Nope, not dead- just been hibernating. I hope I didn't worry any of you. By popular request, I am moving the Tarantula post down the blog scroll, out of easy viewing. YOU are all welcome :) (though, shame on you). p.s. Spidey is currently stationed on my kitchen counter enjoying her summer break and freedom from constant tapping on her tank window as class pet.

Any ways, HAPPY SUMMER TIME!! Funny, I am supposed to be sitting on my rear end eating Bon Bons and watching re-runs (there is still time for all of that), but it seems I have been running like a chicken with my head cut off. Summer started with some serious deep cleaning on the ol' Carver bunker and some gruling Girl's Camp planning.... then an awesome trip back East to NY, DC, and Boston with Hunter's Mom (my travel buddy); afterwards Girl's Camp, beachin' @ Bear Lake, and then back to serious cleaning on the Carver Bunker. Way fun. Which brings us up to date. The plan today (surprising I have thought ahead), I think, is going to go like this: Check my email (first time in 4 weeks), blog (first time in 5 months....), maybe do the dishes, maybe shower (don't judge), and off to the pool with Liz and Lucy to have my first session of farmer tan removal, drink lots of Diet Coke, and eat Bon Bons (does anyone know what Bon Bons even are?). Wish me luck, I'm exhausted already. :)

To push Spidey further down the blog scroll I am including a few pictures of my trip back East for your PLEASURE!! You are welcome!


Notice: Upon closer examination, Linda is groping the Statue of Liberty

This guy was selling Obama condoms real cheap. Puts new meaning to the phrase being "in bed with the government."

Hiding my true feelings for the Speaker of the House. Yup, that's a Birdie behind the hand :)

Katie and I rubbing the bull's nose, it's supposed to bring you good luck and we did get to see Nicolas Cage that night..... I'd say it worked :)

Singing "Sweet Caroline" at the Red Sox game. Fenway was AWESOME!!

Adios Justis! Hello Tarantula.....

These are pictures of our 5th period good bye party for Justis who so graciously :) gave me Spidey, our new class pet (dang cute little creature- don't ya think?)......... yikes

The Difference Between Men and Women

Well this evening I have experienced something which tells me there is definitely a difference between men and women. As I thought about this one difference it started to spawn into what other differences there are between men and women. I thought to myself, "if I could write down all the differences, get them published in a book- I could make millions on the sale of my book". Men everywhere would buy this book to learn how women think and act. The world would be a better place by having peace in the home all across the globe. Then I remembered one simple thing that would hinder my dream for world peace, women shop, men don't. Well that is not so bad, maybe the women will by my book and make the men read the book. All the women in the world would tell their man "if you would just read Dave Carver's book, we would not be having this issue. Dave Carver listens to a woman and understands her needs....etc...". By saying this over and over in my head I realized men would not look up to me at all, they would curse me for being a sellout to the male race. I would get hate mail that would read "be a man", "stickup for the male rights", "until you came along I at least had the illusion of wearing the pants in the family and now I don't even have that." Then I realized, if you see a box in your wife's car, don't shake it to find out what is inside........

Spidey

Everyday is a new experience teaching school. Never a dull moment you might say, which requires one to be on their toes at all moments. You must make sure you are prepared with smart comebacks (IE. in response to comments from a particular student about your new styley thick belt looking like a heavy weight champion belt from WWF or such), be prepared for a student hiding beside your door waiting to surprise you at your EVERY return to the class room (yes, I have almost peed myself multiple times), and ALWAYS prepared for some sort of chaos after you have had a substitute for a day or two.

Sunday night right before school started up after Christmas break, I found myself wishing something would happen so I wouldn't have to go back to real life the next day- maybe a snow day or something. Unfortunately my wish did not come true because Monday I was back at school. The day went great and I realized how much I had missed my students- it felt good to be back to real life. Throughout the day, though, I seemed to be feeling a cold coming on. Yadda Yadda Yadda. Ends up I am sick the rest of the week with some nasty bug. (be careful what you wish for).

Anyways, the point of the story, a week later (Monday) I head back to school after my nasty flu bug, and (as I said in the beginning it is not fun to return after a substitute) I walk into my room to find a ten gallon fish tank sitting in the middle of my room..... No fish inside the tank... No water inside the tank.... just some dirt, and a small hollowed out log. Luckily there was a screen on the top of the tank held down by two textbooks- which is at the same time a bit alarming... Inside, though I didn't know it then, was my new class pet Spidey. Spidey is a Chilean rose tarantula, which was dropped off in my absence on Friday). She was a going away gift from Justis, one of my students who's family is moving. Spidey, who I think is a she, has definitely grown on me. I only have to feed her once every 2 weeks, I only have to clean her tank once a year, and most the time she just sits there. After having two high maintenance dogs this sounds pretty nice. Oh, I forgot to mention, they live 10 to 15 years. Well, adios- I have got to go buy crickets and take the dogs for a walk..

Hunter has a Christmas sweater. He loves it and he wants to share it with you!

A couple of weeks ago we had the annual Carver/Vansweden Christmas party extraordinaire. The party was off the charts!! Everyone came decked out in their most festivous Christmas get ups. The only problem is that Hunter likes his new outfit a little too much- let the pictures explain. Let me know what you think.

Lucy is here to stay!!!!

Hot dog and Oh My Goodness!!! We have a new addition to the family:). My sister Liz and her husband Dave have been patiently waiting for this day for a long time (and so has her aunt Kristin been waiting- just not so patiently)..... This morning, December 3, at 1:00 am a pink wonder-eyed little girl was born weighing 7 pounds 3 ounces. I can't get over the fact that my best friend and sister that I have known since the day I was born is now a MOM.... it's just crazy and so AWEsome at the same time. Boy have things changed since the days of pulling her hair and teasing her about, well, everything (though, those days aren't even close to being over:). 

Latest work.

Well you all know that I do construction on the side ranging from custom furniture peaces to demolition. I finally took some pictures of a mantel I did in the spring, here are those pictures.