Flooding - Farewell Furry Friend - Father's Day Feasting

Wednesday we got almost 5 inches of rain in 2 hours. Consequently our street was flooded, so much that it was impassable to cars. I came home (or most of the way home) and found my family joining neighbors in a Flood Party - walking in knee-deep water, chasing and catching some catfish that had come up through the storm drain and were now swimming in the street, and just being wet and crazy.


Poor Scamp the guinea pig has gone to his reward. He was sick and losing weight for several days, and Pat could tell on Thursday he was on his way out. He expired that night, and the next morning Pat buried him under the orange tree out back. That's probably the last guinea pig we'll have; the kids still have their hamsters. We've already given away the guinea pig cage and accessories.


Saturday Pat and Katie cooked an early Father's Day dinner fit for a king: broiled rib eye steak with special spicy rub and sauteed onions; stuffed mushrooms with bacon; garlic mashed potatoes, and corn on the cob. It was REALLY good!


Today, Sunday, was our church's Father's Day at the Beach. It was our first trip of the season. Spent less than 2 hours there before a thunderstorm sent us (and most everyone else) scrambling for home. But it was fun.


I take off Tuesday for Colorado and Student Venture's Executive Getaway near Vail. It's always a lot of work and a lot of fun.


Happy Father's Day to all!

Wisdom Lost - Bots - Music and more Music

Okay, that was a bit deceptive. Katie had four wisdom teeth out on Wednesday the 8th. She was pretty apprehensive - I think having an IV put in for anesthesia reminds her of the old leukemia days. Plus the drugs they used were the same ones she used to react badly to. Pat found out while they were putting them in, and it was too late. Katie cried the whole time, although later she doesn't remember it.

She was pretty sore after but only needed about 4 of the 20 pain pills they gave. Unfortunately it nauseated her and she needed another prescription drug to combat that, which made her really sleepy. So since about day 2 she has just been on Tylenol.


I took Eric to a Robot battle event today about half an hour away at a guy's garage. It was pretty small-time, but it was fun. He and his friend Jameson had a great time. It was my first such event, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that the people there were not super geeked-out. Okay, MOST of them weren't.


Katie has borrowed a basic piano book from a friend and is teaching herself basic piano. I'm so proud of her, subjecting herself to beginner-hood when she's such an incredibly advanced flute player.

Speaking of which, her teacher gave her a solo to work on. I haven't heard her play it yet, but *I* have diligently been working on the piano accompaniment, which is very pretty by itself. Can't wait to hear it with the flute.


Those in my generation know that The Carpenters have always been one of my favorite groups. A while ago I got their 4-CD set. Katie has burned them onto the computer and is now a fan, which I'm very glad about. Listening to them right now. Over 20 years have passed since Karen's death, and I still have never heard a singer with the same expressiveness and beauty. I'll never get tired of listening to these songs.


Happy 45th birthday to my brother Steve!

Back Home

The CA trip was great. Got to spend good time with Pat's and my family (my mom and dad down from SF, plus bro Steve and fam from LA). Ate a bit too much, but that's what you do when getting together with family . . .


Back to regular life. I saw the orthopedic Dr. yesterday for my chronically sore right shoulder. He read the MRI's and saw only inflammation, no tears or anything requiring surgery. He then recommended something unexpected: Acupuncture! He said he had had the same problem and that 2 acupuncture treatments made the pain go away permanently. So now we'r checking to see what local acupuncturists are on our medical plan.


Katie's getting her wisdom teeth out Wednesday and is not looking forward to it.


Eric started summer school Monday. Like many of his friends, getting a required class, "Life Management Skills," out of the way: A class teaching a bunch of common-sense stuff that parents should have taught their kids already. 2 weeks of that, then 2 weeks of "Personal Fitness." Hope they don't play outside too much in the June heat and humidity.

Speaking of Eric, he turns 15 in exactly two months. Can you believe that he have his permit and be driving around soon? Crazy thought. But I know he'll be a good driver.


What we've been reading: We got the latest (4th) Artemis Fowl book, "The Opal Deception." All four of us have read it in the last 2 weeks (I had to first catch up by reading book 3, "The Eternity Code"). That guy can really write! If you have pre-teen or teen kids looking for good reading, I recommend the series.

My nephew Mitchell went to an event with the Artemis Fowl author Eoin Colfer (pronounced "Owen") and now has a signed copy of "The Opal Deception." Pretty cool.

I also just finished "Heaven" by Randy Alcorn and will have much more to say about that later.