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July 30, 2006
Thoughts on Lebanon
We have a family in our church in which the husband is from Lebanon. I asked him today about his opinion of all that is going on there and has been for some time and then I just listened. After listening for about 15 minutes, I walked back to my seat(time for Sunday School at that point) with the realization that I know very little about the players in that situation over there. Over here, we read our papers or our websites, watch the news and listen to the radio and figure we know all that is going on there, but we don't. Things just aren't that simple, and it's frustrating...it should be so easy as the way my kids look at things: "Just tell me who the good guy is and the bad guy is dad". Well, what do you tell them when we support people that don't support our overall interests this year but we thought they did 10 years ago? Or when we support the leader of a country but the people abhor us.? I know that the world isn't so simple anymore, probably it never really was, but how did it ever get so messed up?
Sorry...just babbling.
Posted by james at 10:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Just looking?
After church today, we went to "look" at a house in our neighborhood that is a larger one than the one we live in. We really thought we were simply there just to look, but once we saw the size of it and the layout...well, we liked it. So, dad is in "search" mode for the best home loan and how to roll any extra costs in(like taking in the porch and making it part of the kitchen/dining room). Let that be a lesson to you guys...see what happens when you "just go look"! Okay, so I'm kidding, I like the house alot too. I just wish I could make another room majically appear on the ground floor because I happen to like the master bedroom which Candice feels is perfectly setup for a schoolroom/guestroom/playroom. I think I've already lost that argument since the point of mom and kids going up and down the stairs all day long is one that I don't really have a great answer for...great exercise notwithstanding of course.
Anyway, we'll see...trying not to get ahead of ourselves, although we have already called one friend whose expressed interest in our house in the past and another is being contacted by the sister of the homeowner at whose house we want...so we'll see in that regard.
Posted by james at 09:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
The kids are back!
It's amazing how much we miss the munchkins when they're gone. My folks took them to Shlitterbahn last week and they all had a great time. The kids are ready to go back, of course, and are all now resident experts on the waterpark. I'm impressed that my parents were able to hang in there with them from the time the park opened until it closed!
The house sounds normal again, it was way too quiet.
Posted by james at 08:13 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 26, 2006
Burying pets
One of my neighbors called me yesterday and told me her dog had died and would I help her bury him. I said of course and went over today to help. First, we haven't had a lot of rain recently and the ground is HARD. Second, he is a BIG DOG...like 100#. Well, it took me 2 hours to dig the hole and that was using a shovel and a pickaxe. We brought him over and placed him in the hole, covered him with lyme and filled the hole in. As I was walking away, I found myself wondering...what happens to pets when they die? My kids have asked me this before as well, but I'm not sure I really know. Do any of you?
Posted by james at 08:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 25, 2006
Okay, one more real quick
If you have kids, you remember the diaper stage. Well, I'm sitting here studying when Jesse Lee begins telling me with his various grunts and sounds that he is making a deposit in the local diaper bank...a big deposit. I mean, I know he was groaning and 'mmmppphhhh'ng" and making incredibly funny faces, but really-where does all that come from? He's not THAT big! And the smile on his face as I change him. It's almost like, "What do you think of that dad? Not bad huh? All for you!"
Nice kid...man that stinks.
Posted by james at 10:15 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
I'm back...I think
I'm amazed how busy I have become. I'm actually typing this in between showering and studying for another appraisal quiz so it's going to be very short. Candice and I have the week to ourselves because my folks came and got the kids yesterday and are taking them to Deadwood and then to Schlitterbahn(sp?). The kids are EXTREMELY EXCITED. I'm jealous...that's supposed to be the most incredible water park anywhere...as hot as it is right now, man, that would be welcomed.
Where have I been? Working, plain and simple. If I wasn't sleeping, I was mowing or cleaning offices or working on something at one of the offices or buying stuff for the offices. I've had very few less than 12 or 15 hour days so I'm really looking forward to the appraisal business. That means I need to go study else I won't be doing any appraising training...
Posted by james at 10:03 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack