Monday, August 22, 2005

The Bicoy Path to Happiness...

We've closed on our new home in Las Vegas and moved ourselves for the third time in the last three years. Whoa, I just had to think about that to make sure it was right.

Early Summer 2002 - move to Marietta, Ohio
Early Fall 2004 - move to Henderson, Nevada
Late Summer 2005 - move to Las Vegas, Nevada

At least this time we didn't need to pack up the family into the van and drive 4 days 'cross country to get to our new home. We just moved 'cross town, but our younger kids didn't know what to expect.

Our 5th child, Nalani, packed up her van and asked me if we'd have to do this all over again...



Poor girl. She couldn't figure out how to fit 8 people into her van and this is what she came up with!

Alyssa's excited about our new home, but it's hard to get her to concentrate on anything but the impending Tom Cruise - Katie Holmes nuptials.

For the uninitiated (or those who have a life), Katie Holmes is the star of "Dawson's Creek" -- a cheesy high school aged evening soap opera.

Tom Cruise, is well, Top Gun. Risky Business. Days of Thunder. All big hits in their day.

We must emphasize "in their day" -- because to a 14 year old, "their day" was a long time ago.

To put it more simply, and in the language of today's teens, "He is waaaaaay too old for Katie."

And thus, our daughter is continuing the rabble-rousing political protest tradition of her father and has taken to wearing this T-Shirt...



Okay, maybe it's not exactly a political protest - but it's a start!

Well, after a week of moving and unpacking, today we enjoyed the spa...



Of course, it was 107 degrees in the desert today, but hey, we had to try out the spa.

Alas, there is only so much heat one can endure, so it was into the pool for all of us. We turned on the little waterfall that recirculates the pool water into the spa and pours it back into the pool and stood under it...



Which made for the very odd sensation of being in the Mohave Desert, in 107 degree heat, in a cool pool, with 100+ degree water pouring on us from the spa.

Anyway, after spending all this money on the house, my wife let me buy two different pairs of items which are all I really need to make this place a home.

First, we picked up a pair of High Definition Wide Screen TVs. One for the living room and one for our bedroom. All the major networks broadcast in high definition and there is nothing like watching a football game in the absolute clarity of HDTV...



I'm watching Monday Night Football as I write this. Frankly, I am amazed as to how a television picture can be so ridiculously clear and yet my beloved Cowboys can still look so bad.

Actually, the picture above is of perhaps their best player. That's Matt McBriar, who's almost certainly going to be the best punter in the NFL. Perhaps its because he has so much practice.

But the other thing my wife let me buy were something that every Bicoy needs to realize true contentment.

It is central to our being, and is central to where we Bicoys spend a major part of our day.

Please join me in celebrating the installation of these beautiful things in two of our bathrooms...



American Standard. High capacity tank. Whisper silent. Power flush. Elongated bowl.

In other words, heavenly comfort.

Mmmm. Life is beautiful.