I am...Stuart, the insignificant.
I think...this world is interesting.
I know... how much I don’t know.
I want...people to be happy, but it’s frustrating when I know things that will help them but they will not listen (Dave Ramsey info, for example).
I wish...I was out of debt completely.
I had... a convertible, once.
I hate.., no, I don’t hate.
I miss... warmer, drier days of summer.
I fear... becoming an invalid.
I feel ...like it’s time to travel again!
I hear...the whir of the computer and silence outside.
I smell ...of cinnamon rolls (Ok, just in my head, not really here right now).
I crave... nothing.
I search...the internet for interesting places to visit and travel to.
I wonder...if I will ever feel like an adult.
I regret...stupid choices made as a teen that still “haunt” me today.
I love... my wife, kids, grandkids, and this interesting time to live.
I care... if Shar need or wants something.
I always... try to remain up-beat and positive.
I am not... as good as some people think I am.
I could... do more service.
I dance...poorly.
I sing... in the key of “off”.
I don't always... know what to do, but it seems everyone expects me to know everything.
I write...very little, even if my intentions are to write more.
I win... more often than I lose.
I lose...at “chance” games.
I never... miss a chance to watch James Bond!
I can usually be found...puttering with something (or watching too much TV).
I am scared of... dying before all financial ends are wrapped up.
I need...very little.
I am happy about... where I choose to live.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
ramblings
I just read through everyone else's blogs.
I'm quite pitiful.
I think about things and people all the time but it doesn't transfer into words very well.
I also have the memories of childhood that I remember, some good some bad and some just strange. Riding bikes to the nearby (5 miles) dam to find frogs. Running through the dry river bed (our in the Mojave desert) across the rocks. Finding rattle snakes. (always better to find them before they find you ! That happened a few times. I'm surprised I didn't have a heart attack a few times. Like the time I stepped on one before seeing him)
Running through the field with our dog. Hiking through the Sierra Nevada mountains for week long periods. Scout camps. Hiding myself on May day after putting flowers on the porch for my mom, then ringing the doorbell. I hid for what seemed like hours but no one ever came to find me. 3 feet of snow in the deseret. (that only happened once) Stupid ex-friends who thought it was funny to put a firecracker in the but of a frog so it would blow up. (last time I hung out with John Moore) Playing in the water of a flash flood when the dry creek bed had water. Water rose over 20 feet and came out of the creek bed. It flooded the entire neighborhood and into our homes. But it was warm water and fun to go splashing in !
And as I think, the mind fills with memories I haven't thought of for a long time. My life is busy enough and interesting enough that I don't dwell on the past much. Except when my kids have struggles or problems and I have to think back to see where I screwed up and didn't give them the knowledge, skills or experience I could have (maybe). I'm sure all parents do this.
DO live in the here and now. Take photos. Don't get too busy to spend quality family time. Family is the only thing you can take with you after this life (ok, maybe knowledge also)
I'm quite pitiful.
I think about things and people all the time but it doesn't transfer into words very well.
I also have the memories of childhood that I remember, some good some bad and some just strange. Riding bikes to the nearby (5 miles) dam to find frogs. Running through the dry river bed (our in the Mojave desert) across the rocks. Finding rattle snakes. (always better to find them before they find you ! That happened a few times. I'm surprised I didn't have a heart attack a few times. Like the time I stepped on one before seeing him)
Running through the field with our dog. Hiking through the Sierra Nevada mountains for week long periods. Scout camps. Hiding myself on May day after putting flowers on the porch for my mom, then ringing the doorbell. I hid for what seemed like hours but no one ever came to find me. 3 feet of snow in the deseret. (that only happened once) Stupid ex-friends who thought it was funny to put a firecracker in the but of a frog so it would blow up. (last time I hung out with John Moore) Playing in the water of a flash flood when the dry creek bed had water. Water rose over 20 feet and came out of the creek bed. It flooded the entire neighborhood and into our homes. But it was warm water and fun to go splashing in !
And as I think, the mind fills with memories I haven't thought of for a long time. My life is busy enough and interesting enough that I don't dwell on the past much. Except when my kids have struggles or problems and I have to think back to see where I screwed up and didn't give them the knowledge, skills or experience I could have (maybe). I'm sure all parents do this.
DO live in the here and now. Take photos. Don't get too busy to spend quality family time. Family is the only thing you can take with you after this life (ok, maybe knowledge also)
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Wow has time gone by.
Here we are in October 2008. Since I last wrote:
Shar & I took a trip to Glacier National Park.
We got dropped off in Kingston, walked on the ferry to Edmonds and were supposed to catch the Amtrack train. But, as it turned out, because of construction in the tunnel under the Cascade mountains, the train was unable to get to seattle the day before. So they bussed us to Spokane instead. Busses are not the greatest anyway, but riding them through the night into the wee hours of the morning is worse. And knowing that you spent extra money to buy a sleeper cabin on the train that you didn't get to use is worse. We picked up the train in Spokane and the rest of the trip's travel plans went - well, according to plan.
We hopped off in Glacier, Montana, walked off the train, across the tracks and highway and picked up our rental car. We first drove up to Waterton Park in Alberta, Canada. Great scenery, bears in trees by the highway, all in all, a recommeded trip. We stayed in a B&B just north outside of the park. Tremendous views of the mountains. (photo on right)
The next day we went to the Cardston temple - beautiful woodwork and interesting to move between rooms.
From there, down to Glacier National Park where we hiked trails, drove all the roads that were open (late snow year) and just explored all over the place (including the reservation)
Then the Amtrack sleeper car back to Edmonds and home. Excellent trip and highly recommended.
Until next time.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Visitors
This week the BYU International Folk Dance Ensamble came to Port Angeles. We were blessed to have 4 stay at our home. Then we found out how small the world was.
David Marriott went into the MTC for his mission to Portugal. One of the other missionaries in his group was Janae Smith (Ole's) Before her mission he was (is) dating the daughter of Marcus Nash - a friend of ours from Shar's old Seattle ward.
Michael Christensen is from Eagle River, Alaska. In his ward there is my c
ousin Rob Timmins. Rob signed off several merit badges for Michael. Michael is dating another dancer in the group, Amanda Dance. (yes, her real name) Amanda's grandfather was Farrell Binn's dental partner and temple presidency friend, President Nash. (Marcus' dad)
( I sure have trouble getting these photos to go where I want them to be)
And we also had a young couple - Biff and Rosie Jones. (yup, Smith & Jones)
Just overnight but it was a great concert and really fun having them over.
In real life - tax season only has about 6 weeks to go. At this time of year it always seems hopeless. No matter how much one works you only get further behind each day. At least the weather is cool and overcast. I really hate it when the weather gets warm and sunny outside and I'm stuck inside.
So no projects at home are getting done. But that is normal.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
'Tis Sunday afternoon and all is quiet around the house. Shar is in Spokane with Kelli and Jared spent the day at the hospital. Jared volunteered to be the lamaze coach for a young lady. No, it's not his! After taking all the classes, he was as ready as he could be (how do you really prepare for that?) So early this morning he got the call to head to the hospital. And at 2pm this afternoon I understand a baby girl came into the world. It will be interesting to talk to Jared.
Tax season has begun. With Shar in Spokane I put in a 14 hour day Saturday. Mostly they were small interesting projects that took 4 to 6 hours each. And without the phone ringing all day it went by quickly. It usually takes until mid-March before I start getting burned out at the volume, so we'll just have to see how this year goes. I still enjoy the work, thank goodness.
The last few years have been a fun & learning adventure with foreclosure real estate. We purchased another house Jan 25th and are now in the process of trying to sell. Next weekend we are going to hold an open house and if nothing happens, we will list it with a realtor. If you all remember the rental on Forest Ave, (our first rental), well we sold it! Actually, the sale finalizes on Monday. Unfortuantely, all the proceeds go to pay on a loan we took to purchase the shares of "All About Storage, LLC" the storage units above the old costco store. Because of the real estate slow-down and winter, the units are not filling up as fast as we had hoped. We are 34% full but we hoped to be 50% by now. In the LONG run, this is going to be a great investment.
As you all know, mom & I will be taking a trip again in June. It's all planned now and most is paid for. This is one of the kind of trips I don't tell her anything, no dates, no location, just "get in the car". Shar seems to enjoy this kind of travel, so it becomes fun. We first did it with Kelli's help in packing. It worked so well we now do it every year. We've gone to Vancouver Island, Mt. Rainier, North Cascades and out to the coast. Where are we going this year ?
With President Hinckley's passing, our fast meeting today was mostly about feelings for him and the next prophet. It makes us all realize how precious life is and how important people are. I really appreciate everyone of you and think about you often. Somewhere my brain got in the short line when it came to relationships. I'm lousy on the phone (really!) and I do a poor job of letting people know I care about them. But I talk about you and your lives to others around me and brag on your accomplishments. You are all much better that I in that field because everywhere I go people want to know how my kids are and what you are up to. The 4 of you have MANY people here in Port Angeles & Sequim that always want updates.
Again this week I impressed to again encourage you to read daily in the church magazines or the Book of Mormon. You need to feed your spirit even if you don't feel hungry! It will keep things alive until you do get hungry again, trust me, I'm your father. (Luke, I am your father)(grow up, Stuart)(sorry)
Until next time
Tax season has begun. With Shar in Spokane I put in a 14 hour day Saturday. Mostly they were small interesting projects that took 4 to 6 hours each. And without the phone ringing all day it went by quickly. It usually takes until mid-March before I start getting burned out at the volume, so we'll just have to see how this year goes. I still enjoy the work, thank goodness.
The last few years have been a fun & learning adventure with foreclosure real estate. We purchased another house Jan 25th and are now in the process of trying to sell. Next weekend we are going to hold an open house and if nothing happens, we will list it with a realtor. If you all remember the rental on Forest Ave, (our first rental), well we sold it! Actually, the sale finalizes on Monday. Unfortuantely, all the proceeds go to pay on a loan we took to purchase the shares of "All About Storage, LLC" the storage units above the old costco store. Because of the real estate slow-down and winter, the units are not filling up as fast as we had hoped. We are 34% full but we hoped to be 50% by now. In the LONG run, this is going to be a great investment.
As you all know, mom & I will be taking a trip again in June. It's all planned now and most is paid for. This is one of the kind of trips I don't tell her anything, no dates, no location, just "get in the car". Shar seems to enjoy this kind of travel, so it becomes fun. We first did it with Kelli's help in packing. It worked so well we now do it every year. We've gone to Vancouver Island, Mt. Rainier, North Cascades and out to the coast. Where are we going this year ?
With President Hinckley's passing, our fast meeting today was mostly about feelings for him and the next prophet. It makes us all realize how precious life is and how important people are. I really appreciate everyone of you and think about you often. Somewhere my brain got in the short line when it came to relationships. I'm lousy on the phone (really!) and I do a poor job of letting people know I care about them. But I talk about you and your lives to others around me and brag on your accomplishments. You are all much better that I in that field because everywhere I go people want to know how my kids are and what you are up to. The 4 of you have MANY people here in Port Angeles & Sequim that always want updates.
Again this week I impressed to again encourage you to read daily in the church magazines or the Book of Mormon. You need to feed your spirit even if you don't feel hungry! It will keep things alive until you do get hungry again, trust me, I'm your father. (Luke, I am your father)(grow up, Stuart)(sorry)
Until next time
Sunday, January 13, 2008
The beginning
Greetings - all ye who tread upon this spot.
After years of leaving no written record of my life, I decided to try this on my Sunday afternoons instead of just watching re-runs.
In case you haven't heard, Jared is doing some major work on the old Falcon.
As you can see, the entire front end is being beefed up and totally rebuilt. It will need to be heavy duty when the new 302 V-8 engine is installed.
Jared is planning on running a mini-demolition derby at the Tacoma dome next weekend. You can't see much but it is a 1984 Subaru. They run during half-time during a monster truck show. We have a ward temple trip on Saturday morning, so I'll help there, stay and do some additional temple work then head to Tacoma early evening to spectate. No, I do not want to participate myself !
After years of leaving no written record of my life, I decided to try this on my Sunday afternoons instead of just watching re-runs.
In case you haven't heard, Jared is doing some major work on the old Falcon.
As you can see, the entire front end is being beefed up and totally rebuilt. It will need to be heavy duty when the new 302 V-8 engine is installed.
Jared is planning on running a mini-demolition derby at the Tacoma dome next weekend. You can't see much but it is a 1984 Subaru. They run during half-time during a monster truck show. We have a ward temple trip on Saturday morning, so I'll help there, stay and do some additional temple work then head to Tacoma early evening to spectate. No, I do not want to participate myself !
As for me, tax season has begun again. It may be a pain and life dominating for a short period of time but it financially allows our lifestyle! The mini-storage units are now finished and we are filling up. That's the facility right above the old Costco site in Carlsborg. We are a third full right now and spring should help a lot.
I'm planning on running Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University classes again starting after April 15. (gee, I wonder why) It's a GREAT 13 week class that is loaded with tons of financial information on all areas of life. Insurance, investments, cash flows, debts, real estate, etc.
Well, its a first try !
Stuart
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