Wednesday, August 29, 2007
FLOOD!!!!!
Well, most of you know we had quite an adventure with the record rain. Hard to believe it was only about a week ago. It was Saturday night and we had about 10 inches of rain in a very short time. I went downstairs and noticed that my feet were getting wet as I walked around. Hmmm.... not quite right! We had about two inches or so in the lower level. We moved everything upstairs that night. Michele and a good friend Sarah (thank you Sarah!!!) moved stuff while I ripped up carpet and matting and shopvacced the water out. It was still pouring in though, so the water kept rising. I had the ladies put on life-jackets just in case. I got the kids up and had them man the pumps. We finally went to bed around 6:30am. the downstairs was empty except for two large pieces of furniture, which I put up on blocks of wood. Quite a mess.
Anytime I became pissy, I would just turn on the news and see people who lost EVERYTHING and had to be evacuated by boat. God Bless them all.
Anyway, the next day I ripped out all the wet drywall and insulation. Cleaned and trashed quite a bit of stuff. I replaced the insulation this past weekend and will start on the drywall this weekend. Ahh, the joys of living in a houseboat. Here is one picture:
Traveling
Here are a few pictures of our recent jaunts, before the flood....
The kids pretending to be a all well-behaved. I let them stay like that for a half-hour, telling them they could hear each other's thoughts if they stayed that way. Michele and I took a nap.
Sitting on the hearth at Joan's cabin. We had a great time!!!!
Checking out the Choo-Choo Train at Two-Harbors, MN. Nicholas REALLY wanted a ride!!!
Hanging out with Grandpa at the top of Mill City in Minneapolis.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Buy American!!!
Buy American:
Toys Made in the USA Friday, August 03, 2007
In light of the recall of nearly 1 million Chinese-produced toys tainted with lead paint, below is a list of toys made in the USA:
• Battleship
• Bicycle Playing Cards
• Boggle Jr.
• Candyland
• Chutes and Ladders
• Clue
• Connect Four
• Crayola Crayons
• Life
• Louisville Slugger
• Monopoly
• Mouse Trap
• Operation
• Parcheesi
• Play-Doh
• Pop-O-Matic Trouble
• Radio Flyer Discovery Wagon
• Scrabble
• Sorry
• Stratego
• Tri-ominos
• Trivial Pursuit
• Yahtzee
• Melissa and Doug U.S.A. Floor Puzzle (Most puzzles are made in the USA!)
* Note: Not all packages of Crayola Crayons and Play-Doh are made in the USA -- please check the label.
Also, anything you buy from the American Plastic Toy Company is made in America.
You can also find American-made toys on these Web sites:
• www.ShopForAmerica.com
• www.ZebulonUSA.com
• www.usmadetoys.com
• www.unclegoosetoys.com
• www.holgatetoy.com
• www.maplelandmark.com
Finally, for more information on how to buy American,
visit: www.howtobuyamerican.com
Toys Made in the USA Friday, August 03, 2007
In light of the recall of nearly 1 million Chinese-produced toys tainted with lead paint, below is a list of toys made in the USA:
• Battleship
• Bicycle Playing Cards
• Boggle Jr.
• Candyland
• Chutes and Ladders
• Clue
• Connect Four
• Crayola Crayons
• Life
• Louisville Slugger
• Monopoly
• Mouse Trap
• Operation
• Parcheesi
• Play-Doh
• Pop-O-Matic Trouble
• Radio Flyer Discovery Wagon
• Scrabble
• Sorry
• Stratego
• Tri-ominos
• Trivial Pursuit
• Yahtzee
• Melissa and Doug U.S.A. Floor Puzzle (Most puzzles are made in the USA!)
* Note: Not all packages of Crayola Crayons and Play-Doh are made in the USA -- please check the label.
Also, anything you buy from the American Plastic Toy Company is made in America.
You can also find American-made toys on these Web sites:
• www.ShopForAmerica.com
• www.ZebulonUSA.com
• www.usmadetoys.com
• www.unclegoosetoys.com
• www.holgatetoy.com
• www.maplelandmark.com
Finally, for more information on how to buy American,
visit: www.howtobuyamerican.com
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
It's About Time!!!
"Pull ’em up or pay up’ is new law in Mansfield"
MANSFIELD —
“Pull ‘em up or pay up.” That’s Police Chief Don English’s interpretation of a new law that takes effect in Mansfield on Sept. 15. Anyone caught wearing sagging pants who exposes his or her underwear will be subject to a fine of up to $150 plus court costs, or face up to 15 days in jail. Mansfield aldermen voted unanimously at today’s 4:30 p.m. meeting to enact the new law. The law makes it illegal to found in a “state of nudity, or partial nudity, or in any indecent exposure of his or her person or undergarments, or be guilty of any indecent or lewd behavior.”
City attorney Richard Z. Johnson Jr. said he used a similar law in Delcambre as a guideline in creating Mansfield’s ordinance. Several municipalities and parish governments in Louisiana have enacted similar laws in recent months.
How long before the ACLU tried to pull this one down, so to speak???
MANSFIELD —
“Pull ‘em up or pay up.” That’s Police Chief Don English’s interpretation of a new law that takes effect in Mansfield on Sept. 15. Anyone caught wearing sagging pants who exposes his or her underwear will be subject to a fine of up to $150 plus court costs, or face up to 15 days in jail. Mansfield aldermen voted unanimously at today’s 4:30 p.m. meeting to enact the new law. The law makes it illegal to found in a “state of nudity, or partial nudity, or in any indecent exposure of his or her person or undergarments, or be guilty of any indecent or lewd behavior.”
City attorney Richard Z. Johnson Jr. said he used a similar law in Delcambre as a guideline in creating Mansfield’s ordinance. Several municipalities and parish governments in Louisiana have enacted similar laws in recent months.
How long before the ACLU tried to pull this one down, so to speak???
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Dinner At Grandpa's
Hanna specs out the pool area.
Everyone smile please!
Ernie just got his driver's permit.
MMMMHMMMMMM
Smiles.
My favorite picture of the night.
I think Hanna's tickle defense is down. ORANGE ALERT!
Only the finest in Cookie Monster attire.
This picture speaks for itself.
A good one of Maureen.
A Delaney in Schmidt territory.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Quote Du Jour...
Sometimes when I reflect on all the beer I drink, I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. I think, "It is better to drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver."
Babe Ruth
