The Bradfords Blog

No Shave November is No More

2008-12-03T22:17:00.002-05:00

Now that November is finished, so is my beard. Here's my last photo, after one month of a full beard.

Looking Back at Thanksgiving and Forward to Christmas

2008-11-30T14:38:00.004-05:00

Hopefully everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Jennifer and I spent it at her aunt and uncle's house on the lake with Topher and Amanda. It was very nice, relaxing, and quiet. However, the following day was nothing of the sort. We decided to brave the crowds on Black Friday. If you have been following our blog for a while, you may remember my post a few years ago about Black Friday. If not, check it out. Anyway, it wasn't as bad as I thought, and we did get the majority of our Christmas shopping finished. That made me quite happy. Now, with the shopping behind us, hopefully, we can enjoy the season for what it is really about. As you can see by the photo, we also decorated our tree this weekend. Hopefully, if the rain lets up, I may put a few lights outside. We will have to see. Best wishes to everyone, and enjoy the season with thoughts of family, friends, and Jesus. Don't stress, because nothing else really matters...

No Shave November...Between Week 2 & 3

2008-11-17T18:18:00.000-05:00

Startled from Sleep

2008-11-09T12:01:00.004-05:00

Last night, Jennifer and I were quickly awakened by quite a frightening sound. When we looked outside we found a couple of these guys...

...and that is exactly what it sounded like.

No Shave November - Week #1

2008-11-06T23:24:00.000-05:00

A few thoughts...

2008-11-02T22:13:00.003-05:00

1) I am getting extremely irritated with this election. I think I am going to go off if I hear anything else about Joe the Plumber. It is totally insane that the two candidates will actually stand up and argue over an imaginary friend that they both have. Yeah, I know, it represents the common man, but for gosh sakes, give it up already. Personally, I am disgusted that our next president made it into the White House because he was able to convince more people that the other candidate was a horrible person. What's wrong with this picture?

2) No Shave November - A few friends approached me a couple of weeks ago and asked if I was going to participate in No Shave November. I thought, why not? So, I am growing my full beard this month just for the fun of it. I will post weekly updates with photos.

3) Something to make you laugh...This weekend, Jennifer and I were at the mall looking around. After a long day of shopping, I yawned. A nearby sales clerk said, "Don't start that. It's HEREDITARY, just like a chain reaction."

Have a good week, and don't forget to vote Tuesday. And if anyone has any ideas about who I should vote for, let me know.

Jason

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T18:25:00.003-04:00

Of course I decorated my house this year...but no, I didn't dress up. All of my bums for friends backed out this year...big bunch of Losers with a capital L! I figured I would post a pic of the good ol' days when Halloween meant something to people. :)

Okay, enough is enough

2008-10-21T22:50:00.002-04:00

Alright, I am actually mad at myself now too. If you are going to do a blog...do it! I have been heavy in the slack department with regards to my blog, and no I do not not have any excuses. Starting now, I am rededicating myself to my blog. Thanks to all three of you faithful blog followers, even when I am doing a poor job leading. Tell your friends, tell your enemies, tell everyone...bradfordpair.com is back in business.

Paying Attention in Class

2008-08-27T11:31:00.003-04:00

Today I was in training most of the day for the new school year. Just thought I would share.

Jason

Summer Break is Over

2008-08-20T22:05:00.004-04:00

That's right, my Summer Break is officially over. Tomorrow will be my first day back to school. Of course the rest of this week and next will be spent getting my room ready for the new year. The kids do not return until the day after Labor Day. It has been a great summer from Bermuda to Texas, and every where in between. Well, it is already past my bedtime for a school night, so I better be going.

Jason

Camp Copass 2008

2008-07-19T12:39:00.003-04:00

This past week, Jennifer and I had an awesome time with great friends at a children's camp in Denton, TX, which is near Dallas. We went to spend some time on the road with the Tacketts and their ministry. The camp hosted around 700 3rd-6th graders at Camp Copass...It was crazy! Craig, Brittany, Tyler, Ben, Topher, Daniel, Will, and Thomas...We love you guys! Enjoy the photos.

Jason

Cones on an evergreen?

2008-07-05T22:37:00.010-04:00

Not quite...Lately, we noticed that one out of our seven Thuja Green Giant Arborvitaes was beginning to turn brown. We simply could not figure out why only one of the seven would be dying. The rest looked 100% healthy. However, after calling around to a few local nurseries, we discovered the reason. As most of you know evergreens or conifers typically have cones. I thought this was the case with the Thuja trees that we planted two years ago in my yard as well. However, I was extremely mistaken. Instead of my evergreen having cones, it has bagworms. That's right worms! The cone-like objects hanging in my tree for the past months were in fact a colony of plant destroying larva.

So what is a bagworm, and why does it look like that? The bagworm is a form of caterpillar that spins silk and combines it with the materials from mostly evergreen trees and shrubs, creating a cocoon. Because it uses large materials from the plant, it doesn't look like the traditional cocoons of most caterpillars. Instead, it resembles the shape and material of a cone. This of course benefits the worm, but makes it very difficult to for predators, including humans who do not want their trees to die, to find or see them. After feeding on the tree, and suffocating its branches from the tightly spun silk, the bagworms will eventually turn into a type of moth, as the tree dies. The entire life process takes one year.

So, how big are the bagworms or cocoons? They range from about 1/4th of an inch to 2" long, as you can see in the photos that I took above. And lastly, what are we going to do with them? I plucked them off my tree. That's right I stood around my tree for about three hours today, plucking and cutting at least two hundred cocoons. Jennifer did help me get started. Then I placed them in a bucket, and drowned them with water. Later this week, I will continue to destroy them by spraying any remaining larva, cocoons, or eggs on the tree with an insecticide.

Although I had to spend a portion of my Saturday afternoon removing many cocoons from my tree that may still die, I now have a cool adaptation that I can share with my science class next year.

Jason

Photos of Bermuda...

2008-06-28T19:45:00.003-04:00

Finally, I have uploaded photos from our cruise to Bermuda. Enjoy!

Pathological Fear of Thunderstorms

2008-06-22T22:49:00.004-04:00

"Do you know what a pathological fear is? No, sir. It is a fear that goes way beyond normal fears. It's a fear that you can't be talked out of, you can't be reasoned out of. And I think Winn-Dixie has a pathological fear of thunderstorms. We get an awful lot of thunderstorms in the summer. Well, I 'm gonna have to make sure he doesn't get out during a storm. Might run away."

I couldn't keep this scene from the book, "Because of Winn-Dixie", out of my head tonight as I wandered hopelessly through the pouring rain with only the glow of the lightning strikes helping me to see. As I yelled for Molly over and over the event became more and more surreal to me. As you all know, Jennifer and I love our dogs like children. Tonight, someone drove through the back of our fence, allowing Molly to get out. Unfortunately, it happened during a bad thunderstorm, and Molly truly does have a pathological fear of thunderstorms. Jennifer was at work, so I called my parents to help me search for her. As they drove around in the car, I paced and yelled at the back of our property in the pouring rain. After about an hour, my mom and dad found her about a 1/4 of a mile from the house.

I guess you are wondering where Sandi, our other dog, was during this entire event? She didn't leave the yard because she was too busy waiting for her dinner on the back porch. Too funny! As for the person who hit the fence, they didn't bother to stop. Anyway, everyone is safe here, dry, or at least drying, and ready for a good night's rest.

Jason

Back from Bermuda...

2008-06-19T15:58:00.001-04:00

We just returned with my family from our cruise to Bermuda. It was really nice, and we all had a great time. Once I get time, I will get the photos up online.

Jason

On the Road to Charleston

2008-06-13T23:46:00.004-04:00

Yep, that's my brother in the back seat of my car as we head to Charleston for our cruise. And no, the A/C was not broken.

I wish people would keep their blogs updated...

2008-05-15T21:17:00.003-04:00

Okay, so we have seriously neglected our blog. We know...sorry. So, if we still have any readers out there, here's an update...A boring list of what's been going on. Nothing too exciting.

Jason and I are coaching a 3rd and 4th grade Odyssey of the Mind team. Our team won at the regional, and state levels, and now we will move on to World Finals. We will travel with the team to the University of Maryland to compete May 31-June 3. So, if any of you had any doubts about how dorky we are, now it's confirmed.

Jason has been super busy at school this year. He was voted Teacher of the Year at Crystal Spring by his peers. For those of you that know Jason, this is probably not a surprise to you. He is a bit of an overachiever in all that he does.

We recently had some house guests, which was fun. First, Ben came to visit while he was working The EDGE in Roanoke. We had a great time helping with The EDGE as well. Then, Lauren and Christina came up from NC for the last Rhythm of the semester. Drew was also here for The EDGE and Rhythm. Fun times in Roanoke. Thanks to everyone for coming to visit.

Congrats to all our friends who are having babies! Tammy and Ryan are expecting a little boy soon. John and Tracie are also expecting, but they want the sex to be a surprise. So, within our circle of friends, that only leaves us without kids...hmm? Oh well, no pressure right? It's not like we're getting old or anything.

Our friend Emily is getting ready for another mission trip to Guatemala. My prayers go with her. Guatemala holds a special place in her heart, and I'm excited for her to be able to serve there again. We will also be keeping Phil in our thoughts as he plays Mr. Mom, while she's gone.

I can't wait for summer! We opened the pool Monday, and I can't wait till it's ready. We will be going on a cruise in June with Jason's family. We are also hoping to be able to visit our friend Michele in Texas this summer.

Useless information:
Dinner: Chinese
Watching: Grey's Anatomy
Listening: Hillsong's I Heart Revolution
Reading: unChristian(Still...it's a slow read!)
Spending too much time on: Facebook

Well, that's all I have. Hopefully Jason will be back to blogging soon, because he's much better at it than I am.

Jennifer

Some of this Summer's Work

2008-01-12T17:58:00.000-05:00

Here are some photos of the shed that I built in our backyard this past summer. There are also a few photos of the rock stairs that we had installed on the front side of the pool in November. Enjoy them!

Edge Conferences in Ridgecrest and Caswell, NC

2008-01-05T21:29:00.000-05:00

Jennifer and I just got back this week from the two Edge Conferences that are put on by our friends with Inlightened Ministries. They were awesome! We had a load of fun and met many wonderful people. Enjoy the photos.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-22T21:38:00.000-05:00

I hope this entry finds you in good spirits with family and friends. If you feel rushed, stressed, and completely overwhelmed while getting ready for the big day, stop and take time to remember the meaning of Christmas. It's not about lights, trees, or the type of dip to take to the next party. Before stressing to find the "best gift" for your family and friends, make sure they have the only gift that matters...Jesus. Take care, and God bless!

Jason

A Little Christmas Cheer

2007-12-02T23:02:00.000-05:00

Jennifer and I had a little fun with some elves this past weekend. Click on the image above to see what it was all about.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T11:16:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, we had a student/faculty football game at school to raise money for the Rescue Mission. It was really a lot of fun. You can see me on the sidelines, blocking the sun from my eyes as I wait to play. Enjoy the article and photos on roanoke.com.

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T22:45:00.000-04:00

Enjoy the photos from tonight!

A Day with Nature...A Night with Pain

2007-10-28T20:41:00.000-04:00

Today, Nathan and I decided to go to Carvin's Cove for some mountain biking. We had a great time. The settings were amazing. It is truly hard to believe that we have such beautiful trails and wooded areas right here around us. Although our trip was great, we will be paying the price for the next few days. We rode over 12 miles. Doesn't sound too bad? Yeah, it's not if you're on pavement. Let's just say that we both have a different interpretation of "Over the River and Through the Woods". The last two photos below were taken at the last 1/2 mile marker on the return trip to the trailhead. They serve as a great interpretation of our 12-mile wooded journey. Enjoy!

2007-09-15T22:26:00.000-04:00

"God is so gangsta, that's what I love about him." This was a direct quote this season from Jameka of Big Brother 8. I laughed until it hurt, even though I had no idea what she meant. I don't think I would compare God to a gangsta, but I do think it was well intended.

Jason

The Smiling Computer Geek in Me

2007-09-07T19:40:00.000-04:00

This entry is pretty irrelevant for most of you, but some may find it interesting. I recently found out that if you do a Google search for "jason jennifer bradford", "jason bradford roanoke", or jennifer bradford roanoke" bradfordpair.com is listed as the number one search result! Makes the computer geek in me smile! Others like me will understand why.

Jason

Rhythm...Exciting New Ministry in Roanoke

2007-09-05T21:40:00.000-04:00

Jennifer and I are really excited about this new ministry. Rhythm is focused on college students and young adults. I know, we are pushing the age limit. But seriously, the Roanoke Valley desperately needs a ministry that is geared towards this age group. Last week we had a kick-off cookout that went well. Starting next Thursday the 13th, Rhythm will meet on a weekly basis at 8pm. Craig, Rhythm's leader, is truly an amazing speaker. If any of our "young" friends are interested, let us know. You can find out more at www.rhythmva.com.

Jason

Back-to-School

2007-09-03T22:30:00.000-04:00

Well, tomorrow is my big day back-to-school, which I am very excited about. I spent last week getting my room prepared, and I am now feeling both physically and mentally ready. Don't get me wrong, summer has been great. I have thoroughly enjoyed the time that I have been able to spend at home with Jennifer, and others in my family. Since it is my bedtime, I have to go for now. However, for anyone who is interested, here is a link to my classroom website, which is still a work-in-progress. This was one of my summer projects. Take care! www.mrbradfordsclass.com

Jason

Okay, so I have no excuses...

2007-07-27T16:18:00.000-04:00

It has been two months since my last entry, and no, I do not have an excuse. However, since my last entry a lot has been going on. The Odyssey of the Mind team that I had been working with placed fourth out of almost 50 teams at the world-level of competition in May. I was very proud of their hard work. Shortly before school was out, my grandfather passed away. He had been suffering for quite a while, but he is now in a much better place. School ended on the 15th of June, and I have been very busy around the house. Fortunately, Jennifer has been able to work her schedule so that she is only working one or two days each week during my summer break. However, the first week that I was out, she was diagnosed with pneumonia. What a bad way to start our summer! It really knocked her down for about a week, but she has now recovered. About two weeks ago, my dad and I began my shop/building in the backyard. It is now fully framed, and has the roofing board on it. Last week we went to Nags Head for vacation with my parents, brother, his girlfriend, and my grandma. We had a very relaxing time. Lastly, we bought a new vehicle this past week. Since selling my old Jeep, I have greatly missed it. So, we decided to get a new one. Below is a picture of our new Jeep. I absolutely love it.

I will post more photos of it and my building as soon as we get a new digital camera...Ours literally blew up the other day. Take care and God bless!

Jason

Yeah, I know it has been a while...

2007-05-18T22:12:00.000-04:00

We have been very busy. As for school, I have been wrapped up in end-of-the-year activities, SOL reviews, and Odyssey of the Mind. Last night, the other third grade teachers and I hosted "Are You Smarter Than a Third Grader". The children competed in a Jeopardy style game against their parents as an SOL review. It was very fun, and actually The Roanoke Times did a front page article on it this morning. If you are interested in reading the article you can find it here on roanoke.com. Next week, the students will begin their SOL testing. As for Odyssey of the Mind, the team that Jennifer and I have been working with at my school advanced to the World level of competition. It will be held next week in Michigan. Luckily, there were no conflicts with the SOL schedule, so we will be in East Lansing next Wednesday through Memorial weekend. We are both looking forward to it. Wish us luck...The kids have all worked very hard. Jennifer has started her church softball season, and we are continuing to work very hard in our backyard. My plan is to spend my entire summer working around the house, the backyard, and on my building/shop. Until next time...

Are you smarter than a fifth grader?

2007-03-01T16:59:00.000-05:00

I don't know if you have seen this show yet or not, but you should check it out. I think it is absolutely hilarious. Adults try to win a million dollars by answering only ten questions that range from 1st to 5th grade material. In addition, they basically get three freebies. They get a save, peek, and cheat. The first man on the show used his three freebies immediately, and lost directly afterwards. Either the show does a really good job of screening people, or something is terribly wrong. I assume they wouldn't allow an elementary teacher to play...Darn! Follow the link to check out Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?

Happy Groundhog Day!

2007-02-02T21:25:00.000-05:00

No shadow...No more winter. At least that's what Punxsutawney Phil said this morning. Does the country actually take Phil seriously, year after year? Some do. In fact, he might even be more accurate than Roanoke's area meteorologists, especially after yesterday's double bobble. For Phil, it is fairly simple. He comes out of his stump atop Gobbler's Knob. If he sees his shadow, it will be winter for six more weeks. If he doesn't, we will get an early spring. Pretty simple. Not only does he predict the weather six weeks out (which is pretty impressive), his system is fairly inexpensive, and has an accuracy of about 40%. That's not too bad for a furry rodent that speaks Groundhogese. And who knows, maybe he has been more accurate than that. Perhaps his Inner Circle (men with the top hats) has messed the translation up a time or two. As for our local meteorologists, they use enhanced 3D doppler radar systems to predict our weather within a window of only a couple of days, and I am sure that it is much more expensive than Phil's. What about their accuracy? Yesterday it was 0%, which is pretty bad when you are predicting on an hour-by-hour basis. Phil doesn't look at it on an hourly basis. In fact, he doesn’t even predict on a daily basis. He goes for the long haul of six weeks. So with all this said, the next time you try to plan your outdoor activities, I would recommend looking back at February 2nd instead of turning on the local news.

Jason

Snow Day!

2007-02-01T12:42:00.000-05:00

I thought that I would share my love for surprise, unscheduled days off with the rest of you all. It is slightly strange to get up, have work canceled, and there be no snow or sign of snow on the ground. Anyway, it is a great day to relax and work around the house. Since I am talking about snow, I thought I would share our classroom door. Recently we had a school-wide door decorating contest. Our door won first place. Enjoy the photo!

Worth reposting...

2006-12-15T20:18:00.000-05:00

Napoleon Dynamite's 12 Days of Christmas.

Still working on it.

2006-12-02T18:12:00.000-05:00

Today, Jennifer and I worked on half of the landscaping behind our pool. I think it turned out quite nicely. After a few seasons, the shrubs should fill in the entire area, and the monkey grass should border the edge of the pool walk.

Jason

Our completed rock wall

2006-11-23T10:58:00.000-05:00

As of last Saturday, our rock wall was completed. Below are some photos. We still have a lot of landscaping and work to do around the wall and the pool, but at least this portion is complete.

Jason

High five

2006-11-19T21:49:00.001-05:00

Finally, I cleared some time to see the movie everyone is talking about, "Borat". Before I begin, I must say that I am a Sacha Baron Cohen fan. Although his show and movie are extremely controversial, and I do not agree with the material that he presents, I feel that he exposes views that many in our country deny exist. Hatred is ramped in our country, and Cohen is on a mission to demonstrate it. He uses fictitious characters to expose these stereotypes that do exist readily in our society. While doing the unscripted interviews, Cohen’s targets express their feelings and true annoyances of the people and society around them. Most of them are quite revealing and extremely shocking.

Many people look at Cohen as being the one with the lack of acceptance for those around him. However, his characters are only acting as catalysts to show people’s true feelings and beliefs. Most people who see Cohen in action are highly offended, which I can clearly see why. If the movie and his show are taken at face value, they are extremely crude and offensive. But, with a little research and time, one will clearly see what Cohen is trying to achieve. To truly understand his purpose, one must know all the facts. He does not share the views of his characters. For example, Cohen was raised in an Orthodox Jewish family, and it is reported that he is still an observant Jew. He only uses his Borat character to expose people’s hatred towards his own self and culture.

As for the movie, I will only give it one thumb up. Too much of it seemed scripted, and there were some overly crude elements that I felt pushed it too far. The actual interviews and interactions with the public were great, like always. If you are regular Ali G, Borat, or Bruno watcher, you will like the movie. If you go into the movie and take it for face value, it will be a horrible experience. However, if you can look past the crude elements, and focus on the revealing thoughts and beliefs that our society exhibits, it will be an eye opener for you.

Jason

Slow, but steady.

2006-11-13T23:20:00.000-05:00

I thought that I would take a second to post a picture for all to see. Slowly, the wall behind our pool is nearing completion. It should be completed by this weekend, as long as the weather cooperates.

Jason

Yes, we are still here.

2006-11-05T21:13:00.000-05:00

I know, I know. It has been almost three months since my last update. But that only makes for a great entry, right? Well, maybe not great, but long at least. Where should I begin?

How about school? As you all know, I began my first year of teaching this past August, which has been my primary blogging obstacle, throughout the past few months. It has kept me very busy, both day and night. I am sure you have heard teachers talking about the long hours, hard days, and endless work. However, I bet most of you haven’t taken them seriously. Well, you should start. There are so many responsibilities and things to be done, one can only begin to imagine. I thought that I had my mind wrapped around the responsibilities and workload of a teacher, after my student teaching. I didn’t. In fact, I was not even close. However, after saying that, I must add, “I love it!” Although it can be very time-consuming and stressful, interacting with the children is the most rewarding thing that I have ever done. I could fill an entire book of anecdotes. They would be side-splitting hilarious, absolutely insane, and even sad at times. Each day is a different day. There is virtually no monotony. It is possibly the most polar opposite position from that of my past cubical job in Corporate America. Last Friday was the end of our first nine-week grading period. Wow, an entire one-fourth of the year is already completed. I guess time does fly, when you are having fun!

As for Jennifer, she has been there for me, every step of the way. She has helped me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I can not express how much I appreciate her and everything that she does for me. As for her career, she has now been a RN at the hospital for over six months and continues to enjoy it as well.

As for the pool, we now have grass growing in most of the yard. This past week, a stone mason began building a stone wall behind the pool. With my new job, it has left me with very little time around the house. So, we decided to leave it up to a professional. That is so hard for me to do, however the same guy built my parents wall 18 years ago and it still looks great. It should be finished this week, or next. I will do my best to post some photos of the project.

I am not sure if you know, but Jennifer and I began riding bikes, fairly frequently this past spring and summer. Unfortunately, the bikes we were riding were in pretty poor shape…Not exactly your fine-tuned cycling machines. Anyway, we decided to buy new ones a couple of weeks ago. We made our purchase at Cardinal Bicycle and we both love our bikes. I chose a black Hardrock Sport by Specialized and Jennifer went with a Boulder SE by Giant. Both are great bikes. These are our first name-brand bikes and what a difference. If you are seriously thinking about a bike, I definitely recommend ones that can’t be bought from either Wal-Mart or Target.

We did decide to go though with our plans for Halloween. Unfortunately, two of my zombies were not able to participate. So, the scares were left up to Josh, my dad, and me. I also plan to post a few photos of this as well.

And last, but not least, are our daughters, Sandi & Molly. They are what they are…our spoiled mutts. Sandi gave us a scare about two weeks ago. She was really sick and wouldn’t eat for a few days. Those who really know Sandi, know that she never turns down food. So, we decided to take her the vet. They did x-rays, blood work, acupuncture, and gave her nausea injections for a nominal fee of only $300. All of this to find out, she seemed to be fine and only had a bug. Oh well, it happens. And besides, it is only the third set of x-rays that she has had. Dogs…I still like them better than cats.

Well, I have now spent way too much time on this blog. I have to go for now. Hopefully, I will be able to post much sooner next time. Thanks to those who have been patient and routinely checking our site…Stefanie, Emily, and Tracie. Everyone, take care and God bless!

Jason

My opportunity has arrived...

2006-08-18T21:41:00.000-04:00

As some of you already know, I accepted an offer as a 3rd grade teacher a few weeks ago. It is the opportunity that I have been waiting on for some time now. Last Thursday, the 10th, was my last day at the paper. I went strait to the school to work on my classroom. It is now in pretty good shape, thanks to a week of hard work and a lot of help from Jennifer. This is a big change for me that I am extremely excited about. I must go for now. I have been and will be extremely busy for a while, but will try to update our blog as much as possible. Take care and God bless!

Jason

Officially Finished!

2006-08-03T22:50:00.000-04:00

As of today, the pool is complete! We were actually able to swim in it last weekend, but the electrical work was only temporary. Now that portion is complete also. Other than fixing the yard and landscaping around the pool, we can rest easy. Here are a couple of photos, plus some night shots of the color light from tonight's swim. Enjoy!

Night Lights: White, Blue, Purple, and Green

Day 10 of Pool Construction

2006-07-26T23:33:00.001-04:00

Premium H20! Today they completed the floor, installed the liner, began filling it with water, and hooked up the pump equipment. We are keeping our fingers crossed for a dip this weekend!

Roughly speaking...Day 9 of Pool Construction

2006-07-24T22:46:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately we lost four days due to a damaged skimmer that had to be reordered, but now it has been fixed and the final days are in sight.

Landscaping begins by yours truly...
I worked all weekend on the front area of the pool, preparing the soil and planting the grass. In addition, I planted 5 of our 7 Green Giant Arborvitae trees.

The concrete deck has been poured.
Now all that is left is a little more work on the inside floor, installation of the liner, and electrical wiring.

More pool pictures...

2006-07-18T22:54:00.000-04:00

Day 6 & 7: Rough grading, plumbing, and deck forms

Day 8: Pool bottom/floor is installed

Day 5 of Pool Construction

2006-07-13T20:38:00.000-04:00

Today they continued to backfill and remove excess dirt from the yard. In addition, they completed more plumbing and line work. I didn't post a photo, because visually there is not much more to see at this point. I will post one after the work tomorrow is completed. Have a great weekend!

Day 4 of Pool Construction

2006-07-12T22:52:00.000-04:00

Today they installed french drains around the pool to reduce the pressure of ground water, began to backfill around the outside of the pool, and removed some of the excess dirt from our yard.

Day 3 of Pool Construction

2006-07-11T20:03:00.000-04:00

Today was spent with smaller, but important details...

Taking the Plunge

2006-07-10T21:51:00.000-04:00

For those of you who do not already know, we are putting in a pool. We have contemplated the matter for over three years and finally decided to go through with it a couple of weeks ago. Last Thursday they began digging and today they began the construction. It is so exciting to watch.

Day 1: Excavation

Day 2 Morning: Digging the Deep End

Day 2 Afternoon: Wall Construction

A Registered Nurse

2006-06-29T18:24:00.000-04:00

We found out this morning that Jennifer passed her state boards and now holds her RN license. This marks the end of a long chapter for the both of us, but especially for Jennifer. She has faced multiple challenges, working so incredibly hard over the past 2-3 years. This morning's news could not have been given to a more deserving person. It is amazing to see someone, as dedicated as Jennifer, accomplish their goal. This and many other reasons make me proud to say that Jennifer is both my wife and best friend. I love you!

"Everything is possible for him who believes."
Mark 9:23

I'm predicting..."The worst movie of the year"

2006-06-26T14:41:00.000-04:00

At least they could have come up with a better name. Really...Snakes on a Plane. Obviously, they didn't spend much time brainstorming. Actually, rumor has it that they tried to change the name to Pacific Air Flight 121, but Samuel L. Jackson insisted it not change. Who knows, it may be a sellout. I typically like unpopular movies and dislike the popular ones. Take a listen below. Sounds pretty dumb to me.

It's about time...

2006-06-26T09:30:00.000-04:00

Finally, after years of debate, the demolition of Victory Stadium began this morning. Follow the link and continue to click refresh to see an up-to-date, live image from roanoke.com's video camera. History in the making...Roanoke is actually following through with something. Hope you are enjoying it as much as I am!

Jason

Taking a break to have a little fun!

2006-06-23T22:30:00.000-04:00

This past Wednesday, Jennifer and I went over to the Normans for a cookout. Matt, who is sitting in the background, decided to bring his Guitar Hero game. As you can see, we enjoyed it. Maybe a little too much for men who are almost 30 years old. Anyway enjoy the video that Phil produced.

Jason

"You haven't been updating your blog!"

2006-06-07T22:17:00.000-04:00

Yes, I am aware of this matter. We've both been really busy. Since summer is almost here, we have been out and about a lot recently. A collective effort of yard work, softball games, new jobs, giving haircuts to dogs, and roofing sheds has consumed much of our time over the past couple of weeks. Jennifer loves her new job, which she may blog about soon. Anyway, I must go for now. Keep checking and I will update when I have time. Take care and God bless!

Jason

Graduation Luau

2006-05-25T21:38:00.000-04:00

Saturday evening (5/13/06) we hosted a Graduation Luau for Jennifer and Paige. It was fun and everyone enjoyed the time with friends and family. Luckily for Nathan and I, Paige's mom and my mom did most of the work. I don't think the food or atmosphere would have been quite the same if we would have been in charge. Anyway, enjoy the pics!

Jason

Students no more.

2006-05-17T18:22:00.000-04:00

This past week, Jennifer and Paige attended their RN pinning ceremony and school commencement. As you can see, they were both very happy to be finished with their RN program. Be sure to check out the rest of our photos from the two ceremonies.

Jason

Back from Gatlinburg

2006-05-08T21:18:00.000-04:00

Jennifer and I returned home from Gatlinburg late this afternoon. We had a very relaxing and enjoyable trip. We spent the majority of our time simply walking around with no where to go. On Saturday, we drove through the Smokey Mountains to the Cherokee Indian Reservation. The mountains were beautiful. We spent Sunday morning at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, which was the highlight of the trip. It boasts the world's longest aquarium tunnel. We then spent Sunday afternoon shopping at some factory outlets. I am proud to say that I did not succumb to any mini-golf course or go-cart track, although the temptation was very real and on every street corner. Enjoy the photos from our trip!

Jason

Taking a little trip

2006-05-04T23:36:00.000-04:00

We are taking a four day trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee tomorrow. Since Jennifer starts her new job on the 15th, we figured that we should take a little break before then. The weather looks like it is going to be nice and Gatlinburg is always an enjoyable place to visit. Anyway, just wanted to let you know why we will not be posting for a couple of days. We will take some photos and have them up as soon as we get back. Take care!

Jason

Congratulations!

2006-05-02T20:59:00.000-04:00

Now that Jennifer is completely finished with her RN program, some congrats are due. She has worked so diligently over the past two years, giving it her very best and it truly shows. I cannot express how proud I am of her. It is amazing to see someone take in and retain the amount of knowledge that "good" nurses possess. She has done an outstanding job throughout the entire program and I know she will be an excellent nurse. Congrats and I love you!

Jason

It's official...

2006-05-02T11:45:00.000-04:00

Paige and I have finished nursing school. Our final grades are posted and now all we have to do is Celebrate! We are having a "party" at our house on Saturday May 13th starting around 5:30pm (family & 7:00pm for our friends) for anyone who wants to join us. Just call and let us know if you're coming! See everyone soon. Jennifer

Feliz cumpleaños mis amigo!

2006-04-28T08:45:00.000-04:00

Hope you are having a great 27th birthday in the big city, John. Wow, we're getting too close to 30. For me, it seems like the higher the age, the lower the number of hairs on my head. Anyway, happy birthday and enjoy these pics from what I believe was your 24th birthday at El Rodeo. I think my memory is starting to slip too!

Jason

Almost there...part 2

2006-04-26T21:51:00.000-04:00

Monday I took my last test for my nursing class and I only have the final exam next Monday until I'm totally finished with school! I am so proud of us, we have the largest graduating class ever. Today they threw me a little party at HomeChoice Partners where I currently work, they gave me an awesome gift-- a new pair of Dansko shoes for when I start working. For those of you who don't know I've accepted a job at Roanoke Memorial Hospital working on the cardiac surgical progressive care unit (Paige will be working here too). If you're ever around stop by and see me on 9 south, I will be starting on May 15. Other than school I've been busy playing softball for Parkway. It has been a lot of fun. I have wanted to play for a while and never had a team so this is really great. Paige is playing too, and we've run into a lot of people we used to play ball with which is neat. Paige's mom, Lynn, is keeping score for us so it's kind of like old times. The major difference is we're about 10 years older and a lot slower! We are also very sore and out of shape :) but we're having fun and so far we've won both of our games. If any one would like to come out and see us play you can see the schedule here. Thanks to Emily and all the others who have already come out to see our awesome skills. Other items to mention are a CONGRATULATIONS!!! to my aunt for getting a promotion as the manager of the DMV in Roanoke. Happy Birthday to Amanda... and I guess that about wraps it up.

Jennifer

Why I Love Dogs and Not Cats

2006-04-18T18:28:00.000-04:00

Simply put, dogs are great. I have always loved dogs and disliked cats. Below are my five reasons.

5) A dog's tongue is not rough.
Sure, a wet slobbering dog can be a little disqusting but I would take that over a rough cat tongue any day. Nothing is more disgusting than having a hairy tongue lick your arm.

4) Dogs are happy to see you anytime.
Dogs are always happy...morning, day, and night. Cats on the other hand only care to see you when they are hungry or need their litter box cleaned, which leads me to my third reason.

3) Dogs use the bathroom outside.
Cats can too you say? Only if you leave their claws intact, which leads me to my second reason.

2) Dogs never slap you in the face.
How many of you have ever been petting a cute little cat and then the next thing you know you've been slapped across the face? I have...stupid cat.

And the number one reason...
1) Dogs are always there when you need them.
No matter how rough a day you have or how much you have ignored your dog, he or she will be right there, wagging their tail, and ready to cheer you up.

Follow the link to see some photos of my parents' dogs (Sally the Pointer mix, Lucy the Beagle, and Wilson the miniature Dachshund).

Jason

Weather in Roanoke

2006-04-17T18:21:00.000-04:00

For you "out-of-towners" who frequent our blog and anyone who looks up the weather online, I have added a weather link to our blog. It is located on the bottom, right portion of the page. It tells the current conditions in Roanoke, links you to a more detailed forecast, and allows you to check the weather for any location. Enjoy!

Jason

Easter Weekend

2006-04-17T12:33:00.000-04:00

First off, I hope everyone had a happy and enjoyable Easter weekend. We did, but were really busy. Saturday morning, I helped Josh change his car’s brakes while Jennifer went to her last nursing school fundraiser…a carwash in Rocky Mount. That afternoon, Jennifer went to Mary’s baby shower while I helped my Dad cut down a tree. Yes, cutting down a tree is better than going to a baby shower…much better. After dinner, we went to Paige and Nathan’s to play a little Uno, watch some TV, and stay up way to late. Sunday morning Jennifer found a bag of Easter surprises on our front porch. I guess the Easter Bunny is real. I’m not sure, but the whole issue is making me second guess my previous thoughts and perhaps misconceptions about Santa Claus as well. Anyway, we then went to the early church service, had biscuits at Bojangles, lunch at my cousins, drove to Moneta to visit Jennifer’s aunt and uncle, and finished the day lying in bed, waiting for Grey’s Anatomy only to find out that it was postponed a week. So, other than the postponing of Grey’s Anatomy, we had a great Easter weekend with family and friends.

Jason

Over the Next Couple of Weeks

2006-04-12T21:32:00.000-04:00

My plan is to add a photo gallery every couple of days. We have a lot of photos that have been sitting around. This first batch is from a trip that Jennifer, Josh, and I took in May of 2003. We went to visit John, Tracie, and Elwood in Alexandria (Elwood is their dog). Of course, while we were there, we also spent a little time in the nation's capital. We had a lot of fun. Lifelong friends are the best! If you click on the Lincoln Memorial photo, it will take you to other photos from the trip. Enjoy and I promise to post more photo galleries every couple of days for the next few weeks.

Jason

Ten Years and Counting

2006-04-09T08:32:00.000-04:00

As of today, we have been together for ten years. We became a couple during our junior year in high school on April 9th, 1996. That's right, high school sweethearts. I knew very soon that Jennifer was the one for me and that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. She is and will always be my absolute best friend. May God continue to bless us and our relationship for many more decades to come.

Jason

Racquetball Master

2006-04-05T07:47:00.000-04:00

Last night I again was schooled by the racquetball master. Claiming that he had not played seriously in about five years, Chris performed quite contrary to his statement on the court. Matt from work also joined us, so we were able to play a little cutthroat too. Let’s just say I had a good workout. Chris, your day is coming…Once my knee recovers from last night.

Jason

Sunday, April 9th • Grand Opening

2006-04-03T21:44:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned earlier, this coming Sunday is Parkway Wesleyan Church's "official" Grand Opening in the new facility. There are two services: 9:30am and 11:00am. We have been regularly attending the early service for about two years and very much recommend it to anyone. We hope to see some of you there! Need directions or more info?

Thought we had forgotten?

2006-04-03T08:57:00.000-04:00

No way…just very busy. Jennifer is of course now in her last month of nursing school…Yippee! This is still consuming much of her time. I on the other hand have officially completed my teaching requirements, but have been very busy filling out paperwork, final evaluations, and other important forms. In addition to all of this, we have been riding our bikes at least once a week. It has been very fun, since the weather has turned much nicer lately. And yes, the pain from the bike seat does subside after a couple of rides. So those of you who say, “I can’t ride a bike anymore because it hurts my butt.” Get back on the bike. The pain will soon go away. Trust me, it hurt and it did finally go away. Anyway, the bike riding has been a lot of fun for the both of us. Let us know if you care to join us on a Sunday afternoon ride. Our bike rack carries four bikes, so we have room for two more. As a final note, this coming Sunday the 9th is Parkway's Grand Opening. We would like for some of you to attend if possible. Check back and I will have the details of the Grand Opening posted by tomorrow morning, the 4th. Have a great day!

Jason

Busy Weekend

2006-03-12T21:01:00.000-05:00

We had a busy weekend, yet it was very enjoyable. We spent a lot of time with both friends and family. Saturday we went to the regional Odyssey of the Mind competition in Franklin County. I wanted to go see many of the children I worked with during my practicum compete. They all seemed happy to see me, which made me miss working with them even more. On the way to the competition, we stopped by our friends' new house, which they just finished building. I also was able to see their new baby boy, Mason, for the first time. After the Odyssey of the Mind competition, we headed to the lake and had dinner with Jennifer's aunt and uncle. This morning we got up and went to church. It was the second Sunday in Parkway's new building. After church we took my grandparents barbecue ribs for their birthdays and took my mom and dad out to eat at Olive Garden for her birthday too. My brother and his girl friend also went. After lunch, since it was 80° today, my brother, his girl friend, Jennifer, and I decided to go for a bike ride along the river. The weather was perfect and we had a lot of fun. After about three hours and little leg power left, we returned home to spend the rest of the early evening resting on the front porch. And now it is almost time for Grey's Anatomy, so I must go. I hope your weekend was enjoyable as well. Have a great week and God bless!

Jason

Almost there...

2006-03-04T23:25:00.000-05:00

Well, I will officially complete my teacher licensure program this week. Although it is a relief to be ending the program, it will not be easy to leave the classroom until next year. My experiences over the past couple of months have been nothing short of awesome. In my best dreams, I could not possibly enjoy anything more than teaching. I have known for some time that I wanted to teach, but I did not have a grasp on the exact reason behind my desire. I now know. The rewards are too numerous to count. It is perhaps the most personally rewarding thing that I have ever done. It's not about a pay check, recess or the summers off. It's about having the ability to be a positive part of a child's life. And for some, this may be the only positive part of their life. It has opened my eyes to an entirely different reason for working...Truly helping others and not just yourself. Wish me luck in finding a teaching position next fall. God bless everyone!

Jason

We're still here...

2006-02-18T11:47:00.000-05:00

Wow! I don't think we have ever been this busy. We took a quick break last Saturday the 11th to play in the snow. My brother, his girlfriend, Jennifer, and I went sledding for a couple of hours. It was only about four inches of snow, but it was enough to have fun. Here is a link to more photos, if you are interested.

As for being busy, I only have two more weeks left to complete my student teaching requirement. Although I have been very busy, I have had a wonderful experience. It requires countless hours of planning and preparation that no one can understand or realize until they have experienced it. However, the rewards while in the classroom make up for all of the time spent. I should have my state teaching license within a couple of months. Yippee! Jennifer has also been very busy. She is only about nine weeks away from the completion of her RN program. She has started interviewing around the Valley, so wish her the best. I am sure she will do fine. Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts. I must go for now, but keep checking our blog for updates.

God bless!
Jason

Field Trip!

2006-01-18T20:17:00.000-05:00

Today was a big day in the 3rd grade. We went on a field trip to Mill Mountain Theatre to see the world premiere of The North Star. It is an adaption of the book by Peter Reynolds of FableVision. As a book and a play, The North Star is an extremely powerful tool for both educators and anyone who is struggling with a decision to follow their dreams. For me the story rings true with my recent decision to change careers. I am stepping out into the unknown and following a different path. At times the path has been bumpy and hard to follow. However, no matter how dark it gets, I will continue to see my dream which continues to shine brighter than ever. Wish me luck and God bless!

Jason

Back to School

2006-01-09T17:43:00.000-05:00

That's right, it's time to go back to school for the both of us. Jennifer started her last semester of nursing school today. As for me, I begin next Tuesday the 17th. However I am really going back to school. All the way back to the 3rd grade. That's right! For the next 7-weeks I will be completing my practicum experience and credits at Crystal Spring Elementary School. After over a year of preparation through UVa, it is time for me to be thrown to the wolves. Just kidding! I am really excited about the whole process. I have been waiting on this for quite some time now. As for work I will be taking a temporary leave of absence until early March. After my practicum is complete, I will be able to apply for my state license. This will take some time, so my plan is to return to work in March with the hope of getting a teaching job next fall. Wish us both luck as we both near major changes in our careers.

Jason

Busy, busy, busy!

2006-01-06T15:29:00.000-05:00

Wow! I thought things were suppose to slow down after the holidays (Christmas & New Year's). I just realized I hadn't updated our blog in a while. I've got exciting news that I will share in my next entry, this weekend. Stay tuned!

Jason

Christmas Day

2005-12-25T21:25:00.000-05:00

Since we had a pretty busy day planned we decided to open our gifts last night. From jewelry to video games, we both received a nice assortment. After going to church this morning, we were off to Jennifer's aunt and uncle's house for our big Christmas dinner. From there, we rushed back home to have my parents up for a small evening dinner followed by a round of Scene It! -TV Edition. It was a gift from Jennifer to me.

Overall we had a great Christmas sharing time with loved ones and remembering those that are no longer with us. Although these thoughts and memories can be very hard at times, especially on Christmas Day, we can rest assured knowing that it is the gift of Christmas that we will one day reunite us with them forever. May God comfort each and every one of you. Merry Christmas!

Jason

Napoleon Dynamite's 12 Days of Christmas

2005-12-23T11:40:00.000-05:00

If you like the Napoleon Dynamite movie, then you will like their rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas. If not, don't bother following this link. Enjoy!

Parkway: On the Mountain

2005-12-22T18:16:00.000-05:00

As many of you know we have been attending Parkway Wesleyan for a while. They are building a new church on the "Mountain". Here is a picture of the church under construction and a proof from the flyer that will be handed out for the first Sunday on the "Mountain". We are praying for 2,000 the first Sunday. (Photos from HeAthLuVsInG's blog)

jennifer

Merry Christmas!

2005-12-22T12:59:00.000-05:00

Before long another Christmas season will only exist in our memories. From working to shopping and all the little tasks in between, it has been an extremely busy season. So busy that many people have forgotten what Christmas is all about or even sadder, many do not know the true meaning of Christmas. Last night as my dad and I roamed the mall with all of the other last minute shoppers, I began to realize how caught up our society is with Christmas and yet, all for the wrong reasons. Alongside others, I franticly searched each and every store for one more “perfect” gift. Soon I gave up, realizing that no matter what I picked up and bought, it would not be the “perfect” gift. There is only one “perfect” gift. Christmas isn’t about giving and receiving store-bought gifts. It’s about receiving Christ as your savior and sharing this “perfect” gift with others. Without Christ there is no Christmas and without Christmas there is no purpose for existence. Next year, instead of spending countless hours searching aisle after aisle in stores that are afraid to say, “Merry Christmas”, for fear of offending someone, search your heart for Christ. There you can find the true meaning of Christmas that doesn’t just exist on December 25th. Unlike the excitement of receiving the new gifts that soon fade as the days pass, receiving Christ is an excitement that will never fade. Even in 1965, Charles Schultz was able to see our society’s growing ignorance, regarding Christmas. Using the humble cartoon character of Linus he asks, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas was all about?” Then he proceeds with the following quote from the Bible.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. LUKE 2:8-14

God bless everyone this Christmas season!

Jason

Congratulations Jennifer...

2005-12-13T21:32:00.000-05:00

...on a job well done! Without a doubt, you passed your third semester of nursing school and are only four months away from being a registered nurse. I am so proud of you for working as hard as you do at something you are so passionate about. It's not everyday that someone devotes as much time and energy to something as you have over the past year and a half. Your hard work is paying off and before long it will all be a blur. Again congratulations and have a restful Christmas break!

Love always and forever, Jay.

Christmas Lights

2005-12-13T15:36:00.000-05:00

Each year around Thanksgiving, miles upon miles of electrical lights begin to cover our homes and trees as an outward display of our Christmas celebration. What a hassle for millions of Americans, including myself, to spend countless hours untangling last year’s ball of lights that were franticly stripped from our gutters and eaves only ten months prior. Not to forget the time lost searching for the one bulb that keeps the entire strand from working. We owe all our thanks to Edward Johnson! As vice president of Thomas Edison’s Electric Light Company, Johnson made the first electrical strand of lights for his personal Christmas tree in December of 1882. Although it wasn’t until 1901 before the first consumer strands were offered for sale, President Cleveland was the first president to electrically light the White House Christmas tree in 1895. Yes, it was called a Christmas tree and not a Holiday tree. So here’s to traditions! Let your house and Christmas tree shine while you enjoy the lights this Christmas season! To see our neighborhood in lights, visit our Neighborhood Christmas Lights Gallery.

Historical source: Wikipedia.org

Jason

Winter Coats

2005-12-12T19:48:00.000-05:00

I came home the other day and found Molly sporting around a stylish vest on the ball field while Sandi relaxed by the fire with a cup of tea in a more sophisticated corduroy jacket. Apparently their thick, natural fur coats that develop in the winter months were just not cutting it on those cold winter days. The other day, while shopping, Jennifer found these two dog jackets at Target and decided that they needed them. I laughed at first, but the jackets do seem to keep them from shivering when they are on the back porch and I must admit they do look kinda cute too. Click here or on the photo above to see more of the photo shoot.

Jason

Farewell to a good friend

2005-12-05T22:22:00.000-05:00

Goodbyes are never easy, especially those that are forever. After nearly ten years, I finally said goodbye to a trusty old friend...My ‘89 Jeep Wrangler. I can remember the day I first laid eyes upon it. I had been looking for a 4-wheel drive for a few months, with no success. One Sunday, in June of '96, my dad suggested that we take a family drive in the country, in hopes we might see something for sale on the side of the road. It wasn’t long after we started on our drive before we came across it. I fell in love at first sight. Perfect! The right price, the right color, the right everything. It was mine for the taking and I can truly say it became my most prized material possession. I was known for my Jeep. I fit the Jeep and the Jeep fit me. However, after selling it I realized that I didn’t really miss it that much. I have something more important than that...memories. Because of the long, topless summer rides with Jennifer and Josh, the midnight treks in the snow to Krispy Kreme with my dad and Jennifer and the cool summer evenings with old friends I will never forget my Jeep.

Jason

Thanksgiving 2005

2005-11-29T21:54:00.000-05:00

We spent Thanksgiving Day at the lake with Jennifer's Aunt Sug and Uncle Bill. We had a feast and that's an understatement. Like every meal they prepare, it was more than filling. Especially Sug's Ranch Mashed Potatoes and Butter Pecan Cake. Need I say more. After the big meal, we settled down by the fire to watch "Guess Who" starring Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher. We had seen it before, but you never can get enough of the Mac. Overall, we had a quiet Thanksgiving with more than enough to give thanks for. Although it was only the four of us, the one person that will always be in the center of our hearts each and every Thanksgiving ended up in the center of our Thanksgiving portrait, unplanned.

Jason

Black Friday

2005-11-25T14:20:00.000-05:00

The official start of the Christmas Season is finally here! It, as well as today’s deals and bargains, will be gone in a flash. While I am stuck at work, everyone else is out shopping like a bunch of crazies. I’m not saying $40 video games for $9.99 and $120 cookware sets for $35 aren’t great deals. I just can’t stand the stress level, dealing with the crowds and traffic that comes with it. For me, the term “Black Friday” takes a more traditional meaning.

“Any day marked by great confusion or activity” – Dictionary.com
“Any Friday in which a public calamity occurred” – Investorwords.com

However, terming the day after Thanksgiving as “Black Friday” has nothing to do with either of these definitions. As Diddy would say, “It’s all about the Benjamins.” Simply put, retailers began referring to this day as “Black Friday” because it is largely the day in which their accountants can finally start using black ink instead of red. Isn’t it sad to think that our retail world replies upon the Christmas Season to pull itself out of the negative. I could go on forever, but I think you get the point. As for the original use of the term “Black Friday” - September 24, 1869, a Friday when stock manipulators Jay Gould and James Fisk tried to corner the gold market, causing its collapse and depression – Dictionary.com

Jason

Happy Thanksgiving!

2005-11-24T10:34:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and do we have a lot to be thankful for. It looks like it is going to be a great day with a bright, blue sky with temperatures much warmer than the past week. It's already in the mid-50's. This will be nice since we are headed to Jennifer's aunt and uncle's at Smith Mountain Lake. However, I don't think we'll be jet skiing! Later this evening we will also swing by my parents' house. Enjoy your day and don't forget to be thankful for everything. Even the little things that most of us overlook from day to day!

Jason

Exercise...

2005-11-23T22:18:00.000-05:00

I have finally set my mind to it! This past week I started a weight training routine. We purchased a nice gym system that has been very good at collecting dust over the past couple of years. However, I decided to dust it off and make the best of it. My goal is to workout at least three evenings per week and hopefully one day each weekend as well. Overall, my goal is to build a stronger heart and hopefully lower my stress. I'll keep you posted. Until next time...

Jason

Sorry it has been a while!

2005-11-21T20:00:00.000-05:00

We've been really busy lately. I spent last weekend cleaning and staining our new ground deck that my dad and I built this past summer. It was a quick weekend job that turned out quite nicely. Soon I will have more photos of our house and the many projects I have worked on, once the website redesign is completed. Yeah, I am a design geek, but graphic design is what I love to do. I also bought a leaf blower and vac last weekend that I have only managed to play around with so far. The leaves are still all over the back yard. Jennifer spent some time in the flower bed, cutting down all our perennials. This past weekend, I worked on our website redesign and cleaned my Jeep. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I finally decided to sell it, after almost ten years. I will go into more details about this decision on a later blog entry. While I cleaned my Jeep and worked on the website, not at the same time, Jennifer spent the weekend studying for a nursing test that she had to take today. She is gone right now with my mom to some candle party. Seems a little odd to me, but at least I can say that I will be the proud owner of some really fine candles. I can't wait to see them!

Jason

It's been a long week

2005-11-06T14:20:00.000-05:00

This week has been really busy. I finally finished cleaning up our Halloween decor about 15 minutes ago. That was my task after church today. Now it is straight and I can check it off my list. I haven't been writning very much because I have had little time to sit down at the computer. I am also in the process of redesigning our entire website...again. I am going to work on it a little today. Jennifer is busy studying today with Paige for a nursing test tomorrow. Anyway, I am going to run for now because the weather is awesome today. Enjoy your Sunday afternoon!

Jason

Finally, the Halloween photos

2005-11-02T23:03:00.000-05:00

Click on the photo and follow the links to see our Halloween Photo Gallery.

Jason

The Aftermath...

2005-11-01T23:13:00.000-05:00

Halloween 2005 was a success! The adults seemed to like our effort more than the kids. We had a blast, but it wore me out. I promised pictures and I will have them as soon as possible. Anyway, check back within a few days and they will be posted.

Jason

Happy Halloween!

2005-10-31T08:00:00.000-05:00

We went last night for last minute make-up items. I ran across this really cool, frozen effects make-up set. So, I'm going to be some kind of frozen body tonight. That's if it works as well as the photo on the packaging. We'll see...

Jason

Decorating for Halloween

2005-10-30T19:22:00.000-05:00

Today has been a busy day. I just finished decorating for tomorrow night. We usually have between 150-200 Trick-or-Treaters each year, so we (or I should say I) go all out. I like to give them a show. It's pretty cool. All the kids seem to like it and the kid in me enjoys hearing them say, "This is the coolest house!" I have a reputation to maintain! About ten or so of our closest friends share in the fun too. There is usually at least five of us roaming around the lawn as zombies and monsters. I'll post some pictures later...Have fun Trick-or-Treating.

Jason

Let's give this new thing a try...

2005-10-29T18:52:00.001-04:00

Well this is my very first entry on my very first blog. I decided to give this a try. Let's see how it goes.

Jason