Entry for Monday July 26, 2010

Some days you are the black cat. Waiting to cross someone's path and make their day worse, or so they think. You are just doing what you know best. Not trying to cause anyone any problems. Things happen for a reason, good or bad. So don't blame the black cat and don't take the blame for being a black cat. You can take Rosco's tip in the picture above. Lay back and relax. Let the world come to you however it may be. Soak up the day and be free with your ways.

I'm not sure how many weeks I've been working in Chattanooga and it really doesn't matter to count them. It seams like every night of the work week is consumed with the overflow of work. I'm not complaining about it because I'm working out of town and Gin isn't with me. I guess the point is, I really don't have much to write about in this Blog because of the traveling worker syndrome.

So! I arrive home on Fridays and enjoy catching up with Gin each weekend. We hardly ever make plans for specific events each weekend. We just end up doing whatever comes to mind at the time.

Saturday we did a little shopping, a little house work, a little file management (computer & iPod) and a little TV watching (catching up with the DVR). Sunday I played my early morning round of disc golf in which I really wasn't impressed with myself. After a quick change into dry clothes I dropped by the grocery store for the ingredients for a pot of spaghetti. I was the chef for the day as Gin designated herself to floor mopping. We also cleaned out  a spare bedroom to prepare it as a playroom for Nolan...and Dean when he's older.

Dinner was prepared and warming in the crock pot, waiting on Nolan, Dean and their parents. As soon as they arrived and Nolan was introduced to his play room, he didn't want to do much else but play. When dinner was served he squirmed enough to sit next to me (a good thing for both of us), then get released to play. Patrick and I joined Nolan in the play room. We set up the Hot-Wheels track with loop and played while Nolan did other things. Nothing like a father and son playing with Matchbox cars, a true American tradition.

We settled into the living room and I took Dean into my arms for some rocking, sleeping, fussing, burping, farting and feeding. I refuse to say who was doing what. All I can say is that we both enjoyed it.

A short weekend is fine with me as long as I can spend the time with my loved ones. Next weekend my parents will visit and meet Dean for the first time. Caris and Thomas will also join us. This week will fly by for me.

Life is good! Enjoy it while you can!
P@

Entry for July 18, 2010

I try not to let the work week interfere with my personal life. It is difficult to control the interference when I work out of town during the week. Not much time for family or personal agendas in the traveling person's life. It is even more difficult when having to share a ride to and from the job site. Next week begins the sharing an apartment rental period for the next 6 months. I feel the need to establish a time that is set aside for myself and away from the ones I work with. The apartment complex has a pool, small workout room, beach volleyball court and Bocce Ball. I'll probably take advantage of the workout room and maybe learn Bocce Ball. There is also a disc golf course within a few miles of the place. You know I'll be there whenever I can. 

Weekends become so much more than the end of the work week. Time is more important with family and friends. Sometimes we have no idea of what to do each weekend I'm home. Gin and I wing it most of the time and enjoy whatever we can do together. 

Saturday morning I introduced our friends Greg Herbst and his daughter Paige to the game of disc golf. We all had good and not so good shots throughout the course. Once we were done, they both agreed that it was enjoyable and they would like to play again.

After Saturday evening Mass, Patrick, Jessica and Nolan arrived to drop Mr. Dean off for the evening. Nolan was heading to his first dirt track stock car race in Gaffney. Patrick and Jessica were excited to be introducing Nolan to racin'. We got to enjoy Dean and all his grunts, moans, whines and farts. Yes, that baby boy can let 'em rip. When I first held him, he was puttin' 'em down like the campfire scene for Blazing Saddles. I thought for sure he filled his diaper, but it was all sound and no brown. Anyway, he was awake for most of the evening and in constant motion.

I broke away from Gin and Dean to introduce myself to our new neighbor. The vacant property next to us was purchased last winter. The new owner is slowly building a work shop for his tools and home improvement business. He will build a new house at the back part of the property. Gin and I are relieved that they are going to build their home there. We were concerned that someone would develop the land for commercial use, like Dollar General.

Today was a day to catch up on the DVR and several shows and movies we miss during the week. I'm all packed for the week ahead in Chattanooga.

Enjoy your family as often as you can. Tell them how much they mean to you and that you love them. 

Enjoy your job and try to understand the people you can't understand. The simple rule is to believe that every one is trying to do their best in the way they believe is the best. That is the beauty of being human. We all can't be the same, think the same or look the same. So why expect the same thing out of each of us. We can agree to disagree and life can be easier. 

P@

Entry for July 11, 2010

Time flies! How those two words can take on a meaning bigger than you can imagine. I won't tell you that it seams like yesterday we were cutting our wedding cake. There are way too many other memories between then and now. I would like to say we have a story book marriage, but that would be fictitious. Our life together for these past twenty-nine years have been; frustrating and enlightening; boring and exciting; lost and found; and when the dust settles from these descriptive notions....loving.

I wouldn't expect anyone to figure "us" out. We can't do it ourselves. We know from the day we met that we have something that just clicks. We still finish thoughts (out-loud) by saying the exact same thing at the same time. Every time it has happened, it was unexpected and very comforting. To be on the same page as your spouse is rewarding to say the least.

Gin and I our proud that we have come this far together. We look forward to the years ahead. We have been blessed with two very loving and caring children, Patrick and Caris. Three years ago and since then we have been blessed with four Grandchildren. The first two were born Angels, Beau and Haley, who still remind us of how fragile a life is. Their brothers born healthy, Nolan who is 2 years old and Dean just 4 weeks old. Each Child and Grandchild extends our lives through theirs. We get to watch their little lives become unique individuals in which a part of our lives are intertwined in theirs.

Since I didn't write last week, I will try to recap the past two weeks in a brief summary. First of all, I am working in Chattanooga, TN during the week. It is a 4 to 4 1/2 drive from home every Monday morning and Friday afternoon. I could write volumes about what work is like, but...I won't even go there. This type of job takes a lot out of the week of personal events. Weekends and phone calls is all I have with Gin and the rest of my family.

We celebrated Independence Day with the Herbst family. Greg and Jodi hosted our family to a BBQ and fireworks filled evening. We feasted on smoked ribs and chicken, tater salad, corn on the cob and baked beans. finished the meal off with apple pie Ala-mode. When darkness made its way along the lake, we hopped in the boat for a ride to the middle of Lake Bowen for the annual fireworks show, put on by all the lake-front property owners with money to burn (literally). 

Fast forward to yesterday. Gin and I did a little shopping in Greenville then dinner at Mellow Mushroom. We had our favorite Kosmic Karma pizza. Then a short ride over to TCBY for a yogurt cup desert. The evening was capped off with a concert at The Handlebar. Our friend, Jonathan Byrd, was the opening performer for Beth Nielson Chapman. Jonathan was kind enough to put our names on "The Guest List". Life is good!

Jonathan put on an excellent solo performance. The couple who sat in front of us, obviously were not there to see or hear him perform. They rudely carried on a somewhat loud conversation that became quite irritating to Gin and myself. So..I finally leaned up and told the guy "Do you mind keeping it down, just a little". There are several things that can happen when situations like this arise. These things entered my thoughts before I spoke to the guy. Then I became so pissed at the boldness of their rudeness, I had to say something. He apologized and they were quiet. When Jonathan finished and the house lights came up, the guy stood up and faced our general direction. I figured he wanted to get a better look at who spoke to him, maybe size me up. I was on the end of our row and he walked around as I was getting up. He put his hand out and apologized again. Yes, I was bigger than him and he was big enough to right his wrong.

We have never seen Beth Nielson Chapman and I think I can speak for Gin, we probably won't see her perform again. Unless, she has Jonathan back as her opening performer.

Today being our official 29th anniversary, we have no plans. It is just an average ordinary day which is fine with both of us.

P@