The Puyallup Fair AND My Dad's Birthday

The Konzelman Family

I am late writing about the fair. It is all that I have been doing practically since Friday morning. The Puyallup Fair is the Western Washington State Fair... it is one of the largest in the state if not the largest. It isn't as big as the Los Angeles County Fair but it is a good size... just perfect. I was scheduled to work Friday 9:30 - 2 and then someone cancelled on me and so I had to do their shift 6-11pm. Yep, I worked 9.5 hours at the booth at the fair on Friday. I stayed at the fair during those 4 hours between too. I walked around and looked at exhibits and shows. I also had dinner there at the Longhorn BBQ. Plus, I had a scone. Scones are very popular here in the Northwest because of Canada's influence. You get this small biscuit with a little raspberry jam in the middle. They sell a ton of them. Lindsey stood in line for over 20 minutes on Friday to buy us some.

One of the shows I love is The Konzelman Family Band. They are a Christian family of 8 (6 kids) that are remarkable. (Click on the title for more information.) They are just adorable. They family is from Puyallup (pew-all-up). Everyone one plays instruments... the kids at least 5 each. They were homeschooled and their mom is active in the homeschooling coops. The 24 yr old has just finished his BA at Pacific Lutheran University, and the 21 year old attends the University of Washington as a business major. Two of the sons sing, they dance (Irish Clogging), and the dad (a psychologist in Puyallup) tells a few jokes. I bought a book about teaching "character" in families, and a DVD of them.

Today it is my father's birthday. As you probably know, my father died from MS and also from cancer on August 12th 1999. He is always in my thoughts but especially today. I miss him very much. He would have been 76 years old today.

I better get to bed. I have had a few late nights lately. I saw myself on TV the other day too from the telethon. I guess it is going to air a few times.

The Puyallup Fair And the First Week of School

These are the pictures of me trying to get a photo of Riley and Brady their first week of school... well, really the second day. The first day set didn't turn out. And as you can see, they can't stand still for a photo. They are always looking around or moving from their place. So I figured that these photos would tell the story. Besides, in this picture their backpacks are lighter and they aren't in fear of falling over.

Today marks the first day of the Puyallup Fair. Lindsey and I will be working at the community college booth. Our college will host the booth for four days. Yesterday I was so tired from being out until late. I couldn't sleep and when I did I only got about 3 hours of sleep. Now tonight I will be out again until 11-12 pm at the fair. But, it will also be fun. I am in charge of getting the Puyallup Fair tickets to everyone that worked at at fair this year. Also, we have been trying to make sure the concert tickets will be used that the college buys... which is a chore and I hate it. We put out an invitation for free concert tickets and we don't get many that will take us up on it. We get the tickets late... there is a lot to it. I left the tickets for next week's concerts at the office with the others to deal with and hopefully they will be able to get more people to go.

This weekend is the fair, brunch with Aunt Butchie at Salty's, and a birthday party for Christian (Renee's little boy that turns five). It will be so busy this weekend that I won't be able to go to church. I am very thankful that Riley's 10 days after his tonsils being taken out is over, that the first week of school is over, and that the week has been very productive. I will try hard to "coast" a little and take time for myself here and there.

Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

Randy Pausch

Last night many of us from the college boarded one of our shuttles and went to Seattle to be on a telethon for our public television station KCTS. We arrived before 7:30 pm and was trained on how to take pledges on TV. Then they gave us dinner. The show started later because of the Republican Convention. We were live on the air. It will air again tonight at 10 pm and again on October 1st. Again it is free press for the college and our being there fit nicely with Randy Pausch's last lecture before dying of pancreatic cancer this past July. Going back to college, earning a degree, or changing a career is what we are about and he was about "Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" (which is a book as well) which includes education.

THE LAST LECTURE is the much-acclaimed talk by Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch. This isn't at all what one would think because The Last Lecture is upbeat, funny, inspiring, moving and something everyone should see. He has been a media sensation since he was featured on "60 Minutes," "Oprah," and other commercial TV programs. Recently he was the cover story in Parade magazine. On YouTube, the lecture has been viewed millions of times. Yet, never before has the lecture been seen in its entirety on broadcast television. Pausch gave his last lecture at the university Sept. 18, 2007, before a packed auditorium. In his moving talk, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," Pausch talked about his life lessons learned and gave advice on how to achieve career and personal goals. You can learn more about Randy Pausch and his philosophy of life by clicking HERE.

Let's Talk... and Happy Birthday Jon

It is my brother Jon's birthday today. He is 49 this year. He will be glad that I posted that on the internet. ;-) I was 4 years old (just) when he was born. My family told me that I would have "someone to play with" but what they didn't tell me is that it would be years before he would be able to play at all. I brought him in a little truck the first time I saw him... I laid it down next to him thinking he would get up and play with it. It was a disappointment to an older sister who was hoping for a playmate when I learned the truth. When I turned 16 and began to learn to drive my stick shift VW bug, he was riding shotgun holding on for dear life.

Riley and Brady went on their first day of school with their Transformer backpacks on their backs. I thought they were going to fall over with all the school supplies I filled them with from their supply list. They were tired last night. Riley was taken to the wrong school to begin with and they had to go get him and deliver him to the right school. When I was new at school in Kindergarten, I went to the other class. Everyone was looking for me... and then discovered that I was sitting in the wrong class. Guess being in the wrong place is a part of being in Kindergarten. I also began to run one day, turned and ran into a pole. Almost knocked myself out. Mom had to turn around and come back to get me that day.

Do you have a kindergarten story?

First Day of School!

This morning we are faced with the first day of school. Just like Denise said, this is one of the times of the year where we "begin" again with a new start. To be honest, I hope I am ready for it, but whether or not I am... it is here. The news began this morning with "Today is the first day of "reality" for many of us. It is the day that the children go back to school." It is also cool today. There is the feeling of fall in the air, and we all feel it, making it harder to face reality. I always think of Meg Ryan's character in the movie "You've Got Mail". She owns a bookstore... the movie starts with her coming to work with autumn decorations in the air and talking about how she loves the smells of fall such as a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils. I think that is a good attitude... to find the pleasures in the season.

It is back to work for me... we are on our way.

Have a good day.

Welcome September! And Happy Labor Day!

Welcome to September! It is Labor Day and most of us have the day off. This makes my tenth day off (in a row). It has been a lovely day today. We got up and went to breakfast at Mom's (3rd time this week for me). We had the rare treat of having Kari, Aaron, and the boys at the table with Dave and I this morning. As you know, this is where I met Susie last Monday for breakfast and where Riley and I went to have breakfast on our birthday last Friday. Mom's Kitchen was a place where Susie and I use to meet for lunch once a week in the 90's when we worked at the high schools. She at one and I at the other. Below are some pictures I took of Riley, Brady, and Dave playing in a park.

After we went to breakfast, Kari had to go to work and Aaron had a "date" with his girlfriend. He was going to take her to a family gathering for his cousin's birthday. So, Dave and I took the boys on a drive. We headed for "the hills" and I decided to go to Fall City and Preston. We stopped at Preston Park so the boys could play at the great playground there. As you can see from the pictures, Riley is recoverying from his tonsils being taken out... just fine.

Up on the ridge and around, one can see fall coming on. It is just beginning... some of the trees and bushes are starting to have color. We are up north in the states, so we get lots of color in the fall. I can't help myself... I take lots of pictures of the trees. Remember, I come from L.A. where there isn't this display of color. I took these pictures just today show you. I don't know if you are seeing the fall coming on where you live, but it is coming... Welcome September.

Gustav - A Call for Prayer

I have been listening, like everyone else, to the news regarding Gustav. The news at this moment as I write this is found HERE. I got up to read Joan's blog who lives in New Orleans. You can read what she wrote yesterday by going to my list of Blogging friends and clicking on Joan. It is fortunate that she and her family are leaving New Orleans today. She is scared and worried... but safe. Elizabeth is in Mississppi... so there are a few bloggers that are in that part of the country. Please pray for them and for their communities today.