Originally posted on 10/12/08….
What a wonderful time we live in… The presidential race is on, with only a few weeks until Election Day. We are involved in a war on the other side of the globe with young men and women losing their lives daily. The economy is down the tubes along with the stock market (and with it our 401-K’s). The price of groceries and gasoline has caused us to tighten our belts and take on more work to get that little extra compensation. And yet – somehow through it all – we recognize that these are actually the best of times for our little family. We still eat together each night, talk about our days, attend each others’ special events, and enjoy spending our free time together. Ann and I realize that these times won’t last forever. Matt is already starting to spend more time out with his friends, Abby already spends a lot of time having friends over to the house, going to their houses and of course talking on the phone. Lukey’s growing up quickly, as he learned to ride his bike without his training wheels last night. Matt went to a buddy’s house after practice on Friday night and went with him to the varsity football game. It’s official; we’re old… We are lucky enough to have the foresight to know that we will look back on these times and see that these will be our golden years or the “good ole days.??? I think that is part of my motivation for continuing this blog. It started as a way for me to keep current with Mom and other friends / family, with whom we simply don’t have the time to get out and see like we used to…but I also acknowledge that it’s a cool use of multimedia to keep a journal / weekly chronicle of what the golden years really consisted of…for our future selves and our children.
We’ve had another busy week. Ann’s cooking has really improved, as she continues to try new things and reads several sources for new ideas. She treated us to some of our favorite dishes this week, such as her garlic chicken, her yummy potato soup, the kids’ favorite – chicken & noodles and we had Maryann & Sandy over for some great spaghetti. Maryann is going in for double cataract surgery at the end of next week, so we wish her well. Gigi had a small scare a couple days ago, experiencing the feeling of an elephant sitting on her chest. Maryann had to bribe her to go to the hospital. So, after all the testing came back negative, they were off to the riverboat! J I earned Employee of the Month for a record fourth time this week. It is an honor that I don’t take lightly. Having been at Columbus Behavioral Center since 11/94, it is always nice when your peers and administration says that I see what you are doing and it is appreciated…now if that award only came with substantial compensation, I’d be set! Ann continues to work diligently as Practice Manager of an OB/GYN that has no hospital in town. As you might imagine, that creates enormous challenges for her and the practice. Thankfully, that time is nearly ended, as CRH is scheduled to finally reopen on October 21st. The flood really did a number on the facility and for a time it wasn’t even clear if they would keep the building or even stay at the current site. She continues to battle the effects of whooping cough and recently had to stop taking her antibiotic due to developing a nasty rash and some swelling. I’m afraid I might need to trade her in next year for two 20-year olds. J
Matt has done much better with his school work this week. He had a few issues with forgetting to write down his assignments and then not doing them and several issues with getting things turned in. There was no sense of urgency in the boy…he was too comfortable. So, a behavioral modification program was launched to aid him in his lack of motivation. For each class, he has to now write the assignment in his agenda and have the teacher initial that it is correct. Obviously, this was done to better prepare him and teach him a little responsibility. If he did not follow through with his end of the plan, he would lose all “screens.??? He didn’t make it but a few days. That meant one week of no TV, no video games, no computer, etc. The end result: he not only made up all the late work and is current on his work, but he has a few assignments done ahead of time. It was a tough lesson to learn, but a necessary one. I just hope it lasts… We travelled with his 7th grade football team to Lawrenceburg (near Cincinnati) to play undefeated Greendale. That team only had about 15 kids to dress; but boy did they have some big ones! The 5 kids they played on the line (they played both ways) looked like they belonged in high school. It was a strange sight to see this big offensive line and then see their little quarterback. He was really small, like Abby’s height. They had a big, bruising running back as well and that combination was nearly unstoppable against our kids. I think there was an intimidation factor at well, due to sheer size. Poor Matt went against the biggest of them! His guy was easily 6’ and 200 lbs. We were in it through the first half…and then it happened… We had a great fake up the middle / quarterback end-around that scored a TD…but wait! Oh no…not them again! We’ve seen this before…the officiating again was piss poor. There were several questionable calls, including blowing this play dead when the running back was tackled. Again, the only problem with that; was the quarterback was standing in the end zone with the football!! The crowd again laid in to the referees. I’m not sure where the conference / league get the officials, but they’ve really been poor this year. I guess that is why they’re working 7th grade games instead of varsity ones, huh? I just felt bad for the kids, as they had all that momentum and then got the play called back. On the VERY NEXT play, they fumbled and the other team went in for a touchdown. They never fully recovered from that mishap and lost the game 22-8. They play their season finale this Tuesday on the road. The kids were all sore this week after game. Several have sat out of practice to heal, as those kids hit really hard! Matt wears his bruises and swelling like badges of honor…and makes his daddy proud.
Abby wrapped up her soccer season this weekend (thank God), but continues with her two dance classes. Ann and Amy finally had a heart-to-heart with the new teacher in her jazz/hip-hop class and were able to iron-out some wrinkles that had developed. Abby was thinking about playing basketball at the YMCA, but I voted that she take a little break. She had Family Fun Night at the elementary school this week. Unfortunately, it conflicted with both dance and soccer. She stayed at dance class and then came late to school. We missed out on doing some kind of project in the gym, but arrived in time to have her and her class get up on stage and sing two songs. We ate supper in the cafeteria and visited with the other families. By the time it was over, it was dark and soccer was done. In fact, because of Matt’s game and school, Abby missed both soccer practices this week – which she was OK with, as she had been over soccer for a few weeks now. We had requested to forfeit this last tourney game, but there we were – 7:30 AM at the dreaded Sunman soccer fields…and no one else was there. We eventually got started at 8:30 (the coach had gotten the time wrong again) and played pretty well. Again, Abby was only half-heartedly trying for the 1st part of the game. She finally picked it up in the second half and played some decent defense. The bugs (anyone say mosquito haven?) were terrible! The team we played was the one that we had previously beaten. The coach was loud and obnoxious again and the players continued to aggressively push, elbow and trip our kids again. At Greensburg, the referees called those fouls. This time we were in Sunman and guess what…there were ZERO penalties the entire game! We’ve never played in a game where there were no penalties called, so this was a first! Obviously, we fouled the other team a few times, but not like they did to us and despite my pleadings with the referees, they refused to call the fouls – either way. I know they had to see what I saw…I don’t know if that other coach intimidated them, they were on the take, or just didn’t really care; but it lousy. We lost 1-0; which we were fine with – we are over soccer and didn’t want to come back at 1:30 and play again…
Instead, we went home and did some yard work and then took part in an annual tradition. We went to Armand’s Harper Valley Farm in Westport, IN (where Gigi was born and raised) to the pumpkin patch! We practically had to drag Matt there (again, these golden days are fleeting…), but once there, he had fun. The kids enjoyed going back in to their huge pumpkin patch and selected several nice orange gourds that should eventually make fine jack-o-lanterns! They also selected some oddball gourds and Indian corn for our seasonal display at the front yard light pole. They got to pet a calf and a couple piglets. They had free kitties that would have driven Lola nuts if Ann weren’t allergic to them. They had a little store set up, selling whole hog sausage, brown eggs, honey, etc. They even had a face painting booth for the kids. Finally, the kids ran through the sunflower maze that was much bigger this year, despite being shorter…but that was fine, since it made for some cool pictures. It was a nice little setup and not only do we enjoy getting out to the country and supporting folks like this, it was much cheaper than buying these same things at, say, Wal-Mart. So, it is a win-win scenario.
As I mentioned, we taught Luke to ride without his training wheels for the first time last night. He was so happy that he was beaming with pride. He loves working with tools, so of course he had to help me to put his bike on the workbench and take wrenches to the bike and remove the training wheels. I almost think he may have enjoyed that more that the actual act of riding the bike! We’ve been getting outside quite a bit more this past month or so and it has been so nice. He loves playing outside; much more than the other two. While he was riding his bike up and down the street, Abby hopped on Matt’s skateboard and taught Lola to pull her! He continues to attend pre-school at the YMCA on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He is doing quite well and gets rave reviews from his teachers.
OK; time to switch on the Way Back Machine…
First up, we have a foursome of funny faces: A lovely face from yours truly from around 1990 in what appears to be the Rockwood home in LaPorte, Grandpaw Bryan making a funny face with Grandmaw and the kids in the playroom at our current home, circa 2001-ish, Ann partying down by the pool at the Sand Pebble (Treasure Island, FL) in 2000 (with Grandmaw Bryan and her friend Sue getting down in the background – shake it Grandmaw!), and again another lovely in the dining room at our last home on Main St.
Next up is Abby on the 4th of July at Grandma & Gigi’s house on Main St., circa 2005.
Here are the Owens kids / grandkids in our living room at Christmas, in 2004.
Here’s an old photo. This was my first Employee of the Year award picture in 1998.
Here’s a classic. This was taken in our dining room of the Main St. home. Ann’s two college BFFs were down and all three of them had had a child. With Matt are his good buddies Brayton (Natalie’s son) and Darby (Stacy’s daughter), circa 1999.
This is another classic! The old farts picture; taken in 1998 in our dining room on Main St.
One of the other two of my all-time faves is this one. Taken about 1977 in the living room of our Shortridge St. home in Lafayette; we have me and my buddy Zeke!
Oh man; this is a funny one…1990 college dance. I can’t remember where we even held this party…I think it was some hotel in Indy. Pictured with me are my ??? fraternity brothers Chad Close and one of my best friends Paul Drake.
Here’s Ann in her formal wear. This was her prom in 1988; taken at her home on Main St.
Here are a couple of car photos: The first one is 1994, showing off her new car. This was a Ford Probe in Easter-Egg green paint! J It was a fun car to drive, especially through the old turns on 46. This was taken out behind the American Legion (just down the hill from her Mom’s house on Main St.). The second is from 1986. I had just started working on my 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 in auto mechanics while my best friend Mike was working on it in auto body. This is outside the garage, looking out at our back lot on Rockwood St. in LaPorte. That car was a classic. I can remember cruising with 7 friends stuffed in it! J
Next is a yearbook shot, taken at LaPorte High School in 1987.
Here’s another one from McCormick’s Creek State Park in July of 1970. Again, we have Granny, Grandmaw Bryan, Grandpa Scheu, Aunt Mary, cousin Vicki and Lil’ Tommy. J
Here we have one from Breakfast with Mickey at Disney World in Florida. This was taken at the ‘Ohana in the Polynesian Resort in 2001.
Finally, we have a great picture of Mom & Bu from Y2K.
Whew! This was a long one this time. Hope you have a good week and we’ll check in next time…