I don't know what it is.... maybe being surrounded by 6 women at home, surrounded by 8 women in the office, having about 50% of my friends as women, but I think I am hormonal or going through manstration.
One minute I am happy, the next miserable. I ate half a turkey wrap last night and felt bloated all evening. I watched the "last lecture" from Randy Pausch (go to Skelty's blog as reference and click on it) and I am an emotional wreck. Mind you, I am not bawling, but I do have the lump in the throat and just one father/daughter song from crying my eyes out. By the way, how many more stupid Cinderella songs are there?!?! I mean it is bad enough that #3 has officially changed her name to Cinderella, but to hear these stinking songs about dancing with your daughter and watching her grow up... PLEASE stop! I am begging you. Add to that that one minute my kids are hitting every nerve they can and then the next, I can't stop hugging them. I just hate seeing them grow up so quickly. I am not sure (it may be my office) but I keep getting these flashes of heat. Boy, if cramps are next, then I am O-U-T!
So, yet another thing to add to the list of why I am the gayest straight guy you know, Tricky. It is like God thought I just got the hang of dealing with women and He thinks I need to know a bit more. That and this pregnant belly! ARGH! Anyway, it is official... I am a woman!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Good times on highway 35
Well, this past weekend, the family decided to go to San Antonio and have a mini spring break vacation. This time the trip consisted of Fiesta Texas where we got Season Passes for the family, cheaper than at SFOT and they work at any park, a couple of nights in a hotel (with a pool!), and a trip to the Alamo and of course Riverwalk.
First thing first - yes we went with just the 7 of us and no, we aren't mental. We weathered DisneyWorld by ourselves, surely San Antonio would be a cake walk. Well... maybe not Cowboy Bill. We went to San Antonio so my wife could do one of her adoption studies. Well, she made the appointment at 10:30 AM, which meant the Magnificent Seven left our abode at 5:00 AM. Thanks to yours truly, it was more like 5:45AM. Interestingly enough, the kids were not bothered by being woken up in order to sit in the car for another 4 1/2 hours. Movies were playing, mom was sleeping, and dad had his ipod on to keep him happy.
San Antonio... what can I say about it? Well, you better get on the ball if you want to look like somewhat of a clean city by the time the Final Four comes around. I mean, jeez... construction, graffiti, buildings that looked condemned - and that was just at our hotel! Seriously, the hotel was not that bad. The pool was heated, but was positioned around a wind tunnel of buildings to create somewhat of an arctic blast motiff. Of course the kids were just stoked to get in the water. #1 is like a fish out of water... all she wanted to do was jump in and do all kinds of breaststrokes, butterfly strokes, etc... Luckily, the twins never saw the pool. They were too busy getting their grimy hands onto every thing that wasn't nailed down in the room. The hotel was nice to us... they gave us free breakfast for having to endure some idiot from DC that had the most sensitive car on the planet. Every time the wind blew, this alarm would go off. From 1:30 AM (when I noticed it) until we left at 11:00 AM that dang alarm would go off and made it darn near impossible not to kill someone. Good times...
So... Fiesta Texas! This place is great and I will tell you why. It lets you buy beer and wine! I am beside myself with this place. Every few feet there is a soda stand followed by a beer stand. It is the most amazing thing I have ever witnessed. The kids loved the park... the twins being able to ride some of the small kid rides and #1 and #2 getting to enjoy most of the big, cool rides. Man, I just had a ball, standing in line with #1, seeing her get excited about her next big adventure. She is amazed by everything... I love that about her. I remember being that way as a kid and I hope that adulthood and life doesn't pull it away from her like it has me at times. My wife says we are one and the same - I think that disappointments in life has killed a part of that enthusiasm. Another thing - traveling with 5 kids (two that are the cutest twins on the planet) is like being a pop star. Your either being pointed at or total strangers come and ask you all sorts of questions. You have your hands full? Are those all yours and are they all girls? Man, you guys are brave... (when I know they are thinking, You guys are stupid!), Do you have your own bathroom or do they make you go outside? You saving up for all those weddings? I used to acknowledge the stares and side comments, now I just ignore it. If someone does come up, I try to be as accommodating as possible. I know it is a spectacle... I am amazed every day.
The Alamo is fun... #1 studied about it last week at school and it was cool to see it through her eyes. Of course, she was a bit puzzled to why it is such a big deal since we lost. It's hard explaining to a seven year old that holding off hundred of Mexican soldiers was a cool feat. Also, it is hard explaining that they weren't all Texans either. I tell you what... that place gets me. Walking around that courtyard, I imagine being back in that time, scared as hell, being all alone with nothing to shield you but those walls. Then I walk out of the garden and see the big neon sign for TOMB RIDER 3 and Ripley's Believe it or Not ride and all is back to normal. If only Davy Crockett knew Lara Croft... then we would be able to talk about the great win in Texas history.
What else? I have gone on forever... sorry... I thought it was cool how the riverwalk had the water green for St. Patrick's Day... then I realized it is always that murky green color. Oh, and for all you bargain shoppers, San Marcos has an outlet center that makes Grapevine Mills look like a neighborhood Walmart. They have every store imaginable and everything is 50-60% off, all the time. My poor wife went window shopping on Monday. Couldn't buy anything because I have decided to give her mad money to the IRS for the next 3 years. Seeing her prance from store to store was depressing.... Coach, Brighton, Pottery Barn, Carters, Children's Store, you name it - they have it. It was a cool site. Just need to win the lottery and let her go bananas. One day, honey.... one day. Then you can be content you let the last 9 1/2 years get away from you with me by your side. I digress....
Besides the dirtiness, the stupid DC car that wouldn't stop honking, the twins getting raisin diarrhea, cutting through Austin rush hour, listening to the Great Muppet Caper, farmer's sunburn I received, annoying my wife, my kids hating being in the car now, and not getting to eat at Casa Ole, it was a great trip. And yes, they are all girls and they are all mine. And I am neither brave or stupid. Just like amusement parks.
First thing first - yes we went with just the 7 of us and no, we aren't mental. We weathered DisneyWorld by ourselves, surely San Antonio would be a cake walk. Well... maybe not Cowboy Bill. We went to San Antonio so my wife could do one of her adoption studies. Well, she made the appointment at 10:30 AM, which meant the Magnificent Seven left our abode at 5:00 AM. Thanks to yours truly, it was more like 5:45AM. Interestingly enough, the kids were not bothered by being woken up in order to sit in the car for another 4 1/2 hours. Movies were playing, mom was sleeping, and dad had his ipod on to keep him happy.
San Antonio... what can I say about it? Well, you better get on the ball if you want to look like somewhat of a clean city by the time the Final Four comes around. I mean, jeez... construction, graffiti, buildings that looked condemned - and that was just at our hotel! Seriously, the hotel was not that bad. The pool was heated, but was positioned around a wind tunnel of buildings to create somewhat of an arctic blast motiff. Of course the kids were just stoked to get in the water. #1 is like a fish out of water... all she wanted to do was jump in and do all kinds of breaststrokes, butterfly strokes, etc... Luckily, the twins never saw the pool. They were too busy getting their grimy hands onto every thing that wasn't nailed down in the room. The hotel was nice to us... they gave us free breakfast for having to endure some idiot from DC that had the most sensitive car on the planet. Every time the wind blew, this alarm would go off. From 1:30 AM (when I noticed it) until we left at 11:00 AM that dang alarm would go off and made it darn near impossible not to kill someone. Good times...
So... Fiesta Texas! This place is great and I will tell you why. It lets you buy beer and wine! I am beside myself with this place. Every few feet there is a soda stand followed by a beer stand. It is the most amazing thing I have ever witnessed. The kids loved the park... the twins being able to ride some of the small kid rides and #1 and #2 getting to enjoy most of the big, cool rides. Man, I just had a ball, standing in line with #1, seeing her get excited about her next big adventure. She is amazed by everything... I love that about her. I remember being that way as a kid and I hope that adulthood and life doesn't pull it away from her like it has me at times. My wife says we are one and the same - I think that disappointments in life has killed a part of that enthusiasm. Another thing - traveling with 5 kids (two that are the cutest twins on the planet) is like being a pop star. Your either being pointed at or total strangers come and ask you all sorts of questions. You have your hands full? Are those all yours and are they all girls? Man, you guys are brave... (when I know they are thinking, You guys are stupid!), Do you have your own bathroom or do they make you go outside? You saving up for all those weddings? I used to acknowledge the stares and side comments, now I just ignore it. If someone does come up, I try to be as accommodating as possible. I know it is a spectacle... I am amazed every day.
The Alamo is fun... #1 studied about it last week at school and it was cool to see it through her eyes. Of course, she was a bit puzzled to why it is such a big deal since we lost. It's hard explaining to a seven year old that holding off hundred of Mexican soldiers was a cool feat. Also, it is hard explaining that they weren't all Texans either. I tell you what... that place gets me. Walking around that courtyard, I imagine being back in that time, scared as hell, being all alone with nothing to shield you but those walls. Then I walk out of the garden and see the big neon sign for TOMB RIDER 3 and Ripley's Believe it or Not ride and all is back to normal. If only Davy Crockett knew Lara Croft... then we would be able to talk about the great win in Texas history.
What else? I have gone on forever... sorry... I thought it was cool how the riverwalk had the water green for St. Patrick's Day... then I realized it is always that murky green color. Oh, and for all you bargain shoppers, San Marcos has an outlet center that makes Grapevine Mills look like a neighborhood Walmart. They have every store imaginable and everything is 50-60% off, all the time. My poor wife went window shopping on Monday. Couldn't buy anything because I have decided to give her mad money to the IRS for the next 3 years. Seeing her prance from store to store was depressing.... Coach, Brighton, Pottery Barn, Carters, Children's Store, you name it - they have it. It was a cool site. Just need to win the lottery and let her go bananas. One day, honey.... one day. Then you can be content you let the last 9 1/2 years get away from you with me by your side. I digress....
Besides the dirtiness, the stupid DC car that wouldn't stop honking, the twins getting raisin diarrhea, cutting through Austin rush hour, listening to the Great Muppet Caper, farmer's sunburn I received, annoying my wife, my kids hating being in the car now, and not getting to eat at Casa Ole, it was a great trip. And yes, they are all girls and they are all mine. And I am neither brave or stupid. Just like amusement parks.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Motivation needed for this crappy Wednesday...
This morning, I was driving into work and heard over the radio that some idiot woman tossed her 8 and 5 year old boys off the Jim Miller bridge onto HWY 30 rush hour and it sent me in two major emotional states - complete and utter anger and a disheartening sadness for those two innocent children that will never be the same - and that is IF they survive the accident. I am a man that does not stand up for much. My wife often kids, argues, and complains that my lack of backbone causes a lot of turmoil in her life. But, there is one thing I cannot stand and that is the abuse of children. Not to go on a tirade about it - I had this nasty film of disgust on me during my drive into the office.
Now, for the good part....
I get in and there is an e-mail in my inbox. I am a member of a website for job seekers and the founder of this site sent out to these people to have them keep their heads and spirits up. Some of these people have been out of work for some time. I read the e-mail and God just put a boost of energy and hopefulness in my heart. I hope the 6 of you that read this have the same thing happen to you.
I’ve just re-discovered a YouTube video that reveals the secret to success in your job hunt… or anything else in life. Now, you may have seen this before, but give me just 2 minutes and 44 seconds this crisp March Monday morning, and have a look at this video.
No matter how many times I watch this video, it gets me every time. That, Readers, is the secret to success in your job hunt, your life, or anything else you’ve ever wanted to do, accomplish, or be.
I’d like to ask you to really think about Jason McElwain today.
I’d like to ask you to really think about what he’s gone through in his life—folks telling him he’s different, he’s handicapped, he’s not able to do things the other kids do.
Everybody had their little box; their little box into which they put their preconceived idea of what Jason was capable of and what Jason could be. And maybe sometimes we all feel like we’re in that little box. Maybe sometimes we all get pigeon-holed or typecast or put down a path that we didn’t choose. Maybe that’s why you found your way here to us and to this newsletter; because you didn’t feel that the box that other people had come up with really represented you or what you are capable of becoming. You didn’t feel that that box was fair.
And that’s what I’d really like for you to think about today, Readers, because Jason McElwain is here to teach you something. The lesson of Jason McElwain that we’ve shared this morning is… there is no box.
There are no preconceptions or typecasting or opinions that can ever change who you are. Those are other people’s thoughts, other people’s errors.
And if you have it within you—if you have the talent, or the dream, or the desire, or the smarts, or the capability—if you have it within you, other people’s words are just smoke drifting by in the mid-day breeze. They can’t change you or stop you.
The lesson of Jason McElwain that we’ve shared this morning is that there is nothing stopping you; there is nothing that can hold you back; there is nothing that you can’t achieve if only you know you can achieve it.
So please, Readers, let’s be humble. Let’s be humble today and learn from Jason McElwain.
Sure, as a subscriber to this $100k+ jobs newsletter you are in the top 10% of the American workforce today, and in the top 1% of all successful professionals across the globe. But, today, let’s be humble, and let’s learn just this one lesson from a determined, enthusiastic, amazing, beautiful kid in upstate New York…
There’s nothing stopping us—nothing at all.
Now, for the good part....
I get in and there is an e-mail in my inbox. I am a member of a website for job seekers and the founder of this site sent out to these people to have them keep their heads and spirits up. Some of these people have been out of work for some time. I read the e-mail and God just put a boost of energy and hopefulness in my heart. I hope the 6 of you that read this have the same thing happen to you.
I’ve just re-discovered a YouTube video that reveals the secret to success in your job hunt… or anything else in life. Now, you may have seen this before, but give me just 2 minutes and 44 seconds this crisp March Monday morning, and have a look at this video.
No matter how many times I watch this video, it gets me every time. That, Readers, is the secret to success in your job hunt, your life, or anything else you’ve ever wanted to do, accomplish, or be.
I’d like to ask you to really think about Jason McElwain today.
I’d like to ask you to really think about what he’s gone through in his life—folks telling him he’s different, he’s handicapped, he’s not able to do things the other kids do.
Everybody had their little box; their little box into which they put their preconceived idea of what Jason was capable of and what Jason could be. And maybe sometimes we all feel like we’re in that little box. Maybe sometimes we all get pigeon-holed or typecast or put down a path that we didn’t choose. Maybe that’s why you found your way here to us and to this newsletter; because you didn’t feel that the box that other people had come up with really represented you or what you are capable of becoming. You didn’t feel that that box was fair.
And that’s what I’d really like for you to think about today, Readers, because Jason McElwain is here to teach you something. The lesson of Jason McElwain that we’ve shared this morning is… there is no box.
There are no preconceptions or typecasting or opinions that can ever change who you are. Those are other people’s thoughts, other people’s errors.
And if you have it within you—if you have the talent, or the dream, or the desire, or the smarts, or the capability—if you have it within you, other people’s words are just smoke drifting by in the mid-day breeze. They can’t change you or stop you.
The lesson of Jason McElwain that we’ve shared this morning is that there is nothing stopping you; there is nothing that can hold you back; there is nothing that you can’t achieve if only you know you can achieve it.
So please, Readers, let’s be humble. Let’s be humble today and learn from Jason McElwain.
Sure, as a subscriber to this $100k+ jobs newsletter you are in the top 10% of the American workforce today, and in the top 1% of all successful professionals across the globe. But, today, let’s be humble, and let’s learn just this one lesson from a determined, enthusiastic, amazing, beautiful kid in upstate New York…
There’s nothing stopping us—nothing at all.
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