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August 16 Mike's WeddingJust a few short weeks we went to Mike's wedding. A beautiful wedding on Lake Michigan. I spent my time taking photos and MOV's of the event. I've promised to get a DVD produced of the ceramony and reception. It's a bit tuff getting it complete. But, I'll get it done. I will have a clip of two of the ceramony as I get it near finished.....
April 29 New Home?When my daughter moved to Raleigh, we have been planned on making the move to NC when retirement time happens. During the Easter break, my wife & I drove to Raleigh to spend the holiday with her. To make a long story short, we BOUGHT a home.
The plan My daughter and a couple of friends will live in this house till that blessed retirement day comes about. Until than, Amanda and friends live cheaper than rent (saving more than $100 per month each) and I get a nice tax break. Sounds too good to be true, we'll see...
Seeing how MSN spaces is all screwed up, I have more pictures in a reliable net space (Photobucket).... Check them out.
February 26 Canton's Hall of FameWe turned a trip into see our son into a trip to the "Hall of Fame"...
We delivered license plate tabs for this coming year, had a great sandwich made by the hands of our son, than off to the Football Hall of Fame...
If interested, check out the link to the pic from the hall. Once, MSN get's there act together I'll load them into my blog's album... January 14 Brian's Over the HillThis weekend will be spent with my brothers and there families. It's a suprise birthday party for the middle son in the Kulik Clan.
On the 18th of this month, my brother Brian joins the "Over The Hill" club. I've included some pics in his very own photo album. True, one of the pictures seams a little out of place. But with us being over 50, that's all we can do now is
L (.) (.) K
No, that's not Bruce Willis in the pic with Brian. It's my brother Paul. The remaining cast of charaters are:
Brian's wife Debbie (AKA Linda) Paul's wife Peni and my wife Mary Anne. December 09 Beau's Hellish AdventureMy dog is a wimp... I thought we were a couple of good ol’ boys. But check this out.
We had taken the carpet off of the stairs to the second floor in preparation for new carpeting. Beau sleeps on the floor of our second floor bedroom. That first night the stairs were bare he cried and whimpered, but would not come up. He has a thing about his feet slipping when he walks.
It’s funny watching him walk on the kitchen’s linoleum. He will only walk a straight line. To get to the living room from the family room, he must first walk to the hall way. This is a straight shot. Then turnaround on the carpet to make a bee line to the living room.
So, he’s crying in the night, wanting his second floor thrown but afraid to walk up the slipper wood steps. With a little coaxing from my wife & I, he bravely tip toes up the stairs.....
The next morning he would not come down. A 105 pound dog does what HE wants. I had already gone to work, so I couldn’t help. It’s not uncommon that Beau stays upstairs until 10am (that’s why it's called “a dog’s life”). Grandma could do nothing to get him down. He spent the day up there. No food. No PP….
When I got home, he would not come down for me either. I tried to grab a hold of his collar, but it just slips from his head. So, I took his leash, put the end thru the handle to make a lasso. Wrapped it around his middle and pulled. His fate was sealed, there was no getting out of this.
He still would not go easily. As I pulled him in the direction of the stairs, he still tried to head in the opposite direction. Well the lasso slipped to his bottom half. Now I had the advantage. My 250 pounds was no match for his 105.
He started to move; slowly at first. With no traction on the bare floor opposing me and Mother Nature on my side (going down hill), Beau quickly picked up speed. I had visions of me on my back with him on top at the bottom of the stairs. Luckily, I caught him and myself at the halfway mark. From there it was a controlled descent.
Ah save and sound. But, the next morning we removed the carpet from the living room. Before Beau realized the carpet was missing, he walked out into “no man’s land”, or should I say “no dog’s land”. He quickly discovered he was on thin ice. At this point there is no turning around, only going forward. In his eye, he saw safety, a floor mat at the front door.
Picture a 3’ long mat with a 4’ long dog standing on it; each paw on a corner. Movement from this island was not an option. Just stand there for ever. In front was a wall, to the left a wall, to the right the stairs from hell, behind him a close relative to those hellish stairs.
And that's where he was going to stay. I had to pick him up and carry him back to the family room; his only safe haven.
Well the carpet is replaced. Those hellish floors a memory. But for Beau, the memory hangs on. After two nights, he finally ventured out on the living room floor and quickly back to safety.
Last night after a bit of crying, he got the strength to walk the stairs. I think all is good now….. September 30 Visiting Amanda's ClassroomJust a quick note, I spent the day driving to Raliegh, than helping Amanda with her new classroom. Its all very exciting. More to folllow, I'm just to tired to think now....
September 27 Raleigh or BustI'm on the road to visit my daughter. She has a load of critical material for her class room. We didn't take it earlier because the material is "age" dependent. Amanda didn't want to load up her apartment with class room materials for first graders if she was teaching a 3rd grade class. But that's OK. I'm looking forward to the break from work. Besides, the windshield time always gives me a chance to clear my head thinking about random stuff. At least Grandma won't be in the back seat this time....
If you are counting, that's Matthew, Amanda, Grandma and me......
But where is Mary Anne?
I think she's under the truck, getting it ready for the trip!!!
September 23 IT IS! :-)Our long wait has finally come to a beautiful end, or should I say, a beginning to a new life's path...
September 18 Could it be?Direct from my daughter's blog. It speaks for itsself. Maybe the journey is nearing an end.
September 09 28th Wedding AnniversaryOn September 10th 1977 we started a journey.
At the beginning of this journey our pockets were filled with fears, hopes, nightmares and dreams.
Together we travel 1000's of miles, thru many countries. Now, are hearts are filled with many treasures: beautiful children, everlasting love, and golden memories.
August 17 DOWN but not OUTWe were starting to feel a little down. Amanda had not heard anything after Saturday's 30 minute "phone" job interview. When Amanda flew back into Raleigh she got a pleasant surprise. The school principle call and asked for a 2nd "face-to-face" interview on Thursday. This is indeed good news. So we are -
"DOWN... but not.... OUT"
How about a joke?
Two antennas got married. The ceremony was nothing special.
But the "reception" was outstanding...
August 14 Fingers CrossedWe recieved a call from a Raleigh School yesterday. They are looking for a teacher and are interested in my daughter. Amanda provided phone numbers of professional references and we are hoping for good news Monday.
"Amanda's Leap Of Faith"
Photo Album Index
1. Raleigh On-Line Logo
2. Raleigh Sky Line
3. North Carolina State Map
4. Raleigh Highway Map
5. School drawing
6. Welcome
7. Apartment Complex 1
8. Apartment Complex2
9. Apartment Kitchen "Before" 1
10. Apartment Kitchen "Before" 2
11. Pantry
12. Kitchen After Move
13. Bedroom Before
14. Bedroom After Move 1
15. Bedroom After Move 2
16. Dinning Area Before
17. Dinning Area After Move
18. Livingroom After Move 1
19. Livingroom After Move 2
20. Chaulk Board
21. Teacher's Decor August 07 Amanda's Move - The Final ClimaxWe made it....
Two days on the road, we arrived on Saturday. Just 3 hours after our arrival the truck was emptied. All did a great job to get the boxes and furniture from the truck into the apartment. Weather was good (no rain) but hot, 90+ degrees.
The stuf arrived in fair shape. What little damage we had was a result of my lack of good judgement in the packing. I should have used more protective blankets.
Some of the boxes that were stacked on top of each other crushed. But nothing fragile was in these "bottom" boxes. Like I said only some scrathes were taken in the trip.
U-Pack Moving, did all that they said they would. I give them a thumbs up...
 One of Amanda's friends (Jennifer) gave a big hand in the move. When U-Haul called to confirm the delivery, Amanda requested the ramp. I hated paying the extra, but it made it allot easier. GOOD JOB Amanda.
At the end of the day, we ate at Chilis and had lunch the following day at Jack Astors...
August 04 Amanda's Move Part IIIPer the U-Pack web site, Amanda's stuff is in Raliegh. This is the good news.
The BAD NEWS
 U-Pack Moving is telling us they don't deliver on Saturday.
It's Friday or Monday.
We are driving to Raliegh on Friday. No one willl be there to recieve the truck. This is something we told U-Pack up front. What's going on here? They tell us what we want to hear before we sign the line. Now, its time for the rest of the story. Well we haven't given up. Amanda will try to make arrangements with some friends in Raliegh to make this happen...
And if this isn't bad enough, my son tells me he's not sure if he can go with us to help move the stuff into Amanda's apartment. Well that will leave me to do all of the heavy work by myself.
I'm sure the result will be a heart attack....  August 01 Memories About My First Love... Cass TechI stumbled across some web sites on my High School. This brought to the front some feelings that are most dear.
I'm so proud to be an alumni of that school. Like I said, this was my first love. Going here required a city bus ride everyday. I lived in the far northwest corner of the city (Detroit), the school was in the intercity. This school had no "local" students. We were all pulled from all over the city. Only those students that "wanted to go" went. Only those students that were driven to be the best in either their "technical" or "fine arts" field.
I was an engineering geek (carried a slide rule where ever I went). But as you might guess, I also hung around a truly gifted bunch of music majors. As you can tell by the "hall of fame". So many of these kids went on to be professional musicians. Or "weekend" worriors that just love there music.
Sites to look at:
Talking about detroitmemoriesThis web site brings so many memories home. Quote
Amanda's Move, Part IIU-Pack has Amanda's load on its way to Raliegh. The ETA is August 2nd @ 3:10pm. On the map I have it about half ay from Dayton (start point this morning) and Raliegh. July 30 Tracking Amanda's StuffU-Pack Moving allows you to track the current position of the truck as it makes it to its final destination (Raleigh NC). I've up loaded a map with the route I would take (in purple) and the route Amanda's stuff is actually taking (in Black). As of this afternoon, the load is in Dayton OH. Going in the right general direction, but a little out of the way...
  July 28 Amanda's Packing DayToday, I'm taking off of work to help load the trailer for my daughters move to Raleigh. In the living room picture, if you have a keen eye, you'll see the Dunkin Donut's cup. This is a reoccurring theme in my life. I never miss the chance to go there. And yes, I did take Beau...
We did it. All of Amanda's stuff inside the trailer. Time will tell if its a good deal. But, we used a service I had never heard of before, ABF U-Pack Moving. They bring a 28' trailer to your house and drop it off. You have al the time you want to pack it. You pay by the foot of trailer space (6' minimum). Once packed, you call them and they drive your load to the final destination. Call them when your ready, they bring the trailer to your destination and you take your own time to unpack.
I wasn't sure if we could get all of Amanda's stuff inside that 6' line. But with a $106 charge per foot beyond that I was determined to do it. Check out my pics. We did it with a couple of inches to spare. Thats a complete bedroom set (queen size bed). Kitchen table & 4 chairs. Entertainment center, computer desk & chair plus about 15 boxes and 2 wardrobe boxes.
OH MY GOD....
I will admit, the weather was perfect. Sunny, not to hot. My son and daughter both did a good job in making this happen. Oh, don't want to forget Amanda's special helper, Erica. We are all pictured in the photo album.
I'll report on the condition of this stuff after we unpack it...
For those of you who noticed the "Hillbilly Ramp". Yes, I am cheap. These guys want $50 per use of the ramp. So I built one myself. Two tables clamped together and supported in the middle for "nothing". It worked fine...
July 21 Amanda's New HomeAmanda & Mary Anne just arrived back from the apartment hunting trip to Raleigh. I've up loaded some pictures. There would have been more, but Dad was successful in killing Amanda's 128 Mb memory stick. Oh well.
 That's what you get when you overload your ass with all of this technology. More info to follow as our little girl makes ready for the big leap...
Check out the Raleigh links:
I invited Clay Aiken (Amanda's true Idol) to sing for her step into the future... |
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