Robo Blog

Grandparents vs Teenagers

Steve and I went to Orlando for a few days and my parents watched the teens...they all survived!!!  The kids (specifially Sarah) tried to "pull the wool over their eyes" but...they have been there, done that!!! Good job 'g-rents!

Super Bowl "XL"

OK...so I'm not a sports fan (this should come as no surprise to my family and close friends), nor do I pay attention to titles of events. So, I have been wondering all week why the press and TV has been referring to the Superbowl as "XL"  (in my mind this means extra-large).  I know football players are "extra large", I know that most TV screens are "extra large", I know that most buffets set out during the televised game are "extra large", I know that the advertisers pay "extra large" amounts for their ads to be shown during the game, I know that the players get "extra large" bonuses for playing in the Super Bowl and I also know that the half-time entertainers get "extra large" stipends.  It never occurred to me that "XL" is the roman numeral for 40...duh!!!  Do I feel dumb!

Anyway...back to the real reason for my entry today.  Matt and Sarah both had friends over to "watch" the Super Bowl.  (Make sure you click on the photos to get the full impact!)

Matt had five buddies and Sarah had two.  I spent a good part of the day preparing what I consider "football food".  The teens arrived and descended upon the buffet like hawks attacking their prey!  Not only did the devour...they grazed...for hours!!!  At half-time they all went outside to play basketball and work off their snacks.  When they came back in to watch the second half, it was like watching the lions on the African plains searching for prey!  When they saw that there was in fact more food, the wild beasts were tamed!  Here's a list of what they consumed:

• 10 lbs of ribs
• 6 liters of various beverages...Gatorade proved to be the most popular!
• 3 bags of chips
• 1  9"x13" Seven Layer Dip
• 1 Hot Chili Cheese Dip
• 2 bags of Pretzels
• 2 bags or baby carrots
• 1 "gi-normous" Caesar salad

So, the lesson about a Super Bowl Party with teens... "extra large" food, "extra large TV" and an "extra large" grocery budget.  All in all...a successful Super Bowl "Extra Large" 2006

Weekly Build Project Update - First Design & Review Submission

First submission of our plans before the Gods of Design and Review.  According to our architect "The meeting went well.  Not many comments.  That's typical for this round, we usually get more comments at the next one (Preliminary Design Review).  They suggested rotating more south, but we pointed out, the huge tree on the SE corner is in the way.  They wanted the dining room dormer to have longer overhangs and not plane in with the main dining roof.  We suggested some alternates.  They asked for a longer overhang on the Great Room pop out roof to mitigate the large windows.  They said we did a good job fitting the home to the site, and making the design "quiet".  They said the road in your rear setback is a sewer service road and is used rarely.  We may have some options for planting around and over it as long as the gravel base stays..."  All Greek to me!!!  So I guess we implement the suggestions and hope that they still feel the same when we re-submit.  More to come...

Monday morning blues

So in typical Monday morning style, Matt wakes up "feeling sick".  Now, you have to understand that this has been a weekly occurrence since 6th grade (he is now a sophomore in high school).  I actually anticipate his moans and groans and can time their delivery!  I honestly think he suffers from allergies; let's face it, Matt is allergic to Mondays!  The only Mondays that I haven't seen his "allergies" flair up are on holidays...Martin Luther King Day, Presidents Day, Teacher In-service Days etc...  I wonder if these "allergies will continue all his life?