Yeah, I know, it's a nerd-techie thing, but I have made this $*&%#@! program my slave!
I'm at the training, and having a blast, but as soon as this thing is done, I'm heading out for a weekend to remember! Yay!
Quick book suggestions -
Thursday Next Series by Jasper Fforde. He has come up with a very original world for these stories. How to explain in a few words? Literary fantasy/crime novel? Whatever it is classified as, the series is great!
Blink: the power of thinking without thinking. I haven't finished this one yet, but it is really fun so far. Ever wonder what all might go into making a snap decision? This goes into it with a really enjoyable and fascinating style.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
An Oops, a BIG one!
Yeah, this is one that I'm glad the managers only found out about AFTER I had recovered. I work with Solaris, several Linux flavors, and Windows. On Friday I deleted all of the Windows work for the last 5 years. I then found out that it hadn't been backed-up, though it should have been backed-up every night. Eeek!!
So we pulled out some undeletion software and restored maybe 2% of everything that was lost. Thankfully that 2% was almost exclusively the vital stuff. The lost 98% was all final-product software that had already been deployed and so it didn't really matter that the pre-release versions were lost; we routinely clean them out anyway.
So yeah, I was a bit stressed Friday afternoon and Monday morning as I worked on recovery. Thank God (I do!) that the most important stuff was able to be restored and I was able to be completely back on track by Monday afternoon. WHEW!
Oh, and Monday morning, I was assigned half a dozen helpdesk tickets all at once. Thankfully they're pretty simple, and all from the same guy. Last week there was only one ticket, but it took almost 10 hours of work to "resolve". (user bizarreness)
Oh, and I'm at training now and will be totally away from the office today and Friday, so everything for the week HAD to be resolved by Wednesday.
Oh, and I interviewed a guy Wednesday, taught a sudden informal Linux class on Tuesday, attended special training Tuesday, had to solve some hairy configuration problems for others on Monday for several hours, and set up three meetings on Wednesday to get my completed software released before COB.
This training, while a massive information dump of which I'll be lucky to retain 5%, is relaxing after the first half of the week.
What I'm REALLY looking forward to is this weekend - heading up to PA for a Weekend to Remember marriage conference!!! Two and a half whole days where I'll have no distractions from Charlessa!
So we pulled out some undeletion software and restored maybe 2% of everything that was lost. Thankfully that 2% was almost exclusively the vital stuff. The lost 98% was all final-product software that had already been deployed and so it didn't really matter that the pre-release versions were lost; we routinely clean them out anyway.
So yeah, I was a bit stressed Friday afternoon and Monday morning as I worked on recovery. Thank God (I do!) that the most important stuff was able to be restored and I was able to be completely back on track by Monday afternoon. WHEW!
Oh, and Monday morning, I was assigned half a dozen helpdesk tickets all at once. Thankfully they're pretty simple, and all from the same guy. Last week there was only one ticket, but it took almost 10 hours of work to "resolve". (user bizarreness)
Oh, and I'm at training now and will be totally away from the office today and Friday, so everything for the week HAD to be resolved by Wednesday.
Oh, and I interviewed a guy Wednesday, taught a sudden informal Linux class on Tuesday, attended special training Tuesday, had to solve some hairy configuration problems for others on Monday for several hours, and set up three meetings on Wednesday to get my completed software released before COB.
This training, while a massive information dump of which I'll be lucky to retain 5%, is relaxing after the first half of the week.
What I'm REALLY looking forward to is this weekend - heading up to PA for a Weekend to Remember marriage conference!!! Two and a half whole days where I'll have no distractions from Charlessa!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Church growth
We've had a couple of really awesome things happen in our church recently that have gotten me to thinking about what churches are like and what they should be like. Though my own process of thought didn't go quite like this, I think a really good place to start is to ask what the Church is here on earth to accomplish.
To encourage and teach its members? To help those who are troubled? To bring people to Christ? To be visible to the rest of the world?
Well, yes. But which, if any, is to be our core focus? Biblically it is a slam-dunk that bringing people to Christ is far and away the primary job of the Church. But where is our church's focus?
Quick test: what is the mission statement of your church? Do you know it? Is it preached? Is it encouraged? Is it practiced?
An example of this is a church called Willow Creek, and a guy was telling me on Saturday about a flight he had taken where he happened to sit next to a Jewish businessman who had been attending for six months. Though the man wasn't a Christian he knew what the mission of the church was: "turn irreligious people into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ." He said he was planning on taking the step of accepting Jesus when he got back.
There's a man who has only been attending for six months, isn't a Christian, and yet still knows what the mission of their church is. How many people know what your specific church's mission statement is? Is it a mission statement that agrees with what Christ says the Church is to be doing? That church is obviously focused upon reaching everyone with the news of Christ.
This last Saturday I went with my pastor and another couple to a church development meeting. Initially I was a bit skeptical, having vague suspicions of plans for better advertising or changing worship-style to attract more people. I was happy to find it wasn't that, but rather a set of meetings that are to encourage and help churches to focus themselves on reaching those who don't know Christ, not just by making a better praise band. It could still move that way, but the initial meeting was excellent, and really drummed home the point that if a church is doing EVERYTHING but bringing people to Christ, then they're still failing.
The leader of the meeting gave another example of how a church should operate as a whole and not just leave the ministry and evangelism to the pastor. He visited a church of with around 3,000 attending that evening, and when they asked if there were any visitors he raised his hand to see what they did. He got a packet from an usher and he figured that would be it. Instead, as soon as the service was over, the man sitting next to him immediately asked if he was a Christian, if he would like to join their home group, where he was from, and then offered to take him out for coffee. That is the sort of evangelism churches should have - everyone spreading the news of Christ.
That brings me to the second part of this. Our church was asked if we would be interested in joining another church in the area because they had lost their pastor, and only had a dozen people still attending. They have a building (something we don't) and since we're relatively small ourselves (~50) everyone thought this might be a great thing to do. To start out getting to know each other better, we had a Wednesday night bible study with them.
They told us a week or so later that they weren't interested in joining anymore, but didn't tell us why. We found out through a third party that we had offended them by wearing casual clothing to the Bible study, by reading our Bibles while the guy spoke, and by forcing ourselves where they didn't want us. (we brought ice cream for afterwards and they felt they had to have it in the daycare area where people normally don't go) Our pastor tried to apologize but was told that it wasn't something they were going to talk about and that it wasn't our business.
Somewhat unrelated, in the weeks after the Bible study, we had a couple families start attending with us. One had never attended church because they don't have nice clothes and felt too awkward going to church where others wore suits and dresses. The other for several reasons, but one was that it's difficult getting her kids "properly" dressed by herself and it's easier to get her kids into jeans and t-shirt than suits.
I happen to find this supremely ironic! It would be funny if it weren't so sad!
What is the main focus of the church? To go into all the world, preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. It's good to maintain a proper reverence toward God, and one thing that MAY do that is to encourage a high dress-code. (I have personal doubts as to its effectiveness, but that's neither here nor there.) But when a church enforces a dress-code that keeps non-Christians from attending, they've lost sight of the main goal of the Church. Whatever it may be, if it hinders us from reaching the lost with Christ, then we must set it aside.
p.s. If I had more readers, I'm sure I would get huffs of "watering down the Gospel" or something. No, that would be reaching the lost, but not with Christ. Unfortunately, music style, dress-code, and smoking (as examples) are sometimes considered to be equal with Christ. At least in practice.
To encourage and teach its members? To help those who are troubled? To bring people to Christ? To be visible to the rest of the world?
Well, yes. But which, if any, is to be our core focus? Biblically it is a slam-dunk that bringing people to Christ is far and away the primary job of the Church. But where is our church's focus?
Quick test: what is the mission statement of your church? Do you know it? Is it preached? Is it encouraged? Is it practiced?
An example of this is a church called Willow Creek, and a guy was telling me on Saturday about a flight he had taken where he happened to sit next to a Jewish businessman who had been attending for six months. Though the man wasn't a Christian he knew what the mission of the church was: "turn irreligious people into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ." He said he was planning on taking the step of accepting Jesus when he got back.
There's a man who has only been attending for six months, isn't a Christian, and yet still knows what the mission of their church is. How many people know what your specific church's mission statement is? Is it a mission statement that agrees with what Christ says the Church is to be doing? That church is obviously focused upon reaching everyone with the news of Christ.
This last Saturday I went with my pastor and another couple to a church development meeting. Initially I was a bit skeptical, having vague suspicions of plans for better advertising or changing worship-style to attract more people. I was happy to find it wasn't that, but rather a set of meetings that are to encourage and help churches to focus themselves on reaching those who don't know Christ, not just by making a better praise band. It could still move that way, but the initial meeting was excellent, and really drummed home the point that if a church is doing EVERYTHING but bringing people to Christ, then they're still failing.
The leader of the meeting gave another example of how a church should operate as a whole and not just leave the ministry and evangelism to the pastor. He visited a church of with around 3,000 attending that evening, and when they asked if there were any visitors he raised his hand to see what they did. He got a packet from an usher and he figured that would be it. Instead, as soon as the service was over, the man sitting next to him immediately asked if he was a Christian, if he would like to join their home group, where he was from, and then offered to take him out for coffee. That is the sort of evangelism churches should have - everyone spreading the news of Christ.
That brings me to the second part of this. Our church was asked if we would be interested in joining another church in the area because they had lost their pastor, and only had a dozen people still attending. They have a building (something we don't) and since we're relatively small ourselves (~50) everyone thought this might be a great thing to do. To start out getting to know each other better, we had a Wednesday night bible study with them.
They told us a week or so later that they weren't interested in joining anymore, but didn't tell us why. We found out through a third party that we had offended them by wearing casual clothing to the Bible study, by reading our Bibles while the guy spoke, and by forcing ourselves where they didn't want us. (we brought ice cream for afterwards and they felt they had to have it in the daycare area where people normally don't go) Our pastor tried to apologize but was told that it wasn't something they were going to talk about and that it wasn't our business.
Somewhat unrelated, in the weeks after the Bible study, we had a couple families start attending with us. One had never attended church because they don't have nice clothes and felt too awkward going to church where others wore suits and dresses. The other for several reasons, but one was that it's difficult getting her kids "properly" dressed by herself and it's easier to get her kids into jeans and t-shirt than suits.
I happen to find this supremely ironic! It would be funny if it weren't so sad!
What is the main focus of the church? To go into all the world, preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. It's good to maintain a proper reverence toward God, and one thing that MAY do that is to encourage a high dress-code. (I have personal doubts as to its effectiveness, but that's neither here nor there.) But when a church enforces a dress-code that keeps non-Christians from attending, they've lost sight of the main goal of the Church. Whatever it may be, if it hinders us from reaching the lost with Christ, then we must set it aside.
p.s. If I had more readers, I'm sure I would get huffs of "watering down the Gospel" or something. No, that would be reaching the lost, but not with Christ. Unfortunately, music style, dress-code, and smoking (as examples) are sometimes considered to be equal with Christ. At least in practice.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Lots of odd-ball things
Yup, I've found a few things that I want to pass along from the Evangelical Outpost's latest 33 things. Let's start it off with a really great quote from General Robert E. Lee that is truly timeless!
And then something that might interest the techies out there:
10 Great (But Fake) Tech and Science Videos (there are multiple pages in the story)
Something to explain why people drink beer in spite of it's generally awful taste:
Beer Drinking Has More To Do With Brain Rewards Than Taste Receptors
Then, I'd like to pass along to everyone a great series by some friends about how they came to meet each other and finally marry. SJ is a fun writer - I'm looking forward to the entire story!
An Old-Fashioned Romance, Part 1
Then comes a HILARIOUS (at least to me) library promotion from Wyomings. I SO can't wait to see some of these on a truck's mudflaps!!! If they'r gonna have these outlines on their flaps, let's at least have them promote some reading! I'm a bit worried as people behind the trucks may swerve out of control because of their double-take.
The same library system has some more clever promos:
Just to list a couple. They've even got a store selling this stuff. Check 'em out!
www.wyominglibraries.org/
Quote of the Week: From General Robert E. Lee (1863):
It appears we have appointed our worst generals to command forces, and our most gifted and brilliant to edit newspapers. In fact, I discovered by reading newspapers that these editor-geniuses plainly saw all my strategic defects from the start, yet failed to inform me until it was too late. Accordingly, I am readily willing to yield my command to these obviously superior intellects, and I will, in turn, do my best for the Cause by writing editorials - after the fact.
And then something that might interest the techies out there:
10 Great (But Fake) Tech and Science Videos (there are multiple pages in the story)
Something to explain why people drink beer in spite of it's generally awful taste:
Beer Drinking Has More To Do With Brain Rewards Than Taste Receptors
Then, I'd like to pass along to everyone a great series by some friends about how they came to meet each other and finally marry. SJ is a fun writer - I'm looking forward to the entire story!
An Old-Fashioned Romance, Part 1
Then comes a HILARIOUS (at least to me) library promotion from Wyomings. I SO can't wait to see some of these on a truck's mudflaps!!! If they'r gonna have these outlines on their flaps, let's at least have them promote some reading! I'm a bit worried as people behind the trucks may swerve out of control because of their double-take.
The same library system has some more clever promos:
Just to list a couple. They've even got a store selling this stuff. Check 'em out!
www.wyominglibraries.org/
Friday, September 21, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Church Growth and Light on a Hill
After a few comments back and forth on some blogs, I'm coming to a sorry opinion of some attitudes I hadn't taken seriously before. On the blog, some comments were made as to where people think the next, widely known Christian standard-bearers will come from. Billy Graham looks to be leaving us someday relatively soon; James Kennedy died, Falwell died; Colson has semi-retired; and the rest of the widely-known, solid Christian representatives (Sproul, Dobson, MacArthur, etc) are all quite grey-haired.
Well, it seems that a number of commenters believe that it is better to not be so widely visible. I'll let the quotes speak for themselves. These aren't taken out of context; if anything, the context exacerbates the quotes.
"[a small, shrinking denomination] does suggest that world leadership for Christianity at large will not come from us. I am not sure that is a bad thing. If you are operating under the raidar screen you present less of a target for your opponents."
"It allows us to quietly go about the real work of proclaiming Christ to a lost world. ... I expect if the world at large had a clue as to what we Lutherans were preaching from our pulpits we would be the object of great hostility."
"Everyone knows where churches are. It's no secret what times the services take place.... Yes we are a beacon. Just because a majority of people don't see it or even look for it is not the beacon's failure."
Originally the thread was talking some about the mega-church fame and glitz, but the comments devolved from there to these. Other commenters agreed! The second post/quote floored me: "If the world knew what we were preaching...." That was given with the full context clearly stating that it's a good thing the world DOESN'T know what we're preaching.
The third post/quote here was almost more saddening than the second. While the second is an idiotic statement that I've found does not represent most Christians, I've seen the third comment too often be held as true. It echoes a quote I heard someone say months ago which I've sort of taken as a representative of the whole attitude "We're preaching the Word every Sunday, how much more 'missional' can you get?"
This came on the heels of a post on another blog I enjoy, which challenged people to evaluate how "saved" they were - how much has our salvation affected us? We attend church, tithe, pray with other Christians and in private, but beyond that? Do we ever talk to our co-workers about Christ? Do we hand out tracts? Introduce the topic of Christ when conversing? What do we do that demonstrates we are saved? If we only have little things that demonstrate our salvation, then how much does Christ rule our lives?
Unfortunately I know I fall far too quickly and easily into the idea that merely attending church and praying in private is a good enough sanctification. Actually witnessing??? Actually witnessing boldly enough to attract attention??? Do something as a church that would really reach people who aren't inside the building already??? Are you crazy!?!?!?!
I'm trying to become more crazy every day.
Well, it seems that a number of commenters believe that it is better to not be so widely visible. I'll let the quotes speak for themselves. These aren't taken out of context; if anything, the context exacerbates the quotes.
"[a small, shrinking denomination] does suggest that world leadership for Christianity at large will not come from us. I am not sure that is a bad thing. If you are operating under the raidar screen you present less of a target for your opponents."
"It allows us to quietly go about the real work of proclaiming Christ to a lost world. ... I expect if the world at large had a clue as to what we Lutherans were preaching from our pulpits we would be the object of great hostility."
"Everyone knows where churches are. It's no secret what times the services take place.... Yes we are a beacon. Just because a majority of people don't see it or even look for it is not the beacon's failure."
Originally the thread was talking some about the mega-church fame and glitz, but the comments devolved from there to these. Other commenters agreed! The second post/quote floored me: "If the world knew what we were preaching...." That was given with the full context clearly stating that it's a good thing the world DOESN'T know what we're preaching.
The third post/quote here was almost more saddening than the second. While the second is an idiotic statement that I've found does not represent most Christians, I've seen the third comment too often be held as true. It echoes a quote I heard someone say months ago which I've sort of taken as a representative of the whole attitude "We're preaching the Word every Sunday, how much more 'missional' can you get?"
This came on the heels of a post on another blog I enjoy, which challenged people to evaluate how "saved" they were - how much has our salvation affected us? We attend church, tithe, pray with other Christians and in private, but beyond that? Do we ever talk to our co-workers about Christ? Do we hand out tracts? Introduce the topic of Christ when conversing? What do we do that demonstrates we are saved? If we only have little things that demonstrate our salvation, then how much does Christ rule our lives?
Unfortunately I know I fall far too quickly and easily into the idea that merely attending church and praying in private is a good enough sanctification. Actually witnessing??? Actually witnessing boldly enough to attract attention??? Do something as a church that would really reach people who aren't inside the building already??? Are you crazy!?!?!?!
I'm trying to become more crazy every day.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Yankee Peddler and Back Again
A Tale by Jbo Baggins
Now THAT was fun! Unfortunately C&I came down with the sniffles just before our trip out there, but in spite of that we felt quite well while we were there. While we were outside at the show, we were pretty good, if perhaps a bit more tired than we would have been otherwise. And of course, when we got back to the motel, everyone took showers and went straight to bed, which was just fine with us!
The show was quite surprisingly slow, even considering the weather. Saturday was absolutely lovely, but the weather stations had been predicting thunderstorms, and we think it may have scared people off. It looked like there might have been storms north of us, over the Akron/Cleveland area, from which come a lot of the customers. While the first weekend was disappointing as far as sales go, it was marvelous as far as visiting went! We all enjoyed time to talk and visit, and I got to demonstrate at the show for hours! I made a couple iron leaves for kids watching as well as one for Jer, but I forgot it there. Sorry J!
We even got to visit with K&R (and baby C, of course) Sunday afternoon a bit before we took off back down to VA.
A whirlwind weekend, but very nice!
Right now we're enjoying a some evenings together and some plain-old-ordinary activities like clogging and Youth Group. We had a mid-week performance on the 11th, for Patriots Day, and we have one this Saturday at the Bluemont Festival (12:15).
If anyone has time this weekend, come on out!
Now THAT was fun! Unfortunately C&I came down with the sniffles just before our trip out there, but in spite of that we felt quite well while we were there. While we were outside at the show, we were pretty good, if perhaps a bit more tired than we would have been otherwise. And of course, when we got back to the motel, everyone took showers and went straight to bed, which was just fine with us!
The show was quite surprisingly slow, even considering the weather. Saturday was absolutely lovely, but the weather stations had been predicting thunderstorms, and we think it may have scared people off. It looked like there might have been storms north of us, over the Akron/Cleveland area, from which come a lot of the customers. While the first weekend was disappointing as far as sales go, it was marvelous as far as visiting went! We all enjoyed time to talk and visit, and I got to demonstrate at the show for hours! I made a couple iron leaves for kids watching as well as one for Jer, but I forgot it there. Sorry J!
We even got to visit with K&R (and baby C, of course) Sunday afternoon a bit before we took off back down to VA.
A whirlwind weekend, but very nice!
Right now we're enjoying a some evenings together and some plain-old-ordinary activities like clogging and Youth Group. We had a mid-week performance on the 11th, for Patriots Day, and we have one this Saturday at the Bluemont Festival (12:15).
If anyone has time this weekend, come on out!
Friday, September 07, 2007
FINALLY free from Powers Thomas Insurance!
I've gotten a couple collection notices recently, and first thought they were scams - they had some funky info on them and didn't have any of my correct insurance information even though they purported to be collecting for Erie Insurance. I've paid Erie on time, and after the last of the payments for the year, I got a letter from them acknowledging my payments and letting me know I didn't owe them any more.
I just got a second one, and decided that I should at least report the scam to Erie and also double check with them.
It turns out that the incompetent bumblers over at Powers Thomas agency never closed my account with them! Not surprising since I've had nothing but lousy service from them. At times they just NEVER called me back after I left messages. Fortunately that was a minor inquiry I had and only called them twice about it - both times leaving a message. The biggest headaches started when I tried to change my address, change my marital status, and later change vehicles. It would take three weeks for them to call me back, while I was calling them three or four times a week! Rarely did anyone answer the phone, but the few times someone picked it up, they didn't know anything and said they would have someone call me back. (which they never did)
Then, when they did finally try to do something (after a couple weeks had gone by) I would find out they messed it up, or it never got sent back to the main Erie offices. It didn't help that their top guy sounded like he was 95 years old with a not-so-mild case of dementia, had no idea how to use a computer, and didn't know where any paperwork was stored. In one bit of hilarity I actually talked him through how to print a document! (Not how to hook up the printer - how to print!) Gah!
Finally I got rid of them (I though) and moved to an agent in Leesburg - Rich Insurance Agency (good people!). Well, it seems Powers Thomas never canceled my policy even though I told them to do so on several messages and when I called and actually caught a live person. I think I even signed a document and faxed it back to them. They had even been told to do so by the main Erie offices once Rich Insurance alerted headquarters I had swapped agents and policies. But nope! They never canceled, they never sent me a notice for non-payment, and then they sent the $70 amount to a collection agency!
When I called Rich Insurance, they picked up the phone and answered my question right away (oh bliss!). They got it straightened out with main accounting and said I wouldn't need to worry about it. She wasn't sure if she could get any sort of credit for the overlapping time when I had coverage through both agents, but she said she'd try.
THAT'S the way it should be!
Now, the question is - am I truly free of them?
I just got a second one, and decided that I should at least report the scam to Erie and also double check with them.
It turns out that the incompetent bumblers over at Powers Thomas agency never closed my account with them! Not surprising since I've had nothing but lousy service from them. At times they just NEVER called me back after I left messages. Fortunately that was a minor inquiry I had and only called them twice about it - both times leaving a message. The biggest headaches started when I tried to change my address, change my marital status, and later change vehicles. It would take three weeks for them to call me back, while I was calling them three or four times a week! Rarely did anyone answer the phone, but the few times someone picked it up, they didn't know anything and said they would have someone call me back. (which they never did)
Then, when they did finally try to do something (after a couple weeks had gone by) I would find out they messed it up, or it never got sent back to the main Erie offices. It didn't help that their top guy sounded like he was 95 years old with a not-so-mild case of dementia, had no idea how to use a computer, and didn't know where any paperwork was stored. In one bit of hilarity I actually talked him through how to print a document! (Not how to hook up the printer - how to print!) Gah!
Finally I got rid of them (I though) and moved to an agent in Leesburg - Rich Insurance Agency (good people!). Well, it seems Powers Thomas never canceled my policy even though I told them to do so on several messages and when I called and actually caught a live person. I think I even signed a document and faxed it back to them. They had even been told to do so by the main Erie offices once Rich Insurance alerted headquarters I had swapped agents and policies. But nope! They never canceled, they never sent me a notice for non-payment, and then they sent the $70 amount to a collection agency!
When I called Rich Insurance, they picked up the phone and answered my question right away (oh bliss!). They got it straightened out with main accounting and said I wouldn't need to worry about it. She wasn't sure if she could get any sort of credit for the overlapping time when I had coverage through both agents, but she said she'd try.
THAT'S the way it should be!
Now, the question is - am I truly free of them?
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Happy Birthday Dear J, Happy Birthday to you
Well, not quite yet, but almost! C&I decided to have a birthday party for J at the Franklin Park pool with some friends from church. Everyone had a wonderful time, with one disappointment - the cake. Last weekend, J had been very specific that he wanted a "Policeman Cake", but Target didn't carry any police-themed cakes. I had to settle for a fireman/firetruck themed cake. What were J's first words when he saw it? "I wanted a policeman cake!"
He enjoyed it anyway, and particularly enjoyed the firetruck toy on the cake and the fireman figures. Hopefully I didn't scar him too badly! :^)
Monday, Labor Day, was wonderful in too many ways to list. We took a road trip over to Skyline Caverns and went through their cave tour. J was a bit apprehensive but really enjoyed seeing the pools of water in the cave, especially the one with the fish in it! We had burgers and custard at Spelunkers, and then went over to a park in Front Royal that had a REALLY big wooden playground. J made friends with a little boy there who was driving around one of the little kids trucks (surprise, surprise!). When I talked with the dad, he said he had modified it so that the truck was now 4 wheel drive, with a battery running the front tires and a battery for the back! Very cool!
After taking J back to his mom's, we headed home for a nap. Well, that was the intent, but it was delayed a bit - we put on The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. We made it most of the way through both sides of a tape. It's a wonderful feeling being tangled up with your wife, listening to a good book on tape!
He enjoyed it anyway, and particularly enjoyed the firetruck toy on the cake and the fireman figures. Hopefully I didn't scar him too badly! :^)
Monday, Labor Day, was wonderful in too many ways to list. We took a road trip over to Skyline Caverns and went through their cave tour. J was a bit apprehensive but really enjoyed seeing the pools of water in the cave, especially the one with the fish in it! We had burgers and custard at Spelunkers, and then went over to a park in Front Royal that had a REALLY big wooden playground. J made friends with a little boy there who was driving around one of the little kids trucks (surprise, surprise!). When I talked with the dad, he said he had modified it so that the truck was now 4 wheel drive, with a battery running the front tires and a battery for the back! Very cool!
After taking J back to his mom's, we headed home for a nap. Well, that was the intent, but it was delayed a bit - we put on The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. We made it most of the way through both sides of a tape. It's a wonderful feeling being tangled up with your wife, listening to a good book on tape!
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