Non-Winners

I just checked in on two contests we had entered over the past few months - a writing submission for me, and a Baby Gap contest for Amelia. Unfortunately, we were not chosen as the winners. Does that make us losers? I don't think so. Both were 1 in several thousand chances, but at least we took a shot. It certainly won't be the last writing contest I enter and having said that, it clearly won't be the last one I don't win. I may never win one. That's okay. I will never have to wonder if I could have won. As for Mia, I can't say she will be entered in any other contests until she is old enough to decide for herself. Who knows, we may try again, but I try to keep exploitation of my daughter to a minimum...I still think those big, blue eyes would look good in a Gap ad, though :)

No more snow

I am so glad the ice finally melted. Had we been stuck inside for another day, I'm pretty sure Meggan would have divorced me, partly to have something to do and partly because she is sick of looking at me. I did learn a nice lesson today, though... Solid ice does not shovel very easily. Here are two pictures from street level to show you what we were dealing with -

Snow Update 2

I just saw a car sliding backwards down the street after trying to drive up my hill... if the ice is not gone tomorrow, you will see me clearing the street myself. I will use a spoon if I have to.

Snow Update

I'm pretty sure being stuck in this house all day because of the ice is starting to make us crazy...


Amelia has now played with every toy she has....and left them on the floor-




Meggan and I have decided to let Amelia pay our bills and dictate our financial future -



And poor Sophie, with no other way to cope, has turned to the bottle -

Snow Day

We got a tiny bit of snow overnight and I have to say...I really don't care for it. To top it off, we have the worst of all situations here - a snow/rain mix that has now frozen into a solid block of ice. I attempted to go for a walk because there are only so many hours in a day that I can spend sitting in the house before I go nuts. Unfortunately, I could BARELY make it out of my driveway because it was frozen over. I just turned sideways and slid down it like a skateboard. If Amelia was much older, it would be perfect out there for sliding around and having fun. As it stands now, I can't trust her to know to "tuck and roll" once her and daddy inevitably take on a hill that is too big. So, for her protection, and probably mine, we'll be staying in today. We did take her out this morning when it was a bit more like snow and a bit less like an ice skating rink. She was utterly unimpressed.

I take things for granted every single day. Every one of you takes things for granted every single day. No matter how hard we try to appreciate the little things, we always reach a point of comfort in which we regress to our old selves. It takes little to no time to go from "Thank God I have food to eat" to "Geez, I hate doing the dishes after dinner". This latter statement seems small, but it is full of completely overlooked blessings - You're alive, you had food to cook, you had dishes on which to eat, you had a house in which to prepare your meal, you had the health to physically be able to do dishes, you had clean running water to wash them with, you most likely even have a dishwasher to do 90% of the work for you, and the list goes on.

Well, today I was served two reminders of precisely how lucky I am. The first reminder came this morning at the expense of someone I don't even know. I found out that a friend of a coworker passed away. She was a 32 year old, seemingly healthy, mother of two. While going to check on her son, she collapsed on the floor and would not get up again. The second reminder came courtesy of my nephew. He was taken in for an emergency procedure tonight in an attempt to keep from being permanently blind in one eye. He is 22 and lives life with all the ease his age would dictate. The cause of his problem is unknown and his current situation was utterly unpredictable.

They say you can never really appreciate something until it's gone. I implore you to challenge that saying each and every day of your life. Work hard to appreciate all the wondrous gifts bestowed upon you. Dream of them before you get them, love them while you have them, and remember them fondly when they are gone. Don't take the warmth of any more sunsets for granted, for you never know when you have seen, or even lived, your last one.

Nevermind

I started to write a long political blog tonight, but I decided against it for a few reasons...1) It is late and I don't feel like going on a rant, and 2) this blog has always been fairly light hearted and I want it to stay that way.

So, instead of that I will just make two brief statements:

- Watching how the Democratic and Republican politicians basically react in unison to Obama's remarks is somewhat sickening. If half the time that gets spent on political posturing would get spent on individual thought and new, creative ideas, we might actually be able to accomplish something other than an overpaid pissing contest. I'm pretty sure most elementary school student councils are more effective.


- A lot has been made about Tim Tebow's upcoming Superbowl ad which is rumored to be an anti-abortion statement. As a Gator, I obviously like Tim Tebow. However, as a father, I love him. Forget about your stance on abortion for a moment. I just find it refreshing to see a kid, who is likely at the most pivotal point in his life, taking a stand for what he believes in without fear of repercussions. I am glad to have a role model for the children that shows it okay to stand up for what you believe in even if it isn't the most popular or safest stance. It is a welcome change from the standard athlete/entertainer of today who are more interested in getting their next endorsement deal than they are in their own beliefs. I don't always agree with Tebow, but I respect his conviction.

So, tonight, I nave already received two calls informing me that I indeed needed to update the blog as I am behind on posts. I tried to explain that while I love posting on the blog, it pays me exactly $0 per hour. Thus, on occasion, I have to devote my time to my actual job, which pays roughly $2.50 per hour (at least it feels that way). I promise you, if I could pay my bills blogging, I would. If Amelia would get a job and stop being such a financial drain on this family, perhaps I could pursue a career in the blogging arts. Until then, I'll do what I can to keep the very mediocre posts flowing.

For tonight, here are a few random postings -


- We are desperately hoping the tubes will help Amelia's ears. So far, so good. However, she has been pulling on her right ear quite a bit today. I really hope it turns out to be nothing. That little girl deserves to catch a break.

- Speaking of Amelia, my baby is disappearing at an alarming rate. It seems like a few weeks ago that she was a tiny newborn sleeping next to us in a baby bed. Now, she waves bye bye, she stands, she has teeth, she blows kisses, and her sophisticated palate will no longer allow her to stoop down to lowly baby food. She must order off the menu.

- We had to turn in our self evaluations at work today. As it turns out, my self apparently thinks fairly highly of me. Additionally, my self feels like a nice raise is in order. On another work related note, I'm pretty sure every time I feel my Blackberry buzz, a little piece of me dies on the inside.

- Actual personal messages in status updates on my Facebook feed these days - 4. Updates regarding FarmVille, Farm Town, or Farm Life - 75,000. Seriously, I hope a fake fire starts and burns your fake farm to ashes.

- Last weekend, we bought "clear" caulk to put outside our house around our dining room window. I found out the joke was on me when I must have missed the fine print on the tube that said "By "clear", we mean bright white that will show up drastically against your khaki colored house". Two nights ago, I REALLY found out the joke was on me when I realized I must have missed even more fine print that said "DOES NOT WORK AGAINST WATER" because it stopped about as much of the rain from coming in as 1-ply toilet paper would have. I love listening to the rain, just not when it is hitting my dining room floor.

- Sophie is the greatest pound for pound snorer in the world. Meggan is giving her a run for her money. I am going on minute 95 of listening to their symphony.

- On a serious note, my nephew is going through a tough time right now with a health issue. I won't go into detail on here because 1) Many details are unknown and 2)that's his private matter. All I ask is that you keep him in your prayers. Thanks

Technical Difficulties

You may notice some strange things going on with the blog. Please forgive the mess. For the time being, you can assume "undefined undefined" temporarily means "Blogger is in over his head and has no idea what the hell he is doing in terms of changing his blog template"

Thanks

We just finished watching Julie and Julia and I'm guessing that movie made several bloggers think they were on the brink of hitting it big. While I can't say that for myself, I can say I am still deliriously hopeful about a future in writing. Unfortunately, last night I re-read the work I had done thus far on a screenplay and all I can say is that it stinks like hot doodoo. So, we'll have to do something to change that.

Amelia: Sooo, let me tell you what happened this morning. We left the house very early this morning - I was still in my pajamas, it was dark outside, we went straight to the car and headed out. I was thinking "this could mean only one thing....going on a trip". I was very, very wrong.

Sophie: Didn't you notice they hadn't locked me away in the slammer? That's the first key to a vacation.

Amelia: I figured you were just out on probation since you haven't eaten anything lately.

Sophie: Those bastards would have just set me up if they needed a reason to lock me away...leave a deliciously tempting bottle within reach, a pacifier in my toy bin, or any other Wile E. Coyote trick they could think of. The Man will find a way to hold a good dog down.

Amelia: Okaaaay, nobody asked for that soapbox moment. So, like I said, this was no vacation. They took me in for surgery!

Sophie: Oh, damn! Did they take out your woman parts?!?

Amelia: No! Wait, what?!? Why would they want my woman parts?

Sophie: All I know is I thought I was going on a trip to the dog park once, I ended up in surgery, and I came home sans my lady bits.

Amelia: Well, I'm sorry to hear that. But, they didn't go anywhere near mine. They put something in my ears

Sophie: Like a microchip in case you get lost? A few of my friends in the joint have those.

Amelia: Don't be ridiculous, those are for dogs. I'm not sure what they are. I'm hoping they are really tiny IPods.

Sophie: Did it hurt?

Amelia: It probably would have hurt you because you are pretty soft. But, I took it like a big girl. They put me to sleep, so I didn't feel anything during it. Afterwards was a little painful. I'd say it hurt more than when I got my belly button pierced and less than when I got my tattoo.

Sophie: I clearly see the term "put me to sleep" means something different to babies than it does dogs. Where I come from, let's just say they "forget" to wake you up again.

Amelia: Whoa. I'm glad I didn't go to your pediachristian or however you say it.

Sophie: Lol. you don't even know how to say it...it's pediastriction.

Amelia: That doesn't sound right either. Whatever, either way I'm glad my doctor didn't leave me asleep.

Sophie: Baby, you'll probably make me regret saying this, but, I'm also glad they didn't leave you sleeping. I would have missed you.

Amelia: Thanks, Soph. I would have missed you too. On an unrelated note, please stop yelling so loudly, these new IPods are making everything so loud

Big Day

Well, Amelia is less than 12 hours away from her ear procedure. Everyone (a surprising number of people from this blog) keeps telling me it will be no big deal. I am sure they are right...and I'm sure I'll feel that way at about Noon tomorrow when it is all over. As for the hours sandwiched between now and then - hello anxiety.

Lessons Learned

When I was younger....

- I thought money was the key to happiness
- I was sure I'd never turn into one of those people who blames MTV for steering the youth in the wrong direction
- I never imagined a day in which I would use the term "the youth"
- I wasn't afraid to fly
- I had hair where I wanted it and not where I didn't
- I felt like talk radio was for old people
- 31 seemed old
- I thought the hardest part about having kids would be changing dirty diapers
- I couldn't gain a pound if my life depended on it
- There was no way I would write a blog for OTHER people to read
- I thought working in business was like Jerry Maguire
- I could go out partying at night and wake up early to play basketball the next day
- I listened to mostly rap music and wished country music would stop being made
- I wondered if I would ever get to feel what it was like to see the Gators play for a National Championship
- Sports were my religion

Now, that I am 31...

- I realize money may relieve stress, but it only brings temporary happiness
- I am certain MTV is a leading cause to the degradation of society, particularly the youth
- I acknowledge the separation of myself from the blissful naivety of youth...and am proud to have survived it.
- I get sweaty at the thought of an airplane
- I likely have the same amount of hair I've always had, just in different places
- I feel like talk radio is the best conversation I have some days
- 31 is a long way from old
- I realize waiting outside the operating room tomorrow will be one of the hardest things I've EVER done
- I can gain 5 pounds during a single happy hour
- Nothing makes me happier than to hear someone new is reading the blog
- Most days I feel much more like Rain Man than Jerry Maguire
- If I either party OR play basketball, there is no waking up early the next day
- I think country music has some of the best storytellers this side of Hollywood
- I have seen the Gators play 5 National title games in football and basketball in the last decade
- Sports are still a religion, just not my primary faith

Trendsetter?

Amelia, being her very fashion forward self, has decided to try to make a new style look H-O-T...either that, or she is just completely unaware that the "hat" she keeps putting on her head is actually a small Tupperware bowl...

Well, the inevitable happened today...Amelia's ear doctor told us tubes are her only option. She has had problems with ear infections her whole life and they don't seem to be getting any better. By this point, she's been on so much medication that I'm pretty sure she thinks antibiotics are like a Flintstone's daily multi-vitamin. We are a little worried about the procedure, as I'd expect any parent would be. However, since she has constant fluid on her ears, we don't really have a choice. So, she is going under Thursday for the surgery. Please say a little prayer for my baby girl (pictured below the day after she was born). Thank you.

In news of things that were much harder than they ever should have been, we installed a baby-gate at the top of the stairs today. Funny, when in the store deciding which one of these lovely temporary prison walls I was going to purchase, I don't remember seeing any displays installed in actual homelike situations. For instance, the particular model I purchased was set up in the store installed between two braced boards. However, it became very obvious once we began our installation process that apparently they didn't build my staircase using two flat, strong, perfectly distanced boards. They decided to put a pseudo-sturdy banister on one side and hand rails that leave an 1/8th of an inch too little room for a gate on the other. Luckily for me, I had Meggan's amply skilled dad helping me with this project. So, with my thorough investigation of which gate would be best suited for needs and his handyman skills, we showed that gate who was boss. Once we had it installed, inspected, and tested, we called Meggan to come see what the men in her life had proudly accomplished. She opened and closed the gate two or three times.....and then the whole thing fell off the hinges. Yeah....that didn't happen in the store model either. We did eventually get it up and functioning fairly smoothly. Is it 100% perfect? No. But, it will keep a certain tiny bundle of motion safe from her own curiosity.

Bad News - after several days of medicine, the doctor told us that Amelia's ears are exactly 0% better than they were when we started.

Good News - apparently, if regular antibiotics don't work, they can give you a shot of superhero antibiotics.

Bad News - the doctor is concerned Mia's eardrums may rupture

Good News - we are talking to a specialist on Monday about a tube procedure

Bad News - she doesn't want to eat, drink, or sleep.

Good News - when she isn't in immediate pain, she is all smiles.

Even with the best baby in the world, it has been a rough few days.

A walk down memory lane

My father passed away when I was 6 years old. This left me with a dearth of real memories. Usually they fade in and out with flashes of truths woven with moments of either vanishing clarity or literal falsehoods. However, on occassion, I come across the concrete ones; the kind I will carry with me until the day I pass on. These are so few and far between that I can likely count them on one hand. This rarity makes them precious. It also makes me further embrace the situations in life that trigger these slight reminders of a man I have so longed to know. Tonight, a purely insignificant 10 seconds brought about possibly my favorite memory of my dad. I believe I have told it on here before, but to quickly recount it - at a time when cancer had stolen most of my father's energy, he would still occasionally attempt to meet me at the bus stop. He couldn't walk the whole distance, but I can vividly remember him kneeling on a knee, waiting for me half way. Tonight, Meggan was helping Mia practice walking with her walker. So, she pointed her in my direction and I got down on a knee and waited for her. As she walked toward me, that snapshot of my dad popped into focus, only I was him and she was me. I have been a father for closing in on a year. And, I have been a son for thirty. Yet, tonight, was the first night I felt like both at the same time.

New Haircut

Here are some pictures of Amelia's new haircut.

Poor Baby

This is what double ear infections, a fever, and a sore throat look like (pitiful)...

Off the wagon

New Year's Resolution: Get in shape

Today's Diet:
2 blueberry muffins
2 Granola bars
1 Chicken sandwich with bacon and barbecue sauce
1 order of fries
2 tacos
1 order of chips and salsa
a few adult beverages while watching football
SEVERAL M&Ms

This is not good a start

Truckin'

This was on our drive home from Christmas vacation. We originally put Amelia in her pajamas so she could sleep the whole ride. She seemed to have other ideas. Once we stopped at McDonald's to get a delicious breakfast, she offered to take a turn at the wheel so I could get some rest...

Men at Work

I am exceptionally thankful to be employed in this economy. That said, I'd rather be beaten in and around my face and groin regions than go to work tomorrow. That is all.

299, 300, 301...

I was recently mocked/bashed/ridiculed by some guy friends of mine for saying that Meggan, my wife, is my best friend. It didn't bother me in any way because I feel like your spouse should be your best friend. As evidence for my case, I'd like to point out that with the exception of a trip to the store here or there, Meggan and I have spent roughly the last 300 hours together and I am just as happy about it right now as I was at hour 1. If that's not a best friend, I don't know what is.

She's the boss

Amelia is starting to develop a distinct personality. She is also starting to develop a distinct attitude. Apparently, she has decided that her clothes no longer deserve to be in her drawer....

Resolutionary Road

It is the time of year again for everyone to make their New Year's resolutions which means it is roughly 3 weeks prior to when most people break their resolutions. Though people are not all that likely to be able to maintain lifestyle changes made based primarily on the calendar rolling over to January 1st, I think making resolutions is a very healthy exercise. If nothing else, it causes you to examine your life and become aware of the things you need to work on. Simply identifying these aspects is often the hardest part of making the change. So, without further delay, here is a small sample of some of my resolutions (most of which I am sure to break):

- the gold standard of resolutions: get in better shape
- the other gold standard of resolutions: display better financial discipline
- get out and see more of my city
- write more
- do a better job at showing my wife how much I love her
- waste less time on television and surfing the Internet
- more actively pursue my faith
- actually follow through on a record number of resolutions: 1

Only time will tell if I can actually stick to any of these. However, putting them out there for people to see will certainly help. Hopefully, all of you have thought of at least one thing that needs "fixin'" and you will challenge yourself with it.