Time Cures/Changes/Complicates All

I am now one hundred percent healthy and am now able to actually type without the need to throw up every other vowel that comes from the 'puter. This post is simply an outlet. A need to complicate my life by looking back. A desire to find meaning by what has been. It's Scrooge's jaunt with the Ghost of Christmas past. It's Marty getting in the DeLorean. It's, ah, heck, it's a time to count my blessings, sigh about my close misses, and infer what is to be.

New Year's Eve, 1989. I'm playing cards with five of my best friends from high school...whom, none of which do I keep in touch with now. The topic of what the next decade would bring came up. I came upon the idea that ALL would change. I figured I would be married, have kids, basically be an adult.

In that decade, pretty much squat changed. I didn't get married...didn't have kids....I didn't do any of the grown up things that I felt would define my life. I spent it doing pretty much doing what I had done all of my life. Play video games, go to school, and wish my life away waiting on the next/first big thing in my life. From this decade, which should've been the best of my life, I learned that you should never assume anything. My expectations and my results didn't mesh.

New Year's Eve, 1999. I was in San Antonio, TX with a couple of dear friends and the wife to be of a dear friend. Fireworks flashed about in the Alamo-town. Moments of pure beauty that I never really notice usually, led me change what I wanted in life. Where as ten years before it was for all to change, from that moment I wanted all to remain the same. Even then I knew it was an immature goal, but it was something I desperately wanted.

It didn't happen. Everything changed...some for the best, some for the worst. Most, right in the middle. But, life hit in my third decade of life.

First of all, one out of those couple of friends in San Antonio that night less than two months later developed a rare form of lung cancer and died within six months. The other was married within six months. My younger sister married, was widowed, and then married again.

But, on the positive side, I got married, I had kids, I became an adult. (about fourteen years later than expected.) My desires, as always, were not well thought out and I was given blessings that I no right to ever consider. I became an uncle four times over (going on five.)

What have I learned from this? Life doesn't acknowledge expectations. Life moves at its own pace, sometimes slow and sometimes face. But, no matter what we resolve to do...no matteer what we plan to do...life has its own plan. So, my hopes for the next year? I suppose to live in the present, but acknowledge that my future is full of change and that I will need to roll with the punches.

But, until then, I will play with my little complications, enjoy life with SM, and drink a beer. Okay, maybe I'll play a video game or two.

I wish all a Happy New Year!!

The Life According to Addsy

My life has been definitely chronicled through the life of Sneaky Momma's posts. Her and my little blessings have made life more than interesting in our home than I ever expected. My oldest, Addsy, in particular, has a wonderful way to bring out the life in the 'Gingerbread House' that brings a smile to my face. Usually, it is just the usual play by play. For example, "You got a burger for me!!" or "You got your shirt on." But, sometimes she will throw out some moments that just crack me up. Hopefully, you guys will get a kick out of what comes out of her mouth.

Situation one, she is taking a bath and while doing this, dumps a bucket of water all over her head. She looks up at me and says, "I got wet on me!!"

Situation two, she is in the tub and looks at me and asks me very seriously, "What do you think about splashin', Daddy?"

Situation three, her mommy wants her to eat and finally decides to give her a cookie. So, she asks Addsy, "Do you want a cookie or what?" Addsy answers her, "What."

Situation four, my favorite. Her great aunt is in town for a little while and asks my dear little daughter this. "I'm going to pick you up, okay?" Addsy gives her a little pout and says, "NOKAY!!"

"Addsy, do you know that you make your Mommy and Daddy...." "...So proud and so happy!!"

Not Me Monday

I have not enjoyed my mini vacation with 'SM' (Sneaky Momma). I am not happy that the little darlings I teach are spread all over America right now and not corralled in my class. I am not thrilled I am also not in that class this week.

I am not looking forward to a new year with the crew. I did not enjoy traveling to see all of our family during Christmas, aka 'Sneaky Family Christmas Tour '08'.

I am not wondering why I watch football. I am not wondering what I will do without meaningful football to watch. (Stupid Aggies, Stupid Starheads).

I am not thinking that this New Year will be an amazing year for the Sneaky Family.

And, of course I am not at all inspired by the Reason for the Season.

"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.

And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. "

I did not reuse some thing in this post from last week because I was too sick to type anything.

Itty Bitty is a Year and a Half!!

To keep from hijacking Sneaky Momma, I decided to create my own post with my own unique perspective.

In my first 'official post' of the blog I would love to wish my youngest a happy 1.5 birthday. It seems like just yesterday that she was screaming at me because I couldn't feed her fast enough...oh, my bad...it was yesterday!! Seriously, though, she has amazed me in her short time on this planet. She has just all of a sudden grown up. She's no longer the infant in constant need of care. She is a small girl now, who usually can give us a pretty good idea what she needs. Here is a small sampling of the vocal prowess of Itty Bitty:

"Drink". Get off your lazy butt and get me a drink!! No, Daddy, I won't wait for the commercials, but I will scream loud enough that you will not be able to hear Hogan's Heroes anyway.

"Please". Give me whatever is in your hand. I know if I say this it magically puts whatever is in your hand into mine.

"Stand up!!"- Get up!! It's time to play!! (Alternative definition: Let me up!! I don't want to change my diaper yet!! )

"Shriek!!" #$%@^%$$!!! (I blame Sneaky Momma for this one)

Well, Happy Half Birthday, Itty Bitty!!!