One exceptional day!!!

Today is the big day! Dad is retiring!!! After 40 years of working his tail off at a job he loves(most of the time…well part of the time), he has finally reached this day that we all have been waiting for.

Many years my father worked away from home, missing time with his family that he loves so much to provide a life that we all could enjoy and be proud of. Even though he was gone some of the time he always managed to be home on important days or occasions in our life. He taught me to be the man that I am today as well as teach me the meaning of a job well done. I would have to say that my father for sure is a one of a kind. Not many people these days can say they worked for one company for as long as he did and with as much pride as he put into his daily grind.

I was fortunate enough to be able to spend a day with him at work one day on a trip down to Nogales. I had always wondered what it was like and had an idea of his daily activities from his stories but on this one day I got to experience it all. I remember it very clearly since it is just one of those days that a person really can’t forget. How excited he was as well as I, that I was going to finally be able to ride along and see what it was like. This was just an ordinary day for him but not for me. Pictures in my head finally had concrete images of the engine and the tracks and even the smell of it all. He explained to me how everything worked and I even got to sit in his seat for just a short while and even blow the horn as we crossed the tracks through town on the way to our destination. Once in Nogales we had time to waste while we waited for the train from across the border to arrive so we walked into Mexico to peruse the goods that wonderful Nogales has to offer. It wasn’t a glamorous setting but it was still fun. We made our return trip back home with stories of my father’s daily adventures on the railroad. As he mentioned to me that there are times when cars and trucks try to beat the train to get across and come very close to being hit, right around the next corner, a Semi was in view going across the tracks unaware of our presence until dad hit the horn to warn them of their impending doom. Nothing happened this time but I could only imagine what it would have been like to hit it. He also described a certain section of the tracks known as “Hamburger Alley”. This was an area where cattle chose to cross the tracks and many a time they would lose the race to get out of the way. It was gross and a bit hard to stomach as we cruised on by one unfortunate bovine from the previous day’s journey. But once again this was just one day of the many that he would spend in his 40 years on the tracks.

He makes me proud to be the person that I have become. He makes me proud to be a Nowell. He makes me proud to be his son. I can only hope that I can be half the person that he is and always will be. Congrats DAD! We all love you so much it hurts and are so proud of you and the wonderful life you have provided for your family. Here’s to your last day on the railroad!! And like you said, “Tomorrow is the first day of vacation for the rest of my life!”

Bedroom Adventure!

So we finally finished our bedroom. It was a long process but the result turned out pretty well. Our recent change was the crown molding which turned out to be easier then we thought. The first picture is the final look of the closet, lights, and crown molding and the next picture is just before we demolished the wall and began the construction. Our next project is to continue the crown molding around the rest of the house starting with the office and then the living room.

The people that were supposed to come and take the chainlink fence out front and back never showed. I guess we will post again and get someone else to take it. I suppose that if we can't find anyone to take it for free we will dig it up and sell it instead. Wouldn't think that giving something like that away for free would be so hard!! Especially with so many people that write just hours after I post it to Craigslist.

The Dawg

Not the best news for this post. Puma is not feeling well. He sort of lost his appetite over the past few days. He has eaten some brown rice but that's pretty much it. He won't touch his food at all. We just got back from the vet and she said that he might have just got into something that he shouldn't but hopefully the antibiotics that she gave him will clear it all up and he can start eating again. Needless to say he isn't having too much fun and neither am I. I decided to stay home with him for a couple of days which turned out to be a wise choice since he wouldn't have been a pretty site coming home after him being in the crate all day.

The weather has taken a great turn. It's in the mid 60's with sun all around. Too bad we can't be out in it but we will soon enough.

Various Pictures

Ok so I recently updated Shutterfly with some more pictures. I have created a link to the right and will take you to the site to see it. I will update with more later and if you want to buy some of the pictures you can order straight from the site. This picture here was 1 1/2 years ago at Silver Falls. I just like it!

Well the weather here has turned a bit cold and rainy this weekend but it has been sunny off and on which is always nice. Soon enough I will be commenting on how hot it is and how hot it will be in the house with no AC! Oh well. We have finally found someone interested in taking out wonderful chainlink fence out of the front and back yard. They are coming next weekend to pull it out. It will be nice to no thave the front of our place look like the side of a school or jail!

STARING JC CONNELLY!!!

So the news with John was great! He met with the director and writer of the movie and he actually has an actual speaking part in the movie. He was told that his character is named Hans and he is a german soldier in the war after the Battle of the Bulge and I think it's called "Hurtgen Phantom". He and 11 other people are the main people in the movie and he is really excited. Should be interesting to read the script when he signs all the insurance and other movie papers.

EMMA'S NEW TOY

Today we went to Costco to buy Emma a new toy for the kitchen. It's the latest and greatest Cuisinart Food Processor. Of course I can call it my new toy too since I will for sure benefit from the goodies that she makes with it.

Well that is it for now.

Lots of News!!

So cute!!

Time for bed!

Ok so it's been a while since I posted but we have been really busy. Things are going well. Work is crappy as usual but it does give me time with the two most important people in my life. Emma and Puma. And I say people because Puma is just as much a person as anyone else.

We started working on the house again since it's more motivating when the weather is nicer. We started with finishing our bedroom and putting up the crown molding that we have been wanting to put up since we stopped. It's turning out to make the room look really different and more put together. I will post pictures on Shutterfly once we get the final details done.

John emailed me earlier today with good news on the audition that he went to a week and a half ago. Here is the email that he received:

JC Connelly,

We have made a few casting decisions, and would like to offer you a significant part in the movie. We were wondering if you're still interested, and if you would be able to meet this Saturday in the morning?

Please let us know.

Brian

How COOL is that!!! We will see what happens and what is involved. I will have more info as I get it. Congrats JC!!!

Oh and if you are reading my posts, please comment. And if Lance is the only one reading the Blog and commenting....well then....thanks Lance!! :)

Spring is here!!

The blossoms have taken hold on Portland once again. The weather is slowly changing from rainy to sunny and the grass is starting to grow once again. Camping trips and weekend excursions to the coast are upon us! Yeah for Spring!!!

John's big day continued and new Canon

Well John went to his audition but it didn't go so well. They changed up what he had to read and just wasn't as good as the one he had prepared. Oh well. Maybe next time.

So we finally bought our new camera that we have been wanting for a long time. We sold enough items on Craigslist and other money that we had saved from Christmas to pay for it. Turns out also that we happened to buy it the day after it had a $100 rebate which was very nice. I have my parents to thank for pointing out that to us. We have been testing out the camera on the dog of course but once the weather gets sunny I hope to get some nice outside pictures.

John's big day!!

So I received an email yesterday from John Connelly and he was telling me about his big audition for a movie that is being filmed here in Portland. It's a World War II movie, which is great since he loves those types of movies. I called him and he read a monologue that really blew me away because he actually wrote it. He has always been great at writing so I think it will work out nicely. His audition is this morning so we will all be pulling for him. I will update the blog with any more news on his big day. GOOD LUCK JOHN!!!!!