Patrick had his scout pinewood derby on Saturday . One of the parents whose boy won the last two years in a row shared some of his secrets. Patrick 's car placed third twice, second once, and first once. The first place was because his was the only car racing. It got a cheer from everyone watching.
Rachel is almost done gathering data for her science project. She is studying whether different types of music affect our dog Leo's appetite. I've been helping by feeding him on days when she was away. I have not looked at any of the data yet, so I can't say if it has or not. April noticed a Pavlov effect as he ran over to his bowl when Patrick played some songs.
Thomas started First Communion classes at the start of the month. Rachel and Patrick had to go the full year, but there is a new director who didn't think that was necessary. I think he is right, because despite missing half the class, Thomas knows all the prayers except one (Act of Contrition), and the other kids are still working on most of the prayers. It's still a new concept, and we get notices and calls about how Thomas has missed half the class.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Patrick's birthday
As I made out invitations to Patrick's birthday party, I was thinking of an ad I hear in the mornings where a woman complains that everyone communicates by email, but she doesn't own a computer. Filling out each one, I realize why so many use email over a snail mail: I'd be writing the invitation once, check for mistakes, then send everyone on the list a copy. The written version has me do the same process , and potentially make a mistakes on each one, over and over. There are only ten, so it's not difficult. Conversely, the same would not apply to thank you notes, where you want personalize each one.
The party was fun. We took the kids to Speed Street in Layton, an indoor go-cart track. You do a qualify run, and the top five get to race together. Patrick was in the top five, of course, and finished first. The surprise was that Thomas was also in the top five, beating out a lot of the older kids. He didn't want to race again, though.
End of Entry
The party was fun. We took the kids to Speed Street in Layton, an indoor go-cart track. You do a qualify run, and the top five get to race together. Patrick was in the top five, of course, and finished first. The surprise was that Thomas was also in the top five, beating out a lot of the older kids. He didn't want to race again, though.
End of Entry
Monday, December 31, 2007
What I got for christmas
I was sick for most of the week (still coughing a lot). April picked this up in Houston.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Futsal
Patrick started playing in a futsal league last Friday. The game is like soccer, but played on a hard floor. Unlike indoor soccer, there is out of bounds, and the player kicks it back in bounds. The field is small, so the games are 5 v. 5. the team,s first game was against a girls team. I could tell the boys were a little rusty. the game ended in a tie. the girls team played better. but the boys made up for it with more aggressive play. He has games every Friday night through the end of Feb.
End Of Entry
End Of Entry
Sunday, December 16, 2007
E-license
Stardate 61121.6
I took an coaching class to get an e-license about a week ago. it was a good course, and I learned a lot, like focusing on one topic for a practice session . That's not to say you only do one thing, like dribbling, for a session. that would bore most players, and you'd completely lose a kid's attention. A session can include all the elements of the game, but you only correct on the element the session is focused on. if the session focus is dribbling, and a kid makes mistakes with shooting. You let it pass. it makes sense to me.
Other concepts were to make the start of the session simple. maybe just moving in a certain way. Then make it a little more complicated by adding a ball. Then add another player, then groups of players.
We had two instructors. the first one was full of information and communicated it well. The second was probably as knowledgeable, but tended to wander into talking about professional players. He also seems to end every other sentence with 'does that make sense?'
The E does not stand for electronic (like e-mail) in this case. It's a level, and the next level up is D, and then C, and so on.
End Of Entry
I took an coaching class to get an e-license about a week ago. it was a good course, and I learned a lot, like focusing on one topic for a practice session . That's not to say you only do one thing, like dribbling, for a session. that would bore most players, and you'd completely lose a kid's attention. A session can include all the elements of the game, but you only correct on the element the session is focused on. if the session focus is dribbling, and a kid makes mistakes with shooting. You let it pass. it makes sense to me.
Other concepts were to make the start of the session simple. maybe just moving in a certain way. Then make it a little more complicated by adding a ball. Then add another player, then groups of players.
We had two instructors. the first one was full of information and communicated it well. The second was probably as knowledgeable, but tended to wander into talking about professional players. He also seems to end every other sentence with 'does that make sense?'
The E does not stand for electronic (like e-mail) in this case. It's a level, and the next level up is D, and then C, and so on.
End Of Entry
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
It's people like me who make the world complex
Stardate 61121.1
Jeff Atwood posted a while ago about microwave controls being too complicated (A Lesson in Control Simplicity). Basically, he prefers the old knob to the digital pad. I added a comment that I liked the digital design, and I cook with mine. Several replies to that comment stated I was one of those who made it hard for the rest of world. Thinking about it, I supposed there is some truth to that. I enjoy figuring out how to work things. I have a couple of universal remotes. I fit into scott adams (of dilbert) model of the guy who looks at a remote and wonders if he can make it do other things. you known, like mute the kids or better yet the cat, open the door when the dog wants out, etc. I was trying to find a wi-fi enabled lawn sprinkler controller (no luck).
At least a microwave with a digital interface is consistent. you have number buttons and you enter time in minutes and seconds. the start button takes a second or ten to find. the other 'preset' button can be ignored. these were added by marketdriods to try and get an edge on the competition.
Take the controls on a vehicle. the steering wheel pedals, and speedometer are all pretty much in the same place . but on my van, the light switch is where the wiper controls are on the car, so I am constantly turning on the wipers in the car when I want headlights.
I've come to the conclusion long ago that no matter how simple or complex the controls, most people will find fault with some or all of it. in star trek the next generation Picard could just say tea, Earl Grey, hot, and he would get exactly what he wanted(assuming no plot device to mess it up). he never specifies how hot, which is an ambiguous amount. i sometimes imagine he clicked some sort of 'remember my preference on this ship' box. even then, it would not satisfy all the time. perfection is unobtainable because human beings are so variable . at any one moment you could crave a particular food or just anything to fill the stomach.
End of Entry
Jeff Atwood posted a while ago about microwave controls being too complicated (A Lesson in Control Simplicity). Basically, he prefers the old knob to the digital pad. I added a comment that I liked the digital design, and I cook with mine. Several replies to that comment stated I was one of those who made it hard for the rest of world. Thinking about it, I supposed there is some truth to that. I enjoy figuring out how to work things. I have a couple of universal remotes. I fit into scott adams (of dilbert) model of the guy who looks at a remote and wonders if he can make it do other things. you known, like mute the kids or better yet the cat, open the door when the dog wants out, etc. I was trying to find a wi-fi enabled lawn sprinkler controller (no luck).
At least a microwave with a digital interface is consistent. you have number buttons and you enter time in minutes and seconds. the start button takes a second or ten to find. the other 'preset' button can be ignored. these were added by marketdriods to try and get an edge on the competition.
Take the controls on a vehicle. the steering wheel pedals, and speedometer are all pretty much in the same place . but on my van, the light switch is where the wiper controls are on the car, so I am constantly turning on the wipers in the car when I want headlights.
I've come to the conclusion long ago that no matter how simple or complex the controls, most people will find fault with some or all of it. in star trek the next generation Picard could just say tea, Earl Grey, hot, and he would get exactly what he wanted(assuming no plot device to mess it up). he never specifies how hot, which is an ambiguous amount. i sometimes imagine he clicked some sort of 'remember my preference on this ship' box. even then, it would not satisfy all the time. perfection is unobtainable because human beings are so variable . at any one moment you could crave a particular food or just anything to fill the stomach.
End of Entry
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Up to now
Stardate 61120.6
Events of the past month:
Rachel had a dog 'follow' her home (Patrick told me she carried it). It was a Pekingese mix with a collar, but no tags and no chip. Male, but not neutered. We kept it about two weeks, looking in the lost and found in the paper, and for any notice from the owner. I took it to Animal Control. I hope someone picked it up. It was a nice dog.
Halloween: Why is it I am in the neighborhood that doesn't like the idea of trick or treat? They did go all out to make sure I knew about trunk or treat. But as I was driving home, I saw plenty of kids out. It was one of my favorite holidays, but the neighborhood killed it. Maybe next year I'll put out the Christmas lights on October 31st. The stores do.
Secret weight loss tip: For the month of October I would get on the scale and get the same number: 216. The first week in November it wanted the battery replaced. I did that, and then got on. 200 lbs. 16 lbs lost in 60 seconds. Not bad. Maybe I could get on Oprah?
My sister and I moved my Dad to an assisted living facility. So far, he's ok with it.
End of Entry
Events of the past month:
Rachel had a dog 'follow' her home (Patrick told me she carried it). It was a Pekingese mix with a collar, but no tags and no chip. Male, but not neutered. We kept it about two weeks, looking in the lost and found in the paper, and for any notice from the owner. I took it to Animal Control. I hope someone picked it up. It was a nice dog.
Halloween: Why is it I am in the neighborhood that doesn't like the idea of trick or treat? They did go all out to make sure I knew about trunk or treat. But as I was driving home, I saw plenty of kids out. It was one of my favorite holidays, but the neighborhood killed it. Maybe next year I'll put out the Christmas lights on October 31st. The stores do.
Secret weight loss tip: For the month of October I would get on the scale and get the same number: 216. The first week in November it wanted the battery replaced. I did that, and then got on. 200 lbs. 16 lbs lost in 60 seconds. Not bad. Maybe I could get on Oprah?
My sister and I moved my Dad to an assisted living facility. So far, he's ok with it.
End of Entry
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Walking Distance
Walk Score is a cool use of Google Maps, although it needs some work. The LDS ward is not a school, and it isn't even the closest one. A number of schools are not on the list, and Larry's Raxx and Grill is not across the street.
The title, when I finally figured out why it sounded familiar, is from a Twilight Zone episode.
The title, when I finally figured out why it sounded familiar, is from a Twilight Zone episode.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Context Switch
April is out of town. Her mother went in the hospital a week and a half ago for an appendectomy. The surgery moved a hernia up against her esophagus so she can't swallow. April has been in New Orleans for the past week, and will be there until Halloween at least.
Thomas was in a tournament last week. The did not do too bad, tying one game and losing the second. This still got them in the quarter finals, which left me in a quandary. If they win, we come back again Friday. It's a big deal because the tourny is in West Jordan, about 44 miles from school in Ogden. Not far, but an hour and a quarter with rush hour traffic. MapQuest sent me down I-15 and across 4700 South, which I should have known was a bad route. The second day I was a little smarter in getting there. The team lost the quarter final game, so the kids and I got to stay home Friday evening. I took my dad with us, and we went out to eat after. He didn't understand the game, but he had fun with Rachel.
Patrick was invited to a Halloween party at a friends house Saturday. He got to ride in a limo from Smith's at 40th and Harrison to about 5600 South. He said the the party was fun, although the mother asked me "Are you coming to pick up you precious child?", which left me wondering what he had done.
Rachel was invited to Thriller with on of her friends Saturday as well. She said it was good, but the little brother of her friend kept calling the zombies over and they scared her.
I finish off 'Little Tiny Teeth'. Not my favorite of the series. I am almost finished with 'Emperor: The Gods Of War'. Interesting book, although the author has a very rosy view of Julius Caesar. Patrick has read all the Harry Potter books. He was looking at 'Emperor', but he needs a biography and not fiction.
End of Entry
Thomas was in a tournament last week. The did not do too bad, tying one game and losing the second. This still got them in the quarter finals, which left me in a quandary. If they win, we come back again Friday. It's a big deal because the tourny is in West Jordan, about 44 miles from school in Ogden. Not far, but an hour and a quarter with rush hour traffic. MapQuest sent me down I-15 and across 4700 South, which I should have known was a bad route. The second day I was a little smarter in getting there. The team lost the quarter final game, so the kids and I got to stay home Friday evening. I took my dad with us, and we went out to eat after. He didn't understand the game, but he had fun with Rachel.
Patrick was invited to a Halloween party at a friends house Saturday. He got to ride in a limo from Smith's at 40th and Harrison to about 5600 South. He said the the party was fun, although the mother asked me "Are you coming to pick up you precious child?", which left me wondering what he had done.
Rachel was invited to Thriller with on of her friends Saturday as well. She said it was good, but the little brother of her friend kept calling the zombies over and they scared her.
I finish off 'Little Tiny Teeth'. Not my favorite of the series. I am almost finished with 'Emperor: The Gods Of War'. Interesting book, although the author has a very rosy view of Julius Caesar. Patrick has read all the Harry Potter books. He was looking at 'Emperor', but he needs a biography and not fiction.
End of Entry
Monday, September 24, 2007
Programming Fundamentals
As my kids play soccer and other sports, I often ear about learning the fundamentals, and the need to keep practicing the fundamentals. It applies to math, English, and many other fields. So I wonder what the fundamentals of programming are? Would it be conditionals and loops?Is it like mathematics where you start with simple concepts and build on them? Are object, inheritance, polymorphism fundamental? What about database access? Security? Design Patterns? Templatized parameters?
End of Entry?
End of Entry?
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Arsenal without a chance
Stardate 61092.2
Thomas's team won their first game on Wednesday against a team called Arsenal. They did pretty good, and the ball stayed mainly in Arsenal's half of the field.
The title is a line from "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", near the beginning. When I first read the book, I didn't know what the barman was referring to, although I thought it had to be soccer, rugby, or cricket. I did find out years later it is indeed a soccer club. The internet does make research, especially the casual kind, much easier.
End of Entry
Thomas's team won their first game on Wednesday against a team called Arsenal. They did pretty good, and the ball stayed mainly in Arsenal's half of the field.
The title is a line from "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", near the beginning. When I first read the book, I didn't know what the barman was referring to, although I thought it had to be soccer, rugby, or cricket. I did find out years later it is indeed a soccer club. The internet does make research, especially the casual kind, much easier.
End of Entry
Friday, September 21, 2007
Happy Constitution Day
Matt posted on September 17th being Constitution Day. I should know this. I did find the list of amendments interesting. I knew there were originally 12 proposed amendments, that only ten were ratified to become the bill of rights. I did not know until now that another was approved in 1992 after being proposed in 1789. Wow, a long time on the Capitol steps.
There was a book I read on James Madison (can't find it right now) that had a thoughtful 'what-if'. What if Madison did not take part in the debate in Virginia over ratifying the Constitution, and Patrick Henry wins the day by keeping the state out of the new Union while other states go on to make it the governing document? A new government is formed, but without George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and others who are from Virginia. Would it have survived?
End of Entry
There was a book I read on James Madison (can't find it right now) that had a thoughtful 'what-if'. What if Madison did not take part in the debate in Virginia over ratifying the Constitution, and Patrick Henry wins the day by keeping the state out of the new Union while other states go on to make it the governing document? A new government is formed, but without George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and others who are from Virginia. Would it have survived?
End of Entry
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Stardate 61091.5
Patrick started soccer with the St. Joseph school team on Tuesday. He was a little late due to my not knowing where the game was being played. He plays with fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. Some of the older kids are amazing. I think he cam learn a lot from this.
Thomas played his first game on Wednesday. His team lost without scoring a goal. It' not a surprise since they haven't play many games together. One interesting play happened as an opposing player ran up to score, tripped, and the keeper jumped on him to get the ball.
Patrick had a training with Ollie at the same time as Thomas's game. April took him, and while she was there Ollie started to berate his team. He apparently told them he was ready to walk away because they lost the last two games. It didn't help that Patrick's team beat one of the teams that they played. He's getting married, so he will be gone for about a month. He's a good trainer, but I'm glad he doesn't coach Patrick's team.
Parent-Teacher conferences were Thursday night. The kids are doing well. Patrick is reading at almost a six grade level, and Rachel at a twelfth grade level.
End of Entry
Patrick started soccer with the St. Joseph school team on Tuesday. He was a little late due to my not knowing where the game was being played. He plays with fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. Some of the older kids are amazing. I think he cam learn a lot from this.
Thomas played his first game on Wednesday. His team lost without scoring a goal. It' not a surprise since they haven't play many games together. One interesting play happened as an opposing player ran up to score, tripped, and the keeper jumped on him to get the ball.
Patrick had a training with Ollie at the same time as Thomas's game. April took him, and while she was there Ollie started to berate his team. He apparently told them he was ready to walk away because they lost the last two games. It didn't help that Patrick's team beat one of the teams that they played. He's getting married, so he will be gone for about a month. He's a good trainer, but I'm glad he doesn't coach Patrick's team.
Parent-Teacher conferences were Thursday night. The kids are doing well. Patrick is reading at almost a six grade level, and Rachel at a twelfth grade level.
End of Entry
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Made it
Stardate 61091.1
Last weekend I managed to make it to a Mountain-Con meeting. It was just in time to do...nothing. With less than two weeks left, there is not much I can add.
Rachel had an orthodontist appointment Monday. He's little rough on her, and by the time he was done, she was i some pain. It caused us to skip her tennis lesson. No big deal. The instructor had told us she needs to play against other kds to increase her ability. She doesn't want to, but April and I told her its that or give up the game. Pretty much the same as with Patrick, accept the challenge.
Patrick's Ogden FC game was moved back an hour to 6:30, which gave us some breathing room. They played the team that walked all over the other U-10 Ogden FC team a couple of weeks ago. Patrick's team started slow, and at the half was tied one to one. They found the flow the second half and won the game by a score of six to one.
Patrick has decided at the start of school (three weeks ago now) that he will read the entire Harry Potter series. He has finished the first two already.
Thomas changed scout troops. He now goes to St. Rose instead of St. Paul. He has school friends in both of them, so he doesn't care which one he goes to (actually, he likes St. Rose because it is closer to home). Patrick will still be going to the troop at St. Paul.
April bought tickets to Spamalot for this Sunday. It's not the original cast, but I would love to see it.
I haven't read anything new since Deathly Hollows (finished that the day after it arrived). I've been re-reading some books. I did go to the library and picked up 'Lords of the North', the last book in Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Chronicles; 'Tiny Teeth', the latest Gideon Oliver mystery by Aaron Elkins, and 'Emperor: Gods of War', the first in a series of historical fiction about Julius Caesar.
End of Entry
Last weekend I managed to make it to a Mountain-Con meeting. It was just in time to do...nothing. With less than two weeks left, there is not much I can add.
Rachel had an orthodontist appointment Monday. He's little rough on her, and by the time he was done, she was i some pain. It caused us to skip her tennis lesson. No big deal. The instructor had told us she needs to play against other kds to increase her ability. She doesn't want to, but April and I told her its that or give up the game. Pretty much the same as with Patrick, accept the challenge.
Patrick's Ogden FC game was moved back an hour to 6:30, which gave us some breathing room. They played the team that walked all over the other U-10 Ogden FC team a couple of weeks ago. Patrick's team started slow, and at the half was tied one to one. They found the flow the second half and won the game by a score of six to one.
Patrick has decided at the start of school (three weeks ago now) that he will read the entire Harry Potter series. He has finished the first two already.
Thomas changed scout troops. He now goes to St. Rose instead of St. Paul. He has school friends in both of them, so he doesn't care which one he goes to (actually, he likes St. Rose because it is closer to home). Patrick will still be going to the troop at St. Paul.
April bought tickets to Spamalot for this Sunday. It's not the original cast, but I would love to see it.
I haven't read anything new since Deathly Hollows (finished that the day after it arrived). I've been re-reading some books. I did go to the library and picked up 'Lords of the North', the last book in Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Chronicles; 'Tiny Teeth', the latest Gideon Oliver mystery by Aaron Elkins, and 'Emperor: Gods of War', the first in a series of historical fiction about Julius Caesar.
End of Entry
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Where art thou?
Ok, August passed without a blog entry. Be prepared for a long one. In a nutshell, it was consumed with work, vet visits, and soccer. Lots of soccer.
Work has been steady. Not overwhelming, just steady. It suprises me that some of the same issues occur at Flying J as at United Healthcare. From reading technical blogs the issues are pretty common across the development community (hence Dilbert).
The cat, Smokie, developed a UTI. April took her to the vet. They wanted to take some blood< but she would not calm down. They kept her overnight, but still nothing. When we got her home she was staggering, but it passed in about a day. They also gave us antibiotics for the UTI. A week later and we brought her back for a follow-up. Again, they kept her overnight to try and get blood, and again failed. The had to sedate her. When we got her home, she was confused and could not walk again. This passed faster this time. I can't understand why the vet had so much trouble. Sure, she's ornery and mean, but is is 18 years old and does not have front claws.
Ogden FC soccer picked up a trainer. Ollie (as the kids call him) is from Manchester United. He run 'trainings' for Thomas on Tuesday and Patrick on Wednesday. These run about 3 hours. Patrick initially had problems because it was so long, but I showed him the reasons. I let he practice with Thomas's team (without Ollie). I got a great reaction from the team; about half of whom know him. "I don't want to play against Patrick" was the general response. Afterwards I asked Patrick if the practice was hard, and he said no. An I asked him if he noticed the reaction from Thomas's team, and then told him how they respected his ability. The challenge is to keey ahead of them.
Thomas has not had any problems with Ollie. He seems nicer to the U-9 then to the U-10. I think the fact the U-9 is two boys teams and a girls team whereas the U-10 is all boys plays a part. Thomas and his team did ok in the Adidas USA cup, especially considering the odds. We arrived at 3 to find out the game had been moved to 5, which meant the team would play back to back games, one at 5 and one at 6. To top it off, several players could not make it and we had no substitutes. The first game the team came back from a 3-0 deficit at the half to tie it up. The second game we lost, and we lost the next day. Saturday we canceled because several boys had come down sick. Nottoo bad given the boys had never played together in a game.
The effects of training showed in the preseason game for Patrick. The won 5-1, and didn't even look like they were putting much effort into it. I asked Patrick after the game if it was easy, and he told me he didn't even start to breathe hard.
That's it for now.
Favorite Quote: "Dad, did I do good?" - Patrick after the preseason game.
End of Entry
Work has been steady. Not overwhelming, just steady. It suprises me that some of the same issues occur at Flying J as at United Healthcare. From reading technical blogs the issues are pretty common across the development community (hence Dilbert).
The cat, Smokie, developed a UTI. April took her to the vet. They wanted to take some blood< but she would not calm down. They kept her overnight, but still nothing. When we got her home she was staggering, but it passed in about a day. They also gave us antibiotics for the UTI. A week later and we brought her back for a follow-up. Again, they kept her overnight to try and get blood, and again failed. The had to sedate her. When we got her home, she was confused and could not walk again. This passed faster this time. I can't understand why the vet had so much trouble. Sure, she's ornery and mean, but is is 18 years old and does not have front claws.
Ogden FC soccer picked up a trainer. Ollie (as the kids call him) is from Manchester United. He run 'trainings' for Thomas on Tuesday and Patrick on Wednesday. These run about 3 hours. Patrick initially had problems because it was so long, but I showed him the reasons. I let he practice with Thomas's team (without Ollie). I got a great reaction from the team; about half of whom know him. "I don't want to play against Patrick" was the general response. Afterwards I asked Patrick if the practice was hard, and he said no. An I asked him if he noticed the reaction from Thomas's team, and then told him how they respected his ability. The challenge is to keey ahead of them.
Thomas has not had any problems with Ollie. He seems nicer to the U-9 then to the U-10. I think the fact the U-9 is two boys teams and a girls team whereas the U-10 is all boys plays a part. Thomas and his team did ok in the Adidas USA cup, especially considering the odds. We arrived at 3 to find out the game had been moved to 5, which meant the team would play back to back games, one at 5 and one at 6. To top it off, several players could not make it and we had no substitutes. The first game the team came back from a 3-0 deficit at the half to tie it up. The second game we lost, and we lost the next day. Saturday we canceled because several boys had come down sick. Nottoo bad given the boys had never played together in a game.
The effects of training showed in the preseason game for Patrick. The won 5-1, and didn't even look like they were putting much effort into it. I asked Patrick after the game if it was easy, and he told me he didn't even start to breathe hard.
That's it for now.
Favorite Quote: "Dad, did I do good?" - Patrick after the preseason game.
End of Entry
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
End of July
Stardate 60073.1
Man, I can't believe July is over. It seems like only last week it was the Fourth.
My brother Verne came over from Indianapolis to visit with his wife, daughter, her husband, and their son. We only got to see them a couple of times in the week they were here.
Soccer has begun again in earnest. Between Patrick and Thomas, practices are two or three times a week. Patrick had a tournament in Logan last week. The team did very well, losing only one game. The team they lost to was the same team they played in the championship and beat. I missed all but the last game, but the other team was pretty good. I heard this was their first time in a tournament,
My brother Verne and his family came for a visit. We didn't have much time to spend with them, but I did get to see his daughter and grandson.
Thomas went to scout camp at Camp Kesiel. Only one other scout from the den went up, but the had fun. Thomas had trouble cocking the BB gun, and the group all laughed as the bow slipped out of my hands and the arrow went up in the trees. It was overcast and not too hot. The theme this year is cowboys.
The boys and I went to see the Simpsons Movie. It was very good. One of the few movies I can remember thinking 'it's over already?'
End of Entry
Man, I can't believe July is over. It seems like only last week it was the Fourth.
My brother Verne came over from Indianapolis to visit with his wife, daughter, her husband, and their son. We only got to see them a couple of times in the week they were here.
Soccer has begun again in earnest. Between Patrick and Thomas, practices are two or three times a week. Patrick had a tournament in Logan last week. The team did very well, losing only one game. The team they lost to was the same team they played in the championship and beat. I missed all but the last game, but the other team was pretty good. I heard this was their first time in a tournament,
My brother Verne and his family came for a visit. We didn't have much time to spend with them, but I did get to see his daughter and grandson.
Thomas went to scout camp at Camp Kesiel. Only one other scout from the den went up, but the had fun. Thomas had trouble cocking the BB gun, and the group all laughed as the bow slipped out of my hands and the arrow went up in the trees. It was overcast and not too hot. The theme this year is cowboys.
The boys and I went to see the Simpsons Movie. It was very good. One of the few movies I can remember thinking 'it's over already?'
End of Entry
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Heat
We went camping last weekend in Logan canyon. Friday was nice and fairly cool. That night I woke up in the middle of the night to some of the most bright and beautiful stars I have seen in a while. Saturday the boys and I went fishing on the upper 1st dam. We didn't catch anything except trees. We could see the fish; they just were not interested in the bait we offered. I am thinking of adding some flies to the box, they might have gone for that. April and Rachel hiked up to a cave, and we both arrived back at camp within minutes of each other. As the afternoon wore on, the heat got too much, and we packed up and left.
Last Thursday was a lesson in not playing soccer in sandals. I knew that already, I just didn't expect to be asked to help coach. It was fun all the same, and I only broke half of one toenail on my big toe.
Not reading anything at the moment. I am looking forward to 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' on Saturday.
End of Entry
Last Thursday was a lesson in not playing soccer in sandals. I knew that already, I just didn't expect to be asked to help coach. It was fun all the same, and I only broke half of one toenail on my big toe.
Not reading anything at the moment. I am looking forward to 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' on Saturday.
End of Entry
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Corner
Corner.js looks pretty cool, if I can find the time to play with it. I also found a new accordion widget I'd like to play with.
Catching up on my reading list: I've reread 'Killer Angels', and read 'Rebel', 'Copperhead', and 'The Good That Men Do'. I don't have a new book yet.
Catching up on my reading list: I've reread 'Killer Angels', and read 'Rebel', 'Copperhead', and 'The Good That Men Do'. I don't have a new book yet.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Jamestown
Stardate 60062.2
Today we did not start out with Williamsburg, but instead headed the car to Jamestown. Pretty much similar to other historic recreations. The boys had some fun with craving out a canoe (where they burn the inside and you use a clamshell to scrape the charcoal). Patrick was fascinated by the blacksmith.
Stopped by Yorktown again. Patrick and Thomas got to dry-load a cannon, and then see it fired with a charge (no cannonball, of course). April got an education in 18th century medicine.
End of Entry
Today we did not start out with Williamsburg, but instead headed the car to Jamestown. Pretty much similar to other historic recreations. The boys had some fun with craving out a canoe (where they burn the inside and you use a clamshell to scrape the charcoal). Patrick was fascinated by the blacksmith.
Stopped by Yorktown again. Patrick and Thomas got to dry-load a cannon, and then see it fired with a charge (no cannonball, of course). April got an education in 18th century medicine.
End of Entry
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Yorktown
Stardate 60062.1
I had intended to go and see a Patrick Henry speech this morning, but Patrick Madden found a trapball game, and I was stuck until April could park the car. I did manage to see some of the speech (I think it was the same actor as Washington, but I can't be sure). He was making jokes, one of which said he had 17 children, over a hundred grandchildren, so if some charlatan was to play him some 230 years in the future, chances are he would be speaking to one of his descendants.
We met with our friends from New Orleans, and watched a street show on the hardships of the population during the Revolutionary War.
I took the boys over to the Yorktown battlefield in the afternoon. We toured the redoubts. I was surprised to find that one of the key positions taken by Alexander Hamilton's brigade was almost gone, washed away by the river. There was also a howitzer installed there in 1681, and used by the British during the siege in 1781. One hundred years old and still usable. I have trouble making a computer last more than 2 years. We also found a cannon with the name 'Thomas' on it.
End of Entry
I had intended to go and see a Patrick Henry speech this morning, but Patrick Madden found a trapball game, and I was stuck until April could park the car. I did manage to see some of the speech (I think it was the same actor as Washington, but I can't be sure). He was making jokes, one of which said he had 17 children, over a hundred grandchildren, so if some charlatan was to play him some 230 years in the future, chances are he would be speaking to one of his descendants.
We met with our friends from New Orleans, and watched a street show on the hardships of the population during the Revolutionary War.
I took the boys over to the Yorktown battlefield in the afternoon. We toured the redoubts. I was surprised to find that one of the key positions taken by Alexander Hamilton's brigade was almost gone, washed away by the river. There was also a howitzer installed there in 1681, and used by the British during the siege in 1781. One hundred years old and still usable. I have trouble making a computer last more than 2 years. We also found a cannon with the name 'Thomas' on it.
End of Entry
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