Christmas

This was a great Christmas because all my kids were able to be here. The grandkids all were excited to open their gifts.

The adults agreed for the most part to have any monies that would have been used to buy them gifts to be donated to charity. It made for less wrapping paper to throw away and a sense of pride.

I have been working on all of the slides that I had taken as the kids were growing up. When I got divorced, I for unexplainable reason, didn't take them with me so I had pay $800 to have them scanned because my ex didn't trust me to return them. Why would I want to keep them after I have the digital images? Just one of the things that she has done that made no sense.

Back to the original idea, I had been working on them for almost two years trying to put them in some sort of chronological order and doing some color correction and cropping. It turned into an all consuming job but I was able to finish it.

I bought some nice DVD cases to hold the four disk slideshow of all the pictures with an additional slideshow of each individual child. I also included all the orginal images so that if they would want to print some of them, they had the files.

What made the project was that I used a picture of all the kids wearing their baseball hats we got them somewhere on vacation to Tennessee with their names airbrushed on the face of them. Jared was too little to have had one so he was the only one that didn't have it. Their faces say all that needs to be said.

Of course, I commented on The Christmas Story as one of the greatest christmas movies of all time and how I would love to have one of the leg lamps. My kids went together and bought me one. Although it is not the standard size lamp, it is just right for the table that Leslie lets me put it on. She says it can only be out on Christmas day and put away the next day. So far, it is still out on the table and my kids said they want to get me the full sized one next year. Les wasn't excited about that.

These economic times

Well, we here in the midwest are probably not going through anything that the rest of the country is experiencing to a lesser or greater degree in that money is tight.

In my 35 years at Caterpillar, I have been laid off twice both for more than a year. There has been some indefinite layoffs but Cat is at or below their "skeleton" crew so to speak and have a provision in the contract to have what is called rolling layoffs.

This is a much better option that to lose your job. In the rolling layoffs, the contract says those covered by the UAW can be laid off up to 12 weeks over a period of a contract year. It ends up being about one week a month. Just enough to screw up your pay and requires you to make those timely phone calls to the unemployment office.

Of course, up until now, you could volunteer for a week layoff but that has since stopped since Cat is afraid that they will use up the 12 weeks that they have to mess you up.

It is nice to have the time off and be out of the shop in the hot months but if you don't have the extra spending cash, you can't afford to go anywhere or do anything.

So, if you have some extra cash or have some friends that own a construction company, please point them in the direction of Caterpillar so I can afford to buy my toys again!

Leslie's TransFORMation

I just thought I should post something here since it has been a long time since the last one. I thought maybe there would be something come along that would top the Eagles concert we were able to attend back in September but not yet. One more thing I can cross off my bucket list.

I feel that I should pat my wife on the back for her efforts and struggles in becoming more healthy and fit. Sometimes people are born with metabolisms that run fast and burn calories quickly. Unfortunately, I don't think Leslie or I are in that category. It takes more work to loose pounds and to feel better and I wanted to commend her for her efforts. She works hard at staying with the plan and only eating what is "prescribed".

I have told her that I am proud of her and that all good things are worth a little sacrifice. Her sacrifice is her sleep and eating habits. She is making changes so she will be around to enjoy our life for many years to come and I am glad for that. Now, if I can just get her on the back of the bike...pictures to follow if that happens.

She really enjoys hearing from family and friends who know about her efforts here and we both appreciate any encouragement given. I know I can do more and I will.

I just wish there was a diet to bring back hair. I truly miss having a head with a covering that I don't have to put on and take off when I come into the house.

2008 Eagle concert

On September 25th, 2008, I was able to cross another thing off my bucket list. For the longest time, I have wanted to see the Eagles in concert but never had the money or time to do it. It worked out that they came to the United Center in Chicago and my daughter, Jenny and boyfriend Jim were able to get us tickets two rows off the stage on the floor!!! How awesome is that???

The tickets say no cameras but I took my pocket camera in anyway. It's a good thing I did since at the beginning of the concert, Glenn Frey, who usually does most of the talking for the group, said that they didn't care if you took pictures, just not with the flash. They didn't want video because they were afraid of what someone might do with it. Good thing my little camera does both!!

2008 Caterpillar Power Parade

For those of you not in this area, Caterpillar once every five to seven years (or however often Cat wants to make points with their employees) has what is called a Power Parade. It is basically a show of most of the products that are made either in East Peoria, Aurora or Decatur. It is done at demonstration area that Cat has in Edwards, IL. They really do a good job in showcasing what we make.

This is James, Jody, JP and Jillian. Eric and Jaime and their family would have been with us but they got back very late the night before from vacation and Karli and Sydney didn't get up early enough.

Brandy and Jared

Well, I knew it would come someday. My only son is now engaged and we couldn't be happier with the girl he picked. Brandy is just what Jared needs, another woman to tell him what to do like his sister have done since he was little. No, Brandy will be the ying to Jared's yang. I am campaigning to be his best man so anything short of it, I will be devastated. A wedding sometime next May is in the works for them.

Jaime and Eric Milestone

Jaime is my third oldest daughter and is married to Eric Milestone. They live almost to the edge of the earth but not quite there or at least it seems. They have two sweet little girls, Karli who just turned five and Sydney who will turn 3 in July. You can always expect Karli to speak her mind and ask you questions.