This weekend was very relaxing. After the week we all had it was nice to take it easy. I kinda worked at my own pace. On Saturday I had to wmw the lawn at the church and mowed ours as well.
Sunday-church in the morning and resting/lounging in the afternoon. In the evening we went to Steve and Linda's for Daniel's birthday party. We entered their house at the end of a church potluck and ice cream social. It was a little awkward because we don't go to their church. The family party was nice.
Tonight we had a Parent Meeting at Vista. I think I was placed in charge of this group. We are organizing to become a PTA. We had a great group of parents and staff at this evening's meeting. I have been concerned about the parking event this weekend. It requires about 20 people, we have an average of 13. The last minute push is on................
Weather today was incredible! 93 degrees and beautiful. It is suppose to be like this throughout the weekend.
-Norm
Monday, September 25, 2006
Friday, September 22, 2006
What A Busy Week!
This has been an incredibly busy week. Monday evening involved two meetings, Site Council and Parent Forum. At both of these meetings I pushed parking cars at the Monster Truck Nationals. I hope we have enough people each night.
Most of the activity was centered around the local Business Expo which happened yesterday. A design and booth building excerise I take on each year. This year I was/am a little more pressed for time so it was definately last minute. The theme was "building blocks". I spent time painting boxes to look like concrete bricks for our backdrop. I then applied pictures of our client engaged in work. We arrived prior to the expo to set up. It came together as planned. The various types of assembly/packaging products we have done were placed on the "block" boxes. We also added video projection of pictures and people on the various crews we have. We received many compliments. I am glad to be done.
Tonight, Hope has her first Junior High/Middle School dance. We will be chaperons. I have been kidding her all week about embarrasing her. I wouldn't do that to her. I think this evening will be fun. Tina and I will both be guarding the troops. Following this evenings activity I am going to rest, rest, rest.
Weather today, I had to drive the car to work (instead of the scooter) due to heavy winds. It is a very blustery day and near 85 degrees.
-Norm
Most of the activity was centered around the local Business Expo which happened yesterday. A design and booth building excerise I take on each year. This year I was/am a little more pressed for time so it was definately last minute. The theme was "building blocks". I spent time painting boxes to look like concrete bricks for our backdrop. I then applied pictures of our client engaged in work. We arrived prior to the expo to set up. It came together as planned. The various types of assembly/packaging products we have done were placed on the "block" boxes. We also added video projection of pictures and people on the various crews we have. We received many compliments. I am glad to be done.
Tonight, Hope has her first Junior High/Middle School dance. We will be chaperons. I have been kidding her all week about embarrasing her. I wouldn't do that to her. I think this evening will be fun. Tina and I will both be guarding the troops. Following this evenings activity I am going to rest, rest, rest.
Weather today, I had to drive the car to work (instead of the scooter) due to heavy winds. It is a very blustery day and near 85 degrees.
-Norm
Sunday, September 17, 2006
What's Been Going On Lately
I finally did it. Since we first got the internet I had put an extension cord from a plug-in the back bedroom to our family room. This worked for a while and would occasionally cut out due to moisture. With our recent purchase of a laptop and DSL we needed another connection in the family room. I climbed up into the attic, hardwired the connection, cut a hole in the wall, installed a box and hooked up the receptical. It works great! Until this was done the laptop had been sitting on the dining room table. Now we sit in the family room surf the net and watch t.v. all at the same time. This is great!
We still have the interactive equipment for sale. We are selling a boxing ring, sumo suits, and the human gyro. People have expressed interest in all three. It will be great to have this chapter of our life done. I think we have found buyers for the gyro and boxing ring.
I have started my job search in Tennessee. We are all leaning toward Knoxville. I am getting excited about moving. We are going to have to sell our home which means getting it ready to sell. There isn't much to do except minor things on the house itself and alot of stuff in the backyard.
Weather today: It has cooled down alot! Temperatures have been in the mid 80's. It has been real windy in the evenings on the ride home. Wind combined with big semi trucks while riding a lightweight motorcycle are not a good combo.
but ya gotta love this weather!!!!!!!!
-Norm
We still have the interactive equipment for sale. We are selling a boxing ring, sumo suits, and the human gyro. People have expressed interest in all three. It will be great to have this chapter of our life done. I think we have found buyers for the gyro and boxing ring.
I have started my job search in Tennessee. We are all leaning toward Knoxville. I am getting excited about moving. We are going to have to sell our home which means getting it ready to sell. There isn't much to do except minor things on the house itself and alot of stuff in the backyard.
Weather today: It has cooled down alot! Temperatures have been in the mid 80's. It has been real windy in the evenings on the ride home. Wind combined with big semi trucks while riding a lightweight motorcycle are not a good combo.
but ya gotta love this weather!!!!!!!!
-Norm
Friday, September 08, 2006
More Hip Than We Know We Are......
The following story appeared on the Yahoo News Service today......
US drivers hop on scooters to dodge rising gas prices
by Virginie Montet
Mon Sep 4, 7:03 PM ET
WASHINGTON (AFP) - With rising gas prices an increasing number of US drivers have hopped on scooters, long a favorite in parts of the world familiar with pricey gasoline.
Karl Levithan, retired at 55, tools around the Washington suburbs on his silver Vespa from April to November while the weather is agreeable.
"Sometimes, less is more," he said, noting that fuel is often more than three dollars per gallon (3.8 liter) now. "Americans should think about more efficient means of transportation."
Scooters get a whopping 60 to 80 miles (97 to 129 kilometers) per gallon of gas compared to fuel hungry cars which average 20 miles (32 kilometers).
This year is set to mark a record in scooter sales although the streets are far from resembling traffic in Milan.
"The big markets are urban markets, vacation destinations and college towns," said Mike Mount, spokesman for the Motorcycle Industry Council.
According to the industry group, 113,000 scooters were sold in 2005, up 18 percent from the year before.
The market is led by Japanese makers Honda and Yamaha, but storied Italian brand Vespa from Piaggio, which was pulled from the market in 1985 because of pollution problems, made a big splash went it was reintroduced in 2000 with retro looking models.
The maker has 180 stores around the country with the most sales in the cities of New York, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle on the Pacific coast, and Dallas, Texas, according to Piaggio Americas spokeswoman Kathleen Reynolds.
Randy Campbell opened a shop in Dallas three years ago and will open a second in a few weeks in near-by Fort Worth, Texas.
"The more you see them riding the more they are gaining popularity," he said. He said his clients are mostly between the ages of 35 and 55 and that 40 percent or more are women. Half are buying the scooters, which sell for between 3,000 and 4,000 dollars, for pleasure, a quarter for economy and "some for the hip-cool."
Suburban rider Levithan agreed that the look helped.
"The more retro it is, the better it is," he said. He added that scooters are "more socially accepted" than motorcycles. "People smile at it."
The service manager at Campbell's university-town store, Rian Sumner, also noted that riders skew older.
"More professors are riding them than students who get big cars with air conditioning," he said.
But in Washington, where gasoline is more expensive than in Texas, prices are driving scooters' popularity, according to Gerry Helfgott, an Italian who opened a Vespa store in the nation's capital.
However, two wheels cannot replace four and Campbell said few of his customers use scooters as their only mode of transport.
But, he said, "a few customers replace their second car with a scooter."
The northwest city of Boise, Idaho, has only 200,000 residents but Valery Aker sells about 20 scooters per month at her two-year-old shop.
"The more people see them, the more they like the idea," she said. "And they are fun."
US drivers hop on scooters to dodge rising gas prices
by Virginie Montet
Mon Sep 4, 7:03 PM ET
WASHINGTON (AFP) - With rising gas prices an increasing number of US drivers have hopped on scooters, long a favorite in parts of the world familiar with pricey gasoline.
Karl Levithan, retired at 55, tools around the Washington suburbs on his silver Vespa from April to November while the weather is agreeable.
"Sometimes, less is more," he said, noting that fuel is often more than three dollars per gallon (3.8 liter) now. "Americans should think about more efficient means of transportation."
Scooters get a whopping 60 to 80 miles (97 to 129 kilometers) per gallon of gas compared to fuel hungry cars which average 20 miles (32 kilometers).
This year is set to mark a record in scooter sales although the streets are far from resembling traffic in Milan.
"The big markets are urban markets, vacation destinations and college towns," said Mike Mount, spokesman for the Motorcycle Industry Council.
According to the industry group, 113,000 scooters were sold in 2005, up 18 percent from the year before.
The market is led by Japanese makers Honda and Yamaha, but storied Italian brand Vespa from Piaggio, which was pulled from the market in 1985 because of pollution problems, made a big splash went it was reintroduced in 2000 with retro looking models.
The maker has 180 stores around the country with the most sales in the cities of New York, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle on the Pacific coast, and Dallas, Texas, according to Piaggio Americas spokeswoman Kathleen Reynolds.
Randy Campbell opened a shop in Dallas three years ago and will open a second in a few weeks in near-by Fort Worth, Texas.
"The more you see them riding the more they are gaining popularity," he said. He said his clients are mostly between the ages of 35 and 55 and that 40 percent or more are women. Half are buying the scooters, which sell for between 3,000 and 4,000 dollars, for pleasure, a quarter for economy and "some for the hip-cool."
Suburban rider Levithan agreed that the look helped.
"The more retro it is, the better it is," he said. He added that scooters are "more socially accepted" than motorcycles. "People smile at it."
The service manager at Campbell's university-town store, Rian Sumner, also noted that riders skew older.
"More professors are riding them than students who get big cars with air conditioning," he said.
But in Washington, where gasoline is more expensive than in Texas, prices are driving scooters' popularity, according to Gerry Helfgott, an Italian who opened a Vespa store in the nation's capital.
However, two wheels cannot replace four and Campbell said few of his customers use scooters as their only mode of transport.
But, he said, "a few customers replace their second car with a scooter."
The northwest city of Boise, Idaho, has only 200,000 residents but Valery Aker sells about 20 scooters per month at her two-year-old shop.
"The more people see them, the more they like the idea," she said. "And they are fun."
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
I Forgot To Add.....
when we came home yesterday from JF we walked into the house to find the dog had somehow opened the back door. He had been running amuck for three days! The playroom was cluttered with the stuffing of Grace's American Girl doll. A pair of shoes were history. Later, Grace came in saying "I don't think he likes me". She was holding her other doll that also had the insides ripped out. When we went into our bedroom-Mitchell had spent a great deal of time there. The sheets were shredded and had to be thrown away. He also wet on our bed. I could have hurt him!!!!
Last night, Tina suggested that we watch a movie she had rented "Pay It Forward". It is based on a school assignment given to a student where he is to come up with a way to change the world. I really liked it! I am not going to tell you any more about it, but highly suggest viewing this film. It is diffinately worth the watch.
-Norm
Last night, Tina suggested that we watch a movie she had rented "Pay It Forward". It is based on a school assignment given to a student where he is to come up with a way to change the world. I really liked it! I am not going to tell you any more about it, but highly suggest viewing this film. It is diffinately worth the watch.
-Norm
JoshFest-Summer Camp For Families!
We returned yesterday from Joshua Fest in Quincy. It was a great weekend filled great concerts, ministry and family time. We arrived late on Friday evening, just before 10:00 Pm. Our goal was to see Skillet. They were scheduled to play at 10:00. We had a previous goal of seeing Family Force 5 at 7:15 but didn't make it (bummer!). The JoshFest staff does an amazing job! They allowed us to park our car out front and unload following the concert. Then they transported all our stuff via golfcarts to our campsite. We set up camp in a horsebarn. It was nice except the mosquitoes. We lived with them.
Skillet was great!
Saturday morning included a Praise and Worship service and getting acclimated to our surroundings. The afternoon lineup was incredible! Transistor Radio,
The Finalists-I had never heard this group before. They were good.
I needed a shower so I missed Paul Wright.
Krystal Meyers-
Dizmas-These guys also do a great concert! I have seen them the past three years.
Falling Up-I enjoy this band.
Hawk Nelson-This has to be our family's favorite. We were allowed into the Youth Pastor's interview session. These guys are great musicians who happen to be Christians. I love good, fun, positive music.
Pillar-Their first time at this festival. I didn't really know what to expect. I did not walk away disappointed. Their drummer was awesome!
Sunday began with Praise and Worship that was truely annointed and the message "Who's Your Daddy". It was a great time of being together with so many different family members from so many different churches and areas.
EverStaysRed-a personal favorite of mine. They have a new cd coming out in October, can't wait to get it!
Inhabited- I hadn't heard of this band either. They have a female lead singer.
Storyside B-
Disciple-
Project 86-
Seventh Day Slumber-I had only heard their music on the radio. I kept finding myself thinking "oh they did that song...". As part of their concert the lead singer Joseph shared his testimony. What an incredible time of ministry. The Holy Spirit was there walking and working among us. Whew!
Thousand Foot Krutch-These guys never disappoint. A great way to end an incredible festival.
Hats off to Aaron, Chris and the whole crew who put JFest together. Also all the bands for their hearts and desire to minister to people.
Weather today-101 degrees and clear today. The mornings are staying cooler longer. It was alittle chilly on the ride in today.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Joshua Fest Is Today!!!
Well, it's finally here! We leave for JF this afternoon and will be seeing some of the greatest Christian alternative bands in existance. I purchased four new sleeping bags because it gets a little chilly up there in the hills. I am really looking forward to seeing Skillet tonight. Tina went and saw them in Paradise some time ago. Dizmas is also a must see this weekend. Also on the list is Hawk Nelson, Falling Up, Pillar and Thousand Foot Krutch.
On another note, this was Open House week. On Wednesday evening we attended Vista. What a great evening. Alot of parents were there and alot of energy was in the air. We were very concerned and even scared about Hope attending this school. She seems happy and is enjoying it. We really enjoyed meeting Hope's teachers. I think she will do well.
On Thursday evening we attended Jackson Heights' Open House. I love this school and the staff. We have invested much time into making it a great place to send our children. Last night was the first time I'd been on campus since school started. Tina and I really like Grace's teacher, but then again they're all good!
It is time to go and get the Fest started. See you Monday when I won't be able to hear as well.
Current weather 99 and clear. It should be nice in Quincy. See you there..............
-Norm
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