Waking up after a hard night…

--Pulling yourself  out of  bed after a night of tossing and turning is like trying to pull a tooth while laughing. You know it has to be done but you really don’t want to waste a good laugh…..

When life hands you lemons...

--For some reason don't ask me why, there are days that feel like a weird game of whack a mole. No matter how hard you try to stay on track, there seems to be an endless supply of distractions that have nothing better to do then to keep popping up and getting in the way.
--What’s the old saying when life hands you lemons, make lemonade.! At the rate I’m going I’m going to be drinking lemonade until I’m old and grey.
--Or I guess I could open a lemonade stand and sell the stuff..

The go bag....

--When the children were little and we had to take them out we had a bag we took with us. you know the one filled with everything you might need for emergency’s or accidents like diaper, extra bottles, toys, change of clothes just in case ,and what not.
--It was such a main stay in our house that for years after it was not needed it was still carried, more out of habit I guess than anything else. The only thing is that it's content has changed over the years. now it's more geared to my wife and I instead of the children.
--Over the years it’s come in useful.
--Oh we could probably do with out it and survive, but I find that sometimes it’s best to stick with what works. And at my age I’m not really interested in changing one of the few things that work just yet…

Brass Tacks and Nails….

--My wife and I were talking about how sometimes the best meals we’ve had are the ones thrown together with the contents of the food cupboard or freezer before shopping day.
--We both found it amazing that when forced to be creative over the years we’ve always managed to rise to the occasion.
--It seemed that somewhere we’d become to easily swayed by so many of today’s fast fixes when it came to preparing meals we lost our creativity.
--Makes you wonder if that wasn’t what it was all about in the first place. Because it seems that the only time were able to actually get anything done. Or agree on anything for that matter. Is when it gets down to brass tacks and nails and we have no other choice....

Tag your it..

--When I was a child I always hated that game. Maybe because I was always getting tagged or I never really saw much sense in the whole thing. And only played the game to try and keep my brothers and sister happy.
--I guess the whole thing carried over into my adulthood in the sense that when wronged by somebody spending time plotting revenge feels like a waste of time.
--My wife of course thinks this is just plain whack a doodle. Being that the women can carry a grudge longer than some old feuding families I’ve known.
--I can't count the number of times I’ve had to step in and try to defuse situations before all out war has been declared.
--I prefer to let the universe that care of the tally of who's got what coming to them. it's easier and I don't end up playing tag your it with people.
--Sometimes this is hard especially when your taking your dogs out and slip in semi frozen chicken poo. Because your neighbor can't seem to figure out how to keep his chickens in his yard. And they've taken a fondness to spreading their little tidbits of cheer all over my yard.
--But like I said playing that dang fool game just doesn’t appeal to me.
--Let me tell you it does make for a interesting day....

The morning routine..

--Sometimes I find that sticking to a routine is the hardest thing to do when the day in going in a downward spiral.
--But unfortunately there are certain things that have to be done in a timely fashion or the result is often more chaos at the other end of the day.
--It's day’s like these that are often the hardest. Because try as hard as you might you often forget something, and yes it comes back to remind you later.
--My wife often looks at me in wonder when I try to explain my morning routine. But slowly I guess she has come to realize that I’m either right Or it's better to humor me and let me get it out of my system.
--Either way I find that the first steps of the new day often begin the night before. In the planning and setup for those first few steps.
--Especially in a house filled with cats, kittens ,dogs and children....

It seemed like a good idea at the time....

--I find it amazing that even after all these years if I’d just stop and listen to that little voice that tries to tell you when your about to do something stupid. Life would be so much simpler.
--But then again where would the fun in that be I guess.
--My children have watched in utter horror over the years at some of the stupid accidents I’ve had. My wife on the other has become quite the little field medic when it comes to patching me up.
--The spectrum has run from bruised and smashed knuckles from breaking cheap sockets and wrenches while working on car's. To cutting the tip of one of my fingers of while trying to clean the grass discharge on a push mower when it was running. Oh lets not forget the various cuts and puncture wounds from nails and sharps pieces of metal. .
--Usually when I head outside or for that matter try to attempt to fix something my wife will get the first aid kit.
--It's really not that I’m accident prone it's just that I get so preoccupied with what I’m doing I forget to listen to that little voice that tries desperately to warn me when I’m about to do something stupid.
--But I really do believe that I’ve gotten better after all these years. I’ve actually managed to make it a whole year without a major accident. Which just goes to show maybe you can teach a old dog new tricks. Or at lest listen before you do something.....

Running from life…

--I often marvel at the people who can spend their whole life running from life. Doing just enough to get by to be considered a functioning member of society and that’s it. And I might add when the occasion arises even running from what little they do do, by an ever ending series of mishaps and misfortunes that most people consider part of life’s ups and downs.
--It takes a very special kind of person as far as I’m concerned to be able to devote that much energy to trying to avoid life and the responsibility’s that come with it.
--It takes all kinds I guess to make the world go round . In a way I feel sorry for them because they are missing out on so much that life has to offer.
--But like everything else in life you can only run so far and for so long before life catches up to you. And then life shows you what you’ve been missing….

Leaving the light on...

--I heard a commercial the other day for a motel I guess it was, where the announcer ended the commercial by saying we'll leave the light on for you. I just thought that was great. My wife figured maybe I was taking about wanting to go to a motel. Because she gave me a dirty look and mumbled something about what do you think got us into this mess.
--I tried to explain that what I found great was the prospect that somewhere out their somebody was leaving the light on for us, so we could find our way. She wasn't convinced of course so I quit while I was ahead.
--But seriously I’ve always tried to impress upon my children the one place where you could always count on being welcome no matter what was home. And yes their would be a light left on for them.
--That as they stumbled though life little ups and down when it got to be to much there was always room for them to come and put their feet up for a break if necessary. That’s what family was about. sticking with and by each other because that’s what family does no matter what....

Thank God for Gomez….

--When we first got married my wife was driving me nuts. When we were dating she was the most agreeable women you ever did meet. But after we got married it seemed all she wanted to do was argue about everything.
--Of course I figured it was excess baggage from her first marriage which didn't end well. And in fact was continuing to plague us while we starting a new life together.
--I realized right away that if we didn't do something we were not going to make it.
--About this time was when I came up with Gomez.
--One day the kids were watching a episode of the Adams Family on TV and Gomez was kissing his wife's arm begging her to talk French to him. I figured what the heck about then I’d try anything.
--It wasn't long and my wife went into another bout of just why I was wrong or what ever. I figured it was now or never.
--I ran over and started kissing her on the arm working my way up to her neck, of course begging her to tell me just how stupid I was .And how you know what it does to me when you call me those names. All while specking in a French accent.
--Well it didn't take long before she started cracking up and told me to get the heck away from her.
--That was 25 years ago and counting I’m happy to say….

Making excuse's for other people's behavior...

--Making excuse’s for other people's behavior while sometimes can be seen as a sign of love. Most often I’m finding out is just a way of preventing ourselves from looking at the true picture. And in fact probably isn't doing the person were making the excuses for any good. By allowing them to continue to do what ever is was we had to make excuses for in the first place.
--Everyone is responsible for their own behavior, that’s what freewill is. We are not prisoner’s of our upbringing. The choice is ours each and everyday. If we refuse to take responsibility for our actions than it's our fault, and all the excuses in the world can't change that fact.
--I’ve always tried to impress upon my children that you can only lie to yourself for so long before it catches up to you. And you have to face the reality of life.
--Slowly is seems to be sinking in and I’m proud to say they are starting understand what I’ve been saying. That’s not to say their haven’t been some rough patches. There have been.
--But like I said slowly their stating to understand. That’s all any one can ask for as a parent....

Sometimes it's easier to start early...

--Just for a change of pace I decided to start my morning at 12;01am.
--Talk about putting people and animals on edge, you'd of thought I was becoming totally unglued from the looks I was getting. And was one step away from a room in the big house.
--I just figured since I was up anyways trying to find a position to sleep in. And wasn't having any luck. Why keep trying to do what just wasn't going to happen. All I was getting was frustrated, why not put the energy to some good use. So I got up and started my morning.
--The first to realize that something wasn't right were the dogs when I had to pull them out of their warm beds to go out at 12;30am and go pee. To say they were not happy was an understatement.
--The cats, and kittens just looked at me with suspicion when I cleaned their cat box and fed them. and then proceed to mop the kitchen.
--My wife peaked in the kitchen and just shook her head and went back to bed. After 25yrs of marriage she's kind of use to my little bouts of weirdness I guess.
--After everything was done I went and took a nap in my computer chair, which it seems was a lot easier than trying to fight that dang bed again....

Trying to figure out what dads talking about...

--My children have often complained that half the time they don't know what the Sam hill I’m talking about.
--I’ll say something and then have to explain just what it is I’m talking about. And then they usually walk of mumbling to themselves.
--It's not that I’m talking in a foreign language or anything I just try to put things into simple terms. So people will remember what it is I’m saying.
--If you were to ask my children what some of my favorite sayings were I’m sure they could provide you with hours of running commentary. So something I said must have sunk in somewhere.
--In fact I’ve heard in mentioned more than once in the past few years by my children and wife that they pulled a few of my little tidbits out without realizing it when talking with their friends and coworkers. And then their response is,” Oh my god I’m turning into my father or my husband.“
--I guess they were listening after all....

Trying to follow directions….

--If there's an easier way to accomplish something I'll try it. In fact when I'm doing something I'll usually keep trying to find the easier and faster way of doing it until I've found it. Don't ask me why but that's just always been the way I've done thing's.
--It drives my wife nuts watching me chop or cut up food because after 5 min I’ve probably done it 20 different ways until I find the faster way to do it. She swears it’s a wonder I don’t chop of a finger or to.
--And to be honest it probably is a wonder. Over the years I’ve tried to stick to just one way of doing thing’s, but have been unable. Now I’ve reached the point that I don’t even bother fighting it. There seems to be to many other things to worry about, and in the long run why fight it. Life’s to short ….

The autopilot day...

--I never understood the term autopilot very well until I had children. I mean how can you go though life on autopilot?. Or a whole day for that matter?
.--And then I had children and found out just what it meant. It's not that you go though life, or the day with out thinking, Your just to tired to think about what doing. And more or less do what you do trying to conserve as must energy as possible so you can go on to the next thing…..

Sometimes one step at a time has to be enough...

--Sometimes there just isn't enough time in the day to knock of a whole thing's to do list. It's frustrating at the end of the day to realize just how little you've accomplished.
--On day’s like that I try for one step at a time. I go from room to room taking care of thing's as the need arises and hoping for the best.
--To my surprise I’m finding out that sometimes the list I thought would be carried over into the next day is ends up half done….

Trying not to wake the furry little ones...

--One of the things I find interesting in the morning is that no matter how hard you try to be quiet the smallest sound seems to make a heck of a racket. That as a result awakens my furry little gremlins, all wanting my undivided attention.
--Mostly because their out of food, water or their cat box is dirty. Like I’ve said before they all love my wife and children, me I’m just the hired help.
--I’ve tried to explain to them that nothing's going to happen until I’ve had a couple of cups of coffee. And being the little gremlins that they are they've shown their displeasure with the whole idea by going whack a doodle crazy and playing hide and seek with their poo on occasion.
--But that sort of backfired when they still didn't get what they wanted until the whole mess was cleaned up.
--So lately it's sort of a oh it's you look. Then back to bed they go to wait for me to have my coffee.
--The dogs are more or less resigned to the fact that I need coffee before I’m going outside. So they just go back to sleep and wait.
--Now when I do finally come out in the kitchen dressed in coat and hat is when the fun begins. Because everybody just goes bonkers. But hey its what makes the mornings interesting I guess....

Trying to work through a list of things to do…

--Lists are nice if only as a basic guideline to keep you on track. I’ve never been able to finish a list because mostly while I’m concentrating on the list all the little things are piling up. And usually if I don’t stop to take care of them, will end up being stumbling blocks when I’m finally done with the list.
--Then there’s the other side of the coin by the time I’ve gotten all the little things done so I can concentrate on a list the day is half shot and more little things start popping up.
--The only way I’ve found to get anything done is to take one or to things from a list and try to fit into the days little things. Even this is hard it seems because as soon as I actually start trying to accomplish something other than the constant little things that pop up all day, somewhere along the line the chicken little mode will kick in and then it will be time to put out the fires of the coming end of the world.
--But if anything it does keep life interesting

Winter cleaning keeping the dust bunnies on the run….

--Over the years I’ve tried to encourage my children not to be afraid of change but to in fact embrace it and learn to roll with it.
--They’ve gotten better at something’s but in other thing’s they still have a ways to go.
--They’ve more or less accepted the fact that from time to time my wife and I will have a meltdown and go total whack a doodle and change the furniture around . They have a tendency to become unstable when we venture into their rooms and start the process there.
--But slowly their coming around. More by acceptance of the inevitable I’m afraid than by any embracing.
--In an on going effort to keep the dust bunnies down and keep the house clean this has to happen. Especially in a house that seems to gather dust faster than anything  else. And especially in the winter months when the only fresh air is a cold blast from going outside.
--Over the years we’ve burned out our share of vacuum cleaner’s let me tell you…

Working smarter not harder...

--I've never liked doing thing's the hard way. First of all it takes a lot out of you and usually makes thing's take a whole lot longer than they need to. That's not to say I've ever been afraid of hard work. I haven't and still am not. There's no greater satisfaction than sitting down after a day of back breaking labor. It gives you such a feeling of accomplishment. That's very hard to duplicate.
-In a nut shell I prefer to work smarter not harder
--Nothing I've found can't be accomplished if you stop and use your head, before diving in. To often I’ve found that most people dive right in before getting all the facts and then get bogged down in the details…

Thank God for Busybodies....

-- When it comes to Busybodies, I have to say they are without a doubt constant. and I might add persistent.
--No matter how hard you try to appease them, by listening to their unsolicited advice. Which they are always ready to give. They seem to have a never ending supply of ways that you can fix what your doing wrong.
--If your ever in doubt and need advice on something their always there. Most of the time I find before you realize that you needed their advise.
--My wife thinks I’m touched in the head when I say things like ,“If it wasn't for the Busybodies of the world how would we ever know if we were doing anything right.”
--So I say ,“Thank God for Busybodies it's nice to know their watching out for us“...

Reusing what you've learned...

--The current batch of kittens we've been blessed with have renewed my faith in the intelligence of cats and kittens.
--Cats and kitten I have found if left to their own devices will find the most mundane thing and make a game out of playing with it.
--My wife and I have tried to make sure they have plenty of things to keep themselves occupied with and hopefully stay out of trouble. From little balls, caps, and toys to bat around. To boxes with little doors and windows cut into them.
--But like everybody else apparently they get just as bored with the sameness of life. So we have to constantly renew their supply of things or they'll spend every waking moments looking for other ways of occupying themselves. Which usually ends up driving us whack a doodle.
--I guess it could be worse, after all we are getting plenty of exercise. And were finally putting all the things we've learned raising children to good use....

The Best Friends are Family.....

--Over the years I’ve watched my children go from being a close knit group of four to a group of four people who happen to be related, and then back again.
--It seems that at the start everything was fine until they were introduced into the world at large by their school experiences, and the never ending quest for friends being promoted there. Then the closeness was no longer closeness but a smothering blanket that had to be kicked of at all expense.
--When they got older I guess they realized that maybe everything wasn't just as it was supposed to be in River City. Because as time went by they've returned to the original closeness it seems with fond remembrance.
--I have to say it's been interesting to watch. Because I’ve always tried to impress on them that the Best Friends your ever going to have is your Family. And the rest is just icing on the cake of life.
--I guess there is hope after all....

We need more Super Hero‘s....

--I often wonder what happened to being honest, in life. It seems lately all we hear about is this that or the other thing. Never getting the full picture because that would require being honest and it seems lately that’s just about the last thing anybody wants to be.
--It seems every body has a agenda and if that agenda requires telling half truths to achieve their goals than so be it.
--Sometimes I swear it like swimming against a constant stream of misdirection.
--Maybe if people put half as much energy into trying to paint the full picture, as they do into trying to cloud the waters of reality with half truths something could actually be accomplished.
--But then again if that happened where would the need for Super Hero's be. And I for one do enjoy a good Super Hero Movie....

From the backseat of the car..

--Watching the world go by from the backseat of a car, is like nothing I’ve ever imagined.
--After all these years I now know why my children had such a hard time riding in the backseat, and couldn't wait to be old enough to move up to the front seat. It’s like a whole different world riding in the backseat.
--While nice for awhile it can be quickly become quite tiring. I mean there’s just so many ways to count tree’s before even that becomes old. And don’t get me started on whack a doodle deer, who seem to want to play peek a boo around every corner....

Hanging a mailbox in the middle of winter....

--Putting a mailbox up in the middle of winter is a pain in the neck. You'd think after all the practice I've had over the years it would get easier.
--It probably wouldn’t of taken so long if I hadn’t been plagued by a bunch of dang fool cats, chicken’s and crow’s. It kind of hard gathering everything you need to do the job when you keep tripping over cats wanting to be petted. My neighbors chickens who it just seem want to hang out in my yard and be a pain in the neck. And a bunch of dang fool crows who wanted to dive bomb me while I was trying to hang the dang fool mailbox. All while the ringleader a giant of a crow was sitting on the phone wire providing a running commentary on the whole thing.
--After what seemed like forever the dang mailbox got hung. Ready for next round of come and get me now. And I made it back to the house without falling. Which made me happy….

The chicken little mode of life…

--When everybody gets into chicken little mode. Apparently the world takes on new meaning. And your supposed to run from one crisis to next putting out fires.
--I’ve tried to impress upon my children if they just calm down and approach a problem one step at a time they can solve it quicker than running around worrying about which part of the sky is falling next. But like I said apparently that’s not the way your supposed to handle it.
--I’ve often heard my children complain to my wife that I’m slower than maple syrup in winter. But at the end of the day everything is handled and the only ones that seem the worse for wear are my little chicken littlies....

The sameness of everyday life..

--My children have grown to hate this sentence. Back in the old days when I was a child. Probably because they know their in for a remember when session.
--If there was one thing we had in abundance it was imagination. which wasn't frowned upon but encouraged. not checked constantly to see if the idea was in violation of copy right laws or plagiarized form another source.
--I've always tried to encourage my children to embrace their imagination in there lives. With some success over the years. Despite the ever probing of a system that's seems more concerted with keeping the copy right and plagiarism laws of the land than trying to encourage children to use there imagination. and think outside the box.
--It seems today we are expected to stay in the box at all cost. While the rest of the world goes Willy Nilly and Whack a doodle as they please.
--Which I suppose is OK except for the fact that we seem to be in the process of being strangled by the sameness of everyday life....

With luck like this….

--I really have to give the snow plow guy’s credit so far this year they’ve missed my mailbox.
--Oh that hasn’t saved it. Far from it but each time it’s been hit so far this year it’s been a passing car that went of the road in front of my house. 155ft of front yard and they managed to land in the one spot with my poor wrinkled mailbox.
--With luck like this I’m really thinking about buying a lottery ticket…..

Living with cell phones....

--My wife usually smiles when I have to make a phone call. because I dread it. And will go out of my way to put it off.
--First of all I really don't like cell phones. I know in this day and age, that’s probably a no no but it's the plain truth.
--I think the dang buttons are to small and as for the rest of the endless features well lets just say useless doesn’t even begin to describe my feeling’s for them.
--When and if I’m faced with having to make or use the dang cell phone I usually hum a few bars of round the mulberry bush. Because no mater how simple the phone call is, with in a few short min I know I’ll end up either chasing that dang monkey. Or have to jump through endless hoops to get though to who ever it is I need to call. .
--The only feature I do like on our cell phone is the speaker phone. Because there's nothing worse than trying to talk to somebody who seems to think they have to yell to be heard.
--Other than being portable I think cell phone’s are a much over hyped piece of technology that I for one could and often do try to avoid using….

Good days bad days and all the rest...

--Just when things are going good, life throws you a curve ball. Or so it seems.
--The day becomes either a hand basket in a downward spiral or just another day to be enjoyed to the fullest.
--As with so many other things in life the choice is ours of course. Because along with the gift of life given to us at birth so was freewill.
--I've always tried to impress this fact on my children, as they stumble along trying to figure out how to handle life up's and down's. Sometimes with success and sometimes having a meltdown over something simple.
--Over the years they've gotten better at a whole spectrum of thing's, and I try to encourage them where I can.
--It's been a interesting adventure trying to help my children learn how to handle good days bad days and all the rest….

Planning a good day...

--Over the years I’ve tried to impress upon my children that good days don't just happen.
They are not some blessing given to us from on high. But are ours if we choose to have them.
--Sometimes they require careful planning. Myself I try to remove as many as the stumbling blocks that keep me in limbo and teetering on the edge in those first few moments of the day.
--Usually I have a pretty good day doing this which in turns drives my wife and children nut's…

Trying to talk to the wind…

--I often marvel at people who have the unique ability of hearing only what they want. Conversation’s with these people are often one side and very long. No matter how hard you try to make your point it's like spitting in the wind. with more blow back of their point of view.
--Myself I try for the most graceful exit possible. Which is hard because not only do you have to try and be polite, but you have to do it while the other person is usually taking a deep breath.
--Actually when I think about it it's like trying to talk to the wind I guess....

Looking for the first sign of spring....

--Watching out my front window has became a daily ritual with me more so since winter has returned. Maybe it's a sign of old age creeping in or the fascination of watching life go on even though it's really dang cold out there.
--Between all the blowing and drifting snow their seems to be an almost endless supply of non stop entertainment.
--From trying to count the cars that slow down for the speed limit. As far as I can tell somebody must of rewritten the drivers Ed book.
--To just what in Sam hill my neighbors turkey's and chickens find so fascinating about my yard and not theirs.
--And if that wasn't enough to keep me occupied there seems to be a flock of crows that think it's really smart to land and hang out in a yard full of cats. Guarantied their not the brightest bulbs in the box that’s why there out there. But even a dim bulb might be able to pick of a few.
--Of course it’s not from lack of entertainment that keeps me looking out the window. There’s more than enough right here in my kitchen. What with my own little flock of furry gremlins searching the floor for crumbs while I’m trying to cook dinner.
--Either way as winter progresses I find myself looking out the window more and more for the first sign of spring I guess. I’m not greedy right about now I’ll take anything....

Doing just enough to get the job done...

--I've always tried to impress upon my children no matter what your doing try to do it the best you can. Don't just put enough effort into to it to get it done But do your best.
--I guess I never realized what a task this was going to be. Until I tried to convince my children this was the best policy.
--In a world that seems to be more concerned with how much you can get, and how quickly, while doing as little as possible. This has proven to be a uphill battle.
--Where your best effort is seen not as a sign of a good worker, but as a worker who is willing to shoulder a never ending work load for little or no reward. It has indeed been darn near imposable.
--Where any sign of creativity is treated as a potential violation of the norm and quickly clamped down on. It’s enough to make you wonder where the next generation of anything is going to come from.
--Never the less I’m still trying to convince my children that sometimes putting 110% into what your doing is a good idea. If not for the satisfaction of doing a good job, but for the feeling it gives you when your done.
--Over the years their slowly coming around, and maybe someday they'll understand just what the Sam hill I’m talking about….

Learning how to ride out the lows of life....

--They say time heals all wounds. While in itself it's true physical wounds do heal after the passage of time. But there are other kinds of wounds that cut deeper than mere skin and bones the wounds that cut to the very core of our self image.
--As a victim of many such wounds while growing up in a world full many such occurrences. I've tried very hard while raising my children to make sure they haven't been subjected to such things.
--Which has been darn near impossible because it seems in this day and age to be the norm.
--That's not to say we haven’t had our victories. Oh we have and I’m very proud of how my children have learned to ride out the lows of growing up, and come out on the other side stronger for the experience.
--But it's a shame that if more people spent more time doing what they were supposed to be doing. Children wouldn’t have to suffer such things in the first place.
--Maybe someday people will try to remember just what it was like growing up.....

Fighting against the me me’s of life...

--I found it interesting the other day when I heard a story about a man waiting in line in at store who couldn't seem to be able to get though it. Mostly because he kept being polite and letting others who had less items then he did go first.
--What seemed like a nature reaction to seeing others in need, was a shock because it was so outside the norm of today’s me ,me ,me, behavior.
--In a way this is kind of sad, but yet encouraging. Sad because it seemed so shocking, and encouraging because it renews ones faith that apparently not everybody has surrendered to the me me’s of life..

Family Feud the home version....

--When two people have a argument it's usually because neither person is willing back down.
--Myself I prefer to back down and try to find a peaceful solution to what ever the argument was about. Some times there really isn't a solution. In cases like that I try to remember life’s to short to spend it fighting all day.
--I’ve been lucky for the most part with this .
--When it comes to my children and wife at times they have a tendency to carry a grudge worse than some old feuding families I’ve known.
--If I didn't know better I’d swear we were living in a perpetual state of siege at times.
--Over the years they've gotten better, and the feuds have gotten fewer. But sometimes it's like living in a dynamite factory just waiting for a spark....

Food processor baby food....

--We first realized we were in trouble trying to fill our children up with baby food in a jar. When we were constantly making a run to the store to get more.
--My  wife came up with the idea of running what we were having for dinner though a food processor. Since basically that’s what baby food jars were filled with. And we never really used a lot of spices. That’s what we did. The children seemed to enjoy it and weren’t crying constantly because baby food from the jar wasn’t filling them up. .
--The baby doctor thought it was OK, but we sort of forgot to mention we had been doing it for awhile before we mentioned it to him.
--The children were happy and growing according to schedule and that was all that counted. Personally I really think the children liked it because the food tasted a lot better some of that stuff in baby food jars was worse than hospital food....

Accidents happen…

--When accidents happen the first thing I do is take a deep breath. Mostly to remind myself that sometimes things happen. And to try and make sure I don’t over react to the situation.
--Being human is something we are unable to change, I’m constantly being taught time and time again. Mostly because it seems I’ve spent my whole life reacting to life little ups and down with all the grace of a bull in a china shop apparently. Thus the constant reminder’s I’m guessing.
--Over the year I’ve gotten better. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m learning or just to dang old to raise a full head of steam any more….

Preparing dinner in a houseful of cats kittens and dogs....

--You want to wake a houseful  of sleeping cats, kittens and dogs up open the icebox. One whiff of food and it's like night or day of the dead.
--Start taking pots and ingredients for dinner out and it's a free for all. With dog's begging and cats and kittens checking the floor like the good little CSI team that they are.
--I've tried to work out a no animal zone with the furry little gremlins but as soon as my back is turned there right at it again.
--So dinner is usually prepared under the watchful eye of all. And nothing is let unattended. It makes for a constant hustle but it seems to work…

Changing furniture around not for the fate of heart….

--Changing the furniture around in a houseful of cats, kittens dogs and children is quite the test of patience. And has do be done with careful planning.
--You would think it would be such a easy thing , and just a process of moving things around. But in our house you have to take into account just about everything. From will the cats, kittens and dogs be able to function, and not end up going whack a doodle. Or will the children be able to navigate in their new surrounding’s and not become so totally confused they forget everything they’ve learned over the years.
--And lets not forget the green acres effect. Will the appliances be able to function without fighting with each other.
--Let me tell you it would drive a Feng shui master over the edge in no time….

When life was simple…

--It’s funny but when the power goes of in winter, life is turned back to the simplest form . Just the basic's are needed to survive the ordeal, and everything else becomes secondary.
--It’s hard on children used to so much that runs on power. But in the old days, that's the way it was. We didn't have a lot of electric do dads and what not-s. For entertainment we told stories, or played games. Most of which were made up as we went along….

Life with a cursed front yard….

--I beginning to think my yard is cursed. Or extremely lonely.
--It seems when it gets bored it likes to drag cars of the road for a visit in the middle of winter.
--The first year we were living here it managed to drag 15 cars of the road for a visit in the middle of winter. 4 of those were in one night. Over the years the total has been up and down but I don’t think it’s topped the first year total.
--For awhile I thought the curse had been lifted. It seemed we’ve been more than enough company for the yard.But apparently the curse is still going strong.
--So far this winter my yard has managed to drag 2 cars of in one night. Pretty impressive I’d say.
--The first one was around 9:30pm Saturday night, that one managed to take out our electric pole. Witch the poor guys from NYSGE managed to put back up at about 3:30am Sunday morning. Talk about customer service, I must say I’m impressed.
--And the second one well I guess he saw how hard the guys at NYSGE had worked on the pole so he figured he’d take a shot at my poor wrinkled mailbox.
--Let me tell you life living with a yard that’s cursed isn’t all it’s cracked up to be….

The march of the cats...

--We used to have a old black cat who appeared for somewhere. Hung around for awhile and then wondered of.
--My wife and children named him Blackly of course. Blackly was loved by all he would force all of the other cats to follow the children were ever they went in the yard. All you had to do to find the children was look for the line of cats following them.
--To this day when you go out in the yard what cats that are outside will follow you every where. Which is nice except if your trying to figure out why the water might of frozen over night. It's kind of hard to crawl around under the house with cats climbing on you try to get petted but all in all it's kind of nice I guess that Blacklys legacy lives on in is great grandchildren....

The living room playroom....

--When we first moved into our house we turned our living room into a sort of giant playroom.
--We had a giant little tykes castle we had bought for the children to play on out side but when we put it out side it became infested with bees. Making it impossible for the children to play on.
--My wife suggested why not bring it into the living room. Since we didn't really have a lot of living room furniture, and the living room was gigantic that’s what we did. Over the course of a couple of months the children had taken over. And the rest as they say was history.
--Of course there were a few ideas that probably weren’t the best like filling a giant castle with plastic balls. And them having to spend countless hours picking them up. Or just plan dodging them because the children were having a contest to see who could hit who.
--But over all it was rather nice. And they had many hours of playing time with there coffee table town play sets, and what not.....

Talking to little people...

--When it came to talking to children I tried to never fall into the trap of talking at them or down to them. I’ve always tried to explain if and when or why it was they couldn't do something, or couldn't have something or what not. Basically I talked to them like little people.
--Contrary to what people think I do remember being a child and one of the things I really hated was how people would talk down to me because I was a child.  I always said if I every had children I wouldn't do that to them.
--My children over the years have pointed out to me on a number of occasions how they appreciated the fact that I never talked down to them like the people at school . So I guess that’s all that counts....

Putting groceries away...

--It used to be when the children were little we shooed them out of the kitchen when putting groceries away. But then we realized the error of our ways. I mean why extinguish that wanting to help craving that every little person seems to have before it has a chance to grow.
--So we relented and let the children help. The only thing we stressed was cold stuff had to find it's way to the icebox and can goods had to go in the cabinet’s.
--Oh we had our share of mishap's over the years, but all in all it worked out pretty good.
--Now years later bringing home groceries is no longer a trial, everyone helps and the chore of putting them away is over in no time....

Putting the day right...

--The hardest time to try and put the day right is after it's over. Or so I’ve found. Sometimes I like to try and pause for a minute and think for a few seconds. Mostly to make sure I’m not forgetting anything that needs to be done.
--Even though lists have become a must as I get older I still find that thing's have a habit of slipping though the cracks. And there’s nothing worse than forgetting something simple that you were supposed to do, when it was simple and not a full blown emergency.
--My wife shakes her head when I’ll stop what I’m doing for a second and run and find my list to either check it or add to it. But over the years it's helped me keep track of things pretty good.
--Except for days when I’ve forgotten where I’ve put my list. But luckily that doesn't happen to often....

Re-watching old movies and TV shows....

--I know I’ve probably said this before I like movies, and certain TV shows. But like everything else apparently I’ve over done it to the max. Mostly by video taping anything and everything on TV I think we might like to watch again.
--My wife recently pointed this out to me when I walked into a tower of boxed up video tapes.
--So in an attempt to bring order to the clutter I’ve been trying to put our favorites on DVD. Needless to say it's been trying at times, but were slowly whittling down the pile to a more manageable selection.
--And in the process we've all enjoyed revisiting some of our old favorites. Not very often do you find a two for in life. Especially one that can be enjoyable.
--Myself I like being able to accomplish two things at once. It makes life more manageable, and leaves extra time for those thing's that have to be done one at a time...

Thanks for the memories....

--Going though boxes of collected bit of odds and ends ,in an attempt to try to get a handle on the endless clutter in our house I can often be heard humming the old bob hope tune.
--It seems that there is indeed a time for everything under the sun, but some thing's should have been thrown out along time ago. And after running into a ever shrinking amount of space time and time again. Winter is the perfect time to clean out old boxes.
--To say I’ve found a few surprise's is an understatement. But slowly the tide is turning and in 67 more days I’m sure we'll be ready for spring with open arms and more space for what ever treasure's are found when yard/garage sale season begins.....

Watching the children grow up...

--There are times when it all boils down to if and when. If the lessons in life are going to be remembered, and when are they going to stick.
--Sometimes it's frustrating waiting around for the answer, and trying to remember to be patient enough to let the whole process work it's way though.
--Myself I find it hard waiting around, for the little things to finally click.
--But when it finally does it sure is a beautiful sight. And I must say it was well worth the wait.
--All of my children have over the years given plenty of moments of soul bursting pride. and many dark nights of endless worry. But I wouldn't trade a moment of any of it.
--The whole process of watching them learn to handle life on there own terms has and continues to be adventure that I’m proud to be a part of....

Watching the sun rise…

--Watching the light walk across my front lawn, bringing the day in with all it’s glory is perhaps the most enjoyable thing I’ve found to start a new day with.
--I never understood it until just recently , and probably don’t have a full handle on it just yet. But it makes the new day start in a better way so I just go with it.
--Sometimes it’s the simplest thing’s that are the best I guess…

Try to have a good day…

--Sounds simple enough right?
--Except for all the little thing’s seem to pop up along the way. That when taken to much to heart can and will dampen even the most free spirited heart.
--I for the most part try to keep my eye on the prize. And let the little thing’s roll with all the other thing’s that will prevent me from having a good day.
--That’s not to say there are not a few rough moment’s along the way, but for the most part good day’s are lot more plentiful when I remember the prize.
--I guess it’s all in how you look at it…

When the power goes out..

--When the power went out when the children were little and I guess even now. My wife try to make it a family night. We all gather around the kitchen table and play a couple of old bard games, or we take turns reading out load from a book.
--I know it's not much in the way of excitement, in this day and age but we like it. And I was surprised when my oldest son asked if he could choose the book the last time the power went out.
--Usually the power only stay's out a few hours and I have to admit it is kind of nice having everybody on the same page even if it is for such a short period of time....

The old man in the painting…

--We used to have a painting hanging in our living room of a white cottage in  garden. It was pretty and everyone loved it.
--One night on the way back from the bathroom I noticed for the first time there was an old man starring out of the window in the front door. Not thinking any thing of it at the time I went back to bed.
--The next day while vacuuming I happen to glance at the painting and you guessed it there was no old man.
-I mention it to my wife, and she just smiled and said she’s never seen an old man in the painting. While I let it go. And caulked it up to being half asleep and never thought any more about it until the next night on the way back from the bathroom.
--The old man was there again, only this time he was waving trying to get my attention. While I starred at the painting for awhile and then went back to bed.
--And yes the next day there was no old man in the painting.
--Well this went on for about a week, and then it stopped finally. I figured the old man had delivered his message and gone about his way.
--Awhile after that I was informed my grandfather has passed away. When I informed the person telling me that I had already gotten the news they seemed a little perplexed but never bothered to ask and I didn’t bother to explain….

Taking a few moments to count your blessings.....

--The biggest hurdle to growing up seems to be doing thing's that are expected of you on a daily basis . Everyone likes a break once in awhile. And life can be endless moments of drudgery if we don't learn to take a deep breath and take a few moments for our selves every once in awhile.
--My wife and I have tried to teach our children not to forget to take a few moments every once in awhile to basically count your blessing's I guess. To often we all get caught up in life's endless struggle just to get by that we forget to do this and pay the price when it comes due later in the day. Usually when were trying to wind down and get some much needed sleep.
--Of course like everything in life taking a few moments every once in awhile seems to be a skill that has to be learned. Especially these days of go go go. Where everybody seems to be in a constant rush. But all we can do is keep trying and learn from our mistakes....

Just an old romantic sappy fool....

--My wife likes to remind me on occasion that I’m just an old romantic sappy fool. And if I stopped to think about it I’d probably have to admit it. There are certain thing's I like and certain thing's I just can't stand. And I find that when it comes to books, Entrainment and of course music I like them to be uplifting. Not deep dark and depressing.
--To often I find that spending to long in the endless stream of what seems to pass for entrainment these days starts to effect me in very unpleasant ways. So I try to be selective in what I read, what I watch on TV, or what music I listen to.
--I mean life's hard enough why spend 2hrs watching a movie that when it ended leaves you feeling more depressed than when you first sat down.
--We both prefer to spend our time watching something that leaves you feeling better and ready to tackle what ever life decides to throw at you.
--I guess that sort of makes us a couple of old romantic sappy fools. Even though my wife won't admit it....

Gathering enough jingle to get buy...

--The constant battle to acquire enough jingle to get by has been raging in our life for as long as I can remember.
--Raising 4 children has been a up hill battle all the way. But we've tried to do the best we can with what we've had. As a result we've had to find ways to recycle and extend the life of a lot of thing‘s. From broken appliance's to out grown clothes, and of course out grown toys.
--When play sets became out grown we took old coffee table’s and made little tiny towns with old play sets. Giving them a whole new life. And yes more playing time.
--When old clothes became out grown we made clothes for stuffed animals. and of course list goes on.
--Along the way we've tried to teach out children to make the best with what you've got. And we've succeed to a certain extent. There are some area's that of course are a problem like computer‘s, video games, and certain other technology’s . But even video games are being put back in use with retro game night.
--For the most part have done pretty well. And it seems even the children have learned a thing or to about being crafty....

A child's first step's....

--A child's first step's are amazing. and very enlightening. Very seldom do you see a child fall down and decide to stay down. Usually they get right back up and try again. And again and again. Until they've mastered the walking thing or grown tired of trying for awhile, but after a nap there usually right back it again.
--If only we as adult's could recapture that excitement for learning new thing's. And try to apply it to our lives. Maybe we wouldn't be so quick to give up, and quit trying for the stars. And instead settle for the ground so readily. At least with out a fight....

Dog's a special kind of weird pet....

--Over the years we've had our share of weird pet's. Dog's require there own page I guess because we've had our share.
--From dog who loved to chase police car's, to the dog who like to steal the neighbors
 cats they all hold a special place in our heart. our latest dog's are a lab mutt and a Jack Russell terrier who are two peas in the pod when it comes to weirdness.
--The Jack Russell terrier I swear sees dead people because he spends most his time starring into space whinnying and barking at nothing. The lab mutt thinks she’s part gopher because all she like to do dig hole's. And not tiny ones either but giant craters that have to constantly be filled in.
--the Jack Russell has to be hooked up when it's time to go to the bathroom because other wise he'll just run around in circles barking and then want to come back in to do his business.
--The lab mutt has to be constantly moved around the yard so I can fill her dang holes in.
--Let tell you mowing the yard is fun . My wife laughed when I installed a seat belt last year on the mower. So I wouldn’t fall off bouncing around hitting all the moon craters in the yard.
--But like I said even though they can be a pain in the neck, the love and affection they have for the children makes it all worth while I guess....

The lawn that won't stop growing...

--Most people mow there lawns once a week maybe twice if it's been raining. that's most people.
--My yard grows so much I usually have to mow it every other day. or the bugs start taking over the yard. And I’m not taking about little bugs either. I seemed to have been blessed with a mutant breeding farm for bugs. mosquitoes the size of wasps, grasshoppers the size of butterflies and butterflies the size of small birds.
--On a good day mowing only takes a little while. When the dang bugs are going whack a doodle crazy. Well lets just say during the summer I spend a lot of time mowing. Which is a pain the neck because on top of everything else I have to be careful about making to many right turns or else I get dizzy from vertigo.
--It makes for interesting times let me tell you. But when it's all done it looks kind of pretty. So I guess it's worth it....

The weather forecast...

--The weather forecast is bleak, in fact downright discouraging. Except for the fact it puts us closer to spring there's not much good to be said for it.
--I try not to get to warped up in forecast’s, because thing's change so fast .I hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and go about my way.
--That's all anybody can do really when it comes to forecast....

Burning bridges…

--I remember a argument I had one time with an old friend of mine about burning bridges.
--He seemed to think that sometimes you have to burn your bridges behind you, because some people have a tendency to want to go back when the going got to tough. And if you burned your bridges behind you wouldn't be able to.
--I was of the opinion that it seemed kind of stupid to burn a perfectly good bridge, and it was always best to keep your options open.
--I can’t say who every won that argument probably nobody. That’s just what kind of argument it was I guess…

From my kitchen window...

--The wind outside is cold blowing across the yard. The world seems suspend waiting for spring. and yet there are signs that life goes on.
--A lone crow set’s on the phone wire chatting to himself. and far below watching him set’s a lone cat. Perhaps wondering what he’s about on such a cold sunny day.
--As I sit watching the scene play out from my kitchen window I can't help but marvel at it all. Even as cold as it is life goes on.
--A squirrel run's across the wire upsetting the crow so he flies of. The cat decides he’s had enough of this and heads for warmer places. And the squirrel well I guess he's of in search of a few nut's because in a few moments he's gone to.
--Such is life from my kitchen window on this cold morning it seems....

Old man Murphys surprise visit....

--I love how you plan for everything. Coffees made, and the next pot is ready and it seems like everything’s going fine. Until you decide to try and wash your hands after going to the bathroom and find out old man Murphy has been at it again. your water pipe froze during the night.
--Well here we go again, but first things first. If your smart you pour another cup of coffee. and if not well this would probably be a good time to throw a fit. except it's to darn early, and after all these years hopefully you've learned a thing or to.
--Well when your fully awake you go out and try and figure out what happened, and just how bad it is.
--After trudging around the yard and under the house with a flashlight that spends more time going out than shinning you finally make it back to the house. Pour yourself another cup of coffee and wait for the sun to come up.
--From somewhere in the dim light you hear your wife's sleepy voice, "So did you figure out what the problem was?" You reply in a whisper ,” sure did the pipe froze again.”
--You smile cause you know no matter what the day can't get any worse. and hopefully it can only get better....

The fate of the moment....

--When you resign yourself to the fate of the moment, you resign yourself to blindly accept a ride in a hand basket in a downward spiral.
--I prefer to accept things as they happen, and let others sort out the details at a later time.
We can't change fate but we can change our reaction to it.
--To many times I’ve seen people go whack a doodle crazy when thing's happen beyond their control. Using up a lot of time that could be put to better use trying to get through what fate has thrown. And if lucky perhaps solve or at lest minimize the damage.
--My wife claims I don't worry about things. Which is probably true in the since that I try not to spend to much time worrying  about things I can't control. But try to put my energies into taking care of what I can, while I can.
--It's probably not the best way to handle thing's . But it's the only way I’ve been able to learn how to deal with life little ups and down's. And not end up whack a doodle crazy yelling at the fate's and cursing the universe. I guess it'll have to do until another plan comes along.....

Forgetting the little thing’s…

--As time goes buy it amazes me at how people can plan for most thing's as if their very lives depended on it while forgetting little thing's that when piled up become major obstacles. Figuring that they’ll be taken care of by the universe I guess…

That first flower of spring...

--There's a change in the air. If you listen you can hear it faintly on the cool breeze blowing across the land. I know it's early yet but the whisper is there. Ever so faintly.
--And what is you might ask? Why spring is coming of course.
--Yeah I know were in the middle of winter, and I’m talking about spring. But hey it sure beats complaining about just how cold it is. Or it’s going to get. And when and if the next blast of freezing arctic wind is going to come and freeze the other side of my face.
--I can't help but smile at the delight on my daughter’s face every spring when that first flower fight’s it’s way up threw the snow encrusted lawn. Or how we both sit there and giggle in February when the goofy lilac tree’s in the front yard start to bloom .
--My wife gives us same look every year, like you fools think you’ve never seen flowers before. But to be honest we don’t care. Because every year we do the same little dance spring is coming ,spring is coming. Yes were older now but we still find the time to do the dance…. 

The two sided gift of parenting....

--Waiting has never been my strong suit. I’ve never enjoyed it and in fact have found it to be at times mind numbing.
--And then I became a parent and found out it's part of the job.
--All I can say is be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. And if you happen to have anything that you really don't like. You'll probably get plenty of chances to work on them to. Such is the gift of parenting I guess.
--Over the years I’ve learned right beside my children. In fact I can say I’ve probably learned just as much from them as they've learned from me. I like to think of it as the two sided gift of parenting…

Waiting for the growth spurt...

--Waiting for the growth spurt that will happen, is like watching paint dry sometimes. No matter how hard you sit around wishing for it to move along it just takes is time. And eventually becomes a reality.
--Over the years I’ve repeated that mantra to myself so many times you would think by now it would be second nature unfortunately it seems to get harder as time goes by.
--I guess it's another in the long line of test's provided for parents to endure while raising children. Because no matter how old children grow it seems we as parents are always blessed with more opportunity’s to endure more growth spurt waiting.
--Oh when they happen I swear I can almost hear the choirs singing halleluiah and what not.My wife thinks I’m going around the bend at those times because my response is can you hear angels singing.But she's learned to endure my out burst's. With a look that say's it all. Yes you old fool I can hear them everyday in fact....

When it rain's it pours....

--Have you ever had one of those days where no matter how hard you try you don't seem to be able to get anything accomplished? Where one disaster seems to follow another, and all it seems like you end up doing is trending water until the sun goes down. And it time to chase the children to bed. Where if your lucky you've managed to contain the wreckage enough until the next day. And if not you spend a few more hours cleaning before falling tiredly into bed, hoping for a better day in the morning.
--Well they don't happen very often, but when they do boy what a day. Make's you appreciate the good days let me tell you. I guess that's what it's all about.
--Making sure to take time to appreciate the little blessing along the way. Like the little jewels that they are. Because like the old saying goes when it rain's it pours. And we all need something to hang onto while we weather the storms of life....

The best alarm clock…

--The quickest way to wake up the house in the morning is to start frying eggs ,bacon and toast .
--Over the years I have found this to work better than banging on door’s and pointing out the time.
--Usually by the time the food is done and ready for the plates, the zombies are standing in the doorway wondering what’s up.
--Say what you will about alarm clocks, but there’s something about fresh brewed coffee and the smell bacon and eggs frying that works better every time….

Tripping over the little things…

--I like to clear up the little stuff before I work on the big thing's because. To often I have found with out doing this I'm left with tripping over the little thing's when the big thing's are done. It makes for some trying times let me tell you.
--As much as I try to share this with my children, it seems to fall on deaf ears. To often I find that most of their troubles seem to stem from constant putting of little thing's until they become big thing's. But I keep hoping that some day it'll click, and they'll understand just what I’ve been saying all these years.
--And if not well maybe a tiny seed will have been planted, to grow another day when they need the information. I guess that's all I can really hope for..

When the little ones roared...

--I remember when all our children were teething as if it were yesterday. In fact there are some night when I wake up in a cold sweat swearing I can still hear them crying.
--I have never felt so helpless in my whole life. Except for maybe when standing in the delivery room trying to comfort my wife while she gave birth to them. But that's another story.
--There's something about a child's cry of pain or discomfort that cuts right into a parents soul. And you try your best to relieve their torment any way you can.
--When it came to teething we tried all the remedies on the store shelf, an they were pretty much a bust. It wasn't until we stumbled on cheese puffs that we found one that actually seemed to work and they even seemed to enjoy.
--Needless to say we've probably bought enough cheese puffs over the year's to float a good size boat....

Public temper tantrum’s….

-I’ve often been amazed at the shock people display when a child throws a temper tantrum in public.
Some people are polite and turn away while the parent tries to deal with the child. And others are uncomfortable, at the crying and what not.
--Me I usually feel sad for the child, it’s hard learning how to deal with life’s little ups and down’s.
Of course being a parent I’ve seen my share of temper tantrum’s over the years. The crying , whining, or pouting faces, that tear your heart out of your chest. Because you really do want to make your child happy, but there are time’s when some thing’s are just not possible.
--It’s hard for all concerned. And sometimes no matter how hard you try everybody walks away feeling bad about the whole incident. But nobody said being a parent was easy. In fact sometimes it can be a real pain the neck. But that’s life I guess, you take the good with bad and try to roll with the flow. Keeping in mind that thing’s get better. ….

You know it’s cold when..

--You know it’s cold when that first cup of coffee is more than just an eye opener, but also way to keep your dang hands warm.
--You know it’s cold when you dress like that poor kid in Christmas story just to get out of bed in the morning.
--You know it’s cold when even the dogs are trying to bundle up before going out to pee.
--You know it’s cold when even the kids give up staring into the box for five minutes.
--You know it’s cold when the walk to the car can be done in one step and a slide.
--You know it’s cold when there’s more people trying to chose a cart then in the store.
--You know it’s cold when instead of marking of days on the calendar your making of hour’s and minutes before spring.
--You know it’s cold when your baking cookies at midnight just so you can huddle around the oven for warmth.
--You know it’s cold when even the children are going to bed without a fuss.
--You know it’s cold when the warms up after you get back from the store.

Sorting sock's….

--There are some things I just can’t get a handle on one of those thing’s is sorting sock’s. Try as I might over the year’s I just haven’t found a way to get over my dislike for the whole entire affair. I just don’t like doing it.
--I usually start out fine but towards the end of the pile I just start matching sizes and forget about color’s. Apparently this frowned upon in normal places where people spend most of there days checking to make sure your sock's match. Or so I’ve been told by wife and children.
--Myself if I need sock’s I just grab anything that will fit on my feet and go about my way. Needless to say over the years this has driven my wife and children around the bend at times. But slowly they’ve come to accept the fact that I don’t dress for style just comfort.
--Needless to saw with my pink hat and different colored sock's I have had my share of interesting conversations over the year’s with a lot of different people. And sometimes that’s half the fun…

Do you want the extra warranty....

--You shopped around. What store's that are left, you've made your selection based on many thing's. Price durability reviews, and availability. And you've chosen the one to fit your budget. You've got it in the cart and of you go to find a register that's open.
--They scan it up and along comes that fated question. "Do you want the extended warranty with that.?"
--My answer is usually no because half the time whatever it is I'm buying doesn't last half as long as it used to. So what would be the sense really.
--What I can't figure out is if it's a customer service their trying to provide. Or just another in long line of attempts to reduce the amount of jingle in our pockets. Or are they really trying to tell us something about what it was we just bought.
--Whenever we are forced to buy something because of fate we always save the box and all the packaging for the first year. Just in case we don't make it that far.
--If after the first year whatever it is, is still working than the box in considered far game for disposal. Because usually that means it's going to work for awhile longer or break down there after. And were going to need the space for a new box....

Sensible salting requires sensible driving…

-Times are hard we all know that, in fact were constantly bombarded with it every step of the way in our lives.
--In the winter there are so many thing's to deal with that sometimes I get dizzy just trying to keep all the balls in the air. From trying to stay warm, to trying to gather enough jingle each month to pay the ever increasing cost of our existence on this planet. It seems like life has become one giant gamble.
--But what I’d really like to know is it really necessary to have to take your life in your hands every time you leave the house in the winter. Because lately that what it seems like.
--I'd like to meet the wack a doodle who came up with sensible salting requires sensible driving. Apparently that person has never spent much time traveling the roads lately. Because maybe it's just me but as each year passes I’m seeing more and more cases where common sense have taken a flying leap. And has been replaced by a constant need for speed at all cost.
--Most of the time in the winter is spent trying to confine all our trips to the daylight because after dark has become a no mans land of rushing zombies who have no regard for rules of the road. Let alone common sense. And at lest during the day you can see what their up to…

A kitchen table is for eating…

--Try as I might I can’t seem to get it through the head of some cats and kittens that the table is not a place to play.
--Somebody said spray apple cider vinegar. They don’t like the smell. They’ll get one whiff and stay down. Right and when it dries there right back again.
--This has been going on so long we’ve finally come to a compromise of sorts. When I’m in the kitchen they stay down. When I leave it’s anything goes. It’s not an arrangement I’m particular happy with, but hey sometimes you learn to live with thing’s. Or go wack a doddle crazy trying for the impossible….

Ollie and Goofy a weird friendship...

--Over the years we've had quite a few pets. For awhile it seemed like we were running a tiny zoo.
--One of the pets we had was a dove named Ollie . Everyone thought Ollie was the greatest thing. All he'd do all day was fly around his cage coo and play peek a boo with goofy our cat.
--For some reason the fool cat was fascinated with the dang bird. They would sit there and play peek a boo for hours.
--When goofy became pregnant she'd lie on top of Ollie’s cage, and Ollie would walk back and forth cooing all night long.
--The only problem I ever had with Ollie was when it came time to clean his cage. For some reason he'd go from fun loving dove, to movie extra from the birds movie. And spend most of his time trying to take a piece out of me. Of course my wife could walk over and clean his cage with no problem. The dang bird loved her.
--My wife's answer to my dilemma was ,“Maybe if you tried to talk nice to him while your cleaning his cage he'd be nice in return“.
--"Right you try to talk nice to a bird while he's trying to take a piece out of you" was my response....

Cracking rocks with a feather...

--So often as not I hear the excuse well I’d have a good day if people would just stop getting on my nerves.
--Over the years I’ve tried to explain to my children that there are always going to be people that are going to get on their nerves. Unless you with draw totally from the world and become a hermit. Your kind of stuck.
You just can’t control how people are going to act. You need to control your reaction to their behavior.
--I know it sounds so simple. At lest in principle. But in application it becomes down right hard sometimes.
--I love my children with all my heart but sometimes trying to get them to crack a smile is like trying to crack a rock with a feather. Darn near impossible.
--That’s not to say I’ve given up, it just means I have to keep a ready supply of feather’s on hand…

Dinner an evening meal or a test of patience...

--Waiting patiently for dinner to cook I am reminded of simpler times when dinner wasn't a contest. And everyone ate what was on there plate. If you didn't like it you still ate it because you knew there wasn't anything else available. And the alternative was to go to bed hungry.
--Yes it was a long time ago.
--Now we are told it's good to provide choices, and alternative's. It promotes thinking skills.
--It seems to be life would be so much simpler if everyone got on the same page once in awhile. At lest once a day. But hey I guess that's just part of the fun of being a parent, trying to figure out how to get everyone on the same page. Without losing your patience of course…

Falling asleep in a kitchen full of cats and kittens….

--I once made the mistake of falling asleep in the kitchen while sitting at the table. It wasn’t a long nap maybe 5 min or so. Just long enough for all the cats and kittens to come up with a new game.
--I’m not really sure what it was called but it ended up being a weird game of king of the mountain.
--When I woke up I had cats and kittens all over me fighting to see who was king.
--My wife thought this was the funniest thing. Me I learned an important lesson that day if your going to fall asleep in any place make sure it isn’t in a kitchen full of cats…. 

Hansel the cat who flies with the birds...

--Among the many cats we've had hang around our place is one the kids named Hansel.
--Hansel's claim to fame is she likes to climb trees and wait for unsuspecting birds to fly by. And when they get to close she leaps from the tree and takes them out in mid flight.
--I first became aware of this while mowing the yard one day. I caught the whole thing out of the corner of my eye.
--Since then it's been a accepted fact that Hansel is a tad weird. And it's best to give her a wide berth.
--Although she's quite lovable and loves to be petted. She has a tendency to try and make the petting last for as long as possible. usually by attaching herself to you until either continue petting her. Or run for the house before she can catch you.
--My wife and children love the cat and think she just the greatest thing. Me I give her a wide berth and when mowing in the summer keep one eye on the yard and the other on the trees, cause you never know where the dang cat is going to show up....

I'm not very hungry right now....

--If there's one thing I hate more than what's for dinner. It's finding plates of dinner in the ice box untouched because and I quote "I'm not very hungry right now."
--Of course what there really saying is "I really don't feel like eating this I'll just make something else later."
--Now I don't care really. But all I'd like is if people could let me know before I take the time dish up dinner.
--Over the years I've gone over concept with my children until I can carry on the conversation with out them even being there. Which would probably work better because I find the older my children get it's almost like the same thing sometimes.
--Now don't get me wrong I love my children, but sometimes I wonder if I might have more luck getting through to them if what we were talking about was a video game, and not being just little bit more responsible....

Winter Weather Advisory....

--Well the snow is falling lazily to the ground, and all the predictions are for more snow to come. Which in itself is no great surprise after all it is winter.
--The radio has been pounding us all morning winter advisory's telling basically the same thing. But in such a way to try and make us think were in the prelude to the storm of the century.
--I don't blame them really I mean all they really have to work with is whatever the forecast might be at the time. Of course their going to try and jazz it up a little.
--But come on don't you think a winter weather advisory should mean something severe is on the way.
--Maybe somebody should read that tale about the boy who cried wolf....

Boy it sure looks cold out there...

--Starring out the window watching the cold wind blow I'm reminded it's almost time to go.
--As the clock ticks down the hour, I can't help but cower. Because the temp says it feels like 2below.
--Even though we won't be gone long, I try to prepare. Because it there's one thing I hate it's being stuck out there longer than it should take.
--We've done our best to combine all our trips into one, so it really should be fun. Trying to get everything done before the setting sun. When it sure to get colder out there....

The littlest kitten gets even...

--Kittens are weird. They have more energy than I'll ever have it seems. Or ever seemed to have had.
--Just today I watched two of the bigger ones gang up on the littlest one for about 20 min. They chased the poor thing around the kitchen until he finally sought refuge in my lap. Which was fine, until I had to leave the room to go to the bathroom.
--When I got back it was A lot quieter and the little one was sleeping on top of a box sunbathing. Well I didn't think much of it until about 10 min later when the box started to move and these were little tiny paws coming out of the holes in the side of the box.
--The littlest one was sleeping soundlessly on top of the box while all this was going on.
--When my wife came out in the kitchen, she wanted to know who trapped the two kittens in the box.
--All I said was, "Why don't you ask the one sleeping on top of the box I'll bet he knows"

The scavenger hunt for dirty dishes...

--To my way of thinking there nothing worse than after doing all the dishes finding the ones that were hidden from view.
--You know the one's. Either under furniture, in rooms, or piled on various pieces of furniture through out the house.
--Over the years my children seemed to have spent more time dropping dirty dishes where ever they might be, than anything else. I once found a very soaked half eaten peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the shower.
--It's taken awhile but I've finally convinced them if they can't figure out how to scrape of a dish and put it in the sink, at lest try and leave the dirty dish in the kitchen. I've even given them a safe haven for the dirty dish the ice box.
--Lately this seems to have worked, even though I always make sure and check the house before during after doing dishes. Because if there's one thing I've learned with raising children they sometimes have the attention span of a Nat when it comes to picking up after themselves....

Were going to have a baby…

 -- I remember when my wife first told me we going to have a baby, believe it or not I cried. There was a ball of emotions running though my body that was very hard to explain. Joy, love, euphoria, fear, everything you could think of. Then it slowed down to a slow march, and slowly retreated to the shadows. While the realization of becoming a parent was slowly sinking in.
 -- Probably what threw me wasn’t the fact of parenthood per say. Because I had been responsible for taking care of kids since I was 9yrs old.  In fact, people used to say I would make a good parent one-day. Because apparently to find somebody so young being so responsible, was unusual at that time.
 -- I think what threw was this was going to be my child. My responsibility.
 --  Like every other time in my life, when faced with a problem I didn’t know a thing about I hit the books. I read everything I could on children. Of course thinking this ultimately prepare me for the adventure of parenthood.
  -- The problem with the books I read was they all seemed to be written by people who had never raised a child or forgot what they learned and replaced it intellectual nonsense…

Trying to sleep in a house full of cats…

--I have never been able to figure out why at certain times of the night cats will take it upon themselves to go wack a doodle crazy and run all over the house chasing whatever the sam hill it is that they take a fancy to.
--And then after they’ve waken you up, by either knocking something over, or running across your bed. Lie down and stare at you like you were the one that woke them up.
--My wife thinks it’s funny, when I call them furry little gremlins in cat suits. Me I think there just sitting around just waiting for me to fall asleep so the games can begin.

Kittens little bundles of fun and mischief..

--For most part I find kitten to little bundle of fun and mischief. They can spend hours playing with the most mundane thing’s. And make a game out of just about anything.
--One of games that has taken the fancy of the latest batch we’ve been with. Is trying to climb up my leg when I’m trying to pour my first cup of coffee in the morning.
--It can make for some very interesting times let me tell you. Especially since most coffee maker’s have seem fit to provide a dribble factor into their pots. Oh you know the one, where if you don’t pour mind numbing slow you dribble half a pot on the counter before you know it.
--As much as I try to prepare for this every morning it seems the only ones to enjoy that first cup of coffee more than me. Are those dang fool kittens….

Left over night…

--No one like left over night especially if it run’s  after the meal it’s left over from. That’s why my wife and I try to brake up the sequence by freezing left over’s and picking a night when things are rushed for a quick meal.
--Of course when the labels fade it isn’t really called left over night but more like mystery meal night. Which makes it kind of fun.
--Over the year’s we’ve had some very interesting if not weird combinations  for dinner on those night’s. As our children will be more than happy  to confess.
--But it’s all part of trying to get by in these day’s of stretching everything to the very max.. 

Children are like ducks...

--I've often been amazed at the way's my children go out there to way to avoid doing the most simple thing's.
--Like putting a roll of bathroom tissue on the roll holder. Or picking up a fork or spoon they dropped on the floor. Or one of my favorites finishing the last drop of anything in the icebox. So they don't have to take care of the empty container.
--We won't mention pet poo, or piddle. Because when it comes to that they become blind and either step over it or just plain pretend it isn't there.
--My wife thinks it's funny, that I can't get a handle on the fact that children are like duck with water when it comes to doing simple things….

Grocery store visit…

--Going to the grocery store is like a doctor office visit. You know it has to be done, and try to put it of for as long as possible. Cause one way or another it’s going to cost way more than you planned….

The first smile of the day….

--Try as I might I can’t seem to make people understand, if you walk around with a frown it’s harder than heck to get turned upside down.
--You spend most of your day missing, the little thing’s that could brighten it. Because your in a constant snit.
--That’s why I prefer to try for a smile even though some times it’s hard. The alternative is something that really makes you feel quite worse.
--I’m sure some people are quite happy as can be frowning their life away each day. But as for me I’d rather start the day with a smile because sometimes it’s the only thing that will get me through the day.  

Working without a net…

--Trying to maintain the balance to get though the day sometimes feels like walking a high wire without a net. You know you really shouldn’t be doing it but there just doesn’t seem to be any other way to get to the other side….

Parenting where’s the manual….

--When you buy a new appliance it usually comes with a owners manual. That tells you the do’s don’ts of  safe operation.
--When you bring a child home from the hospital there’s no manual. Your pretty much on your own.
--Oh there are books you can get, that explain the basic’s. But most of those are often filled intellectual nonsense written by people who have never raised a child. Let alone been in the same room with one.
--Mostly you do the best you can, hoping your doing it right. While listening to people point all the ways your doing it wrong. All the while trying not to get discouraged, and yet keep all the balls in the air.
--There are golden moments along the way that are pure joy, and also moments of pure misery.
--It’s the only job I know that can leave you emotionally wrung out on the one hand, and take you to a spiritual high on the other. All within the course of a single day sometimes.
--As for myself I wouldn’t trade a single moment of it for all the tea in china. Although it would be nice to find the manual, I think maybe that’s the point. It’s up to each of us that are blessed with being a parent to write our own manual’s and share it with our children so when their time comes it might make it a little for them some day..

Trying to have a good day…

--I never been able to understand how some people just don’t seem to think before they open their mouth.
--So often little thing’s said in a passing moment have a habit of being a stumbling block to having a good day.
--We can’t control what people say but we can control our reaction to it. And that’s what counts. When trying to have a good day…

The blessing that come your way…

--It’s getting harder to make a dollar go farther.
--Seems like with every passing day there’s more we have to pay.
--The little that we do have we stretch just to get through.
--It sure make’s life interesting, trying to make a little last a lot.
--It makes you really appreciate the blessing that come your way.
--Because without them I don’t know how we would though each day…   

This thing called life…

--The peak has arrived and were over the crest. It’s all downhill from here. Or so I’ve been told.
--Each day a new step, and each step another day closer.
--Until we reach the mid point and start the whole thing over.
--When we start that upward climb to a shinny new year.
--Oh what a adventure this thing called life…

Waiting for coffee to perk…

--Up before dawn, it’s the same old song.
--The day has begun, while everyone sleeps I have all the fun.
--The cats, dogs, and kittens are happy to see that someone up, they just wish it wasn’t me.
--Because although I think they can be quite, fun to have around. Without coffee first I’d prefer they didn’t make a sound…

Tales of a mouse who scarred the whole house….

--I listen patiently to the story and what their trying to say.
--Even though I must admit that I find it kind of  gory.
--But they are excited I guess that what counts, but for the life of me I really cant see what it is their so wound up about.
--So there was a mouse he’s gone now the cat has taken him out….. 

A parents responsibility ...

--When at first I open my eyes, it proves to be quite a task. The dream I was having is still trying to finish it was on the very last.
--From of in the near distance I hear my child’s voice, so with a sigh I open the other eye I really have no choice.
--For long ago it was agreed,  when comes to need’s, to put theirs before whatever mine might be....

Buying a new appliance…

--In the case of our house their seems be many appliances that as soon as they get here become by processed by free will.
--Some chose to work within the confines of their direction’s, and these we cherish.
--But then there are the others, that have a mind of their own with a personality to match.
--Like the VCR that refuses to eject a tape slowly, but would rather shoot it across the room.
Or the microwave that can be run forever in 4 min intervals. Try to run it for 5 min and it’ll quit every time.
--After all these years I really hate going out to buy a new appliance. Because you never know what you might be bringing home. And if it’ll get along with all the other appliances.

The Never Ending list of things to do…

--There's a list of thing's that need to be done, that for some reason I can't find the energy to start.
--I don't know if it the weather, or I'm just not awake.
--All I do know is day half over and I haven't even begun.
--So with a sigh I arise from my chair. I guess it's better to go out fighting.
--Cause if it's my time to go. I sure heck don't want it to buried under a list of thing 's as yet left undone...

Well the ball has finally dropped…

--Well the ball has finally dropped and the new year has begun, for some reason I have a feeling it’s going to be fun.
--Everyone seems to think so to. Because they’ve have been busy keeping me running back forth enough to wear out two pair of shoes.
--The cats dogs and kittens are pretend to be insane, and the appliances are doing about the same.
--The only thing that appears to be working so far is the coffee pot and me.
--I guess it could be worse, but right now I’d rather not. Because if there’s one thing learned make the best of what you’ve got….

Heads or tails….

--They say there are two sides to every coin. Heads or tails. And when flipping a coin you must choose one or the other.
--Well I was never good at playing games. and given the option of head or tails I’ve always made it a point of picking the edge. Needless to say I’ve never won very many games of head or tails. But when I did I’ve savored each and every one of them….