Recently my wife had the opportunity to spend some time away with her friends. She was technically working, but it was a Mary Kay seminar, and those ladies can party, so I doubt there was too much work... Her time away means its my time home. Well I didn't take any time off work so I could use it later. This presented a myriad of issues I needed to solve.
First, my little guys cant stay home alone. The oldest is working full time, and the other two older kids are at band all morning. Problem solved, I will send the younger kids with the older kids to band. There is nothing safer than sending your 8 and 11 year old to a high school marching band practice.
Well I think we all know how this is going to end. Yes the phone call came. I was patient, kind, loving, concerned. All the things a good father should be. He doesn't know it yet, but I am going to kill him in his sleep. HOW IN THE NAME OF SARA LEE CHEESECAKE DO YOU LEAVE TWO BOYS ALONE!!!
The point is my wife is gone, that leaves me to do it all. Now usually I am a pretty good helper. I do laundry, clean up the kitchen, help pick things up. I feel I am a good contributor. For some reason this week was horrible. Did anyone else know, when food disappears, you actually have to go get it? When milk runs out, it doesn't regrow in the fridge? Who knew?
I stumbled through the store, (no oreos, but a bug bag of sour cream and cheddar chips)stayed on budget, and actually planned a few decent things. None of which the kids wanted. We ended up having hot dogs the first night, cleaned up and all was well.
I like it when the wife is gone. I can make things my way, its nice. I also get a chance to realize how much she does. It gives me a bit of perspective. It helps me understand everything she goes though. How many times do we get a chance to spend some time in another person's shoes. It is great to think things through.
Long story short we ended up having "anything night" I wasnt up to cooking, do you know how exhausting it is to work all day and then come home to cook to a bunch of whinny children? I finally said, you are on your own, have what you want. I had hot dogs.
I found my wife had won a very prestigious award from her area. I was, and am very proud of her. I have always thought she is fantastic and works very hard to make things good.
On the third night I started to fix chicken. I only had a 60% complaint rate. I thought I was doing well. The chicken turned out pretty good. I was impressed. Then the big day came, the day Mom comes home.
Saturday, I decided to make sure the house was very clean, I made a list, a big list. I got up early, the kids were off to a parade, so I was off to the races about 6:30. Laundry, staining a door, going to the store (again, this is ridiculous) cleaning the bathroom, changing the oil, the usual.
By the time dinner rolled around, I was exhausted. The house was clean, we washed the car, things were all in place. It was time to prepare my last meal as a part time single parent. I decided we are going out! Grant asked if we could go someplace they didn't have hotdogs.
Man am I glad my wife is home.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
50 cents should clear that right up
I am a worrier, I have chronic worry syndrome. I lay awake at nights worrying about how much I worry. I have medication for it, but I am worried I will become addicted, so I dont take it. I have severe anxiety which I should also be medicated for. I just worry it wont help. Today is an especially worrisome day.
I have tried to work hard my whole life to show people I can be trusted, and also show them I am loyal and dependable. Sometimes all that work, all the pain, sweat, tears, and dedication can go away in mere seconds. Your whole life and career can be thrown down with just a few simple words. The frustrating part? They are not even true.
I have told my kids all my life, I hate liars. I hate people who lie, it hurts and damages things in ways you can not even begin to see. The problem is, I cant even do anything about it, because anything I say will be seen as me trying to make myself look "not guilty".
All this on my sons birthday. I was trying so hard to make a decent day for him. Mom is out of town on this one so it was all up to me. I was on the way home after leaving early to try and clear my head and keep my spirits up for my kids birthday when I passed a small table with two young girls. I drove by, but had a small voice tell me to go back. I love those promptings. I am trying to listen to them more often.
I turned around and found a snow cone stand run by two of the cutest little red head girls I have ever seen. They were saving money for a bike I believe and wanted a whopping .25 for a snow cone. All I had was five dimes....
They politely asked me what flavor I wanted: "Blue, Green or Red?" colors are always flavors, they always have been to me, especially when pertaining to frozen summer treats. Think about it..."what flavor Popsicle do you want?" YELLOW! RED! never banana or cherry.
I ordered my red snow cone and proceeded to eat it on the way home thinking about what had happened to me. Then I got to the good syrupy part at the end. That is the best part. I had worked my way through the ice chunks with no flavor to get to the good part at the end. I smiled and chuckled to myself thinking; ".50, what a good fix to a horrible day"
I have tried to work hard my whole life to show people I can be trusted, and also show them I am loyal and dependable. Sometimes all that work, all the pain, sweat, tears, and dedication can go away in mere seconds. Your whole life and career can be thrown down with just a few simple words. The frustrating part? They are not even true.
I have told my kids all my life, I hate liars. I hate people who lie, it hurts and damages things in ways you can not even begin to see. The problem is, I cant even do anything about it, because anything I say will be seen as me trying to make myself look "not guilty".
All this on my sons birthday. I was trying so hard to make a decent day for him. Mom is out of town on this one so it was all up to me. I was on the way home after leaving early to try and clear my head and keep my spirits up for my kids birthday when I passed a small table with two young girls. I drove by, but had a small voice tell me to go back. I love those promptings. I am trying to listen to them more often.
I turned around and found a snow cone stand run by two of the cutest little red head girls I have ever seen. They were saving money for a bike I believe and wanted a whopping .25 for a snow cone. All I had was five dimes....
They politely asked me what flavor I wanted: "Blue, Green or Red?" colors are always flavors, they always have been to me, especially when pertaining to frozen summer treats. Think about it..."what flavor Popsicle do you want?" YELLOW! RED! never banana or cherry.
I ordered my red snow cone and proceeded to eat it on the way home thinking about what had happened to me. Then I got to the good syrupy part at the end. That is the best part. I had worked my way through the ice chunks with no flavor to get to the good part at the end. I smiled and chuckled to myself thinking; ".50, what a good fix to a horrible day"
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Did you ever have...?
Did you ever have ONE OF THOSE DAYS? You know the ones. They make you want to run and hide, stay in bed, punch a sibling, drive over a cliff, you get the idea. Well today seemed to be one of those days. After the big four day weekend work smacked me in the face like a five pound bag of nickels.
I know you need to keep a stiff upper lip, and put out there what you want back, and keep a good attitude, and what you think about you bring about, yadda yadda yadda. I get it. Some days, it just feels like you are the inside of an enema bag.
I spend a few extra hours at work trying to get caught up and come home to do the budget and bills, which by my calculation, is akin to rolling naked on upturned thumbtacks and then diving headfirst into a swimming pool full of rubbing alcohol.
After 'trying' to do the budget I decided I needed a break. I had put in at least 15 good hard minutes, I think Camelot is calling. (keep building Spartacus!) I drift in and out on facebook, win a few thousand chips in farkle, feed my fish in ocean party, build a mine, the usual.
I decided I would like to read my kids' blog. It was then that I realized they may have listened, just a little. by the time I got through the posts, I was crying. Big, fat, Ryan Newman crashed again tears. Simple silly things like things they have learned, but would never admit to my face. I think all I have really tried to do is teach them honesty, hard work, a love for family, God and country, and for some silly reason, something made it through.
So if you have ever had one of those days, take a moment to look at your kids (usually when they are sleeping) and realize, someday, sometime, it just may be worth it all.
I know you need to keep a stiff upper lip, and put out there what you want back, and keep a good attitude, and what you think about you bring about, yadda yadda yadda. I get it. Some days, it just feels like you are the inside of an enema bag.
I spend a few extra hours at work trying to get caught up and come home to do the budget and bills, which by my calculation, is akin to rolling naked on upturned thumbtacks and then diving headfirst into a swimming pool full of rubbing alcohol.
After 'trying' to do the budget I decided I needed a break. I had put in at least 15 good hard minutes, I think Camelot is calling. (keep building Spartacus!) I drift in and out on facebook, win a few thousand chips in farkle, feed my fish in ocean party, build a mine, the usual.
I decided I would like to read my kids' blog. It was then that I realized they may have listened, just a little. by the time I got through the posts, I was crying. Big, fat, Ryan Newman crashed again tears. Simple silly things like things they have learned, but would never admit to my face. I think all I have really tried to do is teach them honesty, hard work, a love for family, God and country, and for some silly reason, something made it through.
So if you have ever had one of those days, take a moment to look at your kids (usually when they are sleeping) and realize, someday, sometime, it just may be worth it all.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Reality Sets In
I am sitting in the airport after a long trip. I missed my flight last night due to other people being late. I hate when people are late. Its beyond rude. It tells me you dont think I am important enough to make my time a priority. I made the best of it by doing some more work in the area so it wasnt a total loss, and really it turned out to be quite the eye opener.
I have been driving around from branch to branch, just keeping to myself and seeing what I can see. It was like Mulberry Street.... As I was driving I came across thousands of acres of produce. It was in very neat rows, all the same height, same color, it very much appealed to my OCD.
Where I started to realize things was when I slowed down, pulled over, and answered my phone. I was talking as usual, not paying attention to much. When the conversation ended, I looked over at these unbearably straight rows and I saw them. There were about one hundred workers. They were all bent over at the waist picking whatever it was off the plants on the ground. Maybe it was my age, or maybe I was just feeling in touch wtih humanity, but I thought of the effort it takes for me to have a simple salad. They, I assume, stand bent over all day like that picking fruit for hours. I complain when my office gets a bit hot, or I get uncomfortable. How easy I have it....
I started to think of all the things I should be more grateful for. My family, my God, my ability to say what I want, when I want. My option to serve my country, my flag, freedom, everything. I have healthy children, who for some reason think I am an OK guy. My wife has stayed wtih me for over 21 years, (I say she lost a bet) a house, my cars run. I have a washer for my clothes, a dishwasher, a yard with shade, the list goes on and on.
I could ramble for days, but the point is, I realized how good I have it. I dont know why it took one hundred workers picking berries, or heaven forbid spinach, to teach me but it must have been fate, or karma, or kismet, or sushi, or what ever you would like to believe. For me, I think it was just what I needed to help put me back on the right path (for a while anyway...)
I have been driving around from branch to branch, just keeping to myself and seeing what I can see. It was like Mulberry Street.... As I was driving I came across thousands of acres of produce. It was in very neat rows, all the same height, same color, it very much appealed to my OCD.
Where I started to realize things was when I slowed down, pulled over, and answered my phone. I was talking as usual, not paying attention to much. When the conversation ended, I looked over at these unbearably straight rows and I saw them. There were about one hundred workers. They were all bent over at the waist picking whatever it was off the plants on the ground. Maybe it was my age, or maybe I was just feeling in touch wtih humanity, but I thought of the effort it takes for me to have a simple salad. They, I assume, stand bent over all day like that picking fruit for hours. I complain when my office gets a bit hot, or I get uncomfortable. How easy I have it....
I started to think of all the things I should be more grateful for. My family, my God, my ability to say what I want, when I want. My option to serve my country, my flag, freedom, everything. I have healthy children, who for some reason think I am an OK guy. My wife has stayed wtih me for over 21 years, (I say she lost a bet) a house, my cars run. I have a washer for my clothes, a dishwasher, a yard with shade, the list goes on and on.
I could ramble for days, but the point is, I realized how good I have it. I dont know why it took one hundred workers picking berries, or heaven forbid spinach, to teach me but it must have been fate, or karma, or kismet, or sushi, or what ever you would like to believe. For me, I think it was just what I needed to help put me back on the right path (for a while anyway...)
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