Slo week
Mood:  chillin'
Topic: General
Not much to report on this week. No tournament this weekend for Chelsea. Although her art teacher called to report that she has been acting up in class and needs to get her assignments in on time. Chelsea reports that she does not talk to the teacher in the class. So am I to assume that she sits in class quiet as a churchmouse and the teach is making all this stuff up??? I told her that she needs to straighten up, any more phone calls or missed/incomplete assignments and she is grounded.

She did report that her AAU coach is spending more time with her. She felt like he was spending more time with the 'star' players, while the so-so players didn't get much coaching. She is the only one not to miss a practice, so she deserves some attention for effort if nothing else.

Joe went to camp Campbellgard(sp) with the 7th grade class. I suppose that this is a warm up to next years class trip to DC. He said that he was bored most of the time although he liked the animals in the nature center. It sounded like a ward for crippled animals - owl with a broken wing, lizard missing a leg, etc. It must get pretty rough at the camp. Oh and on a hike he found a 1/2 pint whiskey bottle. It had no threads on the lip so it must have been an old one.

Both kids spent some time with Pappaw last night. He is in pain and was feeling low. So they tried to lift his spirits a little.

bb
Topic: Chelsea
Chelsea had another up and down weekend of basketball. She was high points in her first game, 5 in her second, and was shut out in the last game.

Joe is excited about an over night camping trip that the 7th grade class is going on. He is borrowing my gym bag. Good thing he checked the contents - there was an old pocket knife that I had forgotten about in one of the side compartments. He said that he could have gotten suspended from school if it had been found.

Misc.
Topic: General
Joe got in trouble in school – with his mouth. He was suspended from school. He may be acting up to get attention. I have been trying to give Joe more attention since this has happened. Hopefully he will straighten up and fly right. He has been helping me with concrete work and also doing carpentry in the workshop in the barn. Once I get the truck back, we can do some fishing and stuff as well.

Chelsea has another tournament this weekend. She did so-so last weekend. She scored some points - nailed a couple of three's and basket, but was shut out in one game and was disappointed. I told her that it was just the first tournament – so don’t be so disappointed. Plus they went up against some tough competition. The Dayton Lady Hoopstars were there and a similar caliber team from Fort Wayne.

Not much word from Vanessa other than she has started a new job doing parts inspection.

Chad is working on his Oliver tractor. Not sure what he going to do with it once he has it running… He went out last weekend, didn’t catch the name of the girl that he was with.

Buckler
Mood:  happy
Topic: Joe
I had Joe give me a hand putting together the workshop in the barn. It is finally starting to take shape. Joe asked that I give him a hand putting together a buckler. He had found a round piece of aluminium and so we got some wood and leather to make a servicable buckler. We used some Neatsfoot oil for the leather and even though it was ancient, it softened right up. He is armed and ready for battle if we are ever invaded by any Carthaginians.

Chelsea has her first AAU tournament this weekend. They will only have like 6 players on Saturday. So she will see plenty of action.

Vanessa got a job in Louisville. I think that it is a parts inspection job similiar to what she did here in Ohio. Chad did some more work on the little red car. I guess that she is going to try to come back up in the next few weeks and take it to Louisville again. I am hopeful that all of the bugs are out of it this time. I worry about her driving all that distance and breaking down.

Chad is working on his Oliver tractor. He seems to have no interest in getting the Plymouth Duster ready - even though I put all the money into parts to get it on the race track...

BB & German Heavy Metal
Topic: Chelsea
Chelsea's AAU team had a scrimmage last night. They went up against Eatons 9th grade boys. It was close until the end when the boys pulled ahead. The girls actually lead for about 2 quarters. Chelsea was close on her three's but didn't hit one. She did snag some rebounds and played decent defense. She liked playing, but was disappointed with her performance on offense.

On the way there we listened to a copy of a CD of some German heavy metal band. It was odd listening to Metallica style music with German lyrics. I asked her - what is this, Nazi's on crack???

Joe has grown another pants size. Maybe this will be a good excuse to run over to Eaton and check out the new Walmart. They need to invent a new style of stretch jeans for growing boys. They expand in both the waist and the inseam. Any investors?

Easter
Topic: General
Had a happy Easter. Everyone made it for the main meal. I think that they all had a good time. The girls brought their boyfriends along.

Chad is tearing his tractor apart. He is redoing something with the hydraulics and putting in a new clutch. Sounds like a lot of work, but he seems to think that he will have it up and running in a few weeks.

Joe stayed over at Cody's a couple of times during spring break. Chelsea just hung out.

ulcer
Topic: Chad
Found out that Chad has an ulcer. Don't know exactly how he got it. They are going to try and treat it for now. He went over to fix Aprils car on Monday night - she is still using him.

Vanessa is having car problems. Grandpa Jacks car had problems overheating on the way to Louisville, then it developed a problem with stalling out at low rpm's. She is coming back over Easter to get the pickup truck. She feels safer in it. Not sure what her plans are with the car.

Chelsea and Joe are home for Easter vacation this week. They are helping Becky get things set up Easter this coming Sunday.

African Preacher
Topic: Joe
Pappaw had two guests over. An old friend Dave McNeil and his travelling companion - Stephan from Uganda. Stephan is a preacher who is trying to raise money for a new school in his community. He was interested in my cattle - he owns 7 himself. He has 12 kids and was a teacher, then a principal. He and Joe really hit it off. Although both Chelsea and Joe asked him a lot of questions about his country. It was good for the kids to find out a little about how other folks live.

V moving
Mood:  happy
Topic: Vanessa
This past weekend we helped Vanessa load up her belongings. We helped with all of the heavy stuff. Becky wanted to help load up some of the small stuff, but Vanessa said not to worry she would take care of it later. We told her not to turn down free help, but we were all hungry and left to eat before heading home. We ate at Red Lobster since Vanessa was going to be leaving. Sort of a going away dinner.
It was a bit more expensive than I had intended. Since the kids are getting older the adult beverage part of the bill is getting bigger.

After the meal Eric asked for Vanessa's hand in marriage. I told him that I would be honored to have him for a son in law and gave my blessing. It was a nice old-fashioned gesture that I appreciated. No date is set for a wedding, but I am sure that it will happen within the next year or so. Becky said she talked to Vanessa and that she wanted to have children at about age 25. So we will be transitioning into another part of our lives in the next few years.

Chelsea is still seeing Ron. He played soccer which is a minus. But likes the Bengals which is a plus. He doesn't like Michelle either which is another plus. But has no aspirations for college which is a minus. So I am neutral towards him at this time. They seem to get along OK and Chelsea is happy which is the main thing.

Joe spent the weekend at Kyle's. It was Kyle's birthday. They had a good time - Joe got some sort of pellet pistol from Dick's Sporting goods. How does he get other boys parents to buy stuff for him all the time?

Chad had an uneventful week. I think that he and April are on the outs. He helped with Vanessa and stayed at our place for awhile on Sunday. Joe beat him pretty soundly on the computer. One of those shoot 'em up games. I told Joe that he needs to let his older brother win every once in a while or he won't want to play anymore ;- )

V home
Mood:  chatty
Topic: Vanessa
Vanessa is home for around a week. She found a place in Louisville over the weekend. She is pretty much packed up and is doing her finals at Wright State. She gave her 2 weeks notice at the printers. So she is pretty much ready to move once things are wrapped up at school. Becky is upset about her going. Maybe we can use a long weekend to go camping somewhere down around Louisville and visit her while working in a little boating.

Oh, Miss Graceful slammed her finger in the door of her truck. It is swollen. She may go to a doctor today if it doesn't feel better. She is still the most accident prone kid.

Chelsea had her awards banquet tonight for basketball. She left early because of practice with her AAU team. It looks like they have some decent talent. The extra work at the gym seems to be paying off. She hit 4 3's while I was watching them scrimmage. She did OK for coming into practice cold.

Chelsea also has proficiency tests this week at high school. The sophomores come into to school, but the rest of the school comes in 2 hours later. I guess they don't want noise in the hallways to interupt them?? They have to pass them in order to graduate. Joe is taking his tests in junior high as well this week.

Chad brought April over this past weekend. I think that she is still the same - using Chad until someone better comes along.

Joe has a new hamster. Fred had a close encounter of the feline kind - Mr. Cuddles somehow got into the cage and used Fred as a playmate. Becky found him batting a lifeless Fred around. Joe was unhappy and mad at the cat - but I told him that it's his instinct to go after small furry animals. I told him to put a weight on the lid to the cage so that he can't get in there. Anyway Tiny Tim is smaller than Fred - he is some sort of minature Siberian hamster. He is definitely a runt. Seems to be nice enough, he hasn't bit anyone yet anyway.