This Best Man Ain't Fight'n Nobody!!!

Now that we are all healthy once again and life seems to be leveling out (Lucy is loving her new job and even wrote her very first guest post here last Sunday. Go read it now if you missed it!!) I can finally bring the blog up to speed with what's on my mind this week. I mentioned a few weeks ago that Broccoli and Brookli were going to tie the knot. Well apparently things are moving a little faster than Broccoli expect (after all it took him 10 yrs to propose why rush into anything like a wedding) and a date has been set for November the 1^st.

This past weekend he was in town taking care of some biz. He stopped by to ask me to be his best man and Fred to be a ring bearer. Lucy of course will be the one that gets to train Fred to walk down the isle. So just to mix and lighten things up a bit, I thought it would be cool to chat about where we get our wedding traditions.

 

Tossing The Bouquet:

They say: "Tossing the bouquet is a tradition that stems from England. Women used to try to rip pieces of the bride's dress and flowers in order to obtain some of her good luck. To escape from the crowd the bride would toss her bouquet and run away. Today the bouquet is tossed to single women with the belief that whoever catches it will be the next to marry"

I say: I think it would be pretty cool to see a bunch of women maul each other and might actually get me to agree to go to more weddings like Lucy is always begging me to.

Giving Away The Bride:

They say: "The tradition of the father giving away his daughter has its roots in the days of arranged marriages. Daughters in those times were considered their father's property. It was the father's right to give his child to the groom, usually for a price. Today a father giving away his daughter is a symbol of his blessing of the marriage."

I say: Though money may no longer change hands in the literal sense, the father (after years of spoiling his beloved daughter) does end up saving quite a bit. The then daughter-now wife has learned to live with getting everything she asks for and transfers this duty from her father to her new husband.

The Wedding Ring:

They say: "The wedding ring has been worn on the third finger of the left hand since Roman times. The Romans believed that the vein in that finger runs directly to the heart. The wedding ring is a never-ending circle, which symbolizes everlasting love."

I say: A lot of women (not Lucy) but A LOT of women think that this vein which links the finger to the heart actually leads to a more shall I say sensitive part of the mans body.

The Best Man:

They say: "In ancient times, men sometimes captured women to make them their brides. A man would take along his strongest and most trusted friend to help him fight resistance from the woman's family. This friend, therefore, was considered the best man among his friends. In Anglo-Saxon England, the best man accompanied the groom up the aisle to help defend the bride."

I Say: The best man should be a permanent fixture always lurking a couple steps behind the husband, cause trust me her family don't quit throw'n stones just because you put a ring on her finger.

The Tiered Wedding Cake:

They say: "The origin of the tiered wedding cake also lies in Anglo-Saxon times. Guests would bring small cakes to the wedding and stack them on top of each other. Later, a clever French baker created a cake in the shape of the small cakes and covered it in frosting. It is now known as the tiered cake."

I say: Let's go back to everybody bringing a cake!!!

The Bridal Veil:

They say: "The bridal veil has long been a symbol of youth, modesty, and virginity and was used to ward off evil."

I say: Can we bring that veil back out once a month?

 

Technorati Tags: weddings,best man,traditions,super bowl sunday,marriage

Anatomy Of A Hospital Visit (Wednesday Morning)

This is the last installment of how our lives were turned upside down last week and how God reminded us of what's most important. To start the journey from the beginning check out Parts I, II, III, and IV.

4:30-A.M-Lucy wakes up to a crippling ache in her back and regrets wanting to lay with Fred on the tiny bed. She asks, but there's no way I'm giving up the pull out chair.

5:30- The air we turned on at 7:00 P.M the night before decides to kick on and turn the room into something resembling the North Pole.

6:30-Lucy sees him first. He must have called her name and tugged on her pants leg. Me? I roll over in my sleep, blink like people do, and am scared to death by the Dr. staring at me inches away from my face. The words we have been dying to hear come are said "You can go home this morning after a shot. Fred, though not completely over the phenomena, is well enough to take med's at home."

8:30-Snatching a bottle of shampoo from the counter Fred begins chanting "BATH BATH BATH BATH BATH" until we get the nurse's approval. It's all we can do to not cry as we all sit in the tiny tub watching him play in the water as if nothing ever happened.

9:00-As if something in his chemical composition has change from the virus that took control, Fred decides he wants bacon and eats 8 pieces in a row. This is the first time he has ever eat anything other than chicken or bologna.

10:00-Sure it meant one more round of screaming, but the shot of medicine also signaled we could finally go home.

11:00-Fred gets a wagon ride out of his room, down the elevator, and to the car.

11:05-Safe in his car seat for the first time in days, Fred does what we would all do in his situation....he falls fast asleep

2:00-Fred wakes up and walks past the Riding Zebra his Gigi got him for Christmas. He walks past the Backyardigans Circus, his mom and I gave him for Christmas. Past the Spiderman Sing-a-Along Pal from Nani. With all the toys and gifts any kid could ever want at his disposal, Fred jumps up and runs for the one toy he has spent days yearning for. A 50 cent Rubber Ducky. With things moving so fast, Lucy and I decide we are in shock, nothing else matters in life but our son, and it's good to be home.

Anatomy Of A Hospital Visit (Tuesday Night)

This is Part IV of our trip to the hospital last week. To catch up, please go back and read Part I, II, and III.

4:00 P.M-The verdict is in. Fred has phenomena and will need to be pumped full of antibiotics.

5:30-Carter shows up. Fred returns back to normal in time to see his best friend over the age of 20.

6:30-Cheeseburgers for dinner. Fred can't sit still and keeps setting off the alarm that warns his IV is in danger of coming out.

7:00-A storm comes through knocking out the power. Lucy is staring out the window when the lightning flashes. She screams and swears she's seen the ghost of my Stepfather (who died this coming week in the same hospital)in a window across the way. I take a peek and sure enough it looks just like him; though it's merely some guy looking out from the cafeteria.

7:15-Neil and daughter Lauren from church show up.

8:00-Dr. returns and gives us a double dose of good news. We can go home the next day and Fred's IV can come out!!!

9:00-With the IV out, Fred  is completely back to normal and begins to feel the walls of the hospital closing in.

10:30-Bed time. Fred falls asleep watching Blue's Clues

Just one more installment to go. Check back in the morning to see how it all ended!!

Anatomy Of A Hospital Visit (Tuesday Morning)

Again, if you are just now joining this thread go back and read Part's I and II

6:30 A.M- I wake up wondering where I'm at and why I can't move my left arm. Apparently I got tired of sleeping half off the tiny hospital bed and tucked my arm into the belt of my jeans so it wouldn't just dangle there. Nurses were in an out all night.

7:00-Fred wakes up and the Blue's Clues marathon begins again.

7:30-Temp. 98!! We begin to think we are going home.

8:00-Dr. comes in with good news and bad news. They feel they have control of the virus, but want to keep him over night to get him re-hydrated

8:30-Fred eats Cheerios and Milk. Nurses decide to start bringing Lucy and I meals along with Fred's. What a blessing those people were. Oh and they had a collection of 100 movies we could watch, but of course we only got to see the 6 Blues Clues tapes they had listed.

10:00-Price Is Right break

11:00-Aunt Mo shows up with balloons and a blue hippo.

11:30-Attack of the nurses. All at once we had people pricking fingers, giving breathing treatments, checking pulses, waiting to take him for x-rays. Finally I've had enough.

11:45-I yelled at everybody. Nurses, doctors, relatives, strangers, fictional blue pet owners. "DO NOT TOUCH THE ARM WITH THE IV IN IT UNLESS YOU PLAN TO TAKE IT OUT FOR GOOD!!!"

12:30-Attack of the balloons. After the storm we just spent the last hour suffering through, we were welcomed with an hour filled with one gift basket after another. A giant food basket from my work with a blue puppy attached. Blue balloons and a bunny from Gigi. A dinosaur and a giant puppy balloon from the Morris's. It was good to see Fred finally smile and start to return to normal.

2:00-Knowing how much Fred likes to eat pieces of bread. Pops shows up with a whole loaf.

3:00-Lucy goes home for a shower, Fred takes a nap, and Pop/I eat Cracker Jacks and watch Peoples Court.

Check back this afternoon for the next installment!!

Anatomy Of A Hospital Visit (Monday Night)

STOP!! If you haven't read Part I, go back and catch up. We'll wait.

3:30 P.M-Fever 101.8

4:30-101.4 and a 1/4 cup of decaf tea

5:30- I walk in to find the Gigi and Pops sitting around a still sleeping (never really woke up even during the Dr's visit) Fred whose fever has climbed back to 103.7

5:40 Tylenol to make the fever go down.

6:05-Vomit

6:15- Fred asks for juice and chugs an entire bottle in 3 minutes

6:25- Vomits the juice

6:30-Fever 104 We begin to wonder if the Tylenol that was given to bring his fever down is actually keeping it from getting higher.

7:15-Fever 103.8

8:00-Fever 105

8:05-Msg w/Dr.

8:15-Dr. calls back says head to the hospital as soon as possible.

8:30-Lucy's body explodes. Pop's (who was called immediately after the Dr., along with the Gigi) calls from the E.R. wondering where we are and is told "We can't leave till Lucy can get off the toilet"

9:00-We learn that the worst job in the world is the lady at the admitting desk. We know the Dr. has faxed Fred's info, but she ignores it because she thinks Lucy is holding baby Fled instead of baby Fred.

9:01- Fred vomits all and I mean ALL OVER LUCY while she continues to argue with the evil admitting room lady. Finally she figures out the key to getting into a room pronto. This key is the phrase "IF YOU DON"T GET ME IN ROOM NOW THE NEXT ROUND OF VOMIT WILL BE ON YOU!!"

9:03-Our room is ready.

9:15-Fever 103. More vomit

10:00-We are warned that in no way what so ever do we want to witness the IV being put in. Fred is then lead down to the opposite end of the hall, strapped to a table....and through two doors, the Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air turned all the way up, and Pops trying his best to make conversation....we hear Fred screaming for Mommy.

10:15-What was to only take 5 minutes goes on for another 25

10:30-Fred's too dehydrated to allow the IV to be put in after 4 attempts. He is brought back and given juice.

11:00-2nd Attempt at the IV. This time he sees it coming and it's worse. After another 3 attempts.

11:30-Fred is brought back to us with his arm boarded up to keep the IV from coming out of the bend in his elbow I wonder if he thinks the tape and boards were but there to make his arm quit hurting.

11:45-Fred is calm. Lucy and I are dying for a soft drink. Pops and I head out through the abandoned hospital to find a machine. We locate one, but it won't take dollars. That's when Pops sees the janitor cleaning the floor across the hall in the locked cafeteria which just happens to be filled with Coke machines. The janitor says there's nothing he can do, refuses to let us in to get one from the cafeteria, and is told "You're an idiot" by a very pissed off grandfather trying to shrug off his grandsons cries of pain.

11:50-Fever 101

11:55-Pops and Gigi go home for the night now that Fred is stable with a yet to be determined virus. Still thirsty I travel to the 3rd floor for a Coke. It does take my dollar, but is out of drinks. That's when I get the idea to put the dollar in the snack machine, hit the refund button, and take my change back down to the 1st floor machine. I hate hospitals.

2:00 A.M.-Having slept all day, Fred is feeling better from the med's and we all fall asleep (Lucy in the fold out chair and I curled up in the tiny bed next to Fred) watching the Blue's Clues DVD Lucy managed to snag on the way out.

Check back tomorrow morning for the next installment!!!

Anatomy Of A Hospital Visit (Monday Morning)

This week after a month filled with one dilemma after another, God took a moment and reminded us of what's most important in life. Over the past few weeks I've been stranded by the side of the road in short sleeves, next to a river in the 10 degree temps that have gripped our area. My freelance income has all but disappeared due to reasons beyond my control. I've had to use a vacation day and a sick day, in order to take care of Fred. After 9 years at Suntrust Bank, starting as a part-time teller and battling her way to Asst. Mgr. Lucy was given a can't refuse offer to not only work for a long standing prominent real estate firm as their office mgr...but this fall her new employer has promised to send her to real estate school free of charge on the condition she sticks around for a couple years. And then Sunday night at 11 P.M. our washing machine which is less than 2 months old quit in mid-rinse leaving us elbow deep in cold water as we scrambled to figure out how that could be possible. It also left us wondering how things could dare get any worse. That next morning we got our answer.

What you are about to read started out as a way to track the changes in Fred's temp, but eventually turned into a form of escaping the unbelievable events that were taking place all around me. And it all started........

Monday Morning

6:15-Alarm went off and the week began

7:30-Dropped Fred off at daycare with a high five and the image of him running to play with friends echoing in my mind as I made the 20 min. trip across town to work.

9:30-Daycare calls. Fred has a fever of 101

10:00-Doubtful that anything is wrong. Lucy heads toward Fred wondering how things could be bad as they were described on the phone.

10:15-Things are worse. Fred's fever is climbing, can barely raise his head, and begins throwing up. Without a second thought Lucy grabs him and immediately heads to the Dr. despite the fact they claim to have no time to see him and are booked till 4:30. Her exact words were "Tough I'm on my way"

10:30-Fred vomits in the car twice. Lucy calls to tell me this is major and something feels seriously wrong. I meet her at the Dr. moments after she arrives.

11:00-You know things are bad when the Dr. claims to be all booked up then rushes your child in after taking one look at him.....or maybe it was the fact that he puked in the lobby.

11:30-After a complete exam and of course x-rays (they always do x-rays on Fred), the Dr. calls it a virus. He says to watch his fever (which reached 103.9) and things should be fine in a few hours. I follow them home in order to make sure everyone is settled in before heading back to the office.

11:50-Fred vomits in the car again

12:10-More vomit

12:30-With vomit covering several towels and multiple outfits, I begin trying to get somebody to fix our washing machine for free per the instructions of the warranty......and was pretty much told it wasn't going to happen today.

1:00-Fred's fever drops to 102.6 and barely blinks when Blue's Clues comes on. This is a major sign things are off, because the kid dances the entire time it's on no matter what.

2:00-I head back to the office thinking everything is fine. Plus as long as I work 4 hours it doesn't count as a sick day.

2:30-The washing machine repairman who couldn't come till Wednesday, shows up. All Lucy can do is point the way. The motor has burned out, is replaced, and the warranty does cover all the costs.

Check back this afternoon for Part II

It is a Super Bowl!

Contributed by Lucy

We have some exciting news to announce ~ not only did the New York Giants win the Super Bowl but Fred went pee pee for the first time tonight in his big boy potty! He was so excited by the sheer fact that he was doing it and the music being played by his potty that he jumped up mid-stream and peed in the bathroom floor. Luckily I was able to get him back on track and he finished up in the potty. He has the cutest little potty, whenever there is any liquid in the bowl it plays a little song, super huh? He is very proud of himself and we are proud of him too. His prize was a Backyardigan's book. Which he referred to as the "Yardies" - whatever. He's happy and we just saved a bunch of money on our car insurance . I mean diaper bill.

It only gets better from here right?

Blue Blue Vs. The Barn

He has been called The Purple Prince Of Peace by Lucy and myself ever since Fred became addicted to him. Since we learned of his ability to calm and engage Fred even during the angriest of temper tantrums, our home has become a virtual clearing house for everything Barney, Baby Bop, and BJ. We've got videos, we've got DVD's,CD's, full sized Baby Bop's, raincoats, coloring books, guitars, chalk boards, house shoes, 6 different Barney stuffed animals, plates, bowls, cars, and trucks all given to Fred by us and others who love to see him smile. And smile he has!! From the Baby Bop Hop to the Barney Pop-Up book, it seemed nobody would ever take the place of The Barn.

Sure Backyardigans and Wonder Pets swoop in every so often and catch his eye for a day or so, but with a wag of his dinosaur tail Barney always wipes out the competition.until this past week when Blue Blue (Blue's Clues) stepped up to the plate. With a handy dandy notebook in tow and a flash of Jazz hands, Blue Blue may just be heralding in the very death of Barney the dinosaur quicker than you can SKIDOO CAUSE BLUE CAN TOO!! Why the sudden shift in idol worship? Simple. His name is Steve!!

See Steve is Blue's owner and it's his job to teach Blue the ways of the world. From backyard adventures in spotting a four leaf clover to finding the perfect pet, Steve is more than just some guy on the TV.he's just also happens to be the Gigi's main squeeze!! That's right we have our very own Steve that comes over every week and waves a big wave (like the television Steve) and says weird things like "Whatcha doing Mister?" and "Golly Gee!!" and "You Silly Goose!!" and even has a short hair like Steve. There's no dinosaur running around our home waving a giant pumpernickel sandwich in the air. There's no baby triceratops in Fred's room looking for her yellow blankie . but there's a Steve that likes to carry him around!!! And that blurring between TV and Real Life may just be enough to bury that last nerve stomping dinosaur for good!!

 

Technorati Tags: blues clues,barney,baby bop,backyardigans,wonder pets,kids tv

A Friend In Morning

We always know that while Jack Bauer is busy being tortured in a Chinese death camp for 24 hours, Keifer Sutherland will be sleeping in a comfortable bed that same night. And while Jack, Kate, and Sawyer try to find their way home without getting LOST. Matthew Fox and his fellow actors will be busy promoting the latest movie they made during the off time. That's the difference between TV and Radio. TV is filled with actors reading someone else's words and pretending to live someone else's life. Radio DJ's.the really special ones at least.let you into their world like a best friend.

I've been listening to Rick and Bubba every morning for over 5 years. During that time they have become a part of the family. At least twice a week, Lucy is poised the question "Did ya hear what Rick did today?" or "Did ya hear what Bubba said?" I no longer need to explain whom I'm talking about. By now they are just as much a part of the family as any cousin or grandparent we never see but talk to on a regular basis. This is why today I am sending out a prayer to not just some morning DJ, but to a friend in need of some extra attention from up above.

This past weekend the 2-year-old son of Rick Burgess, Bronner Burgess passed away after falling into the family swimming pool. This is a nightmare that nobody should have to live through and words fail me as to how to handle such a shock. I do know that the first thing I would do, would be similar to the first thing I did yesterday morning after hearing the news.I'd pray. Regardless if you've never heard of them or change the station every time they come on, please say a prayer for this family in need. Let them know that God is watching over them and through their faith in him better days will come.

From their site:

We ask that you bathe Rick, Sherri, and the entire Burgess family in prayer as they deal with the loss of their youngest son, Bronner Burgess.
We all are grieving together in this terrible loss.
The Burgess's want to give all Honor and Glory to GOD for the many blessings He has given us, especially the life of Bronner Burgess. And while we do not understand, we know who is in charge and His will be done in life and in death.

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
1 Thessalonians 5:10

 

 

Technorati Tags: rick and bubba,family,prayer request,christian life

Training Days

I didn't think I'd find myself circling back around to the subject of potty training so soon, but the next story happened and it demanded to be told.

I'm laying there Saturday watching Green Bay whoop up on Seattle in 3 feet of snow (the messier the field the better the game as far as I'm concerned) when I suddenly do what most men do when it's just them and their loved ones alone at home. I farted. Not some Silent-But-Violent-Where-Did-That-Come-From fart. I shot a pocket of gas out the back of my pants so enormous, Brett Farve lost hold of the ball while trying to cover his nose. It was like a sonic boom going across the room and shaking the foundation of the house seconds later.

Fred is a couple feet away and can't help but look up in the direction the blast came from. Realizing what has just taken place, he puts a plan into action beginning with grabbing me by the hand and saying "Shoo Shoo. Shoo Shoo" "SHOO SHOO SHOO SHOO!!"

He's about to jerk my finger out of socket so I stand up still watching the game while trying to humor him. That's not good enough though. He spins around me with the speed that only a 2-year-old can possess and starts shoving me out of the room. "SHOO SHOO SHOO SHOO!!!"

"Hey!! The game.I didn't.it was." but then I quit fighting it, not to continue humoring him but mainly because all his shouting made me begin to wonder if maybe I had accidentally ejected a crew member. Sure I suppose deep down inside I knew that wasn't the case, but the kid is a 4 foot Sam Waterston. He may as well have been screaming "Guilty Guilty Guilty"

He shoves me all the way to the bathroom and sits down on his potty. I'm thinking "This is cool. Maybe he has to go and it's all a coincidence." That's when he reached over, started banging on the toilet, and explained "Shoo Shoo Daddy" smack the toilet "Shoo Shoo Daddy" smack the toilet. Apparently the student had become the teacher.

I'm Such A Potty Mouth

Everyone seems to be talking potty training lately. Weird Girl has been trying for some time now with mixed results:

"Wednesday - almost all day successful tinkling in the pot when I took him in.  I think there was a turning point when, at one point, he started to go on the floor and he shut that valve off and walked to the potty instead! Yeah, baby!  However, I did/do have to remind him to go.  He wouldn't tell me when he had to pee."

It's no secret that after 22 months of changing dirty diapers, I still can't stand the smell and regularly pull my shirt over my nose choosing the smell of my own BO over what I'm about to be wrist deep in. This is such a predictable habit that if I don't do it Fred starts pulling my shirt up to my face for me. Still even though diapers aren't cheap and supposedly it's every parents dream come true the first time they make it out of Target without having to fork over $30 bucks for them, I think I may prefer diapers when compared to the alternative.

Lucy bought Fred a potty (or poop bucket as I like to call it) for Christmas for a number of reasons. The first being that he now can be seen entering a room with a fresh diaper in hand saying "My boot. My boot." on a regular basis. The second reason is he's moved up at the Hill and his new teacher insists he'll be potty trained in 6 months. Now they did say this was an option, but everyone else is learning and we can't very well expect him to use a potty at school and a diaper at home just because we don't want to clean out the bucket. I have a cat, which means I already have one poop bucket to clean and I think 2 may be over my "Poop-Buckets-To-Clean" quota.

Another thing that has got me stumped is how are we supposed to know when he has to go? Let's face it, I forget to go sometimes and I've been practicing for 30 years. That's why I keep that "Cleanest and Most Convenient Bathrooms In Town" map in my head. No matter where we go I always know where a good potty is just in case I have an emergency. It's not like he says "Hey! I'm about to wet myself!!!" Letting us know after the fact is great, but should we just pull his pants off and stake out the potty just in case? And if that's the answer, what if we get the origin of exit wrong?

I can just hear myself discussing the previous nights events with the folks at work the next day:

"Did you see The Biggest Loser last night?"

"Nope"

"That guy almost won a million bucks on Deal or No Deal"

"Missed it"

"What was the score of the game?"

"Didn't see it."

"So I guess ya'll rented movies?"

"Not exactly"

"So what did you do?"

"We spent a cozy night in the bathroom huddled around a plastic toilet looking for signs on Fred's face that could give us a clue as to whether or not he's about to go #1 or #2."

"Oh.um how did that work out for you?"

"Not so great. We are hoping the cat will have better luck teaching him to use the litter box."

About Those New Additions.....

I think the reason I've managed to turn into a pretty decent husband and a great father (that sound you hear is my hand patting my back) is because I took the time to learn. You don't just get out of high school and become a CEO of a billion dollar global enterprise. You go to college, start out on the bottom rung, take your knocks, learn from them, and then try to avoid the pitfalls you fell in when you were an amateur mailroom clerk.

I was a husband in training for about 8 years before Lucy and I decided to take things to the next level (level Fred). During that time I did many a stupid thing (something that still happens, just not as regularly) like forgetting to fill her Christmas stocking, continuously getting her birthday wrong, and then there was that time I bought her a hammock for an anniversary present. Another trick I picked up is not dwelling on past mistakes, so lets move on shall we. My point is that with each new level of life nothing is as easy as the one you just left behind.

Single life is different from married life is different from parenthood is different from grand-parenthood is different from life at the retirement home. Each level of life is an amazing adventure, but each requires your full commitment and the ability to learn, love, and let go. Over the holidays a couple Blockheads took the leap to the next level.

Broccoli and Brookli started dating the same week as Lucy and I. Way back in December of 1997.While Lucy and I were settling into small town life they both had their own paths to follow. Sometimes it meant they were together...sometimes it meant they were thousands of miles apart. And though the path they took was winding leaving many to wondered if it would ever become a two-lane road, they finally ended up together leaving us all to say we knew it was meant to be all along. 10 years to the night of that first date, Broccoli finally begged Brookli to become a Blockhead (which she agreed to in spite of the fact that her future mother-in-law is nuts and her future brother-in-law likes to put everyone's private business on the Internet for the world to see)

Brookli, from the bottom of my heart thank you for ignoring those buck-teeth, those steroid enhanced muscles,  that porn star voice, and for hanging in there as long as you have for no apparent reason that I can thank of other than you've just been really bored for the past 10 years and if anything my brother is always good for a laugh.

Remember the next step will not be easy, will not always be fun, but will be the second most amazing time in your life. The first of course being the creation of a cousin for Fred!! No rush...anytime you guys are ready....just know we are here if you need to tell us anything...or if you need some baby clothes or toys...just keep it in mind...I've always liked the name Charlie haven't you? Or Charlene whichever is fine by me...just throwing some names in the air. So Congrats on the upcoming nuptials and anything else that you might not be telling us at this time.

Rumor Has it

One thing I really like about writing my own blog is that weeks can go by without anybody in my circle of friends commenting on anything I've posted and then just when I think nobody is tuning in everyone freaks out over what basically is me just babbling. Recently this has happened in a big way all because of a post entitled "A New Twist To A Grand Ole Holiday" in which I included the sentence:

We are fortunate to have a large family and even more so that every year it gets larger and larger with new Blockheads being add to the clan every month (more on that in the days to come)

Now looking back I can see where everyone would think that I was hinting at a possible new baby for Lucy and I. Yes there has been some talk and yes plans are being tossed around concerning the:

When's- Spring Summer Fall or Winter

How's -Well I mean we pretty much got the how's figured out obviously we have Fred, what I'm saying is how to afford a new baby and how a quad-Blockhead family will work compared to our current trio status.

Where's -Where will a new baby sleep, where will my second job be at, and where will Gigi keep all her stuff when she moves in to help Lucy.

However, one thing is for sure it won't be until late 2009 or possibly even early 2010. Fred will be starting school by that time and we won't have to mortgage the house just so we can afford daycare.

For those of you that jumped for joy and sang "Hallelujah" from as far away as Michigan, sadly Lucy is not with child (unless you count the two she already has. One of which is writing this blog over a cup of coffee and the Curious George movie playing in the background.) We love you for your concern and excitement and can't wait till each of you decide to have new child as well. When will that be by the way? Are you pregnant now? You guys need another kid. Aren't they great? You're the best parents. You'd be doing the world a service by bringing in another bundle of joy. OMG!! You are pregnant aren't you!!! I knew it!!

A Blockhead Family Christmas

I've got a pretty busy week going on, but I wanted to shoot out this Christmas pics before it got too far past the holiday's. Enjoy and I will try to post again before the end of the week.

A Titanic Anniversary

10 years ago today a mighty vessel set sail hurdling towards an unknown destination. Its crew was inexperienced at best and more than a little naive as to how to handle the new ship. History told them the seas would be bumpy and they would face giant swells followed by death defying plunges toward almost certain doom. Still with one glance thrown across a crowded market place, they knew it was a journey they needed to take. That maybe by taking that first step aboard they would be swept away on the adventure of a lifetime.

10 years ago tonight Lucy and I went on our first date. I've told the story here before of how I insisted it wasn't a date, but merely a chance to see the Box-office Bombshell Titanic. But I was only fooling myself. Had I not wanted a date with Lucy I could have very well have gone by myself. As for Lucy, we all know she's too clever to get stuck on a date with a dud. Her cell phone rang at that pre-determined time. A favor from a friend offering her a way out just in case.

Maybe it was a joke I tossed out. For all I know I could have gotten something in my eye that caused me to wink over and over. It could have been something as simple and subliminal as the scent of oranges I was using to cover the musky odor that had permanently attached itself to that old Dodge Raider I was driving at the time.

Whatever the reason, if not for that first night.that beginning moment.there would be no Christmas wedding, no Fred, no life that either of us would recognize ten years later.

Some of you have seen her pictures, some of you have read my tales about how wonderful she is, but nothing I will ever put on paper could ever describe my Lucy. There's just something about the twinkle in those blue eyes, the angel kisses across her cheeks, and that attitude that somehow manages to come off as strong and fragile at the same time.

On DEC 01, 2001 we were married in a church outside of town and though I was always told it was bad luck to see the bride before the wedding I just couldn't wait. So as the bridesmaids were being gathered together for pictures with Lucy sitting in the middle in front of the church alter .I found myself several feet above peering through a crack in the stained glass. What I saw was not just the girl of my dreams laughing and smiling, as she should be on her wedding day. What I saw was my future in all it's beauty laying a path for me to follow.

There have been more than a few ups and downs. At times the seas were rough and the swells never lasted as long as I wished they would, but as of yet our love has managed to avoid every iceberg that has gotten in the way. Sometimes by going around them, other times we simply tucked our heads, grabbed hold of each other, and barreled right through them.

10 years ago tonight while Jack and Rose did everything they could to get off their sinking ship, Lucy and I began a voyage that has taken us beyond anything ever shown on the silver screen.

Near, Far, where ever you are.stop with me and share a dance in honor of that first night together.

 

A New Twist To A Grand Ole Holiday

So that was Christmas. Everything's been opened and we all somehow survived. You know you've had a successful holiday season if you don't find yourself standing in a return line on the 26^th of December.

We are fortunate to have a large family and even more so that every year it gets larger and larger with new Blockheads being add to the clan every month (more on that in the days to come). I can't imagine being on the downside of a family. If you think about it every family starts with two people who begin a life, have children, grandchildren, etc.until at some point they peak or loose that grandparent that held everyone together and eventually they begin to dwindle back down until in some cases they disappear.

As the Blockheads grow and life spins people off in different directions, Lucy and I decided it was time to set some traditions of our own. We both have surviving grandparents, which we have been visiting on Christmas day since we were too young to remember. With Fred it's different though in that he is lucky enough to have great-grandparents on both sides that are alive and well. This means that while Lucy and I grew up only having to go to 1 or 2 places, Fred could be shipped all around the world and still not run of grandparents to visit. And though they would all love to see him, it eventually becomes too much.

Christmas should be this living, breathing, free flowing, time of wonder and amazement for a kid. A time filled with laughter and toys. Movie marathons with dad and baking cookies with mom. Not deadlines and due dates and having to worry about eating just enough at this persons house so as not to offend him/her but not too much so that you are too full to eat at the next stop and risk offending them.

This year we all sat and watched A Charlie Brown Christmas while making sure to dance with our feet pointed out and our heads pointed down.

This year instead of rushing off at the crack of dawn, we spread the word that Fred would be opening his presents from Santa around 7 am and anyone that wanted could come for breakfast with the baby at 8.

This year cookies were made for Santa and sprinkles were added by Fred.

This year it was Nani's (formerly known as Nana) the day before Christmas Eve.

This year everyone that could come, gathered up in the Edge on Christmas Eve and joined Fred for a drive through a forest full of Christmas lights.

This year Lucy took the day after Christmas off and let Fred play. No schedules, no daycare, nothing but enjoying his new gifts.

This year Pop's, who normally skips the holiday, came to our house for Christmas dinner.

And because of all of this and more, next year will be filled with memories of how great Christmas 2007 was instead of what a hassle it turned out to be.

2-Feet Tall And Bullet Proof

Yes I'm still here. I know it's been awhile and I'm going to do us both a favor and skip the usual excuses. Just going to jump write in.get it write..right.never mind here we go.

This past weekend we made the 4-hour jump down south to see my grandparents. As some of you may know they are getting older and my grandfather isn't walking as well as he has in the past. What made this trip different is that normally when we go, 1,000 other various relatives drag their screaming kids along and we all take turns stomping on my grandfathers last nerve. This time it was just Fred, Lucy, and I. Understandably growing old isn't easy especially if you're used to being 10 feet tall and bullet proof which is the way I always think of my grandfather. Except that now he's having these leg issues and he's not always in the best of moods. What do you do though. He's my pawpaw. My job is to let it roll off my back and enjoy the fact that he's even still around. This past weekend I caught a glimpse of the man he is in my mind and heart.

It took Fred a few hours to warm up to him. Maybe it was that Fred is really into swords, baseball bats and such. My grandfathers cane is shaped like the perfect lightsaber. Soon they began a game of tug of war that lasted all weekend. Fred trying with everything he could muster to yank that walking stick from those giant hands. Maybe it was the simple invitation grandpa made to Fred, asking him if we would like to sit in his lap and color.

They say that impersonation is the best for of flattery and by the end of the weekend Fred soon began walking like the man towering above him. As my grandpa moved through the house bracing himself against this wall or that chair, right behind him some 6 feet closer to the ground Fred made sure to touch the same spots.

Together they strolled through the church building. Grandpa using a walker to move about and Fred riding on the seat using it as a chariot introducing himself to the masses. By the time we left Fred knew that blowing kisses and waving goodbye just wasn't going to be enough.what grandpa deserved was a firm handshake. As those giant hands collapsed upon Fred's tiny fingers it was all I could do to get in the car and travel home.

One Small Request

Dear God,
        I know that this may seem silly and I probably ask for too much on a weekly basis as it is.but as I sit here on this 6th day of December I feel like I need to make a special request.

Maybe it's selfish.
Maybe it's foolish.
Maybe it will never be granted.

This December I'd like silence.

I've thought about it and though I'm sure you could grant Peace On Earth, I feel a need to ask for more than that.

You see everywhere I turn and everywhere I go I hear the cries of those in despair.
I hear mothers crying over lost children. I hear soldiers fighting for what is right.
Car wrecks and catastrophes abound in this big'ole world you created, and I'm just not sure how much more we can take.

Yes I'm sure we are to blame for our current circumstances.
Yes I know your son will be back someday to save us.
But until then can we just have a month of silence.

Just 25 days of warless, deathless, victimless silence.
Just 25 days to allow us all to hear ourselves think.
Just 25 days to see beyond our own selfish desires.
Just 25 days to feel complete love for each and every part of this beautiful planet you created for us.

If you think about it 25 days is merely a grain in the sands of time. A crumb of what's come before and what remains.

I understand this can't be the way it is forever and I know things happen for a reason.
Come January 1st I'm fully prepared to accept all the mess and the muck of life.

Bring on the high-speed chases.
The fights between races.

Go back to putting us through life's paces.

But for today..for these next 25 days.can we just have time to catch our breath before we run out of it completely.

Can we just have one Holiday Season where we can all look back without feeling the pain that comes from the loss of a loved one?

Just 25 days of silence.
Just to catch our breath.
Just to remember what to be thankful for.

Confessions Of Dropper Offer

One thing about having a two year old or a kid at any age for that matter is that regardless of where you go or what you are doing you always have to bring along a portable toy chest. Now depending on your child and where you are taking it (or him/her whatever pronoun you prefer) you might be able to get away with something as simple as a couple cars in the bottom of the diaper bag or you may just have to bring a separate "bag 'o' toys".

This week I find myself facing a certain dilemma with Fred involving toys in the car. Being the dropper offer (Lucy the quicker picker upper) I'm in charge of getting him to school alive and making sure he at least pretends to wear a hood long enough for her to kiss him goodbye and close the door every morning. Now to get him out of the house and away from mommy without throwing a tantrum we bribe him. There's nothing wrong with it. We just shake a pair of sunglasses or a set of plastic keys in front of his face and it's all good.until it's time to do the actual dropping off.

This is when I'm faced with having to take the bribe that worked so well to calm him down five minutes before away from him so that I don't end up donating half his stuff to the daycare. Some days he understands, some days he thinks I a just being a jerk. In my defense I'm really nice about it. I don't just yank them away and scream "MINE MINE MINE!!" like he does when he takes my stuff away from me. As I said I try to be nice, but I'm literally taking candy from a baby. So that's why at least once a week Lucy gets an email at work along the lines of "He wouldn't let go of my cell phone..remember to ask for it when you pick him up."

Could Be Worse.....

I hate it when people say this. I'm having a crappy week. The washer/dryer blew up. The car's gotta have a new alternator. Lucy has to work on our anniversary (Dec 1st makes 6 years married thank you thank you). Top it all off I got offered some sweet overtime, but had to turn it down cause I gotta fix the car so I can get to work on Monday. Sure I could take it to the mechanic and get the OT, but the money I made would be spent on his labor costs. Anyway's I got all this going on an then somebody has to open their trap and say "Could be worse.."followed by some long winded story about something that doesn't involve me or my problems.

How is this supposed to help? You want to know what will help? You telling me how bad I have it and stroking my ego.

I want to hear "Wow that sucks" not "It could be worse my friend just got hit by a bus full of pit bulls that got taken away from Michael Vick and then the pit bulls got loose and ate him"

I want to hear "You're just having a bad week. Next week will be better." Not "It could be worse my aunt went sunbathing last week after eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. When she woke up her big toe was missing. Apparently she had spilt some jelly on her foot, laid her blanket on a bed of flesh eating ants, one thing led to another and the next thing you know it was goodbye big toe."

The only thing that "Could make it worse" would be to hear you tell me how worse it could be and me getting sentenced to life in the pen on a murder rap cause you're "helpful story" was the straw that broke this camels back.

Oh well!! Guess it could be worse..

Thanksgiving Leftovers (Part II)

"Well sweetie, if you have to ask if you need stitches.then you probably do."

That was Lucy's response to my mumbled question. Mumbled partially because of my fat lip and partially because of the ball of toilet paper I had covering it.

What is it with headbutting that kids find so fascinating. They all do it. At some point slinging your head back like a wrecking ball becomes an adrenaline rush. And like that wrecking ball swinging aimlessly towards some unknown target, nothing is off limits to the headbutt.

"Oh look at that!! I flung my head backwards and landed on a pillow. Yippiee"
"Ha this time I landed flat on the floor!!"
"Broke my daddy's nose with that one. He should have been paying closer attention I guess."
"Daddy why is your tooth buried 2 inches into your bottom lip? Never mind time for another headbutt. Weeeeeeee"

I thought he was supposed to have a soft spot up there somewhere? I look like I just got back from Fight Club (Oh sorry!! Forget I said that. I always get that first rule wrong!!) and he's wondering if he can use his hammer head to create an escape hatch out his room and into the backyard.

Thanksgiving Leftovers (Part 1)

It could have been the mounds of turkey consumed. It could have been the complete exhaustion brought on from driving all over Tarnation (yep I just quoted Yosemite Sam) eating meal after meal after desert after meal. It could be that our house is haunted by a ghost only Fred can see. If my knowledge of ghosts is correct (by knowledge I mean everything I've learned from Ghost Whisperer and Quantum Leap) when kids are young they have the ability to see spirits because the haven't learned that such things "couldn't possibly exist".  In other words they haven't been tainted with the poison of what us adults think is impossible. In Fred's 20 month mind anything can happen at any time. There is no such thing as "can't happen"

Ghostly Experience #1: As I said we were all hopped up on turkey, laying on the couch, Fred playing with his bucket-o-toys in front of us. Suddenly he turns toward the dark hallway leading to the back of the house and shouts "NO!!!!"

Weird I know. Then he does it again "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

One more time. "SID NOOOOOOOO!!"

The whole time shaking his finger pointing fist in the air as he scolded the unseen visitor.

It gets freakier..

Ghostly Experience #2: Next day, Lucy at work, Fred and I took a shower so we would be ready for some heavy shopping the second Mommy got home. I open the shower door to the sound of "Hey Guys!!" The exact phrase Lucy uses to greet us every time she comes in from being gone somewhere.

Except it was 4:30.not 5:15...which is the time she gets home...

So I think it's just me hearing things, I shrug it off, and that's when Fred belts out

"HEY MOMMMMYYYYYYYY!
"MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY!!!"

But Mommy was not there.Mommy was at work...and we were at home.standing naked..... in front of a ghost.... that we could not see!!!

2nd Shift Nightmare

Of course it's Thanksgiving week and for some odd reason I've been doing a lot of thinking about daycare. Not you're everyday 6-6 daycare, but those that cater to parents who work at night. Lucy mentioned something about one a few months ago and ever since then images of the place have been swirling in my head like some nightmare alternate universe. It's funny the ways people torture themselves for no apparent reason. When I was kid I used to have a nightmare about my family being kidnapped by a band of Satan worshippers...it never ended well for anyone. The bad part of having such a vivid imagination is that sometimes the worlds you create aren't always filled with rainbows and cartoon characters.

For some reason I got it in my head that the 2nd shift daycare lay along my route home. Everything's dark now at 5:00 and the buildings tend to blend together like images from a Munch painting. I'd pass a not so familiar building and think "there they are". Those poor families dropping their kids off for the night. As I created this world filled with sleepy old widows quietly knitting afghans, I switch and begin the torture process. A buyout at the office doesn't go in my favor, the economy tanks leaving Lucy working two jobs...the only work I can get is at night. We have no choice but to send Fred to 2nd shift daycare. We play with him for a couple hours during the day, but we've got to sleep sometime. Never together at the same place at the same time we develop this continuous argument that travels from phone conversation to phone conversation. And then there's 2nd shift daycare. Dark, empty (not many kids go there at night), just a handful of people huddled together in a large auditorium. Maybe a college kid trying to pay their tuition, barely looking up from their pre-cal book. There are no cartoons on the tube at night so they sit and watch the same Barney video over and over and over till the kids go to sleep more from boredom than anything else. No fun is had. Nobody is excited to be there like the kids that flood the halls during the day. Nothing is learned except life is hard.

The best part is that in a flash it's over. The whole thing lasts a micro-second yet I'm left with a feeling of relief. My life is nothing like anything I could ever imagine. Daycare lasts from 8-5 and there's always time to play with Fred at the end of the day. The rolling argument with Lucy is all make believe and laughter is the soundtrack of my life. Everyday I give thanks for having been given this dream.

Blockhead Bits (#212)

Why do kids pants have pockets? Is it to hold their keys? Keep up with their wallets?

Why does a two year old need a watch?

How come nobody at Subway knows the recipe for anything? I'm looking at the picture next to them and I can tell exactly what goes into a steak and bacon.How come they have so much trouble figuring it out?

Have toys always been covered in lead and we just didn't care? How bad could it be? I played in dumpsters when I was a kid and I turned out ok.I like pink cheese..

Is it wrong that I still hold my nose after 570 days of diaper changing?

Is it even more wrong that I'd rather not teach him to be potty trained because changing a diaper is much more preferable than emptying a poop bucket a couple times a day?

Can John Cusack make a bad movie? Here is the preview from Martian Child. We saw it this past weekend:

I understand Buffy is a fictional character but why can't I let go? The show ended like 3 years ago!!! Dang you Sarah Michelle Geller and your recent cover of Maxim!!!

Why do people constantly bring me cookies, cakes, and donuts? My kitchen looks like the desert branch of the Salvation Army.

What is it about me that makes people comfortable talking about infections relating to their privates? Call me when it gets on your elbow, otherwise keep it to yourself.and I mean that literally.

Things We Learn Along The Way

I know I say this every time I mention him, but Fred is changing more and more everyday. Recently I've been struck by  the amazing bits of knowledge he picks up here and there.

Yesterday he went to the counter, pulled down the bag of Oreo's(double stuffed of course), got one out, twisted it open, and started licking the center out like a pro!! I didn't teach him this (kinda wish I had, but I'm not there every second of the day). I think the GiGi had something to do with it.

I was on my way to the bathroom the other day and he says "Pee Pee dadda" Now the Dr. told us last week that normally 19 months is way too early to start potty training, but considering he witnessed Fred do a dook, grab a fresh diaper and the pack of wipes from the diaper bag, then proceed to hand them to Lucy, the guy reconsider his theories on when to potty train. Santa is bringing Fred his own potty this year.  Not the one Santa uses, but one that's close to it I'm sure.

Puzzles are great for kids. Not the like jigsaw puzzles. I'm talking the big bulky circles and animal shapes that normally fit into holes cut into pieces of plywood. They work as blocks and learning tools and occasionally they are turned into balls (though we try to avoid using them for that purpose). Suddenly he knows the chicken block goes into the chicken hole and the duck block goes into the duck hole. He'll even make the animal noise as he puts them in there.

It's no secret Auburn is my team. War Eagle. War Tommy Tuberville. War my boys in orange and blue taking it to the tide after this coming weeks much needed rest. This is something I'm determined to  pass down to Fred though it was a major shock to see him run to the coat rack and scream for his Auburn  cap when after being asked where it was.

All we do now is play cars and throw balls. Big cars, little cars, red cars, blue cars. Cars you ride, cars you push, cars that go by themselves..how did he learn to switch the car around when it's his turn to roll it back? How did he learn which end is the front? I never took the time to show him "Fred look. We turn the car around to face the other way then we push" He just does it. 

High Fives we had to teach. Saying thank you (tanks is his version) was something taught. Taking his socks off, holding them to his nose, and pretending they stink was something taught. Suddenly he's timing his burps to escape the same time as mine. Something's are just born into them I guess.

Who We Are

We hadn't had a night to ourselves in so long that we jumped at the slightest hint of an opportunity. Some random friend mentions "Hey if you want us to keep Fred some night so you two can go to a movie, just let us know" I understand that sometimes people say things to be polite and we all let things slip just to keep the conversation rolling, but offering parents of a 2 year old (technically a 19 month old) a night on the town isn't something you say out loud without truly meaning it. It's like offering a homeless man a free meal. He's going to take you up on the offer cause you said it and in his mind why would you offer if you didn't intend to follow through.

In this case the Gigi offered and like that homeless man that hadn't had a steak in twenty years we jump on the invitation for a night of freedom. Being a parent in a lot of ways is like being a zoo keeper. Zoo keepers don't get to sleep late. There are animals to be fed and cages to be cleaned. Sometimes the creatures jump through the hoops when asked, sometimes they look at you like your the dumbest amphibian on this planet. A zoo keepers job is never done and at the end of the day you can't help but detect the slightest aroma of poop on him.

Before the baby we were book readers, movie watchers, back rubbers, stay up all night playing board gamers. We did what we wanted when we wanted too no matter the time of the day. After the baby those days became things of legend. Stories of our adventures all begin with the phrase "Remember when we could...."

Well this weekend we got a chance to relive those days and....we hated it. It started at the restaurant where every family in town showed up with their clone of our Fred and sat all around us. Kids laughing at their daddy's. Mom's begging them to settle down. Chicken nuggets being begged for. The idea of a romantic dinner for two resembling the good ole days kept being interrupted by flashes of the way we were now. Just like the car had felt empty with only two people inside, the dinner table felt odd without the high chair sitting next to it.

Yes the movie was nice, but again the silence of the car and the echo in the house afterward were deafening. It's not that I don't love my wife and her I. It's not that we didn't have stories to tell or things to talk about over dinner. The food was fantastic, the movie amazing, the time together necessary...it's just that it felt...incomplete. Sure we joke about having a kid can sometimes be a struggle and how it's the most exhausting thing in the world. We kid about how we would kill for a night for just the two of us...and once we got our chance, it was all we could do not to go get the little guy the second the waitress laid the check on the table.

We used to be book readers, movie watchers, back rubbers, stay up all night playing board gamers...we used to be.

Halloween '07'

Fred was well enough to go to school and even hit a couple of places for Halloween. I've seen some cute frogs in my lifetime, but by far he's the cutest.

 

 

New-Monia

Yes I know I spelled it wrong, but it seems to fit considering we've never been through it before. The yard sale this past weekend went fantastic and after letting Fred play outside all day Sat. as we sold our old junk, there was only one thought that kept going through our heads the moment the fever/vomiting kicked in Sun. night "We Broke Him!!!" 

After a night filled with two rounds of clean sheets for our bed and only 4 non-sequential hours of sleep, Fred leaping up at 6:30 a.m. begging to play was a blessing. The Doc gave him a shot, let us know that a temp of 105 though dangerous isn't something to be too frightened of, and sent us on our way.

Fred is fine and will be back to normal in a couple of days. This may not even put a damper on his Trick and Treating. I do need to speak a moment (cause that's all the time I've got) about the shot they gave him. I don't know if it was some type of steroid or mind altering drug or what, but my baby changed. By changed I mean my hyper normal 1 1/2 year-old turned into something out of a comic book. As if bitten by a radioactive spider he instantly gained super speed, a enhanced vocabulary, out of this world strength, and the ability to stay awake for days at a time without touching head to pillow. At one point he ran so fast he literally split in two and started playing catch with himself. I'm thinking about faking his illness just so I can get a shot to keep up with him.

Normally we play a standard zone defense. Lucy takes one end of the room/house, I take the other, and we bounce him back & forth as he comes near us. Always keeping him in "play" and never letting him stray out of sight (or out of bounds as we call it). Since new-monia arrived we are playing man-on-man and still getting dunked on left & right. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!!!

Charlie Blockhead: The Missing Post

 

I remember when I wrote this post. It was a boring night at church (yeah I said it! I wasn't all into what was being said that night!!! I don't have to like every sermon. I'm not the church stenographer. I don't have to memorize every word!!). Anyway's there was a pencil, a visitors card, and an idea that demanded my attention.so without further ado I present the Missing Post:

Daycare Blues
Well it finally happened. Daycare used to be a place where Fred would gladly be dropped off and with a big smile and a kick in his giddy-up he'd practically knock down Mrs. Jackie down jumping into her arms. As of last week though drop off time has become the hardest part of my day. He cries when I leave now. Monday it was just a whimper and I wrote it off to him just being sleepy, but by Wednesday it grew into a full blown cry. It's a parents instinct to grab their child the second the tears start.not to turn and walk away. I suppose I should call and check on him after I get to work, but the comfort of lying to myself and assuming the tears stopped once I left the room is much more preferable than the knowledge that they may not have...

Not sure when I wrote this post, but when I put on my winter coat for the first time this season there it was in the front pocket. Although he doesn't cry much anymore, on those rare mornings when he does.I still tell myself he stops the moment I get in the car.

The Whole Sordid Affair

Last weekend I was faced with the fact that I was 4 posts behind over at my paying gigs and I had zip in the way of anything electronic to do my writing. Friday night I realized I had no choice but to find a way to write somewhere over the weekend and hope I could find time at the 8-5 to type it on Word and send it to my blog boss.

So there I am Friday night and most of Saturday, pen and pad in hand going about it the old fashioned way. It was hard, nasty, and my hands hurt by the time I was done, but I got my goal accomplished. Then something funny happened. As you know I got everything back up and running Saturday night and Sunday when it was time to put on my freelance hat (ooh that's a great idea!! I need a freelance hat!! maybe something with fishing lures all over it!!) I was a little hesitant to use the computer.

Now I know this sounds silly but after the week of torture we just went through, thinking we had lost all of Fred's pictures along with everything I had ever written I felt that I had been wronged by my computer. That my best friend in the world had some unforgivable crime (much like a spurned love) and I wasn't ready to let it back in.

Lucy has expressed the same sort of mixed up feelings. There's this object that we love so much and yet now that we have it back we are a little hesitant to get near it. I've even gone as far as leaving the pen and pad next to the monitor as if I'm attempting to remind the computer that I don't have to have it and I can always find somebody else.this has to be the weirdest dysfunctional relationship ever!!

 

 

Technorati Tags: parenting , love spurned , weird relationships

Back-Up And Still Running

When I last posted you may remember my words were "There's an ebb and flow to my alter ego and I feel a ground swell coming so you may wanna check in everyday for new stuff."

For those of you that decided to keep me at my word, you no doubt found that I had not kept my promise. The reason behind the disappearance isn't because of lack of time (although I am now busier than ever due to reasons you are about to discover) but because my hard-drive crashed. Crashed isn't even the right word...more like disintegrated. Now I've had nightmares, but the thought of waking up to discover that every single picture and video I have ever taken of Fred was gone is something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy (I actually do have a worst enemy by the way...the CHANDALIER!!!)

It's our own fault really I mean sometime around month 3 and month 19 we just lost track of time and never thought that all our memories could be vaporized in a heartbeat. Thankfully though after a week of begging and pleading with whomever would lend an ear we were able to retrieve them all and now have what is essentially a brand new computer. New bigger badder hard-drive, new virus detector (the hard-drive crash was due to a mechanical problem not a virus), and all new programs to learn. Please if you haven't done it yet STOP RIGHT THIS INSTANT AND MAKE A BACK-UP DISK!!!

Thankfully we are fully back-up and running and I'm even caught up on my paying gigs for the moment. I'm going to try and get back to my regularly scheduled 3 posts a week, but I may need this week to get some things done in order to be back to 100%.

Till then I leave you with a look at how much Fred has changed from month 1 to month 19.

Charlie Blockhead

Pits and Pieces

I know it seems like everytime you pop over here lately I've moved the furniture around, but I promise this is the last time. And I know I promised more beach photos, but haven't delivered....they are coming. The design I had for Charlie went kaput several weeks ago and I just ended up having to pick the first one I half way liked. Now today I have found this awesome father/son forest adventure rainbow whatever you want to call it look and I'm completely in love with it. This will be the last change I'll be making for awhile barring another tech breakdown. Part of the reasons behind the lack of posts is due to the fact that everytime I thought about Charlie I couldn't focus on anything other than the crappy design.

Things are still ticking away pretty smooth at the sites I'm currently being paid to write for. Recently I've gotten a fair amount of attention over at Log Homes Journal and Repellem is getting more hits by the week.I had a couple of articles come out in the local papers and I've got two or three deals that if they hit may lead me to being able to quit the 8-5. Still I'm begining to worry that they are taking away from Charlie and like most things in life I'm realizing I need some balance. Charlie hasn't been as deep or as thought provoking as it was at one point and some of that is due to only having time to jot down whatever I can discuss in the shortest amount of time. There's an ebb and flow to my alter ego and I feel a ground swell coming so you may wanna check in everyday for new stuff. Fred is growing faster than I can write and I've got some stories that need to be told before they are lost to time. Oh and look for more video. I've got a great one featuring Fred feeding the ducks down at the park.

That's all for now. Give me a shout and let me know what you think about the new design!!

Charlie Blockhead

Gotta Get Back In Time

I woke up Saturday morning wondering what year it was. Lucy had gone into work for a half day leaving Fred and I to go at it alone for a few hours. With one foot still in my elementary school years myself, Fred is slowly catching up to the cartoons I like. Batman, Superman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; they all have new shows out and instead of out in the yard cutting grass more weekends than not I'm hovering around the tube on Sat. mornings.

After Fred/I played a round of Lego My Ego (there were only a couple waffles left and I finally talked him into a banana) I clicked on the tube to find the Care Bears bouncing around the clouds. So we watch after all I'm into the nostalgia and next comes new ep's of Strawberry Shortcake! I get bored, let Fred watch, open a mag. only to find they are remaking Knight Rider...for a second there I thought it was 1985!! My only question is "Where's the beef?" oh that's right the Noid stole it.

Beach Buddy Videos

As promised here a couple videos we took at the beach and the petting zoo. I'll be posting more pics thoughout the weekend. Enjoy!!

 

 

Vacation Realizations

Very quickly into our trip to Orange Beach I began to ponder things I had never spent much time thinking about before. Since it was an 8-hour drive down there and another 8 hours back, both with a sometimes-screaming Fred in the car; I had plenty of time to think.

WE DON’T PAY THE DAYCARE ENOUGH-This is the first time since Lucy’s maternity leave ended that we had been with Fred 24 hours a day for 9 days. Yes we typically spend all weekend with him, but we always know that come 8:00 Monday morning he’ll be shipped off to school for the day. Now I love him more than life it’s self, but WOW keeping up with an 18 month old for that long without some me time is killer.

FRED IS CHANGING TOO FAST-It literally felt like we came home with a different kid. He was flying kites, petting goats, jumping in the pool. Now of course the GiGi tried to spoil him rotten and that has some to do with this change, but most of it is him just being a sponge. He’s soaking up everything he sees/hears and rocketing it back at us as fast as he can.

I’M IN A RUT- I sorta knew this, but you really never realize how many things you do at the exact same time everyday until you quit doing them. From trips to the bathroom to dinnertime, I apparently time everything I do based on what time I did them the day before.

WE HAVE SATELLITE RADIO- The salesman never told us THE EDGE had this and I’d never had a reason to hit the AUX button until I hit it by mistake on the way down there. Now we only get to enjoy 1 of the 6 months of free service it apparently came with.

TODDLERS ALWAYS DO THE UNEXPECTED- We got up to head down there at 3 A.M thinking Fred would sleep 75% of the way, WRONG!! He stayed awake the whole time!! He was in such a greeaaat mood when we got there. Another example of this is what happened on the balcony. Not the balcony looking out towards the beach, I’m talking about the one looking over the parking lot going towards the elevator. We were all placing bets on what he would throw over (cause we all knew something would def. be going over). The short story he is that he was naked cause of a rash and yadda yadda I turned to see him peeing off the front balcony down onto the glass ceiling of the first floor lobby. No people that wasn’t rain coming from above…it was Pee Pee.

I know, you are wondering where the pictures are. They are coming along with a couple of videos. I'll get the best ones posted a few at a time the rest of the week.

 

Technorati tags: orange beach, vacation, parenting, fatherhood

Vacation Resolutions

I’m not the type to make New Year’s resolutions. I’ve never kept one more than a few days. It may have something to do with the holiday only lasting 2 days from work at most. I find it hard to get behind anything that starts NOW!! without any prep time. At the stroke of midnight tonight I’m giving up biting my nails!!! Ding. HAPPY NEW YEAR!! YEAH!!!!!!! Confetti drops. I kiss the wife. Nail biting stops….that’s just not me.

I need to warm myself up to a resolution. That’s why I make vacation resolutions. They all start with “When I get back from vacation I’m going to…..” I’m not talking a 3-day weekend here. I mean a week spent away from work vacation. The kind where you get to read and watch sunsets like the one we just came back from (more on that as the week goes on). So enough babbling here are my 2007 VACATION RESOLUTIONS:

• I WILL START WAKING UP AT BETWEEN 5-5:30 A.M. I’m tired of rushing around at the last minute and would like to be able to enjoy a cup of coffee or watch the news before the rest of the family wakes up.
• I WILL QUIT BITING MY NAILS This is just something I have to add and may never be able to quit, but I’ll never quit trying to quit trying.
• I WILL STOP WATCHING SO MUCH TV I’d like to limit myself to ½-1 hour a night. Even if it means getting Tivo or watching things later on the net.
• MORE TIME WITH FRED He’s a toddler now and if I’m not careful he’ll be turning 16 soon. Today we are going to feed the ducks with the bread we had left over from last week.
• LAUGH WITH MY WIFE MORE Notice I didn’t say laugh at my wife more.
• LESS TIME SPENT ON THE WEB I goof off a bunch in my journeys around the web when I should be doing research for my other two sites.
• MORE ORGANIZED I’m starting this weekend by cleaning out the magic shed (I call it that because it’s got like 30 years worth of tools and assorted objects all piled to the door. Before entering all you gotta do is say what you want out loud and be prepared to look as long as it takes)
• I WILL LOOSE WEIGHT Goodbye double chin and XXL shirts. Goodbye pregnant belly that only gave birth to acid reflux and mass quantities of gas.

There you go. I’ll let you know just how long I can keep them up. Oh and check back tomorrow for Vacation Realizations in which I’ll explore the question “Do We Pay The Daycare Enough?”

 

Technorati tags: resolutions, vacation, parenting, weight lost

A Pirate Looks At 32

It's been two years since I've had a week long vacation. That is if you don't count Fred being born last year. No I'm talking about a week of beach chair sitting, book reading, movie watching, all day at play vacation. The way I see it I've got 9 days with nothing to do but play with Fred and love my wife.

This has been a fantastic year for us so far. Suddenly I'm a paid writer for an environmental site, a log homes journal, and have even gotten a few stories in a couple local papers. In December of 2006 the dream of being writer only existed in the far reaches of my conscience. I was happy just being Charlie Blockhead. Now I'm Charlie Blockhead Freelance Writer. Yes I still have the 8-5 and my main priority will always be family, but it's nice to get a taste of a dream you never thought possible.

Over the past few months I've turned into a web head. Always on the computer during my spare time. Writing on my lunch breaks so I can play with Fred in the evenings. Staying up till Midnight researching the next story or writing the next post. After 9 months I think I've earned a myself a break....so I'm falling off the grid.

Just for a week or so. I've got beaches to comb and sand castles to build. My batteries are low. Today is my first official day of vacation, my 32 birthday, and I desperately feel the need to shed my skin. I'm spending too much time worrying lately. Wasting too much time on things I can't control.

Don't worry I'll be back in a week or so with new pics of Fred and Lucy. One thing I plan on doing is getting up before sunset, finding the perfect spot on the beach, and with journal in hand I'm going to write whatever comes to mind.

See You Soon,

Charlie "Life's A Beach" Blockhead

 

Technorati tags: family time, life's a beach, environmental, log homes, pirates, turning 32

A Few Fast Freddy Facts

Little man turns 18 months on the 20^th and it’s been a while since I devoted a post completely towards him. There’s just no way to keep track of all the hilarious stuff he does or all the changes he’s going through. Here are a few things that he’s done that have just about killed us the past few weeks.

Bath/Pool time would not be complete without a dozen toys floating around demanding his attention. Submarines, boats, ducks, whales, frogs all of this and half the time he plays with a rag and a cup. Still when he heard me taking a shower the other day he couldn’t help but peek in and notice I didn’t have any toys. Next thing I know he runs in and starts throwing various plastic toys in just so I wouldn’t get bored.

Just like his momma, the boy is quick with a look and a comeback. Though most of what he says is still gibberish, he says it with passion and all attitude. After Lucy took after him for throwing corn across the table Fred rolls his eyes, looks at me, and starts tipping his heard in her direction as if to say “Hey buddy. Hey dad. You wanna do something about your woman? She’s gettin on my case here and you’re busy putting away a pork chop. Wanna tell her to simma-dow-na?

I don’t listen to much hip-hop and I always heard that once kids start faking like they have a stutter it gets in their heads and they can’t quit. Out of nowhere Fred has starting rapping his love to me. “D-D-D-D-Dad-Dad J-J-J-J- Juice”

After Tiger pulled in $11.2 million bucks for 4 days of golf I’ve got plans for Fred’s future, but I can’t deny he’s got an arm on him. Any and everything he touches has the potential to turn into an aerial assault weapon. From a ball to a Playdough container to cheese to toe nail clippers, if it can be thrown he’s launched it at us lately.

We cannot keep him off the phone and he’s no sucker for a fake one either. We’ve given him old cordless phones, a couple toy cell phones, phones that dial out and make noise back, but he knows the real from the decoy. He likes to pick them up say hey, bye-bye, and slam them back down. Hand him a fake and he chunks it.

Let the potty training begin!! All weekend every time he did a dirty, he’d walk up to one of us, grab our hands, and lead us to his changing table. Land of no more diapers here we come!!!

He’s learning new words everyday and loves animal noises. Ask him what a cow says and he goes “MOOOOOO”. A sheep and you get “BAAAAAAA”. A snake and he’s “HISSSSSS” at you. Ask him to say bye-bye and he simply waves.

We’ve also been taking some great pics lately. Enjoy!!

 

 

Technorati tags: tiger woods, parenting, fatherhood, baseball, bath time

You Are Not Forgotten

Something About Mary

Her name was Mary. The first and only time I saw her she was walking past in the required teenage uniform of blue jeans, t-shirt, and sneakers. She stood out from the crowd gathering around the consession stands not because of her beauty but more so the odd look she on her face. A look that suggest she'd lost something and was busy  having an inner debate as to where it was last in her possesion. Her face twisting to the left and right as she eliminated possible scenerios in her mind. She was simply minding her own business happy to be in her own world amoung the other students goofing off outside the football game.

Me...I was sorta in my own world too. Standing hold the evenings assortment of camera bags and bleacher seats. I'm not too comfortable around the public and at that moment while Mary was lost in thought I too was scanning the crowd for nobody in particular as I waited for Lucy to return from a trip to see an old friend in the press box.

Teenagers are notorious for their bad attitudes and evil tendancies towards one another. There she was just minding her own business when a particularly large girl ran her over as if she were reinactinting something she'd obviously seen a hundred times in the movies. Shoulder to shoulder, the two collided. Mary completely unaware of the power struggle that was currently taking place and her oppent keen to the fact that she'd already won it.

With a clap the larger girl's empty soda bottle bounced or possibly dropped to the cement.

HEY YOU PICK UP THAT BOTTLE!!

With her reality too slowly coming back to her Mary did as she was told and then just as quickly....caught my eye. As she glanced at me I saw my own high school face staring back from 15 years before. That face that said "Look at him/her. They'd kill me. It's just a bottle. No big deal. Just another day...just another scar nobody will see." Then she was gone.

I couldn't let it end there. As if I had been lassoed by a rope thrown way back in 1991 I had to do what somebody should have done to me. After about 5 minutes I found her alone again or possibly still, coming around a corner. Again she caught my eye, but this time I kept her attention.

Why did you pick up the bottle?

I don't know. I wasn't even paying attention. It happened so fast. What could I do?

You could start by telling her she was an a#@hole! You're better than that and the second you forget it so do they....by the way I'm Bill

Hi. Bill...I'm Mary...Thank you.

Have a nice night Mary. It's been very nice to meet you"

And just like that with a handshake and smile Mary dissappeared into the crowd.

The Double Edged Sword.

No this isn’t another post about the toy recall, though in case you missed it they just issued a third list. Today I’ve got a question that has been screaming in my mind for close to month now and it’s finally found it’s way to my finger tips. I need talk about anonymity.

Now obviously my name’s not really Charlie Blockhead. I created the secret identity as a way to free myself from the constraints of possibly hurting or offending anyone that would eventually stumble across my little blog. That was 183 posts ago and I’m gathering up a nice group of readers. I’m averaging about 150 visits a week and though some blogs get that an hour I’m fine with my little corner of the Internet. Part of getting the word out is making sure everyone knows that I’m writing. I mention it to friends, I send out emails, I’ve got the Myspace page now….at some point I decided that I didn’t like screaming into an empty room and I had something to say people needed to hear.

This brings me to my current problem: Many of my reader’s know me and it’s starting to affect what I post about. I find myself changing things to make them less in your face or offensive. I’ve started eliminating story topics cause they might hurt somebody’s feelings. I’m essentially creating a censored version of what this site once was. Am I a jerk? Probably. Have I done things in the past that others might not like? Definitely. Should I cater to those that might get their feelings hurt or may not appreciate my point of view? That’s the toughie…if I’m telling a story about something I heard someone say and I add that it was borderline racist should I just keep that to myself? If I do doesn’t that go against everything Charlie Blockhead is? A blatant, honest, good, bad, ugly, not always fair view from a first time father. I can’t help but feel bad if I hurt someone’s feelings, then again is it worth essentially censoring my own thoughts? Closing up Charlie is not the answer. He/It means too much to me.

Maybe the answer is to create another site where I’m just as rude as I can be and not tell anyone. For when those times I just can’t help but state my opinion regardless of how it may effect others, I could just post on this secret site and scream in the empty room till I’ve got it all out of my system….who knows maybe I’ve already done this.

 

Technorati tags: secret identity, toy recall, honesty, truth in parenting, fatherhood

I've Seen Fire I've Seen Rain

We made the tri-monthly trip to Grannies over the Labor Day Holiday and as much as it pains me to say at times it actually felt like I was going through labor. After all the chasing after Fred, snapping at nephews, and constant eating I looked and acted pregnant. I learned a few things about Fred (surprisingly I thought I knew everything about him) and life in general:

• Apparently Fred is the reason we can’t keep chips in the house. My household is hopelessly devoted (please don’t slip on the Grease reference) to Lay’s potato chips. For some reason the bag is always empty and Lucy/I are lefting blaming one another. Fred sees chips on Grannies coffee table, calmly reaches in, grabs a handful like a pro, and the mystery of the disappearing potato chips is solved.
• Somebody is letting him watch Spongebob Squarepants.

“Oh I forgot to turn the TV off during lunch”

“Don’t worry it’s not bothering us, besides Fred hasn't met Spongebob yet”

“SPONGEBOOOOBBBB!!!!”

“Hmmmm it seems the daycare has expanded it’s video collection"

• The elderly can say whatever they want to whomever they want whenever they want and could care less if it is politically correct, inappropriate, or rude . They can get away with this because they know you know they are old and no matter how much you'd enjoy screaming at them you just might give them a heart attack. Like a 'get out of jail free card' in monopoly, the 'just might die at the drop of of a hat' card is just as powerful.
• though some may not consider pork rinds a proper meal for a 17 month old, they sure keep them quite long enough to eat a sandwhich.
• one baby vs. one pre-teen is an unfair fight in favor of the pre-teen. two babies vs. one pre-teen is an unfair fight in favor of the babies.
• there's nothing like a drive through the rain soaked country side with a baby asleep in the back seat, a beautiful girl in the front seat, and the sounds of james taylor whispering "sweet baby james" to make you forget why you only see some relatives twice a year.

Technorati tags: james taylor, labor day, family, reunions