Remembering 9/11

As all of you know, the 10th year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks is this Sunday. I hope no one forgets. It's hard to imagine that we would, but ten years is a long time. In fact, to put things in perspective on the changes in 10 years, think of this:

• The Class of 2011 were 8 years old... just starting 3rd grade..
• Cell phones did not have built-in cameras. (Sanyo SCP-5300, Jan 2002)
• Bread: $0.98/loaf, Milk: $2.85/gal, Eggs: $1.40/doz, Avg Income: $68,300/yr, Min Wage: $5.85/hr
• Federal spending: $1,864 billion, Federal debt: $5,807 billion
• Unemployment: 4.8 %, Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.34
• Apple introduced the iPod
• Wikipedia was launched
• A gallon of gas sold for $1.52

What really hits home though, is the other statistics. The facts of the attacks. Those who died. The loss of family members, friends, colleagues, and rescuers.

So many risked their lives to try to save others. Those... we remember!

~Matt

The Park Idea

On Monday I took the opportunity of the great weather and visited a local park with the kids! We actually spent several hours there. It was fun and enjoyable. I just made sure that I watched them closely. It struck me as a good idea to do more often, especially now that summer is ending and that fall will soon be upon us. That means that the weather is going to be a lot more enjoyable too! And I'd rather sit out in the sun when there is a nice cool breeze accompanying the rays that would otherwise be baking my skin!

There is another idea that came to mind about the park, and the fact that we have so many within our city limits. Earlier, I had stumbled across a website of another graphic designer that has taken on the personal challenge of 'branding' all of the lakes in her state. She in the process of designing a theme and logo for each one, doing one a day. It was said it would take her over two years to complete the project! Wow. Talk about some dedication.

Anyway, I definitely don't have time to do it daily, but the thought of 'branding' a local park once a week and featuring it on my blog has been on my mind. I know that I'm already a busy guy, but it would be something unique and fun that would challenge my brain a bit. Not only that, but it would also help me keep up with my design capabilities and give this blog some more life. I guess I'll see what might happen.

I don't know of all who reads or keeps up with my blog... So I wonder, would it be something that makes this more interesting? Email or tell me your thoughts! I love feedback!

~Matt

Week Rundown (08/28/2011-09/3/2011)

Sunday

We still were on vacation in Branson, and we had a great time! Even though it's only 30 minutes away from Springfield, it was still a good get-away for our family.

This evening I did the weekly grocery shopping since it needed to be done, and while I was gone, Lydia gave Malachi a buzz cut and put the kids to bed.


Monday

At my request, Lydia made chicken tenders for supper! Yum!

The big event for this evening was cleaning fish tank. The tank had gotten so dirty and green that it was hard to make out how many fish we had! It was gross.

I dumped the water, cleaned the rocks and fake plants, and filled it up with water. It took most of the evening to do, but I got it done! Whew!


Tuesday

Lydia's eye was bugging her, so she went to the clinic after picking up Mysia when she got off work. Come to find out She has pink-eye! She waited around for almost an hour to pick up her prescription, so I picked Malachi up from daycare and made supper before her and Mysia got home.


Wednesday

Today was a typical Wednesday, and we rushed to church after getting of work and eating a quick supper. The kids were both tired, and but did pretty well sitting with us in services.


Thursday

Nothing real big happened today. We had ravioli for supper and watched some tv together as a family before sending the kids to bed. Lydia had homework to do.


Friday

Today was our 8th year anniversary. I had planned to get off early so that we could make our way back up to Silver Dollar City and see one of the Southern Gospel shows. However, we were a bit tired, and figured it would a bit of a hassle to deal with the kids at the park just to fight the crowd.

So... we had a fun night at home with the kids! We had hamburgers, watched RugRats, snacked on candy, played several games on the Wii, and had a blast!


Saturday

There were several things we had planned to do today, but that all was changed when we woke up. The kids didn't allow us to sleep in much, and it didn't really matter. Lydia woke up with a weird pain in her chest and short of breath. She tried to let her body relax, but it wasn't working.

I called my mom, and Abigail came over to watch the kids while I took Lydia to Urgent Care. Once we got there, Lydia filled out some forms and was shortly taken back to a room. I stayed in the waiting room. It was too long and I was asked to come back as well. Come to find out, they had taken her pulse and found it to be over 170. The nurse said it was like her body was running a marathon.

They plugged her up, strapped her down, and took her to ER. Once there, they decided to giver her medicine to stop her heart for a second to allow it to restart. Lydia had a unique experience when that happened! She said that all of her pain intensified.

The best thing though, was that it worked. Her heart started beating at a regular pulse. We then waited as they watched her for an hour to make sure everything was fine before releasing her.

Once everything was determined to be okay, she was good to go. We got pizza on the way home and had a pretty good evening. Lydia took it easy.

~Matt

Hooray for Steve Mauldin!

I'm so happy, and here's the reason why.....

Remember (like you could forget) that horrible 'O Holy Night'?

Well, the singer, Steve Mauldin, has made the ORIGINAL of him singing available for download on iTunes! It sounds great.... er... if you can still call it that. The intro is better and not from a cassette!

He also has made the soundtrack for the song available, so anyone can sing there own way, whether good or bad! Oh, so awesome!!!!

~Matt

Wagon Ideas...

On one of the visits to Silver Dollar City, I asked one of the employees about bringing in our Radio-Flyer wagon to haul the two kids around in. They said that it’s fine... as long as it’s not motorized.

Wait... Motorized?

Okay, that perked my interest. For one, that’s a cool idea. Two, someone obviously already thought of it and brought it!!!! That sounds so cool!

I know you can buy a motor and install it on a bike or a scooter. But I had never thought of trying it on a wagon. Hold it.. perhaps I have! I remember as a kid wanting to have it go on it’s own, especially since I was the oldest child, and couldn’t get my brothers to push me. Going down a small hill was the closest I could ever get.

Of course, with gas prices the way it is, I guess I’d go with a battery-powered motor!

~Matt