Road Trip

No chores today. Jim and I are headed out on a road trip. We are going to North Carolina to play golf for a few days then on to a wedding in Asheville. From there Jim is headed to Austria and I'm driving down to Georgia. (I'll be halfway there...so why not?) Also, with Anne and Corey's Baby #2 on the way, I won't be going down for Christmas.

Jim is one of the most fun people to take a road trip with. We usually stop for coffee about a mile from home, then stop again to empty that coffee an hour later, where you pick up more coffee, or a diet coke if it's after 10:30AM Repeat...Repeat... Stop at a tourist site-never. Tour the Rebecca Ruth candy factory (complimentary tours given throughout the day)- over my dead body. But if you want a snack or a drink, the car is pulled over in seconds. Jim said his family didn't stop on car trips when he was a kid, and I don't think the White family ever took a car trip, so I look at all these stops as a fun type of midlife rebellion.

Stay tuned to my blog to learn more about our trip. Gotta go...coffee break!

Chores

Jim asked me how the name 'Champion Chores' was created.  I really didn't have an answer that made much sense, but it went something like this:  I had this picture book I wanted feedback on (see previous posts) and the only way to share it was through a blog....hence- Creation!  I asked Mike (see previous posts why he was here) what I should name it- perhaps Trueblood Duo?  He mentioned something about Champion...... and I quickly decided on Champion Chores.  I was under a time pressure to make it to a lunch meeting (see previous posts).  And besides, one of my talents in life is my ability to do chores.  I'm not a visionary, people manager, or organizational development specialist.....rather a 'Chorer'.  Need a car seat installed, call me.  Need a ride to the airport, I'm there.  Need your bushes trimmed, I'm all over it.  Which brings me to my next post. 

Anne and Corey moved into their home last year.  Since that time they have repainted, recarpeted, changed out all the door hardware and had a new baby, gotten new jobs, and started graduate school and finished a PHD.  Whoooo!  That tires me out just writing it.  Their bushes have been low on their priority list.  I coincidentially got a new pair of pruning shears. The gloves are old, but they wanted to be in the picture, too. 

My new shears made it over to Anne and Corey's and this is the result:

Before :   

After: 

The Chore was completed and the toter was full.  Note my pink bike- it's awesome!

Finished!

It rained most of the weekend, which was the perfect reason to start a book with all the remodeling that was done at Saint Simons.  How long should it take--maybe a few hours?  Well, it's consumed me the past few days.  Jim sent me architectural drawings and 17 additional pictures he thought we should add.  Doesn't everyone want to spend 1 hour reading my picture book.

The exciting new is--it's finished! AND....you can get a special sneak preview! (Just for following my blog)

http://widgets.inkubook.com/InkubookWidget.swf?configxml=7e91180f-f409-47eb-ac60-594dec446347&facebook=false"

I've been watching the forecast--next rainy day could be all of Mike's basketball videos from Parkside OR Anne's cheerleading videos.  I can feel your excitement!

Lunch Time

Mike and Ali were in Indianapolis for Ali's Mom's 60th Birthday over the weekend.  Happy Birthday Sue! (you may want to follow my blog)  Ali was planning on staying in Columbus to run Cummins this week, and Mike was flying back to Minneapolis last night.  This plan sounded good until....are you ready....the plane had a windshield wiper that wasn't working and they had to FLY one in.  (You'd think Indianapolis is big enough to have an airplane wiper blade somewhere).  Well, the delay kept being extended, so Mike decided to stay in Indiana overnight and return to Minneapolis Monday.  Anne, Ali, and Mike took a break from work and met for lunch at El Napal--a rather lousy Mexican restaurant in town.  Here are some pics from lunch.  Sorry, Corey and Jim that you couldn't make it.

I joined the group for lunch also.  I took a break from my BLOG CREATION...which is why I wasn't looking too stellar. 

It was fun to have Mike and Ali back in Columbus for the day.  I took Mike up to Indianapolis to catch a flight back home.  We were both happy it was sunny out and wipers weren't needed.

Did anyone invite Jim and Corey--someone has to run the company during lunch.

4331 16th Street Book

Jim and I are not going to be the only Trueblood/Trobaugh's that don't blog.  We're old--but trainable.  The main reason to create this post is to share a book I created yesterday.  The only way to share and ask for suggestions is to add it to a blog.  So, here we go: (everything about this seems wrong!)

http://widgets.inkubook.com/InkubookWidget.swf?configxml=7e91180f-f409-47eb-ac60-594dec446347&facebook=false"


I would love to know any suggestions you have.

More to come....aren't you all excited!