I've never had a best friend. I guess I've had a series of intense good friends and some that have come increasingly close, but never a best friend. i have friends of course and i have people who are closer to me than others and all that. But i've never really had someone who has always been there, who relies on me the way i rely on them. I watch television shows and movies and sometimes the occasional documentary where these people just unify themselves with one another and coin the term "best friend" and I just feel gipped. Like I've missed out on something extremely important. I miss the hanging out at a bar with best friends, planning trips together, starting a cappella groups together (okay, i only did that once! We called ourselves the Men In Plaid!.. sometimes I have to convince myself I'm not gay...) I haven't had a hard life by any means, quite the opposite. I just feel that I have never been able to share every single moment of my life with a best friend.
Now guaranteed this blog is brought upon because of watching How I Met Your Mother the other day. Watching Barney, Ted and Marshall I get to a point where when I get married I don't know who I would have as my best man. I have quite a few people on my list who would meet that category but no one person stands out above the crowd. I guess in some sense it's a good thing. I have all of these friends and acquaintances that I could list to be a contender to stand by my side when I'm up at the alter. But I would have a hellva time narrowing that list down. There have been many people in my life that have done extraordinary things for me. Things that I could never ever repay. I know that some people I owe my life. I guess that most of these "bros" have always been in relationships and i've always been that third wheel.
it really started back in high school. Actually to be more specific eighth grade. I have known Matt since kindergarden but didn't really become good friends with him until around eighth grade. Before it was always band, occasional basketball games and classes. But now, we really started a friendship. We literally played basketball at his house everyday for a year. I think his record was like 96 games to 1 that he kicked my ass! I wasn't very good. But then he went and screwed it all up by dating some girl when we got to high school. His first real girlfriend. So naturally he was crazy about her and stopped hanging out as much. Friday became date night and no more sneaking into R rated movies or hanging out with other friends. I would call him up and he was on the other line with this girl or she would call and he would just forget he was talking to me. It became a lonely freshman year.
And then they broke up!
I've made my case for marriage and love and commitment and all that bullshit. But seriously, when you're a single guy in his first year of high school, yeah, you need a bro. So Matt breaking up with his girlfriend was kinda a big deal. And we grabbed onto that friendship like it had never been tainted and continued on being best bros and dominating the world.
And then he started dating someone else!
After that first girlfriend he was continually dating someone. Not hookup after hookup of course, but a steady stream of girls until he met Meg. Meg was an unbelievable nightmare to bachelor life because she's freaking amazing. Obviously I stood no chance against her magnificent powers of seduction and "relationship-ness". But being young and stupid I tried to keep up this close bond with Matt and continually tried to get him to be a bro and not a relationship zombie. In the end I failed and they got married. Sigh. Exit Matt.
It's never a question of do i support marriage and love because it's always "yes I do". I'm a huge fan of people finding each other and proving to the world that commitment is real. I have always said that Matt and Meg have been my generation's definition of love and commitment and I still stand by that. They have what I've always wanted and hope to eventually have. Just being a single guy for so long and trying to find a BFF to ignite all of my shenanigans every night has been tough when your supposed BFF has gone off and committed himself!
But coming over to a few years later I meet John. Now in John's defense he was already in a relationship when I met him and it has always been about the two of them. So it didn't even have to cross that point of, "goddammit, he's found someone!" I knew what I was getting into when I met him. Even still, John became my bro right away and we had an excellent run for a few years down in Harrisonburg, making history or at least some fun stories to tell our kids. We even tried living together for a year (which didn't end so well). In the end I would lose him to the love of his life and now his wife and him have settled down and lost a bit of their youth.
Besides these two men, I have a good chunk of close friends and a lot of people who have implemented themselves into my life. But I have a lot of disappointing stories as well. Many people through the years have come and gone. And I've had a good deal of bros and had a good deal of good times with said bros. But I'm talking about a best friend that calls you up and as Barney so cleverly puts, "SUITS UP!" with him to the next whimsical event that is taking place that very evening. It just got me thinking. Obviously I'm not looking for a new bro because I have a gal now, but it would be nice to look back on my past years and not see how lonely it was. The nights spent when I was in Maine watching back to back FRIENDS episodes; the many number of nights watching Netflicks movies in Baltimore; the few memories I still have of Harrisonburg trying to find some kind of friend to partake in some kind of event that sad little city offered, it makes me a little sad. I then wonder why I'm so sad about it. I have a beautiful son who completes my life, I have a beautiful girl who fulfills my every desire, I keep in touch with a lot of friends that span over a decade. I have a roof over my head, I eat more food than I should and I pretty much love my job.
I guess in the end, when I look back at those memories when I wish my best friend and I were out trying to be each other's wingman, drinking ourselves stupid or sitting side by side in a holding cell, I guess that's just not the kind of person that I am. It's not the kind of person that I want to be. I have an amazing life and there isn't anything to ever complain about. The only reason I'm writing this right now is because I don't have a best friend to share it with.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Snow
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Revisit
So i was teaching class the other day and I'm watching this boy Joshua play with the other kids. It brought me back to the days of when he was first starting at My Gym and he was only about 2-2.5 years of age. He was an obnoxious kid who never listened and always thought something was funny. Really fun to be around and very happy go lucky but he would push others, hit them, kick them and do whatever the hell he pleased. I remember on many occasions that I just wanted to throw him as far as I could (which would've been pretty far since he weighed so little!) Columbia is a highly structured program. Frederick is more laid back and maybe that's been our problem. I've been in many a gym and seen all different ways of running class. Things to remember, it works in one location and it doesn't work in others. These are the issues I'm trying to address to corporate. Another story, another time.
Columbia has a very structured program and it's followed down to the letter. It's really great being a teacher there because it occupies your entire hour long class and makes it go that much faster! Then there are those children that are not very good with the structure and will try and resist it. It happens. We deal with it. Back in those days he just was a pain in my ass and ruined the structured of class so much that I didn't even want him in there. Mom was never a help either. I don't know if it was a language barrier or using My Gym as a means to get him to learn about structure, but she put all of this responsibility on us. She made sure that she got what she was paying for! I would walk up to her and say that she needed to help her son, he can't run around like that, he can't do this and he can't do that. She would always nod her head and say in broken English, "okay, I will" and then turn back to her book across the room. A little annoying. There was a time when he went to the bathroom and I guess his family doesn't do diapers or underwear (i don't know if it's an Elimination Communication kinda thing or just never thought it was necessary for children) but he ran out of the bathroom without his pants. And he ran all around the gym completely exposed from the waist down. Actually pretty hilarious. I wished I had a video camera of that and could give her a copy to embarrass him when he was 16!
Point is, he was just a really crazy child back then and it was 2 years ago and now he's 4.5 years of age. He listens better but still a very wild child. He was in class the other night with 2-3 year olds and granted he's about their height, but still very rough. Again, told mom that he couldn't be in here, again, got the nod and okay and again, went back to her book. Actually, this time it wasn't her book. It was her second child! Her second child has now reached the age that Joshua used to be when he first started class. And he is exactly like him! Doesn't follow direction, doesn't listen, pushes, hits and kicks. Absolutely crazy that there are two of them!
My thoughts: wait until your child is about 5 before you think about having a second one. Because that woman probably hasn't slept in 6 years. I realize that he's not quite 5 yet but I'm sure that boy was giving her hell in her uterus! Your baby is just an absolute joy to you when they're 0-1 year, funny and difficult in a fun way when they're 2 and excited and interesting when they're 3. But when they start hitting 4 and 5 you really start seeing what your mom was talking about when she said, "i hope you have children that act just like you!" Scary.
Not to say that I'm waiting that long but it does give you something to think about. let's hope Sam isn't like that at all. Oh, and Joshua's brother's name is Sam so the whole night I was saying, "Sammy share! Sammy don't push! Sammy leave Hailey's hair alone!"
Foreshadowing?
Columbia has a very structured program and it's followed down to the letter. It's really great being a teacher there because it occupies your entire hour long class and makes it go that much faster! Then there are those children that are not very good with the structure and will try and resist it. It happens. We deal with it. Back in those days he just was a pain in my ass and ruined the structured of class so much that I didn't even want him in there. Mom was never a help either. I don't know if it was a language barrier or using My Gym as a means to get him to learn about structure, but she put all of this responsibility on us. She made sure that she got what she was paying for! I would walk up to her and say that she needed to help her son, he can't run around like that, he can't do this and he can't do that. She would always nod her head and say in broken English, "okay, I will" and then turn back to her book across the room. A little annoying. There was a time when he went to the bathroom and I guess his family doesn't do diapers or underwear (i don't know if it's an Elimination Communication kinda thing or just never thought it was necessary for children) but he ran out of the bathroom without his pants. And he ran all around the gym completely exposed from the waist down. Actually pretty hilarious. I wished I had a video camera of that and could give her a copy to embarrass him when he was 16!
Point is, he was just a really crazy child back then and it was 2 years ago and now he's 4.5 years of age. He listens better but still a very wild child. He was in class the other night with 2-3 year olds and granted he's about their height, but still very rough. Again, told mom that he couldn't be in here, again, got the nod and okay and again, went back to her book. Actually, this time it wasn't her book. It was her second child! Her second child has now reached the age that Joshua used to be when he first started class. And he is exactly like him! Doesn't follow direction, doesn't listen, pushes, hits and kicks. Absolutely crazy that there are two of them!
My thoughts: wait until your child is about 5 before you think about having a second one. Because that woman probably hasn't slept in 6 years. I realize that he's not quite 5 yet but I'm sure that boy was giving her hell in her uterus! Your baby is just an absolute joy to you when they're 0-1 year, funny and difficult in a fun way when they're 2 and excited and interesting when they're 3. But when they start hitting 4 and 5 you really start seeing what your mom was talking about when she said, "i hope you have children that act just like you!" Scary.
Not to say that I'm waiting that long but it does give you something to think about. let's hope Sam isn't like that at all. Oh, and Joshua's brother's name is Sam so the whole night I was saying, "Sammy share! Sammy don't push! Sammy leave Hailey's hair alone!"
Foreshadowing?
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Vent
We get a lot of crap from mom's magazine's and coupons about diapers, formula, other crap that people apparently like to buy (an entire Nestle catalog with coupons for all of their stuff all in a handy yearly calendar so you can keep track of your kid's fatness!) Most of it, like any other coupon you think, "I'll definitely use this!" and three months after the expiration date you realize that you still have it. It piles up and over the coupon holder that we keep in our kitchen and from time to time remember to throw it away. Some of it we use right away, like free tacos from Taco bell (can I get a mmmmm!) but for the most part we get our healthy share of what ifs.
I absolutely hate Mom magazines. There are all of these just sob stories of how their child never sleeps and what can I do to improve, tips on how to lose that belly and really bad snacks that you can dress up to look really cute (ie. whoopie pie dressed up as mice with whip cream eyes and chocolate chip nose's and licorice smiles and pretzel sticks for whiskers. The Whoopie pie part was unhealthy to begin with!) Most of all, I hate the fact that these mom magazine's are made for parents and yet nothing actually covers things for a dad. And if that knife that stabbed you in the heart really didn't disrupt any ventricle, it gives you articles such as, "how to make your man recognize your child" or "a better place to put the diaper bag so dad will find it". Kinda annoying. I know that most of these magazines have 98% women reader's and most dad's would never lift a finger to read this trash, but even still. There are 2% of us still out there who would enjoy a healthy tip or two. And I'm not talking about how to figure out if your child is sick. They're puking, they're probably sick! I'm saying, incorporate some of these articles to help dad's find the best way to sleep, what your baby is trying to tell you, when does attachment really start to kick in. These days I'm finding that each article I read I have to substitute "mom" for "dad" and it kinda drives me crazy! I'm pretty sure it's taking two of us to raise our kid and shouldn't that warrant an extra article for me?!
The reason for this rant is the article I read in Baby Talk. Now I will say it's pretty cool that a magazine that's geared towards moms actually has a Senior Editor that's a father and he has his own column. The thing that isn't cool are the topics that he chooses (also, he's not a terribly great writer). This month he chooses to write about breaking up with his spouse by 8 years. He himself is not doing it, but read a statistic that most marriages end after 8 years of life. He has the funny moments like, "I'm going to end up a diabetic man remarried to a Russian woman, seeing my boys every other weekend." But the big problem is that he doesn't actually relate any part of his life to this article. It's mostly a what-if. He even states at the end, "The truth is despite all the research, there is no seeing what lies on the other side of a break-up."
THEN WHY BRING IT UP?!
He doesn't even believe this would happen to him so why waste all of our time writing this two column article when it doesn't even apply. This is what I get as a dad? A useless article about things that may or may not come into fruition? Meanwhile I've got A-ZZZ's about sleep, love your new mom body and hip mama articles for the women. C'mon! I just need some sort of substance that allows me to know that what I'm doing is okay and that I'm not the only one doing it. Not morbid thoughts about what would my life be like if it ended!
Unbelievable.
I absolutely hate Mom magazines. There are all of these just sob stories of how their child never sleeps and what can I do to improve, tips on how to lose that belly and really bad snacks that you can dress up to look really cute (ie. whoopie pie dressed up as mice with whip cream eyes and chocolate chip nose's and licorice smiles and pretzel sticks for whiskers. The Whoopie pie part was unhealthy to begin with!) Most of all, I hate the fact that these mom magazine's are made for parents and yet nothing actually covers things for a dad. And if that knife that stabbed you in the heart really didn't disrupt any ventricle, it gives you articles such as, "how to make your man recognize your child" or "a better place to put the diaper bag so dad will find it". Kinda annoying. I know that most of these magazines have 98% women reader's and most dad's would never lift a finger to read this trash, but even still. There are 2% of us still out there who would enjoy a healthy tip or two. And I'm not talking about how to figure out if your child is sick. They're puking, they're probably sick! I'm saying, incorporate some of these articles to help dad's find the best way to sleep, what your baby is trying to tell you, when does attachment really start to kick in. These days I'm finding that each article I read I have to substitute "mom" for "dad" and it kinda drives me crazy! I'm pretty sure it's taking two of us to raise our kid and shouldn't that warrant an extra article for me?!
The reason for this rant is the article I read in Baby Talk. Now I will say it's pretty cool that a magazine that's geared towards moms actually has a Senior Editor that's a father and he has his own column. The thing that isn't cool are the topics that he chooses (also, he's not a terribly great writer). This month he chooses to write about breaking up with his spouse by 8 years. He himself is not doing it, but read a statistic that most marriages end after 8 years of life. He has the funny moments like, "I'm going to end up a diabetic man remarried to a Russian woman, seeing my boys every other weekend." But the big problem is that he doesn't actually relate any part of his life to this article. It's mostly a what-if. He even states at the end, "The truth is despite all the research, there is no seeing what lies on the other side of a break-up."
THEN WHY BRING IT UP?!
He doesn't even believe this would happen to him so why waste all of our time writing this two column article when it doesn't even apply. This is what I get as a dad? A useless article about things that may or may not come into fruition? Meanwhile I've got A-ZZZ's about sleep, love your new mom body and hip mama articles for the women. C'mon! I just need some sort of substance that allows me to know that what I'm doing is okay and that I'm not the only one doing it. Not morbid thoughts about what would my life be like if it ended!
Unbelievable.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Helpless
There are two things that I've found have helped me over the years. One is to write. The other is to make/drink beer. These days it's more drinking than making but still, making it is very therapeutic. So, I'm putting a beer recipe on here. Enjoy!
Oh, nevermind, it's at the bottom. Haha, you have to read this first!
So everyone says how amazing childbirth is and it's called Labor for a reason. Now, I've never had a child going through my vagina, or a vagina for that matter either, but I've been told it's the most excruciating pain ever. Hence, why god made drugs! Since I will never have that experience and can never empathize with any woman about it, I must find something as equally painful for myself to be put through. This week I found it: watching your child sick. Now guaranteed there isn't any screaming, making constipated faces, or completely emptying your bodily fluids onto someone... okay, it's a lot like that actually. Point is, it's from this little tiny guy that you promised you would take care of and love and protect from any harm! And damnit! You just broke that promise to him. He's sick. And with RSV.
Of course the wonderful doctor at the ER says, "it's RSV" and I have to throw on my understanding face with my understanding nod and my understanding voice as if I should've guessed that all along. And then when Alice or the doctor weren't looking, I'm on WebMd figuring out what the hell this is. RSV means Respiratory Syncytial Virus and I quote,
"RSV is a very contagious virus and the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia in children younger than age 1 in the U.S. Almost all children are infected with the virus by their second birthday, but only a small percentage of children develop severe illness. RSV can infect you several times during your lifetime. After each RSV infection, your body becomes more immune to the virus, but you are never completely immune."
So there you go. Some schmuck gave my kid a virus. It's times like these that you really want to be in a movie where you're back at the scene of the crime completely undetected and the perp walks in and starts talking in the booth behind you about what a great job he/she did coughing on little Sammy the other day and have ya heard?! Kid's got RSV now. And then you stand up and say, "that's my kid you're talking about!" and you punch them so hard you knock em out! And then you punch the other guy and KO his ass just as easily. Of course depending on the movie you're looking at the main guy/girl will have the vaccine that you need to cure Sam and presto, you've saved the day!
Wish I was a superhero.
But nope, just a regular dad and all he can do is keep his son warm, keep his fluids up, keep holding him and telling him that it's okay.
The other thing that makes this whole sick kid hurt even worse than child-bearing is the mother. Alice has been such a wreck with this. And guaranteed, she's strong when she needs to be. Making quick decisions, standing up for herself and being a amazing mother, but watching her son sick and in pain really just breaks her down. And watching the tears fill up her eyes and roll down her cheeks just breaks my heart. I swore besides protecting him, I would do everything I can to make her happy. I can't keep that promise. I hate breaking that promise. I just feel so helpless that I can't wave my magic wand and cure all ailments. I just sit there, holding him wanting to reach out and hold her too. You can only tell someone that it will be okay so many times. It's a rough time and I know I'm taking a simple RSV and turning it into a huge disease with no cure and no chance of recovery but when you're a first time parent and everything is new to you, yeah, you make lions out of kittens.
His fever is down and he's sleeping and that's the best I can do.
Cranberry Hoppin' Daddy
Malt Extract
6.6 lb Light LME
Grains
1 lb Crystal 20L
Hops
3oz bittering (Cascade)
1.5 oz Aroma
Dry Yeast
Nottingham
Cranberries (6lbs)
Cranberry syrup
Boil water, seep grains, add one can of Malt Extract. Boil again. Add 1 oz. Hops. Boil for 20 min and then add another 1 oz of hops. Boil for another 20 min add second can of Malt Extract and third oz of hops. Boil for 10 min and then add finishing hops for 5 min. Cool. While this is all boiling, I boil the cranberries and then mash them up and throw them into the Fermentor. Then pour wort into fermentor stir and add yeast. Ferment for 7 days and then throw into second fermentor for 7-10 days. When bottling, I add about .5oz of priming sugar to keep the carbonation to a minimum and then add cranberry syrup. Pour the beer into your bottling bucket, bottle and in about 7 days it's ready to drink! Yum!
Oh, nevermind, it's at the bottom. Haha, you have to read this first!
So everyone says how amazing childbirth is and it's called Labor for a reason. Now, I've never had a child going through my vagina, or a vagina for that matter either, but I've been told it's the most excruciating pain ever. Hence, why god made drugs! Since I will never have that experience and can never empathize with any woman about it, I must find something as equally painful for myself to be put through. This week I found it: watching your child sick. Now guaranteed there isn't any screaming, making constipated faces, or completely emptying your bodily fluids onto someone... okay, it's a lot like that actually. Point is, it's from this little tiny guy that you promised you would take care of and love and protect from any harm! And damnit! You just broke that promise to him. He's sick. And with RSV.
Of course the wonderful doctor at the ER says, "it's RSV" and I have to throw on my understanding face with my understanding nod and my understanding voice as if I should've guessed that all along. And then when Alice or the doctor weren't looking, I'm on WebMd figuring out what the hell this is. RSV means Respiratory Syncytial Virus and I quote,
"RSV is a very contagious virus and the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia in children younger than age 1 in the U.S. Almost all children are infected with the virus by their second birthday, but only a small percentage of children develop severe illness. RSV can infect you several times during your lifetime. After each RSV infection, your body becomes more immune to the virus, but you are never completely immune."
So there you go. Some schmuck gave my kid a virus. It's times like these that you really want to be in a movie where you're back at the scene of the crime completely undetected and the perp walks in and starts talking in the booth behind you about what a great job he/she did coughing on little Sammy the other day and have ya heard?! Kid's got RSV now. And then you stand up and say, "that's my kid you're talking about!" and you punch them so hard you knock em out! And then you punch the other guy and KO his ass just as easily. Of course depending on the movie you're looking at the main guy/girl will have the vaccine that you need to cure Sam and presto, you've saved the day!
Wish I was a superhero.
But nope, just a regular dad and all he can do is keep his son warm, keep his fluids up, keep holding him and telling him that it's okay.
The other thing that makes this whole sick kid hurt even worse than child-bearing is the mother. Alice has been such a wreck with this. And guaranteed, she's strong when she needs to be. Making quick decisions, standing up for herself and being a amazing mother, but watching her son sick and in pain really just breaks her down. And watching the tears fill up her eyes and roll down her cheeks just breaks my heart. I swore besides protecting him, I would do everything I can to make her happy. I can't keep that promise. I hate breaking that promise. I just feel so helpless that I can't wave my magic wand and cure all ailments. I just sit there, holding him wanting to reach out and hold her too. You can only tell someone that it will be okay so many times. It's a rough time and I know I'm taking a simple RSV and turning it into a huge disease with no cure and no chance of recovery but when you're a first time parent and everything is new to you, yeah, you make lions out of kittens.
His fever is down and he's sleeping and that's the best I can do.
Cranberry Hoppin' Daddy
Malt Extract
6.6 lb Light LME
Grains
1 lb Crystal 20L
Hops
3oz bittering (Cascade)
1.5 oz Aroma
Dry Yeast
Nottingham
Cranberries (6lbs)
Cranberry syrup
Boil water, seep grains, add one can of Malt Extract. Boil again. Add 1 oz. Hops. Boil for 20 min and then add another 1 oz of hops. Boil for another 20 min add second can of Malt Extract and third oz of hops. Boil for 10 min and then add finishing hops for 5 min. Cool. While this is all boiling, I boil the cranberries and then mash them up and throw them into the Fermentor. Then pour wort into fermentor stir and add yeast. Ferment for 7 days and then throw into second fermentor for 7-10 days. When bottling, I add about .5oz of priming sugar to keep the carbonation to a minimum and then add cranberry syrup. Pour the beer into your bottling bucket, bottle and in about 7 days it's ready to drink! Yum!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Check
I was watching smallville (go ahead and laugh) with this episode where Clark saves this cop from making a really bad decision and there was just this scene where the cop has the choice from going along with this plan and ruining his life or being the good guy and stoping his friends and ending the terrible sequence of events they've caused. I won't bore you with the whole plot line unless you want me to which in that case just post a comment and I'll be sure to email you!
Anyway...
The big message that Clark Kent was trying to get across to this cop is that he has a family, a wife and a kid, and is what he's doing right now make his family proud? Is this cop happy with the choices he makes and would his family be proud of these choices? And as sappy as it sounds, it made me think of my own family. Holy Crayola! Are you doing a good job?! Are the decisions that I make, the decisions that my son would be proud of me for doing? I'm not saying that I'm doing any sort of killing or any sort of mischief that would have my son question my morals. All I'm saying is, whatever decision it is that I do at that moment, how will it impact him later? What am I doing to provide for my family that will actually have a positive effect? If my son could talk, would he say how proud he is of me? Those questions I want to continue to swim inside of my head so I can always spot-check myself. I want to know that no matter what I decide to do with my life, my son will be proud of his father.
And that's why that episode made me cry.
Anyway...
The big message that Clark Kent was trying to get across to this cop is that he has a family, a wife and a kid, and is what he's doing right now make his family proud? Is this cop happy with the choices he makes and would his family be proud of these choices? And as sappy as it sounds, it made me think of my own family. Holy Crayola! Are you doing a good job?! Are the decisions that I make, the decisions that my son would be proud of me for doing? I'm not saying that I'm doing any sort of killing or any sort of mischief that would have my son question my morals. All I'm saying is, whatever decision it is that I do at that moment, how will it impact him later? What am I doing to provide for my family that will actually have a positive effect? If my son could talk, would he say how proud he is of me? Those questions I want to continue to swim inside of my head so I can always spot-check myself. I want to know that no matter what I decide to do with my life, my son will be proud of his father.
And that's why that episode made me cry.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
10K
Today is my 10,000th day of being alive. As a friend pointed out to me, we celebrate the years that we are alive and yet don't we always say treasure the moments? Here we are saying Happy Birthday but it's only that one day each year. Let's celebrate the days that we are alive as well! Happy 10K! Thanks for being on this planet for that long. Here's a toast to going another 10,000! But anyway, this'll be a short blog. I just wanted to tell everyone that I am celebrating the days that I'm alive today.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Decisions
It's the new year and already many things have happened!
For one thing, My Gym Frederick is closing. Crap on a stick! This was just awful news to get on New Year's Eve and then after trying to push it from you mind and just enjoy the last few days of the holiday before returning back to work, walking in and seeing the announcement in your inbox! I mean, c'mon! How awful is that?!
Because of it, Alice will be going to Owings Mills which is an hour drive sometimes more if the traffic gets backed up and I will be in Columbia, which is a forty-five minute drive. Both of these drives are taking us away from our 5 minute (and that's if there's traffic and we miss the light) commute from our home currently. We will miss you Frederick. If anyone is looking to buy a Gym right now please let me know! We can save Frederick!
There have been a couple other things that have happened but I'm not entirely sure I want to write about them quite yet just because of who may be reading this or who may be reading this and tell certain people about this and then they read this. A little more complicated than it should be!
Resolutions? What wonderful things are we going to promise to do and then fail miserably at? Well, for the last couple of years I have made a resolution to be nicer to others. Two years ago it was be more appreciative of my parents and last year it was be nice to others. Last year's probably last five minutes until I was fed up with someone and completely verbally abused them. I might have made them cry. I'm not sure these days. The point is that this year, my resolution is to put myself in another's shoes. And if I were in those person's shoes and I had the comments that come out of my mouth directed at me, would I appreciate that? And if the answer is no than I have to keep my mouth shut! It's a very hard experiment to try. But I'm hoping that this is a better way to follow through with my resolutions and a better way to be nicer to people. I just think that my sarcasm has gotten out of control like a meth addiction and I'm no longer in control of what I say. This is my rehab. Although it might turn out I walk out the very next day and say, "hell, I'll quit anytime I want to!" but for right now I'm enjoying this social experiment.
Other than that, 2010 has been quite busy. Lots of family time and lots of time spent with friends. The last month of Frederick has been incredibly sad with parent's coming up and demanding that we stay open, condolences on closing and well wishes. I'm hoping that we can work something out and that perhaps there is a proverbial light in the tunnel. I keep thinking, "i could get a loan and buy Frederick and be the hero! I can do it!" Needless to say, Alice has me on a very tight leash to stop me from rushing into anything. But closing a Gym is very emotional and it's only been 3 days since we've announced it! I can't bear the thought of that last day!
I will write more this year. THat is a goal of mine. I really want to continue to update this blog over and over again. My other goal is to work on my book! And some of the things that I want to put into it I'm taking out of this blog so I think it would be best to actually start writing more and using it more. Other than that, I'll chat soon!
For one thing, My Gym Frederick is closing. Crap on a stick! This was just awful news to get on New Year's Eve and then after trying to push it from you mind and just enjoy the last few days of the holiday before returning back to work, walking in and seeing the announcement in your inbox! I mean, c'mon! How awful is that?!
Because of it, Alice will be going to Owings Mills which is an hour drive sometimes more if the traffic gets backed up and I will be in Columbia, which is a forty-five minute drive. Both of these drives are taking us away from our 5 minute (and that's if there's traffic and we miss the light) commute from our home currently. We will miss you Frederick. If anyone is looking to buy a Gym right now please let me know! We can save Frederick!
There have been a couple other things that have happened but I'm not entirely sure I want to write about them quite yet just because of who may be reading this or who may be reading this and tell certain people about this and then they read this. A little more complicated than it should be!
Resolutions? What wonderful things are we going to promise to do and then fail miserably at? Well, for the last couple of years I have made a resolution to be nicer to others. Two years ago it was be more appreciative of my parents and last year it was be nice to others. Last year's probably last five minutes until I was fed up with someone and completely verbally abused them. I might have made them cry. I'm not sure these days. The point is that this year, my resolution is to put myself in another's shoes. And if I were in those person's shoes and I had the comments that come out of my mouth directed at me, would I appreciate that? And if the answer is no than I have to keep my mouth shut! It's a very hard experiment to try. But I'm hoping that this is a better way to follow through with my resolutions and a better way to be nicer to people. I just think that my sarcasm has gotten out of control like a meth addiction and I'm no longer in control of what I say. This is my rehab. Although it might turn out I walk out the very next day and say, "hell, I'll quit anytime I want to!" but for right now I'm enjoying this social experiment.
Other than that, 2010 has been quite busy. Lots of family time and lots of time spent with friends. The last month of Frederick has been incredibly sad with parent's coming up and demanding that we stay open, condolences on closing and well wishes. I'm hoping that we can work something out and that perhaps there is a proverbial light in the tunnel. I keep thinking, "i could get a loan and buy Frederick and be the hero! I can do it!" Needless to say, Alice has me on a very tight leash to stop me from rushing into anything. But closing a Gym is very emotional and it's only been 3 days since we've announced it! I can't bear the thought of that last day!
I will write more this year. THat is a goal of mine. I really want to continue to update this blog over and over again. My other goal is to work on my book! And some of the things that I want to put into it I'm taking out of this blog so I think it would be best to actually start writing more and using it more. Other than that, I'll chat soon!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Recap
A good friend of mine just sent me a top ten list of things that have happened to him and his family in 2009. I thought, damn! what a great idea! So, to completely plagiarize his idea, i'm listing mine. (and I got bored with just black type so I colored it make it more kid friendly.)
10. Starting a chain of events that led me to move to Frederick. It wasn't a pretty couple of weeks and a very close call in keeping my job, but in the end I'm happier than ever. I miss Columbia quite often but Frederick ended up being a happier work environment for me and helped me get out of my funk! (if you're curious to know what happened you can always read the blog from April!)
9. Moving in with Alice. We really began to start our family and our lives together and discovered new things in our relationship. I still remember having nothing in our place but an air mattress and a lamp! And now, we can't move without tripping over all the crap laying around! Also along those lines, becoming a Co-Director with Alice. Another new change in our relationship and work status. Not only did we live together but we worked together as well! We see each other every second of the day. For some it would drive them crazy but for us, it makes us stronger. I don't know what I would do without her.
8. Alice's sister and nieces moving back to the States. What a great way to kickoff the summer! Having those two little girls in my life has certainly enriched it and entertained it! It has been so very cool to meet them, get to know them and spend time with them.
7. Rekindling and keeping in touch with friends. I know it's cheesy but over the last few months, I have really needed to reach out and hold on to all the close friendships I've had and developed. It keeps my sanity sometimes to remember people who care even if they are far away.
6. Chicago. It's always nice to get back in touch with the close friends I have there. Even though I see them once a year, we always pick up right where we left and have some really fun times!
5. New York City. Basically Alice and I's first trip together. She was cold, I was chilly and we had an amazing time. It was an incredible feeling to be in an exciting city with the woman I love and in a city I love!
4. Half Marathon. I took the leap and ran one! It was an incredible feeling to finish one of those. Just crossing that finish line and seeing everyone cheering for you was a really incredible moment and I loved it.
3. Moving out of Baltimore. I called this place home for 3 years and had a great roommate and I still miss her terribly. It was time to go become a grown up and I left kicking and screaming!
2. Ashley and Fesh's wedding. Another great time to spend with family and friends. Although getting licked by a tall man was something I don't really want to repeat anytime soon! And of course it brought Alice and I closer together.
1. Sam. I'm sure you all guessed that much! But seriously, he was the biggest joy to my life. He is everything a father could want from a son. Walking into the room and having him show off the biggest smile is a feeling that is indescribable. Having him is a joy that only being a parent can you truly understand. I still cannot believe that he's all mine (and Alice's) and I get the honor of raising him.
Something about looking back on all of the things that have happened over the year just makes you wonder what you'll change and what you'll struggle to keep the same. I know there's a lot of things going on right now with our economy, health plans, war, housing, taxes etc. but I am enjoying everything that has been happening.
It has been one hellva ride this year and for me, I've got a pretty good seat belt.
I just hope that life will continue to escalade and not plateau because I like to think I have plenty more thrills coming along. I wish you all the very best holidays (Unless you're Jewish and your holiday is over in which case I say, hope it was a good one!) and a Happy and Healthy New Year. Auld Lang Syne and that. Make the resolutions or break them but bring in that New Year with joy and love. As always, I hope to hear from you all on everything that is going on. You know how I like those updates!
10. Starting a chain of events that led me to move to Frederick. It wasn't a pretty couple of weeks and a very close call in keeping my job, but in the end I'm happier than ever. I miss Columbia quite often but Frederick ended up being a happier work environment for me and helped me get out of my funk! (if you're curious to know what happened you can always read the blog from April!)
9. Moving in with Alice. We really began to start our family and our lives together and discovered new things in our relationship. I still remember having nothing in our place but an air mattress and a lamp! And now, we can't move without tripping over all the crap laying around! Also along those lines, becoming a Co-Director with Alice. Another new change in our relationship and work status. Not only did we live together but we worked together as well! We see each other every second of the day. For some it would drive them crazy but for us, it makes us stronger. I don't know what I would do without her.
8. Alice's sister and nieces moving back to the States. What a great way to kickoff the summer! Having those two little girls in my life has certainly enriched it and entertained it! It has been so very cool to meet them, get to know them and spend time with them.
7. Rekindling and keeping in touch with friends. I know it's cheesy but over the last few months, I have really needed to reach out and hold on to all the close friendships I've had and developed. It keeps my sanity sometimes to remember people who care even if they are far away.
6. Chicago. It's always nice to get back in touch with the close friends I have there. Even though I see them once a year, we always pick up right where we left and have some really fun times!
5. New York City. Basically Alice and I's first trip together. She was cold, I was chilly and we had an amazing time. It was an incredible feeling to be in an exciting city with the woman I love and in a city I love!
4. Half Marathon. I took the leap and ran one! It was an incredible feeling to finish one of those. Just crossing that finish line and seeing everyone cheering for you was a really incredible moment and I loved it.
3. Moving out of Baltimore. I called this place home for 3 years and had a great roommate and I still miss her terribly. It was time to go become a grown up and I left kicking and screaming!
2. Ashley and Fesh's wedding. Another great time to spend with family and friends. Although getting licked by a tall man was something I don't really want to repeat anytime soon! And of course it brought Alice and I closer together.
1. Sam. I'm sure you all guessed that much! But seriously, he was the biggest joy to my life. He is everything a father could want from a son. Walking into the room and having him show off the biggest smile is a feeling that is indescribable. Having him is a joy that only being a parent can you truly understand. I still cannot believe that he's all mine (and Alice's) and I get the honor of raising him.
Something about looking back on all of the things that have happened over the year just makes you wonder what you'll change and what you'll struggle to keep the same. I know there's a lot of things going on right now with our economy, health plans, war, housing, taxes etc. but I am enjoying everything that has been happening.
It has been one hellva ride this year and for me, I've got a pretty good seat belt.
I just hope that life will continue to escalade and not plateau because I like to think I have plenty more thrills coming along. I wish you all the very best holidays (Unless you're Jewish and your holiday is over in which case I say, hope it was a good one!) and a Happy and Healthy New Year. Auld Lang Syne and that. Make the resolutions or break them but bring in that New Year with joy and love. As always, I hope to hear from you all on everything that is going on. You know how I like those updates!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Presents
What the hell do you give a 5 month old on his first Christmas? What traditions do you set? These are my questions. I have no idea how to celebrate this holiday any more! I need help! I'm freaking out on what are the best ideas for his first Christmas and he is more concerned about what happened to his bottle! Honestly. But I feel like holding this huge party in his honor! This is a big moment for him even if he doesn't realize it! This is one of the biggest holidays in our culture and being its his first, I should do something. Maybe dress up as Santa, drink egg nog, climb down a chimney?! I just am so excited about celebrating this wonderful time with him I can't think straight!
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