Thanks to All for B-Day Wishes

I really appreciate all the cards and phone calls expressing my need to have a happy birthday, thanks. Tamera and I have of course been dieting and I thought long and hard on a certain matter, I could not come up with an answer for sure. I believe I have always had a German Chocolate cake for my birthday for almost forty years. Our life style change, or lack of wanting to die young, has made me re-evaluate if a chocolate cake would be worthy to celebrate my 46th year?! This time last year I was shattering the scales at 304 lbs. and today on my b-day I am down to 247 lbs. and still dropping. I guess my need to change also must account for the German Chocolate cake, so goodbye old friend and may we never meet in the kitchen again.

Love, the thinner man.........

Adrienne Paige Graduates

Tonight we had the pleasure to watch our grand-daughter Adrienne Paige Ballinger graduate from pre-school at the Pleasant Hope Elementary School. 30 little, darling kids graduated all together, from two classes, the morning and afternoon sessions. They showed the audience some of their classroom practices and then proceeded to the commencement ceremony where they were given a certificate and a graduation medal. At the end they were all treated to cake and punch. Way to go Adrienne we're very proud of you!!!!!

Moving back to society

Well the country life was good while it lasted, but we've decided to move to the town that Tam works in. Aurora Missouri is a small community that still has a farm-like atmosphere to it. But now with gas prices inching up ever so slightly every week, we need to cut our driving time to get to places and drastically reduce our away from each other time. It's a small three bedroom one bath house that is 10 blocks from Tam's school, so she'll be able to cruise the scooter on good days, which she loves to do, since her days as scooter mama at MSU. We'll be out of Clever most likely by the end of May.

Matt's New Training

( this video is part of Matt's training )

Welcome Race Fans......

Our grand son Matthew is now a full fledged moto-crosser and is competing in State race events. His dad Glenn was learning the ups and downs of trying to coach him, but the moniker of DAD seemed to hex anything he tried with Matthew. Glenn and Mindy asked if I could coach him and give him a few tricks on how to pick up his game a little.

After a few trips to the candy store I've been able to get Matt's ability and confidence up tremendously, we're not trying to push him too hard, but just enough to where he can figure out his capabilities out on the track. Mano a mano.....

These are a few of the other riders...

Click for a full view

REPORT: Computers, Computers, Computers

I have finally amassed 500 GB's of pictures, videos and what-nots onto my hard drive. You really never know what to do with all your files until that day you just can't find anymore room at the inn. Simply trying to solve this riddle is frustrating to the core, from the start you think a simple burn to disk will suffice, then you try an external hard drive only to realize that you don't want to trust a fragile little piece of electronics to hold your valuables. Would be like having a garage store your Picasso. So I had my severe down time since Friday trying to fix my dilemma and alas I figure the next best thing is to store everything on the Web. Microsoft and a few other sites are offering storage and key-passes on certain sites and it seems to be the new rage. Not a lot of files can be threatened on-line if you process everything properly. But I figure that the net is here to stay and why not store it on a site that I've vested interests into already.

I remember years ago when I had no interest in computers how I warned Mom that she needed as much HDD space as possible. She listened and purchased the top end computer back then, I think it was around 1995, and it was a whopping 1.2 GB machine. I actually believe that if you find one of those dinosaurs in good shape, they call it a collectors' item now, it would probably set you back more than a new computer. Boy, how time and computers have changed.

DJ IS AN AIRMAN

Here's DJ at the church meeting with other enlistees. These pictures were sent to Tamera from Elder & Sister Reynolds who are liaisons from the church with the Air Force Base.
It's truly a funny story of how these Pics came about.
Tamera was doing
homework Sunday night and the phone rang, she noticed an unusual number but the area code was familiar, Joey, her brother is stationed at that base. After feigning a heart-attack and shortness of breath she answered the phone praying it wasn't any terrible news. On the other end was a kind voice that asked if this was Tamera Butler, Airman Basic Venturino's Mother. Then her heart jumped into her throat. He finally explained that DJ did not know her e-mail address and was calling to get it so he could e-mail pics they took at church to her.

It's hard to tell, but we are thinking he's smiling in this picture, and not hiding any soreness or pain. What do you think?

HooRah!!!

Thank goodness there are people around him who share his faith and enthusiasm to serve and protect our country. Especially Elder and Sister Reynolds who have seen fit to help us see DJ is doing alright, and bring a little religion and stability to him and others.

HAPPY VALENTINE TO ALL

WE HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT VALENTINE DAY AND YOU DON"T GO INTO A SUGAR-INDUCED COMA. MAYBE THAT'S NOT THE MEANING OF VALENTINE DAY, BUT IT SURE DOES TASTE GOOD.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S, LUV, DARRYL AND TAMERA