Quoted

"People often say that 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder,' and I say that the most liberating thing about beauty is realizing that you are the beholder. This empowers us to find beauty in places where others have not dared to look, including inside ourselves."

- Salma Hayek

Quoted

"One man alone can be pretty dumb sometimes, but for real bona fide stupidity nothing beats teamwork."

Mark Twain

Happy Anniversary Kevin

I remember what life was like without you.

I remember the loneliness that was so deep I feared I might drown in it.

I remember the sorrow that permeated even the parts of my life that should have held joy.

I remember the prayers that I offered endlessly.

"Please God"

I remember the moment that I knew you were the answer.

I know how perfectly imperfect you are.

But I do not care.

Because I remember what life was like without you.

The Invisible Woman

This will cure your martyr complex in less than 6 minutes.

Quoted

"The most important work you and I will ever do will be within the walls of our own homes."


- Harold B. Lee (1899 - 1973)

Amazing Aging Machine

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Quoted

"When it gets harder to love, love harder"

Van Jones

Beech Bend

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This year we made two trips to Beech Bend Park. The kids and I had a great time. Beech Bend is like Six Flags for white trash. The rides are mainly of the traveling fair variety. They also have a mostly completed water park.

The big pluses are that you hardly ever have to wait in line for a ride. After our disastrous trip to Six Flags last year where the girls and I waited in line all the ding dong day to ride 6 rides, this was a marked improvement. If the kids liked a particular ride, they would ride, jump out, run around and get right back on. The other big plus is that soft drinks are free. Never underestimate how expensive drinks can be for a pack of kids.

The downside is that, as I mentioned, the place is not classy in the least. There are lots of people there in need of extensive dental work. It ain't pretty. Also, if big roller coasters and thrilling rides are your cup of tea, this place will probably bore the hell outta you. But, if you are looking to entertain your kids without selling a kidney, you will be supremely satisfied with this amusement park.

Scenes from Kline Manor

Savannah : "When I grow up I want to be a choir director or a marine biologist."

Anna : "I want to be a veterinarian or a chef."

Kaylee : "I want to be a detective or a bounty hunter."

Katie : " I want to be a wizard."

This is how it should be.

No matter what your political leanings may be, I think most of us long for a politician who will stand up for something. This is why I am passionate about politics. Because these guys make decisions that hurt and help people. I hate most of them because they don't seem to realize or remember this.

Happy Birthday Katie!

Katie is 9 years old.

I met Katie right after her 5th birthday. 4 years later and, honestly, her personality is mostly unchanged. She's still the funniest and still the most stubborn. She loves gymnastics, the Disney Channel, frogs, lizards, butterfies and making me pound my head repeatedly on my desk.

Quoted

"Cleanliness and order are not matters of instinct; they are matters of education, and like most great things, you must cultivate a taste for them."


- Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

Vacation 2010

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I'm pretty proud of myself for only taking 6 weeks to get a vacation post up. This may actually be a new record.

This year we headed to the Gulf Coast with all the kids except Dylan. I basically never want to go anywhere for a family vacation that is not the beach. Kevin, on the other hand, could probably live happily without ever going to the beach again. (Some nonsense about 3rd degree sunburns.) He took one for the team this year and I really appreciate it. The oil spill happened about 48 hours after we paid the deposit on the condo. The beach where we stayed was oil free for the entirety of our stay. I assume the people that went the week after us were not so lucky.

We had fun. The kids got along great. Nobody had to go to the ER. We got to eat one of the biggest pizzas in all of human creation. And except for some ridiculous hysterics on the ride home, I would say that a good time was had by all.

Quoted

"Courage is fear that has said its prayers."

- Dorothy Bernard

Happy Birthday Emily!

17 years old.

Senior year.

So much to look forward to.