The Clarke Family News

-- 26 March 2007 [Monday] Normal work day so far. Amanda has to go into work tonight for a bit. -- 25 March 2007 [Sunday] An outside work day if there ever was one! In the morning I finished up the trim work in the bathroom, then we went and rented an aerator for 2 hours. Man, what a workout! While I ran that, Amanda cut the grass for the first time this year. I used the full 2 hours of the aerator. Really hard to move around and it kept stalling out when trying to go up the hill, which was a real pain. We had lunch and played a bit then seeded later in the afternoon while the kids hauled out the sprinkler and started to play in it since we needed to water anyway. I figured out I like seeding in the spring since there are no mosquitoes yet, so watering at night won't be so miserable as you won't get eaten alive. We have to water for 3 weeks. I sure hope it rains some to help us out. It sure feels good to have it done though as I know we needed to do it. Amanda and I were in bed...

-- 8 March 2007 [Thursday] Super busy day at work again. I got a lot accomplished. Amanda is going to skip going into work tonight which is a nice break for her. I'll probably put down a few misc. pieces of tile that I can, as cutting takes time and I want to do what I can while I wait for the rest of it to dry out. -- 7 March 2007 [Wednesday] I worked from home as Amanda worked the front desk all day. She had a busy day from 7am-7pm, but the extra money is really nice now, especially since I do not trust Peopleclick anymore from a stability standpoint. I was able to get our Great Wolf Lodge pictures posted online too so Amanda can send out to family. Amanda and I finished putting the full pieces of tile in last night, so all that remains now is the cut pieces and the grout. We look to have the washer and dryer back in by Thursday next week when my mom comes down. Waiting the 2 days in between for drying time is what is taking so long, but I don't want to rush it, t...

-- 12 February 2007 [Monday] Finally found out about the re-org at work today. A lot of new managers and I'm reporting to Kiersten Grey now so that works out fine by me. I wish I would have had an offer for a manager position, but no such thing. If I would have stayed in the Services team I am sure I would have been offered it, but who would have known things would change so much within the 6 months since I left. Found out that they are reducing our 401k matching as well, which is a bummer, but also told we would get a small bonus (which will really just offset our reduced 401k match). But better than nothing. At least I am still employed as well. Leaving at 5pm today to pick up Keegan from Timothy's house. His mom called last night asking if he could come over after school. I'm very excited for him and hope he does well. It was his last day at school before track out starts so he's excited about that too, and throw in there Valentines Day exchange and he had a lot goin...

-- 06 February 2007 [Tuesday] It was a very cold 17F this morning at 7am when I went downstairs with Keegan. I'm actually thankful for the cold, in the hopes that it kills some of these bugs we've had so bad over the past two years because of warm winters. Chicago was something like 0F this morning! Today at work we are suppose to hear about the big re-organization that is going to happen, but I'm skeptical as it's 10am and still nothing had been announced, nor any meetings set up for it. We'll see. -- 05 February 2007 [Monday] Nothing much today. Came into work as usual. Keegan and I had to stop in the morning to pick up a snack for his school, as it was his snack duty for one day this week. We ended up with cinamon graham crackers. Eric found out over the weekend that his boss OK'd for him to work remote back in NC, so he's supposedly aiming to be back in NC the first week in April. We'll see how that goes. I offered to help him drive a vehicle back bu...

-- 29 January 2007 [Monday] Normal workday. Not near the stress as last week. Spent most of the day working on my yearly review which is due. UGGGH, I hate doing these things. I mean I really, really dislike it. It seems so political and unimportant in the scheme of life, but is a necessary evil, so I can hopefully get my 3% raise as the company did not have a good year and I expect no more. Hopefully no less either. Amanda has a ladies night out tonight that I hope she goes to with the wives from Carson's class. -- 28 January 2007 [Sunday] Carson went to a birthday party for Holden from his class. Amanda took him to it at Pump-It-Up. He had a great time. Meanwhile, Keegan, Ian and I played at home. We started with a clay art project. Keegan built a neat little snow man with a fireplace. Really a great job he did!!! Ian just played with the clay but had fun. While that was baking we went on a nice bicycle ride around the neighborhood and then played in the front yard just as Amanda...

-- 12 January 2007 [Friday] This week has just flown by, so I'm not going to try to go back and update the past days, as I won't remember. I have a headache right now from work, today has been that bad. It's the last day of our QA cycle, and of course a bug was found, so we are scrambling. We had a lot of people resign from work this week. Mike Stocks, Doug Jones and Mary Thorn. All shocking as they have all been here a long time and were good people. The cutest thing I recall from this week, is on Thursday when my phone rang at work, and it was Keegan - 'Dad, why did you put butter on my sweet roll? I don't like butter on my sweet roll?' I had the biggest smile on my face. That morning I had packed his lunch and as a treat I thought I would put a little bit of real butter on his Hawain Roll that the kids love so much. But apparently those are the ONLY bread type things he doesn't like butter on, as that night he ate bread and butter with dinner. It was very...

-- 04 January 2007 [Thursday] Nothing major to report these past few days. Just back in the routine of work and home and playing with the kids. I sure do miss being home with them all day! Keegan just called me from home and wants me to build a fort when I get home. That sounds good to me! -- 03 January 2007 [Wednesday] Worked from home today as usual. Slow day at work so it was well. Amanda did not have to work either. I picked Keegan up at the bus stop which is always fun. I enjoy the short walk home with him. He's always in a good mood and the conversation is fun until he gets into the house and goes wild with Carson and Ian. After the kids went to bed, Amanda and I played several card games of Skip Bo, Rummy and then a board game which I can't recall the name of here. Something she doesn't care for, but I like it once in awhile. The card games were especially fun. It was nice having no sounds in the house except for us playing cards and talking on the ...