Christmas Time

Mom and Dad stopped by on their way to Florida.  It was great to spend the evening with them. We went to a Christmas party for church and they got to meet Tim and Sis.  Hopefully they'll be able to stay longer on their way home and I'll be able to show them around more and introduce them to some more friends.

I just got finished getting Christmas cards all ready to send out.  I got 50 sent out today and have the last 30 ready to send out tomorrow.  I sent them out a little earlier last year, but I'm still on time.  I'm not a big Christmas decorator, but I do enjoy sending cards out.  Last year I didn't have any decorations but this year I'm on the ball ... I have TWO!  Kristie was selling Poinsettia's for church so I got one, that I've actually managed to keep alive for over a week!  And today Melissa got me a really cool camo santa so they're keeping each other company. 

For your entertainment purposes, I've included a picture of my bedroom/garage.  The people that have been in there the last few weeks have thought it was pretty funny so I thought I'd share.  I think it's about time to get a house....

Busy Times

This last month has been a blur.  I have been slippin on the blog, I haven't had much time to relax.  I'll start with today's excitement since, in all reality, it's probably the most interesting thing that's happened.  I got a call at 5:30 this afternoon at work from one of my neighbors that there was a fire at the lady's apartment below me.  She is an older lady and has some problems (alcoholic) and put something on the stove and passed out on the couch.  Luckily for me, and the rest of my neighbors, someone caught it in time and it didn't spread.  Unfortunately, my apartment now smells like smoke.  It could have been much, much worse, so I'm not too upset.  It's a good thing I have a lot of candles and it's a lot warmer here than it is in MI.  I've got all the windows open, fans going and all kinds of candles burning.

I had an awesome Thanksgiving weekend.  I got to experience all this fantastic southern Alabama hunting that I've heard oh so much about.  It started out on 

Thanksgiving morning at 2:00.  Ricky, his son Chase, and I went to Lake Guntersville to go duck hunting on opening day. We were able to hunt the same spot they hunted last year because Ricky's cousin got there at noon the day before and camped out.  Now, this is the place that for the last few years they were packing up and leaving by 8:30 because they limited out.  Needless to say we left about 11:00...with one duck between five of us.  It was really strange, I don't know that I've ever seen so many ducks at one hunt.  But NONE of them were working.  It was a lot of fun, though.  I haven't been out in several years and I really miss it.  The young ma in the picture above got a duck opening morning...but we didn't :) 

We then went to Ricky and Melissa's where we took a nap before dinner at 2:00.  Or was that 1:00?  Melissa?  We were a tad bit late to dinner at Melissa's families house because of a slight miscommunication :)  But it was amazing.  Great meal, her family is awesome and they welcomed me like I was one of their own.  I had a great time and really appreciated them allowing me to share the time with them.

Friday Ricky and I went to TN and went deer hunting.  I got my first chance to see a deer through a scope, which was really cool.  I saw a doe and a four point, but it was pretty small so I didn't shoot it.  Although Ricky was prepared for me to shoot over his lap and was really anxious for me to get one.  It's a lot of fun to have someone like that to be teaching me what to do because he gets at least as much enjoyment out of me being out there getting one as he would if he was getting it himself.

I have jumped into the shooting/hunting hobby with both feet, as I usually do with a new hobby.  This includes learning as much as I can about the rifles and all the related equipment and doing it as much as possible.  I now have a bumper sticker up in my office that reads 'God Bless Our Troops - Especially Our Snipers' :)  Thanks, Eddy.  Speaking of Eddy, he is my reloading mentor.  Yes, I am now reloading my own bullets.  I told you I was in with both feet.  He, also, gets as least as much enjoyment out of teaching me how to do it as him doing it himself.  I have such great friends.  One of the perks of having Eddy help me is his wife's Jen's cooking :)  I experienced pecan pie for the first time last week and it's official...I'm never moving back up north.

I now have a new fish - he's an oscar.  I've actually had him for about a month or so now but have been afraid to tell to many people before I knew he'd make it.  For those of you that don't know, I lost five fish (that I had for a couple of years) in a matter of two days a few months ago for some strange reason.  Those that had been to my apartment in the couple months following got a kick out of me having a 'water tank' instead of a 'fish tank.'  To make sure I got all the bad stuff out I kept it with just water for a few months after cleaning it really well.  I haven't named him yet, so if you want to leave me some suggestions, leave a comment below.

I'll leave you with the obligatory picture of my beautiful niece, Kiersten :)  Roll Tide!

Great Weekend!!

I just got back in town Tuesday evening from visiting my family in Michigan where a lot of exciting things happened. On Friday, my brother, Bill, and sister, Wendy, welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Kiersten Jane Crishon. She was 8 lbs 14 ounces, 20" long, and absolutely beautiful. It's already obvious how wonderful Bill and Wendy are going to be as parents. I was floored at how laid back they are about her, as I was absolutely amazed by so many other things having to do with her. They're naturals. Also coming with the baby has come a friendly competition between the four uncles for 'best uncle.' For those of you that have seen the pictures, you can see I think I've taken the early lead hahaha (for those of you who haven't ... here's a link). I'm so proud to be an uncle and can pretty much tell you that I'm going to be the embarassing one taking all the pictures :)

Also this weekend, I was honored to be asked to be my other brother, Tom's, best man for his wedding to my future sister Mandi. (Enough with the Katherine Heigl - 27 dresses jokes ... I've heard them already :) ) They're getting married August 9 in Florida. They have a website (http://www.mandiandtom.com/), which has all of their information on it. Tom did an amazing job with the website and I would recommend checking it out (make sure you check out the slideshow with your volume up). I'd put some sappy comments in here about how perfect they are together, and how much I'm envious, and how much I love them ... but I've got a best man speach to write :)

I did realize that, as much as I miss my family and friends who are still up there, I definitely do NOT miss the cold or the snow! (But, as Ricky is quick to point out, it's colder in Alabama) My blood has definitely thinned out. I thought it was funny at the Alabama - Mississippi State game last week how cold everyone I was with was ... they wouldn't have made it for the Cleveland game on Saturday. Football the way it was intended to be played, in cold and snow. Too bad no one told the Browns there was a game Sunday, they sure didn't show up.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful, and blessed, Thanksgiving. I'll be starting my day bright and early at 2:30 when Ricky, his son Case, and I head out to go duck hunting (season opens here tomorrow). Tomorrow afternoon, Ricky and his family have been kind enough to invite me over for Thanksgiving dinner with their family. I'm going to try to eat enough to start gaining weight :)

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

First Blog...Freezing in MI

Ok, here we go.  I got this idea from a friend so I stole it because as most of you know, I'm really awful at keeping in touch with friends.  I am currently in Midland, MI waiting impatiently for my niece to be born.  My brother, Bill, and sister in law, Wendy, are currently at the hospital where she is being induced.  I now remember why I live in Alabama now.  It is 15 degrees with a wind chill of 7 ... and snow.  I guess my second blog will be the updates of my niece ... I'm very excited to be an uncle :)

Work has been absolutely crazy.  We are in the process of starting a new plant up and are going through the normal pains associated with a start up along with taking on new projects for the plant as we go along.  While most times I am ready to pull my hair out, I really enjoy it.  I work with an amazing group of people and I am still learning something new every day.  

Last weekend I went to the Alabama-Mississippi State game with my Alabama family, the Hutchison's.  We had a great time, and they won ... Roll Tide Roll!  As with most Alabama adventures I take, I am always surprised at what I see.  Yes that is me with a large man, wearing a kilt, a houndstooth hat, with his face painted, with white contacts in and of cou

rse the full body tattoos of Alabama memorabilia.  Denny Chimes on his stomach, Bear and Namath on his chest, and a huge Bear tattoo on his back along with many many others.  And yes, I am wearing camouflage.  A few days before we were to go to the game I realized it was going to be cold and all of my winter stuff is still in Michigan sin

ce it doesn't get cold in Alabama ... wrong.  So I wore the clothes that I got for my new (restored) hobby, hunting.  Ironically enough, being that this is Alabama, I fit in really well :)

I am sure there is more to add, and I'll add more later.  I'm just passing the time until we get the call to head to the hospital.  We just got the call that she's in a hot tub and having contractions.  I can't wait :)