Our Life and Times!: November 2004

It was a cold, rainy Sunday Afternoon this last week and Hailie had a couple of friends over. I could tell they were just a little bored when Sadee ran out of the bedroom with a pair of jogging shorts on and a tank top!! Then out came Trinka in a sweater and Pigtails! Those dogs just sat there and let them do what they wanted to them.

To show you how cold it's been, Trinka has not moved from this spot in front of the heater all morning! Trying to get her to go outside for the last week has been such a chore. She just hates the cold!

ASHLEIGH, ASHLEIGH, ASHLEIGH!

I'm hoping this gets her attention. I was told over the weekend all I do on this blog is talk about Hailie. Hailie this and Hailie that. Oh My God, it sounds like a Brady Bunch episode......... HAILIE, HAILIE, HAILIE!!!!!! Ok, Jan, I get the point!

Ashleigh is doing VERY well in school. She is pulling all A's and B's and may be on the honor roll this semester. She is also taking drivers ed at the school and we all hope she learns a lot!!!!

Ashleigh is also working at our local Thriftway store, just in case I didn't mention this fact in a posting earlier. She works about three to four days a week and seems to be enjoying it. All the people in Thriftway just love her and say what a wonderful job she is doing. I think she even opened a savings account!

Ashleigh is having a concert this Saturday at New Hope Church in Clackamas at 7:30. Here is the information from the schools web site:

The Canby High School Concert Choir has accepted an invitation to perform with the George Fox University Concert Choir and Chehalem symphony orchestra in a Christmas concert to be held Saturday, December 4th at the New Hope Community Church at 11731 S. E. Stevens Rd. Portland at 7:30. This is across I-205 from Clackamas Town Center. The choir has tickets to sell so contact a choir member. We will receive half of the ticket price for our choir if you get them from us. We really appreciate your support at this event. This music will only be performed at this concert and not at our own Winter concert. (Winter Concert??)

Speaking of Ashleighs winter concert, of course they can' t call it what it is any more so I will........ Her CHRISTMAS CONCERT. (Hope I didn't offend anyone. Yea, right!) Here is the information on that:

Our Winter Concert for All Canby High School Choirs will be held on Tuesday Dec 14th at the Fine Arts Center at 7:30 pm. Student performers report at 6:30. The concert hall will open by 7 pm. Admission is free. The hall may be full as early as 7:15 so please plan accordingly. We appreciate your support.

Ok, I think I have all of Ashleigh's activities through the month of December. I will keep you posted on how she did in school, in her drivers ed, so far no accidents, and I will let you know how her CHRISTMAS concerts went. (It's in a church for gosh sakes, it's a Christmas Concert.)

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and I hope you all have a fantastic CHRISTMAS season. It's about four weeks until old man winter arrives, but it sure feels as if he's here now. We never reached 40 deg. Yesterday, I think the high was 37. As it started to rain last night, there were little snow flakes coming down with it. You had to look hard, but they were there. It's 43 deg. right now and it feels down right balmy! I'm glad I got the CHRISTMAS lights up over the weekend, it's way to cold and wet for it now!!!!!!

Interview

I applied for a position at Al's Nursery a couple of weeks ago for a sales position they had. I received a phone call last Monday from Mallory Gwynn, there plant expert and local TV personality. He asked me to come in for an interview on Wednesday Morning. I got together my resume and pictures of the yard, before, during and after shots of the front and backyard. When I arrived, he asked how I felt I was qualified for this position. I handed him the CD that contained the pictures and said to take a look, that the CD would show just how much I can do and what I know, that it was to hard to put on paper just what I can do. He looked at every picture I had given hi and he was just amazed at the transformation. He said it didn't look like the same place and how well I have done with the yard. He asked me to call him back on Monday morning, because they had more interviews during the weekend.

I called him back and he said he would very much like me to interview with the department head and that they had a few more people to meet with and he would call later in the week for a second interview. I cant wait for the call! I want to start now! I cant think of a better position than the one I applied for. Just think, a job I can go to every day and enjoy it! Not having to drag myself out of bed every day and hate the job I am doing. I put most of you down as a reference and hope that they call each and every one of you. You all know my passion for this and you all know how well I would do.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

The dogs were really quite this morning and I thought that seemed a little strange. All morning, they usually play around until they tire themselves out. Not today. Sadee was on the couch looking out the window at the field workers picking the Dahlia bulbs from the ground and usually, Trinka is right by her side or on my lap. I started to look for the dogs and could only find Sadee. I yell "T-R-I-N-K-A!" No answer. TRINKA!!!!!! Still no answer. I look all over the house, every room yelling TRINKA!!!!! Still nothing. I look outside thinking I may have left her outside while she was going potty. TRINKA!!!!!!!!! Still nothing. I am in a little panic thinking how Hailie is going to kill me if I loose her. TRINKA!!!!!! Trinka!!!!!!! Trinka!!!!!!! Still nothing. I go into the Bedroom and I see the blanket move, just slightly. Hmmmmmm, I wonder. I lift the blanket and what do I find? TRINKA............................................................................. .......Sound asleep!

Getting ready for Winter

There is a flurry of activity going on in the front today. What was once a gorgeous field of flowers has become a mass of dirt, mud and field workers. This is the time of year the life cycle of the Dahlias has all gone to the bulb and they dig each bulb up from the field and send them around the world. We will be looking at an empty field for the next 5-6 months and then the cycle begins again as they put the bulbs back in the ground for another show of color. Hope everyone is doing well and that this weekend is great!

I'm Back!

I'm really beginning to get better. So much so, in fact, that I went on a job interview today with a company called PRIMEAMERICA. They are a member of City group and will also be a member of Washington Mutual Bank. This company offers help in retirement planning, loan consolidations and some life insurance all through CityCorp bank. I will let you all know how it goes. The only downside of this is it's all commission, so, if I knock on your door selling something............ You'll know what it is!!!!!!! Lets hope we are on the road to a new beginning and that things will start to turn around here at our home. It wont get any better sitting at home wishing and hoping! I need to take control of the needs we have and not let my disability get in the way any longer. So, all I can say now is, look out................... I'm back! (Sometimes it takes someone you love to give you a swift kick in the ass before figuring things out, but they don't need to kick me to many times before I say... "Hey, that hurts!............. Thank you.)

Here is the official portrait of Hailie's fall, 2004 Volleyball team. They were the only team in the school to have a un-defeated season. Hailie is in the upper right side of the picture. Great job, Pea!!!! You really showed how athletic you really are!!!! What's the next sport you'll master???? Keep it up!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hailie's official Volleyball portrait for the fall 2004 season!

*NOTE: Take a look at the socks! Were still trying to figure out the statement she was trying to make with those!!!!!!!!!!

Looks like another cold night coming. Clear skies and a great sunset! It's really starting to feel like winter around here. Lows have been dipping into the low 30's, but the days have been crisp and sunny. Not to bad for early November.

Hailie and her team on there way to an undefeated season. They were the only team to never loose a game! Great Job!!!!!!

Hailie serving in her last Volleyball game of her 6th grade season. She really did get good during the season and we look forward to next fall when we do it all again. Not bad Hailie..... We are very proud of you!

Thought I would post this picture of the morning fog and, yes, you see it right, ICE. We got down to freezing last night and to protect the seedlings across the street, they turned on the water all night long and this is what we woke up to. ICE! Almost looks like a winter wonderland, but it soon melted away as the fog lifted and the warm sun began to melt away the ice. Hmmmmmmm, Looks like it's going to get colder tonight!

Is this a sign of things to come? The first day of freezing Temps. Burrrrrrrrrrrr. Time to really start thinking of raking the leaves, bringing in the Plants and mowing the grass for the last time. Just 18 more weeks until the first day of spring! That's only 127 more days! The days will only be getting shorter for 6 more weeks and then they will start getting a little longer again and the days will start to warm up, at least I hope they do. The snow and freezing rain are just a few weeks away, so batten down the hatches and make sure you have plenty of fire wood and a sweetie to keep you warm. There's no denying it now............ Have another cup of cider and put in that old movie you have been waiting to see........ It's to cold to do anything else on the weekends now.

As the sun goes down on this Mighty Giant.

Rod getting into the Halloween fun! We all met at Kristin's house and had a great home made chili and corn bread dinner. We then went around to the houses close by but thought the kids needed more sugar so drove them to Township Village for more Halloween fun. We met up with our friends, Terri Jones and her Kids. Hailie, Megan and Kendyl all had a great time with Kristine, Chloe and Shelby and Shelby's cousin. We all just had a great time to send off the fall season!!!!!! (And thank God it wasn't as cold as last year!!!!!)