Update

So much has happened since my last post...so here is the brief rundown. The owners of the power plant I worked at in Hobbs opted to cancel the Colorado Energy operating contract and went with a new company. Shocking news (but somewhat expected), but CEM decided to offer me a job with the corporate office in Lafayette, CO...so we moved again. This meant a couple changes...
1. Right when the garden started producing vegetables, I had to move. (A very sad state of affairs)
2. I now have to begin shoveling snow during the winter months
This has been a good move and I have learned a LOT about the environmental business, but there are days I miss the plant and a few of the folks that worked there.

Dylan started playing tackle football this year. During our first visit to Wal-Mart, a lady ran over to Karri and asked how old D was and if he would be interested in playing tackle football. That is right....my son was recruited! He started off not liking to hit anyone, but every week makes massive progress. He made his first tackle in a game last week and starts as left tackle on offense. (He is a GREAT blocker) So Dylan is a Lafayette Bobcat. (I will try and post pictures later.)

The picture above is out of my front door today. The office was shut down at noon today (we measured and there is currently 5 inches on the ground) because we are supposed to get 12 inches by tonight and another 6 inches tomorrow.

Toodles!

My new addiction

I have finally (after many years of threatening my wife about it) planted a garden. It is a 20' x 20' garden that includes Sweet Corn, Red Onion, Yellow Onion, Green Onion, Squash, Zucchini, Peas, Green Beans, Tomato, Bell Peppers, Cucumbers, and hot Peppers. I could not be more excited. This last weekend, for the first time, I weeded the entire garden. Since this was the first time, there were MANY weeds and it took about 3 hours to pull them all. It didn't seem that long and I am still very excited to go out everyday to look at progress and to pull anything I may have missed.

Last night, I made my regular stop to check things out and, lo and behold I noticed plants that WERE NOT WEEDS! I now have zucchini, sweet corn, cucumbers, and bell peppers already sprouting. I felt like a little kid, all giddy and full of excitement. I don't know what it is about having this garden that is so enjoyable, but it truly makes my day to visit everday. I will try and get some pictures up so it is easier to track the progress.

It may not be an exciting life, but it's my life.

Toodles.

A new level of crooked...

To start off, I think people are idiots. The human population as a whole is self-centered, greedy, lazy, and are not very pleasant to be around. There are, of course, the exception to the whole, but it seems they are far and few. The one thing that really frustrates me are "Christians" that will judge others but forget to turn their own judgmental eye on themselves. I understand people make mistakes (and make a bunch myself), but the moral compass of many church folk is plain backwards and defeats the entire purpose of them having religion or trying to convert others to it. Case in point...

My buddy Dennis works in NM, but his family is currently living in UT until his oldest son graduates high school (which was scheduled for this month). His son made a few bad decisions and skipped a few to many days of school, which led him to be 0.25 credits short of graduating. Dennis went to the school to find out what could be done so his son could graduate. The PUBLIC SCHOOL principle said it was out of his hands and this matter could only be handled by the administration. Dennis urged the principle, asking what could be done by his son or the family to allow a few absences and to get in good standing. Dennis basically then offered a bribe. The PUBLIC SCHOOL (The state of Utah is ran by the mormon church) mentioned there was a "cause" that Dennis could financially support, to help students go on mormon mission trips. Remember, this is a public school. Dennis whipped out his checkbook, signed a check and magically his son is now going to graduate. He just bought a graduation for his son by supporting a mormon cause. What does this say about: the UT public school system; the mormon church; Dennis offering a bribe; the school actually accepting it?

I am currenlty so amazed by the crookedness, I don't know what to say. I may look back at this in a few days and realize it isn't a big deal....but I doubt it.

Adam

Description of Rugby Positions...

Needless to say, this was written by a Forward. Still funny all the same...probably because I am not a winger.

THE FORWARDS

There are eight forwards. They take part in scrums, lineouts, rucks, and mauls - essentially everything that is meaningful in the game. The close physical work necessary for the forwards engenders a sense of comradeship not shared by the prancing, self-centered and effeminate backs. The game has evolved, thank goodness, with multi-phase possession allowing the forwards to demonstrate their running ability with the ball.

Props and Hookers
The front row is the cauldron, the foundation for all good rugby play. The front row is noted for their power and good looks, like no necks, battered ears, and S-shaped noses. Such players are noted for their intelligence and longevity well into their forties.

Second Row
The second row is the engine room where the power flows. The second row - or lock forward - is tall, with plenty of leverage strength in the legs. He must be productive in the lineouts as a jumper or supporter. Mobility is added plus. The second row is much appreciated by the front row for their power in the scrummage but they are generally not as good looking as the front row.

The loose forwards
The loose forwards include the #8 and the flankers. The loose forwards are respected by the front row for their mobility, fitness, defense and support work. The loosey must have tremendous fitness and ball fetching instincts which are not completely understood or trusted by the props and hooker, who are perfectly content to scrummage all day for the ball.

The Scrum-half
The little scrum half provides the ball to the backs when the forwards are damn well ready for the strutting backs to knock it forward. The forwards have grudging respect for the scrum-half because he trys hard and is not afraid to get dirty with the rest of the scrummies. The wise scrum-half will drink and buy beers for the scrummies to maintain his favored position with the forwards.

THE BACKS

The Flyhalf
It is rumored that the Fly has the best vision, hands, kicking ability, and overall tactical decision making ability on the side. The forwards do not understand or trust this individual. The hard-working scrummies generally expect and anticipate a knock forward from the fly so they can have the pleasure of another scrum-down.

The Centers
These hombres are supposed to be deadly tacklers, with strong running instincts and good hands. Alas, the centers are lumped in there with the prancing flyhalf. If the fly doesn't knock on, surely one of the centers will muff it up so the scrummies can experience the joy and satisfaction of another scrum-down.

The Fullback and Wingers
These guys may as well be from Mars. They are allegedly fast with excellent striking ability. They are supposed to score lots of trys, catch the high ball, and counter attack with flair. But the stark reality (well understood by the forwards) is that the fullback and wingers prance and preen more than the inside backs. They don't get dirty and are always playing with their hair and pulling on their collars. In fact their sexual orientation has been called into question on numerous occasions. Some props think fullbacks and wingers are "real purdy."

I have the very best wife

So for my birthday, my wife bites the bullet and takes me to Austin, TX to watch the West Regional Club Rugby Semi-Finals. This may not mean a lot to the normal Joe, but to me...True Love! Being that I live in the armpit of New Mexico (actually the USA, but who is being specific?) there is no local rugby action for me to be a part of. I actually only get to watch the rugby I Tivo on Sentanta Sports. So Karri decides that the entire herd will travel to Austin so we can (as a family) watch rugby together.

I won't go into details (I'll try to post pictures later) but the entire weekend was a GREAT success. There was a tremendous amount of rain on Saturday, so rugby was limited, but we did get to go swimming in the hotel pool (A+ from the Kids) and eat out at the Cheesecake Factory (A+ from Karri). We then all watched a movie together that evening, then went out to the Austin Blacks home pitch to watch the Albequerque Arrdvarks advance to the finals in Denver by defeating a tough Tempe, AZ, team.

This couldn't have been an easy trip for my fantastic wife, who carraled kids all morning long Saturday (sitting in the Armada) as well as all morning Sunday (again, sitting in the Armada) but she kept on a happy face and really showed me how much she loves me.

I couldn't have asked for a better 30th Birthday trip...and this doesn't even go into the gift that she gave me! Another Blog Post later I guess....It is the BEST GIFT EVER! (and yes, I must yell)

Toodles,
Adam

Funny Story

So we were in Target and I see this shirt. I am amazed that they have a shirt promoting magic shrooms and laugh loudly and decide I need this shirt. My wife looks at me like I am retarded when I declare the shirt must be mine. I quiz her about why she thinks the shirt isn't that funny (minus her never taking drugs) and she says that it just states it is a fungus...not that funny. I thought a minute then got it...fungi or fun guy. Maybe one to many drugs in my past?

One Week To Go...

We have one more week until the plant shutdown. For me, this means I have to work 7 days a week, 12 hrs a day from Easter Day until May 1st. I am pretty excited...I enjoy turn around time. There is always something going on with lots of people on site with a common sense of urgency. We are only shutting down one unit at a time, so we will also be operating the plant as 1/2 of it is shut down.

The only problem with the outage is I still have lots to do at home. Our most wonderful landlords said we could have a garden, so I need to get that planted and would like to get it done before next week. I would also like to get our yard picked up a bit, and get some odds and ends done inside the house as well. This doesn't include the rediculous amount of work I need to get done before the outage even starts. So...I sit here and blog instead. Huh?

I guess I better get back to it for the last 30 minutes.

Toodles,
Adam

Vacation in NE

So it was about 84 Deg. F when we left New Mexico, now it is snowing in NE. I haven't spent a lot of time outside, but this cold seems just a bit different then cold at home. If I am wearing a jacket (Grandpa Leon's old one - I look TIGHT) and a US Rugby stocking cap, it really doesn't seem that cold. Maybe I have not yet climatized all the way yet.

So we head back to Fairbury tonight, then get ready for the dance recital. I will hopefully get to spend some quality time with Markie and Matthew...not sure what we will do, but just hanging out will be good.

Hanging out with Karri's folks has been really nice and relaxing....I just wish we could have been here a couple days longer. It seems we just got here, and now we have to leave. It will be nice to get back for Dad's birthday, but the trip is just going to fast.

Other then that - all is well. The plant had a big issue yesterday and we had to file an EER, so I spent a little time on the phone, but that is why I have a job.

Toodles,
Adam

Ready for Vacation

So I get to leave the armpit of the US for 10 whole days! We are on our way back to Nebraska to visit Karri's folks for a couple days, then back to Fairtown to see Dad on his birthday, then watch Natalie do her dance recital for Dance Moves Dance Studio. I am running lights and sound, Karri is backstage, and Natalie is dancing. It should be good times, but this may be the last trip back. It is getting a bit to pricey to travel back to NE all the time. (We are always ready for visitors if you would like to visit though)

Side Note: I see that president Obama made reference to the special Olympics when describing his bowling game. I am torn - it is funny to me that the president is comfortable enough to call himself as a retard...but shouldn't he know better then to do that in public on Jay Leno? Really, you are the friggen PRESIDENT! Use your head - ya friggen retard!

Another Side Note: The folks from the special olympics are now trying to claim that saying retard is just as vulger as other slang words. (The N word, Wetb*&^, ...you get the idea). They need to realize that homosexuals tried to do the same thing with the word gay. I'm pretty sure that didn't work, so I would give it up now. Why try to change something that most people don't mean anything by. That is retarded and gay!

Ha. Toodles,
adam

Wow - Over a year!

Since I have now joined the twitter rampage, I thought I should start updating my blog a bit more then once every 15 months...so here are the highlights of last year (that I can remember off the top of my head)
1. Birth of Isaac Timothy Rogge - #4
2. Vasectomy to ensure I don't have #5
3. Moved to New Mexico full time (took a full time job here after the power plant was complete)
4. Received a Kindle 2 for Christmas (it was a bit late - long story for another time)
5. hmmmm

So there are the highlights, I will TRY (emphasis on try) to blog once every couple days to fill everyone in on the high (and low) lights of my life here in New Mexico. I already have a couple of ideas for later on, but they might go by the way side in a day....one never knows.

Toodles,
Adam