It’s Supposed to be Summer!
June 11, 2008 by admin
Where is the summer weather we are supposed to be experiencing? I don’t think Casper has hit the 80 degree mark in 2008. The kids are experiencing their second full week out of school and arent’ spending their days outside. Ashley has been to the pool twice but is disappointed that she can’t get a tan because it is too cold to lay out. I have never played softball in so many layers of clothes for this long in the season. Stephen hasn’t even been able to use his waterslide. It poured rain during his first coach pitch game yesterday. Summer…please come soon…the kids are getting cabin fever.
There is a plus side to the wonderful weather we are experiencing. I haven’t even gotten the hoses out from winter storage and the sprinkler system is still winterized. It rains heavily every couple of days so the water bill is looking pretty good! Wyoming is also officially out of the drought stage.
Even though summer vacation has begun the kids are as busy as ever. I worked the first week of break writing curriculum for the district. It was rainy and cold most of the time so I really didn’t miss much. Ashley finished her dance recital on Tuesday of last week and has begun work on next season’s competition stuff. She attended a workshop last weekend that two famous hip hoppers and choreographers from many TV shows and dance videos put on. They choreographed a dance for about nine students from her studio. It is “true” hip hop. She has been teaching dance this week at a dance camp for younger students and has been putting in a lot of practice time for our upcoming trip to LA for Nationals. Oh yeah, on her down time she plays Junior Olympic fastpitch softball three to four days a week.
Stephen still takes Tae Kwon Do every day and is playing on a “Coach” pitch baseball team. He so badly wants to play Little League. He learned how to play a card game called, “GOLF” and tries to teach it to everyone he can. It is actually an adult game and has a high level of strategy involved but, he gets it. I have been making him add and subtract the scores to keep his math skills sharp. He also has to read for 30 minutes everyday before he can play the Wii. So he’s busy.
Tally was sick for four or five days this past week. I had to take her to the vet early Monday morning because she was vomiting at least once an hour from Friday night on. They took x-rays of her stomach (quite pricey) and determined that she probably had a virus. She finally ate some food yesterday and gobbled a whole bowl full today. She also has been quite feisty today so I think she is on the mend.
Poor Mike has to work while we have all the fun. He is coaching Stephen’s team. Stephen told him that he needed to practice pitching. Mike’s dad has also been in the hospital twice in the last week. This time they are keeping him for a few days. We aren’t sure what is wrong but he is becoming very frail and is always in a great deal of pain. He is supposed to be to be on oxygen 24 hours a day but has a hard time staying on it since he likes to smoke. I think he is at the point that it is probably too late to give up the cigarettes so he might as well be happy.
I am not really much into politics but OMG what in the world are the democrats thinking…sorry Mike!
“Officer” J. Sheperd, you, sir, are a Liar
June 10, 2008 by admin
I don’t know if I have ever been more pissed off. I am sure I have, but right now, I don’t recall. Let me tell you about how the tax money I pay is wasted.
Today, Rebecca took me to work. This evening, Nick Gaugler took me home. In addition to me, Nick was kind enough to offer David Fowler from our office a ride home. David lives over by 135th and Nall, in an apartment complex across from the one I used to live in. Now, after dropping Fowler off, we exited the complex and traveled west on 133rd street. At the corner of 133rd and I believe Lamar there is one of those idiotic round-a-bouts. As we are 1/2 through about to head south on Lamar to 135th, we were both shocked to hear a police siren and see flashing lights. Nick pulls over; I am in the passenger seat. While wondering what he did wrong, the driver of the police car (there were two liars in this vehicle, only liar #1 with badge #957 approached) came up and asked Nick for his license and proof of insurance. Nick whipped out his Pensylvania license while I rummaged through his glove box looking for his proof of insurance. Found it, gave it to Nick, who passed it on the the “officer”. The “officer” porceeds to tell Nick he pulled him over for speeding…. oh, and not wearing his seatbelt. Said “officer” then said he needed MY driver’s license. “Why in the world do you need my license,” I asked. “Because you weren’t wearing your seatbelt either,” officer liar said.
Well, now I am pissed. I had my seat belt on. I fastened it while sitting in Nick’s car at 7500 W 110th street in our office parking lot. I even had my laptop case sitting on my lap, which certainly would have prevented me from easily “sneaking” my seatbelt on. Now, I have been known not to wear a seatbelt… but my Escalade annoys the hell out of me beeping when I or a passenger do not, and I have basically gotten used to wearing one now. I used to comment that if I ever got pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt, I would probably end up in jail. You see, I don’t believe the government has any right to tell me I have to wear a seatbelt. But, I digress…
“Officer” liar states to me that he has it on videotape in his car that I don’t have my seatbelt on. “Well let me see that video,” I say. “Cuz I sure as hell had my seatbelt on.” He says nothing and takes my license and Nick’s back to the car.
About 10 minutes pass, when Dumb and Dumberer, or should I say, “Liar, Liar” approaches the car. Dumberer stays back, only “officer” liar comes back to the window. “First, we’ll take care of you, Mr. Gaugler,” he says as he passes his license and insurance proof back to Nick. He goes on to explain that Nick was going 38 in a 25 and that he wasn’t wearing his seatbelt. He further grills Nick on where he lives, since he has a PA license and a PA license plate. Nick rattles of his house address and phone number in PA (he owns a house in both locations, here and there). They don’t press that anymore. But Nick begins to press the cop where it is posted that the speed limit is 25, not 35. The officer says right after you turn on 133rd from Nall, and again right by the swimming pool he was parked by. More on this later.
Then, it’s onto me. In a rather abrassive tone, likely since I called the liar a liar earlier, he hands me a ticket for not wearing my seatbelt. When I again asked to see this video, he proclaimed “it’s not safe to watch it here, that is saved for the court room.” Nick presses him asking him if he will put in writing that he will be in court with said videotape. He said that will all be a part of his report, and that this whole conversation is being both video taped and audio recorded. Nick asks him again, does he have these infractions on video tape and he says “yes, but I also have a witness, my partner” (that is dumberer, for those joining late). I inform him that I can’t wait to see this video because it is complete crap that he is falsely accusing me of and writing me a $30 ticket for failure to where a seatbelt when I infact had it on. Nick tells him how great this society is when sworn police officers blatently lie, on video tape and audio recording. “Sorry you feel that way,” says “officer” liar as he and dumberer walked back to their car.
As we pull off, obeying every potential traffic law, Nick pulls into a bank lot and turns around. We drive back to where the officer went. We quickly notice he was right — there IS a posted 25 MPH speed limit sign where he said. Problem is, it’s facing the other direction — it is there for people going west to east, not east to west like we were. Nick pulls over, gets out of his car, and proceeds to take pictures of the area to prove that the officer referenced a speed limit sign facing the wrong direction. And, since we didn’t pull off of Nall onto 133rd (we came out of an apartment complex lot a ways west of Nall), we did not see that sign (if it so exists) either.
My scheduled court date to enter my NOT GUILTY PLEA is on June 30. But the ticket says I can call and do it earlier; which I will, so I can assure a trial be scheduled as soon as possible. I have reason to believe, from a source who has had to use the video before, that I can purchase a copy of the video for $75. I will do this… even though I am fighting a $30 ticket. I will also hire a good lawyer (not some bozo traffic lawyer) and I will spend a decent chunk of change to fight this $30 ticket. Becuase, it is not the ticket that I will be fighting. I will be fighting against my tax money, which I pay, being spent on two police officers who completely fabricated the fact that I wasn’t wearing a seatbelt and continued their lie, even when I called them on it. Further, I will be taking my situation before my court date to the police chief and request that he/she watch this video and listen to the tape, and if there is proof I was wearing my seatbelt then these “officers” need to be reprimanded… for they are the very individuals who are sworn to serve and protect.
In the end, I will spend a decent amount of money fighting this, and I will inevitably lose, as if the tape doesn’t provide conclusive evidence that I was wearing my seatbelt, I am sure the courts will believe two “sworn officers” over me and Nick… the fugitives.
I am so irked by this I can hardly stand it. I wonder if I should call the ACLU. Don’t they represent the innocent? Puke.
–RE out.
So I Think She Can Dance!
June 4, 2008 by admin
Early Wednesday morning and I am getting ready to jump in the car and head for Saratoga, WY for ….you guessed it …. meetings. Also a retirement dinner for a very good friend and employee of mine who is retiring the end of this month officially – actually starts on accrued vacation next week (Wednesday) so he is a short-timer.
Anyway – went down to Ashley’s Spring Dance Recital last night and just have to rave and brag for a moment. I am not, as those who know me know, musically inclined – nor do I dance worth a darn. But I do know good stuff when I see it and Ashley Elizabeth Carnahan is good stuff - in fact she is incredible on the dance stage. It was awesome folks. What really blew me away was learning after a very intriguing and perfect dance solo, that she also choreographed (sp?) the whole thing all by herself. Holy Cow …. it was amazing! There were probably some reasonably proud grandpa’s in the audience but I’m guessing I won that prize. The girl can dance! Don’t miss her when she appears on a stage near you! Love you Ashh….dont ever quit doing what you love – it really shows.
Okay – I am off and running – well driving. Get back Friday early evening if it goes as planned. Looking forward to a weekend already. Have a good week! looks like BO pretty well wrapped it up last night so if HC is out the party is at Ryans’. What I want to know is what are you going to do about that BO son? Gonna take a pretty strong deoderant I’m afraid.
The Dad
A Lot To Catch Up On… But Not Tonight
June 2, 2008 by admin
So, I started this really nice, long blog about my nephew Brandon and his graduation while I was riding in the car. I hit the wrong key and lost the whole thing. That was well over a week ago. I will revisit the lost blog in the near future.
We have a lot to catch up on, but I’m too tired to hit it tonight. Future topics include:
Brandon’s Graduation
Braelyn Visiting my Grandma Carlen and my Grandpa Elledge’s graves
A few days at the lake
Fun with Facebook
Hoover and a big vet bill
Some fun at the Murphy Pool
But for now, to hold you over, may I present the latest Braelyn Grace Moment… her first non-bottle meal. Yep, today, June 2, 2008, Braelyn Grace got her first taste of … drum roll please….
RICE CEREAL!
See how that went, right here.
Keep the HC and the BO out of the WH!
–RE
What a great 48! B’s the Man!
May 26, 2008 by admin
Memorial Day Monday morning – raining and dreary in Casper, Wyoming. However, the previous 48 hours were absolutely as rewarding as anything I have experienced.
Drove to Fort Collins Friday afternoon (in wind and rain) with Rebecca, BGE, and Ryan. Had a nice visit on the way down and thoroighly enjoyed getting a little time with them. And as you might expect, BGE is awesome.
Upon arrival we drove directly to Fossil Ridge High School for an event I was not familiar wirh called a "capping ceremony". Each grad picked someone (non-parent) to honor with a short piece about how influential that person had been on their life – they then simply "capped" them, placed their graduation cap on the student in a brief ceremony. Well, B picked a natural – he and I share that influential person and that is one thing nobody will ever be able to take away from us. B honored his Grandma Vickie. There is not a soul more deserving. That is one caring, loving, dedicated, Christian woman and members of our family and friends are truly blessed with her. B – you sure got that one right my man!
Saturday was awesome – beautiful morning – 8 AM sharp the ceremony started. Second one across the stage was the Senior Class Vice president, the B! The B also had the honor of leading his class in moving the tassel and in pronouncing them Grads – followed by the long awaited tossing of the caps! You did us all proud and you da’ man B!
The remainder of Saturday was remarkable. Wendy & Tony hosted family and friends at a picnic – open house type affair at their home. In addition to the Lecher family and a host of friends Vickie and I had the absolute joy of seeing all of our children and all of their children(except Spencer, Megan, & Abbey) in the same place. It was so neat. And yeah, I had tears in my eyes half the weekend – tears of pride and joy. Quite a crew. It’s really something to experience and I definitely hope we can do it more often – even though it is really difficult to bring that many individual lives to the same point at the same time. Leave it to B – he generates that much love no problemo.
We then drove back early yesterday afternoon – had great weather coming back but it was getting cloudy when we got here and it has rained all night long. The other nice thing that happened while we were there is that my Fathers Day gift from the Pugs kicked in and my lawn got mowed while i was there. That was truly a welcome sight and it is nice not to have to sit here this morning wondering how long it will be until it quits raining and gets dry enough for me to bail the stuff.
Well – Nate is next! Then we get a break of a year or two and then it’s Ashley & Spencer! Maybe we will have a few of these opportunities in the next few years.
Anyway – an outstanding weekend spent with all my children and practically all of my grandchildren! A true phenom! God has blessed us and that’s a fact. And the B is a young man with a huge world at his doorstep. It will be exciting to see where he carves his niche. There is not much that isn’t open to him – GO GET ‘EM B ….. YOU DA’ MAN!
The Dad
As The World Turns
May 21, 2008 by admin
Summer is almost here. School is almost out. Memorial Day Weekend has nearly (and finally) arrived, and with it, we have been getting much nicer weather.
Tomorrow, Rebecca, Braelyn and I are flying to Denver, where we will then drive to Casper to see the Grandma and the Grandpa. They have yet to meet Miss Braelyn Grace, and since they won’t be able to make it to Fort Collins for Brandon’s graduation, we decided we wouild drive up and introduce the new one to them. Can’t wait for them to meet the newest member of their blood lines.
We are exploring selling our house. Market sucks right now, so probably won’t have much success, but we have decided we want to live a little more free than we currently are so we are at least going to explore downsizing. I really hate the thought of it, as I love my house. And the yard. I really doubt we will get someone to take it at the price I would need to sell it at, but nonetheless, we’re going to list it for awhile and see what happens. If it sells, we’ll find us a nice new place a little smaller (less expensive). If not, well, we’ll stay put.
The Lechers will get to meet Miss Braelyn for the first time on Friday. Pretty exciting stuff!
On Saturday, we’ll witness Big B walking the stage and flipping his tassle. Holy cow. Big B will be a graduate and off to college. My sister Wendy sure is getting O L D !
Ok, my work computer just rebooted. Time for me to get back to work.
–RE
Oh, and an ENORMOUS THANK YOU TO ALL THE STATES THAT TOLD HILLARY NO WAY!
In California
May 6, 2008 by admin
Good evening, As I write this, it is not quite as late here in not so sunny California as it is in Wyoming where I usually write from. We have been out here for a few days. Met the new Moore baby.. Luke Rieland .. the other day at the Rock’s birthday party. They are all doing well. Justin and Christian are both liking the new school they are going to this year. Madison, Luke, Karlie, and Joshie were all at the birthday party for Heather and Dale.
Graduation announcements from Brandon started arriving in the mail this week. Hard for me to believe that B will be out of high school in a few weeks. OMG now I am getting old. Next year Nathan and Abbie will graduate. Time goes so quickly. I have really noticed that since I am no longer working.
Steve will be up here tomorrow. The trade show/conference will be over so he will drive to LA tomorrow sometime mid day. I think we are going to go to Catalina Island on Friday. I hope it warms up here some. We have not been to that island before and I am looking forward to going there. Then it will be a return to Casper. Back to the weight watchers….lol.
Good night all… from the Moore house in Cypress, California…. just checking in..
It’s Springtime, Finally.
April 26, 2008 by admin
Now that we’re getting some decent weather, we can spend a little time outside. Today, I replaced the two post lights in the backyard, bought some new hose and hose-hiding-bowls, a couple of urns or whatever you want to call them for the front steps, some stain to restain the kids playhouse in the backyard, and got my Escalade all prettied-up.
While testing the new hose, Hoover had a springtime flashback. And, as you can see below, he got hosed!
New Computer
April 24, 2008 by admin
We got new computers yesterday. Well I did.. The other one is on order, expected Monday or Tuesday. I am not too good with this keyboard, but I am learning. When you are my age the learning curve is not what it used to be. This one has a web cam so that will come in handy to visit with Braelyn when we can, and maybe she will see us enough that we wont scare her to death when we see her again some day.
Spring time in Wyoming… Cold today and snow is in the forecast. I will be ready for the warm California sunshine next week.
Dad (my dad) is having a few more problems lately. He has given up driving in the last week. Not that that is a bad thing, but is is sad for him. He is just really struggling and his disease has progressed very rapidly in the last month. Very sad. It hurts us to see just how fragile he is. We are thankful for the care he is getting from Betty. Sometimes I cry out to God to help us through this. I just have faith that He is in control. Sister Lynda will be coming here in the next few weeks. She will be really surprised at how much he has changed in the last several months.
Steve is on a corporate trip with the Mc Murray’s tonight to Denver for an open house for a big company down there. They will be flying on the Mc Murray plane home yet tonight. I hope he has a great time. There are some fun perks for his long hours.
Well…about it for me here. Love ~~VE
omg…it is snowing
Snow Day in the Spring
April 21, 2008 by admin
So, Natrona County School District, in all of its infinite wisdom, designated April 21, 2008 as a “make up” snow day. School hasn’t been canceled all winter so we are off today. Seems kind of strange to be off for no reason. Seems like they could have made us go to school today and not made us come back the day after Memorial Day. But we will, for just one day. I wonder how many students I will have show up on that day. Mike started day shift today and we are all home. Funny!
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