Summer Heat

I guess that I am on a monthly blog schedule since it's been that long that I last posted. I just returned from camp with my son Harrison and I guess you could say that it drained me. I'm not used to being out for a week in the extreme heat. My luck prevails in that it was 95 degrees everyday and the heat index was 105. I can't catch a break at that camp...example: the last time I was on the staff at the camp was 1992. I was 21 and finally able to lodge in a cabin. That meant air conditioning. I worked hard on the cabin in preparation of my 6 week stay by installing a window unit and a make shift insulation. It doesn't sound like much but a window unit in a cabin that measures 8 x 8 could be frigid. I couldn't wait. I moved in and low and behold...the dang temperature NEVER reached 80 for the entire month of June 1992. Wow.

Anyway, I had a blast and Harrison did too. he has the opportunity to earn 8 merit badges and hopefully he will. The only complaint that I have - it's over. I will post pictures later.

Up and down and it's not the cat this time...

It's been a while since I blogged last but with my hectic schedule, I haven't had the time nor the desire. There's really nothing funny or revealing happening right now. I got a dose of a harsh reality. I lost my niece a couple of weeks ago and it's really taking a toll on the family. I wish I could have done something to make it all better but I accept that God had other plans. She was such a beautiful little girl. She looked so precious and She probably had the most hair I have ever seen on an infant. A head full........

I am so thankful for my family, they show me daily what God can do for you and the hope He gives us. I know that I don't always live they way He wants me too but I know that He has given me an out for lack of a better term. may God bless each of you!

Spray On Tan or Painted Horse

I spent last weekend working as a "carnie" at the Tuscaloosa Air Show and while I consider myself intelligent, I didn't wear sun screen. This would normally be fine if I had thought to grab a hat on the way out of the house. I don't mind burnt legs as much as I hate a burnt head and the raccoon eyes. I enjoyed it though as I have always had a fascination with air planes - especially military planes. The A-10 is always my favorite and finally got to see one fly - a treat. Anyway, back to the "carnie" story. I decided to help my son sell Ice Cream to help raise money for his trip to the 100th anniversary Jamboree next summer. We had to be there at 8:00 which I think was a little early since the thing started almost 3 hours later. Anyway, we got our instructions from the "king carnie" and we put on the smocks and proceeded to sell his $4 premium ice cream. I don't know about anyone else but $4 for ice cream is steep, even if we were in the desert. We had 8 stands with 14 kids total. At the end of the day, I was utterly scorched from the sun and we had sold $20,533.00 in ice cream. That's right, $20,533.00 in ice cream. Now, we aren't going to see that kind of money nowhere near that much. We will probably get 10% of the total for the 14 boys. Not bad but not worth it for the amount of time and effort we had to put in to it.

Back to my 3rd degree burns. I spent the rest of this week peeling my skin away like a leper. Every person I met this week laughed at me or scolded me for being stupid. Some even asked if I had skin cancer. Jessica wanted me to put lotion on each night but I just can't seem to put lotion on myself because I don't like it on my hands. That would be the OCD in me I'm sure.

The skin finally stop shedding yesterday and I decided to cover up my stupidity with Tan in a Can. Now my wife, God help her, has been practicing this art for some time. She makes it look so easy. She shakes the can - she applies the spray evenly - she has an instant tan. What could possibly go wrong? Did you know the spray will stain anything if not immediately washed off? Did you also know that if not evenly sprayed, it will make you look like a painted horse? (See Post Picture) Well you also need to know that when applying this to large "white" areas of skin that you have enough in the bottle to complete the job. I did not. I have a really dark leg and then I have a really diseased leg. I guess I have started down a dark road that can only get worse. Now I have to get another can of stain so my wife can even out my oompa loompa skin. So if you see me this week, just resist the urge to say anything.

What a weekend! It started off on Friday night with our Friends Libby and Sid coming to town to eat dinner at our favorite restaurant - Nick's in the Sticks. Dinner went well until right up to the end when my bowels started to tell me that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I promptly told the group that I HAD to go before I crapped myself in front of 150 people. I tore out of there and went to my office (the closest place). They met me there. I avoided what seemed to be a night ruining mishap - closely, I might add. Well we decided to go visit Innisfree since it was new and none of us had been there. That's where Derek and his new ride showed up. We visited for a while (30 minutes tops) until Libby and Sid had to go home. I have to say that it was a good night - no better time than time spent with Friends. It would have made it better if Heather could have been there - she always seems to be the life of the party. I am NOT saying that the rest of us aren't the life but she's always laughing and smiling. Saturday started off as usual, coffee and working at Camp. We got a lot done for a small workday and really I can't think of anything else to say other than the concrete top we installed weighed a ton and my back paid for it. I am not as young as I think I am. Sunday was good. I have spent the majority of the day with Jessica and the cat hasn't been his normal evil self. I guess all-in-all it was a very good weekend. Now I am about to watch Hancock until Brothers and Sisters starts!

I Hate Cats or Is It Just Morning....

Well I am at work...not necessarily working since I am typing a new post. I recovered from the wet pants incident and got a decent nights sleep. I actually didn't get the covers all wampy-jawed which is the norm in our bed. One of my favorite things is to get up and drink the first cup from a fresh pot of coffee and today wasn't any different. I have no competition in the mornings since my wife CANNOT hear any noise when sleeping. I swear if an IED were to explode inside our bedroom she wouldn't budge. Now the psychotic cat of ours would but he would go straight to the pantry where we keep his food. It must be nice to have a cats life. All he does is lay (not sit) and eat. Oh and he pisses on everything and I mean everything. The vet keeps saying it's a kidney infection but I don't know. All the dang thing drinks is water. Now if he keeps it up all he will have is cranberry juice. Why do we go through so much pain and suffering for animals? I mean don't get me wrong, I love and adore animals but why go through so much over them. I guess and this is as honest as it gets for me; I just don't like cats. I would probably go above and beyond for a dog. My brother and sister in-law have an awesome dog named Dewey. I mean that's a man's best friend. He actually thinks he's a human being sometimes and he can have somewhat of a conversation with you. With the cat - not a chance. Whew, I just vented on cats. I better stop before I get fire bombed by ALF or ELF or PETA or whoever.......

Until we meet again........

Wet pants

I was just sitting at home watching TV. Well NCAA basketball to be exact, when the urge hit me to go outside. My wife (Jessica) cleaned our porch this afternoon with a water hose and I had forgotten and I sat down in a puddle of water which I didn't realize it until I started to feel it in the nether-regions. I thought, well crap, so I went inside to clean my dishes from supper. I am the kind of person to hurry and do instead of having much needed patience and I sprayed water all over me. To this point I am not having a good night. At least I am sticking to my diet. I have placed an ultimatum on myself to lose 40lbs by my 20th high school reunion in June. I'm pretty sure that I won't make my goal. I am still going to try though because I need to be healthy. Yeah right, I am the un-healthiest person I know. Tomorrow will be harder because I think we are going to dinner with friends.

I guess Jessica will be home in a few minutes so I am sure she will have something for me to do ;-)

Until we meet again......