A Day In the Life

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Happy 11th Birthday, Trent!

Wow! 11 years old. It's hard to believe that my baby is 11 years old!

Trent, I wanted you to know how proud your dad and I are to call you our son. We have been blessed with a terrific son like you! It seems like only yesterday we brought you home from the hospital not knowing what being a parent really was.

We have learned alot since then. You have helped us to grow.

As I reflect on these past 11 years my heart bursts with pride and I smile at some wonderful memories.

All you wanted to be for Halloween that year was a chicken!! I searched everywhere and finally found it!

Riding your first John Deere tractor... chasing daddy around the yard.

Baseball 2008... getting hit in the face by a line drive. And the black eye that lasted 7 months.

Also in that year you had your first (and only) grandslam!

You have become an intelligent, bright, thoughtful, incredible young man. We are so proud of you in every way!

Happy Birthday Joseph Trenton Barfield!

Saturday, October 02, 2010

Fun at the Fair

Yesterday we went to the Rockdale County Fair. It wasn't what we expected but was fun anyway. The kids had a ball.

Do you remember the Gravitron?

The ride is completely enclosed, with 48 padded panels lining the inside wall. However there are a few versions of this ride that don't have a roof (i.e. the top canvas isn't installed). Riders lean against these panels, which are angled back. As the ride rotates, centrifugal force is exerted against the pads by the rider, removing the rider from the floor, due to the slant. The ride can reach a maximum speed of 24 rpm in less than 20 seconds, due to the 33 kW 3-phase motor. At this speed, the riders are experiencing centrifugal force equivalent to three times the force of gravity. At full speed, it is possible (though generally prohibited) for a skilled and strong rider to stand horizontally on the pads.

The ride operator is located in the center of the ride. Part of the operator's duty is to control lighting and music in addition to the ride itself. Some variants include closed-circuit television cameras, allowing waiting riders and passersby to observe the ride in action.

I am so mean... Without knowing what the ride actually did Trent said he wanted to ride. So I let him. I thought for sure he would come out crying.....

But he loved it!

Mom and Dad relaxing on the carousel

I am still wondering why every... and I mean every ride had to spin...... I rode a ride (equivalent to the Mr. Momo that used to be out at Six-Flags)...... and was sick for the rest of the night.... it's terrible getting old.