On the Fence!

Fencing is my new sport! I love it!! For those who don't know, there are three different weapons, Foil, Epee, and Saber. I'm on Foil right now, will most likely move to Saber later. But it's a blast! All the girls are just as zany as I am, and you never eat alone if another fencer is in Moody at the same time as you!

Other than that, my first tournament is this Sunday at University of Vergina. And they mix gender so look out boys, I can stab there and it'll count as a point for me! There also, some time in the year, will be super grandparent!! Apparently these people are 80 and still beat every one...someone gets the cool grandma mug. I also can see myself being that grandma!

So wish me luck!!

HU You Know!!

Scout Camp - Day Four

Eli went white water rafting in kayaks yesterday over some class three rapids and did very well. He also took third in the camp climb off. Braden and Asa swam a mile this morning in the camp lake completing the last part of their mile swim. Right now they are cleaning up merit badges and finishing off the hanging requirements so that Friday can be just a fun day. Asa is supposed to go on a trail ride as part of his horsemanship badge. Other than that the facial hari is getting thicker and the smells from the boys is getting riper and riper.

Day three - scout camp at hump day

Well, day three is down and we are still standing. Eli went white water rafting while Braden and Asa kept rocking away at the merit badges. Braden and Asa have the mile swim in the morning and I am hoping both boys do well. It got down a little cooler last night and it was really hard to get the boys out of their cots as they werew all in deep rem sleep. But, man o man do they smell!

Scout Camp - Day Two

Well, day two went well so far. Yesterday after I posted our update Braden competed and won the lunchtime climbing challenge much to the roar of delight from his troop. The three boys are staying really busy with their activities here at camp, tomorrow Eli actually is going two hours south of camp to go whitewater rafting with the scout camp as part of his older scouts program. I went on a hike today with four other dads, ten miles up into the mountains and back round trip with no bad side effects. No injuries thus far. But then again, it is only day two.

Day one from Hale Scout Camp

Hey guys, they have wifi in the adult training center, which sounds so much better than the dark cave where the parents all hide during the heat of the day. Just wanted to let you folks know what was going on with the three amigos here at camp. Asa and Braden have decided to do the mile swim and left this morning at 0600 to start the training. Eli is doing an outward adventure program for the older scouts that will involve whitewater rafting, overnight hikes to rustic campsites (read in dump in woods here) and fly fishing. Asa has signed up for

Snow Sports (they ski on astroturf in Oklahoma, maybe the stereotypes are right)
Horsemanship
Canoeing
Archery

Braden has signed up for

Snow Sports (see note above)
Canoeing
Fly Fishing
Motorboating

I've tried to sign up for reading books and staying in shade we'll see how that goes. Check back in tomorrow and we'll try to update. Sorry no pics, the wifi will not support uploading.

Book of the Bizarre Chapter one, section one.

{By request of She who must be obeyed, here is my latest spark of insanity. enjoy}

If I was a Bug I'd be a Butterfly! If I was an explosion I'd be a firework! If I was an element I'd be fire! If I was a bird I'd be a Pheniox!

So what am I?

A PHIREWORK BUTTERFLY!!!!

They live for about 6 months then explode into tinny fireworks. But don't worry, they rise again from the *ahem* ashes. this can reproduce at lest 6 more little butterflies. They're from any where to the size of a newborn hand to an adults hand.

They like to eat dew, nectar, raw flame, and taffy. and if you get a lot of them to fly by at one it sounds like sparklers.

The best way to find one is to have a campfire cook out, the flame and smell of smores will attract many of the sparkling bugs. Be sure to have a clean jam jar with holes punched in the lid to catch one. (If you really stink at catching put a bit of taffy in the jar and wait.)

Their natural predators are flying monkeys and jackalopes, and they live just about every where out side of a 10,000 mile radius of the poler circles, concentrated in China, New Zealand, Ireland, Narnia, USA, Italy, Moscow, Middle Earth and England. They migrate through flying, wardrobes, rabbit holes, and looking glasses.

They also build nests like birds to sleep in out of string, spider silk, leaves, and grass, usawly found in dry places

First discovered by Jack F. Thaddeus in New Zealand on July 18, 1801, when one made a nest in his toy-chest. He promptly caught the bug putting it in a jam jar and fed his new pet taffy till the sad day at the end of 'Racers' life, upon witch he was baurried under the sandbox in the back yard in his favorite jam jar.

Since little Jack the Phirework Butterfly has sparked a Roman candle in the Zoology/ Biology and general world of research. Could these little critters hold the cure for cancer? an end to the energy crisis? The answer to where that little sibling disappears to for hours on end? Maybe even why jimmy cracks corn when no one cares.

Only time will tell.

Shut Up Stupid Cookie!!

Okay so yesterday was not my best day...ever.

It went bad with the yearbook. after three years of amazing books...it went icky. you could tell the staff wasn't paying attention to their work. Then I had gotten the Perfect Attendance Award all four years, if that happens the school gives you $200. I wasn't called up to get my $200. So I run to Office Ladies and apparently I only had perfect attendance my Junior Year. So I have to dig out all the award papers before I can get any thing.

So I come home not happy; Hollins (my first choice) is too far away and we can't afford the travel and I have to baby sit. Lucy ran and tore her diaper off some where and peed on the floor, while I'm cleaning that up and looking for the missing diaper Finn poos through his pants. And then we ran out of satin remover when I went to squirt it! And when I had too use the toilet there was poop on the seat!

Even more unhappy I crack open a fortune cookie from Pei Wei. 'Handle all your problems with dignity'.

–.–

Well UD didn't work out,

really, why is a catholic school so expensive?

This is not what Jesus would do.

He came to you and taught for free

He even brought snacks!!!

Come on UD, think Jesus

Lu-cini Strakes Again!!

First time the Lu escaped was when she opened the door to the open garage and booked it up to Sachse road before any one realized she was gone. Lets just say she was brought home with 6 or so cop cars and a lady walking around asking 'Is this your baby?'

This time she was out in the backyard both gates closed and Dad send me out to go peak on her. Guess who's not in the backyard. Both gates still closed. Dad and I take off up the street to find her being sent back home by two dads who were watching their kids play street hockey. She looked rather sullen about being foiled.

How she dose it we still have no idea, just hope she doesn't turn to a life of crime. We'd never be abul to ceach her, much less in-pound her.

Well, I guess we are all friends now . . .

Part of my follow up treatment for my accident is a series of steroid shots into my spine. Seems I have a disc in my back that didn't appreciate the wrap around the pole yoga position I used in January. So I get there, and they put me in the "gown of shame" with no back and they get me set up with an i.v. Thirty minutes later we go into the procedure room and I lay on my stomach, with my boxers the only thing between me and a full moon shot. That lasted about two seconds when one of the nurses came by and tugged the boxers past mid cheek. My only comment, "usually that requires some drinks and dancing".

no drivers liscense for you!!

Standing in front of the TSA woman this morning at Love Field, can't find my id. "Do you have any government issued id?"

Nope

Well, just show me that old gym membership with your picture and a credit card.

Now I feel just all kinds of safe

If the taliban are credit worthy we are sunk.

Things my wife has taught me

1. How to use chop sticks
2. Sushi can actually be edible, even if it looks like bait sometimes
3. Salmon and capers on a bagel is pretty good stuff
4. Ice Cream is a food group (learned not to argue that one)
5. You can't spoil a baby, ever

There is a ton more, but those stuck out today.

She is still really sore from her crash, keep her in your thoughts and prayers. And kids, when was the last time you told your Mom you love her?

On the Road

First trip out since the accident. 4 days in Houston, three nights away from home. I can honestly say that the corner of the Houston that I am in is not on the tourism councils list of sites to see. Think gas flares in the night and refining.

real snazzy.

Not the holiday vacation I had planned

You always plan on a nice visit with family over the holdays. Lots of time to sit and catch up, see how everyone's kids have grown and generally wish you saw them more. I just didn't plan on doing that from my back in a hospital bed. I have to admit, there are some days that I don't remember much of anything. But, I did want to say how much we appreciate the love and kindness that has been showered on our family. It is very humbling to realize how many people care about your family.

I will never be able to say thank you enough.

May God hold all of you in the palm of his hand.