J.J.T

This is Jude Jason.

We can't wait to meet him. 

Congrats Jason, Kara & Henry!!!

Decorating

Linsey and the Christmas tree.

These candles smell so much like pine trees that it is nearly impossible to argue our tree is fake. Until, of course, you touch it.

Some other, non-tree, lights.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm thankful for this, I'm thankful for that.

Sometimes when it's cold I'm thankful I'm fat.

I'm thankful for water and thankful for milk.

I'm thankful for my cotton shirts but not so much for silk.

I'm thankful for my watch which is big and brown

I'm thankful for my bride who wore a beautiful white gown

I'm thankful for beer and glasses of wine

There are times I'm even thankful for vodka, tonic and lime.

I'm thankful for brothers, sisters and uncles and aunts

I'm thankful for nephews and nieces who poop their pants.

I'm thankful for my in-laws from Virginia and Wyandotte

I'm thankful Linsey went to CMU and not to Mott.

I'm thankful for Farwell, which is the home of my loving mom and dad

I'm thankful for the soldiers who fight in Baghdad.

I'm thankful for a job that helps me pay the rent

I'm thankful for cold drinking water, my favorite solvent

I'm thankful for musicians who sing pretty songs

I'm thankful for the food I eat, even hot dogs but not foot longs

I'm thankful for literature, even boring stuff like Hamlet

I'm thankful there are no kids that call me dad, yet

There are things I'm thankful for that I didn't mention

Things like friends and newspapers and my Central education

But if you're reading this, I'm probably thankful for you

So enjoy your Thanksgiving and have a merry Christmas, too.

It's Here...

...Winter that is.  

We woke up to snow this morning!  Only about 3 inches.  Not the 5-9 they were predicting.  It's a nice little introduction into the long, cold months ahead.  

This picture is facing North.  Notice the storm clouds moving off to the west. 

Here is stephen cleaning off the jeep before he left for an assignment this morning. 

$1.87

Two locations that sell gas for $1.87 per gallon. Not bad.

Nelsons and Icehawks.

The Nelsonians. They came over Saturday to hang out.

We ate some pizza, then went to a pound to look at some of the dogs they had for adoption.

Then we went to an art studio called Studio 1219. It was neat.

Most of the day, though, we sat around talking about things, drinking some beverages and waiting to go to a hockey game. 

It was a good Saturday. 

Willow entertained herself with this empty popcorn tub for a while.

The Port Huron Icehawks playing against the Kalamazoo K-Wings.

The Icehawks won 5 to 0, enough goals for everyone in the crowd to get free McDonalds French fries. We did not capitalize on the offer.

Juneau was impressively well behaved. Although he did cry occasionally.

Bear. 

Drew

This is the son of a family friend who I took some pictures of a few weeks ago.  He's a cutie!  His dad is the head football coach at Carlson High School.  Go Marauders!  

Have Fun Voting...

Taking shape... 

Cleaning up... 

The light of the Election Day sunrise illuminating the prize for all those who work Election Day at the Times Herald.

Vote wisely today.

A Port Huron Saturday

This is our apartment building. We live on the second floor.

As you can imagine, we didn't get many trick-or-treaters.

On our way home from the library, we saw these ducks. Linsey enjoyed looking at them and listening to their strange noises.

Linsey at the library. We picked up a movie, the first three episodes of HBO's "The Wire."

I also checked out a book called "The Gone Away World" by Nick Harkaway. I have yet to start it since I'm finishing up another book presently. 

Beautiful, yet deserted, downtown Port Huron. It has such promise but no energy.

We only get Canadian television, which means football on Saturdays and Sundays is not possible for me. This weekend, I watched some football on the computer, as pictured above.

Cheers...

Here's to it almost being the weekend and to a life that -- for the most part -- is pretty darn wonderful and a pleasure to experience.

Mmmm... fall

I'd be happy if this tree were in my front yard.

These are my three favorite photographs from our back-road trip from Frankenmuth to Port Huron. -- ST

Like most everyone, I enjoy the look of big, red, traditional barns. This one is no exception.

I would've liked to explore this barn and, ideally, climb large stacks of bailed hay to the rafters.

The Road Less Traveled

When we tried to get back on 75 after the shower, there was a huge traffic jam, so we decided to take advantage of the beautiful night and took all back roads home.  We only turned south and east and most of the roads we were on were dirt.  Michigan is beautiful!  

Carrie's Shower

This weekend was my cousin Carrie's bridal shower.  Carrie is the second youngest of the grandchildren.  She will be getting married to Jim on Dec. 13.  They are great people and I'm so happy for them (even if they are Michigan State Fans).  

We played a game where everyone had a piece of advice from a 1950's woman's magazine on how to be a good wife.  So when your gift was opened you had to read the old advice, and then read your own advice for a happy marraige.  We were cracking up at the old advice.  One example was "Be sure to listen to everything your husband has to say when he arrives home from work.  He has had a long, hard day and remember that his thoughts and ideas are more important than yours."  We were cracking up!!!  

In this picture Carrie is opening my grandma's flatware.  It's the same flatware that we have used at every single family gathering since I've been alive.  It will be fun for Carrie to think of all of the wonderful memories our family has every time she uses it!  

Carrie, just like Shelby, could be nick named giggles!  Her and Shelby have the exact same laugh.

This is Patty and my grandma.  Patty found an I.D. that used to belong to my grandpa and she is showing it to my grandma.  On one side of the bracelet is my grandpa's name, Claude, and his army I.D. number, and then on the underside of the bracelet is my grandma's name, Marion. 

Just a reminder...

For those of you in climate-appropriate locations, this awaits us just around the corner.

To Port Sanilac and Back...

We took advantage of a beautiful Sunday and drove north on Highway 25 along Lake Huron. Our destination was Port Sanilac, about 30 miles north of Port Huron. We made it. And made it back.

While there, we stopped in a little hole-in-the-wall greasy spoon for lunch. Linsey had the chicken strips basket. I had a grilled cheese and a cup of chili. It was delicious.

This is where we were. Someday -- probably next summer -- we plan to download several hours worth of "Wait, Wait don't Tell me..." "Car Talk" and "You Look Nice Today" pod casts and make the trip around the entirety of the Thumb. 

Anyone who wants to join us is more than welcome. 

Just make sure to bring your bathing suit -- and perhaps a blanket for a picnic.

This is the diner. I'm not sure it had a name.