Inside my crazy brain...

Once again, I have no big topic to discuss this week. So, back by popular demand, here’s another episode of “Random Thoughts.”

--Nate and I went to Miller Park Saturday to watch the Brewers and Astros. I’m steadily becoming a Brewer fan, although I still can’t stomach watching a baseball game on TV. There’s just nothing quite like being right there. On TV you miss the sausage races, fan trivia, fireworks and Bernie going down the big yellow slide. If you haven’t been to Miller Park yet, plan a trip this summer.

Another great aspect of the Brewer stadium is actually outside. Pre-game tailgating is just one huge party. The smokey charcoal grills with sizzling brats is not to be missed, not to mention the cold drinks. After all, the park and team were named after frosty beverages.

--Another reason for Saturday’s trip was to spend quality time with my husband who I haven’t seen much of lately. It’s spring fieldwork season, so all Nate’s free time is spent on a tractor or fixing a piece of equipment he broke while on the tractor. Nights aren’t much better. Nate tends to work in the fields until he absolutely has to stop to milk cows. By then, it’s on the late side and then it’s after 10 p.m. before he comes in the driveway.

Overall, Nate’s been in a good mood lately, as have most farmers I think. Although the state’s a little behind the five-year average for getting the oats in, the great weather the last few days should help many catch up or even get ahead. The fields are actually pretty dry, which is both good and a little scary. Lately it seems dry springs translate into dry summers. Also, some moisture would kick-start the grass and rest of the plants to green up a little more. Some leaves on the trees would be welcome right now.

--The move is getting closer and closer...I think. We’re still holding out hope we’ll be moving directly into the new house without a layover with Nate’s mom and dad. New to the house in the last few weeks are kitchen cabinets, lighting in the great room, bathroom cabinets and an outside light beside the kitchen door. However, move-in ready it is not. Yes, there’s a kitchen sink, a bathroom sink and toilet, but none are hooked up yet. Doors have yet to be installed and some interior wood wall covering needs to be lacquered. However, I’d take plumbing over privacy any day.

--Since we’ll be moving soon, I’ve started to take inventory in the house for an efficient relocation. Or an attempt at it anyway. It’s amazing how much stuff I’ve forgotten I had: clothes, pictures, knickknacks, toys, shoes, etc. I keep telling myself if I haven’t touched it in a year, I don’t need it. However, it’s tempting to horde these new found treasures, but my conscience keeps getting in the way.

“Have a garage sale,” it says. Maybe I will, but not until after spring planting. My box carrier is busy in the fields right now.

I guess the bus driver was right...

Here's a little accident report from my paper's police blotter. This should tell you something about the level of intelligence around here:

XX XXX, 19, Medford, reportedly received serious head injuries in a mishap that occurred around 1 a.m., April 19, on CTH A in the town of Mayville. The police report states she was a passenger in a car driven by XX XXX, 18, Medford. She reportedly became ill and when she stuck her head out the passenger side window it was believed she struck a mail box with her head. The driver reported that she heard a “thump” when she fell back into the car. The driver said she took the passenger to a Medford hospital for treatment.

#1, Didn't the bus driver always tell you not to stick any arms, legs or heads out the window because you might hit something?

#2, Maybe they should have called an ambulance?

Here's another from the idiot files:
--April 4–An officer was dispatched to an Abbotsford business for a theft complaint. The manager advised a cashier took two phone calls from a person who claimed to be with Western Union. The first call was for a transaction to one person, and the second call was to a person with the same last name. The manager said each time there was no money taken into the cash register, which is not how it was supposed to be done. He said in a normal transaction a person comes to the store with the exact amount of money. The person claiming to be with Western Union told the cashier she could do the transactions, so she did. The caller then told her to tear up the paperwork, which she also did. Both transactions were to California. The manager spoke to the security division at Western Union who said there were no such transactions. The pieces of the paperwork for the transactions were retrieved from the trash can. The cashier agreed to come in for an interview at a later time.

On a side note, the amount stolen was close to $5,000. Duh, "just send the money and dispose of the evidence."

I hope she got fired.

Infamy

There are certain days you’ll always remember where you were. My dad tells the story that he was in school taking a test when he heard John F. Kennedy was shot. Others older than I know where they were that day too.

I remember the Columbine shooting. We were in school, so the full effect didn’t hit me until I got home and that’s all that was on TV. I wasn’t a real emotional person then, but I remember crying as I watched the students embrace outside the school. I also remember the morning of the Sept. 11 attack and sitting in class trying to figure out chemistry problems. Students were mumbling rumors about a plane hitting the World Trade Center. We thought it might have been an accident, until I got home and saw both towers billowing smoke on TV.

This week, it’s pretty hard to think of anything else but the Virginia Tech tragedy right now. Monday may also go down as one of those days I’ll remember where I was when I heard. I actually didn’t find out until fairly late in the day. Jacob and I had been in the doctor’s office and I just hadn’t bothered to turn the TV on. I was driving through Dorchester that afternoon when my mom called and told me about it. Since I have my internet home page set to a news site, the story was the first thing that blared at me when I opened the program.

The problem with events like these is all the questions. Who was the shooter? Where did he get the guns? What set him off? Could it have been prevented? But mostly, why? I guess sometimes there just aren’t enough answers, and there may never be. The best thing we can do is pray for the families of those lost, the survivors who need strength to move on and that everyone can find peace of mind in the senseless murders.

“For today, we are all Hokies.”
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On a brighter note, there finally seems to be some sort of light at the end of the tunnel on the “house” front. We may not be homeless at the end of the month after all. I spent Saturday, with my sister Kirsten, who I am eternally in debt to, painting. We painted ceilings, closets, hallways, a bedroom and even the bathroom. Unfortunately there’s more painting to be done, but we got a really good start. I picked out the colors last week after getting a little input from Nate.

“As long as it’s not too dark,” he said.

I selected a light cream color for our bedroom and hall, a not-too-nursery blue for Jacob, and a grayish green (“Gull Green”) for the bathroom. Nate likes the cream, but he’s not completely on board with the green bathroom yet. It’s not a “green” green, but more of a blue-grey-green. The name “Gull Green” is a little baffling to me..

“I’ve never seen a green gull,” I told Kirsten as we were painting.

“Maybe it’s a sea-sick gull,” she said.

Ouch. But it’s too late now, so Nate will have to learn to live with it. I think it’s already growing on him a little, though it may take a while. Kind of like Gull Green mold I guess.

Need something to do on the weekend?

The Eckert Household is soliciting applications for the following positions:

Paint application specialists

• Duration: One weekend, April 14-15.

• Qualifications: Some painting experience necessary or ability to learn. Neatness a plus.

• Description: Help Karyn and Nate paint their new house! Pay based on experience. Comprehensive benefits package including deluxe lodging at the current Eckert home; meals cooked to order by Karyn or the local McDonalds; all the beer or other beverage of choice you care to drink (after painting of course); and sober cab to/from local bar. Plus, be the first to see our new house! A modest relocation stipend is available.

Furniture relocation technicians

• Duration: Weekend still to be determined (like last weekend in April or one of the first two in May).

• Qualifications: Ability to lift boxes or furniture and help get it on the truck. Must be able to read labels and place items in corresponding rooms. Person with truck preferred but not required.

• Description: We're moving and need some muscle to help. Pay negotiable. Comprehensive benefits package including deluxe lodging at the Eckert home (possibly even the new one); meals cooked to order by Karyn or the local McDonalds; all the beer or other beverage of choice you care to drink; and sober cab to/from local bar. A modest relocation stipend is available.

For more information or to apply contact Karyn or Nate.

Photos of job site coming soon!

Just makes you want to quit

I don't really want to talk about it, but it's about all that's on my mind this week. Grace, my Ayrshire calf born March 31, died Saturday. She got sick last week and just couldn't shake it. Nate probably shot half a bottle of Excenel into her, but it didn't seem to help. I feel awful about it because I wanted her to be the start of rebuilding a nice group of registered cows.

I know there will be more calves. I have two more heifers due soon. One Holstein in May (which is confirmed a heifer by ultrasound) and one Ayrshire in June. But right now I just feel awful and frustrated with the whole thing.

Seems like I just can't catch a break with any of my cattle. For all I've bought over the years (not to mention all the money spent), I'm down to these four I have in Medford and one or two more cows still at home. My best Holstein, Vida, has yet to have a heifer. All bulls so far, and she's six. I think she's going for a record.

So I guess if I want to build a herd, I either need to start buying, flushing the ones I have or just say the heck with the whole thing. The latter is certainly tempting right now.

Enlisted

So, the big news from my family is my sister Kirsten decided to enlist in the Air Force. I'm glad for her because I think it will give her the direction she needs right now, plus the chance to get ahead financially in the future. She would like to go back to college someday, but just needs a way to pay for it right now. Yay GI Bill.

Kirsten passed her physical yesterday and got her military ID card. She is on delayed entry, so she won't be leaving for basic training in San Antonio until sometime after June 15. Mom and I are thinking we might roadtrip down for her graduation and maybe visit my aunt who moved from San Bernadino, Calif., to Houston a while back.

Nate said to me last night what I'd been thinking about it: "I hope she likes it." My response was I'd never met anyone who went into the military voluntarily who didn't like it. I hadn't thought about it like that before, but it does make me feel a little better.

Anyway, hope you all keep her in your prayers as she takes on this new challenge. Congrats Kirsten!

NYC Part 2

After a week of anticipation (I’m sure all of you are still at the edges of your seats) I continue my tale of the big city. After the Conan filming, we hopped the subway to the World Trade Center site. Although it is now more of a construction site than one of destruction, the stunning photographs on display and strange empty space are still reminders of that horrible day four and a half years ago.

It was early to bed and early to rise for Thursday as we got up extra early, grabbed some Starbucks and headed for the studio of “Live with Regis and Kelly.” Regis was absent due to his heart surgery, but Neil Patrick Harris (also on Conan the previous evening) was the guest host. We even got front row seats that had an amazing view of singer Josh Gracin and Kelly’s very cute shoes.

We took a walk through Central Park until rain cut our visit short. We then decided to take the NBC studio tour to escape the weather. As it turned out, it was an excellent choice. We caught Carrie Underwood rehearsing for Saturday Night Live. After the tour, we headed to the top of the Empire State Building. After dinner it was time for a visit to the wax museum. Jen and I had both been to wax museums before, but Cindy had not. I think she was expecting either a traditional museum or something cheesy. Instead, she took more goofy photos at the wax museum than either of us. She sang with Bob Marley, posed with N’Sync (which, for some reason, was missing Lance) and danced with Usher. “That was fun, do you guys want to come back tomorrow?” she said only half jokingly.

On Friday morning the “vacation” was starting to wear me down, so Jen and Cindy got up early to go to the Today Show while I slept in. I met them at Rockefeller Plaza only to find out I really didn’t miss anything by sleeping in. We met Meredith Vieira and the rest of the Today Show crew. Pink performed inside the studio, though she did come outside to greet the crowd. We spent the rest of Friday visiting the Statue of Liberty and had a late lunch in Chinatown. Friday night was concert night with Christina Aguilera at Madison Square Garden.

On Saturday Cindy awoke not feeling so great, but after a run to the drug store she was good to go for shopping on Fifth Ave. About 800 stores later, we stopped in a deli for pizza, then headed to “The Lion King,” our musical matinee. Times Square was unbelievably crowded after the musical, so we headed to Grand Central Station for a snack, then planned to go on a harbor lights cruise. However, we opted out after standing in line in the rain and hearing there were no more inside seats. Instead we finished our souvenir shopping, then Cindy decided to turn in early. Jen and I visited an Irish pub for drinks and nachos, then turned in ourselves.

The flight home was a little more exciting, but not in a good way. Storms made the flight longer, and a bumpy landing made me very happy to be on solid ground. I was even more thrilled to be back home with Jacob and Nate that night on a quiet country road.

So much for the season...

I was part of a rather chaotic and frightening event Saturday: the local Easter Egg Hunt.

I've never seen so many greedy people in one place. During the actual egg hunt, Jacob and I almost got run over trying to pick up our 15 eggs. Dragging a little kid through a sloppy wet field with a camera bag and egg pail was pure hell. Jacob has little legs so we couldn't move very fast. When we would finally get to a group of eggs, other kids would swipe them right from under Jacob's little hands. It was worse than being at a summer parade. I'm sure I looked ridiculous out there, but I had to chase down the eggs for Jacob before the other kids took them all.

And remember the 15 egg limit? I literally saw parents carrying gallon pails piled full with eggs for their one or two kids. Guess they just can't count around here. Meanwhile, Jacob and I got six. Thankfully, a kind parent who's kid gathered a few too many took pity on us and gave us the rest of our quota.

After the hunt, which lasted less than 10 minutes to pick up almost 5,000 eggs, we stayed for the torturous raffle drawing. Jacob and I each received a ticket at registration, so we parked ourselves outside where the PA system was loud and clear to wait for our numbers. Finally Jacob's was called. I waded through the crowd, saying "Excuse, I just need to pick up a prize," over and over again. No one moved, mostly because they couldn't since it was so packed. Apparently these people thought they would have better chances if they crammed themselves in as close as they could to the prize table.

There were a few bright spots: Jacob got a kick out of the giant Easter bunny sitting in the corner. He went running over to it, only to have it wave at him. He jumped back as he realized it was a real person. He later made friends with the rabbit enough to sit on his lap for a picture.

Leaving was my favorite part.

I guess some people might have fun at those things, but if it wasn't for my job I'd never go back to one again. I do have to go to one this Saturday, but I'm going prepared this time. I'm taking Nate with me for a bouncer.