The Sound Of Joy

 One of Tanner's classic characteristics is that he is considered "non-verbal". I find that word to be hilariously ironic since he has the loudest and most expressive "voice" I've ever heard! As many of you well know, Tanner is very verbal but cannot speak. He has different sounds depending on his moods. My favorite vocalization from him is a sound he makes when he is content and happy. The sound itself is discordant enough to drive a bystander insane, I mean literally INSANE! But since I associate this particular pitch with a boy who is comfortable and at ease I have grown to welcome it. I use his "ahhhhhhhhhh"..breath..."ahhhhhhhh"... breath...."ahhhhhhh" to gauge his whereabouts. When the sound stops then I know he is bored and on the move. Boredom is bad, "ahhhhhh" is good.

The Doom Of His Room

I remember fixing up Tanner's room not so long ago. I wanted it to be less like a junkyard and more like a bedroom. His mattress and box spring had been flattened into a misshapen mass due to the laws of gravity, ie. a 120 lb body jumping up will come down with the force of a pile driver. The sheet rock walls had been wounded so many times that they were rippling with patches. So in a hopeful state of mind I resolved to make Tanner's room "cute". The new headboard I got for him quickly became checkered with dents and divets. The ruination continued as his new TV stand was defaced with scratches and it's drawers flung about following Tanner's ritualized destruction pattern. Next came the demise of the new mattress set which slowly became an unrecognizable lump. One night I looked in on Tanner and noticed that his bed was more concave than ever. Perplexed, I removed the entire mattress and saw that he had completely splintered the bottom of his new bed.

 So now the only furniture in Tanner's room is an indestructible metal folding chair, and a cheap TV. Not so cute now!

A Church Parking Lot On Every Corner

Church parking lots not only provide acres and acres of parking spaces for minivans and suburbans on Sunday mornings but they also are an ideal place to take a 14 yr old driving when church is over. There is nothing but open asphalt and yellow lines, a wasteland of safety.

video below

Our Home Gym

Tanner has invented a new way to keep fit while at home. His routine is a little unusual but has proven to be very effective for him. He has lost two of his four belly rolls this summer and is looking like a contender. His cardio routine involves constant "back & forth" motion, slapping the wall or counter top in between reps. He also manages to fit in a few vertical jumps for muscle conditioning. Then for his abdomen work-out he has found "the couch" method very dynamic (if not destructive). To enhance his regimen he listens to the "Angry Birds" soundtrack which is very motivating (if not maniacal).

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My First Time

I have done a lot in my lifetime, a lot of unusual things as well as a lot of common things. It is getting to the point, however, where 99% of the things I do are not new experiences. The comfort of routine is a peaceful and safe part of my life. But today I had to change things up because the garbage can was already too full. My big, green waste, curb-side container was overflowing with pruned bushes and dead weeds, which meant I couldn't do my usual woman's work. Soon I got this WILD idea! Maybe, just maybe, I could try to mow the grass! I have never mowed a lawn in my lifetime, I have never started a mower nor pushed a mower. I know that Dave was subjected to mower abuse when he was young so I figured that mowing the lawn was a colossal, torturous feat requiring great strength and patience. So with fortitude I approached that manly grass eating machine, pulled the handle that said "PULL" (twice) and then was wildly surprised that it roared to life. I pushed the beast onto the turf, accidentally grabbed onto a mechanism under the mower's handlebar and then the thing started mowing on it's own. I guided the trimming apparatus with little effort and yet the result was a neatly lined lawn. What I once thought was a daunting task was really just like a back and forth walk with a noisy friend.

Next I will tackled that weed-wacking thingamajig.

My Condition

Every couple of years I get out the sewing machine and sew something. I usually have to thread the thing by using the well worn manual. This year I was having some difficulties. It wasn't that I couldn't follow the "how to" page, the problem was that I couldn't thread the needle. First off I couldn't find the eye of the needle, secondly I couldn't see the end of the thread. I found myself trying to look closer and at the same time trying in vain to focus my eyes. Suddenly, horrifically I realized that I have THE CONDITION!!!
I am now in a twelve step program for my condition

1--I admit that I have presbyopia
2--I am powerless over my presbyopia
3--I will purchase a pair of fashionable bifocals that I will wear when needed
4--I will not be ashamed of my condition
5--I will learn to live with my condition
6--I will wear my bifocals around my neck on a beaded leash when the time comes
7--I will help my sisters come to terms with this condition when it is their turn

IMPOSSIBLE!

 

I Could Live There

HOSENFELD FAMILY TRIP 2013

We did it again. We went to the best town in California, rented the same beach house as last year and had a great time. San Clemente is SO California to me. It's buildings have the Mexican red tile roofs, dudes walk around town wearing a wet suit and carrying a surf board. The beach is alive with surfers and body boarders and sand toys and beach chairs. There is even a burger shack.

We rented a house literally 100 yards from the surf. The view is killer and it suits a family of 20 pretty well (as long as the kids sleep on the floor). The big front windows look out onto the beautiful blue pacific with palm trees in the foreground. When we arrived at the house this time we were alarmed to see a FOR SALE sign!
We can't let this place go! So we all pooled our money and came up with around $20,000. The problem is that the house is listed for $2.5 million. I guess we'll just have to wait for a winning lottery ticket.


 
Our favorite $2.5 million beach bungalow

The view from our back porch

 Across the street and down the stairs

A particularly glorious sunset viewed from San Clemente Pier