Mom Visits & Calliope Arrives...

Well, it has been some time since I have gotten to the update part of this thing. It seems like there isn't enough time in a day. Whew. So, Lets recap the events of the recent past shall we? As some of you already know, there was this time back in April that mom came down to visit. Well, as you also may know, Mom dosn't do pictures, so I had to neak one in of Dr. Lynn checking her email on the back porch. Yeah, I have a wireless network in my home and Mom thought that was way cool to be able to sit outside and check her emails. This is also the porch that has the grill that she bought us as a house warming gift. It is way cool and we use it alot more than I ever thought. I love grilling as there just isn't anything that compares to the taste.



Well, after she left, with a present for the Bro out there in the world, things went back to normal. I am sure you heard a bit about the game scaring the crap out of dear Keith. Gotta love it. F.E.A.R. was the game and it creeped him out so bad at one point he had to leave the house. Totally awsome game and I love the fact my fearless bro was wierded out by it. Anyhow, thing got normal for awhile, summer came, Isaiah will be repeating 6th as he failed with a .98gpa. I didn't even know that was possible. Needless to say, we are starting up a point system with him to see if it help this year.

Clyde is getting bigger and more cute by the day, work is work, summer is at an all time hot and humid state, and bills are up. They are coming sometime today to replace the air handler unit for the AC as it is on the last of many legs. I am never more greatful for home warrenty than now. Talk about a money saver with the new AC unit, wow.



Then came the big day, Calliope and Scott (Dawn's ex) were coming to visit. They came and over the next 4 days, Scott got to meet me and see the house, I met him and Calliope, and all in all it went much better than I had hoped for. Scott was, as Dawn put it, on his best behavior and he and I even had a few time alone where we talked about the kids and games and such. Will we ever be friends? Doubtful, but at least we enough respect & trust for each other that we could spend time at events and such without it turning ugly. I have a good feeling about the future with all of us and the kids. Very promising.



They all went to Disney and had a great time, did the dinner thing a couple of time (me included) they went swimming at Scott's hotel, which was like the invasion of cuba from what I hear tell, and then Scott flew home. Calliope has turned out to be an absolute angel, she went to her Florida preschool for the first time on Thur and that too went very well. there wasn't any crying or anything. She wanted to try on the belly dancer outfit mom sent from Egypt and go through all the other things sent and given to her for christmas and such that she had waiting here for her. Very fun all around. All in all, everything is looking up. I couldn't be happier with my life right now ... okay, maybe if I was independantly wealthy and didn't have to work, but other than that... ;) Today I have the kids with me for the first time while Dawn is at work and its been fun. Can't wait to see what the future brings. Take care family and we will write more as things get updated.

Time flies...

Wow, has it really been that long? Rhetorical question, but still. Anywhosywhatsis. So, I am sitting around one day and this lady calls on the phone and tells me she is coming for a visit. Tells me she is coming from so far off land and that she will only be here for a whole day and a few hours. So what do I do? I tell my little wifey to be that she has to go to the airport and hold up a big sign so my mom will know how to find her and then drive her home. It was a pretty sign that said "Dr. Lynn Mortensen" in bold colorful letters. And the amazing part? She did it perfectly and with only the teeniest of complaint. I love her. ~Smooches~ Here's to you Dawn.

So, mom comes in and we have a day together. She is totally freaked out because they (being the airline) lost Keith's bag that mom was to bring home for him. It would have been priceless relics lost, but in the end... I told her not to worry as it would all work out and it did. So, let us look at Dr. Lynn on my wireless laptop doing work while here shall we?


Imagine if you will, its 2:30 in the am. You have to be up at 6:30 am, you have been asleep in a peaceful, warm, cozy, bed when suddenly, the silence of night is shattered like a pane of glass with... "WOOF! WOOF! BARK! BARK!" and this continues on for almost 40 minutes. No imagine, in a half dazed stupor having to go and take the (now huge) dog outside so he can do his business and then back inside to try and get back to sleep. Then imagine this happens at 4, 5, and 6 am as well. I was losing my mind. So... what do you do? What do you do?

You get another dog to keep them both happy. Boy are we nuts. But isn't he so cute. Clyde is the newest addition to the family. And it actually worked, they both sleep through the night now. Its amazing. And look how much bigger PH is now. Cool huh? Big, clumsy, oaf.

So, what happened in the mean time? Well, we had another visit to St. Augustine and did the tour the fort, the fountain of youth, and the original Ripley's Believe it or Not. Cheap touristy things. Its about all we can afford right now, but its gonna ease up soon. I have more pictures below. Oh, and we visited a really cool old lighthouse and went all the way to the top, it was exciting and scenic too. Other than that, not a whole heck of a lot going on. Work, family, work, dogs, work, and oh, did I mention work. Dawn knows all about that. Overtime gaory for the salaried lady. It sucks, but will be easing soon enough as well. Anyone know a good shrink? Anywho, keep in touch all and enjoy.


Fountain - Feeding the birdies

Isaiah in the barracks - All in the family

Ooo, powder - Up to the guns boys

Sure, Sarge gets good boarding - JAILTIME!

Fire Mr. Isaiah - Watchtower

Wow thats tall - 219 stairs to to the top

Dawn and me and pony makes three - Not again. Down too?

Bad to worse...

So, in the infinate reaches of the cosmos, someone thought it terribly funning to see how much could possibly be piled into the heap of things already on the verge of tipping over that is our lives. (Dawn and myself)

So, come to find out that Progress Energy, our old electric company had us all signed up and ready in Nov. when we moved in. This was, until they realized they were sending a bill to Wax Myrtle ***DR*** and were billing us for Wax Myrtle ***LANE*** So, they refund our money and we sign up with FP&L only to be told that our bill is $700 more than we expected because we were using a lot more power here than before. If we had known the first month, we could have had it looked at like we did on Tue and found ways to cut back and get things fixed up to work better on the electric, but no, that would be too easy. So... $700. WHAM!

Then, we find out that in order to get Calliope out here, it will cost near $1000 because fuel prices are so high, she is underage and her father, who will be flying round trip, has to come out with her to drop her off, see where she is staying and then fly home. WHAM!

Then, last night, the cat (Joey) gets in a fight, we didn't think anything of it as he has done this before. Tonight, however, we come home and he has bled all over the carpet in Isaiah's room, licked all the fur off the place he was injured and lo and behold there are two pencil point sized holes in his flesh. Looks like a dog won this round, but now it is all red (No longer swollen, which is good) and blood is slowly oozing from the wounds. Another $200-$300 dollars for the vet tomorrow. WHAM!!!!

So, to sum up the events, we borrowed the $700 and are going to pay it back as soon as possible. Calliope won't be able to come out for several more months now as we don't have $1000, (Its already been 14 months since Dawn has seen her) the little we had saved up for the repayment of the $700 is now gone on vet bills tomorrow and then some, and somewhere in the multiverse the karma cops are laughing thier collective asses off. Needless to say, we are not amused and wish they would knock it the hell off.

Thats my rant for the night, the next one will be more pleasant I am sure, and the bright side is that usually when things all fall apart in a row like this, its a long time in coming before more piles of trash get thrown on you. At least that is a plus. Spirits bless all and hope your day is brighter than this one has been.

Avast ye land lubbers...

Arrr me hearties. Here be da crew o da Insane Tempest. We be da finest crew ta sail da seas o da Spanish Maine. Here ya be seeing Capt'n Ripper. An no, he not be gettin' da name fer guttin' folks, he be getting for leavin' the stench. He be accompanied by the fair maiden Pony Dawn. She be the most feared o all da MLP (My Little Pony) hunters on da open sea. Finally, der be da cabin boy Master Whinesalot. It be said that he once brought down a mighty kraken with da most powerful death whine in recorded history.

This was our trip to St. Augustine to get some of the things in the Pirate Bathroom. It is a very cool place. And old Fort, windmill, and the oldest school house in America. I have more pictures, but unfortunately, almost everything is closed on Mondays and guess what... we went on Monday. Oh well, enjoy the pictures and I will have another update soon enough.

Pirates... Yar!

Well, it is time for another household update. There was this ugly mirror, one that made it throuh the fith century I think and came complete with black streaking and chips. Seen here...

Pretty gross all around on this bathroom if you ask me. See also the picture after taking the mirror off the wall up there. Nightmare city. Anyways, I took two whole days of my week vacation to strip the bathroom down and completely overhaul it. Isaiah (a.k.a. the boy) wanted a pirate bathroom and after much brokeness (money), swearing, sweat, and headache later, he got his wish. And this is the final outcome.

It really did turn out a whole lot better than I thought, considering this was my first wall paper job and I am still crossing my fingers in hopes that it doesn't all peel off like some old Three Stooges clip. All in all, I am very proud of me. (Pats self on back) And being that it is still the 17th, Happy Patty's day to ya'all. Care care all you out there in family land and remember I love you all. Outta here til next time...