This months News and Views (August 2000)
- Summer Camp for the kids
As the summer comes to an end, it's time again for Brad, and this year, Clint, to attend camp with Phil, Annette, Jessica, Clark and Timmy, and several hundred others, of course!You remember camp as a youngster, right? You went to some remote location, where you ate bad food, slept on hundred year old mattresses, battled bugs, mosquitoes, swan in a nearby lake, and claimed to have a good time. And, you actually did.
Well, the YMCA's Camp Cosby is different. Very different. They've got archery, swimming, a water trampoline, motor cycles, boats, skiing, tubing and the famous water pillow.
While the kids were away at camp, Tammy (Whose husband, Dan, and two girls went to camp) came back to Charlotte with Paula. Paula and Tammy shopped during the day, had lunch with me on occasion, and talked the night away like young, giggling school girls.
- First day of school
Well, it's that time of year. Back to school.
Some mothers are weeping deeply, while others are jumping for joy.
If you didn't know it was back to school time, then you don't get out much.
Stores are having sales, back packs are available even in the grocery store, pen, pencils, and glue sticks are put at the entrance of the store, the check out lines are a little longer, and that morning drive in to work just got a little longer.
Yes, Brad and Clint headed back to school at the end of this month. Brad is entering the 6th. grade, while Clint is busy in the 2nd. grade.
And, as it has been for every year in the Hughes family since Brad started pre school, the boys are greeted with warm, home made chocolate cookies after their first day of school.
These cookies were even a little more special, as Paula used Ghirardelli (Can you say THE BEST CHOCOLATE available?) chocolate chips in these cookies.
Click here to see Clint getting off the bus after his first day of school.
- Steve gets a new ride
Yes, Steve finally got his self a new car.
After driving around my dad's old (But, paid for) truck, I finally broke down, and got myself a decent car. I'm preparing for my mid life crisis, and went and got a new Mustang GT. Although I think it's technically maroon, I like tco call it crimson red (You can easily figure out why).
As everyone knows, we're a Ford family. Have always owned Ford's. Even after the bad experience with our white ice cream truck (In actuality, it was a white Wind Star), we still felt compelled to purchase Ford products.
Actually, Ford made up for the lemon (White Wind Star) by allowing us to get the Expedition for the about the same amount of money that we were paying for the Wind Star (Give or take $30 a month). That's a nice trade, except when you consider gas prices as high as the are. But, I digress, as I want to keep things on a positive note!
- A new set of golf clubs
My first golfing experience was roughly a year ago, when I went on a golf outing with my IT department. I never thought I would enjoy golf, but it's been fun.
I've been looking at getting a set of clubs for several months now, as I think I'm officially hooked on golf! I invited some of my die hard golfing co workers to Bass Pro Shops, which is just a few miles from our office. I wanted their opinion on what set of clubs would be best for me. So, we went, looked, and Todd pointed to a particular set that he thought would be good for a beginner such as myself.
They're made by Pro Select, and they're the PSX2 model (See them on the Pro Select website by clicking here). An entire set for $250 is just what I was looking for. Paula said 'Go ahead and get them, you deserve them', but I waited.
A few days later, we received a Bass Pro Shops flyer in the mail, and the clubs were on sale for $150! SOLD! I went down there, and purchased an entire set of golf clubs for myself. I had pieced together a few clubs from eBay, and Play It Again Sports. The following day, I called West Georgia Golf, ordered Alabama Crimson Tide head covers, and now I'm set.
And, as Dan says, "It's the Indian, and not the arrow."! Hopefully, this Indian will get some golf lessons soon, and I'll be competitive with my fellow coworkers at the next golf outing.
As always, I'll keep you updated. Unless, of course, I really, really, really suck at golf, and then I'll just drop the subject, and you'll never hear about golf again!
- What would summer be without...
...an occasional visit from the ice cream truck? Pretty boring, and uneventful.
I remember living in Panama (Central America), and the thing that us kids enjoyed there was the Coke truck. Every Saturday morning, the Coke truck would make it's rounds, collecting your empty bottles, and selling bottled 10 oz. Cokes by the case.
And, if you were lucky, you could occasionally talk your parents into letting you get a Coca-Cola yo-yo for an additional $.60.
Well, I'm the dad now, and every time the kids hear the ice cream truck, they run up to me, and beg for a few dollars so they can get a Tweety bird ice cream bar, or some other cold, refreshing summer treat.
- Auto snapshot feature input
Several of you have Emailed me back, thanking me for putting the auto snapshot feature on my web page. You've said it's great to catch a glimpse of Micah swinging, and the kids playing out back.
But, I've also received several complaints, too. First, some times, it's just not available. Sorry for the inconvenience, but remember we (OK, Paula mostly) do a lot of Net Meeting with the camera, so it's not always available.
Secondly, most of you have made me painfully aware that it's difficult, at best, to catch anyone outside where the camera points. A few of you have even suggested that our kids don't play outside. Let me assure you, our kids are outdoor kids. They are usually riding their bikes, roller blading, playing basketball, or in the front lawn, chipping with dad.
Finally, some have complained that it's not such a great picture. I admitted that during last month's rollout of the new feature, and said I would work on getting a better picture. Well, I've done a little investigation, and I'll hopefully have something better for next month.
I'll try to move the camera a little more often, and point it in some different directions. Remember, this is only the second month it's been setup, so bear with me while I work out the kinks.
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