"...an incredibly strong woman"

I'm about to head off to Columbus. Steve and Lisa cancelled their movie night trip and Tim unfortunately can't get out of work to go with me. This has been the longest week with every day dragging on without focus. I've cut/pasted the obituary from the Columbus Dispatch below:

BALL (Michael) Erica (Michael) Ball, age 34, of Galloway, passed away peacefully at her home early Sunday morning, July 8, 2007. She was born December 14, 1972 in Columbus and was a graduate of Hilliard High School. She attended The Ohio State University and was a Sales Supervisor in home lending for J.P. Morgan Chase. Erica was an incredibly strong woman who ended her battle with cancer after fighting for eight years. Erica is survived by her parents, James and Elvira Michael of Hilliard. Erica has two children, Matthew McNamee, 18, and Cassidy Ball, 11. Also survived by her husband, Trevor Ball; brother, Frank Michael; sisters, Laura Erwin and Marla Michael. Erica will be missed and loved by them as well as her many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins and friends. Family and friends may call 4-8 p.m. WEDNESDAY at THE JOHN QUINT TREBONI FUNERAL HOME, 1177 W. 5th Avenue. Funeral 10:30 a.m. THURSDAY, St. Christopher Catholic Church, 1420 Grandview Avenue. Rev. Msgr. John K. Cody, Presiding. Burial St. Joseph Cemetery. It is the wishes of the family that contributions be made to the Erica Ball Memorial Fund through any Huntington Bank or the American Cancer Society, 870 Michigan Ave., Columbus, 43215.

Erica Ball, December 14, 1972 - July 8, 2007

My best friend in the world for many many years just died this morning. I received the dreaded call. I don't know what to do when a best friend dies so I am blogging and crying. When I left the company we both worked for, she wrote this William Ernest Henley poem, Invictus, on a lovely card along with a heartfelt message of her own and some Skinny Puppy lyrics on the psychedelic doodled cover. The poem, of course, she wrote from memory. The English Lit side of Erica always shines. I will forever keep this handmade card and forever keep her in my heart.

OUT of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

I miss you already Erica.

Construction (back)

It is really coming together from this view! Back door guests are best ;-)

Construction

It sure is coming together! Steve & Lisa will be here this week for movie night! I hope everyone can make it. This might be the best one ever with authentic Russian food, visiting family, and M/C's gorgeous new home. I'm already quivering with anticipation.

Spending the day with friends...casually hanging out and watching channel 17.

July 4 Dance Party 2007 (the documentary)

Here it is...I decided I couldn't wait any longer. If anyone requires edits (you will know who you are) please let me know!

Mobile YouTubing

I know ... you are waiting for the Fourth of July Dance Party 2007 video aren't you? It is done. I'm deciding whether to post it without having some consent forms signed. Can't have my friends bringing lawsuits against me, and I edited alot. I mean alot alot.

I just figured out how to mobile YouTube. This is frightening because now I can post videos on the fly too! This one is a forward from Steve from July 3 showing some construction on the mansion from upstairs!

Blog Stats

I was checking out my statistics on the blog. I am averaging about 70 hits/week and nearly all of them are coming from URL so I think it is safe to assume that it is just friends reading the blog. I've intentionally avoided publishing to the search engines, but they do link through to the sites as they find them I suppose. One can Google "Vergie Bridges" and find her video debut, but the link is to a third party site instead of my blog or YouTube pages.

Interestingly enough, 31.3% of the visitors this week stayed for over 1 hour. Now this could be just opening it and leaving it open in the background. Regardless...friends...don't you have anything better to do than read this crap? j/k

Construction Update

Something dignified to discuss today instead of the holiday debauchery from yesterday. This appears to be a shot of workers in action! That construction company sure does work fast. They are one of the high end builders in the area and I thought they would take longer than the big chain builders, but I guess I was wrong.

Still Going

Video to follow. I got lots of material to edit this weekend!

Happy Fourth

Is it wrong to order Mr. Chen's delivery on the fourth? We are taking cover inside since it is pouring outside. Hopefully it will clear up for the boom booms.

Roof Party at The Ellington

Dags is sipping a beverage before we head back to our house for an evening gathering and fireworks.

Vanessa being Vanasty

Fun times at Solly's. It is definitely a rock star night. Mission in progress. We've done a little pub crawl and may go to the Gato Negro before the night is up!

Front Porch

They are definitely making progress. Look closely (or click the pic) to see Lisa sitting in her side window.

Another Shot!

I blogged too quickly. Here's another shot from Lisa's sitting room. She says it is so big she may have to rethink her furniture choice and buy a sofa for it. Shopping!

Construction Update

Things are moving quickly. The entire first foor is framed! This shot is looking from the loft into the great room towards the back yard.

I left work and got a mani/pedi then came home to change (OK...so I stopped at Polly's/Solly's on my way here.) Judge not lest... Rock Star 4th of July Eve is about to kick off on U St.

Framing!

Bro Steve and Baby Lisa have some framing on their new mansion on the hill. This is so exciting! Can't wait to visit in two weeks to see it in person.

Home Sweet Home

We made it back to DC in one piece. Unfortunately we had to stop three times (we were hungry and thirsty) so it took nearly 7 hours. I hear some peeps are out finishing Sunday Funday, but we are opting for bed. It has been a long weekend and I anticipate it will be a long week with the holiday on Wednesday. Pattycake may be coming from CMH to visit and we plan to watch the fireworks from our own roof for the first time ever.

Shipment for Catrina!

This semi is headed your way girl.

We are on our way back from OH. Last night turned into a messy adventure, but we had fun. It was great to do a little bar hop and see lots of old friends. No Such Fate played at Club D. Quite a treat to catch them two months in a row without any planning on our part! Grace Kelly even came out and joined us for a few beers.

Heath

Some things never change...his shirt always comes off. We love the Heath at the AWOL bar. 11.75 for 4 peeps to have a round. We love Columbus prices!

Club D

See Richard in the back? He know's Rita Jean's Beth Ann and lives in Fauquier county. Funny we always run into him in CMH. We only see him once a year at the Gold Cup in VA. Perhaps that will be our annual trip back to the East Coast. (Dave, Heather, and Timmy are the photo participants in the front)

We are drinking away the day at Club Diversity. It is warranted.