Happy Birthday Ironman

Today is my friend Kent's birthday. He is 50 years old today. Kent has been one of the most influential people in my life. I've written about him here several times before so I won't go through his bio again. Below is a list of things that I think make Kent great.

1. He always stays in shape. Even with a tough surgeon's schedule, and a family to raise you will never catch him unable to keep up with the group.

2. When Kent makes decisions he first decides what the kind thing to do is.

3. After deciding what the kind thing to do is he does it.

4. He decided to become a surgeon because he wanted to help people.

5. Kent is his wife Janet's biggest fan, and she is his.

6. Kent never wastes money, but truly enjoys the money he spends.

7. Kent donates time traveling to other countries to help under privileged people, and training other doctors.

8. Kent has climbed Denali, and many other peaks.

9. Kent overcame gear addiction. That must not have been an easy one.

10. There is no one who doesn't look up to Kent when they get to know him. Me especially.

Happy Birthday Ironman!

Crappy Day

Yesterday was the crappiest day I think I have ever had, and I've worked for a plumber before.  As you saw in a previous post I took Philip to his new job cleaning horse stalls. I helped him get started, and showed him the pace he should be moving at. If you have a teenager you will understand that. They have one speed. I call it "barely perceptible forward motion." To many years at UPS have made me impatient with anything less than a brisk pace while working.

Once I got him going I went over to talk to my dad and Bill. I started helping my dad work on a chicken coop he was building for Bill's wife. Bill was trying to unplug a sewer. I went over to see if I could help. I won't describe it, but you wouldn't have wanted to be there.

Philip finally finished his job so we headed home. Already feeling like I had bathed in a cesspool I decided to clean out the chicken pen and coop. That I'm getting pretty used to. Because my wife has chickens she gets eggs. I get to clean up after them.

I went into the house only to find another plugged toilet. Fortunately I was able to plunge it. I took a nice long shower, and went for a short run to make myself feel better.

One Other Thing

I played with my iPhone, and tried to take my best David Kellettesque photograph using Instagram.

What's Been Going With Me

Last week Amy and I went on our annual anniversary trip. We went to Flagstaff.  There wasn't much snow, but we managed to find enough to do a little snowshoeing.

 Every morning we ate at Macy's. It is a cool little vegetarian coffee shop (thanks Kent and Janet). Amy really enjoyed the hot chocolate, but I think mostly because of the cool designs the barrista would make on top with the cream. We had several other good meals, but Macy's really stood out. That must be why we ate there three times.

 Brett and Michelle's kids came by to play with me while Rebecca was at her piano lesson down at my mom's house. Tyler shot  baskets, and we rode the longboard. I had a good time.

I made a rope rug, and gave it to Lara for her birthday.

I took to the boy to his first day at his new job. He is shoveling road apples at our friend Bill's stables. Pretty of nice of Bill to give the boy a job. I know I appreciate it.

And I met one of of your twins. I'm not saying which one of you, but you know who you are.



Donation Update

A couple weeks ago Philip had a orchestra concert. While sitting and waiting for the concert to start I spent my time trying to figure out where the awful B.O. was coming from. Unfortunately Amy pointed out the source.  It was coming from a couple of boys that go to Amy's school. I felt really sorry for the boys. No one should have to live like that.  I watched them for a while, and they seemed really well behaved. They did look like a couple of unmade beds though.

Amy texted me this thank you note that one of the boys had brought in to the office. He had been given a pair of shoes from the Family Resource Center. He wrote the note on his own, and it was his idea. His two brothers got shoes too. So thank you to those of you who were so generous, and donated gift cards to buy kids shoes. At least one kid who really needed shoes, and was grateful to get them was given a pair. I feel good about that, but wish I could help these, and other needy kids, out more.