2/28/2007

Goodbye Bruce

This is Jory here (Elissa’s husband) and I just wanted to share some thoughts. My best friend where I work just decided to move on to other things. His name is Bruce, and we worked closely together in the AutoCAD department. He taught me most of what I know about AutoCAD, and was truly a joy to be around. He's an older fellow, but quick with a joke and able to talk to anybody about anything. We got along great together, and he will truly be missed.

I feel very sad about this ... he was one very bright spot about going to work every day. Even though we were both put in a back room, isolated from much of what goes on in the office, with no windows or much communication with the outside world ... he made work fun. We had many (many, many, many) conversations (he really liked to talk) about everything from shrimps to movies to economics to biblical prophecy. He was somebody to commiserate with when things weren't going well, or when we got a big load of work dumped on our shoulders. I knew I could count on Bruce to share a joke or shed some perspective on a problem, or just be somebody to listen to my ramblings.

I can imagine how he must feel … it must be like the last day of school before summer vacation. We always agreed that it’s much better for somebody to move on with their own decision rather than be let go unexpectedly. I don’t know what his plans are, but he must have that “new beginning” feeling. I, on the other hand, feel quite left behind.

It almost feels like a funeral is going on. I'm very melancholy, and have a tight feeling in my middle. I know that in all likelihood, I will probably never see him again, at least until heaven, and I don't know how everything will work out around here at work. It's so weird, because I never really got to know many of the other folks around here very well. It was just go to work, do my duty, and head home. But now I've made a few friends, and they are leaving. Phil, another guy I worked closely with, left about six months ago, and my favorite secretary Tina was let go. New people are coming in, and it’s difficult for me to get to know them well, or try to explain how and why we do things around here.

I still do not know how to handle friendships that move on … what’s supposed to happen when good friends aren’t able to spend time together anymore, when you’re not interacting from day-to-day. It was this way with high school and college friends as well. I think of them often, and wonder how they are doing, but there’s no longer that close relationship forged from spending time and doing things together. Sigh.

I guess this just brings to light the fact that things change, over time, sometimes fast and sometimes slow, and that I have no control over most of it. If nothing else, it serves to remind me not to take things for granted, and to enjoy every minute of everything that I’m going through, good or bad, because it won’t last forever. I think I’m going to hop on the Harley and go for a ride, and then head home to give everybody a big hug.

Thanks for listening.
Jory

Kiddisms

It’s been a while since I shared some kid quirks with you, so here’s an update.
My children now have a new game, it’s called icky kisses. In this game, I give them a kiss, and they look at me mischievously and wipe that kiss right off. At which point I pretend to be horrified and give them another one, with a predictable result. Now I am “really mad” and “punish” them with a round of tickles. What I won’t do for a chuckle.
The kids have invented a new recipe. It’s called chocolate gooey. Every time they go into their kitchen to play, they come out with a fresh batch. Mmm. The best part – there’s no cleanup. (heh) I thought about trying to make a real batch of chocolate gooey, Mom and I were trying to figure out a good recipe. We were thinking cooked oatmeal with chocolate pudding sounded about right. Anyone have any ideas? Not sure I’m brave enough to make a whole batch of it. We’ll see. In other news, trying to decide what to do on my birthday (which is Friday – don’t forget) Jory usually takes the afternoon off so I can go out and do whatever I want. Seriously excited about an entire afternoon to myself. I can’t stay here because you know the kids will bug me. The whole “I am not really here, go bug your dad” argument doesn’t really go anywhere. I’m thinking about taking Elrod (the ipod) and going to the library or McDonalds with a good book and just being QUIET for a while. We’ll see. Anyone have any suggestions?

2/26/2007

Weekend adventures

Jory and I took the kids out on a date this weekend. First we had lunch at McDonalds (with the mandatory romp on the playland). After lunch we headed downtown to the main library (which if you’ve never been there is HUGE). They have an entire room set aside for preschoolers (no big kids – love that) they had a ball playing the computer, reading books, legos, puzzles, etc. Jory and I managed to find a few gems that we hadn’t found last time around… mostly magazines. Then since the kids were sooo good, we stopped for dessert on the way home. (That whole eating dessert before dinner thing again – yum). Sunday was pretty typical, with the mandatory 3 hour nap. (for all 5 members of this family – thank you very much)

2/23/2007

Cowboy hat







Jory found one of his old cowboy hats the other day, Alex was running around with it on. He was so stinkin cute, I decided to take pics of him with it on. Well the girls weren’t having any of the “Alex only photo shoot” and joined in.

2/21/2007

More snow play



Well since it was in the upper 30’s yesterday, we decided to make ourselves a little snowman. This is Ned. He had a daughter for a while, but they fell down (I think the rain that brought on their demise). Check out the cute mittens we made for the girls (after discovering that mittens are no longer available at Wal-Mart or Target)

2/15/2007

Snow day



Just some pics of us in the snow. Since the girls were sick, Jory stayed inside with them while Alex and I had a little romp. This first one is of our wicked snowdrift (before the snow monster destroyed it) That black spot is our cat Thunder. And of course I have my little snow monster. Grr.

2/14/2007

Blizzard

My snow has finally arrived. Yesterday we had a blizzard that brought probably 8 inches of snow. We can’t say for sure because the wind really whipped the snow around. But it sure was fun to watch from my nice cozy living room. We have a wicked 3-foot snowdrift against the sliding door in the back. Alex has already claimed first dibs on it. Jory is staying home, because we have a do not travel (except for emergencies) advisory.

So happy Valentines! We’re snowed in.

2/12/2007

Weekend happenings

What a weekend. So much to talk about, lets see if I can remember all the important stuff…
Jory’s birthday (28) was Sunday, so we had our birthday date on Saturday. Which included a trip to the big downtown library. We *tried* not to bring the entire library home. I found some Roger Miller tunes – which Alex got a kick out of. I’m not sure I want him singing Chug-a-lug though… I also found a huge stack of teacher-y books. I’ve been reading one about the way boys think (which clearly is different than the way girls think) most of it is not new to me, but it’s still generating some food for thought.
After the library we went out for desert (desert before dinner – yum). Then proceeded on to the anniversary dinner at church. Since Jory and I celebrated a major anniversary (5th) last year, we were invited to the dinner. It was very sweet the way it was set up. The youth served a sit down, candle-lit dinner, there was a photographer (someone from the church) valet parking, the whole nine yards. In true Peterson style, Jory and I proceeded to crack jokes the entire night.
In other news, I have to chuckle about the weather. My west-coast friends are starting to feel the warmth of spring, and it’s just starting to be winter here. We’re over the sub-zero temperatures, but we’re expecting as much as 8 inches of snow this week. The good news: March will be here before we know it.
Wouldn’t you know we’re all to sick to enjoy the snow though. Alex brought home a cold from the church nursery, and now us girls have it. Bleck. I guess I can’t complain though, this is the first set of runny noses I’ve had to deal with this winter

2/08/2007

Random kiddisms:

Not particularly new occurrences, but worth recording nonetheless
Annie has this thing about having hair in her mouth. She’s always putting it in there. Yuck. Fortunately we’re getting to a point where all the hair (except the bangs) will fit in a ponytail.

Alex refuses to take noncommittal answers to his thousands of questions.
Example:
Alex: Did the monkey ride all the way to Timbuktu on his trip?
Mom ignores question
Alex continues to repeat question 5-6 times before mom decides that he won’t go away without an answer.
Mom: uh sure.
Alex: does that mean yes?
Mom not wanting to agree to something horrible (like painting his sisters purple) frantically searches to remember what question she’s just ignored for the last 5 minutes. She usually results in crying: I DON’T KNOW, SURE.
Alex: does that mean yes?
Ugh.

2/05/2007

Weekend happenings

This weekend my friend Emily was in town with her little girl, so we had a little lunch date with her, her parents, my mom, and Gary Burke (one of my high school youth leaders). We had a great time chatting, catching up, reminiscing about high school youth group and so forth. The kids all played really well with little Eva, who’s not so much a baby anymore.
In other news, it’s really really cold here. The news last night says that our low for yesterday was –5, wind chill was –15 to –25. Probably nothing to my in-laws who live in Northern Montana, but it’s cold enough to close most of the schools around here. I think we will be having a fire in the fireplace today, just to take some strain off the heater. Oh and a whole lotta hot chocolate.
Funny kidism: Alex sitting on the bed playing with his sister’s cowboy Woody doll: Cowboy’s don’t have hair, silly… they have fur.

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