Hitting a deer ...

This is what your van 'could' look like if a deer decides to run into it, while you're driving about 75 mph on interstate 94 outside of Eau Claire, on your way back home from a week-long vacation. Thank goodness that I veered left a bit and the deer ran into THE ENTIRE SIDE of our vehicle, instead of becoming a head-on collision. The last thing the insurance adjustor said was that we were pretty much replacing every piece of exterior material on the passenger side of the van. Oh well. At least it's able to be driven until we get it fixed (which should be soon) ... and everyone is okay (except the deer).

Ohio ... in pictures

We had a great trip to Ohio and back. Well, at least back to Madison. We did run into a bad accident outside of Rockford on our way back to my parents from Ohio, but that didn't spoil a great seven days in the land of O-ho. The weather was hot, but the pool was cool, and the company was wonderful. Partied at the parents' (in-laws) on Sunday. Ran 4 miles in horrible heat and humidity (but it was actually not too bad). Ventured to the NFL Hall of Fame (saw three ex-Badgers and MANY Packers). Saw a Cleveland Indians game (well, if you can call a 12-3 drubbing of the Angels by the Indians a 'game'). And generally had a blast with all the family and friends we could handle.

Happy 4th to everyone again! Here's some pics to help you visualize our fun-filled trip ...

My wife's parents rented a big 'jump house' for the party on Sunday.

My son was so happy, he wouldn't even sit still to get a picture taken.

The people who dropped it off said that 'everyone' could enjoy it ... apparently.

The day got pretty hot, so we had to put on swim suits and use some water to make the slide more fun.

Not sure if it was the heat, or my daughter just being goofy.

All the girls (adult women, I should say) ... Dad's sisters, Gramma, Bonnie, and my wife. Don't know where my SIL was, though.

The pool was a pleasure during the mostly upper 90 degree days.

Cousins had a blast together.

There was a 16-team corn-hole (or bag-toss) tournament that the Marysville Bautsch 'men' won. Still not sure how my SIL and I got defeated in the finals. Guess I'll have to practice - yes, I'm talking 'bout PRACTICE - for next year ;)

Again ... pool = mandatory. It was hot.

Again ... goofy ... and not sure it had anything to do with the heat.

Cousins snacking together.

More cousins playing badminton.

Cousins being goofy ... and inseperable.

Talk about inseperable ...

Pre-fireworks sparklers.

Pre-fireworks smore-making.

Picture with the 'Fireworks Spectacular' Owner/Operator (Grandpa).

"Awesome, Grandpa!"

Cousins.

Happy Birthday, Avery!

On the Great-Grandma's church-steps. Getting ready for the parade.

With Great-Grandma.

Me, my wife, my BIL, and my nephew all ran the Firecracker Four-Mile ... and this is the only picture that might let you know we did. Congrats to my wife on finishing her first race. Nice job, Honey!

Curbside seats for the parade.

The girls (cousins) with Aunt Charlotte.

Silly.

NFL Hall of Fame.

About to see the busts ... a few Badgers and MANY Packers in there ...

My son with Coach Lombardi.

The one-and-only Bart Starr.

Future Super Bowl Champions?!?!

NFL HOF, John Fawcett Stadium. Home of Canton-McKinley HS.

Having fun.

Not a bad catch for an old-guy.

TD catch by the young-guy.

It was a great trip! Thanks for having us, Mom and Dad (Grandma and Grandpa)!

Happy Anniversary ... to us!

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It was a beautiful night. We headed to the same place as usual - The Admiralty Room at The Edgewater, overlooking Lake Mendota. Eleven years ago this day, we were married and had a wonderful reception here. I believe that we've been back on (or around) our anniversary every year but two. Our meals were wonderful - I suggest the rack of lamb for anyone interested! And it was a relaxing night, watching the sun set, enjoying an Irish coffee (my wife) and an Italian coffee (me) on the house, and then taking a leisurely walk around campus (for old-time's sake).

Hoping for many (many!) more years with my wonderful wife. Love you, Honey!

Happy 4th, Having fun!

A belated Happy 4th of July to all you blog-followers out there. Been busy here. Lots of eating, swimming, and even got a good 4-mile run in on a hot and sweat Wednesday morn.

So far, our time with family has been awesome. Between seeing BOTH sets of grandparents (my folks and my wife's), and being able to spend so much time with cousins (at a pool), my kids have been having a blast. Currently, they are actually fishing with grandpa - so I think everyone is getting a big smile out of today.

We've hit a kids' run, a 4-mile race, a parade, a party, and a baseball game so far this week, so you'll have to forgive me for not posting more. I'll be anxious to celebrate our anniversary with my wife this Saturday at our usual spot, too. (However, we did enjoy a nice prelim to that event, as we enjoyed a nice meal out last night with the in-laws in honor of eleven years together with my wife.)

Since I didn't get a chance to post on the 4th, I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge all servicemen and -women out there helping defending our freedom and independence. I hope everything is happy, healthy, and safe. Happy belated 4th!

anxious

[ˈaNG(k)SHəs/]  adjective:

1.Experiencing worry, unease, or nervousness, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.

...

I'm ready! ...

If you didn't know, the "Paw Pic of the Week" has been up because it's the picture my wife sent me from her first day in Venice, Italy. Thank goodness she is coming home today!

Just for fun today ... a little humor ... 'don't stop ... believin'

Cubs win! Cubs win! Cubs win!

Streaking is fun!

...

Thought I'd let that simmer for a while. I'm talking about winning streaks, of course. And both Cubs - Corcoran and Chicago - have won at least two in a row now, so this household is feeling good!

The Corcoran Cubs finished their 'summer' season with two more victories this week, winning 11-2 at home on Monday, and 11-5 on the road on Tuesday. The two wins give the 'boys in blue' a final record of 9-4 (with one rainout). Your favorite #15 had a good week, going a  combined 5 for 6, scoring 3 runs, driving in another 3, and playing solid defense behind the plate, and out at first and short.

Those other Cubs - the ones in Chicago - have benefitted the last two nights from having the best Cub fans in the world - my parents - in attendance. Of course, it was nice to see Rizzo debut so well at 1B on tuesday, too. Keep it up, Cubbies! Let's try to get out of the NL central cellar!

Hey Hey! Holy Cow! Go Cubs Go!

So, I moved some pews today at church.

Really. They're having the wood floor re-finished, so we moved 'em out for the next two weeks. Too bad I'll be gone when they want to move them back in a couple weeks. ;)

Honestly, though, it took all of an hour to move the pews and put plastic on everything in the worship space (to help save it from the dust/debris of re-finishing). It's nice to have a parrish in which so many people show up to help out. Thank God. :)

Happy Birthday, Mom!

A little something to honor our parents ... There was a Child went Forth

Walt Whitman (from Leaves of Grass, first published in 1855 edition)

There was a child went forth every day; And the first object he look’d upon, that object he became; And that object became part of him for the day, or a certain part of the day, or for many years, or stretching cycles of years. The early lilacs became part of this child, And grass, and white and red morning-glories, and white and red clover, and the song of the phoebe-bird, And the Third-month lambs, and the sow’s pink-faint litter, and the mare’s foal, and the cow’s calf, And the noisy brood of the barn-yard, or by the mire of the pond-side, And the fish suspending themselves so curiously below there—and the beautiful curious liquid, And the water-plants with their graceful flat heads—all became part of him. The field-sprouts of Fourth-month and Fifth-month became part of him; Winter-grain sprouts, and those of the light-yellow corn, and the esculent roots of the garden, And the apple-trees cover’d with blossoms, and the fruit afterward, and wood-berries, and the commonest weeds by the road; And the old drunkard staggering home from the out-house of the tavern, whence he had lately risen, And the school-mistress that pass’d on her way to the school, And the friendly boys that pass’d—and the quarrelsome boys, And the tidy and fresh-cheek’d girls—and the barefoot (omitted word) boy and girl, And all the changes of city and country, wherever he went. His own parents, He that had father’d him, and she that had conceiv’d him in her womb, and birth’d him, They gave this child more of themselves than that; They gave him afterward every day—they became part of him. The mother at home, quietly placing the dishes on the supper-table; The mother with mild words—clean her cap and gown, a wholesome odor falling off her person and clothes as she walks by; The father, strong, self-sufficient, manly, mean, anger’d, unjust; The blow, the quick loud word, the tight bargain, the crafty lure, The family usages, the language, the company, the furniture—the yearning and swelling heart, Affection that will not be gainsay’d—the sense of what is real—the thought if, after all, it should prove unreal, The doubts of day-time and the doubts of night-time—the curious whether and how, Whether that which appears so is so, or is it all flashes and specks? Men and women crowding fast in the streets—if they are not flashes and specks, what are they? The streets themselves, and the façades of houses, and goods in the windows, Vehicles, teams, the heavy-plank’d wharves—the huge crossing at the ferries, The village on the highland, seen from afar at sunset—the river between, Shadows, aureola and mist, the light falling on roofs and gables of white or brown, three miles off, The schooner near by, sleepily dropping down the tide—the little boat slack-tow’d astern, The hurrying tumbling waves, quick-broken crests, slapping, The strata of color’d clouds, the long bar of maroon-tint, away solitary by itself—the spread of purity it lies motionless in, The horizon’s edge, the flying sea-crow, the fragrance of salt marsh and shore mud; These became part of that child who went forth every day, and who now goes, and will always go forth every day.

Dance Pictures

"There's nothing wrong with enjoying life ..."

" ... but when having the right car, the right clothes, the right neighborhood, or even the right partner becomes part of our identity, we're attaching our significance to things that won't last very long."

"I don't know anyone who says his or her mission in life is to choose style over substance, but that's how many people live. ... If we really want to live lives of significance, we need to value what God values and choose to live according to those values above all else. ... Either substance or style will come first in our lives. ... True significance comes by not only knowing what's worthwhile but also choosing it."

-Tony Dungy (UnCommon)