Growing Kids

I am fearful! I'm also excited. I am currently a mix of the many emotions that every parent will go through as their kids grow up. And, as every parent navigates these times of child development, there are times where you chuckle, shake your head and ask, "Did that just happen?" Or, you stand up tall, stick the chest out and say, "That's my kid!" Well, I have experienced both of these in the last month, and that is just with Rachel.

Last month, out of the blue, Rachel announces to Janda that she knew exactly what she wanted to do. Knowing that she already wants to go to a hotel with some friends, swim and stay the night, Janda could only begin to imagine what she wanted to do. Well, the words spoken both surprised Janda and made her proud. Of all the things a soon to be 10 year old girl would want to do, she wants to be unselfish. She wants to give on her birthday. I won't go into details yet, just know that for a 10 year old to be to want to give for her birthday is indeed a miracle AND the moment I wanted to stick my chest out and say, "That's my kid!" And yes, the details of what she wants to do for her birthday will be posted sometime around January 1st, give or take a couple days.

Now, the moment in which caused fear, and the shaking of the head and asking, "Did that just happen" was in the early part of this passed week. Now, I know that my little darling girl will break many a hearts. And like any dad of a little girl, I also have a deep desire to lock her in her room until she is 30 (35 if I could get away with it). However, this moment had nothing to do with a boy...and I'm glad Janda is the one that she talked to about this...ummm...."problem". (Here is where you need to remember Rachel is turning 10 in FEBRUARY.) It seems Rachel is upset about development. After hearing a wonderful explanation from Janda, Rachel was less concerned about her rate of "maturity." For that, I am thankful. As for me...well....my thoughts are as follows:

Now that Janda has convinced her she is NOT ready for boobs, am I? WHAT THE HECK?!?!?! I'm in no way ready for my little one to have boobs!!! Dear, God!!! HELP!!! Amen!

Give me a couple more days, and I MIGHT be ready to share about Ethan's moments.

Green Eggs and Ham

Dr. Suess is one of the great literary figures of any child growing up. Green Eggs and Ham will typically be one of the first books a child will read once they can. It was one of the first books Janda and I read to our kids. And eventually, if you're like me, you will inevitably find a way to cook green eggs.

Just a little tangent before I get too far. You see, I can't confirm or deny that my brother or I convinced our dad to cook green eggs for us (dad was the resident kitchen adventure seeking type in our house). I can and will confirm that if in fact he did cook them for us, mom had no part in it. However, since I don't remember an enormous amount from my childhood, you are stuck with a mystery as to when I first consumed green eggs (but rest assured, my kids have seen green eggs they could consume). Green eggs though is where the food alteration experiments have ended as green ham doesn't look or sound right. Nor does it taste right. This is in fact something I know. My father would love to explain how we know green ham (or byproduct/pig byproduct) is slightly repulsive (thank you Kingdome memories).

Okay, back to the subject. When one reads Green Eggs & Ham, you are blessed with pictures of green eggs and green ham. Now, go read the story with out pictures. Really, please do! What do you read? Do you read anything stating the ham was green? Sure! The story does read "green eggs and ham." However, I beginning to believe that it was only the eggs that were green. Yes, the picture is of green eggs and green ham. But where in the story does it specifically state the ham was green? I believe Mr. Dr. Suess was taking liberty in his story telling and drawings of making the ham green. Why do I believe this? You try to make a pinkish/brownish meat green!!! Who cares if The Food Network has all sorts of recipe's for Green Eggs and Ham! None of their pictures show the ham as a solid green!

So, what do you think? Was the ham really green? Is it just a story to get kids to see if mom and dad will make food like this? Regardless, I love the story. Artistic liberty or not, still one of my favorite fun reads.

Oh yeah! The whole reason I thought about this is a little amusing in itself. Janda and I were having a conversation about her finger being blue due to adding blue food coloring to water. And in order to have green eggs, you have to add blue food coloring to the egg. Thank you Janda and your blue finger for causing mental stimulus for me tonight!

Apathy

Yup, the title says it all. At least, when it comes to blogging. However, I am changing that. I began working on a new project, which meant some writing. So, I figured I'd just dive right in. After more than a year of being absent from this blog, to jump right in on another project and abandon this one just didn't seem right. So, I guess you could say I'm jumping into the fire and bypassing the frying pan. So, I'm gonna give it my all to write more than once a year. Yes, that also means more than once a month. So yeah, I guess that's all I got for now. Nothing too deep, too special or poignant for that matter.

Well, back to work and no more wasting time typing a blog. Later all.

Thoughts Aplenty

The title says it all really. I have too much in my head that I want...need to write about. I just don't have the time, or the space in this blog to share everything I'm hearing in my head. So for now, I'm just checking in to let you know I haven't dropped off the face of the earth. And please, allow me to share one thought below.

"A penny for your thoughts." I've heard it once or twice. "If I may put my two cents in," is another phrase (or something similar) I hear a lot. Both of these phrases is related to talking and sharing thoughts. Why do we say these phrases? Why do we use cents as our denominator in these phrases? Lets do some math.

If I'm giving you a penny for your thoughts, and I'm putting in my two cents in, I'm out three cents. If this pattern occurs 10 times a day, I'm out 30 cents. Over the course of the week I'm now short a cup of coffee at Perkins. Take that $2.10 per week over the course of a month and I'm out Bacon Burger meal at Culvers. Over the course of a year, I'm now short more than $100. WOW!!! This thinking thing is getting expensive.

Conversely, if someone is giving me this type of money, do I really want the three cents? And where is the money I'm receiving coming from? And if someone is willing to pay me, can I get a down payment for the next 20 years of my thoughts?

I'm a Loser

The other night, my brother sent me a message on Facebook encouraging me to check his blog. He thought I would rather enjoy that days post. The topic of the day was music, and knowing my passion for music and being in the music industry, he would rather remind me to read the blog than me forget to check in on it. So, off to his blog I went.

I enjoyed the post. I chuckled at it (chuckle in an amused manner, not the funny ha, ha type). I again found it both thought provoking and well written. Definenately a post I could relate to. Its topic - pick an artist/band and provide answers to the questions using one song from that band/artist. And, you must do so by not repeating any of the songs. After reading the blog, I had two thoughts. First, gotta read to Janda as she may enjoy it. Second, I might have to do this at some point in time.

First thought of sharing with Janda was accomplished. I shared the half of the post with the Steve Taylor songs. I love Steve Taylor's music and the genius behind the sattire of the words. Janda isn't too appreciative, but shared with her none the less. When I was done reading the post to her, Ethan put his two cents in and boy did it cause me to think.

Being tired, on his way to bed and still bummed from his baseball teams loss, what he said was perfect. His words were minced in my head and I thought he was referring to the state of the teams loss. Nope! Below is the conversation.

Me: (reading from brothers blog to Janda) "My Motto" - Jesus is for Losers
Janda: "Okay"
M: "I like this and thought it was funny."
Ethan: (walking into room after giving us nigh nights) "I'm a LOSER!"
M: "Ethan, you're not a loser..."
E: "What? Isn't Jesus for me?"
M: "I..you got me. And yes, you are right, Jesus is for you."
J: "Got you." (said as she laughs).

Lesson learned. Man, this boy is teaching me a lot over the last month. I love it and I am very proud of his maturation. Thanks kiddo.

Shopping as a Tourist

So today I had one of those moments where I wanted to stop doing what I was doing, slap the person speaking, and then go back to my routine. Praise God! I did not do what my impulse was telling me to do.

Without getting into much detail, may I remind people that when you are a tourist in a city you have never visited, you typically desire to see as much as possible as well as get in a little shopping, especially if that is what the town is built around. Knowing this, when you take people to a town known for its shopping, don't complain when they want to shop.

Really people, can you think of nothing positive? You are in a town known for shopping!!! They are there to do what everyone else is doing - SHOP!!! And you are mad because they aren't doing what you "think" they should be doing - catering to you! They are the ones on vacation, not you! They are the ones who asked to go there, not you! This is their first trip to the shopping destination/tourist trap/beautiful city where as you are a days event away from this place. BIG DEAL!!!

I say, get over yourself, and let your guest do as they see fit. After all, it is their vacation!

Drive With Your Windows Up

I am recommending that all drivers pay attention to this blog. This only pertains to days where there are remains from a massive rain storm or large amounts of snow melt, either of which create really big puddles. Though there be no immenent danger if you don't heed my warning, I do feel it best that you at least consider the consequences of not listening.

I have a 2007 Chevy Avalanche. It is my toy. I enjoy mud, snow, puddles and anything else that could baptize the truck in messiness. Upon sight of large puddles, there seems to be a magnetic force drawing the truck towards said puddles. These puddles are of even more joy when the are a part of the street and no extra deviation from the street is needed. Hence the reason for my warning.

If you are approaching an intersection known for water collection, may I recommend that you at have your window rolled up. At the very least, don't attempt to traverse through the intersection (especially if you don't want to roll up the window) until oncoming traffic (or me in my truck) safely passes through the intersection. If in fact you enjoy your window being rolled down, and you see a vehicle (or a Chevy Avalanche with me behind the wheel), and insist on passing oncoming traffic in the intersection with a very large puddle, rest assured - YOU WILL GET WET.

Again, this is only a suggestion and not mandated. However, if you do not believe me, just ask the poor lady who experienced a shower from my trucks....splash yesterday. Honestly, I had no idea her window was down until it was too late...way too late.