Stump ???

Ok. So i know i haven't written in a while but i thought to get back into it i would post a picture of a stump that was outside the door of the Ethiopian restaurant we went to in St. Louis last night. I get the humor of it. I find it a little odd. What do you think?

At the park with Batman!

I don't know what the weather was like where you live but here in my neck of the woods it started to get really nice this weekend.  It will probably get worse before it gets better for good but it was nice enough to a few hours and go to the park.  So I took Batman along with me for protection.

We played on the swings.  First he pushed me and here I am pushing him.

He did some climbing with him Bat like abilities.

We patrolled the grounds ... and then went down the slide one last time before heading home for our nap ... his nap!

eat drink and be Merry!

How do you count this?

Caption contest:

A day in my life!

Sorry

I guess I need to start by apologizing to anyone who may be reading.  I stated back in January that I would be doing more writing but I haven't.  I stated I would be back to my novel, yet, I am not.  Worse than lying to you I lied to myself.

So today I am starting afresh with actions and not deeds.

I am getting accustomed to the new gig.  Is it the best thing I have ever done ... no.  But it will work until I find anything better.

We also have a new Gov. since the last time I wrote.  Blago was removed from Office and Quinn took over.  I will withhold public statements since I work for the state now.

Change!

I have been very lax in my writing of late.  At the end of November I finished writing 50,000 words on a novel and promised myself I would take a few weeks off to let it go and allow me to recharge my batteries.

Well that was over a month ago.  I have been meaning to finish the work since I think I have about 10-20,000 words left to write before I start the editing process.  But it was moved to the back burner.

During that time I have been to Vegas with the guys for a good relaxing trip.  We had a great second Christmas with my son (he got a ton of gifts ... he has grown so much in the last year).  We had a quiet new years ... saw a couple of movies "The curious case of Benjamin Button" which was a good albeit long move, and "Marley & Me" which if you are a dog person you might want to rent it and watch it at home unless you like crying in public.

And I guess the biggest thing that is happening is that after almost 10 years with the senate I will be changing jobs.  

It is not all bad news.  I should have mostly normal hours.  I will be able to see my son more.  I will have a life.  And I will be able to look at doing what I want to do in time.  First up is forming a BBQ team with some of my friends.  We are planning on competing this summer doing ribs and maybe butt.  It will also mean I will have time to finish my novel and start the next and to keep up on this blog a lot more.

The senate was my family for a number of years and I won't forget the great stories that I have from working there.

The answer ...

"The answer my friend is blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind...."

Life isn't that easy.  What do all the clichés say ... when life gives you lemons make lemonade, turn that frown upside down, every cloud has a silver lining, it's always darkest before the dawn?

We are going to test those theories my friends.  Fate is leading us down a different path.

On the up side.  It is christmas and it sounds like we will have a full house for at least X-mas day.  I am planning a 10 pound prime rib roast and we have to have shrimp.  Not to mention some of the yummy butter that I received for x-mas.  Hat tip to the Crimson Tide (he knows who he is).

I have also come up with an idea for my next novel.  I still have some work to do just finishing writing the one I started on November 5th.  But that one I know where it is going I just need to sit my ass down and get it done so that I can start editing.

The new story has me excited.  It lays out the ground work for the style I thought I would be writing in when I sat down in November.  But I think this will be better.  

We are not being "given" any time off over the holidays by work so maybe I will be able to get the first one finished since we won't be on the road.  Once it is done and edited I will post some excerpts here.  Not sure if I am going to submit it anywhere though.  We will have to wait until we are done.

Nothing to do when your trapped in a vacancy!

I loved the movie "The Breakfast Club."  I first saw it on VHS when they first started renting VHS tapes.  I was in 8th grade.  That is what I wanted my high school experience to be like.  I never really got in that kind of trouble (one in school suspension and one detention -- in 4 years...not sure how I managed just that).

I look back and am not sure if I really enjoyed high school.  yea I did a lot of crazy stuff and hung out with some good people ( a lot of whom I have just recently reconnected with on Face Book ... go figure).  

But I think I had more fun in college (and I did dumber things).  

Back to the beginning of this post.  I always wanted to be Judd Nelson in that movie ... the renegade stoner that people where scared to death of and didn't have  care in the world.  But now that I am 36 I think I have really finally switched my priorities.  Who would have thunk it after being married to a great woman for almost 8 years, owning a home and having an awesome son.  

I have always been the guy that worried about everything (except the consequences of my actions) but now I lose sleep every night about worrying if I will be able to provide for my family and how good of a husband and father I will be.  Maybe it is strange.  People always tell me that their 30 year was the hardest to get through ... so far 36 is setting itself up to be my biggest challenge.

PS ... a big shout out to the Guys on their travels in Thailand.  Enjoy the trip and be in no rush to return to the mess that is waiting for you.

I have returned

I managed to last from Friday afternoon until noon today in vegas without totally losing all of my money.  I actually decided that I am not bad at betting on Football but totally suck ass at the table games and at Video poker.

I need to give a shout out to ken and Jeff for hanging for the weekend.  Had literally the best and most expensive dinners of my life on Friday and Saturday.  Best food, best wine and a lot of future insight.  The weekend was the prefect trip to allow me to relax a bit after the election and prior to the stress of the holidays and not knowing if I have a job.

Also a bit shout out to my beautiful wife for allowing me to take the trip.  

I didn't get the "Mamush" tattoo but I will in the next week or so.