I went to a Women's Retreat with our church this weekend. Even though I ended up feeling pretty crappy, (the beginning stages of a head cold = headache & plugged ears, then the endless draining) I had a great time. I roomed with a couple of lovely ladies who took pity on me, and took care of me. It felt good. The speaker talked about a couple of themes that hit home (don't they always) Fear and Beauty. I discovered that I have a real fear of being alone (complicated by our current place of residence and the loss of my mother.) We talked in my small group about knowing that even when I feel alone I'm not. God is always with me, and He is surrounding me with caring people, I just need to open my eyes and see them. So, I see you Bekah, Danielle, Donna, Debbie, Kim, Karen. And yes, I see you Ken, Jake, Megan and Michael.
Then the next day we talked about Beauty. Again, a sensitive subject with me. What is beauty, and who gets to define it. I have even struggled with God's description of beauty being a quiet and gentle spirit. If you know me, I don't have either of those, so does that mean that God does not see beauty in me? Not sure I have completely wrapped my arms around this subject yet. I know I hide my insecurities under a few pounds and a loud laugh, but is there really something beautiful down in there somewhere? I'll keep looking.
Overall, even with a head cold. It was a relaxing and enlightening weekend. Funny thing, I really didn't want to go. I knew I was getting sick, and I normally really hate being with women. Not all women, but most. I don't feel very feminine ever, and when I'm surrounded by estrogen, I get uncomfortable. I think it goes back to that beauty thing. I had no doubt though when I was asked who the most beautiful person I knew was, Megan is a hands down winner. Not only beautiful on the outside (where it really doesn't matter, but it is TRUE) but on the inside. She told me she missed me and didn't like it when I left her all alone in "man-land." Maybe next time I'll take her.
So, that is my deep, spiritual contribution to my blog. Next time, back to movies and kids who fart a lot.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
It's Official, my kids are crazy funny!
After Michael's soccer game yesterday afternoon we went with some friends to "family karaoke night" at my favorite establishment. Though it didn't start when we thought, we still had a good dinner, played some trivia, and eventually got to sing a couple of songs. Michael was the star. He did a mean version of Juke Box Hero and had the whole place in stitches.
Also, I need to tell you the story of Megan's accent training for drama. They are supposed to use different accents to say the phrase "Where you in the boat when the boat turned over. Of course not silly, I was in the water." So, we were driving home from somewhere, and the kids and I started trying this particular exercise. Ken almost had to pull over until we could calm down. We were all in stitches. It is sometimes funny to watch Ken watch us. It seems like he keeps wondering "where did these people come from and why do I love them as much as I do?" And, for the record, I am the best at accents. I totally nailed the German accent. And I am pretty practiced with the Swedish accent so that was pretty good as well.
So, I reflect on my weekend with my kids. Fun times in the car, a great dinner and movie night with the older kids, Ken had a great time with Michael at the Galaxy game, and a great family karaoke night. Makes me think how lucky I am. I really do have great kids. They make me laugh. I tell them I'm the best friend they'll ever have (that's what my mom used to say) but truth is, they are probably the best friends I'll ever have.
I Love You Guys!
Also, I need to tell you the story of Megan's accent training for drama. They are supposed to use different accents to say the phrase "Where you in the boat when the boat turned over. Of course not silly, I was in the water." So, we were driving home from somewhere, and the kids and I started trying this particular exercise. Ken almost had to pull over until we could calm down. We were all in stitches. It is sometimes funny to watch Ken watch us. It seems like he keeps wondering "where did these people come from and why do I love them as much as I do?" And, for the record, I am the best at accents. I totally nailed the German accent. And I am pretty practiced with the Swedish accent so that was pretty good as well.
So, I reflect on my weekend with my kids. Fun times in the car, a great dinner and movie night with the older kids, Ken had a great time with Michael at the Galaxy game, and a great family karaoke night. Makes me think how lucky I am. I really do have great kids. They make me laugh. I tell them I'm the best friend they'll ever have (that's what my mom used to say) but truth is, they are probably the best friends I'll ever have.
I Love You Guys!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Movie Review
OK, so the older kids and I saw the FUNNIEST movie last night. It gets three thumbs up from the Tucker Family. It is called Ghost Town. We went with some friends and they loved it as well. I thought it was going to be this cute movie about a guy learning to care about other (which it was) but during the process it was hysterical. I literally could not breath during the dog scene (you'll have to go see it to find out what happens.) It felt so good to just have a hearty laugh, the kind that starts out small and turns into an ugly snort fest and a sore belly. Good news, I didn't wet my pants.
Michael did great at his soccer game yesterday. We lost again, but I think we need to get used to that. We just look at how he played and forget about the score. We just can't seem to put any offense together. So, even if our defense plays great, the chance of winning decreases exponentially when we can't seem to get the ball into the goal. 0-0 is still not a win. I think we had one or two shots on goal, and the other team had 20 (I don't know for sure, but it sure seemed that way.) So a 2-0 game is still respectable.
Jake is playing soccer on a co-ed rec team from "that place we work." He is having fun and getting a little exercise. This team probably won't win a game either.
Well, we're off to a busy Sunday. Remember, go see "Ghost Town." Let me know what you think.
Michael did great at his soccer game yesterday. We lost again, but I think we need to get used to that. We just look at how he played and forget about the score. We just can't seem to put any offense together. So, even if our defense plays great, the chance of winning decreases exponentially when we can't seem to get the ball into the goal. 0-0 is still not a win. I think we had one or two shots on goal, and the other team had 20 (I don't know for sure, but it sure seemed that way.) So a 2-0 game is still respectable.
Jake is playing soccer on a co-ed rec team from "that place we work." He is having fun and getting a little exercise. This team probably won't win a game either.
Well, we're off to a busy Sunday. Remember, go see "Ghost Town." Let me know what you think.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
A Lesson in "Be Careful What You Say"
I was minding my own business at work yesterday when our IT manager came up to me with an interesting observation. Apparently he has been instructed to put a "tickler" out for any websites that mention...well the name of the company where I work, and my blog came up after my most recent post. As we were talking he stated that the Ferrari story was his favorite. So, what is it that IT managers do when the computers, phones, faxes and copiers are all running smoothly? They read my blog. Not only did he read the part about, well the company I work for, he also read the entire list of blogs. How long do you suppose it took him to get through the entire list?
So, from now on, I will not refer to, well, that company I work for.
So, from now on, I will not refer to, well, that company I work for.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Men, they just don't understand
I went to my favorite karaoke bar with my new best friend Rebekah and one of the young chicks. We just have a good time together. We are planning all kinds of fun times, line dancing, a trip to Vegas, and more karaoke. Anyway, Ken left early since Michael had a soccer game at 8 AM. Bekah and I were talking and singing, and laughing. One guy we were talking to was convinced we were a "couple." My friend Melissa and I have been mistaken for a "couple" before as well. Let me explain things to the male mind. Women need women friends! You will never understand us, so we seek out the like mindedness of other women. We relate to each other, we care about each other, but there is absolutely nothing sexual about that. I don't think men need that kind of relationship, and if they do, they'll more than likely find it in female form. Yes, I like short hair. Yes, I like to dress in jeans and t-shirts. Yes, I enjoy the company of women. No, to that other question.
On to other subjects. We took Jake with us for part of the evening. There is no age limit at this establishment until 11, so minors can come and enjoy a couple hours of fun. We got him to sing a Journey song and yes, he was very good. It wouldn't be hard to get him hooked on my new favorite past time. He is still working at HemoCue. He has departments fighting over him now. I am hopeful he gets offered a permanent position soon. I think he likes the work and the people. He is very young, and very....confident. He'll need to work on that a little as it can come across as cocky.
Ken got up early and took Michael to soccer. Our team is struggling this year. We just can't seem to get any offense together. We spend a lot of time each game on the defensive end. Then, when they score, it appears the coach is blaming the defense. Even if we stopped everything, a 0-0 game is not a win. I wish there was some accountability placed on the offensive players. They always seem to be the "stars" who play the whole game. Michael has been on the bench a lot the last couple of weeks. At first he was pretty upset, but now I think he is looking at it as a challenge to bring his best to each game. Hopefully that will be rewarded
Megan, who threw a party at school with her friends when she heard we didn't get the job in Reno, is busy with drama. They practice every day after school until around 4:30. I am still trying to get her to look for a job. It is hard with school, church and drama. She is taking two AP classes, plus Chemistry and Alg. 2. It's a tough schedule. But, if she wants to drive my car, she'll need to get some kind of job to pay for gas and maybe some insurance.
Ken is researching possibly openings. Rumors have it the guy in Eugene is actively looking for a change. We are just hopeful something opens pretty quickly. I gave him 6 months, then I said we just won't move until Megan graduates. That means, we're stuck here in hell. But it is getting better. Hell is always easier if you have a friend or two to share the misery with, right?
On to other subjects. We took Jake with us for part of the evening. There is no age limit at this establishment until 11, so minors can come and enjoy a couple hours of fun. We got him to sing a Journey song and yes, he was very good. It wouldn't be hard to get him hooked on my new favorite past time. He is still working at HemoCue. He has departments fighting over him now. I am hopeful he gets offered a permanent position soon. I think he likes the work and the people. He is very young, and very....confident. He'll need to work on that a little as it can come across as cocky.
Ken got up early and took Michael to soccer. Our team is struggling this year. We just can't seem to get any offense together. We spend a lot of time each game on the defensive end. Then, when they score, it appears the coach is blaming the defense. Even if we stopped everything, a 0-0 game is not a win. I wish there was some accountability placed on the offensive players. They always seem to be the "stars" who play the whole game. Michael has been on the bench a lot the last couple of weeks. At first he was pretty upset, but now I think he is looking at it as a challenge to bring his best to each game. Hopefully that will be rewarded
Megan, who threw a party at school with her friends when she heard we didn't get the job in Reno, is busy with drama. They practice every day after school until around 4:30. I am still trying to get her to look for a job. It is hard with school, church and drama. She is taking two AP classes, plus Chemistry and Alg. 2. It's a tough schedule. But, if she wants to drive my car, she'll need to get some kind of job to pay for gas and maybe some insurance.
Ken is researching possibly openings. Rumors have it the guy in Eugene is actively looking for a change. We are just hopeful something opens pretty quickly. I gave him 6 months, then I said we just won't move until Megan graduates. That means, we're stuck here in hell. But it is getting better. Hell is always easier if you have a friend or two to share the misery with, right?
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
The Good and Bad
We had a great weekend with Nic & Melissa. We gambled, drank, ate, laughed. It was all good. We ended up losing money, but if you think of the entertainment and the free drinks, I think we came out ahead. We saw a hysterical show at "Catch a Rising Star" comedy club. Nic and Ken were weeping from laughing so hard. Definitely a man's comedian, but you all know I have a little bit of a man's sense of humor. Let's just say it, Farting is Funny!
We had a great dinner with some of the board members from the Reno Council on Monday night. It was like a gathering of friends. We laughed and talked for about two and a half hours. I tried my hardest not to be a career killer, but a Ken advocate instead. Ken interviewed great on Tuesday. BUT, you knew that was coming didn't you. But, the job went to the Area Director Marty Baldwin. Ken just couldn't compete with his experience. The personnel guy from the region said Ken did great and made it a tough decision, but he couldn't overcome the experience. So, what next? There are openings all over the country (Michigan, North Carolina...) but nothing that Ken is qualified for in the West. He is hoping that now that the Area Director position is open (thanks to Marty) someone from Eugene, Spokane, Boise might want that job. It would be a promotion without the need for a move for any of these guys, so that is always attractive. We'll do some research on the open positions, talk with the Regional guys and see what is next.
So back to the OC. We'll need to plan some kind of consolation party at my favorite karaoke bar. Becka/Danielle, are you free Friday night?
We had a great dinner with some of the board members from the Reno Council on Monday night. It was like a gathering of friends. We laughed and talked for about two and a half hours. I tried my hardest not to be a career killer, but a Ken advocate instead. Ken interviewed great on Tuesday. BUT, you knew that was coming didn't you. But, the job went to the Area Director Marty Baldwin. Ken just couldn't compete with his experience. The personnel guy from the region said Ken did great and made it a tough decision, but he couldn't overcome the experience. So, what next? There are openings all over the country (Michigan, North Carolina...) but nothing that Ken is qualified for in the West. He is hoping that now that the Area Director position is open (thanks to Marty) someone from Eugene, Spokane, Boise might want that job. It would be a promotion without the need for a move for any of these guys, so that is always attractive. We'll do some research on the open positions, talk with the Regional guys and see what is next.
So back to the OC. We'll need to plan some kind of consolation party at my favorite karaoke bar. Becka/Danielle, are you free Friday night?
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Nothing much
So the weekend soccer tournament was less than exciting. The boys were struggling. Lost all three games, we didn't score once. Tough to watch. Not really sure what the problem was, we just didn't gel I guess. League play starts this weekend. We will miss the first two games (Sat & Sun) but Jake will handle everything while we are gone. He really did turn out to be a great young man. I'm proud of you Jake!
Ken and I spent the rest of the weekend resting. If all this pans out as we would like, our lives will be thrown into chaos next week. The in between time is really difficult for me. Ken uses the time wisely. He studies and prepares. I on the other hand, worry and fret, go over every "what if" scenario that could possibly play out. It isn't productive, I just can't seem to stop myself. I am really, really, really looking forward to a weekend with Melissa. Girls gone wild in Reno! Can't wait!
Wish I had a funny story or something to share, unfortunately, our weekend was pretty dull. We'll keep you posted on anything exciting that might happen. Don't hold your breath though.
Ken and I spent the rest of the weekend resting. If all this pans out as we would like, our lives will be thrown into chaos next week. The in between time is really difficult for me. Ken uses the time wisely. He studies and prepares. I on the other hand, worry and fret, go over every "what if" scenario that could possibly play out. It isn't productive, I just can't seem to stop myself. I am really, really, really looking forward to a weekend with Melissa. Girls gone wild in Reno! Can't wait!
Wish I had a funny story or something to share, unfortunately, our weekend was pretty dull. We'll keep you posted on anything exciting that might happen. Don't hold your breath though.
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