FLORIDA DAY 1

1. Leave Wooster, Ohio for Atlanta, Ga.
2. Total travel time (including meals, pit stops, ect.)= 12 1/2 hours.
3. Google Maps said it would take just over 10 1/2.
4. Maybe getting a flat tire postponed our trip 1/2 hour.

Leasons learned:
a. I can change a flat pretty quick
b. Sean is a great traveler
c. I'm so tired of fast food.

SWAGGER WAGON

One of the benefits of my job is being provided a company car. At this point I'm driving a Toyota Sienna (my third one), and am waiting to turn this one in and get a new one. Having said that, I love the new commercial for the Sienna; and Dawn and I got a big laugh at the extended commercial posted on Youtube...seeing ourselves being portrayed brilliantly.
http://www.youtube.com/sienna
(click here)

OLD IS NEW

A few months ago on PBS I saw a show featuring a 'flea market' of sorts in New York City, where people hunt through bins of old photos to add to their collection. Some look for specific types of old photos. For example, people whose faces are in shadows, or, photos are from the WWII era. Some photos, like this one from my own family has a mystery man in it.Who is that man? Why is he in the photo? Is he related? Questions that will forever be unanswered.
People finding value in things deemed old seems to be the trend lately with shows like Pawn Stars and American Pickers on the History Channel being very popular. However, I wonder if most people think they have treasure when in fact they just have a lot of junk.

(By the way, the young boy on the far left is my grandpa Kelch).

SNOW DAY PART 2

You don't have to watch part one to watch part two, but you might as well.

SNOW DAY PART 1

"Dad and Mom, see what you're missing!"

SICKNESS

No new blogs since sickness has reigned in our house this week...well sort of. I've had a cold that keeps me at about 60%, but had to deal with it while on the road all week. I got home and Dawn's cold kicked in worse than mine. We were able to pull ourselves together to go and watch Will's basketball tournament.

SNOW STORM

I thought the storm would skirt by us, but no chance. Driving to and from the airport usually takes me 50 minutes at the most. Last night it was at least 1 1/2 hours. Slow going. As of Saturday afternoon, we're still waiting for the snow removal folks to come plow out our drive (association fees at work), though you can see by the photo below, they did plow the small street in front of the house.

LAMBEAU FIELD

While in Green Bay, I had some time before my appointment, so I stopped by Lambeau field-home of the Packers. I asked my customer later about the feelings the locals have for Brett Favre. 70% hate him, 30% are die hard fans who'll stick with him. Apparently the stadium has it's own Hall of Fame, which Brett is not a part of. But once he retires (anyone's guess), people will probably be more forgiving and let him in. We'll see.

BREAD

I love bread. It's been 35 years, but I can still conjure up the smell the bakery made in my grandparents small town in upper New York. Those were probably the days when bakeries could still provide a living to someone. But what do I know?

Lately, I've gotten into making some kind of bread product, like the pretzel rolls a few weeks ago, and this oatmeal bread loaf today. And I'm determined to make it by hand-no machine, no mixer, just my hands and muscles (thus I won't be making too many loafs at a time). I love the whole chemistry of the thing.


P.S. As a bonus, we topped off some of the slices with wine jelly...oh sooooo good.

WHAT'S IN THE BIBLE

If you have kids and loved Veggie Tales, check out this website. I am shamelessly making a plug for a new product from Tyndale House and the creator of Veggie Tales, Phil Vischer. I have a preview copy that Sean watches over and over and over....After watching the first episode myself, I believe many adults would benefit from watching this (it starts out with an overview of where and how we got our bible). Anyway, check it out.

http://whatsinthebible.com/2010/01/21/the-1000-challenge/

ORDINARY

I wish I had something to post, but I don't. Life is rather ordinary right now and I've not give thought to anything interesting. Let me get back to you.

MY THINKING TOO, DILBERT

WILL'S DAY

Tonight was a night I experienced a pride and happiness for my son who has worked hard at something that doesn't come all too naturally. If Will makes at least one free throw, he ties the game. But if he misses both...they lose. You'll see Will get's to shoot three times...reason being, after Will was given the ball by the ref, the opposing team players switched places before his shot, and apparently that is some kind of foul I was unaware of, so he was given two more shots.

ICE SCUPLTURES FROM CHINA

Here is a link to some impressive ice and snow sculptures in China.
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/01/harbin_ice_and_snow_sculpture.html

BRIEF UPDATE ON SEAN

1. Sean no longer needs the O2...at all.
2. His O2 registered at 88.
3. We don't go back for another visit until March at which time we will set up a time to have his fenestration closed.
4. I wasn't able to go with Dawn to the doctor this time, but the stories I hear about our doctor and the relationship he has with Sean continue to lead me to believe he's the best doctor in the world. As long as we live here in Ohio, Sean will see Dr. Lane, and if that is over the span of years, I think they will have a unique relationship.

SUFFERING

I recently learned of a friend, who is my age, battling cancer. It has once again made me think about what my response would be to something like that. I just read this in my devotions this morning:
While they (the world) interpret their trials as things that will make or break the quality of their lives, we interpret our trials as events that are shaping us to understand God and inherit His riches." from the One Year Wonder of the Cross Devotional by Chris Tiegreen.

CHRISTMAS HIGHLIGHTS

PRETTY SNOW

One of our first nice snow falls.

CHRISTMAS 2009

We are at my mom and dad's today for Christmas, something we haven't done for many years. There's a lingering rain/icy dampness here. Will and I went to the only open store this morning, which is the gas station off of I-65-we were looking for ice cream, egg nog, and a white elephant gift. No egg nog, but got the other items. On the way we saw a flock of wild turkey-just wish I had my gun and a permit. Something I hope to do each year from now on is to revisit the book, The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey. He has a great chapter on the birth of Christ, and helps put things into perspective on this day, and reminds me, what God, through Jesus, has done for me and the world.

INJURY

Well, it was bound to happen at some point...especially after turning 40. Will and I were playing basketball last Friday and I came down wrong or my shoe simply decided to stop, but either way, I heard a crunching sound, looked down to see I was standing on my ankle, then I just dropped. For a moment I thought the worse and figured I'd broken my ankle (I'm a baby, I always think the worse regarding medical things). It nearly took my breath away. Once I recovered, and was able to draw a small crowd to see if I was ok, I hobbled off the court to begin my recovery. I went to see the doctor Saturday morning and he had x-rays taken, from which we have learned there is no great damage-no fracture, no torn tendons...just a high ankle sprain and soft tissue swelling. I'm using an aircast and limp around real good, but other than that, I think I'm ok. It couldn't happen at a better time-while I'm off the road. We'll see how long I can milk this, though I spent Saturday and Sunday doing what I normally do and that is just sit around, so there has been no great change in my lifestyle-phewww!