The Adventures of Samok Daddy

The post before this one...

2008-12-17T06:55:00.000-08:00

If the post prior to this one seemed a little weird, that's okay. I was using it for my class...Integrating Technology Into Curriculum... I'm done with that now, so it will be back to the regularly schedudled programming of my strange but boring life.

Let me at least give you this video...Let's keep it light with a little Barenaked Ladies...

Online Registration Makes Sense for Today's Students!

2008-12-06T07:38:00.000-08:00

Here's a typical conversation of a student talking to his wife about registration...

Here's why we are advocating online registration for students at The Art Institutes International Minnesota...

In an effort to increase efficiency and to facilitate greater convenience for its students, The Art Institutes International Minnesota has instituted an online registration program. No longer will students have to wait in long lines for an opportunity to speak to one academic advisor with the possibility that the class he or she has planned to register for is closed. Students will now be able to register from the privacy of their own homes at the time of their choosing. This change will enable students to use their time far more productively. In November of 2008, the Orlando Sentinal reported that a public school using online registration for the first time was successfully able to register 60 to 70 students within 20 minutes. This not only saves time and energy for students, but academic advisors are able to deal with students and immediate concerns within the classroom rather than only counseling students one by one from a line and then entering their class choices. The November edition of Parks and Recreation reported that a Vermont parks organization was able to register over 300 individuals for one of their programs in a 90 minute period using online registration. These reports illustrate how online registration can give both students and teachers more time to truly be effective.

Many students in colleges and universities have adopted online registration due to convenience and an added sense of autonomy that comes with the process. In 2005 the Greyhound, the student newspaper of Loyola University reported that 736 of 837 of its seniors registered for classes in a location other than Newman Towers, the location for traditional registration. This online process also fosters a sense of personal responsibility that some students forfeit by just sitting with an advisor and automatically taking the advice given to them. Adult decision making is one of the positive byproducts of an online registration program.

This new registration process will allow students more time to attend to their studies or actually sit in classes rather than waiting in long lines outside the advising office. Many times students in crisis, who need immediate attention from their advisors, are not assisted because registration processes take precedence and they cannot break through lines to speak to their advisors. The effects of online registration may not be felt immediately, but in the future they may prove to be powerful and positive. We encourage students to begin registering online this quarter so these changes may become a reality and the school is able to be of greater service to all who attend here.

Here's a survey we want you to take to gain information about your registration experiences during past quarters.

Click Here to take survey

It could be worse...

2008-12-01T06:41:00.000-08:00

Last night I didn't get to sleep right away. I suppose it could have been the excitement of watching football or having a cup of coffee at 7:30 in the evening. I decided that I didn't want to put J through my spastic rolling around in the sack, so I went out in the sofa to stare at the ceiling and try to get comfortable. At 2:00 in the morning I thought of how terrible my situation was for not sleeping. Whenever I think my lot in life is beginning to suck and clouds form on the horizon, I always go back to this scene in "Young Frankenstein." It makes me laugh and realize I just take myself way too seriously...

2008-11-25T06:39:00.000-08:00

A few days ago J tried watching the TV series "Weeds" online. She had to download something called "Zango". To complete the download she deactivated the firewall on our laptop. It immediately went on the fritz and we had to send the dumb thing to the Geek Squad...we had purchased the laptop six months ago at Best Buy, so we thought that would be the thing to do. Yes, Vista was corrupted and we are out $130 to get it fixed. They say it's only a software problem, but there are still problems with the laptop, so they will probably have to send it up to get a higher level diagnostic.

J asked me if I was going through some sort of withdrawl from the laptop. I confessed that I was. She only uses it to talk to her mom on a daily basis. Her mom is in Hong Kong this week and won't be near her computer, so she isn't talking to her anyway. The laptop sits conveniently on the kitchen counter, so I do the dishes/sweep the floor/ clean up the kitchen I watch TV shows like Fringe, Bones, or Life On Mars. I rock out to Pandora when everyone's in the other part of the house. I also like to watch Arirang news...regardless of the fact that it's pretty benign stuff about Korea. I am abreast of Lee Myung Bak's trip to the states and Peru, and also up to date on German Shepards qualifying for a certain international standard in a Seoul park. J thinks I'm a nutcase for continuing to watch that news program and that I should be concerned with what's happening here and now in the twin cities. I think it's because I don't want to lose that feeling of closeness to that dirty, crowded, constantly buzzing behive of a city that I loved and called mine for a long time. Man...did I just go off on a tangent...

Well, anyway...we will be without the laptop for a little bit. I'm sure that during that time I'll look longingly over to the counter where the laptop sat. I know that withdrawl eventually goes away and is replaced by resignation. The laptop will return, but when...

Not quite there yet.

2008-11-24T06:47:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is racing up to meet us and will soon pass us by. Christmas will be on the horizon and I have found my Christmas spirit...or rather it has snuck up and bit me. I got to my desk and sat down to work at the computer and I opened up media player...yes kids, I've been bad and ripped a bunch of music to my work computer...well, I fired up the old beast, selected some Christmas tunes, and slipped on my headphones. Isn't it amazing how a few bars from an old tune and conjure up warm images from deep down inside that completely color my perception for the day?

Crazy as it may seem, I'm wanting some snow. This is coming from the man who consistently whines about wanting to be in a warm place with crystal blue waters and soft sand. My kids are excited when they see a hint of snow on the roofs of the houses in our neighborhood. That little bit of infectious excitement has found its way into my chest and is slipping into my heart. The Bun is old enough to begin to get the fever for the season too. It's a good thing...

Now, we're doing something new. Instead of getting cheerfully robbed by the boy scouts at the neighborhood christmas tree lot, we're doing something different this year. We're actually going to a tree farm and cutting our own tree. Now don't picture the Griswolds going out and uprooting some huge evergreen in the middle of nowhere and lashing it to the top of the family truckster. The place we're planning to go to is a real tree farm that has trees that are specific for Christmas tree cutting. We've talked to my brother and there's a tree farm up near their place (about an hour away). We'll make a day of it and spend some time with them and share more Christmas cheer-plus we'll borrow his axe and saw.

I realize we have to eat our way out of Thanksgiving before we really get to the beginning of Christmas season, but gosh...I feel like I'm already immersed in it, and it's a good feeling.

Hugs in Seoul

2008-11-21T19:51:00.000-08:00

Why do we shy away from human contact? What is it about us that makes us fearful of others? We shun the opportunities to either give or receive the gifts of kindness. The simple act of a hug is invasive and inspires fear. What do we have to fear? It's merely a gift from one to another. I am human and so are you...One simple act...with so much warmth and power. Let it begin with me...

Good Eats...assignment for class

2008-11-21T18:58:00.000-08:00

Dr. Franchino has asked us to bring in a video from youtube that we might use in our particular fields. Initially, I thought about the youtube video with Paul McCartney teaching folks how to make mashed potatoes, but this probably is a better fit.

Mesopotamian fun

2008-11-20T07:01:00.000-08:00

This is a cool video that my kids love to dance to. It's a little odd and a little like an animated spoof on the intro to the Monkees.

The Chicken Dance...

2008-11-19T15:09:00.000-08:00

Check out the chicken dance from our vacation...

Dad loves his ladies...

2008-11-19T13:05:00.000-08:00

Sugar Blues

2008-11-19T10:06:00.000-08:00

For about three months last spring I purged my diet of all sugar. I lost about 10 lbs and felt great. I had energy and I felt as if I thought more clearly. I was an efficient machine. Then I was attacked by a rogue doughnut and the downward spiral began. First, it was a bag of sugar babies here and there. Then the occasional box of Good and Plenties. Our leftover Halloween bowl has been an evil nemesis, haunting me and beckoning me closer. I felt awful most of the time and knew it was a matter of time before I got back on the "no sugar wagon."

This morning, I put my foot down and said...No more!!! I want to feel clean and free of all the crud that has built up on my insides. About 15 minutes ago a student left a bowl of peanut brittle on my desk. They made a whole slough of it in Intro to Pastry (Why peanut brittle in a pastry class...I dunno...). It's just sitting there staring at me. I think I'll give it to one of the women in the cube.

Back from the wilderness

2008-11-18T12:53:00.000-08:00

It's November...and I think it's a week or so before Thanksgiving. I know it's the last Thursday of the month or some such time. It's usually a gray day that we, as a family, gather to stuff ourselves into a near comatose food nirvana and then fall asleep to the glow of the TV with meaningless football on...maybe not meaningless to some folks, but by then I'm to groggy to care. By 7:00 in the evening it's too hard to even lift a remote control. After the whole gastronomic ordeal we've usually got enough leftovers to take care of lunches for the next two weeks or so...

It's cold at the bus stop again and I've started dreaming of south pacific islands once more. I know that this is frivolous and we won't be going back to the Philippines anytime soon. Heck, we'll be lucky to make it to Duluth by next year. But lately I sit all bundled up in my bus and dream about stepping off the plane and feeling that tropical blast of heat. My mind meanders to a land of "Manana"-note..I don't know how to put the little tilde thing on top of the "n" to make it Man Yana. I want to saunter slowly in my shorts and flip flops...I just want to feel sand in my toes...I want to relax...and just have life come to me in slow trickles...aaaahhhh take me away.

Nope...Ain't gonna happen anytime soon... I should just get over it.

The sound of Monday's marching feet

2008-07-28T07:31:00.000-07:00

I was listening to a live version of Dave Matthew's Ants Marching a few days ago and it was another little wakeup call in life. I am a little commuter ant. I get up, shower, throw on clothes, help the kids get dressed, talk to J about what is happening during that particular day, leave and drive to the bus stop. I wait in line with all the other little worker ants, get on the bus and try not to think too seriously about what's going to happen during the workday. I get off the bus and walk a few blocks to school. The nice thing about my walk is that I get to walk through the downtown campus of St. Thomas University. They've got sweet smelling flowers and a fountain, which mellows me out(Yeah, I'm a guy and I like the flowers that I walk by in the morning, what's the big deal, huh?) I get in the building, climb up the stairs to the third floor, walk into our cramped office and say good morning to my coworkers, and get down to it for the day. Sometimes I like to hide in my cube for a little while before walk upstairs to the kitchen labs and see students.

This morning is one of those times I am hiding out in my little cube cave. I've slipped on my headphones and made my selection of music for the morning. I've chosen the soundtrack for the "Mambo Kings" to get my blood flowing. I'm knocking out a quick post just to get my brain functioning. I would like to try the coffee in the employee breakroom, but it has been known to rot out the bottom of styrofoam cups, so I'll pass and just let the music and the endorphines from writing get my heart pumping this morning.

I'm not feeling really responsible or too much like an adult this morning. I really want to feel like a kid. My birthday is coming up and it's another year older and I'm beginning to dread birthdays. I was reading the paper this weekend and I saw that a local sportscaster, who of course was younger than I, passed away from cancer. Yesterday, I also found out that a woman that I attended high school with had died as well. Hey, people get older and things happen. It's a part of the circle of life. I just feel like that the circle is inching up on me. I don't think about it a whole lot most days, but I found myself lying in bed last night thinking about who I'd like to invite to my funeral. I was going through that mental checklist of "yes, that person's cool...they can sit close to the front" or "No way am I inviting the butthead who gave me a wedgie in 8th grade to my farewell get together..." Yes folks that's what I do when I can't sleep. I think about that kind of stuff...why can't I just have simple fantasies about me being the last of the red hot lovers and all the women who can't get enough of old Samok Daddy? No...it's gotta be about whether there are enough goodbye salutes and toasts dedicated to me...or if they'll get someone to sing "I did it my way" at the funeral.

Enough ruminating today. It's time to get back to reality and be an advisor to the masses of excited culinary students in our fine institution. Hope you all have a fine day...

Rainy Friday in the Northland

2008-07-25T07:35:00.000-07:00

It's a rainy Friday here in the twin cities. I'm in my cube and it's not busy, so I've slipped on my headphones and put on some music. It's kind of quiet at work. It's been kind of crazy for the past few weeks and I'm grateful for a respite from the feeling of push push push to ensure that students are back in their classes. That's the reality of working for a "for profit" college. Everything is about the number of students sitting in classes...If a student sits in classes, they can be billed for tuition. Butts in the seats...that's what we work for. We don't have any state funding, no endowments, nor do we have a rich alumnus tossing money at the school in order to name a library or residence hall after himself. Tuition is our only means of making money and reinvesting it for equipment and services for students. This is definitely a business.

Don't get me wrong...I am grateful that I have the honor of helping students get through school. It's a special feeling when you have the trust of a student because you have their best interest in mind. Despite the fact that we try to keep students in school because it pays our salaries, I want everyone here to succeed. Yes, I like what I do...but it's not a profession that rakes in cash hand over fist. However, I can go home at night knowing that I've done something good for people. Plus, there are perks being an advisor for a culinary program...they feed me.

On to domestic bliss...The Bun has started using her potty chair with great regularity. She still wets her pull ups, but she's making a great deal of progress. She gets to wear stickers on her clothes when she successfully uses the potty. She's quite choosey when we show her the sticker book. This sticker book is huge and she's taken ten minutes to choose...there are surfing princesses, angel kitties, happy faces, twisting dolphins, cute polar bears, and a whole lot of other things. J and I have concluded it's better to just pick out a cute sticker and slap it on her rather than let her choose. Giving her the continued opportunity to choose stickers may lead us to sitting with the book and waiting until mid-October before she makes a choice. She's gone along with mom and dad making the choice so far...so we'll just keep running with that.

Goobs has been watching too much Jetix. We've trimmed down the cable to the family level, which is local channels and a couple of kids/cartoon channels. One of the kid channels is Jetix. It's got a lot of superhero comics. I'm fundmentally not opposed to him digging on Spiderman, Batman, or any of the Superfriends, for that matter...But...J found him sleeping in the hallway last night. She asked him why he had his blanket in the hallway...he said..."Monsters." The villians and monsters on these shows seem kind of frightening, so it's a good possibility it is the combination the villians of Jetix and an overactive imagination of a soon to be five year old. J climbed back into bed last night and said..."No more Jetix for Richard." So...we'll go with mom's assessment. Looks like he'll be watching Sprout with his sister.

I know it's been a long time since I've posted and I can't remember if I mentioned that i got a new grill for father's day. I have been going crazy on the grilling. I've been doing a lot of pork chops lately. We've found this seasoning that rocks...It's a combination of ground garlic and bell pepper. It really puts those pork chops over the top. J's also been prepping veggies for me to grill. She's soaked them in extra virgin olive oil and seasoned them. I throw them on the grill with low heat and flip them over now and then...oh boy...asparagus...carrots...some squash...it's been great. We're trying to stay away from brats this year. I do love a good bratwurst, but absence does wonders. I get to eat a greater variety of grilled foods and I enjoy a brat more if I don't eat them every week.

Hey...one last thing. We are getting fired up for a little family vacation in the Black Hills at the end of August. Does anyone else have anything planned or have you already done something this summer? I'd love to hear what other people are doing.

Life's too short...

2008-07-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

So, I was thinking about my own mortality. The passing of Tim Russert and Tony Snow has put me in a somewhat reflective mood. There was a particularly poorly reviewed movie, called "The Bucket List" that focused on things that you want to do before you kick the bucket. I'm not that old, but I'm coming to the conclusion that life's too short to just stay at the office and count what money or stuff you accumulate. So, I started thinking about some things I want to do...this isn't intended to be too overly serious...so let's not take this too seriously! Here's some of the stuff I am thinking about doing...

1. Spend July in France...I would really like to see the Tour de France...hang out up on some mountain road with a bunch of crazy international folk and have fun. I don't know why, but I want to wear a giant beaver suit and run out in front of the peleton for a short period. I see this old guy dressed as the devil with the pitchfork running out in front every year that I tune in to the tour. I want to be "the beaver guy" at the event.

2. I want to sit down for an evening of that sweet vietnamese coffee (you know...the kind with condensed milk)at a table on the beach (at a beautiful island resort) with Eric Clapton and Anthony Hopkins. I want to just talk about life with them and listen to the waves on the beach. Those guys probably have some tales to tell...and I just want to sit and listen.

3. I want to run a small tour and diving business in the Philippines. It would be great to learn everything I possibly could about a place and share that with people. Oh...yeah...baby that would be nice...Sun...sand...me...my boat...and tourists with sunscreen on their noses...

4. I want to try and do a standup routine at a comedy club. The routine would be about family...being a spouse and a parent. Heck...our lives are pretty funny. I might bomb, but who cares...My family provides so much good material. It would be a shame to keep all of that fun and weirness to myself.

5. Try to teach my wife to ski again. Since she only made it 1/4 of the way up the bunny hill last time, I feel it's my duty to get her up and going next winter. I know she's not going to be ready for anything close to the mountains of Jackson Hole, but I'm not giving up till she gets up that danged tow rope!!!

6. I want to see Dave Matthews in an outdoor concert during the summer with my wife. She's the big Dave Matthews fan, but I'd get a kick out of going too. I don't know how people would handle the geeky guy with a hawaiian shirt dancing in front of his lawn chair, but I don't care. I'm a dork...I like music...I wear bad hawaiian shirts...and most importantly...I dance, therefore I am.

7. I want to volunteer for a summer to work for a Korean Professional Baseball team. I would love to help the foreign players adjust to their new surroundings and make it fun...plus I get to hang out and watch baseball. I'd like to see if they pull pranks on each other like players do in the major leagues here in the states. If they don't I'd like to introduce them to the fine art of the shaving cream pie in the face or the dugout hotfoot. Maybe I can get some souveniers too...I've been thinking about seeing if I could get some Korean Baseball souveniers. Oh, I've switched teams...I'm cheering for the Lotte Giants now...

8. I have to say something silly...Hang glide nude over Dick Cheney's ranch in Wyoming. Whoops, maybe not...I could be the victim of an errant shot.

9. I want to be the voice of a character in a pixar movie. My voice sounds kind of dorky/silly, so it might just fit in...

10. I want to speak at Wartburg College's commencement ceremony one year...just to let them know that life's fun, a little weird, and way too short to be serious all the time.

You know...I don't know if I'll do any of those things...but what the heck. Why not dream...

A guy in a tie

2008-07-15T09:41:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a guy just needs to look pretty!

The gift that keeps on giving

2008-07-07T08:09:00.000-07:00

My son and the neighbor kid, Aaron have been hanging out and playing together a lot lately. They're fun to watch bouncing around the neighborhood and coloring driveways. Our little man came up to J and I last night and announced that Aaron was going to give him something. We asked what that "something was." It turns out that Goobs told Aaron how much he loved Spiderman. Aaron, being the caring friend that he is, told Goobs that he'd give him all of his Spiderman underwear. Now, that's a pal!

Little airborne rangers...

2008-07-03T20:35:00.000-07:00

A lot has been happening at the Samok home lately. I've just finished teaching night classes and have finished a class that basically smoked my backside. I did well in the class, but the stress level was up to epic proportions for a while. I can breathe now and I feel like it's time to stretch out, smile, and blog a little. I'm taking a course that's a little easier and should prove to be a whole lot more fun. It's a graduate level communications course. I get to watch the movie, Crash repeatedly and write papers on it. It should be doable.

Alright, now for what's happening with the kids. As I've mentioned before, while in the army, I spent some time in an airborne unit. Yes, I did jump out of airplanes, but I wasn't a stellar jumper. I have landed in trees and accidentally gave my NCOIC a concussion with my right buttock while landing. That incident is hard to visualize, but I assure you it truly happened. So...what does this have to do with the kids? They have been jumping off of chairs and beds and executing parachute landing falls in blankets and pillows. I haven't been involved in any instruction. They've developed this behavior totally on their own. They seem fearless and are doing a pretty good job-of course this is coming from the dad who was a lousy jumper. Today things got a little wilder. I caught The Bun setting up her drop zone beneath the dining room table. I thought I put an end to her exercise by moving the blanket and pillows, but she moved them back when I wasn't looking. I went in another room to check on something. When I returned to the dining room she was on top of the table, ready to launch herself into her recreated drop zone. Daddy busted her again and ruined her fun. She was not amused with dad's commitment to safety. I know that had Goobs been around he would have been cheering her on and right behind her. Luckily, he was deeply involved with his afternoon love affair with the animated version of "Iron Man." He has been jumping off of beds and chairs with her, so I know that he's down with it too. I know that I'm going to walk in on them jumping off of the table soon. I hope that they won't kill themselves. I can hardly wait until they graduate to base jumping from the railing of the deck...

What kids sing in public...

2008-06-11T09:34:00.000-07:00

Evidently there's a scene in the "Alvin and the Chipmunks" movie where the chipmunks do an imitation of "porn music"...that little riff that people jokingly do in break rooms around the country...Bao...chicka...Bao...Bao...(you know the little ditty I'm talkin' about) The upshot of this that my kids are now going around singing "Bao...chicka...Bao...Bao" in public places. Yes, they're doing the porn music parody. Daddy has told them he doesn't like this song, but they don't seem to listen to poor dad. They haven't sung it out loud at the mall or in McDonald's yet, but I have this fear that both of them will belt it out together and everyone eating burgers will stop mid-chew and have their jaws drop. People will wonder what those parents are teaching their kids...Oh the horror of it all...

Do I need a pitcher of Red Bull to keep up with my kids?

2008-06-10T19:54:00.000-07:00

Gosh my kids are getting loud at the dinner table. They're fun and make J and I laugh, but it's becoming more evident that taking them out to restaurants may not be an option. Maybe I'm being just a bit sensetive...But they were yelling "Mamacita" at the top of their lungs yesterday. I know they got it from a movie that I haven't seen...

They were running around with these mesh hampers that J got for them...they weren't dragging them around, but were wearing them on their heads...actually completely over themselves. They looked like oblong walking mesh cubes bumping into each other.

I want people to see the fun that my kids come up with...I introduced J and the kids to my fellow teacher for evening classes. Venisha was completely blown away by how small and active they were. Maybe it's because she doesn't have kids...or maybe my kids are a little hyper (well...that may be a little trickle down from dad. I don't know...but they just keep me young and running.

geezer glasses and memory loss

2008-06-09T13:10:00.001-07:00

I broke down and got the librarian strap for my reading glasses. I started wearing reading glasses last year because thing were getting blurry when I was reading. I've been misplacing the darned things all over (that's also a sign of my aging), so I decided that I'd start wearing the strap on my classes so they'd just hang around my neck. Of course, nothing says "old coot" as much as reading glasses hanging around your neck. I've got some gray in my hair and I have reading glasses...but I also have a four year-old and a two year-old. I guess those things cancel each other out and I'm still somewhat young.

Pass prunes...

Here I am...again

2008-06-06T15:15:00.000-07:00

I am sitting here on Friday afternoon. I've been working on my performance evaluation for work. As employees here we've got to fill out how we think we've done since our last evaluation. I hate filling out those things! Some folks love detailing all of their accomplishments in the past year...all I can think of is that I've done my job to the best of my capabilities. Yeah, I've put down some pretty sounding bullcrap, but in the end...does it mean anything because your boss is going to put down what he or she thinks anyway?

Yeah...so that's my dilemma. I think the best thing that you can tell someone is that..."Hey, you did a good job and you put your heart into it." These guys want a list of all your successes and crap that you were recognized for. I'm finished and I'm glad of that, but all I want is respect and a little more money to pay for all the shit that's gone up because of the price of gas.

Yeah...In the end...what does it matter. What really matters is when I walk in the door at the end of the day and Goobs and The Bun scream out my name. I get hugs and smiles. I get to eat with them and watch them fight over stuffed dogs and cats. I'm going camping in the yard tomorrow with them. That will be cool...

It's my mother-in-law's birthday tonight/tomorrow (she's in the Philippines, so it's already tomorrow. We will have cupcakes and candles and sing to her as she watches on her computer. It will be nice to see mama smile as she sees the kids stuff their faces with cupcakes and frosting. That's a birthday present she gets this year that she didn't receive last year. It's nice to come home from work and actually say hi to her at night...It's kind of weird saying hi to the laptop in the kitchen and seeing and hearing mama responding...but I'm used to it now. J is happy since she can talk to mama on a regular basis. She just can't roll her eyes at the computer...

I want to leave with this one thought...Yes, I whine about work and life and all or that...but I really want to thank God for all the beauty I've got in my life. It's a good life...

2008-05-23T15:38:00.000-07:00

I've got this assignment I'm working on that has to be finished by Sunday. I had some time at work because it's deathly quiet here now. I am supposed to come up with my educational philosophy. The first part of the assignment is to look at my influences...The professor asked that we look at where we come from...Culture...Religion...Family values and beliefs...Education...Political Preferences...and Personal Experiences... I didn't start researching formally, but I took some time to just bang some things out on the computer. I didn't take time to proofread or edit...this was just raw stuff that I had fun with...

I'd like to share it with you...

What has influenced your beliefs about education…

1. Family upbringing…
a. Idea of work was strong. Grandpa had a heart attack and took two aspirin and went back to milking cows.
b. Strong and stoic…you kept going despite crap happening
c. Parents gave freedom of choice…encouraged me to be inquisitive, but I was a lazy booger.
d. This is Minnesota…You go to college. There is no debate-You can study what you want to, but by gosh…you’re going to school. It’s what everybody your age does.
e. And we are darn frugal. Spending on anything except a good education is frowned upon. You are entitled to a good education as long as you can perform and pay for it. Hey…if you weren’t strong enough, it’s okay to go to RCC or Normandale and then transfer to a good school. That way, you saved money and still got that educational bang for your buck. Hey, if you didn’t go to Wartburg or St. Olaf…Mankato is okay…just remember that you can still get a good job even if you don’t go to Harvard.
2. What does Lutheranism have to do with this…(This is most certainly true...)
a. Since you are saved by grace…you do have the opportunity to screw up, and God will accept you….But, don’t complain when it doesn’t go your way. Oh and by the way… If you’re going to whine remember those folks in India that have it worse than you.
b. It’s better if you go to one of those Midwestern Lutheran schools. You get the liberal arts education that you need. They’re good and you had to go to chapel.
c. Hey, we’re Lutheran and not Baptist. Martin Luther drank beer and so can we. The thing is…no matter how much you had on Saturday night, your butt better be parked in church on Sunday morning.
3. Yes, I went to that German Lutheran school in Iowa and they did teach me a thing or two…
a. I was taught by professors from the sixties. They did believe in questioning authority and bucking the status quo. They also believed in expanding your mind…I think I expanded my mind a few times…oh…it was a blur…
b. But, I did go to school during the early 80’s. It was the Reagan revolution and the beginning of the WIFM (What’s in it for me) era. I got a little touch of that.
c. Remember that nothing’s for free. You had to work for a grade…and if you handed stuff in late, you didn’t deserve a decent grade, but you had to pucker up and kiss the prof’s backside and pray that he or she was kind enough. So, yeah…work in school was important.
d. They told me, and I do happen to agree with them, that the “college experience” was central in the learning process there. Learning didn’t just occur in the classroom, but on campus, in the cafeteria, and in the dorms. For the longest time I though the most crucial thing was how to successfully get down multiple beers in a beer bong, how to make a stiff Rusty Nail (two shots of scotch and a half a shot of Drambuie), and how to lie to a female freshman. I did learn how to live with people, how to compromise, how to work independently, and live like an adult, but that came much later…

What about my family’s political views?
a. Two words…Republican Farmers…You spent your money wisely-you don’t throw it around willy-nilly to every social program out there. Schools are important, but don’t throw your hand up and say yes anytime a school referendum comes up. We just had this conversation last weekend at my niece’s confirmation. I still have a hard time buying a second pair of pants at Kohl’s. This goes back to the frugality issue…We bought a new vehicle last month. I think I didn’t sleep for three days worrying about spending money on it.
b. I rebelled against my family’s views, but I find myself becoming more frugal as time wears on. I wonder how that will affect my feelings toward education in the future.

My personal experiences and how they’ve shaped me…

a. The biggest one is my journey into sobriety. Active alcoholics are selfish and self centered people. The 12 step recovery program I belong to allows me to escape selfishness and see outside of myself. It is only by cleaning up the wreckage of my past and freely giving to others, that I am able to live happily and in serenity. Education is all about being of service and giving back. When I focus on those around me and letting them experience learning, I am a much healthier human being.
b. Although college was a learning experience, my time in the military taught me that learning is not an individual endeavor. Hey, I’m in it with a bunch of guys from different backgrounds with a singular mission. We’ve got to get something accomplished here. It’s not about ego…it’s about getting it done. Some may have shiny epaulets on their collars, some a lot of stripes, and some are slick sleeved privates. All are essential for completion of the mission. So…how does that help me as an educator? No one part is greater than the whole. I am but a player in this game. As an educator I do want to make it happen for a group of learners, but I am not the key. I am the one who helps them turn the key of knowledge to open the door.
c. I have been a part of education that focused on the process and “shared the experience”-that was from those profs from the 60’s. I’ve also lived in Asia and been in classrooms with students who come from a teacher centered classroom. Both had their merits. The experiential classroom enabled students to collaborate and share ideas…they couldn’t add or subtract their ways out of paper bags, but they could come up with some innovative ideas. I’ve also seen those Korean science or math whizzes that given a variable or an educational curveball, would melt down faster than Cherynoble. After all of that, the answer for students needs to be somewhere in the middle.
d. I was a late bloomer. A guy with ADD, who thought that everyone was smarter and better equipped to handle life. I didn’t think I had the capability to still learn. Being in school in my 40’s has excited me. I want to give adults like me that same opportunities that I am now facing. Yes, we have kids, jobs, responsibilities, and a whole bunch of life going on…but oh my God, it’s fun to learn new things and talk about it with each other.
e. I’m also an Academic Advisor, who has seen people with lower confidence come in and experience success. I believe small amounts of academic success can breed confidence and excitement. I want to be the spark that cranks them up…

Okay this is a draft and I have to research some crap now to substantiate what I believe. I am still not sure what I think of myself, but at least I can get a little bit of an idea of who I am.

A chicken in every pot and two computers in the house

2008-05-22T06:58:00.000-07:00

So, now we have two computers in the house. It seems like the old PC in the bedroom is mine so I can work on lesson prep and homework. J has the laptop in the kitchen that we use to talk to her mom in the philippines and she's also blogging on. It's fun to see her in the kitchen agonizing over a post that she's creating. She gets mad, as most people would, if I look over her shoulder when she is posting. It is rather amusing because she types out a paragraph or so and then she gets disgusted with herself and she deletes half of it and starts over. She seems to repeat this process a number of times before she successfully posts. I chuckle and then she kicks me out of the kitchen. Yes, it's always good to revise you work and check for typos, but I think she might be better served by just letting fly and writing what she wants and maybe letting the chips fall where they may. Of course...she is the way she is...and she probably won't take any of my suggestions about that. After being married this long, I think we're both comfy with that.

Some breaking news on the home front...Goobs has spent two nights in his own bed. We've had to return him there a couple of times each night, but he has ended up in his own bed in the morning. We've got this new method that J came up with. She made a blank calendar and put it up on the fridge. If Goobs spends the night in his bed, we put a sticker on a blank day. If he can put up 30 days of stickers (they don't have to be consecutive)he can pick out a toy at Target and we'll get it for him. So far...so good.

It's finally nice out and it's a good thing. Memorial day weekend is coming up and there is one thing I'm a little miffed about. One of the students in the group I advise here at school became really enterprising...without talking to his advisor (ME!!!) prior. He set up an all ages event at a place called the Cabooze (the name is frightening in its own right) in Minneapolis on Saturday night. He has all of his bases covered, but there will be alcohol served for those above age. The Dean and the President were miffed and I heard about it, but it's so far along now that we can't back out of it. What it does mean for me is that I need to be present from 7:00 pm to 2:00 am on the Saturday night of the holiday weekend. I am the college representative for this event. I am the one who has to make sure that nothing terrible happens. The venue has ticket takers and bouncers, so it's going to be pretty safe. I'm ticked off because I wanted to spend a nice night on my deck in my new Eddie Bauer lawn chair and go to bed at a decent time...I'm somewhat of a geezer now and am comfortable with going to bed at 10:30 on a weekend. Okay...I've pissed and moaned and I'm done with that.

One last thing. Why does my daughter sit in the tub and yell "I pooped?" I rush to the bathroom and look for any little brown turd submarines...I never find any, so I drag her out of the tub and onto the potty chair. She grunts for fifteen minutes and nothing comes out. I think she does it just to get a rush out of her dad. The stupid thing is that I fall for it every time. I guess daddy is a sucker who entertains his kid.

Welcome

2008-05-21T09:40:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to welcome my wife, J, to the blogosphere again. She gave it a try last year under the moniker of "Freezing Islander." For some reason it just didn't take for her. She's at it again with a new blog. She's now The Soccer Nanay (mom for all of you nonfilipinos). I'm new to setting up links, so this is my first attempt at it... Just give this a click and check her out and say hi! The Soccer Nanay

One more reason my wife ROCKS!!!

2008-05-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

Yes, folks...my wife is the best. She got me my birthday present early. We will be at the Minnesota Zoo's outdoor amphitheater on Friday, August 15th (Day Before Birthday) getting down with Morris Day and the Time...How appropriate is that...getting down to a little "Jungle Love..." Oh E Oh E Oh....

WHAT TIME IS IT??? Time to dance....Oh E Oh E Oh E Oh...Jungle Love...

Ten Things

2008-05-15T06:39:00.000-07:00

I was laying in bed thinking last night. I've been doing a lot of that lately. Sleep hasn't come easily or quickly for me these days...I'm not sure why, but it's irritating. Most nights I find myself rolling around and then looking at the glow of the digital clock at the side of the bed. I try to relax myself by mentally transporting myself to places that I'd like to visit or things I want to do. Time and the lack of cash conspire against me and I don't think I'll get to do these things, but dreams are always good things...so I'll keep wishing

I've compiled a list of places I'd like to go and activities that would be a gas. See if these things resonate with you...

1. I am hooked on the Philippines. I want to be at a secluded beach resort with my family, relaxing as the sun sets in the west. I want to hear exotic birds cawing in the background as we set down in a beautiful poolside restaurant with a thatched roof. I want my belly filled with grilled tuna and fresh fruit...Ah...that's a nice thought.

2. I've had these thoughts about being in the new family vehicle (the flyboat) somewhere in Montana. The flyboat is fully loaded with all the necessary traveling items and we've got the ipod loaded with great traveling tunes. We stop at scenic overlooks and get summer sausage and provalone sandwiches out of the cooler and the kids drink Kool-Aid juicers. We stop at little touristy places and the kids buy various and sundry crap that they can play with and decorate their rooms with in the future.

3. I'm dreaming of Monterey, CA. I spent two years there while I was in the military. There is this restaurant between Cannery Row and Fisherman's Wharf that is right near a walking and bike path. They play live jazz there on Sunday mornings. I can't remember the name of the place to save my life, but I dream of going back there and having an omlette to die for and listening to great music as I stare out at Monterey Bay. The smell of the sea, the sound of jazz, and the taste of the food...memorable...simply memorable...

4. I want to go to an outdoor concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater again. I saw Widespread Panic there in 98. It was a fantastic venue. It was getting dark and the moon came out during the concert. The picture is still burned into the back of my corneas. The view, the acoustics, the atmosphere (it was Widespread Panic, so it was a bit cloudy... but it was nice nonetheless), and the music made it a great night. J wants to see Dave Matthews and I think Red Rocks would be a perfect place to see him. If not there, the Gorge at George would be my second choice.

5. The first floor window of Seattle's Best Coffee in Myong Dong (Seoul) is the best people watching spot that J and I have ever found. Myong Dong is a sea of humanity that just shouldn't be missed.

6. I've never been to San Diego, but I really want to go see a baseball game at Petco park. I hear that the weather in San Diego is ideal. I want to sit there behind the plate, wearing shorts, a t-shirt and flip flops. I'm not a Padres fan, nor will I ever be...but that's where I want to watch a game. I suppose concessions there might be more alligned with serving fish tacos than bratwurst. I am soooo midwestern. I can't watch a game without a good dog or brat... Oh well, I'll deal with it when it happens.

7. I want to go to Rio...I think the being able to stand next to the statute of Christ overlooking the city would be one of those moments that I'd never forget. The view would be truly killer! Then...just to be on the beaches there would be out of this world!!!

8. I imagine myself sitting in the hot pools in Reykjavik. That's right...I want to hang in Iceland for a couple of weeks...see whales, glaciers, and just wander around.

9. I put New Zealand in the same category as Iceland. It's clean, cool...as in hip, and filled with natural wonders. I also want to watch the "All Blacks" Rugby team play a game and perform the Haka-they're known for that.

10. I dream that it's warm enough to sit out on my deck in the darkness, stare up at the stars and smoke an expensive cigar-my vice that I don't do much...but J. hates it. We got new Eddie Bauer outdoor chairs and I want to break them in. Oh...I can't wait for a warm and peaceful Minnesota night.

Okay...I've given some of my places of interest...How about some of you folks...Angie...Mama Nabi...Dad Stuff...Father of Five...Posh Totty...Supermom...How about you guys???

The Return of Soccer Daddy

2008-05-14T07:54:00.000-07:00

I watched my son play soccer in a junior high gym last night. It's soccer for four year-olds, so no score is kept, there are no winners or losers, and everyone participates. It was cute watching them run, kick, get bored, dance, poke, giggle, roll around, and sort of play the game. I did enjoy it and so did they. It's supposed to be fun for the kids...but somewhere down in my gut...buried deeply...and imprinted with a jackhammer...is my man-soul, which rebels against the kinder gentler sporting events for preschool. I watched, clapped and cheered for all the kids. But, in my secret soul of souls, I wanted my boy to outrun, outplay, and outscore his peers. I wanted him to kick butt and take names. I wanted my progeny to be the king of kings manchild who all the other four year-olds know is the soccer wunderkind. I want them to whisper his name with awe and deference...Awwww...whadda loada crap in my brain. Goobs is the one on the sidelines who'd rather roll around with his two buddies and have a tickling match. It ain't gonna happen and who cares anyway. He'd rather sing and do a dance in the middle of the field as someone with the ball runs by him. I guess the bottom line is he's having fun and meeting new friends and that's the important thing. I'll put all those silly dreams aside and wait for his sister to be the sports queen...Oh well...

A head scratcher

2008-05-13T10:38:00.001-07:00

I was just taking some time to go through news on the internet yesteday and I saw a story that intrigued me..."Woman injured in freak pelican attack." I just had this mental picture of a woman on a dock with a digital camera in one hand and a sardine in the other...trying to entice a rogue pelican into a cute photo op. You hear about that in national parks with Buffalo and other kinds of wildlife...but a freakin' pelican...come on...lady. You have to be brighter than the goofy marine bird on the dock.

One more quick note

2008-05-12T07:14:00.000-07:00

I thought this was funny...

Remember that I gave my old blue car to my niece...I got word that Emily has decided to name her car "Steve" in honor of its donor. Just thought that was kinda cool.

Monday morning obsessions

2008-05-12T06:32:00.001-07:00

When I get here to work I can't settle right down to the routine on Monday morning. I'm always a little bit scattered. I jump around the internet for a few minutes to catch up on some things that I maybe have missed...it's not so much the news, but just that I can't settle down and I just need to bounce around in some way.

So...I just happened upon a commencement speech given by a head football coach. Okay, granted that probably isn't that much of a stretch for a guy to read, but I started reading it anyway. You always hear the same things at these speeches...engage your passion...dream wildly...suck in the experiences of your life...yadda yadda yadda...blah blah blah...

Something was different this time. The words were the same, but this time they resonated with me just a bit more. Yes...I'm older, but there are still things I want to do. But, with a mortgage and a family is that possible? Can I dream big and stick my neck out? Am I doomed to live in safety because it pays the bills? What am I passionate about? Is there anything that fires me up so much that I'm willing to go out on a limb? I'm sitting here at my desk this morning with those kind of thoughts banging around like a couple of superballs in my skull.

I'll say one thing. When I'm in class, I'm engaged and I love it. I really dig learning and a being a part of it. Here's the stinky part. This is only my third class in my Masters program. I have to continue to go to school and stay at my job. As long as I'm here, the school's free and that's big for me. I think I have to just keep slugging away for now and trust God that there's something more for me out there. My problem is that I want it right now. Keep walking and doin' the deal.

Mom's day mania

2008-05-11T15:45:00.001-07:00

Back again. Whew...it's been a busy week. Started another class and just life's been crazy. I certainly hope the merry-go-round slows down a little bit this week.

I'm coming to grips with the way I work on schoolwork and prepping for teaching. I never really figured out the way I operated and just kind of fought through things. I'm starting to get a little more peaceful about the whole ADD thing and have just accepted that I'll never work the way most folks do. I need chaos when I'm working. I'm locked in the bedroom on the computer. I've got "The Brand New Heavies" cranked up on Pandora. I bounce back and forth online and get back to my word document. I work for about a half an hour and then I've got to take a break and roam...say hi to the kids......see what they're up to...goof around with them a little...chat with J and then mosey back to the computer to work. I feel like a superball, but if I operate that way, I am energized. It's freaky, but it works.

We got a laptop for Mom's day. The cool thing about it is that it's got a camera and a mic on it and since we've got broadband here at the house, she has it in the kitchen...we've got it set up on one portion of the counter. We're all set up with SCYPE...and so is mama now. So, moring and evening she's checking in on her grandkids. It's wild because just two weeks ago, she couldn't see them at all since she's so far away...now, she see's her grandkids every day. This was a great mom's day gift for her and her mom. That makes me feel good. Speaking of Mom's day, we got together in another room and made J a big sign. The kids combined their art skills with markers for mommy...It was pretty cool. Since Lola (filipino grandma) could see the sign, it was extra special. We also got mom a big hanging plant and some chocolate too...so it was a pretty darned good day for all concerned. I've got to call my mom tonight and we will get together with her next weekend, so she gets her gift and card belatedly, but she'll love it. We got her one of those electronic picture frames, so she can get a snotload of photos of the kids. She's got danged near everything she could want, so it's always hard to get her something.

Okay...that's enough for now. I've got to get back to prepping for tomorrow night's class. Time to bounce back into reality again. See everybody later.

2008-05-02T09:16:00.000-07:00

Well, we tried something new in the Samok abode last night. We used the computer to communicate to family over 6000 miles away. Being that I'm not really technically saavy, this was a major coup in our household. Okay, I'll be honest...J is the brains of this outfit and she went out and purchased videocam and microphone. We were at J's cousins in Troy, MI, when we got to see how they used SCYPE to talk to family back in Davao. We thought it was cool, but really didn't do anything about it.

J did some more research recently and decided to finally try it. The sound didn't really match up to my mother-in-law's mouth movements, but that didn't matter. We woke The Bun up because Mama wanted to see her. She cried, but we could see that Mama was beaming on her side of the screen. We didn't dare wake up Goobs because he's the sensetive one and that would have been just a little too much to handle. We also got a chance to see J's cousin's baby. The little girl is cute and chubby. It was really nice for J and Mama to connect visually. I could see that it really meant a lot to her. Sometimes I wonder how she feels being 6000 miles away from everything and everyone she grew up with. I think this is going to be something that enhances our lives and makes Mama smile. I can't imagine what it would be like to be that far away from your grandchildren.

Last night we talked about getting mama a small laptop to use for just this kind of communication. She lives in a community about two hours from Davao. It's quite a bit more rural than Davao. She doesn't have a landline in her home, but has a cell phone. We didn't know about internet connections because of that, but after the conversation last night with J's cousin and her husband, it seems like there are a lot of opportunities for "wifi" in Santo Tomas. Right now, she's got to take the bus to Davao and stay with family with high speed capabilites if she wants to talk to us via the computer. Right now, we talk to her by using a phone card that we buy online minutes from. If we can speak from computer to computer it's free, so we want to get Mama hooked up if at all possible. It will beat getting phone cards every couple of weeks...and the plus is the kids get to see their Lola (grandmother for all of you nonfilipinos). That, in itself, makes it all worthwhile.

Of course, the only thing that kind of sucks for it is the huge time difference between here and there...but we'll get over that.

The Newest Soccer Dad

2008-04-29T14:52:00.000-07:00

I'm sneaking out of work a little early today. Goobs has his first soccer practice this evening and I want to be there for all of it. He and I went shopping over the weekend and we bought his shin guards, special soccer socks, and a new soccer ball. We had another soccer ball, but The Bun commandeered that one and has not let her brother near it. Besides, he loves his new leather ball.

He didn't like the shin guards when we first slipped them on with his new socks. We've gotten him to the point where he doesn't complain when he puts them on. I think he'll be fine once he gets started tonight.

I realize this is soccer, but for kids his age it's more along the lines of a herd of kids chasing the ball together. Many moons ago and 25 pounds ago his dad was a college soccer player. Our team sucked, but we were a great bunch of guys that had a good time. But...I don't want to be the dad that gets crazy when the team just is a crazy bunch of arms and legs that looks like a giant cloud of dust chasing a ball. I am going to have to plant myself in the lawn chair, zip my lip and cheer. I also don't want to be the dad who rides the referee unmercifully. I've seen it and it's ugly. Not only that, since this is a group of four and five year olds, it's not appropriate for me to try to direct things or shout or do anything else stupid on the sidelines. My job is to shut up...cheer nicely and clap. I'm sure that J will remind me of my role in the grand scheme of things as a new soccer parent.

Oh...and now we have the vehicle that can hold a crapload of kids...we qualify as soccer parents. How cool is that?

"Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life son..."

2008-04-25T15:05:00.000-07:00

Angie of Barbed and Wired was celebrating since she passed her oral defense for her Masters. She's a happy camper...well, I'm a happy camper too. I just got my grade for my Ed Law class. I am ecstatic...Damn, I surpise myself sometimes! Okay, I was fat, drunk, and stupid (reference to Animal House) when I was an undergrad. Now, I'm just a little chunky, not drunk, and a little less stupid. I got my "A" in the class so I'm happy.

I called J and told her about my grade and asked her if we could have "happy food" for dinner. She asked me what "happy food" was and I answered with "I don't know...just something happy since I got my A. I think she thinks I'm mentally challenged for making that silly request. Hell, I want a victory cigar, but my ears are so damned screwed up, but I don't think I can do that. I have to settle for "happy food..." whatever the hell that is. Right now, anything would be happy food...it just can't have sugar in it. Now that I think of it...a Donut would be just plain good happy food right now...stop it Steve...you can't have the food of the devil!!! It's funny that I work with a lot of people training in the field of baking...I've been avoiding the baking lab for a few weeks now. I smell it, but ohhhhh...I can't go in there. This new eating thing is driving me crazy...Can I possibly stick my head in a feedbag of m & m's...or what about raiding this place I know of called "Muddy Paws cheesecakes"...? Aaaaaahhhh this is crazy. I can't be arrested for Driving while eating a candy bar can I?

Okay...the rant is over. I'm better now.

Confessions of a guy who was a scardy-cat kid

2008-04-24T12:54:00.000-07:00

You know how you want your kids not to be wimps...? I have to admit that I really want Goobs to sleep in his own bed. He creeps in the middle of the night and somehow we wake up with a little boy in our bed in the morning. He sometimes sneaks into his little sister's room and sleeps on the floor. He's basically afraid at night. I lay down with him, talk to him every night and we say prayers together. It seems calming for him, but he still ends up sleeping somewhere else other than his room.

Here's the confession that I have to make. I was the same way. I shared a bedroom with my little brother. Sometimes I would wake up and feel scared. I would slide my bed over next to my sleeping little brother for some comfort. So, I guess the next time I get irritated about my son's need to feel secure at night, I've got to remember my own feelings as a little boy.

You know...it's good when you have those little lightbulb moments. It reminds me to go back and think about how I felt when I was scared, upset, or out of sorts, which was a lot. Hopefully, I'll be able to identify with my kids more.

Friends, Romans, Countrymen...lend me your ears!!!

2008-04-22T19:11:00.000-07:00

So here I am with liquid dripping from my ears and eating antibiotics. My ears have been bugging me for a while, but I didn't pay too much attention to them. Well, this afternoon it was just too much to handle. I trotted over to the "minute clinic" at the downtown Target. Well, I found out I have a double ear infection. I come to expect that from my kids...but from me???

So they gave me anti biotic eardrops and antibiotics to take. I want my ears to feel better now. I woke up in the middle of the night with them hurting and didn't sleep for three hours. Hopefully, the pain will go down. Grrrr. My patience with my family is probably a little shorter than normal. I'll just grit my teeth and smile. They're patient with me, so I suppose it's my turn to be patient...

As far as Bun's pooping in the potty chair...well, let's temper the celebration a little bit. She has pooped in her pull up a couple of times since then. But the really fun thing is that she takes her pullups off and pees all over. Yesterday she peed on two separate pair of girls dress shoes.

We went to my grandmother's funeral yesterday. She was a kindly woman, who loved helping others. I wish that I would have been a better grandson. I wish I would have taken more time. I wish a lot of things...I guess it's a little late for that. My brother and I were pallbearers. It was a beautiful service and we said goodbye. I was sitting and thinking about what it means to be family member. I was blessed with a good family. I have to take part and give more...listen more...take more time...Be present...curb my natural ADD spaciness. But in the end...talk is cheap...My grandmother knew talk was cheap. She walked the walk. There was a lot of dysfunction in our little tribe, but she just chugged right on through that. Maybe she did ignore the 800 lb gorilla in the living room sometimes, but she was always there for others. My grandma rocked and it's high time I realized that.

Oh and one more thing. I got rid of my old beater car! My 16 year old niece is the proud owner of an ugly, dented, rusted, blue Olds Cutlass Ciera. It's out of my garage and I am sooooo happy! She's overjoyed and I am just as happy being rid of that old metallic millstone around my neck. Whooo hoooo!

Important Update!

2008-04-18T15:09:00.000-07:00

I was roused from my semi-comotose state at the computer (reference my last post...) by J hollering and cheering. I stepped away from my computer and went into the hallway in time to see The Bun pooping in her potty chair. This was the first time she did it!!! We had a short celebration and now I'm back in front of the computer...

But...She did it! My little girl is a big girl now!!!

Help me I'm drowning in FERPA

2008-04-18T11:43:00.000-07:00

This is just a quick break I'm taking today. I'm at home finishing up my final project for my Educational Law class. I'm researching how the Secretary of Education is proposing changes tothe Family Educational Right to Privacy Act (lovingly referred to as FERPA by us educational admin geeks). I just got done reading this report that was big enough to choke a mule and about as exciting as watching paint dry. Now, I've got to collect my thoughts and write this ungodly masterpiece o' crap. Please send me happy vibes...I really do love writing papers, but this one just is a big ol' cramp in my brain.

The class is tomorrow, so I'm okay for time...but I am hating life right now.

smoke alarm follies

2008-04-17T07:13:00.001-07:00

Okay...here's a little bit of advice for you homebuyers out there. If you can help it, don't buy a home with smoke alarms on vaulted ceilings. They're a real pain in the butt to change batteries. Actually, after my fumbling attempts-and I have to admit I put the damned battery in backwards (the print was too small for me to read about positive and negative posts for two volt batteries), J jumped up there, with her superior fine motor skills and got the job done. All in all, it wasn't fun. We had to use a gorilla ladder in the livingroom and both of us don't like climbing ladders...That said, hopefully this battery lasts for a hell of a long time.

I do have to compliment Goobs. He loves the Flyboat so much, he won't eat cheerios in a bag while in his car seat...whoops, I mean booster seat. What a good little boy! He's graduated now to a booster seat. Our little man is getting bigger and now is finally out of the five point restraint system. The Bun, by virtue of her size, may be in car seat until she's in junior high... But...she's finally growing. She's still tiny compared to other kids her age, but I think she's closing the gap by a little bit. I really think that her stature has forced her to be fiery and assertive, so maybe it's better that she's small.

Well, gotta get back to the salt mines...Later!!!

Here's the photo

2008-04-16T12:36:00.001-07:00

The Eternal Search for Balance

2008-04-16T12:15:00.000-07:00

This is an interesting type of travel that is sometimes used in the Philippines. The locals call this augmented motorcycle thingee "skylab" in reference to the long fallen satellite. It is a motorcycle with a 2"x6" board laid out across the back of the seat. If you look at the thing from an overhead view, it does sort of resemble the outline of skylab, thus the name. If you look closely, you can see that there are eight people on this vehicle. The thing that amazed me about that is that our new vehicle-The Flyboat, only seats seven. It's pretty darned big, as far as I'm concerned...and then you see this little motorcycle, precariously balanced, with eight people aboard. That's really amazing to me!

Balance has always been something that I've worked on having in my life...but it's been hard. It's always been a case of too much of one thing or not enough of another. As parents, J and I teeter back and forth, somehow getting things done. I'm amazed how we function...but things do get done. Sometimes quickly...sometimes slowly...but they get done. I have to credit J for the balance we have. She is amazing because I think I just suit up and show up and she's the true brains behind the operation. I don't tell her how much I love her and respect her.

So, Jennifer...if you're reading this, just know that your husband does worship the ground that you walk on. Yes, I'm samok...I'm disorganized...My ADD is a real pain in your butt...but I'll suit up and show up for you as long as I draw breath. Someday, we may even get to ride something like skylab and enjoy the scenery...Okay...you won't even let me ride a jeepney without supervision...so maybe that's out too.

To The Flyboat!!!

2008-04-14T07:52:00.000-07:00

Okay, I realize this title really is a little cryptic, but what the heck. The big new is that we bought the Ford Freestyle. I didn't think I'd feel this way about a new vehicle, but I'm happy as a clam...even though we have to start making car payments again next month. J said I was beaming all weekend about the car/van, or whatever you want to call it. This is weird because she is the primary driver of the thing. She's taking the kids to daycare/preschool and I will be taking the little red Dodge a half mile down the road to the bus station every morning. Of course, I will be driving the Dodge to my teaching job three evenings a week also, so it'll still getting a little mileage. It's basically her car...but I'm the one that feels happiest...weird???

Back to the whole "Flyboat" thing. The kids are big fans of Wonderpets. I suppose J and I are also fans of the intrepid trio, since we see the show too. Goobs and The Bun have started to memorize the dialogue between the characters. As you can see from the picture that Lenny, Tuck, and Ming Ming travel around in this cool thing called "The Flyboat." Since we're always singing or saying lines from the show and the Wonderpets are stars in our home, we thought it was only appropriate that we need the new Ford Freestyle "The Flyboat." Now, whenever we go out to the car together, we all shout..."To the Flyboat!"

How exciting is that...?

Here's the Town and Country

2008-04-11T11:24:00.001-07:00

Whoops, the pictures are backward as far as size goes. The Town and Country seems pretty typical as far as minivans go. But...it's got the DVD player, so I'm seriously thinking about how it might just keep Goobs and The Bun pacified on those long trips when they will be fighting.

Here's the Freestyle

2008-04-11T11:21:00.000-07:00

The Freestyle seats seven and I I think it looks cool...

What do you guys think???

2008-04-11T11:07:00.000-07:00

It looks like my researching spouse has come up with two options for us. After looking at price and performance online, she's decided that we need to look at two kinds of vehicles...A. The 2005 Ford Freestyle and B. The 2006 Chrysler Town and Country. Each of the vehicles has about 30,000 miles on them, but each has pros and cons. They both come with ABS brakes and passenger side airbags. Ratings online make them pretty much comparable as far as safety, performance, and dependabiltiy, so we're in a bit of a quandry. The big thing that the Town and Country has that the Freestyle doesn't have is a DVD player, otherwise known as the "silencer of the masses in the back." The thing in the Freestyle's favor is that it doesn't look like a minivan. J doesn't want to look like she's driving a minivan...I guess it's a vanity thing... Honestly, I could care less. If it has decent gas mileage, is safe, looks fairly decent, and gets us from point A to point B, I don't care...Okay, I do have one requirement. I want good tunes for us...so, a good stereo is a must. If we can get it with an IPOD dock, it would be really rockin', but I'm not going to whine if it doesn't have one.

What do you guys think? Any advice for us. We'll be test driving tomorrow. I can't wait!!! I'm getting rid of my piece of crap car. Of course, I'll be driving our little red Dodge, but it's still better than my rust bucket. J will get the new vehicle...but gosh...I am excited to get ride of the Olds. Whoopee!!!

Any advice anyone has about choices would really be welcome!!!

It's been a while

2008-04-09T11:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's been a while. Work and life have conspired to make life complicated and so I haven't been blogging with regularity. I've got a little time today, so I'm getting back on the old blogging horse and taking a ride.

I found this Sesame Street picture parodying "The Boss" and I thought it was kind of cool, so I thought to myself "Self...why don't you stick this on your blog..." and I did. No particular reason, but I did it.

So...what's happening these days? Well, we've just finished another first week of class and it's been exhausting. I starting teaching night classes again on Monday, so my busy life just continues. I've got two weeks left in my Ed Law class. I've got a couple of assignments to finishand I have to present a final project on Saturday the 19th. I love my life, but my God I'd like take a little bit of a break and just lay on a beach. Our little Dodge is getting a older by the day, so it's time for us to get another primary family vehicle. J absolutely loves researching this and has spent countless hours online looking for the best deal. She's pretty doggone good at it, so she's taking that deal over. I do sort of feel that I am abdicating some sort of manly duty since it's dealing with vehicles, but honest to God, I think she's probably better at car shopping than I am.

We had our second round of parent/teacher conferences last week. I can't believe this, but Miss Andrea is telling me that Goobs is good in the classroom and is a leader. It's not that I don't doubt my son at all, but he and his sister are a little on the wild side at home. Miss Andrea did say that his language skills are high and he has no problem expressing himself. I noticed a few weeks ago that he was using irregular verbs in the past tense. He said "Sami broke my toy," which made me swell up with pride-my boy is getting it!!! IThe truth is that I am really proud of my son. I am waiting to see how conferences will go with The Bun. She might be a little more of a problem in the classroom...she's the stubborn one who likes to tease her brother. That's not for a few years yet, so she'll have time...and so will we.

Well, I've got stuff to do, so I'll say goodbye for now. Hopefully, I'll be able to post tomorrow.

Funny things my wife says...

2008-03-28T19:00:00.000-07:00

Overheard in the car this evening:

Goobs: What's that mommy? (pointing to the ploom of white that is a jet trail in the sky)
J: It's jet poop.

That was the funniest thing I had heard in a while. Just thought I'd share that one with everyone.

Crabby is as crabby does

2008-03-27T07:43:00.000-07:00

I sort of lifted the title of this post from Forest Gump, but I thought it was applicable today. Everyone here at the office is out of sorts and none of us want to be here today. My goal, as I see it, is to stay calm and controlled in my cube and not stir up anything. I think if one of us started anything, the others would be like a pack of pirannahas gashing out hunks of flesh until the offending party is nothing but a pile of bones. The girls and I are just plain touchy today. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that we have an extended day here at El Rancho Ai. It's orientation for new spring students and that starts at 5:00 and runs until 8:00 this evening (thank God I'm not teaching evening ESL classes this week!). Sooooo...it's a long day and I have to be exceptionally nice, since my job involves meeting new students and setting up class schedules with them. Somebody slap me and make me pleasant now!!!

On the home front...The Bun loves her princess bike, but her older brother took to riding it around inside the house that first 24 hours that we had it (it was too snowy to use it outside, so we brought it inside for her). This really irked the bun and she had a few fits of crying, but she's the tough one out of the two, so she got over it. Speaking of her toughness, I want to give a little of it to Goobs. The Bun has been a bit naughty these last few days. We have reports from daycare that she's hitting him and pulling his hair. I hope he's just being a good big brother by not fighting back since he's so big compared to her. She's becoming more bold about it though and I think Goobs needs to show her that it's not appropriate. I think he needs to give her a little bit of a smackdown...not hard, but just enough to say..."Hey!!! Stop doing that crap because it hurts!" I talked to J about it and she kind of thinks that way too. We'll have to see what happens with the two of them.

And...enough of this winter crap. I am itching to get out the grill and start my outdoor cooking passion. We've got a little ipod docked stereo I can take outside now and just jam to tunes and grill. I am really missing the scents of spring and summer...with my grill. Time for me to dust off my tongs and spatula. I want to get an apron this summer so I can look a little more professional. One of the things I want to do buy a chef's jacket from the bookstore here. I've been the advisor to the culinary students for two years now and I've never gotten a chef's coat. With an apron and a white coat...I would feel soooooooo coooooooooooool!!!

Newsflash

2008-03-24T17:05:00.000-07:00

We interrupt your previously scheduled program to give you a quick news update. The man known as Samok Daddy was seen leaving a store with a small pink and white wheeled vehicle. he brought it home to the squeals of an unidentified little girl. We'll let you know more about the incident later this evening, but for now...here's Wheel of Fortune...

The Easterbasket Detox

2008-03-24T08:21:00.000-07:00

Just a few housekeeping notes as they relate to some prior posts. We held off on the princess bike for the Bun since we had a blizzard on Friday. I think she was cool with it because she didn't run around too overly much asking for the princess bike. We did get to play outside in the snow. The kids weren't too hip on making your generic snowman. Rolling snowballs and making them large enough for body parts didn't seem to interest them. Those kids decided that building a volcano made out of snow seemed far more pragmatic and fun. The volcano turned out pretty cool and the four of us had a small snowball fight.

I did some of my homework on Friday and finished it up on Saturday. I actually had fun doing it. I'm not getting the fact that homework is now fun. I was the guy who used to make up symptoms of illnesses to get to the nurses office on a regular basis so I could skip out of tests or to avoid homework. Ferris Bueller had nothing on me. I loathed doing schoolwork and would come up with elaborate schemes and lies to accomplish goals of not dealing with any kind of assignment. So, what happened? Now, I'm excited to get to the homework and I won't put down an assignment until I'm sure that I've done my utmost. Is it age...have I changed...what's the deal? All I know is that I am having fun with it all. The karmic wheel has indeed turned. I wonder how my kids will relate to their teachers and how they'll feel about learning.

Yesterday was Easter. I had been sugar free and had been doing quite well. I fell off of the sugar wagon hard yesterday. I think I OD'd on malted milk balls, whipped cream and jello, M&Ms, and some other crap-besides the ham, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, corn, and asparagus. My body responded to the sugar...initially, it was elation, but it was soon followed by an awful feeling of bloated lethargy. I made the drive home okay, but I think I felt worse later in the evening. I finally got to sleep and got up early and went to the gym. I'm detoxing and I'm slowly feeling better today. I think it's going to take a few days to do it.

Easter was fun for the kids...we did fill up their Easter baskets...not to the degree to we did last year. The kids got sleeping bags made for the livingroom and a tent...which we did put up in front of the TV. They got a new DVD also. It wasn't the best animated flick on the planet...but Open Season wasn't too bad. The Bun saw a picture of a porcupine on the front of the DVD case. She's decided that the movie is about a porcupine. She can't pronounce porcupine, but she does the best that she can. She calls the movie "perkyfine." Although we didn't have time to watch a video this morning, she asked repeatedly for "perkyfine." We'll probably have to watch "perkyfine" a few more times this week. Oh well...it'll be fun. Gotta run. Hope everyone is perkyfine this morning!!!

Princess Bike

2008-03-20T08:14:00.000-07:00

Last fall Goobs and I went to Wally World (the evil Wal-Mart) and picked out a bike with training wheels. It was (and still is) his first bike. He was so excited that I think he about peed his pants when we were leaving for the store. If you remember from my previous posts, Wally World is less than 200 meters from our place, so it's not that much of a trek to get there. We walked over and went to the bicycle section. There were quite a few bikes with training wheels and made for a kid his size. I looked at more of the generic looking bikes, but he fixed his attention on a bike with "Spider Man" all over it. I thought it looked a little tacky, but he was determined that we was going to get that Spider Man bike. I tried to show him the value of some of the other bikes, but that effort was in vain. Goobs really really really wanted that Spider Man Bike, so I relented and we snipped off all of the price tages and labels, wheeled it out, (yes, we got a helmet too) and we took the long way home. He was really excited to ride a real bike with training wheels.

Cut away to now...It was a little warmer last weekend. I was really busy last weekend, but I took a little time on Saturday because the Spider Man Bike had a problem with the rear brake. I, by nature, am about as handy as a rock. Luckily, this chore was something that even a non handy guy like myself could fix. You know, it's kind of cool when your son looks up to you after you've fixed one of his toys. You really feel like "Dad." Well, it was still chilly on Saturday, so he just took the bike out on our small deck. He didn't have any room with the bike, but he still had fun. The Bun was out there too, since she wants to be with her brother a lot of the time. Well, she became pretty jealous of the Spider Man bike. She tried to grab it and said "My Spider Man bike!" We had to tell her that it was her brother's bike...we did tell her that she would get a "princess bike" and mommy and daddy would get it for her. Since then, she's been running around jabbering about "princess bike." I came home late earlier this week and J announced to me that daddy was going to take the Bun out to buy her "princess bike" on Friday. Both of us have the day off on Friday, so it's a perfect day to get it. The Bun isn't very big...she's very small for her age. She still tips the scales at right over 20 pounds, so this is not going to be a very big vehicle. J has found a pink and white "big wheel" online at Target. I think we'll end up getting that for her. It's going to be interesting with both kids rolling around...

On another note...Back in my younger and far wilder days in the military, I sat down at a tattoo shop and got a little ink done on my left shoulder. It's discreet and no one gets much of a look at it unless I'm swimming or laying around at home in my gym shorts. Goobs, of course, has seen it quite a bit. About a week ago J started laughing and told me that I should know that Goobs has been announcing to his peers, preschool teachers, and daycare provider that his daddy has a tattoo. I suppose that's why he's been writing on himself with pens lately. You know, I have had the urge to get another tattoo, but that kind of stopped me in my tracks. I think I'll put off the thought of another tattoo for later...

Fruit, fruit, fruit...

2008-03-19T10:16:00.000-07:00

Okay...so in this effort to change my diet, I went to the grocery store and went a little crazy on fruit last night. I got mangoes, bananas, apples, pears, and a pomelo. The pomelo is my all time favorite fruit and I ate it all right when I got home last night. The thing that sucks about it is that they are expensive and I only got one...I got a buttload of the other fruit and I will definitely eat all of the other stuff, but I WANT ANOTHER POMELO NOW!!! In fact, I want a giant bag of pomelos. I would like to be in a room of pomelos...a warehouse room of pomelos. Ya kind of get the feeling that I've got a little bit of an addictive personality???

So Happy it's Wednesday

2008-03-19T07:30:00.000-07:00

Wednesday...Midweek...Humpday....that time where you can actually see the weekend coming...Yup...that's today. Luckily, we've got Good Friday off and students won't be around for a week after that, so I'm feeling a little bit better. I don't have to teach in the evenings next week, so I'm really excited for a short break of sorts. I'll still have to be here at my primary job, helping students get back into school by writing letters of appeal to the Dean. I'll have to get a new spread sheet set for the upcoming quarter, but honestly that won't take too long. Yes, the sun is shining and there's a rainbow out there.

The Bun was quiet and well behaved this morning. J's got this glider chair and ottoman set up near the kitchen that's her "morning coffee chair." She and the Bun were sitting there this morning as J got her morning java hit. I rolled out of the bedroom at about 5:50 and Bun squealed "Daddy" and ran to give me a hug. The morning hug was just what dad needed. Aaahhhh, it's nice when your little girl runs to give you a hug. Goobs was pleasant again this morning and was really good about getting his boots and jacket to go. What a nice surprise this morning.

It's kind of funny...The Bun has started to sing Barenaked Ladies songs to herself. One of her favorite things to do is to go into her room, turn on her little boom box with the BNL's Everything to Everyone CD (she knows how to do that now) and bounce on her bed. She thinks she's a little trampoline artist. Goobs has been watching Diego and has imagined his belt to be a "rescue rope." I think he's trying to rescue stuffed animals...I kind of scolded him because the rescue rope went around his own neck (actually, I was wanted to appear angry and scare him). I just have awful fears about ropes or belts and necks of little kids... So, the kids are playing well. I have to admit they started pushing each other and yelling "Stop it!" to each other. I should have been serious and broken them up...but the last time they did that, I just hid behind the corner and giggle a little bit. They were such cute siblings fighting with each other. I have memories of that too, so I'm not too worried.

Well...back to work. That's all for today.

Bits and Pieces of Tuesday...

2008-03-18T09:21:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling a little tired today. I think I'm recovering a little bit from the weekend. On Saturday, I did my lesson planning for the week and went to a St. Patty's Day gathering. The Bun was feeling under the weather, so she and J stayed home and Goobs and I went over to the party. I have to say that he was the perfect little gentleman. He sat on my lap at the table and ate ice cream while the adults chatted and laughed. Of course, he had his eye on the TV in the next room and would move back and forth because the "Incredibles" was on at the time. We left the gathering at 10:00 and drove home. We were about 5 minutes into the 20 minute drive home and I glanced back to see him in his car seat. He was completely wiped out. I had to carry him up to bed, take his clothes off, and put him under the covers. These are the times when I love being a daddy...of course, when he and the Bun are beneath the table wrestling at a restaurant...that's a another story completely. But, in the end it's all good. J told me that she was happy because she felt like the house was a mess, so after the Bun went to sleep, she steam vaccuumed the the dining room/living room and the front steps. She always likes it when there's no one underfoot and she can make her house nice...she's kicked me and the kids out before and done it...she always looks a whole lot happier when we return. To me it seems like a chore, but for her it appears to recharge her batteries-she has alone time (quiet too) when the Samok Daddy and the Samok kids are out of her hair. But...I think I've got to do something nice for her...
Getting back to why I was tired...I think I went off on a tangent there...I spent all of Sunday working on my assignments for Educational Law. It wasn't very exciting. I had to research a couple of Supreme Court rulings on students getting suspended (Goobs and the Bun better pray that they never get suspended) and write a legal brief (I think I'm kind of crappy at that) and answer an online question. I started in the morning and finished at about 6:30, just in time for dinner. I would like a day off from everything, but I think that won't come for a while. I just have to keep one foot in front of the other. I'll get home tonight about 6:30, eat dinner, play with the kids for a little while...get them ready for bed and J and I will have about an hour to ourselves before we crash. The thing that sucks about being this busy is that J is just as tired as I am. If I'm not home and working, she's taking care of the kids by herself, which I know, takes a hell of a lot out of her. She is the best...that's all I can say. If I whine about how tough it is, she basically tells me to shut up and keep going. There are a lot of folks who work hard for their families, so we're not unique. She's a good motivator. I can say this about us. I am proud that we are doing all we can to take care of our children. We are not rich, but we work very hard and will continue to do so.

On the good side of things...the Bun has not created a lot of noise early in the morning for the last few days. Yes, she has gotten up early, but there has been no ruckus for Cheerios or Fruit Loops. Goobs is as hard to get up as ever. He was crabby when I got him up to get dressed. I gave him his clothes this morning and he complained that, in his humble opinion, his pants didn't match his shirt. He got a new shirt and was happy. J and I wondered where he learned about clothese matching and style...my boy...the four year old fashion expert. I hope this discerning eye doesn't come back to bite us in the butts later on when he's a teenager.

It's a good day today. Who can complain when you've got a great family and a life like mine? It's a little bit of a hassle, but what the hell. It's sho' nuff interesting and it's never boring.

Happy Friday

2008-03-14T11:22:00.000-07:00

I wonder if people are just too serious these days. It seems everything at work is "life and death" and we've got to get it done "yesterday." I found myself becoming way too sensetive and was cranky around coworkers from different offices this morning. My boss, the Dean, told me to relax and take a short walk outside to get some fresh air. I did that and it seemed to make things a little bit better...Maybe it's just me...I haven't had a candy bar in a couple of days now, so I could be having a "sugar" jones going on today. Maybe if I go get a quick hit on an Almond Joy I'll be in a better mood. I guess sugar is really like a drug.... If that's the case...I'll become a sugar dope fiend...I'll be on the sidewalk, asking anonymous folks for spare change so I can run in and get a quick high from a Snickers or Milky Way. You might find me hanging out in front of "Candyland" in downtown Minneapolis with a hat on the ground, singing campy love songs for quarters or the odd dollar bill. You might also find me with a rag and a windshield spritzer washing windows and sticking my hand in your open driver's side window for chocolate money. I haven't been that desperate yet, but who knows if I will or not...

On a different note...It's been an uphill battle trying to get Goobs to sleep in his own bed. I had to drag him back to his bed twice last night after he climbed in with us. I missed him the last time because I didn't wake up. He brought in a blanket and slept on the floor on J's side of the bed. We watched "The Nanny" on TV and she stressed that parents have to repeatedly bring kids back to their bedrooms until they "get it." Maybe we give up in the end-at 2 or 3 in the morning and just let him. It looks like right now that he's trying and won't give up until he sleeps in our room. My thought that is that he's four now and he needs to start sleeping in his own bedroom. I love that he wants to be with us, but I also want him to be an independent little boy, so I'm a little torn. It is nice to have him snuggle up next to me in the morning...since his younger sister is up and screaming for cheerios usually really early (I'm preferring Goobs' morning demeanor now to the Bun's loud Cheerio tantrums). The kid sleeping in mom and dad's bed thing isn't too earth shattering, so I'm not going to worry about it too much. I would, however, love to change the Bun's morning routine. Just for once I'd like her to sleep late instead of going into one of her pre-dawn cereal rants. We feed her well...we really do, but she still wakes up at 4:30 and howls for Cheerios or Fruit Loops. We are seriously wanting the little girl to amend her morning habits. We're working on it, but havent' found any tangible improvement as of yet.

We've got a party at one of our former coworker's places this weekend...a St. Patrick's bash. It should be interesting. It's not some wild office party, but a few folks getting together and having some food and relaxing together. I'm going to unleash the kids on my coworkers again. They see them about twice a year and don't get the full brunt of what it's like to be around a four year old and a two year old for a prolonged period of time. I think it's going to be a gas...but we can't stay that long since bedtimes prohibit that. Besides, I've got homework this weekend for my Educational Law class.

Something new

2008-03-12T07:13:00.000-07:00

I have this coworker who has changed her life through her diet. She saw that I was being sort of spastic last week and took the time to slide a book on my desk. The book is rather small and I wanted to discount it but I picked it up and started reading it on the bus. It's called "Sugar Blues" by William Duffy and it was actually written quite a while ago. I checked the publishing date and it said 1975, so I guess it's got some staying power.

Anyway, I picked this thing up on the bus and it floored me. I've only read the first couple of chapters and it's challenging me on the way I've been eating all of these years. It really resonated with me last night. Late in the afternoon...before I went home, some folks from one of the baking classes brought pieces of cake down to our office. I snarfed a few pieces and immediately I felt a combination of buzzed and bogged down. It was an awful feeling...a quick flashback to halloween evenings or Christmas Eves in the past when I'd eaten way too much crap and had that combination feeling of blecccchhh and rotten. On the way home, I started to read the book and it started to make sense to me...I was feeling the results of what I ate and was understanding what was actually happening to me. The crap that I'm putting into my body is affecting me.

Here's the interesting part...after reading the book on the way home, I got home and there were some M&M's in a container on the counter. What did I do last night? I ate them and felt crappy again. How stupid was that?

So, here I am this morning. I've decided to try something new. I got some bananas for breakfast and I'm drinking water and having some herbal tea at work (the girls have craploads of tea here). I am making the effort...just for today (hmmm...where have I heard that before?) not to consume sugar. This is a beginning...just one day. I'm not worrying about tomorrow, but for today...no Good N' Plenties...no sneaking up to the bake lab and trying stuff...no mini peanut butter cups when I get home. I can't make any promises on tomorrow, but today I'm trying something new.

Language gaffe

2008-03-11T13:54:00.000-07:00

How can I even claim to want to open a school for anyone who wants to learn English when I write stupidly..."Koreans that want to learn English..." Sorry...It should be Koreans "who" want to learn English...My bad...

I need to proofread my stuff before posting...arrrggghhhh...

A Tuesday daydream

2008-03-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

So today is March 11th and the snow is beginning to melt here. I don't know, but this winter seems as if it's hung on longer than those of the past few years. Maybe it's because it's the year anniversary of our last vacation to the Philippines coming up this Saturday. The only thing we've done since then is a short trip to Detroit. Yes, the trip was refreshing at the time, but I'll tell ya what...I've been sitting on the commuter bus, closing my eyes and visualizing myself under a palm tree wiggling my toes in the sand.
Here I am bitching again about living in Minnesota...land of the deep freeze and tater tot hotdish. Granted, the schools are good, the neighboorhood we're in is safe, family friendly, and clean, but there's something missing for me. There's not a whole lot of adventure in the land of lime jello and buttered dollar buns with ham. It is nice here, but there's that little tickle in the back of my brain that says..."screw it, move to the Philippines, start a school for Koreans that want to learn English, set up a few more businesses, open a diving shop, and start over...Hey, it's just money. It can be gained...it can be lost...but life is to enjoy and to be experienced. I know we're supposed to go to the Wisconsin Dells sometime in May for a couple of days and we'll go to the Black Hills in August...to take pictures of Mount Rushmore and see a real live buffalo, so there are some things planned... but I want to get away now...Far, Far, away. I guess dreaming on the bus isn't a bad way to pass the time, but jeez...the blue water and the warm winds are calling me again.

Monday again...this time it's not so bad.

2008-03-10T12:30:00.000-07:00

If you saw comments in my last post you know that I guess I made a mountain out of a mouseturd. I was convinced that I had the big "C" down where I sit and I had weeks or months to live. I had a short exam by our family physician, who poked, prodded, and gave me a "prison contraband" check. Let's just say that he thinks I am pretty normal(as far as heath goes) for a guy in my mid-forties. He does insist that I have a colonoscopy, since I am about at that age where you should get one every so often. Since he isn't that concerned, I'm not having the procedure done until mid-April. The examination itself doesn't sound that bad, since they give you some good drugs and you're basically either out or so happy that you don't care they're up there taking pictures. The part that sounds bad is the lead up...I guess you have to drink some nasty concoction that really really cleans you out and you'd better not be very far from a bathroom at that time.
I am much more relaxed and have actually had a good weekend. I haven't obsessed over my own poop or my backside in a few days now...and that's pretty refreshing!

I don't know about you guys...but the beginning of Daylight Saving Time SUCKS!!! I couldn't sleep last night and morning came way too early. The Bun does like to get up early, sit on the kitchen floor, and scream about her desire for Cheerios. It wouldn't have been so bad, but this morning IT WAS DARK!!!

Okay...it is okay...I've got to stop whining and get my butt to my second job. Life is good and I'm a happy camper today...Hope everyone is enjoying themselves...

Put one foot in front of the other

2008-03-06T09:51:00.000-08:00

I'm leaving the office in about 20 minutes to drive to the doctor's office. I had a nice morning with the kids...I shared some laughs as I got the Bun and Goobs dressed this morning. God's been good to me...I can't ask for more than J and those two balls of energy.

Okay... this is just part one of the process. So not much will happen today, but I'm still shaking in my boots. Time to go do it.

More thoughts

2008-03-05T08:28:00.001-08:00

Samok Daddy the chickenhearted is checking in for the day. Tomorrow is the day that I see the doctor and he'll give me the referral to get the special examination that I need. I've shared what I'm doing with close friends, my spiritual mentors, and "the girls" in the office. Since we work in such close quarters, it's pretty obvious when one of us is off, so the girls deserve to know why I'm acting weirder than usual. They've been great and very supportive of me...all telling me that this is something I need to do. I alternate between being lighthearted and a scared little boy, who feels like he' s got the message to go to the assistant principal's office and has to face the music for something he's done. J's been awesome and sat on the sofa with me last night and just let me rest on her and she stroked my head. You know I'll feel really stupid if this is a minor thing, but I guess I'm just not at peace yet.

I called my brother last night to talk to him. I trust him with this more than anyone. Right after he was married and when he and Connie were expecting their first child he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. He went through hell and had his colon removed. His internal plumbing has been reconstructed and he's led a normal life for many years. My symptoms don't reflect colitis, but since this is basically the same area of concern, his words were comforting and bouyed me up. In the last few years Scott and Connie have truly deepened their faiths in God and I hear it in his voice over the phone when I talk to him now. He reiterated the "one day at a time" thinking that has really been a part of my life for quite a while-somehow it disappears when fear intrudes. He paraphrased the story of the "lilies of the field" to me and it made more sense. I can't worry and have to put everything in God's hands-he's got it all and he really does a pretty good job of taking care of things.

You know this might be a good experience. This may be life changing, whatever happens. Can I be looking at life in a different way now? What things need doing? What's important? Do I need to draw closer to God? These are all questions that seem to be swimming in my head right now. I guess it's time for me to ask God to throw me a life preserver...I think it's time for me just to hold on and let God pull me to the dock right now.

Not so lionhearted

2008-03-03T10:35:00.000-08:00

It's Monday here again at the Samok ranch. Everybody is either back at work or in daycare-good thing. It's time to start back on a regular schedule again. This will be short today. I will be honest today and say that I'm a little nervous. I made an appointment with my physician by phone today. I'll be seeing him on Thursday. I've noticed a few things physically within the past few months and I'm tired of being an ostrich...hiding my head in the sand and hoping symptoms might go away. I won't go into detail at this time, but I find that I'm not as brave as I thought I was. I'm actually a pretty big chicken. It might be nothing and I might have lost a ton of sleep for nothing. Then again, if it is something a little ugly, I'm facing it and getting it treated. I talked to my mom (a retired nurse) about it and she said that it's appropriate for a man of my age to get these types of things checked out and visiting the doctor is a good thing. If it's such a good thing, why am I so damned frightened?

Back on Track

2008-02-29T10:36:00.000-08:00

Yes, I'm back at work today and am starting to feel better. You know you're sick when the best looking and smelling food just makes you want to barf. That's where I was yesterday. I'm slowly getting my appetite back, but it's not quite there yet. The Culinary Basics class had some braised veal shanks that they wanted me to try this morning. I took a bite and couldn't handle any more. Usually I'll just chow it down, but I'm not quite up to choking two veal shanks down. I've got some pop and crackers at my desk, so I'm settling for that right now. I hope to enjoy a good meal later this evening.

A quick note to Mama Nabi about all of this flu and sickness stuff since LN is starting her preschool...one of the things that seems to happen with a high frequency is that kids come back from daycare and preschool with all sorts of germs and sickness. Preschool and daycare is a cesspool of germs that kids bathe in and then bring home with them. Then mommy or daddy start feeling ill...and the whole darn household falls into a state of disfunction. This is just a warning kiddo... It's not an "if situation" but just a matter of when LN and you will come down with something. Sorry this isn't something positive...but be ready for it when it comes...

A note on a previous posting...The movie quote on snakes was indeed Indiana Jones in "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Angie of "Barbed and Wired" (someday, I'll take the time to learn how to link crap up to different websites) answered the question correctly. Hey...when we go down to San Antonio in the future I'll get you a Snickers Bar or an ice cream cone. I'm big on ice cream cones...not just vanilla soft serve, but the real deal with nuts, chocolate, coconut, and a whole bunch of other tastey crap-mmm my appetite must be returning because that sounds really good right now.

I heard something disturbing from the Bun this morning. As I was changing her diaper and getting her dressed, she grinned at me and said "Hi stupid!" I really wasn't sure about what she had said, maybe my ears weren't really in tune with my little girl's words...but then she said it again plain as day..."Hi stupid!" I said in a stern voice..."Sami, we don't say that." To which she responded again with "Hi stupid!" I told her again in no uncertain terms that we don't say those things. She did stop at that time, but the little twinkle in her eye told me that wouldn't be the last time that she blurts those words out. She had said stupid once before and J told me that sometimes I use that word when I'm watching TV or describing someone else when she and I are in the kitchen talking...and little ears are tune in. I guess the bottom line is that I really have to watch what I say...

Is it normal for kids to want to sleep on the floor? Goobs is now wanting to sleep on the floor...I don't get it...maybe it's his inner asian coming out. He'd rather crash on his floor and then come into our room at about 4:00 am for a little snuggle time with his mom and me. Well...I've got somebody crawling up my butt to get something done here...so it's time to check out for the day.

at home and miserable

2008-02-28T08:17:00.000-08:00

I've been waiting for the other shoe to drop and it has. The kids have been sick all week. J and I have been alternating taking care of kids this week. I had to take Tuesday off and I was scheduled to take today off as well to be with them. They've been pukey and had the runs all week long. I am home now because I've finally caught what they've had. They're here and running around like little wild things and I don't want to move. I've got some homework to do for my new class in grad school, but I'm putting that off too. It's the all too exciting Educational Law. Tooth extraction sounds more fun, doesn't it kids? The stomach bug and Educational Law...who could ask for more?

Mommy's are so much better at carrying on with life when they are sick. Basically, I fall apart and don't want to move. J still just fights on through things and everything gets done. Okay, I admit it...I am a typical guy who turns into a giant wussy when he gets sick. I am trying to be like her, but let's face it...girls are better at that crap. I don't get it...I've run long distances, jumped out of airplanes, been under the ocean, and done a whole lot of other crap, but when I get sick I turn into the worst basket case that exists...hey, I gotta run. Goobs wants to paint now and I don't want the kitchen to look like the a reinactment of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Snakes...why does it always have to be snakes...?

2008-02-27T13:08:00.000-08:00

Ya read the news and this kind of thing pops up...A 16 foot brush python stalks a family's chihuahua and eats it in front of the kids...I just read the story and my gosh...people are dumb!!! The wild snake had been stalking the dog for a few days, in fact the python had even been found in the dog's bed. Come on people...You're not going to get the snake to move, so why don't you at least move the dog for a little while? You know...put the little guy in some sort of canine witness protection service...move him!!! Put him in a place where the big bad snake can't find him...and not just leave him there as the "entree of the month." Right now you've got traumatized kids and a snake who is just "doin' what comes natural" -and of course little fido...who is no more...

What the heck people???

"Snakes...Why does it always have to be snakes?"

Can anyone tell me who uttered that famous question??? It's a little movie trivia...

SCREW FEAR!!!

Monday and the beginning of another week

2008-02-25T12:04:00.000-08:00

Saturday's competition was fun and filling. I think I had chicken coming out of every pore of my body...so many varieties that I can't even name them all. Culinary students from our school placed first and second, so I'm very proud of them. Everyone did a bang up job, so I was all smiles on Saturday evening. We also had a student place second in Design also, so it was a great time. We've got another higher level convention/competition coming up in Atlanta in the middle of April, so we'll se what happens next.

The Bun is at home today. She's been throwing up since Saturday...Poor Bun and poor J. Since I was busy with the competition, J's been home with the pukey little girl and a very hyper little boy. I took Goobs out sledding for a couple of hours yesterday and we got some energy out of the little guy, but he still seemed a bit hyper last night. They're all home today. If the Bun is still sick tomorrow, I'll be homebound with them.

I really don't want to be at work today. Honestly, I'm feeling like "anywhere but here", but there's nothing I can do about it. J has started thinking about a summer vacation for us in the Black Hills. She's been online checking out every activity that tourists with small kids can accomplish. She printed them up and put them in a small binder for me to peruse. I looked through them, and I admit I'm excited too. I'd rather go out west than go back to Detroit for a vacation...not that we didn't have fun...but it's Detroit for heaven's sake! J wants to see buffalo and antelope...and Mount Rushmore...and all that other stuff. She's even found an official western safari that ends with a chuckwagon dinner. That woman is now all gassed up for the Black Hills. I just hope that she doesn't die of boredom on the drive west on I-90. Hey, the kids will liven that part up...

Busy and Tired...

2008-02-23T10:06:00.000-08:00

I'm at school today on a Saturday and I'm having fun, but the fun is coming at a price. I am completely wiped out. Part of my job at school requires me to have an outside duty. My duty is that I advise an organization. The organization that I advise is called "DEX"- Delta Epsilon Chi...sounds like a fraternity, huh? NOT... DEX is the actual older brother of the high school DECA program, which gets students involved with the professional world, networking, marketing, working in the community, and just having them get their feet with experiences that help them down the road. The state convention is in the twin cities this weekend and I've been involved...boy have I been involved.
Our school is holding the culinary portion of the competition. We are in downtown Minneapolis, but the rest of the convention/competition takes place in Woodbury at another school. The hotel that the students stay in and have all their fun events take place at is in the eastern part of St. Paul, so needles to say...this has been a bit of a logistical pain in the rear. We have non culinary students particpating and staying over at the other site. But, since we are doing the culinary thing here, I'm staying at school and popping in and out of the kitchen every 10 minutes or so to see if everything is okay. I'm basically the overseer, making sure things are running fairly. But, since it's havoc in that kitchen right now and I'm not a judging chef (I'm just the administrator in the way), I needed to get my happy butt out of there... So here I am. I am going to be putting pictures on here showing competitors and their food...so I'm excited about sharing what some of my students are all about.

I'll be going over to the hotel this afternoon for the awards ceremony/banquet. I really hope all of the students from our school, culinary or other, come out with some recognition. There is a graphic designer competing that has some really neat stuff, so I'm really pulling for him to come away with an award.

Last night was interesting. One of the big events that they had for the competitors was a "casino night." They rented blackjack tables, a poker table, a dice game, and a big money wheel and put them in a ballroom. The company trains volunteers how to run the different games, and then we are able to be "the dealers" as a couple of company "pit bosses" move around and watch us to see if we're doing it right. It's not real money and accumulated chips can be used to get more raffle/prize tickets. There's not a lot of pressure...you come there in a white shirt and black slacks...they give you a quick 15 minute training session and you've got a cheat sheet to help you. So...I wasn't too worried.

Samok Daddy was assigned to a blackjack table. I listened intently to the training session and had my cheat sheet strategically placed next to me, so I wouldn't appear to look like a complete dork of a blackjack dealer. I better tell you guys up front...I am not a card player. I am a person who will help out a situation if you need a volunteer to do something...they asked and I helped...but I suck at cards. I never really played them. I knew how to shuffle somewhat well, but I lake really decent coordination with my hands...There were a few times that while shuffling, I spilled my cards, so I didn't look that good doing it. I will have to say that I did get better and I had fun, but having ADD and dealing blackjack is also a bit of a treat. Too many chips...too many cards...too much stimuli...I had to breathe a few times when I forgot to give myself a second card...or I miscounted chips to give back to players. To make matters worse, the woman who was at the table next to me looked like a professional dealer. We had a few minutes downtime and asked her where she learned to do it so well...she said she had an old boyfriend who was a "blackjack hound" and she was always at the casino. It's never good when you have the blackjack dork next to the dealer queen. I got over my embarassment and had some fun...and I actually learned something. No, I'm not going to run out to Mystic Lake and apply to be a dealer...or actaully go play blackjack, but if asked to do something like this again, I won't be so hesitant as this last time.

I got home after midnight last night. So, I've worked my full time job on Tuesday, worked both day jobs and taught night classes on Wednesday and Thursday. I've done the convention from 7:00 till past 11:00 last night and will probably get home at 9:00 tonight. I am done...fried...frickaseed...my butt is kicked...my goose is cooked...and my daughter woke me up at 5:20 this morning when she was shouting at J to get up. So, when I get home tonight, I'm going to ask J to make me a heaping dish of ice cream with butterscotch on top...and I'll fall asleep on the sofa. Hopefully, my kids will understand if I'm a little groggy tomorrow...Oh well...life's still a dance...and I'll sign off with my new motto...SCREW FEAR

For Above Average Joe

2008-02-21T09:30:00.000-08:00

I know I gave a shout out to Mama Nabi the other day, but I truly feel I would be remiss if I didn't do the same for Above Average Joe. He's also trekkin' through some similar mud that cakes Mama Nabi's boots right now. I just want to tell him that he is, indeed, doing the right thing by keeping the kids first and trying to walk through this thing calmly. Joe, it sounds really painful for you, but as long as you just do it for short 24 hour bits, you'll get through it. There's somebody upstairs looking out for you, who'll give you what you need. Like I said before...I'll be hanging around your blog to give you a bloggish shoulder to lean on if you need it. Feel free to ask...

And...Spring Training has begun for seamheads (baseball fans). I'm sure Fort Meyers, Florida is abuzz with activity with Twins fans and members of Red Sox Nation-Sorry Above Average...I'm sticking to my side of the tracks in Fort Meyers. I live and die with my boys from the Metrodome. Yeah, I know Torii Hunter and Johann Santana are no longer here to fill my household with hours of delight (yeah, J loves the Twins too!!!), but hope springs eternal, and as a baseball fan...I'm full of hope (or sh**, whichever you pick). I am fired up to hear "Play Ball" for the first time and smell the freshly cut grass.

2008-02-20T11:31:00.001-08:00

You know...there is one thing that keeps human beings from realizing what they can really do and how high they can fly. Fear...it's all about fear. If I can live in the moment and just for today...and also do the footwork for tomorrow...I'll be okay, and I'll probably have fun doing it. Fear keeps me in my seat, with my face pointed downward. I'll stay in the status quo...just good enough to get by. I want more, but don't know what to do or how to get there. I guess the first thing I can do is banish fear for just one day. So, just for today...SCREW FEAR...LIVE PASSIONATELY...LOVE PASSIONATELY...THROW MY SHOULDERS BACK AND SMILE.

You heard it here again...SCREW FEAR!!!

For Mama Nabi

2008-02-19T14:38:00.000-08:00

This will be another short but sweet post. This one goes out to Mama Nabi, who is wading through a rough patch in her life. You know you have my respect and admiration and prayers. God's got you in the palm of his hand. Even though it's scary and the pain is real... Those folks who get up and fight...those who refuse to lie down and just die...those who do it all over again, just to endure one more day...those are the ones who become strong. They are also the ones who know about trials and can share their experience with others who are lost in their tears and are knee deep in the mud. Remember you've got something to share...and it's going to help someone down the road who feels desperate and has no way out.

Today is a new beginning. LN starts preschool. I remember J that first day of daycare with Goobs and also with the Bun. There were tears...but damn...it's nice to have a child to shed tears of love over. How lucky we are to have that!

Now, go hug your kid...and as for the rest of the day...kick butt and take names!!! We got your back!

I ski therefore I am

2008-02-19T13:27:00.000-08:00

Yes, it was a good weekend. We finally had our little weekend away together that was so badly needed. The kids had a great time with Grandma and Grandpa, although when we left them J had some big tears...and that combined with them going with the grandparents gave me a lump in the throat. I'm a lucky man to have such wonderful kids and a mom that has a world of love in her heart. Can't give her enough praise...nope...no I can't.

The scenery on the drive down to Wabasha is fantastic. Highway 61 skirts the Mississippi and weaves through trees and bluffs like a cement ribbon through the white snow. It was great just to talk to J and look at the world around us. Most of our conversation naturally revolved around our children and what we'd like to do on future vacations. The only thing that seemed odd was that there was no racket or din coming from the back seat. There were no battles for toys or screams or singing wars. It was just J and I and quiet. It was weird, but nice.

But, many of you are wondering what happened with the skiing. I have to say this about J...she wants to ski again. The fact that she didn't make it up the tow rope even once didn't matter. She got out and did it.

I suppose I should start from the beginning. We rented our skis and we got outside and to the bottom of the bunny hill. Coffee Mill has created a snowboard obstacle course on their bunny hill, so it did make it a little more worrisome. J put on her skis and really couldn't move very far. Her first chore was to move just a short way...from point A to point B on a flat, snowy surface. It was difficult for the first thirty minutes. She finally got it and then the next thing on the docket was moving up the hill. I must admit that I was a little impatient. I showed her a few times and she needed time to move up the hill sideways. She readily admitted that instead of just trying things, she thought about the activity way too much. I wasn't advocating having her going up a huge hill, but going up a little higher and letting her body figure things out. Snowplowing was difficult for her and she only climbed up the very small incline about twenty feet and then slide down the hill. She did fall down a lot and used the snowbank that separated the bunny hill from the parking lot as a natural brake. One of her big downfalls was that she would stop paying attention to what she was doing when she'd see some cute little four or five year old come flying down the hill, fall down and pop right back up...That's what I wanted her to do, but noooooo....she couldn't follow their examples. She told me, "Honey, I've got too much baggage to do that!" (which translated to fear...I think) She certainly got better, but refused to go up higher to get it. There weren't lessons at that time, so three hours of me trying to coach her was more than enough for her. She eventually kicked me out of her area and told me to go enjoy the chairlifts. I did get to ski and I had some fun, but I did worry that she'd get run over by some kid with baggy pants, a floppy hat, and shaggy hair on a snowboard.

The thing that was cool about J was that despite all of the falling and not doing very much, she's excited to do it again and get the kids involved. I am envisioning our kids just having fun on hills like that. I think the Bun will be a terror, but Goobs will be a cautious skiier or snowboarder.

That evening we went out for pizza. Part of the ski package is a free large pizza at the local pizza parlor, which was connected to the bowling alley. It was kind of cool because they had moonlight bowling. I'd never seen anything like that before...a darkened bowling alley with all of the glow in the dark stuff going on. J suggested that we take the kids bowling. Now to be honest, I have always been really embarrassed by my terrible bowling prowess. As a youngster, I was so sensetive about how dumb I looked, I wouldn't bowl in front of girls. I would almost fall over and would invariably throw a gutter ball. After all of these years I think I've changed my mind. I'll bowl with my family. Hey, if you can't look like a dork in front of your family, who can you look like a dork in front of?

We were so tired after the pizza, we were sleeping by 10:15. We wanted to ski on Sunday, but it was snowing so badly there that travel would have been a problem if we waited to pick up the kis. So...we had the finist continental breakfast that an Americinn could offer-J got cranky with me because I waited in the waffle line too long...and then we took off to pick up the kids.

J shed a few more tears when we picked them up. It was a good weekend...Grandpa and Grandma said they were angels. Of course, their behavior turned sour when we picked them up. What do you expect when mom and dad are around anyway?

I'm back at work now and busy, but relaxed and happy.

Batman revisited

2008-02-15T12:30:00.000-08:00

I came home last night and I heard this excited voice coming from the living room..."Dad, Dad, Batman's on and he's got a really cool car!" I just got my shoes off and hung up my coat and he ran up, grabbed me by my sleeve and sat me down on the couch next to him. J was laying down and laughing. She was so relieved that I was home because Goobs couldn't keep his mouth closed during the movie. Now I could bear the brunt of his constant Batman and Batmobile questions...and let me tell ya folks...Goobs left no stone unturned when it came to questions about his new favorite hero and that hero's vehicle of choice. He was happy...he got to hang out with mom and dad for an extra hour...he got to see Batman...and now he's bragging about it in daycare today. I'm all for my son having a good time.

A Very Samok Valentines Day

2008-02-14T13:09:00.000-08:00

It's not been a romantic day for Samok Daddy and J. I'm working basically from 8:00 am to 8:30 pm. I won't be back home until 9:00. J told me that she would sit and watch "Batman" with Goobs. I've got a nice card for her, but everything is on hold until we have our little "ski getaway" this weekend. I am really looking forward to that time just to kick back, have a little outdoor fun and just refresh things with J. I just have to get through this week and not daydream too much about the weekend. FOCUS!!!

It's been a nice day here at work. Someone left a flower on my desk...yeah I'm a softie, so it was actually nice that someone did that for me. But...I got a real cook valentines gift from one of my students. I have a young woman from Seoul, who is studying to be a chef here. She's working hard and I'm really proud of her. She's fighting a bit with comprehension in the classroom, but the effort she's put forth so far has been impressive. I sometimes help her with phrases and vocab when her chef-instructor uses a bit too much "chefspeak" and colloquialism, but she really has done a lot of the work on her own. I have to say that So-Hee has "rocked" in the classroom. I told her how proud I was of her...and what did she leave on my desk this morning for valentine's day???? I found a giant package of Shin Ramyun in front of my keyboard!!! That stuff will be good on a cold Saturday afternoon when I want a good snack. I've gotten cookies, a flower, and chocolate truffles...but the gift that, hands down, wins and makes Samok Daddy smile is the Shin Ramyun!

I am wondering how many students will show up for my class tonight. It's been fun the last couple of evenings. We've been playing this board game with various body parts on it. The students roll the dice and move their pieces along the trail. They land on spaces with pictures and words (body parts) and have to make a sentence with the body part in it. These are beginners, so they mostly use simple adjectives like "My ears are big" or "My ankles are thin." They really enjoy playing the game and asked to play it one more night. I don't know if they're just stalling because the game is fun and they don't want to go on to harder exercises, or they just enjoy the learning...Who cares...they're speaking and getting more comfortable. I'm having fun in a raucous classroom. Who says learning has to be serious????

Gotta run everyone. Hearts and kisses to all!!! Arrrgghhh, I suppose I don't sound that masculine saying that. Okay...I'll say it with a deeper voice...See ya!!!

Goobs and Batman

2008-02-13T13:31:00.000-08:00

I love my little boy. He's great, but as it is with all humans, he's a pain in the rump...just like his daddy. We were watching TV last Sunday and he saw a promo for "Batman Begins" and asked me if it was on after the program we were watching. He liked the new fangled batmobile he saw in the trailer. I told him that it would be on Thursday night. He automatically assumed that we would be watching Batman together on Thursday.

J reminded him that he had to finish his valentines for his preschool party on Thursday. He told him mom this..."Mommy, I'm not going to preschool on Thursday to the party. Daddy and I are staying home and watching Batman!" Yes, he's cute...and he's determined to watch Batman. He doesn't know that I'll be at work and he'll be giving valentines to all of his classmates. I'll say this about the boy...A. He's got a memory on him...and B. He's stubborn. He will try to stay home and watch Batman (even though it's on TBS at night).

Valentines day in the Samok home will be put off until the weekend. Samok Daddy will be "bringin' home the bacon" teaching a night class and won't be home until 9:00. The cool thing is that our postponed ski weekend will happen on Saturday and Sunday. We are both so stoked. I can't wait to see my beautiful island queen fall on her butt repeatedly on the "bunny hill.!"

The ADD follies...why life is sometimes more interesting than it should be...

2008-02-12T09:55:00.000-08:00

What's been on Samok Daddy's mind lately...everything...and that's no joke! Ya see...I'm one of those people who've been blessed with that wonderful affliction of ADD. You guessed it...that means that everything goes through my mind at any given time. It just doesn't slow down a whole lot. Life's been fun and difficult. I do find adventures, but my organizational skills and task orientation has been just a little on the wild side. This does lead to some situations that are fun, and yet others that are exasperating for those around me.

Usually, I think I do a fairly good job of holding things together and getting things done that need to get done. Granted, they get a little scattered. J often times has to say..."FOCUS!" That gets trying for her when I am supposed to empty the dishwasher, and in the attempt to be helpful, I start doing something else in the kitchen, which completely gets in her way. There are other things that bug her about being married to a guy with ADD. Yes, Samok Daddy is a space case and on any given day this leads to J rolling her eyes and walking in the other room so she doesn't strangle me.

Lately, I've been thinking about getting some help with this little affliction. I have decided that medication probably isn't the answer. I am starting to do some more research on solutions. I'm looking at different books with strategies and I've also gone to some websites offering coaching on how to live successfully with ADD. I don't know about the coaching yet, but I'm really hoping to make some changes in my daily life. I mean...things have gotten better in some respects. I haven't washed a cell phone in a year. I had a span of about a year and a half where I washed three of those bad boys... I can find my car keys on a fairly regular basis and I can find the remote control for the TV most times I look for it. I did get the Christmas tree out on time this year. That darn thing sat in the garage last year. I closed the garage last March, got a hand saw and cut up the Christmas tree into little pieces and put it in a bag. I had forgotten about the doggone tree for so long that I was embarrassed to carry it out whole. Yes, I cut up pieces so small that it could fit with the rest of my garbage...Yes folks...that is the extent I will go to to hid my ADD embarassment.

Oh well, within another ten minutes I'll forget this and start thinking about something else...And now you know the other reason I sit on a big bouncy ball at my desk in the office...

It's all about the hair

2008-02-06T13:03:00.000-08:00

So...being a former military guy, I'm accustomed to having short hair. The minute my hair seems a bit shaggy, I'm compelled to run to Cost Cutters...or one of the other generic hair places that populate strip malls everywhere and chop off my locks. J has been complaining to me about my short hair. She says I look like I'm still in the military and she doesn't like it. She calls me "Joe". Joe is the term that filipinos use a a generic name for any American looking guy. Since the Philippines was heavily populated my men in the US military for so long, the greeting that most people give when seeing an American is "Hey Joe." That being the case, every time I return from getting back from a haircut is "Hey Joe!"

The other part of this is that she tells me that I look younger with longer hair. Even though I have younger kids, I guess you could say that I'm no spring chicken. So I guess she's right. If I can get away with looking a bit younger, I should do it.

Here's the thing. The Director of Admissions of our fine institution and I were chatting this afternoon and she said this to me "I don't know what you've done to yourself, but you look more dignified...your hair makes you look kind of stately." I'm confused...my wife thinks longer hair makes me look younger...another woman says it makes me look dignified...I'm lost and have no clue. I do know this though. J is the one that I go home to at the end of the day. If she thinks it makes me look younger...I think I should stick with her opinion. So here's the new plan...I'm not cutting my hair for the next two months. I'll keep using gel to keep it in place. Despite my urge to just hack it all off, I'm going to hold back and not make the trip to get my hair cut. It looks like everyone will get to see more of the gray that has sprouted in the last few years. Whoopeee...

Maybe this is the beginning of my midlife crisis. Does this mean I'm going to start wearing gold disco medallions and wanting to buy that little red sports car? Life's getting interesting folks. So...this is "Joe" signing off...

Super Tuesday and I'm at a loss for words

2008-02-05T13:07:00.000-08:00

It's another one of those "my mind is completely blank" days. The only remedy for that is to start typing and see why flies off of the fingertips. This I do know...It's warmer now, so I'm grateful. We had that string of cold days that just absolutely sucked, and there was nothing anyone could do about it...Aw...you guys know how I feel about the cold.

You know that sad thing about that is my mom and stepdad are in lounge chairs on the beach right now in Ixtapa. Oh, cancel that thought...I love my mom dearly, but the mental picture of her and Bill in bathing suits getting tropical drinks from cabana/towel boys is enough to give me a serious case of the shakes. That much exposed puffy winter white skin, fresh for the burning Mexican sun just makes me cringe... Plus, who wants to think of their mom in a bathing suit, sipping on a coconut with a straw...EEK...save me (maybe the coconut juice is spiked with a little geritol). On to other topics.

It's Super Tuesday in the land of the frozen and unexcited Scandahoovians. After today, we'll have a better idea as to who the candidates will be for the upcoming election. I'm not sure I like any of the candidates at this point. Some seem to slick and political, others lack experience, yet others seem intolerant. Choosing a leader that works for the people and can hold his/her own in the international arena is exctremely important. I was thinking about who embodies the qualities I'd like in a leader and the only person that I could come up with was my third grade teacher, Mrs. Clark. Mrs. Clark was stern when she needed to be and uncompromising when she expected the best out of her students. She was diplomatic when dealing with all the children in the classroom. Everybody shared when Mrs. Clark was in charge. Most importantly, we all wanted to work hard for Mrs. Clark. She inspired us. We wanted to be the best we could possibly be...Okay, this is a stretch for my memory, since I'm in my forties now. I do want a leader that excited me and gave me hope like Mrs. Clark did. I know she has long since passed away because she had white hair when she taught me, but if by some miracle she were alive, I'd nominate Mrs. Clark to run the country. Run Mrs. Clark run...Give 'em hell, Mrs. C!

Weekend fun

2008-02-04T11:07:00.000-08:00

It was an eventful weekend at the Samok abode. Let's see...where should I begin? Saturday, we discovered the guest bathroom (aka the kids bathroom) had a plugged toilet. After cleaning out toilet paper, we found one of the big hubs in the kids' tinker toys set was jammed down in the "bowels" of the commode. Goobs did finally admit to being the culprit. More art, seemingly disguised as early childhood cave etchings, was discovered in our daughter's room. There were also more attempts at beginning fist acuffs accompanied by screaming and crying. The Bun, despite her small stature, takes it right to Goobs. It's almost looking like an even match now. Now I don't advocate my kids getting in tussles, but I suppose they should be able to work out problems and hold their own when dealing with each other. All in all, it was a less than restful weekend with the kids.

We did get to the zoo on Saturday for about an hour. J, being the smart woman that she is, insisted that we buy a family pass to the zoo. The zoo has been a godsend for days when both kids just had too much energy for the house...and of course, they love going there, so who can complain. Plus, they learn whenever we go. Since it is winter in the great white north, we confine ourselves to the indoor "tropics"exhibit and the Minnesota Trail. I have to say, I love going to the tropic exhibit, for the big aquarium they have there. Each time I go, I find myself wanting to get back to the Philippines to be in warm water and swim with the beautiful fish. I'm getting that feeling on the bottoms of my feet again. It's been a year since we went back...and I'm itchin' to jump on the plane, forget it all, and just be a beach bum daddy. I know that you guys hear that whining from me all the time...but please...calgon...take me away...now!!!

Donuts with Dad

2008-01-31T13:33:00.000-08:00

This is going to be a short and sweet post. I took some time off this morning to attend Goobs' preschool's event "Donuts with Dad." The dads were all invited to come in and share mini donuts, chocolate milk, and sliced bananas. There were about 20 dads in the classroom, sitting in little chairs, enjoying donuts with their children. There were dads in suits, jeans, and warmups... There were short dads, tall dads, big dads, and small dads...and I was the old dad. There were dads in bean bags in the corner reading stories and dads doing puzzles...Dads were everywhere and it was great. I'm glad I took the time today to spend it with my son and all the other kids and dads.

Daddy's Back...with comments

2008-01-30T09:11:00.000-08:00

Luckily, I've got this coworker, who knows a lot about a lot... He looked at my blog, fiddled with something, and kapowie...I've got comments again. Feel free to talk amongst yourselves...I'm feeling verklempt... Then comment to me...about my last few posts.

Help me...

2008-01-29T18:38:00.000-08:00

For some reason I lost my comments with the last two posts. I'm new to this game...can anyone help me? If I don't have comments on this post...if you've got an idea with blogspot, go to my last post with comments to help me. God, I'm an internet klutz!

Daddy's pride...

2008-01-29T11:36:00.000-08:00

What I like about me!

2008-01-29T09:53:00.000-08:00

I'd like to thank Angie from "Barbed and Wired" for a recent post regarding body image. I realize she is coming at it from the female perspective, but men have got some of the same stuff going on in their heads too. And...by gosh, it aint pretty. Well...at least I've got some of the same kinds of ideas rolling around in my head...and I'm a guy.

I think the biggest problem that I face is that I don't see the big picture, which is my own humanness/humanity. I don't see the forest...hell, I don't even see the trees...I focus on an oblong knot on the trunk of a nondescript pine tree deep in the thick of the forest. What does that mean...I hyperfocus on the faults that I see so much, that nothing else of me exists. It's like...what's wrong with me defines me. So, who am I some days? According to my fault focusing mind, I'm the guy with the gut, overly pointed nose, graying hair, drying and sometimes flakey scalp...with ADD, who drives his spouse and coworkers crazy with his behavior, tangental thinking and limited organizational ability. It's not a pretty picture, and that's what my mind tells me is me...nothing more.

I guess the key is that I can't believe my own bullshit. There is a God up there (I really do believe that) and he created me...the last time I checked, the big guy upstairs didn't make a giant shit sandwich with the name of Steve.

What Angie asked folks to think about was to find things about themselves that they liked...It could be physical or otherwise. So... I had to sit down and think about what I like in me. It's so much easier to just list the imperfections...they just roll off of the tongue. I have to think about this. Ahha...I think I've got a few things I really like about myself.

1. I like my calves. The fat that settled around my midsection, didn't travel south to my calves. They are strong, lean, and defined. They were made through running, biking, and ruck marching in the military. I recall about 10 years ago, when I was single, some of my female coworkers commented on them when I was wearing shorts one day. It made me feel good. I'm holding on to that memory...

2. Everyone in my immediate family has big, beautiful brown eyes but me. I have pale, sparkling blue eyes. They've been said to dance when I laugh. The kids got J's gorgeous brown filipina eyes. They've got small and fine features, so theose brown eyes dominate their faces. I'm the odd man out...with the small blue eyes...but I'll keep them.

3. My voice...somehow I was born with the ability to sing. My dad was the original tipsy Irish tenor. I just carry that on without the tipsy part. I sang in church as a younger person and was always told to keep up with my singing, however life has conspired and made me a busy man with only time to sing in church with the congregation and in the shower. J has told me that she wants the kids to have my voice. That makes me feel very, very good.

4. J tells me that she thinks my thin lips are sexy...and that when I'm serious I have this lisp thing going on. I don't get it or try to speak that way...it just comes out. I've heard myself do it and I think it sounds kind of stupid, but if my wife likes it...I guess I'll just keep up with the serious, unconscious, very small lisp.

5. Finally, I think my kids are absolutely beautiful. They partially came from me...so something good has to be going on there!!!

Well, there you have it. Things that i like about me. I think there are more, but I have to work and I don't want to fry my brain in the effort.

J's B-Day and Other Things of Note

2008-01-25T06:35:00.000-08:00

Just a little addition to my last post-Last night I got home from teaching my class at about 9:00. I changed into comfy sweats and plopped down on the sofa next to J. I realized I was still hungry, so I went to the pantry and grabbed the first thing I saw. That just happened to be a box of Fruit Loops. So, there I was munching on dry Fruit Loops when my wonderful wife chimes in with, "I read your blog where you were complaining about working out and eating crap. Why are you eating crap?" There I was...sitting on the couch...flat cold busted with a mouthful of Fruit Loops. Then she tops it off with this..."Those aren't for you anyway. They're for the kids!" I sulked back to the pantry and put the cereal back. So kids...what's the moral of the story? Is it not to eat crap? Is it not to get caught eating crap...or is it not to blog about eating crap? I'm not sure, but I guess I won't be eating Fruit Loops in front of the TV with my wife when I get home from work anytime in the near future.

Today is J's birthday. Since she reads this blog, I can't reveal any plans for the evening. I really want to go out of my way tonight to treat her right. She's an awesome woman, mother, and partner. She gets cranky with me now and then, but that's to be expected...because I am Samok (Bisaya for Pain in the Ass). For all who are curious...It's pronounced like this...Sahm-Oak. She puts up with my samok ass, and for that I'm grateful. Needless to say, I've talked to the Dean and I'm leaving early today to get things in motion. I'm fired up for the evening...

This is always a weird time of the year for me. I did mention in the blog just recently about my father's death and mom and stepdad's wedding. Yes, it's J's birthday today, but it's also the day my dad passed away in 2000. My dad's birthday was also the 26th. The 29th is also my mom and stepdad's anniversary (the same week as dad's death-note we were all at peace with that...including dad). Our anniversary also falls on January 20th. It's always kind of a weird time for me. It's like this giant pot of joy and grief all stirred together. When I explain the end of January to coworkers or friends, they just kind of look at me and say...Whoa...that's a little weird. Yeah, it's not a normal turn of events, but it's my family. We've never been run of the mill, so why should this be any different? So, I'll shed a few tears for my dad, hug my wife and give her gifts and the love she deserves, and have a really good time this weekend.

And Bonus of Bonuses...It's going to warm up here in frozen tundra land!!! It's supposed to actually be above freezing for a day or two. I might have to run outside in a pair of shorts for a minute or two...just to remember what it's like to wear such items of clothing. The older I get, the more I think WINTER SUCKS!!! Please take me to a south sea beach...NOW!!! Why did my ancestors come to such a sorry ass, frozen piece of land such as Minnesota. Did they think...Oh, let's go to a place as miserable as the old country? Were they stoic northern europeans, who believed that suffering was the way to redemption? I seriously think that my existence here is due to Lutheran guilt and the belief that pain brings one closer to God. Now, you're probably wondering why, in the name of everything good and warm, did I bring my wife (from a tropical island) back to the land of my ancestors after being gone so long? Hey...it's all about family. I guess I love them and I missed them. So...here we are...a wonderful family of four...shivering. The twin cities are a very good place to raise kids. It's clean and I think my kids will do well here. It is actually a good place to live...But, why...why...why...does it have to be so freaking cold here? Okay...I'm done whining. Let me dream about being on the beach...and oh...pass me the tanning butter...will ya?

2008-01-23T09:34:00.000-08:00

I'm back at the office today...Back in the saddle...ridin' on the trail...herdin' the students. Gotta love it.

I took a little break from the whole fitness thing and now I've been getting up early in the morning again to stay healthy. I was listening to the radio this morning and another report came out that exercise does increase heath (duh) and delay mortality significantly (double duh) in middle aged men. I'm a little older than the run of the mill daddy with a four year old and a two year old, so I'm constantly thinking about that. I'm exercising, but unfortunately my affinity for crap that's bad for you may negate some of the good work that I am partaking in.

It's dark and cold when I climb into the car and make the five mile drive to the gym. I truly do enjoy the atmosphere of people taking positive measures regarding their health, so I can't say it's a cruddy experience when I get there. I'm laying of the swimming in the winter, just because I'm a weanie and I don't like being cold and then jumping into the water. I'll lift weights one day and do cardio the next. It should break things up so that it won't get too old.

You know the problem with exercising always is that I want instant results. I want to look like an athletic man, perhaps a triathlete, but I want to look that way right now. Okay...I've taken a couple of months off of regular exercise because of my busy life. Muscles that appeared toned and tight, now are a bit fleshy. I've had to use the next notch in my belt and I'm not happy about it. I want to go out right now and exercise my ass off and get back to where I was only a few months ago. The sorry fact of the matter is that things take two things...time and dedication...plus all the crap that I like to ingest has to go bye bye...It's a use it or "gain it" proposition...because I sure as hell didn't lose anything over the last two and a half months.

J commented that she needed to get going again. Maybe we need a couples recommitment to exercise. It was so easy when we were first married. We were childless, had some cash, and definitely had the time. There was this great gym in Seoul that we spent probably an hour and a half to two hours a visit, five to six times per week. The layout was cool and the locker room was top notch. You could have had a five course meal on the mens' locker room floor, it was so clean... We did our own things, challenged ourselves, and laughed at each other. Now, life has changed so much. There is no time in the day to do that together...hell the only time to do things is so early in the morning, that most humans would kill a person for smiling and saying "Hi."

Life is good...changes happen...and you can't do what you once did easily. I know that to remain vital, I've got to exercise. I just want people to whack my knuckles when I grab a big mack or an extra handful of Doritos.

At Home Today

2008-01-22T10:02:00.000-08:00

I had yesterday off, but here I am at home again today. It's daddy's turn and I am up to the challenge. What do I mean by that? The Bun had a fever of 102.5 yesterday, so she's being held out of daycare today as well. Something about waiting 24 hours if your kid had a fever. Well I'm here to tell you that today there is no fever and she's running around is if nothing ever was wrong. Daddy's here anyway.

She's just gotten to sleep after lunch. She always takes a decently long nap after lunch. She ate early and started rubbing her eyes, so we finished up with her grapes and corn dog and she toodled off to bed without so much as a complaint. I wish her brother were that way, but getting him to bed is a task not for the faint hearted. It takes all of my strength and patience to get my son to bed for naps and at night. Getting him out of the bed in the morning is even more trying, but that's just a cross we have to bear with him. Oh well...

This morning we've watched the video that she calls "Yellow Monkey" a few times, played with playdough, chased each other, had daddy rides, and cleaned up more than once. That's a pretty standard morning. I filled in the gaps by doing some laundry. I have some more to do now, so i don't want to take too much time on the computer. If the commanding general comes home and her private first class has not done his appointed duties-I gotta vacuum too, she won't be happy. She has this uncanny ability to get crap done around the house when she's home with the kids. Daddy on the other hand creates more of a mess than what he was left with. I'm trying to rectify the situations she's come home to in the past. Well...I have to run. I bid you all a warm hearted adieu. Have a good one out there!

Change of Plans

2008-01-18T09:30:00.000-08:00

It's bitterly cold up here in the northland. So much so, that we've abandoned plans for our weekend/anniversary/J's birthday ski weekend. We called the motel yesterday and cancelled our ski package weekend. My mom and stepdad are leaving for Mexico next weekend and won't be back until Feb. 10th. I just got off the phone with my mom and we've rescheduled the whole thing for mid-february. So, I guess it will be called the late anniversay/J''s birthday/valentines weekend ski trip. We're both bummed, but freezing our butts off isn't what we envisioned for the weekend.

So, this weekend is one to hunker down in the house, get blankets pillows, lay on the sofa and loveseats and watch a bunch of cartoons with the kids. I'll make my famous microwave carmel corn, have tombstone pizzas, drink pop, and just be lumps. To tell you the truth, it sounds like a good weekend to me. We'll make the best of it. We are determined to ski though. We've bought all this extra crap/skiwear, so we are definitely going skiing, come hell or high snow!!! It's just not on our timetable.

Change of topic...

Since we are two blocks away from the downtown Target in Minneapolis, I find myself there quite a bit. I went in just to get some office munchies and I briefly walked through the menswear section. It's okay to say it...I just don't get fashion today. I realize I'm out of touch. I actually embrace my out of touchedness. Okay...here's my question. Why are people buying things, by that I mean mens' clothing) that is new, but looks like it's had the crap beaten out of it and worn over and over? Why do you want to by something new that has the look of used and crappy stuff? There were t-shirts, hoodies, jeans, and sweatshirts that all looked like goodwill should get rid of them...I was through Macy's the other day and I saw the same thing...probably moreso with the fashion t-shirts that they were selling on the second floor (I pass through Macy's via the skyway when I go to the IDS Center's Crystal Court to get a Sola Squeeze sometimes). Every one of the shirts looked as if laid off grape stompers (with clean feet of course) with nothing better to do were hired to jump up and down on them until they were sufficiantly beaten looking. The sick thing is that these beaten up articles of clothing, especially at Macys, are completely out of my price range. I don't get why you don't buy something new and just wear it until it looks like the new stuff at Macys? I know...I know...the really worn stuff will be out of style by the time it gets worn out enough to be on mannequins at Macys.

It's kind of dumb, but that's what I thought about this morning...just that kind of random thought that pops up now and then. Usually, when these thoughts come out I have to push them back down because when I verbalize them in the office, the women (and I mean all women, I am the only guy among six people in a smaller office of cubes) usually roll their eyes and tell me I've fallen off of the deep end. I guess that's one of the reasons I blog...because of women. There are two females at home...and then five here at the office. I love women...they are wonderful...they bring joy to my soul...They are the best thing about being a guy...but sometimes letting the real me out in front of them is a little hazardous. So...I'll just keep blogging.

Storytelling

2008-01-16T06:59:00.000-08:00

One of the things I envy about certain people is their ability to tell stories, by either writing or putting it out there verbally. Storytelling is a craft that I think is underrated in today's society. Sure, we modern human beings sit in front of screens and are entertained by a variety of programs on TV, in theaters, on stage, and via the internet, but I'm convinced we are passive consumers and expect to be entertained mostly by the drivel that we've become accustomed to. I am as guilty of that as the next person. My day is so hectic that all I want to do is sit in a catatonic state in front of the TV screen when I get home later in the evening. My imagination is set aside at that time so I can be spoonfed reality shows that most folks find so fascinating. The latest offering of this complete stink is "Celebrity Rehab" with Dr. Drew.

To tell you that I am not culpable in keeping this show off the air would be a lie. I watched the first episode because I was indeed curious. I will be honest to admit it, but I won't be watching it again. First, let me give you some background on the show. Celebrities, if you want to call them that, are in a southern California residential rehab center. These folks , and I'm not sure who most of them are (the only one I'm really familier with is Jeff Conaway, since I was in high school during Taxi, and I watched it a lot), want to change their lives and are in the rehab. I'm sure there's some sort of payday attached to it as well, so I question the motivations of these participants. The one redeeming thing I saw during the first episode where these folks going through detox...not a pretty sight, and the result of Conaway's smuggling something in, taking it and having a siezure. He was reduced to drooling and babbling in a wheelchair. I hope some folks were able to see the mess that alcohol and drugs can create in peoples' lives. The rest of the show seemed completely worthless to me. What have we become if we readily watch this kind of stuff? We've turned into catatonic, voyeuristic vultures, only responding to the contrived shit in the lives of psuedo celebrities living in a house together, choosing a mate from multiple applicants, getting sober, or going through therapy.

Getting back to storytelling. I was at the gym again yesterday morning and decided to go into the cardio cinema. I saw that the movie being shown was "A Walk in the Clouds." I went in and thought I would just marginally pay attention to the movie. It appeared to be a "chick flick" and I didn't want to invest myself in it. I mean...it had Keanu Reaves in it...so I thought...I'll just look up at the screen every little bit to take my mind off of the work. Okay...I was wrong again. From the moment that I walked in, the cinematography just sucked me in...The story was simple, yet compelling. Keanu's bad acting didn't destroy the film because the cast of players was indeed strong. Anthony Quinn had a wonderful role as a grandfather, stringing Reaves on longer and longer. Just seeing a portion of this film picked up my day yesterday. It's great how a simple story and wonderful visuals can give vibrancy to a person's mood. It gave me a sense of hope. It's wonderful when a storyteller can inject life into a day. Things like that make me look for storys to hear.

Oh, the joys of parenting

2008-01-15T14:03:00.000-08:00

I gave J a call this afternoon when I had a little time here at work. I found out that Goobs had a case of "sticky fingers" in Target this morning before he was dropped off at preschool. I guess he liberated a small ball from the store and J found it when she was strapping him into his car seat. She promptly marched him back in there and they returned the ball. I suppose this is a rite of passage for children and parents. Goobs now has this notch in his little gunbelt...He's got his little preschool shoplifting merit badge. I kind of wish I would have been there too, so I could share the experience. It's nothing to be proud of, I know. But...I do feel like we belong now...we're part of the grand parenting family...those who've dragged their kids back into the store with something that hasn't been paid for.

I know there are other issues that will come up in the future... Playing doctor with the neighbor kids...throwing dried dog or cat poop at a sibling...making inappropriate noises at restaurants...getting tossed out of class (just like dear old dad)...experimenting with inappropriate pyrotechnics that one of the uncle's bought in South Dakota or Wisconsin...getting busted toilet papering a school friend's front yard...you know...the stuff that kids do during their formative years. Maybe I'm being naive about what young people will do...I'm scared about stuff on facebook...internet predators...booze and drugs (lord knows...Samok Daddy was far from angelic). I hope our kids have simple problems. I want them to come to J and I with their fears, worries, and troubles. I know they're only two and four, but I suppose it's never too late to make the impressions as parents that are positive. Man...I hope and pray J and I can be that kind of parenting couple. Toss a coin in the fountain and say a prayer for us...we'll do the same for all of you with kids. It's such a crap shoot as to what will happen in the future. Good luck everybody!

Ahhhh Monday

2008-01-14T05:56:00.000-08:00

so, here it is Monday morning. I've just jumped off of the commuter bus, stepped into the office, plopped down on my ball and flipped on the computer. So, what's been happening at the Samok abode over the weekend? Interesting stuff, of course.

Goobs put on some jeans this morning, and suddenly they're too short for him. It's true, they do grow up fast. He's becoming really slim and tall. Of course, I'm referring to a four year old, so you have to forgive my lack of perspective on my own progeny. The Bun has been watching a great deal of Dora and Diego. Three weeks ago, she was running around, saying Daddy, Mommy, Help me! Now, she's becoming a little bilingual. Instead of saying it in English, she is now saying it only in Spanish. We hear "Ayudeme" at least 50 times per day. J and I were up watching TV in the livingroom on Saturday night and we were surprised to hear a small girl's voice and "Ayudeme" come out of her bedroom. We waited to hear it again, but there was nothing but silence...It was kind of funny...I know she's watching Dora and Diego, but I am kind of hoping that some Bisaya will pop out of her mouth sometime soon. It's just a small hope.

We've started this kind of goofy habit on Saturday nights. At 10:00, we turn the channel to AZN and watch Music Bang. AZN is a cable channel that brings over Asian programming, from news and soap operas to movies and music programs...all from various countries throughout Asia. Music Bang is produced in the Philippines and predominantly has videos from the Philippines, Korea, and Japan. The VJ/Host is a young woman who seems like a US hapa, by the name of Malaya Lewandowski(the name's pretty darn Polish, if you ask me). J says that Malaya's got a really irritating voice...It doesn't bother me that much...of course, she's gorgeous and I'm a guy, so I'm not too overly focused on her voice. I don't know why we watch this show on a regular basis, but it seems like a little bit of a lighthearted time where we can just hang out on a Saturday night. We're on the sofa just watching...sometimes not listening to the music a whole lot, but just commenting on what we see. Besides, J usually gets a footrub if we watch Music Bang, so she's not complaining.

We've come to the conclusion that a lot of the Korean videos (mostly the ballads) are overly mellodramatic and cheesey. We saw one a while back about a girl in a wheelchair/mermaid and her boyfriend that went way incredibly over the top. Some of the filipino videos are a little on the weird/funny side, with visuals and symbolism that I'm just not gettin', but I'm okay with that. They're fun for the most part. Some of the Japanese videos seem like the directors are trying new cinematic stuff...Again, I'm not sure what the messages are, but hey...why not enjoy them anyway.

This last Saturday eveing we say two things that made me stand up and notice. There is a very unique group of women/musicians (I want to make that distinction, because I think too many people in the music industry today are not musicians) from Japan. The name of the band is "Pistol Valve." It is a ten woman group of former music school students. This is a combination ska/hiphop/ brass band that really rocks. After seeing them, I dialed them up on youtube and saw a live performance of a tune called "Fo Fo Fo". I don't understand a damn thing, but those girls really put it out there on stage. I also saw an underground hiphop group from Korea. I can't remember the name of the group, so all I can do was describe the video. It seemed like it focused on the feeling of alienation that most people have...certain actors in the video were walking around with clouds above their heads. Suddenly the clouds would spout rain on those folks...so there were multiple people in the video being followed around by mini rainstorms. I thought it was quite creative. Much better than the balladeer who was waltzing with his broom throughout his pretty little cottage (another cheesey Korean video that we actually like to laugh about)

I think we'll keep watching Music Bang. It's goofy...cheesey...and the VJ has that irritating voice, but it maybe takes away a little homesickness we get now and then. I like the routine...So I guess I know where we'll be most Saturday nights.

2008-01-11T11:36:00.000-08:00

Here it is Friday afternoon and things have finally quieted down a little bit. I'm able to sit down and put a few words in the blog. It's a nice feeling to have the ability to do that. The problem is that I don't know what I want to post about...the mind is a blank slate...tabula rasa...There's air between my ears...I feel like I've moved into a state of deep "duh."

I will say this...it's the heart of winter now. I know that J and I are going on our ski weekend next weekend...and I am really looking forward to it, even though weather reports have said that next weekend the bottom is going to drop out of the thermometer. We've still got the hotel room with the Jacuzzi and that sounds pretty good. We'll dress warm, ski (beginning lessons for her) and sit in the Jacuzzi...of course we'll have some good food too... It's going to rock... a little romance...outdoor beauty on the slopes...good food...It's a recipe for a fantastic weekend. The grandparents have got Goobs and the Bun...so, we've got all the angles covered. We just want to stay healthy through it all...no broken legs, no twisted knees, nor bruised backsides.

The thing is this...I am dreaming about beaches, exotic fruit, hammocks, and diving again. It's been almost a year since we went back to Davao. It's not fair...I want to run my toes through the sand and lay in the heat. I want to be in a place warm enough where I can sit in the darkness and not shiver. I wonder what it would be like to be independently wealthy...so I could travel here and there without so much as a thought. It's just a thought, albeit a fleeting one.

You know...there's got to be a way to travel for free...some sort of special trial deal...maybe we could offer to be in charge of international documents that need to be sent from Minneapolis to Seoul (Hey, I know it's not a warm place, but it's home...) or Manila...or transport super secret computer chips from the US to a top secret hidden lab in Fiji. Maybe we could be secret shoppers to beach hotels in Phuket or Boracay. There has to be a way...I just can't think of it now... J and I need to sit down and concoct a method that would have airlines beating down our doors, wanting to give us free tickets to any tropical destination in the world. I want an umbrella in my coconut juice...I want to smell like sunscreen...I want flip flop tan lines on my feet. Somebody help a poor boy out...Maybe you have some money that you want to donate to the Samok Family to send us somewhere warm... Dig deep...give from your hearts...help a poor family get warm...Give Samok Daddy a sunburn, help J learn to swim this year...your assistance will help give the kids tans...It's not too late to give...from your heart...

Ha ha ha ha....

Spooked

2008-01-08T08:55:00.000-08:00

I am tired today. Really friggin' tired. There's a reason for it. I'm not sure how I feel about the reason, but I'm going to write about it anyway. Folks can either think I'm slipping off of the deep end or maybe they won't, but here it is.

I worked a very long day yesterday at the college. It was the first day of the quarter and students need their advisors for schedule changes and other fun stuff. New students need assistance and it's just a long and stressful day. I truly was beat and needed some rest. I got home rather late, grabbed some leftovers, and sat down with my wife in front of the tube. The kids were down and it was just J and I...nice and relaxing. Here's the deal...I shouldn't watch certain TV shows if I'm really tired. We both kind of like "Paranormal State" on A&E, which is about a paranormal investigative team at Penn State. I went to bed soon after the program about a haunting dealing with dogs dying and possible ritualistic killing of pets. It really really really disturbed me. My eyes were drooping, so I went off to bed and J stayed in the livingroom to watch a little more TV.

I was in the process of drifting off to sleep when those disturbing thoughts from the TV show began invading my thoughts. They weren't clear thoughts, but a blurry hodge podge of frightful feelings that I couldn't really put my finger on or identify. J crawled into bed next to me, and started snoring almost immediately. I started to get an upset stomach...that nasty uneasy stomach that people sometimes get when fear creeps into their minds. I had to get up. I went into the livingroom and flipped on the TV, It was midnight and luckily Anthony Bourdain was in an outdoor market in Kuala Lampuur. I watched that for a while, settled my nerves and headed back to bed. I said a short prayer and focused my thoughts on traveling to some new resort in the Philippines (that always works to relax me). I finally fell asleep...but that wasn't the end of it by far...

I suddenly woke up to what I thought were footsteps toward our bed. Of course, my immediate thoughts are that Goobs or the Bun have come into the bedroom and want to climb into bed with us. That happens pretty regularly, so it's not a big issue...but...I look over on the other side of the bed and there's not a kid there wanting a hand up to the bed. I got up and checked the house at night...calm...nothing out of order...the kids were deeply asleep. I went back to bed I then looked at the digital clock next to the bed...It's 3:00 am- THE TIME ACCORDING TO PARANORMAL STATE (DEAD TIME) THE TIME THAT IS SUPPOSEDLY THE BUSY TIME FOR SPIRITS...Footsteps...oooh...a little weird.

Here's the weird thing...I suddenly began smelling cigarette smoke. Our house is smoke free. Now, you'd probably think that this might bother me, but it made me feel more peaceful. I got the feeling that this visitor...if I'm not losing my mind...is my dad. My dad, when he was alive, was for most of his years, was a practicing alcoholic. The smell of cigarette smoke at night and the sound of snoring were the signs that my dad was alright and at home. For most of my formative years that smell let me know it was okay to fall asleep...I didn't have to silently wait for my dad to come home. He did almost burn the house down once, but that was with a gas stove and a pot of chili...although he probably could have set the house on fire with a lit cigarette. Nevertheless, it was a calming thing for me. I smelled the smoke...or at least I thought I did...smiled and drifted off to sleep. I felt like a little boy again.

Now, shift to 4:45 this morning. The Bun got up and it was a bad morning...She was crying and shrieking. Nothing made her happy...holding her...nope....milk and cereal...no way Jose...rubbing her back...sorry charlie...no dice. I did think I heard her say "Grandpa" at one point. That made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Okay...so now I was thinking my dad came to visit last night. He will have been dead for eight years later this month.

I really didn't believe in the paranormal until the week that my dad passed away. That, in itself, is a story that I need to share to make it clear that this seems like it really might be dad coming back for a short stay. Here's that story...

My folks had been divorced for a number of years, but still had an amicable relationship. If fact, we still took family vacations together...which I admit was kind of weird, but it worked for us. Mom had been dating "Bill" for a long time. Dad liked Bill and approved of the relationship. I got a call in September of "99, with my mom telling me she had gotten engaged and they'd be getting married on the 29th of January. I said...I wish you well...take pictures. I don't think I'll make it back from Seoul...plus...I was going on vacation in February and spend a month with J in Davao. They were definitely cool with that...but things changed. Thanksgiving of '99, I got another call that my dad had gone in for a check up and they found a spot on his lung. He was then diagnosed with "small cell lung cancer". My father's health deteriorated quickly. He told my mom and Bill not to change their plans regarding their wedding. They complied with his wishes.

I got a call from my sister-in-law in mid January of 2000 that I needed to get my butt home in a hurry. My plans completely changed. I flew home hurriedly and was able to spend one week with him before he died on January 25, 2000 (it's weird because the 25th is J's birthday and the 26th was his birthday). As per his wishes, the wedding went on. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Owatonna MN held my dad's funeral on Friday, January 28th, 2000. On Saturday, January 29th, 2000 (the very next day) I walked my mom down the aisle in the very same church for her wedding. That's weird in itself, but wait...it gets better.

My dad used to hang out at this coffee shop-candy shop in Owatonna for lunch. He made friends with the crusty, old, loveable waitress (I can't recall her name today). They would always sip coffee, tell off color jokes, and laugh together. As a favor, she told me that she was going to keep a filled cup of coffee set at the end of the diner bar as a tribute to "Dickie". Dad would also go over to her place and they'd have coffee at her kitchen table. The waitress did this with a cup of coffee at her kitchen table at home also. She came up to me on Monday following the funeral/wedding with this odd look on her face. She left that cup of coffee for dad at her kitchen table -she left it there at the beginning of the day. She came back late in the afternoon, and to her amazement...THE COFFEE WAS STILL WARM!!!

Okay...there's more...On the morning after the funeral (mom's wedding day)...I was lying in my old bed...in the basement. I was completely warm and comfortable. I felt good...I had cried...I hugged my family...I felt love and knew that dad was in a good place. I also knew that today was a big day. There I was...all warm and comfy, and I heard a whisper..."Steve"...It was not frightening at all. The tone was loving. I got up and looked around. There was no one downstairs. I went upstairs and found a note...my mom was at the hairdressers to get ready for the wedding. She had left over an hour before. I was alone...yet I knew I had heard a voice.

Finally, at the wedding ceremony... Let me backtrack just a bit. We had taken pictures prior to the ceremony. There were quite a few pictures of mom and Bill lighting the unity candle together. There was no problem lighting the candle before the ceremony...but during the ceremony, it was a completely different story. They tried over and over and the candle absolutely refused to light. My brother, sister, and I were sitting in the front row and we all began giggling. We shared with each other that dad was probably behind the candle, blowing it out. Dad had a sense of humor and was always joking. Mom and Bill had to give up on the unity candle after spending what seemed to be five minutes trying to light it. We tried lighting it after the wedding and it fired up right away...so...you tell me...was dad trying to inject a little of his humor into the festivities???

All of this, combined with last night's fun...kind of leads me to believe that Dad might be visiting. I think he wants to see his grandkids and also to see if his firstborn is doing alright. He never got to see me get married and he never had the joy of holding Goobs or the Bun. So, if it is Dad...I'm not going to stress. We made our peace before he died and I know that he did the best he could with the cards he was dealt. Of course, this all could be in my head. Either way...I think I'm cool with it.

We'll see what happens tonight.

More Travel Channel

2008-01-04T06:38:00.000-08:00

It's Friday morning, I'm at my desk, and I can hear my coworkers either milling about in their cubes or chatting amongst themselves. We've got students coming back to school on Monday, so the energy level in the office is ramping up a tad. A lot of my coworkers have been under the weather. I was feeling a little crappy too, but I'm muddling through. I took the day off on Wednesday and just laid on the sofa with no energy, enduring a headache and nausea. I'm better now, but still not quite right.

If you've read my blog from earlier in December, you might have read that my dream job is to be a guy like Anthony Bourdain, who's got a travel program (No Reservations) and goes from country to country and meets with locals, hangs out, and eats. What could be better? On Monday (New Year's Eve) , the Travel Channel had a "No Reservations" marathon. On Monday morning, I was still in my jammies, Goobs was enthralled with his new "V-Smile" educational game with the small TV we bought the kids and the Bun was busy hammering on something near me in the living room.

I flipped on the Travel Channel out of sheer habit, and there Bourdain was, somewhere in Seoul, in a Pojang Macha (a street tent/bar-eating establishment), eating ttak Dongjjip (chicken butt) and knocking back soju. He was being taken around Korea by a young woman by the name of Nari. Nari took him to a variety of different places...an arcade in what looked like Myongdong, various bars and eating establishments, and a noraebang (singing room) that was decked out in pink with stuffed animals around the place. The one real thing that stood out about the whole thing was that Bourdain was "blasted" almost the whole time. The soju never stopped flowing through the whole debacle. Nari even took him to a combination yontan (charcoal) factory/ natural sauna to sweat out the alcohol. Following the sweat, samgyupsal (pork) was served with the obligatory soju chaser-for breakfast no less. By the end of the program, I felt hung over and I was drinking orange juice and eating toast.

Korea, more specifically Seoul, holds such an important place in my heart. It's where I had a pivotal change in my life...where I grew up...where I believe I learned to be a man. The funny thing about my personal transformation is that Seoul is where I first learned how to live life without alcohol. Odd, since alcohol seems to be such an important part of developing personal relationships with friends and coworkers. Maybe that held me back from becoming closer to some folks there...Koreans have a word (Jung) which kind of translates to "deep bonding." Perhaps I missed out by not sharing the experience with getting drunk with a group. I know that some folks off on official occasions when asked to drink and I refused. I did come up with the story that I had an allergy to alcohol...which is definitely true. I think some of them felt sorry for me that I couldn't fully dive into deep bonding with them. I think I'm a better man for it...even though I lost out on a little "jung." I've climbed mountains, sipped tea in peaceful settings, smoked cigars on rooftops, been obnoxious in noraebangs, played soccer, skated, cooked, ate...and always had a hell of a lot of fun. I can remember all of it...and I never puked during any of those experiences. I hope that Anthony Bordain got to see and do some of the cool things that I had the pleasure of taking part in.

My son's wisdom

2008-01-03T12:54:00.001-08:00

Goobs came up to me yesterday and said, "Dad, you know dogs don't need seatbelts." I just smiled and told him, "Yes, that's true."

Thank God for kids like him that give adults a chance to ponder the world after hearing their statements.

2008-01-03T07:22:00.000-08:00

Ode to a dead goldfish

2007-12-28T15:03:00.001-08:00

Okay...so I'm double dipping with posts today, but I just got home and something really funny happened...well...sad and funny.

I had been home for about five minutes and Goobs came up to me and said..."Tom is dead, Daddy." He then pointed to the small aquarium that houses two (now one) goldfish. Tom and Jerry had been around for two months. A store named "Petland" opened up in the shopping center right near our place. We took Goobs and the Bun there and got them fish. J and I figured(okay...to be totally honest, this was J that did the figuring. I was along for the ride) it was time to get them a pet, but something low key that wouldn't leave fur or hair all over. Fish were the perfect solution, so we tromped over to Petland, bought some fish and an aquarium, put it together, and voilla (Okay...I'm not French, so If my French spelling sucks...I'm okay with it), we had Goldfish..."Just Add Water..." and boom, we were pet owners. We originally had four fish, but lost two via a tank cleaning accident by J and Goobs. We were down to two until today.

I got a plastic picnic cup, scooped him out and took him to the bathroom. I suggested a viking funeral to J. The goldfish viking funeral would entail us making a paper boat, putting Tom in it, setting it on fire, and then flushing it. I thought it was a perfect way for Tom to enter goldfish Valhalla. J poo pooed my idea of the viking funeral, so we had to go with the simple, generic goldfish funeral in the bathroom.

I let Goobs take the casket (the plastic cup) with Tom in it into the bathroom. He did feed Tom every day and talked to him too, so it was only appropriate that Goobs was the lone pallbearer. He solemnly walked into the bathroom and dumped Tom into the bowl. I asked him if he wanted to say a few words before Tom was flushed. Goobs shook his head up and down and then said..."Bye Buddy" and then flushed him down. He then skipped out of the bathroom to watch Curious George. That was the extent of his mourning.

When the other goldfish, Jerry, expires, we'll do it again. I think we'll wait for a while before we get a kitten or a puppy.

Sushi with a smile!

2007-12-28T10:03:00.000-08:00

I stepped out for lunch a little early. I was hungry and wasn't sure what I wanted, so I decided to take a walk in the skyways.

For those unfamiliar with the Minneapolis skyway system, it's a series of glass hallways that connect buildings across streets at the second floor level. These skyways are all over downtown Minneapolis, so basically you can take a walk from one end of the downtown to the other without stepping outside in the cold...It's pretty cool. There are restaurants in the skyway areas of a lot of the buildings, so people who work or shop downtown have many choices for food.

So there I was, getting hungrier by the moment. I work about two blocks away from the downtown Macy's and there are a few places between the school and Macy's in the skyway. I was on my way to Macy's and I saw that new restaurant had opened. I peered in and saw it was a sushi place. It looked good and I stuck my head in a little further. I saw the proprieter and two workers and I could hear Korean being spoken. Being the brazen guy that I am, I just walked in and in my most polite Korean asked him how long the store had been open...He said about two weeks...then...he realized the question was being asked in his own language. His eyes about bugged of his head. He'd never heard a white guy speak Korean to him...especially using chondae mal-polite Korean used when first meeting someone or to an individual of higher age or greater authority. He then broke out in a big smile, and had me sit down. It was cool because I was the only customer and he and I had a very nice conversation. Gosh, after five years of living in the states my Korean was really rusty, but it started coming back. One of the things I have been doing to keep it somewhat alive in my head was watching goofy Korean soap operas later in the evening about once in a while on AZN. I listen and keep an eye on the subtitles, just to see if the translation is somewhat close. I want to keep my Korean languge ability somewhat alive and not let it die. I've invested a lot of time into it...a year at military language school in Monterey, a term at Yonsei, and a term at Keimyong in Taegu, and the seven years that I spent in Seoul. It's important to me...sometimes J thinks I'm a little nuts with this-she doesn't like it when I watch the soap operas at times-it makes her a little crazy. She only spent one year in Seoul with me after we were married. She took some Korean classes and really had fun when she could start to read the signs on the streets. We both loved living in Seoul and sometimes would love to go back...but then reality sets in.

When we lived in Seoul together, our studio apartment was soooo...tiny. I can't think of what it would be in square footage, but if you know the Korean measuring system of house measurement, it was 13 pyong-about the size of the master bedroom in our townhouse. I would love to live in Korea, but let's face it. It ain't gonna happen. I could work at a university, but they would give me minimal space (okay if I'm single), but nothing that would be decent for a family man with a wife and two kids. I would have to find some sort of expat job with a company, and those are harder than hen's teeth to find. Even though J has a Masters from a university in the Philippines, that wouldn't do her much good in Korea. I also think about living in Davao, J's hometown. I really like it there...it's nice and hot and I wouldn't have to freeze my ever lovin' keester off every winter...like I do here. I've layed in my bed at night and dreamed of owning a business there and spending time diving...what a life that would be! Am I living in a fantasy world...probably, but hey...why not dream?

So...back to the sushi place. The owner is very nice and gave me a cup of nok cha with my sushi. His name is Abraham and he's been in the states since 92. He spent five years in the LA area and then moved to the twin cities. He told me that he thinks the people are nice here, but the winters are way too long. He has asked me to come back to talk on a regular basis to practice my Korean. He's a nice guy and I think I'll take him up on that. It's always nice to meet new friends!

And...the sushi was fantastic. If you are ever in downtown Minneapolis, get in the Skyway and find "Together Sushi" in the Highland Bank building, right before you get to downtown Macy's. Yes, it's a brazen commercial for the new restaurant, but I think it's worth it!!!

yada yada blah blah blah...

2007-12-27T10:45:00.000-08:00

J is a pretty ebay savvy woman, which is a good thing because I'm a moron when it comes to that stuff. She got me a pair of used ski pants for about eight bucks-the shipping will be more expensive than the pans themselves. I'm not going to complain because I couldn't come up with something like that and would end up at The Sports Authority, spending a shitload of money if I did it my way. She's in the midst of bidding for a ski outfit for herself. I'm not getting involved with her online shopping. She is the master, and I...a mere online shopping village idiot.

Let's see... I didn't post yesterday. It was pretty uneventful, with the exception of one thing happening. I had to pee...which is a pretty normal thing, at least I think so. I, as most folks do when following the call of mother nature, walked down the hall to the bathroom. The restrooms are directly infront of the administration offices of our fine institution. The director of career services has her office in that little complex. She came out of the admin offices to see me walking to the restroom. I, being the social animal that I am, said "Hi, Becky." She didn't respond with, "Hi, Steve," but with "You know you're not supposed to be wearing jeans at school. You can't wear denim." I smiled and said "Hey, it's the day after Christmas...no one's here and I'm working on the computer in the office all day." She didn't even say..."hey it's okay, but make sure you at least wear something else tomorrow." Nooo...she continued by saying, "Steve...it's in the handbook...read your handbook." Yeah...it's in the handbook...and I'll tie it to my wrist and sleep with it from now on...GIVE ME A BREAK...Oh, and I'll put the right cover sheet on the TPS reports too...I HAVE BEEN ACCOSTED BY THE PANTS POLICE!!! I hope the common sense police give that woman a good whacking too!!!

I don't know about you folks, but we have a fridge full of leftovers. I'm going to be eating leftovers for at least two more weeks. The food's good and I have no complaints...I'm just eating good stuff over and over. We've got ham, ham soup, mashed potatoes, pizza, homemade chicken fingers, frozen chili, this awesome fruit salad (the stuffs got mangoes, pineapple, grapes, jackfruit, natte de coco, coconut balls, heavy cream and condensed milk), and other stuff I can't even remember that we've got stored in the fridge.

Okay, here's another thing about food...good food, new food, leftovers, and any other edible thing...my kids hardly eat anything. They'd rather run around the kitchen table, chasing each other, wrestling, and throwing stuff. Eating is really low on their list of priorities...in fact, it's somewhere between visiting the dentist and getting a shot in the fanny. We put food in front of them and they just ignore it or tell us it's icky. I am at a loss to know how they are growing, for indeed they are-seriously, I'm clueless about this. We've had to buy new pants and shoes for both of them. They're growing, but how they get adequate fuel is beyond me. One thing they clamor for on a regular basis is chocolate milk. We go through jug upon jug of the sweet, brown stuff. They suck it down and cry for more...and of course, J and I comply and fill up their glasses again and again. The beef and the potatoes grow cold as they run around...the chicken strips are half eaten and the veggies have na'ry a fork touch them as they lay dead on their plates. The pediatrician told us not to worry about it and they are fine. So, I guess we'll just put food on their plates and hope they eat. I usually scarf it up if it's sat for a couple of hours...I do that since we don't have a dog.

Well, that's about it for today. It's another day of high drama in the office during Christmas Break... I'm on pins and needles people!!!

A short note on gifts

2007-12-25T16:57:00.000-08:00

Just a note to the person who gave my kids new fangled crayons and coloring books for Christmas. Yes, they did use their coloring books, but they also used the wall in the dining room. Just thought that should be noted... Gotta get back to the kitchen to help J with the dishes and cleaning up...if I stay another minute, my ass will be grass...