Well...

Wow. It's been a busy week. I don't think I remember having so much crammed in one week. Having Monday off was nice. In fact, a fellow blogger gave us the idea to go ice blocking (actual ice) at the park. Jane was pretty skeptical at first and was really disappointed that we weren't going to spend the whole time on the slides, etc. I was pretty skeptical myself having only done this when I was in high school and remembering that it never worked all that well the first time you went down. To my surprise (and Jane and Lucy) I cruised down the hill the first time and confirmed my status as the "coolest dad ever". Jane was hooked. Lucy was more interested in watching than actually sliding down.

I also did something that I have been wanting to for a long, long time. I went on a ride a long with our favorite cop. That was one of the coolest things I've done in awhile. Here's a summary of our night:

• Tended to a couple accidents


• Responded to a house alarm (false alarm)


• Went to some psycho old lady's house and told her there was nothing we could do (actually we left before she finished her life story)


• Pulled over some pimped out SUV driver for watching TV


• Took a guy convicted of DUI off the road for driving with a suspended license and took him to jail (btw we had his car towed and someone locked the keys in the car... with it running. They towed it anyways.)


• Backed up another officer busting 2 illegal immigrants for drugs and driving on suspended license. (Oh, and on that one as the officers were holding the 2 guys, I pulled out my trusty surefire (flashlight), went down the street and found the baggy of cocaine that they tossed out of their car before the other officer could pull them over)

Not the most exciting night but pretty eventful if you ask me. More eventful than I was expecting. I am beginning to believe that it is the coolest job ever. Thanks favorite cop.

Are you afraid of the dark?

Over the last few nights Lucy has been extremely scared of going to bed. She continues to want to prolong the nightly routine. Not to just stay up but because she has been just scared when she goes to bed. We know this is just a phase and we need to comfort as much as we can without perpetuating that there is a need to be afraid. Tonight, as we got closer to bedtime, Lucy was again getting more and more anxious about going to bed. In the midst of Lucy's apprehension, Hailee asked her what she was so afraid of. Without skipping a beat she walks over to the light switch, flicks the light off and says, "That!"

Perseverance

You can get through any obstacle if you apply yourself.

мир тесен

Pronounced meer tyessin. In russian, that's how you say "It's a small world". Directly translated it means "the world is crowded".


I went to the mall today on my lunch break to pick up a suit (BTW - the first suit I have bought since my mission). I fully expected to run in and run out. I went in and Hailee was there with here sister getting a Cinnabon (mmm... those are good). Then my aunt was just across the food court at Johnny Rockets and I stopped to talk to her. My quick trip to the mall was turning to a family reunion. On my way down the mall I yet again ran into someone I knew (a fellow blogger) and the first thing she says to me is "I'm glad to see that you are blogging!" Not a "Hello", not a "How's it going?", "I'm glad to see you are blogging". We chatted for awhile and then after our good-byes, the last thing she says to me is, "Keep blogging!"

мир тесен.

Not only did I run into all these people at the mall but I think thanks to Ryan and Michelle, blogging has made the world that much smaller. And they're working on it being more crowded. Literally!

Hijacked

I have officially hijacked the blog and have taken over. Haven't had time to do all that I want but here's some. A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Here's three-thousand.

Went to S.D.

Went camping and Lucy sat on a cactus and we played washers.

More to come...

Taking Over

After constant ridiculing and being "banished", I have been convinced take over this blog.

Who Is Nate?

4 JOBS I HAVE HAD:

1- The BK. I think everyone that sees this blog will remember this. Especially the "Whopper no tomato guy" that comes through and expects to pay only for his whopper and get a large drink, fries, and anything the guy working at the drive thru (me) will give him.
2- Cleaning Parking lots- A backpack blower strapped to my back and getting dirty in orifaces that I didn't even know that I had. Start at 10:00 pm and get off work at noon. Ugh.
3- Uhaul - Nothing but sheer hatred for that job. I won't even rent a truck from them if it's free.
4- Finance Analyst for a school district (lovin' it, for now.)

MOVIES I COULD WATCH OVER AND OVER:

1- It seems kind of redundant in itself but.... Groundhog day.
2- Back to the Future (any of them but the 1st one always the best)
3- Shawshank Redemption I think the only reason I could watch this one over and over is that it is on cable over and over.
4- Any Indiana Jones. Did you hear Harrison Ford is making a 4th one?
5- Fletch "Are ya' using the whole fist doc?"

FAVORITE T.V. SHOWS:

1- Lost. If you haven't seen it. I let you borrow the DVD's. It's that good.
2- Seinfeld. I too never saw a single episode of a new one. I probably have every episode memorized.
3- Sportscenter
4- Suns Games.

FAVORITE HOBBIES:
1- Suns Basketball. Sorry for the repeat but it has to be done. This will soon consume my life again starting the end of October. Anybody want tickets?
2- Camping in our popup.
3- Hanging out in the pool with the kids
4- Getting that call "you wanna play?"

PLACES I HAVE LIVED:
1- West of Phoenix
2- Russia
3- Phoenix
4- Northwest of Phoenix

PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW:

1- San Diego
2- San Diego
3- Camping on the beach in San Diego
4- Home (I am actually at home I just like being here)

WEB SITES I CHECK DAILY:
1- Ryan's Blog
2- ESPN
3- Suns.com
4- Azcentral.com

Can I now be "unbanished"?

House Hobby

I sometimes wish that I had a different hobby. Most people pick a hobby and they get to go ahead and pursue it because the cost is often reasonable. Photography, scrapbooking, firearms, woodworking... Then there's my inexplicable interest in homes - mid-century modern homes no less - the single most expensive purchase most people ever make. It's not like I can just collect homes. All I can do is read about them, draw them and plan for the perfect mid-century ranch house that I may or may not have some time in the future.

Here is a house that I drew using a consumer grade home design program. For now, I call it Courtyard House because it was designed with the kitchen and eating area as the central focus of the house with a huge glass wall overlooking a private front courtyard. Click any image for a larger view.


The front elevation. Imagine it with a gate next to the screen wall to fully enclose the courtyard.

The software I was using doesn't have a 6 foot screen wall and gate to enclose the front yard. I added a screen wall with Photoshop in the image above. Also, the landscape options are limited, so just imagine a serene patio area with a fountain.


The entry with sliding closet doors on the left and the garage and powder room doors on the right.

The kitchen is designed to feel like a stage with a u-shaped central area and a wall of pantry cabinets on the back wall with the appliances.


The kitchen overlooks a large dining room with an open view to the outdoors. Plenty of room for artwork and a sideboard on either side.


The Living Room has a lower ceiling height to delineate from the kitchen and make it feel more cozy.


Click the Floorplan for a larger view.