C at the 2009 Dodge Power Wagon Rally

C had a ball at the Rally. He talked to this guy and that guy and about his truck and their truck and what he's planning to do and what they are planning to do. He loved it.

Our pride and joy had a lot of guys talking. There wasn't another one of these there and it was a conversation starter.

C had to look over the major mud hole to figure out how he was going to conquer it - and he did!

C really liked this truck (fully restored) and talked to the owner, Steve, quite a bit (really nice guy!)

C is the trailer man - he can park anything anywhere.

Talking about his truck. Some more.

Have I mentioned that he was happy to be there?

NOT our next project, although C does want a panel wagon. Save me. Save me now. Do you have any idea how much body work that is? I have a small idea and it scares me.

His hat was a BIG hit at the Rally.

Passengers on the trail ride.

Our Dodge Power Wagon: 1941 WC-16

The Dodge Power Wagon Rally was June 10-13th in Fairfield, IA, the home of Vintage Power Wagon (the best place to pick up parts).

C's is the first one in a long row that lined three sides of the city's square.

The inside - automatic transmission, some bells, and a lot of fabrication. Saturday was definitely a jeans and boots day.

After mudding - C was so proud, but had to give the WC a rinse off before the parade.

Oh, and it mudded well. It's a great truck and it made us proud through the mud.

More mud and I love the DPW bumpers!

Front end in the mud.

After getting through the worst of the mud! There was a lot of towing and winching, but C made it through after carefully surveying the mud ruts!

End of the mud ruts!

Dirty, but clean. That makes sense, right?

Tough tires, but C wants different ones.

We had a lot of fun (especially C!) and plan on returning (with the dogs) next year!

EIGHT X EIGHT

Tagged by: Haley @ The Olsons

*Since this is an Anne/C blog and I am perfectly at ease with putting words in C’s mouth, the first four of every eight answers are mine and the following four are C’s answers that I derived from the last (almost) eight years of companionship.

EIGHT Things I Am Looking Forward to:
A: Spending three days in IA with C
AM + R’s baby girl entering the world in August
J’s wedding in SC
Reading the HP series all over again. Starting . . . now! Where , oh where, did I misplace book one? Oops, had to buy a new (old/used) copy.
C: The Dodge PowerWagon Rally in IA this weekend!!! (Really, he is very excited)
“Finishing” the Dodge PowerWagon (still needs working gauges, different seats, a diesel, roll cage, canvas top, etc.).
Starting on the Jeep Wagoneer (putting in a 455, I think).
Getting the porch on the house redone.

EIGHT Things I Did Yesterday:
A: Finished Saving Zoe and started Hoot (don’t recommend either book yet).
Received a voicemail from J (but didn’t get the awesome news until today!).
Was told to buy buns: hamburger and hot dog.
Watched a really interesting show about codependent twin anorexics.
C: Ate some tuna salad and crackers.
Watched some creepy show about dumb anorexic girls.
Did some work at home.
Briefly discussed the IA trip with Anne.

EIGHT Things I Wish I Could Do:
A: Heal the sick (including taking the pain away from my friends and family).
Be an awesome soccer player.
Write a book that I absolutely love; in that completely narcissistic way.
Ensure that C and I die at the same moment, but not in a creepy way.
C: Take part in Demo Derby every single year.
*
*
Fly.

EIGHT Shows We Watch:
NCIS
Burn Notice
Criminal Minds
House
CSI
How I Met Your Mother
Dirty Jobs
Deadliest Catch

EIGHT Favorite Movies/Books:
A: Realm of Possibilities/Fat Kid Rules the World/Cat’s Eye/Sexing the Cherry (books)
Boondock Saints/Saved/10 Things I Hate About You/Mean Girls (movies)
C: *You would have to ask him, as I would probably get these wrong*
*But I do know that he really likes strawberry ice cream and that has to count for something.

EIGHT Places I’d Like to Travel to:

A: Hawaii

Israel/Saudi Arabia
Alaska (cruise)
Brazil/Peru
C: Hawaii
Germany
Washington state (?)
Canada (?)

EIGHT Places I’ve Lived:

A: Manhattan
Ottawa
Manhattan
Spring Hill
C: Junction City
Salina
Manhattan
Spring Hill

EIGHT Others that may or may not care to participate in the EIGHT X EIGHT thingy:

Miriah

Laura

Courtney (ha, tagged twice!)

Casie

Anna

Erin

Damage Again? What This Time?

What is this, you ask? Did the giant green HULK try to bust through our garage door?

No, but this certainly appears that way. And why are C and brother J so unafraid of the HULK-like (almost) break in?

Because the HULK never came. Brother J drove the Dodge Power Wagon into our garage door. In his defense, later, a few weeks later, the brakes went out completely with no injuries to anyone or anything. But imagine, if you will, that you are me. You just got home from work and are talking to your mom on the phone as you pace up and down your side porch. You see the boys, C and J come up the driveway in the Dodge. Your eyes follow the truck and for a split second you assume that J is going to have to stop the truck rather quickly, as it is getting really close to the garage door. Then, the Dodge does not stop and keeps going into the garage door, which did, of course, stop it. You get off the phone with your mother and walk towards the boys in disbelief. They are laughing hysterically.

The only real damage done to the Dodge. C had the paint touched up less than a week later.

Brother J, still slightly hysterical, but mostly sheepish. C and J fixed the garage door that evening, so no harm, no foul, I guess.

Dodgin' the Country Roads

A weekend out at C's parents' house is one of the best perks I received when I married into the family. The piece of land they own is something that they embody and I have grown to love it so much that I've invited it to be a part of me too. I love that this is the house that C grew up in and that it is ever changing to become more convenient and useful for those that live there. This is the land that he and his brother roamed, hunted, and camped. And who ever forgets the creek? More fun times than I can count and I'm sure those times are tenfold for C.

I know C only built a bed on the dodge so that the dogs could ride. He is so thoughtful like that. This is Boris, Bella, and Porter.

Ever diligent about all aspects of his truck.

My beautiful, wonderful MIL. More important, the mother of C!

Seeing what C is doing: Boris and Bella.

G, the ever-present FIL: C's dad!

Bubba, the charmer.

All of the dogs: Boris, Loki, Bubba, Porter, and Bella.

All dogs again and we are goin' for a RIDE!

Loki yawning and Porter.

Boris is SO excited!

And a sweet Boris face.

Steadfast driver C.

The prairie. You miss it when you are gone - I promise.

Look at those hills and valley and the green prairie with a hint of flint rocks peeking out. This is what my home, C's home, is all about.

The Beginning of a Fish Fry

Thursday evening, about 9:30pm, the fish came home with C. They were not quite dead yet. Ironically, earlier in the day, I had debated the "Do fish have feelings and emotions?" question with a patient. This was in response to our big blue gill (in the fish tank in the house) seeming to mourn the loss of the little blue gill. I'm going to go ahead and believe that these wild, almost dead fish, don't have too many feelings.

Remind me to disinfect the truck bed before climbing in this weekend!

Technique isn't bad.


Filleting? Is that what it is called?

There was some meat there, but a very small amount. C says it is early in the season and the fish are pretty lean.

The silent beast lies in the grass, waiting for his prey. He is quiet and still, hoping that an antelope (okay, it's Boris, a little boy) happens near his post. He can remain in this position for . . . uh, mere moments (and I am so surprised that I got a picture of this pose).

Play with me! I will bite your leg, Bella!

Bella girl relaxing on the grass. I was surprised by the color that shows up when taking photos with a flash in pitch black dark - that is as close to her real life reddish sawgrass color as I have seen on film.

The Wagoneer is in the garage! This is progress!

Happy 29th Birthday, C!

C had a poker night on the second of May, the evening before his birthday on the third. There were some boys there, a few girls (who were all unaware that we were not invited), and a baby. Oh, and Jack was invited. Do any of you know Jack? The BIG guy came and spent a lot of time with C. Which is why C stayed where he was and on Sunday, his birthday, he looked like this.

This is way after I picked him up at 9am. Good thing Boris likes to cuddle with those that pass out.

We've got a yawner.

The ears all flattened out mean that he is going to attack! Run! Exactly, C has not moved a muscle. Jack is not invited to the party next year.