tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61305498000262742152024-03-05T02:45:37.142-08:00Bruises, Batman, and BugMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-16250920721209570372011-03-23T09:24:00.001-07:002011-03-23T09:24:57.672-07:00A Simple Crayon to Make Daddy Happy<p>While I’m sitting here in a small town in Kentucky waiting on a phone company to get back in contact with me, I thought I’d sit here and take advantage of the town’s free Wi-fi to write up and share a little something that happened earlier.</p> <p>To give you some background, Abby loves going through stuff, like any kid her age does. Now that she has figured out how to work a zipper, if it has a zipper, she wants to see what is inside. Well last night was no exception when it came to my laptop bag. I of course had no issue with her going through it, as she wasn’t going to hurt anything, plus it was keeping her happy and occupied thinking she was doing something special going through Daddy’s bag. At one point, she brings over a notepad I carry in the bag that I use for writing down downs, and sometimes doodling when I’m bored. Of course I ripped out a page for my Bug, letting her sit next to me and draw with her crayons on one of Daddy’s sheets of paper. Nothing special, nothing really extravagant, but it made her happy and brought joy to her eyes, and that’s what matters.</p> <p>Well, I’m not sure when or how since I was sitting right next to her, but the little booger managed to draw on more then the one sheet of paper I ripped out for her. Earlier I was searching my bag for a cable that I typically carry with me, and found that cable replaced with 2 crayons. Fortunately it wasn’t a big deal she had taken the cable out of the bag, but even if it had ruined the entire day, I don’t think it would have mattered, because seeing those two crayons sitting in my bag just brought so much joy and love into me that I couldn’t help but smile and laugh a little. On a day that I’m already dragging my feed before noon, my baby girl finds a way to breath life and energy into me and brighten my entire day and demeanor simply by leaving two colored wax sticks in my laptop bag. Now of course I’d like to sit here and think that she did it on purpose. Being clever enough to know if she left them in my bag, that at some point Daddy would see them, knowing she left them there, and it would bring happiness and a smile to him, brightening his entire day up.</p> <p>You would think that would be the extent of it, but nope! I pull out my notepad, to make a few notes on my hours the past few days and some random thoughts I had, and what do I find? A brown doodled mess! So if the crayons weren’t enough to bring me a little big of joy, the doodle that my baby girl somehow managed to sneak into my notebook for me to find has brightened my entire day! She might not be 2 just yet, but I’m giving my baby all the credit in the world on knowing how to make her Daddy happy, on what will end up being another long day for me today, she’s managed to give me the extra step to get through it with a smile. Thank you baby.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMaeSG4HssEbWlw2gmMkpp3q79c1Wq9aJLk2L_vt79XnB-3djQoC4P_dEhfIwdgzn2T5zg33rOZW7l1LmeGCMrXYPkbdt6EdvUKuF7ExSnxZbg8PlQysZfsyDxKDgPte7iPbSgITSPsc/s1600-h/Photo%20Mar%2023,%2012%2019%2036%20PM%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Photo Mar 23, 12 19 36 PM" border="0" alt="Photo Mar 23, 12 19 36 PM" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_a2w306gcMK8/TYoe14DDA_I/AAAAAAAAAiE/cAd79kjbyqY/Photo%20Mar%2023%2C%2012%2019%2036%20PM_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="308" height="411"></a></p> Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-89373774292013197542011-03-21T21:22:00.001-07:002011-03-21T21:22:31.687-07:00Someone’s Birthday is coming up…<p>Well, I did it last year, and again this year I’ve taken it upon myself to make up the invitations to Bug’s birthday party. I have a lot of ideas I need to take the time to expand on, including taking advantage of a Cricut that I’ve yet to use. Since she was born, Bug has been obsessed and loved elephants, so I wanted to do a little Calvin & Hobbes homage with Abby and her elephant. Still a ton of work to do, but still wanted to share what I’ve done up to this point.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_a2w306gcMK8/TYgkBMMXZAI/AAAAAAAAAh4/qtEYakWVK4U/s1600-h/Card%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Card" border="0" alt="Card" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_a2w306gcMK8/TYgkBvT31LI/AAAAAAAAAh8/MpTV2e5_QUA/Card_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="355" height="486"></a></p> Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-68306752536505537592011-03-20T13:29:00.001-07:002011-03-20T13:29:30.601-07:00Lego Night<p>Okay, I’ll come right out and admit this. I have recently went back to my childhood and developed an interest in Legos again. I’m pretty sure it started when I was reading another blog by a father, about getting his daughter a Lego set, but I’m not setting that in stone. (Nor will I say its just my overwhelming inner child finding a new way to break free)</p> <p>So, while trying to figure out some stuff to do with the kids, I decided that getting one or two Lego sets, something we could do together, would be a nice attempt, a test we’ll say, at doing something that gets them away from watching TV for more then 5 minutes. Well, I decided to start with Canaan since I had him this weekend, and he was simple enough to find a Lego set for. Toy Story has been his life for the past year since Toy Story 3 came out, so when I saw a few different sets at the store, it was simply a matter of picking which one.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbqbVW4lThEdycBD9MH0V9lpN_J4yh_hA68-7XGqf3-ksdtyEMiuBqm1KbFHvZbC9GXbACnflilq9IpbHnm15UdG56ddcyFuy94_ZWSM5uTwNITaK1dPo5IdHso3aGPDECY-llh_nQX8/s1600-h/Photo%20Mar%2020,%203%2049%2014%20PM%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Photo Mar 20, 3 49 14 PM" border="0" alt="Photo Mar 20, 3 49 14 PM" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_a2w306gcMK8/TYZjpYdVwyI/AAAAAAAAAhs/ImC9weFHLpY/Photo%20Mar%2020%2C%203%2049%2014%20PM_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="273" height="364"></a></p> <p>I went with the <strong>Woody and Buzz to the Rescue</strong> set, which recreates a scene from the first Toy Story movie, where Buzz has a rocket strapped to his back and they’re on RC. The best part about this one is that RC works where you can pull the car back and it takes off on the floor, and when I say takes off, I mean this little toy has to kick to it! First time on the floor, ran into a chair leg and pieces went flying!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmlmA-N6E1WSzhxQ-R3yzLHQM0BZ5kyVBlxG74Xj6sp9yOXK-iwWgt1JeW_aJmXQ15pY0s1NXAyr0FHVjO0IutYFiBM6g306mbGH90T_8T3MQc486PH5_jt6XrkcLqGTzhHFg3Qvw9h8/s1600-h/Photo%20Mar%2020,%203%2049%2030%20PM%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Photo Mar 20, 3 49 30 PM" border="0" alt="Photo Mar 20, 3 49 30 PM" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_a2w306gcMK8/TYZjqaffbnI/AAAAAAAAAh0/A4SrtxMwRVE/Photo%20Mar%2020%2C%203%2049%2030%20PM_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="218" height="291"></a>Anyway, I wasn’t sure how much coaxing it would take to get Canaan to sit at the kitchen table and do this with me, but amazingly enough, all it took was putting together the Woody Lego character, and he was all about it, ready for the next piece, watching the car come together. </p> <p>Although I had to do most of the building, he was able to help, and was very intense with what he was doing (just look at the picture), and I have to say, he had more fun with it then I expected. He’s already ready to do another set, already has looked through the book seeing what other Toy Story sets he can get (I’m wanting to train set, I’ll admit it), so it definitely looks like we have something new to do on those “down” nights. So I have to admit, Lego night was a complete success, with hopes of repeat performances in our future!</p> Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-70976243365099319822011-03-20T13:00:00.001-07:002011-03-20T13:00:21.286-07:00The Sauce……The Sauce!!!!!<p>A strange thing has been going on with Canaan lately, he has developed what seems like a phobia to sauce. (<em><font color="#333333">In this case, saltomaphobia for anyone curious. I know you were wondering!!)</font></em> When I say sauce, I don’t mean like ketchup or bbq sauce or anything like that, he’s never liked those. (<em><font color="#666666"><font color="#333333">Yes, a kid that doesn’t like ketchup DOES exist!</font>)</font></em> The newest thing this weekend has been that he doesn’t want anything to do with pizza or spaghetti sauce. I realize that these quirks and changes in him will be more out of the blue for me, especially when there could be a simple cause or reason and I’m unaware of it, but this just seems, well…..weird. He’s never had issue with pizza or spaghetti when he’s been here in the past, and now, he was nearly in tears on the thought of having to eat spaghetti for lunch.</p> <p>Fighting with him over what to eat isn’t anything new, he has an affinity for junk food, and I’ve had to have more then one argument with him regarding not having cereal for lunch or supper, but this is different. It bothers me when he has quirks like this and I’m unaware of the origin of it. It bothers me more when, I go to ask him, about anything really, and he clams up. I do my best to be there for him, and for him to realize he can rely on me, and confide in me, but its hard to maintain. We have a few good weekends, then a few bad ones. Fortunately, in this case, we came out good. He ate his lunch, even showing pride in the fact that he ate the spaghetti, realizing and admitting that it was in fact good, even saying he’d eat it again if <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_a2w306gcMK8/TYZc0pl9iDI/AAAAAAAAAhg/bG00-dgca7w/s1600-h/canaan-sauce%5B5%5D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="canaan-sauce" border="0" alt="canaan-sauce" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_a2w306gcMK8/TYZc02Oq77I/AAAAAAAAAhk/HY565rvT9Pk/canaan-sauce_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="194" height="219"></a>asked. The biggest hurdle, and I know this in advance, in two weeks time, when he’s here again, I’ll likely have to have the same arguments with him. Its just part of it I guess, I just hope that rather then just weathering the storm, I’ve managed to take a step up on the ladder and he begins to realize, that even though I’m not with him every day, that I do love him, want only the best for him, and won’t push him in the wrong direction. Even when its something as simple as sauce.</p> Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-42159458534779474412011-03-17T20:23:00.001-07:002011-03-17T20:23:53.726-07:00Welcome Home<p>Thought it would be appropriate to have an opening “Welcome” post to this new site. I’m aware I’ve brought over other posts, but this is the first new post for this site, just for this site, and you can view it as a start of new things on here.</p> <p>What brought all this about? Well, January of ‘10 I started my blog, called it Geekasms and ran with it. Posted randomly, whatever suited me at first. That quickly changed and after over a year of adjustments and evolving, Geekasms.com (geekasms.us for now) is finally a site that I want to run. Its less of a blog, and more of a site for information, hopefully that people find useful.</p> <p>So, with that, the site having a definitive feel and theme, its hard to fit more personal stuff like things going on with the kids, my family, local stuff, the Wordless Wednesday post and more. Problem is, I still have a desire to post all of that. I suppose you can say I’ve been bitten by the blogging bug and want to write more, I want to be able to increase the coverage of blogging fathers in a world where blogging mothers dominate. Thus, my new BLOG, and yes, this will be a blog!</p> <p>So sit back and relax. Feel free to comment or yell opinions, and I’ll apologize ahead of time because on here, I have no intentions of holding back, so sarcasm, questionable remarks, cursing, and side remarks in parenthesis will be the norm! </p> <p>OH! And welcome to the new digs for my fatherly ramblings.</p> Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-82241361494473130792011-02-22T17:43:00.000-08:002011-03-17T19:55:08.428-07:00Wordless Wednesday #8–Dino Hunter<p><a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/photo11.jpg"><img style="background-image:none;border-bottom:0;border-left:0;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;display:block;float:none;border-top:0;border-right:0;padding-top:0;margin:0 auto 2px;" title="Photo1" border="0" alt="Photo1" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/photo1_thumb1.jpg" width="426" height="568" /></a></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-45897125664936665322011-02-15T22:13:00.000-08:002011-03-17T19:55:08.430-07:00Wordless Wednesday #7 - Superstar!<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/3cad4ee1432440f0aaae06b6748cf21f_7.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1368" title="wordless superstar" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/3cad4ee1432440f0aaae06b6748cf21f_7.jpg" alt="wordless superstar" width="420" height="420" /></a></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-70941663621892950742011-02-14T14:51:00.000-08:002011-03-17T19:57:29.328-07:00A True Valentine - Photo Restoration<p>I had been saving this for an eventual review I was writing up, but in honor of it being Valentine’s Day, a day for couples to show their affection to one another, I thought I’d share it.  Below is a photograph of my grandparents, that I’ve scanned and cleaned up in the top version, and attempted to colorize in the bottom version.  When I originally asked my Granddad about it, he guessed that the photo was taken at a photo booth in Brodhead, Ky at the Little World’s Fair.  The date isn’t clear when it could have been, but it was before they were married in ‘53. (Assuming on my part by lack of any form of rings)</p> <p>To this day their still married and two people that I strive to make proud, professionally and personally.  I don’t have the original picture, I gave that back, but I do cherish that I have this, as a reminder, and as of proof that love between two people can stand the tests of time.</p> <p><a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/73576_454497351341_501461341_5566946_835915_n.jpg"><img style="background-image:none;border-bottom:0;border-left:0;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;display:block;float:none;border-top:0;border-right:0;padding-top:0;margin:0 auto 2px;" title="Clontz_Brodhead_Fair_old" border="0" alt="Clontz_Brodhead_Fair_old" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/73576_454497351341_501461341_5566946_835915_n_thumb.jpg" width="300" height="424" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/154358_454497381341_501461341_5566947_951320_n.jpg"><img style="background-image:none;border-bottom:0;border-left:0;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;display:block;float:none;border-top:0;border-right:0;padding-top:0;margin:0 auto 2px;" title="Clontz_Brodhead_Fair_color" border="0" alt="Clontz_Brodhead_Fair_color" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/154358_454497381341_501461341_5566947_951320_n_thumb.jpg" width="300" height="450" /></a></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-79056529843013709622011-02-09T15:59:00.000-08:002011-03-17T19:51:30.236-07:00Wordless Wednesday #6.1–The Bug Sketch<p>Since I’ve been thinking of something to help me with stress, I’ve considered revisiting this picture I drew of Bug back in 2009.  The one I’m showing I' played with very little in Photoshop, mostly just adding the white highlights.  Haven’t decided yet.  Feel free to critique in the comments below if you like.</p> <p><a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/n501461341_1995081_4590895.jpg"><img style="background-image:none;border-bottom:0;border-left:0;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;display:block;float:none;border-top:0;border-right:0;padding-top:0;margin:0 auto 2px;" title="n501461341_1995081_4590895" border="0" alt="n501461341_1995081_4590895" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/n501461341_1995081_4590895_thumb.jpg" width="498" height="386" /></a></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-76382224285541557682011-02-09T14:00:00.000-08:002011-03-17T19:55:08.433-07:00Wordless Wednesday #6–The Drive Home<p>For once, I’m ready for Spring….N75</p> <p><a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/168432_498090701341_501461341_6233421_6273682_n.jpg"><img style="background-image:none;border-bottom:0;border-left:0;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;display:block;float:none;border-top:0;border-right:0;padding-top:0;margin:0 auto 2px;" title="168432_498090701341_501461341_6233421_6273682_n" border="0" alt="168432_498090701341_501461341_6233421_6273682_n" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/168432_498090701341_501461341_6233421_6273682_n_thumb.jpg" width="379" height="505" /></a></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-40684937972171183002011-02-02T13:08:00.000-08:002011-03-17T19:55:08.435-07:00Wordless Wednesday #5 - Boys and Their BoysOne from a few years ago….<br/><br/><a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/n501461341_265265_9717.jpg"><img style="background-image:none;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;display:block;float:none;padding-top:0;border:0;margin:0 auto 2px;" title="n501461341_265265_9717" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/n501461341_265265_9717_thumb.jpg" border="0" alt="n501461341_265265_9717" width="319" height="401" /></a>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-70174677400186377032011-01-30T04:38:00.000-08:002011-03-17T19:51:30.223-07:00Worth 1,000 WordsThis basically wraps up around 2-3 separate posts that I’ve never gotten around to writing. This picture captures some of Bugs latest obsessions and interests.<br/><br/><img style="background-image:none;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;display:inline;float:left;padding-top:0;border:0;margin:0 5px 2px 0;" title="Bug worth 1000 words" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/dscn1980.jpg" border="0" alt="Bugworth1000words" width="303" height="505" align="left" /><br/><br/>Lets see what we have here in this one picture. Wearing 2 separate boots/shoes (she had been stomping around in my flip flops about 5 minutes before I grabbed this picture.) She’s wearing hair bands and my Power Balance band on her wrist. Not sure what has gotten her started on this, but anything she can find to wear on her wrists, she puts it on. Silly bandz, hair bands, rubber bands, my Power Balance bands; we even bought her some jelly bands hoping she’d stick to just them, but she has just incorporated them into her collection. In no exaggeration, if we let her go wild, she could have 10-15 on each wrist. She’s even starting putting them on her ankles too!<br/><br/>Finally we have her talking on the phone too. Now admittedly I have fun with this one, if I catch her playing on the house phone or a cell phone, I’ll call it for her to answer and hear me on the other end. If she brings me the phone, I’ll even act like I’m her stock broker or something, asking if she wants to buy or sell and relaying her responses until she grabs the phone and starts yelling into it as if she’s bossing someone around. I realize I won’t find it as funny if I get a bill and she’s called Australia or something and left he phone off the hook without me realizing it, but until then, I do have fun with it.<br/><br/>This is definitely one of those pictures to save and show her when she’s older, as it captures her at this age in a perfect way. In a time where she wants to play with everything and her imagination is racing, I grabbed her doing 3 of her favorite things right now. A perfect example of a picture worth a 1,000 words, and one I couldn’t save until the next Wordless Wednesday.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-140181637321066042011-01-28T18:25:00.000-08:002011-03-17T19:51:30.195-07:00Managing Children's Screen time: There's An App For That!<a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/screen-time-app-for-dads-jpg.png"><img style="background-image:none;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;display:inline;float:left;padding-top:0;border:0;margin:0 0 2px;" title="screen-time-app-for-dads.jpg" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/screen-time-app-for-dads-jpg_thumb.png" border="0" alt="screen-time-app-for-dads.jpg" width="114" height="114" align="left" /></a>In an increasing digital age, our children are becoming digitally dependent. Something that can easily slip our minds, but shouldn’t be ignored is the amount of time our children spend watching TV or playing computer games. That’s where <em><strong><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=*Cl5n3zChGQ&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fus%252Fapp%252Fscreen-time-media-time-manager%252Fid412387263%253Fmt%253D8%2526uo%253D4%2526partnerId%253D30">“Screen Time”</a></strong></em> comes in and saves the day! <a href="http://www.kiboomu.com/2011/01/24/managing-childrens-screentime-theres-an-app-for-that-by-guest-blogger-michael-parsons-geekasms/">More</a>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-16684417997054280222011-01-26T11:31:00.000-08:002011-03-17T19:55:08.438-07:00Wordless Wednesday #4 - Louisiana Purchase Exposition Gold MedalStill not entirely sure how I have become in possession of this, but have just started researching it<br/><br/><a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/dscn1952.jpg"><img style="background-image:none;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;display:block;float:none;padding-top:0;border:0;margin:0 auto 2px;" title="Gold Medal Loyisiana Purchase Exposition" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/dscn1952_thumb.jpg" border="0" alt="Gold Medal Loyisiana Purchase Exposition" width="330" height="343" /></a><br/><br/><a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/dscn1953.jpg"><img style="background-image:none;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;display:block;float:none;padding-top:0;border:0;margin:0 auto 2px;" title="Gold Medal Loyisiana Purchase Exposition" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/dscn1953_thumb.jpg" border="0" alt="Gold Medal Loyisiana Purchase Exposition" width="330" height="300" /></a>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-10228241114284094962011-01-18T17:29:00.000-08:002011-03-17T19:55:08.440-07:00Wordless Wednesday #3 - Old Clippers<a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/163411_486442706341_501461341_6070855_949902_n.jpg"><img style="background-image:none;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;display:block;float:none;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-top:0;border:0;" title="163411_486442706341_501461341_6070855_949902_n" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/163411_486442706341_501461341_6070855_949902_n_thumb.jpg" border="0" alt="163411_486442706341_501461341_6070855_949902_n" width="360" height="480" /></a><br/><br/>Taken with my iPhoneMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-91206465296088319642011-01-15T03:49:00.000-08:002011-03-17T19:51:30.178-07:00My 2 year old Picasso - Bug colors the wall<img style="background-image:none;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;display:inline;float:right;padding-top:0;border-width:0;" title="Bug's Artwork" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/dscn1909.jpg" border="0" alt="Bug's Artwork" width="170" height="240" align="right" />Well, it's happened. Something I thought had the chance of occurring but I was hoping I might be able to avoid. Bug has now drawn and colored on the wall. It happened the other night in just a blink of an eye, but none the less it occurred, in all it's black ink pen and green crayon colored glory! (I swear, back turned 15 second, 20 tops!)<br/>I've had a hard time deciding how I wanted to handle it. Of course, initially I rushed over to her, told her no, grabbed the crayon (pen was on the ground already) and proceeded to point to the wall where the offense had occurred and tell her no, she doesn't color on the wall. My initial internal reaction was to be harsher but I quickly realized it's not her fault. Before this moment she didn't know she shouldn't draw on the wall. She just knows Daddy praises her when she draws and colors on paper. So naturally, why wouldn’t she want to do it on something bigger? Fortunately since the other night there has been no repeats, and she has had chances, but has opted to come sit in Daddy's lap and help highlight his notes, or write down her own opinions.<br/>My biggest debate on this is how do I react or handle it when it happens again? Yes I said when, not if. If she's anything like her Daddy it'll happen again. There is still a drawing I did when I was around 3 on the inside of one of my Granny's doors that she still talks about to this day. So what do I do? I want to be sure she knows she's doing wrong and I want to discourage the behavior, but not to the extent that I risk taking away any enjoyment she has in drawing or coloring (self admitted selfishness on my part here too). Its something as a parent I knew I'd eventually face, and had yet until now. And now that I'm faced with it, I'm at a bit of a loss as the course of action I want to take. I guess I have until next time to sit and stew on it, between now and then though, hopefully I can keep my mini <a class="zem_slink" title="Pablo Picasso" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Picasso">Picasso</a> to work solely in the paper medium, and avoid drywall.<br/><br/><em>Below: The aforementioned artwork of yours truly at a much younger and more innocent age.</em><br/><br/><a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/mine.jpg"><img style="background-image:none;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;display:block;float:none;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-top:0;border-width:0;" title="mine" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/mine_thumb.jpg" border="0" alt="mine" width="248" height="336" /></a><br/><br/>For this post and other posts more related to fatherhood then tech, checkout the new blog: <a href="http://irredeemabledaddy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">ID Link</a>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-1970267973530634322011-01-12T14:59:00.000-08:002011-03-17T19:55:08.442-07:00Wordless Wednesday #2 - A Little Corner of my Office<a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/img_1665.jpg"><img style="background-image:none;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;display:block;float:none;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-top:0;border:0;" title="IMG_1665" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/img_1665_thumb.jpg" border="0" alt="IMG_1665" width="295" height="402" /></a>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-77588857999998667932011-01-05T14:40:00.000-08:002011-03-17T19:55:08.444-07:00Wordless Wednesday–A Family Tradition<p>Maybe one day I’ll explain this in detail in a post, only family will understand the significance right now.</p> <p><a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/photo.jpg"><img style="background-image:none;border-bottom:0;border-left:0;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;display:block;float:none;border-top:0;border-right:0;padding-top:0;margin:0 auto 2px;" title="photo" border="0" alt="photo" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/photo_thumb.jpg" width="352" height="469" /></a></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-60129262529881038222011-01-03T19:45:00.000-08:002011-03-17T19:51:30.151-07:00Early success or just a tease?Bug officially used her potty for the first time tonight! She came into the bathroom while I was in there shaving. Typically she laughs at me because I have shaving cream on my face, but this time was different. She had her laptop with her and went straight to her potty and lifted the lid. I sat and watched her, even offering to hold her laptop as I watched her negotiate how to sit down on this seat with a hole in it. Eventually she had both feet in it, so Daddy decided to intervene. I picked her up and thinking that while she showed interest in sitting on it, I’d take her diaper off while I was in there just to give her the whole concept. So, I took her diaper off, sat her down, put her laptop in her lap, and watched as she sat there like she knew what she was doing and looking happy as a lark.<br/><br/>A few minutes later, she stood up and handed me her laptop. I at first just brushed it off as she was already bored, and was ready to go back out from the bathroom. Daddy wasn’t entertaining anymore. When to my surprise, I saw that she had in fact used her potty! I was so excited and overjoyed I started cheering and clapping, and I believe the initially reaction actually startled her. After a few moments, she realized I was in fact cheering for her, so she proceeded to start clapping and giving her typical “yay!” in excitement.<br/><br/>She teased me with acting like she was interested in using her potty on my birthday, and now 3 weeks later, she’s used it for the first time! Now do I expect a sudden change in behavior? A daily use of the potty? No, I’m not near that optimistic! I am however excited by the possibilities! Maybe <a class="zem_slink" title="Toilet training" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toilet_training">potty training</a> won’t be so bad? One can hope!Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-36047568755836387492010-12-06T14:42:00.000-08:002011-03-17T19:51:30.119-07:00That’s all that matters<p>Okay, so this is something that I have written and rewritten a few times, but have decided today to finally post. Almost a month ago, Bug had surgery. Nothing major mind you. Something kids everywhere have done nearly every day. She had tubes put in her ears and ended up having her adenoids removed. Today she had her checkup and the doctor said she’s healed quicker than expected, and just being around her now, you can tell a major difference in her speech, walking, and overall behavior, but the experience up to this was, well somewhat rattling for ole Dad.</p> <p>Up front, you have to understand, it seems like for one reason or another, we’ve been taking Bug to see a doctor, or she needed to see one since she was born. Fortunately, its never been anything major, but it’s been enough to keep me on edge, and every time something else comes up, it puts me right back there again.</p> <p>To start it all off, Bug was 3 weeks, almost a month early. What felt like the entire pregnancy there seemed to always be something going on, to the point where there were a few times I was nervous going to the doctor because I was worried we wouldn’t get good news (and I’m proud to say, I only missed 1 doctors appointment the entire pregnancy!) Part of this is where she gets her nickname from me. When she was born, she was 6lbs 6oz. When we left the hospital she was down to 6lbs, 3oz. She wasn’t tiny tiny, but to me she was still little, she was my little Bug.</p> <p>The next event came the same week as her four month check up. She woke up with a<img style="background-image:none;border-bottom:0;border-left:0;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;display:inline;float:right;border-top:0;border-right:0;padding-top:0;margin:0 0 0 5px;" title="Bug at UK - 4 mo" border="0" alt="Bug at UK - 4 mo" align="right" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/image16.jpg" width="180" height="240" /> fever early in the morning, but nothing too severe, we gave her some Tylenol and sent her on her way to my Mother-n-laws, who keeps her during the day while we work. It didn’t take long for me to get a call from my wife that she was taking Bug to the doctor because the fever wasn’t getting any better; it seemed to be getting worse. Fortunately I was able to get there, where they said she was running an extremely high fever and was dehydrated. I stayed in the room as they tried to get an IV into my little girl at ever possible location, all to no avail. Eventually it was decided to transport her to UK Children’s hospital. Once there, they were able to get an IV into her, start getting some fluids into her, and she seemed to start feeling better, only problem was, no one could tell us what the problem was. Once the doctors let us know that we’d be staying at least overnight for observation, I decided to run home and get some stuff for us, while my wife had her parents there with her. The drive is just over an hour one way, so getting home, getting stuff, and coming back equaled a little over 3 hours. When I left, temp was down below 100, everything seemed to be going good. I’m gone 3 hours, within 10 minutes of getting back and I get a phone call asking where I was. Bug’s temp had spiked back up to nearly 105, and my heart dropped! How could I let my little girl down? How could Daddy leave her and not be there is all I kept thinking. We were at the hospital for a total of 3 day, and I never left the building again until it was time to go home.</p> <p>Since that scare, we’ve fought high fevers, and it seemed like we could never shake some type of ear infection. Finally about 2 months ago we took her to the doctor. She’d been having a little temperature and you could just tell something was wrong. Turned out both ears were infected. So they sent us to an Ears, Nose, and Throat specialist, who after looking at her rather quickly, decided she did in fact need tubes put in her ears.</p> <p>My initial reaction was a bit of a stomach drop, simply because I didn’t want any type of procedure done on my little girl. I wasn’t really worried about the tubes, because my wife’s nephew had them before, and I had heard of other children having them without problems. The worried feeling was somewhat lifted as the doctor proceeded to explain the procedure to us, she would just be put to sleep with gas. She’d be out of our hands 10 minutes. Once asleep they would look at her adenoids and if they were enlarged, they’d go ahead and remove them. The more he talked, explained the procedure and what was going on with her, the more I felt relieved and realized that this would be very beneficial to Bug, not only health wise, but possibly development wise, and with the constant ear infections, she probably wasn’t hearing as well as as she could.</p> <p>Then the day came. We had to arrive and the surgery center just after 6am, with a little<img style="background-image:none;border-bottom:0;border-left:0;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;display:inline;float:right;border-top:0;border-right:0;padding-top:0;margin:0 0 0 5px;" title="Bug and I before surgery" border="0" alt="Bug and I before surgery" align="right" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/image15.jpg" width="180" height="240" /> girl, who was relatively happy for being up so early, and not being able to have anything to drink yet. I was nervous to say the least, but keeping it together and just thinking it’ll be quick, and she’ll feel so much better for it. Then came the moment that I felt my stomach drop again. As they took us back to help put her in her gown and get things prepped, they let us know that not only were they putting her out by IV (not gas) but that the procedure would be around 45 minutes (not the 10 minutes we were told). As the nurse was telling us all this, asking the typical questions about family history, I have no doubt my face was pale white. I was already having anxiety issues about my little girl having a procedure done, but now that everything we had been told the week before has been thrown out the window?! I’m shocked I was able to keep it together, especially at the site of the nurse carrying her away from us as we had to walk back into the waiting room. For the next hour, I just kept thinking how the nurse just kind of took her that I didn’t get to give my baby girl a kiss or tell her I love her; they just swooped in and took her!</p> <p>Finally, once our name was called to come back, we were able to talk to the doctor, who said everything went fine, tubes were in, and that they did take her adenoid out as they were blocking 70% of her passageway. At this point, my thought patterns changed. I just thought “70%?! My baby had to have been miserable!”</p> <p>Now a month later, she’s checked out with flying colors! The doctor said she’s healed much quicker than expected, everything looks good, plus my skinny minny has gained a pound and an inch since she went in for surgery! Ultimately as long as she’s happy and healthy all the torture and stress Daddy has to endure for her is fine, and bottom line, her being happy and healthy is all that matters.</p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-9578984593760856012010-12-01T15:11:00.000-08:002011-03-17T19:51:30.082-07:00A night awayTonight is the first night I’ve spent away from home since Bug’s surgery, and well, its not be completely smooth for me. Ever since her surgery, she’s been a happier baby overall; livelier, more talkative and interactive. It was hard enough for me to leave her this evening the way she was playing and trying to keep my attention, and it broke my heart leaving, but just a bit ago, I couldn’t keep my heart from breaking.<br/><br/>Basically, Bug is refusing to go to sleep without my there. Every noise she hears, she looks at the door and starts saying my name like she expects me to come through the door. I tried talking to her on the phone, and the excitement her had in hearing my voice brought me to tears, because as happy as she was to hear me, and even though she wasn’t going to truly understand, I had to tell her that Daddy wouldn’t be there tonight. Tried telling her goodnight and she told me “No” in her precious fashion. I’d tell her that I love her, and she’d mumble something back, not quit “I love you” but it’s getting closer now that she has the tubes in her ears.<br/><br/>So basically in the upcoming years, I’m screwed when it comes to travel. I’ve managed to deal with her playing with me extra, or doing what she can to keep me at home and from leaving, even chasing me to the door. Once she starts getting out “I love you” or the first time she says “Daddy come home” I’m not sure I’ll be able to stay away. I’m man enough to admit that part of tonight brought me to tears, hearing her on the other side of the phone, knowing she was looking for me and waiting for me to come back, but travelling occasionally is part of it, parents everywhere do it every day. It’s just the difficulty involved, now that’s she’s starting to communicate, was not something I had prepared myself to deal with.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-36976130328800013022010-11-15T04:57:00.000-08:002011-03-17T19:51:30.068-07:00Random Leg Licking!!<p>No idea why she started this, but in the car yesterday I looked back, and Bug was licking her leg!! Absolutely no idea why she started this or why she was doing it and fortunately she hasn't repeated it.  She did however have no problem posing and repeating the action so I could snap a few pictures of the said behavior.  She has been absolutely fascinated with her tongue lately, so I pass it off as that more then anything else.  Can’t help but smile at it though….</p> <p><a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/20101115-125424.jpg"><img style="background-image:none;border-bottom:0;border-left:0;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;display:inline;float:left;border-top:0;border-right:0;padding-top:0;margin:0 0 0 10px;" class="alignnone size-full" border="0" alt="" align="left" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/20101115-125424.jpg" width="200" height="272" /></a><a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/20101115-125528.jpg"><img style="background-image:none;padding-left:0;padding-right:0;display:inline;float:right;padding-top:0;border-width:0;margin:0 10px 0 0;" class="alignnone size-full" border="0" alt="" align="right" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/20101115-125528.jpg" width="200" height="272" /></a></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-71123785143475606492010-09-27T09:58:00.000-07:002011-03-17T19:51:30.003-07:00Canaan turns 4Today is my son’s birthday. I don’t get to see him or give him a birthday hug, for<a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/n501461341_43492_1594.jpg"><img style="display:inline;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;border:0;" title="n501461341_43492_1594" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/n501461341_43492_1594_thumb.jpg" border="0" alt="n501461341_43492_1594" width="160" height="240" align="right" /></a> another three days, I’m hoping to get a phone call with him late, but he’s sick and its up to his mother and how he’s feeling if I get to.<br/><br/>He is my first and only son. He’s my pride and who makes me strive to be a better man, a better father, because as little as we get to spend time with each other, he deserves the best he can get for every window of opportunity we have. I cannot imagine many things being much greater of a challenge then what I have gone through these first 4 years of his life, but no matter how upset I get, or jealous of other fathers with their sons, when I sit back and hear “Daddy, I love you” or sit and watch him draw a picture of us together, all the emotion gets ripped away, leaving the love and <a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/n501461341_60824_3699.jpg"><img style="display:inline;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;border:0;" title="n501461341_60824_3699" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/n501461341_60824_3699_thumb.jpg" border="0" alt="n501461341_60824_3699" width="160" height="240" align="right" /></a>pride I have in my son.<br/><br/>Unless you have to share custody of a child, you really don’t know the daily personal trials you deal with, including of all things, guilt. However, the highlight of every other week is the day I know I’ll be going down and getting him. It always seems like the work day goes faster. It hurts to see how quickly he grows where I see him in spurts rather then on a daily basis. In what feels like a flash of light he can go from barely talking, to singing his ABCs, to asking me to read every single road sign between the drop off and home. Its a strange sensation, having such joy and personal hurt out of the same thing, but that the reality of it. I won’t be there to play tooth fairy when he loses a tooth. I’m not <a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/12432_185816566341_501461341_3044425_5218227_n.jpg"><img style="display:inline;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;border:0;" title="12432_185816566341_501461341_3044425_5218227_n" src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/12432_185816566341_501461341_3044425_5218227_n_thumb.jpg" border="0" alt="12432_185816566341_501461341_3044425_5218227_n" width="162" height="240" align="right" /></a>able to take a day off work and stay home with him when he’s sick. I’ve not been able to be who I wanted to be for him. Am I better? I try to be, but its hard to truly tell, when most of our one-on-one time is spent traveling on the road because once he’s home, everyone wants to see him. I hate having to share when I have such a small amount of time, but I hate him not being around his family worse, so I do my best to swallow my selfishness for him.<br/><br/>I realize I won’t get to do some of the things with him like other fathers will, my time is limited right now, but it was my decision to be his father, to stand up and take responsibility, and no matter how hard the road is to travel sometimes, I’d never go back and change the path I chose, because he is my son, and I love him with all my heart. Happy Birthday son.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-565179194063430132010-09-15T13:42:00.000-07:002011-03-17T19:51:29.991-07:00Drawing with BugOne of my favorite things right now is watching Bug draw. Something about how serious and intense her look is as she concentrates on the page, I just love it!<br/><p><a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/p_1600_1200_cf593e60-6006-4cde-a7b8-1b7668102df3.jpeg"><img src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/p_1600_1200_cf593e60-6006-4cde-a7b8-1b7668102df3.jpeg" alt="" class="alignnone size-full" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/p_1600_1200_6bc7d1ba-40d0-430e-bc53-5ee4563cedbd.jpeg"><img src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/p_1600_1200_6bc7d1ba-40d0-430e-bc53-5ee4563cedbd.jpeg" alt="" class="alignnone size-full" /></a></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130549800026274215.post-41029987569929783832010-08-01T12:37:00.000-07:002011-03-17T19:51:29.976-07:00Selfish Self PromotionI accidentally poked a hole in Abby's float last time we went to the pool, hope she doesn't mind me using the chance to selfishly self promote!<br/><p><a href="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/p_1600_1200_8429fd17-1d87-474f-90da-39a87b2f39b7.jpeg"><img src="http://mlp1218.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/p_1600_1200_8429fd17-1d87-474f-90da-39a87b2f39b7.jpeg" alt="" class="alignnone size-full" /></a></p>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845293268929072688noreply@blogger.com0