March Overload.

So much March! So little time!

First there was sprayer clean-out/prep.

Cracked nozzle... $22 loss.

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The New Republic.

So I ended up buying a new laptop. My "old" Sony Vaio has for all intents and purposes transitioned from fully functional, fully portable laptop to fussy desktop computer that MUST NOT be jiggled or bumped or sneezed on. I'm hoping if I keep it stationary, I can still eek out a couple of more useful years.  

After much searching and pricing and re-searching and re-pricing, I accidentally stumbled into maybe what I was looking for all along on Amazon and then I saw the button for "there is a newer version of this item" which turns out was cheaper and even more like what I was searching for all along. 

Computers are weird because the shopping online experience has gotten a LOT worse in the last few years. Last time I bought a laptop, one could go to any of a half dozen companies's websites and build the exact machine one wanted--color and all--from scratch, to the point that I was able to have my K-State purple VAIO personally engraved for a nominal fee.

Blah blah blah I ended up with an ASUS Republic of Gaming laptop.

 And because the price was right and because it was possible and because it sounded like fun, I decided to trick it out a little with a m.m.2 solid state drive  and a clean operating system install on said ssd.

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8th Month +8 Months (August 2012 2 of 2)

Katie, Oklahoma Agriculture's brightest star, and a two wheeled visitor from the east.

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"[His] [Connecting Rod] Falls to the Floor..." (August 2012 Part 1 of 2)

The circle of life/machinery:

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No-Farm November

Farming is all about getting things done in a timely fashion. Everyday you get up and do whatever is the most time sensitive thing that needs done. And you keep doing that thing until it's done. Whether it takes you a few minutes or a few hours or a few days.  And then one glorious day you realize that there is nothing all that time sensitive left to do.  I like to call this special time "winter."

It is when I finally get to spend my time wisely.

Susan and Stephven got married! They practiced first.

 

I spent most of the next day chillin' with Katie and putting the final touches on my halftime video. (Note to self: double check how the groom spells his name next time.) Halftime? Halftime. Rita pulled some strings and made sure the KSU-OSU game was scheduled at just the right time for Susan's dream reception.

And getting the A/V ready to go. (with help from DanM!)

They pretty much thought of everything for the wedding. Including a place to predict your score for the game. (Ahem... mine was 52-45, or as you might say, exactly right. Just got the winner wrong. Minor detail.)

 

Janie outdid herself with the graphic design for this wedding too.

 

I stole some of the following pictures from Susan's Facebook. I hope I don't get sued. 

Here's the new Alsop clan:

You might have noticed that Katie is in a bear costume.  Because she was the ring bear.

 The reception was legen... wait for it... dary. I would say it was the greatest wedding reception of all time, except there wasn't any water turning into wine. Second best wedding reception ever, easily. And don't try to tell me there was nothing miraculous going on when KSU-OSU got scheduled opposite the "game of the century" and went on to play the absolute best college football game of the year.

 

 

Uncle Bill made the barbeque. A gastroenterologist moonlighting as a barbeque caterer... if that isn't job security, I don't know what is.

How special was this night? Someone even got a picture of Susan and Linda in the same picture. At least I think that's Susan.

The next morning we opened presents with the Millers.

There were other important not farming tasks in November too. Like fun night.

And more Katie time.

 

 

And samples at Sam's.

And Thanksgiving.

 

Including a shocking end to the Connect 4 tournament. Anna won!

 

Katie was so proud.

As was everybody.

 

We saw the Texas Lobys for a little bit.

And then drove to Nardin.

And found out why "No-Shave November" isn't for everyone.

There was more time well spent.

 

 And Mr. Secretary showed me what a muddy drill looks like.

And the girls went to a shower for these two.

And then we went to future SEAL Finney's going away party.

Eventually we made it back home.

And we finally found the time to put up the Christmas tree.  And Katie took full dirt-eating advantage.

No-Farm November always cheers me up.