Shake for Two

Shake for Two
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

In Moorefield WV. Snowshoe here we come.

Baseball Begins

Baseball Begins
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

It gets cold when the sun goes down but the season has to begin. Three weeks till season opening and the boys are a little rough in the fielding department.

Sweet Messages

Sweet Messages
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Desert at Eve includes a little message for us. Nice touch.

End of Season Party

End of Season Party
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Big team party last night to celebrate a great season for the little Blue Devils. We came a basket short of the championship but nobody has the talent these kids had. They just needed a basket worth of luck. On to baseball.

Ten Years



It's been ten years since this photo was taken and I still pretty much recognize the people in this photo. I actually wore that suit until about a year ago when it pretty much fell apart. It's been a fun trip and we added a couple little miracle children to the mix a little more than 8 years ago that has made it even more fun. Here's to ten more.

Rough Day

Rough Day
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

The little Blue Devils fought hard today but came up short in a double overtime game against the Cavs. Sam went down in the second overtime with a rolled ankle and was not able to return to the game. A pretty disappointing outcome for the strongest team in the league. Losing the league MVP was a tough blow but the the little blue devils worked together and just lost by a basket. Dylan and Sam played great all year and will be back to do it again next winter. Go Blue Devils!

Semi's

Semi's
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

A 20-5 win over the Tigers and a 26-13 win over the Hokies earlier in the day have put the little Blue Devils in the semi-finals with the 2-0 Cavs. Tip off at 1:30 tomorrow. We split the regular season with the Cavs and they were the only team to beat us. This time it's personal. ;-)

Score Keeping

Score Keeping
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

These tense games are easier when I keep score.

Kitchen Office

Kitchen Office
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Sam was home sick today and Nicole is in Nashville si the kitchen table was my office for a bunch of the day. Here I am using the Go To Meeting app on the iPad and listening to the conference via blackberry and Bluetooth while I do employee reviews on my mac. Multitasking at it's grandest.

Sam is feeling better and will be going to school tomorrow.

Co Pay

So, Sam is sick today and Nicole is out of town so I've taken him to the doctors office. Not my favorite thing to do but does remind me how ridiculous these places can be. In fact, before we left I got a call from one of my doctors about a past due amount of co pay of $5. Yes, it cost more to call me and ask about it than just letting me know the next time I came in. Not to mention the 2 minutes of my life I will never get back.

Sam's doctor also wanted $5 from a previous visit when we got here. Now, we have had the same insurance and co pay amounts for at least two years now. It says it right on the card I hand them. Why can they not seem to do the simple thing and charge us consistently. In fact, sams file says the co pay is $20 while it has clearly been $25 for years. Yet she looked at me as if I was a criminal for their lack of ability to do basic book keeping. I crossed out the $20 and wrote $25. She looked annoyed. Will health reform fix this?

Btw, sam has pink eye.

74 degrees to Snow

It looks like a little winter storm is heading this way for tonight and tomorrow morning. Not a ton of snow but some sleet, ice and snow that will no doubt put the kibosh on tomorrow's school day. It was a very nice 4 day weekend and I'm ready to go back to work but a canceled school day will mean me staying home and watching the kids one more day. The wood guys delivered another truckload of timber so we can handle some more cold weeks ahead. Not that the big storm is out to the question but I would say our winter is coming to an end. I was some tulips starting to struggle out of the group today. Basketball season ends this weekend and baseball practice is only a few weeks away. Spring is coming fast.

#1 Seed

The little Blue Devils finished off the regular season with a 23-20 victory over the Eagles. It was a nice come back from last weeks mistake laden loss and secured a league best 8-1 record and a #1 seed in next weeks double elimination tournament. The easy baskets starting falling again in the second half and Sam was lighting it up under the basket. He was also 5 for 6 in foul shooting. That's important because the other team starts hacking him when they realize he's getting every rebound and going back up. He had 15 total points and seemed to be settling down a bit and getting in a groove.

Dylan was playing mad defense again and had 4 points. He definitely had the most exciting basket when he drove the lane, spun around a defender and pulled up for a 10 foot jumper. Impressive stuff. Saturday nights are always so much better when they bring home a victory. Next weekend will be full of stress with what could turn out to be 2 or as many as 5 games in two days.

Sent from my iPad

70 Degree Day

70 Degree Day
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Got an early round in today and played pretty well. 3 birds and a 91 overall. It was good to get outside a little. In sure the cold is coming back soon.

Dog Face

Dog Face
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

It was dress like an animal day in Sam's class so he went as a dog. He wouldn't bark for me.

Happy Valentines

Happy Valentines
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

We went out to dinner at Rustico last night and the boys brought money to help me pay. I let them think they actually did puck up the bill.

Imagination Stage

Imagination Stage
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Dylan and Sam imagining that they are slaying each other at Imagination Stage in Bethesda. We are here to see Perseus Bayou thanks to Linda and Gil's holiday gift of season tickets to the theater. It's a nice new theater and occupies a spot that used to be a bar I once frequented when I lived in Bethesda. Seems like a long time ago.

A Wake-up Call

The boys played hard yesterday but were not able to pull out a victory. This was the same team they beat at the beginning of the season by a dozen points but the blue devils couldn't get the ball to drop most of the game. Sam had 8 and Dylan had 2 but the other team was making everything. In all honesty, they needed this loss to remind them to play hard as we head to the playoffs. The team has already locked up the regular season but have another regular season game next week, then will need to win three for the championship.

Picked up a new Acura MDX yesterday. The boys were getting too big for the Infiniti's back seat. We still have the minivan but with boys going in all directions we need two vehicles with growing boy legroom and space for all the crap that they need to carry around with them.

Off to the Imagination Stage in Bethesda today to see Perseus Bayou. Should be fun.

Chinese New Year 2011

Chinese New Year

IMG_2014
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Dylan and Sam had participated in the school New Year celebration today and had some fancy outfits to wear. Dylan looked good to and I will post a video of one of the songs so you can see him as well. I'm glad this week is over. It was good but it wore me out a little. Going to go out and pick up a new vehicle tomorrow which will be fun and of course, a basketball game tomorrow night at 6:15. Can they keep the unbeaten streak going or will we come back down to earth and would it be a good thing so lose one before the tournament starts so they won't be so cocky going into it? I don't know, but we beat this team before and I like to see them win. Lessons in losing as well. Hmmm, I guess I'm not playing or coaching so it's out of my hands anyway.

Dance Showcase 2011

Dancin Fools

I seem to have cut off the heads on some of this video but it gives you basic idea of what's going on. This spring they are doing a singing showcase. That should be interesting.