Category Archives: News

Things, Goings On, and Stuff I write

Bin Laden Bounty

If a man’s life (or death) is worth$50 million why am I buying life insurance? Seriously. And why am I paying what feels like exorbitant taxes? Right now here is the message the United States government is sending:

  • Our national debt is not a concern – we keep making up money to spend on Iraq, bin Laden and inauguration parties
  • Taxes are not necessary to raise money to fund events and functionality within the government
  • I can get myself into enough debt to have caused George Washington to die of a heart attack had he seen the nation in that much debt

Fun, huh?

The Wrong Trousers

If you’ve ever watched ‘Wallace and Gromit,’ and lets face it, if you’ve watched Chicken Run, you’ve seen the animation work of the people behind Wallace and Gromit, then you might have seen the ‘Wrong Trousers.’ episode. This post has nothing to do with that. I just liked the name of the episode and so therefore I’ve titled this post such.

I’d like to warn Colorado in general that my new niece will be arriving at Denver International Airport next month towards the middle and I’m going to be overly protective of her so that she and her family are safe. If you notice that traffic is at a standstill between the 11th through the 15th next month it is only because I’ve blocked all of the major highways so that my family can safely travel where they need to.

If this sounds excessive, just remember that another important person, President Bush, got the same treatment when he came to town. Sure, Hawley’s a bit younger, probably hasn’t formed any political opinions and doesn’t run the country, but she’s important and I just want you to understand in case you are slightly put out by having to be late to work, lunch, dinner or the bahamas.

That is all.

Happy Birthday Becky!

Happy Birthday to my sister who turns a year older today [I’ve stopped naming actual years for people who are no longer teenagers as it usually makes me feel old]. I hope that she’s enjoying her birthday at work. Or maybe I hope she’s not working on her birthday. Either way, I hope that it is fun. We’ll call later (and hopefully leave a message on your machine because you’ll be with your sweetheart).

Deer Momm, I Gotz a GNU SpellChacker

I have just installed the fancy schmancy spell checker into my Firefox browser so I can now check the spelling in these blog posts. Or course the down side is that I actually have to use it and it may take me just a little bit longer to post. However, my mom can now read this blog without thinking, “I hope that the other mothers who read this blog don’t think I’m a bad mom because my boy’s spelling is worse than the presidentz.”

Almost a Funny Story

This morning I was supposed to lead music for the main service. I was also lined up to substitute teach for the 7-12 year olds because Craig Kaes, my buddy, pal and Greek teacher was sick. However, they changed the service order on me at the last minute and so I had to pass on doing the meditation song (which is basically background music while the folks read the passage we’ll be studying and then have time to ponder the passage before the teacher digs in and serves up a piping hot dish of spiritual food). So, I went down to my classroom and waited for my class to be dismissed from the main service’s family worship time [there was some music I wasn’t involved in, part of the jumbling of the service]. I waited. And after about 5 minutes realized that I had no students [there are usually only 4 or so students max]. I could have done the meditation song, I could have done a lot of things. I could have been a contender. Anyway, I got to go upstairs and listen to the main teaching in the sanctuary after that. Oh, well. It was going to be funny.

I hope that all is well, and make sure you check out the video files I posted yesterday!

Lessons in Swimming Part II

We went to swimming lessons again this morning and I learned something very important: don’t suck water into your mouth when attempting to breathe while doing the ‘Free Style’ stroke. Apparenlty sucking water into your mouth during other strokes is acceptable. I also learned that the ‘Back Stroke’ is not a massage technique and that it too requires some finesse. As you know I’m loaded with finesse so the swimming came quite easily to me. I was like a duck out of hell water there in that pool.

Apparently my old war injury in my shoulder makes it so that when I bring my left arm around something that resembles a really out of balance tire happens. There is no circle, it’s more like a wobbly limb waving around like a wobbly limb. I suppose it’s better than waving around like a wobbly lamb, but not much better. I was able to get the back stroke down all right after several laps. Unfortunately I’m so tired right now that the word plays above were actually funny to me. I suppose this is a good thing since my desk-jockey life involves as much exercise as that of a person who watches TV all day.

Next week we’re apparently going to be tackling the butterfly stroke. As graceful as that stroke is I’m sure that it’s going to look like I’m tackling it. On the football field. In swimming trunks. Wearing no goggles because the only good ones cost more than I’m willing to part with for the short duration of this class. Of course if I want to make the money we paid for this class useful I’m going to have to continue on with my swimming. I guess we’ll have to buy a house with a pool or a really, really, really big toilette.

Welcome to Planet Earth Hawley Peterman

My niece Hawley [pronounced Holly, it’s apparently a family name in Shari’s family] Elizabeth Peterman was born this morning at 10:20 PST weighing in at a slight six pounds seven ounces. She’s nineteen inches long and is apparently doing well. When my brother Ed called he was just excited and emotionally in the same place I was when Abby was born. This is most likely a good thing 🙂 I hope to get pictures today to be able to post for all to see.

Super good news!

Brennan and Hawley
Brennan and Hawley Peterman photo taken by Pete Leonard.