LEFT BEHIND

Friday morning we installed Hawaii.  The island is so big we had to put the final coat of sealer on it after it was laid in place.  Luckily, it is new construction so it required minimal preperation for sealing.  However, I did need some protection for myself..

I look a little like Droopy the Dog

the finishing touches

Friday night it was budget meeting time.  I opted out of using a wooden cut out of myself, and it actually went very well.  In reality, Robyn and I don't have alot of arguments about money.  Sure we don't have much and she likes to shop but we don't get in much trouble.  Every once in a while I buy something we can't afford so I really don't have room to talk.  Right now we have some credit card debt and that's why we are taking the finacial class on Sundays.  Our homework was to put together a budget, so we did.  But it's kind of like a diet, and we know how well I did in that little adventure.  Although, I am more excited about the budget, that's why I'm feeling good about it.

Here is a pic of the budget we put together...

Umm...  what?

That was really just my scratch paper.  However, that is what it looks like inside my head when I'm doing math.

Saturday night Robyn and I had a date.  It was the annual Speck USA Christmas party. (That's what we called it, anyway)  Because we were going out for dinner, Nick decided to make his world famous chili on Sunday instead.

Robyn asked Canyon to take a picture of us..

Canyon has an artistic flair

We went to Rube's Steakhouse.  That's where Speck traditionaly has the annual dinner.

Robyn looking hot

Me looking hungry

We sat and chatted with everybody and had some cocktails while the crowd slowly arrived. (there was around 60 people) 

After about an hour we were invited to get in the "meat line".    At first I wasn't sure I qualified but then it was explained to me.  

Robyn picked a bone in rib-eye and I got a bacon wrapped filet.  We also got shrimp skewers and a skillet of mushrooms and onions.  It's one of those 'grill your own' places, so we muscled our way up to the grill.  I took a second to snap a quick pic...

Her look tells me to get back to griling

mouth watering

They had a salad bar and a potato bar.  But my favorite was the open bar. (I thought that was a funny one)

After dinner, the Christmas party was going to head down the road to a local tavern and party on, but we were stuffed to the gills and thought better of it.  We went home and enjoyed each others company and called it a night.

Sunday morning we awoke to the smell of chili in the air.  Nick got up early and got everything prepped and in the crock pot before being picked up by his good friend Dave.  They went to church service at Hope Lutheran.  Pastor Mike is a very wonderful speaker and teacher.

Robyn and I took turns lifting the lid and smelling Nick's chili.  It is a recipe he has been making for over 20 years.  When he was a bartender, people would come from miles away on week end mornings for a bowl of Nick's world famous chili.  

Sadly,  I think you know how this went down.  After church, I ate WAY too much chili!  

Let's move on.

Sunday night Robyn and I had our Financial Peace class.  On this night we had to cut up our credit cards. (we were told in advance)  Not many were brave enough to step up in front of class and cut theirs up, but we are serious about getting out of debt.  Robyn cut up 15 cards.  Yes, I said 15.  And that was just the ones we had ready, we got a stack for next week too.  Granted, many have zero balances right now and some were the same account, but Robyn said she needs to get them gone.  I'm so proud of her.

her hands were shaking

Monday, Robyn left me.  Not because of the credit card thing.  She was invited to go to Florida with her bosses wife.  Roxie is also Robyn's BFF.  They bought her a plane ticket as a bonus.  So us men are left to fend for ourselves.  

At work we made some nice glass mix panels for a granite company.  They are looking for solid surfaces outside the granite market to expand what they have to offer.

looks awesome

I also got the shower panels ready to pour.  We are going to use the multi-colored mix to make it look like marble, but we are going to ad pea gravel to the mix, just to experiment.

Tuesday I talked to Robyn and she said they had a Griswold experience trying to get on the airplane.  She isn't an experenced flyer so she may have had too many fluids in her carry on bag.  She was pulled aside and given a very serious talking to.  After finaly getting her bag back, Roxie was then chosen for the random pat down.  Then the flight was delayed almost an hour.  When they arrived they got lost for a while.  I'm beginning to think that Robyn is the cause of all our Griswold experiences.  To top it off, the temperature here reached 74 degrees.  It was only 80 there.  I think it's going to cool back down just in time for her to come home.

Weathers beautiful, wish you were here

At work we poured the shower panels and began getting ready for the home builders and remodelers show this week end.

At home the guys made a decision on what we would have for dinner.    P.W.I.P.  That stands for pig wrapped in pig.  Canyon saw it on TV and wanted to make it for us.  It was actually pretty good.

A chip off the old grillin' block

P.W.I.P.

Man food,...  and something healthy on the side

Wednesday we demolded the shower panels and began processing them.  They have a very unique look.

interesting

I also made some display stands to use with the panels we made for the granite company.  We got everything loaded to take down to the show.  We will display these panels at the show as well.

looks professional

Unfortunately, I got upset with one of the guys at work and we had some words.  Afterwords I didn't feel very Christian.  As a matter of fact, I felt like an unchristian.  An unchristian is one of those people who go to church on Sunday and then live like hell the rest of the week.  I was reminded of the devotional from Tuesday, take a read...

wisdom

Brother Lawrence was a very wise man.  I want to do things that please Jesus.  Another wise man said "why do I do the things I don't want to do, and not do those things I should?"  That's me in a nutshell.

In the future I will try to do things that are pleasing to Jesus, I will make an effort to ask myself if that is the case before I fly off the handle, I will try to be more of a Christian.  Let's all try that.

How different could your life be?

Peace

Dan