Tobin Family Website

This weekend seemed to disappear fast as I was working on Promotion Recommendations for 5 Air Force Majors that are coming up for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel.  I finished three of them today, and have to finalize two more tomorrow at work.  That should be interesting as it is usually next to impossible to get this type of work done in the office with all of the issues, crises, and interruptions that constantly walk through my door.  Nonetheless, I consider promotion recommendations as some of the most important things I do, since it affects people’s careers. 

Friday night, I blew off a little steam with a guys night out.  I was invited to play a little poker at a coworker’s house (his last name just so happens to be Tobin…..yet no relation).  There were seven of us and we all bought in with the pool being divided into 3 unequal amount prizes for first, second and third place.  In the first round, I played miserably….buying in 3x for $20 each and still coming in dead last!  In the second round, however, I took first place and won the pot.  It was  alot of fun.

Karen and the kids stayed home Friday night and watched the much anticipated Disney Channel premiere of High School Musical 2.  I was really bummed that I had to miss it…..cough, cough.  They really enjoyed it, but I guess it wasn’t as good as the first.  They rarely are. 

Saturday was spent doing chores, mowing the lawn and relaxing a bit after last weekend’s globetrotting.  Delaney requested a sleepover for two of her friends and we obliged, since Ben has had a sleepover with his friends recently.  We had temporarily suspended the sleepover after a nightmarish one that Delaney had with a couple of less than well behaved girls.  This one went much better.  The bad thing about the sleepover is that the kids usually spend most of the afternoon the day prior, and stay until noon or later the day after.  The kids love it, but it can really wear us old folks out.

Karen has applied for a work-at-home telemarketing  style job with a company that pays very well.  Not really sure what to expect in terms of them offering her a job….we have no idea if they are in need of people with her skillset.  Part of the application process (online) quizzed her on her knowledge of various topics and her comfort level with PC Software.  If they are looking for a IT specialist, I don’t expect she will get the nod :).  She is still substitute teaching at the kids’ school when class resumes, but the pay for the home telemarketing is better…..and she has the bonus of being able to keep her PJs on while she works!  We’ll see if it pans out. 

Next week I head back out to San Diego for my monthly meetings.  It will be interesting this time as three different programs are holding their meetings during the same week at the same contractor’s facility.  I expect it to be a bit of mayhem.  At least I have my hotel reservations already made! 

News from the homefront in Vermont indicates that my parents luggage finally showed back up in Vermont after a weeklong journey without them to who knows where.  What a nightmare!

Well, time to hit the sack…the Monday morning commute comes early!

This past weekend was very busy as we traveled to Illinois and attended my cousin Paul’s wedding.  Early Friday morning we caught a plane to Chicago’s O’Hare airport (via Cincinnati).  We arrived in Chicago at 0915 on Friday, rented a car and proceeded to drive the 190 miles to Galesburg, Illinois, for the wedding. 

Upon arrival in Chicago, I got a voicemail from my parents stating that their flight from Burlington, VT, had been cancelled and that they were going to have to drive 3-4 hours to Albany, NY, and catch a flight from there through Charlotte, NC, and arrive in Chicago late in the evening.  This meant that they would not arrive at the hotel until 2AM!  Aside from being a monumental hassle, this was a real disappointment as they would miss the rehearsal dinner Friday night.

When I was about an hour from our destination, I was able to contact my brother Chris and his wife Jen who were driving from their home in Dayton, Ohio.  They were due to arrive in Galesburg about the same time as us.  I also contacted my brother Eric and his wife Kathy and my brother Andy and his girlfriend Pam who were traveling together and had landed at O’Hare at about 1100.   In the course of talking to them on the cell phone, they blew a tire on their rental (a Jeep Laredo) and had to stop quickly and replace the tire!

After arriving in Galesburg and checking into our hotel, we met up with Chris & Jen, Eric & Kathy and Andy & Pam.  We also ran into my Uncle Paul and Aunt Nancy who were also staying at the hotel (parents of the groom), and my cousin Paul (the groom).  We proceeded to the rehearsal dinner at about 1800 and had a fantastic dinner, albeit without my parents.  After dinner we returned to the hotel and went swimming and then stayed up late chatting with the groom (Paul) in Kathy and Eric’s room.  It was great seeing him as I had not seen him in years.

On Saturday morning, I learned that my parents didn’t arrive at the hotel until 0600!!  After arriving in Chicago later than planned, they found out that their luggage had not made it…..to add insult to injury, after waiting a long time for a courtesy shuttle, they found out that their rental car company had closed.  So, they had to pick another rental car company and stat driving at about 0200.  Fortunately, the wedding was at 1530 and we had some clothes to loan to my Mom and Dad so that they would have something to wear to the wedding.  As of last night, my parents had returned to Vermont and had still not received their luggage! 

Despite it all, it was an absolutely wonderful wedding and cousin Paul has found a wonderful woman that he now calls his wife.  It was good to be with family, although we missed my brother Scott and his wife Susan who were unable to attend.  The ceremony was flawless and memorable, and the reception was great as well.  The kids enjoyed dancing the night away after dinner.  I have added the pictures from the trip/wedding in our August 2007 photo album.  YOu can get there by clicking on the picture below: