My good friend, Shelley, has her own blog that she's much better at keeping up-to-date than I am with mine. Being much more computer-experienced than myself, she has her blog arranged by different categories. One such category is titled "Life with Libby" where she writes about her relationship with her brown lab, Libby. Every time I see that category, however, I always think of my 13-year old daughter, Libby. Feel free to browse through Shelley's blog here: http://whatifitdid.com/
The past few days my kids have been on Fall Break and my wife is in New Orleans on business so I decided to take a few days off just to hang around the house with the kids. Now, if you've ever had a teenage daughter, you'll understand when I say that they're not always easy to deal with.
My wife left early Wednesday morning and won't be returning until mid-day Saturday. We've talked on the phone every day and I find it interesting that she asks the same question every day: "How was Libby? Have you killed her yet?" You'll be happy to know that we've actually gotten along very well in spite of her moodiness and haven't had a single confrontation yet. Yes, I'm surprised, too! Hopefully, we're rounding the corner on all this puberty stuff and she'll actually become somewhat likeable in the very near future. Of course, I'm not really holding my breath as my soon-t0-be 15-year old son is still driving my wife and I completely crazy!
And for those of you who are wondering: Yes, we did eat some meals at home. Yes, the dishes have been done. Yes, the house is recognizable. Yes, the kids did get everywhere they were supposed to be. And most importantly, yes we are ready for my wife to come home!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Going, going, GONE!
I attended an auction a couple of weeks ago. The items being sold were from a competing surveying company that closed it's doors (presumably from lack of work). Going into the auction, I was excited to possibly pick up some equipment at a good price.
However, once I got there I certainly didn't have a good feeling knowing that another surveyor had been forced to sell all his equipment, vehicles, office furniture, supplies, etc. I only stayed long enough to see most of the high-end equipment being sold. Due to the tough economic times everyone is facing, most of these items were going for probably 25 to 35 percent of their real value. I had an idea of buying a lot of this stuff and putting it on E-bay but didn't since I wanted to see the equipment stay in the hands of local surveyors.
I'm still a little torn as to how I should have felt coming out of the auction. Scared because survey companies are going out of business? Relieved that we're still in business? Regardless, it certainly gave me the motivation to work hard to establish new relationships and continue our old ones to insure that work would continue coming in the door.
I guess the whole moral to the story is what we've always heard. Be grateful for what you have now because it may not be there tomorrow.
However, once I got there I certainly didn't have a good feeling knowing that another surveyor had been forced to sell all his equipment, vehicles, office furniture, supplies, etc. I only stayed long enough to see most of the high-end equipment being sold. Due to the tough economic times everyone is facing, most of these items were going for probably 25 to 35 percent of their real value. I had an idea of buying a lot of this stuff and putting it on E-bay but didn't since I wanted to see the equipment stay in the hands of local surveyors.
I'm still a little torn as to how I should have felt coming out of the auction. Scared because survey companies are going out of business? Relieved that we're still in business? Regardless, it certainly gave me the motivation to work hard to establish new relationships and continue our old ones to insure that work would continue coming in the door.
I guess the whole moral to the story is what we've always heard. Be grateful for what you have now because it may not be there tomorrow.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Embrace The Pace
I had the good fortune of spending a weekend away with my wife a few weeks ago so we decided to head to Nappanee, Indiana and stay at a bed and breakfast. Nappanee has a large concentration of both Amish and Mennonites - thus the town slogan of "Embrace the Pace".
When we made the reservations at the B&B, the inn owner asked if we would be interested in attending a dinner hosted by an Amish couple. She noted that she had set this up for others who were staying at the inn and always ones to try new experiences and learn of other cultures, we very quickly said yes.
We arrived at the house at about 5:15 and met the owners, Mose and Etta. Mose took us on a buggy ride down the county road in front of their house. I was lucky enough to sit up front with Mose. Having grown up in a rural area myself, I was able to have a conversation with Mose about farming, raising livestock, etc.
Once we got back from the buggy ride, we were welcomed into what I can best describe as a pole barn with a poured concrete floor. In the corner was a kitchen where Etta was preparing a very large meal. She had fixed chicken, ham, potatoes, vegetables, bread and way more food than any of us could have eaten in two meals. Not to discredit my mother or my wife, but this may have been the best homemade meal I've ever had. Then she brought out the two desserts and the three pies.
After the meal was over, Mose asked if we had any questions about the Amish and their beliefs and traditions. Mose and Etta answered every single question we had and probably would have stayed longer if my wife and I (and the other guests) hadn't felt like we were keeping them from other things they needed to be doing with their family.
I certainly came away from our dinner with Mose and Etta having a different idea of the Amish faith and, more importantly, the reasons for these beliefs. I have to wonder sometimes if they might not have a more fulfilled life being out of the "rat race" that the rest of us English people (as the Amish call us) have become accustomed to.
I know that the next time I feel that my life is getting a little crazy running kids around, working and being involved so much, I'm going to take a deep breath and think back to my evening with Mose and Etta and "Embrace the Pace".
When we made the reservations at the B&B, the inn owner asked if we would be interested in attending a dinner hosted by an Amish couple. She noted that she had set this up for others who were staying at the inn and always ones to try new experiences and learn of other cultures, we very quickly said yes.
We arrived at the house at about 5:15 and met the owners, Mose and Etta. Mose took us on a buggy ride down the county road in front of their house. I was lucky enough to sit up front with Mose. Having grown up in a rural area myself, I was able to have a conversation with Mose about farming, raising livestock, etc.
Once we got back from the buggy ride, we were welcomed into what I can best describe as a pole barn with a poured concrete floor. In the corner was a kitchen where Etta was preparing a very large meal. She had fixed chicken, ham, potatoes, vegetables, bread and way more food than any of us could have eaten in two meals. Not to discredit my mother or my wife, but this may have been the best homemade meal I've ever had. Then she brought out the two desserts and the three pies.
After the meal was over, Mose asked if we had any questions about the Amish and their beliefs and traditions. Mose and Etta answered every single question we had and probably would have stayed longer if my wife and I (and the other guests) hadn't felt like we were keeping them from other things they needed to be doing with their family.
I certainly came away from our dinner with Mose and Etta having a different idea of the Amish faith and, more importantly, the reasons for these beliefs. I have to wonder sometimes if they might not have a more fulfilled life being out of the "rat race" that the rest of us English people (as the Amish call us) have become accustomed to.
I know that the next time I feel that my life is getting a little crazy running kids around, working and being involved so much, I'm going to take a deep breath and think back to my evening with Mose and Etta and "Embrace the Pace".
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