December 2006 - Posts
Yes, I am one of the drones who has been sucked into the Harry Potter universe.
On Friday, J.K. Rowlings announced the title for the 7th (and supposedly last) book in the series: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. We've still got a wait until it is released, but now we know what we're waiting for...
The children are wound up so tight they might burst -- the excitement is palpable. Here's to you and yours, may you have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy the time with your family, friends, or whoever you are with.
Obviously, that post title is a little bit hopeful, but
this medical article and the
more readable national post article, are compelling, to say the least. As a diagnosed Type II diabetic (as well as someone who lives with Multiple Sclerosis), this is incredible information. Let's hope they can find ways to put this new information to good use to help people to live fuller, safer, healthier lives. I know it will likely be several years before anything can come from this, and possibly it won't be really helpful in my lifetime, but it is promising nonetheless.
I haven't been very good about posting for the last few months, mostly due to being busy, but partially due to laziness. We seem to keep busier than we really mean to, but it works for us, most of the time.
Last weekend, the whole family road-tripped to Arend tree farms in Chelsea, and we harvested a lovely Douglas Fir Christmas Tree. Joshua, Caleb, and I got to take a little ride on the tree trailer from the field back to the farm, which I think amused the boys. Later that evening, Joshua helped me put up some Christmas lights on our front porch, just so we have a little holiday cheer.
Thursday evening, Jodi and I had a 'Date Night' which we had talked about doing for quite some time, but hadn't gotten around to doing. We asked Mitch and Kate to join us for dinner at Main Street IX -- Thursdays are Mexican Fiesta night (1$ Margaritas, 2$ Coronas, 3$ Sangria, plus Mexican dinner entree specials). It was nice. After dinner, we checked with the babysitter and were able to hang out with Mitch and Kate for a little while, and we finally enjoyed a bottle of champagne we had been meaning to open since before Jodi found out she was pregnant with Emma. We both adore our children, but it is really nice to get a little couple time every once in a while.
Today, Dave, cousin Geoff, and I ventured to the West Walker Sportsmen's Club to do a little shooting. I hadn't shot at clays since hunter's safety classes (umm about 19 years ago), so I wasn't sure what to expect. It was both easier and harder than I expected. First we did a round of skeet. I hit one of the first four, and decided I could relax. I missed many more than I hit, but I did manage to hit all four (high-house, low, and double) on the last station on the semi-circle, and I hit the low clay from the center pad. That last shot was probably my best shot of the whole thing, as it was one of the few that I felt I really did it right. I was 8 for 25 overall on skeet. Then we tried shooting trap, and although it seems like it should be easier, I found it very challenging. I hit a few, and even felt like I was shooting okay, but I ended up 8 for 25 there, too. Given that it was basically my first time, I'm not too ashamed of those performances, but I think with a little practice I could shoot significantly better than that. I might have to buy myself a shotgun now...
We are visiting my parents in Grand Rapids, as my Dad returned home on Tuesday. Although he is happy to be home, not having the constant therapy is a little frustrating for him, I think. He is walking with a cane and is able to get himself from his wheelchair into bed and back, and he is starting to get a little strength back in his left arm and hand. It is truly amazing the progress he has made recently. He is having fun playing with the kids (he and Joshua play catch with one of the therapy squeeze balls) and seems to be generally in excellent spirits. It is wonderful to see him enjoying himself a little bit and being able to express himself better.
Just before we started bowling tonight, someone got on the PA and announced that one of gentlemen in our league had passed away yesterday evening and asked for a moment of silence. Our league has dwindled to only 6 teams (when I started, there were two leagues, each with 12-14 teams -- but that was almost 10 years ago), so I was acquainted with the man who passed away, as was pretty much everyone. I didn't ask what happened, but I assume it was natural causes of some nature, as he wasn't exactly young (I would guess at least in his 60's, maybe older than that). It just kind of hit me that I am leaving the 'all my friends are getting married and having kids' age group and entering the 'did you hear who died' age group. Granted, I am probably technically a generation younger than the fellow who passed, but many people I consider friends are in that generation (baby-boomerish) and none of us are getting younger as time passes.
The wierdest part for me is that I naturally just think to myself, well, I hope he had a good life and his family can celebrate his life and pick up the pieces and move on. I guess it is just that I am also getting older and the reality of the brevity of human life is something that I've learned to accept. That very acceptance kind of freaks me out a little bit.
Well, I guess it is only appropriate to offer up a 'rest-in-peace, Bob'. Hopefully you're rolling a 300 game on the heavenly lanes...