Bill Loytty's Space

We got back from camping earlier today, and I’m TIRED.  The trip itself was pretty good, we got there about an hour before dark and had time to setup our tent and make sure we knew where we were going.  The biggest problem is that it rained from the time we got there until about 6:00 this morning.  Everything and everyone was soaked through and through.  Towards the end, Eric had enough and was ready to leave, and I have to admit I was about ready to go as well.  Some of the scouts are spending the night there tonight too, but the temperatures are supposed to drop into the 30s, and while I can handle being COLD or WET, I don’t really like being cold AND wet.

The only other bad part was that no cars were allowed within about a mile of our campsite, so I got to carry it all in and out.  Next time, I’m getting the boys their own backpacks so they can carry their own stuff.

This is the boys early this morning, about an hour after it quit raining.   Note that Eric picked his own clothes out and not only did he not bring his scout stuff, he’s wearing JAKEs shirt.

We’re going camping tonight, and I have almost all of the stuff ready.  Looking at the weather, I see:

Rain AND wind.  Hooray.  The only good thing I can see is that it’s supposed to be kind of warm.  We got the tent out yesterday and set it up to make sure we knew how to do it, and I had the guys get all of their clothes ready.  They’re excited; I hope their excitement lasts when they see how wet it is.  I’ll be taking a camera to record the trip for posterity.

I’m taking Veteran’s day off again, like I do every year, under the “I’m a veteran, so I want Veteran’s day off” theory (also because I have to use a ‘floating’ holiday before the end of the year).  In the UK, the 11th of November is known as “Remembrance Day”, in honor of all of the soldiers who died during the first world war.  I’m watching the BBC’s The First World War on DVD, and it really brings home how horrible that war was for the European countries. We here in the US got off comparatively lightly, since we only participated in the last year and a half of the fighting.  I don’t think you can understand the politics of western Europe today without a good understanding of what an impact the ‘great war’ had on their institutions.  In France, for example, out of a population of about 40 million, more than 5 1/2 million were killed or wounded, most of them young men.  That's about a quarter of all of the males, not just the ones of military age.  To put things in even sharper focus, there have been about four thousand American soldiers killed since 2003 in Iraq.  During July 1916, during the battle of the Somme, over 19,000 British soldiers were killed in one day.

(This is the Cenotaph in London, put up to honor the British dead of WWI)

Next weekend Eric and Alex have a camping trip with cub scouts.  They have this rule where parents have to go too, I guess to keep the kids in line.  The last time I went camping was during the Bush administration.  And that’s George H.W. Bush, not his johnny come lately son.  I ordered a tent, a sleeping bag, and three sleeping pads from REI, and they’re here and ready to go.  I guess I should be happy that I get to sleep in a tent and not a hole in the ground, but I’m NOT looking forward to it.  Jenny was going on and on about how much she loved going camping when she was little, but she decided to forgo the camping experience now, so I’d have an opportunity to ‘bond’ with the kids.  I hate it when she does that.

Luckily, I was able to find some of my old gear that I can use, so I didn’t have to go and buy a backpack &etc.  I’m taking a camera so that I can record my first camping trip since 1992.  Hopefully, I won’t have to go again until 2024 or so (when I’ll be 60-ish).

I saw this over on my internet friend Rissa’s space.  It’s cheesy, but I’m trying to extend my lunch hour a little more and avoid working.

1. Do you like blue cheese salad dressing?   Yes!
2. Have you ever smoked heroin?   No way.  (Dumb question)
3. Do you own a gun?    Yes. You never know when you're going to need to shoot someone.       
4. What's your favorite drink at Starbucks or other specialty?  Medium Americano
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?  Yes
6. What do you think of hot dogs?    Oscar Meyer or Hebrew National.  Boiled.
7. Favorite Christmas song?   "Merry Christmas from the Family" by Robert Earl Keen
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?    Beer
9. Can you do push ups?  I was in the army for 9 years.  I will NEVER do a pushup again.
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry?   my wedding ring (Trick question...its my ONLY piece of jewelry)
11. Favorite hobby?   reading, 
12. There is no number 12
13. Middle name?   Eric
14. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment:
    1. I wish Jenny would email me
    2. I really should be working.  Lunch is over
    3. Having school out on election day stinks.
15. What's one trait that you don't like about yourself?   I have tendencies toward OCD
16. Name 3 drinks you drink regularly drink:  Diet Coke, Coffee, Lipton Green Tea
17. Current worry right now?  That my refrigerator is going to explode
18. Current hate right now?  idiots
19. Favorite place to be?   Right here with the kids
20. How did you bring in the New Year?  Took care of Jenny (she was sick)
21. Do you like to travel?  yes!
22. Name at least three people who will complete  this.   None of them
23. What shirt are you wearing?   Yellow golf shirt.
24. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?   eeewww, slimy
25. Can you whistle?   sort of
26. Favorite color?   Green
27. Would you be a pirate?   Software, Music or Ships?  No, No, Arrrr!
28. What songs do you sing in the shower?  Christmas Carols
29. Favorite girl's name?  Izzy or Jennifer
30. Favorite alcoholic drink:  lol.  All of them
31. What's in your pocket right now?   pocketknife
32. Best bed sheets as a child? We didn't have sheets.  We slept in a shoebox in the middle of the road
33. Worst injury you've ever had?  None
34. Do you love where you live? No
35. How many TV's do you have in the house? four
36. Who is your loudest friend?  I don't have any friends
37. How many pets do you have?  One 5 year old boy named Jake.
38. Does someone have a crush on you?   Ha!
39. What is your favorite book? All of them
40. What is your favorite candy?   dark chocolate
41. Favorite Sports Team?   1927 New York Yankees
42. What were you doing at 12 AM last night?   Sleeping
43. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke  up this morning?  I hate it when more than one kid tries to get in bed with me.

Yesterday we went to the “Munching in Marvin” contest at one of the local schools.  Eric and Jenny entered the Chili cooking contest, and Alex entered the baking contest.  All of them won:  Jenny and Eric won 2d place in their categories (Adult Unique Chili and Kid’s Chili) and Alex won Honorable Mention for his Fruit Pizza.  It was a lot of fun…the person who beat Jenny out ended up winning the overall contest, so she didn’t feel so bad.

Here’s both Eric and Alex at their booths, getting ready to serve to the judges….

Eric and Alex always like to see their picture up here…Jenny, not so much!

Halloween is second only to Christmas in the kid pantheon of awesome holidays, and this year was no exception.  This was also the first year that Izzy could really trick or treat to any extent, and her brothers had a great time leading her around and helping her get candy.

Note Alex’s costume.  He dressed up as me.

I lost another five pounds!  I’m so happy, let me share my weight loss plan with you.  Today, I’ve eaten:

• One piece of apple pie that my mom made
• Two cupcakes that my wife made
• five pieces of bacon

Now, if that doesn’t spell “weight loss”, what does?  I really think that the thing that’s causing me to lose weight is that Jenny travels so much.  Usually, that means the kids get PB&J for dinner, and I hate pb&j, so I just skip the meal entirely.

They’ve always called me “clean living” Loytty.  I am now wearing the same size clothes I wore before I was married.  My next goal is to weigh as much as I did when I got out of the Army, but that’s a LONG way down.

After coming home from the mountains yesterday afternoon, we were all pretty tired, so we didn’t do all that much today.  Jake and I went for a walk to enjoy the weather, but other than that, we just kind of hung around the house.  I cleaned up the attic a little bit, but it was in pretty good shape. I tried to get up the energy to clean my car out, but I never got motivated enough (and if you’ve ever seen the inside of my car, you’d know that it would take a LOT of motivation to get me to clean it)

The leaves here are just starting to change, next weekend they’ll be at their peak, I think.  Fall’s my favorite season, except when it’s SNOWING in winter.  I hope everyone had a good weekend, and that next week will go smoothly for all of my internet friends!

Today my sister and my parents and I went to Tweetsie Railroad with my boys and my sister’s kids. (Jenny and Izzy stayed home to do whatever it is girls do when no men are around).  The trip was fun, everyone had a great time until it was time to leave, and then Alex got a little attitude problem. 

If you’ve never heard, Tweetsie Railroad is a sort of amusement park near Boone, North Carolina, which features a real coal-burning locomotive.  The kids had a ball, and it was great exercise walking up and down the mountain all day.

The only real problem is that it was cold and rainy.  Since I’m the one who always tells the kids to suck it up and stop whining when it rains, I had to act tough and try not to shiver.  It eventually warmed up to about 60, but that was right before we left.  Unfortunately, we didn't take my car, we drove in my mom’s, which doesn't have all of the extra clothes in it that my car does, so I had to be cold. (my car also has extra diet coke cans, books, tools, extension cords, flashlights, boots, coffee cups, mail, newspapers, cds, magazines, computer parts, and various other implements of destruction in it, so I’m usually set for any emergency).

I put some pictures up on flickr.

I went and voted today, so I don’t have to wait in line on the fourth.  At least now I’m done until 2010 or so, so I can stop even pretending to listen to the campaigns.

(they even gave me a sticker!)

When we went to the mountains, we stayed at McCrary Cabins, near Pisgah Forest.  The cabins were great, and the scenery was cool too.   What was even better was how the guy who owned the place acted:  I was supposed to be there by 3:00 to check in, but things were a little bit crazy here, so I didn't even leave Charlotte until after 5.  When I called the cabins to tell them I’d be late, he said “No problem, we’ll leave the key under the mat, and everything’s ready”.  The only thing I could have wished for was more blankets (because it was COLD), and the ability to set everything up by email, because then I wouldn't have had to actually TALK to anyone).

So if you ever want somewhere nice to stay in the mountains of North Carolina, McCrary Cabins is a good deal, and very reasonably priced.

I might have to make a return trip in the spring, when it warms up enough that falling into the river wont be a problem for the boys.

Eric and Alex and I went up to DuPont Forest this weekend to have some ‘man time’, it was great.  We went hiking, which was fun, except Eric and Alex kept falling into the river, and it was kind of cold.  The leaves were just at the perfect stage of yellow and gold.

We took peanut butter and jelly for lunch, and everyone had a great time.  Alex, of course, made sure that lunch was a happy event for everyone.

I put the whole set up on flickr.  I have about 700 more to go though later..I hope everyone had a great weekend!

I don’t think that it’s a secret that Eric HATES to get up early.  He got that from his Mom…he’d get up at 9:00 and go to bed at midnight if we let him.  Unfortunately for him, we don’t let him.  I took a picture of him yesterday that captures his mood at 6:00 AM every day when he has to get up.

Contrast this with Alex and Jake.  They don’t have nearly as much problem getting up.  Jake in particular will fall asleep on the floor, right where he was last playing, and wake up and start talking immediately, like he never quit.  I think he’s some form of alien.

OMAHA, Neb. - A second teenager from outside Nebraska has been left at an Omaha hospital under the state's unique safe-haven law, apparently after his parent flew to the city specifically to abandon him, state officials said Monday.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27165057/

I wonder if I can get 5 plane tickets to Nebraska…..

(Note:  I’m not really serious about doing this (at this point in time), so don’t go getting all “call the Department of Social Services” on me).

Here’s a picture I took yesterday, I’m really having fun with my new camera.  I took it about a mile up the road from our new house, where the suburbs turn back into “country”.

I put the Halloween lights up today…my neighbors put up a bunch, so I couldn’t let them think that they had more Halloween spirit than me.

I made a ‘ghost’ picture with Eric and Alex’s help; I opened the shutter, counted to ten, and then had Alex run out of the frame, so he kind of looks like he’s a ghost attacking Eric.

My original blogfather, Jim, has quit blogging. He also took a new job in another part of the company, and isn’t even in the same building as me anymore.  I even owe him ten dollars, but has he come over here to complain about it?  NOoooooOOooOOOOoo.  You know what that means:

He’s dead to me.

OK, I can put up with the credit markets melting down, the stock market crashing, and even the train wreck of a presidential election that we’re having.  One thing though, makes me afraid that our country is soon to die.

They gave Paris Hilton another tv show. If you have the free Zune software, you can even get the first episode for free.  I may switch to iPods.  UGH.

I might actually watch a show where people go and laugh at her, but watching a bunch of people humiliate themselves to a television audience of dozens to get Paris Hilton to be their friend is too much.

We got to have Parent Teacher conferences today at the elementary school that Eric, Alex and Jake go to.  Today we learned that:

1. Eric is really smart, but he doesn’t do his homework.
2. Alex is really smart, but he is bossy and tries to tell the other kids what to do.
3. Jake is really smart, but he doesn’t like to follow instructions.

It’s amazing to me that they got all of their good qualities from me, but all of the bad qualities from Jenny.  She never comes here to read, so she’ll never know I said this <g>.

On a happier note, Izzy finally gave up her pacifiers, because she’s big now.  In return for giving the pacifiers away, the “Pacie Fairy” brought her a princess outfit.  As if she needed an OUTFIT for it.  She looks good in it though.

Today was nice and relaxing, for a change.  No one really did anything special, we just kind of hung around the house and put up some halloween decorations, etc.  Izzy was sort of cranky today, so I made a lolcat about it.

The kids are out of school tomorrow, but luckily my favorite mother in law is here!  Woohoo!

My Zombie got here from Design Toscano.  It’s cool…as you can see, one of the fingers fell off during shipping, but it’s still the perfect addition to our yard. 

Jake thinks it’s awesome.

Fall started a couple of weeks ago, and today was a perfect fall day:  it was about 75, blue skies and sunny.  I opened all the windows up and am letting the house air out.  It’s great.  Jenny’s in DC until tomorrow, and her mother is coming into town tomorrow too. The bad thing about it is that Jenny always gets freaked out about the house being a mess when her mom comes, so I’m trying to keep it nice.  When the kids leave tomorrow morning I’ll try to make it look good (but not TOO good, because I don't want her to think I don’t need her :-D).  Today, the ice cream truck came by, so we all sat outside and had popsicles.

Izzy got popsicle in her hair, on her face, on her legs, and all over, so I just went ahead and gave her a bath; she looked a lot better afterwards.  (This picture is also proof that I actually DO wash them when Jenny’s out of town)

For some reason, whenever there’s a hurricane in the gulf, Charlotte always runs out of gas.  Note that supplies were NOT interrupted, everyone just went insane and ran out and bought up all the gas.  I was lucky in that I had enough gas to last through the weekend, but unfortunately, Jenny went out of town before the shortage happened, so I got to drive around for a while yesterday to fill her up.  It was tons of fun. 

The FUNNEST thing was that when I finally found gas, I filled up and had Jake with me to “help”.  He ran around the car and generally had a good time while I was filling up.   While he was having fun, he sat in the driver seat of the car and engaged the wheel lock somehow.  Since I don’t drive Jenny’s car all that often, I had a heck of a time figuring out how to get it to work again.  The people behind me in line for gas were happy that I took an extra five minutes, and let me know.  It wasn't a big deal, I just gave them the universal hand an arm signal for “you’re number one” (hidden so Jake couldn't see) and drove on.

All in all, it was a pretty good weekend.  Since Jennifer hadn’t been home in a week and a half, she cleaned all weekend.  She said that I really did a good job keeping the house clean when she’s gone, but we have different standards for clean.  I figure as long as mold isn’t growing on anything, we’re good.  All I can say in my defense is that I’m a lot better than I used to be.  I always have the dishes and laundry done when she gets home.  We had to clean up extra well today, because we’re having a cleaning lady come tomorrow. (I never understand why you have to clean up before the cleaning lady comes, but I’ve accepted that I’ll never know, because my mother is the same way (i.e. it’s not just that Jennifer is weird)).

Jennifer has been gone for EVER.  She went on a short trip to Remond last Tuesday, but then her sister’s baby came early, so she flew directly from Seattle to Florida, where the baby was born.  Yesterday, she flew to DC where she has meetings, and then she’ll come home tomorrow morning.  When she’s gone this long, I kind of get squirrely.  I’m usually the laid back parent, but I’ve been cranky for the past couple of days.  I feel kind of bad for the kids, but then I remember that if they would just act civilized, I wouldn't have to tell them to cut it out.

Anyway, Jenny is coming home tomorrow, and she’s going to deal with the kids for a while.  Saturday morning, I’m going to take some pictures of the train coming through town, then Jenny and I are going on a “date” with NO KIDS (just dinner and a movie, but its been so long since we’ve been out as ‘grownups’ that I’m scared I wont know how to act).  Sunday we’re trying out a new church, so hopefully I’ll be nice and calm in time for that.  I’d hate for the new preacher to think I was a nut.

I haven’t put up a picture of Al lately.  It’s obvious that he needs a bath.

For Christmas this year, Jenny and I decided that the kids have enough crap stuff, and don’t need any more.  So instead of buying a bunch of junk, we’re going to go to the “happiest place in the world”.  I don’t know if I’m going to be able to keep it a secret.  It’s a good thing I have iron self-control.

The last time we went was 2006, and I fully expected to hate it, but it was great (once I got over the outrageous cost that is).  We’re going from 11/29 to 12/5, and I cant wait!