tax day on the 14th instead

I am not sure what happened this year but our taxes were filed a day ahead of schedule. I didn't even get my days messed up and think it was somehow the 15th - nope I actually got it done before the deadline. I think this might be the first year ever. That meant I didn't have the adrenaline rush I get on the 15th trying to race down to the tax advisor or making a panicked phone call to Sam reminding him to stop by and sign before midnight.

Actually it was a bit of a letdown that on the 15th I was already done. No moaning or frantic rush - instead just another Wednesday.

At the tax place when people mentioned waiting to the last minute on Tuesday I spoke up and said I was way ahead of schedule - about 30 hours in fact. Though it didn't seem anyone was all that impressed with my accomplishment.
When others talked about filing extensions or hurrying home to meet the deadline I had nothing to share or commiserate about - I was done already. Don't worry Sam I think next year I will wait until the 15th - it just makes it all that more exciting and really they don't need my money a day earlier.

a wet Easter Sunday

Most people when they go to visit family go via car or plane. Not us we go via boat. Well at least we try to if it is at all possible. Luckily one of my sisters lives near a marina so when we decided to visit our newest nephew Sam saw it as an opportunity to get out on the boat.

Actually I was the one who suggested it but when I saw the forecast for a high of 50 and heavy rain I was started to back out. No such luck - Sam had already decided a wet boat ride beat a wet car ride any day in his mind.

Friday night was actually pretty nice - with a glimpse of sun even and smooth seas. By Saturday night though the rain had set it. Heavy downpours that showed no sign of relenting. After a Easter Sunday meal with all of my sisters and all of my nephews we decided it might be best to head out.

The rain only seemed to be getting heavier and the wind was picking up. On went the foul weather gear and gloves and off we set. My gear only stayed on long enough to leave the dock and get the fenders and lines securely stowed before I headed downstairs to heat and my Kindle.

Sam hung out on deck with his good friend Otto (Auto Pilot). Both of us were happy though I was much drier and warmer down below. The wind kept picking up and we got some good sized chop in the Sound but I must be getting better at this boating thing since all I asked was that Otto be turned off and Sam drive himself. He was wise enough not to ever mention putting up the sails as we motored along.

Unfortunately the wind didn't die much at the dock and it was blowing over 20 when we were heading down the row towards our slip. Fortunately Sam gave it some power and we slid right into the slip with me only having to jump a couple of feet away from the dock.

I do think Sam was a bit happy though to get off his fowl weather gear (but maybe that had something to do with how quickly he slid down the stairs to the head). Hey I figure the weather should only improve from this point and I might actually keep Sam company on deck.

If you would like us to show up for a visit just live close to a marina within a few hours sail or motor of Elliott Bay and chances are you will see us soon. We even come with our own bed and galley. Sam might not be much for driving places more than a couple of hours away but he is always up for a sail, even in a rain squall.

a big swing and a miss

After once again telling ourselves we would get out to the driving range on a regular basis this winter our clubs were for all intents and purposes in storage. Tuesday night we finally brushed off the cobwebs, literally unfortunately, dusted our shoes and headed up to the range.

Weather dictated a covered facility with heaters. We met after work and Sam thought it seemed very wrong on the drive up to the range his car said to be watch out for ice on the last day in March.

After a few big swings and misses (practice shots really) I made contact and send that white ball all the way to the first green. Which would have been fine but I was using my driver. Finally I got a bit more in the groove and had some decent shots. In fact by the end of my 100 or so balls I was doing pretty well, for me at least.

Which really is my big issue with a driving range. I can be hitting the ball well and feeling good but when I am on the actual course it doesn't go quite as well. I wonder if I can drag around a green mat with me. It would definitely help my game - a flat service and no rough no matter where my ball ends up.

That fake green grass mat really makes me feel like I am a better golfer than I really am. Maybe what I am really looking for is an entire golf course made out of green AstroTurf. It would be environmentally friendly - no water needed. Since that probably isn't likely anytime soon I just need to find a driving range with real grass but with our weather lately it does need to come with a heater as well.

In the meantime if I do make it on a golf course anytime soon I am going to assign some of the blame for any lousy holes to green AstroTurf.

newest somewhat little person

Monday afternoon my newest nephew Ethan, aka Frank the Tank, finally made his appearance in this world. He had to be persuaded to show up but he is here.
We had thought he would be a good sized baby but we underestimated just a bit since he weighed in at a whopping 9 lbs 14 ounces, though his Mom didn't seem nearly as surprised as the rest of us. Pretty sure he will be talking next week and on to kindergarten the week after based on size alone.

Of course because of his excellent genetics he is pretty cute - but then I could be just the teeniest bit biased.

After seeing another baby in the nursery next to Ethan the new dad, Dave, asked if that baby was a preemie. Nope he was informed that is what a normal size baby looks like.

Welcome Ethan. We will try and spoil you just as much as your cousins, Levi and Justin, pretty sure though the spoiling is already under way.

0 in a 60 MPH zone

For almost 3 months now my truck speedometer has been broken. Initially Sam blamed it on the fact I had been using 4WD in the truck during the snow but after I went back to 2WD it still didn't work consistently. Occasionally I would drive along and it would suddenly register but it was never accurate and then it would be back down to zero when I looked again.

Since much of my driving is in Seattle traffic for the most part it hasn't been that big of a deal. After all most of the time I can't get up to the speed limit much less hit excessive speed.

It was almost freeing in a way since I really didn't know how slow the driver in front of me really was. I didn't get quite so annoyed because I couldn't actually verify they were really doing 20 in a 35 zone. It felt slow but I could no longer prove it.

I kept thinking maybe my speedometer would suddenly make a comeback but no such luck. I figured when it was time for my next oil change I would have them take a look. So finally after much procrastination on my part I made an appointment at the dealer to get it looked at for this next week.

This weekend I drove to Lake Chelan and unlike most of the time when I drive I was the only car on the road much of the time. I could have been driving 45 or 80 - I wasn't really all that sure. I planned if I was pulled over to use the no speedometer defense without mentioning I had waited so long. Luckily I didn't have to use it but I will admit I made unusually good time in getting home Sunday night.

After getting home in such good time I wondered if I really needed a speedometer after all. When one can make such good time not knowing if they were speeding it seemed like maybe I really didn't need it fixed. Maybe I should just wait and see if my excuse of driving 0 in a 60 MPH zone will work. Probably not so it just might be best to keep my appt on Friday.

I still have 3 more days of not knowing my speed so I will enjoy those and be in for a rude shock when my speedometer actually registers. Somehow I know I will see 80 when it feels like I am only driving about 50, so Friday will be a bit of a reality check.

Disclaimer: While this is what my speedometer looks like while driving on the highway I did not take this picture myself. I have been driving with both hands since it seems I need to hold the wheel in the 10 and 2 position lately to keep the car on the road around corners. I am sure this isn't do to excessive speed at all, but rather my newly acquired habit of following what I learned at 16 in drivers ed.

indoor pool

I wonder what age it is when the public indoor pool is no longer as appealing as it once was.

As a kid I spent many hours at the public pool leaving only when my mom made me or the pool closed. I thought it was one of the best places to hang out. I was never grossed out by the smell of chlorine or had to wear flip flops in the shower. I don't believe the thought of germs ever even crossed my mind.

Fast forward to this weekend. Tanya and I met up at Wapato Point for the weekend to hang out. We had gotten the time share in an auction and knew the boys would have a good time since they had an indoor pool. We showed up at the pool and the chlorine smell hit us right as we opened the door along with the moist, moist heat of an indoor pool. Funny how I knew the smell from childhood but it no longer made me smile instead I was wondering how long we would have to stay.

Once I would have jumped right into the pool but now we made our way to the hot tub while the boys jumped right in. We dangled our feet in the hot tub until the heat forced us to move over to the pool to dip our feet in there. I opened the sliding doors to the outside to try and get some cooler fresh air. Really the time went pretty quickly and about 2 hours later we dragged them out of the pool.

The next day it was pretty much the same routine though the number of people increased. Levi and Justin had friends come up so that kept them entertained. I noticed though we didn't stay nearly as long.

By the third time though I was pretty much done right when we entered the pool area. Too many people/kids and the humidity was getting a bit much. Right when we got there both Tanya and I were wondering how long it would be before we could leave. Could we tell them right away we would be leaving in 10 minutes?

The hot tub I had been dangling my feet in the previous 2 times suddenly seemed much more like a germ fest and I caught myself looking at some feet wondering if I wanted to be in the same warm water with them.

So I guess in my case it is 38 when the public inside pool isn't quite as appealing.

e books or paper?

I have been debating for some now about getting a Kindle but have held off. I am somewhat of an electronic gadget junkie and love having new gadgets before everyone else but when the Kindle came out I wasn't excited or even the least bit tempted.

Fast forward now to the Kindle 2 and suddenly my interest is perked. I am suddenly considering reading books without turning pages and holding a dog eared book in my hands. I have always felt it wouldn't feel like a book if I couldn't turn the pages and feel the paper but my library and book shelves are full. I put books I read now into my give away boxes but when it comes to sorting through my shelves and shelves of books I cannot bring myself to do it.

Also our travel guide books are starting to pile up and when we go on vacation I end up carrying a book to read and at least 2 travel guide books in my purse. While it might help me get in a bit of a workout it can be a bit tiring dragging them all over the city.

So now the Kindle 2 is looking very appealing and I suddenly have the need for yet another gadget. I will definitely still read paper books - after all I can get those for 99 cents and they can get wet at the beach, and best of all passed along.

When I told Sam I was finally considering it last night he of course had to mention that our boat would be much lighter without all the books I pack along. And if we are able to head out on our adventure some day there is no way our boat - no matter what the size - would be able to hold enough books for me to make it at sea for an extended period of time. Guess that once again shows Sam's thought process - if it is good for the boat and will increase the time I will spend on board he is all for it.

So in the interest of making our boat lighter I will be looking to pick up another gadget - guess it all makes sense when you think about it. Plenty of reading materials and less boat weight is definitely a reason to justify spending.