Gamblin' Ramblin$

Under the Sea!

This was a good...no...great day!

Picked Emma up a little after 8am , and made our way up to the Newport Aquarium. It's been quite some time since we've been there and it was certainly worth the trip. We cruised around Newport on the Levee, which included a few neat little stores. One in particular was called The Dragon's Hoard. What a cool shop! It had a lot of Renaissance garb and gear for festivals, along with a "hoard" of weapons. Good thing Conor didn't come with us...there could have been mayhem afoot!

Anyway, we talked with the owner (I suppose), and he indicated that they had recently opened and were anticipating even more inventory, including some western gear. A lot of the things he gets are made from the same folks who do reproductions for movies...neat.

Oh yeah...there are dragons there too. He said more are on the way as well...that by itself is worth another trip up there. We wished him good luck and went on our way.

After visiting the fish, we did another lap around the levee and headed home. We stopped in Florence at an antique mall. In 10 minutes, I saw more chips there than all of my other mall, flea market, yard sale, estate sale excursions combined! Unfortunately, the booth owners were quite proud of their chips so we didn't bring any home with us...but still a very exciting find.

We hit the Florence Mall (did they change things around in the past 5-6 years?) and did more shopping. What is it about us and malls? Oh yeah...Emma is a teenage girl...silly me! After a visit to the food court, we came home.

My feet are killing me, and I don't care!

Thanks Emma! I had a blast, and I hope you did too!

Another promotion

But not for me...for Emma!

I attended Emma's 8th grade award ceremony this morning. My little girl is the last of the kids to get into high school...where has the time gone?

She looked so grown-up, walking across the floor to receive her certificate. I was able to snap a pic or two. My mind then wandered back to when she was born...and then as she grew up. The images flashed by by so quickly, just as the time has flown by.

I really miss being with her as she begins a new journey at a new school. Fortunately, we get together for shopping and lounging every 2 weeks or so. Even just crashing and watching a movie with her is a treat.

Congratulations Emma, I'm very proud of you!

Misty for good reasons

For the most part, things have been a bit crappy for me for awhile...more so the past 2 years. Not everything has sucked...just a lot.

Today was different. Today, I traded texts and got a phone call from Trevor. He has finished his basic training and will soon move on to his other endeavors.

He has no idea how much that phone call meant to me and just how much I miss him. No father has been more proud of his son.

sprouting wings

Today, my eldest son, Trevor, leaves home to begin his long journey in the service of the Army. I'm not quite sure he realizes what is in store for him, but he'll discover that soon enough.

To say I'm going to miss my boy...well...just don't say it.

Trevor, while I may not understand your decision, I certainly support what you wish to do. I am very, very proud of you.

Listen, do what you're told, keep your head and your ass down. I look forward to buying a serviceman a beer in the future.

Another Holiday Gathering

Our Annual Christmas Family event was last night. Once again, it was so good to see everyone.

My wishes from last year were granted...it was just as full, if not even more packed with people.

Emma went with me and seemed to have a great time. There were other young ones to play with and the food was great, as usual. I wish I had felt a little better but my ever building cold was getting the best of me.

We left with many hugs and invites to visit. I have a lot more time to myself now so I think that would be a great idea to make good on those invitations.

I want to kids to come over on the 26th, and I'm sure that Emma will be here. The boys?...well...I'm not sure. They just don't seem interested. All Conor wants is for me to take him to a gun show...not the Christmas celebration I had in mind.

Am I asking too much?

Not just another day

Happy Birthday Mary Beth!

Damn the torpedoes

Price of Admission...$5
Some cash for my buddy Will for gas...$10
Watching my son's high school marching band play...priceless

Thanks for the memories

We went to my Aunt and Uncle's place for Christmas tonight. This has been a celebration on my Mom's side of the family for as long as I can remember. Like the individual families involved, the tradition has evolved over the years. It used to be held on Christmas Eve but it became too difficult to get everyone together then, believe it or not. Work and other family committments required us to change the event to the last Sunday before Christmas. That worked for awhile and now it rotates times just like it has rotated locations.

I haven't been able to attend the past couple of times due to work and illness but this year was a "go" as I had the weekend off (something that never would have occurred under the RS regime).

To see folks I haven't seen in years made me very happy. I felt like a little kid again. Hugs, handshakes, and good natured jibes between my brother and me made me feel so alive.

Things really didn't hit home until my uncle said/did something new this year. Before the Blessing, he went over to pictures of my grandparents and simply stated that "this celebration was their idea, it began with them".

At that very moment, a flood of memories overwhelmed me. Things like:

Christmas Eve at Grandma's house, now a part of an Interstate.
Being a kid and waiting (not very patiently) for the grownups to finish eating and talking so we could get down to the real business...Presents!
The actual ritual of handing out all the gifts.
The food.
The smells.
The decorations.
The drive to and from the relative's houses...I'm not kidding.

And of course...the people.

Folks I see only once a year, some I would see all the time. Growing up, there wasn't anyone in my age group...most were older then they started having kids and I was no longer the youngest...didn't ruin my enjoyment at all.
Tonight the place was full of family members of all ages. A packed house it was.

But...we were missing a few people, and those memories were felt just as strongly:

My Mom.
My Dad.
Grandma and Granddad

I was a little kid again tonight...maybe there's hope for me after all.

The only bad thing was we had to leave way too early as MB had work to catch up with. Even being your own boss doesn't relieve you of time obligations. Of course, I managed to say all my goodbyes with the promises of seeing everyone sometime soon and not just at Christmas.

I hope the room is just as full next year.

Happy Birthday MB

I hope you have a pain free, quiet day. That seems to be most wanted theme around here. Both of us are dealing with various ailments though hers are much more serious.

That's My Boy!!

Well...after 12 long years my oldest, Trevor, graduated from High School today. It's been tough at times, getting him to complete his work. The pictures of him in kindergarten are still on the wall next to the kitchen and I can hardly believe it's the same child.

I'm getting old.

Taking him to school across the county because of the programs he wanted to take, going to the football games and basketball games to hear him play. Going to his concerts when no one else wanted to and because I enjoyed them.

The memories are many, and hopefully not fleeting.

Even meeting his friends online in WOW, then meeting them in person was a treat.

And today...watching him walk across the stage to receive his diploma. It was tough to hold back the tears...trust me.

My boy has grown up, my God, where has the time gone?

I give him grief...a lot. We argue constantly. We have the same taste in music...almost. I can still kick his butt...maybe. We are both content with doing nothing but sleeping and playing video games and I doubt he would believe me if he heard me say this, but...

I love him very much and I am so very proud of him.

Way to go Trevor! Congratulations!

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Now go get a job!

HAHAHAHAHAHA...I couldn't resist!

Back from the Windy City

Somehow I got "volunteered" into chaperoning a group of 7th Graders on trip to Chicago.

Actually, my fears were proven unfounded as they behaved in a respectable manner. In fact, I give them credit for coping with some of the last minute changes that occurred.

We visited the Field Museum, the Navy Pier, the Musuem of Science and Industry, and Medieval Times.

We were supposed to visit the Hancock Building but the schedule was so tight that we skipped it to spend more time at the pier. I think that was better for the kids as they had much more fun wandering, eating, and shopping.

On day 2 we had an unplanned stop...to Chinatown! What fun! I was in charge(?) of Conor and Will...it was tough keeping up with them as they darted in and out of the shops. We all tried some pastries and bought lots of ummmmm.....stuff. Actually Conor came home with a boken, a practice sword, and I bought chopsticks for the family as well as some mystery gifts. I think all the kids enjoyed themselves during that particular stop.

While we went non-stop for a day and a half, I had blast with the kids. Next year? Maybe, depends on where we go...Vegas?? Hahahahahahahaha!

Who's Team Reigns Supeme?

OH YEAH!!!!

Let the woofin' and barkin' begin...and it won't stop until the next time we meet!!

Louisville 65 - Kentucky 56

The football curse is broken and make that the SECOND #1 team we've knocked off this year. The Cards are for real, folks....believe it!

I had one U of K clown wanting to bet $1000 on the game a couple of nights ago...jerk...I bet he never shows his drunk-ass face in my store again...if he does, he'll whine about something not going his team's way....sorry pal, but this game was played on your home turf...Cor-rupt Arena...in a sea of blue. Face facts people...the best TEAM won...again!

For now...life is good!

Feeling better, still busy at the store...a good season so far, even the after holiday blitz has seen few returns and that's a good sign.

There are new releases to post and I'm still trying to get MT working on my machine...it'll be nice as I'll categorize the new releases so you view them all at once.

Tae-kwon-do classes have tough to get to between holidays and work, I should be up to speed on Monday and will attend 2 classes that day. The leadership class is just too cool...learning many new techniques and "belting up" 2 levels! Something good is happening, I'm able to tighten the belt one more notch in!! Woohoo!

My wife has labeled me the "germ-speader"...yeah I gave her my latest disease...hey I was always taught to share. You should check out her blog...she covers a lot more ground than I do...mine is more of a "niche" blog.

A New Home

So here I am, getting used to my new place here on MovableType...looks pretty nice and seems easy enough to use. I'll try some image importing soon.

Work's keeping me very busy...I haven't much time to get over to HMA...did make it to the last sparring class...and it was a good one! More on that later, I need to see how the cut and paste works.