Thanksgiving break

We've returned from our holiday travel. We left following work on Friday 16th and drove to Flushing to spend time with Bart's grandparents. Sunday afternoon we stopped-in to see his cousin Sonia and her kids on the way to meet our good friends in Waterford for dinner that night. Following dinner at Robin and Shari's, with John, Bernie, Nikki, we stayed the night at Bernie's. Julie then had a doctor appointment Monday afternoon after which we drove to her parent's, Bob and Judy, place in Hicksville. Thanksgiving afternoon following the family lunch we drove to Bart's sister's for dinner and the night with her and Brenden and Taylor. Bart played a few hours on the PS2 with them on Guitar Hero. It was funny. Bart and Tonya then got up and went shopping early Friday morning, 4AM, trying to save some money on some deals for gifts. We then returned that afternoon to Hicksville.

Saturday our good friends Chris and Tonya came down for a visit. Tonya brought her camera and was nice enough to take some shots of Thane. We plan to order some when she gets them all posted for us to view. Here are a few samples. Enjoy, they are awesome! Also, be sure to send business her way, she can be reached via her web-site here: tonyamariephotography You can also find them in our photo album.

Background check commencing...

I just spoke with Lt. Dube' at the LPD on the phone. He informed me that they just held a meeting this afternoon and approved my folder of application. He informed me that he would be personally doing the background check for my application. He will be calling me with a date during the week of 26Nov to have me come in for a "get-to-know me" interview to compliment the background investigation. For those of you who offered to be references please expect to be called or get a visit. I've been told that in some cases they do both.

In the interim I'm finishing-up my 1st week at my new contract position. I accepted a development engineering position with a company called Datalux. Get this, they make computers and mounting systems for police cars! What are the odds?! This has got to be my calling!

We will be leaving following work tomorrow, around 5PM, to drive back to my home town of Flushing, MI to my grandparents' place. Sunday night we will be hookin'-up with some of our best friends for dinner (Robin, Shari, Bernie, Nikki, John). Julie then has a doctor appointment on Monday afternoon in West Bloomfield, then it will be off to her family in Ohio until our return home on Sunday.

We hope you all have a great turkey day! Be sure to watch and root for the Lions and the Wolverines this weekend!!!

1st frost...

The 1st frost of the season came yesterday morning, Thurs. I also took part in the ride-a-long with the Leesburg PD. I'm hoping to hear from them soon to take my physical as I have passed all of the required tests. The ride-a-long last night was the evening shift which is from 2PM-2AM. I'm hoping that I'll be able to get a position on the night (7PM-7AM) or day shift (7AM-7PM). The work schedule is wk#1 Mon, Tues, Fri, Sat, Sun, wk#2 Wed, Thu, with 1 of the days being an 8hr day where you choose to leave early or come in late. The ride wasn't too exciting, pretty much all the normal situations...1 suicide attempt, 1 illegal caught driving, 1 DUI, and random other nonsense calls.

Pictures from Thane's 3rd b-day - 17Oct2007

Here are some pics from Thane's 3rd b-day party. Julie was able to get the local fire department to stop by for the party. They had just enough time to chat and show-off the truck before having to respond to a car fire on route 37. Bart made the cake to go with the firetruck theme that Thane wanted this year.

Trick or treat

Here's a couple of pics from Holloween. Thane went with Scott from next door with their mommies while daddies sat on the porch handing out candy. Thane was a Spider and Scott was Thomas.

Projects changing

Last Friday I had test#3 with Leesburg City Police Department. It was the psychological test and review. I passed and I am now waiting for them to send me for a physical and finish my background check! I think they noted they wanted to have all positions filled with set-hire dates before Thanksgiving, so I should be hearing something very soon for the physical. I'm a bit out of shape, but I don't think it will be a problem. I plan to start riding more as I've only ridden a few times over the last month. However, my rides have included pulling Thane behind me in the Burley trailer so it makes it a good work-out. I'll be getting him today via the bike as well at the end of about a hour ride.

I've also completely finished the deck including the shed underneath it and the stain/water treatment. I'll be placing lattice around the deck bottom in the spring which will conceal the shed from view.

I hope to begin work on the Vette again soon as well. I plan to re-build the entire suspension this winter once it is too nasty to drive it anymore this season. Currently I'm touching-up the drywall in the theater room and preparing to paint it.

I'll post another update soon!

Pumpkin carving

Nathaniel chose the design, Julie cleaned it out, and Bart did the carving. Thane found a picture on the web of a moon that he wanted. An hour of carving and wahlah! We then set him on the porch and took a picture. I think by the looks of the picture it is already haunted by a spirit, maybe from the Civil War battle that took place here at the site of Star Fort...? You decide!?

On the job front...Bart has completed and passed test #2, the polygraph, and is going for step #3, the shrink evaluation, this Friday on his way to hopefully join the Leesburg, VA PD. He also found a contract job here in town doing some small engineering project work and some CAD work. The supplier for in-car computers for police cars! It is called Datalux. It'll be better than unemployment.

Thane's 1st NFL game!

Yesterday we took Nathaniel to his 1st NFL game! It was a great time, except for the score. The Redskins hosted the Lions and gave them a whoopin'! The final score was 34-3. Detroit seemed to start each series with 1 or 2 1st downs to then fall apart, much like the old days, eh!? :)

Below are some pics from throughout the day, and of course the drive home. Enjoy!

Deck nearing completion

Here are a couple of pics after today's work. Have just the railing to finish now! Then it'll be the finishing touches on the theater room.

Slow going...

Still progressing on the deck. I finished the stairs today, 2 flights, but the pics below don't include them. These are previous pics I never posted. I've also started mounting the posts for the railings. I'll never buy from the Home Depot in Winchester again! I continue to make return trips to exchange bad wood, get items they failed to include in my deck materials, or return extra items not needed! Each trip is more than an hour at the store as they can't seem to handle a simple exchange!

On the job front...I'm interviewing in the Richmond area Tues, but doubt this will work out. I did have an interview with the Frederick County Sheriff's Department last Thurs that seemed to go very well. They have 4 current openings with 2 more expected in Jan as more are retiring. Obviously the pay would be much less, but it will be a rewarding and challenging job. We'll also be able to stay put with Julie keeping her job. I also have upcoming test dates in a couple of weeks with Martinsburg City and Jefferson County departments in WV which would be about 30min drives.