Killing two Birds with one Stone!

Ahh... Alone time day 10. Only 5 more days to get everything on my list done. I better get busy! Either I am really enjoying my alone time or I am miserable and scraping the bottom of the barrel. I will let you decide.

Here was Sunday dinner. Cold cereal. Cinnamon life, it's one of the few things I have bought at the grocery store since the family left. I loved the stuff growing up figured it was a nice treat to help me feel young and alive. The other thing I bought, Oreo Cookies, Double Stuf.

Now before you start feeling sorry for me, I will mention that I did receive a very nice dinner invitation by an awesome family, but when I finally have my alone time, I just want to relax and eat in front of the TV. I don't want to leave the house to go to dinner somewhere else, I don't think I am alone on this one. Anyway, Back to my dinner.

So as I was preparing my Sunday feast I saw the cookies on the counter. My mind raced, as my eyes darted from one package to the other, Cinnamon life - Dinner, Oreo - Dessert...mmm...Cinnamon life - Dinner, Oreo - Dessert...mmm...Cinnamon life - Dinner, Oreo - Dessert...mmm...

Then I had a brilliant idea, They both get dipped in milk, why don't I combine them and have Dinner and Dessert at the same time. I do have limited time and I need to pack as much as I can into the next five days.

What a delicious time saving idea! I can't wait to see what the next 5 days bring!



N.B.

Alone Time = A Lame Time

Today it really hit me that I am all alone. When I came in the door tonight there was no one here to great me with a kiss. No kids running and fighting to see who could give dad the first hug. At least they call it the first hug.

I call it the first shot to the nuts. If I have things in my hands and can't aggressively block. I get hit every time. I don't know what it is but it's like a magnet, like the old "kick me" signs you used to stick on someones back. Maybe they are just perfectly situated to be repeatedly hit, kicked, jumped on, etc. I mean I can't even have a kid lay by me in bed without getting kicked all night long. It usually drives me crazy and yet today I missed it. I missed it all. No noise, no fighting, no laughing, nothing.

I wondered what I might be able to do to occupy my time. Don't get me wrong some alone time is good but I have had 5 days of alone time. I guess they say if you can't enjoy yourself who will, right? No that's not right, maybe they say, if you don't like spending time with yourself who will? Anyway, I don't know what they say but I can get bored of myself after about 10 minutes. I did think of one thing. I would would really like to do this for a few hours.


Well I do have the blog to catch up on but I haven't had much time to do that. I have been working on other items on my list. I hope to have more time tomorrow. I did check another item off the list though, I played Guitar Hero and Rock Band tonight until the neighbor downstairs knocked on the ceiling. Twice! At least I can feel like I accomplished something today!

Oh well it's late. I should already be in bed but I just can't sleep. I have a client lunch tomorrow and will be getting home early. Maybe I will add go swimming to the list of things to do. That sounds fun!



Goodnight my friends, and to my wife and kids, I miss you and I love you!
N.B.

(You Want To) Make a Memory?

Won some tickets from work to the concert tonight. Since we are sponsoring the Concert (it probably is my bonus) I am a VIP so we will be hanging in a roped off section close to the stage. It should be awesome!

I have always thought it would be cool to attend one of the famous concerts in NYC Central Park and this should be a good one.

Stayed up late downloading and listening to music so that I know all the songs. (Not that I needed much to job my memory it was just an excuse to stay up late and download some music I didn't have.

As a result of my late night, I was able to cross part of #3 off my "list of things to do". I slept in VERY late on Saturday. I also have worked on #1. This is the second post and more will be coming.

So far "Alone Time" isn't too bad. I sort of like not having to much to worry about! I am sure it will hit me tomorrow.

N.B.

SOLO!

It's True, I am flying solo for 16 days. They wife and kids left this morning for the west coast. I will join them in a couple of weeks.

Finally some "alone time" to work on he list of things I want to get done.

My List:
1) Catch up on the blog. I have about 7 drafts that needed updating to publish.
2) Play guitar hero. I will probably do this a lot!
3) Sleep in on Saturday and to a small extent Sunday.
4) Take the bow out and go shooting.
5) Golf
6) Do it all over again, and again, and again...

I am pretty sure none of these things are on my "honey do" list, but heck I haven't found that yet so I am home free.

I hope your next two weeks will be as free and exciting as mine!

N.B.

P.S. Sweetie, Kids I am just kidding I will miss you after a few days!

I can't take him anywhere!

I love the Caddy. It has the bench seats (love those on a date), velvet interior and all the bells and whistles. Yea sure it is old but when it came out it had all the latest technology. It still has low miles, looks and runs great!

However sometimes I think it has a mind of its own. I think he appreciates my driving but I really think he prefers others behind the wheel (read the ladies). Maybe it makes him feel like he is back in the arms of his original owner. Maybe he likes the way they feel on the velvet, or maybe they just treat him a bit better then the old, fat guy that forces him to race to the train in the morning before he even gets to warm up. I can actually relate since I feel the same way most days.

So I wasn't surprised when we bonded the other day. He saw this newer caddy and just couldn't resist pulling up right behind her. He sat there idling, a bit too close in my opinion. He even asked me to take a picture.



I guess we are both butt men.

N.B.

Happy Fathers Day!

What a great day! Wake up to the sound of kids kicking your wife in the bed. Then get up at 7 AM to go put on a video for the littlest one who just can't seem to sleep or hold still despite his outspoken desire to "snuggle". Nothing like that to remind you that you are a dad! Happy Father's Day!

After another quick snooze I was greeted by all three kids holding a tray with breakfast in bed, waffles, bacon, strawberries and loads of presents. Despite my wish list (which included nothing) a gift giving day can't go by without my wife and the kids getting something. Thanks guys I love the stuff!

Later in the day we had a BBQ with a couple of other families. During which the adults started talking and openly wondered why on Fathers or Mothers day we each viewed it as a day to get away from our families and have some "our time" or "alone Time"? We didn't want to work, take care of the kids, clean up etc. Why on a day that is supposed to celebrate those things do we want to get away from it all?

I am not sure if it is the usual stress that comes from marriage and family relations, the fact that on the calendar it says "Father's Day" so it is one day to think of yourself, or a combination of both. I do know that on this day it is nice to be thought of, to be pampered a bit and to sit back and "enjoy the love", to see and feel the excitement of those that know and love you the most. I am blessed!

Despite what my wife and kids might think after my ranting, arguing, scolding and impatience, I have wanted nothing more throughout my life then to be a Husband and father.

I realized a couple things yesterday:
1) I have some really great people to look up to and follow after.

My Father - What a great man. He was always working hard so that we could have some of the comforts of life. I always felt loved and safe growing up. He took time to support me in activities, and help me with homework. He took an interest in the things I was interested in. We did things together and he taught me many of life's lessons. I haven't lived at home for over 15 years but he still takes care of me and my family. It has and continues to mean a lot. Thanks Dad I love you.

My Friends - What great fathers and husbands. I really enjoy your families and watching how you interact with your wives and kids. You are their heroes. They light up when you are around. You give them love, hope and excitement. You teach your boys how to be fathers and your daughters how they should expect a husband to treat them. I have really learned that when it comes to time with your children it is quality not quantity. I have learned that by watching you. You are each different in dealing with your spouses. I admire the husbands that you are, the relationships you have with your wives and look to emulate the best traits I see in each of you.

2) I really am not very good at this Husband and Father thing yet.

Despite nearly 15 years of marriage and 10 years of fatherhood I was reminded again yesterday that I am not very good at this. I continue to make mistakes, some of them worse then others. I learned that I have been making many of them for years and years. Some without even knowing I was doing it. It seems like I have to learn the same lessons more then once. I get frustrated, short and impatient with those that I care the most about. Sometimes I think I am not very nice. At times I think my family deserves better.

Thanks to all those that help me be better, that give me hope, that while difficult show me that it really is worth it. That it is worth working on it, because in the end I am responsible for creating that same environment I grew up in, warmth, love, understanding and trust.

I always thought I would be good at this. I always thought that I would be an awesome husband and father. That I would be one of those guys that everyone looked up to and thought "he is awesome". It's a sad realization that I am not. It is hard to admit that I am not what I wanted to be or that I thought I could be. I hope to work on those things this year, to gain that trust, to earn that love and respect that is continually shown to me. To be looked up to, thought about and respected like I have seen in those great examples in my life.

I am not there yet! Fortunately I have more time to improve and get there.

N.B.

Umm...Missed a loop

Not just one. I think he actually only hit two total. The first and last!

I am awful!
N.B