One great weekend

It's been crazy again as we continue to work on all that needs done around the house. We were able to have a great long weekend though. Thursday night, was our trip to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert. This is fast becoming my favorite event of the year. The power and emotion that this concert brings out is amazing. The lights, sounds, and story really assault the emotions and creates a spectacular show. Throw in the fact the it always has a great Christmas story with it and it blows me away. The band played almost 3 straight hours. When people ask me what it's like you can't describe it. I tell people - "imagine if Beethoven and Mozart lived today and had all the instrument, light, and pyro that exists today. Those long haired musical genius's would be playing the same stuff TSO plays. Drums, strings, and a few electric guitars screaming out their music." Don't ask, just go to the concert and then you'll know what I mean. Until then words cannot describe it.

Friday we got up and went to the Body Worlds exhibit. They had all kinds of plasticized bodies and parts on display. It was very interesting to see how the body looks underneath the skin. It showed whole body displays of the nervous system, and all the veins in the body in a 3D form. I'm not very interested in the body from a anatomy point of view, but it was cool to see.

Then finally thanks to all the help from Spencer, Rod, and Joe, the house was finished. The board and baton are up and all we need to do now is finish caulking and paint it in the spring. Joe has been caulking. Let him do as much as he wants. He seems to think I have no patience for that kind of work. I do when I need to. He just doesn't believe it. I've seen enough of his early work on the house to know that he wasn't the "measure twice cut once person he is now." That's fine he can caulk all he wants I hate doing that. All in all quite a weekend. As I listen to TSO while I type my mind goes back to one kick butt weekend and one great concert.

Dust in the Wind

Kansas was right. Uncle Seve died yesterday. At the ripe old age of 98. He finally got his wish a past on to the next life. I lived next to Seve for 21 years. He was an example of how to keep moving and keep in good health. Even with some of his bad habits, I'll always remember the smell of his pipe smoke. He quit when I was young, but once in a while you can catch a whiff of the same smoke. He was a good and dedicated family man. I wish I'd known him better. Even growing up next to Seve I never felt super close to him, but it is still sad to see him go. 98 years, He has seen vast amounts of history. I hope it is not to much longer before Alma follows. She is not in great health and I'm not sure how she'll survive alone.

In other news...

The election was yesterday and we have a new President. I didn't like any of the candidates. Barack Obama won over John Mccain in a close race. I am nervous about this next four years. Barack has won in a time when the country is still at war, the economy is in a recession, and the people are clearly divided on many issues. Barack is a very charismatic person with tons of potential, I just hope he can break the bi-partisan politics and fix some problems. The country is divided, and it starts with congress. Lets hope they can truly put there differences aside and work to improve the country. Put aside all the pork barrel spending and put the money where it belongs. Congress needs to get in touch with who they represent and improve what they want. The last thing we need is another politician getting a bill past in one state because he gave money to another state on some earmarked bill. Ethics is not high priority in congress and it should be. We pay them to support our communities agendas, not to fulfill their personal agendas. Quit making new laws and enforce the current ones. I don't envy Barack. I hope he can unify the country and stabilize the hate and discontent.

Weather and light are optional...

Finally, I've been plugging along in the dark and cold weather trying to finish the house. It's looking great. If only we had more light and warmer days. Spencer has been a huge help, but with his schedule we don't get many hours to work on it. I'm not complaining, I need the help. It is definitely a two-man job. Hopefully we get quite a bit done tonight. What I need is about a four day weekend, that we both have off so we could finish it off. Spencer's got his own projects to start. I hope his goes faster than mine. I know I'm being selfish, but Seve's funeral didn't come at a convenient time. I hate going to funerals, but I guess family obligations come first.