Friday, November 20, 2009

Time to buy a baseball bat

I received word today from Walden University that I have been accepted into the Master of Science in Psychology program, with an emphasis in Terrrorism and Security.   No, not a Masters in Terrorism - that degree program is only offered in Afghanistan. 


We have also been approved by the Board of Directors of Mountain Movers International as a new ministry strategy.  Each of these pieces that falls into place helps us to feel a little more settled, and more "at home" here in Colorado.  Yesterday Daphne and I changed our drivers licenses from Alabama to Colorado; take an eye test and pay $21, and "voila", we're official Colorado residents.  We've been amused at how often the locals remark on our lack of a a Southern accent when they see our Alabama licenses -- I've given up trying to explain where we've come from.

Yesterday we bought a car for Daphne - a 2002 Chevy Blazer.  We went to this dealership on Monday to look over their used cars and asked to test-drive the Blazer.  When they went to get the key it was missing from the board, and we sat there for 15 minutes while they turned the place upside down looking for the it, to no avail.   It took another 30 minutes for the "key guy" to come and cut a new key for the car, and while we waited I joked with the salesmen that they would owe me "big time" for making us wait.  We took it for a test drive, but when I put it into 4WD  we heard a terrible rattling noise from somewhere underneath.  We drove it back to the dealership and I told them they were 0 for 2 (football lingo meaning zero wins and two losses).  We looked around the lot some more and found a Ford Explorer we liked, but we didn't even get off the lot before I discovered that the electronic 4WD switch didn't work.  0 for 3. By this time they were thoroughly embarrassed, and I said they would have to give me a car for free now.  We actually enjoyed joking with the salesmen, and by the next day they'd fixed the problem on the Blazer and we picked it up yesterday.  They even threw in a set of snow tires to sweeten the deal, so Daphne is now ready for the next winter storm.

A couple of nights ago an upper-classman, a young man, called Karine on the phone and they talked for about 30 minutes.  Then yesterday two guys asked her out on a date - well, one did, and the other wimp asked a friend to ask Karine out on his behalf.  We've made it clear to Karine that we're not ready for her to start dating yet, but I'm still somewhat shocked that after less than two weeks the sharks have started circling.  Time to buy my baseball bat.  Karine and I had a good talk after her phone call the other evening, and she was trying to convince me that Kevin was only interested in being her "buddy".  Some things may have changed in America since I left 20 years ago... but some things will never change.  I was a hot-blooded young man in my time, and I know what I was interested in then!   Later that evening after the girls were in bed Daphne said to me, "Well, that won't be the last conversation you'll have on this topic with your eldest daughter!"  Wow, for some reason we never dealt with this issue in France, probably because Karine wasn't interested in going out with any of the guys in her school anyway.  I told Karine that we don't mind her going out for group activities with her friends, but only after the designated driver calls me on the phone and convinces me that he/she is a safe driver.  OK, I'm probably being Victorian here, but these are the only daughters I have.

       Any counsel from the fathers out there who have lived through the teenage years with  daughters??


Thought you might enjoy a few pictures of our new adopted home!




 

 








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