Cruise - Final

We finally made it back! Arrived home at 3:00 AM Thursday AM. Flight was delayed an hour. Of course Angela had to get stopped by security again in Ft. Lauderdale!

She tried to carry-on some seasonings she bought. 3 bottles each about the size of a hot pepper sauce size bottle. She forgot she had them. I had to take it back to the Skybus counter and put it my carry-on bag, pay another $5 and check my bag to Columbus. Angela was so shook up she forgot to take off her jewelry and got stopped at the metal detector. Finally made it.

The last day on ship was total wash out, rained almost all day. So overall the trip was just good, not great. Due to the weather we ended up taking a 5 day boat ride with only 5 hours off the boat in Jamaica. It was good to get away from cell phones and driving and cooking and cleaning, very relaxing.

Also, I can to appreciate 1 thing much more. My wife is a great cook! The desserts on the ship do not hold a candle to anything Angela makes. The ship may have food 24/7 (which is a good thing also!), but I will take Angela's key lime cheese cake over anything I had on the boat.

Already decided we will not take another cruise till more family or friends can go. That would make it more fun. Overall, if you have never taken a cruise, it is a good thing, maybe not in December.

cruise update #1

we have been sailing since Saturday, supposed to get off today at Grand Caymans but water was too rough, sailing on to Jamaica right now.

weather has been windy and overcast most of trip, but warm and no snow! Food is very good and the shows are great, but ready to get off boat tomorrow for the day.

met a whole host of characters, ask us about "grandma", "NY Couple" , some of the singers when we get back. Things going well, be back Thursday night to chilly OHIO.

only problem, to many Florida Gator fans!! stinking up the boat with the gator chomp, ugh!

that's all for now! gott a go put on some 50 spf sunscreen!!

Pre-Cruise Update

We had to stay up late last night to see our nephew Blake on 10TV news. He was interviewed as a high school athlete reacting to the baseball steroids report. So we went to bed about 11:30PM

Up at 4:00 AM to head to the airport in Brandon's truck. Checked 6 bags of luggage, guess who had 3 of the bags? Got to the airport fine, went over the security procedures with the family, Angela reminded the boys about not putting liquids in their carry on bags, and guess who got stopped at security for having 2 BIG bottles of sun screen? That's right, Angela. When stopped laughing, we went to Starbucks for coffee and a scone.

The plane ride was uneventful where Angela and I were, but ask Brandon & Corey about the guys in front of them. I kept falling asleep while reading my magazine, but otherwise no problem.

Landed, rented a car for the day, and went to the hotel. Got checked in early, it helps when you are a Marriott Silver Elite traveler because I travel so much, the room was even free. There was a huge Bass Pro Shop next door, so we walked over, ate lunch at a nearby seafood place, Corey did not get chicken tenders!.

It was time for a nap, so I went to room to lay down, while the rest of the family went to the pool, after awhile we drove down to the ocean. I am writing this at a computer in the lobby while everyone else is getting their shower.

It will an early night tonight, with the shuttle taking us to the ship at 11:00 AM in the morning. Not sure if I will get a chance to update while we are gone, but expect a full report when we return. I am off the rest of the year from work!!!

Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

When I talked to Angela yesterday during the day, I sensed in her voice things were not going well.

She had been doing lots of work around the house for the Christmas season, wrapping presents, decorating, etc. As a result, she overdid it and her back had been bothering her a lot. So much that I had to stop on my way home and buy her some medicine, because I am the best husband around. So as I was getting out of my car, standing in a snow covered parking lot, in the freezing cold, my cell phone rings, and she said, "never mind I found something in the medicine chest." UGH, I wen in anyway and bought myself a "Chunky" brand candy bar for my wasted effort.

Then I got home and Angela mentioned that there was water running down into the basement from under the sink area again, see previous posts for details. Went down in the basement and only saw water when dishwasher was on. So we called "Todd", yes that Todd, the fix it guy she goes bonkers over because he is sooooooooooo handy fixing things, makes me sick the way she talks about him. Todd and Corey pulled it out today and it sounds like the whole bottom fell out, so now we need a new dishwasher, UGH #2

While Todd was there he also looked at the toilets and they all need new "innards". He will have to come back later and fix that problem. UGH 3#, I am wondering if Angela is feeding him, he seems to take a longer than normal time to fix stuff when food is around.

Finally, my sweet baby doll mentioned that the "service engine soon" was on in her car. So we got in both cars, I drove hers, and that warning light and every other warning light came on, so I knew it would be $$$$$. Well Deke has not found the problem, which means it is more $$$$ UGH #4.

Now they are calling for 1" to 3" more snow tonight, all this week I have been getting up early for work, why do these classes happen on the coldest, snowiest days of the year, UGH #5.

What my Christmas is like! (thanks DD)

Your Christmas is Most Like: A Very Brady Christmas

For you, it's all about sharing times with family. Even if you all get a bit cheesy at times.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

Much to be thankful for

* Great wife, Angela
* 3 wonderful sons, Tyler, Brandon, & Corey
* Loving extended family, Bonners & Thomas's
* Our Pastor Noel Dear
* Our CONNECT Group, we have had a great 1st year
* Old friends from Tennessee
* Good job
* My health

A little early, but very good

It was a GREAT DAY!

The faces on the Michigan fans tell it all! Beanie Wells record setting day (most rushing yards by an OSU player in a game) and the Michigan offense had a record setting bad day (91 total yards, worst ever by a Michigan team in 40 years) lead to an OSU Victory.

And

We still can be in the National Championship game if more teams in front of us lose. Thanks to Oregon, 1 down and 5 more teams to jump in front of!!!!!

Black Sheep of the Family

Every family has one.

A family member who has done something so bad that no one in the family ever talks about it.

Until now.

Yes, my sister-in-law Pam is that person.

It started very simply about 15 years ago.

She rented the movie, "Arthur" from the Lancaster Library, when she took it back, the bin was pretty full, but she managed to put the movie into the bin (or so the story goes).

A few weeks latter Pam went into the Library to check out a book, when she was stopped cold by the Librarian who told her she owed $80 for the movie that was not returned.

Here is where the story gets weird, Pam told the story about the full bin, even offered to replace the movie with a brand new copy, answer = No, she must pay the fine!

That was 15 years ago.

This past week she went back again pleading for a 2nd chance, she said the "The Mayor of Lancaster stole money from the city, has been to jail and now is out, if he gets a 2nd chance, why can't I?"

Pam even tried to use her poor daughters card, but the plot was quickly stopped until the daughter showed up in person. So now Pam has to write a letter to the Columbus Public Library and plea for a 2nd chance.

I am thinking of selling T-shirts that say "Free Pam" to raise money to pay the fine, but that would end the story, it is much more fun to hear the latest updates.

(FULL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT)

To be honest I also have a Black Sheep in my family, Corey. It seems that when he was 3 years old, we had a dog that had a disease so we got rid of it. When Corey went to get a puppy from the pound, he told them about it. They said he was Blacklisted from ever getting a dog from their pound because he got rid of a dog "in its greatest time of need". Remember, he was 3 and had nothing to actually do with the decision, but that did not matter to the pound.

Vacation time!!

We had a great time with Tyler, did I mention he is a super hero?

Angela won the Championship Belt.

I was the big winner at dominoes, even though it took 3 days to finish the game. Dirk, shown here, was the big loser.

All of the girls from Tennessee

Guys taking pics of the girls!!

Ireland - Final

Start with the good news, I made it home last night around 9:00 PM. The day started badly in Ireland, when my 1st flight was canceled due to fog. I had to take a 3 hour bus ride to Dublin and made my flight with about 30 min to spare. As a result I only had a 7 hour flight to Boston instead of a 9 hour flight to Atlanta. Made it to Boston just in time to walk up to the plane to Columbus with about 15 minutes to spare.

Nothing really exciting on any flights, except a little girl about 20 rows in front of me threw up on her mom, but otherwise nothing interesting at all.

Reminder: Deadline for Guess the miles contest is Midnight Saturday (see previous blog entries for details, other entries are close but not right)

VACATION NEXT WEEK!!!!

Ireland

Sorry it took so long to report, but Internet access has been an issue. So has happened since update:

• Drove to Malaga and then flew to Dublin no problems, slept almost the whole way.
• Got through customs fine, got my ticket for the flight to Sligo
• The security line was moving along OK, but the lady in front of me was Eastern European, did not speak much English and had a baby in a stroller (Irish call it a pusher).
• As we approached the metal detector. the lady in front of me got very confused, the security people were telling her to put the stroller on the x-ray machine belt, so she did baby and all!!!
• They stopped the line, 2 more security people came up, this time the mother was scared thought she had did something wrong and started crying in an unknown tongue!!!
• I thought it was very funny, I have traveled a lot and I never saw someone try to put a baby through the X-ray machine!
• Flight to Sligo otherwise was good, small prop plane, sat next to a lady with talked my ear off the whole way. It was good to hear English again, so I did not mind.
• After landing, my luggage did not make it, so I has to wash the important pieces of clothes that I needed to wash the next day in the sink, and use the blow dryer to dry them off. My bag arrived about the 10 AM the next day, so at the break I changed my clothes in the bathroom at the plant, not ideal, but it worked fine.
• The hotel Clarion looks like a castle with 300 rooms, it used to be a psychiatric hospital, so the claim there are certain rooms that no ones stays in, because of the terrible things that happened in them, but I fine.
• Class went very well, finished the 1st class at Noon local time, waiting for the next one to start in 30 min.
• Last night several of us went to an Italian place in downtown Sligo. It was kind of weird eating Italian food, in Ireland, while they played Spanish music!!! Oh well , it could worse.
• Sleeping much better, 2 more nights until coming home!
• Weather is very rainy and cold, but people are great, very friendly and obviously much easier to communicate. They have already asked me to come back at the end of the 1st Quarter 2008.

Spain - Final

Today was the last day to be in Spain, went to Alhambra and it was amazing!! It was a palace and fort in the 12th century, the hand carvings that were done are hard to believe. The ceiling in king's throne room was made from cedar with ivory inlaid. I took about 100 pictures, hope they turn out.

I, of course, was the only American. There was a couple from France that spoke a little English, a couple from Italy and 1 from Mexico, all helped me out. I felt like I was getting a private tour, because our tour guide would explain everything in Spanish, and then come to me and explain it again in English. The amazing thing to me is that Heaven will make that palace look like a dump, when you think about it. The palace was beautiful, but the colors had faded and much of had been restored. I do not think there is ever any remodeling going on in heaven! Just lots of new construction, praise the Lord!

The only funny thing from the tour was another older German couple from Brazil. He spoke fair English, but did not have anything good to say about the Arabs, wonder what he was doing during WW 2?

Afterwards, I came back and cleared my email and took a nap.

Got up and made my last shopping trip in Spain. Got Angela a real nice ... (sorry have to wait until I can give it to her).

Actually ordered my dinner tonight in Spanish all by myself, "quatro with grande coke." That's right I ate where good Americans eat when in Spain, Burger King! Hey I just wanted something that reminded of USA. (#4 combo meal with a large coke). IT WAS VERY GOOD!

That's about all for today, on to Ireland tomorrow.

Spain day 4

• Started the day riding to the plant with Manolo, he is in charge of all projects at the plant. To my surprise as we were riding to work in his BMW, Elvis came on the radio! He explained that he has an MP3 player in his car and he loves American oldies! How funny, I rode to work listening to the temptations, etc.
• The class finished up today at 1:00 PM local time, remember they take a lunch break from 1:30 until 3:00 PM everyday. Lunch was uneventful, some kind of bean soup, with a combo platter of small piece of cucumber stuffed with meat, a small hamburger (didn't taste like hamburger), and a small piece of fish.
• I was supposed to meet with a few individuals in the PM, but they never showed up. I was working catching up on work e-mails, when an ambulance pulled in. After working in factories for almost 30 years, it is never good when an ambulance showed up. About 5:00 PM, I finished all I had to do when they told me there had been an accident in the plant. An 18 year old contract construction worker died in an accident. His father also works on the same construction job, so it was very bad for everyone.
• When I got back to the hotel I grabbed my camera and headed downtown, probably snapped 20+ pictures of Churches, fountains, streets, etc. Did a little shopping, and ate dinner at a sidewalk cafe. All in all pretty good day.
• They say that everyone says a twin somewhere in the world, well I saw my sister-in-law Tammy's twin tonight while I was walking, I did a double take, it was weird.
• Tomorrow is big day, the plant manager set me up on a tour of Alhambra. If you Google it you will find it is an ancient Arab palace that is still standing, a full report tomorrow night.
• Sunday is a travel day to Ireland, which means I that much closer to coming home!!
• BONUS Question: Guess how many miles I am travelling on this trip: Columbus to New York to Madrid, Spain to Granada, Spain to Malaga, Spain to Dublin, Ireland to Sligo, Ireland back to Dublin then on the Atlanta and finally back to Columbus.
• Winner gets a free Angela Salyer dessert! (Love you honey!) Only answers submitted as replies to this posting count. So have the kids get the globes and maps out and get started, winner announced next weekend when I return home. Correct answer based on the miles printed out on my flight itinerary.

Spain day 3

Well, I finally got to do some of the training I came here to do. It went very well, according to the plant manager, and I finish up tomorrow.

A couple of observations:

1. My hotel room has 2 twin beds
2. The worlds narrowest shower, I know I am not tiny, but I should I really have to stand sideways to take a shower?
3. No shower curtain on the shower, only about 6 inches of tile enclosure is all that keeps the water off the floor
4. My room has only 3 electric outlets total, 1 for the TV, 1 for the Mini frig, and 1 for the lamp in the corner, all on the same wall about 12 inches total apart. Most of you know that I have sleep apnea and sleep with a CPAP machine. So I had to put the pillow where my feet usually go, unplugged the lamp, but I did not realize that the light switch also controls the light over my head, so I quickly went to Plan B, which was unplug the TV. I could only take so much about the Dali Lama visiting the White House anyway.
5. You also have to leave your door key in this special slot inside your room or you have no power for anything! Spain must be a country that saves lots of power, the AC in the training room today felt like it was set on 80 and some still had sweaters on.
6. On the way home, as the cab was leaving the plant, we went about a mile and had to stop and wait of the goats and sheep to cross the road.
7. Think I mentioned earlier that they eat late, well it is true, lunch was from 1:30 to 2:30 and 1 of the guys is picking me up for dinner at 8:30! Food today was OK, pork chops, potato soup, french fries that were fried in something different, the fries were a little too greasy for me. Hopefully tonight will be something good with a local flavor.
8. Talked to my baby doll (Angela) and she told me about Rochelle Andrews, thanks to those who helped with food. I think Billy would appreciate chitterlings, to remind him of Mississippi!!
9. That all for now.

Spain day 2

• Picking up where I left off, flight over the ocean was great. A - 340 Airplane, large 4 engine type. Got to sit in 1st class with no one next to me. Seats reclined and even went totally flat, if you wanted to sleep. But I could not, since it my body was telling me it was only 11:00 PM.
• Each seat had it's own TV screen, so I picked 3 movies to watch, Evan Almighty (A), Chaos (A, but not for kids), Georgia Rules (C). Just fell asleep for a few minutes and they turned the lights on and served breakfast.
• Landed at Madrid and had 1 hour to make my flight to Granada, so in 1 hour I:
• Went down 3 flights of escalators
• Took a 15 minute train ride
• Went back up 3 different escalators
• Stood in line at customs
• Went down 3 more escalators
• took another train ride
• Went back up 3 more
• Stood in line at security got pulled out of line due to some batteries in my carry on
• Walked fast to my gate and made it with only 5 min to spare, I was last on on the plane
• They had car waiting for me, so made it to the hotel by 10:30 local time, 4:30 AM Ohio time.
• Took a nap, called my baby doll, who had just started work
• Took a walk, got lost, found out where I was, made it back to the hotel
• Cleared email, finished 1 book, talked to the people at the Abbott plant
• Watching TV right now, only 2 English speaking channels, CNBC and CNN - Europe, ugh!
• That's about it for today, not hungry, so probably will skip dinner.
• Granada is a typical, what I thought a European town would look like.
• All small cars, scooters, or motorcycles
• narrow streets, many of them 1 way
• most intersections are "roundabouts", like downtown Newark, but smaller in the middle.
• Hotel room is small, but OK.

Later, Jeff

Spain day 1

• Day 1 will be long and hopefully uneventful.
• Made it to New York, JFK Airport with no problems
• Next flight leaves for Madrid at 6:00 PM and arrives at 7:10 AM their time, not sure how many hours difference it is, but Angela said to find that out before I call her, and accidentally wake her up in the middle of the night.
• From Madrid I fly to Granada and conduct training classes until Friday.
• I am sitting in the business class lounge and it is much better than sitting at the gate for 3 hours. They have snacks, TV, things to read and Internet hookups to make the time pass. Looking for someone famous but nobody yet.
• Almost finished with a John Grisham book, called the "Broker" brought several more books to read during the trip.
• Big shock on exchange rate for money, only got about 0.65 euros for every $$$, so hope I didn't get ripped off, but live and learn. Just makes the presents smaller, sorry family.
• That's all for now, hopefully will be able to keep updating while I am gone.
• Y'all check in on Angela every once in a while.
• I asked Josh across the street to let me know if any cars come and go while I am gone. He laughed and said there are so many cars coming and going from our house every day, he could tell who was supposed to be there and who was not!!!
• Keep praying for the Knox's. Thanks to all who called, sent a note or brought food.

Later,

Jeff

Things you learn when you have sons

Thanks to Ron for sending around, (didn't know he knew my boys when they were little!)

1. A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.
2. If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.
3. A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.
4. If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.
5. You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.
6. The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
7. When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.
8. Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9. A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.
10. Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4- year old Boy.
11. Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12. Super glue is forever.
13. No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
14. Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15. VCR's do not eject "PB & J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.
16. Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17. Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18. You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.
19. Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.
20. The fire department in Austin, TX has a 5-minute response time.
21. The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.
22. It will, however, make cats dizzy.
23. Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy. .
24. 80% of Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.
25. 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.

Boys will be boys #6

(as told by the boys Aunt Tammy)

Nephews have been working all summer on preparing for deer season. Involves night filming, planting corn, feeding deer, purchasing the latest in hunter wear, etc., The evening before the big hunt, a traditional family dinner is prepared (pizza) and films are reviewed. Clothes are all sprayed with doe scent or "no" scent, I can't remember which, I just know the family dog goes bonkers sneezing in the meantime! Corey, nephew #3, is not really excited or into the scene as much as the others, doesn't really want to get up at 5:30am in a tree stand and has been known to sneak out of the stand, go home, sleeps until breakfast time and then pretends to arrive at home just in time for the hunters morning break. The event takes place at Gary's dad's farm. Great place, within sight (as long as you are in the tree stand) of their home. The "suburbs" sure are changing in Licking County! We were all given orders NOT to drive by and honk car horns and Gary is not to be mowing.

This past Saturday morning, first day of bow season, no deer in sight from 5:30am-10:30am....hunters go home for ham, gravy and biscuits and some sleep.....back in tree stands at 3:30pm until supposedly, dusk. Around 6pm, one of Gary's friend's truck konks out on River Rd and he pulls into the barn to phone for help. Another friend comes to pick him up and has to use the bathroom in the open air, behind the barn. (another "guy thing" all of which is being viewed from 4 treestands) Bathroom boy picks up a piece of iron and for some reason beats it a few times on the barn siding and drops it...just checking to see if it is iron, I guess, and proceeds to get in car with his friend and leaves. About that same time, the noise must have stirred hidden deer, as they were all around two of the stands. (3 Bucks and Does) Nephew #2 makes the first kill (14 pointer) and Corey, who isn't too much into hunting, has a 10 pointer under his treestand. Now, there is something about a guy and the excitement that takes over when a deer approaches and the raising of a bow.....I compare it to my excitement at a DSW shoe sale....it's a sweaty palm, heart racing, BIG thing.....Corey takes the shot and then..... passes out! Yes, you heard me correctly...passes out. His brother is running down the hill tracking his own kill and sees younger brother slumped over the rail of the treestand....luckily, he listened to Uncle Gary when he purchased the treestand with a bar that protects you from falling. Old brother climbs up in the treestand while yelling for everyone to help. Cell phones are dialed to mom & dad, aunt & uncle, who are just across the street and waiting for Ohio State game to start....great.

We arrive within minutes at the scene and big brother is coddling little brother, which we will NEVER let him forget, and little brother is white with teeth chattering. We can now spot a severe panic attack when we see one! The 14 pointer is laying a few feet away, mom takes over to calm little brother down, others are laughing hysterically at him. The story then began to unfold, Corey was not EXACTLY sure if his arrow hit the deer because he said it was either the deer he saw wobbling or HE was the one wobbling after he blacked out. Once the 14 pointer was gutted on the spot, the search began, which it was dark by now. I will never forget the vision of my brother in law with a OSU shirt that I think read , "Fear the Vest" and one of those miner flashlights on his head as he is searching for a deer that may or may not exist. I have never, ever, seen him in any type of brush/woods and here he was acting like he knew what and where to look...too funny. More friends arrived to help and luckily three were Park Rangers and very "into" the sport. Once Corey got his bearings, they had him reenact what he THOUGHT happened and how he was positioned, before passing out. To find a black arrow in pitch dark is one feat I would have beat against but low and behold, the Rangers found it and it appeared it entered clean through the deer. (not exactly "clean", blood on the entire arrow and small blood drops in the area) The group decided it best to wait until the following morning to track the deer so it will bleed out and hopefully not wander too far into a thicket. (hunter talk for saying, "I can't see a thing")

The next morning, 6:30am, Uncle Gary and the boys were on the search. Not sure who was more excited. Deer was found and definitely a big one, even if 4 points shy of big brothers...a much bigger deer. They were told it will be some kind of record more than likely. Nephew is thrilled and said he will not hunt again until one of his other relatives bags something bigger.......he has nothing more to prove! ha!

The hunt is still on for those that did not get a deer...."moose" as they call it, is still out there and makes these two deer look like Bambi. We'll see.


Looking forward to catch up on your "deer stories" !!



Tammy

Haven't we all felt this way?

One day while walking down the street a highly successful Human Resources Manager was tragically hit by a bus and she died. Her soul arrived up in heaven where she was met at the Pearly Gates by St. Peter himself.

"Welcome to Heaven," said St. Peter. "Before you get settled in though, it seems we have a problem. You see, strangely enough, we've never once had a Human Resources Manager make it this far and we're not really sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," said the woman.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have higher orders. What we're going to do is let you have a day in Hell and a day in Heaven and then you can choose whichever one you want to spend an eternity in."

"Actually, I think I've made up my mind, I prefer to stay in Heaven", said the woman

"Sorry, we have rules..."

And with that St. Peter put the executive in an elevator and it went down-down-down to hell.

The doors opened and she found herself stepping out onto the putting green of a beautiful golf course. In the distance was a country club and standing in front of her were all her friends - fellow executives that she had worked with and they were well dressed in evening gowns and cheering for her. They ran up and kissed her on both cheeks and they talked about old times.
They played an excellent round of golf and that night went to the country club where she enjoyed an excellent steak and lobster dinner.

She met the Devil who was actually a really nice guy (kind of cute)and she had a great time telling jokes and dancing.

She was having such a good time that before she knew it, it was time to leave. Everybody shook her hand and waved goodbye as she got on the elevator.

The elevator went up-up-up and opened back up at the Pearly Gates and found St. Peter waiting for her.

"Now it's time to spend a day in heaven," he said. So she spent the next 24 hours lounging around on clouds and playing the harp and singing. She had great time and before she knew it her 24 hours were up and St. Peter came and got her.

"So, you've spent a day in hell and you've spent a day in heaven. Now you must choose your eternity,"

The woman paused for a second and then replied, "Well, I never thought I'd say this, I mean, Heaven has been really great and all, but I think I had a better time in Hell."

So St. Peter escorted her to the elevator and again she went down-down-down back to Hell.
When the doors of the elevator opened she found herself standing in a desolate wasteland covered in garbage and filth. She saw her friends were dressed in rags and were picking up the garbage and putting it in sacks.

The Devil came up to her and put his arm around her. "I don't understand," stammered the woman, "yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and a country club and we ate lobster and we danced and had a great time. Now all there is a wasteland of garbage and all my friends look miserable."

The Devil looked at her smiled and said ...

"Yesterday we were recruiting you, today you're an Employee."

California - Day 5

• Well this ended up being the last day in CA. The meeting that was supposed to last all day was over by noon. So I called the travel agent to see if I could come home a day earlier, because I miss my sons (see comment on previous blog) and their mother.
• The journey from Alameda north to Sacramento was going to be tight time wise, so I had to go kind of fast sometimes (forgiveness was asked for any time a speed limit was broken by more than 10 MPH (which was a lot)
• At this tunnel outside of Oakland the traffic went from 4 lanes to 2 lanes so lost a lot of time waiting.
• The plane was supposed to leave at 1:45 PM, and as that time approached, I knew that in spite of my NASCAR type driving, I was not going to make it. So I started praying that if I was supposed to come home tonight the Lord would have to delay the take off of the plane.
• When I turned in my rental car, there was a problem with the receipt, so I had to go inside, where they were training someone new, which took more time.
• Finally got on the shuttle and the driver kept waiting and waiting to let more people get on.
• The United stop was the 3rd of 4 stops putting my farther behind.
• Got into the terminal at 2:10 PM, walked to the counter and asked what my options were because I had missed my flight and it was the last United flight out of there today.
• The guy looked at the computer screen and said, "It's just now starting to board"!! I said "PRAISE THE LORD!!!".
• I hurried down and made the flight with time to spare. I am writing this in Chicago waiting for the flight to Columbus. I told Angela this story and also said that if anything happens to me between now and the time I get home, it was definitely God's plan for me today!!
• It was a good week with making new friends, eating great food, and seeing some amazing sites, but glad to be home

Day 3 & Day 4

• Day 3 went very well, met with the team all day, helping them work on their ability to work together as a team. There seems to be some interpersonal issues, that surfaced, but the team was very honest and dealt with them well.
• We went to dinner at a restaurant on Fisherman's Wharf. Small place but good food, had shrimp & crab stuffed ravioli. Too full for dessert!
• Day 4 was supposed to conclude early, but several issues came up that kept the team there until after 5:00 PM. They all left and headed back to Fairfield, 2 hour drive.
• I finally got some free time. So I took the famous 17 mile drive down the coast. Saw lots of very pretty coast and ocean scenes, but it was kinda cold. Afterwards I drove down to Carmel and walked around downtown. It was a lot like downtown Granville, only more expensive and less people speaking English. Walked by lots of people speaking different language, but I remained calm, got Angela a present and made my way back to the hotel.
• Did not see anyone famous.
• Finally got to check my work email and had 46 emails!! Spent almost rest of evening getting caught up.
• Tomorrow I drive to Alameda, CA for meetings and then back to Sacramento for a 6:00 AM flight home on Friday.
• Cannot wait to see my baby doll!!!!!!!

Califormia Day #2

• The 2nd day started by meeting the Fairfield, CA plant staff and touring the the facility. They make bars (Zone and Glucerna primarily). It is the smallest of all the plants in our division with only 200 people.
• After leaving the plant, I stopped at the Jelly Belly jelly bean factory which is right across the street from the Abbott plant. Did not have the time to take the tour, but went into the visitors center and bought some jelly beans, Angela does like them so I can share her part if it anyone is interested.
• Then drove about 2 hours southwest to Monterrey, CA right on the ocean. My room has a partial view. I guess there was famous old book written about Cannery Row here, but if I read it I forgot it.
• The whole group went to dinner at a seafood place on the ocean and they made me order the lobster, it also came with shrimp and scallops, so I was very happy we had to walk a little to get back to where we parked. IT WAS VERY GOOD!

California - Day #1 - random thoughts

Yesterday was a very long day. Flying from Columbus to Chicago to Sacramento (6 hours in the air) then drive 1 hour to Fairfield, CA, UGH!

• Heard church was great, thanks to Billy for teaching for me, hope someone remembered to turn the coffee pots off.
• Never have flown into this part of California before, the airport is about 10 miles from civilization, completely surrounded by farms and fields, very pretty though.
• Traffic was nuts even at 6:00 PM local time (9:00 PM in O-H-I-O). 3 lanes each way going about 75 MPH both ways on I-80. Rental car is a little Ford Focus and it was doing about all it could to keep up.
• Hate that i missed the Browns game, it figures, the game I miss is when they score 51 points! Brady who?
• Sat next to guy with a Michigan shirt on the flight, made sure they kept sharp objects away from him.
• Very nice room, has a "comfort" bed so you can dial in the firmness you want, almost made up for not having my baby doll (Angela, if you did not know) sleeping next to me. Missing her already, but Brandon came home so I am sure she will be busy today, anyway.
• Getting ready to go to the Plant today, will have a day #2 report later.
  

POWERFUL!!! (must pause music player on right)

Random update 9/4/2007

What a weekend, it was great but very busy.

• On Saturday we had our CONNECT group over for a tailgate party to celebrate the beginning of football season. It was a GREAT day, supposed to last until 4:00 PM but went on until after 8:00 PM. We had a lot of fun with cornhole, eating, talking, and eating again. Angela made a Buckeye cheesecake that was gone by the end of the day to tell you how good it was.
• Good day = All OSU fans, Bad day = Mississippi State fan (DD) and Michigan fan (SH).
• Sunday was also very good. Drason shared from his mission trip with the church to Maine, class was good as well. Had a family thing rest of the day with perfect weather, and more good food.
• Monday, another great day. Went to Swappers Day, think "Deliverance" yard sales, and you will get the picture. Went with Brandon, Blake, and John. Blake bought a semi-auto shotgun after taking up a collection from all present. We found a food booth that sells turkey legs that were HUGE!
• Last night Angela and I tried a new restaurant, The Grill, in the north end of town. Was really good and not too expensive. Came home and watched the Indians beat the Twins again.
• Today I found out Amanda had quit her job and was seeking God's new direction in her life. Prayt that God will their family's needs. (I think she could fill in for Dr. Phil when he is on vacation, but we will see.)
• Leaving for Chicago tonight for a couple of days
• Brandon and Corey may be moving out this week to their house in Columbus for school, so we might be empty nesters, until they come home again. They are growing up tooooooooooo fast. But I am very proud of all 3 boys. (so DO NOT do anything that not make me proud of you)
• No Boys will be Boys updates, yet, that I know of!

wish this was my little girl!

World Clock - Click HERE

Check this out! Ron & Angela both sent me this link

click the title above

Boys will be boys #5

A couple of Sundays ago, after we ate lunch, the boys went to Big Lots and bought some assorted water toys for the yard, a blow up swimming pool, 2 slip and slide things, etc. They played with them in the back yard with some neighbor kids.

Came home that night from church and everything was in the front yard with a hand made sign "Park Trails Public Pool" next to the blow up pool.

A little later, Angela just happened to be talking to a neighbor and the neighbor mentioned how much fun the boys had sliding into the pool. Angela had quizzical looks (as you could imagine) and the neighbor went on to tell her what happened.

Sunday night when we were at church, the boys took the slip and slide, put it on the stairs inside the house, put the blow up pool outside the front door, covered themselves with Palmolive dish washing liquid, and slide from the top of our stairs, out the door and into the pool!!!!!!!

Not only that, they videotaped it! I have not seen it, but they showed it to Angela and she about had a heart attack.

Apparently it was the talk of the neighborhood, with cars honking, neighbors stopping by for the show, etc.

I cannot wait to have grand kids and tell them all the interesting things there fathers did growing up!

And by the way, if anyone knows of anything our boys have done that we should know about, please let us know before we see the video!!!

Just catching up

Wow, I did not realize it was 7/11/2007 since I last updated my blog. At least I am not as bad as Pastor Dear, 6/25/2007 last update. I thought when Pastor Shawn got here his life would be easier? Sure DD is keeping him busy!!

Here is what happened since last update:

• Went to Chicago for 2 days worth of meeting, tried to fly back on the 6:15 AM flight, but flight was delayed 4 hours, so what else is new? almost always happens to me.
• Signed up to take a cruise with the family the week before Christmas, never been on one, but have wanted to for a long time. Found a great deal to the Western Caribbean for 5 nights
• Angela's sister Tammy had the great(?) idea to have a wiener roast last Saturday night! It was only about 85 outside, but she thought it would be fun? What was funny is she came to our house to cool down! Ended up being fine, cooled off very nicely when the sun started going down.
• Tammy got the twins and Brooklyn BB guns so they were entertained the whole time shooting empty coke cans
• Had the Salyer family reunion on Sunday (that was why we left church early, nothing wrong Pastor Shawn, it had nothing to do with the songs written in 15 sharps). Had a good time, Angela had to work, so she left early, I don't think she enjoys buffets of food, cooked by unknown people, sitting out on picnic tables on a hot day, too much.
• Brandon & Corey organized the family softball game and their team won
• My brother Jim and family came. Could not believe my nephew, Nathan, lost about 100 pounds! Looked like a different kid, much better.
• Having a great week at work, nice to get up, go to work, come home, eat Angela's food, for a change. Start traveling again next week to VA and then MI at the end of the month. Do I need a tetanus shot before crossing the Michigan border?

travel woes

I flew from Columbus yesterday through Chicago and on to Phoenix.

1. Flight was delayed leaving Columbus almost an hour due to the storm. Hasn't rained in almost a month, but when I am trying to fly out of town it storms
2. Flight leaving Chicago delayed 30 mins before boarding
3. Once boarding finally started we had to wait in the 90 degree, at least, Jetway, while the crew got a 95 year woman on her last leg settled in her seat.
4. As I was getting on I heard a yipping dog, I had a bad experience with dogs and planes once. I sat next to a lady with a dog that yipped for 4 hours!! She kept giving it these pills to relax it, she ended up giving it about 10 pills before it quieted down, hope the dog was OK.
5. Back to the story,
6. I am sitting right behind the elderly woman, the man who had the dog was the son-in-law of the elderly woman listed above, and he was sitting across the aisle from me, in the middle seat. The man between him and me was allergic to dogs and was making a BIG STINK about it.
7. Then a family gets on the plane, grandma, grandpa, mom and 2 little boys, all sitting apart from each other. Grandma sits next to me, grandpa was putting his crane in the overhead bin when he accidentally whacked the guy who was complaining about the dog, in the side of the head!!!
8. The guy gets even more upset, so now the flight attendant gets involved and musical chairs begins.
9. The guy with the dog switches places with grandma, so he is sitting on my right in the middle, with his wife, daughter of the old lady, right in front of him, dog under seat in front of him.
10. Grandma gets moved next to the guy complaining about the dog and getting hit in the head, and grandpa is now sitting right in front of her.
11. NOW the plane gets delayed for 2 hours on the runway due to a storm in Chicago! (see #1 above)
12. Finally, the plane takes off but only after the pilot comes back and checks the old lady out, I think he was seriously thinking about asking her to get off the plane, she looked that bad. Daughter got medicine and gave her some and she settled down.
13. Finally take off, dog is fine, old lady asleep, chair all the way back in my lap, bad guy finally calmed down, when 2 hours into a 3 hour flight the guy with the dog, gets out his cell phone and calls someone in Phoenix telling them they will be late!
14. Flight attendants come from both directions telling the guy he just broke federal law and telling him to turn it off. He does turn it off, claims ignorance and flight lands without a problem.
15. Get bag pretty quick, get to rental car fine, look at display on the car and it 8:00 PM and still 98 degrees outside!
16. Today coming back from the plant it was 109! Don't care if it is dry heat or not, 109 is HOT!
17. Gotta be an easier way to make a living!

The Bridge Builder

by Will Allen Dromgoole

An old man, going a lone highway,
Came, at the evening, cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.

The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned, when safe on the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim, near,
"You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way;
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide-
Why build you a bridge at the eventide?"

The builder lifted his old gray head:
"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,
"There followeth after me today,
A youth, whose feet must pass this way.

This chasm, that has been naught to me,
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him."

This is my hope and prayer that I can be a bridge builder for my sons.

Some of the things they think are "old fashioned" today, are really the bridges we built based on the times we crossed the turbulent river.

Boys will be Boys #4

Tyler and Rachel were driving today from his Grandmother's house in Morehead, KY here today, when he spotted 2 puppy dogs on the side of the road. Being the good Christian boy he is, he stopped and picked them up. So now we have 2 more dogs, Tyler and Rachel for the week, so we have a house full.

Corey and Jeremiah also fell in love with the dogs, and noticed they had lots of ticks and burrs on them. Corey had the idea that after they took the tics off the dogs, they would burn them in a small coffee can. Things were going well until the fire went out and Corey had the bright idea to add GASOLINE to the embers!!! As I was screaming "No, Corey it will catch fire" you guessed the fire went from the coffee can up the gas pouring out into the gas can itself and started burning. Well Corey threw the can down (close to the house) as Tyler grabbed the hose and Corey tried to hook the hose up to the faucet, as everyone else took off running. Finally, the hose was hooked up and the fire was doused with only a small ring of burnt grass around the coffee can and a melted gas can to show for the excitement.

As Corey was telling Brandon the story, it reminded him of a time in Jackson, TN where he and his friend Will had a similar problem, but that time some of the gas got on the house and caught it in fire! (Sorry Donna and Lewis, I had not heard this story before). They got the fire out before much damage, but Brandon noted that there is still a mark on the house today!

boys will be boys #3

Banjo = $200

Decoys of woodland creatures = $100

Enjoying the warm sumer night with your friends = PRICELESS

Boys will be Boys #2

Had a GREAT Fathers day! Tyler called from Memphis early in the AM, Brandon gave me his present before he left for Napoleon, Ohio, and Corey slept on the couch all afternoon while I paid bills and balanced the checkbook!

• Tyler called today and said he was doing laundry recently and saw smoke coming from his clothes dryer! Seems like the clothes he was wearing while rebuilding his car were soaked with gasoline. Well the washer did not remove all of the gas and it spread to the other clothes, so when he put them in the dryer they caught fire! Luckily he was right there and was able to put out the fire before it spread.
• Still waiting on my Fathers Day present from Corey and Tyler. Corey said it was on the way but it was "complicated". (Found out today that "complicated" was a cash flow issue = too much cash out, not enough cash in), but I think they are in Columbus right now getting it.
• Brandon was bought a new TV and sold his old one to Corey and his old Wii to me. Has basement set up like a theater to watch it. Brandon has his paps wheeling and dealing genes in him. Pap would be proud.
• Both Brandon and Corey are doing very well in softball right now, Corey finally got moved to the outfield where his speed is a big plus. I am amazed at how fast my boys can run, I was never as fast as they are!

Neon is fading quickly, engine almost gone, needs to be replaced, but would cost more than I paid for the car. #1 prayer request = figure out what to do about a new car. Hate to buy a new car, but need something reliable. Tyler is going to try to work his car magic on it like he did on his car. Really have nothing to lose.

FINALLY, working in Columbus after 2 weeks in Chicago. Traveling is OK, but I miss sleeping next to my wonderful wife! She is much softer and sweeter than any hotel room will ever be! Glad to be home, unlike some people I know, I enjoy home cooking more then eating out!

I am thankful for a wife that loves to cook for her husband and family. Right now she is in bed reading her recipes preparing for Tyler's visit next week.

Pray for our CONNECT group, we have had a couple of visitors the last couple of weeks, one very strange one and one very nice one. Summer is a hard time for people with young kids due to sports, and vacations, but pray that remember their class cares for them and misses them when they are gone.

That's all for now, good night, and God Bless!

Boys will be boys

• Sitting in a hotel room in Chicago watching the Cavs trying to play basketball. They are losing by 5 points going into the 4th quarter
• Tyler rebuilt the engine on his car last weekend! That boy amazes me with his know how and willingness to do things I would never dream of doing. Replaced a few parts and got it back together and the car runs fine.
• Corey fell asleep on the couch last week so Brandon thought he would be funny, so he put hot sauce on Corey's lips, guess it about burned him up!!
• Angela got Brandon back by putting the same hot sauce on his taco, he took a bite of it and almost threw up.
• Brandon and Corey had this great idea to help do the landscaping on our front yard, but Angela is having a hard time getting them to finish the job. They did a good job of clearing the old stuff out, but need to build a retaining wall before we can plant the new stuff.
• Thats all for now!

Amazing Computer Animation

Hit Pause button (II) on Music Player at right for this to work correctly

Memorial Day

How easy it is to just enjoy the great weather and the day off of work, without really remembering what Memorial Day is all about.

I have to admit that our family has been very lucky in that no relative, that I know of, has paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

BUT that does not relieve me of the obligation to stop and say a special prayer this weekend for all of those families who have lost love ones defending our country!

We are very blessed to live in a country where men and women have always been willing to take the fight to the enemy and defend all of us, even those that do not agree with them.

I think there are 2 things that make our country great:

• Freedom of Religion, for each to search out and understand how God is reaching down to us, just like our salvation, where we are free to choose to follow Christ.
• Freedom of Speech, many people confuse their freedom to speak with my freedom to listen! Everyone in this country has the right to say whatever they want to, but we also have the right to listen or not to listen! Sometimes this causes people to say and do things that are the opposite of what I believe (think Rosie), but our troops are still dieing today to protect that right!

So make sure you stop this weekend, visit the grave of a loved one who has passed on, and say a prayer for them, their family, and then pray for our troops, and our leaders. They need it, they are under all kinds of attacks; spiritual and physical.

GOD BLESS THE USA!

Ballad of the Average Joe

To the tune of "Somewhere over the Rainbow"....

Somewhere under the radar
Out of sight

I’ll be quietly working
Away from the lime light

Somewhere under the radar
It just feels right

Too much noise and attention
Is a future not so bright

Someday I’ll wish upon a star
That average Joes will go as far as EE’s

Without the pain and suffering
That visibility can bring,

That’s where you’ll find me.
Somewhere under the radar

Try as I might
Life in the safe zone can be

Soaring at your own new height.

Dreary Day

We are finally getting some long overdue rain. Grass was just starting to look brown in some places. This week should be a good week at work after yesterday which was wall to wall meetings. My boss will in Chicago all next week so things are always a little slower, can get caught up on some things. Don't get me wrong I like my boss a lot and definitely have had a lot worse. somehow it it is just different.

Mark and I were discussing work last Saturday on our way to Buca. somehow we got on the subject of what kind of workers should Christians be? I have always believed that Christians need to put forth extra effort, more than others as another way of showing we are different than the world.

For me, it comes back to the cliche' that "I may be the only Christian some people ever see" or "If every Christan was just like me, what kind of world would this world be?" I really believe we need to stand out at work more than we do at home or church.

I have had people report to me, who called themselves Christians, but took every opportunity to get out of doing what was expected of them!! When I called them on it, they claimed that what happens at work was different than what happens outside, NO IT DOES NOT!

How effective of a witness would anyone have if they cannot lead by example in the simple basic things of everyday life?

Something to think about on this dreary day, time for ME to get to work!

Sad times

This not been a fun week at the Salyers.

1 of the twin great nephews fell off a chair and broke his arm.

Brandon's leg showed "abnormal" on an X-ray and he has a an MRI tomorrow morning

And Henry is in Hospice as his body is shutting down.

The week has been such an emotional roller coaster that it is hard to put into words how I feel. I know that God will take care of Brandon.

gotta a cut this short, Tanny just called and wanted us to come back to the hospital.

Just pray for all 3 of those listed and their families.

Raising Kids

With our church hosting a Global Impact Celebration this weekend, we get to have a missionary speak during CONNECT group, so I get the week off from teaching.

The 1st speaker was great. Walker Moore, was here Wed & Thurs and he was both funny and challenging. Thursday was especially good. He talked about the concept of kids growing up, how they need to act like and be treated like adults at a specific time during their lives. I agree with the concept and can look back how in our son's lives how that has worked well for us and allowed our boys to learn some responsibility at a young age.

Tyler was a store manager of a dry cleaners at age 15, Corey has had his own business mowing yards for several years, and Brandon has had a job outside the home almost since the time he could drive. We have tried to make sure they are not given everything, and I feel they have an appreciation for the value of a dollar and that it is OK to work towards something before you get it.

I can just look around and still see people who call their 30 year old kids to get them out of bed in the morning so they are not late to work. The kids never learned any responsibility because they never mowed a yard or helped out around the house that I know of anyway.

Our boys are not perfect and have made mistakes, but the thing I am proudest of is that they have learned from the past and are better men today for it. No parent wants their kid to have to go through hard times or struggle with relationships or money or problems.

THAT is the point where kids have to grow up. When they go against the way they were raised and make a bad choice, they always know that love at our house is unconditional, but there are consequences for actions. When they take that responsibility, they become the men God wants them to be.

Jack blew it?

I can't believe it but Jack Bauer just let the Chinese get the circuit board and escape!! Today's episode of 24 was great!! Not only did Jack make a big mistake (which keeps the show on the air) but Bill Buchanan was fired by his wife! Great story lines are emerging, this is a well written show.

Now back to reality:

• New worship pastor accepted the call and starts in June! Can't wait, think he will be just what the church needs to continue the blessing's God is giving our church
• Spent last Wed-Fri in Chicago, hated being away from the family, but suffered through 4 star meals, 800 thread count sheets, and 3 kinds of creme brule` all at the same time! Life is tough sometimes.
• Helped scrub the outside of the Dear's new house Saturday got lots of sun and the house looks like new.
• God continues to bless our CONNECT group. Laura's 2 daughters were saved on Sunday morning, ate lunch with Amanda and Drason Sunday shared horror stories of raising 3 sons.
• The study of Romans is amazing! I am learning so much as I prepare the lesson about how God is working all around us.
• Actually using the treadmill, trying to get my summer body ready, it will take awhile I am sure.
• Pray for Global Focus this week at church, pray that God will speak to lives and people have the courage to answer.
• Thank God everyday for 1 thing he has done for you recently! It will make your day.

Easter Sunday

Here is my beautiful wife dressed up as the "Easter Bunny" with all of the little kids in the family. This has become a family tradition because the kids love it!!

We had great day in all respects. Church was super with salvation's at both services. Our Sunday School class had record breaking attendance with new couples joining and becoming involved in our church.

The lesson was out of Romans,

(Rom 1:4 MSG) his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting him apart as the Messiah, our Master.

What a perfect verse for Easter Sunday where we celebrate the resurrection of our savior! That verse tells it all about why Easter is so important to Christians, it is that resurrection that sets Jesus apart from everyone else that claims any kind of power or ability to save us from our sins.

That should get us all excited about becoming a better christian this year. No matter what we have done in the past, we are all forgiven by the true savior who rose from the dead and lives today in Heaven.

Amazing Grace

• Angela and I went to see the movie "Amazing Grace" last night. I give it a B+. It was the story of an English politician in the 18thCentury who fought for, and finally succeeded in getting the slave trade banned in England. His inspiration was his Pastor, an ex-slave trade ship captain who became a christian and gave up his job, to serve the Lord.
• I wondered later, how many of us would do that? What if God convicted us that our job was getting in the way of serving him and led us to quit and go another direction with our life.
• I know of 1 person would did that, my father-in-law, Billy Allen.
• He was 40 years, a successful business man whom God called him into the ministry. He gave it all up and to do the Lord's work. From what Angela tells me, there was much financial sacrifice, but he never wavered. He went on to be a successful Pastor for 17 years, before God called him home. What a role model he was!
• I think that is what separates people in life, the amount of passion and commitment they have for what they believe in. Way too many people in life, just want to coast through their job, their spiritual walk, and their relationship with others and their relationship with Christ. They really do not want to listen to what God is telling them to do, mostly out of fear of the unknown.
• That is why people like Billy Allen and some long forgotten English politician, can change their part of the world and make the world a better place for all of us, still today.
• What is stopping you or me from changing our little corner of the world?

Pictures from recent trip

Tyler cooking

Old Friends

Statue of Liberation in Memphis

Tylers class

What a week

• Well the Buckeyes pulled one out last night! We were down by 17 points at halftime but we chipped away and finally went ahead with a few minutes to go. We made a free throw with about 3 seconds left and UT had 1 last shot that our big guy blocked. The only problem was the game was not over until about 12:30 AM this morning!!!

• Sorry to my UT friends, this was payback from the football bowl game where you cheated and beat us (you know what happened)

• Starting to get quotes for fixing the house back up, may have to move out for a few days after they sand the floor to let the new coating dry. Angela is working on other options, that are more family friendly.

• Brandon home this week on spring break. He finally bought a Nintendo Wii, and man it is fun!!! for those uninformed, it is a wireless system where you swing the controller based on the game you are playing. for example, when you are playing the bowling game, you swing it like you are throwing a really bowling ball. Great fun for the whole family. Even Angela and Tammy got into the act. Brandon goes back to school this Sunday, guess he will want to take it with him, maybe not.

• Corey got a haircut!! Hasn't been this short in a long time, looks like he is 25 years old. He is going professional this summer with his mowing business, advertising and working for the same guy Brandon did last summer.

• Have one of the new couples from church coming over tonight, trying to meet more of the people in the CONNECT group. One thing we all need to watch is that we don't always stay with the same people from church and form a clique. We need to reach out and make new people feel at home, meet new people, pay forward some of the blessings God had given to us.

• I would like to challenge all of you to invite someone you know over to your house for some fun and conversation. If you think your house is not big or nice enough, be very careful, God has blessed each of us with what we have for a reason, His glory. We need to use what he has given us big or little. I really believe we have to show God we can handle what he has given us, before He will bless us with more. So pay it forward for His glory!

It happened again!

I was traveling to my office so I decided to check voice mails on the way. I had 2 frantic messages from Angela saying there was water everywhere and she did not know how to turn it off!

The water supply line to the sink broke and water was pouring out from under the sink. She called Todd and Corey, both were close by. By the time they got it off it was about ankle deep in the kitchen.

So here we are again facing the replacement of the kitchen floor. The same thing happened before when the valve on the ice maker to the refrigerator busted and a much smaller amount of water was spilled.

This time we might have to replace the kitchen cabinet(s), the floor again, and a few things in the basement. Angela had just looked and it had been almost 1 year since it happened the 1st time.

And of course it could not happen at a worst time. We have some people from our CONNECT group coming over on Friday night and the Music Pastor search team over Saturday. Angela is really handling it well, all things considered.

stuck again

Well it is 10:00 PM eastern time and I am stuck in an airport again! My boss Patti and I are in Chicago for 2 days of meetings. We left for the airport today about 4:00 PM for a 7:30 PM flight that is now delayed until 11:35 PM, if all goes well, will get in about 1:00 AM and then drive home get some sleep and have very important meeting with the VP of HR at 10:00 AM!!

I have been here so long that my laptop battery died and I had to switch batteries with Patti from her laptop.

And I am glad I did!

It seems that when my baby doll gets lonely she gets on eBay and looks around, well to my surprise she is bidding on 4 items, hair barrettes.

If you know Angela, you could guess that plain plastic $1 kind would not be for her. No she is bidding on items around $10 each! Who ever heard of antique hair barrettes? I am sure one of them was like that.

Leave it Angela to find "Hair Jewelry"! In addition she won a ring and is bidding on others. Guess I will have to change my password again.

I am starting to see a pattern with my family when I leave town. Either going out to dinner without me or EBay shopping or something. Oh well, it could be worse, at least when I get home I know they will be there and will genuinely welcome me home.

I now understand why they ask, "When are going out of town again?"

Jeff

wierd sounds

Angela called me at work today to say that the shower in the boys bathroom was making a weird noise, like motor running, causing the pipe to vibrate.

She called Todd, our personal fix it guy, who came over about 7:00 PM. I went upstairs with him and sure enough there was a low humming sound coming from the shower head. We checked in Corey's bedroom to see if he had anything hid in his closet. (The back of his closet is on the other side of the wall of the shower).

The sound was definitely coming from the shower head, we looked around and didn't find anything until Todd picked up Corey's razor, (why does he have a razor?). He had bought one of those new razors that has a battery that vibrates, supposedly to give you a closer shave. It was running! Since it was hanging on one of those shower caddies that hang on the shower head, the vibration was going to shower head, mystery solved!

We all got a good laugh out of it, except Corey who is in denial about that being the cause.

We also one of the families that heard a BOOM outside of our house last week. It made it into the papers that people from Columbus to Newark to Zanesville heard what sounded like a sonic boom between 9:00 PM and 11:00 PM. Corey even went outside to see if something hit the house.

The official government version said it was nothing, but I think it was secret of aircraft flying over. I am not paranoid or anything but you never know~!

not my idea of fun

Well it's 7:15 PM on Monday night and I have been waiting in the Ottawa airport since 3:30 this afternoon. My flight was supposed to take off at 5:13, then 6:30 and now 7:50. That takes me to Chicago and then I hope to catch the last flight out for Columbus. If not it will be the 3rd time spending the night in an airport, which is not fun. Will try for hotel, but most will be booked up by now.

The ironic part is that it was a beautiful day here today. It was cold, but the sun was shining brightly. The bad weather was closing in on Chicago, no snow but low clouds slowing down the airplanes. I knew the bad weather was coming, which is why I was leaving tonight instead of tomorrow, so much for trying to plan ahead.

I found out my family had a party while I was gone and then someone went to Abuello's without me (course they charged it to me, I love computers, you see who is spending what almost instantly). I am beginning to worry that Angela is out for my money, I will have to keep an eye on her.

Supposed to get a big storm tomorrow, planning on working from, if I make it home, on Tuesday.


Nothing much new with the boys:

• Tyler moved into his house
• Brandon moved out of his old dorm, into a new room
• Corey didn't go anywhere

Big News, I almost forgot, Brandon and Charlie won some kind of a video game tournament at OSU! Hopefully the start of something big, maybe he can make a living and pay off our mortgage or something. Thanks Brandon, I know you will do the right thing.

That's all, I see a plane pulling up, PRAY FOR ME to get home tonight. I need to keep my baby doll warm!

Big Daddy

Winter Wonderland!

• It has been quite a week so far. Temperatures below zero, snowed about 4 inches today. It took my 45 minutes to get to work this morning and over an hour and half to get home. Averaged about 20 MPH all the way home tonight but made it home safely.
• Monday AM on my way to work I was stopped at the light by Bob Evans, getting ready to make a left turn onto the freeway, when the brake peddle went all the way to the floor! What are the odds of the brakes failing while I was stopped instead of traveling 60 MPH! It shook me a little, but know God's hand was on me and I made it safely to Deke's. so the Neon is back in the shop, getting new rear brakes.
• We are finally in the process of finishing the family room. When I lost my job in 2000 we had just finished the kitchen. God has provided the $$$ and we are painting the family room barn red and have a new couch on order. The painter has the 1st coat on the loft and it looks better than I could have imagined. Cannot wait until it is all done. My sister-in-law Pam liked the idea so much she went and bought the exact same sectional sofa we got!
• Tyler is fixing up his new house before moving in. He put tile in the kitchen and will have hardwood floors down before he moves in. Not sure where he gets his talent, but must be from his great grandfather Salyer. Sure not from me, I am not allowed to do anything involving tools or a paint brush.
• Corey's basketball team lost their tournament game so the season is over. The most memorable part was at the end of the 1st quarter Corey got a technical from the ref! He had to stay seated for the rest of the game, which was the only time this season he sat down.
• Have to travel to Canada next week for business, cannot imagine how cold and snowy it will be but will give a full report when I return.
• Question: Why do people have blogs and only update them once a month? Their lives must be so boring they have nothing to write about.
• God bless and stay warm and safe!

Is January over already?

Hard to believe today is the end of the 1st month of the year. Time is really going by fast. A couple of things are already obvious about this coming year:

1. Our cars are falling apart, the Neon is in the shop, the Caddy is still losing oil. I did some research today and found out the problem with the Caddy is the Northstar engine is prone to lose oil! The options are spend $2,000 to fix or put 1 quart of oil in the engine with every fill up! Guess which option I will choose.
2. Pastor Noel preached against playing the lottery (how did that guy get here anyway?) So now I have follow around armoured cars hoping they crash to get rich quickly
3. Our boys are becoming men, Tyler closed on his house yesterday, Corey is doing great job coaching and moving out in the fall, and Brandon actually turned in his meal plan at OSU because he was not using it very much, saved a bunch of money.
4. Finally getting the family room painted and new furniture on the way! Had been on hold since I lost my job at Longaberger, but God has been good!
5. Finally, Tinker, the dog, snores worse than Granny James every did! He climbed up between Angela and I this AM, and woke me up at 0500, snoring in my ear.

GOD IS GOOD! It will be a great year!

Please call me this from now on

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Reverend Lord Jeffrey the Harmonious of Colquhoun St Cahoon Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

lot going on since last time

The Salyer house has been very busy over the last few weeks:

• We had a water leak in both bathrooms and had to have the tile replaced.
• We bought a new sectional couch, yet to be delivered
• Took the twins to a model train show last week, I had a great time, but the boys told Angela "this better be good" before we went. Bribed them with pancakes from Bob Evans before we went.
• Corey's basketball team is doing great, won 4 in a row, homecoming game tonight (for middle school?) against Madison who defeated them soundly the 1st time(32 - 2 after 3 quarters).
• Brandon got another deer and was invited to an archery event at Ohio State with the archery team, apparently he is a very good shot!
• Tyler bought a house and closing next week, moving in before Valentines day
• Angela fell on the ice and is slowly recovering
• I got my passport and am getting ready to travel to Canada next month, (yes you need a passport to get to Canada now, don't you watch the news?)
• Jack Bauer is trying to find his Dad on 24, wonder if he knows his brother tried to have him killed?
• Hero needs to find a special sword on "Heroes" to retain his power
• Smash got busted by his mom over the steroids, but Coach Taylor did not turn him in. (cannot wait until next week when Buddy Garrity gets the shock of his life)
• Neon been running all week with the "Check Engine" light on, no time or $$$ to fix.
• OSU basketball team is for real!

Is that enough? Hope your week went calmer.

Have you got 24 fever?

I have caught the "24" fever. It was only the end of 2004 when I started watching. Have not missed an episode since, keep thinking I will go back and watch the early seasons, but have not taken the time.

Jack Bauer is an American superhero come to life. He can do amazing things every hour the show is on. If you have not seen the show, it takes place over 24 hours (hence the name) each show is 1 hour long. In the 1st 4 hours of the show this season:

• Jack has been returned from the Chinese prison
• Traded to Muslim terrorists by the US government so the US can capture another bad guy.
• Escaped from the bad guys
• Found another bad guy who is really a good guy when no one else could.
• Tracked down another family being held captive by even more bad guys
• Killed one of his best friends because he (Curtis) didn't like the bad guy who is now the good guy.
• Almost had a mental breakdown
• Watched a nuclear bomb explode in downtown LA, (not Lower Alabama either, but the one in California)

What a way to start a day!!!!

Another good week

• I got rid of the walking boot and crutch this week. Doctor said break was healed, but need to wear an ankle brace for 3 weeks
• Corey's team won both games this week, his team is really getting better. Wonder if he will be the next Thad Matta?
• The OSU Basketball team finally beat a ranked team yesterday. We beat UT on a last second shot. It will take something like this help Buckeye fans get over the football team loss.
• Went to Japanese Steakhouse yesterday with Bonner's and their grandkids. It was Brooklyn's birthday. The kids were excited about all the knife twirling and fast movements made by the Chef.
• Close to buying a new couch for the 1st time in over a decade! Angela thought she wanted a sectional, but Tammy tried to talk her into a couch and love seat. I am OK either way, but do not really like the sectionals with a chaise on the end. But willing to go along, just excited about something new.
• Tonight opening night for TV show "24". All kids are going to Tammy's to watch with her and Gary on their plasma TV. 2 hours tonight and 2 hours tomorrow.
• Continue praying for our CONNECT group. We are still growing, pray that we are effective in our outreach to new couples in our church.

Bad night last night

Well, we had waited 51 days since beating Michigan to claim our next National Championship. Everything was ready at home. The family showed up, we moved the furniture around. We even placed the buckeye helmet and bobbleheads back on the TV like we had for every game this year. I even wore my "Big Daddy" jersey that Corey got me for Christmas 2 years ago. That jersey has only been worn twice before last night. The Texas game and the Michigan game both wins. I didn't know what else to do to get ready.

We got the opening kickoff and ran it back all the way for a touchdown! Pandamonium at the house jumping and shouting, excitment all around. Little did I realize it would downhill fast from there on. During the celebration in the end zone, someone jumped on Ted Ginn's ankle and he was out for the rest of the game.

It would not have mattered, we stunk!

at times it looked like we were playing with 4 lineman not 5 because Troy Smith never had any time to do anything. Worst performance by an OSU team I can remember.

Today at work was not much better, everyone quiet and moping around. Trying to remember the good year we had.

But Remember: We were in the National Championship Game and only 1 other team made it there. We had a great year with lots of good memories, beating Texas and Michigan. don't forget, spring practice is only a few months away.