Heroics

If you haven't already, you should check out the Superheroes story that I'm involved in. You have to start reading it from the start, but I think it is a great read. I just finished conducting an interview with the project's creator, and I'll be posting part of it on the blog later today as part of a new feature. Here, if you're interested is a brief sneak peak.

Fibonacci: The trouble with this is that infinity is really big.
Black Wolff: Is this countable infinity or uncountable infinity we're talking about here?
Black Wolff: ;-)
Fibonacci: Countable. You'll notice the episodes are numbered.
Fibonacci: With integers.

No, it isn't all jokes and math (trust me!). If you've been following the story at all you'll gain some extra insight into the process behind the scenes. I'm really looking forward to the start of what might be considered a weekly column. :-) I do so enjoy writing, and this is better even than just this blog. Now I only need to figure out how to get our story more readers!

~Matt

Off to work

I leave for work in just a bit over an hour. I'm not looking forward to it. These late night shifts are starting to get old in my third out of four days in a row. At least I have Tuesday and Wednesday off--prime job hunting days. If everything goes according to plan I'll spend Monday morning planning out those two days and arranging what to do.

~Matt

Thought for the day

I am rereading The Hobbit, in a newly acquired edition. The book is hardcover with a recreation of Tolkien's original dust jacket (his illustration) and containing all the text of the revised edition. I'm going slowly, so as to enjoy the experience.

At the point where I am reading currently Bilbo and the dwarves have just arrived at Elrond's Last Homely House. I thought the following words especially profound and true in the context of most stories:

"Now it is a strange thing, but things that are good to have and days that are good to spend are soon told about, and not much to listen to; while things that are uncomfortable, palpitating, and even gruesome, may take a good tale, and take a good deal of telling anyway."

The only major exception I can think of off hand are the Redwall novels by Brian Jacques where he takes time to describe each and every feast and meal of which his characters partake. Otherwise, for the most part, good times are described briefly in many tales and books while times of danger, peril, and horror go one for pages and pages.

~Matt

Battle of New Orleans

I just finished the book pictured at the right. It was an excellent read, describing the Battle of New Orleans in great detail. (Incidentally the author is also the author of the book Forrest Gump on which the Tom Hanks movie of the same name was based.) The book is certainly non-fiction, but it reads very smoothly. I enjoy history books, but this book had the smoothness of an excellent narrative. I quite definately could not put this book down. I recieved the book on Thursday evening (after returning from work at 17:00) and it was finished by Friday night (in the midst of which I slept, worked on Museum issues, and worked an eight hour shift).

The book is not fully annotated, with only footnotes for explanation. The reason for this is explained by the author in his notes on sources. He writes that he has written non-annotated and annotated history books before, but this time the many sources are so many and so contradictory that he felt it would simply be confusing to quote all of the myriad opposing sources.

I discovered this volume when I started reading an article (condensed) from the book in the latest issue of Smithsonian magazine. I immediately stopped reading the article as I knew that I wanted to read the book. My only complaint is that I wish there had been more details about Jean Laffite. He has always fascinated me, ever since I first heard about him (in grade school?). However, to be fair to the author, he does give many details about Laffite, and there generally are not too many details to go on concerning this famous privateer (or was he a pirate?).

Furthermore I have been fascinated by the Battle for many years, something that was only encouraged by my like of Johnny Horton's singing. One of his most famous songs is The Battle of New Orleans (the lyrics were actually written by Jimmy Driftwood). While it does contain several historical inaccuracies (besides the obvious alligator fiction) it is fun to listen to. I played it a couple times while reading this book.

In 1814 we took a little trip
Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip.
We took a little bacon and we took a little beans
And we caught the bloody British in the town of New Orleans.

We fired our guns and the British kept a'comin.
There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago.
We fired once more and they began to runnin' on
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

We looked down the river and we see'd the British come.
And there must have been a hundred of'em beatin' on the drum.
They stepped so high and they made the bugles ring.
We stood by our cotton bales and didn't say a thing.

We fired our guns and the British kept a'comin.
There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago.
We fired once more and they began to runnin' on
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

Old Hickory said we could take 'em by surprise
If we didn't fire our muskets 'til we looked 'em in the eye
We held our fire 'til we see'd their faces well.
Then we opened up with squirrel guns and really gave 'em ... well

We fired our guns and the British kept a'comin.
There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago.
We fired once more and they began to runnin' on
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

Yeah, they ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles
And they ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn't go.
They ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch 'em
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

We fired our cannon 'til the barrel melted down.
So we grabbed an alligator and we fought another round.
We filled his head with cannon balls, and powdered his behind
And when we touched the powder off, the gator lost his mind.

We fired our guns and the British kept a'comin.
There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago.
We fired once more and they began to runnin' on
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

Yeah, they ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles
And they ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn't go.
They ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch 'em
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

I also found another version of the song here which has some more lyrics, including some mentioning Laffite and the British General. I wish that Horton had sang that version, it sounds even more fun! :-)
~Matt

Collage

I wish that Picasa were a bit more random when creating these collages, but I suppose I can't complain too aweful much as I'm just glad the feature exists. 'Tis fun to group similar pictures together--I simply wish that I could do more than put them in a certain order so a nondescript picture will be covered up (there is no variety, all five picture photo pile collages will have the pictures in these positions for some unknown reason).

Perhaps I'm just sick with myself over the fact that I've not blogged since Tuesday, so I'm hunting for things to blog and blog about.

But I would never do anything like that, would I? Nah, I didn't think so--it must be all in my imagination.

~Matt

Musings

Well blogging via Picasa has been improved. I can now type in the title and make other changes, I may just go back to this now. ;-)

I just got back from seeing Lady in the Water. Sadly (for the theatre and film, but somewhat nicer for me) the theater was mostly empty. I enjoyed the movie, but as with M. Night's other projects it was definately different. The unfolding of the plot was never quite what I expected. I did enjoy the character of the critic. :-)

The picture above is a screenshot that I took while watching Forrest Gump. Yes, it is a recreation from a movie--but methinks the sentiments were real. How often do the Democrats/liberals/anti-war crowd call Iraq another Vietnam. Yet they claim they support the troops. Methinks with reactions to Haditha and Abu Graib (sp?) what they have been these people really do want another Vietnam with disgraced and ignored troops.

~Matt

Forest Gump

The only scene in this movie that I've seen is the one where the kid is running away from people and somebody yells "Run Forest Run." I think a teacher showed it in school, or somebody in Sunday School/Youth Group. I'm not quite sure where it was. But other than that I've not yet seen this movie. It was due today, but I wanted to see it--so I'll return it tomorrow (I'm off work and will be job hunting). The dollar late fee is acceptable as a rental fee, ;-). Normally I wouldn't be this bad, but I've not had much time for movies lately, especially when I don't remember them until it is too late and I'm working the next morning or I'm too tired.

Oh, I do remember something else. Paul Shanklin has a great parody of this movie with Forest Gore, the man with a room temperature IQ. At one point Forest says the following to President Clinton: "My mama says your foreign policy is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get." :-)

~Matt

Buenos Dias

I'm not sure how good the morning is, but I suppose I should make an effort to make it so. Last night I finished Magic Street by Orson Scott Card. I read Ender's Game and its first sequels years ago, but recently I've started reading even more of Card's works. I haven't yet regretted picking up any of his books, they've all been wonderful. He can definately do an excellent job writing in different fields of fiction.

~Matt

Nice Weather

Being off in the summer I never had to experience the worst of summer weather in Santa Clarita. My sister just e-mailed to say that it was up to 117 degrees this weekend! By contrast we had low humidity and a high of around 80 today in northern Kentucky. :-) I can't really complain now.

Tomorrow morning I have an appointment to get an eye exam, then I'm going next door to Lenscrafters with my prescription so that I can buy a new pair of glasses! These will be the first pair that I've ever had to buy myself (all others came while I was under my parent's insurance and they were paying for things). My current pair are my backup pair (Mark should remember the time he drove to my house so I could pick them up) after I lost my then current pair in the Pacific Ocean. I am long overdue to get a new pair, especially since the screw holes are stripped and only broken off paperclips twisted through are holding them together. I've simply been too lazy and cheap to do anything up until now. :-)

~Matt

Biblioholism

I shall try to make this short, because I dearly want to get back to the book in question. If you are addicted to reading (as I am) then you simply MUST read this wonderful volume. You will come to understand much more about yourself, and why you cannot resist buying books (*cough**cough*) or reading them. You will find links to Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble's site, and Powell's on the linked library entry! But, just so you can be sure that you can't miss it, here are some choice quotes from Chapter Eleven: Reading (which I am currently reading, ;-)).

Biblioholics must read wherever and whenever possible, and even when it doesn't seem possible. Why else do we drag a book along us wherever we go? [*raises hand* "Guilty."] There is absolutely no time or place unsuitable for cracking a volume and indulging our passion. In trains, planes, buses, cars, and all other transport; at meals, in bed, on the john, at work, in dentists' offices, in supermarket checkout lines--wherever--we hold true to our biblioholic alling: we read. If our car breaks down on the freeway, we merely reach across the seat and pull out a volume. When our barber finally tires of occupational small talk, we flip open the magazine on our laps. After we get comfy on the chair lift, we reach into our parka and pull out a book.

The rest of this chapter consists of "a guidebook to reading in a biblioholic's favorite haunts." Yes, there is much humour in this volume, but also much truth!
I started the book quite a while ago, but I keep forgetting about it. 'Tis sad, but also fun as I have come back to it several times with great enjoyment. If you are a reader then you truly owe it to yourself to find this book! It was a gift, but if I'd known what it was I should have bought it for myself years ago.

~Matt

I'm tired

I fell asleep downstairs while watching Stargate Atlantis. The show started airing at 22:00, ;-). I don't know exactly when I fell asleep, so I'll need to catch another airing, which shouldn't be too hard. I don't even remember being quite that sleepy during the show.

~Matt

Storage

Yesterday I tore into my storage unit again--but this time to put somethings substantial inside. I brought back a bunk bed from Tennessee (my brother built a new wood one for his older boys), got a table and two chairs from my sister, and an easy chair from the neighbor's son. I have a couple pictures, but they're not currently loaded on the computer. It took me several hours in the heat and quite a bit of sweat, but it was worth it. I now have a bit more furniture beyond bookcases! :-)

~Matt

Weekend

Residents near Bowling Green were back home by Friday morning and most of Interstate 65 is back open.

The area was shut down for several hours Thursday night after a tanker carrying a toxic chemical caught fire.
~WTVF - News Channel Five, Nashville, TN 07.14.2006

I was caught up in this when I went down to my brother's on Thursday evening. The drive should take about five hours with minimal stops, and I voluntarily only made two stops, one for dinner to go, and one to fill up my tank with gas. Because of the abovementioned accident however I had to detour around about twenty miles of I-65 right north of the Tennessee state line. It took me almost two hours to go those twenty some miles. I left the Cincinnati area around 17:30-:45 Eastern and I didn't arrive in Nashville until 01:00 Eastern!!

Once I got down to my brother's place things were much better. Friday he went to work, so I was able to relax and hang out with my nephews. We played some computer games, I worked on some Lego projects, and we went swimming. Unfortunately I forgot to get a picture of the Legos, :(. Above you can see one of the pictures I snapped while waiting in traffic. Below is one of the pictures that I took Saturday morning.


My brother has several canoes, including one (or a couple?) that he has built. We took a couple canoes and a kayak out to a local lake for an hour or so of fun on the water. I've only been out on such small boats a couple times that I remember--once at a family reunion in Montana and a couple times on the huge Rivers of America canoes at Disneyland. It was great. Of course since I was in the front and one of my nephews in the back I was the power paddler, ;-). I definately exercised some muscles that I wasn't used to using.

We paddled out to one of the islands and pulled up to the beach. There I took several good pictures, and even more as we paddled back along the cliffs. I think that I took at least forty pictures on the lake! After we brought the canoes back in I took the kayak out. It was great! As fun as the canoes were the kayak was even better. You only have one paddle, but it has whatchamacallit paddle thingies on each end. I knew the general idea that you paddle on the left to go right and vice versa and you paddle backwards to slow down and sometimes to turn as well. In the kayak you have much more control over these features than you do as one person in a two man canoe. I could go as fast as I wanted and completely control the steering. Great fun!

After we returned from the lake we all went to see Pirates. It was great fun, even though it was my second viewing. My brother asked me to drive, which worked out great because then I was able to insist that we sit through the credits to see the short scene after. My brother owns the DVD of the first movie and didn't know about the scene after those credits! He normally just shuts movies off as soon as the credits roll--or leaves the theater then. I've begun to always stay through credits if I can--not only for scenes afterwards, but because I usually enjoy the music as well. If all these people put all their effort into the movie the least I can do is sit and watch their names while they play beautiful music, ;-).

Anyway, after a great beef brisket dinner we watched some TV via Tivo (i.e. several minutes late so we could fastforward through commercials) and then my brother helped me out with resume advice. It will be hard work to do everything that I need to, but I know that I need to if I'm actually going to get another job and leave my time at bigg's behind me.

Sunday wasn't quite as fun as I had to leave the house around 07:30 so that I could be sure of arriving back in time for work that evening. For some reason the store manager doesn't like giving days off three in a row--even though I was given four days off a couple weeks ago (unasked!) so I couldn't get Sunday off. :(

~Matt

PS Here are some of the detail/landscape pictures that I took. I'm currently using the last one as my background.

Still busy

Yeah, I've been busy. Right now I need to finish writing something. I'll update with pictures later (tonight or early AM I hope).

~Matt

Alive?

Fortunately yes. :-) I don't have time for a long post now. I'm using my brother's dial-up connection (yes some people have dial-up. I don't know why, but he does...*shrugs* ;-)) late at night. I've had a great time and will definately post pictures (plus earlier pictures that I wasn't able to take because my camera battery was dead). Don't let me forget the twenty miles from Hell when I describe this weekend--but also canoeing (a much better experience!).

Good night for now--except that I must say I saw Pirates again today and it was again a great movie. My brother is quite impatient though (but he does like music) and never sits through credits--therefore he had no idea there was a scene at the end of Curse of the Black Pearl (he owns that DVD) let alone after Dead Man's Chest! I had driven to the theater--so we waited. :-) If you haven't seen the scene after CotBP, you must before watching DMC--the monkey is a central character, and you will be puzzled like my nephews were if you've not seen the short post-credits scene.

Tomorrow morning I must arise early and leave by seven so that I can be back in time for work. Unfortunately they wouldn't give me Sunday off because the store manager doesn't like people to have three days off in a row (despite the fact that unasked they gave me four days off in a row two weekends ago--it gave me my latest set of ten days of work in a row as a consequence, even though it was apparently a reward for working on the Fourth of July? *shrugs* I don't get it). I don't see the problem if the department manager arranges it and all shifts are covered--other employees have told me that it wasn't that way in the past. *sigh* I shouldn't really complain anyway.

Combined with the advice I recieved from my brother this evening I'm doing everything that I can to get away from bigg's--quickly! It is only if I have to take another job that doesn't pay enough that I'll consider staying on part-time as Eric in LP (our semi-manager) keeps asking me to do. He even thinks I might want to stay at bigg's--but I inwardly shudder every time I hear this. If I had the savings I would quit tomorrow and force myself to job-search full-time. I hate the place and feel stifled there.

Wow, this was long for a short post--but short for one of my old mammoth posts. ;-) Good (very early) morning to those of you on the East Coast, and good evening to those of you in points west.

~Matt

I'll be back

As soon as I get up I'm going to have to pack some last minute things (besides my lunch for work). Then I'll be off for work a bit later, and I won't be back here until hopefully Sunday evening. I'm not sure if I'll be on-line at my brother's place, so this might be my last blog post for a few days. I've missed a few before for important reasons like this, so I'm not too worried. :-) I think that I'll be able to live.

~Matt

El Fin

I just finished Don Quixote at work today. It was fantastic!! (Having a good vocabulary is great when you don't remember how to spell teriffic and have to use a synonym because you're too lazy to use spell check, ;-)).

More rain today, so now my old boots are wet, the ones I've been wearing aren't yet dried out, and I don't know what I'm going to do tomorrow. I'm quite busy tonight though. I have an episode of Superheroes to write (LXIV), things to put away, and supplies to pack. I have Friday, Saturday, and hopefully Sunday off--so I'm driving down to my brother Larry's place (Nashville, Tennessee). It should be a great weekend.

I don't hate the Cincinnati area (it isn't California, but it isn't terrible), but I've been stuck here for far too long. The farththest I've been in 1.5 years was last month (or so) when I went with the family to a soccer game my nephew Ryan played down near Louisville (or was it Lexington?). But we just drove right down and came back, stopping only to get gas and eat at a rest area. I even bought a couple books on tape, a portable tape player (my car doesn't have one), and a device to broadcast a signal to my car stereo. I like listening to music, but since I'll be alone I want something more to occupy the several hour drive down after work tomorrow.

~Matt

Rain...Rain

Yeah, I think I've had a similarly titled post before--but it had a comma between the words--so this is different! :-) This morning I was convinced that it would rain all day--so I started pulling in carts around 13:00 (I worked 12:00-20:00) and my pants were quickly drenched. The rest of me was okay because of my cheap poncho (work provided) that has more duct tape than anything, ;-).

After I had the entire lot cleared it actually did stop raining for a few hours--unfortunately it was quite warm and very muggy. It was miserable. Leaving the quite cool store several times my glasses fogged up as I walked into the heat. Then as I was clearing the lot for the last time before I clocked out it started raining again--and this time it was pouring. I was almost dried out--but of course that didn't last in the pouring rain. I'm going to have to let my boots dry out normally (they're leather and not waterproffed because the soles are cracked) and use an old pair tomorrow so my feet will be dry for at least a while (more rain is predicted on the morrow).

~Matt

Lenghty?

(p 412) But Don Ferdinand's friends, the curate, the barber, and all the company (not forgetting honest Sancho Panza) got together about Don Ferdinand, and entreated him to pity the beautiful Dorthea's tears; that, considering what she had said, the truth of which was apparent, it would be the highest in justice to frustrate her lawful hopes; that their strange and wonderful meeting could not be attributed to chance, but the peculiar and directing Providence of Heaven; that nothing (as Mr. Curate very well urged) but death could part Cardenio from Lucinda; and that though the edge of his sword might separate them, he would make them happier by death than he could hope to be by surviving; that, in irrecoverable accidents, a submission to fate, and a resignation of our wills, showed not only the greatest prudence, but also the highest courage and generosity; that he should not envy those happy lovers what the bounty of Heaven had conferred on them, but that he should turn his eyes on Dorthea's grief; view her incomparable beauty, which, with her true and unfeigned love, made large amends for the meanness of her parentage; but principally it lay upon him, if he gloried in the titles of Nobility and Christianity, to keep his promise unviolated; that the more reasonable part of mankind could not otherwise be satisfied, or have any esteem for him: also that it was the special prerogative of beauty, if heightened by virtue and adorned with modesty, to lay claim to any dignity, without disparagement or scandal to the person that raises it; and that the strong dictates of delight having once been indulged, we are not to be blamed for following them afterwards, provided they be not unlawful.

Read that again, or if you skipped over it please go back and read it. That is one sentence from Don Quixote. I think it is the longest that I've seen, but I could be wrong. No, I'm not reading it just for the long sentences, but they are fun. It is quite interesting to read along for lines and all of a sudden realize that you haven't come to a period yet. :-)

~Matt

Still

reading Don Quixote am I. I enjoy older books, but most that I read are nonfiction. I never imagined that I would enjoy a 400 year old book so much. It is quite readable, and once you get past the differences in story construction it is fun. It is the first modern novel, completely unlike the stories that preceeded it. Unfortunately I only have Part I, but I might eventually find a copy of Part II--hopefully in the same edition as this one. I definately don't want one that is more modernized, abridged, or edited.

The copy I'm reading may not be perfect, but it is close enough for me. It is early twentieth century (nearly as good as nineteenth century for readibility) and formatted quite differently than a modern volume. To some extent I started reading the book because I was curious, and so that I could force my way through and say that I'd read the first modern novel. By this point I'm not forcing myself to read in the least, I am genuinely enjoying the book and I want to see what happens next!

~Matt

No Regrets

...have I about my decision to see Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. No, not at all. I'd probably be a bit more tired right now if I'd stayed home, but I'm sure I wouldn't yet be asleep. I really only have two complaints about the movie.

1) It suffers from Redshirt syndrome in that no names die, not the actors that you know. But to be fair, the only multiple unit multimedia (i.e. TV and movies) production that doesn't completely suffer from this is Lost (it has several main, main characters--but several other main characters have died/left because of the plot, not actor's decisions).

2) It is obviously the middle child of a trilogy. Like The Matrix, Curse of the Black Pearl could have stood on its own forever. I'm sure it would have had it not been as wildly successful as it was. With Dead Man's Chest though there must be a sequel. There is an ending, and you have some resolution, but many threads are left hanging--begging for conclusion. I fear this was inevitable as they filmed the second two movies together. The first movie of a proposed trilogy has to stand on its own--you can't bank that people will go see part I if part II is years away. I think it would be interesting to examine Episode IV (A New Hope) and see if it conforms to this pattern--it has been too long since I've seen it to allow me to properly comment on this idea I just hatched.

Other than these relatively minor problems I thoroughly enjoyed the film. I'm so glad I saw it on opening day, because now I have time to persuade myself to go see it again! Yeah, it was good enough that I think I would pay to see it in theaters again. The humour was excellent--I (and many of the other people in the crowded theatre) were laughing through much of the movie. Depp was fantastic with his portrayal of Jack Sparrow as a decidedly atypical pirate. Look also for many connections, tie-ins, and allusions to both the first movie and to the ride. I think that now we've seen nearly all of the scenes fromt the ride--but I could be wrong. I've not been on the ride since October 2004, so there could be something they're saving for the third movie.

I'm not sure how to classify these movies (historical fantasy?) but whatever they are, I want them on DVD! :-) I could not count it a waste to add these movies to my collection. I have high hopes for the third movie.

~Matt

Pirates?

Well the movie opened today, and I've been waiting quite a while. I think that I'm going to take Don Quixote and head down to the nearest theatre. There are show times at 21:05, 22:00, and 22:45. I don't think that all will be sold out--if they are then I'll just head home all the wiser, but if not then I'll just get the soonest show and relax with my book until the movie starts. :-) This movie and Lady in the Water were my two big must see movies of the summer. LitW doesn't hit until the end of the month, so I'm anxious to see Pirates.

But, on the other hand I get off work earlier tomorrow and thus could get down to the theatre earlier. Ahh...I hate indecision. Why can't I make up my mind? Hopefully I will soon... ;-)

~Matt

PS Howard Taylor of Schlock Mercenary also has a great review up, so I'm looking forward to the movie even more.

Don Quixote

Last night I started reading Don Quixote. It is a great old copy, from 1941! It was a gift from the old librarian at my dad's school. I don't know why I've not read this before--but it is a great read. The text isn't paragraphed like a newer book with each line of dialogue in a separate paragraph--but that doesn't stop me from enjoying it.

~Matt

Mi hermana esta aqui

Si, es muy bien. Mi hermana esta en la casa.

~Mateo

Happy Birthday America!

This isn't exactly the country all of the Founders imagined, but I figure they had good imaginations. We may have modern taxes and laws that would probably have many spinning in their graves (Jefferson probably spinning faster than Hamilton). (My political studies advisor said we could solve any energy crisis by hooking generators up to all of the Founding Fathers spinning in their graves!) Nonetheless I think that we haven't done too bad as the longest lasting republican (the form of government, not the party!) experiment. It isn't the best system imaginable--just the best one tried thus far (except where God steps in and rules directly--obviously the best system).

Yes this post is full of caveats and explanations--but I'm still a patriot. I'm red, white, and blue. Happy Birthday America! You are two hundred thirty years young and if the Lord tarries I hope you live at least as many more!

I particularly like the "Don't Tread on Me" flag--which is the current Naval Jack for the "duration of the War on Terror." It strikes a very good pose for the military methinks. Of course the circle flag of stars below has to be my second favourite American flag (or my first? I'm not sure). It is such a great design.

~Matt

Swimming

I went swimming with the kids in the neighbor's pool again today. I think that I inhaled or absorbed too much clorine--my sinuses are bothering me. Tomorrow should be a very busy day, so I'm hoping I'll be better then, but I'm sure that I will be. A good night's rest should do me well.

Tomorrow will be my first day of work since last Thursday. For some unknown reason I was assigned four days off in a row--with no advance notice that I would have more than two (Friday and Saturday). I'm not complaining because it has allowed me plenty of time to watch the kids while my sister and brother-in-law are out of town, and my brother-in-law's mom (Marie) is busy with other family commitments (illnesses, hospitalizations, and such). I don't go in tomorrow until 14:15, so I should have enough time to watch the Fourth of July parade--if I get stuff done early before I have to go--for some reason I didn't go down last year to watch it. The Budweiser Clydesdales will reportedly be in the parade this year!

Tomorrow night my sister should hopefully be flying home from California with my two neices. I'm hoping that she doesn't miss her flight! :-) I don't mind watching the kids when it is necessary, but it will be nice not to have to. And I definately wouldn't have picked to have four days off in a row (it will be hard to adjust to work again) without going somewhere (say to my brother's to camp) it was perfect timing to help out in the middle of family crisees (what is the plural of crisis?). God certainly knows what He is doing--far better than do any of us!

~Matt

Another Dream

I only vaguely remember my dream from last night. I was working at the museum, but it looked quite different. I only remember the inside--but I was helping someone who needed a specific pass for an area of the building after hours. I went up to the ticket counters and my old supervisor Arden was there. I haven't actually seen her since she left at the end of '05, but in the dream I knew it was her. I don't remember what anyone said or how the process worked out since I think I woke up shortly thereafter. I really wish I could remember my dreams as well as Miah does, ;-).

~Matt

Oops

Yeah, I forgot this again. But I had a very good reason this time! ;-) My brother-in-law and sister left with my two neices for California. The older had surgery--she is doing better and they should be coming home the first part of next week. But, yesterday my brother-in-law's mom had to take off because her neice was in the hospital.

So I took care of the kids (I was off yesterday and today). I even fixed dinner, though I went with something easy, taco salad. In the morning we went to the library before I took Ryan to work--and it was nice to relax there, away from home for a while. In the afternoon we went to the park for several hours. The three boys had a great time on the playground equipment while I sat on the bench swing and read.

Today was another relaxing day as a few of us went out garage sailing--I'll get some pictures up soon, I promise! Then this afternoon we headed over to the neighbor's pool for a couple hours of swimming. I made sure to put sunscreen on first, so I don't think that I burned. Only my arms are tanned--the rest of me is quite white still!

~Matt