Monday Monday
November 10, 2008 by Steve Elledge
Kind of a typical Monday here in Casper, WY. Looks like it will be a nice day – a few clouds but looks pretty sweet out there. Just having my morning coffee – trying “Green Mountain Nantucket Blend” this morning. Not too bad. We sure are enjoying the Keurig Coffee Maker The Mom gave me for my birthday.
Have two new clients today. First meeting will be at an Attorneys Office with a potential wind farm developer. 2nd one will be this afternoon at my office with one of those mystery people who can’t tell you what they want to do over the phone because they are afraid someone will “steal” the idea. I have probably met with a few hundred of those through the years and I can’t think of one that has worked out yet. Okay — enough of boring you with work.
Happy belated 10 months old birthday to BGE. It is absolutely incredible how much they develop in that first year. I was looking at a picture of me holding her on the cruise last spring — she has come a long way since then and it wasn’t that long ago. Sure could use a BGE hug occasionally.
Nate & Keegan wrestled this weekend, Ashley danced, B worked, not sure what Courtney was up to, and Stephen vegged with his Dad while his mother played alot of volleyball. I did hear that while Stephen was teaching the game of Texas Hold ‘Em to B and I, that Nathan was cleaning up at the Lecher’s Friday night poker party in Fort Collins. Way to go Nate.
So … I guess it is time for work. Another week – another advenrure. Weird week however, have a holiday tomorrow to honor our Vets. Gonna say a prayer or two for all of those on active duty also. David is over there now – God Bless him and his comrades. Thanks David.
The Dad
Dad Thoughts:
November 8, 2008 by Steve Elledge
* I’m taking the first step in adjusting this morning …. I am drinking a cup of ‘Obama” blend Donut Shoppe Coffee. One of the “K-Cup” blends we received. It’s “so – so” .
* Just read Steph’s blog and still have tears of pride in my eyes. What a fantastic lady …… what a fantastic morher ……… what a fantastic teacher ………. what a fantastic daughter.
* B was off work last night and Stephen came over for an hour or so. We played Texas Hold ‘em. Stephen is a hoot. Had B and I rolling also. He got alot of enjoyment out of a simple sneeze! (You had to be there).
* The new Hoover Woodrow Production is really great. Wish he was just a little more motivated ….. like maybe weekly?
* BGE is growing fast. Her hair is even growing! And this was my first exposure to her quiet side. She “da’da’da’d” a little bit but was relatively quiet.
* I broke down and downloaded ICQ so that I could participate in video calls with the RLE Family but now we have a bug and cant seem to get hooked up. The Mom and I tested it and it works fine between our computers.
* Kind of gray skies out there this morning but it sure is good to have a day off. Guess I need to decide what i am going to do this weekend. No big plans.
Peace out.
The Dad
Obama vs. DOOL!!!! No way…
November 7, 2008 by Lovatos
A lot has happened since the last time I have given everyone my two cents worth. I buried another student on Thursday. It seems like Brad Johnson died while text messaging. Scary thought since I now have a teenagae driver at home. Brad was a wonderful kid. He made me laugh every day and when I saw that he graduated with honors two year ago I was somewhat proud thinking that I had a little to do with that. What a great kid…what a great memory…what a tragic loss for his family especially his twin sister who was equally as wonderful.
I sent my daughter to Denver today to a dance competition. It is the first one I have ever had to miss. I feel somewhat like a dead beat parent. I always want to be there for my kids. I really wish I wouldn’t have committed to the volleyball tournament that I signed up for this weekend. I know Ashley will thrive and do well but I love to be there and watch how well she does. I do take great pride in all of her accomplishments even though I am only the person who signs the check so that she can go to these things. Her talent is definately not inherited from me.
Both of my children did exceptionally well in school this quarter. I am so very proud of them. I learned this quarter that perserverence is often better then the letter grades that a child receives. A valuable lesson as a parent and teacher. Thank God that I was blessed with these wonderful human beings that can still teach me so much in my (what I consdider) extremley well educated 42 years of life.
Mike is now entering his one year anniversary at Wyoming Machinery. What a great gift that has been for him. He is finally reaping the benefits of being a wonderful, kind human being. I know more wonderful things will come for him thanks to his job and the happiness it gives to him. I still hate the 9-6 shift though.
As for me I have been blessed? with my greatest challenge this year as an educator. I truly believe it is time for me to make a decision about my future in education. I am facing the most difficult class of students I have ever had. I find myself involved in too much drama thanks to their little, complicated lives. I wonder daily how parents can treat their flesh and blood so evily. I have more sleepless nights this school year then ever before. How can a legal system let little children endure what these kiddos live day to day. I can’t even begin to share with everyone the heart wrenching day to day struggles these little beings go through. I know that wishing I was in another situation is a sin…but I am truly envious of my son’s second grade teacher. It seems like he lives in the perfect little world of what I wanted when I became a teacher. Stephen is truly lucky to have a teacher that gets to be an awesome teacher each and every day thanks to the caliber and well being of his students.
OK enough of the whoa is me crap…As I look upon the upcoming holiday season I am looking for the splendid feeling that I always get with enjoying the spirit of the season. 48 days to go until…Christmas! C’mon feeling…I am so ready!
Oh, yeah…Obama is already on my bad side. He interrupted thirty-two minutes of Days of Our Lives today thanks to his stimulus speech. I am so looking forward to the Clinton vs. Palin cat fight in 2012!!!!
Fall Break
October 17, 2008 by Lovatos
Yesterday was the end of the first quarter of school. Time really has gone by quickly this quarter. We are on Fall Break today. I wonder why we only get one day? This is our only day off before parent/teacher conferences so guess what I get to do. Yep, report cards! Some day off.
Life is busy as usual. We get home every night at about seven. We leave every morning at seven so the days are long. Stephen plays his last football game tomorrow so the evenings should be one less thing hectic for awhile. It never really works that way though. One more thing always replaces the one less thing. Hmmmm,
Mike got a flu shot on Monday and became very ill right after. He is on day 5 of all of the great symptoms that go with the flu. This happened to him last year when he got the flu shot also. The University of Utah wants him to get them but his body doesn’t fight the immunity very well. He needs to feel better soon so he can keep the anti-rejection drugs in his system! Mike getting sick is a very scary thing to us! Keep him in your prayers! ~Steph
Tally Turns 2!
October 6, 2008 by Lovatos
Talladega will be 2 on Thursday. It is hard to believe that she has already been with us for that long. She is really a sweet girl. I think she may have calmed down sooner then any other dog I have had. I also believe that she was the most destructive puppy I have ever had. Whew! We seem to be passed that for now.
Ashley did well in the pageant. She is already planning for next year. She didn’t make the top 15 but had a wonderful time anyway. She looked beautiful and we are really proud that she tried something like this. However, she does work a stage pretty well.
Stephen is another step closer to his Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. He received his Blue Belt last Saturday. He has red and brown left before he can test for his black belt. He has really learned control and matured in Tae Kwon Do lately. He has two weeks of flag football left and is up to 9 touchdowns for the season. Look out Brett Favre!
Hug your children!
The Pageant and Blue Belt
September 26, 2008 by Lovatos
The Miss Teen Wyoming Pageant is finally here. Ashley has been getting ready in her mind for this event since June when she decided she wanted to try it out. We have had a hectic week getting ready. She has to have four different wardrobes just for the pageant. She is very excited and very apprehensive. It should be fun to watch. The new competition dance season is also in full swing. She is up to 12 dances for competition so far this year. Oh yeah…she got her Learner’s Permit. It is very scary. I have let her drive to school which hasn’t been too bad yet. Tonight however, I let her drive from Stephen’s school to Tae Kwon Do. I should have used better judgement because rush hour and a new driver don’t mix. I so wanted to visit the bar after that little trip. So far… we are all still alive. Ashley also found out today that she made the dance team at Kelly Walsh High School. I would have been very worried if she didn’t. Freshmen can only be on the JV team but hey, she will get her JV letter in dance before actually attending the school. I’m not sure when she will have time for this added committment but she usually makes it work. Thank goodness the gas prices have dropped a little bit.
We found out yesterday that Stephen made the testing list for his blue belt in TaeKwon Do. We were really surprised because he just tested for his purple belt in July. It usually takes 3 to 4 months to demonstrate the compentency to move up a level. Testing is next Saturday. I can’t believe that he has moved up so quickly. September 29th was this first test for the yellow belt. If all goes well next weekend Stephen will only be 3 belts away from his black belt.
Talladega is an absolutely wonderful dog. Her second birthday is October 9th. She has really settled down into a big old lovable lap dog. She’s a keeper!
Happy New Year
September 3, 2008 by Lovatos
Everybody says that Christmas is the busiest time of the year. I totally disagree. Trying to begin the school year which demands a lot more time then the 8 hours a day I am paid to put in. Getting rides arranged for my own children. The beginning of the dance season (don’t think last year ever ended), Tae Kwon Do tournaments starting again, football practices, volleyball and birthdays galore! The fall is definately busy.
Every year I take pictures of the children on the first day of school in front of the apple tree in the front yard. It seems like just yesterday that Ashley wore the little red and white gingham dress to kindergarten and now she is a freshman! I see less of the tree every year in the background of this beautiful young lady. Then there is Stephen. I only have three beginning of the year pictures of him but he has grown so much since the cute little five year old standing proudly with his backpack around his shoulders. It is weird that I can remember taking those pictures so vividly.
Tally is enjoying the weekends home with us. We have been taking her to our weekly mountain picnic campfires on Sundays. She is such a good dog on the mountain. It helps that our friends bring their 6 month old St. Bernard with them. The real purpose of bringing Tally is to wear Beau out but Tally feels special anyway.
I have wasted enough time right now. I have to get my papers graded and play in my first volleyball game of the season at 9:00 p.m. ARGH!
StephTuesday Bullet Points
August 26, 2008 by Steve Elledge
* Denver is so far left right now I don’t know how or if they will ever get right.
* When the Broncos take the field they will have to let everybody play and pay their way in!
* Confirmed I am going to Germany …. Sunday 9/14 – Sunday 9/21.
* One leg of the trip back is London to Denver – 10 1/2 hours – no aisle or window seats left on the plane. That should be real fun.
* 3 days until we are on the road to OP. I’m ready to be out of here for a week.
* Stephen Michael is seven years old already —— things keep happening that try to make me feel old. I am trying to resist.
* Have a Board meeting on Vic’s birthday but will be back that evening. Wonder what she wants for her birthday? Anybody knows anything please advise.
* Took a short walk tonite. Out of shape for sure. Fattening up too ….. WeightWatchers here I come again. Only problem – making the commitment.
* When you’re outta bullets shut up Steve!
Bye – no BO
The Dad
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Baseball and the Olympics – more bullets
August 18, 2008 by Steve Elledge
* Baseball in Casper is in sad shape right now. No Legion program for the first summer in my memory.
* Baseball in Casper is in sad shape right now. Went to the Ghosts game yesterday afternoon and it was cancelled – again! Billings didn’t want their players hurt – field apparently in terrible shape. And it wasn’t rain folks – it was gorgeous & dry yesterday.
* Baseball in Casper is in sad shape right now.
* Olympics have been fun to watch.
* Olympics are keeping me up at night …. I keep wanting to watch one more event.
* Jamaican sprinters are going to be hard to beat for a few years. Sheesh!
* Shawn Johnson is snake bit! Had the Gold in Floor Exercise until the last competitor. Silver is okay Shawn. How tall is she anyway? 4 feet in heels? Always smiling though.
* Michael Phelps? Phenom for sure. Stars were aligned and he is awesome — you can’t beat that combination.
* It’s Monday – gotta go earn some $$$$.
* Gotta tip toe across the kitchen – the Big B is sleeping below. Yep – he made it last evening after a blown tire experience. We even got his rig unloaded last night.
* Stephen called me last evening to ask me if he could vote for Barack Obama for President. Told him it was a free country and we are free to choose. Also told him NO! I’m not sure where all of that was coming from but I could hear his Ma in the background and he said something about her kicking him out of the house? LOL
NO BO
The Dad
The End of Summer, already…
July 30, 2008 by Lovatos
I finish my three week stint of teaching summer school on Friday. Other then the heat of the classroom it has been really fun. I have enjoyed most of the time with the kiddos. I will have a challenging little girl this year but I can’t think of a year where I haven’t had at least one. It has really been fun having Stephen in class. He really is a bright little man and absorbs all information like a little sponge. Our PE teacher has been teaching Stephen how to play golf and now he wants a hundred dollar bill and golf lessons for his birthday. (Thanks Kalen!)
Ashley co-taught a ballet dance camp last week and has just been hanging at home this week. She must have been bored because she did the dishes one day and even mopped the kitchen floor without being asked. Next week she will beyond busy with the arrival of family and her mentoring responsibilities at the junior high orientations. Ashley’s newest venture is the Miss Teen Wyoming Pageant. She was picked as a contestant and is now working on getting everything together for the pageant in September. She is still in need of sponsorships if anyone is interested. I didn’t realize what a process the whole pageant thing is. There are a lot of neat prizes for the person who wins including scholarships to college. This pageant is at the state level of the Miss America Pageants run by the Donald Trump organization. This should be a fun experience for her. I hope she does well!
Talladega has been injury and illness free since our return from California. Yea!
Mike’s dad checked out of the nursing home last Friday. It was against his doctor’s advice but he was afraid he would lose his house if he had to start paying for the nursing home. I feel for the man. Mike says he sounds happier now that he is home. Mike is working the early shift this week and next. It is good to be able to count on him in the evenings again. Oh yea…he turned 41 last week also. We didn’t get to celebrate because of his work schedule. We went out Friday with mom and dad and then Mike and I went to see "Step Brothers" on Sunday. Pretty low key.
ttfn~steph
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