Really? Again?

When "butt cream" becomes finger paint...

How was YOUR day?

I have been challenged to let you know that the adventure does sometimes leave Tina's home and visit others.... I'm still not sure if I'm happy about that or scared.

Let me break down a little of how yesterday went.

The morning and afternoon were rather uneventful... although not absent of all drama. That part I'll have to save for later. It all started to unravel around 4:00 when Kristen decided to play soccer in the living room. I think it was kick #2 that cut that game short. I'm only glad it wasn't the 4 foot picture window only inches away. Yep... right through the window. You know, the one that is 50 years old and isn't removable. We're still figuring out how to fix it.

About an hour later I went to the furnace room in the basement. It smelled funny. I called Keith and he smelled it too. A strong, kind of pungent smell. I thought it smelled like a chemical or something kind of hot. Keith thought it smelled like gas... kind of. We looked like dogs for a while as we sniffed around the basement and couldn't find the source. An hour later we checked again... still smelled. Now what do we do?

It was getting close to bedtime and I really didn't want to go to bed wondering. Then Keith said he felt a little dizzy and woozy when he went into the furnace room. Sigh... I hate these kinds of situations. So I called the fire department hoping they would give good counsel and maybe just send a guy out to test our basement air. No such luck... he told me that I would have to call 911 in order for them to come.

So, with my heart pounding, I dialed those famous numbers. The lady told us we should evacuate since we thought it could be gas. The first fire truck rounded the corner moments later and I thought, "Oh, this isn't so bad. They just sent the small truck w/ a couple of guys." Ha! Right behind him with their lights flashing and sirens blaring were. . . . .

Fire truck #2,

Fire truck #3,

Fire truck #4, Each filled with 3 to 5 firemen in each truck. (side note: This is Waterloo.... volunteer fire department. Add that up that's close to 12-15 firemen. Yeah, they were training at the station so they ALL came. The ENTIRE city's department!)

an ambulance,

and the police...

ALL with their lights and sirens.

I have at least one regret. In the evacuation I didn't grab my camera!!

So, after the ambulance hauled Keith away to the back of their truck for an evaluation and drawing of blood since he had complained to me about feeling light headed, and after 15 muddy firemen marched through my house (I am sooooo glad I had foresight to send them through the garage and not through the front door.... one small moment of sanity), they reportedly found.... nothing!

"Sorry, ma'am, but we smell nothing! We tested for three different gases... uhhh, nothing."

After apologizing profusely they assured us that we had done the right thing. Personally, I think they loved the fact that they got an actual call out on their training night. Something about men and being the fireman.... (rolling eyes). We went inside and to the room in question-- we could still smell it!!

If you read this week's paper and see the report titled "Local Pastor Wastes City's Funds"... that's us.

I talked to mom later. Being the support she always is she could only say, "I'm so glad you didn't visit me tonight!"

So, as a follow up, we all feel fine. The smell was gone this morning. No clue. Kristen slept with us just as a precaution. This will be our last effort to keep up with the Power's adventures. We're good for a loooooong time. Sorry, Tina, you are on your own!!

Hot Chocolate Anyone!

AHHH Yes, Winter will soon be here. And with the imminent return of the crisp cold air to the Wisconsin Heartand, can't you just smell the warm wafting aroma of Hot Chocolate?

Doesn't it just remind you of a Christmas card moment?

A very similar event happened today. Ruth came downstairs to an aroma with a mixture of charcoal, ash and smoke as she entered the living room.

Obviously concerned, she entered the kitchen to the following site:

Our mild mannered child Aaron has developed a love for hot chocolate, and since he is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

compliant, he has never been a concern for us.

OK really! So he is an observer, and has watched how the hot chocolate was made, as well as where to make it.

When Ruth turned off the timer on the microwave, there were still 98 minutes remaining.

He speaks for a living???

We have some fun conversations in our home about the "correct" way to speak or how to say things. Keith is convinced that since he speaks the Queen's English and they were speaking it first that the rest of us are wrong. . . yeah, well, that's his side.

Well, last night I overheard him trying to teach Karissa his way of saying the word "orange". His pronunciation is more of an "ah-rnge" (in 2 syllables). So I interjected from the other room the correct way to say it.

His retort from the other room (in an effort to show his speaking credibility) was ...

"Hey, I'm going to talk my kids to teach properly!"

(No, that's not a typo... you might have to read that sentence out loud for its full effect.)

All this from a guy who gets paid to speak to crowds of people each week. If my kids start talking funny you know what they are up against.

Just complaining . . .

This post is proof that you can blog . . . anything . . .

This is shedding season for Clark (the family dog). Reason #1, 458 why he needs to leave.

Last night I decided that the hair balls flying around the house had been tolerated long enough. I sweep. I vacuum. Clark walks through the room. I sweep . . again. I vacuum . . again. So I took his brush to him and after 5 minutes of brushing this is what I got:


Consider the mountain if I had continued for 20 minutes!

Here is the after picture: (I didn't think I would need a before picture.)


Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Seriously, shouldn't he be bald?!!!!!

If you'll excuse me - I have more sweeping and vacuuming to do!