Spider (by Rob)

Have you ever seen Mary freaked out? Friday night, Mary was beyond freaked out when she caught a glimpse of a spider on the way out to the hot tub. After getting a flashlight, she found this spider (almost actual size):



Immediately, Mary googled "spiders" to try and identify it. She saw some spiders online that are even more scary and big than ours, which freaked her out more.

She found a website where you post a spider pic and they identify it for you. Ours is a Barn Orbweaver. Nocturnal, harmless, (supposedly) eats their own web every morning, and is the type of spider Charlotte of Charlotte's Web is based upon.

EPILOGUE: Saturday night, I killed the spider after smushing it a few times. Mary still hasn't gotten rid of her heebie-gebbies. She tiptoes to the hot tub looking around for anything moving. Fortunately, no spider since. And hopefully, no eggs.

Back to School (by Mary)

After a few miracles, I was finally able to register for ARTS 260: Basic Photography! I did use a few of my connections in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, and my benefits waive me from tuition! After over three years, I am a college student again!



I emailed my TA yesterday (who I am older than), because I missed my first class on Tuesday, and we all know that I'm a kiss-a$$. My assignment, due this morning at 9am, was to take 250 pictures with my digital camera- just point and shoot. 250 is more photos than you think. I was a bit nervous about my first class today, but I feel back in the groove already. Below are a few of my favorites photos. Just keep in mind no special settings were used on these photos, so they are very basic.




(yes, I got that close to a spider-- click on it to see the detail)

Mary on the Radio (by Rob)

The radio station promotes blood donations over the summer because that's when donations really drop off. So I was talking today about how chicks dig guys who give blood, mostly because of the bandage on their arm. Mary called and weighed in on the subject.

Press play to listen:

Newspapers Love Ray (by Mary)

Ray was featured in Sunday's paper from Clarksville, TN, where he is stationed. Click here to read the article.

For the record, I do not like to consider myself the reason Ray is in the Army. I am smarter, though :)

Pictures from August

I'm finally getting around to posting some non-poison-ivy pictures.

Here is the beautiful and tasty cake that Sarah made for Muvey's retirement party.


Dot and Rob stretching after the bars a few weeks ago...


And, what you've all been waiting for...the reveal of our house with new siding and shutters!
Before


And, after!


Finally, the floors in our basement are installed!

Barack Obama at the Richel Baptism

We were tied up over the weekend with family, otherwise we would have met Barack Obama.

Ted's sons Gavin and Gunnar were both baptized Sunday in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Barack happened to be in Eau Claire and dropped by the church for Sunday Service. I think Katie Richel is the blurry head in the background.






On Barack's Road Blog, it says "Barack visited the First Lutheran Church of Eau Claire, enjoying services and a sermon by Pastor John Kerr entitled “The First Day of School...In addition, two youngsters were baptized at First Lutheran this morning, Gunnar Clark and Gavin Richel."

No word whether or not Barack accepted Ted's invitation to be Godfather.

The In-Laws Are Here! (by Rob)

Over the weekend, Marti and Terry visited. Terry took me out for my second golf outing this summer (thanks a bunch!). Marti is sticking around until Friday night. Today, she's folding clothes... including my underwear. It's nice to have visitors who clean up after themselves and then some.

Mary and Marti canned some spaghetti sauce from our tomatoes. So now the question is "when can we crack into our cans?"