A Slower Pace

Well, today was the first day back to school. We have schools for all three of the kids. Of course, they aren’t all the same school or, for that matter, next to each other. My wife will truly be the school taxi for a month or two. Met some more really nice people at the schools. The kids should settle in just fine. As with everything else around here, it will just take a little while to develop a schedule. Friends, homework, extracurricular activities, etc. But all in all, things continue to go well. This was probably our last really big hurdle (and even bigger worry for my wife). We’re not out of the woods yet — but I can see the cabin and a fire in the fireplace waiting for us (if you are into visualization).

…..Dan at aslowerpace

We made it to church. We’re 1 for 1 in 2005. It was the early 8:15a service but that now leaves the rest of the day for our family.

The people were friendly and during the sharing of the peace (where they take a few minutes in the service to allow members to turn to one another, greet each other and shake hands), the pastor came over to personally introduce himself. Afterwards, the kids enjoyed a few cookies while my wife had coffee and we chatted with a few of the regulars. It was a warm and friendly atmosphere — not too big and not too small.

A quick trip to the Kroger and we were back home. There is some very nice drizzle outside – not enough to make you rush to do things or wear rain gear. Reminds me of my early college years in Seattle.

Off to see what football games are on.

…..Dan at aslowerpace

The first day of 2005 was nice. However, it was very weird to not get out of bed and start watching the Rose Parade. Waiting for several hours when you have already gotten up, eaten breakfast and have things to do makes it lose it’s luster. It was still on TV but since the day was already half over, we didn’t just laze around in our PJs enjoying it. Instead, I caught some of the flowery creations between finding the power supply for the answering machine, going out to the road to collect the garbage cans and swapping out the satellite TV receiver. Again, it wasn’t the same.

Completely off topic — the high priced cable people at MonsterCable are trying to bully a smaller, non-industry related snowboard company to relenquish the rights to “monster”. They must have graduated from the Microsoft school of cutthroat business. Check out this website – www.stopthemonster.com .

I guess when Disney re-releases Monsters, Inc. they will have to rename it or face MonsterCable’s wrath.

Back on topic.

We didn’t leave the house, just enjoyed a misty day with the early morning fog hanging just above the back creek — very peaceful. And later today, I actually sat out in the mist on the back patio with shorts and a sweat shirt while my son chipped away at the last remaining snow pile. Quiet and relaxing.

Looking forward to our first church outing tomorrow morning. I gotta go get some sleep.

…..Dan at aslowerpace

Happy New Year…..

Only a few more minutes until I say goodbye to 2004 and hail in 2005 (hopefully asleep). So much has happened, so much has changed, and we have been so blessed. I wish to share
with you the hope of a new year and the resolve to make positive changes.

Best wishes for a wonderful 2005!

…..Dan at aslowerpace

I woke up this morning to find the landscape of white replaced by green. Overnight the snow melted, swelling the creeks and revealing the normal landscape I had not even had the chance to get used to. I can now celebrate by getting all my vehicles out the driveway and onto a flat, hard surface.

For the last several months, we have had a family tradition of family game night. Tonight we did a twist on it and had family movie night. Time for me to break out the recently released Star Wars Trilogy. Star Wars was on the menu tonight — oops, sorry, that revealed my old schoolness. It should be “Star Wars – A New Hope”.

After viewing the DVD I am sure glad #1 – that I saw it in the movie theater in 1977 and #2 – I still have the original movie on old school techie laser disc before Lucas politically corrected it. I am hesitant to view the other two DVDs for such Monday morning quarterback directing and think I will stick with the laser discs. Better hook up the old Pioneer. Anyway, for the record, I think this is just wrong. Lucas, get over yourself. Don’t get me started on the Han Solo “defends” himself in the bar instead of shooting first and being a coldblooded killer scene remake.

OK, I’m off my soapbox.

…..Dan at aslowerpace

Had a bonfire last night to get rid of the pile of boxes and paper the movers left. Boy, what a cool site to see the snow slowly deteriorate to a watery mess as the flames lept 15 feet high and ravaged the cardboard and paper. Since it was cloudy, the stars for us were the ashes as they were spit skyward. We went out this morning to check our Mt. St. Cardboard ash trail. It went for a couple hundred feet down towards the creek. That was a perfect time for the fire — Christmas paper and cardboard fuel from the move along with snow everywhere preventing anything else from burning.

And if the fire didn’t melt the snow around it last night, the balmy 49F degrees and expecting drizzle should take care of the rest. It is all slowly melting feeding both the creeks nearby with the nice sound of running water tumbling over the rocks. All the snow should be gone by this weekend at this rate.

Bring on the next weather pattern.

…..Dan at aslowerpace

Ok, back to some “day in the life” blog posts.

I have the rest of the week off work. Still lots of settling to do. Hafta get the vehicles registered, get more household stuff, etc. While out today with my wife, my old Suburban dies in traffic. I know the problem to be a loose wire running to the starter but I’m not about to crawl under the truck while it is stranded in the #1 lane on a major street in the city. It took about 10 minutes to get triple A of Kentucky on the phone so they can dispatch a wrecker. Right after that, a Louisville PD takes a drafting position behind my Burb and hits his lights. I am now more willing to dive underneath to correct the situation when a truck gets in front of me. Out pops Garth Brooks’ good twin, tosses a tow strap onto his hitch, hooks it to my front hook and asks the PD man to stop traffic so we can get into the nearby parking lot. (I knew I was in good hands cuz he had a “W” sticker on his truck.)

Once in the parking lot he offers to help us figure out how to get home. I pop my head underneath and correct the wire issue starting the truck up. He then offers to follow us all the way home just to make sure we are ok.

I ended up in front of AutoZone only 5 miles away from home – 1, so I can get parts to rewire the problem child wire and 2, to keep him from having to follow us all the way home. He has already walked the extra mile and then some. And he wouldn’t take my 20 dollar bill nor let me fill his tank with gas. He just said, “I know my wife will be stranded some day and I hope someone will take care of her”. Anyway, I got his number, chatted with him for a while and intend to have his family over for dinner early next year once we unpack the boxes with “China/silverware” marked on them.

While we were going through all this, I asked him “Has anyone told you that you look just like Garth Brooks?”. He said “Yes” and I responded with an understanding “I get that all the time with Mark McGwire”. He took a second look at me and fully agreed, knowing we both go through similar situations. Hence the title to my post.

Oh yeah, and we bought a new 4×4 truck for my wife. But the above part was cooler.

…..Dan at aslowerpace

Back to work. Work is busy. Snow still on the ground creating traffic challenges. Heater in my truck isn’t working. Gotta fix it cuz it’s cold. But I’m blogging instead so go figure.

Hopefully, more interesting and fulfilling posts soon.

…..Dan at aslowerpace

A very Merry Christmas to all reading this! I hope this message of Christmas hope finds you warm, cheerful and blessed. Take a moment and enjoy those around you. Take a moment and enjoy the culmination of the busy holiday season. And take a moment to truly appreciate what this season is all about — God’s gift to us.

Merry Christmas!

…..Dan at aslowerpace

Because of my wife’s stuck Suburban, I had relegated us to house arrest until the snow started to melt. My old Suburban was left back at work so we didn’t have a way to get around in this snow. That was fine because they kids went out and played in the snow and my wife was working on our Christmas turkey meal. The house smelled wonderful and was full of holiday cheer.

I gave an effort to dig the Suburban out to no avail. Two wheel drive and street tires are no match for ice, snow and no traction. Went through some more boxes in the basement to make myself useful. And right after lunchtime we get a visit from a local neighbor. He saw the beached whale of a Suburban and came over on his ATV. He ended up taking me in to work to pick up my old Suburban (normally a 20 minute drive one way but this time a 35 minute drive times two). He then helped us use that Suburban to pull out my wife’s stuck Suburban. We got it out the first time and ushered hers back into the garage. Many thanks were given and, since I knew we could go into town, I took an order for his favorite amber colored beverage.

Neighbor Larry — thanks for helping us out and Merry Christmas!

My wife’s Christmas Eve dinner turned out wonderfully, we had a great time with our company and we let the kids open a few presents from under the tree. All in all, another great day here in Kentucky.

…..Dan at slowerpace