Merry Christmas

Well the gifts have been all unwrapped, the dinner eaten, dishes done. Another Christmas come and gone. This year was low key, calmer than most. There were no little ones running around the house. I’m not sure, but I think I kind of missed the energy of a young one at Christmas. And there were very few gifts exchanged; the economy has had a strong effect on everyone. It was good to see everyone, but you could tell that there was a subdued feeling because of everyone’s financial stresses. I hope next Christmas is a better one.

Behind the scenes

One of the things that always interests me is looking at “behind the scenes” equipment and props. So yesterday when my wife and I dropped in to visit her folks at their shipping store I was interested to see them getting ready to load their van with their trade show exhibits equipment. I had forgotten that they go to a lot of trade shows to promote their business!

Betty exclaimed that we were right on time to help them load up the directors chairs and table top display while she went into the storage room to find the new table covers she had just got in. Fortunately this trade show is only about two miles away from their shop, so they don’t have to get up too early tomorrow morning to get to the Expo Center to set up their displays. They gave my wife and I two free tickets to get into the trade show, but I don’t know if we’ll be able to get back there to attend or not.

I like to read other people’s blogs

One thing that I’ve been doing lately is spending more time on the Internet, reading other people’s blogs.  My sister sent me a bunch of  links to her favorite blogs to read, and I’ve been reading them.  It really is very interesting and fun to see what other people are up to, what they are thinking and writing about.  I’ve even left a few comments on some of the blogs that I’ve read here and there.  I’ve also found some interesting sites about nature and science and news.  I think I could easily spend most of my day on the Internet, just reading and absorbing all of the awesome information that is out there!  I find myself clicking on links, clicking on more links, clicking on more links and before long I realize that I can’t even to remember what the first article was that I was reading about!  Very entertaining!

Having to move

Thanks for the article from Rubin Osborne

Having to move wasn’t something that was in the cards for me but I’m really glad we did. It’s been a great way to force our family to come back together and at this age where the kids are both about to be teenagers it’s nice having something we can all go through together. I sure wish I had more of a hobby but sometimes I get online on the Satellite Star Internet in South Dakota during the day and talk to my sisters and stuff…my husband’s new job is working out well though and he really likes it which is good since it’s the whole reason we moved out here in the first place! It’s nice being able to find time to spend as a family and I know my kids will adjust just fine after a few more months so I’m just going to keep plugging ahead towards a new life for all of us here in South Dakota where we’re living!

Trip down the toy aisle

My wife always says that the only difference between the men and the boys is the price of their toys. I admit it, I am just a big kid at heart. I have a collection of Classic kids toys like Lincoln Logs a growing collection of remote control toys like the helicopters and automated dogs. I keep telling my wife that they are an investment, but I don’t think she’s fooled even for a minute. She tells me that if they were an investment then they would have never been removed from their boxes! Yeah, but they are an investment in my happiness!

Whenever we go shopping together, she complains that I always wander away so she can’t find me. And then her twenty minute trip to the store turns into an hour or more! I keep telling her that all she has to do is come to the toy aisle, and she will find me checking out the latest in electronic toys! She just needs to build more time into her shopping time budget if I’m going along! And never mind how much money I’m spending on toys; after all, we ARE saving money by car-pooling in to the store!