Freezins Greetings!

Kidney Infections and Winterguard

2010-02-07T17:33:00.000-08:00

Sam's latest kidney infection kept her from performing with her winterguard at competition this weekend, but here are some pics from a recent friends and family casual runthrough. Now they have theie uniforms, so the next pictures will be even more interesting.

Sam the Party Animal

2010-01-31T17:00:00.001-08:00

Sam had quite the fun time at Tolo last night. Tolo is Kamiak High School's counterpart to a Sadie Hawkins girls-ask-guys dance. The theme was opposites, so Sam and Nick decided to go as jock and band geek.

Nick picked up Sam around 4:30, then they went to a friend's house for pictures. Turns out a lot of the winterguard and drumline kids went together as a group. They ate dinner, had ice cream, danced, went to Rock and Bowl, then wandered home.

Above, you'll find pictures from getting ready, the group, the bowling alley, etc.

Sam's Rosca de Ruin for Spanish II Class

2010-01-05T17:06:00.001-08:00

Sam was to make Rosca de Reyes for her Spanish II class. Unfortunately it didn't turn out so well. Chef Gordon Ramsey would have been cursing away at this burt-yet-raw mess. Sam was none too happy about it either. While putting it in an evidence bag, some of the raw, custardy innards scalded her, giving her blisters all over her hands. Wow. Iron Chef competition, here we come!

Way Back When...

2009-12-19T14:28:00.000-08:00

From family Christmas in 2001.

Old Christmas Pics

2009-12-17T19:57:00.001-08:00

They're so cute when they're little...

Memories

2009-12-14T23:59:00.000-08:00

I love finding old pictures you haven't seen for a while. These were taken in the White House East Ballroom where the visually impaired dance company I managed in the late 80s was invited to do a command performance for First Lady Barbara Bush and the senate wives.

We had done a performance at the Kennedy Center for the Egyptian Embassay a few weeks before. While I was backstage getting the kids together, these big guys come up to me and say, "Are you Jill Heyer?" I gulped, scared that one of the kids had done something wrong. "Yes?" I responded tentatively, more asking than telling. "The First Lady would like a word with you." After I recovered from nearly passing out, one guy at each arm escorted me to a hidden room where they parted the crowd and took me right to Barbara Bush. Too cool!

The White House performance was trip. I especially loved how, during a post-performance photo op with the kids, the first lady turned to me and said, "So Jill, when are you and the children leaving for Scotland?" SHE SAID MY NAME!!!!!!!! Laughs. I still miss the kids and wonder how they're doing. Many had tough lives and looked to me for guidance, and I was always rewarded with plentiful hugs and safety escorts to the subway after dark in Washington, DC.

Now that our server is up and running, expect to see more weird trips down memory lane. I get sentimental this time of year....

Treasures from Ikea

2009-11-11T21:43:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we spent a few hours wandering through Ikea. I love looking at all the Scandanavian goodies, especially the ones pictured above, which remind me so much of my grandmad.

Lefse, especially covered with peanut butter and rolled, was a childhood favorite. And the Danish hearts, while meant to be tiny gift bags, will be repurposed for our Christmas tree. The chocolate is from Sweden. They had a sample AND a coupon, so I couldn't resist!

Lookin' Spiffy (but grumpy)

2009-11-10T00:56:00.001-08:00

Chris getting all decked out for his orchestra concert. He looks handsome despite the grumpy expression (laughs).

Trigonometry Lessons

2009-11-07T18:25:00.000-08:00

Honors Trigonometry/Algebra II has turned out to be a handful of a class, but CJ's getting lots of help from Wayne. The big whiteboard has turned out to be an excellent tool as well. And notice his shirt--iBone, a word only a group of high school-aged trombone players would commit to clothing. The E39 on the back is Chris's nickname after Wayne's E39 M5 BWM, mostly because Chris couldn't think of anything better to have put on the shirt (laughs). And don't you just LOVE how thrilled he loks (snicker)?

Puppy Spa

2009-11-06T09:43:00.001-08:00

The dogs were due for their nail trimming, so we took them to PetSmart for a spa day. They were bathes, trimmed, combed, had their nails done, and got "bow-ed" and "bandana-ed". Lades ditched the bows in short order, but Burgs didn't mind his bandana too much.

It was so sad when we dropped them off. When the girl took Lady, she tucked her tail between her legs, tried to sit so she couldn't be led away, and gave us this incredibly pathetic look over her shoulder as if to say, "How could you?" You'd think she were being taken to the glue factory or something (laughs)!

Marching Swine

2009-10-29T15:38:00.000-07:00

Surely I will die for posting this picture, so enjoy it while you can, LOL! It's been a crazy few weeks with Chris traveling all over the Pacific Northwest as a member of the award-winning Kamiak Show Band and Sam playing host to swine flu/H1N1. Above, you see her curled up on the loveseat sleeping, but notice that her cell phone is firmly clutched in her hand. Heaven forbid she miss a text message!

I think Chris is enjoying the marching season, but I also think he's tired and ready for it to be over. He's got some tough classes this year, so between those and band, he doesn't get much "down" time.

Sam's case of H1N1 ended up being particularly stubborn. She's missed nearly two weeks of school under doctor's orders, has had a chest xray to evaluate wheezing, and now uses an inhaler periodically to help her through temporary breathing difficulties caused by H1N1. We're watching her closely to make sure it doesn't turn into pneumonia. I think her body's simply wiped out from trying to heal the knee injury AND chase away the virus. Yuck.

Chris and Wayne had something a couple weeks ago, but seemed to fight it off well. I'm hoping that's all they have to deal with this H1N1 stuff. I have a lot of coughing and crud left, so will probably get myself to the doctor in time. No fever though, so chances are they couldn't do anything for me yet anyway.

We hope all of you are surviving this tough flu season. Stay healthy!

In Loving Memory of Grandma 'Rie

2009-10-06T21:19:00.000-07:00

Today we lost a mom, friend, and grandmother. Marie Elizabeth Freeze always considered me her "third daughter". She was an amazing woman who gave me my best friend and husband, and made me feel loved by a second family. I am lucky to have called her mom...

Wayne wrote the following tribute that I'd like to share with you:

I miss my Mommy.

Earlier today, my mother passed quietly away at age 83. She stayed with us for another five years after I lost my father to colon cancer. Even though there was an entire country separating us, it always felt like she was just down the street. We were always on the phone talking about what was going on with my family or what was happening with my sisters. When we realized she didn't have a lot of time left, my daughter Samantha and myself flew home and spent a couple of days with her. Though she was heavily medicated, she knew we were there. She referred to Sammy as her "sweet girl" and she called me "her boy" just before I had to leave for the airport. Now that she's gone, I feel there's a big hole in my life and I'm not sure what's going to happen in the days to come. However mother did everything she wanted to do and left knowing that all of her children and grandchildren were in a good place.

Good bye, Mom. Give Dad a hug for me. I miss you both.

Six Million Dollar Sam

2009-09-22T20:25:00.000-07:00

I don't know why, but Sam's knee brace looks so weird and techy to me. She's got the big brace on top of a Neoprene knee sleeve for extra support, and with the daily knee dislocations now, she has to keep the leg straight 24 hours a day, including wearing the clunky brace to bed. It'll be interesting to see how she sleeps...

Rest In Peace, Dusty

2009-09-10T14:55:00.000-07:00

Today we had to let our dear friend, Dusty, go. When we moved to Washington, the cats went to live with my parents in South Dakota. Dusty had been getting progressively sicker over time. On the first visit, the vet noticed some weight loss and a small mass on her left rear side. When Dusty kept getting worse, my parents decided to take her back to the vet today.

The mass had gotten bigger, and she had lost three pounds in less than a month. It seemed to be kidney cancer, leaving us with only one humane decision: let her go.

Dusty's been with us since December 1999 when we adopted her from a rescue group in Maryland. She traveled a lot with us and had many exciting adventures. She treated ponytail holders as babies, and enjoyed sleeping with Wayne and I in bed at night.

Doo-doo Pie, you will be sorely missed. Rest in peace and know that we love you!

Oh, and please keep Pixel in line up there. She always DID think she was the boss (smiles).

And Mom and Dad, thank you for taking such good care of her! You'll never know how much we appreciate it!

Imagine That, Rain in Washington!

2009-09-07T23:08:00.000-07:00

The apartment complex is freshly painted, and Wayne's red beast is safe and sound under its carport. And look, in case you've forgotten where we live, it's raining so it's easy to remember Seattle (laughs)!

Our porch and bay window are on the back side of the building by the golf course.

Our First Kamiak Football Game

2009-09-05T00:25:00.001-07:00

The Kamiak Show Band presented the first part of their 2009 show, "On the Edge" tonight at a home football game. Chris looks so handsome in his uniform!

Sam was at home gearing up for her return to colorguard.

Sneak Peek

2009-08-23T13:31:00.000-07:00

Wayne, Chris and I spent the day in Redmond yesterday previewing Halo 3: ODST, an Xbox game that comes out September 22. Actually, most of the time was spent waiting, collecting cool swag, and seeing Major Nelson, the primary spokes person for Xbox LIVE. Chris also got the chance to talk with developers and staff from Bungie, the company that made the Halo franchise. CJ even saw a classmate from his DigiPen game programming class this summer.

Bargain Bone

2009-08-17T19:58:00.001-07:00

The nice thing about puppies is they don't require expensive toys (laughs). This 50-cent bone from Target entertained her for ages!

Images from Band Camp at Fort Flagler

2009-08-12T11:32:00.001-07:00

Got the opportunity to ride out to camp with my new friend Mary yesterday. What beautiful scenery, and the ferry ride--my first--was a trip.

Sam is loving camp, especially spinning by the water and making friends. I think it's been a little tougher for Chris to come out of his shell, but the kids are working on him and assure me there's been progress.

The parents have been wonderfully warm and welcoming. Camp proved to be even more fun than the uniform fitting day I did with them, mostly because I'm getting to know people better each time.

Happy (almost) 15th Birthday!

2009-08-09T00:59:00.000-07:00

Since Sam will be at band camp over her 15th birthday and Wayne's birthday is the Sunday after they get home, we decided to celebrate this weekend.

Sam was thrilled when her dad came home Friday evening with a bouquet of flowers just for her and a fun rainbow cake. We took her to dinner at Azteca, one of her favorite Mexican restaurants out here, hit the mall to get a couple last minute items for band camp, then came home for cake.

Perhaps the funniest gift was a t-shirt that said, "I'm just one big freaking ray of sunshine, aren't I?" (or something like that). It was her dad's tribute to her occasional PMS moods (laughs).

Chris's New Colors

2009-08-05T20:39:00.003-07:00

I spent my day up at Kamiak helping fit kids in band uniforms and tuxes. Met a lot of terrific band mom and kids throughout the day. You can't beat getting involved for making a difference as well as for making new friends.

While the kids were very polite and respectful, I have to say it was weird seeing Chris in a non-Houston uniform. He couldn't wait to get pictures of it on his Facebook page though.

Here's hoping Houston and Kamiak both have banner years!

The kids have some practices this week, then it's a drive and ferry ride to Fort Flagler where they'll spend a week at band camp.

Wow, no kids for a whole five days...whatever will we do?!?

What is THIS Thing?

2009-08-02T17:59:00.000-07:00

I know it's a crappy picture, but I couldn't resist capturing it with my cell phone. We were at a local department store last night and saw a display of turntables and records. They had biggies like Michael Jackson's "Thriller", Beach Boys "Pet Sounds", the Eagles "Hotel California", and so on. The funniest part of all, however, was Sam's what-in-the-world-is-this reaction. It was worth getting caught in the store with a camera.

The First of Our Three Leo Birthdays

2009-07-27T16:30:00.001-07:00

And don't ask 'cause I'm not sharing my age (grins)! The cake is of my favorite place, the beach.

As the Rifle Spins...

2009-07-25T11:24:00.000-07:00

Sam is a confirmed colorguard/winterguard nut. Not only did she go out back and practice between rehearsals, but she named her rifle Ronny. It's a guard thing, she says (laughs).

Band camp where the kids spend 5 days at Fort Flagler on the Sound starts in two weeks. It'll be a great opportunity for them to get to know their band mates. Sam's already making lots of friends between guard camp and random practices.

Hangin' with the Stiffs

2009-07-20T10:08:00.001-07:00

Studio A at Microsoft is like a museum. Lots of cool sculptures and statues dedicated to the company's interests in the entertainment industry.

Since Chris's class started later than Wayne wanted to get to work, he had the opportunity to check out a bunch of the video game stars. Above, you'll see CJ with figures from "Tombraider", "Hitman", "Splintercell", "Kane and Lynch", and "Fallout 3", the game he and Wayne have been going nuts playing the past few weeks.

Wayne really enjoyed having the company during the commute (not to mention the ability to use the faster carpool lane), but I think CJ likes not having to get up early anymore.

And a Beautiful Sunday to You!

2009-07-19T15:54:00.000-07:00

The Mukilteo Beach failed to disappoint again. It was a breezy, sunny day, and I kept wishing I could go out on the water like we did on my dad's pontoon boat as a kid... I think a ferry ride is in my very-near future.

Interestingly, the Lighthouse Park was crowded, but it seemed like there were enough driftwood seats to go around, and everyone had unobstructed views of the water, boats and Whidbey Island. I love the way the air smells down there--salty, and yeah, a hint of fish. Whether the fish smell was coming from the Sound of Ivar's at Mukilteo Landing restaurant remains to be seen (laughs).

SamBob Squarepants

2009-07-18T17:11:00.001-07:00

Sam's a big SpongeBob fan, so after running a few errands, we took her to Border's bookstore for SpongeBob Day of Happiness activities. We were hoping for a life-sized SpongeBob, but got storytime and pictures to color instead. As you can see above, though, Sam was totally okay with that.

The Graduate

2009-07-17T19:59:00.001-07:00

Chris received his diploma for completing Video Game Programming I from DigiPen, a Redmond college specializing in video game programming and game/film animation. The two-week session culminated in a finished game by each student and a crowded--and warm--graduation showcase.

Wayne and I are both proud of Chris and can't wait until next summer where level II teaches him C# programming, and level III moves to XNA programming, the languarge used for Xboxes, PC's, and Zunes.

Going Bananas

2009-07-16T17:51:00.001-07:00

Some people in this household, ahem, SAM, take advice from fruit seriously. But hey, at least she's not playing with the food itself (laughs)!

We Live in a Top 10 Town!

2009-07-13T14:10:00.001-07:00

Guess we did well to pick Mukilteo before even setting foot in Washington!

A Future Game Programmer is Born

2009-07-07T17:47:00.001-07:00

Over the next two weeks, Chris will be attending a game programming class at DigiPen Institute of Technology. The accredited college has a terrific reputation and a solid track record of placing graduates in industry-related jobs. Assuming he still likes game programming when this is all over, Chris may consider this school for his degree. It may not be ivy league, but industry placement is HUGE in the game field.

I Succeeded at Embarrassing My Kids!

2009-07-07T17:25:00.000-07:00

As Sam was reading the latest blog entry, she took issue with my Rock Band blurb. Something about me referring to myself as a hot chick looking all gangsta scared her. Can't imagine why....

Didn't Know We Had a Rock Band, Did You?

2009-07-06T18:03:00.001-07:00

One interesting side effect when your husband works at Xbox headquarters is that the entire family tends to get sucked in to video gaming. While we each have our own set of games we like to play, our favorite family game is Rock Band/Rock Band 2. Above is a picture of Trybble and the Furballs (the name we're known by on Xbox LIVE). Wayne is Trybble, a tribute to Star Trek and his first dog, and I'm the hot chick looking all gangsta in the cat shirt (laughs). If only we all looked like that...

Anyway, this post marks my 200th in the Freezin's Greetings blog. Be on the lookout for a report from Chris's first day at game programming camp.

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-05T07:21:00.000-07:00

A number of things combined to give us an ultra-tame 4th of July this year. First, being new to the area, we had no idea where the best place to go watch fireworks was. Mukilteo doesn't do a display until the Lighthouse Festival in September, so staying close to home was out. Factor in the near record heat of mid-to-high 80's and staying home just made more sense, even without airconditioning.

Our big treat was a cake from Safeway. The layered sheet cake makes it so yummy. It's probably the best cake any of us have ever had.

Anyway, everyone pretty much hung out on their own until later in the evening when we ate cake and watched fireworks on TV. We saw displays from Seattle, Washington, DC, and New York. I usually snag Boston, too, but missed it this year. There was some weird music in the mix, but you can never go wrong with "The 1812 Overture" and "Stars and Stripes Forever". I still remember my days marching with UMass, playing the 1812 Overture and SINGING the words in FOUR-PART HARMONY, in RUSSIAN. So cool....

She's Baaaaaack!

2009-07-04T06:47:00.001-07:00

Sam got back from colorguard camp on Thursday afternoon, and boy did she have a blast! She learned some really cool advanced stuff and survived spinning sabres as well as rifles. She made a boatload of friends, too. I'll have her post her own blog entry, but I wanted everyone to know she's home.

One of their activities was a hike to Deception Pass Beach. That was underneath the bridge Wayne and I walked over/took pictures of. Sam's also entralled with this tiny island just off shore. I think she'd have tried to swim there if it weren't so cold (laughs)! It's also crab season now in Puget Sound, so you see a lot of people doing that whenever you go to the beach. Oh, the top picture is the fire pit near shore at their camp site. Sounded like they had an awful lot of fun and s'mores there after a 12-hour day or workouts.

News from Camp

2009-06-30T13:30:00.001-07:00

According to the camp blog, the kids hiked to the Deception Pass Beach today in between classes. I have to laugh because Sam, on the far left, is the only one wearing a jacket. Guess she's been in Memphis WAAAAAY too long.

Also, when she texted me last night, she said she won a coupl of spinning competitions, so it looks like she's doing well. Sounds like she's having a lot of fun, too.

A Couple More Good Shots of the Bridge

2009-06-29T12:42:00.001-07:00

Beautiful Deception Pass

2009-06-29T12:36:00.001-07:00

Shots of Whidbey Island near the colorguard camp. Wish I could live there!

Off to Colorguard Camp!

2009-06-28T19:19:00.000-07:00

Today Wayne and I drove Sam and a friend named Courtney to Camp Rhapsody at Deception Pass on Whidbey Island. Camp Rhapsody is a colorguard camp run by the national winterguard champions, an independent group of college-aged kids called Rhapsody. The lead choreographer for the group is actually the colorguard director at Kamiak High School, so Sam's sure to learn a lot.

In addition to spinning flags, she'll try her hand at rifles and sabres. I'm kinda glad I won't be there to watch her spin sharp objects (laughs).

The camp, which lasts until Thursday when Courtney's mom brings the girls home, is headquartered out of Deception Pass State Park's environmental learning center. Above, you'll see pictures of the girls outside their cabin, Sam reacting to a bonk on the head from a rafter, and the clearing by Puget Sound where they'll do the majority of their workouts.

Sam was excited about the opportunity, but sad to be away from home for so long. I'll post pictures of the surrounding area later, but it's breathtakingly beautiful out there, and only an hour away from home!

Sam's Flashy Room

2009-06-28T07:27:00.000-07:00

When we moved out here, Sam decided it was time for some cheerful color in her life. This bright bedroom is the result. It's interesting to see how much she's grown. She's gone from Barbies and dollhouse pieces strewn all over the floor to a room with a loveseat from Wayne's Redmond apartment, a nice jewelry box from Grandma 'Rie, plenty of pictures, Houston Band memorabilia to remind her of the fun and friends in Tennessee, and a bookcase loaded with books, many of which have been read over and over again.

As you can tell, the rooms in this apartment are nice sized. She has a double bed, night stand, chest of drawers, bookshelf and a loveseat in her room. Oh, and the deoberant on the chest probably shouldn't be there (laughs)...

Free at Last!

2009-06-25T22:02:00.001-07:00

Okay, it's not the picture that's so remarkable here, but rather what it represents. After some training with an orientation and mobility specialist with the Community Services for the Blind and Partially Sighted, I now have my freedom! Above is a picture I took at the Mukilteo Beach. No big deal, right? Not so fast!

I left our apartment and walked less than a block to the bus stop. I boarded bus 113 to Lighthouse Park, site of Mukilteo's weekly farmer's market. Once there, I listened to a guitarist, watched hoards of people and their dogs shop for fresh produce, and took in the scents of hot dogs from a cart, freshly-popped kettle corn, and ripe Skagit County strawberries.

I grabbed a couple tomatoes for salads, a pint of strawberries which I had the opportunity to sample, and a small bag of kettle corn right from the kettle. With my bag of loot and my white cane at the ready, I made my way to the beach. My favorite bench was empty and waiting for me. Granted sitting on the driftwood would have been a more authentic experience, but after Chris got pinched in the butt by crabs last time, I wasn't taking any chances! I enjoyed a snack of popcorn and strawberries as I listened to the tide role in, the ferry horn, and nagging birds wanting a snack. Man I love this place...

After 45 minutes of lazing in the sun-mist-drizzle-sun, I headed for my bus stop for the trip home.

Was it a big deal? Maybe not to most, but for me it represented a freedom I haven't had in over a decade. Sure I used paratransit buses in Memphis to get to work, but you have to reserve those a day ahead of time. Here, I can go out on a whim just like anybody else. And get this: it only costs me 50 cents for two hours of ride time PLUS I get a free personal care attendant. At only fifty cents to and from the beach, I may become a beach bum yet!

Father's Day Poses

2009-06-24T18:13:00.001-07:00

Don't ask why the picture of Wayne and I is sideways. I tried to upload it to Blogger three times and got the same result. Ugh. I guess you'll just have to turn your monitor on its side if you wanna see it (laughs)!

Playing Around at the Museum of Flight

2009-06-22T09:33:00.001-07:00

The kids landed space ships, ahem, one more successfully than the other, and we all posed as astronauts. Unfortunately Sam's was the only one that didn't have telltale signs of sun to give away the fact that it was only a cutout.

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T19:47:00.001-07:00

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! After breakfast out, we took Wayne to the Museum of Flight just south of Seattle. Wayne had been there for a Microsoft dinner a few years ago but didn't really get to look around. We got there nice and early so the place wasn't too crowded. It was a really neat museum. We took a ton of pictures, which I'll post in small batches.

In this set, you see Wayne trying out the cockpit of an SR-71. It was so cute because he joined a line of "kids" eager to play pilot.

Anyway, we got to walk through the Concorde as well as an Air Force One used by Nixon and his staff. It had a doggy door between his room and the larger area used by the staff and press corp! It wasn't quite as luxurious as I had envisioned, but it was waaaaaaay more roomy than the Concorde. A couple guys in line ahead of us had flown on the Concorde and were sharing storied with us. Took them less than three hours to go between Washington, DC (Dulles) and London. A neat experience I'm sure, but I'm not certain I'd've survived the low ceilings and narrow aisle that long.

Making the Grade

2009-06-20T12:31:00.000-07:00

Summer is finally here. Hard to believe when it's still jacket weather. But the arrival of summer also means the end of the school year. And of course that means grade time.

Despite being moved to a different state and school three quarters of the way through the year, the kids flourished. Chris got the highest Biology grade in his class with a 96.1. We're awaiting results for the rest of his classes, but he did move in to Wind Ensemble, the highest of three concert bands at Kamiak.

Then there's Sam, who texted me every class with a report. Straight A's!!! She was so excited, especially with the honors classes she's slated to take next year. She's proven beyond a doubt that she's honors material. And if she really wants to be a pediatrician, she'll need to keep putting forth that kind of effort. Her summer plans include volunteering at the Y, attending a colorguard camp on Puget Sound, and attending Kamiak Showband Camp in August.

Chris has got big plans, too, including a two week video game programming class at a college in Redmond as well as Kamiak Showband Camp.

We're so proud of both of them. I know moving in high school is tough, but to move and do that well in school...nice job, guys!

Concert Time!

2009-06-11T08:01:00.000-07:00

Last night Chris performed his first concert as a trombone player with the Kamiak High School Symphonic Band. The kids sounded great. It's so bizarre seeing a high school with their own performing arts center/building. Afterwards, they had a reception in the lobby with baked goods, fruit, and drinks. It's hard to see Chris since he's i the third row, but you can see a smidge of him in the awful closeup we took. SHould have taken the Nikon instead of the baby Canon. Oh well...at least the Canon fits in my purse which also had the camcorder stuffed in it.

Beach Bums

2009-06-01T09:17:00.000-07:00

Maybe not the most flattering pictures you'll ever see of us, but they definitely illustrate the fact that we were having a great time enjoying the scenery.

Chris Has the Crabs!

2009-05-31T11:05:00.001-07:00

Or do THEY have HIM?

While sitting on the driftwood finishing his dinner, Chris feels something move under his butt. He squirms a bit and shrugs it off as one of us shifting on the log. But when it happens again and a little bit harder, he finally stands up. He turns to us with a surprised look and says something like, "I sat on crap!"

But then I see Wayne looking into a hole in the log. That's when I learned Chris had plopped himself on top of a nest of crabs! They were unhappy with his presence and promptly pinched him in the butt!

There were dozens of the little creatures in all sizes. Sam had fun shooting pictures, Wayne played with them and let them crawl on his hand, Chris tried to figure out which one pinched him, and I just watched in disbelief.

Moral of the story, always look before you sit! But then again, isn't that always a good rule of thumb?

Sunset Over Mukilteo Beach

2009-05-30T21:56:00.000-07:00

The weather was amazing today, so just before sunset we grabbed some fast food and headed for Mukilteo Beach for a picnic. The place was swarming with people enjoying the day--picnicking, sailing, jet skiing, skipping rocks, fishing, toasting marshmallows over beach fires, playing soccer, tossing frisbees, walking dogs, hanging out on the driftwood, watching trains, taking pictures... It was so much fun.

This is the first set of several pictures I'll post of the evening. These are just of the sunset itself. Tune in again for more personal pics and one hysterical story.

Puget Sound's Poker Paradise

2009-05-24T12:49:00.001-07:00

It was a beautiful Saturday, so we decided to do some exploring. We headed up north to Marysville/Tulalip. We hit the Golden Corral Buffet, checked out the Seattle Premium Outlet Mall, the Walmart Supercenter (all the ones near us are baby Wally Words), and took a couple of pictures of the Tulalip Resort and Casino. The grounds look forgeous. I can't wait for my dad, the poker playing champ, to check it out in detail!

Boy is that DreamLifter Ever Big!

2009-05-23T17:40:00.000-07:00

While running errands, it's not uncommon to see the DreamLifter parked on the grounds of Paine Field near the Boeing factory. It always catches our eye, so this time we decided to pull in to the parking lot of the Future of Flight Museaum and snap a shot. Pretty huge plane!

If I Had a Warbird...

2009-05-20T06:08:00.000-07:00

Why is it this looks like the perfect nose art for a Jill plane?!?

Up Close and Personal...

2009-05-18T09:24:00.001-07:00

The kids (all four of us actually) had a rare opportunity to pose with this P-51, see it taxi, watch it fly in formation, and then witness it getting pulled back into its display area in the Flying Heritage Collection Museum we toured right after all the fly-bys.

More Planes

2009-05-18T06:29:00.000-07:00

We also got to see one of Boeing's 747s that are manufactured here. It was pretty cool seeing it head right toward us, then take off. It always amazes me how those huge beasts even get off the ground!

Sam took this goofy shot of the two of us. She looks fine, but my eyes are extra scrunchy from the sun plus I have fudge stuck in my teeth from the Taste of Mukilteo part of the event. Lovely (laughs).

Just Plane Fun

2009-05-17T08:40:00.001-07:00

Planes, mountains, and sun. Nice!

Wayne and the Mustang

2009-05-16T18:14:00.005-07:00

This weekend we attended the General Aviation Day at Paine Field. It couldn't have been a nicer day for the free event--sunny and 70 degrees! And here's the part that REALLY boggled my mind. We ate pizza and drank orange Shasta on the flight line and there wasn't a SINGLE insect to bug us! Such a welcomed change from other air show adventures we've had...

Anyway, Wayne's always been a fan of the P-51 Mustang. Here he is checking out the Impatient Virgin. Hush, no wisecracks; that's what's printed on the plane. Take a look for yourself!

More photos to come...

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T12:33:00.002-07:00

Yum! This morning, Chris spoiled me by walking up to Henry's Donuts to get maple bars and glazed twists. Seriously good! Then Wayne order this amazing white cake with buttercream frosting. It even has buttercream through the center. As if those big colorful flowers didn't provide enough sugar....

Sunday at the Beach

2009-05-03T17:27:00.003-07:00

What better way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon in Mukilteo than go to the beach? Sam hunted shells and stuck her feet in the water while Wayne and I watched the ferry trips. We also climbed to the top of the Mukilteo Lighthouse and learned about its 100+ year history. What a pretty place to live!

Growing Samboo

2009-04-28T11:43:00.002-07:00

Over the weekend, we checked out a local Chinese buffet. In their quest to bring in more people, they had a drawing to give away a bunch of stuff as you came in the door. Wayne wond a small bamboo shoot.

Of course Sam, being a Heyer and a Freeze, insisted on giving it a name, Bambi, and finding it a "pretty" pot, hence the fish bowl you see above.

Such the humanitarian...guess that explains all the rescue cats we've had over the years. And rescue turtles, frogs...

Kamiak Kids

2009-04-17T06:15:00.005-07:00

The kids had their first day at Kamiak High School yesterday. The enormous campus is kind of intimidating (there are several buildings not to mention over a dozen portable units plus the main building has three stories), but they survived thanks to having maps in hand and in Sam's case some really nice escorts.

Since they're really only here for the fourth quarter, they were put in the classes they had in Tennessee with one small exception. Chris was moved up to Advanced Geometry. This was great news since the school he wants to attend to study game programming/design wants pre-calculus for admission. Taking Advanced Geometry followed by Honors Algebra II/Trig then Pre-Calc is pretty much the only way to get it without summer school.

Tennessee offered little flexibility when it came to moving to the honors/AP track of classes, so I'm grateful this school opens some doors for the kids to stretch themselves.

Sam chose a PE class that would let her finish her two years of health and PE in one year. This happened because their awesome counselor gave her PE credit for colorguard. Anyway, guess what kind of PE class it is? Weight Training! It'll be great for keeping guard muscles strong and for meeting guys as she learned yesterday.

On to the pictures... Let's see, there's a picture of the front of the main building, one of the two-story round lunch commons that opens up to a big grassy hill which the kids can hang out on when it's not raining (Sam did this yesterday),one of the covered bridge over a stream leading to East Campus (yep, I told you there were a lot of buildings), and the snowy one is their performing arts center/arts classrooms. The pictures came from their web site, but we wanted to share just how big the place is. 2,200 students enrolled.

Anyway, time to get everyone ready to do it all over again...

Chris's Delayed Birthday Cake

2009-04-06T10:00:00.002-07:00

Hy-Vee in Sioux Falls used to be our favorite birthday cake place, but it's been bested by Safeway. When we visited Wayne for Thanksgiving, we got a Safeway layer cake for dessert. It was AMAZING! So amazing, CJ wanted to wait to get his birthday cake out here, even if it was a couple weeks late. They actually cut the cake in two so filling, frosting, fruit, or mousse can be added. We had them do butercream frosting in the middle so it was like a sheet layer cake. Super-yummy!

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Mall...

2009-04-05T08:27:00.003-07:00

Not only was it a clear, sunny 60+ degree day (all of which are a big treat for Seattleites this time of year), but you could see these amazing mountains just driving down the street.

Our New Digs Before Furniture....

2009-04-04T19:11:00.001-07:00

Wayne and Chris's Grand Adventure

2009-04-04T19:04:00.003-07:00

On March 18, Wayne flew back to Memphis, where he picked up a 26 foot truck. He and Chris spent the next few days clearing out the germantown house and getting ready for their 2500 mile cross-country drive.

The first day, they pushed through to Sioux Falls where my parents were kind enough to meet them in the middle of the night to take our four cats. Blizzards extended the boys' stay in Sioux Falls, but they were so wiped out from all their hard work, they just slept their extra day in town.

From there, Wayne, Chris and Chee'nurger continued their journey. Plenty of snowy roads and closed interstates slowed their progress, but they finally made it to beautiful, and rainy, Washington.

As always, Chee was a great traveler. He held up better than his human companions!

Welcome to Washington!

2009-04-04T18:57:00.003-07:00

On March 17, Sam and Jill flew to Seattle while Chris stayed behind with the cats, Chee'burger, and the house. Electronics were supposed to be off on our final approach to SeaTac, but I couldn't resist snapping this picture. It's so nice to live in the pretty part of the state for once!

Ripken Gets Ready for His New Home

2009-04-02T16:10:00.003-07:00

Rippy's cottony hair is notoriously gruesome to keep mat-free. That's why he was treated to his very first "lion cut". His head looks so big! Anyway, he got decked out just before leaving for his new home with Jill's parents in South Dakota.

All four kitties have been treated to the good life at the "Heyer Regency", complete with window bench for watching birdies, deer, and Turkey Ridge. Everyone seems to be doing very well there, and all of them have really grown to love Goosey.

The Porsche's Enroute to Washington

2009-03-18T20:02:00.003-07:00

The big move is progressing well. This afternoon the Porsche was picked up for its big journey west. Wayne took this shot on his iPhone.

Happy 16th Birthday, Christopher James!!!

2009-03-16T15:03:00.000-07:00

Snow!

2009-02-28T15:33:00.001-08:00

We're getting quite a snow storm in Memphis today, and to think it's almost March!

Look Who's "Dog of the Day" for February 26, 2009!

2009-02-26T18:10:00.003-08:00

Chee'Burger's famous! Sam submitted this last July, so imagine the surprise when grandma and grandpa called to say Chee was online!

Gas in the POD, Part 2

2009-02-23T16:58:00.002-08:00

So, after the whole farting fiasco, Chris found yet another weapon--a very old bottle of Avon perfume that had been stored in a box for years, subject to extreme heat and cold. You think gas smells nasty? It has NOTHIN' on this stuff!

With an evil grin, Chris hides the bottle and runs after Sam. Notice even our stray cat guest is running with them.

Anyway, it turned into a huge perfume fight, requiring much wash machine time to remedy.

Stay tuned for Part 3!

Gas in the POD, Part I

2009-02-19T15:17:00.003-08:00

Boy lifts heavy boxes. Boys rests on ladder. Little sister passes out. This POD may not be gas-powered, but CJ sure gave it some fuel over the weekend!

A Little Help from Our Friend

2009-02-18T19:29:00.003-08:00

We had a four-legged supervisor while we loaded the POD--a stray cat who was friendly as could be. She tried to get in the house, followed us everywhere, and even scouted out the garage. Such a sweety-pie. Her pink collar had no tag either, so we have no idea where she belongs. She's too friendly and well-groomed to be a full-time outdoor cat, but her company was much appreciated.

Almost There

2009-02-17T22:55:00.003-08:00

It ain't pretty, but it's almost full thanks to a lot of muscle, teamwork, sweat, cursing under our breath, and yeah, a little goofiness, too. We still have some gaps to fill to minimize shifting, but I'd say we did pretty darn good filling up a 16x8x8 POD. Just don't ask me how much is still in the house...

Belated Xbox Valentine

2009-02-15T21:03:00.003-08:00

This was what I was SUPPOSED to post yesterday until I got so excited about getting the apartment... Hope you all had a great one!

A Moving Valentine's Gift

2009-02-14T13:41:00.002-08:00

Talk about the best Valentine's Day gift ever... The model of apartment we wanted just came available TODAY. It's right across the way from the pool, fitness center, and other goodies, too. We're so excited because FINALLY the move seems real. Who needs flowers, chocolates, and cards when we've set the wheels in motion to get this gang together again?!?

And let me tell you the location of the place. It's ACROSS THE STREET from the Kamiak High School's campus. We'll be able to hear the band from our freakin' deck during Friday night games! Buses, fast food restaurants, and drug stores are all easily walkable from here. Baby, I'm goin' to CIVILIZATION again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Back to POD loading....

POD People

2009-02-11T23:02:00.002-08:00

It's official. My husband's a genius. Guess maybe that's why Microsoft hired him, but hey, now we have additional proof (laughs)!

Remember how I said Blogger wouldn't let me upload pictures anymore? Well I kinda knew what the problem might be (long story short, my inferior computer networking skills), but had no idea how to solve it. Wayne gave me an idea which failed to work the first time so I gave up. Well tonight I was feeling stubborn and in the mood to beat up on my PC and lo and behold...it works!

All that fuss over such boring pictures... Above, you see the POD in our driveway ready for filling. I'm proud to say it's now over half full to the brim, and this weekend the kids and I plan to polish it off.

Man, I knew we had a lot of junk, but you wouldn't believe how much we've thrown away and how cluttered the house still seems. Ugh. And while packing and hauling isn't great fun, it's still probably a step above the next phase in our mission--CLEANING THE HOUSE (shudder)!

Let's POD-dy Everyone!

2009-02-10T11:02:00.002-08:00

Well, Blogger has decided not to let me upload pictures anymore. After spending a couple of hours trying to debug the problem, I decided my time was better spent packing. Sorry, you'll just have to use your imagination for now (laughs)!

In an attempt to get our move jumpstarted, I had one of those POD containers delivered to our driveway. It's essentially a 16X8X8 mini garage that you pack at your own pace. When you're done, they come and get it. From there, you can either ship the POD across country, or leave it in a local storage facility for a monthly fee. Since we'll be renting, we'll leave the stuff in a Memphis warehouse rather than pay the big bucks to move it all up front.

Sam's been a beast when it comes to fitting things into the POD. She has her dad's puzzle skills big-time. I can't believe how much we've gotten crammed in there already. I think taking the time and packing methodically is really paying off. Of course our trash collectors aren't real happy, but hey, at least they won't be bored!

The kids' spring break here starts March 13. Since that corresponds to the end of the quarter gradewise, we're thinking of pulling them then, and then enrolling them in Kamiak High School in Mukilteo for the start of their last quarter. Their spring break ends April 13, so the kids may get a bit of a break, but I'd rather have the grading periods nicely divided. If we get out to Washington before April 13, they may go to school earlier, but I'm trying to make things as minimally stressful as possible. Wayne and I just believe it's very important for the kids to be out there before the end of the school year so they can have friends over the summer. It'll just make adjusting to the move that much easier.

Another Marching Band Video

2009-01-27T13:38:00.002-08:00

Sam found this on YouTube--a video from their performance in Jonesboro, Arkansas where they became the grand champions.

Hell Week

2009-01-25T19:21:00.003-08:00

You ever had one of those weeks where NOTHING went right? Don't laugh, but this is how last week went...

The strap on my favorite turquois Crocs shoes broke off. Not a huge deal (Sam tried to glue it back together), but it was the start of an insanely stressful week. Next up, we had some guys come out to do maintenance on our furnaces. We paid a good amount of money to have the furnaces and air conditioning units serviced twice a year, but of course they uncovered something that needed to be done that wasn't covered in their maintenance contract OR the home warranty we pay a lot of money for. I had a HUGE altercation with the guys because I felt like I was being screwed over. To make a long story short, they were sent away without being authorized to do the $150 thing I'm not even sure needed to be done in the first place.

Next day, the internet dies. It wasn't the cable modem, and after a bunch of testing, it looked like our router got fried from power bounces in our neighborhood. They're actually turning power off to the area all day Wednesday to supposedly fix the issue, but that didn't help us. We were totally offline for several days until a friend took us to Walmart Saturday, we bought a new router, and Wayne talked us through getting the network back together. UGH!!!!

And while the stress was high, my cell phone managed to fall into my glass of Diet Coke. HONEST TO GOD! It died a sugary, water-logged death. Since Chris's had gone through the wash machine, that meant we were down to two phones for the four of us. Luckily our contract is up and we can get new phones, but that means Washington numbers while we're still in Memphis.

Then Sam had diarrhea for several days which we feared could be from salmonella-tainted Austin peanut butter and jelly crackers. Luckily it went away, so it must have been the stomach flu that was going around.

Chris's glasses broke, but a nice guy at Walmart took pity on us and fixed them for a whopping $2.

Last but not least were the Microsoft layoffs. Not again! Fortunately Wayne's job survived, even though another guy in his group was let go.

None of it was major, but please, oh please, can this week be better?!? I just want us all back together again before my supply of Xanax runs out (laughs).

Dancin' the Night Away

2009-01-18T11:17:00.005-08:00

Sam and her friend, Lauren, met a bunch of colorguard friends at Winterfest last night. That's a semi-formal dance that raises funds for a safe graduation night party for the seniors.

Turns out Sam had a BLAST! She danced all night, and even spent the night at Lauren's. Oh, and Lauren's dad grilled them a wonderful steak dinner before the dance. (They actually got together early so they could do hair, makeup, etc. together.)

Chris and I just stayed home with a deli pizza from Wal-Mart.

Nothing Like a Nap

2009-01-04T22:17:00.001-08:00

What better way to chill than an afternoon nap? While Lady was glued to Chee for the most part, she did take time out to nap with her daddy. It was so nice having them home...

Calendar Cats

2009-01-04T14:27:00.002-08:00

Microsoft did a cool fundraiser for a local animal shelter. They produced a Cats of Microsoft calendar where employees could donate and enter cat pictures for inclusion in the calendar. Our Meg can be seen on March 1st yawning, and Terry and Cali appear on the April 2 square. Unfortunately our photos weren't a high enough resolution to be considered for one of the 12 month shots, but the item raised over $40,000 for the organization! How cool is THAT?!?

Anyway, I've been working on entries for next year, and Terry lounging on CJ's Xbox sleep pants could be a contender.

Super Scrabble!

2009-01-04T09:42:00.001-08:00

Wayne got me Super Scrabble for Christmas. What a fun game! And now the kids are actually old enough to be worthy challengers. Sam and I played a game, filled the board, and used all but TWO tiles! Check it out above...

The Living Gift

2009-01-03T08:57:00.003-08:00

Since the day Chris discovered someone in Parker had found a long-haired calico, my dream cat, Meg has been his perpetual gift to me. Every birthday, every Valentine's Day, every Christmas, you name it, Meg appeas as Chris's gift to me. Chris made a grand gesture of it this year, though, as he put her under the tree. Don't worry; she was only there an hour while we ate Christmas Eve dinner.

Wow, He Made It!

2009-01-02T21:46:00.003-08:00

It was probably the biggest Christmas miracle this family had ever seen. After being snowbound in his apartment for a week and having the shuttle scheduled to take him to the airport cancel less than 12 hours before the flight due to poor road conditions, Wayne and Lades made it out of Seattle between snowstorms.

None of the cab companies were taking passengers, but the owner of one small company took pity on our story and picked up Wayne and his travel companion in his Chevy Suburban. It cost an arm and a leg, but it was worth every penny! Turns out Lades is quite the calm traveler. Not a peep or an accident out of her all day. Wayne carried her through the airport in a backpack (flight approved of course), took her out so they could walk through security together, and learned that she was a much better passenger than many of the kids on the crowded flight.

The kids and I watched the progress of their flight so our Christmas Eve ham dinner would be ready shortly after their arrival.

Lades and Chee-burger got along as if they had never been apart, and of course the kids and I were super-excited to see Wayne.

Christmas was pretty calm. We had a big breakfast and found everyone fighting over Xbox time. A lot of cool games found their way under the tree, and since it's part of Wayne's job, well...

The week went entirely too fast. Of course we had to go out for BBQ and southern fried chicken in between stocking up for our next stretch of time. Turns out this may be the longest stretch we'll be apart, too. Wayne has a lease on his apartment until April 1, so it's doubtful the kids and I will move before then unless I find a job out there. Ugh. Anyway, we enjoyed the holiday, and were very grateful to have everyone in one place. We hope yours was happy and safe as well!

Getting Christmas-fied

2008-12-20T23:00:00.002-08:00

It's finally beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here thanks to Chris, who put up the 9' artificial tree, star, and lights. The tree won't make the trip to Seattle, but it sure came in handy this year with Wayne gone and no way to go out and buy a tree.

Snow Day in Redmond

2008-12-18T20:01:00.003-08:00

Wow, record snow and cold in Washington. Luckily Microsoft lets staff work from home! Everything was closed today and most likely will be for a while.

Turns out Lady really likes the snow. She'll take a running leap into the deepest pile of snow she can find. Far cry from Chee who shivers when I take him out at 5 in the morning.

The Ice Storm that Wasn't

2008-12-18T04:14:00.002-08:00

Okay, the kids got out two hours early the other day and not a drop of precip fell. Still, the Ice Storm Warning stayed in effect. Chris was certain school would be canceled. I told him not to get his hopes up because the Doppler showed things were off track to hit here. Even so, he was pretty grumpy when I had to wake him at 5 a.m. as usual.

The photo above is an amateur hack job of two photos we took while walking Puget Sound over Thanksgiving. I couldn't resist trying to piece together a family photo. Of course the kids look like mutants since they're so much smaller than us, but it was a cool idea anway. Not bad for a blind person (snicker)!

Freezins Greetings! Literally.

2008-12-15T17:03:00.003-08:00

Here's a bit more festive image of our avatars.

The kids actually got let out of school two hours early today because we have an ice storm warning. Fun, fun, fun. I hope the power and the internet survive!

Have an Xbox Christmas

2008-12-15T15:45:00.003-08:00

Now that Wayne works with the Xbox team, we felt we all had an obligation to build Xbox avatars--online representations of ourselves. Above, you'll see Wayne, Samantha, Christopher, and me. I only WISH my hair were that crimpy, I was that thin, etc., etc....

Anyway, Xbox time has become quite the family thing lately. It used to be Chris's deal mostly, but now Sam and I fight for time to play Lips or American Idol (singing/rhythm games), and Sam can often be found taking study breaks by playing the guitar with Rockband. Serious fun! Wayne likes Lego Star Wars and Lego Indiana Jones as well as various puzzle games. But because he works there, he's attempted to broaden his horizons. He played Halo 3 at a Microsoft team Christmas get together, has been following the storyline in Fable II, and even joined the kids and I for a little Lips karaoke action over Thanksgiving! CJ still likes the shooting and driving games but is also branching out thanks to recomendations from the guys Wayne works with.

It's safe to say a few Xbox games will find their way under the tree. May your Christmas be merry and bright and filled with fun!

The Weirdest Thanksgiving

2008-12-06T07:12:00.003-08:00

Since the year's been kinda screwy, we decided to go nontraditional for Thanksgiving. Well that and the fact that Wayne has like two pots in his apartment, but still... Anyway, the plan was to go to Outback, a restaurant we can always count on for a great meal. What we didn't count on was them being closed over the holiday. Oops. Enter Plan B. We went to Safeway, got a turkey roast from the freezer section, a tube of crescent rolls, some nukable stuffing and mashed potatoes from the deli, frozen corn in butter that could be nuked in the bag, and the AMAZING layer cake you see above.

The other bonus was Wayne did the cooking this year. It was kinda nice having the holiday off this time around, but funny watching him rotate everything through the microwave. We missed the pumpkin bars (Sam and I made a batch before we left home just to get our pumpkin fix), but boy was the cake yummy! I know where we'll be getting all our birthday cakes from now on!

Hangin' with "The Master"

2008-12-06T07:03:00.003-08:00

Any Halo video game fans out there? Chris and Sam got to visit a statue of the lead character, Master Chief, at Xbox headquarters. Believe it or not, the guns point right at Wayne when he's sitting at his desk (laughs)!

It was fun to see where Wayne works, but we couldn't see much because of all the top-secret stuff going on there. Microsoft really takes good care of the gang with its pop coolers, Starbucks, bottled water, and huge cafeteria. Things'll be even nicer when they get to their new digs this spring.

Greetings from Lades

2008-12-06T06:57:00.002-08:00

Lades was excited to have new playmates for a week. Sam was really impressed that Lady knows her walk route around the Redmond apartment complex. She took the dog for a walk the day Wayne went into work, got a little lost, and Lady led her home.

We just secured Wayne's ticket home for Christmas. He gets in around 7 Christmas Eve night and leaves New Year's Day. That gave us the best fare AND the least amount of time away from work. And so as not to have our family in two states over the holidays, Lades will have her first in-cabin plane ride. It'll cost less than boarding her, and I'm sure Chee will love seeing his girlfriend again.

Boeing in Mukilteo

2008-11-30T21:16:00.002-08:00

Plane bodies from the Boeing factory in Mukilteo make their way south by train. It was pretty weird seeing the planes roll by at first, but it was neat to see.

Puget Sound? Sounds Great to Us!

2008-11-30T21:10:00.001-08:00

We could get used to this walking on the beach stuff....

Ah, So Pretty...

2008-11-30T18:12:00.003-08:00

We arrived in Seattle Saturday night after all kinds of plane nightmares. The Minneapolis Airport is INSANE. Our Seattle flight was boarding while we were still deplaning the flight from Memphis. We had to run three miles to the next gate, wait in a crazy line, and then sit on the tarmack for an hour while they disgnosed an engine problem. (Admittedly I'm glad they discovered it on the ground rather than in the air!) We ended up swapping planes, which meant another 8 mile journey. With flights like that, who needs Jenny Craig, LOL?

Anyway, we got to Seattle two hours late and couldn't wait to see Wayne. That required taking a train from the island-like terminal over to the mail building, but it was worth every bit of it. We've never been so happy to see him in our lives! It wasn't even raining when we landed either, though the ground was wet. Wayne took us to a diner in Redmond Town Centre for some yummy burgers and onion rings, then off to his apartment where Lady greeted us with puppy kisses.

Sunday morning, we headed for our home-to-be, Mukilteo. One of the pictures above is of the snowcapped mountains from a mall parking lot. The little town sits on Puget Sound about 20 miles north of Microsoft's main campus in Redmond. You'll also find a picture of the Mukilteo Lighthouse. The kids really enjoyed walking along the beach and gathering shells. They even found a big Dungenese Crab shell. There's also a ferry that takes passengers to Whidbey and other nearby islands. I believe that's Whidbey Island in the background of the picture of the kids.

We saw some interesting houses, but they're so much smaller and more expensive than the house we have now. It'll take a lot of adjusting, but we love the area.

It's Been a Long, Loooong Time

2008-11-30T17:33:00.003-08:00

I admit it. I've been caving. It's something I always do when life throws me all sorts of curve balls. It's been a weird few weeks, but I'll try to pass along the condensed version.

When my tech writing job with TruGreen ended on Halloween, I was talking with the Microsoft Windows group about a writing job with their User Assistance and Education group. It sounded like a perfect fit for me. They actually contacted me less than two weeks after the announcement came out which is pretty quick for Microsoft. I passed the recruiter screening pretty quickly, then had a one hour conversation with the hiring manager. While I had a great deal of writing experience, I had no MICROSOFT experience. The job turned out to be very different from the one they discribed when I applied, but I still did well enough to get moved ahead to the third level--a phone interview with a team member. If that went well, they'd fly me out for the day-long face-to-face interview.

I really enjoyed talking to the team member and learned a lot about how the Windows writing team works. In fact I was pretty convinced I was in good shape. I sent out some magazine article samples and had Wayne inter office mail some copies of my books to the group only to be told they were going to focus on other candidates.

Yeah, I was pretty grumpy. I really thought I had a chance. But I was also pretty nervous. The next version of Windows is shipping earlier than originally anticipated (this is all public knowledge, so no secrets spilled here, LOL), so the person needed to hit the ground running like mad. They never really said why they decided to look elsewhere, but when I thought back to the conversations, the clues were all there that they really wanted someone with Microsoft experience for the role. It would have been an awesome opportunity, but I feel lucky to have made it as far in the process as I did.

Shortly after all that transpired, a contract technical writing opportunity with Zune, Microsoft's iPod counterpart, opened up. The recruiter was hopeful, but the position was filled before my stuff reached the hiring manager. The manager did supposedly like my background and wanted to keep me in mind for future openings though. Again, close but no cigar. (Where did that phrase come from anyway?)

Then one of my best friends' mom passed away suddenly just before Thanksgiving. Tracy and I exchanged emails/text messages as she and her family rushed back to Sioux Falls from Duluth to be by her mother's side. It caught them so off-guard I'm sure they're still trying to recover from the shock.

While we're far away from Wayne, we saved our pennies and flew out to Seattle for Thanksgiving. More about that in posts to come.

I hope you all enjoyed your holiday, and Tracy, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family...

Arkansas Open Grand Champions!!!!!

2008-10-31T03:42:00.002-07:00

Sorry for the delayed post, but I'm proud to announce that last Saturday The Houston Band defeated defending champions Jonesboro High School at the Arkansas Open! Jonesboro has won the competition nine straight years, but a dazzling show marched cleanly and played to perfection broke their winning streak. Of course Sam was ecstatic that the colorguard took ANOTHER first as well. What a great way to end the season!

Tonight the kids march the show for the last time at a home football game, in costume no less! Something tells me Sam and I will be choking up at the thought of leaving the group behind.

Wayne's World

2008-10-23T21:33:00.001-07:00

Yep, it's a picture of one of the Xbox buildings on Microsoft's Millennium Campus. This building, Building E, is where Wayne works.