Field Notes

It's Brian's Birthday!

First birthday without my boy at home. Very strange. Kinda trying to ignore it, but I need to do my top ten list. We all miss you Bri and hope you have a great "study day!" 

10. Has a creative definition of the word study that somehow sidesteps the activity of studying! He did finally have to read this year since going to Illinois. Paying that much for books...might as well open 'em and see what is inside.

9. Started liking the NHL over the past year. Just fell for the wrong team.  Go Sabres!

8. Living the dream...first year at U of I!

7. Interesting sleeping habits. Can sleep anywhere, except his bed.  We will be able to sell it on eBay as new!

6. He's real. What you see is what you get. No plastic.

5. Amazingly eclectic music taste, and I like all of it.  

4. Kids from Access at church still talk about him. I like that he is someone's hero for something that matters.

3. He'll be home for a month in about a week. I like when he is home.

2. He has the guts to go against the flow. Doesn't have to do something just because everyone else is. He's not obnoxious about it. He's just true to himself.  

1. At 12:28 pm the teen years will be done! The man will be 20! I have to say, if every kid was the teenager that Brian was, no parent would complain about having a teen.  He's amazing!

I love you Brian...have a great year!

PS  Next year Sandburg will be named the Cubs manager. Will you come back home when your favorite player is promoted or will you continue to be associated with a team that wears the colors of communism and satan? Come to think of it...the Hawks are into red as well.  You got something you want to tell us? Closet commie?  Devil worshiper?  Probably the only two things worse than being a Cardinal fan!  

Come home!

Beginning of the End

Tonight marks the beginning of the end, not only of a TV show, but of a great family tradition.

Years ago we declared Friday evening family night.  No plans were to be made outside of us...no appointments, no work, nothing but time together.  It has worked so well.   Took a bit of a hit later in high school, but overall, Friday night was sacred, and we were together.

For many of those years, Mr. Monk has been with us on those evenings.  I remember when I first heard of this show.  A friend told me how great it was.  I could not imagine enjoying a story about a guy in a convent.  We watched one episode and were instantly hooked (BTW...the show is convent-free).

Tonight is part one of the series finale.  It is also the last time we will all watch Monk live together.  Next week Brian will be back at school.  So tonight we will whirl up the popcorn with lots of butter and salt like we have for years and enjoy the evening with our friend Mr. Monk one more time, and enjoy each other.

The Death of Common Sense

Quick Care just called with test results for one of our kids...a strep test.

Though my name is on the form as father and insurance provider...though I have signed off to pay the bill...because Kim did not specifically say that I can get the results, the nurse could not give them to me.  (might I add...not the nurse's fault, she's following the law).

• Kim and I have been happily married for 24 years

• We share everything...everything

• All three kids are my bio kids

• Two are minors

• I pay the bill and the insurance is provided through me

I have to wait for Kim to call to find out if my kid has strep?  My kid??

We have utterly lost all common sense in this country.  It is going to be the death of us.

Oh, and don't forget, the "brain trust" that created this law is now sitting on a couple thousand page bill and are about to "reform" our health care system.

Common sense is dead.  

It's a strep test...a step test!

Enough!  I've had it.  Stupidity and absurdity reign supreme!

Don't Tread on Me!

Follow up...the test was negative!

Mr Monk Screams Like a Girl

This clip from a recent episode has been cracking my family up for days.  We play it over and over...

Vacation?

I took last week off.  The word "vacation" doesn't quite capture what I did.  Let's call it a "break" instead. 

The week was consumed by house projects.  I had things that I've wanted to get done for months.  Much if it involved getting ready for winter, like cleaning the attic and garage, rearranging storage, sealing the garage floor and driveway...things like that.

On Saturday morning Nate and I went to be with Brian for Dad's Weekend at Illinois.  After the game was done, we headed over to Bloomington and spent the rest of Saturday and Sunday together.

The "break" is now over.  I have an overflowing email box to clear, a bunch of appointments and lots to do.  

Hope you had a good week too.

Game Day

Today Nate takes in his first live Illinois football game as we head down to visit his big brother at U of I.

We're pretty pumped.  We've got season tickets and are ready to see some wins!

Taking on ISU.  Should be a fun one for us!

Looks fun...if you like heights!

Brian is the final guy in line loading on to the Blackhawk.

Birthday Top 10 List

So, my littlest sister Kathy is celebrating another year on this earth today.

Here's my top ten list for her birthday:

10.  We got to be together this summer!  We don't get to see each other often, and I really enjoyed it!

  9.  She's got a great Facebook Farm.  I cannot remember the name of the app, but you farmers know.  Actually texted me this year to let me know she needed her pineapples harvested!  So far I have resisted the farming urge!

  8.  It been fun watching her kids get older and to see who they are becoming because of her influence.

  7.  She's known in our family for her homemade cards.  The kids love them!

  6.  She's got a fun blog.  I like keeping up with her life when she posts!

  5.  I love the fact that she is a committed, growing Christ-follower.

  4.  I am grateful that she had me dedicate her kids (Matt this past summer).  It meant a lot to me.

  3.  Without Kathy, Dunkin' Donuts would be bankrupt.

  2.  I will always remember her for the Captain and Denee!

  1.  She likes my tacos!  I look forward to more meals and fun together!

Happy Birthday Kath!

I thought I caught her in a picture this summer.   The image is of Emily and Dave at Lincoln's tomb, doing the nose thing!

Birthday Top 10 List

I'm in the habit of doing a birthday top ten list for my immediate family members.  Today my mom is one year older.  So, here are ten things (out of hundreds) that I appreciate about her.

10.  My mom's childhood was not easy.  I think that by most standards, she would have been marked by professionals as a kid destined for a tough future.  She is a constant reminder to me that your childhood does not have to determine your destiny.

9. In some of my times of deepest personal pain, she listened. 

8.  This past year she was able to retire, and I am happy for her!

7.  I am so grateful that my mom listened when God was calling her to become His child.  She responded to Him, and because of that, I had the opportunity to enter into a relationship with God as well.

6.  Some of the best food I've eaten has come from my mom's kitchen!

5.  Gotta include it though I've said it before...she passed her salt and butter addictions to her oldest son.  I've now gone almost two months without either.  Closest I've ever come to rehab!

4.  Mom and dad moved to Tennessee a few years back and love it.  I am so happy that they are happy.

3.  My mom loves attracting humming birds.  Guess I know where the bird addiction comes from too.

2.  As I prepare Brian to leave for U of I this coming weekend, I have a new found appreciate for how deeply it hurt to send each of her four kids out into the world. 

1.  My mom has a twin (Happy Birthday Cioci Jan).  Both were born with eye issues.  Recently, she had surgery to correct her vision.  Not too long ago I was looking at her Facebook picture and could not figure out why she looked wrong.  Then it hit me...no glasses.  I kind of wonder if that is what will happen to us in heaven.  We'll see a person without their "disability" and wonder what's wrong, instead of realizing that all is finally right!  Thanks for a glimpese of heaven!

Starving U of I Student Garage Sale

My first year at Cedarville in 1981 cost about $4,800 if I remember correctly.  That was room and board...the works.  A year at the University of Illinois is about five times that amount.  I said a year!  That's for a state school.  Cedarvile was a private college, and relatively hidden among the corn fields.

Brian has been working like a madman to raise funds for school. Kim suggested he hold a garage sale...we could use some clear space and he could use some cash.

So, tomorrow from 7-3 we'll be selling off lots of stuff to help our kid go to school.

If you're in the area...stop by.  I'm sure we have something that would look great in your crawl space!