Above the usual tasks of sound room and video production, I was asked to perform a small skit as a French Chef.  Both Jess and I did it.  I’m not much for learning lines, so I just read it from the script.  I assisted in the video production this year, after taking a few years off.  Having done it in the past, I realized the labor involved.  I worked with one of the teens and for the budget we had (uh, $0, but spent $25?), I think we did OK.  I wanted to try using the new Green Screen feature in iMovie ’09 so I bought some green cloth and made a PVC frame (I LOVE me some PVC!).

The green screen feature was fun, we could have used more time to perfect it, but it worked enough to use.  If you are interested in watching the 14 minute production (50hrs of production time), email me, I’ll send you the link.  I didn’t want to put video of the kids on a public site, and my site can’t handle the extra traffic of a video being downloaded a ton of times… sooo.. serious inquiries only. [smirk]

Chef E'claire and Chef Par'fay

Very little riding has taken place this year.  But even so, another milestone was passed.  On the way back from a eighty mile ride, I rolled 7,000 miles on the motorcycle.  I was hoping to get another 4,000 miles on this year… I’m way behind with about 700 right now.

Another thousand passed

Well, I haven’t put many miles on the motorcycle this year, but it was time for a tire (No, I didn’t wear it out with burn-outs).  I took it down to the local garage hoping to get a State Inspection Sticker, but it didn’t pass.  I bought the tire online with free shipping, thought I might have saved $30, but then the motorcycle shop said they price match.  I did take the wheel off myself, so that saved me $60.  I didn’t have a low enough jack to get under the bike, so I hooked onto the frame from above with a come-a-long. That seemed to work just fine, I keep finding ways to use my climbing webbing in ways it was never meant to be used also!

I had put nearly 7,000 miles on the old tire, so I hope to get at least that on this tire.  At the rate I’m going, it’ll be awhile before I wear this one out.

Motorcycle just "hanging" out, waiting for a new tire.

The warnings were all there.  The spray paint on the road, the masked road signs, and then.. it happened. They put up a road block on Route 11.  You can see the sign from our house.  Local Traffic Only.  It was time to replace the old bridge down at the Rollins Mill Pond.  The road/bridge is too small to close one side at a time, and maybe not possible in other ways, so they closed it down entirely.

The traffic is certainly lighter.  The intersection “burn-outs” are far and few between, the jake-brakes are no longer waking me in the night and the occasional car horn is not heard as two cars part ways.

What does this mean for us?  Well, it certainly makes for a longer trip to church.  A longer trip to the Harris Rd.  But it did offer one small benefit.  We (I) decided it would make for a nice bike route with limited traffic.  Since there is only about nine houses from here to the bridge, they’d be very little traffic.  So we road our bikes down to the bridge and back… about 3.5mi in total.  I guess we’ll deal with the inconvenience for a while.. they’re estimating it to be a three month project.

Also can be translated - "New Bike Path"

If you know me well enough, you know that I don’t attend weddings or funerals.  Now of course what I mean by don’t is… I’ll attend the event if it means I’ll be subjected to less emotional involvement at the event than the days prior or after from family and friends if I don’t go.  There, how’s that for a mini leather-couch session?

So today, I attended a wedding. Thanks to the couple who asked me to operate the sound room for them since it distracted me from all the emotional stuff.  Without telling the entire story of this couple, I’ll simple say “Wow”. What you’ve both (all) been through and what lies ahead for you as a single family I trust are extreme opposites in the realm of emotions.  If you must know more about them, read their blog.

God Bless you both and your eight children.

Darren and Melissa

Nathan decided he wanted to be baptized this summer.  He had some friends that were moving away and they had always talked about being baptized together when the time was right.  With a full understanding of his public statement, Nathan was baptized today.

We’ll continue to do our part as parents to raise him in our Christian faith and as always, would appreciate your prayers.

Don is smiling like he's enjoying that a little too much

Yesterdays postponed game was to be played today because the weather was a bit nicer… well, a lot nicer.  Charleston Rec was schedule to host all three games: Farm League, Jr Little League and Little League.  We were scheduled at 9:00AM for the opening game.  We were partnered with Monson, Guilford, and Dover II.  Nathan had the chance to pitch two innings and did a fine job.  We ended up winning 10-9.  After the picnic this Tuesday, baseball will officially be over for the year.

A trophy for all winners... and since its 2009, for all losers also, the same size.

I generally only grab lobster about once a year.  Sometimes I just have a lobster-pound cook it for me but I thought I might get more bang for my buck if I managed it on my own this go around.  Since Nathan and Jess don’t touch it, it’s hardly ever worth the effort for one person.  Mum and Dad were headed over for the game today, so I planned on getting enough to make it worth the mess.

Well, we ended up with chicken-lobsters but they have their benefits, mainly the fact that you don’t need any tools to get into them.. you can just rip them apart with your hands.

Until next year…

Before the death swim.

The Charleston Farm League All-Star game was scheduled for this AM, but the rains came once again and changed the weekend plans.  A phone call came in and Nathan was invited to ride in the Corinth Fire truck for the parade, so off he went.  We went over and watched the parade and then we later met up with him for a quick walk around the grounds in Bradford.

He quickly found a post he wanted to visit a few times and did his best Robin Hood impression and plunked a few arrows into the target.  He needs to work a little more on his left arm strength if he continues to cater to his left-eye dominance, but he did well enough at that close range.

Thanks Dennis and JD for the assist.

Nathan nocks an arrow and lets it fly.

Nathan had another chapter of his life unfold this week.  He went to his first sleep-over… to a friends house.  A friend from school, the same that just beat him in the playoffs, invited a bunch of boys from school over to camp out.

Nathan did much better than Mama did, but we all managed.  All the parents were invited over for a BBQ to pick the boys up today and they all survived the event just fine.  The first of many no doubt.

Half the crew munching some chicken.