You Say Toe-MAY-toe, I say Toe-MAH-tow

OK... so whether it is a "mid-life crisis" (as I have been told), or a "personal renaissance" (as I prefer)... Either way, it just feels time to make some changes... to quote Joel Goodsen -- sometimes you just gotta say "What the f*ck".

So... I'm making some changes:

1. After languishing for seven years in a ho-hum job, I decided I wanted more of a challenge. Having been told for YEARS that I would be great in sales... I am going for it. Starting July 7th, I will be selling Changepoint (Enterprise Portfolio and Program Management software) for Compuware.
2. Quit drinkin', started working out... chronicling all this on my personal blog... but quick hit... I've dropped 15+ pounds in less than a month and still going strong. Assuming all goes well, I will be running the Kansas City Marathon in October.
3. Shopping for a motorcycle... not sure why --- but it just feels like I should have one.
4. Spending more time with the kids (or at least, using that as an excuse for buying a PS3 yesterday).

For a couple of years now, I have been telling T. we should introduce a little more risk into our lives... guess it's "Put-up or Shut-up" time.

We'll see...
D.

Dirty Duo Kansas City

We did the Kansas City Dirty Duo race this past weekend. Amy (Krohn) and I were team "Livin' the Dream" -- I guess it was kind of a sweaty, wet, dirty, dream... but I'm OK with that.

Here we were before the race:
All excited (and clean)... and here is the aftermath...

Also out there with us, were Angi and Amy (other Amy)...
Again... Before:
And after...
For more Dirty Duo pix hit here: http://picasaweb.google.com/daronpratt/DirtyDuo

You Can Justify ANYTHING (if you try hard enuf)

Here is the situation... gas prices are out of control -- speculators suck, and the "Great Northern Barn Swallow" (or whatever the hell is keeping us from drilling in Alaska) SHOULD be extinct.

(DUH, I know I am not telling you anything you don't already know... remember this from last week's post:)

Well, it is just getting worse. So I figured... Zoe is still five years away from driving, we DON'T need three cars (and two payments). BUT... we love driving the van, and when you need a truck... well, nothing else will do.

So... I bought a new van...

Wait.... WHAT?!?!?!

Actually, originally it was just "Adios" to the Accord... not that I didn't like it, I just didn't need it (nor it's payments). But, we got a GREAT deal on a new '08 Ody (with all the new bells-and-whistles -- BACKUP CAMERA, iPod input, DVD Player -- the thing even has a 110v plug!!!!).

Besides, the old one would have needed new tires soon... so this really does make sense.

Of course, now my sole goal is to take care of the truck to get another 100,000 miles out of it!

There has GOT to be a support organization for me :)

Tracy's 20th High School Reunion

Tracy, the kids and I all went to Iowa this past weekend for her 20th High School reunion; and -- for those of you who may not know -- Tracy went to a small, Catholic school, with only about 35 folks in the class, so to liven things up a bit, they combined the 1988, and 1987 classes with Clinton's annual "Sunset Celebration" to raise money for the "Prince of Peace" school -- where they had raffles for for prizes and money, up to $25,000. This made for a very large, elaborate event at the Clinton Country Club with lots of the town in attendence.


The only un-settling part for me was I actually had three dates --- Tracy, her sister Aimee, and her mother Sue... kinda creepy, but hey, we had a good time none the less, and everyone looked beautiful.Tracy spent quite a bit of time mingling with her former classmates -- where my primary job was simply to smile and not look too akward --- anyway **(where was I???)*** oh yeeaaahh... that's it -- and we also kicked it up a bit with Patti, who was also working the fund raiser.Well, the night was fun and we were all having a good time... during which Patti asked me to go "half'sies" on a $50 raffle ticket... and LO AND BEHOLD... we won $7,500! Which made the night EVEN BETTER....

And apparently, it made me more attractive to "The Ladies" too... as I got real popular! The next day we just chilled around town, and then had a BBQ at Sue's place...

S'mores, anyone???


Even Gracie had a great time (or she's constipated... or morose... I really can't tell)But, I gotta say -- I am glad I won the money, cuz I have put about 3,000 miles on the van in the last two weeks (KC to Colorado Springs, to Salt Lake City and back, and then another 1,000 round-trip up to Iowa and back).

This was just PAINFUL!!!!

So, maybe I'll lay off the miles for awhile.... Later, D.

Roadtrip Epilogue (or, all good things must come to an end)

Final update from the road... all packed up and ready to go.

And who says a Honda Odyssey doesn't make a GREAT track vehicle. Carried us, all our gear, pulled "The Hog", AND carried the twins home in the back!!!

As the weekend wound down, and the races ended it was time to pack up, and head back across the great divide. But first there was a little clean up to be had; and, I guess Cousin Eddie said it best...

Ward and I were all smiles on the way back --- and even Joe wanted to get into the fray (he took this picture).

And... we are already looking to next year: http://www.barbermotorsports.com/

See you then.... D.