Garage Sale

It's been another week already. Summer is going by fast.

I spent part of last weekend and some of this week getting a few prints ready for entry into the Iowa State Fair photography contest. I am entering four prints this year (the max is four). Three are hand printed traditional black & white prints. The fourth is a digital capture, printed by Adorama (http://www.adoramapix.com/). I had them print it on Kodak Endura paper. I've never used the paper, but it is fabulous. It gives the images a slight metallic look. Very cool. Adorama does a great job printing digital files, if you're into that. Much better than I can do at home. Sometimes they're cheap too. They were running a special earlier this week for 4x6's for $.10 each. I uploaded 113 of them and paid something like $16 for 113 4x6 prints. And they're all printed well. I will try to get the fair prints scanned, so that you can see what I'm entering. They're due this weekend, but it will be a few weeks before I find out if I win anything. They always have thousands of entries, so the competition is tough. Wish me luck.

Cambridge is having the city wide garage sale tomorrow. Angie has been getting that ready all week. It looks like a lot of work. Madeline and I made muffins and brownies tonight, for Madeline to sell to shopper tomorrow.

Alex has two more softball games left next week, and that's done.

The baby birds are growing fast and should be flying soon.

We are going to a wedding in Illinois next weekend. The flower girl from our wedding is getting married. Makes us feel old.

Have a great weekend,

Peace-
Matt

Wow, I can't believe it's been a week already since I last posted. A lot has happened in a week.

A friend of the family passed away last week. I remember the first time I met Phil Kellogg. I had just started dating Angie and was going over to Phil's house to meet him for the first time. It was dark out and everyone was out on the back deck. I walked right through his screen door and broke it. I was so embarassed. Phil was a great man and will be missed by many.

My godson, Jack Wicker and his twin sister Sarah turned 4 this week. I went to Wicker's house for a birthday party on Tuesday night. I had to go solo because Abby & Madeline were at vacation bible school, Alex was at Catholic Youth Camp for the week, and Angie was at Phil's visitation service.

Abby & Madeline had vacation bible school at our church Monday through Thursday nights. They had a lot of fun. I went over on Thursday to watch them sing their songs. Very cute.

I picked Alex up from camp yesterday. The new addition at the center is great. I hope they take care of it. The fall after Robby died, Angie & I & some close friends and family went up to the center and built a swingset in memory of Robby. We put a little sign on it with his name and dates. Angie bought a new sign to replace the old one, as it was getting pretty bad. I replaced it yesterday when I picked Alex up. That's what you see above.

The longest day of 2007 took place this week. It's summer now I guess.

I took a walk last night. The sky was amazing. It was about 8:30 at night. It was lightly sprinkling. The low sun and thin storm clouds made the whole land glow in yellow light. The sky to the southeast was violet, and there was a big bright rainbow. I couldn't believe how beautiful it was. I watch the sky a lot, and this was one of the best I've seen.

Tomorrow is Father Mike's last mass with us. I get to lector, which is cool. We have a church picnic tomorrow afternoon to say goodbye to him.

Talk to you later.

Peace-
Matt

Last Hit

Here's Madeline's last hit from her last t-ball game this year. It was very hot at the game with no shade around. They called it after about 35 minutes. Fine with us.

Talk to you later.

Matt

Happy Father's Day

Today is Madeline's last softball game. I'm glad about that.

This is the new water tower that is being built just outside of town. We are all wondering what color they will paint it. We're hoping it will be Ballard Bomber red.

The shed is torn down and the dumpster is full (for the most part). It should get picked up today. It's nice to have all of the accumulated construction trash out of here.

We have a family of swallows (I think that's what they are) that have built a mud nest under our front porch. The babies just hatched a couple of days ago. The mom & dad are working their tails off getting food all day.

Happy Father's Day to all of you dads out there, especially mine. Our lives would be a mess without you. Thank you.

Peace-
Matt

Spring Cleaning

I had the first weigh in/goal setting meeting today. I weigh about 6lbs less than I thought I did, so I have less to lose to meet my goal. I start in tomorrow full bore.

We are getting a dumpster delivered tomorrow. A guy in town works for the waste management company, and is getting us a deal. We have a LOT of shit in the garage and basement that has been accumulating from all of the construction/home remodel projects that I do around here. We're getting rid of that stuff and tearing down a shed in the backyard (the one that the trees were laying on after the ice storm), before the insurance man gives me another warning.

It's hot and humid today. I think I'll stay inside.

Peace-
Matt

Kick Off

The company I work for hired a registered dietitian to come give some classes on nutrition and how to eat well. The classes were popular (free lunches) and well attended. They decided to hire the lady back to give her "Healthy Living" 8 week class. I am one of about 16 that signed up for the class. Tomorrow is my initial "assessment" with the teacher. The goal of the class is learn to eat better, start actually doing it, lose weight, and get into an exercise routine. The dietitian will be preparing personalized meal plans for all of us. We will have a class each Monday for eight weeks, and will have a private weigh in each week. The class will cost me only $60, which is a great deal I think, especially since I'll get quite a bit of personal instruction. I'll get $30 back if I meet my goals, which I'll set tomorrow. I'm excited about this. Wish me luck.

Peace-
Matt

Inevitable

Today was the second to last Sunday homily that our pastor, Fr. Mike, will give at our church. Next Sunday is his last with us. He has been reassigned to Holy Trinity in Des Moines. Fr. Mike has been our pastor since with first moved up here in 1998. We really like him a lot and are very attached to him. Fr. Bob Harris, the new guy, has big shoes to fill.

Jubilee weekend was ok. I'm glad it's over. We had friends up last night, and I was up past midnight for the second night in a row. I'm beat.

Peace-
Matt

Bonfire

Alex had her first real "party" last night. After the teen dance at the fire station, she had a bunch of friends over for loud music, smores, soda pop, and sillyness. These are the last few days of her innocence I'm afraid. FUCK.

The Jubilee parade starts in a couple of hours. Both Abby and Madeline will be riding on floats (trucks) of some sort with their softball teams. This will be the first year that Angie and I won't have a little one watching the parade with us.

More later

Peace-
Matt

Jubilee

Big weekend coming up. The Cambridge Jubilee happens in town this weekend. We'll have a parade, street dances, truck pulls, pig kissing contest, carnival ride, etc. I hope the weather is good. I like a little of it, but the kids love it all. The parade starts right out in front of our house. We always have the best spot for that.

Softball is still in full swing. School is out. I just spent $185 for groceries. They'll probably be gone in less than a week. Summer break is damn expensive.

Have a good week!

Peace-
Matt