It's amusing to see how much my son, Seth, is like me.
Most amusing is when he announces "I'm done" after a very minimal amount of pool time or outdoor play and heads inside.
Yep - outside is not our place.
EDIT: OK... It's not so much the out-of-doors. It's the type of activities and the number of people involved.
Outdoors in the pool; OK. Outdoors in the pool with more than 4 people; "All done." Outdoors in the yard; OK (provided we're mostly walking or mowing the lawn or doing other singular activities). Outdoors with more than 4 people; "All done." Indoors with more than 4 people; "All done" (retreat to quiter part of house or even outside). Indoors with less than 4; play with one other person or engage in a singular task for an extended time.
Babysitting Seth is about as easy as monitoring a cat. Watching Eve is like caring for a new and very energetic puppy.
We love them both.
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Posted in the section Friends and Family on Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at
9:08 AM
Our home has a lot of odd things about it. Anyone who visits and seems our basement/wine-cellar/catacombs will easily agree. Anyone who has been paid to repair anything will find something the previous owner did in "not quite right" fashion.
I'm happy to say, though, that this only comes close to what I've experienced through accidental leakage.
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Posted in the section Friends and Family on Sun, Jul 06, 2008 at
12:11 AM
Tomorrow our family joins the rest of my (now quite) extended family for a week together in one house at Ocean City, NJ.
There is, admittedly, a sense of withdrawl being without much internet access. I am banned from taking my laptop, even though the house has a wireless network.
My own immediately household does lean toward the geeky as we tend to do visits to parks, libraries, zoos, and other non-beach activities. Some year, though, I'll think of a valid reason for stashing my laptop along for the ride.
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Posted in the section Friends and Family on Fri, Jun 20, 2008 at
7:11 PM
There's issues with heart-problems in my family, so when I had my blood-work for cholesterol in December, my Doctor was concerned.
To explain: The average person should keep their overall cholesterol count down below 200. Mine, in December, was 198. The average person should keep their LDL (bad stuff) count under 159. Mine was 124. The average person should keep their HDL (good stuff) count over 40. Mine was 48. The average person should keep their Triglycerides ("blood-fat") under 150. Mine was 162.
The numbers weren't horrible, but they weren't good. The doctor said the options were: 1 - Drugs. 2 - Low-dose aspirin. 3 - Bring in a dietitian/trainer. or 4 - Test every 6 months and see what I could do myself.
With my "youthfulness," we went with option 4.
I exercised... um... sometimes... I, literally, trimmed fat (I used ot just eat whatever was attached to my meat).
I took the whole day off from work to interview for a whole new work day.
It turns out, I might've been able to call it a "sick day" today. The few hours I was home with kids that were awake either involved crying, puking, sleeping, or a combination of the aforementioned. I hope to avoid the same illness until at least Friday.
Again - here's hoping and praying that there's a new job on the horizon. Nothing against my current employers, but I'd like a career that doesn't feel like a constant struggle to spin plates on chainsaws while someone keeps yelling that "you're doing it wrong..."
Really? There's a "right" way to spin the plates on the chainsaws?
Why yes. You're supposed to make the chainsaws behave more like poles.
But I was using poles. Then I came in to work and was informed that all of the poles were replaced with chainsaws.
Don't fret too much. Next year we're not expecting you to spin the plates. We just need you to levitate them, using the chainsaws. Oh. And they won't be plates. We're replacing them with Folger's Crystals. Let's see if anyone notices...
So - if I'm still where I am next year, it's OK. I think I can still blow enough hot air to make instant coffee appear to be a levitating plate.
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Posted in the section Friends and Family on Tue, May 13, 2008 at
7:07 PM
Traditionally, I lament my birthday. Fellow friends, family, and coworkers attempt, in many ways, to encourage me to enjoy the day as something special. Usually, though, May 1st is simply packed with everything I'd rather not be doing.
Today, it was still packed with things I'd rather not do: - Prepare for a concert on Sunday. The concert features participants of whom only 20% are actually accomplished singers and at least 40% are defiantly opposed to appearing to be actual singers. The remaining 40% are exceptionally average performers. As I see the math, there's a 60% chance of pathetic. -Performing for "Law Day" ceremonies. For those of you unfamiliar with "Law Day..." Well, simply put, it's far from my Patriotic leanings. -Waiting for service at a family restaurant. We've been really good about "in and out" at Friendly's, but tonight they were fairly incompetent. They were slow enough that I was actually able to convince Susan to leave without getting the free icecream. We arrived at 4:40. We didn't leave until 6PM. That's an eternity with a 3 and 1.5 year old.
On the positive: -I have an awesome family. Their hugs are gift enough. -My Elementary kids were exceptionally kind to me today. -My Family was exceptionally great in coping with the slow service.
and
I have an interview for a potential new job! I got the phone call today. It was a nice present. I'd love to work with these folks... Here's hopin'!
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Posted in the section Friends and Family on Thu, May 01, 2008 at
6:55 PM
Amy and Walt snagged a funny gift for me this Christmas. They thought it was a hoot. I just finished reading it. It was actually a pretty decent book (not just a novelty).
There were some moments that were funnier than others.
Sister-in-law, Jenny, had a baby this past Monday. Both baby (Abby) and Jenny are back in the hospital; both with complications.
Jenny seems to have developed an infection. Abby is not yet diagnosed, but she's on IV with Antibacterials.
Brother is self-employed; so medical expenses will be rough. Baby is likely to be shipped to Hershey Med-center.
Update: Jen & Abby are both at Hershey. Chris (daddy) is worked thin trying to make sure visiting needs, child-care needs (for the 3 other boys), and money-making needs are met. Being self-employed requires that he gets work done, regardless of the family situation.
Update again:
Ummmm - keep praying, but they know what's up, now. It's shingles. They both have shingles.
Is a bad joke Ok at this time...? Chris used to be a roofer.
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Posted in the section Friends and Family on Sat, Sep 22, 2007 at
12:41 AM
First, let me say, Valentines Day is not a "Holiday" unless you get a day off from work.
We did. In fact - it seems I'll be home tomorrow, too. Granted; the "celebration" for most everyone will be limited, this year, as backs will be thrown asunder by the weight of the snow/ice/slush.
I like snow.
Now for Susan's message:
Susan
God made you to be the desire of my heart.
Then, He continued to bless you with more desires of my heart;” Eve Seth Time Family Our Future
Thank you for filling me with more desire, each day.
I will continually pray that God can bless me with desires for your heart.
I love you
billy
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Posted in the section Friends and Family on Wed, Feb 14, 2007 at
9:05 PM
Of course, we didn't know she needed a C-section until she had been in labor (hereby to be defined as "contractions that can't be slept-through") since 5PM 11-14-06.
By 11 PM 11-14, she knew she had to go to the Birthing Center. By 2:30 AM, Daddy was sleeping while she was trying to between contractions. By 7AM, we were told that she had only dilated to 4 cm. Bursting her water at 7AM resulted in dilation of 5cm. By 11AM, she asked for an epidural (so that she could finally sleep during the Contractions). By 1PM, she was only at 7cm. By 3PM she was at 9cm. By 5PM, it was determined that 9 was as far as she would go, but the head wasn't fitting through (it was becoming pointed trying). So - they sent her for the C-Section. |
Posted in the section Friends and Family on Wed, Nov 15, 2006 at
9:38 PM
We have an appointment today to determine if/when we should induce labor.
Until then, Susan remains a "great sport."
I'm on "Family Medical Leave" until Friday. I hope we pop out a kid by then.
Oh - and the due date was this past Friday. So, as any good teacher would do, I shall now begin deducting points from Susan and New Baby's "group project" assignment.
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Posted in the section Friends and Family on Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at
6:49 AM
So - Susan and I were discussing different driving habits that either scare us, amuse us, annoy us, make us sick, or are us.
Susan easily gets carsick, so more habits frustrate her than me. For example, my tendency to sit at light in neutral, without using brakes, causes the car to drift ever-so-slightly. Making a pregnant woman carsick is very rude. Making her laugh at the same time is just plain mean.
It used to drive her nuts when I would pay so much attention to the little read-out on our Passat that tells me the average MPG we're getting on each trip. Now that she's been driving the car, she does it too.
We both get annoyed by the folks who think we'll move faster if they ride our tails. Granted, they're probably annoyed by our adherence to the "suggested" speed limit.
Most folks get annoyed by the cars that need to constantly change lanes in order to be in front of just one more car. This is especially annoying if you know that you'll see them sitting right next to you at the next stop light.
Being that Susan get carsick easily, the folks who ride the accelerator right up to a stop sign or stop light are nearly unbearable to ride with. They're quite amusing to watch, knowing that their blowing gas, transmission, and brakes all at the same time. Of this party, there seem to be two types. There's the type who are actually accelerating the whole time; either hoping to beat a light or make it change by pressing harder on the accelerator. The second type seem to have the "accelerator" confused with the pedal in bumper cars; thinking that if they remove their foot the car will abruptly stop. To this group, the "accelerator" is actually the "moving" pedal.
Which driver are you? Have I missed a few?
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Posted in the section Friends and Family on Mon, Oct 02, 2006 at
12:20 AM
Since I said I'd already made my last comment for the old post, I guess I have to start a new one...
I know you're not an idiot. Your intellect could slam mine any day. I just assume that the views I post here will be seen by someone as being idiotic. I'm OK with being the idiot.
Comfort is nice. I like to strive for contentment. It's easier, since you can be content without have comfort. I'm lazy.
As for judgement; live how you want. As of late, if I'm judgemental, in any way it's usually in regards to our reactionary government. I'd prefer the government played a much smaller role in helping (or hindering) the comfort of its citizens.
My letter to the president may have seemed to be judging, but I was really just hoping to get his attention. Since he's always made such a big deal about his faith, I thought that might be a good hook. My goal was to get him to think before lashing out and just reacting. I never even got a form letter back.
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Posted in the section Friends and Family on Thu, Sep 28, 2006 at
5:54 AM
I helped Amy and Walt load up the moving truck for several hours yesterday.
It would seem, I ended up playing a large role in loading the truck. I won't brag too much until they report how much of the stuff got broken.
Years of Tetris, once again, paid off, though.
It's amusing, from my perspective, to see the family tears. I've kept in touch with Amy mostly through these Blogs and e-mail. So - 25 minutes or 3 hours away doesn't make a big difference to me.
Then again, I'm a very social person.
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Posted in the section Friends and Family on Mon, Sep 04, 2006 at
4:07 PM
