Allium giganteum

Trying to bring a bit of home and scent of lilies into the office.

Beginning of another summer of flowers

Something to make me smile!

Can you say GREEN?!

A visit from my girls.

This sits in my office window, helps to brighten my day!

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Still need to open it.

Lunch at the Roadhouse with my girls!

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2 Days Post Op

Today

A visit

Leah visited the office. Tomorrow she has her surgery.

Found on a walk

Something pretty on a grey day!

Left Behind

Somehow, I don't think you should find this at a gas pump.

Tree caught in dam...

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Love this time of year!

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Chilly night, no complaints!

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A visit to the Lincoln Golf course foot bridge

Primesteel 2010

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Sunset

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John

My raspberries are going to take a beating...

Tessa is growing new parents, thanks to her Aunty Julie. :)

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Can we say lazy dog!

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Movie night...

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Making herself at home

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Thanks Mom!

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View from my window today....

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Going to try and get to Alicia....

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A game of ladder ball

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Seen at the Dakota Zoo in Bismarck, ND

First Tulip

~A Gift~

These were called 'ugly' pansies, I beg to differ. Thanks to the ones that gave these to me for Mother's Day!

Another Mother's Day. I am happy that I was able to at least see all my girls this weekend. I just don't have much else to say.

DAD

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Why we love Children

1) NUDITY


I was driving with my three young children one warm summer evening when a woman in the convertible ahead of us stood up and waved. She was stark naked! As I was reeling from the shock, I heard my 5-year-old shout from the back seat, 'Mom, that lady isn't wearing a seat belt!'



2) OPINIONS

On the first day of school, a first-grader handed his teacher a note from his mother. The note read, 'The opinions expressed by this child are not necessarily those of his parents.'


3) KETCHUP

A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup out of the jar. During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her 4-year-old daughter to answer the phone. 'Mommy can't come to the phone to talk to you right now. She's hitting the bottle.'


4) MORE NUDITY


A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in the women's locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks, with ladies grabbing towels and running for cover. The little boy watched in amazement and then asked, 'What's the matter, haven't you ever seen a little boy before?'

5) POLICE # 1

While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, I was interrupted by a little girl about 6 years old. Looking up and down at my uniform, she asked, 'Are you a cop? Yes,' I answered and continued writing the report. My mother said if I ever needed help I should ask the police. Is that right?' 'Yes, that's right,' I told her. 'Well, then,' she said as she extended her foot toward me, 'would you please tie my shoe?'



6) POLICE # 2

It was the end of the day when I parked my police van in front of the station. As I gathered my equipment, my K-9 partner, Jake, was barking, and I saw a little boy staring in at me. 'Is that a dog you got back there?' he asked.

'It sure is,' I replied.

Puzzled, the boy looked at me and then towards the back of the van. Finally he said, 'What'd he do?'



7) ELDERLY


While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds. She was unfailingly intrigued by the various appliances of old age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, 'The tooth fairy will never believe this!'

8) DRESS-UP

A little girl was watching her parents dress for a party. When she saw her dad donning his tuxedo, she warned, 'Daddy, you shouldn't wear that suit.'

'And why not, darling?'

'You know that it always gives you a headache the next morning.'

9) DEATH

While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased.

The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said: 'Glory be unto the Faaather, and unto the Sonnn, and into the hole he goooes.' (I want this line used at my funeral!)


10) SCHOOL

A little girl had just finished her first week of school. 'I'm just wasting my time,' she said to her mother. 'I can't read, I can't write, and they won't let me talk!'


11) BIBLE

A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages.

'Mama, look what I found,' the boy called out.

'What have you got there, dear?'

With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, 'I think it's Adam's underwear!'

Grand Forks Flood Cam

Here check this out! http://www.grandforksherald.com/pages/floodcam

Good Morning

Last night Addison fell asleep at 7:30ish. I tried to keep her awake, but it was a no go. She did not like her bath and just wanted to be held which I did. You know me guys, can't stand to hear a baby cry. She woke up once at 3:30am and now I am waiting for her to wake up. I am not sure what all we will do. I guess the usual with an extra little person. Hope you are all having a great weekend!

Last night

Addison and I pretty much hung out by ourselves last evening. She sat in her high chair while I made supper. She LOVES her banana. She ate some pasta with Grandma, had her bath, treatments and before I knew she fell asleep at 8pm with ever having a bottle. I though for sure she would have me up early but in reality she did not wake up until 4am and more than anything I think she was cold. She is back to sleep again and I am ready to start today. Tessa's alarm is going off and I hope she turns it off soon. Mom, I hope you are feeling ok and that your first night home was NOT too rough?

Snow Day

John did not have to work, Tessa knew she did not have school and I went to work only to find out the office was closed. Hope that if that ever happens again, I will be on the list for that phone call. What a great day!

Last day of February

Just a quick hello, as I guess maybe there really is not that much to tell. John and I have had a fairly quiet day. I gave him a couple of hours peace by going to TWILIGHT again with a coworker. What can I say, but I like this movie!! River Cinema is going to bring Titanic back and a few others. It is always more fun to see them on the big screen.

The eagles are back and John has a few photos. He bemoans the fact that he still has not gotten a teleconverter. He read where we have golden eagles by our lagoon. You know what we will be doing tomorrow. Come on, GUESS! Yep, taking another drive into the country.

John figuring out the problem with our phones was really a blessing. We had not had them that long and I really did not want to go out and buy new ones. I guess we can not have them so close to that digital modem thing. Right now I am waiting for him to get off the computer so that we can watch a couple of the movies that we rented. The one we watched last night was a real stinker. I guess you win some and you loose some! Have a great Sunday!

February 22, 2009

Thought I would write and let you know how much I appreciate your daily entries every morning. I should write to let you know how our day goes, but would hate to really bore you. The next 3 months will probably not be much fun at work. One of the front staff just went on maternity leave and the other starts her new postition as an FSS person in a week. I just have to keep telling myself that I will take one minute at a time and keep shoveling through all the paperwork that we do.

Tessa has had a couple of sleepovers, during the one is when the hair became streaked with pink. I guess when she is at Olivia's they work on this story they are writing, not sure that I will ever see what it is they write.

I am trying to cut down or cut out caffine in the form of pop, and find the headache I have almost not worth it. It was the one reason I was up early again this morning, making banana bread. It is nice to have the house quiet, the sun coming in the windows and being able to just think in peace.

Well, time to get ready for church. The battle to get Tessa off her laptop begins. Wonder how this day will turn out? Hope you are all having a great day!

Icicles

A little snow, add in some sunshine, face it south, warm engine and this is what you get. I found these after a day of work.

Acts 2:38

A woman had just returned to her home from an evening of church
services, when she was startled by an intruder. She caught the man in the
act of robbing her home of its valuables and yelled: 'Stop! Acts 2:38!'
(Repent and be Baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins
may be forgiven.)

The burglar stopped in his tracks. The woman calmly called the police and
explained what she had done.

As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar: 'Why
did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a scripture to
you.'

'Scripture?' replied the burglar. 'She said she had an Ax and Two 38s!'

Send this to someone who needs a laugh today and remember: Knowing
scripture can save your life - in more ways than one!

February 1, 2009

Found this while uploading photos. You can tell how far behind I am on my scrapbooking. Taken 6-24-2006 while we were on a bike ride. Tessa would NOT be caught taking a photo with me now and certainly not with a smile. I bet if we posed in the same place she is just about taller than. Of course it helps that I keep SHRINKING! Ok, guess I better get off John's computer. Have a great day!

January 31, 2009

A brief entry to update our rather unexciting life. Tessa had a sleepover last night, but with John having to work today we could not go and have a bit of fun ourselves. He is so tired of how they work that plant. I heard him sharping his knife this morning and literally felt I should tell him to NOT use that on anyone. I am making a point to enjoy this house to myself, but still feel bad that John is so distressed. Seeing 25 degrees this early in the morning is an added bonus. Now if I had not broken the snow shovel I could try and move the mess the plows left at the end of my driveway. GRR! Have a great day guys!

Where did she go?

This is actually a photo of a photo. Tessa had this taken years ago at Missionettes. It was pasted to an old disc and decorated. I love the look on her face. I miss that little girl.

Diary of a Demented North Dakotan

Found this in my email. I just had to laugh! December 8, 6:00 PM It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow! December 9 We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the whole world? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had! Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplough came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life! December 12 The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment! My neighbor tells me not to worry-we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor.. December 14 Snow, lovely snow! 8 inches last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks.. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn't huff and puff so. December 15 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all. December 16 Ice storm this morning. Fell on my ass on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel. December 17 Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. God I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room. December 20 Electricity is back on, but had another 14 inches of the damn stuff last night. More shoveling! Took all day. The damn snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying. December 22 Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white shit fell today, and it's so cold, it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to piss. By the time I got undressed, pissed and dressed again. I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter, but he says he's too busy. I think the #*@#!!+*&&^ is lying. December 23 Only 2 inches of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she, nuts?!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she's lying. December 24 6 inches - Snow packed so hard by snowplow, I broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the son of a #%@&* who drives that snowplow, I'll drag him through the snow and beat him to death with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the damn snowplow. December 25 Merry friggin Christmas! 20 more inches of the damn slop tonight - Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God, I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's a #@*%$#@@@ idiot. If I have to watch 'It's A Wonderful Life' one more time, I'm going to stuff her into the microwave. December 26 Still snowed in... Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves. December 27 Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze; plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he only charged me $1,400 to replace all my pipes. December 28 Warmed up to above -20. Still snowed in. The %@#*^%@# wife is driving me crazy!!! December 29 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am? December 30 Roof caved in. I beat up the snowplow driver, and now he is suing me for a million dollars, not only for the beating I gave him, but also for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up his @##. The wife went home to her mother. Nine more inches predicted. December 31 I set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling. January 8 Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

12-27-08

Sitting here with Tessa and I really should be in bed. Addison was here tonight, but she was not a happy little girl. Spent the evening trying to keep her from crying. Thank goodness for John and his ability to get photos posted or else it would never get done. He spent the last couple of days trying to keep my old laptop going, but it seems to be a lost cause. I will not bore you with the details. Hope you have all had a great Christmas!

4 Generations

Whose house is this? Is it the same house in both photos? Looks like the same picture on the wall in both.

Christmas 1988

Mom, do you remember this one? Here is one of your cakes with Alicia, Brenna and Samantha. It must have been the last one that I was in the Obrien house.

Unexpected Visitor

I am looking out the kitchen window thinking I am seeing a big cat and about to tell mom that she still had to throw food out to still. My mind quickly realized that special little wobble SKUNKS have as they walk and what I was actually looking at, much yelling to get the gun and hurry up. Glad the kids were not out playing at the time and that Jerry's dog was safely over at his place. A loud BOOM and watching the skunk spray something that almost looked bile colored into the air. Oh boy, we all wished it has walked further away before Dad put an end to it. You all know, John was out there getting a shot of it. Haven't decided if we should share or not yet. Would hate to upset any ones gentle constitution with that photo.!! Time to sign off and get a bit done. Looks like I am going to that movie for the third time today. :o))

November 25, 2008

Where did this weekend go? I spent 12 hours or more of it reading. John was feeling ignored, but I could NOT put those books down. I now understand what Tessa's obsession for them has been. I finished 2 of the Twilight series and I know I am going to have a hard time concentrating at work as the third one awaits me. Tessa will probably remember this weekend forever, and not maybe in a good way. One month til Christmas and I have NOT started to shop! I HATE shopping! John did get the christmas cards figured out and I ordered them. I thought it would have been ok to skip a year, but that was a NO go. Well, time to get ready for today. I know my desk is covered in files and papers and one things has to be finished to get it into the mail, sooo I hope you all have a great MONDAY!

Better than I thought

I have looked forward to this day for a while. Lunch with some really fun coworkers, and them a night out with John, Tessa and her friend. I know how much Tessa has been waiting for this night. "Twilight" the movie is finally here. John and I enjoyed this movies more than we thought we would. Now to just enjoy the rest of the weekend! How is everyone else?

Not sure about Papa

The girls were here while Gregg did some work in the shop. I grabbed John's camera while he was holding her. She was not sure what she thought of Papa John. Love the expression on her face in this one.

His Last Day

Today is Barry's last day. Yesterday there was cake and Ice cream, cards exchanged and goodbyes said. A few of us gathered at Ground Round to laugh and hear stories. It is NOT going to be the same with him gone.

Turning Point

This was a weekend where it seems like Tessa just kind of decided to grow up, one area is all of the sudden an interest in makeup. Where did that come from? The truck left and it was actually sad to see it go. The weather was to wonderful for words. A visit from Dad and Mom was nice but rather quick! They picked up the table for Julie and brought back the other couch. I tried to find my table, there was SOOO much junk mail to go through. Finally cleaned Alicia's road of the van and John put in new headlights on cutlass. I hope this was a wonderful weekend for the rest of you. Time to face a new week and I am so glad that the secret spook game is over. I can NOW relax and now worry about sneaking around with little gifts! I have photos of much of that, but did not want to bore any of you with them. I think John is out trying to start a fire for me I was asking for S'MORES!