The "Finnster, et al."

Well, it is high time that I updated the name of my blog.  Seeing as how I have birthed two additional people since the initial naming of the blog over nine (9) years ago.  I always meant to rename it, but my best intentions went by the wayside, as they often do. Several family members over the years have reminded me that the other boys may feel slided if the blog is only in Finn's nickname.  Well today I remedy that and unveil the new and improved blog name:  The "Finnster, et al."  Et al.,is a latin phrase/abbreviation  meaning  “and others.” It is used to shorten lists of author names in text citations to make repeated referencing shorter and simpler. This is acceptable in both the APA format and in legal writing.  Now Sam and Will are included in the title of my Blog.  My conscious is clear.  :)

One Sunday this month, Will and I kept the nursery.  I hate keeping the nursery.  I don't really like to hold other people's babies.  That being said, there was need that needed to be filled - and I wanted to fill it.  Will wasn't really that great of a helper.  He was a bit older than the other babies and spent more time trying to get away from them.   I brought an apple for Will to eat for snack.  All of the other babies saw Will eating his apple and tried their best to get it from him.  Finally I locked him in a crib so that he could finish his apple his peace.  He was very happy - especially when I started changing diapers in the next crib over.  Will would peer over the crib and antagonize the babies.  Then he would kick the side of the crib and laugh.  He was really quite funny.   As for that apple, Will finished it - the whole thing - core and all. Sam telling me that I make THE BEST ice cream...

This summer Finn and Sam spent a few days at my office.  They love coming to my office.  First,  I have a TV.  Second, my judicial assistant  sets up my office as a makeshift basketball court.  When I get off the bench I arrive to see Finn and Sam dunking paper basketballs into a raised trash can.  But the number one reason the boys love coming to my office is walking down to Govan's for Ice Cream. They love walking from my office to the square.  They like to look at the buildings and jumping over the posts.  They touch every garage can along the way and they have to fight the urge to walk into the road.  Its really the only time that they get to walk on a sidewalk. However, it isn't all sunshine and roses.  With some time on his hands (I was in court), Finn pointed out things that would make my office better.  He writes them down on post-it notes and sticks his suggestions to the applicable electronic or piece of furnitur...

In mid-August of this year, I attended my first very judicial conference.  I excite pretty easily, so I was very excited for conference.  We left on a Sunday morning and Nancy, Callie and I rode to Knoxville.   On our first night me, Callie, Frank and David went to Calhoun's for dinner. The conference was actually really boring. This is not an exaggeration. Callie and I on Market Street.  This was a nice night. We got home around noon on Wednesday.  The boys were very excited to see me.

This year Gallatin, Tennessee rolled out it's inaugural "Fire on the Water" music festival out at Lock 4 Road.  This festival was particularly special for me because one of my favorite bands of all time , Jamestown Revival, headlined the event.    As a member of GET, I was given the opportunity to volunteer at the event.  I jumped at this opportunity because it meant a free ticket, a free t-shirt and a chance to get good seats at the show.  I worked the 4-7 shift in ticketing.  At around 6:30, it was clear that they needed many, many more volunteers for the 7-10 shift.  I told Kim that I was happy to work the 7-10 shift.  I jumped on the back of her Gator and she drove me to the event location (ticketing was in a completely separate spot).    I couldn't believe how great the event looked.  We had two (2) stages right in front of the water.  There were boats floating nearby,  lights hanging from the trees and food t...