~~ODNEAL FAMILY BLOG~~Port of Readlyn, Iowa

  Hope everyone has a great day and weekend. I took this picture with my cell phone and if you look at it a certain way my shadow looks pretty creepy (so Bruce had to point out to me)! I did light the pumpkins every night this week, except last night it was raining pretty good and windy and cold. I will light them up the rest of the weekend though. Watch out for the little trick or treaters running around!

  Here is a picture of Bruce and Helen the weekend we closed up the houseboats. Bruce's birthday was on the 16th and Helen's on the 17th. And we didn't have any fun celebrating that night, either! Just a normal weekend in Lansing on a houseboat!!!! Everyone have a great weekend!

Of course we had fun and started too late on Sunday before Kyle had to head back to Iowa City. Kyle free handed the cat (Taylor's) and his Hawk (Kyle's). Bruce just carved out his IOWA with a sawzall blade (of course!). Tyler free handed his "thing", and I did a normal jack-o-lantern. We had a lot of fun I think. At least I know that I did. I am lighting them each night for however long the tea lights last. Thursday and Friday sound really windy though so not sure how they will stay lit. Even though Kyle drew Taylor's for her on her pumpkin, she did carve it. I think maybe we started a new family tradition since I was informed we haven't carved pumpkins for "like forever"!!! They even said that I started making them draw or paint. How lame!!!!!

Even though I know that Ann doesn't look at this blog I thought I would put a shout out to her on this special day anyway. So Ann, I hope Kevin takes you out for a nice dinner or something, and buys you a nice present. Hope your day was great! Hope to see you before January!!!

I looked through a million pictures on my computer to find one, and this is one that fits your personality best! Happy Birthday to one of my favorite brothers! May you have a great day, and maybe Pam won't count your beers tonight as a present to you!!!! Just kidding. Well, maybe not. That wouldn't be a bad gift now would it? Happy Birthday and may you have many, many more. Love you bro!

So we got the runabout home and had it parked out behind the shop. Well after Bruce talked to a friend of ours (John) they decided that the boat could be lifted off the trailer and set on cribbing in the shop so that it could be worked on over the winter. Well, Bruce decided to dink with it, and had a plan to get it started at least. Guess what? Yep, no skid loader needed. He hooked a strap through the ceiling for the front of the boat, and jacked up the back to slide the cribbing under. Then pulled the trailer out once it was high enough. I didn't watch this process of course, him and Ty did it while I wasn't out there. I was very glad that they had it done with no issues by the time I checked on them! With any luck Bruce will have time to work on it this winter and we can put it in the water next spring!

Taylor sent me this picture on my phone on Sunday as we were coming home from the river. Yes, Kyle has H1N1. Apparently at least around here any confirmed flu with high temperature and all the symptons is the H1N1 strain. According to our doctor office anyway. We took him to the doctor yesterday and by the time he left to go back to Iowa City his temperature was finally gone. He was sick all weekend and yesterday. Got him a prescription for his cough. At least he doesn't have pneumonia because his cough sounds horrible. Here's hoping that the rest of us don't get it. I cleaned his bedding as soon as he left yesterday. Next I will sanitize anything and everything that he touched or was in contact with. It's amazing how people at work want to stay away from me today! Get better soon bud and take it easy this week so you can feel good next weekend when you come home! And not have to feel like crap!