Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving at our house. Since Cara's family is in Africa and mine are in St. Louis (and Greg & Mandy are with her folks) we invited other people who where lacking family or plans to come and celebrate with us. Here's who joined us:

• Terry, Teresa, and Lucas
• Josh Schneider
• David Hasenberg
• Eric and Keesha Phiefer
• Laura Beth
• Cara, Jeffry and Leesha

Leesha was supposed to be picked up by her dad but he never showed up. She seemed ok with that. He, later, had a lame excuse. Lucas Treleven was the center of attention and entertained us most of the evening.
It was a great time with lots of great food and lots of great folks.

Chickens, Anu and Anime

Cara and I raked up all the leaves, piled them onto a giant tarp and dragged them down to a pit down at the end of the road. As we dragged the tarp, we approaced the neighbor's driveway. These people have chickens. And these chickens have little fear of strangers or giant tarps. We had to be careful because it was very easy to just drag this thing right on over them. I guess they think food when they see people. Not that they eat people, its that people are who provide their food. Chickens are strange.

We poked around the construction just west of our house, down the hill. Its coming along pretty fast. But the chickens followed us to the construction. Strange animals.

Cara had a night out with her friend Anu. They went shopping and out to dinner. I was thinking of going to a movie by myself, but opted to geek out on Gundam videos instead. It was just what I needed.

Festive Evening

Craig and Tracy and the boys are going back to Africa in about a week. So in celebration and spending some time with them before they go, Delane's and Ron are hosting dinner at their house for the evening. Always a good time at their house.

I had to leave early, because I was invited to Vineeta's house for a Morning Show social gathering. Vineeta has just been switched over to the Morning Show (just after I was, also) and to get to know everyone better she and her husband are hosting this party.

Besides the Christmas Party and hanging out with some of the production crew, this was the first time I ever socialized with KSTP people outside of work and it was a blast!

Seth and his woman were there. I spent a great deal of time talking with Tommy from tapes, hanging out with Steve Schmit, and talked about Boston Terriers with Justin- the web guy. Schmitty and Kathyrn and I got into a pretty intense conversation about God in Vineeta's kitchen. When almost everyone was gone, Vineeta gave Justin and I a tour. What a cool house. This house is located south of Grand kind of near 35E. Three stories and a basement. We all went home around 11pm (which is really late when you work on the morning show).

Good time all around. I wish Cara could've come with, but it was important that she spend time with her brother's family before they left.

Here's Life Inner City Boxes of Love



Rob brought up an idea for a volunteer ministry for our small group. And since he brought it up, he was gracious enough to organize us in going through with it. So instead of meeting last night (like we usually do every Tuesday night) we met tonight at a warehouse in Minneapolis. The ministry is called Here's Life Inner City and the program we were working on is called Boxes of Love. What we did all evening was put together hundreds of boxes for needy inner city families. It was quite fun and we got to meet other people from our own church. It was really no sacrifice for us (other than we skipped watching LOST). Even Leesha was really helpful. She made bead bracelets that were included in every box.

When Leesha stays up past her bed time, its almost a guarantee that she will have a melt down. We were doing very well. In the car and on the way home, even. She was playing with my neck as I drove and trying to be playful, I bit her thumb- but I did it a just a little too hard. She pulled back and was real quiet. I could tell she was holding it in- not sure what to think of what just happened. I asked her if she was ok and if I bit too hard. That was her ticket to let loose.

Oh. My. Goodness!

She cried as hard as she possibly could! Which was fine. It was my fault. So we just let her cry. She eventually got tired of crying and forgave me. But that was kind of funny at first. Other than that, she was really really good. And even that wasn't bad. Just Melodramatic

Click for $.03, MTURK & Sleep

I got BJ and Seth started on this website. On this site you can actually earn money for simply clicking on which picture best describes the business presented. Its very strange- but they're paying, so don't complain.

Went to a sleep doctor today and set up an appointment to have a sleep study done on me. I suspect that I have apnea.

We had a bit of drama at home this evening. Leesha's math grade is slipping and it looks like its because she just doesn't care about her work. When confronted, Leesha dropped into a strange victim mentality claiming that when we praise her its too loud and hurts her ears. I pray that characteristic fades from her because there is no integrity a self proclaimed victim.

Cara and I had a very powerful prayer session together tonight. I love to pray with her.

Josh Moved

Josh and I loaded up a U-Haul van and my jeep full of his worldly materials and set off to his new residence. Josh and I met the maintenance guy who gave him the key to his apartment and we went all around looking for nicks and cracks to report so Josh wouldn't get charged for those things when he moves out.

After all was settled we started to unload. We got the jeep emptied out and had the van in position when Greg arrived. Unloaded and in the apartment, Greg and Josh took off to pick up more furniture from IKEA and somewhere else and get us some food while I stayed at the apartment and built a tv stand and waited for the bed delivery and the cable guy.

I finished quickly and laid down to read.

Soon everyone arrived at the same time. After the bed was in and everyone left, Josh went to drop off the van while Greg and I built a shelf. I love the fact that Greg and I can find any situation hilarious because we were laughing our asses off while trying to build that thing. Fun.

Not long after Schneidy returned the cable guy got there, too. And Greg had to leave. After all was settled in and the cable guy was gone, I too took off.

We talked about his recently ended relationship quite a bit and figured this move was a major step in the right direction.

I stopped in at the Shinder's just up the street from Josh's, the one I used to go to all the time. I also stopped at Hot Comics up in Richfield where Greg and I would go every Wednesday back in the golden age.

Felt good to use almost every muscle in my body. And it felt good to help a friend.

decision day

whether or not to commit to a different schedule. should i take the morning shift? and listen to George Noory every night on my way to work?

or

should i stay with this schedule, but have it go an hour later and miss dinner with my family and come home just as Leesha is going to bed?

the morning shift will free up some of the responsibility i have under Monica so that i may focus on more training.

the day shift would allow me to sleep more.

Perry's last day

(sad)

Got Lots Done Today

I've been subbing on the early shift again
picked up Tux for Eric's wedding
came home
Cara Leesha and I went to do erronds and picked up my new computer.
Robert came over for dinner
Robert and I went to Eric's to help him move. He had lots of stuff to move.



His house was quite the mess.

got home
computer crashed

Grandma & Grandpa & St. Louis

We went to Grandma and grandpa's for brunch. Spent a good deal of time with them. Gma took leesha out shopping. Lucky girl.


Then we went to The City Museum. Amazing place. Its like the playground at McDonald's but for adults, too. If you ever spend time in St. Louis, you really ought to see the City Museum. here is a picture gallery

Pretty much right after we came home and had dinner leesha went to bed.

Cara and I got my folks to play Settlers of Catan and Cara won. My mom made food for tomorrow while she was playing (and she still did better than Dad and I).

Mom & Dad & St. Louis

Arrived at Mom and Dads at about 8 am. visited till about 10 and went to sleep. Mom and Dad took Leesha to the Butterfly House (which we heard she didn't really like). we had dinner and just visited.

Leesha was off her game. She was very tired from trying to sleep all night in the car and just being somewhere else. Even though she behaved very well, we designated over by the door as the time out spot- just in case. Well, Leesha chose dinner time to fight with us. My mom served coleslaw and Leesha melodramatically ate it with great facial expressions, fighting every moment with every excuse not to eat the slaw. Her face was so over the top that my mom couldn't contain herself and just started laughing at the expressions. So I sent my mom to the time out spot. She went! Laughing the whole time.

great time.

Leesha went to sleep really fast and really hard. We watched LOST that dad taped on Wed. My folks are fans, too.

Drove All Night

We left for Stl, MO shortly after I got home from work.
Drove all night listening to George Noory.
Every time we stopped Leesha managed to wake up and ask where we where. Unless we stopped at a rest stop so she could use the rest room. Then we'd have to wake her up. How did she know? little stinker.

Perry's Birthday

Today is Perry Kennedy's birthday. It is also the day he put his 2 week notice in to quit. Perry has been accepted at a new job at a school in Eden Prairie or Edina or somewhere down there. Congratulations and happy birthday!

I don't have a title for this one

Cara and I had a very nice day putsing around shopping. We were supposed to meet Greg, Spud, David and Jutton at Uptown Bar for gyro omelettes, but those dorks decided to grab McDonald's and sit in front of that horrible Viking vs Bears game instead of hang with us. I was pissed. Shouldn't have been. Its so common for those two (Greg and Spud) to back out of plans it shouldve been expected. My bad for not expecting. In spite of those asses, Cara and I had a great day.

Jutton caved and went over there anyways. He came over from Greg's house and we had blannies (blannies used to be what our bachelor household would call pancakes). Cara made these amazing blannies with bananas in them! wow! those were so good. Then off to the movie.

Watched Serenity (for the 3rd time) with Jutton. First time Jutton saw anything Firefly/Serenity. He liked it a lot. Not a surprise, the movie is great.

awesome movie

Spud is in town.

Cara, Leesha and I went to her cousin's wedding today. Jason and Jonel got married today in the same church that Cara and I were married. It was nice and very traditional. Leesha was picked up by her dad after the ceremony.

After the wedding we went up to Greg and Mandy's house to see Spud. Jason, Marusha, Skyhawk, David and Misty Budney (what?!!!) arrived later. And even later, Jutton and his

It was good seeing Spud. It wasn't an ideal setting. It was too fast and not quiet enough. But it was a good time. Got to connect with David a bit. Cara felt that she connected with Mandy a lot more.

We set up plans to go to Uptown Bar and Cafe tomorrow for gyro omelets. Always love gyro omelets.

Serenity



Schneidy hasn't been doing so well, lately. He needed some friend time. God bless Cara for recognizing that and almost sending me out to hang with him (she is such a keeper. I was out late lastnight for Viking Game Day and I know she would really like to spend some time with me, but while I was working last night Schneidy called to see if I was busy tonight and Cara pretty much sent me out with him).

We were going to use a couple of free movie passes, but the movie would have to be 10 days old or older and nothing that was that old was any good. Serenity opened in theaters today. I am going to go see it tomorrow night with a bunch of people, but you know what... We went to Serenity anyways.

I think it was a good thing for him to get his mind off his drama for a while.




what a wonderful movie. Best one I've seen this year. I know and love the show its from- Firefly. Schneidy hadn't seen any Firefly, so it was neat to hear what he thought of it from that perspective.

Go see this movie.

Wednesdays = Comics and LOST

Still filling in for my manager as she's in Ireland. Today, however, wasn't too hecktic with all that. Makes for a nice change. I started to sit with Scott and learn some of the switcher.

Jay came to town for lunch today. I drove Brad, Ben, BJ and myself (I was the only person in my car whose name didn't start with a B) to Godfather's Pizza. Cara had called and wanted to know if I could go to lunch with her, so I invited her to go with us. Shortly after we got our food and sat down, she arrived. That was a real fun time. Its good seeing Jay and its always fun to have lunch with my wife. Brad had never met her before.

I snuck away from work at about 2:30 to take a co-worker, Mike, to the airport. He's got a friend in Vancouver he's going to visit. Mike is fun to hang with. He has a great sense of humor. One odd thing about him, though- He's seen every single episode of LOST and he hates the show.

I spent the gift certificate that Leesha got me at the comic book shop on a movie that I think she will like.


awesome movie. I've seen the Japanese version with fan-subtitles.

When I got home from the comic book shop there were my ladies with a couple of dudes. Nathan and Aaron. Ages 4 and 2. Cara is nephew sitting tonight so her brother and his wife could go out and celebrate his birthday.

This day was also the day Cara's friend Kristin and her husband were going out of town and we were going dogsit for them. Just after we ate, Matt dropped off Sadie. So we were fully [insert noun here]-sitting.

At about 7:30 everyone under the age of 8 went to bed. I took Sadie for a quick walk. Rushed home to watch the 2nd episode from the 2nd season of LOST.

A Good Saturday

I got to sleep in today. As the Flaming Lips once said- "sleep in when you can". More and more that thought seems prudent.

Our guests were already out on their adventures by the time I got up. And Cara was getting ready to go do some of her errands. That left me with some much cherished me time. So I got a bunch of things done.

• I bid on an ebay auction (with birthday money- this was the kind of auction where you get a great idea of what you're looking for and you happen to remember it when you have some time to surf and there happens to be an item that fits exactly what you're looking for and it ends that day! it all was meant to be)
• I got our Melaleuca order in
• updated this blog
• changed my MySpace profile color
• watched this week's eBaumsworld
• posted a couple of things for sale on ebay (one has a bid already!)
• and surfed my favorite forums

it was good

Leesha came home early. She and I played Battleship online and she kicked butt. It ended just about when it was going to her head.

Then we played Old Maid and Go Fish when everyone returned.

After Cara and Kristin got home we started thinking about going out to eat with the Koski's at an Indian restaurant. We met David and friends there and had a great dinner. Leesha was getting tired but she held it together.

Came home- Leesha to bed.

Played Settlers of Cattan

While the girls talked, us boys shared interesting internet sites:

• http://www.detoursvideo.com/Elsewhere.htm
• http://happytreefriends.com
• http://www.homestarrunner.com/
• http://parcours-diversifies.scola.ac-paris.fr/
• http://www.lionelcharlet.com/EN/en_aviation.html (this one was so cool!)

and I won my auction!

nice day.

the only thing that was rather negative was that I found out that my friend Josh's girlfriend has been cheating on him. And he's taking it pretty hard. I feel so bad for the poor guy. If you read this, Schneidy- you are in my prayers.

Friday Nights are Nice

Our weeks have become quite busy, lately. And the fact that Cara is working full time subbing, now adds to the release of Friday evening. Leesha is off to dad's on Friday nights for the last few weeks. So its developing into our lets-not-plan-anything night.

So we had a small dinner and watched the last 3 episodes of LOST season 1 (Cara hadn't seen them yet and needs to before she sees the season 2 premiere).

Cara's friend from school, David, and his wife, Kristin, were coming to town tonight and they arrived haflway through the last episode. They came in and we talked till about half past midnight. When they went to bed, Cara and I finished the episode.

Having just seen the season 2 premiere, it was interesting seeing the last episodes again.

I love this show. I love how they ended the season with the scene of everyone boarding the plane. These creators have a real good sense of what I think is good tv.