ATV Ride

A couple Sundays ago the weather was just too perfect to stay close to home, so I grabbed Kya and Jackson (my nephew) and we headed for the outdoors. We made our way south of town and found some open space to roam. Since they both loved to ride in the front we had to stop occasionally to switch them around. Don't worry we stayed on nice level land and I was sure to stay clear of any little cliffs or dramatic drop-offs. They had a great time and could hardly contain themselves when we were just getting started. They especially loved pointing out all the things we saw on the way out. We saw some really neat old barns, we saw some combines in action, we even saw some field on fire. They thought that was wild. One time we went over this really old iron bridge that had a max load of 6,000 lbs with the truck and they both were glued to their windows as we idled over it, looking at the small creek below. I took quite a few pictures and I'm sure Jen's new passion of scrapbooking will dedicate a page to "The ATV trip".

Pictures

Here are a couple pics for you to enjoy. The first on is of Jackson and Kya hanging out on my newly built shelves above the stairway in our garage. Brave little souls, don't ya think. The other is of Kya's pre-school project. She made some elephant ears and is more that happy to show them off.

From my phone, with irony.

Hey all, get this I forgot my computer at home. (I'm gone on a small business trip) So I am sitting here wondering about this blog and whether I can access it from my phone. Holy speezwaz Swenson, I can! Now I am sitting here in my hotel thumb typing away like crazy. My thumbs haven't gotten a workout like this since running circles around Chad's Vikings with Sweetness and the Bears on a tailback sweep on Tecmo Bowl. I know t has been a while since I have updated this blog, sorry. I hope everyone has enjoyed our perfect summer and fall, I have. Jennifer, Kya, Quinn & I have had a great summer at the lake, especially since Chad is the Big Cheese in Hankinson (where we have a Lake lot). It has been great having them so close, still wish there was more time for getting together. I am experiencing major thumb fatigue. Gotta go. I will be back!!! Mitch

Well hello there...

Well well well, Mr. Benson it is about time you come back and maintain your little blog. There I said it for you. Sorry it has been so long since I checked in. Crazy times. New job. Second child.

Synergistic. That is how I describe adding another child. It definitly is not 1+1. It somehow compounds the workload much more than that. And to think Chad and Kristy, along with some good friends of mine, Shawn and Gwendy, just added #4 to the mix. ZZZZZZZZZZZ I just took a quick 10 minute nap just thinking about it! Quinn has been such a blessing for us, she is a gem of a child. I have to admit the joy she steals from us between 10 pm and 6 am she makes up for the rest of the day. She may not sleep through the night, yet. But during the day she is one of the most smiley happy babies on Earth. Kya has taken to being a big sister well. She takes the roll seriously, regular picking just to let Quinn know who was here first. Just tonight while taking a bath with Quinn, Kya was "helping" out by washing Quinn up. She was doing a great job lathering up the pudgey one and then just because put a little heap of sudds on Quinns nose. A little more than would be a cute Kodak moment, just enough for Quinn to get annoyed. What can you do? She loves everything about being the big sister.

That's all I have for now. Don't be a stranger, I will be checking in sooner than you think. MAB

Quinn update

OK, what you are thinking is true. Quinn might just be the happiest baby on the planet. Here is a picture of her just hanging out on the floor and smiling away. She really has been a great baby, good sleeper and let me tell ya' a darn good eater! 99th percetile for both height and weight! She is content just hanging out and really loves to be held. She is infatuated with the Baby Einstein mobile we got from her Aunt Jaime and cousin Jackson. Quinn loves the outdoors, she just sits and watches the trees and clouds. Most of the time just being outside exhausts her, must be the fresh air. Her big sister is really great to her and loves helping out, her specialty is putting in the Nuk (pacifier). Quinn and her sister, Kya are spending much of the summer with their Aunt Jaime. Because Jaime is a school teacher with most of the summer off, she is taking Quinn for the summer and sometime Kya goes with too.

Crazy times

I hope to get some new Pics up of the kids very soon. We have been busy and it has been crazy for both Jen and I. I started my new job with Synthes Spine a little over a week ago, which means putting my nose in the books and spending quite a bit of time in the Cities. Jen goes back to work on Monday after being home with Quinn for 12 weeks, bitter sweet. Although, she is looking forward to going back to work, she is really enjoying time with Quinn and Kya. Quinn is a great baby, it won't be easy for her. Fortunatly, her sister Jaime is going to be watching Quinn for the summer while she is off from school. That is going to be great, I think Jaime is looking forward to it more than anyone, she is awesome with kids. I hope to have more pictures up before next week.

I can't stop!

Grasshopper walks into a bar.
Walks up to the bartender orders a drink.
Bartender says "we don't get many grasshoppers in here."
Grasshopper replies "and with these prices, you won't be gettin' many more."

Same bar...

Band saw walks into a bar.
Walks up to the bar, sits down next to a power sander and asks...
"You know the drill, right?"

Next day, same bar...

Neutron walks into the bar, orders a beer.
Bartender says, "for you, no charge!"

Same bar...

Termite walks into a bar, walks up and asks..."Is the bartender here?"

A different bar, a different grasshopper

Grasshopper walks into a bar
bartender says, "wow, you're a popular guy around here, we even have a drink named after you"
Grasshopper says "You've got a drink named Steve?"

A young man from Texas walks into a bar and asks the bartender for a drink. The bartender asks “Ya got any ID”? The Texan replies, “About what”?


Same bar...
A man walks into a bar witha slab of asphalt under his arm and says, "A beer please and one for the road."

Rene Descartes walks into a bar. The bartender says, "Beer?" Descartes replies, "I think not," and he disappears.

So, this tissue walks into a bar. Bartender says, "Can I pour you a drink?" Tissue says, "Heck no, it'll go right through me!" Bartender says, "Well, you don't have to get all snotty about it."

A guy and his pet newt walk into a bar. The bartender asks, "What's that thing on your shoulder?" The guy says, "Oh, well he's my pet. His name is Tiny." The bartender replies, "Why'd you name him that?" And the guy replies, "Because he's my newt!"

Duck waks into a bar...

Duck walks into a bar. Walks up to the bartender asks.."got any grapes?"

--No this is a bar, we don't have any grapes.

The duck sighs, looks down at his floppy feet and walks away disappointed.

Next day, same bar...

Duck walks into a bar. Walks up to the bartender asks.."got any grapes?"

--"No duck, I told you yesterday, we don't have any grapes."


Duck S i g h s, looks down at his floppy feet, and walks away disappointed.

Next day, same bar...

Duck walks into the bar, walks up to the bartender..."got any grapes?"

--"Look duck, I've told you we don't have any grapes. If you ask me again, I'm going to nail your beak to the bar."

The duck looks down. He's wounded, hurt...torn apart by the bartender's threat.

He looks down at his floppy feet, s i g h s, and then suddenly...a look of joy in his eyes he asks:

"Got any nails??"

--"Umm. No?"

"Got any grapes?

New Path

Not an easy decision, but I think it is one that will be great for me and our family. I recently accepted an position where I will be working for a company as a Sales Consultant for Neurosurgeon's doing spinal fusions. The company I will be working for is called Synthes Spine, and I will be starting the new position on May 30th. There will be quite a long transition time, so for that I will be spending some time in the cities. Along with that I will be responsible for the surgeons in Minot, Bismarck, Fargo and Grand Forks. I am leaving some very good people and a great company at Forest, I am very grateful very everything they have done for me and will miss them very much. I am very excited about this opportunity, and although it will be very challenging, I can hardly wait to get started.

Also, with Chad, Kristy and their family moving back to the area we are very much so looking forward to a great summer!

Chip Time is in... 3:56:38

As some of you noticed, there were quite a few times that didn't get reported right away. Apparently the company responsible for doing just that had some technical difficulties. That included my time, along with my running partner and a couple other runners I know. They have posted the accurate chip times and in today's Fargo Forum they reported the omitted runners, myself included. Thanks to all for the kind words and congratulatory messages.

3:58!

Here are the official results from the Fargo marathon. This doesn't include the chip time, which is time from when you cross the start line until you cross the finish line. It is from when the gun goes off, and because I was quite a ways back in the pack, my chip time should be a little better. My goal was to run it in 4 hours.

Mitch Benson
bib number: 751
age: 31
gender: M
location: Fargo, ND
overall place: 363 out of 972
division place: 43 out of 93
gender place: 294 out of 651
time: 3:58:13
pace: 9:06
10k: 54:58
13.1: 1:58:34
20 m: 3:01:11
last 10k: 55:25

Quinn is doing great!

Quinn was discharged from the hospital on Sunday afternoon after about 24 hours under the "Bili lights" and is doing great.

Quinn Update

Little Quinn has had to be admitted to the childrens hospital for the treatment of Jaundice. That nice coppertone that her skin has means that her bilirubin is elevated and she needs to have phototherapy. Nothing too dramatic, but she does need to spend time under lights that treat the elevated bilirubin. It is fairly routine treatment with 100% success, the only unknown is time, how long she will need to be under the lights. She will for sure be in the hospital until tomorrow. Sorry for all those that were hoping to see her today. :( Hopefully this will be a quick stay for her. Thanks to all for your thoughts and well-wishes.

Mitch

There is a new Sheriff in Town!

Thanks Uncle Kevin for the cowgirl gear... that's a real Stetson y'all!!!

Pictures on Shutterfly

You can go to our shutterfly website to see new pics of Quinn and the family. The site is http://mjkqbenson.shutterfly.com/action/ (derived from Mitch, Jen, Kya, Quinn Benson) Enjoy!

Mitch

Quinn Christine Benson is here!

Quinn Christine was born Sunday, March, 19th at 10:01 PM. She was 8lbs 13ozs and 19.5 inches tall! You can also find a picture of here on Meritcare.com in the BassiNet, search either by name or date. Both Quinn and Jennifer are home and doing very well, Kya is adjusting as expected. Loves her little sister and really likes being involved and helping. Look for more updates soon, or go to blogbenson.blogspot.com for more updates.

ND town quiz

I got this from one of my offices that I call on, I had a lot of fun with it, enjoy. Using the clues below, identify the name of the town in North Dakota the clue describes.


1. A man’s first name and a female horse:

2. A chicken village:

3. Below Lumber:

4. Goes first:

5. Toting 2000 pounds:

6. An angry insect:

7. It rings – where you play tennis:

8. A small, red furry animal’s residence:

9. One of the Great Lakes:

10. Magnificent eating untensils:

11. A large turn in the road:

12. Able to perform:

13. A French Ruler:

14. A long distance to travel:

15. Richard and his offspring:

Marathon training.

As some of you know, for some reason I got it in my mind that I should run in the Fargo Marathon in May. I have really had to dedicate some time to the training, the running is the easy part, it is the time it takes to do the running that seems to be the hardest adjustment for us. Kya, the trooper that she is wanted to be involved and who can turn down those baby-blues? So here you can see a picture of us going out for a run with all the garb on. She hasn't gone all the time, but you would be amazed at how tough this little girl is! One time she even fell asleep in that bitter cold. I can tell you this we both love it, she is always telling me to go faster!

Quiz answers

1.Kenmare
2.Cooperstown
3.Underwood
4.Leeds
5.Carrington
6.Crosby
7.Belcourt
8.Foxholm
9.Michigan (or Erie)
10.Grand Forks
11.Great Bend
12.Cando
13.Napoleon
14.Fargo
15.Dickinson

Little help, here.

I need some help, I need a very funny short joke. Something like this: Q: What did the elephant say to the naked man? A: How do you breathe through that?

Doesn't have to be Adult rated (but it can), just funny.

Hmmmm

Allow me to pose a question. Hopefully nobodies spirits will be crushed or feelings hurt by this one. It is a political one. If you are a a true Democrat, shouldn't you vote Republican? Allow me to explain. Simply from the financial perspective, if you voted for many of the things Republicans believe in, low taxes and less govt, wouldn't this allow you more ability to actually improve the things that Democrats typically want to improve. This would empower you to personally do more to support those interests. For example, afford better education, tutoring, give more to charity, support an ailing relative, get an education, and so on. Interesting concept, don't you think. I read about this 'idea' in a book called "The World is Flat", by Friedman. He is very liberal in his thinking and writing, and the book is fasinating and eye opening. But this statement really stuck with me. It makes some sense, whichever side of the isle you fall.

Hey All

I just wanted to give a quick update even though there is not much to report. We are about 3 weeks away from the new edition to the family. Jen is very much so ready to have the baby, she is much tougher than I could ever be. You women are amazing and I sure am glad Eve ate the apple and not Adam. :) Hope everyone is happy healthy and warm!

Injured Bad

Speed + Tree = Food

Front page of The Forum

Jen, Kya and I were all interviewed for, what turned out to be, a front page story in the Fargo Forum. This is the picture that was published above the fold covering a good portion of the paper. It was quite a bit of fun hearing from all the friends and family that saw it. It only took Kya 2 1/2 years to make the front page. Watch out world, this girl might just take over the world!