Kent and Jana Anderson

And a Baby Makes Three.

2011-10-20T19:41:00.001-07:00

In August of last year I sat in front of a high-profile fertility doctor while he told me that I had about a 4% chance of conceiving a baby. Apparently he was wrong, because unbeknownst to me, I was already in the family way and cooking up a bambino. Fast forward to March of the following spring, and I managed to deliver Wesley Aaron Anderson into the world. So here we are, now with a 6 month-old and a foggy memory of a skeptical doctor.

Estate Sale Etiquette

2010-04-13T15:13:00.000-07:00

One thing I certainly miss about living in Southern California is the totally awesome estate sale scene. Kent and I used to get the paper on Saturday morning, grab a map, and head out in search of musty old books, bark cloth curtains, Depression glass, vintage tools, and whatever other jackpot was waiting for us. Long Beach was the best, because the neighborhoods are old. The older the house, and the more overgrown the junipers were, the better the goods inside. The Woodlands is roughly a 40 year-old town, and estate sales are not even allowed, which means that our pastime has been significantly reduced since moving here.

There is of course the sad truth behind these Saturday outings: it means that someone has recently died.

Usually, the family outsources the running of the estate sale to another company. Personal items are removed from the home, giving it more of a garage sale kind of feel. There are however exceptions. Last Saturday Kent and I went to one, and in the bathroom were unopened packages of Depends adult diapers for sale. Not far from that were semi-used bottles of shampoo and conditioner with price tags on them. A week ago some nice granny was shampooing her hair, and this week strangers are brushing them aside to find better stuff.

So here are my thoughts on how to give your relatives dignity whilst selling off their life’s possessions:
1) Take personal pictures out of the frames before selling them. Nothing is sadder than seeing a nice old lady’s 1940’s glamour shot that she took for her man during the war, tossed into a bucket with a $1.00 sticker stuck on it.
2) Remove toothbrushes, hairbrushes, beauty products, and leftover toiletries from the bathroom. Please do not resale adult diapers!
3) Only sell vintage/desirable clothing. Kent and I went to an estate sale where all of a man’s clothing was in his closet, right down to his belts and ties on a peg rack. There were new flannel pajamas hanging up that his poor grandchildren had probably given him for Christmas. Way too personal! Sell old Jackie O coats, 1950’s prom dresses, fox furs, etc., but leave granny’s mu-mu collection out.
4) Never sell wedding albums. Sad, sad, sad. Nobody wants it? Well strangers don’t either.
5) If you sell military uniforms, take the medals and dog tags off. I bought a WWII men’s army uniform, complete with pilot’s cap and wool overcoat, and when I got it home, I found his dog tags and medals in the pocket. I can’t believe that nobody in his family wanted those! (I Googled the guy, and he had been a big-wig animator at Disney, and had been chief animator for several Disney movies.)
6) Clean the place first. I have been to more than one estate sale where there was cat poop and rat dropping in the bedrooms. Gross. I know the cat urine smell is hard to mask, but please try.

Anyway, just a thought.

Be Careful What You Register For

2010-01-25T15:06:00.000-08:00

As of late, I have felt slightly in Limbo. I’m not getting pregnant. I’m not getting busier with work (praise God). I’m just floating along waiting for the next phase of life to start.
To occupy my mind, I decided to take a college course at Lonestar. Initially I had settled on taking a photography class, but it was two days a week in the middle of the afternoon. If the class is during a bad time, I can see myself missing a lot. So I decided to take a Creative Writing course on Thursday nights.
I am still deciding if it was a bad idea.
Unbeknownst to me, this is a fiction writing class. Oops. I have no interest in making stuff up. I am a NON fiction kind of gal. Truth!
Let me share with you why I am not sure this is my cup of tea. Here was an actual interaction on the first night…

Female student (sort of trashy looking, lots of cleavage and maybe 20 years old)
Male student (20-something, round, pink faced, red lipped, greasy, towhead)
SCENE:
Female: So right now I am really into Steampunk novels and Space Opera.
Male: Excellent choice, milady.
Female: Thank you good sir.

Wow. What have I gotten myself in to???

Hating on Haiti

2010-01-14T12:27:00.000-08:00

What are they teaching kids in high school these days? Or should I say not teaching them? Last night I went to church to lead my 9th grade girls Bible study, and when I suggested that we spend some time in prayer for the people of Haiti, they all looked at me with blank expressions.
“Why? What’s in Haiti?” asked one.
“You didn’t hear about the horrible earthquake that has destroyed the capitol city and possible killed thousands of people?” I replied.
“Um, no. I don’t really watch the news.”
“Right.”
Seriously? I work at an elementary school and even we talked about it.
I can’t be too hard on them though. Something bad happened when I was in 9th grade and I didn’t even learn about it until college. Remember what was happening in Rwanda in 1994? Half a million people murdered in ethnic genocide? I was too busy thinking about boys (Jake Spence), music (Weezer) and sports (soccer) to pay mind to another part of the world.
So to make up for it I now spend hours glued to the TV watching CNN’s live coverage as the Silver Fox Anderson Cooper roams around the streets of Port au Prince looking for survivors.
The most horrific thing I saw was not scenes from Haiti at all, but a clip of Pat Robertson saying that the earthquake happened because 200 years ago the Haitians had made a pact with the Devil.
Click.
I couldn’t stomach any more.

Creeptastic

2010-01-12T14:39:00.000-08:00

Today I attended a training on how to restrain students when they are having meltdowns and trying to hurt themselves or others (mainly me). The training was at an old school nearby, that is now only used for stuff like this.

In the classroom I was in, this sign caught my eye:

Loud screams. Hair standing on end. Freak Out.

It was staring at me right in the face. I was expecting a beige foam body shape, not friggin' Bride of Chucky. It was awful!

Christmas 2009

2010-01-03T13:57:00.000-08:00

How to Tell Your Mother She has a Moustache.

2009-11-10T12:53:00.000-08:00

I saw this online today. I come from a family of hairy German girls who will appreciate this :-)

THE BEARDED MOM
Prudie counsels a reader whose mother's facial hair is getting out of control—and other advice seekers.

Bay Area, Calif.: I love my mom dearly and am not sure how to tell her (or even if I should) that her facial hair is out of control. After she went through menopause (many years ago), I noticed she had a substantial mustache and beard, but she must have started taking hormone replacement drugs because they disappeared. Now, she is in her late 60s, and the mustache is back and very thick and noticeable. Surely she knows she has it; do I need to butt out, or is there a gentle way to suggest she do something?

Emily Yoffe: When Mom is mistaken for Dad, it's time to speak up. I think any woman would prefer to be told by a loved one she looks like Groucho Marx, rather than go through life having people think, "Hey, there goes one of the Marx Brothers!" Before you tell your mother, investigate where some electrologists or laser hair removal places are in her area, so you can simultaneously break the news, "Mom, while you otherwise look great, I've noticed that your facial hair is getting a little heavy," and propose a solution.

New and Improved Swing

2009-11-09T15:40:00.000-08:00

This swing was already here when we moved in, but it was lacking something... More wood! Thanks to Kent and Dad Eichman for the help.

Poe Folks

2009-09-28T18:55:00.000-07:00

burlap... good for pillows, maybe not for underwear?

my crafty blood was flowing this weekend, and i decided i needed some new pillows for the front yard swing. out there they get exposed to the elements (humidity, rain, squirrels)so i thought, burlap? and since it is fall - in theory - i decided to make them my halloween pillows. i bought some burlap and muslin for the liner, and sewed up a couple of covers. for the picture, kent doesn't like all the skull-gore-blood-guts stuff, so i figured... a tribute to e.a. poe? safe enough, but still a bit macabre? he is one of my longtime favorites, so why not? (if you haven't, read "the cask of amontillado" and you will love him too) using my trusty computer, printer, Xacto knife, and rustoleum, i was able to "screenprint" some fun images onto my pillows, and now they adorn the front yard. i am assuming some people are going to think i have the bust of hitler on my pillow, but hopefully his image is very poe-ish, and not so fuhrer-ish. Also included is a quote from poe's "the raven", and a black cat pillow not pictured.

so here's to fall! which will be here around christmas.

Kent and Jana Have Fresh Moves, Baby

2009-09-14T14:31:00.001-07:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Mani Pedi Anyone?

2009-09-14T14:29:00.001-07:00

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Debbie O Got Married!

2009-09-01T18:11:00.001-07:00

This past Saturday I flew to Oakland, CA for my friend Debbie's wedding. I felt like such a jet setter boarding my Southwest cattle-car flight holding my JCPenney garment bag (wink wink, sarcasm...). I just went for one night, which ended up feeling longer thank goodness! It was beautiful. I saw some of my college friends there, and we posed for our "update photo". Here we are (Sarah, Elisse, Debbie and myself) in 2001, 2003, and 2009. I love these girls!

I Want One

2009-08-27T18:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday one of my greatest gal pals, Brooke, had her first baby! (Brooke's husband Justin works in Student Ministry with Kent) It seems like yesterday she said she was expecting, but alas! It was 9 months ago! Here is Charlotte Jane Ulmer. xoxo

Time for Bed

2009-08-26T14:59:00.001-07:00

George and Sophie loooove to sleep. They especially love to sleep in our bed under the covers and sandwiched between us. When they sense that we are getting ready to go up to bed, they wait for us at the top of the stairs. Here's how we found them last week. Oh, I LOVE these dogs.

For the Visually Challenged

2009-08-17T19:07:00.001-07:00

Oops. I made my font really big. Too tired to fix it now... Enjoy, Grandma!

The Death of Summer

2009-08-17T18:30:00.000-07:00

That icky no-good rotten time of year is upon me once again.

Back to School

Parents rejoice, teachers and kids lament. Prepare for more teacher anecdotes.

While I was driving around College Station on Monday..

2009-07-23T14:57:00.000-07:00

Monday was a first for me. I couldn't make an hour drive home because of a storm. I had to stay the night with friends where I was and wait it out. Sally and Greg Johnson were kind enough to put me up for the night.

As we drove to dinner at 7PM, the temperature dropped 15 degrees. Sprinkles of water turned into the biggest and hardest rain I have ever seen. Then the ice-cube sized hail set in, accompanied by intense lightning and booming thunder. The freeway we were on was impossible to see, and as we approached an overpass we noticed that the whole think was clogged with cars hiding out underneath. Some on the grass, the shoulder, the road, everywhere! I stayed there for a while and then drove on like an idiot. We finally arrived at the restaurant, and I tried to find a tree to park under, but anything even remotely hanging over any road was already taken with cars. Gas stations, drive-thru windows, large oak trees, drive-thru ATM machines. No place to park. I sat there for 20 minutes waiting for it to let up, knowing my car was being dented by massive hail. Finally, it stopped hailing - just pouring- and I ran into the restaurant just in time for the power to go out! It came back on shortly, and then we ate while watching the parking lot flood and patrons having to leave to get their cars out of 2-3 foot water. Good times. Later I inspected my car... Jeeps rule. No dents.

These pics are (1) Waiting under the only wimpy tree I could find, watching the hail pile up. (2) Waiting under the overpass. It doesn't seem that bad here because I am underneath it.

Off to California

2009-07-01T09:16:00.001-07:00

Off to Bass Lake and Big Sur. See you in 2 weeks :-)

Kent My Dreamboat

2009-06-28T20:12:00.000-07:00

Not much to say, except that Kent is adorable and manly at the same time. Sigh.

As I write this he is downstairs watching Hunt For the Red October for what could possibly be the hundredth time since we were married. I even know lines by heart. Sean Connery speaking, "It reminds me of the hetty days of Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin."

Worm Poop

2009-06-28T20:10:00.000-07:00

All I'm saying is... You can buy worm poop? Eeeeew.

"Weather" or Not Its Worth It.

2009-06-28T20:05:00.001-07:00

Our west coast friends are always asking what our weather is like, and its just too complicated to explain. I "snapped" the weather on my iPhone last month and this month just to show you.

Trying So Hard To Be Different, Yet....

2009-06-28T19:56:00.000-07:00

I lead a small group for 8th grade girls at church on Wednesday nights. One night last month, they all sat down and I noticed a trend. It was cute. Apparently jeans with black Converse are happening right now. I called them "Chucks" like we used to, and they all laughed at me.

Lazy Bones

2009-06-19T19:11:00.000-07:00

I know I have not updated this in a month! Sorry! Now that I (Jana) an unemployed for summer, one would think I would be on this more, but I have been too lazy to upload this month's pics from the camera. Soon, friends. Soon!

Huntsville Bites

2009-05-12T18:39:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Kent and I went camping up in Huntsville with our friends Wes and Candace Lambard and Ryan and Stephanie Helmer. One Saturday the girls rented a paddle boat and I was getting toasty out there, so I decided to take a dip.

Oops.

Soon after getting out of the water, a park ranger came speeding up to us in a boat and told me that what I did was very stupid. There are over 40 alligators that live in the small lake, and swimming from the boats is not allowed. Big oops. I told him that I was sorry and I wish they had told me that when we rented the boats.

Crikey :-)

Candace and Stephanie looking out for gators :-)

Slave Labor

2009-05-12T18:16:00.001-07:00

They Who Shall N0t Be Named (the previous owners of our house) are funny. They did the most Ruben Schlick work we have ever seen. Well... This is our first house, so we don't have a lot to compare it to. They built a deck on the side of the house, and they built a play fort in the yard, which are both great features but... they hadn't stained the wood in I don't know... Decades? Kent and I decided that we should do something to prolong the life of the deck and the fort, so a couple of months ago the process began. Kent rented a large sander, but the boards were so bowed, it didn't work as planned. Our palm sander was going to take forty years to do the job, so be bought a belt sander to get in the middle of the boards. Anyway (this is boring, sorry- but I have to gripe) that still didn't do it, so we decided to break down and power wash the deck. It leaves dents in the wood, but whatever! We were at the end of our rope trying to erase years of bare wood decay! Blah! On the fort, the whole floor was rotten out and there was no top, so we put up joists underneath the old floor, cut a new one, and I bought canvas and sewed up a new top. Last week we stained everything (with final touch-ups today) and I think it turned out pretty good. The only problem? Now the fence looks worse. It never ends! Despite the pain in the butt of it all, I am thankful to have a house to tinker with.

Now about that fence...

Matt and Heather: Two Good Peeps

2009-05-12T17:59:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago our good friends Matt and Heather Matias came from Hillsboro, Oregon to pay us a visit. Matt and Kent go way back, and Matt found himself a great wife who I just love :-) So now Heather and I go way back too. Anyway, they moved to Oregon from Socal the same month we moved here, and a visit was due! We were able to see them for one night last summer when we were up in Seattle/Portland area, and they repaid us times ten with several days of good times here in The Woodlands. We looked at houses, went for walks in the woods, ate barbecue, rode bikes, went to an art show, went to an outdoor concert at Market Street, kayaked, and the list goes on! It was a seriously good time, and it was such a treat to have them here. We love anyone that will fly half way across the country to see us! It is such a blessing to have such great friends. We miss you guys! Move here!!!

Scariest Roads... Conquered!

2009-04-16T20:42:00.000-07:00

When I logged on to Yahoo just now, there was a link to an article about the USA's top ten scariest roads to drive. The first one on the list was Highway 1 up the California coast toward Monterey. Ha! Done it :-) A few years ago Kent and I went camping up in Big Sur, which is right on that very highway. Kent took some medicine that made him all sleepy, so I had to drive his STICK SHIFT Jeep, in DENSE fog, at NIGHT, PULLING OUR TENT TRAILOR! Eeek!

Upon reaching the campground at 11:00 PM, Kent realized he had forgotten to bring the keys to the camper. Oops. Thank God for crow bars. It was a great trip.

Veni, Vidi, Vici

He Is Risen

2009-04-13T16:19:00.000-07:00

As some of you may recall, Kent and I spent last Easter with our friends Brooke and Justin Ulmer at Justin Mom's ranch, The Burnt Biscuit. Going there is like being in real Texas, with boots by the back door, guinea fowl running around, and a view of horses or cows from every window. We were graciously invited back this year, and even George and Sophie received an invite. After Easter service (which was fantastic) we drove the 20 minutes up there, and once we arrived it took all of 5 minutes for both Sophie and George to pee in the house. Oops. Thank goodness for tile and understanding friends. (I was told that they peed right where Biscuit and Hoonie - their dogs- pee all the time, so that made me feel better.) George sized up the Great Dane, Cherokee, but wisely decided to stay away :-)

I would say that a highlight was George and Sophie experiencing livestock for the first time. I held Sophie up to see Bullet the horse, and she nipped at his nose! Then he did this strange Mr. Ed face back for several seconds. He has some crazy gums! Soph felt the same way about cows. Ggrrrrrrrrr.

Biscuit is a little bit of a Don Juan, and humped George's face and side for about an hour. George didn't seem to care, he's used to Sophie doing it. Anyway, Justin had to put Biscuit away because he was breathing so heavy we thought he might keel over any minute and die. It was funny.

It was a great time, and we appreciate the Ulmers for taking in local-family-less friends like us on holidays. Thanks guys!

George being violated by Biscuit

I love feeding Cuddles grass. He loves it too.

Usually I don't do these self-portraits with a horse.

Cuddles' baby. And Baby Mama.

I Need a Band Aid

2009-04-08T15:56:00.000-07:00

So... In the last two weeks I (Jana) found out that I have:

1) Hypothyroidism

2) Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

I am feeling a little broken and sad. My body is kinda broken. I want some kiddos and my body doesn't. Kent might trade me in for a new model soon. Please pray that I can manage these things and that somehow my body will agree with me that having babies is a good thing.

The good news: They are treatable. Woo-Hoo.

Thanks:)

The Big Easy

2009-03-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

To celebrate 4 years of matrimony, Kent and I took a short trip to New Orleans. Neither of us had been there, and since it is only 6 hours away, it seemed like it was worth checking out. We weren't disappointed! Bourbon Street lived up to our expectations as a hub for debaucherers :-), so we walked down it once and decided not to do so again! But the rest of the French Quarter was charming, and it is easy to see why NOLA is called "The City That Care Forgot". The buildings are all OLD and original, most having been built around 1800. The paint is peeling, the shutters are sagging, and at night the gaslights on the homes give off an eerie vibe which made us feel like we were walking around 2oo years ago. Carriages roam the streets under ancient oak and magnolia trees. We ate red beans and rice, jambalaya, and Beignets from Cafe Du Monde.

Typical Style of building in the French Quarter.

Our carriage driver told us that unless owners figure out the original color of the house, they can't paint it. So despite the way the outside looks, the inside of the house is really nice.

Carriage ride in the rain.

Bourbon Street looking uptown

St. Louis Cathedral- The oldest Catholic church in the US. Built late 1700's I guess?

We ate Red Beans and Rice and Jambalaya here.

Look how the old buildings are all crooked and stuff!

The view from our hotel room at the Maison Dupuy.

Here is Kentie eating Cafe Au Lait and Beignets at the Cafe Du Monde.

Kent eyeing a cool old Jeep at the National World War II Museum

More fun at the WWII museum. Kent's victory pose.

Kent on the Natchez Riverboat. We rode it down the Mississippi River.

Can you see my nasty sunburn?

Here lies Marie Laveau, VooDoo Queen of New Orleans!

Mmmm. Breakfast in the Quarter.

The Houston Rodeo

2009-03-14T08:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Kent and I went with our Friends Joe and Allison to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. If we would have gone last week it would have been nice and sunny and warm, but this is Texas- and the weather shifted to 40 degrees and raining. Despite the icky weather, we had a great time. Thanks to Joe, a Cajun boy from Louisiana, I had my first experience with alligator on a stick. It was like gamey rubbery chicken and I can't say I recommend it.

"Alligator, anyone?"

By the time we arrived the rodeo had already started so after we ate we headed straight for our seats, which is in the Reliant Stadium where the Houston Texans play (yes, they are a real team...) We saw bull riding, wagon races, calf roping, barrel racing, the calf scramble, and my favorite- mutton bustin'. I had never seen this event before but it was hilarious. They put adult sheep (or muttons) into a pen, lower a little 5 or 6 year-old onto it's back, then open the gate. The kid has to stay on as long as he can while the mutton runs- and jumps- around. Think of it as mini-bull riding. It was so cute. When the mutton would jump, those little kiddos would go flying off! It was adorable.

Mutton Bustin

After the rodeo ended, the Brad Paisley concert started. We went on this night just so we could see him, and he does not disappoint! It was such a great show, and he played all of his hits. I am not the kind of fan that knows all of his songs, but I do like many of them, so it was treat. I tried to take pics with my phone, but it was too dark with spotlights and stuff, so here he is via a professional photographer. It was a great time, and we get to go back to the rodeo on the 21st for Brooks and Dunn, and the rodeo finals!

Mr. Paisley

Kids Being Cute

2009-03-06T12:39:00.001-08:00

Today I had my little 3rd graders bring slippers and blankets to class for some nice reading time. Though slightly unorthodox, I thought it would be fun to have them sprawl out and attempt to read. They looked so cute, I took a picture with my phone. Here they are.

"I will never be big enug, sow-bed, so-bow-bed, suh-bah-bed Huffy."

(Anyone remember this part of Dennis the Menace?)

George and Sophie on a Wednesday Afternoon

2009-03-04T16:09:00.000-08:00

We LOVE these dumb dogs.

New Orleans in 2 Weeks!

2009-03-02T14:36:00.000-08:00

Our 4th wedding anniversary is coming up in 2 weeks, so we decided to take a short trip to New Orleans to celebrate! Neither of us have ever been there, so finding a hotel was hard. There are tons of cute boutique hotels, but we needed to find a good deal, because every hotel in the French Quarter has$30+ per-day valet fees. Anyway, we booked a room at the Maison Dupuy and it looks super cute. We are excited.

The Maison Dupuy

The Third Grade

2009-02-26T19:26:00.000-08:00

There are times when my 3rd grade students do strange things, causing me to wonder if I did things like that when I was that age. Of course, I wasn't in special education, but my kids aren't all that different from the regular kiddos. Today a boy asked me if he could sharpen his pencil (for the 3rd time in an hour) and I said no, causing him to have a class 4 temper tantrum (4 outta 5 is pretty bad) and cry like a little girl. Then he threw his whole pencil box on the floor, which exploded upon contact, leaving little bits of crayon shavings and colored pencils everywhere. When I told him to pick it up he yelled something in Spanish and buried his face in his hands, sobbing uncontrollably. I felt so evil, but seriously, stop breaking your pencil!!!!

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to look back on my 3rd grade year. So here I am, moccasins and all. Note the hairy legs, which resulted in me being called Chewbacca for the next 9 years.

Timber!!!!

2009-02-24T11:09:00.000-08:00

Our neighbors (not tree huggers apparently) are having all of their pine trees removed from their front yard, which bums me out. I guess having been tree-deprived in Southern California, I extra extra like them now. They decided to cut this one at the base, and then use a rope attached to a truck to pull it down. I was watching from the office, upstairs. It was cool, and sad. Here's a pic of the huge LoblollyPine, now deceased.

Jeff and Nicole Tied the Knot

2009-02-22T13:09:00.000-08:00

On February 7th, my brother Jeff married his best gal, Nicole. It was a great wedding! The wedding was at a church in Silverado Canyon in Southern California, and in the tradition of Eichman weddings, it poured rain. Kent performed the ceremony and did a great job, as usual. I was a bridesmaid, and I got to make the wedding cake! It was a lot of fun, and I am thankful to have a great new sister in Nicole. I will try to post some pictures soon. Until then, here they are at halloween :-)

(I can't figure out how to delete this photo, so oh well.)

Sick Girl, na-na-na-na, Sick Girl

2009-02-22T12:57:00.001-08:00

Not much going on here. Last week Kent was super sick, and guess what... This week I am sick! I feel like I am incubating the plague and like death warmed over. My only respite is Dayquil and watching all my DVR'd reality shows that I love so much. I was able to make it through work all week somehow, and thank God I can crash all weekend. I bought a book to read, "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers, but I am depressed by the plot already. I think I will start reading "Marley & Me", though I think I know how that one ends too...

Kent started sanding the deck yesterday to stain it. It is looking kinda gross because the previous owners never put a stain on it, and it has gotten gray and gross. So he rented a gigantor sander yesterday for $80... and then it rained. Go figure. Anyway, just another task in the long and laborious "facelift" of our house.

Our 4 year anniversary is coming up in March, and we are planning a trip to New Orleans for a few days. It is hard to plan a trip to a place we have never been. I think we are going to stay in the French Quarter so we can walk everywhere. We are going to go to the National WWII museum one day, and hang out on Bourbon Street another day. Any suggestions???

That's all friends. Jana out :-)

All HAIL THE COMPUTER!!!

2009-01-13T13:24:00.000-08:00

The Latest Family Portrait

THANK GOODNESS, Kent and I bought a "gently used" laptop computer for Christmas. Merry Christmas to us. Yes, it is fun using the iPhone to look up stuff online, but it loses it luster quickly. I do have to admit that having Wikipedia at my fingetips all day is so fun and convenient.

Smug Teen: "Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade came out in 1985."
Me: "No it didn't. It was in the late eighties. Like '89 or maybe 1990."
Smug Teen: "No- trust me I know. I like, LOVE those movies."
Me: (thinking inner thoughts) What a brat. He wasn't even born then. I don't presume to tell oldies when their movies came out!) "Let's look it up right now!"

Anyway, the computer is great, and came with a full library of 2nd hand music on iTunes, even if some of it is not my thing (ZZ Top, Seriously?)

So, now that nobody is reading this anymore, I wil have to send out those little emails reminding people that care (moms- are you listening?)

Since we last posted, here are some updates:

August: I (Jana) started teaching again, this time trying wee ones at Ford Elementary in Oak Ridge. I thought it would be easier than high school, ha ha ha. I work part-time (clarification: I only get paid for part-time, but I work full-time!), M-F, 8-12. Good times. I teach 3rd grade special ed. kiddos who are adorable but cry a lot. Some don't know the alphabet. From Orwell, Homer and Shakespeare to doing lessons brought to you by the letter "J". I am adjusting. I have also decided that the worse smell on earth is a 3rd grade boy's bathroom at 3:30 PM.

September: Hurricane Ike came, busted stuff up, knocked over our fence, and dropped trees on everyone. Then the Crowes came to live with us while their relatives house (which they were living in) was repaired. Today (4 months later) is their last day here, and I am sad. The house seems empty. Now Kent can walk around in his underwear again :-) Just kidding. I posted a short and unexciting video of the Hurricane below. It was actually a HUGE deal here, rightly so. I will post more pics later.

October: Mom Eichman and Aunt Cheryl came to visit so we could go to Antique Week in Round Top. We had a lot of fun and scored some good junk. Aunt Cheryl bought a cow hide, mom bought miscellaneous doo-dahs, and I FINALLY found some 1950's schoolhouse pendant lights for the kitchen and breakfast nook. They hung in a tiny Baptist church in north Texas for 50 years. May they hang for another 50. Thanks to Kentie for rewiring them and installing them :-) They are perfection.
November: We celebrated Thanksgiving with our friends Brooke and Justin Ulmer at their parent's ranch: The Burnt Bisquit. We fed Cuddles the bull, escaped from him on a golf cart, helped put the guineas in their coop, and rode horses. Very nice :-) Thanks to Carolyn and Leroy for taking in family-less orphans like us during the holidays.

Californians: Click here to see what a guinea is.

December: The usual Christmas preparations. We flew to Las Vegas for Christmas to be with Kent's family, then I flew to Orange County to be with my family some. Mom and I threw a bridal shower for Nicole, my brother Jeff's fiance. We also drove up to Bass Lake for New Years and enjoyed snow. I miss mountains! Kent flew back to Texas early for a big New Year's Eve bash for high school and junior high kiddos. And he wants me to note in caps that HE INSTALLED A "GENTLY USED" DISHWASHER ALL BY HIMSELF, AND IT WORKS GREAT. Thank you to the Lees for donating it to our gradual "remodel".

January: Freezing our butts off in Texas :)

PS: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: 1989!!!!

Alaska

2008-09-02T17:37:00.000-07:00

Hey Friends!

Just a quick stop into the blog to post a couple of pics from our recent cruise from Seattle to various points in Alaska and British Columbia. We still have not bought a new computer, so I have to come to Kent's office at night to use one. I figure a couple more paychecks and we will rejoin this century. Until then, so sorry!

Pike Place Fish market in Seattle

White Pass Train Ride from Skagway, Alaska into the Yukon Territory, B.C.

Some glacier behind us, on Tracy Arm Fjord

Kent and the inside passage of B.C.

Prince Rupert, B.C. at the Butze Rapids

The Way Of The Dodo

2008-08-19T17:52:00.001-07:00

Our home computer has recently gone to the obsolete electronic happy hunting ground along with laser disc players and walkmans. It had a good run, but since Grandma bought if for me (Jana) 7 years ago, it had been living on borrowed time for a while. So, we are currently sans computer. If you know of anyone who has a MacBook Pro that doesn't want it (that's you Keith), we are accepting applicants for our new home computer.

In the meantime, blog entries will be sparse.

Plus, I, (Jana) have gone back to work and will be teaching elementary special ed., so blog time is somewhat limited. But never fear, we will be back and running soon :-)

Gone, Baby Gone

2008-07-30T22:18:00.001-07:00

Special thanks to Mom and Dad Anderson for spending a week of their time with us here in Texas and helping us lay tile in the kitchen and laundry room (photos to come). We appreciate you! We will let you out of the house next time... We promise.

And thanks to Dad Eichman for spending 2 days here helping us paint all of our kitchen cabinets from yellow to white. Thanks!

Tomorrow Kent and I leave for our Alaskan cruise! I hope to wrestle a polar bear and brew tea made from tree bark.

Just Kidding.

We just want to see the glaciers before they are gone... next week.

Be back Aug. 9th!

Kentie and Jana

I Know I'm in Texas Part I

2008-07-13T22:52:00.000-07:00

I went to Hobby Lobby today to look for some fabric, and on the door there was a sign that said...

Business Hours

Monday-Saturday 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

Sundays we are closed so that our employees may attend worship

and spend time with their families

I Love My Dad

2008-07-13T22:48:00.000-07:00

Always willing to do whatever is one of Dad's best traits.

I love you!

California Trip- San Francisco Portion

2008-07-13T21:45:00.000-07:00

The start of my trip...

Jana and Elisse @ Powell Street Cable Car Turnaround

My girlfriend Debbie lives in Oakland, Ca- which is another eclectic city in the Bay Area; just minutes to downtown San Francisco. While I was there our other friend Elisse (we are all college buddies) drove in from Folsom and we had some good shopping/hangout time in the city. It was gay pride week, so that was interesting- I was RAINBOWED out! Not OUT- out, you know? (gay joke). They would have loved my cake! Anyway, we had fun. The three of us went to dinner at some hipster hangout called Cha-Cha-Cha for some sort of Latin cuisine. I ate fried bananas, which is way outside the box for this girl. And I had my first encounter with sangria... Interesting.

Debbie and Elisse

Debs and I, along with her boyfriend Matthew and other friends went to see a play called, "Tis Pity She's A Whore", which sounds dirtier than it was. It was written 400 years ago, so I only understood around 20% of what was being said, but the music was interesting- a lone chellist using a distortion pedal. The music was the best part. Oh, and the comic relief character rode a 1950's scooter half the time, in full Elizabethan-era costume.

I then took the train from Jack London Square in Oakland to Sacramento and then on to Folsom to see the Tweets. Folsom was hard to see because all of the smoke, but what I did see was really cute and quaint. One of my favorite parts of that trip was... In 2001 I made a pillow for my ex-roommates' (Elisse, Debbie, and Sarah) house, with pin-up girl fabric. Here 7 years later I went into 2-year-old Jack's bedroom, and he was using it as his pillow. It was really cute.

Jack's Pillow

While flying home to Orange County, the plane crossed over Yosemite National Park, and I had a direct view of some of the fires burning there- and more interestingly of Bass Lake. Look at all the smoke- Gross! This pic is looking down at Yosemite- Which was clearer from the plane, but not translating well on film.

Just typical air quality in California... Almost

After a few short days in Orange County, the smoke had cleared so we drove up to the lake- Finally!

California Trip- Yosemite Portion

2008-07-11T20:03:00.000-07:00

Just a few miles away from Bass Lake is Yosemite National Park. Some years we venture the stomach lurching winding drive to the valley, and most often not. However, just a few miles into the park, and not too far from the cabin is the historic Wawona Hotel, built in 1879 and frequented by Teddy Roosevelt. On Saturday evenings they have an outdoor BBQ on the lawn underneath the massive pine trees. We went for dinner one night, and then explored the "Pioneer Village" just a short walk away. It was 80 degrees, quiet, beautiful, and thankfully, not on fire!!! (As seemingly half the state is).

California Trip- Bass Lake Portion

2008-07-11T19:44:00.000-07:00

Every year Grandma Jo celebrates her birthday at the lake by having a weenie roast over at the Denver Church Campground on the other side of the lake. So, we pack up the chairs, food, wood (and now babies) and head over in various boats. This year was no exception, and so we grilled away and then played several games of Telephone**.

**Note: In my Brady Bunch-esque nuclear and extended family, this is normal behavior. Other things we have done that rate a 10 on the lame-o-meter include (1) a hula hoop contest, (2) a limbo contest, (3) a talent show, (4) and as a family singing "You Are So Beautiful To Me" to Grandma on her 75th birthday. I complain, but secretly I like it.

So, that concludes my trip to the Best Coast- Er, I mean West Coast :-)

Lazy on the Lake

2008-07-07T09:37:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! Hello husband in Texas! I am posting this from Bass Lake, just a few miles south of Yosemite National Park in CA. I was having blog withdrawls- the shakes, blurred vision- and decided to post. I have been up at the lake for about a week now, and am enjoying the same old, same old. I have had some Forks burgers, gone for boat rides, kayaked around the cove where our dock is, had dinner at the Wawona Hotel in Yosemite, watched fireworks over the lake on the 4th, cruised around The Pines in the golfcart, and so on and so forth. I miss Kent a TON, and my doggies, but being with my California family is a lot of fun. Today I am going to play 9 holes of golf in Yosemite, and then float in the lake some more- laziness never gets old.

I come home on Wednesday- Yeehaw! XOXO

Greetings From San Francisco!

2008-06-25T09:04:00.000-07:00

I arrived in Oakland last night where I am staying with my friend Debbie- So good to be back in the Bay Area! I left 90+ degree Texas heat for a high in S.F. today of 51! It is just how S.F. is in my mind- Foggy, cold, and noisy. Deb's apartment is in a cute 1920's brick building complete with fire escape, old wood floors, crown molding, and lots of personality. She went to work this morning, and I am going to take the train into the city later today. Our other friend (and one of my college roommates) Elisse is coming in this evening from Folsom. No, she is not an inmate there. Do people in Texas even know what Folsom is? I guess if you listen to Johnny Cash you know. Anyway, it is a quaint city with a rather large state prison.

California Here I come...

2008-06-14T13:33:00.001-07:00

Only 2 days until I (Jana) fly out to California for 2 weeks at our family cabin at Bass Lake! Unfortunately Kent won't be able to join me this year, which totally stinks. I will be flying to the Bay Area (that's San Francisco for you Texans) and staying with my good friend Debbie Obernesser for a couple of nights, connecting with my college roomie/friend Elisse, then hitching a ride with my dad to the lake. I have gone to Bass Lake every summer of my life, and I am not about to give it up just because I live 1,600 miles away!

Forks burgers, fireworks, mountains, taco salad, onion rings from Miller's Landing, Whoopee Cushions from the Corner Store, waterskiing and tubing, a comfy hammock to read on, family, friends ... I am so JAZZED!

For those of you unfamiliar with Bass Lake, it is a beautiful emerald green lake just a few miles outside of Yosemite National Park. And unlike Southern Texas lakes, this one is not brown and you can see underwater. And... no large reptiles (though my brother Jeff used to tell me that someone had released Piranhas into the lake as well as "fresh water sharks"- That's big brothers for you.)

Let Them Eat Cake

2008-06-13T16:02:00.000-07:00

This week I finally completed my last Wilton Cake Decorating course. I have been making cakes and attending class every Saturday since February. I love cake as much as the next person, but I was ready for it all to be over. Plus, the cakes we have to make are often kinda dated and old person-ish (no offense Grandma).

So... Yesterday I made one for my friend Whitney's birthday party tonight. After dinner everyone is going line dancing or something like that, so I went for a cowboy theme. I think this is my favorite one so far. I personally love the snakes.

"That There Is An R.V."

2008-06-13T15:46:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Kent and I (along with many other wonderful volunteers and church employees) took 70 jr. high and high school kids to San Antonio on the annual "Road Trip". Normally, the kiddos stay in hotels, but this is KENT! Whose travel philosophy is "Why stay in a nice hotel when you can stay in an RV at a KOA?"

I had to drive this tenament on wheels full of 7th grade girls round trip from Houston to San Antone- And through tiny one-way streets surrounding the Alamo. Which by the way does not have a basement.... Thankfully I avoided side-swiping this famous pile of rocks in which Davy Crockett met his end, and I didn't kill any animals or pedestrians. Woo-Hoo!

It's Getting Hot in H-Town

2008-06-13T15:38:00.000-07:00

Georgie Boy loves to swim, but we are without a pool and nearby ocean for him to indulge. So we splurged and bought a $10 pool from Target. Even when full it is not deep enough for him to swim in, but he enjoyed a quick dip last week to cool off. Sophie on the other hand, is more cat-like in her general dislike of getting wet. She won't even walk on wet grass, so imagine her reaction from getting dipped in icy water on a hot day.

I still have scratch marks on my arms.

Chicks, Man!

2008-06-01T14:29:00.000-07:00

On our way home from Austin, we stopped in Giddings to get gas. In the food mart/feed store, there were baby chicks, ducks, and geese for sale for $2.50. I wanted a goose, but Kent said no.

Hydrate Hope Benefit

2008-06-01T14:03:00.000-07:00

Our friends Matt and Kent are co-creators of iamchange.org, a non profit organization they set up to address seven different world needs. Currently, they are focusing on the issue of unclean drinking water, specifically in Sierra Leone, Africa, via their water-related charity called Hydrate Hope. Money raised goes to repair broken wells, or to dig new ones so that residents don't have to drink deadly contaminated water. Kent and I went with a large group of friends to Austin for a charity event last Thursday night. The event was held down in the heart of Austin at a popular lounge called The Belmont. There was a large outdoor seating area which Hydrate Hope was able to take over, with a large photo gallery, "water-walk", a merchandise table, and a stage for the bands that came to play, one of which was Love and Theft from Nashville. There were several hundred people there, and the whole thing was awesome to be part of. Kent and I had fun talking to people that had enjoyed a few too many drinks, and who more than enthusiastic about the charity. It was a great venue, and everyone enjoyed the event. Hopefully, a lot of people's lives will be changed by the generous patrons of The Belmont.

Kayaking on Lake Woodlands

2008-06-01T13:39:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Kent and I met up with our friends Heidi and Mikey for a little kayaking on Lake Woodlands, which is about 2 miles from our house. We rented kayaks for the day, and launched them at Northshore Park in some intense heat! The four of us paddled around the entire lake, stopped near the swanky neighborhood of East Shore for snack time, gawked at some nice houses, and saw a bunch of animals including deer, geese/ducks, blue heron, turtles, fish, and some sort of huge snake. Look at the picture of the snake and try to figure out how it was able to get where it is. We were baffled.

Indiana Jones

2008-05-22T18:12:00.000-07:00

Today Kent and I went to see the new Indiana Jones flick. I have been waiting FOREVER for this movie to come out. Last night we had dinner with some high school students, and I was telling them how jazzed I was for this to come out. They were kind of like "Whatever", and I finally figured out that it was not a big deal to them, because all three previous films were made before they were born. It was an entertaining movie, and the whole 1950's greaser motif with Shia LeBouf was fun. Go see it!

One Step Closer to That Master's Degree

2008-05-22T18:05:00.001-07:00

Yes, I FINISHED my thesis. Whoooooooo-Hoooooo! (Cartwheels, fireworks, etc). All I have to do is read it over one more time, FedEx it to my teacher (also the worst advisor on EARTH), and then get her approval, and then bind it. Hooray! Talk about a HUGE weight off my shoulders. This paper has been the albatross around my neck for over a year. No more!

P.S. Today my advisor in San Diego told me that she is leaving the country on June 12th, so she has to be Johnny on the Spot with this, which she has never been in the past. So please PRAY that Professor T. will read my document and send it back asap, and remember to change my grade before she leaves for wherever.

Cakes of the Week

2008-05-18T19:21:00.000-07:00

Top: A spa themed cake for a friend's Arbonne party.
Middle: A Mother's Day cake for a friend.
Bottom: Saturday's "homework" assignment.

Wasting Time

2008-05-07T13:29:00.000-07:00

It is amazing what lame and fruitless activities one can find when they are trying to avoid doing something very unexciting but necessary. For example, I have the go-ahead to finish the last 2 chapters of my thesis, after a year of hard work and red tape. Yet, I find myself filling my last three days with: making clotted cream and scones, cleaning the entire house, framing pictures, blogging, reading about the election on msn.com, answering questions on yahoo!answers, sorting mail, watching tivo'd reality shows (Jason Castro needs to leave American Idol tonight- Seriously!), laundry, and playing with the dogs. In fact, in the last three days I have only left the house for a total of 15 minutes, and that was to show Kent where the post office was.

So friends, I need your prayers. I need divine intervention and I need it quick! Tell me what a ridiculous loser I am for doing nothing all day, everyday, and how stupid I am for wasting valuable time! Blah! I so want to finish this thing!

In fact- I think that I should not blog until I have completed AT LEAST one of the two chapters. If I added up all the time I spent on this computer, and had sat down and worked on the paper, I would be near done. So, I am making a commitment to ignore this blog until I have made progress.

Until... Who knows when.

The Rain Promotes Creativity

2008-05-06T15:29:00.001-07:00

Yesterday while it rained, I decided to finish framing some family photos. I used wallpaper and wrapping paper to cover the white frame mats, and I think they turned out cute. They are going upstairs in the hallway.

Photos are (L to R): My Alfred Eisenstaedt picture, Kent's mom Jenny on a horse as an early teen, My mom Kathy hoola-hooping around age 4, Grandma Jo and Grandpa Claude in 1951, Kent's grandfather John Cotton with Sophia Loren in the 1950's?, Kent and I on Halloween 2006 as a WW2 paratrooper and Rosie the Riveter, and Kent's grandfather again.

When It Rains It Pours

2008-05-06T15:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday it rained- no, POURED- for 12 straight hours. At 3:00 in the morning Kent and I both woke up to loud thunder and bright white lightning, and realized that Kent's Jeep was parked outside, with the top off. So after putting the car in the garage, we just laid in bed listening to the thunder. Sophie had the chihuahua shakes all night, which she always gets when there is thunder and lightning. It rained all night, all morning, and into the afternoon. Our yard was a massive puddle, so I thought I would go out for some puddle stomping.

Burning Down the House

2008-04-30T20:15:00.000-07:00

This evening I nearly burned down my house. The flat cooktop was off all day, so I set a pizza box over on the left side earlier while I cleaned the fridge. Tonight, I put a pot of water over on the right burner to boil chicken for the pups. Well, I turned the wrong burner on (it happens a lot), and then went outside to water some plants. About 15 minutes later, I opened the back door and walked back into my house, and a disgusting wave of smoke caused me to gag. My dogs are just sitting there inside looking confused. Panic Panic Panic. Suddenly, the fire alarm upstairs/around the corner goes off (finally), so I run into the most likely place- the kitchen- and the whole pizza box is engulfed in flames. So I screamed,"Eeeek!" and turn on the faucet/sprayer thing and hose the whole thing down. Now black nasty water is EVERYWHERE. I run upstairs to turn off the alarm, but I am not tall enough, so I had to get a chair....meanwhile the WHOLE house is full of thick nasty smoke and it reeks! I opened every window, and we don't have screens, and this is TEXAS! So not only is my house smoky but there a million gross bugs flying in.

Well, I cleaned it up, and other than the lingering smell, some beetles flying around inside, some oranges that were charred, and my Corian countertops that will need to be repaired (an easy repair according to the web), everything is okay.

I learned three valuable lessons:

1. If the house is burning down, my dogs will not save me.

2. I should have a smoke alarm on the bottom floor.

3. I am an idiot

Kent came home in the midst of the cleaning and airing of the house, and asked one question, "Can I have some string cheese?"

Lone Star Air Show

2008-04-26T15:45:00.000-07:00

Top-Bottom: Kissing Sailor on V-J Day!, Jana and the Kissing Sailor, TBF Avenger like the one President George Bush Sr. flew in WW2.

Today Kent and I went south 80 miles to Galveston Island for an air show we had seen advertised from the Lone Star Flight Museum. We almost didn't go, because when we left there were thundershowers, but in true Texas fashion, it ended up being sunny and 85 degrees once we got there. It was a great show, with a ton of different aircraft including the B-17, B-25, F-18, and other smaller WW2 fighters such as the p-51, Avenger, etc. There were also several bi-planes and stunt planes doing loopty-loops. I cannot tell you how awesome that F-18 Hornet is. The b-17 seems all tough as it flies by until the F-18 buzzes by real low and practically blows out your ear drums. I felt sorry for any country that ticks off the USA. Such force!

The other very cool thing was that Glenn McDuffie, the "Kissing Sailor" from the famous Alfred Eisenstaedt photograph in Life Magazine was there signing copies of the photo, "for free, with a $10 donation". I asked him if the woman he kissed was good looking, and he said, "She was beautiful back then but now she's as ugly as a darn Saint Bernard (censored)." He insists that she grabbed and kissed him. Anyway, it was fun because I had read this year on msn.com that some volunteer scientists had used forensic analysis to determine that he is indeed the sailor. Apparently there were several imposters, and in fact Time magazine still will not recognize him as the sailor. So yes, I took a picture with him, and when I joked that I wouldn't try to kiss him he said he didn't mind if I did, as he had "kissed thousands of women".

Another Texas Moment

2008-04-25T20:44:00.001-07:00

Tonight Kent and I attended the wedding of our friends Joe and Alison. It was held in old town Conroe, in a wedding venue consisting of a few 1930's farmish type homes and a chapel. The weather was fantastic and perfect. Anyway, our two favorite things were 1) beef briskit dinner, and 2) the DJ played "Honkey Tonk Badonkadonk", which everyone but us knew the words to. And they knew how to line dance to it. For the part where Joe takes off Alison's garter, they played the Texas A&M fight song. Texas is so fun :-) We recommend it to anyone who wants to move here.

Not Your Average Trip to Chick-fil-a

2008-04-25T13:54:00.001-07:00

Today my friend Wendy and I were in a Chick-Fil-A drive-thru, and in front of us was a mounted policewoman on horseback placing an order. The horse kept sticking his head through the open drive-thru window. I SO wish I had my camera with me. It was not something you see in Southern California. Classic!

Almost Done Reminiscing... I Promise

2008-04-24T14:02:00.000-07:00

Top: My Cousin Lauren and I looking totally awesome in our matching Bass Lake tank-tops in 1991. I must have meant to mail this picture to Lauren, because on the back I wrote, "Lauren, Wohhhh! Baby! Tough Mama! Lauren, you are taller than me, and I am MAD!!!!! Love, Jana Eichman I (heart) U 2!"

Bottom: My cousin Rachel and I looking...lame as ever. With matching hair and reverse outfits at Bass Lake in 1992. Again, I must have meant to mail the picture, because I wrote on the back, "Rachel + Jana, Summer of '92. Rachel, I (heart) U! You are very special to me. Love, Jana Eichman. PS If you grow up to be taller than me I'll get you and you'll be sorry! (Heart)!!!"

Apparently I was having some height issues.

I Love My Friends

2008-04-24T13:31:00.001-07:00

Debbie looking HOT in Washington D.C. 2004?

Oddballs: It Takes One to Know One

This week I have been thinking a lot about friends. How much I enjoy my new Texas friends, how I love my California friends and miss them, and how much I appreciate those that put forth the effort to maintain our friendship since I moved. Thanks ladies! You guys make me feel loved and important.

xoxo Jana

Jana's First Tiered Fondant Cake!! How (un)Exciting!

2008-04-22T21:15:00.001-07:00

On Saturday I made this cake for my friend Alison's personal bridal shower/bachelorette party, and to be honest it turned out better than I thought it would. It actually tasted good as well, minus the black store-bought fondant zebra stripes. I am loving these cake decorating classes!

Fond Memories of Yesteryear...

2008-04-19T08:48:00.001-07:00

After rummaging through some old shoeboxes of this and thats, I found these two pictures of my girlfriends/roommates (minus Camille- bummer!) from college. I think the top one was taken the day after I graduated from college and was moving home (2001), and I think the bottom one was from Debbie's going away party when she moved to Washington DC in 2003. Those were good times. I miss you gals!

Laundry Room After

2008-04-18T16:37:00.000-07:00

And the laundry room after some serious elbow grease... It looks a hundred times better, and is way more functional. Thanks to Grandma Jo for financing the cabinets, and to dad Eichman for installing them. One more room is done- Hooray!

Laundry Room Before

2008-04-18T16:28:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics of what our mud/laundry room looked like before...

2008-04-17T09:27:00.000-07:00

Last week our friend Lanette Whitaker came to Houston from Northern Cal. to watch her daughter Kaylan play volleyball in the Lone Star Classic. Lanette was able to come stay with Kent and I for a couple of days, and I was able to go into Houston and watch Kaylan's team kick some butt. This tournament was HUGE, with over 1,400 teams competing. Here is a picture of Kaylan and I, all smiley because she just won her match.

Kent's Man Camping Trip

2008-04-17T09:08:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Kent spent some man camping time with his buddies Jason and Justin. They borrowed a small boat for fishing (strapped to the top of our tent-trailer) and went up north to Lake Conroe. Kent was so excited about the trip that he woke up at 3 am because he couldn't sleep. So, I took this photo to show what Kent looks like when he is sublimely happy.

2008-04-15T10:55:00.000-07:00

Kent's men's soccer league played some British guys on Sunday at Bear Branch Park. They tied 2-2. Look at that fierce look on his face! :-)

Our Loot

2008-04-07T10:36:00.001-07:00

Here is a picture of our Round Top finds!

Antique Week in the Texas Hill Country

2008-04-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

Pictures from Top to Bottom: Mom with Johnny Waddle and her new cow hide; plenty of rusty chairs for everyone; The Knittel B&B in Burton, Texas where we stayed; Mom with some serious boot envy; Jana with her new dream car (JK)...

Mom Eichman came in to town last week so we could road trip over to Round Top, Texas for "The Biggest Antique Show in the USA". We read about this last year in Country Living magazine and decided that we had to go! Round Top is a small town halfway between Austin and Houston, and the drive there was beautiful. All of the Texas wildflowers are in bloom right now and the highways are lined with all kinds of vivid color. We stayed at a small B&B in nearby Burton (population 350) which we loved- our room was done in a "Teddy Roosevelt Lodge" style, complete with clawfoot tub and old farmhouse sink.

The antique fair was amazing- thousands of vendors ranging from fancy and expensive European furniture, to some-what cheap and tacky junk (my favorite). Mom bought a cow hide, which we named "Heidi", some pink cowboy boots and some other small items, and I bought some goblets, old window screens and cabinet doors (for something crafty), an apron, and other random items. We heard Brad Pitt was in the neighborhood filming a movie, but we didn't see him :-(

We had a lot of laughs, and enjoyed our waitress at a cafe in Burton apologizing for running out of frog legs that evening. The cow hide salesman introduced himself as "Johnny... Johnny Waddle like a duck." Johnny what? "Johnny Waddle- You know, like a duck." Ohhh.

After Round Top we drove another couple of hours to Fredericksburg, a quaint town in hill country known for antique shops and German culture. We ate some sort of German cuisine that I can't pronounce (der Schnitzelschimmglochen.. or something like it) and spent a day at the Chester Nimitz National Museum of the Pacific War, which was awesome. A great time!

Kent Getting Arrested

2008-03-29T20:55:00.000-07:00

Did I get your attention with that title? Kent and some guys from church filmed a "Cops" video for church tomorrow. I haven't seen the video yet, but I loved this picture. Hopefully there was no body cavity search involved.

Easter Sunday

2008-03-25T21:18:00.000-07:00

This year for Easter we received an invite from our freinds Justin and Brooke to spend the day at Justin's parent's ranch about 25 minutes away. It was really beautiful and "Texas-y", because when you pull off the country road to their long gravel driveway you are surrounded by pastures with horses and cows. They had an awesome house with lots of wood inside and cowboy decor. We had an Easter egg hunt (which I Jana won for finding the most eggs :-) and some good barbeque. I also was able to feed the large bull named Cuddles (see pic), and help take some of their horses into the barn for the night. It was a great day with great freinds- and a very nice way to celebrate Easter. My last 6 Easters have been spent in London UK, Long Beach CA, Costa Rica, San Clemente CA, the Pacific Ocean on a ship, and now in Texas. Where will we be next year? I am rooting for Paris.

Video of the B-17

2008-03-16T16:49:00.000-07:00

Totally Awesome B-17 and B-25

2008-03-16T15:46:00.000-07:00

The last couple of days we have been spotting a WW II era B-17 flying right over our house. Since I read a couple of books about the B-17 (which is was what the Memphis Belle was), I decided to Google this plane and see why it is here. As it turns out, there is an air museum in Galveston, and this weekend they flew the planes to a small airport in Spring, which is a few miles away. For $425 they were offering 25 minute rides on the B-17, but for $6 we could go inside and check it out. So... We drove to Spring and were able to see the B-17 Flying Fortress, a B-25, and a Stearman bi-plane. What a treat! The 50 cal. guns were still in the B-17, with dummy rounds hanging out. I was able to see the Norden Bombsight ( a top-secret device invented in WW II to make bombing more accurate) , the ball turret underneath the fuselage, and everything else inside. Memphis Belle was and is one of my favorite movies, so to see a real B-17 was a treat. Apparently they used this plane in the movie, not as the Memphis Belle, but as another plane in the squadron.

The B-25 was also very cool. This is the model of bomber they used in the Doolittle raids on Tokyo in April of 1942, to get back at Japan for Pearl Harbor. Since no plane at that time could hold enough fuel to fly from Hawaii to Tokyo, 16 B-25's were stripped of all unnecessary items to make them lighter, and pilots had to learn to take off of aircraft carriers. If you have seen the movie Pearl Harbor, Ben Affleck's character pilots one in the Doolittle raid.

Anyway, it was VERY cool to see the four engines fired up and the B-17 taxi around the runway. What a treat!

kent's first post

2008-03-15T09:58:00.000-07:00

My wife jana is a hottie...

Houston Rodeo & Rascal Flatts

2008-03-12T21:27:00.000-07:00

Last night Kent and I had our first rodeo experience at the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show. My parent's friends Jim and Christy Bailey were in town from Newbury Park, CA to visit their daughter Sally and her boyfriend Greg, so we all hooked up at the rodeo. We saw bareback bronco riding, bull riding, wagon racing, calf roping, calf wrestling, and a lady ride standing up carrying an American flag with fireworks coming out (only in Texas). I saw A LOT of cowboy boots and cowboy hats- something I had not seen since moving here. They even prayed at the beginning of the rodeo for the safety of the riders and the animals! Can you imagine? PRAYER to GOD at a big sporting event. It was awesome. Those cowboys love them some Jesus.

After the rodeo portion of the evening, there was a Rascal Flatts concert, which we enjoyed. We even knew some of the words (don't tell anyone :-)Anyway, it was a really fun night and we appreciate the Baileys for inviting us!

No pictures yet.

Houston Rockets Game

2008-03-08T20:39:00.000-08:00

Our friend Jason hooked us up with some awesome Houston Rockets seats on Saturday night. I have never been seated so close to the players at any professional sports game, so it was very cool. We were 4 rows from the court. Kent was in heaven.

Anyway, Yao was out with his foot surgery, but the Rockets won without him :-) It was a great game. They are 19-0 now.

I am posting a short video for my basketball loving family members. (Kinnoins- That means you guys).

Classic 2004: True Love

2008-03-07T22:11:00.000-08:00

He's trying to kill me and we are not even married yet.

George and Sophie Attack Fake Raccoon

2008-03-03T15:12:00.000-08:00

A Cake Diploma!!!

2008-03-02T17:22:00.000-08:00

Yes friends! Saturday, with little pomp and circumstance, I received a "Wilton Method Cake Decorating Course I" certificate! Yesterday I passed my "final" and officially completed course one. Next week I begin course two, in which all variations of fondant and royal icing flowers will be mastered.

I am posting some pics of the last two weeks worth of cakes...

Space Cadet

2008-03-02T16:56:00.000-08:00

Last week when my cousin Jill was here, Grandma Jo, Jill and I went down to the NASA Space Center in Houston. I am not really into "space stuff", but it was actually really cool. We took a tram ride around the NASA facility, and were able to view (1) the central command center in which all the Apollo missions were monitored (as seen in Apollo 13, and The Right Stuff), (2) the current astronaut training center with life-size reproductions of the International Space Station, and (3) a MASSIVE retired rocket that propelled the space shuttles during the 1960's through the 1980's/90's(?). The rocket was my favorite, because it was seriously huge. It was on its side enclosed in a big warehouse, and was truly gargantuan.

I am posting a few photos for your viewing enjoyment :-)

2008-03-02T14:21:00.000-08:00

This past Friday we decided to powerwash our driveway and front walkway. It was like taking a gigantic eraser and wiping out the years of moss and mold on our concrete. It turned black moldy concrete to a nice clean creamy color. When it was done five hours later, it looked SO much better. I wish I had taken a before and after picture, but I didn't. Even Grandma Jo took a turn with the powerwasher (which is gas powered and NOISY, because Kent couldn't settle for a "wimpy" electric one). Grandma Jo did some major concrete square-footage, and some plants as well (See pic :-) Slowly our little "fixer-upper" is becoming a very nice place to live.

Like Mother Like Daughter

2008-02-27T17:38:00.000-08:00

When in San Antonio, do as the tourists do...

NOFX @ Warehouse Ballroom in Houston

2008-02-27T09:01:00.000-08:00

Last night Kent and I did something we have not done in a while... We went to see a good old fashioned punk show in downtown Houston, which was headlined by NOFX and also included No Use For a Name. NOFX was my favorite band in junior high and high school, and though I am not a huge fan of their new music (too political), I love their old albums. So, I bought tickets a couple of months ago, and last night we headed downtown. We almost decided to skip it because we were tired and wanted to stay home and watch a movie, which would have been a big mistake. I had a blast, though I can't say the same for Kent. The last time I saw NOFX was about 5 or 6 years ago, and I stood in the very front- which made it even better. But over time I forgot what being in the very front was like, with my arms and ribs squished into the metal guard railing and the force of hundreds of angsty teens behind me. So I decided to be in the very front again, and Kent got over it really fast and headed to the rear. I think I was kicked in the head about 20 times from crowd surfers, and today my forearms are sore and bruised from being pushed into the railing. But... I had a great time, and even caught the singer Fat Mike's guitar pick as he tossed it into the crowd. Whoopee. Kent was the best sport ever, and stood in the back trying to keep an eye on me the whole time. It was a good night, and it felt good to be around some California culture again. I took a bunch of pictures with my cell phone, but I have no idea how to transfer them to my computer. So just picture me squished in the front, yelling out lyrics with a big smile on my face :-)

Dad's Texas Birthday

2008-02-21T20:55:00.000-08:00

Dad was here this week, which was extra special as he celebrated his ?? birthday. And since we know how much he loves his dog, I put Tilly the Boston Terrier on his cake. It was gooooooood.

West Coast Visitors!

2008-02-19T15:53:00.000-08:00

This past weekend began a long and exciting line-up of visitors. Kent's mom Jenny came from Las Vegas for the weekend, and it was fantastic. We ate out a few times, rode the tourist boats on The Woodlands Waterway, watched a bunch of movies, and cooked manicotti for Kent. On Monday Jenny went home, and Grandma Jo and my cousin Jill Kinnoin flew in from Southern California. Today we went to Old Town Spring, which was built around 1900, and ate lunch, then hit up some ultra-girlie boutique shops.

Grandma Jo spotted the "Old Town Spring Post Office" from across the street and said she was going to go buy some stamps. I didn't pay much attention to where she was going, and when she came back, she said, "Oh, they are closed." The funny part is, that this post office is inoperable, and is simply a photo-op, as it was the post office back in the old days, It is just a wooden shack with some fake PO boxes, and a fake service window. I attached a photo of Jill and Grandma in front of the post office. Grandma makes everything more fun with her "Joanne-isms".

Rainbow Cake

2008-02-19T15:42:00.000-08:00

This was the first cake I made for my cake decorating class. I had to make the cake, tort it (layer it), frost it, and then bring 5 colors of icing to class for the mandatory rainbow. Though rainbows are not my favorite, it turned out pretty good, and I have a lot of pride in it (gay pun intended). We were supposed to write something at the bottom, but I didn't know what to write. I love my class, and find myself wanting to make cakes all the time. The problem is... what do I do with all of them?

Video of Lightning!

2008-02-15T22:25:00.001-08:00

Interesting points are on the time meter are...
0:35 Big bolt of lightning
1:40 Unintentional lame joke
2:20 Big bolt of lightning
2:45 A tribute to Debbie Obernesser for giving me this camera...
Enjoy!
(Do I have a future in Meteorology?)

A Cake for the Neighbors

2008-02-14T14:08:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T12:39:00.000-08:00

Since I don't have a lot of money for fancy gifts, I decided to make Kent a Valentine's Day cake. I had so much fun doing this! I put on my country music in the kitchen, and spent the day being girlie. This is my first cake since my first lesson, and I think it turned out pretty good. Kent's stomach will be the ultimate test. I hope he likes it!

More Camping Classics

2008-02-13T21:46:00.001-08:00

George Looking Sexy

2008-02-13T10:54:00.000-08:00

Camping Video

2008-02-11T13:13:00.000-08:00