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8.29.08

Last Train Home

Today was my last official day of work. I have to come in tomorrow to wrap up some loose ends, but I will drive in, so this is my last ride on the CTA as a daily commuter. Thanks for taking me to work, relatively reliably, for the last seven years. Thanks for giving me the time to read. Thanks for helping us be a one-car family. Thanks for all the interesting characters who ride your cars. I will forever remember your smell, the stalagmites that grow on your platform floors, and the welcome sound of an approaching train. And I’ve never told anyone this before, but I have always had to look behind me as a train approaches, to make sure no one is going to push me onto the tracks. I’ll miss you, my smelly, somewhat reliable, dangerous friend.

Filed in: Uncategorized

by Sally

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August 30, 2008 - 4:29 pm

The Olson Family - Congrats brother! You have done a great job. Just think, you will now get to drive home from work with a beautiful Texas sunset to look at. Not much better than that. Bigger and better things ahead! Can't wait to see you at home in Amarillo! Love ya…..J

8.26.08

Hands on a Hardbody


There was good news and bad news on Jason Kottke’s blog today.  The good news is that one of my favorite movies, Hands on a Hardbody, can be viewed in its entirety, for free, on Google Video.  I’ve forced this movie on many visitors over the years, and I’ve never met anyone who did not love it.  If you haven’t seen it, please go watch it now.  You will enjoy this documentary following one year’s installment of a contest held by the Nissan dealership in Longview, Texas.  The contest itself is wonderfully absurd: a number of contestants stand with one hand on a “hardbody” Nissan truck, and the last one standing wins the truck.

The bad news is below.  Highlight the area below to read it, but you should really consider watching the movie before reading the bad news.  It could taint your first viewing of the film.
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The contest has not been held since 2005, when a contestant shot himself in the head minutes after losing his chance at winning the truck.  This news report says that he excused himself 48 hours into the contest, and then threw a trash can through a Kmart window.  He entered the store, took and loaded a shotgun, and then shot himself.
Filed in: matt | movie

by Sally

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August 26, 2008 - 7:23 pm

tami - thanks for this info! we love this movie, but it's impossible to get it on dvd (haven't been successful with netflix either…)

as for the bad news part, man that's depressing. i guess it really was a life and death thing for him, this idea of owning a truck and fitting into his culture.

8.25.08

Visit to Notre Dame


I’ve read them all.
Originally uploaded by ..Sally..

There’s a sense of “one last time before we go” that permeates our days lately. Yesterday, that spirit took us over to Notre Dame for the day. We had a good lunch, visit to the bookstore and a nice long stroll through campus. Francis lit a candle at the Grotto for her own special intention. Click on the photo to see the full set of pictures.

Filed in: francis | george
8.19.08

Climbing George

Sally just sent me this photo of George climbing at Barrie Park, a few blocks from our house. Funny story about George from this morning: Sally just bought him some Spiderman underwear, and he was insisting to wear it. George is nowhere near toilet-trained, so I was reluctant to put the underpants in harm’s way. Sally walked by George’s room a few minutes later and noticed that he had crawled up on top of his changing table, gotten the underwear, put two pair on his legs, and was wearing another pair with both arms through the leg holes.

Filed in: george | mykids

by Matt

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August 20, 2008 - 4:18 am

America - Ummm, pic of that?! Also, put the underwear over the diaper! Happy Boy.

8.16.08

What The Hell Is Wrong With My Hands?

All of the skin is sloughing off of my hands. Can somebody diagnose this hideous condition? Unlike my previous post, this is real, and I am concerned.

Filed in: matt

by Sally

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August 17, 2008 - 2:27 am

Steve and Amy Lou - It could be something called dishydrotic excema…do you have any bumps in addition to the peeling? do you tend to have senstive skin? have you been washing any dishes lately (i'm not joking!)? any lotions or medications used? otherwise…maybe a fungal infection???

August 18, 2008 - 1:21 pm

The Olson Family - funny bro glue…………nice try

if it IS peeling, soak your hands in water, leave em wet, cover in vaseline and put gloves on. sleep in them all night. works like a charm………….by the way……..gross

August 20, 2008 - 9:26 pm

chacha - I vote stress. When a friend of mine was in grad school, all the skin molted off his hands. And another friend just told me that her husband had the same thing happen after pretty severe life trauma.