Yes

We are back from our long weekend trip to California!

We had a great time.

Now I suppose I have to go back to work. Oh well, it should be good.

Deeds in the Dark

Well, we forgot to do before pictures, but Diane re-did the girls closet. I think it looks great! And, it seems much larger now.

We mentioned to some that we would put pictures of it on here, so here they are. It is kind of hard to take decent pictures of a small closet, but maybe you can get the gist of it.

Enjoy!

A Nod to the Good Old Days.

I found this article that says: Classics like 'Sixteen Candles,' 'Ferris Bueller' still big among today's teens.

Anyone else grow up with some of these movies, or watch them when they were teens, even tho they were older? I thought Back to the Future was great when it came out in 1985.

One of Diane's favorites is Some Kind of Wonderful. And I am afraid that it is indeed Eric Stoltz in that movie. Yikes! People are still familiar with all the lines from the Princess Bride too.

This Week.

Today...Cinco De Mayo....is T.J.'s B-Day. I hope he has a good one. He is off in Hawaii doing Army stuff, so if you want to write him or something, let me know.

My B-day is tomorrow. Someone told me Saturday night....I think it was Liliana, and I am not sure that I am spelling her name correctly, that May was the best month for birthdays. I have certainly always enjoyed it.

I do have to work on my Birthday. i am saving up my leave time to blow it all this summer for a wedding I am officiating at and a trip. But, I get a five day weekend and I am taking the fam to a resort in Indio. Well, lets call it Palm Springs. It sounds better, it is close by and people know where it is.

Diane's Birthday is in May too. May 17th.

Dee-Kline and the Drive In

Here is some info from a Forbes Magazine listing of some of Americas Fastest Dying Industries. Most of them are because of some sort of competition, not because no one uses similar services anymore. Here is the short list:

Bowling Alleys - Well, that one is because people just don't do it as much.

Music Publishing - Supposedly as a result of easy downloads. The revenue in this industry is projected to decline about 10% between now and 2012.

Laundry Services - Small companies, price wars and ...and ....I don't know what will lead to bigger declines than Music Publishing. My mother works for a company that sells to laundromats and such. Watch out mom.

Beer Production - Increasing competition from wine and other spirits are leading this decline. And here you thought prohibition might be on the horizon again. Not likely.

Wired Telecommunications - People are increasingly picking a cell as their primary phone. Why? They are usually cheaper, more versatile and fewer pesky sales calls. Hmmmmm.....why do people even keep a land line? People like, say, me.

I think Drive In Movies were not on the list because they have already declined. I, for one, enjoy the Drive in. Yes, I know the one in town feels like the land of white trash. And, it probably is. I still like to go. Especially with a group of friends. What is more fun than sitting outside watching a movie, chowing on some pizza and being able to hear it from everyone else's car.

Of course, it would be nice if people didn't lite up the gonja while I was there.

Does anyone else like the Drive In?

Little Ricky Rides the Range

Several years ago, Diane and T.J. and I were riding on one of those trail horse ride things in Estes Park Colorado. The only other people on the ride (besides the trail guide) was a 12 year old girl and her Dad, who kept trying to get the horse to do things, like turn in a direction other than on the trail.

Halfway through the ride, the girl said, do you know who my dad is? "That man right there", I answered, hoping I was correct. She said, "He's little Ricky!".

Turns out, her Dad was Keith Thibodeaux, the man who, as a child actor, portrayed the drum banging son of Lucy and Desi. He was in Estes Park with the Ballet Magnificat!, which he and his wife founded. He invited us to come check them out at some Christian Music Festival down the road from the trail riding place.

I am mostly mentioning this because the Ballet Magnificat! was in town last night at Christ Community Church. I am not usually a fan of the Ballet, but this was a very moving presentation on a story inspired by the story of Rahab. And, the girls loved every minute of it. Even Agent Pipes son, who was along with us, was enthralled by it. Ethan was horrified that it lasted as long as it did, but hey, what six year old boy wouldn't be.

We even got to talk to Keith a bit after the show. Good times.

Ballet Magnificat!.....check out there website.

The measure of a man.

"Pain is weakness leaving the body", thought I, on my jog this morning, ".....or, it could be a catastrophic injury."

Dedicated to Travis, who is facing an ordeal today.