End of April

Good afternoon!

Please accept my apologies over the infrequent updates over the past week and a half. Not much is going on, but I do have some pictures and info to add later this week. I've wrapped up my college courses this semester and we are on a downhill slope to summer at school.

Siobhan and Maureen were over today, along with Doug and Barb, and we had dinner and took some pictures of the baby. I've also been taking pictures of the baby bunnies and am awaiting a good shot of the duck chicks. I also think the squirrel in the attic has had some young 'ins as well, but they seem to all go out during the day and are only using our house as sleep headquarters.

Look for more as the week wears on, I'll try not to let so much time pass before the next post!

Have a great week!

-Mike

Celebrity Haiku

Brooke Shields has baby
Same day as Tom and Katie
Very ironic.

Scientology
Coincidence? Or is it
Just a miracle?

Katie’s silent birth
And Brooke’s second child – may bring
Postpartum despair.

Brooke gets medicine
Katie gets none – but Tom Cruise
Will get interviewed.

The Easter Bunny Came!

And he's still here!

While I was wrapping up the other weblog post, I heard a scurrying outside. I looked out to see that the Easter Bunny had shown up, albeit three days late. I took some pictures, thinking he would run away, but no, he's still there. I tried to get him to move to see if maybe he was hiding because he was hurt, but he didn't budge. I don't know what I would have done if he was hurt besides giving him some Captain Crunch and a little Diet Coke (we haven't been to the store yet). Maybe he's playing hide and seek with the squirrel in the attic, or better yet, the ducks may have hired him to guard the nest while they run over to the casino. I wonder if rabbit tastes anything like chicken? I could catch him pretty easily. Bernard, any thoughts?

Back in Buffalo...

Well, we're back!

We had a nice visit in Kannapolis and were able to catch up on the important things: Cheerwine, Barbeque, Grits, Deviled Eggs, and Sausage Balls.

Oh, and we got to see everybody too. We didn't plan a whole lot this time and just let things sort of work themselves out. We got to see a lot of people at both schools, but wish we had the time for extended visits. (Debbie, Anita, Bernard, Lipscombs, Wcisleks, etc...we owe you more time on the next visit!) We had a relaxing time, though, and that's what we wanted.

We had some nice surprises, running into the Browns at the Stag and Doe, Carol Corbin and Renae Collins at Wal-Mart, Benicia Morgan - a former student - who we saw at the Japanese restaurant, Cannon - my former college roommate - with his wife Yetta and their daughter Tori, and we also got to meet the guy who bought our house - who just happens to have a dog named 'Brody!'

We also saw what they've done to the mill. I wasn't nearly as shocked as I thought I'd be. I was more surprised at the view across Kannapolis without the mill in the way of the view. The major change, I thought, was in the horizon which offered a perspective I'd never seen before. It was cool.

We came back so that I could finish up my Master's Project edits and revisions as well as a final paper for my Monday night class, so I better get cracking! It was great to see everyone and hopefully we'll see you again soon. Some pictures below...

Grandma with Abby, our newest cousin! This is Melinda and Josh's new baby. (Melinda is David's daughter, David is my Dad's brother.) 

Ryan Graham giving bunny ears to Chris Daughtry - this year's favorite on American Idol. I'm singing "Walk The Line" as I write this. 

When we got to the Middle School on Thursday, a teacher/student basketball game was going on. It was a great opportunity to see a bunch of people in one spot! Although, it was a little disappointing that Chip wasn't wearing his blonde basketball wig. That's what really makes those games special! 

Another pic of the game... 

First, there was the movie "Breakin'." Then came "Breakin' 2: Electric Bugaloo." Now it looks like a third installment is in the works: "Breakin' 3: Clones of Adam." 

Chicks and Ducks and Geese better scurry...

Bernard's house or a live action "OKLAHOMA!" set, you decide. I said before that we had to go and visit because Bernard was telling Liz about the kittens. I took pictures of Liz holding all of the different animals while I hummed "Surry With The Fringe On Top" the whole time we were there. We played the quiet game with his kids and ended up losing $1.67. Jenna is the supreme Quiet Game master, unless Ian or Kayla passed gas or tried to stick their toes in Jenna's mouth. Kristin sat in the background, I'm sure wondering what in the world we were doing to her children, but Bernard totally participated. When it was time to go, Liz went to visit the remaining pigs at which time Bernard pointed out which pieces of the pig were going to different people at the Middle School. Liz's excitement waned, but she still went into the pig enclosure and petted the little pork chop. It was a proud moment for me. I took a picture, but fear of divorce prevents me from publishing it here. However, were I to ever be a famous photographer with a gallery show of my favorite photos, the title of that picture might be "Wife with Walking Bacon" or something to that tune.

Fan Club...

Liz and I are in Kannapolis this week visiting everybody and discovered that the Blog has quite a following. Janice Carty, Unofficial Blog Fan Club President, informed us that she looks at the Blog daily. Well, in the vein of Anheiser-Busch...Janice, "This Post's For You!"

We went to both Kannapolis Intermediate School and Kannapolis Middle School to see everybody and we also got to see a lot of the kids. They're so OLD now...we hardly recognized them. I asked if they were behaving themselves and making good grades and they said yes, though I think some of them weren't telling the whole truth! (Janice, maybe in your new role you can get the real truth out of them and shape them up before our next visit!)

Liz and I have decided to rename both schools. Something around "The Jenny Craig School of Excessive Walking" should do it. I'm sitting now with my shoes off from the miles of miles of walking we did at both schools. One of my toes is in critical condition and will have to be observed overnight. I'll let you know if we need the paddles.

We've also got to go up to Rowan County now because Bernard Waugh whispered magic words to Liz: KITTENS. They also evidently have a baby duck with a mohawk because they let their wild children pick wild pets. The last pets they got, the pigs, are now in the freezer in parts, and I'm fully expecting that come our summer visit, we'll be at the Waugh's enjoying Kitten Duck Pie. These people have a nasty habit of eating pets and other wildlife. I'm sure there's a haiku in there somewhere. (No offense Bernard...we're just not the "Raccoon Lasagna" type, no matter how much ketchup you have. Although, it just dawned on me that if you come to visit us, you can have ALL the meat trolling around our attic and backyard...FOR FREE!)

We took some pictures, which I'll add when we get back. I forgot to bring the cable that hooks the camera to the computer. You'd think with all the money we spend on technology that SOMEBODY would fix it so that cables are just attached. I can barely remember to bring clothes and a hairbrush when we travel, so peripherally valuable cords are absolutely out of my mind, and thus beyond my control.

When we get back to Buffalo, I'll also be loading pictures of the amorous Ducks that were making out in our front yard when we left. It's not enough that these animals live there, but now they're making a brothel out of our evergreens. The feathers were really flying, though, ABSOLUTELY NO PUN INTENDED! I'm thinking of opening up a branch of Mutual of Omaha...because we live IN the Wild Kingdom!

Take care...it was good seeing everyone. We'll have new stuff up again in a few days!

New Siobhan Pics...

Siobhan was over on Sunday and we took some more pictures with an Easter theme. We tried to get her to "hunt" for eggs, but all she wanted to do was run into the street. What is it about kids and an attraction for streets?

Our Gig At The Mall!

We played at the Boulevard Mall in Amherst tonight after the kids' Jazz Band. It was AWESOME and we had the best time! (The party afterward was pretty good too!)

Holiday Humor...

My friend Donna emailed this picture to me. I thought it was too funny not to share! (Thanks, Donna!)

IT'S SNOWING!

It's snowing and it's April 4th!
It's very inspirational...thus the following haiku:

SNOW: always welcome.
I am happy when it snows.
Winter FOREVER!

Happy April and Blue Man Group!

Happy April! We went to see the Blue Man Group in Toronto today with the 8th grade band. We had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe before hand at the Rogers Center and also went shopping at the Eaton Center. The Blue Man Group was outstanding...we had a blast!