Planet Stahl

We tried to sit down and watch White Christmas tonight. I told Ang it was foolish to expect the kids to watch… But she insisted we try… Well… After lots of squirming, giggling, and a few farts… They were told to leave the room. Better luck next year!

Recorded at the Delavan Methodist church this weekend.   Summer was helped on the Piano by the instructor…  She was pretty nervous!

www.planetstahl/Audio/SummerStahl-JollyOldStNick.mp3

I got the news on Friday night that Milo passed away.

Milo (Mostly everyone called him Mike) had been our “driver” at the dealership until a few months ago…  He had been dealing with a new bout of cancer.  He had been clean for years…  But suddenly he had more show up in his jaw. 

He had left for a 3 or 4 months earlier in the year, (ironically back when I broke my leg) and then raced back to work as soon as the doctor cleared him.  At the time… I thought to myself: “Why wouldn’t you just go home and relax a while?”.  Now, when I think about it… I realize that getting back to work was probably his way of pushing ahead and leaving the cancer behind.

Unfortunately… It flared back up.  This time the doctor said he it was going to take another operation, but nearer or into the brain.  He was told that it had a low chance for success and would be a very long procedure.

He declined it as far as I know.  I had given him a call 2 months ago just to check in.  I tried to talk baseball and the Bears while still finding out if he was going to push ahead.  At that time he pretty much said he was going to tough it at home.

I got off the phone sad, but content in knowing that Milo was making a decision that he felt was right.

In my position at the dealership, I worked very closely with Milo…  Talked with him about current events…  Sports…  Cars (He never did drive a Supra!  He scoffed at the idea)…  You name it.  He was a great guy.  One of those guys that fit right in…  A person you feel like you have known forever because we got along so well.

I feel for his kids and Grandkids in particular…  He will be missed.

I don’t know if this link works, its lifted from the PJ Star site:

http://www.legacy.com/pjstar/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=121337351

Well… If you get a full sized one like we did… Don’t try and do it yourself!

I feared for my life a few times on Saturday!

Pictures of the game table and new basement flooring coming soon!

Lets start with the last one… Facebook… Man, this was perfect timing to join that time suck! Now I can spend more time on the net!

Seriously, its fun to catch up with people. But to be honest, and I have said this before, if I am not generally keeping in touch or was not friends with you in the past… Why do I care now?  I accepted every invitation (friend request?) that came my way. People from Don’s class that were friends with him are the perfect example. I have already cut one of those loose. I dont need to see pictures of them!!! Back then or now!

Well… If they are big Robyn Hitchcock fans or something might be the exception!

The Horse with no name

I think its going to be Marco.  Its fun to yell “Polo” evertime she calls for him!

Aiden wanted to call him “Scott”.  And is still calling him that no matter what Mom decides.

The Washer Saga

We shopped all day last Saturday to replace our imploding washer.  That was a train wreck!  Talk about raising our sites!  We went from 500.00 machines to 1000.00 machines in the span of a day!  In the end, after shopping all day… I called Benson to repair our machine. 

We had bought the Amana washer at Benson’s in Pontiac before we were married!  That was 1994!  Many people have laughed at us for thinking they lasted more than that.  The repairman might have well had started laughing when he looked at our washer.  He said 450.00 to repair. 

Man!!!!  Now we are back at square one!

After all of our recent research and genuinely being impressed with Benson’s service when we needed it…  We decided to buy a new High Efficiency washer at Benson’s in Pekin.  When it comes down to it… Service sells me.  I dont want to be dealing with the boneheads at American or some other store that contracts service.  (Oh, we know American is filled with boneheads!  Wether it be when we have bought projectors or iPods.. They have always managed to mess something up.)

I dont remember the brand… Its fancy…  Not top of the line.  But, it makes the old dryer look pathetic.

Ang and I were really happy to spend our Christmas money on a new washer!  What could be better?

Worked on renovating the basement today.  Did some concrete patch around the edges of the floor.  Started laying down our “garage floor” tile from Sam’s.  Its cheap and durable… And if it gets wet…. I could care less!  Hopefully there will be some pictures soon.