny. The cow puppet is ok as long as it's not on anyone's hand. But it's fun to drag around by the ears.
Off to do more schoolwork. I'm insane and signed up for a third class because I like to punish and stress myself. As long as I force myself to leave my sewing area alone, I'll get a little bit of school work done each day. It's getting harder and harder to not throw in the towel and give up.
Oh, and to rub in our beautiful weather, it's been in the 80's all week and perfect outside. Hahahaha to all the suckers still in the PNW.
TTFN ~Crys
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