The joys of replacing a clothes dryer (amongst other chores)...

So, the dryer has broken down after a good 3-year run.  It still heats, just doesn't turn/tumble.  So after the wife came home yesterday from a double shift, and she had some food and a lengthy nap, we decided to go window shopping for a new dryer at a few home improvement places around town.  We found a few inexpensive prospects, and decided we won't make a final decision until we at least check out how much it might cost just to fix it - maybe a turning belt got loose or something.  As this was an appliance that was donated to us when we got married, we're certainly not complaining!  In the meantime, I've decided to put up a temporary clothesline to dry out our wet laundry just like former times in the good old-fashioned sun!

We also got side-tracked by an inexpensive ceiling fan to install downstairs to give us a little more cool (or at least, circulating) air in the bedroom, and a few cutting tools to remove a couple tree branches before winter sags the pine tree close to the phone and power lines out back.

I've also decided not to set up the pool on the tarp again as it killed part of the lawn and I had to re-seed that muddy spot.  Maybe when I get a few plywood planks about 8-10 feet long I'll reconsider setting it up with a few cement blocks underneath for support.  That way it won't damage the lawn so much again.

Weekends just don't seem to have enough time to get what you want done anymore.  I'm sooooooo looking forward to some well-deserved time off work next Monday! :)

Unexpected reunions...

So while attending our ward's family Home Evening summer Picnic, a surprise awaited me.  My brother and sister-in-law from thecardsweredealt.blogspot.com stopped by and got the 10 cent tour of the new house.  They had come down to see Grammy & Grumpy up in Sugar City, and to do some shopping in Pokey/Chubbuck.  Pleasant surprise, indeed.  They snapped a pic before scuttling off with the kids in tow.  (Look for said pic on their site to be updated, soon!)  We're keeping our promises to get our blogs updated!

De-stressifying...

So, I've decided that a few hours of work on the yard is almost just as productive as a day off work.
Maybe I should work more on the yard and house after coming home from a stressful day.

Projects accomplished: de-weeded the back side of the house and sprayed Weed-be-gone all along the edges.
Next up: Insecticide!

"The time has come," the Walrus said...

"To speak of many things,
of barbecues and chimney caps
and new church/ward callings!
And whether the lawn's been freshly cut,
And while its not raining!"
- No disrespect to Mrs. Carroll intended.


We were wondering how long it would be before the wife and I got a call from the local bishopric about either speaking in church or about interviewing us for a new calling.  Looks like it was the latter of the two.

So now Sarah is working as the 2nd councilor in the Primary, and I am the 2nd councilor in the Young Men's presidency.  We got our work cut out for us.

In other news, I bought our first cordless and battery-operated weed trimmer and 2 gallons of insecticide to put down a barrier along the outside of the house -- and wouldn't ya know it?  It rained the majority of Saturday.  So I couldn't trim the weeds or spray the basement walls.  Have to do it next weekend.  Ah, well.

Count your many blessings challenge...

Heard a great talk in sacrament meeting this past Sunday.  One elderly sister advised everyone to write down 100 things they were grateful for from this Ensign article.  So we took it in stride.

1.     Write 10 physical abilities you are grateful for.

2.     Write 10 material possessions you are grateful for.

3.     Write 10 living people you are grateful for.

4.     Write 10 deceased people you are grateful for.

5.     Write 10 things about nature you are grateful for.

6.     Write 10 things about today you are grateful for.

7.     Write 10 places on earth you are grateful for.

8.     Write 10 modern inventions you are grateful for.

9.     Write 10 foods you are grateful for.

10.     Write 10 things about the gospel you are grateful for.

The next time I feel a little down-in-the-dumps, I'm gonna review this list and maybe revise it from time to time.

Our list.

Domo Arigato...

So I was conversing with a friend of mine at work of my contemplation of the possibilities I was considering for my next Halloween costume collection.  And he came up with an epic idea...

Below is an excerpt of the email he sent out to my entire work office.

______________________________________________________

Team

As many of us are aware, Halloween is a very special time of year particularly for Russ Miner.  This year, Russ has been deep in thought as to what costume he should get to add to his collection.

-         Hmm… How can I possibly decide what to get this year?

And then the answer came suddenly… as do many fantastically perfect ideas!

-         Eureka!  I’ve got it!  I’ll leave it up to the center to decide!

Please help Russ.  Click HERE to cast your vote in a survey format to help Russ decide which to choose.  He has narrowed his choice to 4 robots:

C3PO                    R2D2                    Wall-E                    Data

If you'd like to participate too... here's a link below to a similar survey.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YTFQG5H

Ahh, that new smell of fine Corinthian imitation plastic... Or, "I think I'll go chillax and lounge by the poolside!"

A few weeks back, as a prize for a contest Russ had at work one day, he came home with a "family-size" inflatable pool.  While other families were packing picnic chairs and sunscreen to attend the local community parade so early in the morning, he and Sarah decided to celebrate the 4th in style.  Accompanied with a camping tarp, a conveniently filled and stocked portable cooler, new beach towels, and a freshly mowed yard, there was little else to give into while the temperatures began to climb.