Melanie's defense of her thesis! June 24, 2009

Mellie is a doctor!!

Melanie just passed the defense of her thesis!! : )

A taste of what's to come....

This is sort of what it will look like. Slowly, but surely, we are getting there.

My farm on Farm Town

The view from the bedroom....

Melanie, this is the view now from your room!

Here is our latest pic. The new steps and walls are finished, more or less, and only the landscaping needs doing.

The "Wizard of Chem E!"

If you compare this redone step area, to the former set, the line is smoother. The sloping is uniform going up to the top cement landing. I am pleased. : )

So, the top view is now how our steps look, with some further discussions with our landscaper and after his protestations and with his final acceptance that the homeowner "is always right". But basically, his idea of what our steps should look like did not match our view at all. I don't blame him for being upset by time wasted and having to redo two steps, but the visual line of the steps was just wrong.

Getting there. Click on pic to more clearly see step before concrete.

Here's today's development....

Today's developments. The first step....

Landscaping has begun in the front yard. Though there is still quite a bit left to be done, I think it will look very interesting.

Cow tipping?

As reported in the "News of the Weird", Moscow-Pullman Daily News on April 13, 2009:

On the South Boulder (Colo.) Creek Trail in January, as a woman was standing beside her bicycle, a cow wandered by and TIPPED her over, then stepped on her legs before meandering off. : )

Hopefully, our new landscaping will create a lovelier view to our front steps than this. Our landscaper removed all the junipers and mughoe pine and some of the railroad ties. Basically, it's a mess.

Dear Andy,
No matter what, we are here, supporting you. You are great, you are good, and you are loved. And you couldn't have a better person with you than Alli. : )

The U. of Nebraska at Omaha, Mel and Scott's new home.

In honor of Obama: "Yes, Pecan!" from Ben & Jerry's. In honor of George W: "I broke the law and am responsible for the deaths of thousands...with nuts."

Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry, he'll be a mile away - and barefoot. : )

Living in WA state!

THIS IS WHAT JEFF FOXWORTHY HAS TO SAY ABOUT LIVING IN WASHINGTON STATE:
1. If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Washington.
2. If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Washington.
3. If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number, you live in Washington.
4. If you measure distance in hours, you live in Washington.
5. If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in Washington.
6. If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' and back again in the same day, you live in Washington.
7. If you install security lights on your house and garage but leave both doors unlocked, you live in Washington.
8. If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Central, Southern or Eastern Washington.
9. If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over 8 layers of clothes, you live in Washington.
10. If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow and ice, you live in Washington.
11. If you actually understand these jokes and forward them to all your WASHINGTON friends, you live or have lived in Washington.

Unbelievable....

I cut this out from yesterday's paper (1/29/09).

Nazi zombies ahead, run for cold climates!!

Something to brighten your day ....

Bird's eye view of the inauguration ....

Click on the photo to get a larger, more impressive view!! This is SO cool!!!

Says it all ....

43

43: So glad to see the end of him. : )

World of World of Warcraft....world?

'Warcraft' Sequel Lets Gamers Play A Character Playing 'Warcraft'

More from our trip....

Top left: Dad trying to fix the dam machine; top right: Abby & Scott on Peak to Peak Gondola at Whistler; lower left: Quinn & Abby admiring the view from the top; and lower right: Quinn, Abby, & Scott at the lodge at Whistler.

Christmas in Canada

A few pics from our trip to Vancouver. Top left: in a Richmond mall in front of "Beard Papas", a shop famous for its cream puffs; top right: Mel working as AT for her midget hockey team at one of their games at a tourney in Richmond; lower left: Andy and Alli dancing while Mel works!; lower right: Scott and Mel skiing finally at Grouse Mountain.