Brando and the pool

Tom decided that Brando needed to cool off a little after Tom had cut the lawn.  Not that Brando did any work.

I just got the camera, it wasn't my fault.

Anyway, here are some pictures.  They are pretty cute.
Hope you are having a nice after noon.

How is Michael????

Everyone asks everyday.
And you know what - I can handle that.

Right now this is what I know. He is doing ok.
Yesterday - June 10th, they did open heart surgery.
They scraped out all the infection that they could find and managed to save his own heart valve and did not have to replace it.

Everyone who was at the hospital got a peek at him after the surgery, then mom saw him last night around 8:30.
He still had the ventilator in and could not talk. It was making him a bit cranky.
Mom said they would let her in today around 10am.

Thank you so much to everyone who has prayed and shared thoughts for Mike.
Mom, I and he really appreciate it.

School is OUT - ok after today

Well, it has been an interesting year.
Or 1/3 of a year - as it may be.


Yesterday we taped the last activity for the year. I have packed up most of my stuff and well, now I just have to clean up and get out of here.
My grades are done, but need to be posted.
My kids are gone, Its already 1st hour and no one has shown up today.

Really, I just have to spend the time to edit stuff.

Last night we had our last meeting for the year. Well, I got an award. It seems that I managed to impress a few people.

Actually, I impressed myself a little. I told them during my interview that my biggest priority was to make sure that I could tape graduation and make it look good.
Hmm, Yeah, I totally pulled that off and well - I managed 9 more things besides that.

I certainly hope you are having a good end of the school year time. Even if you are not a teacher. There are lots of people looking for grad gifts and fathers days gifts. So to all my retail friends - heres to everyone shopping.. :~)

What's new for you?

ME -   Well, I guess it would be this new MacBook  -  ie.  Laptop.

It all started when Paul's Computer sort of took a crap and then his hard drive took out my power supply.

I was trying to save him a lot of trouble, and caused myself a little.  It wound up be a little more than just his Hard Drive.  We went shopping around to see what to do for him.  

If you haven't talked to me in a while - or watched TV with me, you don't know that I make Tom stop the Tivo when the Mac/PC commercials come on.  I always feel so bad for PC.  

Well,  I have also been talking about a laptop.  Not that I really like Laptops, but I could certianly use one.  I go enough and have found myself in a few situations that I could really use one.  

So, now I have the ulitimate toy.  A MacBook Laptop.  This is the one right before you spend the big bucks on a Mac PRO.  Could not afford that one.  

Tom was like - there goes the money from the government.

I also ordered Final Cut Express 3.5.   Yes, that is a video editing program.  It has been a while since I have used a mac video editor, but I'm sure I can 

plow through learning how to do it.

Hope you have a great holiday weekend.

I'm off to visit people.

Lenny and Sammie - oh the fun...

Everyone had to get a bath before the meetings could begin.

Tom was bathing, I was cleaning cages and getting the basement ready.

Sammie was not much of one for swimming.

Lenny and Sammie were finally introduced to eachother.

It was a fun afternoon.

Lenny is MUCH more talkative now and not nearly so fat....

Trip to Mejier Gardens in Grand Rapids with Paul

Here is a frog that Paul noticed and told me to get a good picture of him. I like frogs. He was very cute.

So many butterflies and then tiny birds.
I swear the momma bird (I think they are quail) was only as big as my hand - not even. Then the babies were even smaller.
The people who worked there, said the mom usualy keeps the babies hidden most of the day as they could easily be stepped on or grabbed by little kids.
We went mostly to see the butterflies.
The area was really big and had a waterfall and lots of trees and it was amazing.

Tom didn't go, I guess he figured it was like the one on Mackinaw - small.
I was amazed.
We had missed the extra special - more expesive butterflies. Although we saw a couple really awsome moths and the blue backed ones. Paul knows the names - not me.

Enjoy

Finally some pictures

OK,

First we have the new dog.

Brando

Then I got the new to ME car - Blue Honda Civic -2003

It got 40 miles to the gallon on the first tank of gas.

And lastly -

We picked up Lenny Pig's new girlfriend today.

She is very soft, very sweet and VERY Calm.

Sammie Pig.

Happy first 60 degree day of the year!!!!!!

OH MY -
Can it get any busier around here??????

OK, so we start with my job. Meetings after school wear me out. The most recent is how are we going to get the kids to follow the rules as we get to the end of the year??? JOY

Two, - We now own a Dog. Yep, English Bull Dog. He has been here for a over a week now. I'm sure Brando (it was Rambo - give the poor thing a break) is very happy to be in one place for more than 3 days. His old owners left him locked up for up to 10 hours at a time and wondered why the poor guy kept peeing on the floor.
(I can't hold it that long can you???)

Tom was rather happy up until yesterday. Brando has been rather good until we went to work yesterday. Tom came home to find smarty dog had chewed up a wood chair. Not the whole thing, and you can't tell unless you look at the other chairs and go - Oh something is missing. But man was Tom an unhappy fellow. (I have theories on why - but doesn't really matter.)

Next, I finally gave up the grand marquis. Yes the giant boat car has sailed away. Between the gas and getting it fixed - I think we were in a losing battle.
I kept saying I wanted a Honda (Hybrid) well, I got 1/2 way there. I got a Low emmission (maybe came here from Cali) Honda Civic lx. Not a bad car, but an '03 and well - as long as I get more than 30 miles to the gallon for a couple years, It should be worth it.

Yes, I know - post pictures. I have to go out today and wash the car and then I can take pictures.
My happiness comes from - I can now use my new floor mats that match the steering wheel cover and I can finally get my seat covers out again. I have seat covers that I bought my first trip to Hawaii and they only go on Bucket seats, PARTY.

Well, off to get Lenny's stitches out. (Poor boy lost a few parts.... lol) I have heard that a little girl pig is coming to a shelter near me. I hope to hear something this weekend. I don't want to go buy a pig. I want to rescue one.

Happy first 60 degree day of the year - ok if they didn't lie....

I have my weekends back

Look at all the silly stuff I can get into now that I have my weekends back.

We are doing a "Flat Stanely" type thing with the guinea pig people I talk to. Someone found a beanie baby guinea pig and we are shipping it around the country, with Canada and the UK too.

Everyone is taking pictures and posting them and what did I do? I took a bunch of pictures and Tom and I basically did a quick stop action thing.

Its a couple different little things, and it looks cute.
You will probably not be impressed in any way shape or form, but it was fun and I can use it as an example for the kids.

Waldo Adventures

First Day at School

So how much of the new kid on campus did I feel today?????

It was pretty bad. I was all pyched out that I was going to have to go into the classroom and PERFORM like RIGHT NOW.
That is what it is like to teach, you are Performing!!!!!!!

Anyway, I got really lucky. The principal wanted me to have a couple days to get a feel for the place. I spent today on the Editor.
Ok, it does lots of stuff, but really any machine I have used does what it does.
I did the whole tutorial that shows you how to edit. But the two things it lacked in the tutorial is HOW DO YOU GET THE VIDEO INTO THE MACHINE, and HOW DO YOU GET IT OUT??????
I have a bit of an idea, and My friend is coming tomorrow to help me figure it out. We are going to focus on the studio and see what we can get out of there. I think everything works, but we'll have to try it all, to be able to do anything in there soon.

I get the students on Monday. We'll see how that goes.
Everyone keeps telling me to come in crazy mean, and then you can chill out later.
Wish me luck.

MSU Orchid show 08

Dad, Paul, and I went to the MSU Orchid show. Pictures by Tom Frederick

Hey sorry, Valentine pictures......

Wonder of Wonders

It seems that there will be a new job in my future.

THE VERY NEAR FUTURE......

Ok, basically they offered it to me - I just have to pass muster with the board of education.
Did you catch that? I knew you would.

Yes, I have been offered a teaching job in Ecorse, MI. It is basically off 75 and a little north of Southfield road. ALL the way over by the water. They have the steel plant down on West Jefferson there.

I should start next week. At least I would guess that is the story.
I saw the TV studio - oh yeah - did I mention - I'll be teaching Television production.......

They have some MAJOR equipment in there. I am amazed at what they spent to make this studio. Well, you can't say the kids won't be prepared if they really learn to use it.
They could almost skip Specs Howard with the equipment we have.

The people I have met are REALLY nice.

I should have lots more to tell you next week.
Tammy

OH MY - Really it's 2008

Hi all, Sorry I have been on in FOREVER.
Not that anyone complains to me.

Things I can quickly say - then add pictures later.

1. Got a girl Piggy in the fall. Fiona - She and Winslow get along great. (Remember Winslow was fixed forever ago.)
2. Work was murder over the holidays.
3. Hence I was very sick...
4. New Years I slept.
5. Work is slow - good for my sanity.
6. Car go mush, I am fine.
7. Cost way too much to fix, but can't afford another car, so we will pay it.

Ok, you are caught up.
Pictures to come, although I forgot to take pictures of the car...

Time for Wedding Pictures.

Well, I know it has almost been a whole month. I actually had the pictures done weeks ago, I just hadn't gotten all the indexes and cd's made to ship out. I can do that today.
Here are some shots from Trina's wedding. Everyone had a great time. And you have to admit that we all looked good.

New Position

Well, Many of you probably know that I switched stores in the last week.
I am now working in Grosse Point.

The store is much bigger, the business if mostly finishing - that just keeps going up. And it is a little messed up.
They have been having problems with associates that were giving schedules that were just not useable to the store. Certain days of the week you need more people and when everyone is in class or something - that makes it impossible.

I was allowed to hire someone this last week and I think it will work out ok.
Everyone there is friendly, they just need to get a little more organized. My boss is helping me with my part of the organization, and I'm working on the others now.

Too much to do. Really I am not kidding. I feel like I am running the entire time I am there.
Well, hopefully I can get a few things under control before Christmas. OH MY, that will be crazy.

This also means I work 6 days a week and have no life. I think I'm working 9 days straight the next 2 weeks. OUCH
So, try not to be upset when I am not available.
I barely have time to take care of piggies. Which is just WRONG.. Take care, hopefully I'll have something interesting to share soon.

Pirates - Talk like a Pirate day was this week.

My pirate name is:

Captain Mary Kidd

Even though there's no legal rank on a pirate ship, everyone recognizes you're the one in charge. Even though you're not always the traditional swaggering gallant, your steadiness and planning make you a fine, reliable pirate. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

Career test. HA HA

OK, so I took the career question test on the site Naarah dragged up.
I saw one question that had to do with sales and since I nicked it, of course retail did not hit the list really.
I forget to look at the bottom..
I'll have to go back after I finish this.

HMMM, not surprising at all considering the number of things I have done with my life....

1. Recording Engineer
2. Power Plant Operator
3. Dry Cleaner
4. Printing Press Operator
5. Director
6. Film and TV Crew
7. Film Editor
8. Sound Technician
9. Automobile Assembler
10. Director of Photography
11. Production Woodworker

Too bad getting into a couple of those jobs are very few and far between here in Michigan..
ah well.
Go to Naarah's page to get the place to run your own test.