By Air or Sea

Been busy with work stuff over the last few weeks.  Since I last posted, I've spent time in 8 different states.  This week, I'll add three more with California, Colorado and Florida.  Work travel certainly gets old, but it does give me the opportunity to see places I would not likely visit otherwise.  Warm receptions from the fam upon return aren't bad for the heart either.

We managed to slip in a family trip in to Port O'Connor last weekend.  With the weather cooling, fishing has been great; definitely my favorite time of year to fish. 

Our friends kept an eye on Reece for us Saturday afternoon, which gave Naomi and me a chance to take Ashley on the water for some "Just Ashley" time.  She really got a kick out of driving the boat.  She has "steered" the boat before, but controlling the steering AND throttle adds a whole new level of fun....and danger!  Full throttle, laugh hysterically, no throttle.  Repeat.  Think Naomi and I had slight whiplash after our voyage.  Totally worth it.

The skipper and her mate, Naomi.

Let's ride!

Update: Day 16
-Shotcrete is done.  The pool actually looks like a pool now.  Wish I could have been in town to see them blasting that stuff all over the place!  Wish I had one of those rice field hats that the supervisor is wearing.  The "greenhouse" tent is where the water feature will be. 

A few hours later, and you have this...an actual pool.

Ledge area will be 18" deep for the kiddos.  Deep end is 6'9" deep.



Sweet!!!  Empty pool!!!  I just need skateboard, a helmet, some skinny jeans, a studded belt worn 8" below my waist, a size youth medium retro (90's) tshirt, the absence of respect for authority and an overall distrust of "the establishment".......oh, and the ability to ride.

Rebar

Day 12...Plumbing done, Rebar almost complete.  They need to wrap the seat in the deep end, and roll and clip the tops of the rebar frame.  Gunite to be sprayed in on Wednesday.

Yard of the Month

Pool Update:
Everything still running very smoothly with the team at Waterscape.  Limestone was broken and the pool digging is done.  No bubblin' crude, oil that is, black gold, Texas tea; only dirt.  So much for the free pool.

10 days in with 2 lost days of rain, and we already have primary plumbing in place.  Finish work still needed on plumbing, but all trenching is complete and main lines are placed. 

The backyard looks wonderful.  I'm thinking about sending pics in to the HOA for Yard of the Month consideration.  I only wish it were in the front yard.  Seems selfish not to share the view with the neighbors.

Friday Night Lights

I had the pleasure of taking Ashley to her first high school football game on Friday night.  By high school football game, I mean one half of one quarter of a high school football game, but who's counting?  "To the top!!" for the VERY best seats....the very best seats available halfway through the 2nd quarter.  Mr. Zane was the named, "Crowd Favorite" with his Sprite and Ring Pop delivery.

We were fortunate enough to be at the Round Rock Athletic Complex for the renaming and dedication ceremonies for Kelly Reeves, father and father-in-law to our good friends, Brad and Amanda Reeves.  I never knew Kelly personally, but his reputation, his "resume", and the outpouring of love I've witnessed from his former co-workers, his former students and his friends all confirm that he was an amazing individual.  Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex will serve as a great reminder to Round Rock and the surrounding community of Mr. Reeves and the legacy he leaves behind.

Here's the write up on the ceremony......

Athletic Complex dedicated for former AD Posted Date: 9/8/2010
Parents, students and community members will honor former Round Rock ISD Athletic Director Kelly Reeves during the dedication ceremony of the district’s Athletic Complex on Friday, Sept. 10 during halftime of the Westwood High School vs. Austin High School football game. The Athletic Complex is located at 10211 West Parmer Lane in Austin. The game will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. and halftime is estimated to begin at 8:15 p.m.


The Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees voted to rename the Round Rock ISD Athletic Complex on Parmer Lane to the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex during the Feb. 18, 2010 school board meeting. Reeves is a former Round Rock ISD teacher, coach and athletic director who passed away in Nov. 2009 after a battle with cancer.


Reeves served as the first head football coach at Westwood High School from 1981 through 1989 when he was named the district’s Athletic Director. He held the position of AD until his retirement in 2005. During his time at Round Rock ISD, Reeves implemented artificial turf at Dragon Stadium which decreased the wear and tear on the field which had caused student injuries and limited field use to other student organizations such as marching bands.


With the opening of McNeil High School and Stony Point High School, Reeves conducted a study to construct a separate athletic complex and requested it be added to the 1999 Bond Election. He proposed a concrete stadium with artificial turf which would not only provide relief at Dragon Stadium, but would also help with future middle schools as it would allow the district to build practice fields at future middle schools and allow middle school athletes to play games at the complex. Doing so saved the district money on providing lighting, concession stands, public restrooms and seating. Reeves served on the design committee for the Athletic Complex and was a fixture on the project from the initial concept through when the first game was played.


Reeves has been honored by his peers around the state and has earned numerous honors.

The Dedication Agenda is as follows:
Welcome from Round Rock ISD Athletic Director Jim Loerwald
Remarks from Round Rock ISD Superintendent Dr. Jesús H. Chávez
Remarks from Round Rock ISD School Board President Glen H. Colby
Remarks from Pauletta Reeves, wife of Kelly Reeves

Sweet phone there, Chief!  I promise it reads, "KELLY REEVES ATHLETIC COMPLEX" right above CiCi's Pizza.  It was dark, and the car was still moving, but you get the idea!!  Really cool for the Reeves Family.

That Hole in the Backyard

One of the reasons I started this blog was chronicle the progress of our new pool project in the backyard, or as Ashley refers to it, "that hole in the backyard".  Where's the vision?!

I interviewed and received bids from 4 different builders and selected Waterscape to complete to the project.  Pricing was in line with the other providers, but the vibe was better with these guys.  We are about a week in and no issues yet.  I always hear about pool and pool builder nightmares, so I'm certainly looking forward to venting any and all of my frustrations here, should any issues arise.

The guys broke ground last Thursday, September 2, 2010.  Did a little diggin' here, a little diggin' there, started making some nice progress.  Reece was a big fan of the tractor.

I catch myself standing outside, just watching the tractor do its thing.  It's very "zoo spectator/zoo animal", and I wonder if this bothers them or if workers are just used to blocking out the faces on the other side of the glass.  Oh well, I'm paying the price of admission, so I'm watchin'.  I even feed them from time to time; another zoo world no-no. 

Back to the digging.  They dug and dug and dug while we were out of town for Labor Day weekend.  Did not hit any limestone until about 6 feet deep.  BIG limestone boulders.  Four to five feet in diameter.  They were able to pull a few out with the tractor, but the two at the very bottom will need to be broken. Project, Press Pause.

Heavy rains started Monday evening. 

It's Wednesday morning now, and the rain has not stopped. We have about 5 feet of water in the pool right now. Couple bags of Quikcrete and some chlorine tablets and we are ready to swim!


Pool builder is headed over with a pump to remove the water and retrieve his tractor.  I'm sure he loved seeing this picture when I sent it over this morning.

Labor Day Weekend

Spent the weekend at the house in Port O'Connor, TX with our friends, The Pagano Family.  We had a surprise visit from the O'Keefe clan and joined my parents at their house on Saturday evening for fried fish with all the usual sides. 
2 of 3 kids slept well each night.  The beach is really hot at 4:30pm and really crowded on Labor Day weekend.
Lt. Blender assigned a small mission Friday evening, but was on leave the rest of the weekend.  Fairly low key weekend.  Just what we needed!! 

THIS is what I like to see in the morning!  6:40am, heading to our first spot.  Hello, new day!!