12/1
Only 25 more shopping days till Christmas.  Time to get busy.  What craziness will occur this month?  Grandma's toes will be free from pins.  Christy will be free of students for about 3 weeks.  I will be free of semen.  Don't forget to use the joint planner.

Mathew Bowman - 11:30pm
Yesterday was Matt's birthday.  I hope he had a good one.  To be young!  NO THANKS!  Every step of the way seemed hard to me.  How the hell did I get here anyway? 

12/6
Tonight I reflect on my proliferation.  Tomorrow I will be rendered sterile.  This may anger the Gods.  So be it.  I am prepared to face the consequences of my surgery.  I guess I better make a baby before I go to sleep.  Wish me luck!  Please have a moment of silence for me tomorrow from 8:00am to 8:20am.  

12/11
Boy it felt great being off work for 4 days all the while holding icepacks on my crotch.  The medication kept me loopy.  Today was the first day I was up and about.  We celebrated the birthday of three of my favorite nephews.  Click here to join the fun.  What else is new?  Our Christmas tree is up and running.  Hunter killed his first squirrel!  More later.  Time to ice the jewels.

Happy Tuesday
I am off tomorrow.  Christy and I will be attending her school Christmas party in the evening.  I plan on making a fool out of myself.  All for Christy's benefit of course.  Hunter killed his first squirrel earlier this week.  He was indifferent to the whole experience.  We skinned it and plan on eating its meat later this week.  Anyone out there know who Dominique Moceanu is?  She is one of our Olympic gymnasts.  Christy and Amber went to a special event last month that highlighted the Olympians.  Christy took this picture of Dominique that is probably the most unflattering ever.  I wonder if she would sign it for us.   On a better note, check out this gymnasts website.

12/13
We had fun at Christy's work party.  Click here to see for yourself!  She has a great group of friends that she works with.  I was on my best behavior as usual. 

12/14
Bush is the big guy now.  It sure is weird that the democrats are being so congenial.  I think we have a conspiracy in the making.  Hunter stayed home sick today.  Sick throat.  Grandma and Grandpa nursed him.  He may stay home tomorrow as well.  Christy is going to try and pump him up with medicine early morning to see if we can ship him off to school.  Just one more day for Christy until she gets the next few weeks off.  I am so thankful she is a teacher as she more than makes up for the time I am not able to spend with the kids.

12/15
Look who dropped by today.  Santa made a special visit to Team Toyota.  He asked me many questions about several children I know.  I did my best to make him feel at home.  Better watch out!

12/16
Sure is nice to know folks like you are dropping by to visit.  I had a nice evening with Hunter and Christy.  Amber is spending the night with Jordan.  Christy took in a movie with Hunter and then met me at Wings for dinner.  Is it rainy or what!  Heard from old friends today via Christmas cards.  Thank you Justine, Mike and Tony.  Justine is all the way back from my Elementary/high school days.  She now lives in Asheville, N.C. which is just about 30 minutes from where Nanny and Poppa's new mountain house is!  Can't wait to visit.  What a small rock we live on!  Gotta work tomorrow.  I love my job!  Really.  I do!

12/18
Just as my work day was ending, while I was preparing to go Christmas shopping, I received a frantic call from Christy.  She went on to explain that the cat called her to the window begging to come inside.  She let the cat in while talking on the phone with her mother.  The kids started to freak out as they noticed that the cat's tail had been nearly severed and was hanging on by only a tendon of flesh.  Approximately 2 and one half inches of tail had been chopped!  I changed my shopping plans and quickly drove home.  I walked into our home into a torment of emotions.  Amber and Hunter appeared as if they had just been violated by evil spirits.  Never have I seen them so haggard.  They pointed to where the cat lay.  Sure enough, Celica had been injured.  How?  Why?  Who knows.  With a snip of the scissors  I finished the job.  The cat didn't even meow a complaint.  In the mean while,  Hunter and Amber were having convulsions at the idea of me butchering the kitty's tail.  Click the picture to zoom in.  My God the things our pets have been through!  Just in case you are wondering, I gave the tail a proper burial in our kitchen trash can.  I told the kids there was a good chance the tail would creep upstairs while we were asleep and kill us.  Good night.

12/19
Ok.  Now it's cold.  I haven't worn a winter jacket yet this year.  Tomorrow may be a different story.  Six more days till Santa comes.  Next week Christy and the kids are going to the mountains to see snow for the first time.  Celica the cat seems to be doing fine.  Her wound is drying up quite well.  Christy says I have been giggling in my sleep the past couple nights.  Tomorrow the kids spend the day at camp while Christy finishes up with shopping.  In the evening we are going to eat at Osaka's with Nanny, Poppa, Brian and his new girlfriend Shane.  Stay tuned for pictures.  Night! 

12/20
Miraculously I was able to get off work on time to join the fun at Osaka Japanese Restaurant.  The reservations were at 7:30.  For our entertainment was the famous redneck hibachi chef.  Plum wine and beer was consumed.  Shrimp went flying through the air.  The company was great.  Nanny only has 5 more working days until she retires from work!  I can image all the fun she and Christy will have during the summers.  I wanna retire too!  Click the little picture to see pictures of the dinner party.

12/21
Tomorrow I work, then three days off.  Now that's cause for joy.  We had dinner with Barbra and Derek tonight at Buffalo's.  Did I have my camera?  No.  Guess we better do it again so we can record the moment.  I am tired tonight.  It might just be the beer.  Nighty night.

12/22
Amber created this image of herself.  I love it.  She hates it.  That is art.  Click the image to zoom in.  I am officially off until Tuesday!  Jordan is spending the night tonight.  Tomorrow is Team Toyota's Christmas party at Nicholson's Farmhouse.  Nina, Claude and Mark will be here tomorrow as well.  Sleep well tonight.

Travelers - 9:19pm
Nina, Claude and Mark are heading to Florida today.  They will pass through dangerous roads and conditions.  Impatience and rage will be on the minds of others drivers.  My suggestion to them:  Send the presents by mail.  See you soon dears!  Did anyone notice the weather links underneath the news archives? (look up!)

12/23
The Shipley's have bought a house!  Negotiations have started on a potential home in The Gardens of Killearn.  Reminds me of when Grandpa and Grandma found their home here in Tallahassee.  Seems like yesterday.  And now here we are.  All of us together...on a dry lake bed.  Just kidding.  I am very excited about the possibility of having more family within just a mile of us.  DEAR GOD!!!  Just kidding again.  Hey, let me know when it's time to move.  I'm busy that day but I know Christy will help.  Took the kids to A.J. Henry Park today.  They sure love it there.  Nanny and Poppa have picked them up and are heading to see Disney's 102 Dalmatians.  We are going to the Team Toyota Christmas party in about an hour.  On a different note, check out the many faces of Hunter.

Dinner and presents at the senior Messer's' - 11:49am
We had a great time at Meme and Granddaddy's tonight.  Meme fixed and awesome dinner.  We opened presents and visited with each other until 9:30pm.  The kids were given scooters from Nanny and Poppa.  After 10 minutes of riding they are experts!  Join us at the party by clicking the picture.  The kids are tucked in bed.  We are all tired from a fun day of festivities.

Look at the time! - 1:19am
It is now Christmas Eve.  Santa will soon be leaving for his round the world voyage.  It boggles the mind.  Truly.  The Team Toyota Christmas party was a hoot.  Click the picture to see the evidence.

Christmas Part II
I have added the first round of the Christmas celebration.  Join us now for lunch at Nanny and Poppa's.  Click it!  I will add Christmas Part III by tomorrow.  I am sleeeeeeeeepy.  Nighty Night.  Hunter is a true champ with his mini-bike by the way.

Barbra and Derek announce their engagement! - 
Who would have thunk it!  Congratulations!  May all your days be bright and naughty.

Merry Christmas!
What a morning!  Hunter didn't fall asleep until about 1am.  He kept asking us if it was morning.  They seem happy with their presents.  Santa brought Hunter a mini-bike.  He has wiped out three times already!  What a sport!  If his hand isn't broken I think he will hop on it again before the day is over.  Look for updates as the day progresses.  There are a lot of pictures to post.   We are going to Nanny and Poppa's at noon and then on to Grandpa and Grandma's.  Peace!

12/26
I finally finished posting the rest of the holiday pictures.  I used thumbnails to display the pictures.  To zoom in just click the image you want to see larger.  You know the routine.

Day of clay
Christy took the kids and Sarah to a neat place today.  From what I understand you turn your kids loose in a place filled with ceramic.  They then turn on the creativity.  All this paid by the hour.  I love America.  Click the pik!

Mark Shipley picture submitted!
Now this makes me happy.  I get an email with a picture attached.  This is what I am talking about folks.  You send the picture and I will post them to this site.  You get the credit!  Send more.  With everyone's help we can build a better website. 

12/28
Christy is taking off for the mountains with Nanny and Poppa tomorrow.  I will be alone for the next 5 days.  I know they will have a blast.  Hopefully they will see plenty of snow and all that goes with it.  If you haven't noticed I have a link for the weather near the top of the page.  It includes Tallahassee, Waynesville and Ft. Lee.  Grandma took Amber and Sarah to lunch today.  I hope to hear the details of that in the actnuts guest book.   

12/29
I just heard from Christy and the kids.  It snowed on the way up to the mountains.  They are safe and sound.  There is a little snow on the ground.  Christy said I would love it there.  Now I am really bummed out.  I have to live my life vicariously through my wife and kids.  I hope they get a chance to really enjoy their new surroundings.  I tried to get together with Erik tonight.  Not sure what happened.  Stood up again.

12/30
I can't tell you how excited I was when I checked the mountain weather this morning.  See for yourself.  I know the kids will have a great time with this new experience.  I wish I were there to see them.  I am so glad Christy has the kind of job where she is able to spend time doing this kind of thing.

12/31
Partied severely last night.  I dined at Carraba's for the first time.  Steve, Paul and I joined Susan, his girls, George and June Garcia of Marianna Toyota along with their children and children's friends.  After dinner we met Tulga and his wife Holly at Julie's Place for Karaoke.  Don't get me wrong, I had a good time watching the Karaoke singing people, however I believe Karaoke is Japanese for 'secret plot that uses non-singing people to cause the Americans to go insane.'  Anyway, I am using the day to relax from my escapades.  Heard from Christy again last night.  She left a message telling me about the kids sledding down a slope on a piece of cardboard.  Today they plan on going to Cade's Cove.  Tonight I will dine with my parents.