Baby blowouts and waiting for patio blocks to arrive...

This morning I did a little traveling to deliver a head of cabbage to Mom at work in Bay City. She had left it with us after we dropped her off in the B and N parking lot. The trip down to see Grandma W was nice. The weather was the coolest of the summer. People still drove like they had a hot iron pressed to their rumps, but I was mored concerned with the enduring effects of the McDonald's coffee. As long as I get a coffee in the morning, I'm a pretty pleasant person. Anyway, we spent about 3 hrs at Grandma's. It looks like she has to consider battling leukemia again since some of her recent tests indicate a drop in some of her levels. This is basically what I was told: "A drop in her levels". Grandma was in good spirits and enjoyed talking the entire time.

Today, like all days since the birth of our daughter, we rise around 6:30 a.m. (there is no such thing as summer vacation when you are a parent---at least not the summer vac. you remember! It still can be a very rewarding time though). Gina has decided to make me the official poop master this summer. Sometimes she'll treat her mother to a sloppy deposit, but for the most part she will give me one small deposit---then total eruption in the next diaper. Today's blowout came right as I was finishing a turkey sandwich. Sort of prevents me from overeating I suppose.

One of the few trips we made in the morning was to Menards to see if they had my patio block, sand and gravel in. They told me it would be there approx. two days ago. Today they said it was not in yet. The associate said she was going to shoot an e-mail out to see when it was coming in next. Really agressive tracking, eh? I will give this another day or so before getting on the horn again. While I was there I ordered a playscape complete with swings, slides, climbing wall and rings. I finally saw the playscape from a child's perspective. My previous idea had me playing with my kids all over the playscape. This current model is more kid size for most of the equipment. I hope we are able to put it to good use and doesn't sit in the yard like a seldom used pop-up trailer/RV/boat.

My daughter wakes from her afternoon nap...

Appreciating the crawl...

This summer seems rushed. Only about a month left until I get teaching again. Watching my nearly 11 mo. old daughter for the entire summer has been rewarding, exhausting, frustrating, comedic, and wonderful. I don't know where I'd been without her tired laughs or painful pinches when she is trying to sleep.

Yesterday, my wife and I had the chance to witness a spirited crawl out of Gina. She seemed to spring it upon us like a horse out of the starting block, or our dog zinging after a tennis ball. Soon she will be asking to borrow the car and stop telling her how to dress. I'm glad we've caught a lot of moments in pictures and a few videos ... (Well, I am adding on to this post two days later with another report: Gina is really moving around without hesitation! Her favorite toys to get her to crawl are the newspaper/receipts/any paper really--- and the TV remote. We took the batteries out of the older remote that turns on/off the TV. She can keep herself pretty busy scootin' across the floor!) Gina has also discovered coins---so, for those of you that know me---I have to be keeping better track of my loose change!

I do not wish to make too many videos, mind you. My wife has made sure I take brief videos using my digital camera. Neither one of us want to be plopped in front of a TV watching hours of the same scene while life is all around us. Of course a few vids can add up to a lot over time---so we shall see...

This week Jill's Uncle helped me put in some clothes poles. Next project will be burying downspout drains that will disperse the water farther from the house. I need the drainage from the house to occur farther away due to the planned patio. The patio shall have 351 pavers, about 390 bags of gravel and 92 bags of sand. OHHHHH BOY! I hope to get quite a few things done around the house before the fall college course and teaching resumes. August will surely go quick. This is why it is important to not squander the days by waking up late on any day.

Today (Tuesday, July 29th) I was able to get out of the house with Gina and Mara by 8am for a walk in the cooler air. I have been trying to stick to at least a walk a day this summer. Mara still was able to gulp down water during 2 breaks on the walk that last over an hour. I have combined this light exercise with a diet that includes eating at home. I have had the Bocca breakfast burrito for my last two breakfasts. I have ate lunch at home consistently as well. The car actually stayed in the garage all day!

A Breezy Sunday!

This morning started by getting Mara up and outside and into her morning routine. It was a little weird having Jill and Gina up at the cottage yesterday and this morning. I had all the freedom yet felt a little lonely.

I took Mara out on about an hour and a half walk west on Dice. It was our longest walk on road yet. Mara's ears were flappin' in the wind gusts. We were walking into it the entire time. Mouth got dry quick. This time I brought enough water for both of us. Saw a groundhog crossing the road ahead of us--before Fordney. I've been seeing some form of wildlife each time we go out---no matter what time of day---COOL! Would have made it a round tripper if Jill and I didn't want to go to McDonald's Nursery to get an Ann Magnolia tree to put in the front yard. I can't wait to see the purple/pink/white flowers blooming in May.

A lot of projects lay ahead---with the new school year coming near. Gotta get in the patio. Before that I have to redirect some downspout drains and put them into the ground and have them come out somewhere that will be nice for me and my neighbor.

Tomorrow Mom and I may go blueberry picking---giving Gina her first experience. Dad saw a bluebird in front of our yard yesterday. Amazing eyesight!!!

Almost time for bed.
G'nite!

7-09-08

Last night was a special treat. Saw lightning bugs for the first time in many years. Can't remember the last time I saw them. Perhaps I was in my early teens up at Rifle River Recreation in Rose City? Anyway, I believe these flying light bulbs are the best forms of fireworks. No messy clean-up or toxic air born byproducts.

Gina, Mara and I usually go on a morning walk together each day. Today was Jill's day off. She went to a hair appt. and had her sister watch Gina. So, for a few hours it was just Mara and I. I decided to go out just past 1pm and take her on a walk down the road. Down our road there is very little cover. There was a breeze but the sun was beating down on us. The road had just been covered with the tar and stone treatment. I was careful when there was oncoming traffic. Didn't want to catch a pebble to the eye by the cars passing swiftly bye. Anyway, Mar and I walked for over 2 hrs. and went about 5 1/2 miles. On the way back I was sharing my water with her. Mara layed down at the few shady spots during our walk. I thought she wasn't going to get up at the second stop. I promised her lots of ice water when we got back. I coaxed her to "find mommy at home." This last statement worked well. She thrust herself in the space ahead, pushing the slack out the leash once more.

I can still feel the rays of the sun on me.
Mara got a bone tonight.

Until next time...

Saturday's walk...

Instead of drinkin' beer and wastin' away the days on the Independence Holiday (surely our founding father's intentions----that and blowin' the hell out of massive quantities of gunpowder in the night sky) I decided to walk around the cottage lake 4 time. A nice 20 minute walk at home before we left for the cottage (and a large cup of McDonald's coffee) got me perked up for some more walkin. One lap around the lake is a about 2.5 miles. Yesterday, I decided to complete 4 laps with my dog. After each lap I would unleash Mara and watch her plunge into the clear water *clearness courtesy of weekly chemical treatments accepted by the property owners around the lake)

Each time around the lake yielded a different perspective. For instance, I was able to form a better count of the crushed turtles, birds and cat alonside the road on my multiple laps. I also observed nature's delicate balance with its surrounding environment with the presence of 2 swans and a family of geese off in a section of the man made lake that was less travelled. The first two laps were completed while the lake had quiet hours. Once they were over a swarm of boats, tubes and jetski's took over. The constant hum of man's machines remains constant until around dinner time of about 5pm. Then people go out for a last hurrah before the 7:30pm mandated quiet hours. Everyone follows this time really well. No need to enforce it really.

Makes me wonder why people shoot off their fireworks until about 2 in the morning...

We brought along my wife's 96 year old Great Aunt Martha. She's in the process of moving out of her apartment into an assisted living community. The loss of indepence further contributes to her depression. However, when she is not having a down moment, she is very alert for a person her age. The entire ride up and down she spoke about growing up on a farm, working for a hotel in Washington D.C., hiking the Appalachian Mts. going to the west coast, Panama, Flordia and many other places...

Zoo visit

The Saginaw Zoo had many nice features. I went with the wife and Gina and Mom and Dad. Hadn't been there since I was a kid. Many nice exhibits, however, Some of the animals looked older and dishoveled, such as the wolf. The sea otters looked comfortable in their straw filled den.

Many new features such as a brick walkway and many flower gardens sponsored by the community. The train is up and running, having just put in a newer track. Still is looking to purchase a newer engine through donations.

Entry was only 7 dollars per person. Our baby was free.

Just another place to go in the tri cities that doesn't involve fireworks or beer.

What the 4th is gonna be like...

Loud fireworks shooting over the lake,
making the indigenous wildlife quake.

A spent flare shell,
falls to earth in this man made temporary hell.
All well.
Peace shall reign again in another spell.

We shall only be going up to the day to honor in-law's anniversary and to meet and greet friends and relatives. The last time we went up was last weekend. I walked around the lake. A few loud motorboats later I went on another walk. Mara and I were getting some good exercise. The second walk was cut short by some rain clouds. Got to see them coming in from a distance---over the hilly open field.

Brother and sister in law got a nice dog from a breeder in Grand Rapids. A breeder in Grand Rapids had a dog for my brother and sister in law. They couldn't get the dog right away because the breeder said one of the dogs in the litter had Parvo. So the breeder had to hold onto the pup for a while. The dog is goofy and small. The pup's name is Miles.

Gina got all sandy toppling down and out, down and on, or floppin' her shovel full of sand onto her face. Not once did she complain. I thought the 3rd time of tumbling out of the box would get her pissed. I should make a note of this and apply this behavior to many things in my life,eh?

The summer is going by fast. My online course is off to a good start.

The summer is going by fast. Gina is growin' more and more teeth. Gina will be ten months old this month. While on her tummy she pushes herself backward. We are still waiting on the crawling forward part. Gina is fascinated by hats.

May 23rd...

Is our closing date on the house we are currently living in and the house we are buying. We will be "renting" the house we are in now in order to slowly move our items to the new house.

In the meantime, I am taking a graduate level night course that meets twice a week. I am also in what may be called "hell weeks" in my teaching job. Everyone is getting antsy over the end of the school year. Some probally don't wanna go back to full time living where they are living. Others need to not see people from the class for a while before they really start missing them again. I will be missing them all. I sometimes find it hard to leave my students' issues at school since that should never be done if one is truly considerate.

Gas is up to 3.99 here in Michigan. If anyone is reading this blog you may look at this price and compare. I am happy that I will be driving half the distance I drive now to get to work once we move.

Once this summer begins I will be finishing up my spring course and will be getting ready for my summer online course. I will also be watching our baby girl for the entire day until Jill gets home. Should be a real fine time to bond with the babe.
That's all for now folks....

Mara is growing up...

Mara laid by the bed a few minutes ago while Jill read in bed. I think she may do well enough to have her little area in our bedroom when we move in a few weeks. Just giving her a daily routine of walks and ball fetching mellows her out. I cannot imagine the households that have active dogs and stressed out humans that are finding it hard to make ends meet. I cannot imagine the dogs being given up due to crunches in funds because of the rising costs of everything. I think I would force myself to form a budget, give up going out to eat, not purchasing cable, getting rid of Netflix---and whatever else I would have to give up.

Mara is one of the best dogs I've ever come across. She is turing into a wonderful walker. All the healing commands and tugs on the leash are starting to pay off!



I like the mild temps right now. Summer can wait. Soon it will be here and everyone will be wishing for temps like today!

The Ranconteurs

If anyone is a fan of Jack White, you must have this group's work. White joins a few other chaps in layin' down some fine music that may not get played on the radio because of its versatility.

On another plus note: This group is fine to listen to when making a half hour commutes with no variances.

cheers....

$3.75 slugs

Three seventy five,
We're all still alive,
talking to our television screen,
not knowing what inflation or recession means.

Just gimme my cell phone and Tim Horton's please,
before the entire world is brought to its knees.

I'm beggin' you please,
to lower the cost of gas by burning trees

So I can watch my neighbor bark out this decree:
Nobody has the right to charge me the extra fee!

I have the right to drink beer and watch TV
while the corn I use goes into my tank instead of mouths--- please!

Flowers bloom amist the gloom...

My tulips are just blooming.
My grandmother's started blooming last week---a day after she passed away from this earth. Her garden earth was sprinkled on the concrete top over her casket by the ones who were close to her. She was very close in all of our hearts. Grandma Alice was on this earth for 84 years. Always a person to show us humility, ultimately teaching us about humanity. I still cannot come close to the cheerful greetings she would apply to each phone answer or as a loved on walked through the back door to the house grandma and grandpa resided in.

She will be missed.

This earthly life that leaves us all,
we are forever shaped into something tall.
Lasting memories of the departed recalled often,
overcoming grief does not easily soften.
Hour by hour, day by day,
some of us look forward to a warmer May.
Newly grown grass gleeming on the grave,
trying to keep moving in order to be brave.


Life is moving very fast around here. We have sold our house to an incoming resident for family practice here in Midland. So, we didn't even put it on the market. We sold it after 2 looks. That was a pleasant experience. Jill and I are looking our top 3 houses in Saginaw this weekend. Living closer to work will cut down on the driving time and cost (currently 3.67 I believe?) Things will become more interesting if gas goes over 4 dollars a gallon. We are also finishing up the remodeling job concerning our bathroom. It is looking nice and bright!

My beautiful sister is going to be a teacher/conselor at an all girl's school in Vermont for the summer. She hopes to hang around there after the summer gig is done.

Mara is working off her winter blubber. We have enjoyed temp's in the 70's. Mara's tongue seems long enough to snare the smog out of the air in our nation's bigger cities (happy earth day everyone!)

Gina is trying green beans, squash,and bannanas to go along with her oatmeal and cereal. We have been putting her to sleep around 8pm (very nice!) The days are longer, and the sleepy lookin' skies just before night looks very inviting. Too bad we have to drop into the upper 50's coming up soon.

Peace.

Injured Dog...

Just over a week ago my wife and I took the baby and dog over her uncles to help her mother do a little cleaning out of the house. Her mother, or my wife's grandmother, passed away not even a year ago, and still had many things in the household that had not been touched due to the strong emotions associated with such materials. Well, we arrived earlier in the morning on a sunny day. We let Mara have the back yard, although we knew she would sooner or later start barking for attention. Sure enough, within minutes she was yappin. What followed was unexpected. During her yippin' and yappin Mara did the usual hop onto the back door. Well, this door had a glass, instead of plastic, panel to it. It shattered, cutting her front paw. We were all concerned. We took her to the emergency vet. They told us it wasn't too deep, and that they could sedate her and glue her foot up. The vet provided a soft blanket for Mara to curl up on, because the sedatives would work pretty well. What followed gave me a brief glimpse on what Mara would look like in old age. She got really lethargic and slowly sunk to the floor. She wouldn't get up until the next day--basically. On one hand, my heart was stricken because I saw how frail she seemed with all the energy zapped from beneath her feet. On the other hand, I was glad everyone involved could have a rest. Mara's down time didn't last for long. Now, over a week later, she is still healing that paw. We have changed the bandages numerous times. We have kept her from licking it. We've let her foot air out at night (then she licks it). It is still bleeding a bit and has my wife and I worried. We're gonna give it a few more days of her mopin' around the house because she can't be out blazin' a trail.
Until next time...

Snowed in...

Took a little longer tonight getting the driveway cleared off. The snowblower was not working (Have used it about 3 times--BRAND NEW!) Ok, ok, so I snow blow half a block of sidewalk after hitting up the pavement from my house and my neighbors---Everyone seems to be liking it. During the last snow storm a guy on the corner came up to me and said he and his wife had been calling me the phantom snowblower since they would wake up to find their sidewalk done without knowing who did the work. He seemed like a decent spud. He had a cig dangling from his fingers. So did the younger guy with him (maybe his son?)

No school tomorrow means just getting to bed soon at midnight. I spent about 3 or so hours off and on clearing the driveway of snow. Glad I still had some shovels in the garage that were not broken.

THe kids I teach were picked up early today. The smallest child who just turned 7 was having such a good day he got to make cupcakes. He had frosting on his face for the entire school day. Nobody was acting too hyper today--

I still needed a fair amount of coffee to get the day going.

Maybe I'll strap on my snowshoes and plunk around in the park across the street tomorrow. Hopefully the guys responsible for fixing the snowblo will be able to come to the house tomorrow...

Beautiful Gina

Gina's growing up so fast. She is almost 5 months. She has grown out of many of her outfits that are rated until 6months. She will be starting rice cereal soon. This'll mean more interesting blow outs in the diapers of course. Had the pleasure of having a number 2 soaker through her garments onto my hands. All well. Its all for the smiles like the one in this pic--and for the many more joyful moments she'll give us.

Peace!