Strange week so far. I really have not had a lot to write about this week. Nothing big or pressing. Doctors appointment went ok. Just some fluided on the knee and olds scars. So no surgery which is a good thing.  Dentist appointments on going. So far 2 finished with no cavities (now its the boys turns so not sure if that stat will hold). E's teeth falling out keeps from having them pulled this trip.

 Beth has finished Gmans science fair project. It is very interesting showing how much iron is in breakfast cerals. You actually see the iron bits when they were done. I will try to get pictures of it when he gets it back. Beth really gets into doing these and I am glad. I was terrible at them.

 Report cards came out. E got all pluses or better. Gman got all A's and B's so 2 straight honor roles. 2 B's so no princible list but getting close. Everyone have a good week.

President Obama's Full Speech at Tucson Memorial

I was going to show 2 videos but changed my mind after watching the President again.

Anyone who reads my post regularly know I am very vocal and liberal in my politics.  I have been trying to think about what has happened in Tuscon over the weekend and not be political about it. I am not sure how I will do that.  This post may not make a whole lot of sense and I know I will edit it a lot over the next few days.

I will  say I have been praying for everyone involved in the shooting.  I keep thinking about the shooter more than I wish.  I have prayed for him.  Prayed for his family.  Prayed for his attorney.  Prayed that he will come to trial.  Prayed for all the people who will be involved in the case into the future.  I hope that our nation will let them all be.  Let the system work.  I know it will not happen but I hope it does.

I will keep working on this post.  Thanks to all my friends and family for being my friends and family

Netflix after 6 months

We started using Netflix a few months back.  Beth and I decided to try it after we got the new BlueRay player for the TV in the bedroom.  The BlueRay player has built in WiFi that I have connected to the wireless router in the house.  I have written in the past about the tech stuff getting the Wii, BlueRay, and all the computers hooked up with the network and Netflix.  I want to write a little about the actual service from Netflix. 

Setting up an account was just as easy as most online web sights.  Name, address, age and a valid email address were the only things needed to make an account.  Payment options are limited to credit cards or paypal.  The plans range from just online streaming to having out 4 dvds at a time.  They will also ship BlueRay discs for and extra $2/month on any plan with disc rentals.   We are using the 1 disc at a time plan and I have not tried the BlueRay yet.  It usually takes 2 days between sending in an old movie and getting a new one in the mail.  The disc listing is very large and I have been able to find some old movies and mini series to watch again from years ago.  The online streaming list is much more limited but is still pretty good.  They have lots of old TV shows as well as movies on the lists here as well. 

My only problem with the service is the search and recommendation systems.  Having a chance to rate movies I have watched is nice but having to do it so the system will recommend new titles to me seems a little odd.  Why use this instead coming up with a better search system.  The search is not the best.  Fairly simple with a box at the top of the page.  It does not let you include or exclude items form your search. As an example you cannot search for just streaming titles and exclude disc only titles.  Or just search  for new arrivals instead of looking at the newly suggested for the user.  The new arrivals tab helps here some but it could be better with a search option inside the listings in the tab.   When you have more than one person watching movies the suggestions get very mixed together.  I would like an option to list the kids movies in a section just for them.  The boys would have their own list to choose from that would have very good parental controls.  

Over all I am happy with the choice we made.  I really like that it cost a lot less than having HBO on the cable bill.

Happy New Year

Good evening everyone.  The year is about over and it has been very long one.  Yeah I know 364 days just like 3 out of 4.    It did not start out very well as last year ended very badly.  Missing them both now hurts.  I wish I could have helped mom and everyone more.  I have nothing really pressing on my mind or my heart this week.  I am not even sure if I should write anything but I have promise myself to do this at least 1 time a week.

Not sure what the New Year will bring but I hope it brings to you and yours a blessing.

Tonights Bed time story for the Boys

Luke 2 (New International Version, ©2010)

Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

 ¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register. ⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
 ⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
 ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
 ¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
 ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Christmas at the lake

I was going to name this the first Christmas.  Then I read it and thought better about it.  We had our first family dinner and opening of presents of this Christmas season Sunday afternoon at Marilyn and Ken's house.  Lots of food, lots of presents and lots of fun.  Ransom  made it this year and so there was a scramble for gifts for him.  It is always good to have him.

The boys got DSi from Granny and Lynn.  They have been playing them non stop ever since.  We are going to have to put them on a very short leash as school starts back.  I found out today that you can by the stylists for back up for about $10.00 for 4 of them.  I believe that we will be needing to invest in them.  They also got clothes which they really needed.  Legos and pokeman cards went over great.  

Tim took a lot of Granddads old VHS movies and put them on CD-roms for everyone.  It is very cool to have a copy of them.  It was hard watching parts of them on Sunday.  I am not sure when I will watch them but I know I will.  I want to watch them with the boys and show E his Mama Jo and remind Gman of them both.

We will have 2 more of these with other parts of the family and we are getting to see the Bubba family in Louisville on Sunday.  Thanks for hosting us Charlie and Vivian.  Is Jeff going to make it as well?  Everyone have a great week and be safe traveling.