I especially like the fact that Danielle, Eldan, and I are all wearing at least one item of Duke sportswear in these pictures.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
More Christmas Pictures
I especially like the fact that Danielle, Eldan, and I are all wearing at least one item of Duke sportswear in these pictures.
A Colorado Christmas, Part IV
As you can tell, our late arrival had little effect on our enjoyment of the holiday with our family. Most of these pictures were taken by my brother Jeremy. He is developing quite an eye for photography. As I type this, the news anchors are discussing another major winter storm that is headed our direction. It remains to be seen whether or not this will affect our journey home on Monday. I'll let you know as events transpire. In the meantime, it's snowing outside and I love Colorado!
Saturday, December 23, 2006
A Colorado Christmas, Part III
The ordeal is over. After 2 days of waiting and standing in line at the airport and checking weather reports on the internet and praying and waiting and waiting and waiting...we have arrived in Colorado. Actually, we arrived on Friday night around 8 in the evening. By some miracle we were able to get standby seats on the first flight from Columbus to Denver after DIA reopened Friday afternoon. Incidentally, this was the only flight to Denver yesterday from Columbus. I still don't know quite how this happened. The numbers just don't add up. We were numbers 20 and 21 on the priority list. When the time came, the airline only gave away 15 standby seats on a flight which was oversold by 5 in the first place. Only one other seat was given away after our seats. I'm not sure how we moved up 7 spots, but we did.
We landed on the ground at 8pm, but we didn't actually get in my parent's car until over an hour later. The airport in Denver can only be described as a quagmire. The security line, I am told, was a 3 hour wait. The baggage claim area was completely clogged with bags and people. I took some video of this that I will have to share with you later. I forgot to mention that we had to sit on the plane for 10 minutes after taxiing for 10 minutes while the plows cleared out the area next to the jetway so we could pull in. It was a long day, but I wasn't complaining at all. Danielle and I were just grateful to be there.
After a good night's sleep, we are here at my parent's enjoying a four year old, a two year old, and 4 babies under one year old! It gets noisy at times, but it really is a special time for us Doans. I hope that everyone else is having just as special of a time with their loved ones.
I'm not sure if there are any more blizzards in the future, but now that we are here it can snow all it wants to! I wouldn't mind a few extra days of vacation :-)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
We landed on the ground at 8pm, but we didn't actually get in my parent's car until over an hour later. The airport in Denver can only be described as a quagmire. The security line, I am told, was a 3 hour wait. The baggage claim area was completely clogged with bags and people. I took some video of this that I will have to share with you later. I forgot to mention that we had to sit on the plane for 10 minutes after taxiing for 10 minutes while the plows cleared out the area next to the jetway so we could pull in. It was a long day, but I wasn't complaining at all. Danielle and I were just grateful to be there.
After a good night's sleep, we are here at my parent's enjoying a four year old, a two year old, and 4 babies under one year old! It gets noisy at times, but it really is a special time for us Doans. I hope that everyone else is having just as special of a time with their loved ones.
I'm not sure if there are any more blizzards in the future, but now that we are here it can snow all it wants to! I wouldn't mind a few extra days of vacation :-)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Friday, December 22, 2006
A Colorado Christmas, Part II
To hear and see the latest about our ill-fated journey, click on the "play" button or click here. It may take several minutes for the entire video to download. Give it some time before you give up. Thanks!
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
A Colorado Christmas, Part I
Tuesday, December 19, 2006, 1:30 pm - I check Weather.com and discover that a large storm system is headed for Colorado. It is projected to hit the Denver area just a few hours before we are supposed to be landing there. I am mildly concerned.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006, 7:50 am - I am now fairly certain that we will have some difficulty in our travel plans. I make my first attempt to contact United Airlines via the phone. My attempts are unsuccessful.
10:15 am - I learn from a United informant who speaks in broken English that Flight 1181 will be cancelled very shortly. I try to convince this informant to provide me with another flight reservation. In response, the United worker sends me to a strange land known as an "Automated Phone System." I spend the next 30 minutes trying to maneuver my way out of this region and back into the land of human beings.
10:55 am - Led to believe that someone who speaks broken English within the superstructure of United Airlines is willing to help me, I spend nearly an hour and a half in a state of inactivity referred to by the locals as being "on hold." My patience is wearing thin.
1:15 pm - A United employee tells me in broken English that my flight is cancelled, but that I have been reconfirmed for a flight on Christmas Eve. He also tells me that I have been listed as a Standby passenger for a flight the next day.
2:45 pm - A different United employee tells me in unbroken English that my flight is indeed cancelled, that I am confirmed for Sunday, but that sadly I am not listed as a Standby passenger. I grow confused at the mixed messages I am receiving.
3:10 pm - I am told by yet another United employee in broken English that there I would have better luck finding a three-legged ballerina than getting into Denver before Sunday. (Well, at least that was the idea of what he said.) This was immediately after he told me that I could fly from Columbus to Philadelphia to Denver tonight if I wanted to. I was a little curious as to why the authorities would cancel every other flight to Denver except one from Philadelphia, but the man insisted that the flight had not been cancelled and that we could get on this plane. I reluctantly agree to his plan. "What time does that first flight leave?" I inquired as both Danielle and I begin to let our hopes rise. The man replies in broken English, "It departs at 3:30 pm." This leaves us with approximately 10 minutes to get to the airport as he is telling me this. For the first time in my life, I begin to have serious doubts about the intelligence level of those working in the customer relations realm of the airline industry. Okay, it wasn't the first time. I decline the man's generous offer, and decide to make other plans. All I need now is some superglue, a box of dynamite, some tinfoil, and a rubber chicken...
More to come...
The adventure is just beginning...
Wednesday, December 20, 2006, 7:50 am - I am now fairly certain that we will have some difficulty in our travel plans. I make my first attempt to contact United Airlines via the phone. My attempts are unsuccessful.
10:15 am - I learn from a United informant who speaks in broken English that Flight 1181 will be cancelled very shortly. I try to convince this informant to provide me with another flight reservation. In response, the United worker sends me to a strange land known as an "Automated Phone System." I spend the next 30 minutes trying to maneuver my way out of this region and back into the land of human beings.
10:55 am - Led to believe that someone who speaks broken English within the superstructure of United Airlines is willing to help me, I spend nearly an hour and a half in a state of inactivity referred to by the locals as being "on hold." My patience is wearing thin.
1:15 pm - A United employee tells me in broken English that my flight is cancelled, but that I have been reconfirmed for a flight on Christmas Eve. He also tells me that I have been listed as a Standby passenger for a flight the next day.
2:45 pm - A different United employee tells me in unbroken English that my flight is indeed cancelled, that I am confirmed for Sunday, but that sadly I am not listed as a Standby passenger. I grow confused at the mixed messages I am receiving.
3:10 pm - I am told by yet another United employee in broken English that there I would have better luck finding a three-legged ballerina than getting into Denver before Sunday. (Well, at least that was the idea of what he said.) This was immediately after he told me that I could fly from Columbus to Philadelphia to Denver tonight if I wanted to. I was a little curious as to why the authorities would cancel every other flight to Denver except one from Philadelphia, but the man insisted that the flight had not been cancelled and that we could get on this plane. I reluctantly agree to his plan. "What time does that first flight leave?" I inquired as both Danielle and I begin to let our hopes rise. The man replies in broken English, "It departs at 3:30 pm." This leaves us with approximately 10 minutes to get to the airport as he is telling me this. For the first time in my life, I begin to have serious doubts about the intelligence level of those working in the customer relations realm of the airline industry. Okay, it wasn't the first time. I decline the man's generous offer, and decide to make other plans. All I need now is some superglue, a box of dynamite, some tinfoil, and a rubber chicken...
More to come...
The adventure is just beginning...
Friday, December 15, 2006
The Holidaze
(The following is my TWIRP for the weeks of...well, it basically applies to the whole month of November and the first two weeks of December! Enjoy!)
Okay, okay! I know that it's been used before, but it's the best way I know how to describe the last couple of weeks for us--Holidaze. I am absolutely in shock that, as of the typing of this sentence, Christmas is a mere 10 days away! Where did the holiday season go? This is my favorite time of year, and it's almost over! Let me give you a few brief details from the last couple of weeks:
We took an unexpected trip to New Hampshire for Thanksgiving. The week prior to the holiday, Danielle's parents called to tell us that they wanted to fly us up there for 5 days. We said that would be fine, and...away we went on the busiest travel day of the year! Eldan has flown over a dozen times in the first year of his life. It's too bad that he won't remember any of it! Our flights were relatively uneventful with the exception that I saw the Statue of Liberty out of my window when we flew over New York City!
Junior High Basketball season is now in full swing. Our current record is 2-3. Once we come back from Christmas vacation, it's games, games, and more games! We have at least 2 games a week for the entire month of January and half of February. I am looking forward to seeing how our team improves throughout the season.
Eldan had his first real bout of sickness about a week and a half ago. I think he had something called "Foot in Mouth" Disease...wait, I think that should read "Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease." I am not sure what that is, but I know that my little guy didn't feel very good at all. The only real positive part of the experience was getting to lay on the couch for over two hours with Eldan sleeping peacefully on my chest. The look on his face at that moment was priceless.
Aside from all of that, I am still teaching (when I find the time), working on details for the school play (which I now have officially chosen), and working some with a few video projects. Danielle and I have inaugurated a new Sunday afternoon tradition--falling asleep on the couch while watching the weekly NFL game on CBS. It's a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Of course, we have made it to several of the ubiquitous yet always entertaining Christmas parties that are inherent to this time of year. One of my favorite things about these gatherings is the cheese trays. I love those little cubes of cheese. Of course the socialization and mingling are nice, but there is just something about those cheese cubes...
We leave on Wednesday, December 20, for Colorado and a much anticipated time of relaxment (is that even a word?) with my side of the family.
Danielle, Eldan, and I hope that all who read this have a great holiday season. Despite our busyness, we are enjoying each other and God's blessings in our lives. He has provided for us in several unique ways over the last several months. He is always good, and Christmas break awaits...
Okay, okay! I know that it's been used before, but it's the best way I know how to describe the last couple of weeks for us--Holidaze. I am absolutely in shock that, as of the typing of this sentence, Christmas is a mere 10 days away! Where did the holiday season go? This is my favorite time of year, and it's almost over! Let me give you a few brief details from the last couple of weeks:
We took an unexpected trip to New Hampshire for Thanksgiving. The week prior to the holiday, Danielle's parents called to tell us that they wanted to fly us up there for 5 days. We said that would be fine, and...away we went on the busiest travel day of the year! Eldan has flown over a dozen times in the first year of his life. It's too bad that he won't remember any of it! Our flights were relatively uneventful with the exception that I saw the Statue of Liberty out of my window when we flew over New York City!
Junior High Basketball season is now in full swing. Our current record is 2-3. Once we come back from Christmas vacation, it's games, games, and more games! We have at least 2 games a week for the entire month of January and half of February. I am looking forward to seeing how our team improves throughout the season.
Eldan had his first real bout of sickness about a week and a half ago. I think he had something called "Foot in Mouth" Disease...wait, I think that should read "Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease." I am not sure what that is, but I know that my little guy didn't feel very good at all. The only real positive part of the experience was getting to lay on the couch for over two hours with Eldan sleeping peacefully on my chest. The look on his face at that moment was priceless.
Aside from all of that, I am still teaching (when I find the time), working on details for the school play (which I now have officially chosen), and working some with a few video projects. Danielle and I have inaugurated a new Sunday afternoon tradition--falling asleep on the couch while watching the weekly NFL game on CBS. It's a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Of course, we have made it to several of the ubiquitous yet always entertaining Christmas parties that are inherent to this time of year. One of my favorite things about these gatherings is the cheese trays. I love those little cubes of cheese. Of course the socialization and mingling are nice, but there is just something about those cheese cubes...
We leave on Wednesday, December 20, for Colorado and a much anticipated time of relaxment (is that even a word?) with my side of the family.
Danielle, Eldan, and I hope that all who read this have a great holiday season. Despite our busyness, we are enjoying each other and God's blessings in our lives. He has provided for us in several unique ways over the last several months. He is always good, and Christmas break awaits...
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Season Opener
Yesterday, I made my debut as the Junior High Boys Basketball Coach. We have been practicing for over a month and we finally had a chance to face a real opponent. We tipped-off against Horizon Science Academy at approximately 4:30 p.m. Here is a brief summary of the game:
I wasn't really sure what to expect, but it wouldn't have mattered if I did know what to expect because I am sure I would never have expected what coaching is really like. I realize that coaching the season opener of the Junior High basketball team of a very small Christian school in Central Ohio doesn't exactly rate in Sports Illustrated Top Ten Moments in Sports History, but...it was a big deal to me. I was very nervous as were my 14 players. Let me cut to the chase and give you the final score--Horizon Science Academy 30; Licking County Christian Academy 28. We lost by two points right at the buzzer. My point guard Brian had a really good look at a 3-pointer to win it, but it was just a hair off of the mark. The game was very tight throughout, and it was a roller coaster ride from start to finish.
Despite my initial disappointment when Brian's shot bounced off the back of the rim and fell to the floor, I was very pleased with the game as a whole. My guys played with a lot more poise and intelligence than they had ever done in practice. I think the one aspect of the game that caught me off guard was how quickly everything happens when you are coaching. There is a lot to keep track of. Things that I would normally find rather simple (like identifying what type of defense the opposing team was running) seemed to be quite a bit more difficult when the game is on. The on-the-spot-decision making ability that is required of a coach is an area where I need much improvement. It's a good thing that we have about 18 more games this season in which I can do that very thing!
All in all I really enjoy being a coach, and I am thankful to my team for making my inaugural game an exciting one!
(By the way, my TWIRPS have not been discontinued. I am finding it difficult to corral enough time to type these each weekend. Do not dismay, however, more of these beloved entries will be forthcoming...)
I wasn't really sure what to expect, but it wouldn't have mattered if I did know what to expect because I am sure I would never have expected what coaching is really like. I realize that coaching the season opener of the Junior High basketball team of a very small Christian school in Central Ohio doesn't exactly rate in Sports Illustrated Top Ten Moments in Sports History, but...it was a big deal to me. I was very nervous as were my 14 players. Let me cut to the chase and give you the final score--Horizon Science Academy 30; Licking County Christian Academy 28. We lost by two points right at the buzzer. My point guard Brian had a really good look at a 3-pointer to win it, but it was just a hair off of the mark. The game was very tight throughout, and it was a roller coaster ride from start to finish.
Despite my initial disappointment when Brian's shot bounced off the back of the rim and fell to the floor, I was very pleased with the game as a whole. My guys played with a lot more poise and intelligence than they had ever done in practice. I think the one aspect of the game that caught me off guard was how quickly everything happens when you are coaching. There is a lot to keep track of. Things that I would normally find rather simple (like identifying what type of defense the opposing team was running) seemed to be quite a bit more difficult when the game is on. The on-the-spot-decision making ability that is required of a coach is an area where I need much improvement. It's a good thing that we have about 18 more games this season in which I can do that very thing!
All in all I really enjoy being a coach, and I am thankful to my team for making my inaugural game an exciting one!
(By the way, my TWIRPS have not been discontinued. I am finding it difficult to corral enough time to type these each weekend. Do not dismay, however, more of these beloved entries will be forthcoming...)
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