What is wrong with people?

Do you ever ask yourself that question? Mark and I were asking it this past week. Mark parks about a mile or so away from downtown St. Paul and rides his bike to and from work to avoid having to pay for parking (even in the winter he does this). He locks his bike up too (as a result of someone once stealing his bike that wasn’t locked up). So, on Monday, Mark calls me on my way to BSF and I asked him what he was doing and he said he was walking across the bridge to his truck. We went on talking about other stuff and then it hit me. I asked Mark “why are you walking across the bridge?” At that, he said “you’d have to ask the person who stole my bike.” I couldn’t believe it! Someone cut his chain and stole his bike. And my thinking……it’s downtown St. Paul….no one saw someone cutting the chain? It really ticks me off!

So, after that incident, Mark said to me “each time I open the tailgate of my truck to put my bike in, I’m afraid I’ll find a dead body in there”. He has a soft cover over the bed of the truck and he can lock the tailgate. He doesn’t want to wear out the tailgate lock, so he doesn’t lock it while he’s at work. So, Friday after work, Mark goes to put his bike in the bed of his truck and someone had put a dead fox in the bed of his truck (glad it wasn’t a body). What is wrong with people? Who is the world would think, hey, let’s put a dead fox in this guy’s truck bed? So, Mark found some big sticks and got the fox out. What a week!

Couple concerts

Mark, a friend Jeff, and I went to a concert at Club 3 Degrees on September 26th: Lightswitch, Vota, Tenth Avenue North, & Sanctus Real. The main reason we went was to see Sanctus Real……and they were great! However, I found a new group I really, really, really like. Vota (formally known as Casting Pearls) really rocked! Here’s their website: http://www.votaband.com/. Their sound and songs were great….the lead singer (Bryan Olesen) sings awesome and is very entertaining to watch (he kinda reminded Mark and me of Blake Lewis from American Idol…..but better)! I loved it! I didn’t want them to leave the stage! It’s one of those bands that when you see them live in concert, you’re captivated by them. For me, they have the X factor! Loved it!

Mark was able to go to a worship leader’s concert on September 9th. KTIS brought Chris Tomlin in for a concert for worship leaders only. It was held at Club 3 Degrees in Minneapolis, which is a somewhat small venue for concerts….which is why it was only for worship leaders. Mark got Chris’ new CD as a gift.

Vota video:

Skylar is 5

Skylar turned 5 in September. Where does time go? Skylar getting ready to open her birthday presents.
A cute picture of Skylar with Uncle Hip at Applebee's.

Skylar wanted to go out to eat at Applebee's for her birthday.

Skylar opened a present.....it's always what she wanted!

Although it's not Makena's birthday, she got to blow out a candle. Cute video.

September at the cabin

Here's some pictures from when we were up at Mark's sister & brother-in-law's cabin:

Sky, Auntie Jonay, & Mak - returning from a pontoon ride.
Sky fishing off the deck.
Another picture of Sky fishing.
And....Sky caught a fish! Here's Kirk and Skylar with the fish she caught. Sky didn't want to touch the fish.....although she said she did touch the fish with her elbow. Too funny! Mark taks Jonay and Makena for a Rhino ride.
Chef Mak.

Chef Skylar helps Auntie Jonay put the finishing touches on the Taffy Apple Pizza.
Aerial view of Mak eating breakfast.
Auntie Jonay, Mak and Sky go for a Rhino ride.
Makena playing hide-and-go-seek.

Minnesota State Fair - 2008

2008 Minnesota State Fair. It’s always fun to go to the fair, but it also means summer is coming to an end. Mark and I were able to go to the fair twice and both days were absolutely beautiful! Here are some pictures that we took.

Also, there was one booth at the fair that caught my attention. It was a booth with purses. Basically, you change the “shell” of your purse and you don’t have to switch from one purse to another. They are called Miche bags and it is an awesome idea (why didn’t I think of it)! Here’s a link to the website, check it out: http://www.michebag.com/home

New at the fair was the "food" called Pig Lickers. Basically, it is fried bacon dipped in chocolate. Ummmm....doesn't that sound delicious? I did try it.....don't need to try it again. Mark and Chip are eating some pig lickers.
And....Chip and Mark have some alligator.
The Wacky Wheeler guy rolls down the street during the parade.
Jonay and Mark take a sky ride to the other side of the fair.

We called this guy the "water bottle man." He's ready for the fair. He has 3 water bottles - one on each side and one in the back.
Think you've seen it all.....how about this......doesn't it sound good? :-)
The world's largest outlaw grill. The smell coming from this was mmmm, mmmm good!
Having footlong hotdogs: Fritz, Judy, & Mark.

Gotta Pebble song by Mak and Uncle Mark

A song Uncle Mark made up for Makena. Mak has some fruit snacks in her mouth, but tries to sing the song anyway.

Job search update

So, I had lost my job (computer programming) in April of this year (2008). I have been looking for a job ever since and I was finally offered a job last week. I will be working for Edward Jones as a Branch Office Administrator. I will be able to start the job once my background check is complete (7-10 business days). I'm very excited about the job and think it will be a great fit for me! I think I will probably start the job sometime in the week of Sept. 8-12.

During the process of looking for a job, Mark would sometimes say "if things don't work out, there's always truck driving school." At which I would say......"funny man!" So, when I accepted the job offer, Mark made me a congratulations card.

Here's the front of the card:
Here's the inside of the card:

Squirrels

Mark has 2 feeders for squirrels out back. Here are some cute pictures and video of the 3 small squirrels.

Coffeyville Fair & Rodeo

I was able to take a trip to Kansas during August to visit friends in Kansas City and Coffeyville and take in the Coffeyville Interstate Fair & Rodeo. This was the 100th anniversary of the Fair & Rodeo. Last year (2007), the Fair & Rodeo was cancelled due to flooding in Coffeyville. While I was in Kansas, Mark made a trip to Green Bay to attend Packer training camp and then took in 2 Milwaukee Brewer games.

Here are pictures from my time in Kansas:
The Kansas girls: Lynell, Debbie, Jonay, Heather, Leah, & Sherrie.
Friend Kole and his daughter Sara.

Friend Terryl and her son Colin. Thanks to Kole & Terryl for letting us gather at their house!
Ray & Carolyn ready for the Coffeyville Interstate Fair & Rodeo.
Sunday night's event was the Extreme Motorcross Show.
A guy in the air at the Motorcross event.
Monday night's event was the Miranda Lambert & Jake Owen concert.

Sherry & Mom (Carolyn) at the concert.
Jonay and sister Sherry at the concert.
Tuesday night's event was the Demolition Derby. I think this was the most popular event.
Uncel Darrell & Uncle Johnnie get ready for the 1st night of Rodeo.
Dad (Raymond), Jonay, & Uncle Darrell at the Rodeo.

Justin McKee (guy in middle of picture on the horse) is the rodeo announcer on the 1st and 2nd nights of the Rodeo.
The red (mom), white (dad), and blue (me) picture.
Uncle Darrell doing a dance in the blue wig.
Friday night rodeo: Mom (Carolyn), Uncle Darrell, Hannah, Bev, Aunt Colene, & Bill.
Friday night rodeo: Mom (Carolyn), me (Jonay), Hannah, Bev, Aunt Colene, & Bill.

My cousin Bill & his daughter Hannah at the Rodeo.
Uncle Johnnie, mom (Carolyn), Uncle Darrell, & Aunt Colene at the Rodeo.
Hannah, Bill, Aunt Colene, & Bev play some Skee Ball. Bev won one game.
Uncle Johnnie, Hannah, me, and Bev play the horse racing game. Uncle Johnnie and Aunt Colene each won one game.

Teasing the bull

At the end of each night of the Rodeo in Coffeyville, the clowns will antagonize the bull. Here's a video of it. FYI......turn the volume down on the video because it's loud (the sound setting is on low when I record videos, but it's still loud).

Horse ride

Uncle Mark gives Makena a horse ride. Both Makena and Skylar like Uncle Mark to dump them on the couch (or Davenport as Makena says).

More pics from July/August 2008

After eating at Coop's Pizza, Mak gets a shoulder ride from Uncle Hip and Uncle Mark. I like it that Mak holds onto Chip's ears.

Mak and Mark

Uncle Mark and Skylar.
We decided to stain the deck of our house during the hotest time of the year. :-) It wasn't too bad. Mark and Fritz power washed it and then the staining began.

Mark starts on the deck.
Jonay finishes up the deck. Yes, I have my zip off pants on with one leg off and one leg on. I ruined my zip off pants when I accidentally used an iron that was too hot on them. :-( But, it worked out great because I could use my pants while I stained the deck. For the one leg, I had "shorts" on and I left the other leg pant on to protect my prosthesis from getting stained.....getting stain on a prosthesis wouldn't be good.
Fritz & Mark tackle the outside of the deck. Both Mark and Fritz have a "Little Giant Ladder" and they both say it is by far the best ladder they ever bought. Even though I haven't used it, it is an awesome ladder!