Ok, yes, I know it has been a long time since our last post – what, like 4 months now? Well, I don’t see your blog so what have you to complain about? At least we try!

Today I moved the entire blog back to Blogger because WordPress wouldn’t let me track how many of you are actually reading this blog. With this move I have made the site more friendly and updated the look. I hope you like it.

Now, how did I find time to do this? Simple! I left my job to go back into freelance work. TravelNet was working me to death and I just couldn’t do it any more. A lucrative project came up that will keep me busy for a few months at least, and I had to take it. So now I get to sit at home again and just have fun – when I am not working. My last day was August 28th, just before Labor Day weekend.

So, now that I am not so burned out every evening, perhaps I will find time to update this blog more often. And just so you don’t forget what she looks like, here’s a picture of Allyssa with my Dad and Roseanne at Steve’s Wedding Vow Renewal back in June.

I know you all are wondering what the new job is like. Well, it’s like a job, you all have one or have had one, so you all know what it’s like. You get up in the morning, you go to work, your boss tells you you’re not getting enough done, you piss and moan, you go home at the end of the day, all so you can do it again tomorrow. Right?

Wrong! Though most of the time it is just a job for me, for the most part I do enjoy the work. The stuff I have been doing this past month has been new and challenging and a lot of fun. For those of you that don’t know, I now work for Travel Net Solutions in Cottage Grove, MN. My main focus right now is to update and maintain the software to manage the Resorts and Lodges.com web site.

It’s more than just building web pages though. I am currently working to automate their work flow process and eliminate paper trails and manual entry of data into multiple systems. I won’t bore you with the details, but just know that it’s taken me two weeks and we still aren’t done with it. Hopefully I will be done by the first of the year – at least that’s the goal.

So, although it really is a job like most people have, I get to have some fun doing it. The people I work with are all wonderful except for the occasional screaming at the top of their lungs – not because they are made or hurt, but because they are excited about something. It can get distracting, but generally does help boost morale and keep us all on track. Oh yeah, the game room is really nice too – just too bad I never get to see it!

Well, as you can see, I work way too hard during the day that when I finally get some time to spend with Allyssa, we usually nap together. This was how we spent our quality time on Monday, and I’ve been so busy since then I just finally took the time to post the photo.

For those of you that do not know, I am working on a social networking web site for network marketers, you know, those people that first sell you something then want you to join them in the business? Well, I found a business that I like and is going to help me get healthy so I can spend more time with my family. I have been taking the whole food supplement known as The Pops since April and it is really starting to make a difference in my life. But I shall spare you the details here for now – take a look at my Healthy Dad web site for all of those details. I’ll just share that since taking The Pops, I have more energy during the day and sleep better at night. Want proof? Look at the picture above.

Ok, you’ve seen another picture, now it’s time for me to get back to work.

Ok, since you haven’t seen a post from us nearly all year, except these last two with the new blog, I thought I would bring everyone up to date.

Work: I have been working for the same client since late last year and in February went to direct deposit payroll, so I don’t have to worry about getting paid. This is a huge stress off of us and there is no more running around to the bank. Well, at least their isn’t’ supposed to be. The first payment they didn’t get the bank information right, so they Fed Ex’d a check to me. The second payment they forgot to enter an hourly rate so they sent a payment via PayPal. Third time was a charm, we thought. That payment went into the account just fine. However, this fourth payment, there was a problem. A check was sent, it never arrived, so another PayPal payment and another $21 fee to them for it. Hopefully future payments will work fine so we can pay our bills on time.

Baby: We are still anxiously awaiting the arrival of our new baby. You would think that this late in the game we would have the baby’s room done and ready for her arrival – but that still isn’t done. I do have the network hardware set up to get network access to the upstairs via wireless, but I am still working to get the old office moved out and the baby’s stuff moved in. There just aren’t enough hours in the day. However, we do have an appointment tomorrow along with an ultrasound to make sure the kid is head down and ready to go.

Trains: I am still actively operating with the RiverRail group as always, but events with the SCA are starting to interfere. It is going to be fun to balance the two groups and enjoy both activities. No, I don’t have room yet to build my railroad, and probably won’t for a few years now, but that doesn’t stop my from acquiring new equipment.

SCA: Two weeks ago we were in Wautoma, WI for an event called Bardic Madness. We really enjoyed the songs, stories and of course the tons of food that was available. For those that don’t know, bardic activities include singing, story telling, instruments, and anything involved with communicating your thoughts to other members. Although I personally do not participate in the bardic activities, it was still a lot of fun to sit around the bardic circle and join in on the fun. This weekend we are off to Rochester, MN for Spring Coronation. Yes, I know that it is very close to the due date (April 25th), but if you look at a map, it’s really not that much farther from here to the hospital as it is from Rochester to the hospital – and it’s all highway driving either way.

Life: Life stinks. Oh wait, you knew that. It seems that just when things start to look up and life is going to get better, something comes along and knocks you back down to zero. Oh, and this snow we are getting today ISN’T much help with that.

Oh well, enough of my complaining, back to work…