Couldn't get a good angle for the back to be dark enough. Also had to go manual focus, because it couldn't see the web, just the tree. 

September Blues

School has actually started almost everywhere, (Except for Detroit) and I don't have a teaching job this year.
Tom was basicaly surprised. He really thought that a job would just jump up and get me. I had a feeling that it wasn't going to happen this year. Especially since we still have to go back to court on Sept. 26th..

I'm working at the camera store (Ritz) and it is going ok. The pay fluctuates a great deal depending on what I manage to sell. Sales incentives can be evil things, there didn't used to be too many camera with them, so you wound up pushing the same old thing all the time. Now, most cameras have one (SI) so you feel better getting them something they will more likely enjoy.

Tom took some vacation time, as when they start building the car he is working on - he won't get any vacation time until after January or February. Christmas totally depends on if Chrysler decides if they are going to take a break for the regular break... IT will probably be very short.
I will be stuck working retail hours. Not something I really want to do.

I tried signing up for Substitute teaching and was told, we have too many - in Walled Lake. Tried Novi but I haven't heard anything. I think I need to call them.

I am taking my last Master's class. Hmm, guess I better sign up for graduation..
Hope September is being better to you...

Matt is gonna kill me, but hey, he posed for the photo........ 

Welcome Captain Jack Sparrow, to Michigan's Holly Grove. A long way from the Carribean. 

New fountain. Very pretty with all the flowers, and umm. Tom took most of the pictures today.. (He may get inducted into the geek photo club.) 

How could anyone say that is the face of a mean dog. A puppy pitbull, he is the cutest thing. 

Kiss, Kiss- Naarah's new hat. 

The group, actually Mike and Ashley were wandering around somewhere, we saw them at the Washing Well Wench show.  

Ok, I thought this was a decent picture of me. Nice job honey. 

Ok, Here is Matt enjoying Jason's new Horns.... Really, Jason bought them... Feeling a little horny are we???

Me, Karen, and the German Interns from Karmann. We continue to have almost 8 or 9 people go play paint ball each time. COOL! Cupcake, the guy all the way on the left, is the only one that has gone all three times with Tom and I. 

Ladies Play for FREE!!!

Have you ever wanted to just shoot at someone....
Just to have that feeling.

Well, This weekend will be my third trip out to shoot paintballs at lots and lots of men. Ok, a bunch of them are young boys... But hey, that can be fun too.

We are trying a new field out this weekend and WOW - guess what we learned? Ladies play for FREE, any weekend that they do not have a big event going on. Events happen like once a month, so most of the time, I get to play free.

Ok, so I have to pay for paint. That is no biggy. Have to buy their paint to play on their field anyway, you get free air when you play on their field.
I would guess if you don't have your own paint marker - you pay like $15 to rent it and buy some paint. First time we played we shared a 2000 round box between 4 people. Needed some more paint, but we kept it and took it back to play again.

If you just want to try it, hey what better way to do it. Free - and If we like you we might even share our paint with you......

Lenny the traveling Guinea Pig here, we are researching Chiropratic offices this wheeeek.. Ha ha ha, This is Beth. She asked to meet my fuzzy friend. So, we took a trip to the office. 

Hello, this is Lenny the traveling Guinea Pig. Today Mom got a phone call asking her to bring a piggie to the Chiropractors office. So, here we are on the way. 

Full picture of the Paint Ball marker, since it was covered by stuff. 

IS that not the coolest splash of color ever. I was in the wrong spot to get a great shot, but needless to say that color and type of paint ball splashes very well. I'm sure that is the kind that covered my mask on the field. 

Ok, here is Tom on the deck playing with the new gun. Making sure it still works right. (Sure) 

Hope you can see the ball off to the left that is about to hit the tree. I am that good. LOL The ball is moving at like 250 feet per second or something silly like that. They have a pressure range you have to keep the gun in to be able to play. 

Shrub physics

Here is a link to a simulator of a rag doll falling. (Click on the Title of the Post.) It has doubleyou's head on it and you can click on him and throw him around. I thought it was kinda cool so give it a try.
Also Break.com has some neat stuff on it so feel free to browse.
-Tom

We went to the Kelly Miller Circus with Rob and Naarah on Saturday.
It was cool, but too dark to get any really good pictures. They will be a little blurry, hopefully Naarah got a couple better ones.







The Whole Ring, The crazy family that did everything, and the lady with the animals. The lama was too cute.







Ringmaster, Ball of death (motorbikes) and one of the elephants.

And one of the camels that was giving rides.

CIRCUS, comes to Wixom

Can't say I didn't warn you.......

I know I posted a comment on someone's blog about this weekend, but I don't know that anyone noticed.

The Kelly (Something) Circus is coming to Wixom for Saturday, August 19th.
For those of you who live near Detroit, that is also the day of the Woodward Dream Cruise.
If you don't want to deal with the Dream cruise, you are more than welcome to come visit us and go to the circus.

I have to work from 4-7, but the first circus show is at 2pm. They will also be using the elephants to put up the Big top and other tents in the morning. (8:30) Naarah and I plan to go out and take a bunch of pictures.

Looks like I need to clean the house, and go shopping for breakfast stuff.

Labor Day weekend.

Ok, so far the votes are coming in. Naarah and Rob can only do Ren Fest on Sat or Sunday.
Tom mentioned a couple people may want to play Paintball on Saturday.
I need more comments or call me with your choice. - This means you mom...

So, as of right now my schedule is -
Saturday, Sept 2nd- Paintball
Sunday, Sept 3rd - Ren Fest
Monday, Sept 4th - State Fair (That is if anyone else wants to go.)
I took Friday off, so I can go to the fair on that day. If there are other more interesting plans for Monday. Like someone throwing a party?? LOL

Paintball

Our Friend TED, is the one with the Paintball Marker facination. So, the picture is basically for him.
This all started in July when Tom's Work decided to take the German interns on an activity. We played Paintball with 20 other people. Tom had played before long ago and far away. I had never played, we even talked Paul L to go with us. Pictures were posted a while ago from that trip.
This Sunday, a guy from work wanted to go again and we managed to get 9 people to meet us there. Of course, Tom wanted his own gear. I just wanted a face mask and chest protection.

Well, I did get a new camera this summer, so what could I say. Tom got a paintball marker (they are officially not GUNS), and the stuff needed to get to shoot it. He got a full helmet, to keep his head from getting bruises again and some paint to play with.

We played the morning games at a place in Pinkney that isn't too bad. (Sure I should know the name of it.) We played there last time and this time we met and played with some guys our age and older who call themselves Team FUBAR. If you recognize the acronym, good job. These guys play like every weekend and have two tons of gear.
I was too lazy to walk back from the jungle game, so I hung out with a couple guys from that team. They told me that they placed third in a 3 man tournament before and enjoy the exersise they get from playing. One noticed that I had a rental "gun" and said, "Hey, I got a nice marker for sale, you should come see it." He had brought it to the games.
Hense the blue Marker in the picture below.

Heres the deal, HAPPY BIRTHDAY EARLY TOM.

Yes, we run around in the woods for several hours of the day. Actually you go out for 15 minute games. They have sort of a camp area in the center and then you wander out to the fields. I got hit this game. I don't seem to have bruises, but I certainly got hit in the leg and the butt on the last trip out to the jungle. I didn't get to shoot much, my rental did not shoot very far. It was fairly accurate, but no distance. I survived a couple games, but got whipped on the first and last.
AND We found out our friend Tony is very good at paintball.

We seem to have found about 4 or 5 other people with their own gear to place with and 2 or 3 more that will certainly play again.
Here is my call, to anyone who thinks they might be interested in playing at least once.
I have asked for Labor Day weekend off. That gives me three days to do three things.

1. I want to hit the Rennisance festival. If you wish to go with us, pick which day and let me know. I don't care which day, just that weekend please.
2. I would like to play paintball that weekend. We have gear and need to use it again before Tom starts working 60 - 70 hours a week at the plant.
3. I want to go to the Michigan State Fair. This is not a priority, but I have not been in about 10 years. I have never walked the entire fair either, we would go see people show and that would be it.

Those are my plans for Labor Day weekend, if you want to go with us; Let me know, and take a vote on days.

Hope you had a good weekend. Mine was interesting to say the least.

It seems that a new game has become of interest in our household. The sad part is tat yes, you do see 2 of almost everything there. I found the blue Pirana paint marker, Tom found the Tipman Pro. Mine actually came with the Hopper and Air, His didn't. LOL Enjoy the picture. I'll post about this weekend. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARRIE. There was a shindig at Carrie's on Friday night. We all cleaned off the tables on the deck and actually spent most of the evening outside. Something you don't often get to do in Michigan. (If you hate mesquitos.) 

Matt (right) likes to complain that I always get such a bad picture of him, this is in no way the "bad" one from this party. LOL Jason doesn't complain that I always get him with a drink. We had a great time at the party. 

Jennifer and Mike made a brief appearance, but hey we were really glad to see them. I'm not sure If I have seen Mike since their wedding last summer, so I made sure to congratulate them... 

Narrah and Tom aways like the be cheesy for the camera. hmm, looks like everyone is wearing low cut shirts today. LOL 

Paul is trying to make an offering to the piggie gods. I don't think beer is quite what Winslow is looking for. Might want to think of something else real quick.