Life rolls along...

Still alive and well in the world... well, alive at any rate. Good times in the UP - I'll post some details and pics soon. Spent this afternoon in Grand Haven, walking along the channel and taking pictures.

More info soon... gotta get ready for rehearsal right now. :-D

So, where is we at?

Every once in a while, I like to recap what's going on. Boring reading, I know, but since a number of family, friends, etc. read this gathered collection of randomness, they appreciate knowing how things are at Das Olsonhaus...

Sleeping... Using the Ambien for now, and hoping 1) I don't get addicted to it, and 2) that we can figure out what is causing the insomnia...

(Vicki's parents will appreciate that, since we'll be up there this weekend, and they'd rather not have me wandering around the house all night... :-D )

Eating - too much. I've gained back about 14 lbs. Vicki and I are tightening our control, so that we can both get back on track.

Working - Toonz is back in production at HKR, so that makes Cal a busy boy. Other things are in the works at the station, so it's an interesting time. Vicki continues to wrestle with the many-headed beast known as Datatel, and I've recently received my Lifetime Membership card for the Spouses of Datatel Support Group. :-D Just found out that Jeremy Grinnell was elected president of the Group - congrats! :-D

(Just kidding, Denise... please don't hurt me...)

Worshiping - it's nice to be back into the fall schedule at 1st Cov, and to see a pretty full Family Life Center yesterday morning. And it's always an honor and joy to be part of the worship band there.

Creating - been working on learning a music program called Reason. It's an amazing self-contained sequencer and software instrument, and I'm really enjoying using it. Working on a kicked-up version of Pachelbel's Canon in D that is coming along nicely...

(So, to those who might be looking for some funky music for the Strowbridge-Hoekstra wedding in the not-too-distant-future, you might be interested in this... or not. :-D )

Leaving - WHAT? Sorry... as in, leaving for the weekend. We're headed to Newberry this weekend, to spend some time with Mom & Dad W., my AWESOMELY CUTE nieces, and to take Hannah to one of my favorite places on the planet... the Lake Of The Clouds. Should be some nice fall color to be seen, up on God's front porch.

Riding - the trike project continues to limp along. Got a new seat on it, which makes it marginally rideable. Need to fix the seat bracket so it doesn't creep backwards as I'm riding. Need to replace the shifters, which are nigh unto useless. Need to find a bike shop to put them on, since I'm pretty sure if I take the Blue Trike o' Doom back to the fine folks at Freewheeler, they'll start throwing stuff at us and chase us off their property... :-) And, we're still researching a way to change the steering from the funky-fore-aft-useless system presently used.

But, I did ride it around campus a bit Friday. It has some serious potential... after we get the bugs worked out.

Enough. There's enough OlsonInfo to make anybody bored. Have a Monday - I know I will.

Sleepless in GR...

Still having major issues with insomnia... It's 7:40 on Friday morning, and I haven't been to sleep yet. Sheesh... Going to look into the side effects of some of my meds, to see if something has changed that's messing up my sleep. I do have a sleep aid, but really don't like the idea of having to take a sleeping pill every night...

So, off to rest at home I go. :-D

Birthday Greetings

OK - in my own defense, I must say that yesterday was a busy day... so time to put something really important in this blog wasn't abundant. So, I apologize for what should have been said yesterday...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, VICKI!!!!!

Yes, my beloved is a year older, and still as cute as the day we wed. She had a quiet day at home, working on the books and playing Sudoku on the Palm, which has become her new obsession. :-)

The real celebration will come the first weekend of October, when we head to the UP for a few days. Looking forward to spending time at her parent's house, as well as taking our friend Hannah along to see what God's Front Porch is all about.

Oh, and a quick HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our friend Suzie, who shares the same birthday as Vicki. We'll have to catch up and celebrate soon.

Here's one that's on time and even early - HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Tammie, who has her big day on the 22nd. Love you, dearheart!

The greatest show on Earth

Made our annual pilgrimage to the circus Sunday - and, as usual, it was a great time. Yes, I'm a circus nut. Love it. :-) We've been going to Ringling for years now - have the programs to prove it. Not to mention the collection of snow cone mugs. This year I got a horse - that makes it 11 mugs so far.

And, I have to admit, when the ringmaster says, "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey, The Greatest Show On Earth", I never fail to get a lump in my throat. It's a tradition for us, and so has the sort of significance that traditions tend to have for each of us.

So, I've gotten my circus fix for this fall - saw Cirque in Columbus a week ago, and Ringling a day ago. Every time, I think what it'd be like to run away with the circus. But, reality kicks in on the way home, and I remember that I'm where God intends me to be. And I'm content with that.

But, hey... I still look at my clown wig and shoes, and dream... :-D