Postcards – A New mfdc Feature.

I love postcards. I bet you didn’t know that. I don’t know what it is about these 3.5 by 5 cards but I just love getting them. Over the years I’ve kept just about every card I’ve ever received (much to the annoyance of Jen) for no real reason but the other day when I looked at the shelf and saw the large stack sitting there I figured I could turn them into a blog topic.

About once a week I’ll try post one of the cards I’ve receive which should last me well over a year.
Niagara Falls Postcard.
For installment one I thought there was no better way to start out then with the oldest postcard in my collection and as an added bonus it’s from the most prolific post card writers I know, Omi and Opa. In my entire collection they have sent me the most cards which is probably due to the fact that they have done the most traveling which is of course a prime post card writing opportunity.

Not all the cards are dated but this one is from November 30th, 1995 when they took a trip to Niagara Falls. Omi writes,

We are for 3 days and 2 nights to Niagara. It was a “Special” in the paper and we grabbed it! The Falls are like always – full of water

You have to like her sense of humor.

End of Summer, Take II

I was a little premature in calling it the end of summer since today was the final day that the pool was opened. We went with the boys for one last swim today and spent about two hours at the pool. When we got there Jen swam a 1000 in the lap lanes and when she came over after being done Alex and Andrew wanted to wear the swim caps. We put them in caps and Alex went off to his laps.

For the last couple of months Alex has been doing a couple of laps when we go to the pool and today he finished up with a grand total of 54, 1350 yards. Today he felt like a pro wearing the cap and goggles. Andrew has been trying to do laps as well and he has worked up to being able to go 25 yards on his own.
Andrew and Alex swimming at the pool.

Gustav – Worst of it is Over

Gustav is now well inland and it appears that the worst of it is over. Bob called the City Park and it appears that none of the buildings sustained any heavy damage except that there is debris all through the Park. Lots of downed tree limbs and trees. He tried to get them to run by the house but before they could get close they were stopped by the National Guard who wouldn’t let them into the neighborhood, presumably to prevent looting. Tomorrow they are going to try again so we should know more tomorrow.

Gustav – Making Landfall

Gustav has started to make landfall this morning. So far it looks like it’s still too early tell how much damage New Orleans is going take.

We are switching between the weather channel and a couple other stations and the one site weather reporters crack me up. One reporter on Canal Street at the hotel was going on..

“As you can see we are reporting from the relative safety of the hotel but watch what happens as I step away from the hotel into the street in the full force of the winds.”

He starts blowing around, the camera picture breaks up, they pan around the street showing trees blowing all over, billboards on top of the buildings with their signs coming off.

Alex wanted me to add that they just showed a reporter in Gulfport Mississippi blowing in the wind and she could barely stand.

End of Summer

It’s not exactly then end of summer weather wise but labour day is traditionally the time that the pools start to reduce their hours and are only open on the weekends. Yesterday we took the opportunity to take the boys to the pool for one last swim at the outdoor pool.

Alex and Andrew in the pool. Andrew diving in the pool.
Alex jumping off the diving board. Andrew, Me, and Alex, enjoying the water.

Gustav – Heading for New Orleans

Gustavs's current path.Gustav is slowly working it’s way towards New Orleans and Bob and Pat have evacuated to our place where we are anxiously awaiting where it will come ashore. We are all crossing our fingers hoping that it escapes the worst of the damage but it needs to keep moving more to the west. Depending on the track it takes we will probably see some rain and winds even where we are.

Alex is very interested in the storm and a couple of times a day he goes on line to check out it’s projected path and where it has been. He spent about 40 minutes today going through hurricane history and was way excited when he found one named Alex.

The boys are excited that Grandma and Grandpa are in town and Andrew is thrilled that they brought the dogs with them. A couple of years ago, heck, even a couple months back, he was pretty freighted of them but lately he has been getting more comfortable around them. The last two nights he has even helped Grandpa take them for a walk. McKenzie is getting up there in the years and isn’t as spry as she used to be which works out real well for Andrew since he can handle her by himself.

Yesterday he was telling Grandpa in a very sad voice that “We don’t have a pet.”

Alex and Andrew Helping walk with dogs.Andrew with Mackenzie

First Day of School

Here in Texas today was the first day of school. I was in charge of getting them there on time so the pressure was on. Even when it’s not the first day of school I always feel like I’m running late but today I just felt like there was that little bit of extra pressure to get them there early. To make matters worse I got up around 6:30 and was thinking I needed to get them there by 8:00 and was taking my time when it suddenly donned on me that Alex needed to be there at 7:40, 7:45 at the latest which got me all worked up.

Despite all the rushing around I still managed to get the first day of school pics and like the previous years they made me get a picture of their backpacks which they are very proud of.

Alex and Andrew on the first day of school Alex and Andrew on the first day of school

Mightly Fiesty Sheep


Today Andrew was playing with his collection of animals and one time when I passed by I noticed he had the following scene set up.

“Andrew, what is this over here.”

“Sheep.”

“What are the sheep doing?”

“They’re eating the cheetah.”

There’s something you don’t see everyday.

Trip to Canada Web Site Update

Over the July 4th holiday weekend we decided to take a trip to Canada to visit the family. We looked into flying up but air fare was totally outrageous so we made the decision just to drive. We left here Friday night and took three days for the drive there with a stop in Chicago on the second night to see Amanda and Ryan and crash at their place. (Thanks guys.) Then we had five full days in Canada which we used to visit family and go around and visit all sorts of cool stuff. Then on Saturday we turned around and drove back home in two days, a very long two days. We ended up driving a total of 3200 miles (5150 km) after all was said and done.

Alex and Andrew did really good on the drive and I don’t remember hearing too may “Are we there yets”. On the second day of the ride home Andrew got a little upset but that didn’t last long since he fell asleep.

After a couple of weeks of sifting through the pictures, getting them organized, getting some additional pictures from Deanna and Doug, (thanks!), and it’s all done. Whew.

As an aside we played the license plate game and I think we ended up doing pretty well. 32 US States, 4 Canadian Provinces, and 3 Indian Trip, who would have known they have their own license plates.

US Plates Canada Other Special Ones
Arizona Maryland Oklahoma Alberta Cherokee Nation
Arkansas Michigan Oregon Manitoba Muskogee Nation
California Minnesota Pennsylvania Nova Scotia Wyandotte Nation
Colorado Mississippi South Dakota Ontario
Florida Montana Tennessee Quebec
Illinois Nebraska Texas
Indiana New Mexico Virginia
Iowa New York Washington
Kansas North Carolina West Virginia
Kentucky Ohio Wisconsin
Maine Wyoming

Project Runway

Season 4 of Project Runway started tonight so it looks like every Wednesday night for the next 14 weeks Jen is going to be comendering the TV.  It’s going to be 14 weeks of “Auf Wiedersehen”, “Designers Gather Round”, and “Make it Work.”