My sister Sue

The Professor is Missing

Emily and Madeline caught a couple of frogs yesterday: Hoppy and Professor. They created homes, fed them bugs and played with them all day. Due to past frog tragedies, I normally don't let them keep them for more than a day before letting them go.

Last night Emily came down because she'd forgotten to let them go. Hoppy was still in his box, but Professor had taken off. She'd only had the frogs for part of a day, but she was literally heartbroken that she didn't get a chance to say goodbye. As she lay sobbing in Cathie's arms, she talked about "all the good times" they shared, how he sat on her lap, how she taught him to hop when she said "hop". She wanted us to go out looking for him in the rain, but settled on leaving this note on her door and another on her window.

This little girl loves animals more than anyone I've ever seen. She was actually sobbing at the fact that she didn't get to say goodbye to the frog before it left. She has an amazingly tender little heart.

Guys Weekend Up North

Bill, Will, Mark, Brad and I went up North for a guys weekend. We met up in Gaylord at Bill's place on Otsego lake and hung out there for the night. We grilled out in a big way. We had these huge Delmonico steaks that we smoked and grilled, some salmon, bread and a bunch of vegetables. We sat around the fire in a food coma afterwards eating, drinking and talking.




The next morning we headed out to Brad's hunting cabin in the Upper Peninsula. Brad's hunting cabin (not to be confused with his cottage in Pickney) is on about 240 acres of land in the middle of nowhere. There's no one for miles around and there are animals everywhere. We saw a ton of wild turkeys and some deer. As you sat there, you heard no ambient noise from the road or the city - just this amazing chorus from the birds and the forest around you. The weather was perfect, so Brad, Mark and Will went golfing while Bill and I went four-wheeling. Brad has miles of trails that go all throughout his property so we went flying around those for a while. The four wheelers are fun, but his Polaris ATV is amazing. this thing can go over and through stuff a Hummer can't get through. It has a top speed of 55mph and can make it up and down just about anything.

There was no cell phone coverage where we were at, so I went through withdrawal as I was completely separated from the outside world without access to the web, cell or even smoke signals. The weather was amazing. It was supposed to rain all day and ended up being about 85.

Once again, we grilled enough for an army. We had a 20lb beef brisket, hot wings, bread and these jalapeños with cream cheese wrapped in bacon and cooked on the grill. I ate 20.


We couldn't get the pistons game on so we hung out out around the fire in another food coma , listening to music and shooting the breeze - mocking each other for any minor transgression of the man code. We headed back on Sunday morning as it stated pouring and made it back by 2:30.

You can see some of the rest of the pictures here.

This is not a homeless Man. This is Bill.

When I met Bill 14 years ago, he was a fine upstanding citizen. He looked nothing like a bum. Sure the bill of his hat isn't quite straight, he's got what looks like a five day beard growth (about eight hours actually) and he's huddled up on a mattress without sheets, but that's just the way Bill rolls.

160 Yard Par 3

The shot that brings me back golfing next week. I put the shot within 10 feet of the pin. I played with Eli's brother-in-law, Jeff, who kept us in the game. The first three holes I couldn't hit a small baby five feet in front of me. The last 6 I didn't suck quite as badly.

Overheard at our dinner table tonight

We had hot dogs for dinner:

Me: 'Nate, would you like another wiener?'
Nate: (without missing a beat) 'No Dad, I'm good with the one I've got.' (big grin)
Me: (Beaming like a proud father, followed by a dirty look from Cathie) 'What???'

Why I love working with junior high kids

I watched these three wail on each other for 20 minutes with foam water noodles. Non Stop. Impressive.

Memorial Day Party

We had our 16th annual Memorial Day party today with a bunch of neighbors, family and friends. It was a perfect day, about 80 and sunny with a nice breeze. We only had a few major injuries, but none from the tire swing. Andrew busted himself up jumping off the tire swing, the basketball hoop fell on Josh and a few kids rolled off the hammock onto the metal bar below - plus a few other mishaps.

We spent all day sitting outside and talking while the kids ran around playing. We sipped ice cold beer and margaritas while we sat around laughing and telling stories.

My sister Susan is not known for being in touch with her feminine side. You'll never see her wearing a skirt or make up and most of the time her hair is nothing fancy. (We attribute this to the fact that after having three boys, my Mom decided to dress my sister in dresses every day until she was old enough to say no.) Susan allowed Kris to braid her hair, which is something you never see as well. You can tell she's enjoying it.

I have never seen a pair of ankle socks that have no elastic. Dan has somehow achieved this with these beauties.



You can see the rest of the pictures here.

Carbon Footprint

This is an interesting article looking at the Carbon Footprint (overall environmental impact) of a Prius Hybrid vehicle versus a Hummer, where the Hummer ends up being the more environmentally friendly vehicle in the end. I knew there was a reason I've always loved Hummers.

Bad Luck and Trouble

I just finished the latest Lee Child book Bad Luck and Trouble. There's about ten of them out by Lee Child, all centering around an ex-military MP named Jack Reacher. They're some of my favorite books and I've read all of them a couple of times. The books could be seen as a little formulaic, but I love the fact that you've got a guy who knows what to do in every situation he runs into (even though most of the situations he ends up in have people dying). He's a compassionate guy who ends up in bad situations most of the time because he's always willing to help out the marginalized. If you've never read any of them, you can start anywhere in the series and there's not really a bad book in the bunch.

Dancing Queens

Dan, Jon, Sooze and I used to choreograph dances like this all the time:

Neighbors

We got a call last night from our one of our neighbors to get together for cocktail hour. Along with ten other neighbors, we hung out on the deck around a fire until midnight while the kids played with baseball bats, light-sabers, a portable pool and a sandbox. We took side bets on which one would cry first. Emily was a safe bet with three new band-aids by the end of the evening.

We've lived in this house for 8 years and most of the people there last night have been there a while as well. Our kids have grown up together, we all see each other as we drive in and out of the neighborhood, at the bus-stop or at the store. At any given time any of our kids might be at any of their houses and vice versa. Our neighborhood is an odd one. It's somewhat transient given the price ranges of houses. We've gotten more and more unmarried couples moving in and lots of families with three kids. There are people on my block who I've never met and almost never see and some who I talk to occasionally and wave to when I drive down the street and then there's this group. It was fun hanging with them. I laughed a lot.

If Susan had a Segway

Cool, free remote access service for your home computers: LogMeIn.com

Relay for Life, cont

Last week there was a great letter to the editor about how horrible the Relay for Life cancer walk is. In yesterday's paper, 20 different people submitted letters with some pretty impressive levels of shame in them. No one went as far to say, "I hope you get cancer", but the undertones were there. Some of my favorite excerpts are:

No sleep for one night? Get over it. My son is now graduating from South Lyon High School. My husband and my son and I had a wonderful vacation (the first time in many years). I have a lot of nice friends and I'm glad to be alive. Do you think the Relay for Life helped out? I know it did.

and

I cannot believe that these two individuals would label the Relay for Life event as "ridiculous and rude." Jim and Karen, your letter was ridiculous and rude! So you had one uncomfortable, sleepless night in your home! What about all the uncomfortable sleepless nights the Dolans have had since Abby's cancer diagnosis. What about all the uncomfortable sleepless nights all those stricken with cancer and their families have to endure because of this awful disease?

and

To know that somebody had complained about an event that could help survivors, or could have saved my aunt, is truly heartbreaking. This letter is an example of how apathetic the world has become. Anybody could be diagnosed with cancer and to complain about raising money for possibly you, or your kids, or grandkids in the future, is mind boggling. At the start of Relay for Life, there was the survivor lap.

I read this article this morning and it reminded me of my brother Jon:

In increasing numbers, Las Vegas tourists exhausted by the four miles of gluttony laid out before them are getting around on electric "mobility scooters."

Don't think trendy Vespa motorbikes. Think power wheelchair.

Forking over about $40 a day and their pride, perfectly healthy tourists are cruising around Las Vegas casinos in transportation intended for the infirm.

"It was all the walking," 27-year-old Simon Lezama said on his red Merits Pioneer 3. Lezama, a trim and fit-looking restaurant manager from Odessa, Texas, rented it on day three of his five-day vacation, "and now I can drink and drive, be responsible and save my feet."

Note to self

If I'm flying out of Bishop International Airport in Flint, don't drive to Detroit Metro Airport. They're different airports, hence different names and locations.

On the wall of the Shinn's Apartment

Great Domain Names

I can't remember where I've seen this before, but thanks to Eric for this:

Everyone knows that if you are going to operate a business in today's world you need a domain name. It is advisable to look at the domain name selected as other see it and not just as you think it looks. Failure to do this may result in situations such as the following (legitimate) companies who deal in everyday humdrum products and services but clearly didn't give their domain names enough consideration:

1. A site called 'Who Represents' where you can find the name of the agent that represents a celebrity. Their domain name… wait for it… is whorepresents.com
2. Experts Exchange, a knowledge base where programmers can exchange advice and views at expertsexchange.com
3. Looking for a pen? Look no further than Pen Island at penisland.net
4. Need a therapist? Try Therapist Finder at therapistfinder.com
5. Then of course, there's the Italian Power Generator company…powergenitalia.com
6. And now, we have the Mole Station Native Nursery, based in New South Wales: molestationnursery.com
7. If you're looking for computer software, there's always ipanywhere.com
8. Welcome to the First Cumming Methodist Church . Their website is cummingfirst.com
9. Then, of course, there's these brainless art designers, and their whacky website: speedofart.com
10. Want to holiday in Lake Tahoe ? Try their brochure website at gotahoe.com

Maddie and Cathie Painting