For FOUR nights straight I have not been able to sleep throughout the night. For the life of me I cannot figure out why. I am sleepy around my regular time so I go to bed. Then about four hours later I wake up and I am up for anywhere between 3 and 4 hours. I try to go to sleep but it is of no use. When I am asleep I have the wierdest dreams that I cannot put together.
Last night was couple of classics.
I am a professional wreslter. Evidently when I was younger I was a bad ass. The only problem is I am now 38 and I am in the physical condition I am now. Now I am not saying I a fatty...I am not...but being that I am just a year out of transplant I am not a wrestler. Consequently I am getting my butt handed to me every night! And the wrestlers I am going against are all of the guys from the 80's.
Kabuki- Spit his green paint in my face and I got the crap kicked out of me from there.
The Hulk- Threw me out of the ring like Rocky III.
Kumala- I was holding my own in that one until Scandar Akbar cheated!!
Andre THE Giant= I survived that one because I ran around the ring and out of the ring until there was a time limit.
My professional record when I woke up was 0 wins 3 losses and 1 Draw
Anyone want to tell me why the hell I had that one?
This one I had between 4:00 and 5:15 AM
I am the commander of a battleship going into what is probably my last battle before the ship returns to port for updates and I am going to be leaving for another assignment.
As I start barking out orders I am finding out that NONE of Officers know what the hell I am talking about.
Then I notice this......my officers of the deck are ALL Seasame Street Characters
Big Bird is my Co-Captain
Stuffalufagus is my Navigator
Burt and Earnie are checking Radar and Steering
Cookie Monster is in control of weapon firing
The Count- in monitoring the use of fuel and ammunition.
I am looking around and I quickly surmize that I am SCREWED!! There is nothing I can do about but go into battle. Where we promplly get our asses handed to us and we end up being towed back to port...
Then Jack comes in and ask me to turn on his cartoons for him.
Anyone got anything on this one? Seriously....What the hell is my brain doing?
Saturday, January 31, 2009
A Real Life Application
This evening Jack approached Tracey and I with the announcement that he wanted some ice cream but that we were out of ice cream in our freezer.
Well Jack, whatdo you suggest we do about that? Was our question.
Go out...was his
Are you buying? Was our next question (We are trying to get across to him the whole budget concept)
Yeah....was his answer = Mad dash to his SUPERMAN safe
He approaches me and shows 8 dollars to me.
Is that enough I ask??
Should be...was his response...I ain't paying for anything too big he sneared!
I busted a gut on that!!
The BOY IS LEARNING!!!
Well Jack, whatdo you suggest we do about that? Was our question.
Go out...was his
Are you buying? Was our next question (We are trying to get across to him the whole budget concept)
Yeah....was his answer = Mad dash to his SUPERMAN safe
He approaches me and shows 8 dollars to me.
Is that enough I ask??
Should be...was his response...I ain't paying for anything too big he sneared!
I busted a gut on that!!
The BOY IS LEARNING!!!
Friday, January 30, 2009
25 Things About Me
Things about me you may or may not care to know…..
1. I love my wife Tracey.
2. I have two kids that I will admit challenge my patience at times but I cannot DREAM of life without them.
3. A picture of my kids that Tracey gave me at the hospital I am convinced helped me get through my treatments.
4. I have been married to Tracey for 12 years this May and I cannot believe how fast it has gone bye.
5. I love to look at my daughter and marvel at how much she looks like her mother.
6. I am proud of how hard my son works ON HIS OWN to improve his reading.
7. I am anxious to see how handsome my son will be as a young man and how beautiful my daughter will be as a young woman.
8. I am not ashamed to admit that Tracey spoils me. I try to do it back but I am not as good at as she is.
9. I am going to be 38 in May and I still talk to my momma or daddy almost on a daily basis. Go ahead and make fun of me.
10. I have many friends but ONE LIFE LONG friend that I consider family. PPPOOOPPPPEEEEE!!!
11. For six weeks Pope visited me in the hospital at LEAST 3 times a week during his lunch break and ALWAYS brought me a paper. This sounds simple but I can never repay him for this kindness.
12. I am fortunate to work in a wonderful school district.
13. I am proud of the friendships I have in this district.
14. My parents seperated TWICE when I was growing up but never for very long and they never divorced. To this day I don’t know why they seperated and I have never asked them. Crazy? Maybe but maybe I don’t want to know.
15. I still have my wedding picture in my office because I think Tracey looks STUNNING in the photo.
16. I can honestly say after facing cancer I am a better husband, father, and son.
17. I really enjoy sitting outside and letting the wind hit my face as I close my eyes and listen to the sounds of my neighborhood.
18. I love my home and love updating it. Tracey and I have at LEAST 10 years of projects we want to do. We have no intention of ever moving.
19. My dad is the head of our family. He can do anything! I hope I can fill his shoes one day.
20. I love watching my dad interact with his namesake..my son. He is built just like his PA!
21. I enjoy listening to all of the stories my dad has about my son. They see each other on a daily basis and both I know it is the highlight of their day.
22. I love the fact that I have a girly girl for a daughter but a girly girl that will kick your ass in soccer or karate in heartbeat.
23. I am proud of the athletic ability of my son. He may be just an early bloomer but he excels in 3 sports!
24. I love my wifes legs. She can still flex a calf muscle that you would not believe!!!!
25. I am proud of the fact that God has given me the strength to meet any challenge.
1. I love my wife Tracey.
2. I have two kids that I will admit challenge my patience at times but I cannot DREAM of life without them.
3. A picture of my kids that Tracey gave me at the hospital I am convinced helped me get through my treatments.
4. I have been married to Tracey for 12 years this May and I cannot believe how fast it has gone bye.
5. I love to look at my daughter and marvel at how much she looks like her mother.
6. I am proud of how hard my son works ON HIS OWN to improve his reading.
7. I am anxious to see how handsome my son will be as a young man and how beautiful my daughter will be as a young woman.
8. I am not ashamed to admit that Tracey spoils me. I try to do it back but I am not as good at as she is.
9. I am going to be 38 in May and I still talk to my momma or daddy almost on a daily basis. Go ahead and make fun of me.
10. I have many friends but ONE LIFE LONG friend that I consider family. PPPOOOPPPPEEEEE!!!
11. For six weeks Pope visited me in the hospital at LEAST 3 times a week during his lunch break and ALWAYS brought me a paper. This sounds simple but I can never repay him for this kindness.
12. I am fortunate to work in a wonderful school district.
13. I am proud of the friendships I have in this district.
14. My parents seperated TWICE when I was growing up but never for very long and they never divorced. To this day I don’t know why they seperated and I have never asked them. Crazy? Maybe but maybe I don’t want to know.
15. I still have my wedding picture in my office because I think Tracey looks STUNNING in the photo.
16. I can honestly say after facing cancer I am a better husband, father, and son.
17. I really enjoy sitting outside and letting the wind hit my face as I close my eyes and listen to the sounds of my neighborhood.
18. I love my home and love updating it. Tracey and I have at LEAST 10 years of projects we want to do. We have no intention of ever moving.
19. My dad is the head of our family. He can do anything! I hope I can fill his shoes one day.
20. I love watching my dad interact with his namesake..my son. He is built just like his PA!
21. I enjoy listening to all of the stories my dad has about my son. They see each other on a daily basis and both I know it is the highlight of their day.
22. I love the fact that I have a girly girl for a daughter but a girly girl that will kick your ass in soccer or karate in heartbeat.
23. I am proud of the athletic ability of my son. He may be just an early bloomer but he excels in 3 sports!
24. I love my wifes legs. She can still flex a calf muscle that you would not believe!!!!
25. I am proud of the fact that God has given me the strength to meet any challenge.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Finally In The GREEN
Like everyone else in the free world Tracey and I have been feeling the pinch when it comes to today’s economy. Overall, I must say that through all of it Tracey and I had been able to do what we want to do within reason over the past year.
Well then back in October I got put in the hospital for a few days. Let’s just say the rates are a bit higher than the Motel 6. Then we have a little medical issue with Tracey…..then taxes are due at the lake at Cedar Creek (which is for sale if you are interested)….and then there is this little holiday called Christmas and Jack’s birthday.
We really started trying to clamp down on our spending AND we started doing coupon shopping at the grocery store. Everything else was something we either could NOT cut out OR if we did we would spend MORE money in another area so it would be robbing Peter to pay Paul.
The biggest area we felt we could make a difference was eating out. With my new job I am home earlier so therefore Mon-Fri I am cooking at home. With the exception of a couple of CiCi’s nights to support our local school we have stuck with it. EVEN on the weekends.
Even by doing that we have really been getting frustrated because by getting hit with all of the other expenses I mentioned earlier we had been able to save ZERO in October, November, and December. In some cases we have had to pull from savings JUST to call it even.
Tracey and I have NEVER been the type to live off of what we make. We both have money pulled out of our checks for retirement and I have an additional item I put a generous sum into each month so that when Tracey and I retire….we are RETIRING….I have no intention of retiring to go work somewhere 9-5. We are going to be TRAVELING!!!!!! I plan on working somewhere with very little responsibility and I have no problem someone half my age telling me what to do….I don’t WANT responsibility.
Still we have always tried to put a little away in a sock for little things that pop up…..like water heaters that go out…or if you are diagnosed with let’s say leukemia??? When both of those happen and one of them TWICE in a 12 month period…..it gets financially impacting!!!! Right MJP????
You can see why this has been so FRUSTRATING!!!
Well I have a MAJOR FINANIAL ANNOUNCEMENT- For the month of January Tracey and I were able to save money!!!!
The biggest areas that we saved money on were as follows:
1. Credit Card- Eating out and putting it on the card adds up QUICKLY!!!!
2. Grocery Shopping- This is probably the BIGGEST area that we are saving money.
Many times with the store card and a coupon you save BIG TIME!—We got a jar of
Good salad dressing for a dollar the other day. Tracey go a nice size roast for 5.47
Her card AND the instant 30% savings the other day. Overall I would say we save
Anywhere between 45%-65% on our grocery bill.
3. I am getting creative with left over food. What is chicken one night could become chicken salad the next.
4. Tracey’s willingness to go through the coupons and set up her coupon book….THANKS MAN CLUB for the set up idea. Tracey is a trouper!
5. Gas- somehow our gas bill has significantly dropped….300-450 range to 175 this month. WOW!!!
We have a few ideas when looking at our bills where we think we can shave some more stuff off. Our big goal is to hang in there until MAY. At that time Caroline will be DONE with DAY CARE. This can run us anywhere from 550-600+ a month! Not a year….A MONTH!!!! THAT my friends….is impacting!
If anyone has some ideas for what they do to save money I would love to hear them! What have you done during these economic times?
Well then back in October I got put in the hospital for a few days. Let’s just say the rates are a bit higher than the Motel 6. Then we have a little medical issue with Tracey…..then taxes are due at the lake at Cedar Creek (which is for sale if you are interested)….and then there is this little holiday called Christmas and Jack’s birthday.
We really started trying to clamp down on our spending AND we started doing coupon shopping at the grocery store. Everything else was something we either could NOT cut out OR if we did we would spend MORE money in another area so it would be robbing Peter to pay Paul.
The biggest area we felt we could make a difference was eating out. With my new job I am home earlier so therefore Mon-Fri I am cooking at home. With the exception of a couple of CiCi’s nights to support our local school we have stuck with it. EVEN on the weekends.
Even by doing that we have really been getting frustrated because by getting hit with all of the other expenses I mentioned earlier we had been able to save ZERO in October, November, and December. In some cases we have had to pull from savings JUST to call it even.
Tracey and I have NEVER been the type to live off of what we make. We both have money pulled out of our checks for retirement and I have an additional item I put a generous sum into each month so that when Tracey and I retire….we are RETIRING….I have no intention of retiring to go work somewhere 9-5. We are going to be TRAVELING!!!!!! I plan on working somewhere with very little responsibility and I have no problem someone half my age telling me what to do….I don’t WANT responsibility.
Still we have always tried to put a little away in a sock for little things that pop up…..like water heaters that go out…or if you are diagnosed with let’s say leukemia??? When both of those happen and one of them TWICE in a 12 month period…..it gets financially impacting!!!! Right MJP????
You can see why this has been so FRUSTRATING!!!
Well I have a MAJOR FINANIAL ANNOUNCEMENT- For the month of January Tracey and I were able to save money!!!!
The biggest areas that we saved money on were as follows:
1. Credit Card- Eating out and putting it on the card adds up QUICKLY!!!!
2. Grocery Shopping- This is probably the BIGGEST area that we are saving money.
Many times with the store card and a coupon you save BIG TIME!—We got a jar of
Good salad dressing for a dollar the other day. Tracey go a nice size roast for 5.47
Her card AND the instant 30% savings the other day. Overall I would say we save
Anywhere between 45%-65% on our grocery bill.
3. I am getting creative with left over food. What is chicken one night could become chicken salad the next.
4. Tracey’s willingness to go through the coupons and set up her coupon book….THANKS MAN CLUB for the set up idea. Tracey is a trouper!
5. Gas- somehow our gas bill has significantly dropped….300-450 range to 175 this month. WOW!!!
We have a few ideas when looking at our bills where we think we can shave some more stuff off. Our big goal is to hang in there until MAY. At that time Caroline will be DONE with DAY CARE. This can run us anywhere from 550-600+ a month! Not a year….A MONTH!!!! THAT my friends….is impacting!
If anyone has some ideas for what they do to save money I would love to hear them! What have you done during these economic times?
Thursday, January 22, 2009
It's Like Looking In A Mirror!!! A foggy mirror.
MEET JEFF ..... MY DONOR!!
We look like twins.....right?
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
California Dreaming Part 2
SATURDAY
As Jeff is making his speech to the crowd I am in a funck. I am not sure if it's because Tracey told me Jeff was good looking or if I am just wrapped up in the moment. The only thing that is running through my head at this moment is that I am finally getting to this point. I am seeing with my own eyes the person that a year ago I had no idea if I would ever see. You hope and you pray that you get to this point but at the same time you realize that maybe this is not in the plans for you. This day...this milestone.... is here. I AM HERE DAMMIT!!! I had days where I thought maybe God had another plan for me. But today... I AM HERE!! HELL YES!
Jeff is finishing up his speech and out comes Jeff's mom and dad! Jeff brought his mom, dad, and his uncle who is also his Godfather.
Mia Hamm comes over to me and gives me a big hug. She says, Jason I want to thank you for coming here today and sharing your story with us today. It is truly an inspiring story and I want to thank you for being here today. You have no idea how much this means to me.
I am in total awe here. I am talking with MIA HAMM! She is thanking me??!!?? I utter out the words THANKS and some other stuff that I can't remember...I TOLD YOU I WAS IN AWE!!
Mia then goes over to Tracey and gives her a hug and then Nomar comes over and shakes my hand and says, Jason, thank you for being her today. I can't tell you how much this means to Mia and our family. You are an inspiration......
WWWOOOOWWW ..... Inspiration??? Uhhhhh wow...too kind....
I utter some more things to Nomar but I am so taken by all of this that I have no clue what I said. Nomar then moves over to Tracey and gives her a hug.
At this point I do remember thinking...GEEEZZZ Nomar...where is my hug?!?!?
Tracey got additional hugs from a couple of the ladies from the Woman's Gold Medal socooer team and The GOLD MEDAL winner from the beach volleyball women's team.
My thought was...ladies...ladies..... What about me????? Since I was talking with Jeff's parents I forgave them for this gaffe on their part.
We return to the suits at the HOME DEPOT CENTER and I commence to get to know a bit more about Jeff and his family.
I have had a million questions run through my head over the past year waiting...hoping this day would come. Now that it is here I can't seem to remember most of them. THINK...JDHTEACH...TTTTTTTHHHHHIIIIINNNNKKKKK.....
nope...nothin...empty...I can hear crickets.
I do manage to think of a few and we spend the next hour visiting with Jeff and his family. Jeff's parents are wonderful people and we truly enjoy visiting. The hour goes by so fast I can't believe it is time to go.
The good news is we are all at the same hotel so we ride back together in the limo. Once we arrive we find out that Jeff's parents and Uncle are heading back that evening but Jeff is staying till tomorrow. We say our good byes to Jeff's family and make arrangements to meet Jeff for breakfast the next day.
Tracey and I go to the room and rest up because my sister-in-law are meeting us for dinner.
About an hour later we get a call from Sara informing us that she and her boyfriend Jimmy were in the bar. Tracey and I head down to the bar to find Sara and Jimmy sitting next to Jeff and his family.
As we enter the bar I make eye contact with Sara right when Jeff sees Tracey and I. Jeff's family jumps us and everyone starts hugging again. Sara is looking at me with a slightly confused look on her face. I introduce Sara to Jeff and she gives Jeff a big hug. Sara, not being the shy one, looks at me and says... JDHTEACH you have some FINE bone marrow in you.
Yes...we have established that Jeff is good looking Sara. Jimmy looks at her and says....HEY WHAT ABOUT ME??? I told him to not worry about it. I have one of these (pointing to my wedding ring) and she says it too.
We stay about another hour visiting as a group when Jeff and his family leave. We finalize our plans with Jeff for breakfast in the morning and off they go.
Now for dinner.....We are meeting Tracey's cousin who lives in California ...not far from LA for dinner as well. We go to this Greek restaurant not far from the hotel. Sarah made the reservations.
The area we are in is sort of like lower Greenville or Austin...6th street. You have eating establishment after eating establishment. Each eating establishment has outdoor seating and live music. So as you are walking down the sidewalk you hear all types of music at the same time the smells coming from the restaurants tickles your nose as you smell spice and sweetness.
We get to the restaurant and there is an older Greek gentleman standing at the doorway and when he sees Sara he just starts yelling what I assume is mixed English and Greek. He then begins to hug everyone! Sara, Jimmy, Tracey, Me...I think he tried to hug Doug, Tracey's cousin but Doug is not a huggy guy. We are then shown our table. It is outside. The night air in LA has a nip to it and I can't be in that so I was a bit worried....Then I see that they put us in the covered portion of outside eating area...and they have one of those gas heaters right by our table! PERFECT!! I then notice as I am sitting that there is a bottle of chilled champagne on our table. My immediate thought was...well maybe you get that at a Greek restaurant...like chips and hot sauce at a Mexican joint! Then my thought was...DON'T OPEN IT...WE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. The waiter then comes over and says to me this....
We are all aware of your story and we feel it is an honor that you are with us tonight. The campaign is on us. Please enjoy.
I looked over at Sara and she saw the look on my face....She just grinned and said...I laid it on PPPPRRREEEETTTYYYYY THICK!!
Sara told them my whole story and they made the special arrangements for me. Now it's all coming together....the covered seating...the heater...
All I could say was thank you.
After a great meal with great conversation we left for the hotel.
As Tracey and I are entering the room all I can think of is getting to sleep. Tracey and I are starting to miss the kids pretty bad by this point. I know it's bad. We have been away for all of 48 hours to this point and all we want to do is see our kids.
As I lay my head down I am just reflecting about everything that has happened to me today. A day that a year ago I did not know I would see has just concluded.
You have red letter day's in your life. Your first bicycle...when you graduate from high school or college...the day you get married...the day your kids are born....and when you meet the person who saves your life....yeah...that is a red letter day.
SUNDAY
Sunday arrives and Tracey and I are ready to get home. We are missing the kids bad. I know ...we suck....
Anyway, we have breakfast with Jeff and off to the airport we go. We get through airport security with about 20 minutes to spare. After sharing a burger we board the plane.
For some reason I am selected to put my bag in the carry on box fitter. It seems my carry on is too big. As they are taking it from me I noticing person after person waling past me with bags bigger than mine.
I felt like the guy that got pulled over for speeding for doing 65 in a 55. Meanwhile everyone is passing my us running 90 as the cop writes me a ticket. I wanted to argue about it but I did not want to end up in AIRPORT JAIL with some guy and a rubber glove with lube about to do a body cavity search so I let it go. I wanted to go home.
Tracey sees me with out the suitcase and up she marches to argue....before I could say anything she was gone....I just got on the plane.
Once on the plane I see all of these people getting on with these huge bags! One guys bag was so big he could not lift it. It took TWO flight attendants to raise into the overhead ben. I just laughed and put on my headphones. In protest I left them on while the flight attendant went though their talk at the beginning of the fight. TAKE THAT AMERICAN!!! I am listening to MMMUUUSSSIIICCCCC nanaaannnannana!
The flight is fine and as we are approaching DFW the pilot has this say.
Um people we are having a slight mechanical issue at this time in that we are losing our hydraulic fluid.
Now my immediate thought was....THAT IS NOT GOOD...THAT IS HOW THEY STEER THIS BABY!
Then the pilot continues...
I want to assure you that this is not a major problem . We have full control of the airplane. At this time we cannot lower our landing gear.
OH SHIT...NOT GOOD.
Let's see...engines are on the tail of the plain not under the wing...CHECK!!!!
Pilot continues:
We are going to have to lower the landing gear manually. Just so you know I am going to circle the airport a couple of times to give us time to get the gear down firmly.
CIRCLE AWAY BUDDY...WE WANT FIRM LANDING GEAR!!!!! were my thoughts.
Tracey looks at me with a oh shit look on her face.
HAS ANYTHING ON THIS TRIP BEEN NORMAL???? was my response to her.
We land safely and hear come the emergency trucks! From a half mile away you can see all of the lights.
We landed but we had now way of steering the plane on the ground. So we were TOWED to our gate.
LANDING ON THE GROUND SAFELY WITH A MALFUNCTIONING PLANE!!! Does that qualify as a second red letter day in a row?
You be the judge.
As Jeff is making his speech to the crowd I am in a funck. I am not sure if it's because Tracey told me Jeff was good looking or if I am just wrapped up in the moment. The only thing that is running through my head at this moment is that I am finally getting to this point. I am seeing with my own eyes the person that a year ago I had no idea if I would ever see. You hope and you pray that you get to this point but at the same time you realize that maybe this is not in the plans for you. This day...this milestone.... is here. I AM HERE DAMMIT!!! I had days where I thought maybe God had another plan for me. But today... I AM HERE!! HELL YES!
Jeff is finishing up his speech and out comes Jeff's mom and dad! Jeff brought his mom, dad, and his uncle who is also his Godfather.
Mia Hamm comes over to me and gives me a big hug. She says, Jason I want to thank you for coming here today and sharing your story with us today. It is truly an inspiring story and I want to thank you for being here today. You have no idea how much this means to me.
I am in total awe here. I am talking with MIA HAMM! She is thanking me??!!?? I utter out the words THANKS and some other stuff that I can't remember...I TOLD YOU I WAS IN AWE!!
Mia then goes over to Tracey and gives her a hug and then Nomar comes over and shakes my hand and says, Jason, thank you for being her today. I can't tell you how much this means to Mia and our family. You are an inspiration......
WWWOOOOWWW ..... Inspiration??? Uhhhhh wow...too kind....
I utter some more things to Nomar but I am so taken by all of this that I have no clue what I said. Nomar then moves over to Tracey and gives her a hug.
At this point I do remember thinking...GEEEZZZ Nomar...where is my hug?!?!?
Tracey got additional hugs from a couple of the ladies from the Woman's Gold Medal socooer team and The GOLD MEDAL winner from the beach volleyball women's team.
My thought was...ladies...ladies..... What about me????? Since I was talking with Jeff's parents I forgave them for this gaffe on their part.
We return to the suits at the HOME DEPOT CENTER and I commence to get to know a bit more about Jeff and his family.
I have had a million questions run through my head over the past year waiting...hoping this day would come. Now that it is here I can't seem to remember most of them. THINK...JDHTEACH...TTTTTTTHHHHHIIIIINNNNKKKKK.....
nope...nothin...empty...I can hear crickets.
I do manage to think of a few and we spend the next hour visiting with Jeff and his family. Jeff's parents are wonderful people and we truly enjoy visiting. The hour goes by so fast I can't believe it is time to go.
The good news is we are all at the same hotel so we ride back together in the limo. Once we arrive we find out that Jeff's parents and Uncle are heading back that evening but Jeff is staying till tomorrow. We say our good byes to Jeff's family and make arrangements to meet Jeff for breakfast the next day.
Tracey and I go to the room and rest up because my sister-in-law are meeting us for dinner.
About an hour later we get a call from Sara informing us that she and her boyfriend Jimmy were in the bar. Tracey and I head down to the bar to find Sara and Jimmy sitting next to Jeff and his family.
As we enter the bar I make eye contact with Sara right when Jeff sees Tracey and I. Jeff's family jumps us and everyone starts hugging again. Sara is looking at me with a slightly confused look on her face. I introduce Sara to Jeff and she gives Jeff a big hug. Sara, not being the shy one, looks at me and says... JDHTEACH you have some FINE bone marrow in you.
Yes...we have established that Jeff is good looking Sara. Jimmy looks at her and says....HEY WHAT ABOUT ME??? I told him to not worry about it. I have one of these (pointing to my wedding ring) and she says it too.
We stay about another hour visiting as a group when Jeff and his family leave. We finalize our plans with Jeff for breakfast in the morning and off they go.
Now for dinner.....We are meeting Tracey's cousin who lives in California ...not far from LA for dinner as well. We go to this Greek restaurant not far from the hotel. Sarah made the reservations.
The area we are in is sort of like lower Greenville or Austin...6th street. You have eating establishment after eating establishment. Each eating establishment has outdoor seating and live music. So as you are walking down the sidewalk you hear all types of music at the same time the smells coming from the restaurants tickles your nose as you smell spice and sweetness.
We get to the restaurant and there is an older Greek gentleman standing at the doorway and when he sees Sara he just starts yelling what I assume is mixed English and Greek. He then begins to hug everyone! Sara, Jimmy, Tracey, Me...I think he tried to hug Doug, Tracey's cousin but Doug is not a huggy guy. We are then shown our table. It is outside. The night air in LA has a nip to it and I can't be in that so I was a bit worried....Then I see that they put us in the covered portion of outside eating area...and they have one of those gas heaters right by our table! PERFECT!! I then notice as I am sitting that there is a bottle of chilled champagne on our table. My immediate thought was...well maybe you get that at a Greek restaurant...like chips and hot sauce at a Mexican joint! Then my thought was...DON'T OPEN IT...WE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. The waiter then comes over and says to me this....
We are all aware of your story and we feel it is an honor that you are with us tonight. The campaign is on us. Please enjoy.
I looked over at Sara and she saw the look on my face....She just grinned and said...I laid it on PPPPRRREEEETTTYYYYY THICK!!
Sara told them my whole story and they made the special arrangements for me. Now it's all coming together....the covered seating...the heater...
All I could say was thank you.
After a great meal with great conversation we left for the hotel.
As Tracey and I are entering the room all I can think of is getting to sleep. Tracey and I are starting to miss the kids pretty bad by this point. I know it's bad. We have been away for all of 48 hours to this point and all we want to do is see our kids.
As I lay my head down I am just reflecting about everything that has happened to me today. A day that a year ago I did not know I would see has just concluded.
You have red letter day's in your life. Your first bicycle...when you graduate from high school or college...the day you get married...the day your kids are born....and when you meet the person who saves your life....yeah...that is a red letter day.
SUNDAY
Sunday arrives and Tracey and I are ready to get home. We are missing the kids bad. I know ...we suck....
Anyway, we have breakfast with Jeff and off to the airport we go. We get through airport security with about 20 minutes to spare. After sharing a burger we board the plane.
For some reason I am selected to put my bag in the carry on box fitter. It seems my carry on is too big. As they are taking it from me I noticing person after person waling past me with bags bigger than mine.
I felt like the guy that got pulled over for speeding for doing 65 in a 55. Meanwhile everyone is passing my us running 90 as the cop writes me a ticket. I wanted to argue about it but I did not want to end up in AIRPORT JAIL with some guy and a rubber glove with lube about to do a body cavity search so I let it go. I wanted to go home.
Tracey sees me with out the suitcase and up she marches to argue....before I could say anything she was gone....I just got on the plane.
Once on the plane I see all of these people getting on with these huge bags! One guys bag was so big he could not lift it. It took TWO flight attendants to raise into the overhead ben. I just laughed and put on my headphones. In protest I left them on while the flight attendant went though their talk at the beginning of the fight. TAKE THAT AMERICAN!!! I am listening to MMMUUUSSSIIICCCCC nanaaannnannana!
The flight is fine and as we are approaching DFW the pilot has this say.
Um people we are having a slight mechanical issue at this time in that we are losing our hydraulic fluid.
Now my immediate thought was....THAT IS NOT GOOD...THAT IS HOW THEY STEER THIS BABY!
Then the pilot continues...
I want to assure you that this is not a major problem . We have full control of the airplane. At this time we cannot lower our landing gear.
OH SHIT...NOT GOOD.
Let's see...engines are on the tail of the plain not under the wing...CHECK!!!!
Pilot continues:
We are going to have to lower the landing gear manually. Just so you know I am going to circle the airport a couple of times to give us time to get the gear down firmly.
CIRCLE AWAY BUDDY...WE WANT FIRM LANDING GEAR!!!!! were my thoughts.
Tracey looks at me with a oh shit look on her face.
HAS ANYTHING ON THIS TRIP BEEN NORMAL???? was my response to her.
We land safely and hear come the emergency trucks! From a half mile away you can see all of the lights.
We landed but we had now way of steering the plane on the ground. So we were TOWED to our gate.
LANDING ON THE GROUND SAFELY WITH A MALFUNCTIONING PLANE!!! Does that qualify as a second red letter day in a row?
You be the judge.
Monday, January 19, 2009
A Weekend To Remember
THIS JUST KEEPS GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER!
That was the thought that kept running through my head as the weekend has progressed.
FRIDAY:
Tracey and I are flown out to LA by the City of Hope. The City of Hope is a foundation that organizes the transfer of stem cells for transplants around the world. They are flying Tracey and I to LA to meet my donor and a function put on by the City of Hope and the Mia Hamm Foundation. We fly to LA with ease and we are picked up by a car service. The car service takes us to our hotel. The hotel is UNBELIEVABLE! As we are checking in we notice all of these people running around like they are running away from someone. We even notice that one guy is bleeding pretty good from a shoulder wound. Then we see the huge lights and we hear ..CCCCUUUUUTTTTTTT!!! The receptionist apologized for the mess but that they were filming an episode of PRISON BREAK at the hotel that day. Wow! I am in LA for 1 hour and I get to watch the making of a TV show!
We make our way to our room and rest for a bit! We met up with Tracey's sister who lives out in LA and her boyfriend had a late lunch or early dinner. I had a great time! Tracey and I turned in about midnight Dallas time as we were both exhausted and yet excited for the BIG DAY
SATURDAY
Well this is it! The big day! Tracey and I are going to the HOME DEPOT CENTER to meet my donor. Here is what we know right now. We are being driven to the event in a limo. Mia Hamm is having a charity soccer game going on. We ASSUME we are one of hundreds of people that are meeting our donor today. We get to the limo and there is another lady there with her husband and she too is meeting her donor today. They are from the San Franciso area. They are a beautiful couple who are probably 10 years older than Tracey and I and we talk nonstop all the way to the event. Great conversation. They take all of us to a skybox where we sit for about 30 minutes and visit. At the conclusion of the 30 minutes they take us down to a sandwhich bar for lunch. THIS IS WHERE IT GET'S INTERESTING!!!!
Tracey and I are sitting there eating lunch when a gentleman is introduced to us who is going to be introducing me to the crowd. I knew that at some point they were going to introduce me out on the soccer field and I was going to meet my donor out on the field in front of everyone (about 5,000 people). I was a bit nervous about that in that this is a emotional time for me and I did not know how I would react. Well the gentleman asks me the question: What thoughts JDHTEACH were running through your head when you learned that your first treatment had failed? I answered him. He said, I like where you are going with this. How do you want to continue?
At this point I am a bit confused. I look over at Tracey and she is looking at me with a big "WHAT?" look on her face.
I restated...How do I want to continue? This is when I was told that it would be laid out like this. The other lady and her husband would talk for a few minutes then meet their donor. Then I would talk and meet my donor......
Just me and my donor......in front of 5,000 people.....
Well okay! Tracey said, You can do this...you have talked in front of large groups before......
NOT 5,000 PEOPLE TRACEY!!!!!! Was my thought...but my answer was ...yeah...no biggy..acting ever so cool while my knees became weaker by the moment!
Then I learn that this is going to take place at halftime. Great...I gotta sit here for 30 minutes.....nerves building
Then half time comes and I witness the other couple meeting their donor. I lean over to Tracey and I tell her ...Okay...I am nervous here.
She reaches into her purse and she pulls out a picture of Jack and Caroline. She says, you are here for them. If you get nervouse just look at the picture. I take the picture and immediately start staring at it.
Then I am asked this question over the PA system.
Jason, it was just over a year ago that you learned that your first treatment had failed but that you had a perfect match and would receive a transplant. What thoughts went through your mind at that moment.
Here was my answer:
A little over a year ago I was laying in a hospital bed facing my own mortality at 36 years of age. My main concern was not if I die but who would look after my beautiful wife Tracey and most importantly who would look after my children.
Because of this person's gift. I have been given a second chance at life. Because of this person's gift my wife still has her husband. And because of this person's gift Jack and Caroline still have their daddy! At this time I turned the picture of Jack and Caroline over and the camera man zoomed in on the picture. I did not know this but that was hooked up to the JUMBO TRON so there were by babies on the JUMBO TRON! 5,000 people went AAAUUUUUUHHHHHH.
Then I was asked ...Are you ready to meet your donor? Yes SIR.
Out comes JEFF my donor! As he walks towards me he says....WE ARE DOING THIS TOGETHER BROTHER! We hug! And I start half balling.....All I can say at this time is THANK YOU .....THANK YOU...over and over.
Jeff then hugs Tracey and he is given the microphone to talk. While Jeff is addressing the crowd Tracey and I look at one another and she says....
Your donor is good looking......Yes Tracey...yes he is.
I have more to share....
That was the thought that kept running through my head as the weekend has progressed.
FRIDAY:
Tracey and I are flown out to LA by the City of Hope. The City of Hope is a foundation that organizes the transfer of stem cells for transplants around the world. They are flying Tracey and I to LA to meet my donor and a function put on by the City of Hope and the Mia Hamm Foundation. We fly to LA with ease and we are picked up by a car service. The car service takes us to our hotel. The hotel is UNBELIEVABLE! As we are checking in we notice all of these people running around like they are running away from someone. We even notice that one guy is bleeding pretty good from a shoulder wound. Then we see the huge lights and we hear ..CCCCUUUUUTTTTTTT!!! The receptionist apologized for the mess but that they were filming an episode of PRISON BREAK at the hotel that day. Wow! I am in LA for 1 hour and I get to watch the making of a TV show!
We make our way to our room and rest for a bit! We met up with Tracey's sister who lives out in LA and her boyfriend had a late lunch or early dinner. I had a great time! Tracey and I turned in about midnight Dallas time as we were both exhausted and yet excited for the BIG DAY
SATURDAY
Well this is it! The big day! Tracey and I are going to the HOME DEPOT CENTER to meet my donor. Here is what we know right now. We are being driven to the event in a limo. Mia Hamm is having a charity soccer game going on. We ASSUME we are one of hundreds of people that are meeting our donor today. We get to the limo and there is another lady there with her husband and she too is meeting her donor today. They are from the San Franciso area. They are a beautiful couple who are probably 10 years older than Tracey and I and we talk nonstop all the way to the event. Great conversation. They take all of us to a skybox where we sit for about 30 minutes and visit. At the conclusion of the 30 minutes they take us down to a sandwhich bar for lunch. THIS IS WHERE IT GET'S INTERESTING!!!!
Tracey and I are sitting there eating lunch when a gentleman is introduced to us who is going to be introducing me to the crowd. I knew that at some point they were going to introduce me out on the soccer field and I was going to meet my donor out on the field in front of everyone (about 5,000 people). I was a bit nervous about that in that this is a emotional time for me and I did not know how I would react. Well the gentleman asks me the question: What thoughts JDHTEACH were running through your head when you learned that your first treatment had failed? I answered him. He said, I like where you are going with this. How do you want to continue?
At this point I am a bit confused. I look over at Tracey and she is looking at me with a big "WHAT?" look on her face.
I restated...How do I want to continue? This is when I was told that it would be laid out like this. The other lady and her husband would talk for a few minutes then meet their donor. Then I would talk and meet my donor......
Just me and my donor......in front of 5,000 people.....
Well okay! Tracey said, You can do this...you have talked in front of large groups before......
NOT 5,000 PEOPLE TRACEY!!!!!! Was my thought...but my answer was ...yeah...no biggy..acting ever so cool while my knees became weaker by the moment!
Then I learn that this is going to take place at halftime. Great...I gotta sit here for 30 minutes.....nerves building
Then half time comes and I witness the other couple meeting their donor. I lean over to Tracey and I tell her ...Okay...I am nervous here.
She reaches into her purse and she pulls out a picture of Jack and Caroline. She says, you are here for them. If you get nervouse just look at the picture. I take the picture and immediately start staring at it.
Then I am asked this question over the PA system.
Jason, it was just over a year ago that you learned that your first treatment had failed but that you had a perfect match and would receive a transplant. What thoughts went through your mind at that moment.
Here was my answer:
A little over a year ago I was laying in a hospital bed facing my own mortality at 36 years of age. My main concern was not if I die but who would look after my beautiful wife Tracey and most importantly who would look after my children.
Because of this person's gift. I have been given a second chance at life. Because of this person's gift my wife still has her husband. And because of this person's gift Jack and Caroline still have their daddy! At this time I turned the picture of Jack and Caroline over and the camera man zoomed in on the picture. I did not know this but that was hooked up to the JUMBO TRON so there were by babies on the JUMBO TRON! 5,000 people went AAAUUUUUUHHHHHH.
Then I was asked ...Are you ready to meet your donor? Yes SIR.
Out comes JEFF my donor! As he walks towards me he says....WE ARE DOING THIS TOGETHER BROTHER! We hug! And I start half balling.....All I can say at this time is THANK YOU .....THANK YOU...over and over.
Jeff then hugs Tracey and he is given the microphone to talk. While Jeff is addressing the crowd Tracey and I look at one another and she says....
Your donor is good looking......Yes Tracey...yes he is.
I have more to share....
Monday, January 12, 2009
California Dreaming!
This weekend Tracey and I are flying to LA to meet the man who donated stem cells for my transplant. This Sunday will be a year to the day that I had my transplant. It is my second BIRTHDAY if you will. Without those stem cells I would not be here right now. As it turns out this is being made possible through the Mia Hamm foundation. This foundation holds an event each year that unites donors and the recievers. The foundation is flying Tracey and I out to LA. They are providing car service for us and taking us to the event.
As it was described to me it is set up at the HOME DEPOT CENTER in LA where the Galaxy play soccer. It is like a 3 hour party where people mix, and mingle. The party starts in the luxury suites with a catered lunch. Then the party moves to the stands. They are going to keep me and my donor seperate. Then they are going to call my name over the loud speakers and I am supposed to go onto the field. They are then going to call my donor and I am going to get to meet him.
I am extremely excited and yet emotional as well. I will explain in just a moment.
In addition to that I am told to get ready to have my picture taken with celebrities. She could not tell me who was going to be there because they keep this event quiet so that more celebrities show up. They do sell tickets to the event but they don't advertise.
I also had to sign off that it was okay to be interviewed by the local media! I have no idea what to expect celebrity wise but I don't care. The biggest celebrity in my case is my donor.
Why am I going to be emotional? Well if it were not for this person I would not be here. What do you say to the person that saved your life? What do you say to the person that because of them your wife still has a husband and your kids still have their daddy?
Why am I going to be emotional? The first time I went through this I was my own donor and it did not work. It lasted 11 months. When I make it to the year mark I will feel like I made it to a landmark. I am hopeful that maybe I wont think about cancer on a daily basis. When I make it to a year I will feel like I stand a chance of this disease not coming back. I stand a chance of beating this.
It does not take talking about cancer for me to think about it. Usually what happens is I will be doing something with the kids and a thought pops into my head. Please God do not take me away from my kids? Please!
It happens almost daily. Saturday as Jack and I were leaving the gym from our first basketball game with me as the coach Jack came over and said, Dad, I had a lot of fun today. My response, I did too Jack. Dad, I love you! My response, I love you too Jack.
I will say it again. Please God...do not take me away from my kids. They need their daddy and I need them.
You can see why this is an emotional time I am sure.
As it was described to me it is set up at the HOME DEPOT CENTER in LA where the Galaxy play soccer. It is like a 3 hour party where people mix, and mingle. The party starts in the luxury suites with a catered lunch. Then the party moves to the stands. They are going to keep me and my donor seperate. Then they are going to call my name over the loud speakers and I am supposed to go onto the field. They are then going to call my donor and I am going to get to meet him.
I am extremely excited and yet emotional as well. I will explain in just a moment.
In addition to that I am told to get ready to have my picture taken with celebrities. She could not tell me who was going to be there because they keep this event quiet so that more celebrities show up. They do sell tickets to the event but they don't advertise.
I also had to sign off that it was okay to be interviewed by the local media! I have no idea what to expect celebrity wise but I don't care. The biggest celebrity in my case is my donor.
Why am I going to be emotional? Well if it were not for this person I would not be here. What do you say to the person that saved your life? What do you say to the person that because of them your wife still has a husband and your kids still have their daddy?
Why am I going to be emotional? The first time I went through this I was my own donor and it did not work. It lasted 11 months. When I make it to the year mark I will feel like I made it to a landmark. I am hopeful that maybe I wont think about cancer on a daily basis. When I make it to a year I will feel like I stand a chance of this disease not coming back. I stand a chance of beating this.
It does not take talking about cancer for me to think about it. Usually what happens is I will be doing something with the kids and a thought pops into my head. Please God do not take me away from my kids? Please!
It happens almost daily. Saturday as Jack and I were leaving the gym from our first basketball game with me as the coach Jack came over and said, Dad, I had a lot of fun today. My response, I did too Jack. Dad, I love you! My response, I love you too Jack.
I will say it again. Please God...do not take me away from my kids. They need their daddy and I need them.
You can see why this is an emotional time I am sure.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
My First Basketball Game....As COACH
Today was our first game for Jack's 1st and 2nd grade team. I have to admit that going into the game I did not think we were going to do well. We had a big lay off with the holidays.
While there was definately some rust out there overall the boys did great.
I will only boast a little bit in that Jack was the best player out there for both teams. The boy knows what he is supposed to do with the ball and he definately used his size to his advantage. On more than one occassion he drove to the basket and the kid who was trying to guard him got too close and bounced off Jack like a rag doll. On one of Jacks baskets the kid ran into Jack....fell down...Jack stepped over him and made the bucket. The other team tried 3 different kids on Jack and none of them worked.
What did work was when I sat him out the next to last period. The other team got back into the game then and made a game of it.
I have to admit that I got into the game as well coaching the boys. I am an "active" coach I am finding.
We had fun! And we WON!!!
Tracey is helping me with the boys because I am the only one coaching my team. So she is helping with game day stuff and she helped at practice last week.
At the end of the game I told her..."THAT WAS FUN!" She just laughed and said...YOU WERE HILARIOUS!!!
So be checking out t-lady's blog because I am sure I am going to get it.
While there was definately some rust out there overall the boys did great.
I will only boast a little bit in that Jack was the best player out there for both teams. The boy knows what he is supposed to do with the ball and he definately used his size to his advantage. On more than one occassion he drove to the basket and the kid who was trying to guard him got too close and bounced off Jack like a rag doll. On one of Jacks baskets the kid ran into Jack....fell down...Jack stepped over him and made the bucket. The other team tried 3 different kids on Jack and none of them worked.
What did work was when I sat him out the next to last period. The other team got back into the game then and made a game of it.
I have to admit that I got into the game as well coaching the boys. I am an "active" coach I am finding.
We had fun! And we WON!!!
Tracey is helping me with the boys because I am the only one coaching my team. So she is helping with game day stuff and she helped at practice last week.
At the end of the game I told her..."THAT WAS FUN!" She just laughed and said...YOU WERE HILARIOUS!!!
So be checking out t-lady's blog because I am sure I am going to get it.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Come On Old Girl!
Tracey and I have 3 dogs.
Lilly is going to 12 in March. (Miniature Weenie Dog)
Max is going to be 10 in October (Miniature Weenie Dog)
Maggie- is going to be 3 next month (She is a big girl- Rhodesian Ridgeback)
Anyway, with miniature weenie dogs you can expect their life span to be 12-15 years.
My parents had two miniature weenie dogs and both of their dogs started having health issues at 11. By 12 they were taking 3 to 5 pills a day for bones and joints.
Lilly has been blowing and going.
I have noticed however that Lilly is slowing down. She is so cute and acts so puppyish you forget that she is 12. That is until now. I have noticed in the mornings that she is the LAST ONE out of the pens to go outside to go potty. When it is cold outside she does not even move! This morning I picked her up and carried her to the porch. She walked two steps and went potty right there. She then turned around and wanted back in. When she "hopped" into the pen. Her back legs did not make it. He had to lift one leg...then the other. She burrowed back into her blankets.
At the moment it is warm so she is laying out in the grass on her back and sunning her belly! At first when you look at her you think...CRAP...She has kicked the bucket. But I am finding that she is moving around.
Senior Dogs are alot like Senior People. This is what I have noticed Lilly's daily schedule to be.
6:30- Get up and go outside for a drink. If the weather is nice check out the backyard for any new smells then go potty. If the weather is not nice. Get a drink potty by the back door and get back in the house.
6:35- Breakfast- Eat immediately if mom or dad put goody's in my breakfast.
6:35- Breakfasts- No goody's means breakfast can wait and I am going back to bed.
6:45-Noon- Sleep
Noon-4:00- If weather is nice go outside and find a sunny spot to bake in.
4:00-7:00- Mingle with family
5:30-6:00- Dinner- Again, pace of eating determined by amount of goodies in dinner.
7:00- Take nap either in family room or in pen.
9:00- Bed Time
Lilly is going to 12 in March. (Miniature Weenie Dog)
Max is going to be 10 in October (Miniature Weenie Dog)
Maggie- is going to be 3 next month (She is a big girl- Rhodesian Ridgeback)
Anyway, with miniature weenie dogs you can expect their life span to be 12-15 years.
My parents had two miniature weenie dogs and both of their dogs started having health issues at 11. By 12 they were taking 3 to 5 pills a day for bones and joints.
Lilly has been blowing and going.
I have noticed however that Lilly is slowing down. She is so cute and acts so puppyish you forget that she is 12. That is until now. I have noticed in the mornings that she is the LAST ONE out of the pens to go outside to go potty. When it is cold outside she does not even move! This morning I picked her up and carried her to the porch. She walked two steps and went potty right there. She then turned around and wanted back in. When she "hopped" into the pen. Her back legs did not make it. He had to lift one leg...then the other. She burrowed back into her blankets.
At the moment it is warm so she is laying out in the grass on her back and sunning her belly! At first when you look at her you think...CRAP...She has kicked the bucket. But I am finding that she is moving around.
Senior Dogs are alot like Senior People. This is what I have noticed Lilly's daily schedule to be.
6:30- Get up and go outside for a drink. If the weather is nice check out the backyard for any new smells then go potty. If the weather is not nice. Get a drink potty by the back door and get back in the house.
6:35- Breakfast- Eat immediately if mom or dad put goody's in my breakfast.
6:35- Breakfasts- No goody's means breakfast can wait and I am going back to bed.
6:45-Noon- Sleep
Noon-4:00- If weather is nice go outside and find a sunny spot to bake in.
4:00-7:00- Mingle with family
5:30-6:00- Dinner- Again, pace of eating determined by amount of goodies in dinner.
7:00- Take nap either in family room or in pen.
9:00- Bed Time
Do I want WHAT?
Maybe I am alone on this one. I went to a Sonic this morning and I got a fruit smoothy for breakfast. They are tastey and about the only thing that I could swallow this morning. More on that some other time. Anyway, I order a fruit smoothy and the guy asks me if I want FRY's with that? What the heck? It is 8:15 in the morning?
A. Why would I want frys at 8:15?
B. Who thinks to themselves? I would like a fruit smoothy and some frys?
A. Why would I want frys at 8:15?
B. Who thinks to themselves? I would like a fruit smoothy and some frys?
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Has This Ever Happened To You?
Here lately it has been a struggle to keep the kids out of the kitchen. They are getting back into the habbit of sneaking food out of the kitchen. We have squashed this in the past but it seems to be coming back. The thing that really irks the crap out of me is that they sneak stuff and then when it comes to meal time they just pick at it.
So Tracey and I have really been cracking down on them. We allow healthy snacks but we have a set snack time on the weekends and then the kitchen is CLOSED! PERIOD. The kids of course whine about it from time to time but that is JDHTEACH LAW. Not up for discussion.
I do most of the cooking in our house. I enjoy cooking for the family. I don't mind the kids helping with preparing the food. I enjoy teaching the kids.
Tracey always gets the kids in the kitchen when she is baking. Caroline especially loves baking.
What irks the crap out of me is when I am cooking and they keep trying to eat WHILE I AM COOKING. This leads to the same thing as snacking....meal time becomes picking. Then they want to leave.
By golly we are going to sit down together as a family and eat dinner and talk to one another about our day.
Well when they start snacking or sneaking into the kitchen I run them off. When I tell them to leave the kitchen this is the expected answer I should hear.
YES SIR. That is it. Nothing else. When I hear BUT I.....(insert excuse) My blood preasure rises quickly. I don't care what you are doing. If I tell you to leave the kitchen...you leave the kitchen.
Well tonight I hear Jack in the kitchen shuffling and I tell him he needs to leave. I start getting the 'But I...stuff and I tell him again...Jack, I told you to leave and that is what I expect you to do. But Dad...
I said DAMMIT! And I got a spatula and I just started walking toward him. His eyes got huge and he left quickly!
I look over and the dish that I was making was starting to scorch and he was just moving the pan off the burner.
HI! I am Daddy Dumb Ass! I felt horrible but I had REASON based on his past. I got the silent treatment from Jack for most of dinner.
I tried to explain to him why I did what I did but he wasn't ready to hear it.
Have you ever jumped the gun on handling a situation with your kid? If so, what did you do?
So Tracey and I have really been cracking down on them. We allow healthy snacks but we have a set snack time on the weekends and then the kitchen is CLOSED! PERIOD. The kids of course whine about it from time to time but that is JDHTEACH LAW. Not up for discussion.
I do most of the cooking in our house. I enjoy cooking for the family. I don't mind the kids helping with preparing the food. I enjoy teaching the kids.
Tracey always gets the kids in the kitchen when she is baking. Caroline especially loves baking.
What irks the crap out of me is when I am cooking and they keep trying to eat WHILE I AM COOKING. This leads to the same thing as snacking....meal time becomes picking. Then they want to leave.
By golly we are going to sit down together as a family and eat dinner and talk to one another about our day.
Well when they start snacking or sneaking into the kitchen I run them off. When I tell them to leave the kitchen this is the expected answer I should hear.
YES SIR. That is it. Nothing else. When I hear BUT I.....(insert excuse) My blood preasure rises quickly. I don't care what you are doing. If I tell you to leave the kitchen...you leave the kitchen.
Well tonight I hear Jack in the kitchen shuffling and I tell him he needs to leave. I start getting the 'But I...stuff and I tell him again...Jack, I told you to leave and that is what I expect you to do. But Dad...
I said DAMMIT! And I got a spatula and I just started walking toward him. His eyes got huge and he left quickly!
I look over and the dish that I was making was starting to scorch and he was just moving the pan off the burner.
HI! I am Daddy Dumb Ass! I felt horrible but I had REASON based on his past. I got the silent treatment from Jack for most of dinner.
I tried to explain to him why I did what I did but he wasn't ready to hear it.
Have you ever jumped the gun on handling a situation with your kid? If so, what did you do?
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Just Talking Here
Here lately I have been feeling pretty good. Well good for me. I am quickly approaching the one year anniversary of my transplant. This is important to me. You see the first time I went through this process I was my own donor and I was in remission for 11 months. Then the cancer came back.
I feel pretty good now but there is not a day that goes by that I don't think at least once about cancer. It can be something very simple as just playing with the kids and I am reminded of the times that I have been taken away from them on extended periods of time and how much that sucked. It could also be that on most days something on my body hurts. It is mainly joints, ankles, knees, shoulders, neck and my back....Holy cow my back is a mess. Anytime I sit on the floor to be with the kids I am reminded of all of the bone marrow biopsy's I have had because I can feel those pressure points when I sit.
99% of the time I never say anything to anyone. This is because A. Who wants to hear me bitch daily. B. I don't want to come across as wanting or expecting special treatment.
I did decide to say "screw it" this weekend and do some physical labor when I gutted out a small bathroom in our house. It was nice to take my mind off of the current physical me and go back to what I used to do physically. I put in about 5 straight hours with only a couple of breaks. It was not all that hard but I will say this TOILETS ARE NOT LIGHT!! But I yanked that puppy out with ease as far as lifting it.
This morning I totally paid the price for it. I could not get out of bed until about TEN. Big reminder of the current physical me. But a hot shower and some movement got the kinks out.
I was going to work on it some more today but I took the day off from it. I figured two days in a row and I would down for the count. I will go in tomorrow and do a little more.
Now if my back, neck, knees, ankles, and hips will get with the program I can make some progress.
Thanks for listening to me bitch!
I feel pretty good now but there is not a day that goes by that I don't think at least once about cancer. It can be something very simple as just playing with the kids and I am reminded of the times that I have been taken away from them on extended periods of time and how much that sucked. It could also be that on most days something on my body hurts. It is mainly joints, ankles, knees, shoulders, neck and my back....Holy cow my back is a mess. Anytime I sit on the floor to be with the kids I am reminded of all of the bone marrow biopsy's I have had because I can feel those pressure points when I sit.
99% of the time I never say anything to anyone. This is because A. Who wants to hear me bitch daily. B. I don't want to come across as wanting or expecting special treatment.
I did decide to say "screw it" this weekend and do some physical labor when I gutted out a small bathroom in our house. It was nice to take my mind off of the current physical me and go back to what I used to do physically. I put in about 5 straight hours with only a couple of breaks. It was not all that hard but I will say this TOILETS ARE NOT LIGHT!! But I yanked that puppy out with ease as far as lifting it.
This morning I totally paid the price for it. I could not get out of bed until about TEN. Big reminder of the current physical me. But a hot shower and some movement got the kinks out.
I was going to work on it some more today but I took the day off from it. I figured two days in a row and I would down for the count. I will go in tomorrow and do a little more.
Now if my back, neck, knees, ankles, and hips will get with the program I can make some progress.
Thanks for listening to me bitch!
The Saint of Anger
I thought I might have this playing in the second grade sunday school classes as background music as the kids enter. Hey it is about a SAINT!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Well It Almost That Time
Well it is almost time to go back to work. We still have a few days. So what am I going to do while Tracey is putting away Christmas?
In July we had our hotwater heater go out. It caused water damage in one of our living rooms. We fixed all of the damaged to the walls and the hardwoods. One of the bathrooms off of this living room was damaged. We got the flooring out but that is all we did. Since July this bathroom has been closed off.
We were planning on remodeling this little half bath this summer. It is in need of updating.
So I finally have pretty good energy and am ready to take on some good manual labor. Over this weekend here is what I plan on tackling.
1. Take out all electrical.
2. Take out the toilet. _Put towell in hole
3. Rip out the countertops and cabnet.
4. Start getting the wallpaper out. Hopefully finish this.
What I plan on doing?
1. Texturing Wall- Once I take a Home Depot Class
2. Painting Walls- I am thinking a shade of in the tan or sand family
3. Tile Floor- Again something in the TAN or SAND family- Slight Contrast to the
wall but not too drastic. Again..need a class at Home Depot
4. Install Teardrop sink- With silver fosset- Not shiny but dull finish.
5.- Might need some help on some minor plumbing help from dad.
6. Install new toilet- Elongated.
My time frame is to have all of this done by the end of school.
I know this sounds like a long timeline but due to money constraints I am going to be doing alot of this by myself so it is weekends and nights.
Wish me luck. I will take pictures before during and after and post.
In July we had our hotwater heater go out. It caused water damage in one of our living rooms. We fixed all of the damaged to the walls and the hardwoods. One of the bathrooms off of this living room was damaged. We got the flooring out but that is all we did. Since July this bathroom has been closed off.
We were planning on remodeling this little half bath this summer. It is in need of updating.
So I finally have pretty good energy and am ready to take on some good manual labor. Over this weekend here is what I plan on tackling.
1. Take out all electrical.
2. Take out the toilet. _Put towell in hole
3. Rip out the countertops and cabnet.
4. Start getting the wallpaper out. Hopefully finish this.
What I plan on doing?
1. Texturing Wall- Once I take a Home Depot Class
2. Painting Walls- I am thinking a shade of in the tan or sand family
3. Tile Floor- Again something in the TAN or SAND family- Slight Contrast to the
wall but not too drastic. Again..need a class at Home Depot
4. Install Teardrop sink- With silver fosset- Not shiny but dull finish.
5.- Might need some help on some minor plumbing help from dad.
6. Install new toilet- Elongated.
My time frame is to have all of this done by the end of school.
I know this sounds like a long timeline but due to money constraints I am going to be doing alot of this by myself so it is weekends and nights.
Wish me luck. I will take pictures before during and after and post.
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