081031 - Halloween

081031 - Halloween was a success for the boys. they got tons of candy and went farther then they ever had before. This year Grant went up to the doors himself and asked for and thanked people. Lori carried him between houses, but he refused to let her carry his candy bucket (smart boy).

In mexico they celebrate the day of the dead and there are many skeltons and creatures about the city. It was very interesting to see all the kids dressed up here, and they want money, not candy.

081030 - On the road again to Mexico City! I arrives about 1am and met up with Andre and Mark.

081026 - Bday




















081026 - Today was my birthday! After L, D&J got back from church we loaded up the famliy and headed to 'The Wilds' http://www.thewilds.org/. Took us awhile to find it and wait for the bus, but it was well worth it. It was the last day of public tours for 2008 and we got to see a bunch of stuff that happens behind the scenes. The boys really loved it, and everyone on the bus got a kick out of Grant yelling and jumping each time he saw a new animal. Was very nice to spend the day with my boys. I have lots of travel coming up...


081025 - Spidy

081025 - Jack to a buddy's to play this morning,L,D,G&I ran errands. When we picked up Jack we headed out to find the new Toys R Us since our regular store has now closed... We found it and lucky for us it was the 'Grand Opening' and every mental midget that figured out figured out how to reproduce was there w/ their offspring (this of course does apply to myself...). We looked around and got ideas for Christmas (wish lists links to right will soon be updated) amongst the wandering super heros and failry tales. Home and L, D&J went to a roller skating party while G&I put the trim around the beams and poly'd the floor. D had onemore costume party before we all got back together to watch Penn St. beat OSU...

081024 - Dr. appointment day! Got my wrist looked at, I have tendinitus... Then to the dentist to get a cavity filled that I found out about the last time I was there (2.5 years ago...)

081023 - Carving


081023 - This evening we all went to the scouts pumpkin carving event. Both Jack and Dylan participated, Dylan's is the whit one in the photo and Jack's is 4 to the left. Grant tollerated the event, home baths, and bed.
081021 - Had Jack's guitar lessons tonight. Then out to a movie with the Bible bangers Religulous http://www.lionsgate.com/religulous/ . That will make you think.
081020 - After work took the boys to karate. Home got the boys to bed, the trash out and then to Tim Horton's for coffee with the Bible bangers. We ended up back at my house to watch Obession about Islam, http://www.obsessionthemovie.com/, VERY SCARY!
081019 - Cleaned up everything today. The basement water problem and all our stuff, the black car from the camping trip, the shop put back together and trying to get life bak to normal.

20081018 - 3rd Annual OSU Football @ Winger'sOSU Party


20081018 - Towards the end of Grant's party other folks started showing up for our annual OSU Football Party.

Thankfully the weather and the team cooperated w/ us, so our 50 guests had fun indoors and out. Here is a pic of the food spread that was crazy good. The Bucks won, the kids mostly played nice and the only disturbance was a 'water problem' in the basement. Everyone had a good time!

L & I got the party things cleaned up quickly and the 'water problem' by 2am, Ugh!

081018 - Party 1

081018 - Ran some errands w/ the boys in the morning getting last min supplies. Then folks showed up Grant's party. L had fun games for the kids and a baseball theme for our little athlete.

081017 - Ready

081017 - Everyone up & getting ready for the party. We cleaned the garage & house, repainted the wall, set upthe tables, trimed out the beam project... Worked all day on it. The place looks great and ready to go!

081016 - 2 Fingers

081016 - Landed and ready for a B-day, Grant is 2 today! We went out for lunch and to the toy store and had a fun day. We watched a movie at night and G can hold up his fingers and say 'I'm twooo!'. great to be home!

081015 - Up and another fast but productive day at P. Headed to the airport where I got my daily update from L. Dylan's Teacher Conference went well & the fam went to Creepside festival all dressed up & got candy. I jumped on the red eye to make it home for Grant's b-day.

081014 - Fast productive day at P. Called L, she had a bad day w/ the boys, they were out of control. Went to dinner w/ the company team.

081013 - Met up w/ Ahndi from Scotland for bfast & then in to P for a full day. Had dinner w/ the project team.

081012 - Well Dylan was up till 1:30 w/me @ the campout. We were the last ones up & put out the fire. Got up in the am and helped cook bfast for the troop then took a big walk around the property and had a nice talk. Howdy didn't like bfast so we stopped @ Waffle house on the way home.
Once @ home Doc & I cut down the mean neighbors tree that fell during the storm... I spent some time w/ each boy: baseball w/G, Wii w/J. Then packed up and off to San Jose.

081011 - Camping

081011 - Up and L ran to register Howdy for bastketball this winter. Dylan & I packed up the car w/ the camping supplies. We all grabbed some lunch, I caulked the beams and then we went to the halloween store to get the guys suited up. Then Howdy & I headed to the camp site. We got there & Howdy vanished w/ his buddies into the woods, (I saw him for a couple of minutes when the food was ready...) I got the tent up and a couple snare traps set to show the boys. Now we are sitting around the fire relaxing.

081010 - Whittler

081010 - Up, day off but took a couple quick calls, G & I picked up J from school. Then J,G&I picked up Jeff and we hit Lowes for house supplies then Dick's for camping supplies. We dropped Jeff off and then the boys & I hit McDonalds, Meijer for a couple last camping things. Home and Dylan Glasses! Then I taught Dylan how to use his new pocket knife and he did some whittling on some soap for a scout badge and then his thumb for fun... Loaded up the family and headed out to 'Red Lobster' for dinner where Grant was attacked by a lobster! On the way home we stopped at GFS and got some party supplies. Got home and we played the Wii. I stayed up late doing Coldwater accounting and getting ready for the trip to SJC Sunday.
081009 - Up, another full day getting N in line for next week. After work I headed outside and played w/ boys. L ordered in pizza for dinner. I cleaned the furnace and got it lit for the winter w/ Grants help. Dylan & I headed to Scouts and then to Meijer w/ the Grossels for party and camping supplies. Up late organizing for the next hellish week
081008 - Busy friggin day. I ran the boys to karate and Lori wasn't feeling good so she ran to the Dr. Jack & I went the pharmacy and Taco Bell and didn't get home till late. I stayed up and played the Wii.
081007 - Up early and saw Howdy off to school. Had my 1st call 7am and had a full day. Took the Yukon to get new tires. Walked thru Subway and made a few calls on the way home. Finished up about 4 and played the Wii with big boys. We had some dinner and then Howdy and I walked to get the car. The whole family went to Jack's guitar lesson and the we played kickball and watched a scarry movie. Got the boys to bed and then planned the football party and watched the debate.
081006 - Worked all day then played the Wii with Jack & D. We ate fast and then went to Jack's soccer game. Home, baths, played a math game with D and animals in a muffin tray w/ G. I read a book to all 3 and then got them to bed. Got my week organized and played the Wii.
081005 - Up and L went to church, Grant & I dropped off the big boys a bit later. Everyone home, loaded up and headed to Mansfield. When we stopped to get gas I checked out the tires and we had a really bad worn spot. So we went home, changed cars and headed to the Mowanafest. We met GmaW, took a hayride and petted the animals. Next stop was a farm w/ punpkins and a corn maze. We met GpaW @ Friendly's for dinner, headed back to the farm for a bit and headed home.
081004 - Flew in home about 5pm. Really good to see the fam. All the boys were really happy to see me. Grant had a bruised and scratched up face, he fell out of a tree... Home and got settled in, in time for the OSU @ Wisconsin game.

081003 - Farewell

081003 - Up and walked in to work, my legs are killing me for all the walking I've been doing. Really fast day, got stuff cleaned up. After work nearly everyone from work went to a bowling alley in Almere. we had some drinks, bowled some games and then had an interesting dinner where u had to grill your own food. The evening included frequent trips outside with the smokers where I tried to defend 'the American way of life' and preach to all the atheists I work with. It was a very good time and nice to see these people who have worked together from all over the world for many years outside of the office. The main event, and reason for the party, was to say goodbye to Atno & Naill, the founders of this once 2 man company. Many toasts were given, the most memorable and honest by Michael who said 'Working with you guys, was like pissing in your trousers, and not telling anybody!' After some dessert people started to fade off until only a small group was left. It was very hard saying goodbye to these guys, they are good friends now. I wish them all the best, and hope our paths will cross again.  Lori called just as we were leaving. She had the natives at the park and was heading to the movie store to get tonights entertainment for them.  I made the short walk to the hotel, thinking of all the good times.

081002 - Amsterdam

081002 - Up and it was not raining today so walked to the office today, took about 20 min. It was very nice and there were many other people walking & riding around, and children riding their bike to school. As soon as I got to work the rain POURED down! Had a really full day at work. Took a break to get lunch and I attempted to go where Ger was getting lunch, but it was Indian food that I was sure I could not digest. So in true American fashion I had Burger King again!
After work I jumped the train into Amsterdam to meet Niall for dinner. He was much nicer tonight and took me out for a full experience... First we stopped at a 400+ year old establishment that has a Gieneva tasting counter to try it. It is a mix of gin and several other liquers, we tried the 'walk in the woods' and it was smooth with multiple layers of flavors and very inviting on this cold wet night. We then headed to a little resturant and he gave me the history of the areas we walked through. He also shared a bit of his own history. I especially liked the story of his breakfast chair: when Niall first moved to Amsterdam he didn't have much money. So when one of his neighbors threw out his dining room chairs he grabbed them off the pile and took them into his house. He said when he now sits down for breakfast he laughs, because he is still sitting on those chairs.
We walk some more, found some gifts for the boys and saw more of the history. The lit up house in the photo is the Ann Frank House. We had a nice dinner where we talked about buying houses, what was going on at work and NO polotics! we then strolled to another pub and had a beer where we shared stories of our families. The time was passing quickly so we headed back to Central station, taking a detour through the 'Red Light District' to make sure the ladies were still there and the smoke of marijuana filled the air. It was. Niall got me to my platform and we said good bye. What a great night in Amsterdam.
On the train back to Almere I used the phone to check in on the family (wingercam.com) and there was preciuos Jack eating dinner, half a world away. I stared at the phone wishing I was I there. The walk bak to the hotel was quiet on the empty streets.
Called Lori and got the report on Dylan's eye exam. He is near sighted and wille to wear his glasses all the time. She said he picked some out that had a cool flame on the side. 1 more day...

081001 - Anniversary

081001 - Up in the morning and tooka cab to work as it was raining. Had a pretty full day. Took a lunch break and the guys conceeded to have Burger King for the American. I checked www.wingercam.com to see if anyone was around yet. There was Lori having her breakfast all by herself so I gave her a call. Dylan was off at school, Jack was wacthing cartoons and Grant was still sleeping and we had a nice chat. Today is our 14th wedding anniversary, and the first time in those 14 years we have not been together on that day. I am so far away, but so lucky to have her.
After work I was picked by Arno and we headed into Almere to meet Niall for dinner. The food was great, but the two Europeans grilled me for two hours about how for the sake of the rest of the world I had to vote for Obama in 5 weeks. The also debated why I would own a gun, drive a big car and anything else they generally could think of that was considered American. But I am use to defending the USA whe I am abroad and it was a stimulating conversation. I was able to ask them how it felt to be unemployed and worth millions of dollars, as yesterday was their last day working for the company they started nearly 20 years ago and had recently sold. Neither seemed too excited and they asked ME to buy dinner! Cheap rich idiots! Hahahaha
We said goodnight and I walked back to the hotel. I called Lori to finish my day.
I love you Lori, wish I was home with you!

080930 - Mini Meij

080930 - After work I was lucky enough to be invited home with Andre for dinner. We stopped off at the house his family is building in Leleystad. It is very nice, large, energy efficient and has a thatch room. It isn't done but it will be very cool. We then went to his home where I me Orean River Meij (www.mini-meij.nl) for the first time. She looks very much like her mom with redish hair and blue eyes and she smiles non stop. I held her a bit, tickled her and just watched her. She is doing all kind of fun stuff. Andre and Nicole make great parent and we talked and talked about how cool kids are. We had some good conversation and chinese for dinner. After some more conversing Andre drove me back to the hotel in their electric car! It does take some gas, and we stopped to fill it up. It took 60 Euros for the 40 liters to fill it. If you do the math, now please sit down as this will certianly show you what is coming..., 40 liters is roughly 10 gallons: 60 Euros is roeghly $100 US: that is $10/Gallon! Think about that next time you fill up your tank!
Back to the hotel and my luggage was in my room! I called L to finish the dayand it seems the light fixture went out that I installed right before I left... Jim the neighbor checked it out and didn't see anything wrong, but it made me too nervous that a new fixture wan't working so I had him take it down. He tested the fixture and it was bad, shew...

080930 - Holland Rain

080930 - Up and typical Dutch fashon it is raining... They tell me the weather is usually very sunny and nice here. I don't believe them, every trip I have made it has rained for at least some part of the day... I had bfast and then took a cab to the office. I had a full day and got a lot arranged for the rest of the week.
080929 - Well my 13hr trip has now turned into a 22 hour fiasco... I arrived in Amsterdam at 6pm, with NO luggage! I had to wait around another hour while they tried to find it but no luck... I jumped the train to Almere and then walked to the office from there. When I got there only a few people were left. But I talked Rob into driving me back to the hotel and having dinner. Exhausted I called Lori to finish my day.