Love you, buddy! Happy birthday!
Showing posts with label Krazy Kiddies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Krazy Kiddies. Show all posts
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Eighteen Years Ago Today...
Eighteen years ago today, my son was born. TheBoy entered the collective conscious, bringing "father" to the list of names I proudly wear. He's off to the Navy in a little over four months, and I couldn't be more proud of him. It's humbling to think that the little boy I once held in one arm will be patrolling the seas and skies (he's going into air traffic control) keeping us safe.
Saturday, March 11, 2017
You May Ask Yourself, How Did I Get Here?
So, my son has his learner's permit. He drove for the first time today. My little boy, the dark-haired baby we brought home from the hospital all those years ago (it feels like a couple months...) is now a permitted driver. I took him out when we got home from the registry (don't get me started on the three-hour ordeal *that* was...) for a quick spin around the block, and it's the damnedest thing - he's actually pretty good at driving (I'd say better than his old man, but that's damning with faint praise...)
My. Son. Is. Driving.
In less than six months, my daughter will start high school. HIGH SCHOOL. Both kids will be in high school, actually; my son will be more than halfway through his high school career then. I keep seeing the man in the mirror get older and older, more gray in the beard, more aches and pains when I get out of bed.
But, dammit, I'm alive.
I started this blog almost 10 years ago (I know, it scared me, too). My son had just turned 6. My daughter wasn't even 4. I lived in the People's Republik of Massachusetts and didn't own a single AR-15 (now, how *that* has changed!). It feels like an eye-blink.
Got married.
[blink]
Built house.
[blink]
Brought my son home from the hospital.
[blink]
Brought my daughter home from the hospital.
[blink]
Started a new career in a different state.
[blink]
And now my son has his learner's permit. Another blink and it'll be my daughter. Then they're off to college, then... quiet. :)
It's funny, with kids. When your kids are young, you see parents with older children and think to yourself, "it'll be easier when they're older." It doesn't matter what age, or what "older" is - for example, when kids are babies, and they get sick, they can't tell you what's wrong. They can't take "regular" medicine, either -- it's a crap shoot without going to the doctor, so you go to the doctor a lot. You look at the parents of pre-schoolers and think, wow, when those kids get sick, at least they can tell their parents "my stomach hurts" or "my throat is sore."
Then your kids get older, and start getting some independence, and you find yourself looking at families with little kids and getting nostalgic. You look back when they were little, and you remember the magic, and the wonder, and how they could be persuaded to do just about anything for the promise of a Happy Meal from McDonald's. Christmas through the eyes of a young child is about the most magical thing there is.
And then you blink, and the spell is broken.
Oh, don't get me wrong. The current phase my kids are in is *awesome*, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. They're independent, which is a level of awesome all by itself. When school is canceled because of snow, we give them a list of chores (they ignore it, of course, but at least when they start fighting we remind them they have things to do and they magically stop fighting...). There's no more anxious panic when we flip the calendar and see that the next Monday is a teacher in-service day and school is canceled, because we no longer have to frantically scramble to find child care.
It doesn't get better, because that implies it was less-than-perfect before. It changes, of course, but every step along the way has been eye-opening and awe-inspiring. My son has gone from a wirey little bundle of squawky joy to a young man who looks down on his dad (I mean this literally; he's got a good inch on me now). My daughter, the raven-haired baby who was two weeks late for her own birth, is now a young woman with dyed hair and an independent streak a mile wide. It's amazing watching your kids become their own people.
And, now, they're starting to drive. Excuse me while I look for my cane...
That is all.
My. Son. Is. Driving.
In less than six months, my daughter will start high school. HIGH SCHOOL. Both kids will be in high school, actually; my son will be more than halfway through his high school career then. I keep seeing the man in the mirror get older and older, more gray in the beard, more aches and pains when I get out of bed.
But, dammit, I'm alive.
I started this blog almost 10 years ago (I know, it scared me, too). My son had just turned 6. My daughter wasn't even 4. I lived in the People's Republik of Massachusetts and didn't own a single AR-15 (now, how *that* has changed!). It feels like an eye-blink.
Got married.
[blink]
Built house.
[blink]
Brought my son home from the hospital.
[blink]
Brought my daughter home from the hospital.
[blink]
Started a new career in a different state.
[blink]
And now my son has his learner's permit. Another blink and it'll be my daughter. Then they're off to college, then... quiet. :)
It's funny, with kids. When your kids are young, you see parents with older children and think to yourself, "it'll be easier when they're older." It doesn't matter what age, or what "older" is - for example, when kids are babies, and they get sick, they can't tell you what's wrong. They can't take "regular" medicine, either -- it's a crap shoot without going to the doctor, so you go to the doctor a lot. You look at the parents of pre-schoolers and think, wow, when those kids get sick, at least they can tell their parents "my stomach hurts" or "my throat is sore."
Then your kids get older, and start getting some independence, and you find yourself looking at families with little kids and getting nostalgic. You look back when they were little, and you remember the magic, and the wonder, and how they could be persuaded to do just about anything for the promise of a Happy Meal from McDonald's. Christmas through the eyes of a young child is about the most magical thing there is.
And then you blink, and the spell is broken.
Oh, don't get me wrong. The current phase my kids are in is *awesome*, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. They're independent, which is a level of awesome all by itself. When school is canceled because of snow, we give them a list of chores (they ignore it, of course, but at least when they start fighting we remind them they have things to do and they magically stop fighting...). There's no more anxious panic when we flip the calendar and see that the next Monday is a teacher in-service day and school is canceled, because we no longer have to frantically scramble to find child care.
It doesn't get better, because that implies it was less-than-perfect before. It changes, of course, but every step along the way has been eye-opening and awe-inspiring. My son has gone from a wirey little bundle of squawky joy to a young man who looks down on his dad (I mean this literally; he's got a good inch on me now). My daughter, the raven-haired baby who was two weeks late for her own birth, is now a young woman with dyed hair and an independent streak a mile wide. It's amazing watching your kids become their own people.
And, now, they're starting to drive. Excuse me while I look for my cane...
That is all.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
They Say It's Your Birthday...
You know who's birthday is today? This guy:
Yep. TheBoy turns 15 today. FIF-TEEN. He's about 6 months old this picture. He's now taller than I am. In six months he's eligible for his learner's permit. LEARNER'S. PERMIT. The little tiny baby that I used to hold in the crook of my arm is three years away from being an adult. THREE. YEARS.
Man, but it goes by quick. I got one of those "Facebook Memories" the other day from 2009. I think it's when I took over as Cubmaster for TheBoy's Cub Scout Pack. That was like a week ago, at least that's how it seemed. He went from a baby to a toddler to a preschooler to elementary school to middle school to high school in little more than the blink of an eye.
And in another blink, he'll be heading off to college, getting married, and having kids of his own. It's that whole "circle of life," "sunrise, sunset," "cat's in the cradle" thing going on. No one ever lies on their deathbed wishing they'd spent more time at the office, etc. One thing that dawned on me this year, as we planned our family vacations, was that we probably only have a few more years' worth. In another year he'll have a job; possibly a girlfriend, etc. Year after that he'll be looking at his senior year in high school. Then getting ready to head off to college.
We gotta make these next few years COUNT, knowwhattamean?
Anyways, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUDDY!!! I don't think you read this blog (and if you do, well, when you read through the archives just remember that dad tries to moderate the expletives IRL...), but someday when you're older I hope you find it and read the entries on you. I'm all kinds of proud of you, pal, and couldn't love you more if you were twins. I still say it and you (for now) still say it back, but I love you buddy.
And now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go get this, err, dust of of my eyes.
That is all.
Yep. TheBoy turns 15 today. FIF-TEEN. He's about 6 months old this picture. He's now taller than I am. In six months he's eligible for his learner's permit. LEARNER'S. PERMIT. The little tiny baby that I used to hold in the crook of my arm is three years away from being an adult. THREE. YEARS.
Man, but it goes by quick. I got one of those "Facebook Memories" the other day from 2009. I think it's when I took over as Cubmaster for TheBoy's Cub Scout Pack. That was like a week ago, at least that's how it seemed. He went from a baby to a toddler to a preschooler to elementary school to middle school to high school in little more than the blink of an eye.
And in another blink, he'll be heading off to college, getting married, and having kids of his own. It's that whole "circle of life," "sunrise, sunset," "cat's in the cradle" thing going on. No one ever lies on their deathbed wishing they'd spent more time at the office, etc. One thing that dawned on me this year, as we planned our family vacations, was that we probably only have a few more years' worth. In another year he'll have a job; possibly a girlfriend, etc. Year after that he'll be looking at his senior year in high school. Then getting ready to head off to college.
We gotta make these next few years COUNT, knowwhattamean?
Anyways, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUDDY!!! I don't think you read this blog (and if you do, well, when you read through the archives just remember that dad tries to moderate the expletives IRL...), but someday when you're older I hope you find it and read the entries on you. I'm all kinds of proud of you, pal, and couldn't love you more if you were twins. I still say it and you (for now) still say it back, but I love you buddy.
And now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go get this, err, dust of of my eyes.
That is all.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Movies...
So, over the holiday break TheBoy and I finally sat down and watched "Diehard." He's heard us quote the movie extensively - especially around the holidays - and we figured he was old enough to deal with the language responsibly. A few days later we watched "Diehard 2," and he was hooked on the classic action flicks of the '80s and '90s.
New Year's Eve we were at my sister-in-law's house with my wife's two sisters and their families, and TheBoy asked the group what *other* movies he needed to see from that same time period. He's interested mainly in comedies and action movies, particularly ones that get quoted a lot in popular culture.
We sat down and brainstormed a list...
Comedy:
Total Recall
New Year's Eve we were at my sister-in-law's house with my wife's two sisters and their families, and TheBoy asked the group what *other* movies he needed to see from that same time period. He's interested mainly in comedies and action movies, particularly ones that get quoted a lot in popular culture.
We sat down and brainstormed a list...
Comedy:
Blues Brothers
Holy Grail
Men in Black
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Vacation & Christmas Vacation
Major League
Sandlot
Slap Shot
Better off Dead
Blazing Saddles
Young Frankenstein
Revenge of the Nerds
Animal House
Office Space
Ghostbusters
Airplane
Bill & Teds Excellent Adventure
Princess Bride
Beverly Hills Cop
Trading Places
Spies Like Us
My Blue Heaven
Great Outdoors
Armed & Dangerous
Uncle Buck
The Jerk
History of the World Part 1
Wayne's World
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Dumb & Dumber
Coming to America
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Austin Powers
UHF
American Graffiti
Weird Science
Cannonball Run
Smokey & the Bandit
Action:
Indiana Jones
Tombstone
Untouchables
Pulp Fiction
Mission Impossible
Fifth Element
Terminator 1&2
Lethal Weapon
Army of Darkness
Fugitive
Big Trouble in Little China
Full Metal Jacket
Aliens
True Lies
48 Hours
Predator
Star Trek 4
Bladerunner
Red Dawn
Above the Law
Road Warrior
Obviously, this is not an exclusive list. We've added to it as more folks have chimed in, and will most likely continue to add movies to the list. The criteria are simple: evocative of the time period/genre, memorable, quotable, etc. He's 15, so we're not quite ready for rom/com or dramas, so I left it mostly action/comedy with a smattering of sci-fi thrown in for good measure.
What else should be on the list?
That is all.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Teenager, Year Two...
Fourteen years ago today (at 10:40 AM, IIRC), my life changed forever. At 7 lbs. 6 oz. my son came into this world and everything that I knew to be true changed. When you become a parent, no one fills you in on all the little ways your life changes. Oh, sure, folks hip you to the big changes. "Get all the sleep you can, now. You won't sleep again for another 18 years." Or, as my boss at the time told me, "Welcome to the parent club. Your membership expires when you do."
You worry when they get sick. You worry when they don't reach development milestones exactly when you think they will (which is always earlier than the books all say, because this is your kid, and dammit, your kid is faster/smarter/better than the "average" child, amirite?) You run along side them as they learn to ride a two wheeler, then you watch them ride away, free and vulnerable.
And now my little boy is in his second year as a teenager.
Fourteen. I remember being fourteen. It's a funny age. You're somewhere between being a child and being an adult - sometimes in the same day, sometimes in the same hour. You're too young to have a steady job, but you're starting to realize the importance that money has in this world. And scheming new ways of making money - mainly so you have cash in case you ask someone out... Which, given that you are a 14 year old boy, is quite unlikely.
So happy birthday, buddy. I know sometimes I "annoy the crap out of [you]", but it's for two separate reasons. First and foremost, it's my job to keep you on task and doing well. Secondly, I really am pretty much full of crap, and it's a serious subject you'll know. Enjoy this magical time, cherish every second, because before you know it, you'll have a job and house and kids and before you know it, you'll have turned into me.
Happy birthday to my baby boy.
That is all.
You worry when they get sick. You worry when they don't reach development milestones exactly when you think they will (which is always earlier than the books all say, because this is your kid, and dammit, your kid is faster/smarter/better than the "average" child, amirite?) You run along side them as they learn to ride a two wheeler, then you watch them ride away, free and vulnerable.
And now my little boy is in his second year as a teenager.
Fourteen. I remember being fourteen. It's a funny age. You're somewhere between being a child and being an adult - sometimes in the same day, sometimes in the same hour. You're too young to have a steady job, but you're starting to realize the importance that money has in this world. And scheming new ways of making money - mainly so you have cash in case you ask someone out... Which, given that you are a 14 year old boy, is quite unlikely.
So happy birthday, buddy. I know sometimes I "annoy the crap out of [you]", but it's for two separate reasons. First and foremost, it's my job to keep you on task and doing well. Secondly, I really am pretty much full of crap, and it's a serious subject you'll know. Enjoy this magical time, cherish every second, because before you know it, you'll have a job and house and kids and before you know it, you'll have turned into me.
Happy birthday to my baby boy.
That is all.
Friday, June 13, 2014
Another Year Closer To The Convent...
It's Friday the 13th. And a full moon. But neither of those things scare me. You know what scares me?
It's my daughter's birthday today.
Eleven years ago, our family was completed. My sweet little girl came into the world - two weeks late, which should have been an omen to us that she would never be on time again. Eleven years, many trips to the ER and other assorted health care professionals (this is the child that stuck a makeup wedge up her nose, mind you), and my daughter is another year closer to growing up and moving on.
She's had a big upheaval with the move - she makes it clear on a regular basis that she misses her friends in MA and she doesn't want to be here in VA. Of course, she'll then beg to be brought over to the HOA pool or to go ride her bike in the subdivision with her gang of friends, so I think the protestations are becoming more for show.
It's been one crazy ride, but I wouldn't miss this for anything.
Happy birthday, honey. I love you!
That is all.
It's my daughter's birthday today.
Eleven years ago, our family was completed. My sweet little girl came into the world - two weeks late, which should have been an omen to us that she would never be on time again. Eleven years, many trips to the ER and other assorted health care professionals (this is the child that stuck a makeup wedge up her nose, mind you), and my daughter is another year closer to growing up and moving on.
She's had a big upheaval with the move - she makes it clear on a regular basis that she misses her friends in MA and she doesn't want to be here in VA. Of course, she'll then beg to be brought over to the HOA pool or to go ride her bike in the subdivision with her gang of friends, so I think the protestations are becoming more for show.
It's been one crazy ride, but I wouldn't miss this for anything.
Happy birthday, honey. I love you!
That is all.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Excitement I Didn't Need...
It's always something, right?
So, Saturday afternoon I decided to do some exploring. Gassed up the Harley, headed out to do a little bit of touring in my new state. Made it all the way to Washington's birthplace, saw the sights, etc.
Side note: VA has some pretty rockin' riding.
Anyways, I rolled into the homestead around dinner time to find the Mrs. in a rather concerned mood. BabyGirl G. had gone out earlier to ride her scooter around the neighborhood, and had failed to return at the pre-determined hour. She wasn't *that* late, but late enough that the Mrs. was getting concerned.
Traded one helmet for another, and I struck out around the neighborhood to see if I could find her.
After about a half-hour of checking her favorite haunts, I was starting to get a little concerned. Dusk was rapidly approaching, and I was not looking forward to the idea of having to look for her after dark. My dad has an expression that was pretty fitting at this point: "I'd rather be lucky than good" - as I came out of a side-street onto one of the cross-roads to the subdivision, I see BabyGirl G. walking down the sidewalk.
She decided to go exploring while on her scooter, and went down a trail in the woods. She came to a small stream, and decided that she ought to take her shoes off rather than risk getting them wet. She followed the stream for a bit, then came out in an unfamiliar part of the subdivision. She made a left when she should have made a right, and wound up walking on the outskirts of the subdivision for nearly an hour before getting her bearings (she *is* my daughter, after all)...
Long story short, she learned a valuable lesson. We gave her a set area where she could ride her scooter for a reason, and if she wants to go exploring, which we encourage, she needs to both let us know and wear the right gear (right now we're hoping she didn't come across any poison ivy...). I suspect she'll be a lot more careful the next time she heads out (which is going to be a while, because she's getting a short break because she broke the rules on her area)...
I can't imagine how parents of missing kids handle it, I really don't. She was honestly and truly missing for maybe an hour at best, and I was just about to call in the National Guard. I think I may have to join the clergy at some point, too, with the promises and such I was making with The Big Guy for the safe return of my little girl.
Would I change anything? Interestingly enough, not really. I think that the urge to explore should be nurtured - although I did tell Baby Girl G. that she should let us know if she wants to explore the woods and she should be dressed accordingly. I also think it's important to let kids make the wrong decision in many instances, and to learn the consequences of those decisions (all provisos in place, of course; I'm not saying they need to be abducted by space aliens or anything).
I also think she'll think long and hard before wandering off - she was pretty frazzled when I found her.
Being a parent is a tightrope act. I'm sure some are horrified that we let our 10 (almost 11) year old daughter wander the neighborhood unsupervised without even a cell phone. Others will scoff, thinking that getting lost and wandering in the woods should be normal for a kid. We are, no surprise, somewhere in the middle there. I think it's important for kids to explore, and to make bad decisions so they can learn consequences.
Just wish it didn't come with an adrenaline surge like it does...
That is all.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
So, Saturday afternoon I decided to do some exploring. Gassed up the Harley, headed out to do a little bit of touring in my new state. Made it all the way to Washington's birthplace, saw the sights, etc.
Side note: VA has some pretty rockin' riding.
Anyways, I rolled into the homestead around dinner time to find the Mrs. in a rather concerned mood. BabyGirl G. had gone out earlier to ride her scooter around the neighborhood, and had failed to return at the pre-determined hour. She wasn't *that* late, but late enough that the Mrs. was getting concerned.
Traded one helmet for another, and I struck out around the neighborhood to see if I could find her.
After about a half-hour of checking her favorite haunts, I was starting to get a little concerned. Dusk was rapidly approaching, and I was not looking forward to the idea of having to look for her after dark. My dad has an expression that was pretty fitting at this point: "I'd rather be lucky than good" - as I came out of a side-street onto one of the cross-roads to the subdivision, I see BabyGirl G. walking down the sidewalk.
She decided to go exploring while on her scooter, and went down a trail in the woods. She came to a small stream, and decided that she ought to take her shoes off rather than risk getting them wet. She followed the stream for a bit, then came out in an unfamiliar part of the subdivision. She made a left when she should have made a right, and wound up walking on the outskirts of the subdivision for nearly an hour before getting her bearings (she *is* my daughter, after all)...
Long story short, she learned a valuable lesson. We gave her a set area where she could ride her scooter for a reason, and if she wants to go exploring, which we encourage, she needs to both let us know and wear the right gear (right now we're hoping she didn't come across any poison ivy...). I suspect she'll be a lot more careful the next time she heads out (which is going to be a while, because she's getting a short break because she broke the rules on her area)...
I can't imagine how parents of missing kids handle it, I really don't. She was honestly and truly missing for maybe an hour at best, and I was just about to call in the National Guard. I think I may have to join the clergy at some point, too, with the promises and such I was making with The Big Guy for the safe return of my little girl.
Would I change anything? Interestingly enough, not really. I think that the urge to explore should be nurtured - although I did tell Baby Girl G. that she should let us know if she wants to explore the woods and she should be dressed accordingly. I also think it's important to let kids make the wrong decision in many instances, and to learn the consequences of those decisions (all provisos in place, of course; I'm not saying they need to be abducted by space aliens or anything).
I also think she'll think long and hard before wandering off - she was pretty frazzled when I found her.
Being a parent is a tightrope act. I'm sure some are horrified that we let our 10 (almost 11) year old daughter wander the neighborhood unsupervised without even a cell phone. Others will scoff, thinking that getting lost and wandering in the woods should be normal for a kid. We are, no surprise, somewhere in the middle there. I think it's important for kids to explore, and to make bad decisions so they can learn consequences.
Just wish it didn't come with an adrenaline surge like it does...
That is all.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Serendipity...
Since we were talking about Pixar films, and today is 3/19, here's something ... numerical.
Monsters, Inc. was TheBoy's favorite movie when he was a toddler. Both of my kids picked one movie when they were about 2 or so, and wanted to watch it over and over and over. Monsters Inc. was that movie for my son (Finding Nemo was the one for BabyGirl G.). I've probably seen it close to 50 times, and listened to it in the background on long car rides probably twice as much again.
And yet I'll still pop it in on a rainy weekend and watch it with the kids - and will gladly do so as long as they'll watch it with me...
That is all.
Monsters, Inc. was TheBoy's favorite movie when he was a toddler. Both of my kids picked one movie when they were about 2 or so, and wanted to watch it over and over and over. Monsters Inc. was that movie for my son (Finding Nemo was the one for BabyGirl G.). I've probably seen it close to 50 times, and listened to it in the background on long car rides probably twice as much again.
And yet I'll still pop it in on a rainy weekend and watch it with the kids - and will gladly do so as long as they'll watch it with me...
That is all.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Today, I Am Old.
My son turns 13 today.
I have a teenager in the house now. Not just any teenager, a male teenager. A sports- and video game-obsessed teenager. It's only a matter of time before he discovers girls, at which point I fully expect my mustache to turn white.
A teenager. It seems like only yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital, all full of hope and wonder and quite a bit of terror. This person, this small tiny life all its own that we were responsible for, this baby was ours and ours alone. Now, he's pretty well grown up - he's taller than his mother; on his way to being taller than his dad, and right now if he didn't grow another inch he'd be just a little on the short side for a grown man.
It's funny. Every stage of my son's life, I thought that it was the very best. The infant stage, when he'd fall asleep on my chest, that was awesome. Then he started walking and talking, and the very first time I heard "Daddy" I thought my heart was going to burst from happiness. Putting him on the bus the first day of school; watching him play in his first basketball game; every step along the line has been fantastic.
Today's a real milestone birthday, right up there with 10 (double digits) and 16 (license). He has crossed the threshold from tween to teen, and in many cultures would be considered an adult at this point. He's at the stage where he can take care of himself for the most part (he would stay up until 3AM playing video games and I don't even want to talk about some of the hygiene "challenges"), and in just a couple of years he's looking forward to getting a part time job.
But those milestones will come later. Right now, it's my son's 13th birthday and we're cooking him his favorite dinner (it's a family tradition) tonight. This weekend we'll do something to celebrate, maybe let him choose a restaurant for dinner. I hope I'm thinking about this too much, because if he realized how sentimental his old man is getting, he'll either give me grief or try to ply some more gifts out of me. Or both...
Happy birthday buddy. I love you!
That is all.
I have a teenager in the house now. Not just any teenager, a male teenager. A sports- and video game-obsessed teenager. It's only a matter of time before he discovers girls, at which point I fully expect my mustache to turn white.
A teenager. It seems like only yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital, all full of hope and wonder and quite a bit of terror. This person, this small tiny life all its own that we were responsible for, this baby was ours and ours alone. Now, he's pretty well grown up - he's taller than his mother; on his way to being taller than his dad, and right now if he didn't grow another inch he'd be just a little on the short side for a grown man.
It's funny. Every stage of my son's life, I thought that it was the very best. The infant stage, when he'd fall asleep on my chest, that was awesome. Then he started walking and talking, and the very first time I heard "Daddy" I thought my heart was going to burst from happiness. Putting him on the bus the first day of school; watching him play in his first basketball game; every step along the line has been fantastic.
Today's a real milestone birthday, right up there with 10 (double digits) and 16 (license). He has crossed the threshold from tween to teen, and in many cultures would be considered an adult at this point. He's at the stage where he can take care of himself for the most part (he would stay up until 3AM playing video games and I don't even want to talk about some of the hygiene "challenges"), and in just a couple of years he's looking forward to getting a part time job.
But those milestones will come later. Right now, it's my son's 13th birthday and we're cooking him his favorite dinner (it's a family tradition) tonight. This weekend we'll do something to celebrate, maybe let him choose a restaurant for dinner. I hope I'm thinking about this too much, because if he realized how sentimental his old man is getting, he'll either give me grief or try to ply some more gifts out of me. Or both...
Happy birthday buddy. I love you!
That is all.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
SNOWMAGGEDON!!!111
Man, SNOWPOCALYPSE has a very different meaning in Virginia than it did in Massachusetts.
I mean, in MA, we'd get all the crazy news stories and breathless weather reports. But you know what else we'd get? SNOW. The kids' schools were both canceled over what I would estimate to be 0.1" of snow. I cleaned off my truck this morning by opening and closing the doors briskly. The roads - even the secondary roads - were down to bare pavement.
Now, it's understandable in places like Georgia, where even a light coating of snow turns a roadway into a skating rink. They don't have the equipment to handle things we take for granted like salting and sanding roadways. However, in Northern Virginia there's plenty of equipment to handle a light coating. If we received a foot of snow, I'd understand things being shut down longer - there simply aren't as many private snow plows in VA as in MA. There aren't enough subcontractors to rapidly clear all the roadways.
But no school over a dusting? I mean, not only did I not need 4WD this morning, I didn't even slip once. I even tried to break traction in the open parking lot at work and was unable to achieve a good slide. How can school be canceled if you can't even do proper donuts with an overpowered RWD pickup truck!?!?!?
The one good thing is that it's really helping to make the kids happy we moved to Virginia...
That is all.
I mean, in MA, we'd get all the crazy news stories and breathless weather reports. But you know what else we'd get? SNOW. The kids' schools were both canceled over what I would estimate to be 0.1" of snow. I cleaned off my truck this morning by opening and closing the doors briskly. The roads - even the secondary roads - were down to bare pavement.
Now, it's understandable in places like Georgia, where even a light coating of snow turns a roadway into a skating rink. They don't have the equipment to handle things we take for granted like salting and sanding roadways. However, in Northern Virginia there's plenty of equipment to handle a light coating. If we received a foot of snow, I'd understand things being shut down longer - there simply aren't as many private snow plows in VA as in MA. There aren't enough subcontractors to rapidly clear all the roadways.
But no school over a dusting? I mean, not only did I not need 4WD this morning, I didn't even slip once. I even tried to break traction in the open parking lot at work and was unable to achieve a good slide. How can school be canceled if you can't even do proper donuts with an overpowered RWD pickup truck!?!?!?
The one good thing is that it's really helping to make the kids happy we moved to Virginia...
That is all.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
'Tis The Season, Part III
With less than two weeks until Christmas (how in blue blazes did THAT happen???), I figured we could ramp up the Christmas music a little...
Chuck Berry and Christmas music. You really can't get much better than that... With the Mrs. taking care of wrapping up the Massachusetts end of things, Christmas has more or less been handed over to me. Be afraid. Be very afraid. Yes, the kids are getting (airsoft) guns for Christmas - I mean, c'mon, their dad is moving them 500 miles away to go work for the NRA. Of *course* they're getting something gun-related (that, BTW, they have *both* asked for...)
Oh, there's other stuff, too, but I won't say anything on the 1:1,000,000 chance they're keeping tabs on ol' dad here...
That is all.
Chuck Berry and Christmas music. You really can't get much better than that... With the Mrs. taking care of wrapping up the Massachusetts end of things, Christmas has more or less been handed over to me. Be afraid. Be very afraid. Yes, the kids are getting (airsoft) guns for Christmas - I mean, c'mon, their dad is moving them 500 miles away to go work for the NRA. Of *course* they're getting something gun-related (that, BTW, they have *both* asked for...)
Oh, there's other stuff, too, but I won't say anything on the 1:1,000,000 chance they're keeping tabs on ol' dad here...
That is all.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Parenting: Doing It Right...
Jacqueline in TX sends in this story of a little girl being brought up right...
Girl apologizes for accidental 911 call
In either case, that's some darn good parenting.
We don't know why she dialed 911 - if I were a betting man, I'd guess that she didn't realize that it would actually go through, and that "911" is the number that has been drilled into their heads as the one to call. I know when the kids get any sort of safety lecture, they are told to cal 911 - even in our sleepy little 'burb, 911 brings the police/fire/rescue. Now, maybe her parents forced her to write the note - in which case she learns a lesson about not dialing 911 unless needed. Maybe she felt bad, not realizing that it would be a real call, and wrote the note on her own.
There's no mention of the child's age, so it's hard to tell if this is a 4 year old or a 14 year old. I suspect, from the writing, that it's somewhere in between, perhaps 8-10. Certainly old enough to know 911 isn't something you joke with, but possibly young enough not to make the connection between "Mom's old cell phone" and "still can call 911". In any case, I think this child learned her lesson, and the police were able to use it as a teaching moment through social media.
And to think, they did this all without having to put lumps on anyone!
That is all.
Girl apologizes for accidental 911 call
The Streetsboro, Ohio, Police Department has shared a child's adorable apology while also reminding residents about a serious issue.I totally get this. We've let our kids play with our old cell phones, and sometimes they were still powered for apps or using the camera. Perhaps the child didn't know that the phone was still active. Perhaps the parents didn't realize that even phones with no calling plan can still dial 911. I know from experience that the police have to respond to any 911 call that comes in, and the girl's response shows that either she was genuinely sorry or that her parents made her write what appears to be a genuine apology.
The message was written in what appeared to be blue highlighter and was featured on the department's Facebook page over the weekend.
In either case, that's some darn good parenting.
We don't know why she dialed 911 - if I were a betting man, I'd guess that she didn't realize that it would actually go through, and that "911" is the number that has been drilled into their heads as the one to call. I know when the kids get any sort of safety lecture, they are told to cal 911 - even in our sleepy little 'burb, 911 brings the police/fire/rescue. Now, maybe her parents forced her to write the note - in which case she learns a lesson about not dialing 911 unless needed. Maybe she felt bad, not realizing that it would be a real call, and wrote the note on her own.
There's no mention of the child's age, so it's hard to tell if this is a 4 year old or a 14 year old. I suspect, from the writing, that it's somewhere in between, perhaps 8-10. Certainly old enough to know 911 isn't something you joke with, but possibly young enough not to make the connection between "Mom's old cell phone" and "still can call 911". In any case, I think this child learned her lesson, and the police were able to use it as a teaching moment through social media.
And to think, they did this all without having to put lumps on anyone!
That is all.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Another Milestone...
So, last night we passed another milestone in the G. household. TheBoy had his first cavity filled. Our dentist is pretty freakin' awesome, and TheBoy is pretty tough, so we got through it just fine. There were a couple hours where he was a little more drooly and less talkative than normal, but he bounced back just fine.
Not all the milestones are necessarily good ones. He reached one in first grade that I have yet to reach: first broken bone. He fell off the zip line on the playground and landed on his arm wrong, and broke his radius (ulna? I always get the two confused. It's why I went into Biochemistry rather than pre-med...) Getting the call that "your son fell on the playground and broke his arm" was one of the most sickening feelings I can recall, right up there with "we think he might have meningitis" (It wasn't, just a particularly bad bug going around).
First cavity at 12. He's doing better than me - I was 10 - and we have a much better dentist. Mine was more old school - the old "it's not dentistry unless you're bleeding" school - and I think he hired hygienists straight out of the Marquis de Sade School Of Pain Management. At one point I asked him if he was scared and he just shrugged and said "Not really". Some of it is the bravado of youth; some of it is the comfort of knowing that he trusts us and the dentist we see.
Yes, there are *some* things about Massachusetts I am going to miss...
That is all.
Not all the milestones are necessarily good ones. He reached one in first grade that I have yet to reach: first broken bone. He fell off the zip line on the playground and landed on his arm wrong, and broke his radius (ulna? I always get the two confused. It's why I went into Biochemistry rather than pre-med...) Getting the call that "your son fell on the playground and broke his arm" was one of the most sickening feelings I can recall, right up there with "we think he might have meningitis" (It wasn't, just a particularly bad bug going around).
First cavity at 12. He's doing better than me - I was 10 - and we have a much better dentist. Mine was more old school - the old "it's not dentistry unless you're bleeding" school - and I think he hired hygienists straight out of the Marquis de Sade School Of Pain Management. At one point I asked him if he was scared and he just shrugged and said "Not really". Some of it is the bravado of youth; some of it is the comfort of knowing that he trusts us and the dentist we see.
Yes, there are *some* things about Massachusetts I am going to miss...
That is all.
Monday, August 19, 2013
The Things We Do For Love...
So, this morning, BabyGirl G. asked me a simple question.
Every year their school has "Shopper's Corner" before Christmas, Mother's Day, and Father's Day where the kids can bring in a few dollars and buy small items for their family/mom/dad. She picked out this mug for me:
It's really cute and I was duly impressed that my little girl thought that much of me. However, as you can plainly see, the inset "star" removes a good quarter of the mug's coffee delivery capacity - a serious deficiency when it comes to morning caffeination! This morning, however, I bit the bullet and pour a mug of java in the reduced capacity coffee mug (Mandatory in MA and NY!).
The smile on my daughter's face was worth the extra refills...
That is all.
"Dad, how come you haven't used the coffee mug I got you for Father's Day?"
Every year their school has "Shopper's Corner" before Christmas, Mother's Day, and Father's Day where the kids can bring in a few dollars and buy small items for their family/mom/dad. She picked out this mug for me:
The smile on my daughter's face was worth the extra refills...
That is all.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Yes, More Vacation Blogging...
TheBoy and I have been doing a fair amount of bonding this vacation. From throwing a football at the beach (I seem to be improving at it, which is quite odd) to rollerblading along the canal, we have been spending a good deal of time together doing stuff - and also talking.
One of the things we've been doing is riding our bikes on the canal - there is a seven mile long path that runs along the canal (on both sides) that was a road built during the construction for ferrying equipment and workers to and from the active work site. After completion, the roads were turned into foot- and bicycle paths for public use. Going from our campground at the Cape side of the canal to the end (the ocean side) is seven miles out, seven miles back, for a total of 14 miles roundtrip. TheBoy was pleased to be able to make the round trip this time out.
He's standing in front of the Cape Cod Canal Railroad bridge at the West end of the canal, just ahead of Mass Maritime Academy. That's the end of the Canal, but the halfway point of our biking. The first time we traversed the entire canal was three years ago. We stopped at least ten times on the way out and about as many on the way back, an I probably traveled more than double the length of the trail doubling back to make sure he was okay when he fell behind.
Now? He frequently leads the trek out. We're not quite at the stage where we have to stop more for Dad, but I can see it coming. It's nothing short of amazing watching him grow. I keep counting my blessings - I know it won't be long before he's too cool to be seen with dumb ol' dad, and I consider that every vacation where we do things together could be the last (at least the last without significant eyerolling and drama). It's going to be sad when that part ends, but it's all part of growing up.
Today we're going to attempt to rollerblade at least halfway down the Canal. We made it about 2.5 miles last time before he wanted to turn back; he's pretty sure we can make it halfway. The great part about the Canal path is the lack of cars/motorized traffic - he was pretty shaky on rollerblades when we started, but now he's zipping along like an old pro. It will not be long at all before he's skating rings around his old man, and I am fine with that. I will keep doing whatever he wants as long as he still wants his old man around.
And don't worry, I have similar stories for BabyGirl G. as well...
That is all.
One of the things we've been doing is riding our bikes on the canal - there is a seven mile long path that runs along the canal (on both sides) that was a road built during the construction for ferrying equipment and workers to and from the active work site. After completion, the roads were turned into foot- and bicycle paths for public use. Going from our campground at the Cape side of the canal to the end (the ocean side) is seven miles out, seven miles back, for a total of 14 miles roundtrip. TheBoy was pleased to be able to make the round trip this time out.
He's standing in front of the Cape Cod Canal Railroad bridge at the West end of the canal, just ahead of Mass Maritime Academy. That's the end of the Canal, but the halfway point of our biking. The first time we traversed the entire canal was three years ago. We stopped at least ten times on the way out and about as many on the way back, an I probably traveled more than double the length of the trail doubling back to make sure he was okay when he fell behind.
Now? He frequently leads the trek out. We're not quite at the stage where we have to stop more for Dad, but I can see it coming. It's nothing short of amazing watching him grow. I keep counting my blessings - I know it won't be long before he's too cool to be seen with dumb ol' dad, and I consider that every vacation where we do things together could be the last (at least the last without significant eyerolling and drama). It's going to be sad when that part ends, but it's all part of growing up.
Today we're going to attempt to rollerblade at least halfway down the Canal. We made it about 2.5 miles last time before he wanted to turn back; he's pretty sure we can make it halfway. The great part about the Canal path is the lack of cars/motorized traffic - he was pretty shaky on rollerblades when we started, but now he's zipping along like an old pro. It will not be long at all before he's skating rings around his old man, and I am fine with that. I will keep doing whatever he wants as long as he still wants his old man around.
And don't worry, I have similar stories for BabyGirl G. as well...
That is all.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
What It's All About...
Took this shot yesterday morning:
The kids and I set out for the beach at low tide to find sand dollars. Mom G. *loooves* sand dollars and requested that we bring her back one, so the kids took it to heart that we had to find a sand dollar for Nona. Off we went, in the rain, to comb the beach at low tide for sand dollars.
We found exactly one; TheBoy managed to spot it in the customary half-circle in the sand. Hermit crabs the beach was lousy with 'em; sand dollars not so much. They must either be a lot better at hiding these days; either that or a lot worse and the seagulls are getting them.
I just loved the way this shot came out, with my son off in the distance and my daughter heading out to join him in the surf. They're having a blast down here on the Cape (although the Canal cruise bored them to tears), and their dad's having a pretty darn good time too). Today we've got a long day of climbing on rocks, riding bikes on the canal, and looking for more sand dollars.
It's a rough life, but someone's gotta lead it...
That is all.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
The kids and I set out for the beach at low tide to find sand dollars. Mom G. *loooves* sand dollars and requested that we bring her back one, so the kids took it to heart that we had to find a sand dollar for Nona. Off we went, in the rain, to comb the beach at low tide for sand dollars.
We found exactly one; TheBoy managed to spot it in the customary half-circle in the sand. Hermit crabs the beach was lousy with 'em; sand dollars not so much. They must either be a lot better at hiding these days; either that or a lot worse and the seagulls are getting them.
I just loved the way this shot came out, with my son off in the distance and my daughter heading out to join him in the surf. They're having a blast down here on the Cape (although the Canal cruise bored them to tears), and their dad's having a pretty darn good time too). Today we've got a long day of climbing on rocks, riding bikes on the canal, and looking for more sand dollars.
It's a rough life, but someone's gotta lead it...
That is all.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Monday, July 15, 2013
Things I Learned While Camping With TheBoy...
So, this past weekend I headed north to a NH State park for the weekend with my son. He had been agitating for a "guy's weekend" camping, with the thought of inviting one of his friends and his friend's dad to come camping with us for the weekend. The dads could chat, the boys could play football, ride bikes, chase girls (not quite yet), and just enjoy The Great Outdoors™ in general. As luck would have it, both sets of friends that he had in mind to invite had plans for the one weekend we had free this month, so it was he and I against The Great Outdoors™.
And you know what? That suits me just fine.
Friday we left pretty much as soon as he got out of summer camp. We'd spent the earlier part of the week planning and packing, and had pretty much everything nailed down. We had four meals (dinner Friday, B/L/D Saturday, and breakfast Sunday was a stop at Dunkin Donuts on the way home) all planned; we had entertainment (mountain bikes for trails, a football for tossing. and a deck of cards); and we had shelter - at the last minute, I grabbed our EZ-Up canopy because they had been predicting rain.
As it turns out, the canopy wasn't needed; even the minimal amount of rain forecast never materialized. Instead, we had two beautiful nights and one beautiful day in which to enjoy the great outdoors. We learned a few lessons this weekend:
Hearing that and "best weekend ever" were pretty much the highlight of my month...
That is all.
And you know what? That suits me just fine.
Friday we left pretty much as soon as he got out of summer camp. We'd spent the earlier part of the week planning and packing, and had pretty much everything nailed down. We had four meals (dinner Friday, B/L/D Saturday, and breakfast Sunday was a stop at Dunkin Donuts on the way home) all planned; we had entertainment (mountain bikes for trails, a football for tossing. and a deck of cards); and we had shelter - at the last minute, I grabbed our EZ-Up canopy because they had been predicting rain.
As it turns out, the canopy wasn't needed; even the minimal amount of rain forecast never materialized. Instead, we had two beautiful nights and one beautiful day in which to enjoy the great outdoors. We learned a few lessons this weekend:
- We can teach each other card games - he taught me "Trash", I taught him Rummy.
- Ol' Dad can still throw a pretty mean football.
- Kayaking is pretty darn strenuous work.
- Yes, using propane-powered Coleman lantern and stove is cheating, but it sure is easier!
- When you're two guys out in the woods, 2AM bathroom calls are pretty easy.
- Tents hold in farts remarkably well.
- The cap on the Dodge was a stroke of genius.
- Two humans of the male persuasion create a LOT of gas.
- My son is growing up, but he's not so old that he can't still say "I love you Dad".
Hearing that and "best weekend ever" were pretty much the highlight of my month...
That is all.
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Pig Farms, Swamp Land, New Construction, etc.
Joseph in IL sends in this story. My reaction is amazing similar to his ("I think if it were my daughter the headline would read differently. Man, 30, missing after coming to the area to see 15 year old girl”)
Wash. parents' ruse snares man wooing daughter
There's a bunch of different "rules for dating my daughter" floating in the ether recently. I still prefer my own:
This story pertains to rule 1, for those who are curious...
That is all.
Wash. parents' ruse snares man wooing daughter
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A father who discovered his 15-year-old daughter was being wooed on Facebook by a man twice her age took matters into his own hands.Heh. That's a euphemism, folks, for "beat the everlovin' stuffing out of him". And were I on the jury, I would vote to acquit the father of all assault charges. Jury of your peers and all, right?
He hatched a Facebook ruse that drew the 30-year-old Federal Way man to Spokane earlier this month. Then the father and a couple of his buddies staked out the arranged meeting spot and blocked the man's escape until police arrived.
There's a bunch of different "rules for dating my daughter" floating in the ether recently. I still prefer my own:
This story pertains to rule 1, for those who are curious...
That is all.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Sunrise, Sunset...
I put my son on the bus this morning for the last day of his elementary school career. Come August, we will have a middle-schooler in the house. Pray for my sanity. No, too late for that. Pray for something... It amuses TheBoy that I still refer to the middle school as "junior high". It was a junior high when I went there...
In less than a year he'll be a teenager. {pause for shudder} I don't know that I'm ready for this. It won't be long before he discovers girls [SHUDDER] and then all bets are off. Well, at least until Baby Girl G. discovers boys. Then I'm going to head off into the woods to begin my life as a hermit...
It seems like just yesterday that I was standing at the bus stop with a five year old boy waiting for that first ride to school. I blinked, and that little boy grew into a young man. Blink again, he'll be going to the prom. His sister's right on his heels, too; by the time this posts she'll be done with her fourth grade career and only have two years left at the elementary school.
Next year and the year after will prove interesting, with TheBoy and BabyGirl G. in different schools. He'll be leaving earlier - middle school starts at 7:15, whereas the elementary school bus doesn't even pick up until 7:55. He'll also be home earlier - school's out at 1:55 rather than 2:55; he'll be home for an hour and a half before his sister. Mornings will become exponentially easier as the incessant fighting will no longer be an issue. Looking forward to that.
While sometimes I do miss my babies, I really like the young man and woman they're growing into...
That is all.
In less than a year he'll be a teenager. {pause for shudder} I don't know that I'm ready for this. It won't be long before he discovers girls [SHUDDER] and then all bets are off. Well, at least until Baby Girl G. discovers boys. Then I'm going to head off into the woods to begin my life as a hermit...
It seems like just yesterday that I was standing at the bus stop with a five year old boy waiting for that first ride to school. I blinked, and that little boy grew into a young man. Blink again, he'll be going to the prom. His sister's right on his heels, too; by the time this posts she'll be done with her fourth grade career and only have two years left at the elementary school.
Next year and the year after will prove interesting, with TheBoy and BabyGirl G. in different schools. He'll be leaving earlier - middle school starts at 7:15, whereas the elementary school bus doesn't even pick up until 7:55. He'll also be home earlier - school's out at 1:55 rather than 2:55; he'll be home for an hour and a half before his sister. Mornings will become exponentially easier as the incessant fighting will no longer be an issue. Looking forward to that.
While sometimes I do miss my babies, I really like the young man and woman they're growing into...
That is all.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Double Digits!!!
Guess who hit double digits today?
This kid:
Who now looks like this:
It's pretty amazing the difference just one year makes. Last year she turned 9, and it struck me that she was exactly halfway between birth and adulthood. This year, while only a year older, it's a pivotal age - the grand entrance to double digits. There will be other milestone birthdays - turning 13, or sweet 16, or hitting adulthood at 18 - but double digits is the first real numerical milestone.
There's another difference a year makes: behavior. She's in fourth grade now - the first year they get actual letter grades - and the strides she has made just from last year are amazing. This time last year, she'd already been kicked off the bus for the year for fighting (with her brother of course). This year? Not a single warning. It is nothing short of amazing, watching your kids grow into the people you hope they'll become.
Sure, she's still impulsive, and can be goofy, and gets too excited about things... No, wait, that's me. She's also independent, fiercely loyal, and kind-hearted. She hates hearing about anyone getting hurt; loves animals of all kinds; is still crazy about unicorns; and yet is starting to ask about boys. Scariest conversation ever? "Dad, how do you know when a boy likes you?" To my credit, I did not run screaming from the room. Shotgun's never been cleaner, though...
So, happy birthday to you, my little princess. While you are - and will always be - my little girl, I'm trying my best to help you on your journey to become your own person. My job - one I take very seriously - is to keep you safe; the best way I figure I can do that is to give you the tools you'll need, show you how to use them, and get out of your way. I'm trying my best to set a good example - or at the very least, be as little of a cautionary warning as possible.
Happy birthday, Baby Girl G.!
That is all.
This kid:
Who now looks like this:
It's pretty amazing the difference just one year makes. Last year she turned 9, and it struck me that she was exactly halfway between birth and adulthood. This year, while only a year older, it's a pivotal age - the grand entrance to double digits. There will be other milestone birthdays - turning 13, or sweet 16, or hitting adulthood at 18 - but double digits is the first real numerical milestone.
There's another difference a year makes: behavior. She's in fourth grade now - the first year they get actual letter grades - and the strides she has made just from last year are amazing. This time last year, she'd already been kicked off the bus for the year for fighting (with her brother of course). This year? Not a single warning. It is nothing short of amazing, watching your kids grow into the people you hope they'll become.
Sure, she's still impulsive, and can be goofy, and gets too excited about things... No, wait, that's me. She's also independent, fiercely loyal, and kind-hearted. She hates hearing about anyone getting hurt; loves animals of all kinds; is still crazy about unicorns; and yet is starting to ask about boys. Scariest conversation ever? "Dad, how do you know when a boy likes you?" To my credit, I did not run screaming from the room. Shotgun's never been cleaner, though...
So, happy birthday to you, my little princess. While you are - and will always be - my little girl, I'm trying my best to help you on your journey to become your own person. My job - one I take very seriously - is to keep you safe; the best way I figure I can do that is to give you the tools you'll need, show you how to use them, and get out of your way. I'm trying my best to set a good example - or at the very least, be as little of a cautionary warning as possible.
Happy birthday, Baby Girl G.!
That is all.
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