Extreme Miniature Golf

Michelle and I took the boys to "Fun Fore All" last week-- a family entertainment place, obviously. We thought it would be a lot of fun for the boys to hit the balls around the course. It took them a hole or two to get the hang of it. The first hole was played more like field hockey than golf... the boys would hit their ball and run after it, hitting it as they ran. And, they would fight as they ran side by side trying to be the first one in the hole.

So, actually, the first hole was more like a combination of roller derby and field hockey. Not pretty, but funny to watch. Helmets and football pads would have been a good idea had we thought ahead.

Then, they got the hang of it. But, as I watched them play, I realized that cheaters in golf learn at a very early age. Here are just a few examples.

Ethan hit the ball on one of those holes where the ball had to be hit up a ramp. You get one shot to hit the ball up the ramp. Miss it, and the ball either rolls back to you for another shot, or it gets shunted to a side "exit". So, he hits it, but not hard enough. Instead of letting it roll back to him, he ran to it, stopped it with his foot, picked it up, and threw it up the ramp. Sure enough, it rolled down and out the tube aimed right at the hole, barely missing it. Cheater.

Preston frequently picked up his ball after the first hit and ran it to the hole, setting it about an inch from the cup. He'd then hit it in. Cheater.

Upon hitting the ball on the last hole, and after learning that the ball rolls out of sight, Preston threw his club. Then, he threw a fit. This isn't really cheater behavior, but all of us golfers who lost a ball one too many times has been tempted-- maybe even pursuaded-- to throw a club or two and make a scene.

As you can see, golfers learn how to cheat very early. And maybe that's a good sign. I do these all the time, although I've become far more stealthy than I was at the age of 6.

We got some good photos and video, though. See the videos and slideshow on the blog's main page.

Dancing Queen

Amberlee has learned to dance. See video to the right. Whether someone is singing or she hears music, she starts bopping. And, if you listen really well, you can hear her making noises, too.

Singing and dancing at the age of 7 months. I see she has inherited her dad's talent.

Two Weeks in Purgatory

I realized I hadn't blogged for nearly two weeks. And, what a two weeks it has been. I can tell you, I feel like I've been to hell and back, and it ain't no picnic.

So, I'll summarize as best I can.

I was assigned as the project manager for a project that had already been well underway. It has become the bane of my existance. This monster had died a while ago, and I was asked to resurrect him, which I'd been doing for the past 3 weeks, day and (sometimes) night. Next...

The project was due last Friday. Relief overcame me as I could see the end... but, as I opened my trusty Toshiba laptop that morning to finish up (which, ironically, is the parent company of Westinghouse), I got the "BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH". It had died... my paperwork stored inside.

Lucky for me, I had also saved the documents on a memory stick. Only flaw to this way of thinking was that I actually needed a computer to use it, which, of course, had gone into cardiac arrest just moments before.

I did the bumlebee fly-through of Westinghouse looking for a computer to use-- unsuccessfully. Next...

My boss, upon hearing that the due date was in jeopardy, decided to call a meeting with several other directors to discuss. His purpose: to find a way through it (or so he said)... I learned within 5 minutes that it was more an attempt to throw me under the bus as he claimed ignorance to the problems that had plagued this project since it was created (his house has since been Google'd, and I have a truck load of toilet paper to get rid of). Next...

With the due date come and gone, I walked out the door with my tail between my legs, got in the minivan, and tore down the turnpike-- going a little too fast. Passed a cop and thought for sure I was going to be pulled over, but he must have gotten a glimpse of me inside with the look of death on me, and decided to let me go.

Since then, I was able to re-resurrect the project, and it went out the door yesterday, albeit under extreme duress. Now onto other things...

Ethan and Chrissa have lost a total of 6 teeth in the past 2 weeks, while Amberlee has grown two. We learned that we are now on the Tooth Fairy's blacklist.

Ethan conquered the bicycle. Yep, he is a bit behind the curve, but after trying to get him on it for years, I finally forced him on when I saw him riding a scooter without much problem. He took right off.

Our house has sold. Then, it wasn't. Then it was. Then it wasn't. Currently, it is still for sale.

Our lot has sold. Then, it wasn't. Then it was. Then it wasn't. Currently, it is SOLD (cue the singing angels), but I'm not holding my breath till the money is safely in my hands.

We had visitors this week-- Michelle's mom, sister, and neice (hi family). On Wednesday, as they were visiting Washington DC for some sightseeing with Chrissa, they happened to be in the US Holocaust Museum. If anyone watched the news on that day and after, you'll recall a shooting there. Yep, they were inside at the time. Odds?

School is now out for the summer-- just finished up on Wednesday. Chrissa was already done since she was with her cousin. Ethan was able to get signatures from all his classmates on his shirt, and then he decided to make his own yearbook.

So, that's it. And now, I'm ready for a vacation.