As you may or may not know, I will be in the building at BlogHer this year. I only have a party pass but that should be good enough I think. Anyway, my buddy Adam put up a cool post the other day that I’m totally using now for my own purposes. It’s okay, I told him I would. I modified it though because some things will not apply to me and myroomies.
1. What’s your name? You can give your blog name or real name.
2. Have we met? Please know I suck with names and faces. I have people I played hockey with say hello to me and I have no idea name or anything.
3. Are you going to this year’s BlogHer? If not, do you live in the NYC area and do you want to meet up with me and the wifey while I’m there?
4. Do you want to meet me? If not, send me your schedule and I’ll try to avoid you.
5. Have you been invited to any exclusive parties? Do you want a date? How about 2, my wife kind of needs to go to?
6. Who’s the blogger you’re the most excited to see? Obviously other than me, it’s okay. I won’t tell them they’re your number 2.
7. Are you sticking around after for a few days like I am? Anything good planned?
Today is the official first day of summer if you live in a climate that actually has 4 seasons. We only have 2 here in Central Florida, summer and not summer. There isn’t a whole lot in between there and that’s fine by me. I like playing in wintry settings, not living every day in them.
Aside from being the first day of summer though, it is also my mother’s birthday. Today she will be sixty-something. I need a calculator to determine exactly what that something is. I kid, I know the number but I’m just not going to disclose it here. Respect your elders people.
Anyway, I did not send a card in the mail as I am using my blog here to do that for me. After all, if it was a card it would have been over several words ago. This will also last much longer.
My mother is a truly gentle soul. She always has and always will put all those nearest in her heart before herself. She would without question give you her last slice of bread or the shirt off her back if you ever needed it. She is an even better grandmother that my children adore. I am sure that your parents are looking down on you with pride and adoration. I know your husband is as well.
Your children though look at you with adoration today. Your grandchildren even more so. I say even more so because you haven’t grounded them for anything. Haha. I probably deserved it though so that’s okay.
Anyway mom, today is your day. I hope it is happy and since the Mets aren’t on tonight, I hope you curl up with a good movie. Dirty Dancing, Pretty Woman, or Sound of Music, or any other of your romantic cinema favorites. Just think, anything you put on will not be followed by a “not again” from one of your rotten teenagers. However when I call you this evening to say happy birthday I may say it just for old times sake. If you have a movie on that is.
Happy Birthday mom, we love you.
(since its your birthday and made me watch this 8 gazillion times….enjoy!)
The history of this “after the fact, just wanna be fair” holiday is pretty interesting. It is celebrated around the globe, but not all on the same day. For most nations, it is the same but not all. Of course mother’s day came first but rightfully so I say. Nothing emerged from my nether regions and I’m pretty pleased about that. Damn does that look painful. A much bigger stink is placed on mother’s day regarding gifts and special activities of the day. The same respect is certainly not applied to Dad’s holiday. That’s okay with me. I don’t much like having a fuss made for me, but I do greatly appreciate any form of appreciation.
The act of becoming a Dad is fairly easy and also quite enjoyable if we’re being honest. However, what makes a Dad a father comes after that. In most households, not all, being the father equates to being the primary provider for the family. Typically the mother is the primary caretaker, again though, not always. Work with me people. Our household is fairly typical and we are fortunate to be in that situation. We could always do better here and there, especially there, but its an ideal scenario from my point of view.
I like to consider myself an active father in the lives of my children and I love every second of it. I am the primary provider so my time with my kids is limited to evenings and weekends, plus holidays and any time off I take from work. The time I do get to spend with my kids is what I love the most about being a dad. I love every second, be it whiny and frustrating, or sweet and content. It all adds up to the entire picture of being a parent and I love all of it.
I despise Mondays because it means I will leave my kids in the morning and not see them again for 8-10 hours.
I reject invitations for “happy hours” after work because I would genuinely prefer to come home and have dinner with my children. Sorry co-workers, I spend more “awake” hours with you in a week than I do my children and I’d prefer to have that reversed.
I savor attending teacher meetings, school performances, doctor appointments, and anything else my kids might be involved with as much as my employment permits.
There is no better ending to any day than tucking my girls in with a bedtime story and a kiss on their foreheads.
Hearing my children tell me they love me either in response or unprovoked makes any day instantly better no matter how tough it was.
I always knew someday I wanted to be a father. I always imagined how I would raise my kids and always be as involved as I possibly could. I just never knew it would be as great as it actually is.
I have taken an active role since birth including the late nights early on. Sure, not as many as their mother did, but I would have had she not been the primary food source. Still, there were several nights I would stay up with the bottle to feed my babies. I often miss those nights. Amidst the crying and sometimes frustration, there is something special about those moments shortly after the baby does fall asleep. The bonding is so powerful and wonderful, I remember those moments so vividly and I miss that.
I can’t say I miss the diapers and expense of those nasty things, but I always changed them.
I love being able to say I have given my girls 99% of all the baths they have ever taken. I know my time is limited there, but I know I will have no regrets or feel like I missed out on something when that time comes.
As my kids get older, I hope to evolve the friendship I currently have with my girls. Sure, some things I just won’t understand but that’s okay. My biggest fear is to reach a point where my children genuinely hate me. I will fight and do whatever it takes to avoid that scenario. Even if it does get to that point for whatever reason, I will still make sure they are safe and taken care of. Right now though, I love being their best friend.
Sure, being a dad can be stressful sometimes. What major responsibility isn’t? On the flip side, nothing is more rewarding. Nothing.
I love teaching my children something new and watch them run with it. I love challenging them with a skill or knowledge and see them comprehend it.
I love taking care of them when they are sick. I love even more when they are not.
For all you active dad’s out there, keep up the good work. If you aren’t active as you want to be for whatever reason, make sure its a damn good reason. For those who aren’t active at all because they choose to not be? I don’t, and never will understand you.
I love being a dad. I wish this kind of joy I get every day from my babies on every human being out there. The feeling cannot be described in words and until you feel it, you will never understand it. Once you do though, it is the greatest feeling in the world.
I hope someday my girls think I did a good job, looking at them now, I think I am.
Thank you to my wife for making me a dad. Thank you to my beautiful children for making me a father. I love you so very much.
————————————————————--
I would be remiss to not thank my father in law for teaching me how to be a great father even after the children have grown into adults themselves. The job never ends, it only evolves, and you have taught me just that. You have been like a dad to me since I have known you and for that I say thank you.
————————————————————--
In honor of my father who passed away 4.5 years ago, I offer this tune. You are missed and not forgotten.
Father’s Day is Sunday. Don’t forget people, if you have a Dad make sure you give him a call. I can no longer call my Dad so take advantage if you are able to call yours. Chances are, it will only take a few minutes.
So here I am in day 3 of 5.5 all by myself. (Do you hear that song in your head too? Alllll Byyyy Myyyyyseeelf) Amazingly, I have found it very simple to entertain myself.
I watch Mets baseball through my PS3 and the free MLB app. The app is free, not the ability to watch all the games. Let’s go Mets!
I played golf on Sunday with one of my best friends.
I played some video games, but honestly not much.
Thursday I will play hockey.
I attended a work function that found my belly full of free beer and free dinner at an awesome Irish Pub style place. I passed on the car bombs people were drinking. After all, I had a longer drive home than most.
Watched at least some of every World Cup match so far. I really enjoy the World Cup. Go USA!!!
I Skype with my girls every day. Love that Internet sometimes.
I watched 2 movies. 1 was good and fun, Sherlock Holmes. 1 sucked major donkey balls, GI Joe. Seriously, how did that crap get made?
I did dishes.
I did laundry, but it’s not folded and not ALL done.
I did yard work.
I made myself nourishment.
I realized putting a heavy box into the attic is not a great idea in the event I fell and injured myself.
Wow, TV is really shitty. I mean horrifically shitty. With corn.
I realize now I set unrealistic expectations of completing a number of tasks that will just not happen. Guess I forgot to include fatigue from a regular work day. Maybe some other time…
Ignoring the never post on a weekend rule, I am going to anyway.
Got big plans this weekend. Gonna do some yard work, watch all the soccer I can including USA match on Saturday. GO USA!!! On Sunday we’re gonna give up the kids for a week to the grandparents. The week we spend waiting for an MRI schedule so the wife can have her knee checked to see if she needs surgery. I hope not, but I also hope they see the problem and fix it.
Maybe this week we’ll hit up the movies. There’s a few I’d like to see with the opportunity to see them. However, I will miss my girls.
I also love when they come visit me at work. They were a big hit today too and left me wonderful drawings on my whiteboard.
Summer is in full swing around here so its hotter than a witches titty outside. It’s close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit most every day thanks to the humidity. All that means is you stay inside or in the water at the beach/pool/whatever. Getting a round of golf in can be tricky if the heat bothers you. As long as I have plenty of water, I can handle it anytime of day.
To better enjoy your weekend, I want you to check out this new artist. I am really happy to see this type of music having a little resurgence in popularity. It would be great to hear less electronically altered music and more music like this to get your butt shaking like you just don’t care. Enjoy.
As you can imagine by my blog name, it’s obvious I love hockey. Being a goalie, I can only imagine what the mental makeup is going into overtime knowing if you make a mistake, you lose the trophy you have dreamed of winning your whole life. Having my name etched in the Stanley Cup is something that will never happen. Not unless I somehow get a REALLY good high up job with an NHL team. However, I don’t know anyone with any leads to help me get in the door. No matter, the Stanley Cup playoffs are always must see TV for me. The emotion and passion by the best athletes in the world to earn 16 wins is an amazing road to complete after an 82 game season. 4 rounds, best of 7 each, is the hardest trophy to win in all sports.
Around the rest of the world, except the United States, the biggest tournament is about to begin. I mildly follow soccer and passionately follow this tournament. I am glad to see the popularity for our national team growing in this country, but it pales in comparison to the national pride around the globe. I was not myself a fan of the game in any way until I spent some time in England before the World Cup 8 years ago. The fever was contagious and I was amazed at the national pride on display. Every night were replays of the nations best matches. Every house and I mean EVERY house and storefront had a flag or a sign out front. I have since learned the artistry of the game and played it a bit myself locally. It’s amazing how hard it really is. My hope for this edition of the most prized trophy on the planet, except in America, does not see a slew of dives to draw fouls. The game deserves better.
Next week we get the US Open golf tournament at the Pebble Beach golf club in California. Some day I will play this public course. Golf can be pretty boring on TV, even though I play the game I can find it boring. However, this is a major and this is one of the most scenic places in golf. Take a peek and try to imagine the pressure felt in that final round by whoever is leading at the end. Then go to a golf course and bet a friend of equal skill $1,000,000 on a single hole. See how you do.
In baseball we saw a human error take away something that happened only 20 times in the history of the game. Kudos to that human for admitting and apologizing for his mistake. No, replay does not belong on anything but scoring plays in any sport. Tough luck is part of the game, so are human beings.
For football, just to cover my bases, I just check headlines to see who got arrested this week. Sad really. Basketball? Who cares. Tell me when there’s 2 minutes left in the game and I might watch those last 45 minutes. What do they get 100 timeouts? Boring.
Congrats to the Blackhawks for winning the Stanley Cup. As an Islanders fan I don’t much like the Flyers. However, it was a great series and all the games were physical and close and I couldn’t ask for anything more when my team isn’t in it.I was glad to see the ratings up this year for the series. Its about time more people start paying attention to this amazing game in the United States.
Today was “donuts for daddy” day at my youngest child’s pre-school. They decided to do it 2 weeks early as I guess school will be out come Father’s Day. To honor the dads, the kids have donuts and juice for Dad followed by a performance of 4 wonderfully awesome pre-school songs. I was presented with a couple laminated gifts and a block of wood with her picture on it and a message written on the back. One of the gifts was a key to her heart along with the gift of a “Daddy Day” with her. No promise needed for that kiddo, I love our Daddy Days!
I dunno how many kids are in the class, but there was only about 10 dads, give or take a few. Boy did they miss out.
We did color a big sign that got hung up as well. This was ours in progress…
Here is a video of one of the songs. Mine is the little one in the middle. We’re not tall people. Also, if the video isn’t great it’s because I took it with my phone which technically doesn’t have a video camera. Some free app I got makes video somehow with the built in still camera. Version 4 will find my pocket sometime this year, it comes out on my birthday. hint hint.
After teaching my daughters how to properly hit a pitched ball, we decided to go swimming. On the way to the pool, I snapped these with my camera phone. I don’t remember now what they were talking about, but to them it seemed serious since the older sister was emphasizing with her hands. Cute bathing suits huh? Anyway, what could be better than this?
No, the world is not warped in the last 2 pictures. Just a cool little camera trick with my phone that if you twist the phone right after you click the button, the world behind the subject seems to twist and contort. You can do some cool things with it.
Comments for Men