I'm back

Morning to all.

I have been busy and have not blogged in a while. And this has to be quick as well. I have a conference call coming up here in 20 minutes.

So last I wrote we had just returned from our trip to Arizona. Come to think of it I did not blog about the trip. I will touch on that and briefly bring you up to date on the other goings on.

Arizona:
My in-laws generously offered to provide transportation and lodging for the family, for a trip to Arizona. Bob had to work however and could not go. Howard, Nancy, Tyler, Kyle, Michelle, Karen and I, flew out of Raleigh to Phoenix (via Houston) and Gary, my brother-in-law flew from Boston and met up with us in Phoenix.

We rented 2 cars in Phoenix and drove, probably 3 hours to the town of Williams Arizona. Howard booked tour packages for each of us that included Dinner and breakfast and one night lodging in Williams, a steam train ride (approx 65 miles one way) to and from the Grand Canyon, a bus tour of the canyon rim and one night lodging at the canyon. For more information on the tour package see http://www.grandcanyontourcompany.com/train.htm)
. I could write a book... ok a small pamphlet about the canon trip but to be brief, it was spectacular, absolutely spectacular. I recommend the trip. We did hike down into the canyon. Tyler Kyle Gary and I made it about 2.5 miles down the trail before we headed back up. Karen, Nancy, Howard and Michelle turned back probably 1.5 miles into it. Mostly because they were concerned about having to climb back out. It ended up not taking as long as we thought and they were disappointed they did not go further down.

We drove from Williams to Sedona and stayed at Los Abrigados resort and spa. Sedona is beautiful. While in Sedona we took several hikes through the red rocks, we took a couple of Pink Jeep Tours which were fun. Howard, Nancy and Kyle played a couple rounds of Golf and the rest of us played a couple rounds of disc golf. We shopped and ate and played games. We also took a day trip and drove through the Hopi and Navajo Nations. Howard has done some work for the reservations and shared some insight into the government and economics of the nations etc. Along the way we saw the Sunset Crater Volcano National Park and hiked the dome. We also stopped at Meteor Crater. That was pretty impressive also.

I did not do the trip justice but except for having to cut Michelle out of the seatbelt on the way back to the airport it was a really nice trip.

Michelle:
Michelle started middle school this week. She was a little disappointed there are none of her friends in most of her classes (except band) but she has not complained and seems to be doing well.

Last week we decorated her room. Painted it bright pink and purple. We bought new furniture, bed, desk Dresser etc. and a mosquito netting like canopy over the bed. It wakes you up when you walk in the room, that is for sure. There were a few ... um disagreements about the decor but I think overall everyone is happy.

Band:
Tyler and Kyle started marching band camp this week (just in time for the 100 degree weather). Tyler is a band officer (VP) so he is extra busy. Kyle is settling in to the drumline thing. Bob has been going to but to Video the whole thing. He does this every year and creates a DVD of camp highlights etc to show at the parent/student Marching band kickoff meeting/potluck at the end of the camp. It is always fun.

Me:

I took Thursday-Tuesday Morning off from work to work in the garage. Much of Thursday was spend making a frame for Tyler's Birthday. If you remember, a few months back Maynard Ferguson came to Jordan HS. Tyler was able to get Maynard and his band to autograph a poster. I made a frame for that poster. It has a nifty little side car type frame for the picture of Tyler with Maynard as he signs the poster. It came out pretty well I think.

Anyway the rest of the time off was spent building stands for Jordan's new Drums and finally finishing off the Tuba stands that I started last... May? Karen and I installed then yesterday morning. They look nice and should help keep their 6 new tubas in good shape for years to come.

Bob is going to live off campus this year at school. He and 2 friends are renting a house. We are moving much of his stuff down this weekend. I have been tasked with building a bar or corner table (what ever you want to call it) for the kitchen. The space is too small for a table. So I have to build that before Sunday morning.

Gotta run.