Blessed

I'm blessed. This is what I wake to everymoring.

JHS Football Friday Nights

Another year, and another start to the High School football season. Crisp fall air (not yet, but soon enough), drums and trumpets, popping of pads. After a summer of barbecues, lawn mowing and vegetable gardening, football season brings the whole town out of their back yards and back together. An what a night it was. The Johnnies trounced the visiting Blue Aces, the school's single game rushing record was squashed like a bug, and the Big Red Band cranked it up.

Madeline's a Varsity Cheerleader this year, and she loves getting up in front of a crowd. (For all the support this town gives to its kids - Johnnies fans show up en masse to see the sports team and band - it's too bad Johnstown fans don't get into the cheering and screaming like I've seen at some other schools (can you say Dover?)). Her wrist still hurts, but it didn't show at all last night. The entire squad chanted, tumbled and stunted their way to victory.

This is also the first year Mr. Zirille (proud father of a new baby girl!) put together an alumni band. Seeing Perrin and her friends back on the field performing with some other recent and not-so-recent JHS grads was a hoot.

I'm experimenting with Picassa Web Albums, so you can look at more photos in my 2006 Johnnies Football Opening Night photo album.

Madeline turns 17

It's hard to believe my baby is 17.

It's been a musical birthday year. All Madeline really wanted for her birthday was an electric guitar, a Gibson Les Paul no less. That was certainly out of the question, but Epiphone (owned by Gibson) makes a Les Paul. It's got the same look, same set neck, a couple humbuckers, all in all a well made yet affordable version of this classic guitar. Some time on eBay and a little luck, and you just might find yourself a nicer guitar than you thought you could afford. Add in a nice little Crate practice amp at the local second-hand music shop and the girl is ready to rock.

It didn't take long before the girls had cranked it up, and started kickin' out the jams. This makes it all worthwhile.

Ouch

Last Saturday I was a little late getting up, the horse flies were swarmng, and the horses were going nuts. Somewhere in all the frenzy, Lilly must have hurt herself, because she came in limping. Over the next couple days it got progressively worse. At first we thought it might be a bruise, but it's seeming more and more like it might be an abscess. So, we're on a twice a day regimen of soaking in Epsom salts, putting a poultice on the foot, and wrapping her front legs. (As you've probably learned, if you've been following the Barbaro story, when one leg is hurt, the extra weight on the other leg is bad news for a horse).

While I was taking the leg photo, I looked up and got a view of Lilly one doesn't see very often. Not her most attractive side.

In case you were wondering, the ducks are doing just fine.

She's a keeper

At least for another year. Perrin has decided to take a year off from college to figure out what it is she wants to do with here life. Spending copious tuition $$ to work kind of hard on two things at once wasn't working for her. I mean, how do you prepare for being either a classical musician or an equine vet? As you can imagine, it's pretty hard to work all that into a single curriculum, and neither gets the attention it deserves. For the next year she gets to think. Take some flute lessons. Think some more. Hang out with our vet. And think. She'll also be going to bartender school, recording music with/for a friend, maybe gig some. Whatever she decides, maybe it'll be nanotechnology, Perrin will go back to school a much more eager and dedicated student, and that's a win-win for everyone involved. Now, know anyone who wants to buy some UT football tickets?