Vacation plans

It looks like our next family trip will be the Everglades (and surrounding area) this Spring. We are planning a two week trip, with the kids missing a week of school. That makes the school officials a little twitchy but they'll live. We will get to see both sets of my parents, plus the Everglades, Big Cypress and Biscayne Bay National Parks. We have high hopes for alligators, snakes and bugs. I'm warming up to the idea of kids in canoes and trying to figure out the logistics required to camp on a platform in the swamp. We'll start to lay out the details next week I hope.

Welcome to the current millenia

I'm finally stepping up and getting a Blackberry. This one is work issue so it represents another piece of my independence slipping away. I actually requested it so this is my own fault. I'm travelling again next week (my third consecutive winter trip to Minneapolis) and with the current pace of work I need it. Now I just have to find someone to teach me remedial communication skills.

Sleep

Usually I de-stress after work and getting the kids settled for the night by hiding in a good book (or any book that is close at hand) but the last few days I've been coming home from work and just going to bed. Last night I was asleep by 7:15. I didn't even eat dinner. I didn't actually even know that I was tired. I've been on the same chapter in my book for three days (and it's a good book). I need a few stress free days to regain my equilibrium... this is a good time for a weekend.

Busy, busy, busy

There is so much going on right now that I've hardly had a minute to catch up though when I look back on it nothing seems very noteworthy anyway. Here are the highlights such as they are…. I've worked both Saturday and Sunday two out of the last three weekends.  I will probably work this weekend except for the part where we try to sneak off to visit Sushama et al.  The Sharmas returned form India Monday afternoon.  It is good to have them home again.  Sid built stairs up to the hot tub the afternoon before.  We still need to do some sanding and weather treating.  Their bathroom remodel finished up the Friday before and the morning of their arrival we finished trimming out the wood floor in the office (the "wood" was put down two years ago but hadn't trimmed).  Last night I went to dinner with one of our vendors but the rest of the family celebrated Daddy's birthday.  Today the Sharma's bought a new car (we sold theirs right after they left). 

2008 Texas Tigers

Sheela's new 4 v 4 soccer team started their indoor season late but they are underway. They had to forfeit a few early games in order to join a season already begun. They will play only 7 games mostly against other girls but a few will be against a younger boys team. We hurriedly tie-dyed the team shirts before leaving town for the holidays but hey came out well enough and the girls like them. Here five of the six are warming up before their first game. They won 12-10 in an extremely even match.

Holiday Tradition

The Friday before our Christmas holiday we are graced by a pair of festive visitors. They pass out chocolate, pose for pictures, and this year passed out iPod raffle tickets.

the mundane

It is kind of nice to return to work after a nice long break to find that the place has fallen apart in your absence.  It makes you feel valuable and needed.  Actually, the place didn't fall apart, it never really does, but we have our share of standard manufacturing challenges each year and this year we lead off with a doozie.  Luckily, I wasn't here, even better it was handled the same way I would have handled it if I had been here.  We may have a few more tense days before we get clear but we know where we are going and how to get there.

 

I say all that just to say, that I'm really behind on my intended posts but I worked all weekend and haven't had a chance to catch up.  So imagine us in front of the Statue of Liberty, imagine the kids playing in Battery Park, imagine Sunil making friends with Ravi's dog Lacey, imagine Sheela on her new bike (way cool) and Sunil fencing in the backyard with Sid (way cool), imagine Sheela's miniature golf course (velvety green greens, sugar cube walls and a craft store theme), imagine Sunil's first pinewood derby car (sanded by hand and painted a deep forest green (reminiscent of the velvety green greens of a miniature golf course)), imagine Sheela's new soccer team wearing tie dyed t-shirts whooping up on Andromeda.  Whew, it feels good to be finally all caught up.

 

Back to the grind

After a wonderful vacation we sent the kids back to school and I returned to work. We all eased back in by coming back late (there was some drama on our return trip) and ended up making the transition smoothly. Work can best be described as "chaotic" but that is what I like about it.

I was hoping to have pictures to post today. I took so many that I wore out the battery on my camera (without bringing the charger) so most of the pictures are on Sheela's new camera. I don't want to swipe any of the pictures before she has a chance to blog her own. So I have to content myself with pictures from the first half of our trip, luckily, that includes the Neilans/Blair side of the family and the wearing of the Hannah Montana wig. Unfortunately I forgot to quit charging my camera this morning so the pictures are still at home. Let's all take a moment to imagine Grandma Montana.....