"Lisa Lisa" and the cult jam

Hello family, I first want to say "I have the GREATEST family in the world" Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Each one of you gave me such wonderful words and thoughts. I knew you all could feel my pain and tried to help me carry through. Thanks for the flowers that were sent in the family name, also the kind words left in the guest book, Kelly, that was very special. I'm taking your suggestion and writing about Lisa so you all would have a sence of why she was so special to me. This is will help me remember her and "introduce" you all to her.

We met in '94, both new manager at the Disney store. We both had long curly hair back then, hers was blonde and mine was brown. She taught me how to color my hair. We spent 1 week in CA training and visited Disneyland together. Brady was 6 month old and shortly after we came home she found out she was pregnant with Austin. I took over dinner after Austin was born and it's been a fun ride ever since. She threw the best parties, cooked all the food and made all the decorations. Halloween was her favorite time. She was a Disney VILLIAN every year, the best was Creuella Devile . She loved all the '80s music, LoverBoy, BonJovi, KISS and Jimmy Buffet, she knew all the words to the songs and all the band members names. Austin has seen his fair share of '80 movies..Footloose, Grease and Dirty Dancing, she loved Broadway musicals. She was a big city girl. She went to New York with her sisters and mom this past summer.

We spent lots of time sitting at the kitchen table talking for hours, drinking tea, she would plan a weekend menu just for me.

Lisa was a DO IT NOW girl. She didn't watch TV, Brady thought she was "Amish" She painted everything in her lake house, bright island colors...she would pick the colors out by the name. The first summer, I spackled and she painted, most of the time in her PJs. She never used a lawn mower til she bought the house at the lake. She watered and weeded almost everyday before work, we traded plants. She didn't know the names, but I did. Lisa never slept in. In the morning she wasn't quiet either, she figured if she was up you should be too. She liked to nap in the afternoon. We exchanged lite "chick lit" books.

She was my social director, Julie from the "Love Boat" She knew the best places for BudLight.

She saved her money for food, beer, boat gas and vacation. She was happy "sitting on her deck, drinking her beer, looking at her lake and driving her boat" Most of all she was a great mom. Every decision was made for Austin, where to work, play and vacation. She was steadfast and firm. She followed through on all punishment and was consistant. You always knew where you stood. She had strong opinions and expressed them feverishly. Brian and her got into lots of discussions concerning sports and politics.

I know every Sunday Mom phone call would be filled with what Lisa and I were planning next.

I also know I plan to remember her always by filling my days with meaningful interaction and making the most of the life I have with my friends and family. I will miss her every day and thank God for adding her to my life.

February Snowstorm

Here's why I left work an extra hour to get home. Our first real snowstorm of the new year.A far cry from the 5 and a half hours it took to get home last year. The kids had a smashing time.

Steamboat and home to Ice Storm

Check out some pics from our recent trip to Steamboat. The last two pics are at home. A new ice storm hit today....sheesh.

New Kitchen pictures

New kitchen pictures. It is a tomato red. Charles painted very stroke of paint! What a guy!

Musical rooms

No, not that kind of music, sorry Mom. We have completed the upstairs shuffle. Raymond to Sandra's, Lily to Raymond's, and Sandra, under mild protest, to Lily's. Two of three have new paint, and one has lost its fairies. Sandra's room, other than paint is all-new, including a huge armoire and a nice headboard, but still needs something on the walls. Lily's is newly pink, home to her dollhouse and also needs something on the walls. Raymond's is the most complete, with his posters on the wall, a Dad-built headboard to match his racing stripes (whick cover Sandra's stenciled flowers), and a new bookshelf, replacing a cheap shelf kit which was my first "DIY" project wayyy back in 1987 for my apartment in Yellow Springs. We now have a basement full of outdated and tired furniture which will be donated to whichever charity can come and pick it up.

Winter Days in Steamboat

Hey everyone,
Jay and I are in Steamboat Springs, CO skiing in some GREAT snow! I can't remember ever skiing where the conditions in the afternoon were better than the morning. It's just been snowing and snowing here since we arrived. Yesterday was our first day of skiing. It was very nice to start then snowy in the afternoon and windy. The first day is always about finding what your legs will do as well as the mind. Had a nice dinner last night downtown at a quaint Italian restaurant, thanks to a gift certificate from Anita!

Today, we met up with a couple of Jay's buddies here at lunch on the mountain. I spoke with CC on the phone during that time, and she found me on the Mountain webcam. I got a new jacket yesterday and so she was able to admire it from afar. How cool is that. After lunch, the whole bunch went on some runs together. The guys ski the trees and powder. We took some runs I never knew existed--awesome! I'm even learning how to ski that powder. The guys have been skiing here for 20 years and are really good, and patient. So, they showed up some technique after a couple of runs. After three runs with the guys, Jay's legs were jelly. So, we headed down the mountain and are home, snug and warm already.

Here's Jay relaxing in the snow after we took off skiis! He almost fell asleep it was so comfy. Day three tomorrow. Will send more pictures then. More snow expected over night... will it ever end!