Say Cheese

So this past weekend was a pretty big deal around here. For the last month or so I have been gearing up to get Mini-Me a new mattress. He had been sleeping on his toddler bed mattress. I know, I know. The kids almost five, what were we waiting for right?

Well so anyway, we made a pretty big deal out of him growing into his big boy bed, and picking out his blanket and sheets and stuff. So after much build up, he was pretty stoked about it too.

So after our breakfast we packed up and headed out to get a new mattress and all the fixings. We found a mattress right away, but we had bring it home before we could get the other stuff because I had sort of a Griswold moment getting it into our van and the seating arrangement wasn't the greatest. But after that, we went right back out to get his sheet set. After some negotiating, since they didn't have the Star Wars one he wanted, here he is in his proud moment.

That boy cracks me up.


Ok on a side note. I've been wondering why nobody comments on my posts? I mean there has to be a logical explanation right? So anyway, I just found out that to be able to comment you had to have a google account, and maybe this is why people don't, or can't comment. Well no more people. I have fixed the glitch, and now I expect your comments to come pouring in. I mean after all you read it right? Why not leave a comment? Let me know what you think.  And remember if you can't for some strange reason, post a comment here on the blog,  check out A Day In the Life on Facebook at. http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Day-in-the-Life/161434757238149

J-Tony

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Ok so I'm a little concerned. As you may know my youngest clown is a mini-me, and although that should be enough to concern me, that's not exactly what this post is about.

So in a few weeks he's going to be 5 years old. So naturally, as with any five year old boy, he likes to wrestle around. Which I really love. We've been wrestling, which we call clowning for at least the last 3 years. I think this is an awesome way for the two of us to laugh, bond, and build memories. I can remember as a little kid getting my dad. It's fun, and it's a fun way to burn off some of that little boy energy.

The problem is, I think he fights dirty.

Now let me explain our clowning just a bit. It usually starts on my bed, and it doesn't matter, to him anyway, if I'm awake or not. If I'm laying down he figures that's an open invitation to jump on me. Now anybody who has a little boy knows that little boys do not, I repeat, do not have very good aim. So I've grown accustom to taking a nap with one eye open, so to speak. Just waiting for him to pounce. Over time, I've learned to cover up just before he does one of his versions of Jimmy Super Fly Snuka on me.

So up to this point, nothing out of the ordinary right? Well here's the deal. Awhile back, and I blame the DW, he decided that poking me in the eye would be funny. So during our scrum, tickle fight, clowning session he'd try to poke me in the eye. I have since convinced him that that's not cool, and we've moved on. Not a moment to soon either. However, he moved from poking me in the eye to head-butting me. Again, had to explain the rules of the clowning. I get him, tickle him, jump on him, won't let him up, that sort of stuff, all the while he doesn't hurt me. Makes sense to me.

Now of course, mini me has two older sisters. So most of the time, the other two decide to join in, and while I'm busy getting the girls, he takes the opportunity to get in a jab or perhaps kick me, and my personal favorite is when he jumps and yells CANON BALL, driving his knees into my back.

Now I understand from a five year old perspective the whole concept of this wrestling seems a little one sided. I get him, I tickle him, I hold him down or whatever, and he's not allowed to defend his self? Doesn't seem very fair? I just don't want to end up like this guy every time we clown.

 

What do you think? Maybe it's time I start teaching him how to play the guitar?

J-Tony

Don't be a Redneck

Ok so I did have some other idea for today's post, but after waking up this morning and rummaging through Yahoo, I came across a story that really bothered me.

So I see this story on Yahoo about a town here in my home state of Good Ol' Indiana. Now through the years my state has been portrayed in movies and media as sort of Hicksville. Uneducated, Redneck Country Bumpkins, where everybody grows corn, owns a cow and loves basketball. Now don't get me wrong, we do love our basketball. Who could forget this instant classic?

So anyway, I've always been a little perturbed at how we're generally classified, and this story today doesn't help. 

Now I know that I've been posting more and more you tube videos, and maybe you don't actually watch them. Although you should, they're usually funny. But please, please watch this one. This is the story that I saw on Yahoo today.

Apparently the Uneducated, Redneck Country Bumpkins are still alive and strong here. I'll tell you the story then you can watch the video and see for yourself.

So this little girl has been singing the National Anthem for her School for the past two years,  quite nicely I might add. However, these Redneck idiots from a nearby town complained that she wasn't singing the song the traditional  way, and disrespecting those who have served in our armed forces, and she was asked not to perform the song any longer.

Here is her version of the National Anthem. Again, the same version of the National Anthem she has been singing for the past two years.

Again, I personally find nothing wrong with the way she sings this song, and It really makes me mad that there are those who claim it disrespects the men and women of our country who have served. Come on you Uneducated, Redneck Country Bumpkins.

I'm sure that this happens all the time, all over the world, with all sorts of people and races. Maybe I don't see it, or maybe I choose not to see it. Whatever the case, this one just struck me this morning.

J-Tony

So tell me do you think she's being disrespectful?

What's Your Favorite Scary Movie

So have you ever scared yourself? I know it sounds sort of stupid to say, but you know, have you ever like spooked yourself?

The other night I was taking the trash cans out, and it was already pitch black outside. So I go through the garage to get to the outside. In doing so I closed the door and was standing in the dark in my garage. I said to myself that was pretty stupid, because I couldn't see my hand in front of my face it was so dark.You know like how when you first loose all light and it takes some time for your eyes to adjust? Well so anyway, I say this to myself, and immediately my brain starts playing out some sort of horror movie in my head. You know something like where I stand in a completely dark garage and say, that wasn't very smart now I have no light, just then some crazed lunatic lights a match or turns on a flashlight right next to me. He's like a cross between Freddy and Jason. You know someone real freaky like that.

So anyway, this is just the beginning. I still have to walk to the garage door and open it up into the cold night air. So now my mind starts playing tricks on me like when I open the door there's going to be some dude standing right on the other side. Somebody like Micheal Meyers or that creepy robot clown thing from Saw with the target logos on his face?

I open the garage door, and thankfully no boogie man. But now I have to lug the trash cans down the drive way, and it's still dark outside because we don't live in the city where your afforded street lights. So now I'm rolling these trash cans down the driveway all the while looking around wondering if I see shadows or something. But I can't see because I don't have my glasses on, so even if there was somebody out there I wouldn't see them because for some reason I was chosen to be one of those humans who can't see squat without their glasses. So now I'm dragging two 90 gallon trash cans down the drive squinting, looking from side to side for crazy guy with ax, creepy robot, or even a vampire or two. Hoping that something doesn't sneak up behind me, but the thing about that is, I wouldn't even be able to hear the robot's wheel chair because the trash cans are on rollers and I've got a gravel drive way, so they're making so much noise somebody could walk right up behind me and I'd never know.

So now I'm squinting looking from side to side for shadows and turning around behind me every fifth step or so to make sure there's nobody around. I get to the end of the driveway, and the neighbors dog starts barking. So naturally my mind starts to think of course, there's always a dog barking in horror movies right? Maybe the dog sees something? Or maybe the dog senses something, you know like something... paranormal? So now I'm heading back up to the house doing double time trying to rack my brain about was this land once some sort of burial ground that only had the head stones moved, (Poltergeist)?

I finally get back up to the garage, but just like every bad horror movie instead of going around to a door, I go back through the dark garage (don't go in there, that's where the killer is!!!) I quickly pull down the garage door and run up into the house. I jump inside and lock the door behind me.

I calmly explain to the DW that It's cold out there.

J-Tony


So have you ever scared yourself?

I think I have Amnesia

So we've had this big shot in at work for the last week. He comes in about every 4 months or so, so there really wasn't anything new about his being there. But for the week leading up to his arrival, we'd been preparing for his visit. Now when I say preparing, I mean we've been crossing T's and dotting I's that perhaps have been overlooked in the last few months.

So the other day during one of our meetings with The Dalai Lama, some coworkers were explaining what we do and how we do it to him. As I stood there and listened, I had this overwhelming feeling and immediately Kathy Bates and the movie Misery came to mind.

If you haven't seen the movie let me give you some insight. It's based on the book Misery by Steven King. Kathy Bates plays a crazy women who is obsessed with James Caan's character. So much so that she ends up kidnapping him and keeping him locked in a room in her house. Ok that's really about all you need to know. Anyhow, there is a scene called Saturday Cinema where she explains how when she was a kid she blew the whistle so to speak.Check it out.

During my meeting this is exactly how I felt. I wanted to stand up and scream at the top of my lungs. Do you all have amnesia? This isn't what happened last week? This isn't how we do it.

But I didn't.

So tell me. Have you every just had a Kathy Bates Misery moment and stood up and shouted at the top of your lungs at somebody  or about something? Do you every wish you could? 

J-Tony

Wordless Wednesday

So yesterday I thought all day about what to post. I seriously thought about what interesting thing could I ramble about that people might want to read and discuss. I thought about the story of Taco Bell's beef. Have you heard? There are some lawyers in Alabama that claim Taco Bell's beef is not actually beef? Soooo let me get this straight. In Alabama you have to have a degree in Law to figure out that Taco Bell's beef is not all natural? Wow. I could have told you it wasn't real beef years ago. But in the end, I didn't really want to post that because I felt like, so what who cares (said in my best Saturday Night Live voice).

I combed the blog world for thoughts and ideas of something to blog. I came across a trendy topic right now that involves sort of a Back to the Future theme. It's one of those what would you tell yourself if you could go back in time to when you were 16? Naturally I would tell myself to study harder, don't be so hard on my parents, and of course bet on Jordan and the Bulls to win 6 NBA Championships. But again, wasn't sure I could get much out of that post.

See yesterday I approached DIL (Day In the Life) as more of a project, or school paper, instead of just sitting down at the computer and going, much like now. I wanted it to be something. I wanted it to make people want to read it. I wanted it to be inspiring, or funny or thought provoking.

But instead time slipped away from me and the closer it got to my bed time the harder I found it to come up with something clever, or worth the effort. So if you were just sitting there yesterday waiting on some magic DIL post that was going to change your world, I have two things to say. One, sorry I couldn't provide that, and two you need to get out more.

Ok so anyway, in my thought process yesterday, I thought about starting a Wordless Wednesday. Basically my Wednesday posts will be mostly pictures, and few words. Yes I realize that today is Wednesday, and that this post not only has a lot of words, but it rambles, and is very lengthy, thus already breaking the rules for Wordless Wednesday. But whatever

Changing gears. About a week or so ago the DW and I noticed the dryer getting louder and louder. I mentioned that I thought the rollers inside were worn and knocking. This week I opened 'er up. Sure enough there was one roller inside that the barrel rides on that was worn and needed replaced. I ordered the parts, and today they arrived. In the process of repairing said dryer this evening, my ever supportive DW says I'm really amazed that you knew what was wrong with it. Wow, nice attack on my manhood babe. Thanks. So anyway, I took a picture of the parts I replaced. As sort of the start of my Wordless Wednesday.

Oh and yes the dryer is quite, and works good as new.

J-Tony

Booger

Ok so before I get into today's post, I have to warn you, It's a little graphic. Graphic in the sense that if you have a weak stomach, this might not be for you.

So I get to work today and the guy I sit next to says did you see the Jets/Steelers game? to which I reply no my wife had me doing something else.
He quickly goes into obviously the most interesting part of the game. Dude Mark Sanchez wiped a booger on the back-up quarterback. It was hilarious. 

Apparently in CBS's quest to capture every detail of the game, they managed to show the Jet's Quarterback picking his nose and then wiping it on another player's coat. Now my first thought, besides gross, was why do guys find this sort of thing funny? My second thought was, I'm gonna check it out on you tube the first chance I get. Which of course, I did. 

Now here's the thing for me. I do find this gross, and disgusting, and sadly I've come to realize that this is just the way us guys are. We're gross. We do gross things and think they're funny. We burp, we fart, we pick our nose (although everybody does, men just make it more obvious).  Now I don't recall myself every wiping a booger on anybody, but I have had my gross moments, like that time I...never mind.

So if you didn't see the game, and you haven't already checked it out on You Tube here you go for your viewing pleasure. It really is funny. Well at least it's funny to us guys. I don't know why, it just is.

J-Tony

Maybe on Second Thought

So the other day the DW said something to me that I found hilarious. It probably struck me that way because it was so true, which leads me to today's post.

I'm not exactly sue what was going on that particular day, but just about every day, there is laundry being done in our house. Naturally a house of 5, we get dirty. So anyway, again on this day, at that moment our dryer was running, and she asks me, are you drying or ironing?

I started laughing because our dryer runs just as much to dry clothes as it does to iron them. You know like when you don't have time to get the wrinkles out of your shirt or pants so you toss them in the dryer (maybe with a wet washcloth), and ten minutes or so later...presto, no more wrinkles.
 
So that got me to thinking about what else around our house do we do that we probably shouldn't. Not that using your dryer as an iron is a bad thing, but it's not very efficient, and probably not good for the dryer. We have an iron, we just don't have an ironing board, maybe we should think about getting one. So anyway, here are a few other things I got to thinking about that we do around our house that maybe we shouldn't.

The dishwasher. The dishwasher is not a garbage disposal. Now this usually only occurs when the clowns load it, but the DW herself has a hard time with this one every once in a while. I know it sounds ridiculous, but just like Tim Allen's stand up routine, you can put dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Maybe there are some out there that you can do that with, but not ours. You have to rinse them first.


The bedroom t.v. This should not be used as a night light. Yes our t.v stays on all night long. No sound, just the light. I think somebody here might be afraid of the dark.


One Friday and Saturday nights, we take the boy's mattress and move it into the girls room. He thinks he's missing out on something because the girls share a room. I guess this one isn't such a bad thing. It's sort of like a sleep over. Unless of course he grows up with some sort of complex.


We have both a cat and a dog, that spend time inside together. Aren't they like natural enemies?


At any given day a butter knife can be used as a screwdriver, a hammer, and something to spread butter. Hopefully not the same knife.


A swivel desk chair should not be used as a step stool. (Guilty as charged). Sometimes short people gotta do what they gotta do.


J-Tony


So tell me what are some things around your house that you all do, that you know are a little dangerous, or just generally not good ideas. I'd love to hear from you.

Hard to Say Good-bye

So I'm on the phone at work today, and as we're finishing up our conversation, before I get a chance to say good-bye, the guy on the other end hangs up. At least I guess that's what happened. Doesn't say good-bye just hangs up. Doesn't tell me he's hanging up or anything. Just no more talking.

Hello? Hello? Are you there? Did I loose you? Silence. I guess he hung up.

So how freaking annoying is that? Who doesn't say good-bye when they're done talking on the phone? Now I don't know about you, but I need that closure. I need to know our conversation is over. I don't want to go around the rest of the day wondering if I should call you back because we got cut off, or that maybe you're mad and you hung up on me? I need you to say good-bye.

Not to mention I didn't get to say my good-bye. I need to say good-bye. I need you to know that I'm done. I need to know that we ended the conversation on good terms. I don't want there to be any tension later because we both didn't know if the conversation was finished? That's just the way you end a conversation on the phone, right?

That's like picking up the phone when someone calls and not saying hello. Just breathing into the receiver. You don't do that right, (unless your a creeper). You don't just pick it up and wait for the other person to speak before you say anything do you? No, you pick up the phone and say hello. See the hello signifies the conversation is ready to start, and the good-bye represents the end. Now we are done, Good-bye. Right?

So who's with me on this one? Are you someone who just hangs up and doesn't say good-bye. Does it bother you if the person on the other end doesn't say Good-bye? Let me know, I'd love to hear from you.

J-Tony

Service Please

So today me and some co-workers were talking about Customer Service. I am in a position at work where most of the time, I am the customer, which, most of the time is nice.
So anyway, we got to talking and when we finished it occurred to me that Customer Service as we once knew it no longer exists.

Now I don't necessarily remember the full service filling stations where the dude would come out and fill up your gas tank, kick your tires, and check under the hood all Andy Griffith style for ya, but I do remember a time of actual Customer Service.

There are several different definitions of Customer Service, but the general idea is that it is the act of providing service to customers before, during and after an item is purchased. Wow when was the last time you saw that at good 'ol Wal-Mart.

Don't get me wrong you small business owners. I'm sure there are plenty of you out there who still believe in the actual act of Customer Service and providing for your customers before, during, and after the purchase. So maybe I'm speaking to the large corporations here.

Ok so think about the actual act of customer service as we know it today. Business have removed the actual act, and I believe we're all to blame. I mean lets think about it. We scan our own groceries. We pump our own gas, we even check ourselves in at the hotel and airports right? All because we want it now. We want it faster, faster, faster. I can scan my groceries quicker than the teenager behind the counter. I don't want or need to stand in line to check in when there's a kiosk that can do it for me right? It's the age we live in. Fast food and drive thru windows, 4G wireless connections, Smart phones and iPads. Everything is fast, and at our finger tips.

So what has become of Customer Service? Now a days we think of it as the place to exchange something, or the complaints department. How many times have you called to "log a complaint" only to be transferred to Customer Service, or had someone on the other end immediately pick up the phone and say customer service, how can I help you?

And what about the cost of Customer Service? My DW once called an 800 help line regarding a computer router issue and was told by the representative that for 60 dollars they could help walk her through the problem? What? So now I have to pay for a service you provide, or at the very least, a service I thought you provided when I purchased the product. No thank you. I think she ended up fixing it herself (my girls wicked smart).

I bring all this issue of customer service up because like I said, me and some guys were talking about it today, and we sounded like a bunch of old crows talking about simpler times, and back in the good ol days. Also because like I said, most of the time in my position I am the customer and recently I had a supplier basically tell me that I could do it myself if I wanted.

See that's exactly what these large companies want. They don't want to be bothered with our complaints, or our grumblings over their product, because they know we'll come back regardless. I'm sure we've all done it. We storm out of a place so mad we can't see straight because we didn't get the results (service) we thought we should have, vowing to never return. Only to find ourselves returning at some point, because we've calmed down, or it's quick, or on our way. Whatever the reason we go back, and deep down we wish we didn't have to, but we do. 

So I guess if you find that business or company that really cares about customer service, and cares about the act of taking care of you before, during, and after the purchase, you should take note and relish in the fact, because in my opinion they are few and far between.

J-Tony






 

I Feel Like Dancing

Ok so before I go on let me just say, that I know I can't, and I'm ok with that. I know that I shouldn't so I don't, out in public anyway, trust me. But every now and then there is one of life's little pleasures that I like to take part in. Again, I know I shouldn't, and I know I can't, but sometimes you just have to let your hair down and cut a rug, you know what I mean.

Tonight was one of those nights. It started out simple enough. I thought I would do a few things around the house, you know laundry, dishes, straighten up, whatever. I just seemed a little restless. So I grabbed the blackberry, hit the Pandora, plugged in the earbuds and away I went. I was in my own musical bliss. My songs, my generation, my groove. I started out cleaning the kitchen a little, and before I knew it there I was doing my version of a jig. Now around my house my clowns think it's funny to see me dancing, which it feels funny, so I'm sure it looks just like it feels, but none the less, I was doing it. I had the white man's overbite and the whole bit. Now some of my moves are exaggerated to add some fun for the clowns, but sometimes I catch myself really doing my thang. Which is bad. Trust me. You do not want me to gain confidence with this. In no way do you want me out on a dance floor thinking I've got what it takes to be on Soul Train or something.

Like I said, I can't dance. I look like Mark Madsen for crying out loud. For those of you who don't know who that is, here is a video of Madsen dancing. He is the white guy on the stage wearing the jeans (in LA mind you).

So anyway, I look a lot like this guy when I'm dancing, or at least that's the way I feel like I look. Maybe even worse, but sometimes the music just moves ya, and you gotta dance, no matter how bad you look.

J-Tony

Today was a Good Day

Yeah some days life just sucks.

For me today wasn't one of those days. I mean it there were parts that sucked, but overall it wasn't to bad. Maybe it's because I ran today. It was only 2 miles, but it felt good. Not like during the run, because that was a part of the day that sucked, but after wards, that that's what felt good. I hadn't ran in quite some time, so it was nice to get back into the gym. You know it doesn't take long to get out of shape. Running those two miles felt like a life time, I kept looking for the nurse call button, I needed someone to bring me some oxygen. But in the end I made it, and like I said, I felt good after.

Today also felt good because I took a practice test and did pretty well. I'm gearing up to take a test to complete my Bachelors degree. I'm only four credits away, and I've been putting it off and putting it off. So I've finally decided that this year I'm going to finish it. So anyway, today I took a practice test and felt pretty good about that too.

I also had one of those moments that you build up in your head to be really bad, and then when the time comes and you face that moment it's not so bad. Yeah I had one of those today too. I'd been thinking about this thing for a few days, and it was getting to me, then when it finally came, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. I guess it just goes to show you that it can always be worse right?

Well so anyway, today was a decent day considering it was a Monday. Oh no. Does that mean the rest of my week is going to suck???

J-Tony

Random Thoughts

Ok so I haven't posted in a few days. No real reason I guess, just lazy. So yesterday we spent the day at the Children's Museum downtown. It was a good time. The clowns love going there, and we hadn't been in a while, so it was a nice trip.
I felt like we spent a lot of time driving this weekend though. The DW had to meet a client to do a wedding consult, so we had to drive an hour or so to meet with them. The we went up to the Museum yesterday which was another long drive, an hour plus. So today we didn't do to much of anything. Just sit around the house. The clowns have been watching movies all day, I've been watching football, and the DW has been working. So not much going on today.

So anyway, not much to say today. Maybe I'm going about this whole blog thing wrong. Shouldn't you blog when you have something to say? I mean if 3 or 4 days out of the week I have nothing to say, do I really have to blog on those days? If people read this, would they care to read it on a day when I post something like, well I have nothing to say today. I thought the point of a blog was having something to say? Maybe I should either make sure I have something decent to say before I get on here, or just not get on here?

Tomorrow is Monday. I hate Monday's. I know everybody hates Monday's. You know I'd rather almost not have days off from work, then I wouldn't have to have a Monday. I hate having to get up early. If I could work from like 9:30 to say 1:30 or maybe 12, that would be alright. Unfortunately I haven't found a decent paying job with those type of hours, and I didn't win the lottery this weekend, so I guess I'll go to in tomorrow.

So have you heard of all the hub-bub over the zodiac signs changing? Well I for one, am not changing my sign. I've been a Gemini, and that's what I'm going to stay. Not that I care for this stuff one bit, but come on. You can't just change the rules in the middle of the game right? I mean what am I going to do with this Gemini Tattoo I just got?

Ok so it's not really my tat, but I am staying a Gemini.

J-Tony

Guilty I say

So tonight I had one of those moments when I was thinking that I'm really glad I'm not homeless. I took the trash down tonight for the Friday pick-up tomorrow, and man was it cold. I don't just mean cold, I mean down to the bone type of cold. The type of cold that no barrel fire is gonna keep you warm enough. So it made me appreciate what I have a little bit more. You know in the summer time I take the trash down and the only real thoughts that run through my head are things like, man this trash stinks, or this is a long walk down to the end of the drive. Tonight when I got it, I was way more appreciative of my life and the things I have. My family, my home, my socks. Hey sometimes it's the little thing right?

Ok so the other day I was reading an article in Time Magazine where one of O.J Simpson's former lawyers, F. Lee Bailey, claims they had more evidence to prove O.J's innocence's. Are you kidding me? He claims in his new book that he wrote this book to help the public opinion of O.J. Are you freaking kidding me? Come on man. I'm not sure there are a handful of people on this planet that believe O.J didn't commit those murders. Here's the thing. This jerk claims they had four individuals who that did not testify, and one of them was an eye witness who says he saw Nicole arguing with two men outside her home that night over some drug money.  If that's even remotely close to the truth, then why are we just now hearing about it? I mean does anybody thing for a minute that O.J's defense team sat in a room discussing this case and agreed it would be a good idea not to have these four testify? Especially the eye witness? I'm sure that conversation went something like this:

Shapiro:  I don't know guys this whole trial is getting kind of ugly, and really talking a long time. We need a show stopper.
F. Lee Bailey:  Well ,you know we've still got these four individuals that we can call to the stand, not to mention the one eye witness.
Cochran: Guys you know I've been working on a little jingle I kind of like. It goes something like this. "If the glove don't fit you must acquit" .
Shapiro: Yeah Yeah I like that Cochran, I like that. Let's go with the glove thing, and make sure you say it with some feeling.

Please.... Here's another thing. Why didn't we hear any of this during the Civil Trial? Come on Bailey. I'm not buying it.

Ok so I've had my little rant for the day. Time it pack it in.

J-Tony

21 years

January 12th.

21 years ago today I lost a dear friend, my best friend at the time, in a car accident. It was on a Friday night. We were Juniors in High School and he was going to an away basketball game. I talked to him the night of and he asked me if I wanted to go. I told him that I didn't because we had a wrestling meet the next morning, and I had to get up early; and that was the last time anybody other then his parents talked to him.

Even 21 years later it makes me a little sad. He was a good friend to me, and you know those are hard to find. I don't know if we would still be friends today, but back then we were good friends. That was my first real experience with death. A few years earlier I had a great uncle pass away, but that wasn't unexpected like this was. I gotta say I was pretty tore up after that. I don't know if I hid it well to others or not, but it was a hard time for me. You know I had the typical parents and even school counselor talk to me about if there was anything they could do or if I needed to talk, but at that time in your life, at least for me, it was all upside down.
I remember when I first heard. I was at the gym during our wrestling meet, and someone had mentioned it. Of course at first I thought it wasn't true. Then after some convincing from classmates, I quickly called my parents and asked my mom to look through the paper and see if there was anything that mentioned him. There wasn't. I guess it wasn't until later that day that it was confirmed.

So anyway, I have always since remembered this day, January 12th. You know it's one of those things, sad I guess, that at first you think about them all the time, or at milestones, then slowly time slips away, and they drift further and further from your mind.

Today was no different for me then any other January 12th. My day went on. I went about my usual business, but I thought about my friend. I thought about being a Junior in high school. I thought about us cruising for chicks back in the day, or hanging out at his house trying cigarettes. Watching my son play basketball this afternoon in the house reminded me of how me and my friend were on the basketball team together at school, and how bad he was.

Here's to you Brian

J-Tony

Me Time

What a feeling.

Now before I get into it, let me just say that I love my family. I love my clowns, and my DW with all my heart, and there isn't anything that I wouldn't do for them. Anybody who knows me knows that I would in fact, take a bullet for them. In fact I have said several times before that my DW is a large reason that I am today who I am.

That being said, I love me some me time. Now I'm not talking about being away from my family like I was this past week. Staying in a hotel, eating out every night, sleeping alone and not getting to see them for five days. I'm talking about the occasional come home from work, and the house is empty feeling. Now of course I only like this feeling because it doesn't happen to often.

But today it has. Now usually when I get home the DW and the clowns are at it full throttle. The oldest has completed her homework, and they've all moved on (the clowns that is) to the playing together, fighting over who had it first, whining, and yelling, stage of the day.

But not today. Today it is peaceful. Today there are no video games to fight over. Today there are not barbie houses, no play food, and no computer to argue about. Today, right now, this very moment, it is me time.

For those of you who have little clowns, you know what I mean. You see for me, I don't get that much "free" time. Now don't get me wrong, I do my own things like play ball, or play my guitar and lately I've picked up the harmonica, but these things are not the same. I'm talking about quite uninterrupted time. No t.v. No kids. No music. Nobody. Just me. Just me and my thoughts. Just me and time. Time to relax. Time to finish reading a book. Time to just sit and stare, and reflect.

So I have chosen to do what any blogger would do (oh so now I'm a blogger all of a sudden). I fixed myself some coffee, and I sat down in front of the computer. First I read a few blogs. My DW thinks I'm a creeper because I like to read other peoples blogs. I never comment to the writer, but I enjoy reading them. It's funny how I never comment even though I have a thought or feeling regarding what I just read. It's also ironic that I never comment since everyday I go to my comments tab, feeling like Charlie Brown looking for that one valentine in his mail box, only to open it up and see nothing. After the blogs, I open my Facebook page. Again, I rarely comment, but I like to see what everybody else has to say. Then I begin this post.    

So soon it will be over. Soon I will finish this post and get started on some house work, and getting dinner started, and move on with the evening. Soon the heard will come trampling in the door with stories of school and eye doctor's visits. Soon my me time with be turned into us time. You know it's nice to have a little me time every now and then, but I certainly wouldn't give up our us time.

J-Tony

Crazy Man's Struggle

Ok so today I'm struggling. Struggling like a mad man in a padded room. Struggling like an epic battle between good and evil. I don't like this struggle. It's the classic struggle of knowing what you should do, yet wanting to do the exact opposite.

Let me start by giving you a little insight. Last week before I left on my trip we had cleaned the house. It looked pretty good. Well as good as a little house with three clowns can look at the time. There were no toys strung out all over the floors. There was no clean laundry in the baskets waiting to be folded, there were no dishes in the sinks awaiting my attention, and you could walk in the clowns rooms. I was comfortable, and see that's the thing to me about a messy house. I've finally realized what the feeling is. It's comfort. I always have this feeling inside about my house. To me it's either comfortable or its not. I find that when the place is lived in, it's not very comfortable to me, but when everything is picked up and in it's place, I feel comfortable. Now I use the term lived in because again, I have three clowns, and my DW works from home, so things are going to get out of order and lived in. My problem is when that order is disrupted or it's lived in for any length of time, I get uncomfortable, and it makes me crazy. Maybe a little neurotic I know.

Ok so anyway back to my struggle. When I left the house was nice and comfy. Upon my return, it was not so much. Now don't get me wrong, the house didn't look like some crack house in the middle of the projects, but there were items in the living room. There were clothes in laundry baskets, dirty dishes, and the clowns rooms were rough at best. The DW was not at home so I quickly sent her a text explaining my feelings .Now after I came down off the ledge, the clowns and I began to pick up a bit. I realized that this is one of those moments where you should be grateful and thankful for what you have. Here I had been gone for a week, and upon my return the first thing that hits me is the fact that the house is not up to my standards .There's a couple things wrong with that. One, stop being a jerk, and two, be glad you have a home and beautiful family to come home to.

So the clowns and I get cleaned up a bit and head to Cracker Barrel for some dinner. The DW called a little later and I apologized for sending my text. I told her that I over reacted, and that I was sorry, and I am, and was.

Now to the struggle. See the DW is on an all day photo shoot today. She won't be home until late. Which leaves me with the clowns and the house all day. I've spent the first half of the day lounging around drinking coffee and contemplating doing housework. Yes the clowns have managed to make the living room look like Toys R Us threw-up in here. There are now dishes in the sink from breakfast, the rooms are a mess, and the laundry never stops. My house is uncomfortable to me. I look around and there is work to be done. I sit and drink coffee. The dishwasher needs unloaded and loaded again. I sit and watch t.v. The clowns need baths. I sit and read blogs. Laundry needs folded. I sit and play solitaire. Beds and rooms need attention. I sit. I sit. I sit.

My struggle is one of epic proportion. I hate my house to be uncomfortable, yet today, I don't feel like doing anything to change it. I'm comfortable in my uncomfortable house. I look at the sink? Don't want to do 'em. The laundry? We've all got clothes on. The bedrooms? There's a path. The beds? We'll make em tomorrow. The snuggie on the couch? Someone might use it later.The carpet? It can wait.

So I guess as the day progresses, I might find the time, and energy to do some house work before the DW gets home. Maybe I'll get out of the comfort zone I'm in and make this place comfortable. Or maybe we'll get cleaned up and get out of the house so I won't have to deal, and hopefully, maybe, the DW won't have the same feelings that I had yesterday. Here's hoping.

J-Tony

Home Sweet Home

Ok so I made it home all in one piece. Nice to be home. You know it sure is true what they say, there's no place like home. No matter what, there's no place like your home.

So tonight after I got home the DW had to go out to a session. She'll be gone most of this weekend working. It's nice that she's so busy, but it sort of stinks that she has to be so busy this weekend after I've been gone all week. But that's the way it goes some times.

So tonight we had dinner Daddy style. We went to Cracker Barrel. We went there for a couple of different reasons. First the clowns love it. Second, we didn't have anything to cook, and after being on the road for the last week, I did not want anything fast food. So we went out, and the clowns were perfect. There was no fighting, no arguing, no whining. It was great. We had a really nice dinner.

Now we're just chilaxing at the house. I'm getting laundry done and unpacking, and just being happy I'm finally home.

So today, I'm on my way back, and I get a text message from my sister. She says that she just wanted to say hey, and that she was thinking about me. I have an older brother and sister, and when we were growing up, I was pretty tough on my sister. She is a couple of years older then me, but growing up I picked on her and tormented her a lot, but she has always stood by me, and I love and thank her for that. It was nice that she took the time to just send a simple text to say hey. Sometimes we need that I guess, and I guess at that particular time I needed it because it made me smile inside.


J-Tony

I Think I Think

Ok so just wanted to post a few things that I think I think.

I think I think I should have been born in a different generation. I'm one of those people that I seem to enjoy the simple life, and things just seem simplier years ago. Slower. Less stressful. Not as many rules and political correctness.

I think I think I'm more messed up then I really am. Sitting in a room full of people listening to them talk makes your mind start to wander. Or at least my mind wanders, maybe that's why I think I think I'm more messed up then I am. I mean here I am a grown man, by most standards, and I still find that I'm not comfortable in my own skin a lot. I mean isn't that something you are supposed to grow out of?

I think I think that I'm a funny guy, but the problem with that is I'm spontaneously funny. And mostly its at someone else's expense. I mean, I'm not sure I could be funny when the red light comes on but I'm funny. And you see that's the thing about being funny. If you're not funny when the red light comes on, and only funny at other's expense, then people tend to think you're a smart ass. So being funny doesn't matter to anyone but yourself.

I think I think I need to lose weight. Nuff said.

I think I think I'm a good father. Only time will tell for sure I guess. You know like if my clown grow up and name their clowns after me, that's when you know that what you did made a difference.

I think I think there will come a time when I don't feel like a good father.

I think I think I'm getting tired of blogging from my blackberry.

I think I think I'd like to live somewhere else besides where I am. I mean I've been here all my life. Seems like it would be nice to be somewhere else. I'm not sure that will ever happen, but I think I think I'd like for it to.

I think I think I'd like to jump out of an airplane. Not because it was going down or anything, but because I think I think I want to.

J-Tony

Long Day

Ok so today has been a really long day. Spent eleven and a half hours at a customers facility today. Now anybody who knows anything about this type of business already knows that any time spent at the customer is not a good thing. Normally they don't "invite" you to come out to their place. Your usually there because of problems. So anyway its been a long day and a long week.

Alright so I have nothing interesting to say tonight. I think that's because its been such a long day and my brain is just not very creative. Or maybe its because I'm not a very interesting person. Or maybe its because I'm typing this out on my blackberry and quite frankly that sucks. Or maybe its because I just want to sit here in my luxury suite here at the Holiday Inn Express in Waterloo Iowa and flip through the t.v. Channels and watch some craptastic entertainment. Whatever the reason I'm just not feeling it tonight.

J-Tony

Typical

So I'm sitting here in my hotel room on day two of my "vacation" in balmy Waterloo Iowa, and I'm watching the golf channel, and you know what, I'm loving it. I know pretty sad watching the golf channel. What can I say.

So today was a pretty typical day on one of these business trips, and tomorrow should be more of the same. Nothing new.

So I really have nothing much to say other than I wish I was home with my family and everything back to our normal routine. Oh and I forgot to bring my jammie pants. I hate when that happens. So not only can I not be comfortable in my own living room, but now I have to stay in my work pants all evening. Bummer.

So I think today I came to terms with the fact that I need to loose some weight. Now I'm sure people would see me and think no you don't, there's no way. But I think its time. See I've been really slacking on the working out and running the last few months, and I can really feel it. The thing is though, even when I was running and working out more regularly I didn't diet much. You know eating whatever and whenever I wanted. But I think I'm ready to start. So good luck to me with that.

J-Tony

BlackBerry blogging

Ok so I'm going to attempt to Blog for the next few days from my blackberry. Not the easiest thing to do by the way.
So anyway during my eight hour ride to the middle of nowhere most people call Iowa, I started reading the book A Million little pieces. I'm sure you've heard of it. Its the book by James Frey. We was on Oprah,recovering drug and alcohol addict.So he's on Oprah telling about the and about his life as an addict. He tells the world how its all true and yadda, yadda, yadda. Well Oprah basically endorses the book on her show and now (sorry this was a few years back) every housewife in America buys this jokers book. He sells millions of copies,most of which are not until after Oprah has him on her show. Now he is a crazy millionaire. Well soon after the show people start to question the validity of the book. I know why didn't these questions come out before the show (hello). So anyway, things come out and determined that what we thought were this jokers memoirs about being an addict and his road to recovery has been fabricated somewhat. Now from the research I did on the book today it seems that the book is "based on a true story",which I don't have a problem with really. I mean after all he's trying to sell books right? What I do have a problem with though is that I saw the Oprah show (yes I'm comfortable enough to admit that I watch Oprah every once in awhile if the DW has it on. Plus I'm not sure anybody reads this blog anyway). So during the show while he's telling every housewife (and me) in America his sad drug user turned feel good story, I'm buying it. Now as I'm reading the book and know that he embellished the truth, I'm mad and confused about what's real and what's not.

Ok so now that I've had my rant, might I say that I enjoy the book. Now I'm only a hundred pages or so into it, but I do like it and ill tell you why.

So the book starts out he is 23 and basically he is angry,self destructive, and self centered. He's lonely and hates people and himself,and I enjoy the read because I can relate. Now anyone who knows me knows that in my past I was all these things as well. Now I wasn't quite the train wreck to the extent that this guy was (although how much of his story is true), but I was a train wreck. I can relate to this story to a degree.

So I won't go into to much more details than that, mostly because it sucks blogging from my phone, but also because I want to keep reading the book. So if you haven't read it I recommend reading it the next time you have to be in a car for eight hours.

J-Tony

Happy New Year

Happy New Year. We made it. Did you doubt?

Well so last night the DW decided she was going to let the clowns stay up and watch the ball drop. They had never seen the ball drop, and she thought it would be nice for them to actually be up to ring in the new year.

So she went and got some snacks and party favors and things and we had our own little party here at the house. It wasn't to bad. We played some games with them and basically waited around until midnight. The girls watch the Dick Clark countdown show. They seemed to like that, and all in all they did pretty good. There wasn't to much whining or crying, and they made it to midnight. Actually they stayed up later then that. We had them all riled up with the ball dropping that they couldn't just go to bed after that, so we let them stay up a little longer watching t.v.

This morning, thankfully, they've slept in.

So today is new years day. So here's to a happy, healthy new year.
So we did what most people do on New Year's Day. We cleaned up the Christmas junk. Yes that's right, we took down the tree and all the decorations, we rearranged the furniture, and cleaned up. And let me tell you, I looked like the Grinch cleaning up that stuff. I didn't worry about putting it all back nice and neat, I just grabbed stuff and crammed it in the box, or bag, or whatever. I hate taking down Christmas. We have a fake tree, and if I could find a way to cram the tree, ornaments and all back into the box, I would. Of course the DW would never let me. There were a few items today that she had to put back nice and neat.

So we've finished off the afternoon by watching some sports (shocking I know). I have to say that I've been thinking and dreading this trip to Iowa next week for the last few days. I know there's nothing I can do about it, and I should just make the best of it, but it's been eating at me. I don't really know why. I'm pretty sure I know how it's going to go, so there really shouldn't be any surprises, but still. Just bothering me. I guess I should look on the bright side. I should have lots of material to blog about.

J-Tony