Catching up

Well, this has been a really busy month. I can't believe it's already almost the end of the month. We've been busy working and doing home projects. We're trying to get all the things sorted before we move, so we're gearing up for a big moving sale at the end of the month. I hate moving, but it does help you get rid of stuff you don't need to haul around for years.

This week has been the 10th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. It's a very emotional for everyone who lives here and went through that. Heck, we weren't even living here and I still remember where I was when I heard about the bombing. It's one of those moments that stays with you forever.

And then it's the annual arts festival that happens at the same time the Memorial marathon and all the other events every year. It's funny because even though there is beautiful art from artists all over the country, most people go out to hear the music and for the food.

Today we are doing yard work and getting ready for the week ahead.

Watched Rides on TLC

Carmel yelled and mentioned that I needed to watch this show on TV. It was the Power Tour of 2004; when I started to watch it they were headed to Tulsa, OK. The next thing I knew they were in Chetopa Kansas; nobody goes to Chetopa. Guess I should mention that Mom lives in Oswego Kansas which is 7 or 8 miles from there. It was a good show to watch not only because of where they were traveling but also the cars. Man was there some really nice cars on the show. I wanted to go out and buy an old car and fix it into a hot rod and make the trip. They ended the trip in Green Bay, what an adventure that would be.

Posted by Ray

Heat, snow and dust

Well, we just finished our trip to Arizona. We actually got homesick for Oklahoma, knowing that when we came back the green rolling hills would welcome us. Of course, the tornadoes welcomed us home too. We weren't home more than two hours when the tornado alarms went off.

Somehow it seemed appropriate after our trip -- our long trip -- back from Arizona. It was in the mid 90s in Arizona City the day before we left. Saturday, we left early and immediately ran into a detour due to road construction in Phoenix. We were still running the AC. We traveled up up up to Flagstaff. It started snowing before we got there and sure enough a wreck due to the winter driving conditions pushed traffic to a stop. A car in front of us rear ended another car, so there was wreck two. Fortunately, we were close enough to the action that it didn't take us so long to get around it. Those behind us were not as fortunate, and traffic on the mountain was backing up. It was snowing hard in Flagstaff and cold high 30s. What a difference in only three hours (actually by then it was closer to five due to the delays.)

It kept snowing on and off as we headed to Albuquerque. But 90 miles out -- right outside of Gallup, traffic came to a dead stop. We crept along for three miles -- four hours later we finally were detoured off Interstate 40 to a frontage road. Despite the snow, the road was closed due to high winds. It was blowing sand -- a brown out -- that stopped traffic, and even the train that we could see next to the highway.

We made it to Amarillo and stayed the night at my brother's place. Crazy day, crazy weather.

Tornadoes and all it's good to be home. Now we have to decide what we're going to do -- choices? Stay here or move to Arizona. I have a tenative job offer there. And, now I have another familiar detour. I have an interview Thursday morning for a job in Des Moines, Iowa. Yes, same one. Same cows :) But, it has merit so I have to talk to them. Geez, I wish God would send a telegram, or maybe an email.

Posted by Carmel

Letting go

Yesterday was a painful day. We had to say goodbye to Mason, our little three-year-old grandson. He and Sondra and Shane moved to Missouri. Sure, it's not that far, and yes, we're planning to move too. But it was still hard.

The hardest part is looking out at the backyard that looks so empty now without all the toys. No one to drag us out to play baseball, basketball, soccer or golf.

We've been missing Chloe and Mikayla a lot lately and now that all three are gone it makes it sort of hard. I guess we'll just have to stay really busy. It helps to have Brian post all the photos and information about daily life on his blog. Makes them not seem so far away.

We still cry though when we see their photos. Our little trio of monkeys. ha ha.