Click, click, click

One thousand, eight hundred, sixty-five miles and Thirty-two hours and seven minutes later, we are home. Yes, according to the car computer, we drove for a total of 32 hours and 7 minutes. According to the odometer, 1,865 miles. I acknowledge the redundancy, but heck, some things aren't grasped the first time around.

Mine in Deerfield

Tim, Riley is very interested in the history of minning in Deerfield. I don't know much but do recall you hiked back in the woods once and found a mine opening - or at least so goes my memory. Can you offer more around that with details such as what you found and where?

There shall be one piece of pie

Uncle Bill, stinkers, Eddie, 60 years old!, baby, brother-in-law, gravy safety, pumpkin pie, cherry pie, mince pie, lemon pie, chocolate pie, ground cherry pie, tree-cherry pie, peach pie, pumpkin torte, pumpkin cheesecake, buckeye bars, 18 chairs plates, mud, Sheffleton Road, squirrels for now and squirrels for later, Nieman-Marcus priced Christmas trees, Taylor at the kids table, T is for Uncle Toot, H is for health, A is for all the children and grandchildren, N is for new beginnings, K is for koala bears, kangaroos and ketchup, S is for squirrels, G is for the Gallapagos Islands (and God), I is for I am and you are (plus some other wonderful Uncleisms), V is for a voice to speak, I is for infant, N is for nieces and nephews and G is for all things good. We missed Tipash and beyond very much.

Rube!!! Where are you Rube!!!!!! Are you and Dean rolling around in a Vino induced coma of love over there in Rootstown and have forgotten your needy, neurotic family?

With Love

Looking out the window watching for my sister and her family to roll into sight...I cant wait to see you Becky, Kevin, Will and Aaron!

Turkeys have rights too

Turkey emotions running high

The thought of your meal of doom weighs heavily on my unburly shoulders. Turkey shaped tears flow down my cheeks and fall on my fluffy waist area. I felt guilty when considering my own anguish knowing that Mom wont make enough stuffing and wont care either, but what does it matter?? You, Melanie and the young herdlings wont be there to agree with my stuffing deprived monologue! Perhaps the guest of honor at said meal of doom will do take flight in protest of all things turkey. Hey, remember the year that the gravy sprouted wings and attempted to leave the pan? Things happen...

New blog features

I got rid of a few things and added two.

1. Masontown daily news. In the spirit of Rofosh this seemed appropriate.

2. Spell check feature. It will help gis lik mi spel betur.

3. Lastly, Tipash - remind me of the details around the cathouse. I remember this but not the details.

I have a new appreciation for the term mixed emotions. Joe can now bench more than I can, but in the interview with his coach at the end of the season those lovely words "college ball" united to that seemingly out of reach dream of "scholarship" came up. Can't a father hope, or is this coaching staff manipulation to make sure I bring him to the off season weight programs? Kate has more money in the bank than I do, but she is already pricing cars. She prefers clean silver cars that are faster than the blue dirty cars ( a veiled reference to my car I think ). The holidays are here, but I have to eat my wife's brother's wife's cooking ( I refuse to call her my sister in law in light of the meal of doom that awaits me). Later.

Why do you people live here?

We are packing for Ohio and going through drawers of shorts, dozens of footie socks, miles of short sleeve shirts and thinking, "we don't have Ohio clothes any more!" Socks that go above my ankle? A total of 2 pairs. Anything warmer than a fleece coat? A 1993 vintage. We went to the Salvation Army and looked for something warmer than a sweatshirt; not happening. So, when we come dragging in there with borrowed coats that are several sizes too small or too large, treat us kindly. And remember, if we were home, it's likely we'd be in shorts on Thanksgiving. Read that and weep.

The evil snow angel and Riley's broken arm

A full year of football could not harm him. Five minutes making a snow angel before school yesterday did him in. The cast will hopefully be off before Christmas.

Day in the Life of a public servant

Morning arrives...




Get ready for work, SO not myself in office wear!

Off to work I roar, ready for another productive day serving the citizens of Akron!

Yup, better get another cup to embrace the joy of public service!

Already hard at work at my desk...

The phone! Smile! Citizens love a caring city worker! It soothes the sting of tax dollars "paying my salary"

How I really feel about said call....

After a long hard day listening to calls about trash, garbage, litter, rats, food poisoning, bats, rats, sending out dog heads for rabies testing, hearing about vile smells, the findings of a persons ashes in an eviction, raccons, squirrels and evil spirits living in peoples attics, excessive dustiness from construction sites, naked people living in condemed buildings and animals left in repossed homes, birds flying overhead and pooping on someones car, and viewing pics of giant ice sculptures of personal body parts and whatnot, I happily shut off the computer and head for the vator....

SO HOW WAS YOUR DAY????

I jujst taught a reading class with my zipper down. Fortunately I was wearing underwear.

Very Awesome link - the human clock

Try this - enormous amount of work that the creator went to. Has a photo for every minute of the day - sometimes it is fun to try to find the time in the photo.

Moose Cholak Pics

For the uninitiated, here is Moose Cholak

I am proud to report that Joe has now fully demonstrated all of the essential qualities needed to one day assume the crushing load of lineage that he must bear.; I am now convinced beyond all doubt that he will be able to take the houndy pups legacy well into the 21st century. At the last Friday night game , the Varisty and the Magnificent Seven ( 7 freshman players who have been promoted to Varsity, quite a feat for Joe who had never played organized sports before ) were running through the tunnel that the marching band creates. It had been raining for 2 days and was drizzling then, when Joe, better known in the locker room as Moose Cholak, collided with some puny cornerback, got a cleat stuck in the other kids cleats and fell down, careening out of control toward the unsuspecting trumpet section. Fortunately the Titanic did not sink but got up and ran through the tunnel of trumpets joining his teammates. The trumpet section escaped unscathed. I have never been more proud.

Goodness Gracious, Great Balls of Fire

On Mondays at 5:00, my student Rachel comes for her lesson. This is the only time during the school week that the guys are allowed to play on the computer or watch t.v., so they are fully occupied while I'm with Rachel. This past Monday, at about 6:05, Aaron came to the piano and said, "Mom, there's been a little fire outside, but everything is fine now. We think some teenagers came and started a little fire and left. But we got it out, and everything is fine." So, I went outside and Will had that caca eating look on his face. "Will, have you been playing with matches?" "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" The tears began to fall. "Where is the fire, Will?" He pointed to the cars, both with a full tank of gas. I went around the cars and AHHHH, and big section of the hillside was scorched. The trash can? Melted. The bicycle? All plastic pieces melted. The covering to the firewood? Melted into said wood. Lying on the ground is a little plastic cup and a flower pitcher. As it happened, about 3 minutes before, the neighbor came out for a smoke, saw the smoke, heard the crackle, looked at the guys and said, "Uh, fellahs? Do you need some help?" "WAAAAAAAAAAAAA," cried Will. So, Tracy brought her hose over and put out the fire. As she stood there, hose in one hand, cigarette in the other she said, "You know fellahs, I think you've probably learned a lesson from this. Number one, don't play with matches. Number two, little boys sometimes do stupid things."

As I've told this story, you can't believe the fire stories I've heard about other peoples children and childhoods. Amazing. I'll add some here later as comments.

Intrestin weather we're havin

Oz inspired moment. Its warm and fuzzy, no? I bet Fig feels like skipping with Toot through the poppies.

Giraffes and all things tall

Hello to all that are tall and all that are small. And also to Smurf. He is compact and rotund?

Welcome Timbertoes - come on Linkmeyer

Ok - Whimpy has now succesfully posted and I am exchanging E-mails with Frau to get her rolling also. With any luck, we will be at full utilization by end of day. Rofosh would be pleased.

Smurf is an eating machine

My Recent Visit with Smurf and Les

Last Friday, 10/31 I flew to Atlanta where I was picked up by Les Honson. Together we drove the 7 hours to Memphis to visit Smurf. I will post pics soon. Suffice to say the three of us while not what we were still maintained a chemistry and ease together that only comes from seasoned old friendships. It was great to spend the weekend with them.
Les has lost much - not just his hair. His work as a a construction guy is much declined so he is struggling a bit financially. Sadly his marriage is over and his kids hold him accountable. As such, while they spend time with him, they are somewhat estranged. He continues to have his passion for passion and his love of love. He is more suited to a storefront coffee bistro than a rooftop shingle job.
Smurf has gained much - not just pounds. He has a steady secure job which has enabled him to purchase a lovely home in a nice neighborhood. He also is Memphis royalty. There was no where we went where he was not known; this was particularly true of the buffet. The king of Memphis took us to a half Asian and half soul food buffet. There I consumed hog mawl and neck bone alongside rice noodles and General Tso's chicken. Smurf had four plates - this says much about his 350 pounds. I only mention his weight as he is most unhealthy. While I couldn't get all the details out of him, I think he may have congestive heart failure. His legs swell and his chest gurgles. I fear my 50 year old buddy may not live to 55. I challenged him with a weight loss goal for both of us. When achieved, I will go to Memphis and w will celebrate. I love Smurf and fear for him. Pray for him please. He remains hilarious and fun to be with.
On the drive back to ATL, somewhere in Mississippi, Les popped in some Toby Mac. We grooved to "One World" and knew we were still 22 at heart. I think I actually felt my hair grow for a second. It was great to be back in that zone for just a moment.

The Red White and Blue Household

Edie here: Just want to let you know it has been crazy around here with the election. Me being red - Tom and the kids blue and the goats neutral (white.) Just want to let all of you Mccain supporters know I neutralized Tom's vote but it didn't help - even though I didn't want four more years of Bush antics in the Whitehouse. I am scared of Obamas moral views and unknown associations but only time will tell. So, I rest in praying for the leader God put in place. PS... Tom has started to wear a turban and I fear there may be a sleeper cell in Mogadore. He is consolidating the animals into a democrat fatwa squad against all republicans - excluding family. See some of you at thanksgiving - happy holidays.

A post from Riley and Emily

Riley here: This is me talking about my big squirrel! He was a large fox squirrel. I shot the tail of one squirrel but he got away . Boy was the fur flying! Hope you guys all have a good time for Thanksgiving. See you soon.

Emily here: Riley committed his first murder. You should have seen the blood - gross! By the way - he is going to squirrel jail soon. It will take a thousand nuts to get him out so please start collecting for Riley.

All things Weiner Schnitzel Carmen Delilah Shultz

Who was Weiner S.C.D. Shultz? Ah, how does one describe the pitiful life that this poor pup endured. Many days, it was hell on earth.

Fleas? Oh yeah, but that was not a problem. The eureka took care of that. Lay her flat, back down, plug in, switch on, fleas up, dog under our evil command.

And food? We always made sure she up-chucked the best.....