Entry for December 26, 2010

A neighbor's horse pasture and shed.

I arrived home Thursday at noon from Chattanooga. A nice trip through the snow capped western North Carolina mountains helped make the trip even better. Upon my arrival, Gin and I ventured out for some errands at a few stores and a pizza lunch. Friday was another day of a few errands and a day spent with the youngest Grandson, Dean. I took on Dean for much of the time so Gin could bake several cakes for family. I jumped in the kitchen between cakes to whip up a pot of white chili.

Christmas morning was spent at Patrick's house. We enjoyed gift opening by the boys and just hanging out with the family. Santa brought Nolan and Dean a swing set which was part of our morning fun. Both boys enjoyed the new playground toy. We are so lucky to have two of the happiest Grandchildren in the world.

The dream in the song finally came true. On Christmas day at 1 o'clock the snow began to fall. Continuing into the night we were dusted with 5 plus inches of wet snow. The best part was having the temperatures hover above freezing which kept the snow on the ground and not on the roads. I ventured out this morning to clear the snow and ice from the satellite dish and to also get some pictures of the rare southern "White Christmas". The driveway did not need to be shoveled which was the greatest part of the snow storm.

The week ahead will include more family gatherings of much larger proportions. I'll have to step up the running efforts to keep the sweets from hanging around. I hope all your family get togethers are filled with love and happiness. May the season's blessings be with your family, friends and you.

Merry Christmas!!!
P@

Entry for December 19, 2010

 

As expected, the weather warmed back up to more tolerable temperatures. The rainy days put a hamper on my running schedule. I was able to go Tuesday night in the 28 degree air and again on Friday night. Saturday I rested, then got up this morning and made a 30 minute run in the 30 degree morning sun. I can't quite understand the guys who "man up" and run in shorts when it is below freezing. Dude, your freaking crazy to let your muscles never get a chance to get warm. Sure your legs ar working, but the heat generated is just vaporizing in the frigid air. Go ahead, get a cramp or pull a muscle. Me and my wuss pants will be tooling along when you're sidelined at the doctor's office.

I walked 4 miles of trails at the Enterprise South Nature Park next to the VW plant in Chattanooga. Very nice place to get a light workout. Throw that on top of my 3 mile run this morning and I'm at 7 miles on foot today. I walked 4 different trails and passed by several WWII ammunition bunkers along the way. The park offers bike paths for the road bikes and pedestrians, trail paths for mountain bikes, pedestrian only paths, and a loop around the perimeter for cars only.

I'm looking forward to the upcoming Christmas holidays and a much needed break from work. I've only been back to work since April after 7 months of nothing, but the job can wear a person out if not for a break in the action. Most of the past eight months I've worked through almost every holiday and or holiday weekend. I've been fortunate to get extended weekends when I needed the extra time for personal duties. I am thankful to be employed this time of year. It has helped take the stress away from the holiday season for Gin and myself.

I hope you and your family are filled with the Christmas spirit. That all your wishes come true. That you are able to make someone's Christmas memorable for years to come. Give what you can to those in need and be thankful to receive all you are given this season.

Merry Christmas!!!

P@

Entry for Decemberrrrrrrr 13, 2010

December is upon us and the furry of winter arrived yesterday. I chose the picture of the flower to remind me that it will get warm again....sometime. I look forward to the slight warm up we are promised after a few days and nights of sub-freezing temps and wicked winds. This is just a temporary set back as far as I'm concerned. The real challenge for me will be running tomorrow evening after work. A true test of my dedication to keeping pace with my renewed exercise regimen. I hope the flower gives you a spark in these bitter cold days and nights. A return to the warm summer months is closer than you think.

Sometimes I feel lost in a moment. When I say lost, I mean that it's like I'm standing beside myself watching me do nothing. Sometimes not fully listening, watching or thinking. Letting things pass by without absorbing the impact of the moment. Life has spun such a winding web of pitfalls and plateaus that I have become lost at times. Not fully understanding what my purpose is in the current scheme of things. Do I choose this over that? What does the future hold for this over that?  I've made so many seat of the pants decisions and settled on many well thought out plans. Yet, here I am again needing to figure out which way to turn next.
I regress.

I was home Friday afternoon just in time to drive up right behind Jessica, Nolan and Dean. Nolan was being dropped off for a sleep over night. As soon as I was out of the car, Nolan was already hitting me up for a tractor ride (lawnmower). I deflected enough to get all my stuff into the house. After a little playing inside, we were riding the lawnmower around the yard. He's a lot like his daddy when he wants something. He just doesn't stop asking until he gets it. The first thing out of his mouth Saturday morning was "Ride the Tractor". We shared pizza and home made sugar cookies. We played with monster trucks and learned how to take apart and rebuild a toy truck that is designed for kids to to just that. Nolan loved the little impact wrench tool for the truck assembly.

Saturday afternoon Gin and I stopped by Pendleton Place Children's Shelter in Greenville to drop off a gift card for Christmas purchases. I toured the shelter last year with our friend Lauren. I hope our contribution helps make Christmas a little better for the children who are under their care. http://www.pendletonplace.org/

Keep warm and be safe in your ventures outside in this frigid weather. Watch your step and drop the speedometer down a few notches just incase there is ice hidden around the bend.

Thanks for reading!
P@

Entry for December 5, 2010

Go ahead! Make my Day!!!

Nolan and Jackson will team up to take you down.

The picture is from our Saturday Thanksgiving visit at Caris and Thomas' home a week ago. I love the unprovoked expression from Nolan. Jackson was really good with Nolan's hugs and love.

This weekend was my turn watching the project site in Chattanooga. Not much exciting at work and I wouldn't want to bore you with all that. 

I've been experimenting with my running pacer. I downloaded a cardio program that progressively takes me through target zones for my heart rate. The English lady in my ear tells me to pick up the pace or slow down. I'm still getting used to maintaining certain paces because they are slower than I jog, but faster than I walk. Maybe I should skip during the less strenuous parts of the program. I'm sure people who see me wonder what the hell I'm doing.

I ran this morning at sunrise with a stiff chilly wind from the north biting my face. The temperature was around 34 degrees, but the wind chill was more like 24. I handled it pretty well and feel comfortable in those conditions. I stopped by Academy Sports and picked up a multifunctional head wear garment for the upcoming 20 to 30 degree runs. The garment is a sleeve that slides over my head like a sock and covers my neck, head and as much of my face as I want. http://www.buff.eu/en/USA/products/-/c/H/s/A/f/105

Last night after talking to Gin on the phone, an apartment neighbor knocked on my door. Apparently an appartment below had a minor fire and they were evacuating the building. When I reached the ground floor, someone decided to pull the fire alarm. The only problem was the building was already evacuated and the fire department had already handled the problem. Within 5 minutes we were given the OK to return to our apartments. The only problem was...EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE...listening to the damn fire alarm squeal until maintenance arrived to shut it down. 30+ minutes later. 

Twenty days until Christmas. I'm going to enjoy the time off and the chance to spend time with Gin and our families. I hope all your shopping is complete. That all your handmade decorations, gifts and goodies turn out perfect. I still have a few things to accomplish between now and then. I think things will turn out well as long as I keep it simple.

Do something nice for someone whenever you can. It will come back around. Just don't expect it. Let it happen by surprise.

P@

Entry for November 29, 2010

Just to recap the past week:
Traveled through 4 states;
Slept in 3 different beds (and on one couch);
Drove 1,255 miles; ran 3.1 miles;
Ate from 4 different turkeys;
9 desserts - peanut butter cake, carrot cake, fudge, chocolate chip cookies, nanner puddin', cinnamon streusel cake, apple pie, icing stuffed cookies, Oreo cake and lemon bars;
Fussed at 1 noisy cat in the middle of the night 1 too many times;
Played 9 baskets of disc golf with son, grandson and son-in-law;
Hit 1 deer on NC 24/27;
Watched 1 speeder in Charlotte fly by us and later get pulled (YES!);
Had a great time with Gin, my 2 parents, our 2 children & their 2 spouses and our 2 grandsons.

The picture is post race of the Lake Norman Turkey Trot 5k in Cornelius, NC. Caris came up with the idea that we should spend time together running in different races like the 5k. This was our first and was a big learning experience for me. I learned that my race time starts when the horn blows, regardless of how close I am to the start line. Caris and I lost 45 seconds because of where we stood in the pack. We walked for 45 seconds to the start line because of the crowd. My personal timing device recorded 28:30. My official race time was 29:15. I know what I'll do next race. I'll be the one at the back of the 10k pack, and when that race starts, I'll ease up to the start line and wait for the 5k group to meet me there. Maybe I'll get run over at the beginning or maybe I'll get going quick enough to make a 45 second improvement in my race time (hehehe).

I really don't care that I lost that much time. The important thing to me was running with Caris for half the race and finishing the race. Caris let me leave her at the half way point. I think my long stride may have pushed her harder than she is used to. The long hill on the frontage road pushed my heart rate over 170bpm while maintaining my stride rate. The good thing was topping the hill and only having 2/10 of a mile to go. I legged out the last straight away heading into the finish line. I recovered nicely and was able to encourage Caris for her finish line dash. Overall we enjoyed being able to spend time together pre-race and for the first 1.5 miles.

This past Thanksgiving was a great one. I enjoyed almost every part except the deer being hit Saturday night. I had the OH!! SHIT!!! going full force at impact. The deer rolled forward into the center lane. We did not stop to check on its condition because of the darkness and traffic behind us. I pulled into a parking lot further up the road to check the damage. Just a few cracks in the plastic bumper and the center grill emblem were the only issues. We got lucky on this and were thankful the airbags didn't deploy and that we were not hurt at all.

I am thankful for my family for making this weekend a great one.

Less than four weeks 'til Christmas!
Y'all being good?
P@

Entry for November 21, 2010

Have you ever been between a rock and a hard place? Haven't we all!
Think about this, the plant in the picture is growing on the reservoir side of the Tennessee River's Chickamauga Dam. Thousands of rocks cover the berm from the lake up to the roadway. This plant is between nothing but rocks. It decided to make the best of the situation and just live it up. So why can't we do the same. We all know human interaction is a lot different than plants and rocks. Or, is it? Making the best of a situation is something I have seen people handle without faltering in their ambition. As for me, I become unpredictable. Sometimes rising to the top and sometimes showing my distaste for the situation. As I've become older and somewhat wiser, I have become a little more cautious with my hasty reactions. Every situation needs special handling and time to make the best decision. I'll keep trying to make the rocky situations better than they actually are. I'm still learning despite my elder state.

Last week I missed a unique photo opportunity.  It was either Thursday or Friday morning when the eastern sky was filled with puffy clouds that hung in low layers. Their undersides were tinted a pinkish orange by the rising sun. Those of you who know me know my colors are a bit skewed. Nevertheless, the clouds were breathtaking and I hated that I had no way to record what I saw. To quote myself from a previous blog, "The sky always fascinates me with its ever changing beauty".

This Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. I am thankful for the love and support Gin has given me during this travel job I have been assigned to. I know its not easy being in her position and she has handled so many obstacles that I normally help with.

Caris and I will be running the Lake Norman Turkey Trot 5k this week. I'm confident I can make the entire course. I am also confident that I will not be in the top 20..30...or whatever. I will finish and I will enjoy being there with Caris for our first of many such races. Fathers and daughters need to have something they can do together. Caris came up with this idea and she has been training around her horse pastures. I've been training at the Chattanooga Riverwalk Park each week. I'll break down the results next week in this blog. I'm sure Caris will out run me on this event. It would be a shame if she didn't beat her old man.

Have a great Thanksgiving!!!
Be safe and smart in your travels!
P@

Entry for November 15, 2010

Last Thursday was my 50th birthday. No big deal to me. Really!!! The day passed by quietly at work with little mention of the event. I managed to squeeze in a 3 mile run at the Tennessee Riverpark and a light meal in the apartment. I had phone calls later that evening from family and friends. I don't understand the worry about being this age or almost any age. I try to keep myself in the day-to-day thought process. Birthdays come and go so fast that it's hard to keep up.

This past weekend was my turn to be home from the Chattanooga project. I was able to catch up on some honey-do items like cutting the grass (weeds & leaves), installing a threshold molding, vacuuming the house, scrubbing the tub, changing the litter boxes, running to the dump, getting the satellite system changed and.....putting up the Christmas tree. Yes, that's right! The Christmas tree is standing in our living room. A little early with good reasons. First, Thanksgiving weekend will be hectic for us this year. Second, we have a new cat that is into everything. So we want to slowly get him used to this concept. You know, tre first, then lights, then ornaments. Maybe we can prevent total culture shock. Third, Nolan is 2 years old and will be very motivated by the sight of the tree.

Aside from all the things done, we also had dinner Friday night with Patrick and Dean. Also church and lunch with all of Patrick's family plus a several friends of their family and Jessica's sister Nikki. Overall it was an enjoyable weekend.

The pictures are the red maples beside our house. Usually the leaves are gone from the trees by now. I was pleasantly surprised to see them when I returned home Friday. I set up behind the tree for the shot, to allow the sun to filter through the thin leaves.

Have a good one!
P@

Entry for November 7, 2010

I didn't write much last weekend. Let's just say I had to pull myself out of a funk and leave it at that.

My work week was busy with physical labor out dueling paper pushing. I jumped in with the hired hands to install the electric vehicles that move car parts on our monorail system. Nothing like good honest labor to make a man appreciate where he stands in this world. I enjoy both worlds and the challenges each has to offer. The big drawback for me is my age and past injuries making a mockery of my physical strength. Luckily I am able to bounce back and accept the punishment as a mere lesson to a wiser person. I do believe the rigors of running three to five times a week has helped me in my recovery.

Saturday Klaus and I took advantage of the break in the work schedule to enjoy a trip to Music City. Nashville is a little over 90 minutes from Chattanooga. We decided to make a trip to the Grand Ole Opry for a tour of the legendary facility. Mamie was out tour guide and she was an excellent resource of knowledge and experience. She shared stories of her youth about the musicians she loved and saw right on the Ryman Auditorium stage. We heard about how people would stand in line all day and pay 30 cents to pile in the auditorium. sometimes sitting on each others laps. She told us about a 55 gallon drum full of gum that was scraped from the bottom of the benches during the renovation that brought the legendary building back to life several years ago. We saw all the dressing rooms that have played host to legends in the music industry.

After touring the Ryman, we headed out on Broadway for a while. We made our way to the waterfront and had Philly Cheese Steaks at a little deli behind the Hard Rock Cafe. After lunch we walked up the steps of the deli and into the Charley Daniels Museum. It was a souvenir shop with a set of displays in the back full of awards and mementos given to the famous fiddler. The cow skull above was part of one display. We went back out on Broadway and stopped in at The Stage for a house band concert playing some old time country hits. Klaus and I really enjoyed the fact that we were watching some excellent music for free. After one final trip down Broadway and enough souvenir shops with the same type wares, we decided to call it a day.

Today was a good day for daylight savings time to begin. I needed the extra sleep, which made for a fairly lazy day. I visited the Chattanooga Choo-Choo this afternoon, which is not worth visiting. The entire facility is run down looking except for the courtyard gardens. I also stopped by an open air market place behing the famous Finley Stadium. There were many different crafts displayed for sale as well as bakers and farmers selling their best products. I capped the day off with a three mile run at the Riverpark along the Tennessee River.

Hope to see you soon!
P@

Entry for November 1, 2010

A thought occurred to me while jogging one morning this past weekend. If you read my post from last weekend, I made a comment with regards to the leaf and life slowly departing while it still shows life within its veins. Then I thought that the leaf, like most of us, has a purpose for living and giving. As you most probably know the leaf provides the tree with the benefits of sun and rain to the tree. When fall arrives and the leaf is no longer needed by the tree, it changes before falling to the ground. The leaf is not finished its life cycle when it has departed the tree. It continues with decomposing into fertile soil to help the tree grow each following season.

Most of us also evolve like the leaf as a provider for our family (the tree). We provide the necessary means for our family to survive. As we grow older our evolution into old age is the time we provide wisdom and guidance for our progeny (the color change in the leaf). Our reward is the extension of our family from children to grandchildren and so on. Our legacy is the soil that keeps our family growing long after our passing. Sure the soil becomes forgotten over time, but it is always the base for the family (the tree) to stand tall and survive each generation (season).

I love my family.
P@

Entry for October 25, 2010

Although we may show signs of changing on the outside. We can still keep our young at heart appearance. The leaf in the photo is a perfect example. Although the life is slowly departing, the leaf manages to keep the green veins alive. The display is lively at the tips. Giving us reason to see the beauty life has when we become older. We can still shine. We can still make our lives important to others.

Sunday I worked for a few hours, then took off to run an errand and prepare lunch in the apartment. The weather was so nice in the afternoon and I pondered several options for my time. I could have traveled a little north in hopes of viewing some fall foliage or maybe play a round of disc golf. I opted for a walk along the Tennessee Riverpark so I could take pictures and share them with friends and family. I did not walk the entire 6 miles in which I photographed several locations and scenic views. I chose to park at several different stopping points and make brief treks to each mile marker  and scenic attraction within.

Over the past two months I have been jogging the Riverpark in the evenings. Each time I would choose a different route to start and end. I have jogged the entire 6 miles of paths that I documented yesterday in photos. My favorite is milepost 4 to milepost 5-1/2. It passes by a swampy marsh to the banks of the Tennessee River.

Gin's birthday was yesterday and I hated that I was out of town on business for the occasion. We usually don't do much for our birthdays together. Most of the time we take a date between the birthdays (a mere 17 days apart) and do something as a combined celebration. Next weekend is the time we chose for this year. I'll have a long weekend to catch up on some chores and spend time with family. Caris is expected in town Saturday and the Grandsons are spending the night Friday. I can't wait for these moments and the chance to add more memories to my life.

Have a good week and I'll see you here again next time.
P@

Entry for October 18, 2010

In moments like the one where I photographed the early evening sky on the Tennessee River, I forget about all the other worries of the day. The sky always fascinates me with its ever changing beauty. No matter what has happened during my life in any day, I turn to the sky for peace of mind. I think the sky and I have an understanding that change is good and delivering on the promise of our best work is most rewarding. Some may argue that either one of us (the sky or I) have bad days where we don't deliver what is expected. I tend to believe that we deliver exactly what is needed. May not always be pleasing to everyone, but we know that we have our own faults and perfection is in the eye of the beholder.

There are countless pictures of the sky at sunset or sunrise. I don't claim to be a great photographer and don't expect to ever become one. I know what I like and that's enough to satisfy my memories of moments like the one I captured Sunday night. I watched the horizon as I was driving back from Dalton, GA to Chattanooga. I knew that it would be close to sunset when I finished dinner and decided to make my way to the Tennessee River Walk Park. I stopped by the Chickamauga Dam first with hopes of a good view of the sky. After a few shots of the Great Blue Herrings waiting patiently for a fish to catch, I decided to move further down stream. My next stop was at mile post 6 where I had a good view down river with enough reflection and slight cloud cover over the western ridge. I usually set up my cheap tripod, but decided to rest the camera on the railing of the river walk. The rest is in the photograph above. My perfect memory of the gift from the sky.

The beginning of my Sunday was laborious to say the least. We only worked until a little after 1 o'clock. The lifting of conveyor parts was strenuous and invigorating. After work I opted for a round of disc golf at a course in Dalton, GA. The 30 minute ride south of the Tennessee State line was uneventful. The park was big with numerous baseball fields and other recreational equipment. I found the first tee and began a quest through the labyrinth of trees, paths, hills and valleys. Some baskets were at the top, side or edge of some pretty steep hills. The fear of throwing a disc and having it roll down a hill was ever present.  The description of the course was "Tight and Technical". So true! I managed to walk away with a 62 on the par 56 pro course. The front nine was my downfall. 1 triple bogey, 1 double bogey and 3 bogeys. I birdied once and bogeyed once on the back nine.

All other events since my last post were work related except for my nightly run along the river. The Chattanooga area has a lot of things to do for so many walks of life. If you've never been here, you should consider taking a vacation or a long weekend here. I wish I had more time to enjoy the many attractions and natural wonders the area offers.

Keep your eye on the sky.
You'll get what you want out of it.
I do!
P@

Entry for October 11, 2010

I'm one month away from being fifty years old. Or should I say fifty years odd? In my mind it doesn't feel like that much time has gone by. I believe I'm still young at heart. I still see things through the same eyes. I know I have plenty of life experiences in so many things. It's kind of weird being called "Sir" by people in their 20s and 30s. The salt on my black pepper head has become most dominant and I guess most obvious.

As I approach the half century mark, I'm preparing to run in my first 5k race since I was in my mid twenties. Caris and I are planning to run the Turkey Trot at Lake Norman (Charlotte) this Thanksgiving. My main objective that day will be to prepare room for the bird and all the fixings. The next objective is a quest to run a half marathon and maybe a full marathon. I regress! Running isn't my favorite form of exercise, but it is the cheapest. It also gives me the opportunity to clear my mind. I don't run with an iPod or any other music playback device. Just the sound of my feet hitting the ground and my heavy heavy breathing.

Saturday Gin and I had lunch at Roly Poly. The #39 is our favorite. After lunch we traveled out to Easly, SC for my round of disc golf. The course was behind a large multi-field baseball complex and had some very interesting and long basket distances. The first hole was my most challenging. It was a par 3 through some trees, in which I managed to hit one of them. The disc was hard to find as it slid under some leaves. The bee or hornet or whatever had no problem finding my cheek as a place to sting me for my rude invasion. Ouch! I managed to play through the pain. After the disc golf outing we did a little Christmas shopping. Then dinner was at Red Robin as we split entrees of a Chipotle Turkey Burger and Guacamole (on the side) Burger.

Sunday we fixed our favorite veggie and ground turkey dish for dinners this week. Yum! Yum! We ended up having dinner at Patrick and Jessica's. I'm in Chattanooga for the next few weekends and wanted to see Nolan and Dean before the long time away. We played and laughed even though both boys were tired and ready for an early bed time.

Time to sign off and get other things accomplished. Have a good week!
P@

Entry for October 4, 2010

This past weekend was one of the best as a Grandfather. First I was granted an unexpected three day weekend. I took full advantage of the extra time. Most of the day Friday Gin and I ran errands around town. I did have to do two little tasks for work but they were hardly a distraction from the rest of the day. Our evening with Patrick's family was the best part of the day. Gin and I arrived around 5 o'clock and I immediately was consumed by the love and play time with Nolan. We did piggy back rides, bad bug slapping, put coins in his train bank and wrestled around on the floor. We also enjoyed a delicious chicken spaghetti dinner prepared by Jessica. I got to play with Dean briefly, but not enough with Nolan keeping me busy.

Saturday I worked on the honey-do list for Gin. Some house cleaning chores, some carpentry chores and a little kitchen appliance shuffle to boot. The afternoon was spent shopping for the weekly grocery list. Then it was back home for some recorded shows on the DVR.

Sunday morning Gin took our new black cat, Rosco, to the vet for a follow up from the neuter procedure (OUCH). He came back in good health and a pound heavier. He also had a tape work a few weeks ago, so it appears that problem had been resolved. The cat is a literal fart machine and can clear a room with one poof. I think he could give a skunk challenge. Rosco also loves and tolerates Nolan's antics and Nolan loves Rosco's as well.

Sunday afternoon Patrick, Jessica and Dean dropped by for a visit. Gin and Jessica took off for the outlet stores while the boys hung out and watched football. Nolan stayed with GiGi for the afternoon and I missed him. The one good thing about Nolan being away, was having more time with Dean. Patrick and were on the receiving end of some great smiles and near laughs from the little man. I use little man loosely. His birth weight was just over eight pounds. At three months old, he's over sixteen pounds. The boy has a healthy appetite.

I would like to write more about other things on my mind, but I'm drawing a blank on where to start. Today was a long one. I was up at 4:15 and out of the house by 5:30. I met a two friends for breakfast in Greenville before my trip to Chattanooga. I ran into a few traffic delays along the route to ChooChoo town, but made in close to normal time. Work wasn't too difficult today. Its the driving that drains my tank and slows me down. Back to running tomorrow after work. I believe Caris and I are aiming for a 5k run in Charlotte this December. I'll get back with you on how that may work out.


P@

Entry for September 26, 2010

The work I do at Volkswagen seams to be never ending. Meetings and a lot of coordination with other contractors keeps me busy most every day. I stayed in Chattanooga this weekend to help with providing project support. We worked a few hours Saturday morning and determined all would be fine for the rest of the day. The notion was to take a little trip to the whisky-whiskey distillers. We, Klaus, Reiner and I, talked about the tours of George Dickel and Jack Daniels distilleries. Both are in the same county and only 12 minutes from each other. The misspelling of whisky is based on George Dickel deciding to use traditional Scottish spelling of the spirit name. With the help of TomTom and iPod we enjoyed our drive up to Tullahoma and Lynchburg.

The George Dickel distillery tour was given by a girl named Brandy. Yes, we had a whisky tour by Brandy. During the tour we were instructed how to taste whisky be smelling the fermentation tank contents. Brandy instructed the brave, to lean over the tank, reach down with a cupped hand, then pull up air toward our face and inhale. The first time I think I burned my nose hairs. Then we instructed to do it again, but to breathe in through our mouth. The second time I could taste the whisky. The George Dickel tour group was small and the gift shop was nice and not crowded at all.

We left George Dickel distillery with souvenirs. Klaus and Reiner picked up a bottle of whisky each. I picked up a t-shirt. I'm no longer considered a drinker of any sort. I would have liked to been offered a sample from the distillery, but they weren't offering.

Lunch was wings and things at Zaxby's in Tullahoma. The first time Reiner and Klaus had ever eaten there. Both seamed to enjoy their meals and said they would probably eat it again if given the chance.

I think the little voice in the GPS gets confused when you stop along a route for lunch. We left Zaxby's and were instructed to turn left, when I was almost certain we should go right. We traveled a few blocks, then were instructed to turn around. Sheeesh!!! After that little side trip, we were in Lynchburg, TN and at the Jack Daniels distillery. We were joined by hundreds of others wanting to tour the distillery. We were told it would take 30 minuted before our tour would begin. Reiner and Klaus walked around the lobby for a while, then they decided to skip the tour and take a look at the town.

We walked a few blocks to historic Lynchburg and stopped in several shops. I picked up a few items and took a few pictures. Reiner and Klaus did the same and decided that it was one big tourist trap. We left around 4 and were back in Chattanooga around 6 for a light meal a few beers for Klaus and Reiner at Hooters. We sat next to a rowdy bunch of college boys who were wrapped up in the Alabama v. Arkansas game. I'm still not sure why the pulled for 'Bama, but they sure did scream and yell a lot about it. Reiner took a picture of Klaus with our our waitress before we left. I think Klaus enjoyed the place.

It was good to spend time with my German colleagues outside of work. Sometimes things get to serious and we don't know each other other than what we have to do because of the job. Letting down our guards and enjoying life helps make the working relationship all the better.

P@

Entry for September 19, 2010

Going home is bittersweet these days. Sweet because I get to be with Gin and see the Grandsons. Bitter, because the time is too short. Working out of town has many disadvantages. Too many to name but mostly, not being with family for the unplanned events that happen daily. Gin has handled many unexpected problems in my absence over the last few months. Her truck overheated, my car overheated (she was driving it while the truck was in the shop) and the home air conditioner fan started smoking and had to be replaced. All those things happened within days of each other. Being a few hundred miles from home and listening to her describe the events and how upsetting some of them were, was frustrating for me. The A/C happened overnight. The truck overheated when she was running errands...and just after she waved at our mechanic as she passed him in town.

At lot of events can be handled easier when I'm working close to home. Being helpless to Gin at my current working location is unsettling for me. On the good side of things, Gin has become better at working through the little obstacles that pop up.


This weekend was supposed to me my time to stay at the Chattanooga project site and keep up with happenings. A few changes in plans worked to my advantage. First I was watching closly for an opportunity to attend the Jonathan Byrd concert in Asheville Saturday night. Second was having our subcontractor have his regular weekend schedule when his crews do not work Saturday night or Sunday. Third was having two gentlemen from Germany available to cover anything that may arise on the project in my absence. And so, all plans worked out and I drove home Saturday afternoon, took a short nap before Gin and I drove up to Asheville for the show.

Gin and I have followed Jonathan since...I don't know...2004??? Anyway, he was opening up his Saturday night show for Arlo Guthrie's daughter, Sarah Lee Guthrie. My desire to see the performance of the daughter and grand daughter of living legends Arlo and Woody helped me decide to make things happen in my favor. As always, it is also a pleasure to attend any show  featuring Jonathan Byrd, a legend in his own time. We arrived at the Grey Eagle around 8:30 and were able to briefly sit with Jonathan, his gal Mary Moss, their son Rowan and Sarah Lee Guthrie. Its good to have friends in the music business. Jonathan introduced Gin and I to Sarah Lee which made our night even more special. Sarah was so nice and friendly to both of us before and after the show. She lives up to her family's legendary talent and friendly disposition.
http://www.jonathanbyrd.com/
http://www.sarahleeandjohnny.com/

We were home from the show around 1am and sacked out shortly after. Of course, on the night of a late bedtime, out latest addition to the cat clan, Rosco, decided to strut the house crying , scratching windows and doors. He finally settled down ,then got started again around 4am. I finally rounded him up and put him in a spare room with Mac for a little down time from the noisiness. Ahhh!!! Sweet slumber once again!

 Gin and I dropped in on Patrick and Jessica for a brief visit with Nolan and Dean before heading back out of town. Gin and I had lunch before we arrived, and sat in while the family had theirs. I was Nolan's booster chair and enjoyed his conversation about drag racing, trains and I don't know what all while he ate his chicken and tossed his string beans. We played a little bad-bug after lunch was done. Bad-Bug is Nolan sitting on my shoulders as I walk around the house and let him slap the door frames as if he was killing a Bad-Bug. As he slaps the door frame, he calls out "BAD-BUG" then laughs.

Soon it was time for Nolan's nap as Dean woke up from a slumber in the baby swing. We visited a little longer until Nolan had to be put to bed (for being so tired). I said my goodbyes with hugs and kisses to all. Then made my way back to Tennessee.

For such a short weekend, I was able to spend quite a bit of quality time with family and have a lot to great memories to reflect on.

Life is as good as you make it.
Have a good one!!!
P@

Entry for September 5, 2010

I have not had my camera with me for several weeks. There has been no real reason to have it with me in Chattanooga. All I do is work all day and part of the night. So I pulled this picture from my files to keep the spirit of my blog rolling. The iron owl sits on a fence at a Norfolk recycling yard at 24th St. and Newport Ave. The yard is bordered by the railroad to the south. They have an interesting collection of animals made with scrap iron and other odd widgets. Drop by one day and have a look.

Sometimes I'll wear my armor and sit on a barbed wire fence like my friend the iron owl. Trying to look wise and strong. Making my presence known with an icy stare and few words. At least that is what people perceive from my non-smiling expression when I'm deep in thought. Sure, my armor is hard to crack...sometimes, but I'm just sizing up the situation before I show my true feathers. I enjoy adapting my personality to the situation. Then again, I'll make a comment that comes from left field just to break down the situation. 

This Labor Day weekend has been my turn to watch the store in Chattanooga. There is too much going on to discuss on my blog, so I won't. The one thing I will discuss is my brief return to a little blue collar work this weekend to help my project move a long a little easier. It's hard mixing laborious work with paperwork and meetings. I usually do not even attempt to do both. This weekend I have been able to put my hands on some fabricated materials and assemble some automation vehicles for our monorail system.

Gin went through another missing handyman weekend. The door handle on the refrigerator came off. She took it upon herself to fix it. Not to hard of a job for her...if she could find the right tools in my disorganized storage building. The place is a mess no doubt and I got the hard ugly truth about it Saturday night. Gin could not find my 1/4"  drive socket set(s). My bad! After discussing the situation and giving her the probably location of my green tool bag, she managed to get the door off the fridge today. She disassembled the inside of the door and reattach the handle. I'm proud that Gin was able to fix the handle and restore the fridge to its normal condition. I'm disappointed that I wasn't home to do it myself. I'm relieved I don't have to fix it when I'm home next weekend. 

I started jogging again last week. It has been at least two years since I ran on a regular basis. Caris has asked me to join her in some future road races and I am looking forward to running with her in several events. This week I kept it to 1 mile and a return mile walking briskly. The second day was brutal on the thighs and shins. YES, I took a day off in between. I managed three days of running last week and a round of disc golf on top of Cloudland Canyon in Georgia today. I've been slowly shedding a few pounds for the past few weeks. I dropped the diet Dr. Pepper habit at the beginning of last week. I've switched to Oolong tea or white tea to help with the soda withdrawal. I'm on my way to a healthy big 5-0 and beyond. I just need to control my Christmas binge!

Have a safe and fun Labor Day my family and friends. 

P@

I cannot say it enough, Grandchildren are the golden reward for being a parent. I had a three day weekend break from work. Friday I picked Nolan up from daycare by myself. He was a little stunned to see his Pappy when he walked out of the school. The ride home was non-stop talk about everything. Gin had lunch just about out of the oven when we arrived home. I sat on the couch with Dean laying next to me. Nolan brought my plate of fish sticks and tater tots. Then he set his plate on the chest in front of the couch and ate his lunch. He went back to the kitchen and retrieved a fork for me. Then he went back for a butter knife for himself. The knife wasn't needed but he knew what to do with it anyway. 

Gin told me about the battery operated toy drill of Nolan's and how the batteries needed to be changed. She was in the living room and heard Nolan digging through the tool drawer. He picked out the Phillips head screw driver and and removed the battery compartment screws by the time she could check on him. He's two years old! He understands how a tool is used! He understands how batteries need to be replaced when the object they power don't work properly. He's two years old!

Dean has gained almost six pounds since his birth two months ago. He's an eater and very vocal about what he wants. He is also very active when he is awake. As you see above, he has a great little smile. I'm not rushing things, but I can't wait for the days when these tow boys are running around together playing and carrying on.

Saturday Gin and I stopped by our friend, Christy's house to drop off a donation for a friend of hers. Christy is helping the Grandmother of a preemie girl who is in need of items to care for the baby. We managed to drop in on her garage sale and spend a little time catching up with her, Lynette and Carl. 

Christy and I met during the 2008 March for Babies campaign in Greenville. We were Family Ambassadors for that year and shared our stories with countless volunteers. Since then, our families have kept in touch and provided moral support for each other whenever needed. 

After the visit with Christy, a quick lunch and some shopping, Gin and I were back home for our DVR reduction plan. aka watching a lot of recorded shows. I took a break from the TV around 7:30 to cut the grass that was at least knee high in some places. Two weeks away can take its toll on lawn care. The lights on the John Deere helped get the job done into the night.

Today was once again a day of rest. Sure we had a few little chores, but nothing too difficult. The biggest chore is deleting thousands of duplicate tunes in the iTunes folder.

Most of you have a holiday coming up. Please be careful in your travels and adventures. Take your time and enjoy the people you spend the time with.

P@

entry for August 22, 2010

The pictures above were taken by my colleague, Reiner, with his Nikon D300 and a macro lens. 

I learned how to tie the small Turks Head knot in 1982 during my shipyard apprenticeship. The handle wrap is a Moku whipping which is used to bind the ends of rope to prevent fraying. Ornamental knot tying has always fascinated me. The Turks Head design gives the appearance of never ending. It was developed to repair splits in a sail vessel's mast or the oars of a boat. Today you can find it on the main deck of most any Navy vessel. 

I completed the work on the walking stick June 1, 2002 during an unemployment period. You only see a small portion of the stick. The rest is just as spectacular from top to bottom. The story behind it's second life is amazing to me. During that particular jobless period, I spent time replacing shingles on my storage building, then clearing the overgrown bushes and tree saplings. The brush clear became such a monumental task that I created a brush pile that could fill a dump truck. I rented a chipper and proceeded to transform the waste to something useful. This walking stick was a long branch of a Red Maple tree that was covered and wrapped with vines. I had my hands on it  for the toss into the chipper and then looked at a little differently. I wondered what was behind all the tangled mess of vines. So I tossed aside.

I spent a few weeks of peeling bark, sanding knots and cleaning out the grooves. During the cleaning process, more and more beauty was revealed. From there the walking stick idea was created and the idea to search for more. There were 80+ more that followed, but none as beautiful as this one. 

I spent this weekend in Chattanooga. My turn to cover the weekend work for the project. It is the necessary evil of the job and this weekend wasn't a good time for it. I feel my duties at home have been compromised due to my short time on the weekends I am home. I failed to check the coolant in both vehicles last weekend. Gin's truck overheated Thursday afternoon. The funny thing is, she said she saw and waved at our mechanic just as she left Inman for Lyman/Welford. We think he jinxed the truck. She managed to get it to the repair shop that evening. Good thing for AAA. My car flashed the low coolant light for Gin on Saturday. She managed to get some fluids in it. I guess I've got some making up to do next weekend. 

Come on Friday!!!

Enjoy your work week or vacation or whatever you have to do this week. 

P@

Entry for Monday August 16, 2010

I write to keep my sanity. I also want my children and grandchildren to have something to look back on when my days are gone. My paternal grandfather passed away when I was eight. I remember very little about him. My fraternal grandfather was around until I was thirty three and I remember a lot of things we did with him. I didn't know his personal thoughts about life in general. I wasn't much of one to ask and he wasn't much of one to tell. He would tell you what he thought about a particular situation, but would not provide the deeper thoughts he lived with. I'm the same in many ways. I tend to back myself into a corner when in a crowd. I end up day dreaming and missing out on what is really happening. Its not that I  don't care. I just drift off and think of how much I love being with my family and how I don't want the moment to end.

After two weeks in Chattanooga, I returned home last Friday for a weekend break. Caris and Thomas arrived Friday evening and so did the rain. 4+ inches fell in our area which was a big relief to the water tables. 

Saturday we did a little shopping for upholstery fabrics for Caris. Then lunch was at the Olive Garden with Patrick, Jessica, Nolan and Dean. Nolan sat between Jessica and me. He gave the googlie eyes and smiles to a little girl at another table. Nolan eats pretty good for a two year old and also did a pretty good job sitting in the booster chair. Dean did prety good sucking down a bottle of formula. After my meal I released Dean from his car seat and helped him with a burp and some free movement. Most of that time, he was watching big brother.

Caris and Gin attended their hair dresser's wedding while Thomas and I hung out at home, computing, reading and a little television. I did manage to sneak in a thirty minute nap to take the edge off the yawning. Shortly after Caris and Thomas left for home, Patrick called. He and Nolan drove to Charlotte for the monster truck show. Nolan had fallen in the bleachers and cut his chin bad enough to need stitches. He was bandaged at the speedway, then Patrick drove him home to get Jessica before going to the Emergency Room. He received five stitches under his chin to close the cut. It reminded me of all the little accidents I had in my youth and all the ER visits I made with my Mom.

Sunday was a day for Gin and I to catch up on chores before I departed for Chattanooga. I managed to get the lawn cut and deliver the mower to Patrick for his own grass. We did a little shopping and picked up an extra tall safety gate for the stairs. After Nolan's accident Saturday and his climbing over the gate we had, it was a no brainer to do something immediately. The gate was easily mounted and appeared to be a good solution. The rest of the evening we watched shows recorded on the DVR.

I'm in Chattanooga for I don't know how many more weeks. I hope you enjoy your week and are thankful for the things you have. I am!

P@

Entry for Sunday August 8, 2010

Ocoee River Bridge at Olympic Park

Someone before you thought about crossing from here to there. Maybe they made it without too much trouble. The creek was calm and the water flowed gently between the rocks. The loss of footing resulted in a sprained ankle or knee, but nothing major considering the risk. They looked back and were not impressed by the accomplishment. It was just another day and another obstacle to contend with.

Then came the day when another who ventured to cross this same place was detained by the rushing torrent of rising waters, unknown depths and jagged rocks protruding at piercing angles. The journey needed to continue but not by risking life and limb. Certain destruction was inevitable if the risk was taken. 

Calm minds prevailed and developed a scheme to make the journey as safe as if there was no danger at all. The idea was developed into such a plan that all who followed behind would be safe from the ever present dangers that could occur at any time. Bridging the gap and making safe passage became a reality and lives were saved by the thoughtfulness.

Like the bridge builders, we have the opportunity to make things easier for those who follow our paths. Sharing information and ideas. Learning about fears and developing ways to overcome them by education, discussion and support. Family and friends build the bridges that cross the rough waters of the river we call life. I cannot count how many bridges have been built by my family and friends. At the same time I cannot count how many have been torn down for reasons good and bad.

I hope that the bridges I am building will one day help you cross the rough waters that flow through your life. I look forward to crossing the bridges you have built and plan to build. I believe there are good intentions in each of you.

I usually write something in my Blog about family events of the week or weekend. Not this time. It's difficult to that this time when I'm staying the weekend in Chattanooga due to work obligations. No family or friends to hang out with. 

I did manage to visit the local Catholic Church for Mass Saturday. Father Charlie was a little long winded after he discussed the Gospel and Testament readings, he concluded with a pleas for funding the economic recovery of the parish. As I sat there, listening and thinking of ways the church could save on expenses, a few ideas popped in my head. The lights in the Sanctuary were halogen flood lights and I figured if they replaced every light with florescent or L.E.D. lights they could save some money. I also thought they could  raise the temperature setting on the thermostat a few degrees, but maybe more people would fall asleep during such a long Homily (sermon for you non Catholics). Then the idea hit me, reduce the length of the Homily, change the lights, get rid of the electric organ and sing a'Capella, and do not mail out the large envelopes to each family requesting pledges of support. Yes they are mailing the pledge requests in 8.5x11 envelopes. Why not hand them out and have each family sign for them that they received the information.

Maybe Father Charlie will read my Blog and his Parish will be saved because of it?

I can't wait to be home again next weekend.

Peace!

P@

Entry for Monday August 2, 2010

A river in the morning can have a calming affect on me. The peaceful dew floating above the water. The wet rocks and stones surrounding the banks. Trees glistening with the sun's rays streaming through. Laying in wait before man releases the flood waters of adventure. The silence of this scene takes all my cares away. Reflecting on who I am, where I have been, all the lives that I have touched and those who have touched mine. I need times like this to catch my breath and be thankful. 

Last weekend I traveled home and back to Chattanooga with Reiner, a German photographer and company manager. On the way to Chattanooga we stopped at the Nantahala River in Western North Carolina (pictured above) and the Ocoee River in Tennessee. Riener made a statement that I may never forget. "This is such a beautiful country." It made me stop and think about this because it came from a person whose home is on the other side of the world. We are so lucky to have all these natural surroundings within a few hours drive. The back roads can give you such a wonderful side of our country. A side you never really get to experience when traveling the interstate roadways.

I challenge you to slow down every once in a while and ride the scenic highways through the small towns and forgotten places hidden by the fast lanes.

Friday and Saturday we spent the two days with my parents and their first time meeting Dean. Friday we gathered at Patrick and Jessica's house. We got to meet a very distant cousin of ours from the other side of the tree. What would the other side of tree be? How about 10 generations up our side then 9 generations back down George Hairston's side. The strange thin is, he resembles my Father and Grandfather being that far apart on the family tree. Needless to say, it was nice to meet another Hairston family. After a pizza dinner and some discussion about the family tree, Mom presented Patrick with framed pictures of her parents, my one year old picture and my Grandfather's garage. My Grandfather build his garage, then made a scaled model of the garage. Mom gave Patrick the scaled model of the garage. It was great to see my son receive such a special gift.

Saturday we regrouped at our house for lunch and dinner as well as the usual catching up. Caris and Thomas joined us for the day as well. Mom presented Caris with framed pictures of her parents, my one year old picture and a picture of her Mother in her kitchen. My Grandfather also build the kitchen, and as you probably guessed, he made a scale model of that kitchen. Caris received the model of the kitchen and all the little details of knick-knacks that were in that full size room.

We took a break mid afternoon to attend Mass with my parents. I think they enjoyed the small church and acappella  hymns. I never really thought of it before, but it is nice hearing all the voices in the church sing without being drowned out by the organ or piano.

Dean was passed around to nearly everyone and he did his best to grunt, whine, cry, fuss, fart and burp. He had a few hard times getting a good burp out, but over all he did fine with all the family love that was provided.

Sunday proved to be the day of rest. Both Gin and I were pretty worn out from the previous week as well as the weekend. I managed to squeeze in a two hour nap in the afternoon, which may have been the cause of my not sleeping well last night. It also didn't help having a possum eating the outside cats' food at 3:30 this morning on the front porch table. I need to teach the cats to clean their bowls when fed at night. Who would have thought the ugly little possum would be so noisy. 

Time to go back to the river in my mind. Time to relax and forget about the worries of the day. 

Goodnight all!

P@

Entry for Monday July 26, 2010

Some days you are the black cat. Waiting to cross someone's path and make their day worse, or so they think. You are just doing what you know best. Not trying to cause anyone any problems. Things happen for a reason, good or bad. So don't blame the black cat and don't take the blame for being a black cat. You can take Rosco's tip in the picture above. Lay back and relax. Let the world come to you however it may be. Soak up the day and be free with your ways.

I'm not sure how many weeks I've been working in Chattanooga and it really doesn't matter to count them. It seams like every night of the work week is consumed with the overflow of work. I'm not complaining about it because I'm working out of town and Gin isn't with me. I guess the point is, I really don't have much to write about in this Blog because of the traveling worker syndrome.

So! I arrive home on Fridays and enjoy catching up with Gin each weekend. We hardly ever make plans for specific events each weekend. We just end up doing whatever comes to mind at the time.

Saturday we did a little shopping, a little house work, a little file management (computer & iPod) and a little TV watching (catching up with the DVR). Sunday I played my early morning round of disc golf in which I really wasn't impressed with myself. After a quick change into dry clothes I dropped by the grocery store for the ingredients for a pot of spaghetti. I was the chef for the day as Gin designated herself to floor mopping. We also cleaned out  a spare bedroom to prepare it as a playroom for Nolan...and Dean when he's older.

Dinner was prepared and warming in the crock pot, waiting on Nolan, Dean and their parents. As soon as they arrived and Nolan was introduced to his play room, he didn't want to do much else but play. When dinner was served he squirmed enough to sit next to me (a good thing for both of us), then get released to play. Patrick and I joined Nolan in the play room. We set up the Hot-Wheels track with loop and played while Nolan did other things. Nothing like a father and son playing with Matchbox cars, a true American tradition.

We settled into the living room and I took Dean into my arms for some rocking, sleeping, fussing, burping, farting and feeding. I refuse to say who was doing what. All I can say is that we both enjoyed it.

A short weekend is fine with me as long as I can spend the time with my loved ones. Next weekend my parents will visit and meet Dean for the first time. Caris and Thomas will also join us. This week will fly by for me.

Life is good! Enjoy it while you can!
P@

Entry for July 18, 2010

I try not to let the work week interfere with my personal life. It is difficult to control the interference when I work out of town during the week. Not much time for family or personal agendas in the traveling person's life. It is even more difficult when having to share a ride to and from the job site. Next week begins the sharing an apartment rental period for the next 6 months. I feel the need to establish a time that is set aside for myself and away from the ones I work with. The apartment complex has a pool, small workout room, beach volleyball court and Bocce Ball. I'll probably take advantage of the workout room and maybe learn Bocce Ball. There is also a disc golf course within a few miles of the place. You know I'll be there whenever I can. 

Weekends become so much more than the end of the work week. Time is more important with family and friends. Sometimes we have no idea of what to do each weekend I'm home. Gin and I wing it most of the time and enjoy whatever we can do together. 

Saturday morning I introduced our friends Greg Herbst and his daughter Paige to the game of disc golf. We all had good and not so good shots throughout the course. Once we were done, they both agreed that it was enjoyable and they would like to play again.

After Saturday evening Mass, Patrick, Jessica and Nolan arrived to drop Mr. Dean off for the evening. Nolan was heading to his first dirt track stock car race in Gaffney. Patrick and Jessica were excited to be introducing Nolan to racin'. We got to enjoy Dean and all his grunts, moans, whines and farts. Yes, that baby boy can let 'em rip. When I first held him, he was puttin' 'em down like the campfire scene for Blazing Saddles. I thought for sure he filled his diaper, but it was all sound and no brown. Anyway, he was awake for most of the evening and in constant motion.

I broke away from Gin and Dean to introduce myself to our new neighbor. The vacant property next to us was purchased last winter. The new owner is slowly building a work shop for his tools and home improvement business. He will build a new house at the back part of the property. Gin and I are relieved that they are going to build their home there. We were concerned that someone would develop the land for commercial use, like Dollar General.

Today was a day to catch up on the DVR and several shows and movies we miss during the week. I'm all packed for the week ahead in Chattanooga.

Enjoy your family as often as you can. Tell them how much they mean to you and that you love them. 

Enjoy your job and try to understand the people you can't understand. The simple rule is to believe that every one is trying to do their best in the way they believe is the best. That is the beauty of being human. We all can't be the same, think the same or look the same. So why expect the same thing out of each of us. We can agree to disagree and life can be easier. 

P@

Entry for July 11, 2010

Time flies! How those two words can take on a meaning bigger than you can imagine. I won't tell you that it seams like yesterday we were cutting our wedding cake. There are way too many other memories between then and now. I would like to say we have a story book marriage, but that would be fictitious. Our life together for these past twenty-nine years have been; frustrating and enlightening; boring and exciting; lost and found; and when the dust settles from these descriptive notions....loving.

I wouldn't expect anyone to figure "us" out. We can't do it ourselves. We know from the day we met that we have something that just clicks. We still finish thoughts (out-loud) by saying the exact same thing at the same time. Every time it has happened, it was unexpected and very comforting. To be on the same page as your spouse is rewarding to say the least.

Gin and I our proud that we have come this far together. We look forward to the years ahead. We have been blessed with two very loving and caring children, Patrick and Caris. Three years ago and since then we have been blessed with four Grandchildren. The first two were born Angels, Beau and Haley, who still remind us of how fragile a life is. Their brothers born healthy, Nolan who is 2 years old and Dean just 4 weeks old. Each Child and Grandchild extends our lives through theirs. We get to watch their little lives become unique individuals in which a part of our lives are intertwined in theirs.

Since I didn't write last week, I will try to recap the past two weeks in a brief summary. First of all, I am working in Chattanooga, TN during the week. It is a 4 to 4 1/2 drive from home every Monday morning and Friday afternoon. I could write volumes about what work is like, but...I won't even go there. This type of job takes a lot out of the week of personal events. Weekends and phone calls is all I have with Gin and the rest of my family.

We celebrated Independence Day with the Herbst family. Greg and Jodi hosted our family to a BBQ and fireworks filled evening. We feasted on smoked ribs and chicken, tater salad, corn on the cob and baked beans. finished the meal off with apple pie Ala-mode. When darkness made its way along the lake, we hopped in the boat for a ride to the middle of Lake Bowen for the annual fireworks show, put on by all the lake-front property owners with money to burn (literally). 

Fast forward to yesterday. Gin and I did a little shopping in Greenville then dinner at Mellow Mushroom. We had our favorite Kosmic Karma pizza. Then a short ride over to TCBY for a yogurt cup desert. The evening was capped off with a concert at The Handlebar. Our friend, Jonathan Byrd, was the opening performer for Beth Nielson Chapman. Jonathan was kind enough to put our names on "The Guest List". Life is good!

Jonathan put on an excellent solo performance. The couple who sat in front of us, obviously were not there to see or hear him perform. They rudely carried on a somewhat loud conversation that became quite irritating to Gin and myself. So..I finally leaned up and told the guy "Do you mind keeping it down, just a little". There are several things that can happen when situations like this arise. These things entered my thoughts before I spoke to the guy. Then I became so pissed at the boldness of their rudeness, I had to say something. He apologized and they were quiet. When Jonathan finished and the house lights came up, the guy stood up and faced our general direction. I figured he wanted to get a better look at who spoke to him, maybe size me up. I was on the end of our row and he walked around as I was getting up. He put his hand out and apologized again. Yes, I was bigger than him and he was big enough to right his wrong.

We have never seen Beth Nielson Chapman and I think I can speak for Gin, we probably won't see her perform again. Unless, she has Jonathan back as her opening performer.

Today being our official 29th anniversary, we have no plans. It is just an average ordinary day which is fine with both of us.

P@

Entry for Monday June 28, 2010

Sometimes I'm the turtle and sometimes I'm the hare. Mostly the turtle although I'd like to think I have the agility of the hare, I really don't and never did. Slow and steady wins the race! This reptile was crawling across Patrick's backyard Saturday evening. Nolan was intrigued by it to say the least. I tried to get some better pictures, but it didn't want to cooperate. I always enjoy seeing the odd natural wonders.

Saturday I spent the day with Gin, Caris and Thomas for a little shopping and general lazing around. We drove over to Patrick's for pizza dinner with Jessica, Nolan and Dean. After dinner Patrick, Nolan and I went outside to see Nolan drive his John Deere Gator car. No, it wasn't at full size Gator, It was the plastic battery powered toy version. Gin also came out to see Nolan's first attempt at driving (in front of us) which resulted in a little fender bender. He took off in 2nd gear and ran into the back of our truck. I happened to video record the event and it was quite comical the way he hit the truck, stood up afterward looking at the front bumper of the car and pointing at Grams (Gin). He didn't get hurt and we had a great time watching his reaction. The funny thing in my mind is that a 2 year old reacted the same way I have seen adults react after a car wreck.

After Caris and Thomas said their goodbyes and headed east, we settled in the den to visit with the kids and watch the Clemson-USC baseball game. The sweetest thing happened during that part of the night. Nolan fell asleep in my arms and Dean fell asleep in Gin's arms. It was a special treat to watch Nolan slowly wind down as he talked about a lot of things while becoming less active.

I watch what people say about Mondays and how much they hate that day and the end of the weekend. I have had those feelings about Monday from time to time. Since returning to work and still having the unemployment blues in my mind, I look at the day as a blessing. I have been blessed with employment again and it is rewarding to earn my wages rather get pitiful handouts from the unemployment commission. Today (Monday) I was up at 4:30 and on the road to Chattanooga by 6:00. It is a little over four hours from home to the VW project. That is the hard part. The easy part is getting to ride through the Great Smokey Mountains along the Nantahala River Gorge as well as the Ocoee River area. After all that driving, I still had plenty of time for meetings and drawing reviews for installations. All in all, it was a good day.

Enjoy each day and don't worry about which day of the week it is. They're all equal in every way except the way you treat them. There are more important things in life. A lesson I am still learning every day, including Mondays.

P@