I love irony

Nice Place!

I would sooooooo live here. It's beautiful. No cars. Only boats. Sign me up!

A good kind of tired

I am thoroughly exhausted tonight, but it's a good kind of tired. This post will be short as a result.

We threw a big Memorial Day pool bash and the whole family was here (minus Toni and Kerry who are vacationing in California).

It was a hot day well suited for swimming and that's exactly what we did. We also grilled the obligatory burgers and hot dogs. It wouldn't be an all-American party without those mainstays.

More tomorrow when I have more energy.

Asher's first swim...

Innocent?

Just look at this photo. These three sweet kids appear sooooooooo innocent! Could these be the same kids that caused their momma to call grandma for reinforcements? Yup! These are the same kids.

She'd had enough!

A few days ago Jessi called. She was at the end of her rope with the kids. Asher had been up most of the night and Sveta and Elliott were just their normal, energetic selves. She asked if we might babysit to give her a bit of a break. Grandma sprang to action and went to the rescue. She picked up the kids and entertained them until I got home from work. When I arrived home we took them to the Hidden Valley beach. It was a wild time. Just picture sand everywhere... Head to toe! In the evening we took the kids back home and they were sufficiently worn out. They went straight to bed and momma got a decent night's sleep.

We are so happy that Tami is not working right now. She has made herself available for situations exactly like this. We are thankful that we can do this and it is precisely what she wants to do. Grandma has made herself available 24/7/365. What a blessing to everyone.

Just one glass of wine to take the edge off...

Counting the minutes

In a matter of about three hours, I will leave work and not return until August. Summer is almost here... finally! I will have a lot of time off, but I also have a ton of work to do. I have to take a graduate level course and there are a thousand and one little jobs around the house that have been neglected for far too long. I will not be sitting around twiddling my thumbs. I will be quite the busy little bee and there will be no time to get bored. But in the end, I am looking forward to a nice break after my first successful year of teaching 4th grade (and 26th year overall). Nine more years until retirement, but who's counting?

Russian

In honor of my Russian granddaughter...

Say Ahhhhhhhh!

Guess who went to the dentist yesterday?

I love that he is wearing his mom's sunglasses... :-)

It's a BIG day!

This is a big day for my daughter, Abby. She recently made the very grown up, mature decision to leave school and take a full time job. She did not leave school for lack of success. On the contrary... in her one year of college, Abby made the Dean's list and was selected as President of the student government. So why leave school? The answer is simpler than you might think. College is expensive and Abby found that paying tuition, getting a degree and working toward a career did not mesh with her life goal of being a stay at home mom and housewife. These are noble aspirations toward a job that the world has come to regard as unimportant or for the uneducated. Neither of those could be farther from the truth. My eldest daughter is a wonderful mom and wife who home schools her kids. Abby wants to be just like her big sister in this respect.

Now that I've said that, Abby starts her full time job today. She will be working in client services in a medical laboratory in Blue Ash, Ohio. She will be making a very nice starting hourly wage as well as receiving full benefits (medical insurance, dental insurance, vision, and a 401k). There are also opportunities for bonuses and advancement in the company. I'd say this is a decent place for an eighteen year-old to start. Abby has joined the workforce in the big, bad world. She will learn a lot of things really fast. Some of these things will be good and some of them will not. We all know that life lessons will come hard and fast for her in the workplace. She has gone and grown up on me and now she gets the chance to show the world what she's made of.

You go get 'em, Abby! The world will never be the same! I am so proud of you!

Almost home!

At 5:45 this morning I received a text saying my girls had landed safely at CVG. I haven't seen them in nine days and I cannot wait to get home from work today to welcome them home. They are going to be tired and and I'm relatively certain jet lag is going to be a problem. At any rate, I am happy to know they are at the airport and will be arriving home in a little while.

It has been a long week

It's been a long week at the Meyer house. My girls have been in California since last Saturday and they will finally be back home tomorrow. Nine days is the longest I've ever been away from my wife, and I never want to be apart for that long again. Thankfully I've been really, really busy, so I haven't had much time to sit and pine over them. I am so eager to get them back home tomorrow. It will be fun to hear all about their trip and to catch up after their west coast adventures. I'm praying for a safe flight. Hurry home, girls. I've missed you!

The world has gone crazy

So let me get this straight. Anybody can use any restroom, changing room or locker room they choose simply because of transgender people. How long before teenage boys start walking into girls restrooms and locker rooms? Why wouldn't they? They are now legally allowed to do so. How long before pervert creeps start invading women's restrooms, and changing rooms in stores or locker rooms at the gym? Well, I've decided to get in on this act. I am going to identify as a 70 year old man. I can now legally retire and nobody can stop me. Do you see how ridiculous this is? The world has gone crazy!

This works

Trust me on this one, fellas. It really works. I have been married nearly 25 years and this little strategy works like a charm every time!

Just so I'm not the cause of your divorce, this is just a joke. You should put this method into practice only if you have a death wish.

Confession

I have a confession to make... I have secretly been living a life of crime. I now admit it. I am a Serial Griller. Haha!

Actually this is a gift my mom brought me from Florida. The photo shows it hanging proudly next to my grill.

I've killed a lot of burgers and dogs in my day.

Not quite....

The swimming pool is open, but the weather is far from summer-like. Come on, Summer!

Almost...

Michael and I took the cover off the pool yesterday. All the plumbing is connected and all the chemicals have been added. Everything is ready to go, but I wouldn't recommend swimming yet (not unless you wish to swim in virtual ice water). We're almost ready to go, but not quite...

Just waiting for some hot days to warm up the water. Then there will be no stopping us. Last one in's a rotten egg!

Just Because

No reason for posting this. Just because...

I particularly like the genuine look of surprise on Asher's face.

I love bacon!

I love bacon!

They're Back!

And just like that, the photos are back.

Phew! That's a relief!

Curiosity killed the...

They say curiosity killed the cat, but nobody ever mentioned what happened to the raccoon.

If you're like me, you're just dying to know what's on the other side of that door!

I am worried

I am worried about my blog. For some strange reason I am unable to post photos with my new posts. I can still post text, but the photos and images that I have become accustomed to posting are not working. I am hoping that it is a temporary problem with the "Blogger" website and not a new problem with my computer. Stay tuned folks. I've had difficulties before and I've always worked through them. It's amazing how addicted I've become to posting something everyday. In turn, it's also unsettling when I can't post something the way I'd like to.

Groucho Marx

If this fish isn't named Groucho Marx, its owner is unfit and unworthy to have him.

California here THEY come

In a spontaneous move, two days ago Tami and Abby made the decision to fly to California. They will be staying with Tami's brother, Tim, in Laguna Niguel. Laguna Niguel is just south of LA. Not far from anything in the LA/San Diego/SoCal area. They will be gone for a record 9 days. It's a record because the longest Tami and I ever been apart is a week. I am really happy they are going, but I am going to miss them terribly. I wish I was going with them, but alas I have to stay home and finish up the school year.

They fly out at 2:00 this afternoon. Michael and I will stay home and live as a couple of bachelors until the girls get home next week. I would love to tell you that we were going to do some fun "guy stuff", but we both have to work and I still have to work on my graduate course. So, we'll probably just hang out in the evenings and enjoy each other's company. Meanwhile, the girls will be living it up in sunny southern California.

That's my boy!

Michael recently got a job with the best landscaping business in Dearborn County. He has become quite the expert on yard work and horticulture. His boss asked him yesterday to plant the employee garden on the property of the business. Here is a photo of his handiwork. Notice all the antiques and pretty stuff in the background. The is a real showplace in our area.

Tow Truck!

Call me crazy, but I think they're gonna need a tow truck. And while we're on the subject... Just HOW does this happen?

The Computer Doctor

My sick computer went to the computer doctor today. Much like a people doctor, the computer doctor said my poor little laptop was getting old and there is only so much that can be done to fix it. People doctors can give medicine and perform surgery, but no matter how good the doctor is, your body will never be the same as it was when it was young. It's the same for computers. You can update software, install new hardware components, and give it regular check ups, but the computer will never be as good as it was the day it left the factory.

For now my computer is feeling better, but it won't take long for the ache to return to its aging bones. It's just part of getting old. As computers go, this one is ancient. Nine years for a laptop is a long life. I have used this computer almost every day for those nine years and it has served me well. The day will come when it is beyond repair and will have to be put down. But for the time being, my old friend is humming along like a champ.

One more gift

Prior to Mothers Day, Tami was dropping strong hints, no check that, she was blatantly asking for a delivery of Shari's Berries. These are gourmet chocolate dipped strawberries that sell for about 3 bucks apiece and that does not include the high cost of shipping. As Sunday passed, Tami was a bit disappointed that these berries did not arrive in the mail. Monday came and she thought maybe she'd get a late Mothers Day gift. Nope! No berries on Monday either. The surprise was fully in place as she resigned herself to the idea that no strawberries would be coming. Ah, but the Meyers and Mortons are a sneaky bunch. Jessi, Michael and Abby had a dozen Shari's Berries delivered on Tuesday and momma was thrilled! She tasted one and said they were delicious. I have never been a fan of chocolate dipped strawberries, but I just had to try one of these famous berries. I was pleasantly surprised. Good stuff! Really good stuff! Happy Mothers Day (again!).

Kids don't listen

This totally sums up my life at school. Kids just don't listen. As an example... I take attendance and lunch count every morning. I announce the lunch choices several times. I then ask each student individually what they would like to order for lunch. Every morning, without fail, I'll ask some child what he/she would like to order for lunch and he/she will look me dead in the eye and ask, "What are my choices again?". You have no idea how many times I've wanted to throw the lunch count form up in the air and yell, "That's it! I quit!". How can a child seriously asks me that question when I have clearly stated what the lunch options are for that day. It's exasperating!

A happy day

Tami had a happy Mother.s Day. I took her out for a steak dinner last night. Jessi arranged for her to see her 3 favorite grandchildren. Abby took her to lunch last week and Michael brought her flowers when he came home from work. We also went to dinner as a family this evening. It was a happy Mother's Day indeed!

Happy Mothers Day

Sorry for no post yesterday. I am having MAJOR computer problems and postings may be a bit sporadic for a while. Please do not give up on reading the blog. I will do my best to make sure there is no interruption in blog post output. However, if I miss a day, please know I will be back as soon as I can.

Thanks for understanding.

On a brighter note…

Happy Mothers Day to all the Mothers out there. You have the most demanding, most important, and most thankless job out there!

Easily Amused

Come on out! We know you're in there!

Little Known Fact

I have been a shipwreck enthusiast all my life. One of my favorite stories is the queen mother of all shipwrecks, The Titanic. Please don't misunderstand. I do not find joy in more than 1500 people losing their lives in a tragedy of epic proportions. I just find the whole story captivating and interesting. Most people know the basics of the story... the iceberg, the lack of lifeboats and the worst shipwreck in maritime history. However, there is one little known part of the story. Did you know the Titanic carried a variety of cargo? It's main cargo was mail. Hence the name... RMS Titanic. RMS stands for Royal Mail Ship. However, the Titanic was also carrying a lesser known cargo. Mayonnaise. That's right folks. The Hellmann's Mayonnaise company was sending a shipment of its delicious condiment to America and in turn the mayonnaise was then to make its way to Mexico. Apparently in 1912 the people of Mexico had developed a taste for Hellmann's mayonnaise and it was difficult to come by. Unfortunately that shipment of mayonnaise never made it to the Americas. As you may have guessed, the mayonnaise went to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean with the rest of Titanic's cargo. Since that fateful night, the event has come to be known as "Sinko De Mayo".

Ha ha! Gotcha! Happy Cinco de Mayo loyal blog readers.
BTW--- Everything in this post is true except the mayonnaise joke. RMS really did stand for Royal Mail Ship and the Titanic really was carrying thousands of pieces of mail.

Happy Star Wars Day

Happy Star Wars Day! May the fourth be with you!

Back in the day!

More and more things are making me feel old nowadays. I never thought the world would take off at lightning speed and leave me behind, but that is precisely what has happened. Yesterday Tami and I left the world of flip phones (yes, the REALLY old kind) and joined the 21st century. We received our very first Smart Phones in the mail yesterday. Whoever named them Smart Phones knew what they were talking about because these Smart Phones sure make me feel dumb!

Last night our living room looked like something directly out of a comedy routine. I was fumbling through the early stages of trying to figure out how this fancy, hand-held computer worked. The kids were zipping through their new phones with agility and ease. It’s a humbling experience to be asking your kids for assistance every three seconds, but without their help, I wouldn’t have even been able to power the silly thing up. After much trial and error and the invaluable assistance of Abby, I was soon navigating the new phone (albeit quite clumsily).

These shenanigans led to a fun family discussion. It started as a classic “old people” discussion. With phrases like, “back in my day…” or “when your mom and I were kids…”, we informed our kids about our experiences with telephones way back in the (GASP!) 60’s and 70’s. Michael and Abby were flabbergasted to find out that phones used to be attached to the wall and a person could go no further than the short, three foot cord would allow. They were also amused when we told them how happy we were as kids when our parents got a longer cord. Yipee! We could now go 6 or 8 feet away from the phone! Big times! The discussion progressed into how we felt we were living in the space age when cordless phones came out. We were living large when we could carry the phone anywhere in the house and even maybe onto the front porch. The kids were equally amazed to hear about the early days of cellular phones. I’m talking about the ones that basically carried around in a small suitcase. Yes, they were portable all right, but hardly practical. I mean, who wants to lug around a twenty-pound telephone? We had quite the laugh talking about the old days and it’s fun to see how my kids react to the days of telephones on cords. I can only imagine what it will be like when Michael and Abby are my age and they are telling their own children about the technology of their youth. I hate to tell them, but the world is going to pass them by too.

I don't care

Ladies and gentlemen, the struggle is real. Trying to decide where to eat is sometimes the most difficult decision a couple makes during the day. I recently heard of a new restaurant that opened and the owner named it "I Don't Care". He said when couples asked each other where they wanted to eat and they each said, "I don't care", his restaurant would be the one that came to mind. I have no idea if it has been successful, but it's brilliant marketing strategy if it works.

Me: Honey, where would you like to eat tonight?

Tami: I don't care

Me: Ok. Great! Let's go! I heard they have awesome burgers!

Look what I found!

This may not interest many of you, but I thought this was pretty cool. I saw a tortoise (aka Box Turtle) in my yard yesterday. They are not all that common around here, so seeing one was kind of neat.

May Day! May Day!

The calendar turns from April to May today. This makes me really happy. May is the month school ends for the summer. May is the month we open our pool. May is the month when the weather turns warm and STAYS warm. May is the month when spring quietly gives way to to summer (yes, I know summer begins in June, but you get my point). Good things happen in May. Life is good!