Back from my last junket
I'm catching up on my e-mails today after a trip to Medford for a workshop and a trip to Eugene for a meeting, today. Both visits involved a retirement toast. It is always good to be with old friends and reminisce about the good times. Even the bad times seemed funny, now. Lots of questions about the retirement home. It will be a retirement home in the sense that it will give us something to do in our retirement.... remodel until our last breaths.
Getting familar
9 weeks until I can get up back there. It will be interesting to see if working up there gives me headaches like the 15 years here have.
A Fall From Grace
Hello my children,
My nights at the gym have paid off. While beginning to remove the solar panels I lost my situational awareness and stepped backwards off of the dormer. I'm bruised, but not broken anywhere. I can forget about this bone spur and rotator cuff healing real soon because that's the side that hit first.
I have a natural ability to land on my elbows without breaking them when I fall; so, that's what took the brunt of it. When falling at 32 ft per sec. for 8 ft. I didn't have much time to think about it and prepare for a hard landing. I did notice after the side of my head hit the roof and my glasses and hat headed for the gutter that I was apparently doing the same.
As like the time I started to slide down a steep snow bank on Lion Creek working on the Trail Crew early one spring I was looking for an anchor. There happened to be a vent pipe sticking up that I was able to grab with the inside of my knee.
While I was wondering what I broke I heard a voice say from below "Are you alright?" It was my neighbor who was out on her porch kitty-corner from us having a cigarette when she noticed my fall from grace. I asked her if I bounced and she said that it looked like I hit pretty hard. Later, I considered myself lucky that I didn't impale myself on either of the vent pipes sticking out of the roof.
Figuring that I wouldn't be able to walk the next day I decided to finish the job. It went fairly well and I shouldn't have to go up there anymore; altho, the moss will need to be removed when we try to sell the place. Maybe my fears of early onset are grounded as I will be for the next month. I am sore; but can walk. Later this afternoon I'll see if I can carry any weight on my left side.
Love,
Dad
Happy Birthday Abbie!
Today is Abbie's 3rd birthday. It's hard to believe how fast she's grown up. On one hand, I'd like to say it feels like just yesterday that she was born - but it doesn't. A lot has happened since she was born: Jack, a new house, new cars, the bus, speaking at conferences and writing books. Phew, I hope life slows down a little soon.
Happy Birthday Abbie - I hope you enjoy your birthday party as much as we will!
Disney World
It's been a while since I posted a family picture - here's one from last week at Disney.
Happy Birthday Jack!
Happy Birthday Jack!! It's hard to believe it's been a whole year since Jack was born.
He's quite a guy to hang out with now - he's walking, laughing and smiling like you wouldn't believe. He always wakes up with a smile on his face too - quite the opposite of his big sister. 
I'd post a recent picture, but I killed my PowerBook last week, where all our pictures are stored. In the meantime, here's a video of him walking from last week.
Happy Birthday Julie!
Happy Birthday Julie! Today we're loving life: Julie got to sleep 'til noon and now everyone is relaxing in the pool. Tonight the party starts at 7:00. Florida is beautiful this time of year.
A weekend of fun
After working long hours last week, it was nice to have a weekend of relaxing and playing with the kids. Julie to Vegas on Friday night and returned Saturday night - so I had the kids solo for 24 hours. Saturday morning, I took them to Tiny Town where fun was had by all. Today, we took Jack on his first bike ride. Below are some pics from the events.
Jack is crawling!
Jack's been scootching around for a couple of weeks now. Tonight he decided it was time to start using his knees - and lo and behold - he's now a crawler! Good stuff little man. 
Jack in his scootching days
On related note, I showed Julie that today (05.05.05) only happens once in 7000 years - she responded with "yeah, well Jack will only crawl once ever."
Katherine Moore Patterson
Aunt Kay was a wonderful woman that we all loved and admired - she will be missed.
Katherine Ethel Raible Moore Patterson, age 93 of Joplin, passed away at 7:20 p.m. Friday, February 25, 2005 at Joplin Healthcare Center.
Born September 19, 1911 in Joplin, she was the daughter of the late Joseph E. and Elizabeth Cronn Raible. For a time she attended Ozark Westeyan College in Carthage. She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church.
She married Fred R. Moore on October 16, 1943. He preceded her in death on June 23, 1971. While they lived in Bisbee, Arizona she worked at the Bank of Bisbee. There in Bisbee she enjoyed horseback riding and tending to her flowers. From Bisbee they moved to Watsonville, California where she was employed by the Ford Department Store for 10 years.
She married Robert Patterson on April 10, 1986. He preceded her on March 11, 1987. Kay and Robert first met when they were students at Galena High School.
For 5 years she lived with her brother, Joseph, in Beacon, NY where they donated time at Castle Point Veteran?s Hospital. She was also active with the Beacon Hospital Auxiliary.
Survivors include a niece, Mary Cooper of Beacon, NY; two nephews, James Raible of Wappengers, NY, Joe Raible of Salem, OR; cousins, Betty Townsend of Salinas, CA, Helen Marlo of Bisbee, AZ, Mart Christie of West Hills, CA, Sue Pench of Ventura, CA; stepsons, Robert E. and Richard E. Patterson.
Funeral services will be held at Parker Mortuary Chapel at 1:30 PM on Wednesday March 3rd with Leonard Moffett officiating. Interment will be at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. Please send donations to the National Breast Cancer Fund.