PATIO IMPROVEMENT

Shortly after moving into the house on Oak Valley, we got rid of our lawnmower and replaced our back lawn with a patio.  The patio looked great, but we soon realized it was too narrow to ever place even a small patio table in the yard. 

It needed to be widened.

This week it was.

The following few photos are in sets of three: The first photo in each set shows dirt.  The second photo shows framing and rebar placement.  The third photo shows the finished patio as it appeared when I got home from work today.

Next summer it looks like we'll be able to find seating at an outside table.



Facing south.

Facing southeast.



Facing north.

Facing northeast.

The base of the trumpet vine in the middle of the patio.

The base of the trumpet vine at the south end of the patio.

TRAINING DAY

A few weeks ago I met a ten-year-old boy who wanted a mentor.

 

This mentoring thing, however, is totally out of my skill set.  I have never mentored.  I don't even know where to begin.

 

So, today I attended my first mentoring class.  It was a three-hour session sponsored by Rogue Valley Youth For Christ.  Seven new mentors attended, including me, and two of the staff members conducted the training.

 

The information was helpful and my confidence level jumped up one small notch today. 

 



 

The training took place at the community center which houses Youth For Christ.

Bud, who led most of the training today, is the Executive Director for Rogue Valley Youth For Christ.

I followed along in my syllabus.

PAINTING THE HOUSE (Part 2 of a Trilogy)

Five days ago, Painting The House (Part 1 of a Trilogy) was released for worldwide distribution, celebrating the 62nd birthday of Pahoa celebrity, Dean, who also happens to be my little brother.

Part 2 is released today, celebrating the birthday of my awesome wife, Debra.

Part 3 will be released in about three months, on October 30th, celebrating the birthday of a particular female sibling who is older than me.

But today we focus on Part 2 and give all the attention to my awesome wife, Debra.

I can hold a brush and stand on a ladder while simultaneously thinking about my awesome wife on her birthday. 

I can apply paint with a roller while thinking about my awesome wife on her birthday.

Although stressful, I can hold a brush and a can of paint at the same time while thinking about my awesome wife on her birthday.

Painting the house while thinking about my awesome wife on her birthday requires a tremendous amount of energy.  Therefore, it is a good idea to take an occasional break and to replenish my energy supply by ingesting a footlong Subway sandwich.

When I'm not painting the house, I enjoy just hanging out with my awesome wife, Debra.

Happy Birthday, Debra!

Here's your video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1oA3JabJiI

One last thing.  I probably owe an apology to this guy.

FUN IN THE SUN WITH HUNTER

Today I took the day off work and met Tracy, Emily and Hunter at the Emigrant Lake water slides.

 

Earlier in the year it looked as though I wouldn't be able to connect with Hunter this summer but, as things turned out, his mother's side of the family scheduled a reunion at nearby Howard Prairie this weekend and we were able to hook up after all. 

 

The four of us spent about four hours together sliding down the water slides, enjoying lunch, and soaking up the sun.

Hunter races down one of the slides.

The ride ends in a pool.

Exiting the pool and returning to the slide for another ride.

Taking a break in the shade.

Hunter ends this ride with this right foot and left hand above water.

My turn.

The two of us head back for another trip, this time to race each other using both slides.

It was a close race but, in the end, age trumped youth.



Grandfather and grandson portrait.



A fun day for Hunter, Tracy, Emily and me.

PAINTING THE HOUSE (Part 1 of a Trilogy)

I have never before created a video trilogy.

 

But this year I'm stretching myself and doing it.

 

Part 1 of this trilogy is being released right here, right now, verifying that I have the ability to paint the house while simultaneously thinking about my little brother on his 62nd birthday.

 

Part 2 of this trilogy will hit the screen in only five days, on July 23rd.  Part 3 is scheduled for later worldwide release in about three months, on October 30th.

 

But today we focus on Part 1 and give all the attention to my little brother, Dean.

 

 



I have the ability to think about my little brother while applying paint with a roller.

I have the ability to think about my little brother while applying paint with a brush.

I have the ability to think about my little brother while standing on a ladder and painting under the eaves.

Sometimes I forget stuff when I am multi-tasking like, for example, when I'm painting the house and thinking about my little brother all at the same time.



Sometimes I get tired and need to rest my feet when I'm painting the house and thinking about my little brother all at the same time.  The top of a ladder is a good place to sit and rest your feet.

My brother is
A cool fellow
Who never once
Has harshed my mellow.

Happy Birthday, Dean!

Here's your video:

One last thing.  I probably owe an apology to this guy.