Author Archives: jeb

Taking On The Coach

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Kathy, Kelly, and I went to watch Mary Claire play soccer yesterday afternoon. It was a beautiful, cool sunny day. Perfect for us spectators. The opposing Norcross team, however, thought the fields were closed because of the rains from Ivan. What rains? The sky could not have been bluer.

The three coaches split the team in half and held a scrimmage. The coaches took positions on the field and were able to play + coach at the same time. Claire’s team is so good, that this became one of the most intense games she has yet played.

At one point, Claire was driving towards the goal and had to go one-on-one with one of the more fit and competitive coaches. With some fancy footwork, Mary Claire was able to literally trip up the coach, and he landed on the ground as she got it around him. He ended up with a bloody nose, and Claire was able to take a shot on goal! (Blocked by another coach playing goalie. Rats.)

Later that night, the fallen coach called and invited Claire to “play up” on another travel team. We think her current team is already playing up.

Dress Like That

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I wore a suit and tie this morning because I would be attending Mr. Franklin’s funeral. Mary Claire was standing with Kathy as I was coming through the kitchen heading out the door. “Doesn’t dad look nice,” said Kathy.

Mary Claire looked me over and was impressed. “You should dress like that more often.”

“Why?” I asked.

“It looks like you want to work more.”

Don’t tell Tim Tuff.

Gas Mask

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Tonight I’m working on copy/pasting journal entries from our old Hypercard family diary into the Stonegate blog. I copied over Michael Fletcher’s Big Nose, which is about the first night of bombing in the Gulf War and has little Danny asking questions about gas masks. As I read the posting, in the background I had iTunes playing Stevie Wonder’s Songs from the Key of Life. I heard a teacher shout out the question “Who invented the gas mask?”, and the kids yelled in response “Garrett Morgan, A Black Man.” Strange coincidence.

See: Inventor Garrett Morgan

See: Lyrics to Black Man

Hear: The song Black Man

Now playing: Black Man from “Songs In The Key Of Life” by Stevie Wonder

Underground Cables

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When we had to have our water main replaced (2/2002), the yard got marked up with all kinds of colorful flags and paint lines. We also happen to have the radio fence marked at the time with white flags.

I took a series of pictures, figuring it would be good reference in the future. I’ve since referred to it so many times, I went ahead and created this quick reference gallery: mac.fiveforks.com/stonecables.

Kathy and I bought a Dwarf Slender Hinoki Cypress to plant next to the mailbox. Based on this photo, the Faulkner’s TV may be at risk when I start digging. Stay tuned. (Hope the Faulkner’s can!)

A Convertible and A Blonde

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Kathy drove Danny to St. John Neumann today to go on the Steubenville Retreat. They drove in the Wrangler with the top down and Clyde was in the back.

After dropping Danny off, a woman saw Kathy in the Jeep and said: “I see you are going through a midlife crisis. You have a convertible and a blonde!”

Turns out she was a Golden Retriever owner, too.

Two Signs of Aging

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Two signs of aging:

1. Your oldest daughter buys you beer for Father’s Day. (8 pack of Guinness Stout.)

2. The barber, without asking, trims your eyebrows for the first time.

There may be others, but I noticed these two recently.

Kathy’s Garden

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When we moved in, there was a plot of raised ground on the side of the house. It was clay, weeds, and old tomato cages. Kathy tried planting some vegetables, but the rabbits kept eating everything. She has now turned it into a flower garden. Our neighbors get a better view of it that we do, although you can see it from the street.

These side-by-side photos make me appreciate the difference between February and June:

February side of the house.June side of the house.

The flags in the first photo marked our utilities because we were having our water main replaced. The flags in the second photo are because we are training Stout to heed the radio fence. (He figured it out in 1 day.)

Now playing: June from “Music For The Morning After” by Pete Yorn