And so it begins.

This year I have decided that I want to continue the week of Thanksgiving that I did last year. This year has given me so many opportunities to be grateful, and I want to take the time to voice my thanks.

I think I will start with the obvious, my wonderful husband. At the moment, he is in China attempting to achieve a few miracles. OK, maybe not miracles, but at least a few amazing feats of engineering brilliance. He left last week for South Korea to finalize a contract for an electrical device. (I would tell you what it is, but I would have to kill you after. As far as I know, this is an unmentionable.) He then headed to China for some other top secret items, that probably aren't so top secret anymore. I will someday take the time to explain these items, but today is not someday. It is today, and my subject is my hubby, not some piece of plastic and metal that will someday (hopefully) make us debt free. It's good to dream.

When he leaves on these trips, I worry so much about him. It unnerves me just a bit to send him to a communist country. If anything makes you appreciate your freedom, that'll do it. On one trip, Doug mentioned that a plane flew overhead, so he looked up. He was stunned to see a Russian MiG 29 flying low overhead. He turned to his translator, and commented on how excited he was to see that. His translator just shook his head and said, "No, no! We don't talk about that! We don't talk about military." They were surprised that he knew what it was. They had no idea. Now I will give a moment of pause for your memory to recall those scenes in "Top Gun". I know that you are now singing in your mind, "Highway to the Danger Zone". Admit it.



Which brings me to the next item. Freedom. I am so grateful for the freedom to get an education for whatever I may choose, for the freedom to log on to the internet and find whatever information I am interested in, and for the freedom to talk about our government and discuss the good with the bad. I am also thankful for those who defend that freedom. What an amazing military we have. There is just something about our men and women in uniform that gives me chills. I can't help but be impressed by them. It is so incredible that there are those who are willing to sacrifice their time with their families, and sometimes even their lives, so that we can enjoy the opportunity to live in a free country.

The next item on the list is a silly one, but in keeping with the theme of China, I am so grateful for soft, comfy beds. Seriously, don't you just love those mornings when you wake up, and your bed and pillow are so cuddly and pleasant, that you would just about give anything to stay there? Then the harsh reality of daily life kicks in, and you have to leave it all behind.

A-Haunting we will go!

After all these years, you think I would learn. Seriously, I should know better than to be stuck inside on a rainy Saturday afternoon with Doug. He gets bored very quickly, and then the trouble begins. The comment was made that it would be fun to make some ghosts for Halloween. "Cool! Sounds like fun, let's do it!" (That will be on my tombstone someday, I'm sure of it.) When I got a look at the pictures, I realized that he might just have some unresolved issues with me.....

I began to feel like there was a hidden agenda that day. Had I done something to irritate him? Me, the world's most perfect wife? What could I possibly have done to justify this? Well, I think I better not open that box. It belongs to Pandora.

I took another picture of Doug, and then my questions were answered. Doug's true identity was revealed. I have married the spawn of Satan. That sure explains a lot.If only I had taken this picture 20 years ago.....

Well, at least he is handy. He is great to have around when things go awry and need fixing. I used to think he just had exceptional skills, now I realize that part of his skill is from an extra set of hands.  I can't believe he was keeping that secret from me. How many times have I been involved in something and wished for an extra set? Where can I get a set of my own?

In my attempt to explain to Doug that I am an angel, and he should worship the ground I walk on, he came up with a brilliant idea. Why not take a picture to reveal MY true identity, too? Remind me to say "NO!" next time. I am now totally busted. At least I can claim to be an angel, even if I AM playing for the other side.

We decided an exorcism was in order; after all, we have an image to uphold. It seemed to work, but I just liked the lights. They were pretty. What can I say, I am entertained by small and simple things. Apparently, I am a cheap date.

After we were thoroughly cleansed of all evil, (in my dreams) I took another picture of Doug to see if it worked. Sure enough, he was my super hero again. Able to control the elements, and leap small footstools in a single bound.

My hero! We tried for a halo, but it didn't take. We did get a nice picture of his wings, however. I should have known that he had wings, as he is so addicted to flying.

Doug is also enthralled by the supernatural. He really wants to find evidence of ghosts, so we went ghost hunting. If you've never done that, you should. Lots of fun, but chasing them around a stool can be hazardous, so be careful. You want to make sure you don't break a nail, like I did. Stupid ghost.

We found that ghosts like to play "Ring Around The Roses", and "Here We Go 'Round The Mullberry Bush".

It wasn't long before we realized that our ghosts were just trying to make us dizzy and fall down. I have to say, it was pretty effective. There was plenty of dizzyness going on that evening.

We decided to check out Miriam. She is old enough that we thought maybe she was haunted, too. We were not quite as surprised with the results as we should have been. She is turning into a teenager in a couple of months, after all.

After realizing she had a direct connection to the mother ship, we performed another exorcism to disconnect her. I'm not sure how long it will last, but let's hope it will get us through the next 5 years, or so. Yeah, good luck with that, right?

Well, it seemed to work, if only temporarily. I guess we'll take what we can get. I'm just hoping that the moodiness subsides for a week or so. I could use a break. I found that Miriam has inherited her father's ability to manipulate the elements. Either that, or the mother ship is trying to reconnect. We'll keep checking, just in case.

Beware, all of you that have family members that are easily bored. You just might get more than you bargained for. Make sure you want to know what is really going on in the seedy underbelly of family life. Luckily, I have a great couple of people to live with, aside from the occasional attempt to bump me off. Halloween will be over soon, and we will all be back to normal, right? Right? Please tell me that we aren't always this twisted and creepy...

Jazz it up!

On October 1st, Doug called me from work and asked if I had anything planned that night. Nope, nothing. Some people have lives where asking that question would be logical. I, on the other hand, rarely have anything going on. That is because I need to get a life. However, on this occasion, it was a blessing. He had two tickets to the Jazz game, and wondered if I wanted to go. Well, DUH! What kind fo question is that? Of course I wanted to go.

Doug couldn't go with me, because he had a scuba class to teach that night. Some people have a life, and can't do things on the spur of the moment, like going to Jazz games. I love my life. Unlike the guy that has the job of cleaning up the sweat on the floor. Ick!

Doug's boss has season tickets, and couldn't go, so he gave them to Doug, who couldn't go, either. Priorities, people. Get some. They are 4th row tickets, and right behind a stairway, so you don't have to deal with all the pesky people in front of you. On the down side, it is right next to a seat reserved for the press, so a photographer was constantly coming and going. Still, great seats if you can get them. Yay, me.

This was Miriam's first Jazz game in the Delta Center. She absolutely loved it! She wanted to go to a game the next night, and the night after that, and the night after that....... I see a pattern developing. Miriam better start saving her allowance, or get a job to support her habit; I am not much of an enabler. 

The Jazz were playing the Denver Nuggets, and of course, we won. I'm sure it was because we were there, so they should give us season tickets. Maybe I am just looking for free tickets.

Miriam chased down a Jazz ball that was used in a game during the third and fourth quarter. A couple of people were trying to hit a target a few steps above us with a giant sling shot, and for each target they hit, they got $100. Miriam ran after a stray ball, and was thrilled about her souvenir. I would have been happier with the money.

After the game, they drop confetti. It falls from the top of the stadium, and is fun to watch for a 12 year old. However, all I could think about was the mess that would have to be cleaned up. That was my reality check. I am a 40 year old mom. I need a life.

It's Autumn time, it's Autumn time! The leaves are falling down.

These are pictures we took yesterday of our little family in between conference sessions. Ahhhhh, fall.

This one is my favorite. I love timers on cameras. Oh, yeah, I guess I should say I love my family, too.

Really, I do.

It's Autumn time, it's Autumn time, pretty colors all around.