Training for the Alaska Mayor,s Marathon

Here is Fran Nash the N0#1 contender training for the up coming Mayor,s Marathon 2011.

I Hope You All Had A Wonderful Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all the Russell's and their families and friends! Have a safe and FUN New Year!

Freezin for a Reason....

Hell is at the bottom of Goose Lake, and save for the hole I jumped into, it is frozen over! Saturday, my friend Kylene and I participated in the Polar Plunge to benefit AK Special Olympics. I had wanted to do a polar plunge since I moved to Alaska...it just seemed like the thing to do...and I did it. And there is no way I can put into words how COLD it was! The temp. that day was 1-2 degrees F, and the water temp of Goose Lake was 31-32 degrees...freezing. We got to the edge of the ice hole, and I seriously wanted to just run away...but in front of all those folks, and in the name of my sponsors, I could not. So, at the count of 3, we jumped. When I hit the water, all the breath was sucked out of me. The cold water felt like it went directly into my bones! Every muscle in my body contracted, and all thoughts vanish. I only wanted to GET OUT. But I had to swim-walk to the ladder. The ladder was metal, and was so cold, my fingers and clothes stuck to it! Thankfully, the firemen were there to help us climb out. I have never been so cold in my life! After I got out, Kylene and I ran to the hot tubs!!!! We soaked for about 10 minutes and then got dressed into our dry clothes and it was over....and I was actually feeling really good! probably from the rush of adrenalin...it was a very cold kind of "high" if you will....bizarrely, I want to do it again! But not soon! Maybe next year....I highly recommend this experience to everyone! Thanks again!

Liberal Democratic misanthropy towards the wealthy

Maybe they should read this. Never mind, they are too self absorbed.

I want the wealthy to keep doing what they’re doing. Personally, I am happy I have spreadsheets (thank you, Bill Gates) and can order all my holiday gifts in 15 minutes (thank you, Jeff Bezos). The richest of the rich, in most cases, provide more value to the world via the items they create than any charity or government organization could dream of. Their wealth is an exact measure of the value they have provided to society.

J. Todd Larson

Thanksgiving behind us

A queer little pumpkin, a jolly fat fellow,
Stood close to his mother so rotund and yellow.
"What a stupid old place! how I long to aspire,"
Cried he, "I was destined for something much higher."

"My son," said the mother, "pray do be content,
There's great satisfaction in life that's well spent!"
But he shrugged up his shoulders, this pumpkin, 't is true,
And acted just like some bad children will do.

With a shout and a whoop, in the garden they ran,
Tom and Ned, for they'd thought of the loveliest plan
To astonish their friends from the city, you see,
With a fine Jack-o'-lantern--"Ah, this one suits me!"

Neddie seized the bad pumpkin, and dug out his brains,
Till he felt so light-headed and brimful of pains;
Then two eyes, a long nose, and a mouth big and wide,
They cut in a minute, and laid him aside

Until night, when they hung him upon a stout limb,
With a candle inside; how his poor head did swim,
As they twisted him this way, then twirled him round that,
Till at last, with a crash, he fell on the ground flat,

A wreck of the once jolly, fat little fellow,
Who stood by his mother so rotund and yellow.
Just then a lean cow, who was passing that way,
Ate him up, just to finish HER "Thanksgiving Day."

author unknown....

Granny is the matriarch, the pinnacle of the family and we gathered there. We were but a few of the Russell Fun F@#%ing Family. A fantastic Turkey extravaganza (raree-show) was prepared by chef Julie and a variety of good friends were in attendance.

Devistating Idaho Winter

Winter has slammed us like a crushing blow from a hardened NFL Linebacker. However there are some who enjoy the white fodder. Thanksgiving day will be bitter cold. Welcome to frozen HELL!

BADONKADONK BABIES

To Nancy Pelosi, as Speaker of the House

See Ya! Don't let the door hit you on the way out! I know she'll still be around as a congreswoman, but we won't have to see her or even worse, hear from her as much. Good riddance, Ms. Speaker!

The Fun F@#%ing Family Crest

OK! I am looking for more suggestions and input for our family crest. I have created a rough draft. I am looking for symbols that represent our family. I thought a goat head would be appropriate. Some new ones have been added and there is room for more.

Für Elise

2nd Son pays a visit

Brad dropped in for the weekend. It was a short visit but we had a good time. The weather was great and we ate like Kings. Life is good!

It takes two weeks, what used to take a day

I bought this desk summer before last. It was ugly (photo above) and it was stored in the garage until 3 weeks ago. I finally got to it. Before I had kids this project would have taken a day. But it took me two weeks to finally finish it. Below are the after photos. It took me another full week to get around to posting it...so small projects take me about 3 weeks to finish now. Good thing we found an EASY costume for Amir!

Sam and his two best friends

On the left is Cory and the right is Sergio.

The haves share with the havenotz

The Green Belt is no longer about the Shake River and its scenic falls. It is no longer about asphalt paths cut through grassy banks. Nor is it about the shade trees that grace its banks. Artistic sculptured benches share the pristine beauty found on the famous Green Belt in down town Idaho Falls. The dole ducks and geese care less as they wonder around the metal and marble bases. These are gifts from the wealthy in town. City workers prepared and poured the concrete bases for each piece of art work. A small contribution came from the tax payers’ pockets. I am starting to accept the changing landscape. It’s like an old skinny mangy cat on your door step each day, you finally break down and feed the damn thing.

Here is some banjo pickin'!

Here I am, just screwing around. Sorry if it's a little quiet because I wasn't wearing my finger picks. When I polish my sound up, there will be more.

Back on my own two feet again

Hey everybody,

I want to thank all of you who have helped me in the past couple of months. I'm finally on the positive side of my bills again and I already have next months rent paid. What a relief. I love you all and your babies. When I get more established, I will return the favors that you guys have granted me.

My banjo playing is getting better and I am making a few new friends here. I just wish that I had more time to play the banjo and make more friends. I am working my a** off at the studio and Pizza Hut. 2 almost fulltime jobs with only one of them paying 7.25 an hour... Hmmmm... I don't question my devotion. Be sure to check out my website at www.chadsmusicsideshow.com. I just posted some new stuff and I still can't find the option in my web software to allow outside comments. Anyone working with iWeb should get ahold of me if you have the solution. Thanks.

Labor Day Banquet

The Granner hosted another grand banquet to honor Samhain. Yes our summer has run it's course, hit the wall and has given way to a hellish winter just around the corner. We enjoyed a palethra of vegitables grown in our Family Freedom Garden.

No Soliciting

Don't you just hate pushy door to door Cutlery salesmen?

Every once in a while, I'll find an image on the internet that makes me laugh out loud. Even more scarce are the images that make me cry on the inside. This image does both:




















Such is the state of our youth...

Must Have Baby Feeding Gadget

These come in a pack of two, you get them at Target...in the baby feeding supplies aisle. I bought these for Amir, he refused to use them. They were sitting in the back of a drawer until about a month ago. I get produce boxes from Full Circle Farm CSA every other week, and the fruit almost always goes to waste because I forget to eat it. But the babies love nectarines and plums. So instead of mashing it...........
I cut up the fruit (stone fruits work best) and stuff the mesh bag with the fruit. The softer the fruit, the better. And cold fruit is good for teething babies.)
Then you close the locking handle, make sure it clicks (it is foolproof....)
Hand it over to baby....
And let the messy gnawing begin!


I seriously recommend these! Get Will some ASAP! Bananas don't work well in these, but most other fruit does...even apples. My kids like the plums, peaches, etc. best in them. My friend Kylene put ice in her daughters for relief from teething...I think Popsicles would also be good in them. I will post more photos of mesh fruit bag enjoyment tomorrow!

You know what they say about advanced degrees?

B.S. = Bull S#!t

M.S. = More S#!t

Ph.D. = Pile It Higher and Deeper

But what does it all mean?!

Good news friends and family! I have recieved my official letter of admission to Washington State Universty's graduate program in Mechanical Engineering. I'll begin my Master's courswork on the second week of January! Hopefully, I'll have my M.S. in M.E. within about 2.5 years. Go MILFS! I mean, Cougars ... GO Cougars!

- Benton

The consummet golfers

We got a break in the weather and went golfing at Heise Hot Springs. When we finished the 9th hole, the rain came down in buckets. We stopped at Wendy's for a late lunch and now we are going to waiste the day and do NOTHING.