Day before Thanksgiving and a 4 day holiday. I hope everyone has a great day and will spend it with someone that truly loves you. If not .. come over here and I will. The feasting has already started. I attacked the chips and dip and got scolded for it. Sniff. Those pies looked good and I have been know to steal them and eat them long before the Thanksgiving dinner. Ahhh so ... secret ninja sneak and grab. I thought about listing everyone and saying something ... but I may forget someone or they take it the wrong way ... so I will just say ... I love each and everyone of you and can think of no better way to show it than giving you a big hug. Separated by time and space ... so I pass you one huge cyber hug!
But one person will get a mention ... Lady ... without her I would be nothing. She is my wife, best friend, confidant, soul mate, and the essence of me ... I LOVE HER!
My prayer is that everyone is safe and happy tomorrow. A special prayer for Blue as he deals with family issues.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thanks for all the Great memories
Well, Thanksgiving is almost here and thus the Holiday Season will start. I am amazed that Christmas music is already being played ... can't we enjoy the fall holiday first? If they think this will get me in the festive mood and spend more money ... then they are really sucking on some strange weed. If anything, I will balk out of irritation. Bowling continues to be good as the kids are in first place with three weeks to go and the adult team is in second with a long way to go. Lately we have spent time at Carl and Lynne's trying out their new hot tub. Nothing like sitting outside as the water vapor rises and the outside temperature is in the low-50's. Of course the walk out to the tub is fun and one you don't dally on. Work is there and helps keep the stress level elevated. It just isn't as fun anymore. The cruise is only 6 1/2 weeks away. Sun and water with temps in the mid 80's. Gee, that sounds like heaven. Blink-Blink.
Wild Mom is finishing up moving stuff and creating her new craft room. It is keeping her busy and happy. Lady is doing well and gearing up or the baking and cooking season. Tonight is the final on "Dancing With The Stars" and she has her fingers crossed that M`ya wins ... not! #1 is still dealing with his sore back. He tried bowling but after one game had to stop. It sure is tough being "almost 30." His body is slowly breaking down as age takes it toll. Or is it because I am setting the bar too high as I averaged over 200 this weekend? #2 is the same ... no job. Peanut is still learning in school and now she is planning her business. Figuring out a name and business cards provides a lot of laughs but underneath we are very proud of her as she works to make it on her own. Princess works. Star is moving to a new apartment and will spend Thanksgiving in Nashville. She continues to impress us as she makes a life for herself. The kids are great. Serenity is growing and filling out. Her vocabulary makes every conversation a delight. Believe me, she is learning how to flirt, use her eyes and facial expressions to get what she wants. Of course, I am immune. AJ is turning into the little man we knew he would be. It is so much fun watching him grow and learn to talk with with us. Lew is excited about bowling with me in January when the new league starts. This should be fun. The circle is complete as several people are re-entering our lives. They diverged for a few years but are coming back. This enriches our lives so much and gives us a chance to love them more.
I was suprised this morning to find out my home mortgage had been sold and no one told me. In the past I recieved 30-45 days notice it was happening. Oh well, squash the little guy ... he only pays the bill so don't worry.
Wild Mom is finishing up moving stuff and creating her new craft room. It is keeping her busy and happy. Lady is doing well and gearing up or the baking and cooking season. Tonight is the final on "Dancing With The Stars" and she has her fingers crossed that M`ya wins ... not! #1 is still dealing with his sore back. He tried bowling but after one game had to stop. It sure is tough being "almost 30." His body is slowly breaking down as age takes it toll. Or is it because I am setting the bar too high as I averaged over 200 this weekend? #2 is the same ... no job. Peanut is still learning in school and now she is planning her business. Figuring out a name and business cards provides a lot of laughs but underneath we are very proud of her as she works to make it on her own. Princess works. Star is moving to a new apartment and will spend Thanksgiving in Nashville. She continues to impress us as she makes a life for herself. The kids are great. Serenity is growing and filling out. Her vocabulary makes every conversation a delight. Believe me, she is learning how to flirt, use her eyes and facial expressions to get what she wants. Of course, I am immune. AJ is turning into the little man we knew he would be. It is so much fun watching him grow and learn to talk with with us. Lew is excited about bowling with me in January when the new league starts. This should be fun. The circle is complete as several people are re-entering our lives. They diverged for a few years but are coming back. This enriches our lives so much and gives us a chance to love them more.
I was suprised this morning to find out my home mortgage had been sold and no one told me. In the past I recieved 30-45 days notice it was happening. Oh well, squash the little guy ... he only pays the bill so don't worry.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Storm Clouds are Brewing
Hump Day and I am still alive and kicking. Though the kicking part will become more noticeable. I am getting near the end of the rope and it won't be pretty or comfortable when I reel it back in. Yes, you guessed it ... I am in a fowl mood and nothing good ever comes out of it. I am tired of being used and I guess it is time to start changing that. painful as it may be.
We went to the Gideons Pastor/Spouse Appreciation Dinner as St. Mark's representative. The dinner was the best we have had in quite a while. The speaker was really good. I would have to rate this experience as the best ever and I believe lady feels the same way. The new working hours are the pain in my tush. I am not adjusting or adapting to these new work hours. Besides, I found an easier way to do all this, isn't that the name of the game? How about "Dancing With The Stars" last night? Surprised? We were as we watched it with some good friends. I have several resumes out and hope to hear back on one of them this week. I just gotta do what I have to do. Can you believe Thanksgiving is next week and 5 weeks later we head for the Caribbean and we still have to squeeze Christmas in there somewhere.
Today is 1/2 priced burger day, the highlight of my culinary weekday. The hardest part is waiting for 11:30 when my stomach is growling now and I can smell the grill warming up.
We went to the Gideons Pastor/Spouse Appreciation Dinner as St. Mark's representative. The dinner was the best we have had in quite a while. The speaker was really good. I would have to rate this experience as the best ever and I believe lady feels the same way. The new working hours are the pain in my tush. I am not adjusting or adapting to these new work hours. Besides, I found an easier way to do all this, isn't that the name of the game? How about "Dancing With The Stars" last night? Surprised? We were as we watched it with some good friends. I have several resumes out and hope to hear back on one of them this week. I just gotta do what I have to do. Can you believe Thanksgiving is next week and 5 weeks later we head for the Caribbean and we still have to squeeze Christmas in there somewhere.
Today is 1/2 priced burger day, the highlight of my culinary weekday. The hardest part is waiting for 11:30 when my stomach is growling now and I can smell the grill warming up.
##### free-load; free-lohd – verb (used without object) Informal. ######
##### 1. to take advantage of others for free food, entertainment, etc. #####
##### 1. to take advantage of others for free food, entertainment, etc. #####
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Great Quote
"As an American I am not so shocked that Obama was given the Nobel Peace Prize without any accomplishments to his name, but that America gave him the White House based on the same credentials."
Newt Gingrich
Fall is arriving slowly
Well, time marches on and I still can't figure out the drumbeat so I can get in step. This week and the next should prove to be long and tiring as I work over night upgrading the servers. This old body doesn't react well when I flip the sleep cycle. When I was a youngster it was a lot easier. All is is going fine. The kids are about to lock up first place in their league. The adult team hangs on to 2nd place. I am amazed at how things are working out in that league. This week we have a dinner to attend that is hosted by the Gideons. Since the Pastor can't make it, I am filling in. This week the new Bible Study starts so I am reading and planning in my spare time.
Wild Mom is doing fine. She is moving furniture around and preparing for the holidays. Lady just finished a retreat at Sandy Cove, MD. with several ladies from the church. They had a great time with their only wish was for the rain to stop. #1 is about recovered from his pulled back so work and bowling should return to normal. #2, well, no change and no job. Peanut continues to go to school and work to her dream. Her and #2 are slowly getting more active in the young adult group at the church. Star is getting a new phone and will soon be calling me on a regular basis. Looks like she is heading to Chicago when everything falls into place. Gee, she keeps moving further and further away. Princess just works and works. Haven't seen lew and Lil Princess in a while and I sure do miss them. They do grow on you.
Wild Mom is doing fine. She is moving furniture around and preparing for the holidays. Lady just finished a retreat at Sandy Cove, MD. with several ladies from the church. They had a great time with their only wish was for the rain to stop. #1 is about recovered from his pulled back so work and bowling should return to normal. #2, well, no change and no job. Peanut continues to go to school and work to her dream. Her and #2 are slowly getting more active in the young adult group at the church. Star is getting a new phone and will soon be calling me on a regular basis. Looks like she is heading to Chicago when everything falls into place. Gee, she keeps moving further and further away. Princess just works and works. Haven't seen lew and Lil Princess in a while and I sure do miss them. They do grow on you.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
TWO CHOICES
What would you do? ... you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:
Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?' The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued ... 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'
Then he told the following story:
Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.' Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.
In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!' Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!' Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the base s toward home. All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay' Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay, run to third!' As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!' Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.
'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'. Shay didn't make it to another summer ... He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:
We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate. The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces. If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the 'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message. Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference. We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.' So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice:
Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process? A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.
You now have two choices:
1. Delete
2. Forward
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:
'When not interfered with by outside influences,
everything nature does, is done with perfection."
everything nature does, is done with perfection."
Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?' The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued ... 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'
Then he told the following story:
Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.' Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.
In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!' Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!' Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the base s toward home. All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay' Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay, run to third!' As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!' Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.
'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'. Shay didn't make it to another summer ... He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:
We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate. The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces. If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the 'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message. Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference. We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.' So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice:
Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process? A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.
You now have two choices:
1. Delete
2. Forward
May your day, be a Shay Day.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
November Heat Wave
Well, can you believe November is almost halfway done. It doesn't seem like it with the temps we are having ... Low 70's. Even an almost hurricane managed to show up in the Gulf Coast. All is well for the time being at home. Everyone is busy and starting to look forward to the Holiday's. The Fall festival at church was a success. Though the rain did show up we still had a great time. The Moon Bounce was a hit with the kids. Especially with Lil Princess. She loved it. We finished our Bible study of "The Shack" and will be starting a new one by David Jeremiah in a couple weeks. Bowling continues to surprise us. The kid are in first place with a 15 point lead with 4 weeks to go. The adult league team continues to hang onto 2nd place. We seem to get everyone on their off night. Hey, I am not complaining. Work is the same. They want us to smile and be happy but that is hard when the pay and benefits are lowered.
Wild Mom is learning a new security system (ADT). So far only one close call with getting locked in/out. Her holiday's will be quiet but followed up in January with the cruise. lady is preparing for her weekend with the church ladies next weekend. Well, another chance to scrounge for food as I survive as a class B bachelor. #1 pulled his back and messed his bowling up last weekend. Now he has to figure out how to go to work and keep the dollars coming in. #2 has job-dodging to an art. You guessed it ... no job. peanut is still doing great in school and a few people have gotten to experience her massages. Not bad! Lew loved the face painting at the festival and dressing up in his fireman's costume. Lil Princess charmed us all as Elmo. She was easy to see in that red costume. AJ pimped the girls as the GodFather. Though the word are gibberish to me ... he is chattering up a storm. Star is doing well and staying busy. I just miss talking to her though there are a lot of pictures to look at. Hmmm ... I wonder what was under that red skirt in that one group of pictures. Princess works and occasionally texts ... so I guess she is ok.
A old friend I hadn't heard from in a year contacted me this past week. Mainly because I forgot to recreate their email after the Blackhawke Server went down. Anything to make contact once again.
Wild Mom is learning a new security system (ADT). So far only one close call with getting locked in/out. Her holiday's will be quiet but followed up in January with the cruise. lady is preparing for her weekend with the church ladies next weekend. Well, another chance to scrounge for food as I survive as a class B bachelor. #1 pulled his back and messed his bowling up last weekend. Now he has to figure out how to go to work and keep the dollars coming in. #2 has job-dodging to an art. You guessed it ... no job. peanut is still doing great in school and a few people have gotten to experience her massages. Not bad! Lew loved the face painting at the festival and dressing up in his fireman's costume. Lil Princess charmed us all as Elmo. She was easy to see in that red costume. AJ pimped the girls as the GodFather. Though the word are gibberish to me ... he is chattering up a storm. Star is doing well and staying busy. I just miss talking to her though there are a lot of pictures to look at. Hmmm ... I wonder what was under that red skirt in that one group of pictures. Princess works and occasionally texts ... so I guess she is ok.
A old friend I hadn't heard from in a year contacted me this past week. Mainly because I forgot to recreate their email after the Blackhawke Server went down. Anything to make contact once again.
Monday, November 02, 2009
The Eleventh month starts out wet!
Well, another holiday has come and gone. We had a good one especially when the kids dressed up for Trick or Treat. Lew was a fireman, Lil Princess was Elmo and AJ dressed up like the GodFather ... a real gangsta! The Church's fall festival was a lot of fun except for the intermittent rain. Games, crafts and food made us all happy. #2 pained his face to look like the Joker or was that when he washed it off? It escapes me now. Wild Mom is fine and planning for the January trip. We miss her being here but you just have to go home sometimes. Lady is tired. This weekend she pushed hard to finish Brian's memorial quilt. She managed to do it and presented it to the Nursery Class at the church on Sunday. Now she can rest. Except when AJ fills the toilet up with paper and then flushes it creating a pretty waterfall at 6:00 am. #1 is still working but it is spotty at best. #2 is back into his unemployment costume and acting the part quite well. Peanut continues to learn her new trade and is quite good. Her surgery is slowly healing and she is getting back in to the swing of things. She looked very good as "arm candy" for the Godfather AJ. The kids were their usual fun selves and a little bit tiring at their energy level. Lew went home not feeling well and we pray he will do better today. Lil Princess wore her new purple and lace dress with matching socks. That is a picture of beauty that is hard to even match much less beat. AJ was his usual busy self ... not including his morning waterfall and his penchant fo flipping every light switch he can get his fingers on. Not much on the Princess scene ... she always works and sleeps ... honestly ... that is what the texts say! Star is back from Chicago with many new tales of adventure along with pictures. We are hoping to see her sometime this holiday season.
Work, well let it be said that scrooge pales in comparison at the trials and tribulations it presents.
On the bowling scene: the Youth team is in first place with a moderate lead at the halfway point. The Adult team is holding its own possibly in a three way tie for 2nd place. Who would have thought that was possible? Lady wants me to replace her with a better bowler ... nope ... how can I ever replace the light of my life for any reason?
Lady and I talked last night about this Holiday season and have come to a conclusion. We want "NO" gifts. All we want is for the family to eat and spend time together this Christmas. If you must spend money for gifts then donate the money to a church, our church or a charity. Christmas is not our birthday and therefore we don't need any gifts. We want to be with the family. Yes, the grandkids will get them but no adult. Sorry if this interferes or bothers you but we want the family time together to be that special. If you don't understand what we are doing then please ask us.
Yeah ... the Redskins did not lose this weekend ... bummer ... they did not play either. Dan Snyder has banned all signs and banners at the stadium ... he does not want to bust the myth he keeps telling them .... that they are winners and pretty good ones at that!
Work, well let it be said that scrooge pales in comparison at the trials and tribulations it presents.
On the bowling scene: the Youth team is in first place with a moderate lead at the halfway point. The Adult team is holding its own possibly in a three way tie for 2nd place. Who would have thought that was possible? Lady wants me to replace her with a better bowler ... nope ... how can I ever replace the light of my life for any reason?
Lady and I talked last night about this Holiday season and have come to a conclusion. We want "NO" gifts. All we want is for the family to eat and spend time together this Christmas. If you must spend money for gifts then donate the money to a church, our church or a charity. Christmas is not our birthday and therefore we don't need any gifts. We want to be with the family. Yes, the grandkids will get them but no adult. Sorry if this interferes or bothers you but we want the family time together to be that special. If you don't understand what we are doing then please ask us.
Yeah ... the Redskins did not lose this weekend ... bummer ... they did not play either. Dan Snyder has banned all signs and banners at the stadium ... he does not want to bust the myth he keeps telling them .... that they are winners and pretty good ones at that!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
