High Five and Dinner Out

Many years ago I concocted the idea to take a second honeymoon on our ten year anniversary.

As the years went by and we got closer to the decade mark we invited some friends of ours to share the dream that in 2009 we would head for Costa Rica for a trip of a life time. We were all supposed to work out, lose weight, and save money with this pending goal in sight. Earlier this year we decided that we would be adopting our fifth child and that would deplete the 10th anniversary fund (and then some.) Our friends, who were busy working out at the gym, were disappointed in our announcement that we would no longer be taking the dream trip and instead would stay home fat and broke. I told Jason all I wanted for my anniversary was dinner out and a high five. So there you have it. Aunt Angie was kind enough to watch our kids tonight so Jason and I could go out for dinner ALONE and exchange a high five. Thanks Angie! That's all we ever needed.

And don't feel bad for our skinny friends in Salt Lake. They went and got themselves pregnant! So really we have to blame cancelling the trip on them. Maybe in another ten years we can try again.

[ Note from the husband: As I am proofreading this for her, Paige says "I didn't declare my undying love for you. Want me to add that?" And they say romance is dead... ;) ]

Celebrating 7 happy years of marriage...

...as well as our 10th wedding anniversary!

I kid, I kid... ;)

Yup, 10 years ago today that we tied the ol' knot. Seems like a long time ago that we were rehearsing the wedding vows...

She's been good to me in the past ten years. The excitement, like when you wear a brand new pair of shoes for the first time, has worn off some. Now she is comfortable, like a well worn pair of blue jeans. Sure, she isn't quite as soft and velvety as she once was. Her color has faded somewhat over the years. But she has never failed to keep me warm on many a cold day and night. Amazingly enough, I don't think she has shrunk at all, despite the many washings and my growing waistline. If I could ever find another just like her, well, I'd have two of them. And for serving me well all these years, she has earned the honored nickname of "Ol' Reliable."

Yup, that old green fleece with the black stripe is pretty much the most cost efficient and comfy piece of clothing I ever bought. Still being worn, this very day, in honor of our 10th anniversary.

Much to the chagrin of my lovely wife, who has put up with me (and my worn out fleece) these last 10 years.

Vimeo video will go here. Hopefully. I digitized and edited our wedding video this summer, while Paige was in Michigan, with the audio track of the song of our first dance as man and wife. I uploaded it to YouTube tonight, but the evil Warner Music Group stripped the audio out of it. I knew I should have tried this earlier. But some other guy has the same audio and 2 million views. Or 8 million views on this one. I don't get it. Maybe Vimeo will be more tolerant. Uploading is complete, but it won't start converting until around 1:30 AM. I've got a video uploading to Blogger now as well, just in case the Vimeo thing doesn't work either. Grrrrrrrrr....

Wedding Video from Jason Addink on Vimeo.

Happy anniversary, my beautiful bride. 10 years, 4 kids, and 2 dogs later, and I still love you as much as the day I married you. Possibly even more... ;)

Hard to believe our parents let a couple of kids like us get married and run off to Mexico for our honeymoon, eh?

I'm looking forward to seeing what the next 10 (or 20, or 30) years will bring.

And just how long "Ol' Reliable" will last... ;)

Technology occasionally blows my mind

Every once in while, it sinks in just how amazing the world is these days.

I checked my Google Reader this morning. This is a website (free!) that allows you to subscribe to almost whatever website you find interesting, and it lets you know when the content is updated.

So I was reading a post in my Google Reader... on my cell phone.

In the post were some links to Christmas music. When I got to work, I downloaded the two free songs, from the artist I had never heard of 5 minutes before. This took all of about 30 seconds. 3 seconds after that, I was listening to them.

Deciding I liked the album enough to buy it, I clicked on the link to Amazon. From there, with one mouse click, the power of the internet checked my bank account balance, authorized a purchase, downloaded an entire album, and set up the playlist for me.

About three clicks later, and I was listening to the entire album while attacking my morning task list. All of the above occurred in less time than it took me to just type that out.

Now how to get the songs home? Easy. Plug my phone in to my computer, and transfer all the songs to the little card inside the size of a fingernail that holds hours of music.

Later, I drove to a vendor's office. I was able to finish listening to the album by plugging my phone into my car. My phone. Plugged. Into. My. Car. Radio.

Go home that night, and in about 1 minute transfer all the songs to my home computer, and then to the little device the size of a pack of cards that can hold enough music, sermons, and video to listen for over 60 days straight without repeating.

And then repeat the process to download two more albums.

You let that sink in a little, and it truly is amazing. The year I was born, my parents were just switching from 8 tracks to cassettes. A cassette hold what, 90 minutes of audio? So my Ipod is the equivalent of about 1000 tapes. Indexed, searchable, and no rewinding.

Unbelievable.

So anyways, marvel at the convenience of modern technology, and check out these three Christmas albums (H/T Justin Taylor):

Bifrost Arts: Salvation is Created (Amazon link)

Sojourn Music: Advent Songs (Amazon link)

Red Mountain Music: Silent Night (Amazon link)

This guy is funnay!

The return of poetry Wednesday (Special Edition)

I know, I know. You were all waiting with bated breath, missing your weekly dose of poetry. Especially Aunt Alice.

Unfortunately, after about 5 poems, I ran out of ones I actually, you know... like. Also, since most of them involved one of the horsemen of the apocalypse, my wife thought I was going off the deep end, and told me to stop.

But after listening to all the crazy right wing radio shows this morning extol the virtues of this marvelous reading (otherwise known as "mercilessly mock it") I have been inspired to bring out a special edition of Poetry Wednesday.

Read by the author himself, encouraged by the fawning praise of the ubiquitous liberal media host, I present to you Al "The earth is warming and we are all DOOMED!!!" Gore and Our Choice...

[Linda Richman voice on]

His voice... it's like buttah. I'm all verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves.

[Linda Richman voice off]

Oh wait, that's not verklempt... it's nausea...

Think she is an Arizona girl?

She was shivering when she got in the car this morning. It is like 65 degrees outside. ;)

Winter wonderland

It's hard to believe this is actually what Phoenix looked like today...

Or at least, one small part of it...

(I know, I know... I heard the groan of all the Michigan relatives all the way over here. But this is what passes for "snow" in Phoenix.)

Aunt Gina is kind of mean...

That's a snowball to Levi's face, courtesy of Aunt Gina, and a snow bath for Noah...

They caught on quick though, and started whipping snowballs at me...

I managed to catch Ella's grin after she snuck up behind me and beaned be with the last snowball of the fight...

Santa in the park

Our HOA invited Santa to stop by the park. We arrived back at home from my company Christmas party just in time to jump in the back of the line and see him.

At first none of the kids would get within arms reach of the old guy. The also kept asking me why Santa was wearing sunglasses.

They finally were convinced to at least go stand by him and smile. No one was brave enough to actually sit on his lap though.

When we got back to the house and Paige asked how it went, Ella said, in a dreamy voice:

"Mom, he was sooo beautiful!"

Just trying to butter him up, I think...

Ummmm, I think the eggs are done

Alternate post title: I think my wife might be trying to kill me

Paige ran out tonight to get something from the store, leaving me to tuck all the kids in bed. As we were finishing up our pre-bedtime game of Uno, I thought I got a vague whiff of something burning. Like hair, with maybe a slight sulfurish tint. My sniffer doesn't work so well though, so I figured I was imagination.

I should have paid better attention. A childhood of burning every imaginable substance under the sun may have utterly destroyed my sniffer. Oddly enough though, the one smell I still can detect fairly easily is smoke. And I can usually identify the substance producing it.

After tucking the kids in to bed, I walked back out to the living room. Odd, I thought I smelled it again. It did smell like wood smoke outside when I got home from work, but this wasn't quite the same odor.

Hmmmm, maybe Paige blew out a candle as she left the house.

After getting Ella a glass of water, I was walking back out to the living room.

From downstairs, I hear "BANG!"

Very odd. I head quickly downstairs, alert for any possible home intruders (hey, you never know!)

The smell of smoke is much stronger. Not good. Maybe the intruder lit the house on fire to smoke me out?

I found this instead...

Literally as I am typing this post, the phone rings. The caller ID says "Gymboree Store," where Paige was headed.

"Ummm, I left a burner on. I realized it on the way to the store, but I don't have my cell phone."

Yeah, so I discovered...

Dual monitors are great

I've sort of a vagabond at work lately. I've got a cube, but now I also have a semi-tempoary desk back in our medical area. Or at least I share it with the contract guy who is occassionally there.

My cube only has one monitor. My vagabond desk has two.

So my first task was to set up appropriate desktop backgrounds...



Awesome!

Now if only I could come up with a screen saver that made them blink occasionally.

I've got a problem...

That is my night stand. And the stack of books in my reading queue. Approximately 9 inches worth. And that doesn't include the ones that have migrated into the third drawer down, by virtue of being less interesting.

And yet, our pastor mentions the Christmas book pack for sale at the bookstore, with Tim Keller's Counterfeit Gods... and I am compelled to purchase the whole book pack.

I just can't help myself...

Not to mention the 215 items in my Amazon wish list.

Sheesh. I need a second me just to read all the books I would like to read.



And for what it's worth, our pastor's latest sermon series, "The Greatest Gift," has been very good so far (click here and then find the series in the "series" drop down box.)

Was I this gross as a little boy?

Thought 1: Hmmmm, there is a duece in the toilet... and no TP.

Thought 2: And there are little boy undies laying on the floor... and not on the little boy.

Thought 3: I wonder what, exactly, he sat on next? On second thought, maybe I don't want to know...


I was instructed by Paige (after she exclaimed "WHY IS THERE A PICTURE OF POO ON OUR COMPUTER!!!!") that under no circumstances was I to post photos of actual doody on our blog. Furthermore, under no circumstances was I to post even a picture of our toilet, as she would be mortified if people saw the just how dirty it was.

Ummmmm, we have two little boys. Who apparently aren't exactly sure what the roll of white tissue over on the right there is for. And who don't have the best aim in the world. Our toilets aren't exactly what you would call pristine.

But to preserve my wife's dignity, I've duly edited the photo to hide any inappropriateness...


And I suppose I know the answer to the post title, given the fact that I actually went and took a picture of this... and then posted it on our blog...

Just like grandpa used to wear...

WWII-ish Bomber jacket, complete with cool patches? Check!

Fuzzy fleece camo hat to keep your ears warm at altitude? Check!



Ummmm, angry war face, green reindeer pajama pants, and blue foam shoes?? Check!



Uhhhhhh, day-glo orange PJ pants and green rubber dragon rain-boots? Check!



Pretty sure that was standard issue attire in grandpa's day, right?

You'd think it was cold down here in Arizona or something...



And this one, just because it made me laugh. I don't think he was peeing off the porch, but I am also not entirely sure why he was needing to pull his pants up...

Goin' green

"Hey Dad, what's that over in the corner?"

"Well honey, it's a compost bin! Your Mom found out the city of Gilbert gives them away for free. You know, to save the earth and all. And being a good Dutchwoman, she couldn't pass up something free! Especially with all the compost we go through around here."

"What's a compost bin do Dad?"

"I've got no idea kiddo. I grew up in the city. Apparently you throw your garbage in it."

"And then what Dad?"

"Umm, apparently, your garbage turns into dirt! And then you put the dirt in your garden. Look at that lovely garbage in there! I can see it composting right before our very eyes!"

Ok, seriously. Paige really did get us a compost bin. For free. What we are going to do with compost, I have no clue. She is excited though. We now buy groceries at a co-op, and apparently have begun composting. Pretty soon we will be weaving our own hemp clothing, and using re-usable cloth toilet wipes (They do exist. Really. Look it up. Or on second though... probably don't want to.)

As Noah explained to me, the triangular arrow symbol on the lid "means you can recycle in there."

Grrrr. If we get any greener around here, I am going to go out and start the van, and let it idle... just because. If only it didn't cost like $70 to fill that thing up...

Road trip

So we sold the ol' minivan. Found this real sucker to unload it on.

Unfortunately, I had to drive it all the way to Michigan to deliver it to Paige's sister and brother-in-law.

And by "unfortunately," I really mean "three days all by my lonesome in a car and then a few more days mostly by myself to read books? I think this is as close to heaven on earth as I will get..."

So yeah, I hopped in the car the day after Thanksgiving and left for Michigan (after stopping for a wake up Dutch Bros coffee, of course.) And because my wife is a super-worry-wart, I texted updates and pictures along the way:

11/27 7:26: Payson... brrrrr!!!

11/27 10:09:

[I saw this somewhere in New Mexico. Apparently some paint truck exploded on the highway here...]

11/27 16:02:

[Paige texted back "slow down in that state :)" She speaks from experience, if you know what I mean.]

11/27 16:49: Stopping for dinner [in Amarillo. Can you read that sign?]

11/27 17:32: Now I'm really stopping for dinner

[FYI, if you ever stop at the Dairy Queen approximately 40 minutes east of Amarillo... don't. Fries and a hamburger took approximately 20 minutes to make. After I waited the first 20 minutes for them to make three shakes for the guy ahead of me. Wow. Good thing I wanted to get out and stretch my legs anyways...]

11/27 18:08: Did I leave my pocket knife at home?

11/27 19:03: Ok-lahoma!

11/27 20:50: Rest stop about 40 miles west of OK City. Nighty-night!

[This was my bed for the night. A sleeping bag rolled out in the back of the van. Worked great, and super cheap for a Dutchman.]

11/28 6:34: On the road again!

Paige, 8:20: I hope you are drinking LOTS of coffee! How did you fare last night?

11/28 10:33: Great! My bed was comfy and warm, and no zombies tried to gain entrance to my vehicle.

Paige, 10:38: Why are you not responding!?!

11/28 10:40: I just did! Panicky wife! ;)

11/28 11:15:

11/28 13:22: Singing my way through Missoura

11/28 15:48: Lovely sunset in the land of the free

11/28 15:52: Crossing the bridge into Obamaland. Disarmed. Ughh.

Paige, 18:50: Dude are you to Chicago by now? You are gonna do this in two arent you? :) Tell me where you are, I like to check the map and see your progress. LOVE YOU!

11/28, 18:52: Lexington exit 178. Still feelin good. 2 days might be a stretch though.

Paige, 19:09: Just looked it up on Mapquest and you are 4 hours and 26 min away!

11/28 19:18: That's a long 4 hours though. I'm already popping Pepcid, so I don't dare drink more coffee...

11/28 20:16: Ughhhh, this place reeks! [I was in Chicago.]

11/28 20:46: FREEEEEEEEEDOM!!! [I actually yelled it Braveheart style upon leaving Illinois]

[I also managed to make it through that entire state without spending a dime. No purchase of gas or food. I did, however, manage to leave a "deposit" at one of their rest stops...]

11/28 21:56: 1 mile into the holy land and my head is killing me. Popped a migraine pill and am stopped at the MI welcome center for the night. 37 degrees out right now. Could be chilly!

11/29 6:36: Ahhhh, the holy land. 1700 miles of clear sunny blue skies... And then Michigan! ;)

11/29 8:00:

11/29 8:43: [At the in-laws]

In all, a totally uneventful trip. I listened to yelling preachers, bluegrass, 8 hours of a John Adams book on tape (only 1/4 of the way though it!), and got hourly updates on Tiger Wood's crash every time I turned on the news. Frankly, the drive was easier by myself than it usually is with two drivers. Of course, with two drivers we also have four kids and a dog along.

Once in Michigan, I pretty much just sat around and read all day. And played with my nephews. For getting a new set of wheels, Max sure was a cranky little bugger. Just look at the evil faces he made at me:

Ok, Ok, so I might have encouraged him, much to the dismay of his mother. But his Grandpa started it!

I also sat out in the blind Sunday night, Monday morning, and Monday night while Paige's dad walked the woods trying to scare Bambi towards me.

See all the deer out there? Yeah... neither did I.

I think my brother-in-law and his brother's did a decent job of scaring every last deer out of there before I showed up. Oh well...

Then on Wednesday I headed to the airport for my flight back home...

11/29 8:00: The green "revolution?" It might have been "eco" but it was anything but "soft." Youch!!

[Nothing in this post should be construed in any way to condone texting while driving. All traffic and safety laws were obeyed during all portions of this post. Including Illinois' ridiculous gun laws.]