I'm Here. Where Are You?

I made it through my first week on work in a year. Whew! I don't know how you working stiffs do it. I was dangerously close to being productive on Thursday, but I got over it. No, I had a great time and it looks like this will be a fun job. Now I've just got to get them to convert me to full time.

I have been hearing that viewership of my blog is down. Yes, I know times are tough all around. I know that there are other sites and even non-web things that demand your eyeballs. Still, I want you to drop by often. So, I have included a photo of a lovely young lady in a bikini. Nice, huh?

So, I showed the Bella photo to Kendall. Until she saw it, her hair was all in place and she was calm. As you can tell, she was as shocked as each of you is at my audacity to stoop to a stunt to bring in readers. What can I say, folks?

Yes and Yes

Yes, we went to Kyle and Lyndsay's (and Bella's and Kendall's, of course) for Father's Day. I took these photos with my present, my Nikon D60. Aren't they much better than my older photos?

Bella had a great time playing with her aunts, Faith and Grace. Here they are playing in an inflatable pool and a beach ball-shaped sprinkler.

Kyle got a Wii, but not a Wii Fit. He went to Circuit City just before opening time and got one of their allotment of six. However, they only had four Wii Fit, and he was number five. Anyway, Kathie took on Lyndsay in bowling, but I don't remember who won.

Yes, I am liking my job. It's been two whole days and I haven't messed up on anything yet. OK, I haven't done anything either. No, I did get an assignment today, so I have something to be working on.

One More Day

That is one of my favorite songs from Les Miserables. However, that is not why I chose it for my title. I was talking about going to work. I finally got the official call today that I am starting work on Monday. They were waiting on my background check to complete and it did late yesterday afternoon. So, I go in at 10am on Monday. I will be a Project Coordinator for IT projects in the HR area. So, once a need is identified, I work with the client area to understand it, schedule it, and then follow up with IT to be sure we build it as promised and within the agreed-upon timeline.

At first, I will be working as a contractor. Then, after three months, they will convert me or let me go. They will convert me. They will want to keep me. However, I am being compared to a former employee that they did not like. He was my age and was a former military dude. He upset everyone from customers to fellow IT. I don't think that will be a problem, but I will be very careful at first.

Tonight we had Kyle's 25th birthday party out at his house. His big present is a Wii. However, they haven't found one in stock yet. They did have a donut cake in stock, though. It was (notice the past tense) a Krispy Kreme cake and I had two many pieces. (Clever use of words there, huh?) You can see that it was Superman themed. They brought in pizza for the meal from a local place that we like. After dinner, Bella went out and played in the water. That is a set of pictures for another time.

No Date, Can't Wait, Heavyweight, Home Late, God's Great

NO DATE
One says June 16, but another says that is unrealistic. Oh wait. I didn't tell you what I am talking about. I GOT A JOB! Yup.

CAN'T WAIT
So, even though I don't know when I start, I am more than ready to get going. There is still a question on whether or not I can get off for our Ouray vacation mid-July. By the way, it is as an IT Project Manager at University of Phoenix.

HEAVYWEIGHT
I am getting my new Father's Day camera. Does that mean that my pictures will be any better? Oh ha ha. I know you are all saying, "Were they EVER any good in the first place?" We'll see who has the last laugh. In fact, we'll even see who has the first laugh because it is not me.

HOME LATE
No photos of the girls this weekend. They took a quick trip to Disneyland and won't be home until sometime tonight. Kyle did call and say that Bella really liked the rebuilt carousel, but kept looking at the crowd of people standing around the outside looking at the riders. They asked her what she was looking for and she asked where Pops was standing taking pictures. Aww.

GOD's GREAT
Circumstances change. Gas prices are out of control. It's too crazy to pay over $70 to fill our little Jeep. I went one year without a full-time job. But Praise the Lord, God never changes.

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us...." The Pastor noted this morning that God can do more than we can even ask for or even think about. I don't know about you, but I can think of a lot. Still, God can do more. There has been some reason that He has taken me through this past year, and I may never know, but He has led me to this point in my life and this job.

BTW, last week's sermon was good, too. In it, the Pastor read from John 17:20 (NLT). "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message." His point here was that Jesus was talking about each of us when He said He was praying "... for all who will EVER believe...."

Down Into, Up on the Wall, and Down Under (not Australia)

Every few weeks, it's time to shred junk mail with personal data on it to prevent identity theft. Today, Bella helped me force the sheets into the shredder.

Kyle and family will not see Kathie on her birthday tomorrow, so they gave their gift this past weekend. It is a multi-photo frame with pictures of the grandkids. Now I've got to hang it.

And I just got through hanging this arrangement of the kiddos. Well, I am thinking maybe extend to the left.

I am getting a new camera for Father's Day. More soon.

Something in the last few days made me think of caves we have visited. As a family, I bet we have seen a bunch of caves. So, either in your blog or in comments to mine, let's tell everyone where we have been and what we thought of them. I remember taking the family to Carlsbad Cavern in NM, Cave of the Winds in Denver, Colossal Cave in Tucson, Bachelor-Syracuse Mine in Ouray. Kathie and I have been to Inner Space Cavern in Austin, Natural Bridge Caverns in San Antonio. I've been to Batu Cave in KL, Malaysia. That's all I think of right now. How about you?

Pushups and Cleanups

Let's start with a pushup video. Kyle may not get a lot of exercise from this, but it is much more fun.

Let's start with a couple of before photos of Alison's room.







And here's a couple of photos after I painted (using Lyndsay's recommendations based on Kathie's ideas) and a little furniture rearrangement.

Meeting, Greeting, Defeating

Isabella met a kindred spirit named Isabella. Her parents call her Izzy. I definitely like the name Bella better, don't you?

Meanwhile, Kendall met a kindred spirit and they cooed at each other for a bit. His name is Zach and he is a younger man at only 4 months to Kendall's 5-1/2.

Still, after a while, partying this hard wears even the liveliest down. Just don't try to take her Rice Krispie treat away. Even that bear I see peeking out from her blanket doesn't dare try.

One for Randy?

The interview with University of Phoenix this morning went well. I was only their second interview for three positions, so they are not ready to decide on candidates yet. They said they are not sure when they will be ready, so I'll wait. Still, I felt like I was ready for the questions and communicated my skill set well.

Kathie's school still has not made a decision about their new technology position either, so I guess I am still a possibility on that, too.

We are babysitting Bella and Kendall Sunday night, so I suspect there may be pictures after that.

We saw Indiana Jones tonight. I thought it was good and fun, but not great. I was glad to see Indy again, though. Everyone in the theater reacted nicely when they show that silhouette of him putting on the fedora that you see in the trailer. No, I meant the movie preview, not an actual... never mind.

One for Caleb

I know it's not Star Wars, but it's pretty close. I think you'll really like the singer and the song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC73PHdQX04

An aside to the others: If you watch CSI:Miami, do a search for Jim Carrey and Horatio Caine (one search with both names) to see Jim imitate David Caruso's style. Quite funny. There are also a couple of videos out there that are just the Caine comment right before the opening credits. We had a good laugh over may of them.

No new pics.

Two Things and Two More Things

I was thinking today...
When I'm alone, and life is making me lonely, I can always go
Downtown

When I've got worries, all the noise and hurry seems to help, I know
Downtown

Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city,
Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty
How can I lose?
The lights are much brighter there.. I can forget all my troubles; forget all my cares, and go
Downtown -- things will be great when I'm
Downtown -- I'll find a place for sure
Downtown -- everything's waiting for me.

So, I went downtown and filed paperwork to become certified to teach in AZ. They took my paperwork and previous schoolwork and will send me my provisional certification in 2-3 weeks. I still have to take AZ Constitution, US Constitution, a test on teaching subject knowledge (Math only. Not Music) and a test on classroom management, and a course on teaching English learners. I have a couple of years to finish this.

Then, I just got off of a phone interview with University of Phoenix for an IT position. I have a formal interview this Friday at 9:30, so you can pray that I will know God's Will.



Bella was sticking coins between her toes and fingers. I tried to catch her before she pulled them out and was mostly successful. I had to babysit Monday and Tuesday because they lost their prior daycare provider.


And, as Kara noted, Kendall is always watching her big sister to learn the ins and outs of kidhood.