Slowly Being Accepted

When I first started on this road of being a Work At Home Dad I had wonderful ideas and wishful thinking. My youngest was born and my oldest was 4 years old. Three days a week we went to preschool and many of the moms treated me fine, but I was not included. One of the moms ignored the rest and we became friends. Now almost 3 years later we are still friends and our boys play together and play many sports together. The one thing I was not ready for when I first started down this road was the overall isolation. The neighbors with kids soon decided not to include me in things and even now a couple do not even wave. This isolation wears on me, however I am strong enough to ignore it and move on.

Well today is a day I will remember for a long time as a day of being truly accepted, at least by a small group of moms. My 2 yo attends preschool every Wednesday for one hour at a different school then his brother went to. Since it is only an hour I sit and wait rather then drive 10 minutes home and 10 minutes back. The Preschool is associated with the Village Hall and Senior Center so there is plenty of space to relax and wait for the kids. A few of the moms stay every time and a couple maybe 50% of the time are still sitting and waiting. I have enjoyed my time talking with them since normally my adult contact is limited to store clerks and my wife. Today was picture day so all the parents had to wait out of site in the gym. There was tables and chairs setup and it gave everyone a chance just to chat. Of course I am the one and only dad that is there. Once in a great while two other dads show up WITH their spouses.

Now for the good stuff...

The conversation today had to do with babysitters and what everyone does to get out. A few have regular sitters that are either High School or College age girls from their neighborhoods. A few even trade with neighbors, even during the week. The watch each others kids while the other goes and gets whatever done. One of the moms asked me if I had friends that do the same thing. I think my response was a little shocking to her. I said that all my friends either work or don't have kids so I really have no one to make that arrangement with. She asked what about neighbors??? I said most of my neighbors ignore me and do not associate with me... This shocked them all, but then they realized why... I am a MAN and this makes some woman nervous. Without missing a beat one of the moms said

"Well that's their problem we all love having you around!!!"

This made me feel really good and think maybe, just maybe after two years of being home I will be accepted!!!

The5

1. Bears Love Lovie! - Well the Chicago Bears gave their head coach a 4 year extension reportedly higher then originally anticipated. He has the second best winning record for the last two years. Only Tony Dunge of the Colts has a better record. Good company!!! Now they can focus on player needs and hopefully return to the Super Bowl next year!
2. Hour Rides - Well I rode another hour inside today... YEAH!!!
3. Political Fallout - I have many online activities including moderation of dadstayhome.com forum. Well a heated thread that went very political made me think how crazy people can get about politics. If the politicians were actually worth this craziness the country would be a much better place. Next election really looks to bring about at least some change
4. Daley News - I live in the FAR NW suburbs of Chicago and Mayor Daley won another election with a disappointing 72% of a 3 person race... His numbers were down from the last election... 72% of a THREE WAY RACE!!! Chicago is Daley's Kind of town... Til Death Due Us Daley!
5. Lost - Again it feels like Lost is Lost... Was a good change of pace, but has been a little disappointing. Hopefully J.J. Brings the Magic of the first seasons of Lost & Alias to the next Star Trek movie!!!

Daily Observation: Being accepted can be a wonderful thing, having a frustrating evening can make that joy go away...

Wet Snow, Cranky 2yo and a Long Day

Well Mondays are always interesting even as a work at home dad. With Mom going back to work and 6yo going back to school the start of the week is always busy. 2yo and I have a parent and tot class called "Super Tots" which gets us out and allows him to play with a bunch of other children. It has been snowing quite a bit the past few days and it has been a heavy wet snow that has the consistency of MUD!! On the way to class the roads were a little slick as the snow fell. After class 2yo was really cranky and refused to nap, yet he complained about everything. He finally got so tired that he could no longer resist the nap. While he napped I worked out, cleaned up and got some work done. then it was time to pick 6yo up from his after school Spanish Class. It is really nice the school has the program available and he really enjoys it. Normally Mom picks him up, but she was stuck in a meeting and the continuing snowfall would make her drive home a little longer. After we got home the boys and I played in the snow and shoveled off the driveway... More shoveling and my sore elbow, not the best. I did avoid using my arm the best I could, but it was rather difficult. Too little and too wet snow for my to use the snowblower...

The5

1. Spanish for kids - We have our 6yo in an after school Spanish program which he really enjoys. I actually met his teacher for this session today and he said 6yo was doing very well and wished all the students would be as well behaved and worked as hard as he does. PROUD PAPPA!!!
2. 24 Season 4 - Just finished 24 Season 4 on DVD. I really enjoyed this season and liked how it all played out. So far it has been getting better as the show goes. Now for season 5. I typically have dvd's playing while I spend a ton of time running reports and printing large documents. I was so busy last week that I was able to get through most of it in a few days.
3. Piles of Broken Toys - Well I have fixed so many toys since my 2yo became active. The 6yo takes such good care of his stuff that I really only had to repair a few items here and there. However 2yo is extremely destructive and I have fixed more toys in a week then I did in 4 years with the 6yo. So now I have a constant pile of broken toys that both boys want fixed. It is hard to draw the line between fixing and putting them out of their misery.
4. Chicago Elections- Vote Early and Vote Often.
5. Oscars- Who really cares??? I don't!!!

Daily Observation: Stupid Teenage Girls Driving Sports Cars in the Snow Equals Slip Sliding Away!!!.

Saturday Night Alive...

The cold wind blows as the sleet rattles off the house like pebbles in a can. The rain, sleet and snow are making the conditions outside more then unpleasant. The wife and boys are in bed, the choirs are complete and now I have time to relax, reflect then repeat...

This week has been a really tough one. What happens when your job requires you to be more WORK then DAD as a Work At Home Dad? I love my children and I love my jobs. Being a work at home dad I have many jobs, not just one. I am the primary caregiver for my children, laundry man, cook, cleaner as well as an important part of our financial well being. What happens when work and home collide. This past week I had a really heavy work load that only gets this demanding a few times a year and I feel the last few days I have been less dad. On top of my need to work extra long hours I have a 2yo that is really demanding attention. The more I need to get done the more attention he needs. We did compromise for quite a few hours as he "Helped" me get some work done while sitting on my lap. Weeks like this make me feel guilty, but I know that I have a very special situation that allows me to make good money while raising my children. That said... I am glad the week is over...

Today was an busy day for projects around the house. I just got a second DVR and needed to run the wires for the line. The entire project of fishing the wires took about an hour and I really only have a little damage to cover up. I will need to sand down the small patches and do a little touch up painting this week. When I set the new DVR up I also took care of the rats nest that is the wires for all the electronics. All the non-powered cords got zip tied to keep them organized and a few things were moved around. One edition that we decided to do today was to add lights to the top of the entertainment center. They shine up to the ceiling giving a really nice light to the room and enough extra light to really brighten up the family room.

So now I sit...tired from a long day, but a little too awake since I hit the bike for 40 minutes...

The5

1. TIVO vs DVR - I now have both and it will take some work to get used to the DVR format. I was rather used to the TIVO format so the new system has a bit of a learning curve. There are a ton more features on the NEW DVR not to mention 100 hours of recording.
2. A Little Light - Adding surface lights to the top of some furniture is really cool.
3. Sleet, Ice & Snow - Enough said...the combination is terrible!!!
4. 24 Season 4 - Well I am up to Season 4 now. TV on DVD Rocks... Especially FREE from the library.
5. Weekends- 5 Days too short...

Daily Observation: The one that parks the worst complains the most...

All Work and No Play Makes Dad Really Tired

Well the past few days I have been swamped with work. I will be publishing more tomorrow since I need to get some rest.

The5

1. Sleep - Lack There Off
2. Work- Too Much, Too Little Time
3. Boys- Too Much Work, Not Enough Play
4. Exercise- None
5. Relaxiation-None...

So tomorrow I have plans to spend some time with a few interesting post ideas.

A Long Days Night...

It has been a really long day today and I have had a difficult time staying focused. The day per usual started a few times extra early with a 2yo not willing to sleep and settle down. I did get him to settle at 4:40, but he was up for good at 5:20. The Wife gets up at 5:30 so she just got up a few minutes Early and let me try to rest until she needed to hit the showers. At 6:10 I am up for the day. the morning was very typical and after 6yo and wife left 2yo became a bit of a handful. Toys everywhere and nothing was right. So after about 40 minutes of DESTRUCTO BOY we headed off to the library for a few films.

By about 11:30 2yo was ready to pass out so I put him to bed and actually fed myself. After lunch and some work I decided to ride a little and hit 55 minutes. Just before the end of my ride work called with a bit of a rush project. The project needs to be finished as soon as possible and the rest of the afternoon and evening was spent trying to get as much done as possible. I looked at the list to review and my basic estimate is about 20 hours worth of work. I need to get this project done ASAP!!! Since I have been up basically since 4:40 I had to call it a night at 9:30ish while I was at a good stopping point. So tomorrow looks like an extra long and probably the rest of the week.

Not much to say about the boys other then 2yo took a 3 hour nap and was still very cranky all day. Tomorrow is another day and I hope his mood improves...

The5

1. Miami Vice - Borrowed the movie from the Library and had it playing on my home PC while I worked through a bunch of files that needed printed. The filming was pretty cool, but it was missing something...Oh Yeah... A STORY and CHARACTERS you actually cared about. After watching it I felt like there was a bunch of the movie that had been cut out. Overall I give it 2 out of 5.
   
2. 24 - I picked up 24 Season 3 AGAIN since I am not able to watch 24 hours of TV in 7 days. I am at the half way point now and I am enjoying it. I typically have stuff playing on my home PC while I work. Especially when I am spending a ton of time running reports and printing.
3. Weather Was in the 40's today... BREAK OUT THE SHORTS!!!
4. Dirty Van - My van is so dirty it is driving me crazy. If the heat wave holds I might have to get it cleaned...
5. Double Tivo - Tomorrow I get my second DVR!!! Yes...

Daily Observation: A 3 hour nap does not equal a happy child...

Another Article Published at Dadcenter...

Well I have another article published at Dadcenter. This article is actually what inspired me to change my blog name and focus to "A Man Among Mommies"

Dadcenter Article.

Cartoons, Cartoons and Kids Shows Oh My!

Cartoons, Cartoons and Kids Shows Oh My! Having two boys ages Six and Two I really get a full spectrum hit of different kids Tv shows. It is not like it was when I was a kid however. When I was little cartoons were on Saturday Morning and after school with the PBS kids shows on more often. I only had Seven Tv stations and none were dedicated to just kids. My family did not get cable until I was in High School, but 20 years later I have so many stations. The cartoons and kids shows I remember in no particular order. Flintstones, Jetsons, Tom & Jerry, Loony Toons, The Great Space Coaster, Smurfs, Spiderman and his Amazing Friends, Super Friends, Thundar the Barbarian, Wheeled Warriors, GI JOE, Transformers, Thundercats, He-Man, Silver Hawks, Speed Racers, M.A.S.K, Banana Splits, Johnny Quest, Sesame Street, Mister Rogers Neighborhood...

Now my kids have around a dozen stations with kids programing from Animal Planet to Boomerang... I watch cartoons more now then I think I did as a kid since I have two boys that are at different stages in what they enjoy. Granted both boys like SpongeBob and Fairly Odd Parents... So with the cartoons in mind I thought I would do a Cartoon Edition of The5...

The5 Cartoon Edition

1. SpongeBob Square Pants - Both my boys really enjoy SB and I have to say it is a very easy show for me to watch as well. The layers of humor go well beyond the kids, but they do not cross the line to where a subject would be a little too much. A recent episode had to do with "Sentence Enhancers" in other words Bad Words... The way they did the episode was extremely funny!
   
2. Fairly Odd Parents - Cosmo is by far one of the best idiot characters ever put into a show. The guest stars are top notch and the Paradise of other shows and situations is well beyond anything else on tv. The Crimson Chin! Catman played by Adam West is FANTASTIC!! The only negative is that it shows parents as absent minded and they want to do anything as long as their child is not involved...
   
3. Little Einsteins - This show is more educational and the 2yo loves it. The funny thing is I will also find the 6yo watching it even if his brother has left. Now for me the show kind of creeps me out. The kids are a little freaky... the show does however mix interesting topics with an interactive format... pat..pat..pat...
4. Higgly Town Heros - Another 2yo favorite that when it comes on he is glued to the Tv for at least a few minutes. The show has plenty of music for him as well as a little education and of course plenty of silly characters doing silly things.
5. Jimmy Neutron - The computer animated show is another that both boys enjoy on a regular basis. It has some interesting story lines and has a smart character as the lead. Sheen is the third best silly/idiot friend in the cartoons right behind Cosmo and Patrick.

Honorably mentions... Thomas and Friends, Bob the Builder, Dora, Blues Clues, and all the PBS Sprout shows. Thankfully for me the boys do not and have not liked...Barney, BooBah, Teletubies... The Wiggles are on here and there, but I can live with them.

What is Old is New Again - With the Cartoon Network Boomerang my kids have started enjoying all the cartoons I watched as a kid as well. Tom & Jerry and Loony Toons are favorites. Go Figure...

Now the kids do not just sit around and watch Tv, but because of all the different shows available they watch a wide variety of shows.

Saturday Night Edition

The silent, cold and oddly dark night is broken by the sounds of calling from across the hall. Rolling over the red lights of my clock are still a blur. With a rub of my eyes and shake of my head the number begin to focus. 4:23! As I stumble across the hall I hear a little person jumping up and down on his bed. Oh now you don't I declare... I put him back in his bed and he calls out for MaMa... As I try and try to get him settled he becomes more determined to get out. Finally we agreed to try to sleep in the big bed with mom and dad... that did not work so well so we had an early start to our day. 2yo and I went down stairs to the family room and flipped the TV on while I tried to pass out on the couch. For the next 3 hours I attacked by a little boy wanting to WRESTLE, PLAY and JUMP...

I had a dentist appointment in the late mornig so I went off to that as the wife and kids went to 6yo's BasketBall. I had sold a bunch of stuff on ebay a few months ago and had about $30.00 set aside for a PC game. I have been waiting for it to go to more of a clearance price, but it is still in the $35+ range... I purchased the main game for $14.00 and the first Expansion for $16.00... I am not paying $35+ for an expansion. So on the way home from the dentist I stopped by the local GameStop to check out some olde XBOX titles. There was a special going of Buy 2 Get 1 Free... YEAH!!! I wanted the first Prince of Persia (Had been given other two) and the original Star Wars Battle Front for my 6yo since he enjoys the second one so much. that just left one more game to figure out... Star Wars Ep III... Another game my Star Wars Fanatic 6yo does not have... So I picked up 3 games for less then $24.00 after tax!!! Yeah!!!

We spent so time playing XBOX in the afternoon!!! Yeah!!!

Well the night was a little stranger. We had plans to go out to dinner with some friends. My wife refers to it a "Couple Dating" My MIL was supposed to come watch the kids and we had plans to leave at 5:00 since we knew the wait would be bad. The plan was to meet or friends at the resturant at 5:30 and we would do the call ahead seating on the way out. 5:08 we call MIL house since she is not her yet. He Boy Friend answers and said she left aroung 5:00! Great! lucky for us she is less then 10 minutes away. 5:35 she finally pulls in!!! 5:35!!!! We were unable to reach our friends and the wait went from 25 minutes to 70 minutes!!! So we finally get to the resturant at 5:50!!! We all sit at 6:40! Luckly the company was good as was the food and service... The dinner went very well and we all had a great time.

The5

1. Video Games - I really enjoy my video games, but really do not have the time to play all that often. Now most of my game focus in on my 6yo and what he enjoys. LEGO STAR WARS is a regular on the XBOX. I have not upgrade to a 360 and probaly will not for a very long time. there are way too many games on the XBOX I have not played. With hundreds of titles now available for less the $20.00 I have a bit of catching up to do...
2. Lights- Put some more new lights up. I have 2 more for the inside left and I will be done with changing the interior lights
3. Brittany Spears- BALD, CUEBALL, WTF!!!
4. NBA in VEGAS - yeah that is not trouble just waiting to happen... Too Much Money, too much vice and of course too few grown ups...
5. Politicians Embracing eCulture - Well it is not too suprising to see many of the people wanting to be president really getting a positive online look. With websites looking a lot like social network sites and the ability to have your own profile and support people by working with others in cyberspace... BRILLIANT!!!

Daily Observation: You can take the girl out of the trash, but you can not take the trash out of the girl... Too much money...too little brains... Dee Dee Dee!!!

Gas Stations, Speeders and Tailgaters Oh My!

The brutal cold hits hard as we walk into the garage to get in the van. The ice chunks still on the ground with no sign of melting. The van door creeks and the seats are cold as I find this weather getting old. With a hum and a burrr the garage door opens and the subzero wind blows in. The van starts, but does not seem too happy to be in this position. Our coats crackle and our breathe freezes in the icy interior of the van. Slowly we drive off on another blustery day with errands to run and a van to be feed. Pulling into the gas station the van is still extremely cold and the wind begins to pick up. I pull up to a pump and then brave the cold to fill the van with fuel. As I step out the ground is icy and unshoveled...Slip! Whoa... Crasping the door I prevent myself from falling to the ground and damaging one of my repaired elbows....

This was just the start of a long cold day... As I get my Credit Card out my fingers are freezing and I rush to slide my card in the reader. "CAN NOT READ CARD... TRY AGAIN" So I try again and the little machince still can not read the strip... Grrrr... Fumble in the wallet and grab card number two... "CAN NOT READ CARD... TRY AGAIN" So I try and this time it works. I guess even the gas pumps do not like the artic cold. I hop back in the freezing van to get out of the even colder wind. The pump slowly fills the van...Click.. All done. I go back outside this time watching my step as I leave the van. I grab the pump handle and put it back...SLIP!!! I am barely able to catch myself on the side of the extremely dirty van...Hey A Clean Spot!!! "Receipt Desires Yes/No" Yes... "Printing Receipt...Please Take Your Receipt." WHAT RECEIPT!!! stupid machine is out of paper!!! So I look at the total and hop back in the van looking for paper and pen...Paper... Pen...WAIT NO PEN!!! So I call my wife on the cell phone and give her the information. We keep track of all purchases... There was no way I was goignt ot take the 2yo out into the cold to get a receipt from inside... Off we go...

We take a pretty direct route to my Doctors office which goes through a very large school zone and then a very wealthy neighborhood. As we get to the school zone I slow down to the required 20MPH as I watch a group of very cold High School kids walking along the sidewalk. the car behind me decides it might be a good idea to TAILGATE extremely close because I am actually going the speed limit in a school zone!!! IDIOT!!! Through the entire school zone this moron is riding so close I can not see their headlights. Finally a turn and they go straight! As I pull into the the nice neighborhood a car comes speeding up extremely quickly... Posted Speed Limit is 35 and I am going 35... Residential neighborhoods even with a 35 mph road are not the places to drive like NASCAR... Person rides me the entire way and looks a bit raged because I refuse to go really fast... Even if I was going 50 I am sure it was going to be too slow...

We arrived safely and the rest of the trip was uneventful. My appointment went well and I am now done with appointments from my operation... I will still have to be extra careful until around June, but today was a good day...

Now 2yo is refusing to nap even though he really needs one. I have tried so many times and it has been a real tough afternoon. He is finally half asleep on the couch watching BUGs the movie...

Daily Observation: Too Many People Drive Too Poorly...

The5 Battlestar Galactica Edition...

Well if you have read more then a few posts on my blog you will know I am a Sci-Fi geek. I love my Sci-Fi shows and my current number one show as well as one of my wife's favorite shows is Battlestar Galactica. Currently on Scifi Sundays... So in honor of my favorite show and the fact The5 plays right into the show with 5 UNKNOWN CYLONS I will give you my take on who is a Cylon! According to many rumors someone will be revealed by the end of this season to be a Cylon and this person will be a current regular cast member. I have read rumors and different takes on the subject from FanBoys to different publications... IGN has a really good article, but I think the four of the five choices they picked are not cylons...

So enough with the banter...

The5 - Battlestar Galactica Edition.

1. Anastasia Dualla- Dualla is the wife of Apollo and has been a key member of the crew since the beginning. She is a Sagittaron that does not follow that culture. So far a few of the different colonies have had Cylons so why not Sagittaron. Having her become a Cylon would bring a end to the marriage and open the door again for StarBuck...
2. Billy Keikeya - The former assistant to the President died in the Season two episode "Sacrifice" Would it not be an amazing shock for the President to see him again!!
3. Tom Zarek - Spent 20 years in jail for a terrorist bombing of a government building. Like Dualla is a Sagittaron. He attempted to cause civil unrest and is a major political critic. The 5 Cylons that are not to be talked about have done things that have made the other cylons purge them. Could this activist be too much to handle for the Cylons??
4. Charlie Connor - The resistance fighter turn executioner in the episode Collaborators. He gives a story of his child being killed and has made his way into a trusted circle. Could this resistance fighter really be a Cylon.
5. Felix Gaeta - Bridge crew, turned Baltar fanatic, turned Baltar Assistant turned resistance fighter. Young and in a major spot on the crew. Has issues and as the IGN article points out has something to fear from Baltar...Hmmm
   

Of course will all good story telling and the fact that BSG has not been afraid to kill of main characters and make waves who it could be is any ones guess. Of course any of the people that died could very well come back a a cylon as well. Imagine Kat, Jammer, Hotdog, Crashdown (shot by Cally/Baltar while trying to command a suicide attack) The list could go on and on... As for the MAIN characters there is too much history for them to be Cylons... Adama, Apollo, Starbuck all have a lengthy history together. The President has had too much power to be a cylon, unless she is a human sympathizer...

So here is to the rest of season 3 and the green lit season 4!!!

"So Say We All"

The Monster That Is...

The low roar can be heard all through the house. Rumble, Rumble, Roar... As the sound echos through the house in the still of the evening the sudden silence cuts through the air like a knife. As I slowly make my way down the stairs grumbling and moaning the quite tells all. With a slight creek the door opens as the warm air flows out the door striking me in the face with a hint of mountain freshness. Reaching for the light switch in the dark the sudden bright light causes a bit of blindness until my eyes adjust again. Looking around I see it, The Monster... The Monster that is Laundry!!!!

The piles and piles of laundry seem to never get smaller. Dirty cloths in the hampers, clean cloths folded in baskets, in the laundry room, in the bedrooms there is no end in sight! This Monster That It Laundry will never leave me...

I have 3 goals today... WORK, ERRAND and LAUNDRY!!! I want all the laundry done tonight except for the cloths on our backs. I try to get a little done each day, but with the flu ravaging our house it is extremely difficult to keep up...

New Poll!!!

Laundry!!!

Spiked Fever not Spike Tv

The cool wind blows as I drive back from Physical Therapy. The van rocks in the wind and the crystal snow brushes along the sides. Getting home I feel an ache and a chill come over me to the point where I can not get warm. A Fever, A Fever has found me again...

After an extremely hot shower I begin to realize I should just give up and go relax, but everyone still needs to eat. After a rather quick dinner I make my way to bed and cuddle with the 2yo until I am needed with some school help for the 6yo.

Now it is only a bit after seven and I need to call it a night. The bone chilling cold and the aching joints make the soft warm bed look ever inviting...

The5

1. Rudy Giuliani - Apparently is unofficially/officially in the race for President. I have to say this is beginning to look like the most interesting presidential race in some time. Some major personalities and historic changes.
2. Battlestar Galactica - Has officially be green lite for a 4th season!!! YES!!!
3. CSI Miami - Well this is one of those shows I TIVO, but could probably do with out. I think they jumped the Shark long ago. You have Crime Scene Investigators in battles with automatic weapons, knife fights and now shot in the head, but not dead. Maybe they need Carlos Mencia as a writer... CSI- Dee Dee Dee...
4. 24 Season 3 - Well I am almost 1/2 way through 24 Season 3 on DVD. Not too bad, will give my opinion when I finish...
5. Hollow Man 2! - OK... How far has an actor fallen. Christan Slater had it made in the later 80's early 90's and had some pretty good films... Pump Up the Volume, Heathers and then a few modest high profile movies including Mobsters, Young Guns II, Kuffs... Now Hollow Man II... Wow!!! Hallow Man II!!!

Daily Observation: When you are sick everything is annoying...Especially that person in the mirror!

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

With the sniffling in my head and a plucking of my thumbs, Something Wicked This Way Comes... The snow falls and the child calls, the sniffling, coughing and fever moves on. What was once in one has made it to four. I shake, tremble and cough as I struggle to get my breath. The flu has caught up to me and there is no where I can hide.

By about 5:00 pm yesterday I felt like I was hit by a train. I had been running a slight fever and started to get extremely congested. 2yo went to bed early so I made my way to bed to relax, stay warm and try to get better. As the night went on I began to shiver and hurt and my head felt like it was three feet thick. By 5:30 this morning I was at the low point of the cold and miserable. The wife checked on me then decided to work from home since 2yo was sick as well and there was no way I would be able to keep up with his demands. I ended up staying in bed until nearly 8:00 then I came downstairs to get some pain meds, muffin and some water. After checking my work information and watching 2yo as wife walked him to the bus I decided the best thing for me to do was get back to bed. I curled up to watch some Tivo'd TV when 2yo wondered in and cuddled up to me. We both watched some Star Trek Voyager until he was completely passed out. Slowly I moved him to his bed and went back to doze while watching TV. All the while my wife is downstairs taking care of work. 2yo ended up sleeping form at least 10:00 until nearly 1:00. So now it is 6:45 and I am really tired, but needed to get my daily blog in.

The5

1. Bad Customer Service - Well yesterday I decided to contact DirecTV and inquire about any updated services and equipment. I was actually looking to get a Second DVR for the family room. This way I can record a few of the overlapping shows we have as well as some kids shows for immediate access anytime. Well I spoke to a program rep that had now clue as to the newest programs which I had just looked up online. Then I spoke to an Equipment Rep and asked about a FREE hardware upgrade. She said the only FREE upgrades are for NEW customers. I explained I had been with DirecTV for over 10 years and there has to be a way to get what I wanted. "Sorry Sir, I Can Not Help You" So I said to her do you think I would be better off cancelling my service and going with DISH NETWORK or CABLE to get FREE hardware... "If That Is What You Want To Do!" WOW!! she actually SAID THAT!!! So I hung up with her, cooled off and called again this time speaking to a Supervisor. I explained the situation and the said exactly what the equipment rep told me. There was DEAD AIR on the other end. After a little negotiation we came to an agreement and I got what I wanted... The DVR will be here next Wednesday...
2. More Snow - It has been snowing all day... Enough Said...
3. Ron Rivera - Bears Defensive Coordinator is interviewing for the sudden vacancy in San Diego. Good Luck.. I would hate to see him go, but this is a situation I think he deserves.
4. Battlestar Galatica - Probably the best show on TV again proves it with another fantastic episode.
   
5. Vicks Vapor Rub - what an AWESOME thing... I remember it as a child and have been using it on the boys. Well this morning I grabbed a bunch and used it on myself... WOW I forgot how good this stuff really is. The Soothing vapors not only warm the chest, but clear out the head congestion...

Daily Observation: When you are sick there is nothing more soothing then a tiny little person cuddling up to you because you are dad...

Let It Snow!

Here we have a little snow coming down today...

1 Sick, 2 Sick, 3 Sick, More Sick!

Over the past 4 days the sound of silence has been broken by the wheezing and coughing of the mighty Lord Vader. The sound can been heard over the baby monitor, in the living room and all through the house. As you walk upstairs the sound gets louder and louder knowing the encounter with the Dark Lord himself will be very soon. Slowly peering into the 2yo's room you can see him restless as his breathing is strained. It is not Lord Vader, but my son congested, feverish and trying to have a Binky in his mouth...

Friday both boys were sick and the 6yo stayed home from school. Mom worked from home on Friday since Thursday night we had maybe 2 hours of sleep. She actually got more work done here then at work, but was able to give me some much needed breaks. By late afternoon both boys were spiking high fevers and were in bad shape. Friday night again allowed for little sleep for the wife and I as 2yo took over the bed. I moved downstairs to the family room and slept on the couch. Well by Saturday morning the wife was feeling rather bad so the plague had spread even further. The boys were still spiking fevers so while I ran to the store for supplies for my work the wife and boys went to the boys Dr. The Flu, nothing else right now... Saturday and Sunday I spent a bunch of time redecorating and putting up new lights. Sunday I "coach" Pee Wee Soccer and was going to go without 6yo, but his fever was gone and he really wanted to go. So we both went which was good, because without him we would have not had enough kids. A few others were out sick. Again last night 2yo was in unhappy and took over my spot in the bed so I spent the night on the couch again. 6:30 this morning I wake to find my head hurting, congested and spiking a slight fever... OH JOY!!! Now the day gets to continue with a Cranky 2yo and a Cranky 33yo...

The5

"What I Learned This Weekend" Edition...

1. The Couch - Is really not that uncomfortable to sleep on, sure beats getting a sore repaired elbow pulled, kicks and rolled onto.
2. You can never Be too Old to be RUDE! - I have found lately that the older you are the more often you are rude to others. In the grocery store a group of old ladies blocked the aisle, bumped in to me and basically acted like the world needed to move around them. With age comes wisdom and I guess spitefulness...
3. Murphy's Law got me - If it could happen it did happen installing a ceiling fan... Enough Said..
4. New Toy - With the boys sick I picked up two Star Wars Books for my 6yo and 2 cars from the movie "Cars" for the 2yo... Both held onto those most of the day. Now 2yo will not do anything without his two new cars... Need to go find a few more I think... The joy that 2 new toys brought 2 sick boys is priceless
5. Parents Don't Need Sleep - The past few days reflects the past two years. Youngest not sleeping well and the wife and I not sleeping at all. I am still able to get moving, cranky, but I can get moving. If I were to go 4 days with a total of 6 hours of sleep before the kids I would be sleeping standing up... Now I do not have that option so life goes on. Parents Don't Need Sleep!

Daily Observation: Being Over Tired is almost a state of Enlightenment...maybe insanity

The Saturday Edition...

Well again it is another Saturday with a lot going on. On the home front both boys have come down with a good case of the FLU. 101-103 fevers and feeling awful. Last night 2yo came to our bed and was happy in my spot. At this point rather then try to struggle with space with my sore elbow and a cranky baby I elected to go downstairs to the family room and sleep on the couch. The couch is soft, but the family room is half under ground and actually a bit cool in the middle of the night. By about 3:00 2yo was downstairs with me watching cartoons while sitting in the recliner. I was able to sleep a little bit and at some point he was sitting on me and then he went back up to my bed. It was good to get 5 or 6 hours of sleep last night.

Today the plan was to put up lights and some decor the wife had bought. Our main floor eating area looks really nice now. We had bought some new furniture a few weeks ago and just finally had the last pieces of decor come in.

The table has two large benches and two small benches and is Oak that is stained Black and a Reddish Oak.Each bench opens and has storage inside. The other additions were the new light which matches rather nicely, the wall decoration and the two candle sconces on either side of the wall decoration. Overall the entire look brings a drastic change into the room. The boys love it and the benches make it feel a little more friendly.

Tomorrow we will attack a few more lights including a ceiling fan and the four lights in the hallway and stairways. The final light project will be the outside lights.

Politics something I try to avoid...
Today has marked an interesting day in politics. Barak Obama did announce his candidacy for the Presidency. He is the youngest Candidate and the least experienced in politics. This is not really a bad thing. As I look at the political landscape for the next election he gives the most hope for change. Clinton is due to announce soon and the republicans really appear to have only one partially solid candidate in McCain. I have a feeling there will be change at the next election of a historic level. With how the republicans have looked and the fact there really is not a super strong candidate at this point it looks like there will be either a Woman or Minority man in office. It will be interesting to see all the hates come out and the people only looking at their candidate. I will be doing a ton of research in the coming months to see were I will finally end up voting. I can honestly say at this point I am leaning toward Obama. There is a long time before the primaries and the final election, but these coming months will be rather interesting.

The5

1. Obama Announces - Barak Obama the Jr Senator form my State of IL has declared for the presidency. In front of the old capital building he gave his speech in front of a half frozen crowd that cheered him on.
2. Students Using IM lingo in essays. OMG this is so LOL that I think U should check it out. I have read a couple articles recently about home many students are using the short hand from Instant Messengers in their homework and essays. This is just sad. It is fantastic that they have learned to communicate using the short hand which I admit to using when I IM or TXT... These students should be smart enough to use the short hand in the correct fashion and not in their school work. Those are SPELLING and GRAMMAR errors...
3. Presenteism - So many companies and people have the mind set that in order to work well you have to be at work as often as you can. So many companies have cut paid leave that people are going into work sicker and sicker getting their fellow employees sick and causing an office epidemic. If someone is sick they should not be at work, but away from the office not infecting everyone with their plague. Now I am one of the lucky ones and many companies are starting to follow what my company does. I work from home with a very flexible schedule. This allows me to take care of my children as well as work when I can get the most done. Since working from home and not in an office I get so much more done. I do not work 8-5 M-F rather I work40 + hours a week under salary when I can. I always view my work weeks as SEVEN days and work around that. There is a push that much of big corporate America has been fighting to get extremely flexible schedules and new ways to look at the work force.
4. Valentines Day - This is one "Holiday" my wife and I both agree is a load of crap. Lets go out and spend too much money on poor service while buying gifts for each other with OUR money. We really do not exchange gifts and have not since our first year of marriage. The only gifts we get now are from the kids. We do not need one day to make our love for each other special, everyday is special for us...
5. MAC vs. PC - There are some days when I sit her typing and the "Blue Screen of Death" or my new favorite "Program Not Responding" come up that I think a MAC might be a good option. I like my iPod, but have always been a PC person. The big drawback for me is the cost. If I were to get an Apple Laptop it would cost me so much more then a PC laptop... Maybe Someday...

Daily Observation: No matter what your political view someone will come out and spit on it with uninformed banter...

Two Sick or Two Not Sick...Who is the Question...

As the evening began to wind down we settled in for a little DVR'd TV. The kids were asleep all snug in their beds with visions of cartoons floating in their heads. When what did awake with such a clatter? A two year old with coughs and teeth a chatter.

Yesterday the 2yo started to come down with a slight cough and cold, but by 9:00 last night that slight cold had come on and hit him like a fleet of trucks. By this time the wife and I were rather tired since we had been up since Dark O'clock that morning. We had given him some cold medicine prior to bed and it was way to early to give another dose. He was completely unsettled and we could not get him to rest the entire night. By 4:30 we had each maybe slept one hour and in order to settle 2yo down I gave him a nice warm bath sometime after 5:00 am. He spent nearly 40 minutes just relaxing and playing in the VERY warm tub. Once he was done and dressed he demanded mom. Since she had been resting for a while she gave me this time to rest. So from about 6:30 until 8:00 I was able to get a little rest. At 8:00 I wake up to the voice of my 6yo!!! Oh No he must of missed the bus!!! I sprint downstairs to find the two boys cuddled up with mom both sounding rather awful. So 6yo had caught the cold as well and was not in the best of shape. He was borderline, but we decided to keep him home which by 2:00 today proved rather smart. He ended up spiking a nice fever and had the sweats and chills...

Wife worked from home today and was able to help with the two sick boys and make sure I am not the only one dealing with them. Funny thing is she said she got a bunch more done today at home because there was less interruption. She pretty much worked more then a normal work day with only a few breaks to let me clear my head. The big plus is that 2yo could come sit on her lap here and there and settle down.

7:30 tonight rolls around and all of us are in pretty bad shape. The boys settle into bed and I relax watching a little DRV'd TV. By 8:00 Wife is asleep and I decide it is time to clean up a little, blog and get to bed. It is now just before nine and I really have not slept much since YESTERDAY when I woke at 4:30!!!

The5

1. Presidential Bids - Well tomorrow it appears that Obama will be officially declaring for the Presidency.
   
2. Extra Table Gone - We had an extra table that we ordered when we purchase furniture a few weeks ago on clearance. In order to get all the pieces we wanted we had to order an extra table. We traded the table to my house keeper for some services.
3. Anna Nicole Smith - Died at the age of 39 with a young child. Fame, Fortune and her life cut short. Too bad for the child
4. Cowboys - The Dallas Cowboys announced they would not hire the Bears Ron Rivera. I am sad for him, but at the same time happy. I would really like to see him stay and if he did go I would not like to see him in Dallas... He deserves better.
5. Cold Snap - It is still really cold and I have to ask myself the same question..."Why Do We Live Here?" Oh that's right WE ARE STUPID!!!

Daily Observation: When you have not slept much in over 40 hours the world sometimes stops spinning. Or is it my head just spins faster...

Polls Being Added

Well I just added a poll to the side bar. I had been looking into them and finally got the ball rolling. The first poll is rather bland, but I used that to help figure out how I wanted to place the poll. In the future the polls will go along with posts and have a little bit more too them.

Dark O'Clock

It's Dark O'clock, It's Dark O'clock oh my oh my It's Dark O'clock. The darkness of the early morning still blankets the house as the noise of a disturbed 2yo fills the hall. Looking over at the clock I see what has become a daily sight. There is very little light and it's not quite morning, but Dark O'clock.

Dark O'clock is the time in the morning prior to the sun rising. This phrase was given to me by a close friend and it really seems an appropriate term for a 4:30 wake up. Out of the last 10 days I think no less then 5 of them have been extra early morning wake ups from a cranky 2yo. By Extra early I mean prior to 5:00 am... So as today starts I can barely hold my head up and almost need to hold my eyes open. This is not a schedule I really like keeping especially since the earlier I wake up the more difficult it is to work later in the evening.

The5

1. Barak Obama - Feb 10th is the date he will let the world know if he plans to run for President. This next election will be rather interesting with a bunch of new and exciting faces battling it out with some old names. A Woman Running, a Minority Man, A Former NY Mayor and a Military Man to name a few. As of right now my personal opinion has me leaning toward Barak Obama the Senator from Illinois. Exploratory Comity, Illinois Site.
   
2. Astro-NUT! - Well I guess you can be a little disturbed and be an Astronaut. Interstellar Stalking!!!
   
3. iPod Street Walking - Well apparently the great city of NY has decide to attempt to ban the use of Cell Phones, iPods, Blackberry and any other distracting device while crossing the street. $100 Fine. The reason behind the law was stated to have to do with the governments job of keeping people safe. Again I think a government has gone too far in trying to "HELP" the people. If you are not smart enough to listen to what you were told about looking both ways as a child...well then it s thinning the heard... Whats Next... Everyone must hold hands to cross the street?
4. Cars Movie Toys - My 2yo received some die cast toys from the movie cars for Christmas. Out off all the cars and toys he has they are his favorite by a long shot. I did the good parent thing and looked them up online to find that it is almost impossible to get more of the die cast cars unless I want to pay and arm and a leg!!! COME ON!!! Disney has a great toy crossover and for once they have too little!!!
5. Star Trek Remastered - Re masted versions of the Original Star Trek Series are now being release with all new F/X and visuals... Pretty Cool... I don't think it will cause the series to be reborn, but will be interesting to see.

Daily Observation: A Tired 2yo and a Missing Toy not a good combination...

The Long Day That Is Wednesday

The long day that is Wednesday is finally coming to a close. With the cold wind blowing we trek out for the day. It is my busy day away from the house. 2yo has Pre-School in the morning and I have Physical Therapy in the afternoon. Makes the day a little bit more interesting. This is the perfect day to stay away as well since I have a cleaning lady that comes in every other week. The cold is still here with no end in sight.

School was fine and I was able to sign 2yo up for the fall 3yo preschool and he is in the class I wanted him to be in. I was a little upset with the way they set up registration. Class starts at 9:30 as did the registration. i arrived a little early as normal and walking by the registration office there is at least 13 people in line!!! Luckily the teachers came out and took the kids early so we could wait in line. Maybe next year they could have a better system...

At PT I was really worked and have one more session next week. It is kind of humbling to have to do bicep curls and not be able to lift more then 10 pounds. The tend just would not hold up to more strain.

The5

1. Bring Back Stoning- A lady in Indiana running a daycare from her house was arrested for abusing an infant. She admitted to shaking the baby on multiple occasions and on the last one THROWING the child to the ground!!! There would be NO WHERE for her to ever hide from me if that was my child...
2. Idiocracy- Funny movie from the creator of Office Space. Worth the time if you liked Office Space...
   
3. Ice Driving - Well it is that time of year and there have been a bunch of major crashes caused by people driving too fast for conditions. The 4 wheel SUV might not get stuck in the snow, but try to stop those monsters on ICE!!!
4. Football Season - Starts in less then eight months...
5. Lost - New Episodes at a new time... TIVO ROCKS!!!

Daily Observation: Once there is ice on the road the collective IQ of drivers falls dramatically!!!

Before the Sun Rises the Son Rises

Before the Sun Rises the Son Rises. The cool stillness of the night was disturbed as the crys for help echoed from within the dark room of our youngest son. My eyes blurred as I read the clock, then as if in disbelief rubbed my eyes and read it again. The red glowing numbers caused chills in my spine as I realized it was 4:38 AM... Slowly I make my way across the hall through that same cool air with dulled senses I still realize it is rather cold.

2yo was upset that his Binky tasted funny. I cleaned went and rinsed it off and returned he and it back to bed. After this point however he refused to settle and was not too happy to be in bed. By the time my wife was getting up he was done being in bed and really wanted out. So another day Starts around 4:45!!! I did manage to get about another 30 minutes sleep and 2yo was more interested in being around mom while she got some work done.

The5

1. 4:38 - 4:38 AM is early no matter how you look at it. Well maybe not backwards, but nothing can make 4:38 AM seem anything other then TOO EARLY!
2. -2 Degrees - Well this morning it was a rather balmy -2 degrees (F) compared to yesterdays -15!!! You would think one would get used to these cold snaps living in this area for nearly 34 years... I find as I get older I have more issues with the cold then I did.
3. iTunes and Vista-Apple Inc. is urging some iPod and iTunes users to hold off on upgrading computers to Windows Vista, warning that the iTunes music software may not work well with the new operating system from rival Microsoft Corp. This is just another reason why the Evil Empire needs a kick in the butt. I use iTunes and have an iPod. Even before I had my iPod I actually used iTunes to play my mp3's on my PC. I like the way it works and with some of the recent upgrades is even better. I guess this is another reason to get a MAC at my next computer upgrade...
4. Van Halen & DLR - Well it appears that David Lee Roth and Van Halen have made up. Granted Van Halen is just that with the recent addition of Eddies son Wolfgang as base replacing original member Michael Anthony. I saw a recent photo of DLR and he looks a little worn. They will apparently be touring, but will see how long that lasts when the egos get involved. VH3 with Gary Cherone was rather awful and really has marked the end. I doubt the return of DLR will bring back any of the glory days. I have always loved the band and really like the band with DLR and Sammy, but I think their time is up...
5. Caffeine - Well this morning with how tired I am and the raging headache I have I decided to crack open a can of pure carbonated goodness... Mmmmmmmmmmm... Will have to ride a little more today....

Daily Observation: Garage Doors Dislike the cold as much as people do...

The Barren Landscape that is Monday

Looking out at the barren landscape that is Monday the chilling drafts of minus 15 degree temperatures roll across the snow and carpet creating almost an alien feeling. The sunlight is reflecting off the crystal frost on the windows and the fog of the day begins. When Monday begins people with ant like precision start that daunting and daily routine. Trying to forget about a depressing loss of a favorite football team and remembering that you ate poorly and drank a little too much. Monday begins...

The5

1. Da Bears - LOST! What more can I say. the Bears are a younger team with much of their talent signed for a few more years. They were able to do something 30 other teams this year were unable to do as well as play in their second franchise SB which only a handful have teams have ever done. So he is to a short off season and a many more great seasons.
2. The Cold - Major cold snap has hit the Midwest with high temps around -4! This morning I woke to a wonderful -15! That is bone chilling cold.
3. The Ads - Again for the most part the ads in the big game were rather bland. I did however enjoy a few of them including. Rock Paper Scissor and KFed Fry cook. this morning I read that many people are upset about the KFED commercial and how it makes Fast Food Service Work look. WHAT!!! I am sorry if you get offended because your job at McHeart Attack is made fun of. If you are offended by a commercial making fun of someone in the spotlight that probably could not even hold down a job at McHeart Attack then I think you need to focus your energy elsewhere...
   
4. Laundry- The never ending laundry pile has attacked again. Every time I feel I get one step ahead I get attacked and mauled by the monster that is laundry. A friend said he should institute a naked day. No cloths could be worn so that all the laundry could be done just one time. Plus if once a week you went naked over a couple of months you would save on loads of laundry. However Naked day and minus 15 degree days...Not So Good
5. Indoor Bicycling - I have an indoor trainer for my bicycle and it has already seen more use then any exercise equipment I have ever had. Not only can I ride at anytime I do not have to worry about those wonderful -15 degree temps. If you like bicycling an indoor trainer is a must.

Daily Observation: MINUS 15 !! OUCH!!

The Saturday Morning Edition

Well it is Saturday Morning and it has started out rather bad. 2yo decided to wake up again at 4:45. This is like the 3rd day in a row he has decided 4:45 is a good time to get up. I tried to settle him down, but my patients due to lack of sleep have been rather short. I got him settled by 5:00 and then decided he would just have to fuss it out. Well at 5:40 after not resting at all he starts yelling UP, UP, UP!!!! I attempt to settle him again and he does not agree with this. So downstairs we go. He really just wanted to watch "Cars" and relax. I attempted to use this time to rest some more and went back to bed since he refused to let me pass out on the couch or chair. This lasted 10 minutes before he wanted something. So now it is 6:10 and 6yo is up as well. I tried to get 6yo to go back to bed, but he wanted to be up with his brother. From 6:15 on all they have done is fight and piss each other off. 2yo would leap onto 6yo on the couch... 6yo would take a toy from 2yo and so on. Finally after almost blowing a gasket I got them to stop fighting and pissing each other off.

So today looks to be rather long. 6yo has Basketball from 9:00-11:00 and the wife takes him to that. 2yo and I will hang out and I plan to ride my bike for an hour while he plays in the toy room. After lunch 6yo is having a friend from school over to play while I make up some work from yesterday. I was so tired yesterday from being up since basically 2:00 am that I could barely see straight and was passed out by 10:00... Normally 10:00 to 4:45 would not be that bad, but since I had slept less the 4 hours the night before I still feel rather tired.

The temp is currently a Balmy 2 degrees with a wind chill of -9!! What wonderful weather we are having.

The mornings unpleasant beginning is compounded by a nice kink in my neck. I can barely turn my head to the left. Joy!

The5

1. Global Warming - Seems man is the cause of global warming and more results show this. Hmmm.. who would of thought the burning fossil fuels creating smog and pollution would be bad...
2. Da Bears - Article today was about celebrities and who they thought was going to win the SB. Hmmm more experts! There is a reason the game is actually played. Maybe the Bears should just go home early and forget the scored as many points this year, allowed less points, caused the most turnovers and have one of the best defenses and special teams. Wow who can compete with Manning... Wait...this is his first time to the SB, he has a poor passer rating in the playoffs and the Colts special teams and defense are far from special. Play the game to find out who will win....
3. Woman leaves 1yr in Car - Another person proves to be really smart. While shopping at a local grocery store a 29 year old woman left her 1 yo locked in the car in negative degree temps. Police arrived and broke the window to get the child out. More then 10 minutes later the mother shows up with her 5yo child. Leaving your child unattended!!! and in the FREEZING COLD!!! Stupid People!!!
4. Farve will return to the Pack- Well looks like B. Farve will be suiting up for another season as QB of the Packers. 17 Seasons!!! He has done a lot for football and will be a Hall of Fame QB. As a Bear Fan I am not a Packers Fan, but he is an amazing QB. The Packers have had 1 starter since Farve took over..ONE!!! At 37 he is probably still better then 50% of the current starting QB's in the entire league. Compared to my beloved... 17 QB's started for the Bears... SOURCE Wiki..
1. Jim Harbaugh 1989-1993
2. Peter Tom Willis 1992 (never listed as an official starter)
3. Steve Walsh 1994
4. Erik Kramer 1994-1995, 1997-1999
5. Moses Moreno 1998 (never listed as an official starter)
6. Dave Krieg 1996
7. Shane Matthews 1999-2001
8. Cade McNown 1999-2000
9. Jim Miller 2001-2002
10. Chris Chandler 2002-2003 (never listed as an official starter)
11. Henry Burris 2002
12. Kordell Stewart 2003
13. Chad Hutchinson 2004
14. Jonathan Quinn 2004
15. Craig Krenzel 2004
16. Kyle Orton 2005
17. Rex Grossman 2006
5. Transformers Movie - A favorite toy and cartoon of mine as a child is getting it's due in a live action big budget summer blockbuster. (I can hope) HERE is the site... The preview looks amazing!!! The voice of Optimus Prime is actually the voice actor from the original cartoon!

Daily Observation: Yes there is such thing as TOO much coverage of the Super Bowl... Coverage Started the minute the teams won 2 weeks ago!

Lack of Sleep and another COLD day!

Well last night 2yo decided he really did not want to sleep. He woke up a few times between 10:30 and 2:00 and then was pretty much up from 4:00 on. So the day started a little too early. I did ride today again keeping up the 5-6 times a week. Despite being really tired I was able to do my normal ride in about the normal time.

Had to take one of the dogs to the vet for his yearly appointment and shots. We got there a few minutes early and ended up having to WAIT and WAIT and WAIT!!! Joy! By the time I made it home tonight I really did not want to cook so we order Pizza. Not great for the diet, but wow was it really good!!!

Tomorrow I plan on riding the bike for a full hour and the same on Sunday. Need to work out hard to be able to eat without guilt during the Big Game!!!

Daily Observation: You know it is cold when even inside you have a hard time staying warm...

The 5

The 5 is going to be a new feature to go along with my daily obsevation. Basically it will be 5 random thoughts about something current in the world.

typically this will go with my normal posts, but as I move things along and get everything figured out I will add special posts like this one.

THE 5

1. Harry Potter - Book Seven release announced today. July 21, 2007 Looks like there will be a competition for the book with the wife.
2. Biden-Joe Biden insults as he declares! Obama not offended... Exciting Elections coming.
3. Da Bears - Da Media really needs to find some more interesting things to report on. Current media reports Cowboys interest in Lovie Smith. A coach with 1 year still on a contract with a major raise and extension coming. Nice to see the MEDIA tampers with contracted people for NFL owners...
4. 300- The movie 300 comes out March 9th 2007. Think I will be there on March 10th!!! I prefer the early shows.
5. McDonald's 24/7 - More McD's are going 24/7 in order to meet late night demand. Hey now we can clog our arteries at 3:30 in the morning or maybe 4:20
   

Squeaky Snow and a Long Day!

Well yesterday I woke up to this wonderful weather... There is nothing more exciting then NEGATIVE temps! Every time it gets this cold or it snows a lot I ask my wife why we live here... Her answer evey time is "Because We Are Stupid!" I should not complain that much since this winter has been pretty mild overall. As for the title. Well when it gets really cold the snow "Squeaks" when you step on it. 2yo had preschool and when we walked into the building the snow was not completely removed from the parking lot. As we stepped on the snow it would squeak! So you know if the snow squeaks its COLD!!!

As for the long day.

Well 2yo had preschool which is an hour so after getting 6yo and wife out the door I work for about 45 minutes and then we had to get ready for school. His class is an hour long, but we are gone for about an hour and a half with travel. I also started Physical Therapy yesterday for my elbow. After returning from class we had to get lunch and then head out to my parents. My father works from a home office as well so he watched 2yo while I went to PT... After all this and we finally get home it is around 2:45 with 6yo home in less then an hour. By 4:15 everyone is home and I figure it is time to relax a little before making dinner and working...4:45 the phone rings... My Brother In Law needed a ride to an awards banquet for school. This is fine however the awards are for last spring and he has moved since then. He lives with his sister and it is a 45 minute drive, but the school is 10 minutes from my house. Banquet starts at 6:30!!! So I hop in the van and spend the evening driving... I get him to the banquet right on time and head home to finally eat dinner and get a little work done... 8:00 comes and off I go again to get BIL home from school. By the time I get home and it is nearly 10:00 and I am really tired. I relax a few minutes and fall asleep around 10:45...

11:00 2yo is up screaming!! He lost the toy he had with him when he went to bed... As I start looking for it with him pissed I bang my shin on the edge of his bed! F*CK!!! OUCH!!! After some ranting and raving it is back to sleep...

2:15 2yo is up screaming AGAIN!!!! this time he lost his Binky and desperately wants the one he had... Really need to break him of that habit!!!!

4:00ish 2yo is UP AGAIN!!!! this time the TOY again!!! I find it in seconds and go back to bed...

5:30ish... That awful sound of the wife's ALARM!!!

6:15 I am up and CRANKY!!!!

No today I have three things planned... WORK!, drop off a book order to preschool and laundry!!!

Daily Observation: When it is icy and snowing it is always a good idea to tailgate!!!! (Durning my drive last night I had someone so close I could not see their headlights!)