American Girthic

A long, long, time ago...

2011-06-04T14:12:00.000-07:00

I posted regularly to this blog. My Ph.D work has really kicked in and I rarely get the time over here. Plus, facebook is so easy to post to, it makes it harder to come over here and do long form, more personal writing.

Since January, I have been involved in a cover band, called the Crestview Kings. It has been a great experience. We played out to a packed house in May. We have several gigs lined up. I have completed almost all of my Ph.D class work. I am in the running for the coordinator position at my work.

Lara has kept her job secure for another year. The kids have done great in school. The girls enjoyed another season of soccer. Carl applied and was accepted into IMSA, the Illinois Math and Science Academy. He'll start in the fall, which means our baby will be leaving home soon. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around it.

We were nearly flooded out of our home in May, during the flood in Metropolis. The water was once in a lifetime high. I'll get back to you with pictures later.

Again, way too long...

2010-12-22T22:22:00.000-08:00

Sorry, family and friends, for not posting very much on here. Over the Christmas break, I will go through photos and events and list them out here. Merry Christmas everybody!

Fall Soccer

2010-09-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

The girls have really come into their own playing soccer.

Labor Day

2010-09-22T18:28:00.001-07:00

Here is a sampling of our Labor Day Parade. The girls are getting the candy. I took video of the band---Carl marching, and Lara one of the parent boosters. Below is the photo slideshow.

The Springfield State Fair

2010-09-08T08:45:00.000-07:00

In August, we traveled to the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. We went initially because we were taking the kids to see Cheap Trick and Blondie, but unfortunately, that got rained out. However, we did spend the day at the fair on Saturday, which was great.

After the fair, we dropped Carl off with Grandpa. They camped out and then Carl got to experience a shoot with Grandpa outside of Springfield. He is a natural shot.

What I did on Summer Vacation...

2010-08-03T17:48:00.000-07:00

The Pughs, as part of Cub Scout Pack 101, just got back from a wonderful trip to the Chattanooga Aquarium and camping at Harrison Bay State Park. Here are some pictures. Yeah, I know, we said that we would have some Alaska pictures up by now....but Lara is in charge of that!

The recent storm...

2010-07-10T11:40:00.001-07:00

Hi all. I haven't had time yet to post the Alaska pictures. However, here are some photos of the huge limb that came down out of our tree in the backyard after a storm in June.

Since then, my band played at a local infamous party, Craig and Roberta's 4th of July bash. We had a blast. Check out my band's page, or my facebook page for pictures and video.

A Busy Month....

2010-06-30T19:36:00.000-07:00

A quick summary: Carl went to scout camp, and was inducted into the order of the arrow. He and I went up to Mt. Vernon and continued to play some D&D. I have taken and completed a very intense but good summer class. Lara, the kids, and Dee have taken a long-planned vacation to Alaska to visit Tanya, Rick and Suresh, and they are having the time of their lives.

When I get more than a free moment, I will post pictures.

Memorial Day Weekend

2010-05-30T21:25:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

We had a great weekend so far, with our friends Mike, Susan, Joe, and Molly coming down to play a fun game of Dungeons and Dragons with the Pugh kids. We grilled out and stayed up way too late. I'll post some pictures of Carl's graduation and the kids in the next day or two.

Sorry about no updates lately....

2010-05-13T20:20:00.001-07:00

Here is the quick update on family news....sorry I have been so long between posts. I have been working feverishly each weekend on papers for my Ph.D. classes, and it simply takes me a long time to churn these things out, so literally, everything else has to wait until I'm done. Well, I'm done!

Here are some pictures:

Maggie, doing great in soccer this year!
On the prowl!

Carl's Band Performance, and accepting his award for First Superior, and sticking the award to his shoe.

Carl, receiving several school awards, including Beta Club, Scholar Bowl, Honor Roll, Match Club, and Music. He was recognized for winning the Region wide Math tournament, and setting a new record for the number of problems correct. Nerd power rocks.

His awards, including Scholar Bowl, Math tournament, First Superior on saxophone, and the several school awards.

Easter

2010-04-13T19:37:00.000-07:00

Over the Easter Holiday, our good friends the Aimones came down to visit. We took a nature hike, grilled out, and the kids had a great Easter Egg hunt in our backyard. Then we drove up north to Mt. Vernon and visited with Mike, Molly, Susan and Joe. We had a great evening chilling out at the Fairfield Inn.

Elvis Update....

2010-03-20T22:21:00.001-07:00

Here are a couple of pictures of Elvis. I've taken to calling him Emilio Lizardo, from the movie, Buckaroo Bonzai.

Merry Christmas, Three Months Late....

2010-03-20T22:18:00.000-07:00

Merry Christmas, Pugh Family!

Merry Christmas, Grandpa Jim and Grandma Nan!

Pageants, Plays, and Productions...

2010-03-20T22:16:00.000-07:00

Here are the various children in the church Christmas play and Carl in the School Band Christmas Concert:

FINALLY!

2010-03-20T22:12:00.000-07:00

Finally, on Friday, the police were able to return our camera, and about 10 movies that had been stolen out of our van after Christmas.

There were a couple hundred pictures that were on the camera. I will put up the slideshows here, one post at a time, starting with December 14th or so. What's so special about that day, you might ask? Oh yeah, my birthday! And the kids' birthdays, too!

The Highs and the Lows

2010-03-13T14:42:00.001-08:00

Still don't have our camera back from the police.....

But, even without pictures, I will brag on Carl a little bit. He took a first at State on saxophone on a very difficult piece. It was cool to watch.

However, this week, after winning another scholar bowl tournament, Carl snuck off to an ex-teacher's room, took some of her candy, and left her an anonymous, but not very nice, note.

He was caught.

He served an in-school suspension for that little stunt, but I do believe he learned his lesson, since he has had to spend his own money to replace the candy, apologize to the teacher in person and in writing, apologize to the principal, AND has been grounded for a month from video games and TV.

On another front, Maggie was asked to spend the night at a friend's house and Katie wasn't. That is happening tonight. No big deal right, except that up until now, if Maggie were asked to do something, so was Katie, not because we push them as a package deal, but they had a similar group of friends, and it has always worked out that way. Now, we're starting to see some differentiation, and it ain't gonna be pretty. Katie feels passed over, Maggie is overjoyed. Katie is crying, and it is cold comfort to know that there will come a time that she is asked to do something and Maggie is not.

Still Alive

2010-02-17T17:28:00.001-08:00

and still without our camera and other stuff that was stolen and recovered last month. Police still need it for evidence. So, sorry I haven't posted for awhile. Also, school is heating up for me which means I have less time to post. Things are going well down here, though. How are you?

We Were Robbed!

2010-01-15T20:02:00.000-08:00

It is true. Late in December, we were robbed. A couple of thieves who were hitting random places in town, took a chance and stole stuff out of our van as we were unloading it from our Christmas trip.

No big deal, really. They took some DVD's and our camera.

However, the police caught them with our goods and many other peoples' things.

This explains why I haven't posted many pictures lately.

We asked for our stuff back, but the police need it for evidence.

We may have to buy a new camera.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-03T11:06:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everybody! We had a great, albeit, stressful year. You won't see new pictures up on the blog for awhile because a few days after Christmas, someone broke into our van and stole some things out of it, including our camera, which had pictures from since Thanksgiving on it. The crazy thing is that all our things were recovered, but are currently being held by the police as evidence.

That sums up our year in a nutshell: Get hit with something negative and unexpected, but then roll with the punches and have it work out in the end. Here's to a better year in 2010!

The kids in the Christmas Parade...

2009-12-11T21:30:00.000-08:00

Carl and Katie participated in the Christmas Parade this year. Here are some pics:

Pictures of Elvis

2009-12-11T20:50:00.001-08:00

Our little skink is alive and kicking, and growing back his tail:

Gingerbread Houses For You And Me

2009-12-11T20:47:00.000-08:00

A fun part of the Festival of Trees:

Festival of Trees

2009-12-11T20:42:00.000-08:00

This has become a ritual for us...to visit Springfield and takes lots of pictures at the Festival of Trees:

While we are there, we always take a Christmas-y picture:

Trip On Thanksgiving....

2009-12-11T20:39:00.000-08:00

No, this is not advice, it is what we did after surviving black Friday sales. We loaded up the kids and went up north to Springfield.

The dogs were more excited at first!

The Lobster Trap...

2009-11-12T19:05:00.000-08:00

Carl had to do an assignment for his English Reading class. He had to read an article about a lobster man, called "The Lobster Trap." He did well on the reading comp assignment, and afterwards, got bored and started doodling zombies on the cover. After he was done, I realized the caption was even better for the story now that zombies were involved.

After Carl saw what I saw, and what you will see below, he began to rewrite the story, starting with the same opening paragraphs. When he is done, I will present both stories next to each other. I hope you enjoy the opening sequence of "The Lobster Trap."

A New Pet....

2009-11-02T21:30:00.000-08:00

In the course of this summer, two skinks have made it into our house. The first one ended up as Lucky chow, but Lara caught the second one after it had lost its tail. It just so happens that Carl can complete a Boy Scout requirement by raising a reptile, so we readied up an aquarium and now have a skink in the living room. Lara dubbed him Elvis.

This marks the first time that I have not named one of our pets. I feel kind of weird about that. Since it is a blue-tailed skink, I'm thinking blue-tailed calls to mind blue suede, hence Elvis, but when I brought that up to Lara, she said, no, she just liked Elvis. So, I'm gonna call him Elvis, the skink of rock and roll.

Since I don't have a good picture of Elvis, here is an idea of what he looks like:

And here is our cage set-up for him:

Let's hope Elvis lives a little bit longer that Matilda, our Praying Mantis from last year!

Halloween Pictures

2009-11-02T21:27:00.000-08:00

Here is the progression of the day, from carving pumpkins to walking the neighborhood, to watching a full moon rise. We had a great night.

A Cautionary Halloween Tale From Carl....

2009-10-29T18:03:00.001-07:00

Recently, Carl had to write a story using some specific vocabulary words for his English class. He decided to write a Halloween story. I present it to you, for your consideration:

It was Halloween, the time of year where, during the nocturnal hours, children emulate beasts from our imagination. Inevitably they will fill the streets, ringing doorbells superfluously in their hedonistic pursuit of sugar. And when they get home, they would eat almost half of what they earned in an impetuous manner, hoping to get the ephemeral joy candy provides.

But this is not a story about children. It is instead about an opulent couple with a fiasco of a marriage. Their smiles were spurious, as their rancor for each other was unimaginable. They never conformed with each other, and there always was some form of altercation going on between them. If he said he was diligent and assiduous, she would say, "You haven't worked a day in your life!" If she said her handwriting was florid, he would say, "It's the most prosaic writing I've ever seen." If he said, "I look young for my age," she would reply, "You look so old people think your venerable." In truth they were both bad people. They weren't sagacious, precocious, benevolent, or intrepid. They were only condescending to each other.

Four days before Halloween, one of them, (the husband) decided to abbreviate the marriage and collect a fortune from his wife. And you probably inferred, it was not done with a lawyer.

Now, this man was quite the demagogue, and in order to make himself a form of lawsuit immunity, he bribed several officials, including the sheriff. That's why no questions were asked when he called to have his wife's corpse removed and the evidence destroyed at his house. He also called the judge to throw the case determining who gets the money in his favor. After that, he had someone forge a will that made him get everything. He even went to her funeral to spit on her grave, and said, "I hope she's down below, where she belongs."

Her spirit, sitting at the funeral, was extremely mad. He really had the nerve to spit on her final resting place! What made her really angry was that he carried out his plan to kill her before she could carry out her plan to kill him. She whet all of those knives for nothing! "He's going to pay. He's definitely going to pay."

It was Halloween, and the husband was in his home, popping champagne corks at remaining photos of his dead wife. "Got one!" he yelled, as he hit a photo right between the eyes, cracking the glass. It was then that the room went dark. When the lights came back on, he noticed something odd: a picture of him replaced the one in the picture frame.

It was then he heard a cryptic voice telling him, "You were the worst husband ever!" He immediately started running. "You can't outrun me," the voice continued, "You're in my house!" Things started flying around, some hitting him. Attempting to escape this barrage of miscellaneous missiles, he ran to the door. He was almost there when she appeared. "I want a divorce," she hissed.

Neighbors immediately heard loud screams and laughter coming from the man's house, so they called the police. When the police arrived, they were horrified to find the man's body. Everywhere.

They still say that sometimes, if you're lucky, you can hear the couple yelling, for even in death, they have not found peace with each other.

(I couldn't help but add, "But at least she did find a piece of him.")

Melissa's Halloween Party

2009-10-27T20:03:00.000-07:00

The girls were invited to a wonderful Metropolis tradition put on by Mike and Melissa Rushing, a dress-up Halloween party with fun and games. The girls had a blast. True to form, Maggie was a zombie and Katie dressed as a flapper. They both are cute as buttons!

Football and a Party

2009-10-23T20:15:00.001-07:00

Tonight, we attended a Massac County Football game, at which Carl played in the band. Maggie and Katie had a great time. After the football game, Carl went to an overnight birthday party for his best friend, Joey. Lara and I look forward to a quiet night.

Tomorrow, Carl will spend half the day with his friends, the girls will have a morning soccer game, and I will be at a huge tailgate party my work puts on during family weekend at SIU.

Last Nice Day For a Soccer Game...

2009-10-15T18:21:00.001-07:00

From here on out, soccer will likely be cold and wet. This was the last nice soccer game at which we took some pictures. Maggie had already broken her arm, but she dressed and went out to support her team even though she couldn't play. However, about halfway through the game, Maggie started watching the game one field over.

Maggie's Arm Is Busted, And Her Brain Is Twisted...

2009-10-15T18:03:00.001-07:00

Sorry it's taken so long to post this picture:

Katie and Maggie got in a shoving match, and Katie broke Maggie's arm when Maggie fell backwards.

Since then, Maggie got sick. With something a lot like the flu. Lara took her to the doc today, and they swabbed her cheek to see if its the swine-y version or not.

I have been traveling all over for the program at which I work. Catch my latest travels and pizza reviews at Twin Rockets Are A Go, Baby! In the last month, I've been to Minneapolis, Chicago, (twice) and Buffalo. Here's a picture of Buffalo:

Yeah, if you're not at Niagra Falls, it isn't anything special...

While I traveled, I spent a couple of nights with our dear friends, the Aimones. You know they are special when they rate their own blog tag:

Sure, you could have lived without seeing that, but why would you want to? Much more important than Tony in control of his living space, is Tony in his new kick-butt Volvo racing machine. No, this is not an oxymoron. Hey Tony, send me a picture!

Two days ago, out of the blue, Maggie looked at me after dinner and said, "Dad, I think our dog Lucky is French."

Exactly. What was I supposed to do? I laughed and laughed. Then I said, "I think so too. That explains a lot."

Lara Turns 40!

2009-10-02T18:12:00.000-07:00

I wished my wife a happy 40th! Unfortunately, she got this:

Okay, just kidding! It was a crazy day, but a good one.

To come: Pictures of Maggie's broken arm. Yes, not Carl, but Maggie, who broke her arm a couple of days back. Never a dull moment.

Our Dog Lucky Is Weird

2009-09-12T20:23:00.000-07:00

First, Lucky stuck her head in a box of snacks. She kept her head in the box of snacks for a long time. I went to get the camera, and she knocked the box off of her head with her paws. The photo I took catches the last moment before the box fell off.

Then, another day, Lucky just kind of laid down on the floor, while we were changing the sheets on the bed. We threw a pillow down, and it landed on her head. She didn't move or flinch. Even though she was awake, she stayed there with a pillow over her head. Tell me the last time you saw a dog do that. She is not right.

Labor Day

2009-09-12T20:18:00.001-07:00

Carl marched in the Labor Day parade, which was fun to see. At the beginning of the parade, there was an emergency call, and an ambulance and fire truck in the parade had to hit their lights and sirens for real, and then raced down the street. It was weird to see.

Carl is the little guy playing saxophone. The band practiced Led Zepplin's "Immigrant Song." How cool is that?

The Bike Saga

2009-09-12T15:05:00.001-07:00

So, I ordered a bike at the end of August. I was expecting it on September 8th. Late on the afternoon of the 8th, I got a call from Al, of Lloyd's Paint and Paper in Crystal Lake, Illinois, who called to tell me he received my package and it looked like it was in pretty bad shape.

I called and emailed the bike company and UPS, and although it took a little bit for each to understand the situation, I think they did right by me. At first, UPS said I would need to contact the company I bought the bike from, and the company would call UPS and decide how to resolve the problem. So I did that. However, the company people could read as well as I could, and when we tracked the package, it showed it was still in transit, and therefore, there is not yet a problem. I called UPS back, and told them I knew where the bike was, and instead of going through some drawn out process, couldn't they simply retrieve their mis-delivered package, and send it to me? They actually agreed that that made sense, and dispatched someone to pick it up.

Here's the funny thing: Even though UPS apologized every time I spoke with them, and were sorry that they mis-delivered my package, and were willing to go get it and send it to me, when I tracked the package again, the folks at UPS listed the package not as being mis-delivered, but that the receiver of the package, one Al, requested a change of delivery address, and it was now being sent to my address.

Why can't people or companies simply admit when they make a mistake? I would respect that a lot more than the responsibility dodging "solution" that is the official story from UPS.

Regardless of the human drama, here are some pictures of the fattest guy you know enjoying the hell out of his new bike!

Bike riding has changed

2009-08-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, I owned Stonington on my bike. I rode from one end of town to the other, and never looked back. I would ride from dinner time until 9:59 pm. I had to be back home by 10 pm to help pack my Dad's mine bucket (he worked third shift). I rode my bike five miles to the farm where I worked in the morning in the summer, and five miles back home. A bike was freedom!

I still have the bike I rode all those years. It is a swing bike (not Schwinn, Swing) and it has a headset under the seat, and the back wheel turns like the front wheel. Mine was originally orange. I painted it several times, but the last time, I painted it black, and put on five spoke black mag wheels. Here is a picture of a swing bike:

So picture me on the back of this thing now, 100 pounds heavier than when I rode it all the time. But, I still got it! It is fun to ride, but I decided that the time was right to buy a new bike. I ordered it today. Here is a picture of the new one:

Now, while I am ordering mine, I approach Carl, and ask him if he would like a cool new bike, since his old one has seen its better days. He was like, "Eh." The girls have cool bikes, and Lara also indicated she would rather have surgery than ride bikes. This is a fundamental way in which we are different.

The title of the post, however, relates to how as parents, we just can't let Carl, Maggie, or Katie just go riding, like I used to when I was a kid. I'm not one of those who look back and say, "In my day, we could...(insert your own hyperbole here)." BUT, there is no way in hell I would let Carl ride over to his buddy's house across town by himself, let alone take a five mile ride in the country on his own twice a day.

If the times haven't changed, if bike riding hasn't changed, then I can only ask "What the hell were my parents thinking 30 years ago?!?!?"

Of course, the times have changed, and riding bikes has changed, too. But, I'm looking forward to the new cruiser.

A Sweet Day To Share Sadness.....

2009-08-17T17:10:00.000-07:00

At the end of July and the first part of August, we took time off to work on the house and spend time with the kids. It was during this time that we learned that Sean, Lara's cousin and dear friend, died. It's hard for me to talk about his death, because I didn't really get to know Sean very well, but I know by the depth of pain felt by those close to him, like Tanya, Lara, and Dee, that he was a wonderful, sweet person. Some people were angry because Sean took his own life; some attempted to understand the nature of addiction which drove him to his end; some simply missed him and wished he were still here, and would have done anything to change what had happened.

Despite the somber circumstances which brought us together, these were wonderful pictures of Tanya with the family.

Our thoughts continue to be with Sean's family. May you rest in peace, Sean.

An Overview of the Last Couple of Weeks...

2009-07-30T20:48:00.000-07:00

includes a visit from Emily, Maggie and Katie's friend, and pictures from Nashville. Enjoy:

The Massac County Youth Fair...

2009-07-30T20:45:00.000-07:00

has become a yearly event for us. Each year, the kids participate in the greased pig contest. Here are some pictures:

Treez B Gone

2009-07-30T20:41:00.000-07:00

One call, a few dollars, and our storm damaged trees are officially gone. We have had the fortune of a Sassafras tree springing up wild near one of our old trees. Here are some pictures:

Our Wonderful Mini-Vacation...

2009-07-08T20:30:00.000-07:00

As July began, we packed up the family, and embarked on our mini-vacation. First stop, Six Flags!

While we were at Six Flags, one of the ride attendants dropped Carl's glasses, and we had to stay the whole day and night (until 10 pm) to retrieve them. However, we made the most of out time. We picnicked in the parking lot, rode all the rides we wanted, saw some performances, and stayed for the night parade, which was fun. We had a long drive to Springfield, Illinois, but ended up at Jim and Nan's house around 2 am. We slept like the dead!

The next day, we were going to spend the afternoon at the Springfield beach, have a picnic, and see some sights, but the beach was closed (hence the kids' sad looks in the first pics below). However, we got over it, had a wonderful walk on the Lincoln Memorial Garden trails, and then spend the evening with Lara's grandparents, and had awesomely good ice cream at Krekel's in Springfield.

We got up the next morning, and drove BACK to St. Louis to spend a day at the zoo. We were joined by Jim and Nan.

We had a great day, and made it back home to Metropolis by about 10 pm that night.

Lara and I had a chance to see some old friends in Carbondale that night, but age was catching up to us, and we decided that discretion was the better part of valor. Unfortunately, when we got home, Lucky, our new dog, had injured herself in her kennel, rubbing her nose raw and chipping her front teeth on the kennel door. Even with someone watching her and letting her out regularly, she worried herself practically sick. We have decided that it is probably time to take our chances with the dog in the house instead of the kennel, or the next time we travel, we will professionally kennel her.

We went down to the river and watched the fireworks in Metropolis on the 4th. They were beautiful.

June Means Daylilys (and other flowers)

2009-06-24T13:10:00.001-07:00

Our backyard is practically covered in daylilys right now. Here are some pictures:

June is Bustin' Out All Over...

2009-06-24T12:53:00.001-07:00

Carl broke his arm, Suresh broke his, Carl's cousin Jack broke his foot, and Dee injured her arm and we thought it was broke. Since the last post, Carl's arm has healed up nicely, and he is already done with casts.

Our friends Mike and Molly came down to play some D&D, which we did, and geeked out all weekend last weekend.

Also, I have been working Facebook to get a Stonington Class Reunion going, and last weekend, I met with about a third of my old class to discuss our options for a reunion. It was great to see everyone again.

Maggie got to go to her Futskils soccer camp, and she loved it. She was scheduled to go with Katie, but she was sick the day of the event.

Lastly, if you didn't hear, the state of Illinois is holding Lara and thousands of other families hostage again, by playing games with the state budget. We are probably the only state in the Union who is telling our legislature that it would be okay to tax us more to fill a budget hole, and they are not doing it.

Let's Check in on the Kids...

2009-05-23T20:15:00.001-07:00

Carl got his cast on this week. Here is a picture:

Maggie got sick with tonsilitis and had to go to the doctor this morning. She got a shot which was delivered by a pretty big needle. She was tough, but it scared her and made her cry a little. She's got a bruise on her butt at the injection site. I took her out and bought her some Disney Cars toys, and then she spent part of the afternoon making this:

Katie attended a foot skills soccer camp today (which Maggie was supposed to, too), and then went shoe shopping with Mom (she's her mother's daughter). Here she is in her soccer camp shirt:

Spring Has Sprung....

2009-05-23T16:31:00.000-07:00

and here are the pictures from around our yard to prove it:

Keeping up with the Jones's (actually the Navitsky's)

2009-05-16T20:07:00.000-07:00

Today, after Carl had complained about his arm hurting for the last day, I took him to the emergency room for x-rays, and he broke his left arm by his wrist from a roller skating accident on Friday. He has a temporary cast on right now, but will get a "real" one probably this Wednesday. As soon as he does, I will get some pictures posted. Both he and Suresh have broken left arms now.

Here is a picture of Carl without his Samsonian locks. He agreed to a haircut last week, after we all were tired of nagging him about getting his hair in his mouth. Carl looks very different with short hair. Here is a comparison:

I think I'm gonna turn pro...

2009-05-16T20:05:00.001-07:00

I got my grades back from my grad classes, and I am still making the straight "A's." I am very relieved, because I honestly didn't know what grade I was going to get in my special ed law class. I think I have a publishable paper coming from my other class, which is what they tell me I need to have under my belt.

Flurries in May...

2009-05-07T20:52:00.000-07:00

I have published a flurry of posts already this month, because I have finished my grad classes for this semester. They were difficult and extremely time consuming. I literally fell asleep reading every night, and that was usually sometime between 2 and 3 am. I need the break (to do other things, like write blogs).

State Musical Competition...

2009-05-07T20:50:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Carl competed in the state musical contest, and got a First with his saxophone. He really has talent, and has improved greatly over the last year of playing. I hope he stays with it, because he could truly be great.

Soccer: A kick in the face is fun!

2009-05-07T20:47:00.000-07:00

The girls started soccer this year. Both have talent and show promise. Maggie is like a dynamo on the field, and Katie is one the strongest kids (has the best throwing arm) out there. In one of her first times in goal as the goalie, Katie went down to pick up the ball, and got kicked square in the face. She had to be taken out of the game temporarily, her glasses were way bent up, but she did come back in later and play. Their team is kind of the Bad News Bears of the league, but they are getting better.

When Friends Attack...

2009-05-07T20:45:00.000-07:00

In April, the Aimones and the Smiths and the Rodgers came down to visit. I promised pictures. Here they are:

Eastertide....

2009-05-07T20:43:00.000-07:00

Here are the girls at the local Easter Egg Hunt:

Little Shop of Pictures...

2009-05-07T20:41:00.000-07:00

Well, the Little Shop of Horrors musical went really well. Here are some pictures from right before and right after the show. The little guy on the drums is the son of the drummer.

On The Anniversary Of My Mom's Death....

2009-04-29T10:39:00.000-07:00

My Mom died a few years back on April 28th. I honestly couldn't tell you the year right now, though it hasn't been long. Two, maybe three years? It's hard to tell. I still feel her present, so it doesn't feel very different for me unless I want to pick up the phone and give her a call (this hasn't happened to me in while, however).

For those of you who knew my Mom, you know I'm not being prone to hyperbole when I say she was probably the smartest person I have ever known, and I surround myself with pretty smart people. She had a mischievous gleam in her eyes, even in her old age. Her weapons and her anodynes were her words and her intellect. She was deeply religious, and deeply caring. I think she passed some of these traits on to me, and more of them onto my siblings.

For those of you who didn't know her, I hope now you do a little.

I usually tell a story about her at this time of year. Here's one: Imagine how cool this Mom had to be, when her 17-year old son, who had applied to West Point (and met entrance requirements), University of Illinois' Aeronautical Engineering Program (and met requirements) Millikin University (and been offered a full scholarship for vocal), and SIU (offered a full ride scholarship and been accepted into their Engineering Program) told her that he doesn't really know if he is cut out for college.

She asks him, "Well, what do you really want to do? What do you love?"

"Well, Mom," he says, "I love music, and I want to play music in a band."

There was no screaming match, no "You're going to college no matter what, young man!" Instead, she says, "If that's what you really want to do, then you should do it. But," she adds, "you need to know what it is like to be a working musician." Then she spends the next several hours talking about options and choices, and ends by saying, "Whatever you decide, I will support you."

Yes, I'm talking about my Mom and me, and yes, you don't have to imagine, she was cool. I decided that I should go to college, but music never left my life.

Although I don't think Mom liked the genre of music I played, I think she appreciated the musicianship that was displayed. She supported my artistic endeavors, especially when the message of my music was different philosophically than what she believed. I did write one song before she died that I know she liked. It's called Remember, a song I wrote as lullaby for my yet unborn son, Carl. When Mom heard it, she smiled and said that I was finally getting it.

I present it to you at this link: Remember

Did you listen? Are you all sad now? Don't you think I sounded a little like Kermit the Frog? I'll leave you with a song I wrote for Mom after she died, which summed up my feelings at that time.

It's called One More Time.

That's the best I can do for her (for now).

I Got the Music In Me!

2009-04-15T17:48:00.000-07:00

This month, I received a nice write up in the local paper for my latest record, "From Obscurity To Global Domination In Three EASY Steps." I was recognized on the street as that fat bald guy in a band by some dork I didn't know. It made me feel special.

Next, out of the blue, I was asked to play bass for the pit band for the high school's production of "Little Shop Of Horrors." We've had a practice already, and the guys I'm playing with are really talented, so I feel a little out of place. Okay, that was me smiling to myself cuz I rock! No, a little humility is needed because these guys are seriously talented, and have played together for years and you can tell it. However, I think I fit in pretty good, and we seem to all have the right idea.

Anyhow, I'll let you know how that goes.

Old Friends and New Catchphrases....

2009-04-07T17:45:00.000-07:00

This weekend, our super friends the Aimones (Tony, Annie, Isabella and Bruno) and our awesome friends the Rodgers and Smiths (Mike, Susan, and Molly) came to our house for an extra crunchy plate of happy fun good time. I heard that before. That's what she said! Oh my God! Aaaahhhhhh! Ting ting!

That's what happens when old college friends and their kids get together for a long weekend. That translates to "we had a great time, laughed ourselves silly, ate great food and drank some drinks." All the kids played their DS's, we stayed up late playing cards and telling stories, and eventually everybody retired to their rooms and slept like logs until morning.

Annie has gotten me interested in getting on facebook, which I probably will do. Annie, if you are reading this, please make sure to send me the pictures you took.

The Kids At The Park....

2009-04-07T17:39:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, it looked like we had seen the last of the freezing weather. On a breezy, very mild March day, I took the kids with me to a function at my work. On the way to the event, we stopped at a terrific park in Carbondale. It is a memorial park developed by the family who lives next to the park. Their son, Jeremy, died on the busy road by their house. The park was set aside as a safe place for kids to play, and is based on the boy's drawings.

Nut Doesn't Fall Far From The Apple Tree...

2009-03-22T17:53:00.000-07:00

or something like that. Carl went to the regional concert band contest, and played a solo piece on saxophone. He was rated a first, which means he will move on to state, which will involve playing the piece from memory. He is excited and a little nervous about that.

When he played his piece, he really displayed a good control over note, tone, and phrasing. That is hard to do at his age. I was really proud of how well he performed.

They wouldn't allow pictures or video of the event, so you'll just have to take my word for it. On the way back home, I took him out to eat, and then let him buy some Heroclix superhero figures. That made the whole trip worthwhile for him.

Was It Our Anniversary?

2009-03-15T06:28:00.000-07:00

Saturday, March 14th was Lara's and my 18th wedding anniversary. We went out and saw a movie, then had a nice dinner. It so happens that our anniversary is also Lara's Dad's birthday, so after dinner, we called and wished him a great day. Although Lara and I were both tired, it was a good day.

We've Gone To The Dogs....

2009-03-15T06:26:00.001-07:00

Okay, that was a pretty stupid post title, hokey and cheap, but I couldn't resist the cheap pun....

Here are Buster and Lucky, with a little extra thrown in at the end...

Thre Trees Are Gone But Spring Has Come

2009-03-15T06:19:00.000-07:00

Well,

After the ice storm, our trees were badly damaged. We have taken at least six piles of limbs and branches debris (piles about six feet tall and 20 feet long)out of our yards. However, this last week, it feels like Spring has arrived, and the tree service people finally got around to doing the job we contracted for the DAY OF THE ICE STORM! (A little lesson I learned from this: When you hire for a job, get a specific date from your contractor for work, and then inform them if they don't get it done by then, you will call someone else).

Anyway, the trees are now gone, but life goes on. Spring flowers have begun to bloom.

Kids Music Programs...

2009-02-21T11:31:00.000-08:00

This month, Carl participated in a region wide honor band, and the girls participated in their school music program.

Here come the pictures!

2009-02-07T19:30:00.001-08:00

The pictures really won't do it justice, nor will they communicate the general dumbfounded awe one experiences as an ice storm destroys your town (well, all of the region) with the force of a tornado, but the speed of a tortoise.

We Survived The 2009 Ice Storm, And All I Got Was This Lousy Hotel Bill

2009-02-02T05:45:00.001-08:00

Hello, folks,

The Pugh family weathered the Ice Storm of 2009 (as they are calling it) with only minor bumps and bruises.

What, you didn't know? I guess this event made me aware that bad weather news is only newsworthy if it's in your backyard. I mean, landslides in California? Two feet of snow in Buffalo? Minus 40 in Portland, Maine? Nobody here cares about that. So, three inches of ice in Metropolis? If it didn't stop the Superbowl, then who cares? Not that I mind. Everybody does that, and everybody should. You should care for what happens right here, right now. That's enough to put on anyone's plate. It is hard to actually understand what living through a tough event is like, and empathy is good, but doesn't quite cut actually being there. I wouldn't wish it on anyone, but listening and watching through the night as trees groaned and snapped, with ice raining down like shrapnel and limbs amputated by the jagged burden of weight to fall dead on the spines of houses, giftwraps the knowledge that you are transitory and subject to the whim of Nature, and delivers this gift right to your front door. Even high flying prosody like that crap I just wrote hardly captures the shadow of the experience.

Actually, lots of people called, checked in, and generally offered support, for which we are thankful. Later, when I have the time, I will post some pictures of the damage!

Roger

A Surprise Trip To Dallas, and a Sad Homecoming...

2009-01-09T10:59:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend of January 3rd, we decided to visit my sister in Dallas. Her family was throwing a surprise 50th Birthday party for her, and on the spur of the moment, we gathered up the kids and drove down to visit. We left Friday day, and arrived at about 2:30 am Saturday morning. Her surprise party was not until the evening, so we decided to spend the day at the Dallas Zoo.

After the zoo, we got ourselves ready, and prepared to surprise Carla at the wonderful party set up by her daughters. I think we did!

We had a nice drive home, but had suspected, and actually talked about, the eventual death of one of our old cats, Ptolemy. When we got home, we were informed that Ptolemy hadn't eaten or drank anything since we left. He was having a hard time standing on his own, and was obviously in pain. We decided that night to end his life. Here are the last pictures we have of Ptolemy, with a sad group of kids around him. The kids each wrote a remembrance of Ptolemy, and read them before I buried him in our backyard. May you rest in peace, Ptolemy.

Ptolemy 1994-2009.
Rest In Peace, you lovable little shithead.

Better Late Than Never....

2009-01-08T18:31:00.000-08:00

Here are pictures from our churches' Christmas play, in which the kids all participated. Also, Santa visited the church, which would be the source of some debate at some point, were I a pious person.

Next are some pictures of the kids on Christmas morning. The kids are pictured with favorite gifts from Aunt Tanya and Uncle Rick, and Tony, Annie, and family. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

Winter Formal Dance...

2008-12-20T16:35:00.000-08:00

Carl went to his first formal dance. He looked pretty good, and acted like a complete dork. I think this will work for him as he gets older. When asked if there was a girl he would like to dance with, he responded with an embarrassed, "Come on, Dad!"

He enjoyed himself at the dance, got the DJ to play some music he brought (The Gorillaz) and generally bemoaned the fact that most of the night they played Britney Spears crap and a bunch of lame rap music. When I asked if he danced with anyone, he said that he wasn't interested in dancing to that kind of music, which I thought was a nice dodge. All it's going to take is one time, him getting out there and being himself, and Lara and I will have some trouble. Of course, it wouldn't hurt his chances if he grew just a few more inches taller. He is by far the shortest kid in his class.

Carl Is A Teenager.....What????

2008-12-20T16:14:00.000-08:00

Yeah, 13 years old on December 17th. Crazy. I still remember taking Lara to Carbondale Memorial Hospital, getting her prepped for the C-section, and her doctor trying one last time to turn the baby before committing to surgery, and Lara about breaking his arm at the elbow.

Once the procedure started, everything was quick. In one moment, there was an incision, and the next, a perfect not-so-little baby. He really did look perfect, too, no head squishyness from being pushed through the birth canal. Then, after Lara was in recovery, and I tried to make calls, and was blubbering to all of my relatives. I was pathetic.

Flash forward 13 years later, and Carl is every bit the dork I hoped for that freezing Winter's day in Carbondale.

Maggie And Katie Turn 8!

2008-12-20T16:13:00.000-08:00

Here's my birth story for these two. Lara had them at Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah, which had a great room, with home-like fixtures, where she was prepped for giving birth to the girls. It so happened that a Murphy Brown episode was on, the one about how much trouble Murphy was having with her new baby, and then there was a Planet of the Apes marathon on. So, there was a little something for both Lara and me. Then, when the girls were born, (V-back) and a squirrely looking orange-haired swarthy kid with a weird shaped head came out, Lara and I had to decide real quick whether this was Maggie or Katie. We both agreed that this one had to be Maggie. For about 10 of the next 20 minutes, I think Lara and I were wondering, if this was how weird the first one looked, just what the hell might the second one look like?? 20 minutes after Maggie, the next one was born, and she looked perfectly round (not having her head stuck funneled into the birth canal like Maggie had) and could have been Carl's twin at birth (cute as a button, bald as a baboon's ass). As they have grown, Maggie still has been the wilder, unusual one, (though her skull bones finally moved to where they needed to be) while Katie still shares many of Carl's facial features.

Roger Is Old

2008-12-20T16:07:00.000-08:00

Officially 43, on December 14th. In the second picture, I can really see my mom in my face. I always said to Mom that I looked forward to my birthday, because I set it aside for to express my thanks to my parents for having me. I always thought that's how it should be. Being born is no special event to you, but a huge event in the lives of your parents. Birthdays should be about reminding the parents that you're glad they stuck it out with you. Every year, until Mom died, I called her on my birthday, and told her I loved her, because she was the reason I have the celebration at all.

Winter Band Performance

2008-12-20T16:06:00.000-08:00

Carl was part of the Winter concert band performance. He is hard to see, but he plays saxophone, and is seated next to the tall kid in blue (his best friend, Joey). He played well.

Spelling Bea

2008-12-20T16:01:00.000-08:00

Carl won the right to represent his school for the 7th grade at the regional spelling bee. He didn't win, but he did enjoy himself. The "pronouncer" was terrible, mispronouncing some basic words like "rupee" and "synopsis." The kids were great, she and the judges were terrible. However, Carl lost fair and square, mis-spelling "anchovy."

Statistically Speaking....

2008-12-12T18:25:00.000-08:00

I am in the process of completing my Ph.D. Or, I guess you could say starting my Ph.D. Regardless, I have just completed my second stats class Multiple Regression, with an "A." So far, I am batting a thousand ( a statistic, if you didn't know).

Can we test the likelihood that my gpa is 4.0? Yes, we can!

Ho: X bar = 4.0

Ha: X bar does not = 4.0.

Simple Regression model, use Student T test statistic, with alpha level of .05. Test. Result is not significant. Therefore, we fail to reject the null hypothesis. We accept that the mean gpa for this grad school monkey does not significantly vary from 4.0.

Now, thank God that part is over. On to the bigger and better things to study!

Home Is Where The Heart Is....

2008-12-08T20:16:00.000-08:00

So, I'm not the skinniest guy in the world. I never have been, except for a few years in college when I was literally starving. What a great diet plan: be poor, for a long time.

Well, a year ago, I had my cholesterol levels checked, and they were a little high. I had them re-checked this last month, and the cholesterol levels actually were better, although the good cholesterol levels were too low, and my triglycerides were too high. Since I have had some pain every now and then in my chest, (which I had always been told was a torn intercostal muscle) since I have a family history of heart problems, and since the cholesterol and triglycerides were wonky, I had an echo stress test done today on my heart. It's not as invasive as a dye test, but better than a simple stress test and ekg.

The doc said he saw absolutely no evidence of blockages, which was nice to hear, but this test, although valuable, is limited. So, I am glad to hear he saw nothing catastrophic, but am convinced that now is the time I should really work hard to lose weight, eat better, lower the bad stuff in my blood, and raise the good stuff.

The nurse who was very nice this morning, unfortunately had to dig for a vein for the IV like she was searching for a ring dropped in her garbage disposal, which means she jabbed around several times, and hurt my hand like hell, but didn't find what she was looking for. So, she settled for the vein up a little higher on my arm. In fact, the worst part of the whole event was/is the really painful digs across the back of my right hand, and the swelling from her gouging.

On the other hand, I think one of the other nurses flirted with me :D Lara said that I better watch what cologne I am wearing (she picked it out for me).

Kids In The Christmas Parade

2008-12-08T20:11:00.000-08:00

Maggie and Katie marched with the Girl Scouts in the Christmas Parade on December 6th. Carl played in the band. I marched with the Cub Scouts, Lara rode in the fancy convertible behind the Cub Scout float, and Dee escorted the girls to the parade line up area with the other Girl Scout leaders. Here are some pictures of the events:

Getting Ready For Christmas

2008-12-08T20:06:00.000-08:00

Without further ado, here are some pictures of the family getting ready for Christmas. The nativity set has been in Lara's family for generations.

One of these pictures is likely going to be our Christmas card, which is okay by me. Truth, unruly though it may be, is better than the fiction you get from most holiday pictures.

Schroedinger's Fish

2008-11-30T18:39:00.000-08:00

Well, I had to go to work on Saturday, primarily because I needed to continue medicating my fish, Afrika Bombatta. Unfortunately, when I arrived, I could immediately tell that Afrika was dead. There was a certain smell throughout the office, and when I searched and found the little guy, he was not moving.

I cleaned up the tank, and then took him to an outdoor trash can. I just couldn't flush him, he was like seven inches long, and I didn't want to have him get stuck in a pipe somewhere before it left the building.

For the remainder of the day, I worked on some music, which you can check out at my band's page Twin Rockets Are A Go, Baby!

Off and on, I thought about just when my fish died. Until I went there and gathered the evidence, the possibility existed that the fish was alive and well. There was some chance that this would happen. So, I wondered about probability and quantum mechanics on my ride home.

Afrika Bombatta
RIP
2000-2008.

Man, we've been hell on pets this year.

FISH Update:

2008-11-24T16:45:00.001-08:00

My African Cichlid fish is still alive. Upside down, but still alive. So, I did what I should have done on Friday, and ignored the fish store clerk's advice, and I bought some medicine and performed some fish doctoring. When I left work today, he was still kicking.

Several people have commented on the state of my fish, and wondered why the fish does not have a name. This has made me wonder, when is it that a pet requires a name? Most people don't name their fish. It's enough to know you have a fish tank. The 20 individual little swimmers are just fodder for the plecostimus, eventually.

However, when Carl had hermit crabs, they had names. A great big old snail we had we called grandpa snail. I think the pet earns a name by a combination of size and personality. That is, if it isn't quite big enough, we anthropomorphize our pets, or if they are of enough size, they also carry enough brain to interact with the family. We have to call them something, so we know how we feel about them, or, we have to call them something, so they know what they are called in the pack. Did Grandpa snail ever respond to being called Grandpa? No, but he did respond to an algae chip dangled in the water. He would truck up the side of the glass, and actually eat the algae chip out of my hand! That's a hell of a lot of personality for a snail, and earned him that name.

This is the situation: The fish is big, for a fish store tropical fish, and does respond to me in a variety of ways, and in the last few days, I can't help but feel sorry for the little son of a bitch. He meets both criteria of anthropomorphic personality and size, so even if he only has the name for one more day, he is named.

I call him Afrika Bombatta. I hope Li'l Afrika makes it through the night.

An 11th Hour Reprieve?

2008-11-24T16:37:00.000-08:00

It appears, through no small miracle, that Lara's job will not be cut. Over the last few days, contentious street demonstrations in Chicago, lawsuits from the ACLU, and general up in arms-ness from child advocates made it clear that there are lots of places that the state budget can be cut, but child and family services can't be one of them.

So, for the time being, it looks as though we get to have our cake and eat it, too. Actually, the no cake diet we have been on for the last few months has been a blessing in disguise. Never has it been more apparent to us that most things we come to expect in our lives ain't worth the money we spend. So, we have learned to live a little leaner, and will try to keep our excesses from getting the better of us.

Here's to all our friends and family, many of whom made it clear to us their willingness to help if we needed it. Thanks!

No Really, We're Kind To Animals....

2008-11-21T19:48:00.000-08:00

When I got back from my trip to Chi-town, I was saddened and surprised to see my fish, originally Lara's fish, a African Cichlid, laboriously swimming upside down in his tank. We bought the little guy about 8 years ago, with a brood of others, not knowing how territorial and vicious the little bastards would be. Within a few months, there were only two cichlids left. Then, there was one. It would kill anything we put in with it, so it was decided that I would put it in solitary confinement up in my office at work.

He has been happily living up there for over two years. He is probably close to 7 inches long, which makes him about the biggest cichlid I've seen home raised, and he is also among the oldest tropical fish we've ever had.

So, even though it's hard to get attached to a fish, he has been around for a long time, and it is clear that he has some kind of internal parasitic infection going on. As soon as I got back in my office, I went to the local fish store (Will and Vic's Fishnet, a Carbondale institution), and described the situation to one of the employees of the shop. "He's swimming upside down, his belly is distended, and he's got a raw spot on his chest. Also, pinkish, possibly bloody areas in the creases around his fins. Is there anything I can do for him?" To which the employee replied, "Yeah, you can kiss his ass goodbye."

It was said with sympathy. He said there really was little I can do, and as serious as the symptoms sounded, it was unlikely that he would respond to any treatments for the swim bladder, or any of the parasitic medicines they had. So, I respect the employee for not trying to sell me stuff that wasn't going to work anyway. But still, I expect that on Monday, another Pugh household pet will have met its maker.

My Recent Trip to Chi-Town

2008-11-21T19:37:00.000-08:00

Through my work, I get to travel around the country. Earlier this week, I had to take a trip to Chicago. I had put a request in from our motor pool for a Dodge Challenger or Charger, or something sporty. I got a KIA Sorento. This may have led to my disgruntled mood, as evidenced by the pictures.

When I can, I stay with Tony and Annie up in Chicago. Usually, their cats end up sleeping on me, because, like all cats, they know if a person is allergic to them. As part of my own little quirky ritual, I buy some chocolates for the Aimones to appease their darker natures (actually, cuz they are always nice enough to let me stay at their house when I visit). Also, Tony and I stay up way too late and talk about the ignorant shit that would otherwise annoy our wives and other friends. Lastly, we almost always get a pizza and eat too much. All of those objectives were accomplished in this little jaunt.

November Colors...

2008-11-21T18:35:00.000-08:00

After checking out my sister's myspace page, I liked the fall pictures she had posted, and I told her I would take some pictures on my way to work. I have a very picturesque drive, but I usually don't have the forethought to take pictures on the way. So, unfortunately, I missed the really vibrant color show of the Shawnee Forest in late October, but there are still some pretty cool vistas.

Matilda, We Hardly Knew Ye.....

2008-11-05T16:45:00.001-08:00

One morning, not long ago, we saved a little praying mantis from an early frost. It made a home in an abandoned hermit crab cage, ate several crickets and assorted moths and other bugs, and one night, BLAM!! laid an egg case on the inside lip of the cage (can't get good picture of it).

Then, a couple of days later, Matilda could no longer resist the grip of age on her tired exoskeleton, and succumbed to the reaper.

Matilda, rest in peace. In about 6 months, we'll let you know how/if her progeny spring forth.

R.I.P. Matilda, 2008-2008.

Parade....

2008-11-02T11:13:00.000-08:00

Saturday, November 1, the girls and the boy marched in a parade. The girls were there as part of their girl scout troop, and Carl was there marching in the junior high band.

A New Pet....

2008-11-02T10:45:00.000-08:00

About a week ago, in the chilly air of the morning as Carl and the girls were getting ready for school, one of them saw an injured praying mantis in the driveway. It was going to freeze the next day, and no one wanted to see the hurt little mantis end up bird food (how it probably got hurt to begin with) or frozen. So, mom and the kids brought it into Carl's old crab cage (prior home to several hermit crabs, all of whom had went the way of the dinosaur).

The mantis survived the day, and the injured spot, on its abdomen, which was oozing green goo, had begun to heal, and was now a crusty black spot. I'm no entymologist, but this looked like a positive thing.

Next, a debate loomed over whether it was a he or a she. Lara was convinced it was a she, Carl thought it was a he, and I thought that it was probably female, although it was an awfully small one. Its abdomen was pretty large for its size though, and this is the time of year that egg cases are deposited....

Which is exactly what happened after the first full night in her new digs. So, we named her Matilda, and she has been eating pretty healthily for the last few days. We have fed her crickets, mosquito hawks, grubs, moths, and about any other bug we could catch.

Now, isn't it strange, that we can feel compassion for an injured praying mantis and with glee collect an assortment of hapless, no less innocent creatures, to be her food? You don't see us getting another cage out for the abandoned stink bug, do you? People are odd like that.

Matilda, our latest, albeit temporary, addition:

Mammoth Cave Vacation, October, 2008

2008-11-01T19:37:00.000-07:00

Here is the first of two slideshows from our recent trip to Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. We went there on the long weekend of October 10th. We met our good friends the Aimones at our campsite. We had a wonderful time, although our Chicago pals weren't expecting to land in a dry county, the lushes!

We have had the great fun of camping with them and with other friends we have made from our college days several times over the years.

On the first day at the national park, we went on the historic tour of Mammoth Cave.

On day 2, we made a side trip to one of the many fun parks which have sprung up all around Mammoth Cave. They had horseback riding, go karts, a huge "alpine" sled ride, rock climbing wall, bumper cars, and a bungie swing, to name a few.

There is a much longer story here, but the Reader's Digest version is that at the fun park, Katie had a freak out right before she and Mom were going to ride horses on the trail, and after about an hour, they made it back, angry and crying (you guess which was which)with no horseback ride. While they did that, Carl and Tony went up the ski lift to the top of a huge hill and rode down a concrete track on a modified bobsled. While that happened, Maggie and Isa tried the bungie jump, the rock climbing tower, and bumper cars. Bruno and Annie played miniature golf. When Carl came back, we took a turn on the go karts, and during a tight race, Carl wiped out, and at the end, was not able to stop his kart, and nearly took out the guy running the attraction. He jumped like he saw a rattlesnake.

Then, we broke for lunch, and Carl and Tony decided to go up the alpine hill once more. About 20 minutes later, they came back, with Carl sporting some serious scrapes on his shoulder, arm, wrist, leg and knee. He tumbled out of the sled as he rocketed down the hill, and frankly, we were all lucky one or two of us weren't hurt badly.

Then, we made it to the cave, and went on the New Entrance Tour, which unlike the Historic Tour, is a "wet" cave, with beautiful features, stalactites and stalagmites, and deep, deep voids. It was magnificent.

Of course, the pictures don't do the cave, or the fun we had with our friends, justice.

Lara Turns...OLD!!!

2008-11-01T12:26:00.000-07:00

For awhile, these posts will be out of order, chronologically, until I get some of the recent events put up on the blog. Lala's birthday was a small affair this year. I rarely get to take pictures of her, however, in the last month or two, she has relented, and I've been able to take some photos.

Get your violins out, I might as well say it now, our family has some tough times ahead of it. Unless our governor gets his head out from inside his own ass where it has been planted for some time, it is possible (read as looming large like a mushroom cloud on our horizon) that she will be laid off. It is possible that she will not only lose her job, but that her position, among many others around the state, will be eliminated(that is, no job to come back to even if she were laid off). This has generally put a damper on things like birthdays and such, and has added so much stress to her already stressful life (she puts up with me), that I really stand in awe of her composure. I mean, I am composed in this situation, but that is only because I choose to ignore the dire consequences which might face us. She is staring them straight in the face and still is hanging in there.

So, here was Lara's understated, but love and happiness filled, birthday, on October 1st:

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T22:18:00.000-07:00

Tonight marked a milestone for the Pugh family: Carl is old enough that this was his last official dress-up and get candy from the neighbors Halloween. Carl and his sisters have all really enjoyed Halloween for years. Carl especially has tried to make his own costumes each year, or find ways to put store bought stuff together in unusual ways. If I can remember, in reverse order, his costumes:

2008: He went as Charlie Brown as a ghost (note in the pictures, the several attempts to cut eyeholes)

2007: He went not just as Spiderman, not just a zombie, but a zombie Spiderman, which is 10 times cooler than either one alone.

2006: He went as Spaceman Spiff, from the Calvin and Hobbes comic. His costume was totally homemade, and was spot-on.

2005: Zombie Pirate, ala "Pirates of the Carribean."

2004: Headless Horseman.

2003: A realistic skeleton.

2002: Darth Maul. Instead of a mask, we painted his face to look like Darth Maul, and he looked way better than the store bought DM's.

2001: Harry Potter, with glasses and all. We put together several items from different costumes to put together one cool Harry Potter outfit.

Now, before 2001, the order gets a little sketchy, but he went as a ghoul, as Jack Skellington, a vampire, maybe? as a bear, and a few others.

Here are the pictures from this Halloween:

The Beginning...

The pirate, the ghost, and the goth vampire

The decorations scaring the kids

The pumpkins drawn and carved by the kids

First Stop

The "Charlie Brown" ghost

Haunting

Maggie was only mildly interested

Katie, the goth vampire

I gave Lara the bird

Fun Neighborhood

We're a happy family!

Almost Done

Like Barter For Chocolate

Wilkommen

2008-10-31T21:18:00.000-07:00

Why hello, family and friends!

This is the photo blog of the Pugh family of Metropolis, Illinois. When I have enough time, I will begin to post photos of the family on this website. After a recent trip to Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, with our good friends, the Aimones, I felt very motivated to put this page up to keep family in touch with our goings on, without having to have it filtered through my band's website and persona.