Jul 27: Movin' on......up?
We are trying to find a new home to rent. The issue with Lead and the babies, the absence of any type of furnace or heating system whatsoever and Mary's desire to teach and live in Kenton County have us on the prowl. 
We find many houses in the general area here in Boone county. Many look just like this house to the right. Nice places, affordable rent (if a little high), and they meet our requirements. Our requirements you ask? Well lets see. We need at least 4 bedrooms (or 3 BR and a family room that can be used as one). We need a fenced yard. They MUST allow pets (extra deposit/rent not a problem). It must be located in the Kenton County school district.
To the left you will see a representation of what we have been able to find in Kenton County School District. Note that it lacks a fenced yard.
Ok so we have not only found this little gem and its counterparts, but we have found a place with a driveway that is at an 85 degree grade on a curvy river road....we were told we are responsible for snow and ice removal. There was also no place close to park should we be unable to scale the drive in our car. Oh....and there was I think one closet in that unit.
The common thread is no fenced yard. I cant give that up for a good reason. I want to take care of the house. I have pets. If I have no fenced yard they dont get out as much and accidents happen in the house. I want to treat the house right.
Lets not even delve deeply into The Greater Cincy area for housing. Let me just say palces for less money. Unfortunately, the girls could NOT cross state lines to go to school.
So if you know of a place that meets our requirements drop us a line.
We find many houses in the general area here in Boone county. Many look just like this house to the right. Nice places, affordable rent (if a little high), and they meet our requirements. Our requirements you ask? Well lets see. We need at least 4 bedrooms (or 3 BR and a family room that can be used as one). We need a fenced yard. They MUST allow pets (extra deposit/rent not a problem). It must be located in the Kenton County school district.
To the left you will see a representation of what we have been able to find in Kenton County School District. Note that it lacks a fenced yard. Ok so we have not only found this little gem and its counterparts, but we have found a place with a driveway that is at an 85 degree grade on a curvy river road....we were told we are responsible for snow and ice removal. There was also no place close to park should we be unable to scale the drive in our car. Oh....and there was I think one closet in that unit.
The common thread is no fenced yard. I cant give that up for a good reason. I want to take care of the house. I have pets. If I have no fenced yard they dont get out as much and accidents happen in the house. I want to treat the house right.
Lets not even delve deeply into The Greater Cincy area for housing. Let me just say palces for less money. Unfortunately, the girls could NOT cross state lines to go to school.
So if you know of a place that meets our requirements drop us a line.
Jul 5: Summer Fun
Trying to come up with a single cohesive theme about which to blog here. Let's just say my mind is a bit distracted 
and cohesive does not seem to be working for me. First, dental works SUCKS! there's the pain and the my mouth just feels wrong aspects. It just leaves a guy feeling icky. We were going to go to my Cousin's house for the fourth of July weekend. We were supposed to camp on his farm. My dental issues put a killing stop on that plan. We do have some plans for hitting the road and camping real soon though. I am actually thinking that we'll do quite a bit of camping.
WE are thinking maybe some camping in Cave City, and Lousiville Ky. Perhaps East Fork Lake Big Bone Lick. maybe sa cabin in Hocking Hills and also in Jellystone Campground in cave city. Who knows. Mary is more of the Clark Griswold trip planner. She knows where we we will go. 
Although I must admit that the two of us have come to an impasse. I want to stay at Wig Wam Village. Mary is questioning the cost and feels we should just go there and just take a look at it. This is a sacrilege. My parents did that very thing when I was a kid. Broke my heart in two. Thats why I want so badly to go now. I say damn the torpedoes (which I admit isn't the proper analogy) and stay in the TeePees at Wig Wam Village. In our travels we are hoping to hit Mammoth Cave National Park and a lake with a beach. We also want to shoot for a drive thru. 
Mary actually wants our first camping "excursion" to be into our own backyard. She wants to set our tent up and camp under our big tree. I say I agree that we should do some back yard camping but first we should camp out someplace else. Why? Because, if we start out in the back yard, then we will be close to the air conditioning and soft mattresses. And thus, our first trip would involve the little guys being moved into the house at some point during the night. They get the idea then that this is how camping goes and when we go out for real its a mess.
and cohesive does not seem to be working for me. First, dental works SUCKS! there's the pain and the my mouth just feels wrong aspects. It just leaves a guy feeling icky. We were going to go to my Cousin's house for the fourth of July weekend. We were supposed to camp on his farm. My dental issues put a killing stop on that plan. We do have some plans for hitting the road and camping real soon though. I am actually thinking that we'll do quite a bit of camping.
WE are thinking maybe some camping in Cave City, and Lousiville Ky. Perhaps East Fork Lake Big Bone Lick. maybe sa cabin in Hocking Hills and also in Jellystone Campground in cave city. Who knows. Mary is more of the Clark Griswold trip planner. She knows where we we will go. 
Although I must admit that the two of us have come to an impasse. I want to stay at Wig Wam Village. Mary is questioning the cost and feels we should just go there and just take a look at it. This is a sacrilege. My parents did that very thing when I was a kid. Broke my heart in two. Thats why I want so badly to go now. I say damn the torpedoes (which I admit isn't the proper analogy) and stay in the TeePees at Wig Wam Village. In our travels we are hoping to hit Mammoth Cave National Park and a lake with a beach. We also want to shoot for a drive thru. 
Mary actually wants our first camping "excursion" to be into our own backyard. She wants to set our tent up and camp under our big tree. I say I agree that we should do some back yard camping but first we should camp out someplace else. Why? Because, if we start out in the back yard, then we will be close to the air conditioning and soft mattresses. And thus, our first trip would involve the little guys being moved into the house at some point during the night. They get the idea then that this is how camping goes and when we go out for real its a mess. Jun 27: Our FIRST Airbender
Lots of changes. I have definitely NOT been keeping up with my blogging. Sorry bout that to my readers. The first development happend a couple of weeks ago. 
Mary's Nephew was over at our house being babysat for the day. we ran to get groceries and were gone for about an hour and when we got home he had cut ALL of baby Gio's hair off. Not a bald patch here and there,....all of it. everything was cut to about 1/4 inch with a couple fuzzy tufts of longer hair. He had next managed to "benderfy" all of JOEE's barbies and then started on JOEE's hair before he got caught. Several HUGE chunks were cut out of Joee's hair. the entire left side of her head is above the ear. There is a chunk out of the back as well, and her bangs are gone. Now the cruelest 2 things are poor Gio related. OK first is the simple loss of ALL of those curls. The girls use to call him Fabio. Now its Vin Diesel. And all of those curl...well nephew boy mashed them to gether with Barbie hair and Joee hair. So we dont even have that 1 curl to remember it by. Don't know which aspect bothers me most. But if we decided to go Pollyanna style and play the Glad game, then I can say I am glad that he started with Gio first. Imagine a bald Joee.
Mary's Nephew was over at our house being babysat for the day. we ran to get groceries and were gone for about an hour and when we got home he had cut ALL of baby Gio's hair off. Not a bald patch here and there,....all of it. everything was cut to about 1/4 inch with a couple fuzzy tufts of longer hair. He had next managed to "benderfy" all of JOEE's barbies and then started on JOEE's hair before he got caught. Several HUGE chunks were cut out of Joee's hair. the entire left side of her head is above the ear. There is a chunk out of the back as well, and her bangs are gone. Now the cruelest 2 things are poor Gio related. OK first is the simple loss of ALL of those curls. The girls use to call him Fabio. Now its Vin Diesel. And all of those curl...well nephew boy mashed them to gether with Barbie hair and Joee hair. So we dont even have that 1 curl to remember it by. Don't know which aspect bothers me most. But if we decided to go Pollyanna style and play the Glad game, then I can say I am glad that he started with Gio first. Imagine a bald Joee. Jun 10: ...And the Thunder Rolls.
Yesterday we held my Grandpa Bill's funeral. It was a nice service. He was 93 years old. He truly led a blessed life. 
He was my Grandpa and I love him.
Now for a description of the last week. Saturday late in the morning, my mom called and told me that my Grandpa was slipping. Mary and I hopped in the shower as we had both been working outside and it was very hot. AS we were getting dressed to leave to go to the nursing home, Katie and Brontë got into an argument. In a snit, Katie slammed the door on her finger crushing it and rearing a huge gash. Change of plans....we are going to the ER. I called my mother to let her know but 10 minutes later she called to tell me that Grandpa was gone. My sister Charlotte picked me up at the ER and took me to the nursing home to be there for my dad. Katie required 5 stitches in her finger. Good news was that it wasn't broken.
Sunday we went to church and spent the afternoon/evening at my parents.
Monday morning I climbed into the attic to do so Home improvement/repair work. The saw blade broke, flew back, and gashed my hand. That was a trip back to the ER. Just 2 stitches but it bruised and hurt something fierce. Monday late afternoon we borrowed my mothers car(mine does not have AC), and drove Katie to Louisville 90 minutes away for her flight to Utah to visit Steph and go to EFY later in the month.
Tuesday we received a call from Steph that Katie's finger is still swelling. we ran around most of the day getting supplies for Brontë and around 3 PM she left for Girl's Camp as a youth leader. Around that same time I had my appointment with my doctor.
Wednesday rolled in and at 845 Nyoka had to be at the church to leave for Girl's camp. Then we had to be at the Funeral Home at 1015 for Grandpa. After the funeral we drove and alternate route to the cemetery due to flash flooding from the torrential rains. Just acting a a pallbearer for a minute or so soaked my clothes thru to the skin. Next it was off to Frische's for a big family meal. Just one problem, several family members are smoking but Mary can't be around smoking or her asthma gets REALLY ugly. so the family split up on seating. Spent the evening at My parents house. After the rain stopped we did find some baby frogs. They are so small 4 of them could fit on a penny. very cute.
Thursday, or this evening at least we got a call from Nyoka, then Brontë. Nyoka is very sick. luckily one of the women at camp was headed back this way. She brought Nyoka home.
Friday, tomorrow, we work the Bishop's sharehouse. Then, Mary's dad is coming over to help me get back up in the attic and finish the job. Tomorrow evening We go to Aunt Frannie's surprise 60th birthday party (nobody tell).
Saturday, Brontë comes home from Camp. I am sure that SOMETHING else will come up as well. Oh yeah, Mary and I have date night planned. That at least isn't too stressful.
He was my Grandpa and I love him. Now for a description of the last week. Saturday late in the morning, my mom called and told me that my Grandpa was slipping. Mary and I hopped in the shower as we had both been working outside and it was very hot. AS we were getting dressed to leave to go to the nursing home, Katie and Brontë got into an argument. In a snit, Katie slammed the door on her finger crushing it and rearing a huge gash. Change of plans....we are going to the ER. I called my mother to let her know but 10 minutes later she called to tell me that Grandpa was gone. My sister Charlotte picked me up at the ER and took me to the nursing home to be there for my dad. Katie required 5 stitches in her finger. Good news was that it wasn't broken.
Sunday we went to church and spent the afternoon/evening at my parents.
Monday morning I climbed into the attic to do so Home improvement/repair work. The saw blade broke, flew back, and gashed my hand. That was a trip back to the ER. Just 2 stitches but it bruised and hurt something fierce. Monday late afternoon we borrowed my mothers car(mine does not have AC), and drove Katie to Louisville 90 minutes away for her flight to Utah to visit Steph and go to EFY later in the month.
Tuesday we received a call from Steph that Katie's finger is still swelling. we ran around most of the day getting supplies for Brontë and around 3 PM she left for Girl's Camp as a youth leader. Around that same time I had my appointment with my doctor.
Wednesday rolled in and at 845 Nyoka had to be at the church to leave for Girl's camp. Then we had to be at the Funeral Home at 1015 for Grandpa. After the funeral we drove and alternate route to the cemetery due to flash flooding from the torrential rains. Just acting a a pallbearer for a minute or so soaked my clothes thru to the skin. Next it was off to Frische's for a big family meal. Just one problem, several family members are smoking but Mary can't be around smoking or her asthma gets REALLY ugly. so the family split up on seating. Spent the evening at My parents house. After the rain stopped we did find some baby frogs. They are so small 4 of them could fit on a penny. very cute.
Thursday, or this evening at least we got a call from Nyoka, then Brontë. Nyoka is very sick. luckily one of the women at camp was headed back this way. She brought Nyoka home.
Friday, tomorrow, we work the Bishop's sharehouse. Then, Mary's dad is coming over to help me get back up in the attic and finish the job. Tomorrow evening We go to Aunt Frannie's surprise 60th birthday party (nobody tell).
Saturday, Brontë comes home from Camp. I am sure that SOMETHING else will come up as well. Oh yeah, Mary and I have date night planned. That at least isn't too stressful.
May 27: Basic Automotive repair....or Where the HECK are my tools!
I am about to go outside and work on Franken-Van. The reason it is called that is because it is now comprized of major parts from at least 4 different vans that I know of. Main body and frame is a Red 96 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport. 
The hood and front bumper are from a light blue 97 Dodge Grand Caravan. The engine and Trannie are from a Burgundy (not sure why color matters on this one.) 99 dodge Caravan. The rear hubs and axles are I believe from another 96 grand caravan. There are other parts that they got at the junk yard while fixing it so I don't know what they came off of (Igor's retrieval of a Criminal brain). It may not look like the van in the picture but you get the idea. BTW it runs like a scalded dog now.
Anyhow, back to my point. I have to do an oil change and replace the front rotors and pads. Oil change: no problem. Brakes: Problem. I know how to do it. I have jack and jack stands and lug wrench. I have a C-clamp. But my allen/Torx sockets are missing. without them I cannot remove the calipers to do the job. The van isn't drivable till the brakes get changed. So I have to find a ride at some point. The parts store told me to take the caliper off and bring the bolt with me to get the right socket. Does anyone see the issue with this? By the time I get it jacked up, get a ride, come back and do the job, it will be 88 degrees outside. I'm gonna smell REAL purty! Wish me luck.
The hood and front bumper are from a light blue 97 Dodge Grand Caravan. The engine and Trannie are from a Burgundy (not sure why color matters on this one.) 99 dodge Caravan. The rear hubs and axles are I believe from another 96 grand caravan. There are other parts that they got at the junk yard while fixing it so I don't know what they came off of (Igor's retrieval of a Criminal brain). It may not look like the van in the picture but you get the idea. BTW it runs like a scalded dog now.Anyhow, back to my point. I have to do an oil change and replace the front rotors and pads. Oil change: no problem. Brakes: Problem. I know how to do it. I have jack and jack stands and lug wrench. I have a C-clamp. But my allen/Torx sockets are missing. without them I cannot remove the calipers to do the job. The van isn't drivable till the brakes get changed. So I have to find a ride at some point. The parts store told me to take the caliper off and bring the bolt with me to get the right socket. Does anyone see the issue with this? By the time I get it jacked up, get a ride, come back and do the job, it will be 88 degrees outside. I'm gonna smell REAL purty! Wish me luck.