The words of my children

When did you learn how to write...

The other day Shea delivers me a hand written letter.  I had forgotten that he likes to write, and he is very good.  

IT isn't the pretty writing that gets me, its the words he used.  

Dear Dad

Your the best dad in the whole world. No ones better.  But your tied in favorite with mom.  You like to be funny, help me with tons of stuff, take me places like the beach, lakes, rivers, parks, caves, and hikes and Jeep rides.  Also your strong and good at swimming, building, fixing stuff, and driving.  What other dads do that stuff? Thats why your the best person ever! I like to spend time with you. I like to watch stuff with you. build and read. I love you dad. Your the best living thing on the earth, and you have awesome equipment, like kitten, a saw, cool flashlights, camera, jeep, anything you have is cool!

Love Shea

I have wondered over the last month if had had made the right decision.  I think I have.

claming

Over the Labor Day holiday I joined my parents on an excursion to the coast to do some clamming.  I personally didn't do too much clamming, but I did enjoy myself. 

For starters, cannot ever remember going somewhere with my parents like this.  Not once in my memory has my mom gone anywhere outdoors, let alone camping.

Well, is it camping if they rent a small cabin?  Close enough. 

Here is a picture of my mom and dad digging for clams. 

They caught their limit every day they were there, and I did help a little. 

We had many conversations, and spent a good weekend together having a blast.  I Hung out with my family friend Paul, and many other decent people who know Paul’s family from Church.  And we ate well. 

However, aside from camping and eating like kings, I saw a UFO. 

Around 10:00 I started seeing lights acting odd in the sky.  I watched them for most of 20 minutes, and even went and got my dad to see them.  On UFO sighting web site’s I found several other sightings the same as what I saw on the same night in the same area.  Who knows, out of world visitors, or just a weather balloon.  The main thing, my dad and I could not identify the craft, and it faded into nothing.  Such fun. 

I have been invited back, and I am sure to go.  

I didn't get a perfect sunset, but I did play with the one I had.  here is a picture of that.  

A purchase long in the making.

In early January 2011 I made the decision to purchase a used trumpet from a pawn shop and take it back up.  I had not played regular since Jr. High School, as I dropped it in the early part of 10th grade.

In the story of my life, I have been told I am pretty good on a trumpet.  I have a deep love for all kinds of music, and classical and jazz on the horns is almost always something I like.  I actually wrote a blog about it when I first purchased the horn, and talked about a story from  my childhood.

http://benjaminacrane.blogspot.com/2011/08/making-music.html

Thats right, there is the blog..lol  Read it first.

The point is, when I wrote this and bought this POS horn I had set the goal to learn how to play, and not just simple crap, but the real music of the world.  I purchased a broken trumpet at a pawn shop, and a few years later I picked up another, and between the two I had a working horn.

The horn I have been playing sounds very poor.  The sound produced on the high notes are like playing a blade of grass.   The low notes, they sound like stepping on a whoopee cushion.

But, I had a goal and have steadily played for almost 1 hour no less than 4 days a week for the better part of a year, and the last few months I have been know to play for 2 plus hours.  It really hasn't been easy either.
For starters, I have a slight vibrato from my tremors.  And my anxiety is very bad when I know that a bunch of people who do not like me can hear what I am doing.  Not sure why that bothers me, but it has made it very difficult to play at times.

Well, my goal has been, when I can play Haydn trumpet concerto for Eb trumpet I would buy a new horn.  The first problem I faced was, well the trumpet I have been playing isn't capable of playing that particular peace of music.  It simply cannot play that high.  But, I have been getting very good.

Well, I received a small portion of my accident settlement, and after paying all the little bills I have, and there were a bunch, I decided I would by a trumpet.

I budgeted a lot less than I paid, but I walked into Beacoks with the intent of looking at some horns, and there it was, my dream horn.  I will stress, I did not intend to purchase when I went in.  After all, I have been in there several times and played there horns for fun.  But after playing this horn, I could not walk out without it.

I purchased a a Harrelson model 909 custom made trumpet, and paid well for it.  I have to say, playing the music is so much nicer, and I sound great.  This horn is amazing, and I could probably play for the rest of my life and not be good enough to justify such a horn.

Harrelson is a small company.  In fact, there is only one person Jasson Harrelson who makes all of the horns.  You can imagine, there are not that many of them out there if only one person makes them.  Equivalent horns sell on there website for over $8,000 bucks.

I emailed the company asking for more information, and was told about all the customizations that were made, and was also told the horn retailed new for over the price for over that number.  I am stoked.  

Point is, with this trumpet I am now prepared to start recording some of my playing, as I am both good enough now and have a instrument that doesn't sound like a whoopee cushion.  So, look for some of those blogs coming up.  But for fun, here is my new horn.  My new love, and my new toy...

And another.

I know, to the untrained eye it actually looks kind of beat up and ugly.  It is a non lacquered horn, and to me a peace of personal art.  It also weighs about 10 times what my old one does, and the sound is so perfect.  This will be fun, and I look forward to trying out for some Orchestras over the next year.  Not sure if I stand a chance, but I will try out once again.

Just one ingredient.

Not everyone can laugh at themselves; I take a great deal of pleasure in doing just that.  This one happened a few months ago, and I am sure each of the kids involved will laugh at it forever. 

I asked Sean to make Mac and Cheese for diner, and he insisted that he didn't want to.  After an exchange of words I convinced him that he did indeed want to make dinner.  I then walk off and left him to cook, the others to clean, and me to relax. 

I had not been paying to close of attention, and was I am sure ranting about something.  But, Sean says, diner, and I looked over at his creation.  The noodles were a mess, not fully cooked and stuck together.  The cheese was in dumpling form, and there was part of the stick of butter not melted in the mix to boot.

 

Well, I started a rant that only I can do, and proceeded to explain to Sean how he should be more like me… Well, to be honest, looking back I was probably ruder then I thought.  Oh well, what’s done is done.

Anyhow, I started this rant as I dumped the creation down the drain and proceeded to wash the pan for a second attempt.  This rant went on for the entire time I was cooking.  I was going on about how simple it was to cook this dish. 

I was teasing, and I believe that the kids were having fun with the tease, as we were laughing.  But, we decided there were 4 ingredients, as water doesn't count.  I was yelling 

“Getting difficult, adding the second ingredient”, 

and 

“Oh my gosh, the 4 ingredients, I wonder if it will turn out”.  

I went and after basically making fun of Sean for 15 mins, I set the table and the boys started eating.  I was thirsty, and decided to make some Crystal light. 

I poured the water, and mixed the Crystal light.  I poured a class, and with disgust looked at the Pitcher.  As I started to say, how much water is a quart Sean says 

“Hey dad, ONE ingredient”. 

This was at the beginning of summer, as Cody was here.  I have been reminded as first Cody laughed at it.  Then Sean says something.  But when Shea walked up to me today and said 

“Hey dad, remember, one ingredient”, 

I knew I had created a family story that will be told for years.  I will now start to down play it and turn it into a myth.  

The Fair

Earlier this week I ventured into public with my sister and we went to the State Fair.  She had 3 of her kids, and I had 4 of mine, so we had a good crowd. 

 Shea is missing in this picture.  Why, well because he was with me...

.

He spent most of the day with me, as he didn't want to ride the scary rides.  We rode the fair lift, and got a few good pictures from it.  

His favorite ride was the ferris wheel, and we rode it a few times.  

Sean and Josh rode it once with us, as we separated boys and girls on this ride.  We ended up talking about video games, and what would happen if there was a power outage.  

The girls however, I am pretty sure embarrassed Heidi as they were non stop "Flirting" with some boys in another box.  

Not sure how to flirt myself, apparently you make funny faces.  I shall try that sometime, see how it works for me.  

It was a blast, we ate cotton candy, talked about Templton, and just had a great time.  Followed the trip up with BBQ at my house, and watched toy story 3.  In fairness, we started the movie in the Heidi's shinny new car.

It was a blast, I think all of the kids had fun.  I forgot to ask Megan if the corn dog was good, but other then that I think we all had fun.  Thanks Heidi.  Oh, and most of the pictures are from her and Autumn, I cannot take credit...

Fleas

Well, my house had fleas... I think.  I mean, It could be mosquitoes.

Well, I decided to flea bomb the house today, and to get out the kids and I decided to go for a  hike / drive.  We ended up at Stevens Mine, and were there all afternoon exploring.

There is a little swimming pool, and it was so pretty we hung out for hours.  Here are some of the kids exploring.

There were a few that were really good.  This particular two of shea are my favorites for now.

Lots of green, loved the look.  

In the end, we found two mine shafts that I had not previously found.  

but then they all got tired.  

After the afternoon exploring, we went to diner and played miniature golf.  That was just as fun, but didn't get pictures.  

The fourth of July

I know it is kind of late.  I actually forgot about it…lol But, here is the fourth of july pictures for everyone.

As a family, and I mean the whole darn family, got together at Joe’s house this year.  Ended up with I have no idea how many of us, but there was more food then 5x our number could have eaten. There are so many stories to tell, it should be left to a better speller to tell.  But I know my kids LOVED the fact that the next day they walked downstairs and asked Joe what was for breakfast... Joe said Cake.  After all, he had two full sized sheet cakes left.  Good childhood... not to mention none of my kids brushed their teeth.  

Each member of the family brought some side dish, and then something to BBQ.  I think I got out of bringing anything, but I did a lot of the cooking. I stood there for almost 4 hours cooking.  It was a blast.  We ate well, that is for sure.

We started the day with most of the kids playing capture the flag or some such game with water balloons and squirt guns.   One of the funny things about this was that Shea was apparently crying about it not being fair, and Joe gave him this squirt gun about as big as he was and told him he was ref.  I didn't see this, but it explains the change in his attitude.  

There were many action shots during the game.  I want to mention, all of these were taken by Papa.  

I guess they are trying to give the message that they are not to be messed with. 

Papa did good on this one.

A good shot

followed by another.  Seams Papa has not lost his touch.  

and then another

I can honestly say, I have made fun of people that have made these type of partyies for most of my life.. What kind of foolish person gets together , and spends thousands on fireworks.  We only spnet hundreds, but the fireworks was fun... And the kicker, we are all sober and I will never forget the humor as I here Joe say I thought she hit me... The story, Joe got nailed in the chest with a morter round..  It wasn't actualy a mortor, but it sounds better.  Autumn was standing next to him, and he thought she was strong enough to do that.  Heidi and Grany got sprayed by sparks, and the whole group was standing or sitting where the thing went... And we nearly blew the hole family up, stone cold sober.  

Where was I... Trying to change the setting on my camera and missed the whole thing. 

But, I did capture some of these.  

This one I loved, if you know me you know I like faces..lol

It may be my depression.  It may be life in general. Two of us are divorced.  The declining health of the family, people running off to collage soon.  These activities are soon to come to an end.  It will be hard to have every member of the current family present for an impromptu photo.  The idea is more then I care to think.  We are not all going to be here for ever.  But, here are a few of the good ones.

Here however is the reason for life.  Family, friends, and happiness.... and blowing things up.

I look forward to next year.  

For anyone interested, here is a link to about 50 of the pictures that I have posted.