Can't post more than a title tonight

Sunday "surprise"

Kellie tried really hard to plan a surprise birthday weekend. She tipped her hand about Friday here and there but Sunday was a surprise all the way until Friday afternoon. I found out we would go to a paintball course. It sounded like fun but wasn't something I think I would have planned myself. I think a little bit of it was because she really wanted to do it. I was worried about her or the other girls getting hurt but they kicked our asses the first three games. We then joined in with a bigger group and had fun but had other targets than each other. We had a lot of fun today, and I think we would all do it again. Most of us have at least one bruise we are nursing. As the day went by more serious players joined in with their full automatic guns and large paintball caches. These dudes take a game a little too seriously. I got shot on my way out of the game while talking to a ref. This is one of the bruises I have the other one was inflected by my wife after I had been put out and is in a delicate place. Love ya guy!

Friday Suprise

The surprise on Friday was dinner out followed by seeing Ralphie May perform. Mom came down and kellie, James and I went out to dinner and the show. Dinner was great, we ate at Pickwick and Frolic. I had a shrimp and chicken chipotle pasta that was great, mom had a strip steak that she was still raving about. Ralphie was performing in the comedy club in the basement of Pickwick and Frolic called Hilarities. The show was supposed to start at 10:15 but we didn't get seated until 10:40. Ralphie says a good job pays about 20$ an hour after taxes and everything you are lucky to have 13$. Most comedians have a contract to perform for an hour with what we pay for tickets it would take most of us 2 hours to pay for a ticket. He doesn't fel that is fair. If we have to work 2 hours then shouldn't he perform for at least 2 hours and that is what he did. We didn't get out until 130 ish. It was a great nurturing night. Love ya guy!

Birthday post

Today I turn 40. I am doing this post now because do not know what crazy antics my wife has planned. I may not be able to post at night like I have most of this month. I am looking forward to doing something with some people. I will tell more when I can. Love ya guy!

Project update

I missed my goal time. I had the joists and deck done by 130. The problem is I was short 2 boards for the deck and I ran out of screws. The day was getting pretty hot by then anyway and I had accomplished a lot but needed to take a break. Went to get the oil changed in Kellie's Jeep and pick up more supplies. I have officially decided to scrap the A frame idea and will start framing my own design in the morning. I hope to have it done by next Sunday (the week before the party). At least one day off in the mix and all the mornings should give me plenty of time. I think I just need to come up with a final design and go for it. I am thinking a little barn or a schoolhouse. Love ya guy!

A mind is a dangerous thing

Tomorrow I will continue with the tree fort project. My blueprints call for an A frame design. My biggest concern is that the design takes away a lot of head room, and room all together as the sloped ceiling serves as a wall too. It also means a lot of angle cuts (not my strongest suit). As I took my shower and thought about it once the support joists are in and the floor is down it is just a matter of framing and then attaching the plywood for the walls. What if I changed the design? I have plenty of wood to frame any design I want and the worst that could happen is I need another board or two of plywood to cover more of the side. I am thinking about framing it to look like an old barn. That solves height restrictions. That makes the door an obvious design that can slide so it doesn't take up space. The windows could be simple square with cross design in them that could have a hinged panel on a rope to open and close them. One on each wall with possibly a sky light in the roof. Maybe even a weather vein. Okay maybe that is going too far but a hay loft that swings down to sleep on, one on each side. Four kids could sleep in that. I think that may be beyond my abilities but I think a barn design is the way to go. Oh well I have all night to think and dream about what I want to do. I hope to have the joists and floor done by noon. Love ya guy!

Divine intervention?

I have had two times in my life that I know God was involved. I am not saying he has only been involved twice, I am saying that I have two times where I know he touched my life in a significant way. The first was a matter of taking me to the lowest point I had experienced at the time. In the fall of 1991 I thought I had it all, a cool car, a great job and a girlfriend. My girlfriend moved off to college where it took her about a week maybe a week and a half to start cheating on me. I knew fidelity wasn't a strong suit of hers but I just knew she would change for me. Well she didn't. A couple weeks later I belw the engine in my Camaro, she gave me a he'll of a final ride but it was her final ride with that engine anyway. As a side note never loan your car to your sister because even though you tell her to check the oil when she gets gas she won't. All of this made me more than a little sad and that sadness affected my job and then I didn't have a job anymore. So the winter of 1992 I am without a real job, no woman, driving a Chevy Cavalier Cadet station wagon....that is when I see a sign that Cedar Point is hiring. Foolishly I walk into that interview and land a job for the summer. My first day on the job I meet a beautiful girl swishing her ponytail back and forth as she walked with a perky little bounce. From the moment I first met her I knew there was something different about that girl and I was right. Six years later I made her my wife. The second time was when I first met my boss Joey. He was working on one of our first locations. I met him out in Mentor. We talked about our past experiences and the brightness of the future. I felt a hand pushing me in that direction and knew I was supposed to be there. Joey was very religious when I first met him and I have seen how God works in his life and our company. He presents us with opportunities and takes negativity away. Joey is one of many friends I have met over the years who have God in their lives. I have always wanted that in mylifeand eventually found it. A relationship with God is like any other relationship, it is full of reward but isn't always easy. It is easy to lose your way but God will always be on the right path waiting for you. Love ya guy!