Brian is one of the A-16 group in Armenia with Nicole. He is in a different village, but they all go to school together during the week. I posted a comment on his blog, and he sent me an e-mail saying, “I know Nicole… she’s sitting 10 feet away from me right now.” They were in an internet cafe together.
Photos in this post.
Danny is working hard for Grant this summer, and last week’s 95+ temperatures made it tougher. Over the weekend he went camping at the lake with two of his buddies for some well deserved R&R.
The Civic was covered with dust and bird poop from the work site. It also had plenty of mud on the floor from his boots. I asked him how could he track so much mud in the car when it has been so hot and dry. He explained that they are constantly washing things off and down around the site, so there is plenty of mud.
I decided to wash the car and vacuum it out Saturday night while the temperature was in the 80’s instead of 90’s. Found this crumpled receipt on the floor. “Hey Andrew… pass me a Beer Brat and a Banana.”
See also: the Economic Stimulus message at the bottom of the receipt.
Bill The Younger snapped this photo over the Hickory Knob course at the B.S.R.C. Edward and Dan smiling down on us.
I was sitting on the screen porch. Warm, sunny Friday afternoon. Doing a mac5 disaster recovery test. All of the sudden bird noise escalated in the River Birch just next to the porch. I got up to see what was going on. I counted no less than 6 bluebirds, 1 bluejay, 2 cardinals, 1 red headed woodpecker, a multitude of little finches, and a squirrel all swarming around in the same space. They all seemed to be yelling at one another. I couldn’t tell who was yelling at whom or why. The bluebirds were investigating an old birdhouse, but it is Fall, so I don’t know why. This all lasted for about 10 minutes.
Things are quieter now.
Claire finished first year middle school with straight A’s. All total she earned an iPod mini and 40 iTunes songs. And I do mean earned. (Hard work.) She finished soccer and then joined a summer swim team. Danny has been giving her stroke lessons.
Danny finished his sophomore year at Spring Hill getting in some good innings on the baseball team (Badgers.) He came home for the summer, went to life guard school, and is now managing a pool not too far away. He is learning how hard it is to depend on teenage staff. (Of course he’ll be a teenager himself for a few more weeks… then boom! He’s 20!) He and his girlfriend Amanda have traded a couple of visits, with a relatively short drive between Chattanooga and Snellville. We have enjoyed her visits.
Nicole is constantly finding ways to save money, and has added a third housemate to help share rent in Athens. She continues to sell “retro” items through her booth in a local flea market, including some purses Kathy made. She loves finding things that cost $1 and selling them for $10. Her Honda got a bad dent from a friend who backed into her. They are still friends. Her band has been able to perform in a few shows, and they are getting ready to do a 16-track recording session, which is moving up (from 8 track?)
Kelly finished her freshman year earning a second letter, this time in Track & Field. She remains active in LIfe Teen at church, and turned in a pretty solid academic year. She is already training for cross country, so while Claire gets up early for swim practice, Kelly gets up early to run 4 or 5 miles.
Kathy put in several weeks of class time and hard study to pass (with high marks) her state license exam for real estate. She can now sell our house and pay herself commission. (We’re not moving.) If you know anyone who wants to leave or move into the Lilburn / Snellville / Lawrenceville area, there is an expert in the family.
My company was officially acquired. The new company is Harland Clarke, and is nearly twice the size. While it has been strange to watch most of leadership change over, there are plenty of good people from both companies working hard together. You can see an example of my work (see lead article) at www.harlandclarke.com/dv.
I also got to play in the B.S.R.C. golf tournament this year which was a lot of fun. I’m hoping Grant will join the Knights of Columbus soon so that he, too, can get invited. Like the Knights, most of what happens at B.S.R.C. is secret, so I can’t write much more.
Father’s day was fun. Kathy and the girls headed up to the mountains to visit her dad, and go dancing of all things. Meanwhile three of us Cashin dads and a variety of family joined for grilling out in Snellville which included a swim and cigars. See Julie’s photos on the Tucker blog at mac.fiveforks.com.
The dogs were quite excited that we came home from Anna Maria Island. We had quite a long trip back and arrived at our destination at about seven. We began to unpack immediately. It was quite difficult with the dogs jumping on us and running circles around us. It was raining. Dad decided to lay our coconut outside by some bushes. Clyde went over to it, sniffed it, and picked it up crying. He decided that we had brought this lovely specimen of coconut back for him. For what seemed like hours he pranced around the house showing off this coconut to anybody in sight. If you were not looking, he would come and stand right in front of you, if that did not work he would bang the coconut against your hand. Then, when his jaw got tired, he began to gnaw on the coconut like a bone, we were forced to put the coconut outside so Clyde did not make a mess.
I’m sitting far away in a hotel in Phoenix, Arizona, wishing I was not missing Mary Claire’s 11th birthday. They have very strange and colorful things out here. I wonder if Claire would like any of them for a birthday present?
At least I’ll be home for the big party this weekend in our new yellow house.
This is what you see when you turn on Danny’s new cell phone. It cost me 25 cents to have him e-mail it to me. A worthwhile grin.
Play: Table 17.
Your message from an outside caller.
Sent Saturday November 20th at 8:04 PM.
Hello Mr. Cashin, this is Hanz from the Milwaukee Hilton Center City Hotel, and we have had several complaints about Table 17 at the event going on tonight. We would very much like like it if you would please arrest your behavior at that particular table, and please control yourself. We’ve had several complaints. And we’d like to not to have to take enforcement activity against your table, but we will not hesitate to do so if you do not curb and contain yourself hence forth.
Again, this is your last warning.
Our phone base can be used to record messages. I had this one waiting for me when I came home.
Mailbox 2. You have 1 old message.
Dad, you owe me $5.75
for 23 poops I got on poop patrol.
Remember that when you get home.
Thank you.
Wednesday 6:50
