It's not just about the Halo

For quite some time I've been meaning to post about the Halo parties I host with my man cub and his buddies and how much fun we have, and today is the day to finally get it done.

If you're not familiar with the game of Halo, it's an Xbox video game where you form two teams and hunt down and kill your opponents. It's pretty mild graphics and gore but certainly not "kid-propriate." We setup a network of 3 game consoles and TVs because it's a lot more fun to have teams of 4 or 5 players which gives you alot more targets to hunt down and kill.

We've had a couple of these parties and the last one I got around to snapping a few pixs in between rounds of carnage. The trophy wives busy themselves upstairs with games and tending to the youngsters while the multi-screen chamber of death rages on in the basement.



It's all great fun and lasts for several hours until we can no longer endure the unblinking stares. And from what I can tell, the gamers all enjoy the opportunity to play and complain that they've been killed AGAIN by "Don-O-Death." Maybe they just let me win cause it's my house, and I'm ok with that. Either way, I look forward to the next party.

Where has the time gone?

Ok, I know that it has been freakin forever since I posted but the Mrs. has done all the trips and such, and I've just been doing my usual and uninteresting stuff. I could chat about the weather, now that it's been snowing off and on for nearly a week, and how I've become very well acquainted with the snowblower. It's just not that interesting.

As for the auction trips, there just hasn't been any this fall and the Caldwell auction is closed for two weeks during the holidays and the weather's been a bit frightful so I've not been hanging around the Main all day like I usually do. But don't fret, I've not lost the urge and still have on my "bucket list" that I want to attend 100 auctions in a calander year.

But on another front, we had a great Christmas and are looking forward to a wonderful new year. I have most of this week between Christmas and New Years off and I'm planning to get a bunch of those lingering items off of the "to-do" list. I might even have a little time to relax and watch football or play Wii with the Mrs, or maybe get some "honey-do's" off the list as well.

I might even post again on my blog.

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

I've gotten a lot of flack lately cause I haven't posted since June but hey, I've been busy and the Missus has been sharing our travels. But now I have an event to share.

My dear Son (aka "the Buddy") invited me and Grandpa to the local minor league baseball game. For those of you that really know me, you know I ain't much of a sports fan, but I agreed to go since I wanted to do the male bonding thing and heck, it might be a good excuse to quaff a cold one on a Monday nite.

It turned out to be great fun and I thoroughly enjoyed myself and the company. The seats were absolutely the best - right behind home plate and about halfway up so you could see all the action. And these seats were in the shade from the get-go and the weather was stellar - low 80's without a cloud in the sky and just a whisper of a breeze.

This is the view from our seats.

And to top it off, the Boise Hawks mascot came by to see us and decided I needed a hug, or maybe my nose picked, I'm not quite sure.


Anyway, I just wanted to share the great time we had and to thank the Buddy for setting this up and making it happen. You rock dude!

Not even half way through the trip

Well, I'm sitting here enjoying a little web surfing (thanks to the bucko!) and I thought about posting a short one from the KCI Airport.

I had a great time visiting the Dr and Mrs Dr and those sweet grandkids - but especially the warm hugs from the Missus. Gads do I miss her!

And that new grandkid Megaman is a real cutie, just like the rest! He fits right in.

The trip has been fairly flawless and good ole Milly (the new GPS) worked her wonders and got me through some road construction and wreckage in fine style.

I'll be spending the nite in Baltimore and enjoying the conference for the next few days but I'll be thinking of the Missus and the fun we will be having come next week in Florida. Can't wait!

Hope all is well with the bloggers and watchers of the world, and that Mrs Dr gets to feeling better soon.

Talk to you all later
Art

About time to head out

Well, it's been a very long 19 days, 10 hours and 38 minutes (or there abouts) since I've held the Missus and I'm way past due for one of her lovin hugs. I've got just a few more things left on the to-do list, but I have to confess that several items were simply wiped off cause I was just a bit too ambitious when I made the list. It's no surprise that some things just take longer to get done then they first appear. And I had computer "issues" which everyone knows can suck up gobs of time to fix.

But anyway, the deeds are done, her car is back in the garage, and the many fixes that truly mattered are done. I'm hoping she notices what's missing in the garage - good gadfreys, I took 3 truck and trailer loads out so it should be obvious.

And if you're reading this honey, I'll soon be on my way to you!

AML
Art

All Things Ham

Trixie and the Coonster were passing through on their way home and decided to stay at Connie’s Casa on Collister, but the lady of the house was out so they were stuck with me. I did the crockpot thing and we had a nice dinner with BMK&R. We visited clear till 11:30pm about the Escalante trip and what fun they had. I had a few chicken items I picked up at the auctions, along with some Santa and snowman items, and Trixie seemed genuinely thrilled. The best was the two toys for the Coonster and I can hardly wait to hear how these played out at home (and get your mind out of the gutter!). Here he is trying out the "Basket Case" game.




I put together a breakfast of toast, fruit, and (you guessed it) ham. It seems that ham is the Escalante mainstay for the weekend meals, so much so that both were pretty tired of it. But they were troopers and ate it anyway, but we got to laughing about how perhaps the word ham should be substituted for any and all cuss words. You know, like “oh, go straight to HAM” or “what the HAM were you thinking.” Here’s a couple photos of the morning fun.



I think this is a happy face but I'm not entirely sure.

We had a big laugh about this as well as deciding that we need to start a “Bella-pedia” for the cute things this grandchild says. I still giggle out loud thinking about the “George Washing Machine” dollar bill. Probably need a "Pedia" for each of them grandkids cause they all say the darnedest things.

The hole in the yard next door is getting bigger and the forms are in for a foundation. I bet by the time I get back from visiting the family and doing the conference thing that a house might have sprouted up.

Well, time to get back to working on getting the Missus car back in the garage.

Later
- Art

There's a new house goin in next door

Came home from work on Wednesday night and noticed right off that something was different about the vacant lot next door. Well, I'll be danged - it aint vacant no more. Not sure how long it will be before they move it, but in the words of Princess, they sure do have a ..."nice hole in the yard that can only be filled by you"!