This!

Thank you kind folks for remembering this day.

I take this day off work (if it's a work day) each year, just to do whatever. It's the one day that's an "anything goes" day. I actually needed to burn through some PTO hours or lose them, so I've been off since Thanksgiving. I've been vegging on TV and doing my online Christmas shopping. I had plans to make a new headboard but I had to nurse a muscle spasm in my shoulder instead. Oh, and I've been driving Backbencher nuts. I'm kinda bummed I didn't get to do what I had hoped (yet), but I have more time off coming between Christmas and New Year's, so I have more opportunities to tackle a project or two and further annoy everyone in the house.

The kids are marching on. Travis has a pretty challenging STEM course load this year, but even with COVID and taking his classes online he's passing every class! He brought his Engineering grade from a 64 to an 87! He's such a good kid. Not a mean bone in his body and does whatever he's told to do without complaining. He even likes to help me make his favorite meal - spaghetti. He wrestles with Backbencher and is getting stronger every day.

Kristen finally has a job somewhat in her field. She's working the front desk but will soon move to esthetician services. She and her longtime boyfriend are eyeing apartments, but are taking their time. Her boyfriend is an EMT and is a good kid, though somewhat absent-minded.

Alex's summer class really knocked her down. This semester she is taking one class and it's still kicking her butt. The professor is new and there was a frustrating start - some kind of mix-up with getting him in the computer system so students were reading notes from another professor for the first few weeks, but didn't have access to the video lectures. He has since been added to the computer system but still doesn't seem to clearly communicate with the students. She's looking forward to getting finals over with so she can play Unreal Tournament with her sister. They remember when Jeff would play. I think I have a picture of Travis sitting in Jeff's lap, pointing at the screen as Jeff was playing.

I haven't made any major changes to the house. This year I built new gates on both sides of the house so that sunlight can reach the grass that has been struggling, reworked the outside lights so they're not pointing at the windows (after yanking some of the bushes and moving a boulder Jeff and I brought from Colorado), made a bench out of our wedding arch, painted the cabinets in the master bathroom (added tip-out trays in front of the sinks), and put up roll down shades on the patio. In addition to making a new headboard, I think I want to make this thing I found on Ana White:Ultimate-roll-away-workbench-miter-saw-stand . I like to stay busy.

Work is going well. Our doctors (pulmonary and critical care specialists) have been greatly involved with the pandemic - seeing many more patients in the hospital than in our clinics. I had just gone to working every day in the office, after working two out of five days a week from home, then the pandemic hit and suddenly I was working every day from home. I've been back in the office several weeks now but don't have contact with patients, and don't have contact with anyone at all some days. So now I wear my mask, go to work, pick up groceries ordered online, and otherwise stay home. IT SUCKS.

Thank you again for remembering Jeff and thinking of us. We're still carrying on. I'll leave you with the song that brings me to tears every year on this day. I've heard it is a song about a mother who miscarried, but I think it can apply to anyone who is missing someone they lost.

LOL - "I haven't made any major changes to the house."  then names more projects than most people would do in a five-year span.    

I'm glad everyone is doing well.  God Bless and have a Merry Christmas, it'll be here before you know it.

Major change to the house - I don't recognize where I live after deployment.

Minor change to the house - I can't figure out what room I'm in.

As I've said before, I take this day off from work each year. Initially it was because I just couldn't face my coworkers and be on the verge of tears all day, or, heaven-forbid, have an ugly-cry at work. This day has since become one for me to reflect, remember, cry, laugh, crawl in a hole if I want. Today I got the oil changed in my truck, got one of my tires patched and all tires rotated, got my COVID booster shot, picked up the husband's mail, and did a little work from home. Didn't need to cook dinner because we had leftovers from last night. I had thoughts of putting up the Christmas tree, but that never materialized. I'm not stressed about it though. So I finally enjoyed a couple glasses of wine while soaking in the hot tub where I listened to some of Jeff's favorite songs and stared at the sky. All-in-all a productive and pleasant day.

Travis is doing very well post foot surgery and is almost done with physical therapy. He will be so glad to be done with wearing the brace to school.

Kristen and the boyfriend moved into an apartment in July. She has started a business (shameless plug: Http://www.greenribbondesigns.com) but it's taking a long time to get traction. She's also door-dashing some.

Alex is being Travis's chauffeur and picking up groceries for me. She and Kristen have been drawing and fan-girling over BTS.

Husband is deployed until I-don't-know-when, but he says things are going well. Looking forward to having him home for a bit soon.

Love and health to you all!

Bob Seger was one of the artists on loop in Jeff's truck. (Someone fix the link if I screw it up.)
http://youtu.be/MKBgsLOefyg

Thanks for the update, Reta.  It's always good to hear from you.

I regret to inform you FW_wife's father has died.  USAF B-36 engine mechanic, classic auto mechanic, gunsmith, and shooter of the National and Canadian National Matches.

The boy is preparing for finals.  He's learning to drive, with a few accidents along the way, all repairable, no injuries except to pride & the insurance bill.  FW_wife was going to take the day off today, but had some meetings that needed attending to.

The gun business is up and running, we'll see if I make any money at it.  The middle girl is out of the house - but has turned her old bedroom into her studio and is here at the house nearly every day trying to make a living as an artist:

https://greenribbondesigns.com/ if you need some earrings or other knicknacks for Christmas.

The green ribbon standing for Lymphoma awareness, of course.

The oldest girl ran into Engineering Calculus 2 during COVID, so dropped out of the School of Engineering and doesn't know what she's going to do yet.

For those of you still following our saga, our Sinister just passed his state driving test.  No worries yet, we have to wait on a DMV appointment to do the paperwork and picture.

Bump for a good cause.

Omgarsh!
There goes my rates!

(J/k) I say that every time I hear about a new driver!

Attached File


Attached File


It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years.

Just came across this old post.  Our Sinister is well provided for.  Before the Cx4 was discontinued, I snagged one & we set it up to eject to the left.  When he turned 18, he got a Compact Dagger.  Down the road I'll get him a left-eject 10/22.  Already have a sinister Stag upper & bolt, I need to grab a bbl.  I'm an FFL, so get pretty decent prices on things.

Showed our Sinister the map of all the folks praying for OP, as well as how to get to this thread and read what his dad wrote, 10 years on.  Made him tear up.

FW_wife is over at my late FIL's house, putting it back together w/ brand new built from scratch kitchen cabinets that she made in our garage.  She took the day off work today, while I took the Sinister over to Mesquite to set up for this weekend's gun show.