We had some water damage in the kitchen a few months back and finally had the floor replaced. We also went ahead and had the living room carpet redone. You really never know how much you won until you have to move it. I am an excellent mover though. I become very practiced as a kid. My parents seemed to break up and get back together just about every year. I moved quite a few times. Not to mention the times in the Navy.
I think most people would probably be bothered about their parents breaking up over and over. I don't think it really bothered me too much. Actually, I think it lead to my temperament today. I actually strive in times of conflict. If some thing major happens and it has to get fixed, I'm your guy. However, If it's a home improvement project, I'm probably not the right guy though. I am terrible at DIY and I become a real pain in the ass when doing home improvement projects. I don't think I could have ever survived in a manual labor job. Thank God my job just requires me to think and figure out problems.
It is kind of funny when you get older, You can accept your failings a bit better. I think the lack of manual labor capability is probably closely related to my inability to play sports. I don't mean I am unable to play them. I am just god awful at sports. I tried baseball and softball in the navy. I couldn't hit a ball to save my life and my running can only be described as pitiful. I think the lack of capability also lead to my lack on interest in sports. I was speaking with a co-worker about Game of Thrones. He starts telling me how George R.R. Martin has a beef with the Jets Coach over trading a corner back. I of course know who the Jets are but I have no idea what the hell a corner back is or does. So my coworker starts explaining, which I soon realize is worse than me not knowing.
A similar incident occurred when I was having lunch with a group of guys at work, and they asked which baseball team I followed. Without thinking, I reply "I don't watch that shit." As you can probably imagine lunch was immediately over. It's funny, My mom once told me some of the neighbor girls thought I was gay at one point. This was probably the farthest thing from true, but after looking at the lack of manly interests I can understand why.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013
The heavy drinkers
In the Navy, I was never much of a drinker. I didn't even have alcohol until my 21st birthday. The guys found this funny and proceeded to buy me mixed drinks all night. This was a bad idea as I had never drank and the flavored drinks went down way to easy. 7 Long Island Iced teas later, I need two guys to help me get back to the barracks. Needless to say, My roomate's girlfriend had a purse the next morning that would never be used again.
Right before my second Westpak, We were all getting our stuff ready to leave. One of our co-workers that lived off base, came and stayed the night before we were scheduled to leave. He and my roommate at the time were drinking beers as I headed out to see a movie. I came back late and our guest was asleep on the floor. My roommate was asleep in his bed, and somehow without clothes. I didn't ask.
About 2AM, I hear this pitter patter sound coming from across the room. Being half asleep, I wondered what the hell it was, but I was far too lazy to get up. Suddenly, I hear our friend that was sleeping in the floor scream "Hey dude, you're pissing on me." Sure enough I turn around and my naked drunk roommate is pissing on our guest sleeping in the floor. Lesson #1 of living with drunks: You don't sleep on the floor. I felt bad for our guest, but also bad for my roommate.
When I was about 8 years old, I had gotten out of bed and my parents had friends over. I was evidently sleep walking and made a wrong turn. I ended up pissing on the coffee table in the living room and flushing mid air in front my parents and the company. My mother loves to tell that story.
Right before my second Westpak, We were all getting our stuff ready to leave. One of our co-workers that lived off base, came and stayed the night before we were scheduled to leave. He and my roommate at the time were drinking beers as I headed out to see a movie. I came back late and our guest was asleep on the floor. My roommate was asleep in his bed, and somehow without clothes. I didn't ask.
About 2AM, I hear this pitter patter sound coming from across the room. Being half asleep, I wondered what the hell it was, but I was far too lazy to get up. Suddenly, I hear our friend that was sleeping in the floor scream "Hey dude, you're pissing on me." Sure enough I turn around and my naked drunk roommate is pissing on our guest sleeping in the floor. Lesson #1 of living with drunks: You don't sleep on the floor. I felt bad for our guest, but also bad for my roommate.
When I was about 8 years old, I had gotten out of bed and my parents had friends over. I was evidently sleep walking and made a wrong turn. I ended up pissing on the coffee table in the living room and flushing mid air in front my parents and the company. My mother loves to tell that story.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
A gazillion little choices
One of the things that has always amazed me is thinking about all the decisions that got me to where I am at this particular moment in time. I mean from high school alone, I had to be depressed about a break up with a high school sweetheart to drive me join the Navy, The Navy lead me to working with computers, the computers lead me to my Masters, My masters got me a programming job outside the Navy, the Navy took me to San Diego where I met my wife, My wife and I being infertile led us to Joseph, and here we are today. It's just strange to think how any little change in the events I might be somewhere else. I mean in the Navy for my second tour, I was trying to go to Rota, Spain. I can't imagine where I would be today if I had gone to Spain.
My favorite quote is "A man in born many men, but dies only one." This is so true. How many decisions we could have made in our lives that might have made us different people. I am grateful for where I am today, but I am still in awe that this is where I am and how I got here.
My favorite quote is "A man in born many men, but dies only one." This is so true. How many decisions we could have made in our lives that might have made us different people. I am grateful for where I am today, but I am still in awe that this is where I am and how I got here.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Summer Camp Time for the Kiddo
It's that time of year again to worry about summer camps. I never went to summer camp as a child unless you count the ones at our church. Those weren't summer camp so much as brainwashing seminars. I'm kidding of course.
My summers consisted of roaming the neighborhood on my bike. With our son Joseph, things are so much different than when I was a kid. I am afraid for him to roam the neighborhood. For one thing, he would most definitely be lost and never figure out the way home. Secondly, we don't live in a great neighborhood. I often see homeless folks and vagrants walking the streets. That doesn't seem like an environment for an 8 year old.
I also don't trust the local parents terribly. for example, one of Joseph's friends came over the other night, and he stayed and played a while. It was beginning to get dark and I decided it would be best if he went home to check-in. We sent him with a note with our phone numbers and address. Joseph and I ensured he got home to check-in and he was allowed to come back and play for another half hour, but the parents sent nothing in return.
The next day, he came back and asked if Joseph could come over for an Easter egg hunt. My wife told him to first go home and get his phone number so we could contact his parents should we need to. He came back a few minutes later and told us that his parents don't give out their number. This should have been a hint something was wrong, but I let Joseph go as I didn't want to disappoint him.
A few minutes later the number thing began to really nag at me. I went down to speak with the parents. The mother greeted me and agreed we should have their number. She instructed her boyfriend to write their number down for us. The boy friend immediately broke into a "Hell no, bro. You're kid is safe here. You don't need our number." He said this with a liquor bottle in his hand. I gathered up Joseph and we left. I felt bad for Joseph, but this is not where I want him playing.
Anyways, I am setting up Joseph's summer camps. So far, he will learn to swim, chill in the outdoors with friends, do some pottery, go to Burn Camp, and take a week of acting classes for a Disney production. Hopefully, he will enjoy it all. I am always second guessing myself on these things. Also, since Joseph has ADHD I worry about how he'll act.
My summers consisted of roaming the neighborhood on my bike. With our son Joseph, things are so much different than when I was a kid. I am afraid for him to roam the neighborhood. For one thing, he would most definitely be lost and never figure out the way home. Secondly, we don't live in a great neighborhood. I often see homeless folks and vagrants walking the streets. That doesn't seem like an environment for an 8 year old.
I also don't trust the local parents terribly. for example, one of Joseph's friends came over the other night, and he stayed and played a while. It was beginning to get dark and I decided it would be best if he went home to check-in. We sent him with a note with our phone numbers and address. Joseph and I ensured he got home to check-in and he was allowed to come back and play for another half hour, but the parents sent nothing in return.
The next day, he came back and asked if Joseph could come over for an Easter egg hunt. My wife told him to first go home and get his phone number so we could contact his parents should we need to. He came back a few minutes later and told us that his parents don't give out their number. This should have been a hint something was wrong, but I let Joseph go as I didn't want to disappoint him.
A few minutes later the number thing began to really nag at me. I went down to speak with the parents. The mother greeted me and agreed we should have their number. She instructed her boyfriend to write their number down for us. The boy friend immediately broke into a "Hell no, bro. You're kid is safe here. You don't need our number." He said this with a liquor bottle in his hand. I gathered up Joseph and we left. I felt bad for Joseph, but this is not where I want him playing.
Anyways, I am setting up Joseph's summer camps. So far, he will learn to swim, chill in the outdoors with friends, do some pottery, go to Burn Camp, and take a week of acting classes for a Disney production. Hopefully, he will enjoy it all. I am always second guessing myself on these things. Also, since Joseph has ADHD I worry about how he'll act.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Wire Hangers
A few weeks back, I called my wife to tell her about this wonderful book I wanted her to order for me immediately, Let's Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. I had heard the interview on NPR, and I was laughing the whole time. My wife immediately says... oh, you mean the one I gave you a month ago. Well, that was it end of life as we know it. I was never going to hear the end of this. Every time I mention a funny part, I get the knowing look of I told you so. By the way, If you haven't read the book, you should. I'm not spoiling the book, but I just going to say racoons and soap. When you read it, you'll understand. Anyways...
Luckily for me, revenge was right around the corner. We just had the kitchen floor redone and the guys rolled the fridge back and on top of the water line. So, My wife and I had to get the cord from under the fridge without messing up the new floor. My wife suggested we use the back scratcher. This did not work, and she proceeded to say the magic words that allowed me revenge. "If only this had a hook on the end of it!" Ah, you mean like all my wire hangers you threw away.
I am not sure what it is, but when you get married your wife will suddenly become the TSA of wire hangers. I am pretty sure I've been stuck in secondary search for the last 13 years. I really don't mind that she took all the wire hangers, I was more concerned with evening the playing field on I told you so moments.
Luckily for me, revenge was right around the corner. We just had the kitchen floor redone and the guys rolled the fridge back and on top of the water line. So, My wife and I had to get the cord from under the fridge without messing up the new floor. My wife suggested we use the back scratcher. This did not work, and she proceeded to say the magic words that allowed me revenge. "If only this had a hook on the end of it!" Ah, you mean like all my wire hangers you threw away.
I am not sure what it is, but when you get married your wife will suddenly become the TSA of wire hangers. I am pretty sure I've been stuck in secondary search for the last 13 years. I really don't mind that she took all the wire hangers, I was more concerned with evening the playing field on I told you so moments.
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