WEEK 52! - The End!

52 Different Things!

(The End)



Me & Mo on my Bike

Well, this is it.  The last post of my year long blog that was an attempt to try blogging and give me an excuse to try a few new things.  Honestly, when I started, I thought it would give me an excuse to try some new restaurants, maybe a couple of state parks, and a show, but it turns out, 2012 was one of the most dynamic years of my entire life! 

I guess "dynamic" is the right word.  Looking back, it was pretty amazing what our family accomplished this year.  It was definately a great adventure, fulled with highs, lows, excitement fear, success, and failures.  I guess "life", just hypersensitised this year.  


At the Pacific

I definately got to see a lot of cool things in 2012.  I got to touch both the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans, on each coast this year.  I also touched 4 of the 5 great lakes and saw all of them, (at least from the air).  I crossed some great rivers including the Mississippi, Columbia, Ohio, James, and of course the Grand.  I saw the Rocky Mountains, Appalachian, and Cascade Mountains, non of which were on vacation though.

Our family said a sad goodbye to our friends in family in Michigan and pulled up stakes and moved to Midlothian, Virginia.  This was the biggest challenge of 2012 causing the most fear, anxiety, and stress on our family

Scott Family Dinner

ever.  We have been here for 6 months now and it is really too early to tell if it was the right thing to do.  I guess time will tell, but it is frustrating to wonder all of the time if you did the right thing for your family.  I find myselfing looking for clues in every comment and wondering if one day it will just hit me that this was good or this was not good.  So for now, we just do the best we can, continue to try new things here and become part of the community and see where that takes us.

The U.P.

Jenny and I both changes jobs.  My job was the reason for the relocation, but Jenny was able to find a job here in Midlothian.  The stresses of a new job in itself are taxing.  Again time will tell.

We did have some cool adventures.  I got private tours of Safeco Field and Richmond International Raceway.  Our family spend a weekend in a cabin in the U.P., visited King's Dominion, and got to go to the beach at the ocean more than once.




Tahquamenon Falls

Jenny and I had pleanty of new roads to explore on the Harley's, which we did as much as we could, but not enough, although I don't think you can ever get enough riding in.

I got to spend some "guy" time with my son and nephews when we went to the US Olympic Wrestling Trials in Iowa.  It was a great time and experience.  It definately reminded me of the time I got to spend with my dad, and I know he would have loved to have gone.




St. Ignace

At times, it was a bit of a struggle to think of things to write about, and at times it was a bother, but blogging about the year did provide the opportunity, as the year went by, to reflect on the weeks as they went by.

I hope it provided some entertainment and allowed you to keep up with our family a little bit.  Maybe even provide you with some ideas for planning your own family adventures.

I don't know what I hope 2013 to be like.  I could use some time to rest, but there is still so much for us to do.





Olympic Wrestling Trials

I do, though, hope 2013 is a good year for you. 

THE END....of 52 Different Things!



Leaving our House in Belding, MI



Our House in Midlothian, VA

Fun at the pool



Mom & DJ Visit

At Hollywood Cemetery













Smoking a Weekend Meal

At the Beach (Atlantic)

In a tobacco field

A visit for my Birthday

Pumpkin Patch

Richmond International Raceway



Ready for a Fall Ride

On Skyline Drive

Drew's CC Banquet

At Grandpa Van Oost's

For Dad at Thanksgiving

Aiden ready for Football

Christmas Tree in VA

Week 51 - Almost there!

a Richmond Christmas

 

This is our first Christmas in Richmond, well, sort of.  We are actually coming home for Christmas, but we are here for the anticipation leading up to the great day.  It has been strange.  In Michigan, it seems to get cold around November 1st.  You know, the real cold that gets to the bone.  Mid 40's is warm.  This year we put up Christmas lights outside in a short sleeve shirt, then went for a motorcycle ride.

Christmas is also stressful because of the logistical issues of shopping, parties, gifts, etc...  Well, it have been increasingly stressful for us.  We had to plan shipping "stuff" north, plan our road trip, make arrangements for our house here, and wish our friends here an early Merry Christmas. 
  
It is also sort of surreal because, this is the first time our family will not be waking up Christmas morning in "our" home.  We always had the luxury of being able to see all our family for Christmas's and yet have Christmas morning to ourselves.  This year, we will be at mom's.  Don't get me wrong, I am excited about coming home and seeing everyone, it is just different.  A real test to see if living in Virginia is right for us and see if the chances and risk we took to come here are worth it.  I can's say that I am hoping for a White Christmas, but if it does snow, I hope it's BIG!  (just after we get to Six Lakes).

One thing about Christmas, where ever you are, I do feel from everyone that at some point in the holiday season, we all get a chance to sit back, relax, and reflect on what we have, our friends and family, and be thankful.  It a beautiful universality about the season.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

(only one more installment and this blog is OVER!)

Week 50 - Dec. 9-15

My New Drinking Buddy

 

This week, (actually the past two weeks), have been extremely busy at work.  We had two proposals due on the 12th for two pretty cool project.  One was an $8 million residence building for a private school for autistic people and the other was a new summer training center for the Washington Redskins.  I had been working long days and weekends to get them put together and after they were submitted, I wanted to go throw back a few.

I explained to Jenny, that, back home, I would probably go after work with coworkers to either drown our sorrows or celebrate our success, but I didn't have those type of friends here (yet).  I asked if she would be my drinking buddy for a couple of hours.  She agreed!  So, Thursday night, after the all the parent duties were done, we went to our local watering hole, the Sports Page.  We just sat at the bar like a couple of dudes, she had a dinner and a Sprite, while I sampled the Majic Hat on tap.

It was really cool.  No need to worry about getting in trouble with the "old lady", she was there!  It was great of her to oblige me and just what I needed to clear my head, plus she is by far the best looking drinking buddy I have ever had.

Week 49 - Dec. 2nd - 8th

Date Night 

(with Morgan)

So being a history buff, I really wanted to see the movie Lincoln.  Surpisingly though, I could not get anyone to go watch it with me.....save one.....MORGAN!  I think it was more about the candy and popcorn than it was about the movie, although she was starting a social studies unit about the Civil War and thought it might help with school.  (Again, more about the candy.)

We picked the Friday night night show, after work, and unfortunately it was too early to eat dinner with the rest of the family, so we HAD to go to Five Guys for some burgers before the show.  You know, so we could concentrate. 

 

The movie was really good.  I had previously read Lincoln the Unknown by Dale Carnegie, which was a very depressing book about how misserable Lincoln's life was.  We stopped at his tomb a couple of years ago on the was home from St. Louis to pay homage, but I had always thought of Mr. Lincoln in the depressing light.  The movie really changed my outlook on his life, maybe because it was in color.  I saw a man who was opportunistic, a risk taker who put the greater good of the country ahead of his personal security.  They portrayed him as a person who was clearly more enlightened than the vast majority of the people in the country at the time and perhaps even today.

 

It was great to get to spend time with just my youngest daughter.  It's great to spend alone time with any of my kids.  When I asked Mo what she learned from the movie, she said, "Abraham Lincoln slapped people a lot."....you'll have to see the movie.

Week 48 Nov. 25 - Dec. 1st

 

 Recently I had to travel to Lexington, VA to visit Washington and Lee University to take pictures of building for a potential project we may be doing there.  While there, I found that Washington & Lee is right next to the Virginia Military Institute.  Established in 1839, VMI is regarded as the West Point of the south.  Although this is a four year military university, like other military academies, VMI graduates are not required to serve in the military upon graduation, although they can choose to accept a commission in any of the US military braches.  Women can also attend VMI, since 1997.

Although severly important military and government figures are among the VMI alumni, the notable name that stuck out to me was Bobby Ross, former (thank god) head coach of the Detroit Lions.  Most of the high ranking leaders of the Confederate States of America Army were VMI graduates and some historical scholars debate that the commanders of the CSA were vastly superior and skilled as military leaders than the Union counterparts and that the ultimate victory of the Union in the Civil War was that of the pure vastness of the natural resources and industry of the norhern state.

The campus is situated on a large hill in Lexington, with sharp, crisp buildings.  There are reminents of history throughout the campus, with a large statue of Stonewall Jackson in the main Parade Ground.  Stonewall Jackson was an instructor here at VMI prior to the war.  In fact, VMI Cadets were called into active Military Service 14 times for the CSA during the Civil War.

To me, this seem an impressive and prestigious military academy.  What was striking to me though, was the connection to Washington & Lee University.  Washington and Lee was originally Washington Academy, created from an endowment from George Washington.  After the Civil War, Robert E. Lee was offered and accepted a position as president of the university in 1865.  He remained president unit his death in 1870.  During his tenure, he transformed the college into an expanding university, creating a diverse program and expanding the university.  In recognition of his work, they renamed the University, Washington & Lee University.  That said, understand that W&L is literally right next to VMI.  I find it ironic that one of the greatest military commanders in history and leader of the Army of the CSA, took a position at a small college right smack dab next to the "West Point of the South".  In fact the Superintendent of VMI at the time served UNDER Lee in the war.  To me this would be like being the high school football coach for Joe Montana's son!

Week 47 Nov. 18-24

Appalachia

So I was conflicted a little bit about counting a trip through Appalachia as a new thing for this week, but it was Thanksgiving Week, and we made a trip back to Stanton/Sheridan for the holiday, so not a lot of opportunity for "Brand New Things", but the most striking thing for me about this week was the route we took to Michigan and the vastness of the Appalachian region.

This was our first trip back to Michigan from Virginia.  On our way here, we took the northern route through Pennsylvania and to Richmond from DC.  With two cars, one with a trailer, 3 kids, a dog, and a cat it was truely a pioneering experience then and took 15 hours.  So, when we were planning our trip home for Thanksgiving, in the Pioneering Spirit, we sought a better route.

Growing up in Michigan, I never really thought much about the mountains of the eastern United States.  When I thought of mountains, my first thought would be of the Rocky's, but the Appalachian Mountain Range is quite impressive in itself. 

Everyone learns in early history classes about expansion in the United States, and how the first settlers stayed primarily on the east coast.  We learned that the Appalachian Mountains were a reason most people stayed east, but upon discovery of various routes, including the Cumberland Gap, pioneers could get their wagons accross the range and settle farther west.  Without much thought, I would assume that this was because they had only horses and wagons, yet today, in 2012, our travels and migrations are still affected in the same way the early pioneers were.

We took 64 east from Richmond through Charlottesville.  Charlottesville is the start of the mountains coming from Richmond.  Just past there, we hit 81 to the south for a while to connect again with 64 west out of Virginia into West Virginia.  From there, it was due west until we connected to 77, which took us north into Ohio.  Just past Athens Ohio, the land gets flat again.

This is the route we took, for the most part, both there and back, as it is mostly interstate highway.  It was on the way back, that we really got to experience the mountains.  Looking to improve upon the route, we thought we would take a "shortcut" in West Virginia to cut a corner from 77 south to 64 east.  US 60 is a two lane instate, sort of like M66 in Michigan.  In fact, US 60 is the Midlothian Turnpike about a mile from our house in Midlothian, a main road from the west into Richmond.  It crosses 77 in West Virginia, so we thought it would be fine to take to "save some time".  This proved to be an adventure in itself.

We left the interstate just south of Charleston, WV and followed, for a while the Kanawha River.  The road followed the river as much as possible, which is in a narrow valley.  There were many points when we would have to climb to the top of various mountains to the next mountain following narrow switchback roadways.  As we got higher, the roads got narrower, to the point where we were only traveling about 35 miles per hour. 

It was a beautiful ride, however it was terribly slow for a group who was trying to get home.  For me, it provided an appreciation for the early settlers who made their way accross this region.  It also provided an understanding about the remoteness of the people who live here.  It is just too damn tiring to travel very far.  Plus, it is so beautiful, I can see why people would think the midwest doesn't have much to offer in the way of scenery. 

From central Michigan, you can be in West Virginia in about 6-7 hours.  I would highly recommend, if you are looking for a small vacation destination, that you consider checking out the Appalachian Region.  It is vastly differnt than what it's like anywhere in Michigan or the coastal plains of Virginia.

Week 46 Nov. 11-17

Obama Care

I went to a seminar the other day about the affects of the Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA) on Hospital Facilities.  I basically heard from differnt Health Systems that the ACA is going to increase the requirements on healthcare facilities for customer satisfaction, increased building system requirements, and at the same time require them to take a greater volume of patients for less money.  To me, it seems it is basically turning the healthcare industry into to a government run industry.  So basically, your hospitals are going to be run like the airline industry, or the utility industry.  Quality of care can not go anywhere but down and prices rise all as a result of forcing the healthcare industry to provide service without pay.  Their only recourse will be to raise prices on the patients who do pay....or their health insurance companies that do pay.

I think a contributing factor in the state of healthcare cost is the Health Insurance industry itself.  Why do we need health insurance anyway?  It should be for major emergencies, but it weasled its way into the system as being the primary source people pay for all health care.  It was a benefit from employers that people payed, but did see as a cost off their check.  Someone just paid the Dr. Office visit.  It really didn't matter what it cost.  Now that HC insurance is too expensive to provide for a lot of employers, it does matter what it costs to people and the cost is rediculous to begin with. 

So this week, got to experience my first taste of what Obama Care will do for the Train Family.  Drew visited the ER in October.  We thought she broker her wrist.  The visit was 45 minutes.  We got the bill.....$3,700.  Oh, but we only have to pay $1,900...  If nobody gets has to visit the doctor, or gets hurt in my family of 5, I will pay $7,200 a year just for HC.  Total cost per year out of pocket will not exceed $13,200/year. 

The average employer pays about $5,000/year per employee for their portion of health insurance.  Providing this is required by law for full time employees.  The penalty for not providing it????...$2,000.  What do you think is going to happen in the next few years.

Can't wait for Homecare.  That will be when we all pay in $500/ month and the government maintains the upkeep on our home.