Belated Birthday Blog

Happy Birthday John!

It amazes me the speed at which time flies.

Hard to believe he was once even smaller than this:

We had a nice steak & shrimp dinner with John, Jenny and Mike!

Ingrid made John's favorite cake

And they headed off into the evening...another year older and wiser.

The Graduate Returns

Michael finished automotive schooling in Orlando last week and has returned to the ole homestead. Pretty sure he's glad to be home, or at least back in Virginia. The flight down was pretty uneventful and my friend George Olson was there to pick me up - for that I am grateful. That and the fact that I was able to spend the night at their home a couple of nights. It's been a long. long time since I've been a 19 year old - forgot how they lived...needless to say it was nice to be able to crash in comfort. A heartfelt thank you goes to the Olsons for all they did for Michael while he was going to school. We appreciate them very much.

Roommates Derrick, Mitch & Mike

Mike finished up his testing and we went to his graduation ceremony - cap and gown I might add. Quite a turnout! There were about 60 young mechanics that graduated and lots of support from family members and friends.

Mike & Mike - went down together in the beginning.

They were the original roomates.

Leaving school for the last time...

That night Mike and I went out to dinner and as we were finishing up we saw on one of the tv's the Space Shuttle Endeavor counting down so we payed the tab and went out into the parking lot in time to see the shuttle heading into space. Pretty awesome sight. (not that this picture does it any justice)

The next day was packing day - we picked up a rental truck and spent the day packing and cleaning up Mike's room so it would be ready for the next roomie who was heading down from Maine - never got a chance to meet him but we wish him well.

Closing the door on another life chapter...

The drive back was pretty easy - we stopped for gas a few times and to eat a couple of times. All in all I'd say it was a success.

Halloween 08

I've always enjoyed Halloween so I don't know what happened this year or last...oh yeah, I guess I'm getting older and the kids are grown. Last year I had out of town responsibilities so I had no time to decorate and for the first time in my life just had to turn out all the lights and sit and fume. This year was a little different but I still wasn't that hyped. I carved a couple of jacks and took a different slant on the usual spooky theme as you can see below.

I did some last minute decor - nothing close to what I've done in the past, no, no, no. But since I only had ONE trick-or-treater last night I figure, just as well. ONE?? Only one trick-or-treater... what's happened? Yeah, I live on a dead end street...isn't that ironic..a dead end street? Should be ripe for adventurous tricksters. But not this year...eh, there's always next year - and I've got plans...

I probably should have put these pics up before, but I'm slow - so here they are now. A sampling of past Halloweens at our house. I tried to make it fun for the kids. Enjoy!

These pictures were from Non-Party years - when I get a chance I'll scan pics from some of the more memorable Halloween parties we've thrown and post them.

Happy Halloween!