Shoe Shopping

I have been thinking about getting some new shoes for a while now.  A couple of weeks ago the situation reached a point of no longer being an option as parts of a shoe that are not supposed to be exposed became so.  The critical stage was reached in large part do to my true dislike of shopping for shoes *gasp* and really shopping in general (I know, crazy!).

Why so negative toward such a favorite pastime of so many? you ask.  Let's put it this way.  In part, as far as shoes go, I haven't owned a pair that have pink on them since...I don't remember when.  I have been buying men's athletic shoes for years.  In general, stores just don't like to carry my size in the female versions.  My feet are not freakishly large.  I have never had anyone awe at their magnitude.  Tripping over them is not a regular occurrence.  Apparently they are just far enough out of the normal range to not be bothered with.

The store I found a couple of weeks ago though provided a respite from the drudgery.  It may have taken an entire warehouse of shoes on stock to do it.  But they were able to provide friendly personalized service and produce a pair of shoes, that fit. 

and they have pink on them...

While these shoes will likely help jump start more regular exercise attempts (hopefully!), they may also serve to bring joy to another... Ginger loves to play fetch and go for runs and her owner is happy to let me borrow her.   

Ginger, ready to play!

If you would like to see some of the other things Ginger and those like her may enjoy...in contrast to a cat's thoughts, check out the following diary entry... http://www.goodeatsfanpage.com/humor/otherhumor/dog_cat_diary.htm

Whirl Wind Weddings!

Don't freak out!  None of them were my wedding.

I recently returned to San Diego from a week off of work during which I attended a couple of weddings.  The first was in Georgia where all of my immediate family gathered.  This was the first time I had seen most of my family since January.  It was a lovely airport welcome.  Many Aunts and Uncles and Grandma Raver were in attendance at the wedding, also.  It was great to see everyone.

The Georgia wedding was my cousin's.  An Italian-Catholic wedding officiated by an Irishman.  It had the first official "cocktail" hour before dinner that I have been to where wait staff actually walk around with food and drinks on trays.  Picture 1 is right after the ceremony.

Look at these good lookin' people!  These are my brothers
and sister.  (Shoes were removed here for a height
comparison.  Some of the people I work with think
I am tall...I may be, but...)

The second wedding was for a couple of friends who I met at church in Columbus, Indiana.  They are one of those couples where you just can't help but be delighted for them.

Some of my favorite people, Chris and Jenny, were
also in attendance.  We danced the night away.

And look, who else!  Sam and Darcy.  I first met them when
they came on the Mexico Family Camp trip with Amor this summer!

It was also a great week in between.  I was able to say hello to several friends and neighbors, attend a Starr's house cookout (another of those great Columbus families), take a trip to the Indiana State fair, play a few games, and read a few books.  Vacation at it's finest.

Irony

Sometimes I wonder at the irony of things.  They don't even have to be big or life changing.  For example, I went to a Catholic elementary school and consequently wore uniforms.  I loved the uniforms.  You didn't have to put a lot of planning into what you were going to wear and what you did wear pretty much always matched and fit with what everyone else was wearing.  My sister did not like uniforms.  She wanted to wear her own things.

Now, my sister is a nurse and wears a uniform (scrubs) to work and my jobs, post high school, have not had a uniform.  The dress codes have ranged from business to casual.  Currently, at least, I get to wear a work shirt  when I am working in the field which is close to a uniform.

 Through college I also moved a lot.  Do to a work study program I was in, I was moving every 3 to 4 months.  I looked forward to not moving for a while.  I took a job, settled in...and after 4 months my job was cut.  So what did I do?  I eventually ended up at Amor working with a "field" focus which so far has had me sleeping in places other than "my" bed sometimes 3 out of 4 weeks in a month.  I suppose since I have had some clothes hanging in the same closet since February though, that this is a step toward what I was looking forward to.

Dinner with Friends

After having worked in the field for a couple of weeks non-stop in June I was super blessed to get to visit with some friends from home.  Dan and Sara Beth came on Amor's Mexico Family Camp trip (where I was introduced to Amor a couple of years ago) and stuck around for a couple of days afterward. 

They decided I needed to try the Corvette Diner.

In case you couldn't see it in the first picture, the lovely hair style-ings of our waitress are more easily seen in the second photo.  Thanks D and SB for a night with fun for the sake of fun.

The diner also had some profound words posted on the wall to encourage deep thought and contemplation.  Thought I would share.

A New Material

The new material we are trying out for the Apache Reservation houses is called Panel W and essentially creates a steel-reinforced concrete structure with built in foam insulation.  It isn't going to go anywhere when it is complete.  The finished roof is, more or less a concrete slab.  On my last trip out to the "Rez" we poured our first roof.  We hauled buckets of cement up to the roof and spread it out by hand.  It is a long, hot day's work.

Team work to get the cement up to the roof.

Staff Michael and participant Mike getting started with the spreading.

The first San Carlos Panel W roof.

Exciting Office and Other

What is Mary up to?  You wonder.  It has been a while.
  
Indeed it has.  It has actually been a few weeks since I have been on a "traveling" adventure.  I have been mainly in the office working on putting together a new manual on how to build a house with our new material on the San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona.  The new house material is called Panel W.  It is made of panels with a styrofoam type core with a wire mesh on each side of it.  The idea is pretty simple.  Basically, we put the panels next to each other, wire them securely together and stucco the inside and outside.  The roof will be done the same way.  We are still in the early stages of learning all the tips and tricks but for what we do know, I am trying to get it into a descriptive and easily understood format.

Due to the exciting nature of "technical" writing and instructional documents in general (be honest, how often do you "read the entire manual" when you buy something new, even when the first few lines tell you to do so), I will spare you great detail about beams, ties, wires, pipes, forms, rebar, bracing and cement for the time being.  Suffice it to say, a first rough draft for pouring a foundation and standing the panels has been printed for perusal and scrutinizing.  It is a rinse and repeat kind of cycle.

I have gotten to sketch up some drawings for tools that we have made to help us along.  For bending rebar (a steel rod), for example.  It was fun using some of the drawing details and dimensioning I was introduced to in high school.

In a couple of days,  I head out to Arizona again.  Will be out there for a couple of weeks.  Growing up in Indiana I heard words like Wind Chill in the winter and Heat Index in the summer for what temperatures actually feel like as opposed to what they are...checking weather.com for the areas we will be...it has a note, UV Index: 10+ Extreme.  I guess this will be my introduction to the 10+, so glad they don't bother to estimate an upper limit.  Wouldn't want to frighten anyone.  :-)  The plan...drink water, water, apply sunscreen, water, reapply sunscreen water, wear a hat and hang out in shade when possible.

Until next time, stay cool!

Mmmm Chicken

Sometimes I think I take stuff too seriously, that is why I am thankful to have some co-workers who would do crazy things for free food...  Sometimes you just have to dress like a cow and go to Chick-fil-A for free lunch on "Cow Appreciation Day".  The workers behind the counter will be happy to see you.  The little girl in line in front of you will stare with big eyes...maybe confused...possibly terrified.  But with a delicious free chicken sandwich, waffle fries and lemonade, everything will surely turn out alright.