Haven't posted in a while and thought an update was in order

I survived my first week of the new job and am halfway through my second week of work. Last week Matt and I went up to Orlando and did the theme parks. Andy stayed home, worked and did some senior year stuff at school. All had a good time.

We have had some more "issues" crop up, but none too critical as to cause us more than annoyance at this point. The boys car, my hand me down Oldsmobile Alero, died. The engine was unusable and not worth replacing in an 8 year old car. So we started and ended the process of replacing it this week.

On Last Friday, while Matt and I were in Orlando, Andy was headed to my parents house for dinner and was minding his own business at a red light when a landscaping truck barreled around the corner and the fork lift on the back fell off slamming into my year old car (Trish bought it for me in 2006, so the boys could have the Alero). The good news is that Andy was unharmed and the only apparent damage to my car is the bumper. Had the forklift launched a little later in the turn it could have been tragic.

On Monday, I bought the boys a certified pre-owned 2004 Audi A4. While I was concerned about this being too good of a car for them, it was a really good deal. It cost about the same a new Honda Civic. It comes with a two year 70K mile warranty extension and insuring it is almost $100/month cheaper than the Honda Civic. It should last a long time if well cared for. It was the easiest car purchase I have ever made. Negotiated the price down via e-mail and just had to show up to sign papers and write a check. The actual time at the dealership was only about 30 minutes and while you never feel like you got the best deal. I am quite happy with the price we paid vs Kelly Blue Book and consumer reports pricing on the car.

This Saturday, my last act of "retail therapy" will be completed. We will receive delivery of a new entertainment center for our living room. Before Trish was diagnosed in 2005, we had planned to redo the flooring and other items in our dinning and living room areas. After she got sick, the money to do this was gone. As we prepared to come home and knowing we no longer had the money -- Trish's Mom replaced the floors in both rooms for us so that Trish could come home to a clean house. Both rooms still had the original builder carpet in them. I felt compelled to finish the job now that I can, by buying an Oak looking entertainment center to match our Oak furniture in the room. I think Trish would approve. It's Thomasville and is actually some South American wood that has a mahogany grain pattern. But it matches our golden oak furniture very nicely.

On the food front, I occasionally get compliments from the boys a a surprise good dinner, but none of it is really good. I think we would all gladly live in a box under a bridge to have Trish back -- not just for her cooking. The new job does help me get home early enough to try making something, but it is mostly grilling and hamburger helper and pasta. The boys appreciate how good they had it now more than ever.