Happy Happy First Anniversary Ryan and Brian!

Seth and Christina's Wedding

One year ago, we celebrated Ryan and Brian's Wedding. Yesterday, we celebrated our good friends Amy and Steve's son wedding. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Plyler and Mr. and Mrs. Plyer.

I made this wood bench for Ryan and Brian's Deck

Pittsburgh City of Champions

Sidney Crosby hoists the Stanley Cup.

Photo: Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

Ryan Sent Me This Picture of Licorice

Staining Ryan and Brian's Deck

Saturday was the perfect day to stain the deck. Brian and I started at 2:00 and finished at 6:00. Hard work and Ryan and Elaine treated us to Boston Market chicken dinner. Here is the before:

And here is the after

Stunning Solar Transit Shuttle Photo


Photo Credit: (NASA/Thierry Legault)

Aaron's Dean's List Congratulations

Please Pray for My Parents

My father has had health problems and has been in and out of the hospital and nursing home.

Mothers Day 2009

Ryan and Brian Went to Kleman's Wedding

On Saturday. The ladies all look so beautiful and the weather was perfect.

Happy Easter Sunday

We met Ryan and Brian, Bruce and Lois, and Amy and Matthew at the 356 Fighter Group Restaurant in Canton for Easter buffet. A good time was had by all.




And here's Matthew enjoying his Easter dinner.

The Mr Bill Show

Here Mr Bill, you and Spot sit on the couch with Sluggo.
I don't like Sluggo, he's mean to me.
Sluggo, what are you doing with Spot?
Spot, Spot are you all right?
Oh noooooo!
That's all for the Mr. Bill Show.

Happy Birthday Elaine

May you have a happy and fun birthday.

Love,

Marshall

Update on the Nitro Passenger Side Handle

I drove around with the handle for a few weeks and it just seemed too plain to me. Elaine even said that, too. The Nitro is beautiful vehicle and I want everything to look first rate, so I stripped it and re-did it. The materials: New Krylon dark grey spray paint, a gray vinyl remnant from Joanne Fabric, and silver striping tape from Autozone.


Looks much better now, doesn't it? Even Elaine said it looks one hundred times better than my first try.

Detailing the Nitro

Elaine was out of town for a workshop, so I had two nights by myself and decided to detail the Nitro. Both nights, I started at six and ended about nine thirty. I used all these products that you see here.


First, I washed the Nitro. Next, I used a cleaner to get off the old wax and oxidation. Next, I used polish to bring out the showroom shine. Lastly, I used NuFinish to seal and protect. A lot of work, exhausting actually, but worth it. Here it is glistening and gleaming in the morning sunlight.

Gort in My Car

Very Nice Saturday

First, the weather was in the seventy's and after being cooped up all cold winter, this was great. Next, Brian and I went to see Watchmen, which is a movie based on the comic book. Brian had read the comic book and wanted to see it. I just thought it looked interesting. It was.



Next, Elaine and Ryan joined us at the Olive Garden for a lovely dinner. Last, we all went shopping at Sam's Club. A very nice Saturday with the promise of spring upcoming.

Gort Showed Up At the Office

Gort, Klaatu Barada Nikto

Gort stopped by our house tonight. He is eight feet tall and wanted me to do some woodwork and chrome job on him, as he was looking at my last couple of posts.

Seriously, Aaron sent me Gort for a birthday present. Gort is the robot from the famous 1950s science fiction movie, The Day the Earth Stood Still. Thank you, Aaron.

Marshall's Birthday Present

Notice anything different about the Nitro? Elaine bought me the chrome mirrors and door handles and I put them on last night. Elaine and I think they really standout and make the Nitro look sharp.

Dodge Nitro Woodworking Project

I really like my Nitro. It looks sharp and is very comfortable. The only downside of a big SUV is that Elaine struggles to climb up and in the passenger side. I looked for a passenger side handle all over the internet and called Dodge, but no one seemed to have one.


Someone on the Dodge Nitro forum built his passenger handle out of wood and put his plans up on the forum, so I copied those.


It took a few hours on Saturday and Sunday to do the woodworking. Last night, I spray it with a couple of coats of primer and a couple of coats of Krylon Fusion. I like this paint, it gives it a plastic coated look and feel. I let it dry overnight.


I installed the passenger handle this morning. Not a fine craftsman, but not bad, if I do say so myself.

Matthew Enjoying His Birthday Cake

Marshall and Matthew's Birthday Party

Licorice and My Camera

Birthday/Valentines Day Lunch

We went out to lunch with Ryan and Brian to the Waterloo Restaurant in Akron. Then, we went back to their house for goodies and ice cream. Also, we played Wii games and played with Licorice.