Christmas past

Well Christmas 2008 has come and gone. we hosted the second annual Patrick Christmas eve dinner again. We had the kids make snow people out of land scape blocks. I made smoked ribs and Rena made the rest of the dinner. It appeared everyone had a good time.

White Rock Race

Well once again the White Rock Race has come and gone. It was a warmer but very windy day. Also most 70 degrees in the middle of Dec. The wind was 15- 20 mph steady with gusts to 40 mph. This is the next to the last radio event for 2008. And hey we got another great long sleeve Tee shirt to wear this winter.

Christmas prep

Well it is time of the year when the Christmas items out. It also means another birthday coming up. which then means the year end is not far behind. I hope everyone takes time out to remember why we have this time of the year. I just finished watching the Christmas devotion. Once again we are reminded of the Savor 's birth. I sure would be nice if the world could stop and remember this.

Happy Thanksgiving

well here it is Turkey day already. Boy the world events seem to be changing almost everyday. It seems like the signs of the times are increasing or just coming about more so. Last I looked thee were not a lot left which is not good. It appears the new President elect is tiring to get thing started early. Time will tell how the country and world will unfold. Well I already have my first trip of the new year on the books. Never fails it is in Benton Harbor Mi. Not the place I would like to be in January but that at least it is not an outside job. Happy Thanksgiving to all

Time

Wow I can not believe Thanksgiving is just a week away. This whole year has moved by. It will be an interesting year coming up. It has been fun reading all the Missionary letter. What a great time they have had in each of their two years of serving the Lord. Well Happy Thanksgiving to all

Frozen

well this week I am in the Southern and center part of Wisconsin. Sunday Monday and part of tuesday I was in Lodi which is 20 north of Madison. Boy was it cold. I was at a house fire scene so we were outside both days. Lows were in low 20's and the high was 34 with some light wind. I am not sure I could have brought enough clothes but I now know I need to get something different for the heart of the winter when I have to do fire investigations in the winter time. Tueday eve thur thursday midday I will be in Milwaukee with an inside job. I have been able to see alot of the State of Wisconsin this year. It is an interesting state with alot of lakes and rolling hills that are hardwood type trees. Lodi is about 2000 people not a whole lot there. Milwaukee I hear is about 1.6 million in the metro area. Well I can't believe there is less than 60 days till Christmas. time has gone by this year.  

Day Before Elections I found a new write in

Well I am glad I have a hobby or two. Tuesday elections are going to be boring and another 4 years of rough economy. Neither of the choices are going to be the best so I hope who ever gets elected will not make a mess of things. But on the bright side our Grandson Austin is getting to be a joy and he appears to be a hand full. Just look at this face and tell me he is not full of it ha ha ha We are looking forward to seeing Austin shortly. My vote goes to Austin this Tuesday.

Friday

Can't believe it is the end of Oct all ready. Time has gone by fast. Boy it has been a busy few weeks at work. And of coarse the Elections are coming up.It will be a different next 4 years. I don't think either President McCain or Obama is the best choice but we have to choose the best of the worst. times are in deed changing. 

finally

well I finally got the rebuilt antenna installed this weekend. It has been a 6 month operation rebuilding and cleaning up the old antenna and getting it ready to replace the larger rebuilt antenna that has been on the tower since we moved here. The large antenna I believe along with the strong winds we get here in Texas may have caused the rotator to fail early. So with the purchase of a little larger rotator that was purshed back in March I now have the smaller antenna and the new rotator installed. It took a little over 1-1/2 days with a half day on Friday. But what a great weekend for weather. Upper 40's and mid 70's. the only issue this time of the year is the sun is alwys in your face because it is so low in the sky this time of the year.

Monday

well the work week started again. Waiting to hear if I wil have to go to Kelwona BC shortly. It will not be an easy place to get to but I hope I get there before it snows. The weather has been great here low 60's  and upper 70's. good week to play sick . Will be heading to Milwaukee the first week of  Nov. Hope to not be sick this time when I visit.

Noise

I think I can now hear again after again doing the COCOBEST event. This is the robotic event the schools in Collin Co do each year. The event has a theme each year that the kids have to build their robot from scratch and then do the event. It is done in a school gym with school bands and a lot of noise. The radio operators help get the kids from the pit area ( work area) to the floor where they compete. Rena had the easy job of sitting and calling the scores in. I how every was on my feet from 9am to just after 315pm helping get the kids to the right location and on time. But it was fun as always. It was a beautiful day today 50 in the morning and 78 by afternoon and clear blue sky.

Oh Boy

Well I made it through another day. I has been a good week with the family here. I was looking over all the photo's from this past few days from the mom and sibling visit. It was good to see everyone so happy and kidding around. I has been a while since I remember my siblings and mother laughing and enjoying  each other. While I know everyone missed their own families it was good. Would it not be nice to have a sibling mother reunion every so often. The weather today has turned cool mid 60's and cloudy. It has been a while since we had this cool of weather.

Back to work

Well it was the first day after the family get together. 4 days off of work wow.. As usual there were things I needed to do to get caught up. Glad I mowed the yard yesterday. We got about a 1/2 inch of rain today. We did need it but more would have been nice. But the nice thing is we will get cooler and more near normal temps in the 70's. Well it looks like I will be heading back to Milwaukee WI. I got sick with a head cold on the last trip and did not get to see much. Well Mom and my 2 sisters have made it home safe and sound and each of either flights arrived early. It was tiring but a great time with the siblings. Glad we did this before we have to meet at a funeral or something like that.

Mom's 75th Bday surprise

It has been a great 4 day . My brother and I flew my mother in to Texas for her 75th birthday. what she did not know was our 2 sisters were coming in as well. Well as you can guess Mom was very very surprised. What a great 4 days to spend with my brother and 2 sisters and mother. It was the happiest I have seen my mother in I don't know when. We saw her humor which has been missing for a long time. It was the first time in I don't remember when just we kids and mom spent time as a family to talk and enjoy each other and to reflect on our past as kids and family. While there were bad times growing up there were good times we enjoyed. It was great and I hope my sister and brother enjoyed the time we had. I know each of us gave up time with our own families and work I think this will be one more good thing for us to remember. I love each of you my brother and sisters and I am glad I have each of you to call my family and siblings.