If you could learn the truth about one crime in the past, which one would it be?
bjm
Friday, October 06, 2006
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Cottage Closing
Well, Paul and John AND Eileen and Brendan, instead of George and Ringo, went to Canada at the end of September to close the cottage.
Despite a brief but heavy downpour, we did enjoy a nice fall weekend. we didn't get in a last sail but 3 of us did get in a last swim. When you got out of the 63 degree water and into the 70 degree air, you realize the water is not too bad.
And speaking of water, Paul was quite the trouper when it came time to turn off the water and “winterize” the pumping station. He, with rubber-gloved hands, jumped right in to offer assistance. A key to this year’s process was dumping 10 or so buckets of lake water directly into the tank to load the pump to holding tank pipe with cleaner water. There was no screaming when it came time to trip the dreaded butterfly valve.
Somewhere along the way, the pump à tank pipe broke – so a repair must be made prior to turning the water on next spring.
On Saturday night, I played my only game of hearts the whole year. Paul, a first time player, won the game by shooting the moon on the last hand. We all saw it coming but John and Eileen didn’t want to make the sacrifice and take a heart.
As you know, the blue boat is gone, which was a great relief when it came time to close up shop. Although we had improved on that system, it was always a pain – even the Egyptians advanced from rolling heavy objects on logs after some time.
It’s 80 in VA today but we’ll be in the 50-60 range this weekend.
Fall is here.
bjm
Despite a brief but heavy downpour, we did enjoy a nice fall weekend. we didn't get in a last sail but 3 of us did get in a last swim. When you got out of the 63 degree water and into the 70 degree air, you realize the water is not too bad.
And speaking of water, Paul was quite the trouper when it came time to turn off the water and “winterize” the pumping station. He, with rubber-gloved hands, jumped right in to offer assistance. A key to this year’s process was dumping 10 or so buckets of lake water directly into the tank to load the pump to holding tank pipe with cleaner water. There was no screaming when it came time to trip the dreaded butterfly valve.
Somewhere along the way, the pump à tank pipe broke – so a repair must be made prior to turning the water on next spring.
On Saturday night, I played my only game of hearts the whole year. Paul, a first time player, won the game by shooting the moon on the last hand. We all saw it coming but John and Eileen didn’t want to make the sacrifice and take a heart.
As you know, the blue boat is gone, which was a great relief when it came time to close up shop. Although we had improved on that system, it was always a pain – even the Egyptians advanced from rolling heavy objects on logs after some time.
It’s 80 in VA today but we’ll be in the 50-60 range this weekend.
Fall is here.
bjm
Singapore Update
Dear all
Life in Singapore is so much like life anywhere else We are sometimes too busy. Altho lately Deb, Shannon and I have had some quiet time on Sunday afternoon. I must say I miss the fall the most. It was always my favorite season. Leaves do change color here
But usually it is green to brown and it happens year round. Right now there is a stretch of road with yellowing leaves. That may be as close as we get. There is also a stretch of road with the brightest fusia along the road and hanging from the overpasses. That is not bad either.
Things are moving along here as normal. Cait is studying for her SATs. (I don't tell her that in our day that meant reading the sample questions in the application packet). She has a great friend named Chrissy. They seem to be two peas in a pod. How a kid growing up in Thailand and Singapore can be as quiet and innocent as one growing up in Cincinnati - I don't know. But the two of them are much alike and great for each other
They have started tutoring 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders after school and Cait coaches kids on a Special Olympics swim team
Connor is finishing up soccer. So far his team hasn't won (several ties) but he has grown as a player and a quiet leader. There are so many kids on the team that each tend to play about half the game. Connor and a couple of 10th graders manage to play more than three quarters of every game. He is probably disappointed with the season but instead talks about how good they will be next year. (Is that a budding Orangemen fan or what). He and Cait both ref soccer on Saturdays
Shannon is being Shannon. She has several best friends. One lives only a 5 minute walk away
So she is finally able to play with somebody after school without actually having to set up a play date. I am the keeper of Shannon's schedule. So I have to make myself available. Monday for soccer (coached by her older twin sisters). Tuesday I have off. Wednesday for the 4th grade Singing Geckos. Wednesday evening for HipHop. Thursday for Street Magic. Friday for Taekwondo. Saturday for Soccer and a serious play date with someone. Sunday is often reserved for Shannon, Deb and I to walk thru the park. Somewhere in there she finds time to collect things
We have found rock collections, leaf collections and dead bug collections. All of which are better then the live meal worm collection from last year
Deb is being Deb. (No wonder I see a lot of Deb in Shannon). Her past two weeks or so [have been difficult]
On a brighter family note - we are heading to Cambodia in two weeks. We will help build a school, some houses, and deliver some collected goods. It is a semi annual trip of a organization I'm a member of called Caring for Cambodia. We'll be near Siem Reap which is where Angor Wat is. See Goggle for images of Angor Wat
There is probably more happening but I can't think of them now
peace to all, sean
Life in Singapore is so much like life anywhere else We are sometimes too busy. Altho lately Deb, Shannon and I have had some quiet time on Sunday afternoon. I must say I miss the fall the most. It was always my favorite season. Leaves do change color here
But usually it is green to brown and it happens year round. Right now there is a stretch of road with yellowing leaves. That may be as close as we get. There is also a stretch of road with the brightest fusia along the road and hanging from the overpasses. That is not bad either.
Things are moving along here as normal. Cait is studying for her SATs. (I don't tell her that in our day that meant reading the sample questions in the application packet). She has a great friend named Chrissy. They seem to be two peas in a pod. How a kid growing up in Thailand and Singapore can be as quiet and innocent as one growing up in Cincinnati - I don't know. But the two of them are much alike and great for each other
They have started tutoring 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders after school and Cait coaches kids on a Special Olympics swim team
Connor is finishing up soccer. So far his team hasn't won (several ties) but he has grown as a player and a quiet leader. There are so many kids on the team that each tend to play about half the game. Connor and a couple of 10th graders manage to play more than three quarters of every game. He is probably disappointed with the season but instead talks about how good they will be next year. (Is that a budding Orangemen fan or what). He and Cait both ref soccer on Saturdays
Shannon is being Shannon. She has several best friends. One lives only a 5 minute walk away
So she is finally able to play with somebody after school without actually having to set up a play date. I am the keeper of Shannon's schedule. So I have to make myself available. Monday for soccer (coached by her older twin sisters). Tuesday I have off. Wednesday for the 4th grade Singing Geckos. Wednesday evening for HipHop. Thursday for Street Magic. Friday for Taekwondo. Saturday for Soccer and a serious play date with someone. Sunday is often reserved for Shannon, Deb and I to walk thru the park. Somewhere in there she finds time to collect things
We have found rock collections, leaf collections and dead bug collections. All of which are better then the live meal worm collection from last year
Deb is being Deb. (No wonder I see a lot of Deb in Shannon). Her past two weeks or so [have been difficult]
On a brighter family note - we are heading to Cambodia in two weeks. We will help build a school, some houses, and deliver some collected goods. It is a semi annual trip of a organization I'm a member of called Caring for Cambodia. We'll be near Siem Reap which is where Angor Wat is. See Goggle for images of Angor Wat
There is probably more happening but I can't think of them now
peace to all, sean
Dr. In the House (in 3-8 years)
So, it has been three weeks of medical school and it's been extremely busy, but also fun. I'm getting to know my new classmates. They are a set of brilliant people who can drink a lot! And my days are taking on a routine. Wake up, go to class, come home for lunch to feed/walk Maya, go back to school, study, come home, study, say hi to Dave, study, go to bed. But despite all the studying, I feel like I've learned so much already. We are well into our cadaver in Anatomy. It's a man who had at least two heart bypass surgeries. He doesn't have interesting tattoos like some of the other cadavers, but we're just getting into it. We've dissected his chest, lungs and hearts and will soon move onto his arms and back.
Stanford had an induction ceremony for us the first week of school. I was accompanied by my mom and Dave. We took some pictures (see below) and Stanford recorded the event (they tape everything, even lectures!) I've attached a link if you want to watch: (it's an hour long. The dean and various other people talk for the first 35 minutes or so, but you may be able to fast-forward to where they call my name. It takes place at minute 42:57)
Other things are going well. Dave is good, happy to be back in the sunshine. Maya is huge! We just took her to the vet to have her inner female bits removed and she was 30 pounds! Three times as much as when we got her! She also has new favorite things to do… She loves the bathtub! (See pictures below) As long as there's not water in it, she'll jump right in. We aren't quite sure what she'd do if there was water in it, that's an experiment for a rainy Saturday. The other thing she loves to do is crawl under the bed. It's not something I would normally condone, but I figure she's growing so fast that she won't be able to do it much longer anyway. And she has also started teething. We weren't experiencing any increased chewing on furniture and/or clothes, but then I found one of her baby teeth on the floor. So cute! Our little Maya is growing up!
Hope all is well with you! Continue to send the emails, I love knowing what's going on in the real (non-studying) world!
Love
Sha
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