We have a new roof. The color is Burnt Sienna (dark brown), which is more interesting than gray or black. We ordered the best, thickest, most layered versions of everything. It cost $6,425. We also have a newly rebuilt chimney box. It had become water damaged because of improper flashing. It cost $1,625. I figure it was like having a small, 3-story shed built.

We felt like we got a good price, and we got very good service from the general contractor, Mike Rolling. We saw Mike at least 5 times before the job started, throughout the job, and at the end. He came highly recommended to us, and we highly recommend him for any general contract work. You can contact Mike at 770-935-0027. His company is Property Restoration Services, Inc.

Kathy made the Hispanic crew brownies for all of their hard work. Mike said that was better than a cash bonus.

Oh… we also have new turtle back vents, a ridge vent, and lead boot pipes. Mike said the boots will last a hundred years. Good boots.

We celebrated Kelly turning 11, Nicole coming in from Athens, and D.C. Sr. standing in for D.C. 3, who was attending drivers ed class. Kathy baked Kelly her favorite Strawberry Pecan Cake (featured on the Fiveforks.com Foodstack). I think this is Uncle Ted’s favorite cake, too. Aunt Carol posted a happy birthday note to Kelly on her blog. Something of a first. Kelly got a funky, purple digital watch with a timer, the most important feature she wanted. Nicole gave her the most entertaining gift of the evening, an automated braiding machine. All the girls had braids in their hair by the end of the night.

Grandaddy told a story about the Jehovah Witness classmate in Boy’s Catholic High who all the Catholic boys thought was a spy. He seemed to always be making notes which they were all convinced were being shared with some Jehovah High Council. A group of these good Catholic boys decided to go into the spy’s desk and review his notes where they found all kinds of heretical writings. After some debate, they decided to tear up all the notes and throw them away. This upset the Jehovah Spy greatly, and all the boys were called on the carpet where they were told by the principal (a brother) that they should respect others’ property (wink wink) and that they should not have destroyed (nod nod) the spy’s notes. The young boy did not return to Boys Catholic High the next year.

Poor Clyde had to go into surgery on Kelly’s birthday and get a cyst removed from the top of his head. He looked something like Franken-Clyde with the purple-stiched gash, shaved head, and a “drip tube” sticking out the front like a deformed unicorn. If you are squeemish, don’t click here.

Mary Claire found these beetles after a late night swim meet on the tennis courts. Carol figured out what family of beetles they belong to. Ted found out what kind of beetles they are in this article: Grant’s Rhinoceros Beetle. The Eastern Rhino is a slightly smaller cousin to the Arizona Grant’s Rhino. Looks like the big bug we found earlier in the year was a female Rhino.

The mystery of the big-horned bugs is closed.

1. Coach Doug Jones, Weight Lifting, Pitchers Special Program

2. Coach David Nelson, AP Physics, Egg Drop, Famous Scientist

3. Dr. Varieta Benjamin, Honors Junior Langage Arts, The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter

4. Mr. Keith Toda, Latin III / IV, Aeneid

5. Mrs. Teresa Taylor, Precalculus

6. Dr. Beverly Roberts, Gifted U.S. History. Colonization through Civil War/Reconstruction.

Dear Dr. Yeomans,

On July 26 I brought my dog, Clyde, in for boarding. I was surprised when your office had no record of our reservation, which I made prior to the 26th. During Clyde’s drop off, after the receptionist said she could fit him in, she asked the assistant if there was room for my dog. I was uneasy about leaving him at that point, but had no choice as we were leaving at that hour for our vacation.

With the assistant standing at her side, the receptionist recorded all the items we brought for Clyde: his bed, his leash and collar, his food already in individual serving bags, and a box containing some comfort toys and bones to be given daily. I asked if it would be a problem to give the dog his toys and a bone each day. The receptionist told me that it would not be a problem. Clyde is not yet a year old and had never before stayed in a kennel. I wanted to make sure he had his puppy things (toys & daily chew bones) to make his stay easier on him as well as to make me feel better about leaving him.

My daughter picked the dog up before we returned from vacation. He was sent home only with his bed and the blue leash from your office. Upon returning from vacation, I came to your office to pick up all of Clyde’s other things. The assistant at the front desk opened up his box, which had the wrong name on it, and there were his toys and the unopened package of bones I brought for him. He was not cared for in the manner I had hoped and I question whether he ever got the food I brought for him.

What I experienced this past week is not typical of my other experiences with your practice over the years. I would like to continue using your facility as you have handled Clyde’s past healthcare and you are convenient to my home. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Cashel

As terrible as MIDI can be, at least you can hear the tune and read the lyrics!

Fifties Website – Irish Tunes

Continue reading →

Malaprop on swimming:

MCC: We were working on IBMs at swim practice.

KC: IBMs?

MCC: You know, where you swim butterfly, back, breast and free?

KC: You mean IMs! Individual Medleys!

MCC: I thought they were IBMs!

On MCC’s blonde hair getting darker each year:

DC: We’re not going to be able to call you a thumb head anymore.

JC: A what?

DC: What is that when you have really blonde hair?

JC: Oh… a tow-head!

[From an e-mail to Nicole from Kathy who has laryngitis.]

Nicole-

Feeding Clyde

He eats twice a day, just like Charlie. His food cup is kept in his food

bin. You’ll see a black magic marker line inside the cup. Give him 2 cups

of food (filled to just UNDER the aforementioned line) at each meal.

Our one big problem with him that we are working on is he guards his food

when he eats. Just pet him once when you tell him he can have it (he will

not be wagging his tail) and then let him be until he is done. Just don’t

touch him while he eats. He will be a good boy while waiting for his food

and will be very thankful to you when he’s finished.

He can eat after you have eaten.

Outside Time

Clyde will wake you up sometime between 7:00 and 8:00 wanting to go

outside. He’ll lead you to the front door, but let him out the back door.

Make sure his radio collar is on and you can leave him outside for an hour

or so as long as he doesn’t bark. (He usually doesn’t bark even when that

idiot beagle is going crazy out back.)

You may want to sleep in our room since his bed is in there and that is

normal for him. When you shut off all the lights, etc., he will follow you

up. Just be sure to let him out before going to bed. You may have to coax

him in with a cookie because he likes to hang out outside when it is cool.

Let him go outside at least 2 other times during the day. If he stands by

the door make sure to let him out.

Clyde Miscellany

He has a new brown bear that he is very proud of. That is the only stuffed

animal he has and the only one he should be playing with.

Do not play tug of war with him or any other games that could get out of

hand. Clyde’s sweet and cute and fun and big and he gets out of control

fast!

If you leave him for any length of time there are 2 things you can do

before leaving. One is to make a peanut butter bone for him. He has one

bone that is about the length of your hand. You can get a knife-full of

peanut butter and coat a thin layer on the inside of the bone. He loves

this treat and I give it to him when I have to leave for awhile. Just don’t

double dip the peanut butter knife into the family peanut butter. He has

his own jar of the stuff. I’ll try to remember to put his name on it.

The other thing you can do is put him on the deck with the gate locked and

the screen door propped open. Make sure that gate is shut and locked

closed! If you’ll be gone no more than 2 hours, you can leave a family room

window open, too, and he’ll probably just come inside and rest.

If I can get to the store, I will buy some new bones for him and you could

give him one of those.

Other pets

Feed the fish 15 grains of food on Saturday and Monday.

Refresh the bird’s food on Saturday and Monday.

Household Miscellany

Please bring the trash out to the curb before 9:00 Monday morning.

The mail and paper will continue service. I’ll have someone leave

Thursday’s and Friday’s in a bin on the porch, so you can bring that in.

I’m not sure what to do about food for you. I don’t want stuff to go bad,

but you are welcome to anything in the fridge or pantry. I bought a bunch

of frozen meals if you want that. I’ll leave some money on the counter for

food, too.

The pool key is hanging on the key holder. It is the one with the yellow

floatie key ring.

Keep my cell and dad’s cell numbers with you 678-640-1111 (me) and

770-639-2222 (dad). You should still be able to reach us. We also have the

important phone numbers underneath the kitchen phone.

Dad will send detailed directions to Ted’s. Do you have Ted’s phone number?

I still can’t really talk, but please e-mail me so I know you’ve received

this. Are there any phone numbers we can have should we need to reach you,

like Gwynne’s?

xoxoxo- Mom

A lot of illness this Memorial Day weekend. Grandad had seed implants and is having to deal with the highly annoying aftermath. Jami had her gall bladder removed and had some adverse reaction to the anethesia that kept her in the hospital over night. Grant has the flu. Mary Claire developed a urinary tract infection.

And last, and I guess least, Clyde bit Mr. Monkey’s eye off, so we had to glue it back on. A rubberband and penny holds his eye in place as the glue drys.