04.26.08
A fresh new me
When I was in high school, the Smashing Pumpkins came out with a song called Zero. (Click here to watch the video) I still listen to this song once in a while and with each listen I am taken back to those golden years. For example, this song was blasted in van on a Physics field trip to Six Flags. I chuckle now just thinking about this adventure and the sleep over at the teacher’s house the night before. One section of the lyrics are great – perfect for a rebel teen to shout when trying to shock any surrounding adult
Emptiness is loneliness,
and loneliness is cleanliness,
and cleanliness is godliness,
and God is empty,
just like me.
These lyrics have been going through my head this week because I am taking antibiotics. These pills are cleaning and emptying out all bacteria in my body. I also gotta make sure that the lonely surviving bacteria are refilled by some probiotics. Life is all about returning to that balance, Aho! Finally, you know that time when you clean out a car or clean up a kitchen and for about a week you want to keep it clean as possible. Well that is how I feel about my body right now. I would not say that I am “dirty”, I am sure many would disagree with this statement, but a few extra germs here or there are no big deal. However, this week I have been washing and cleaning much more of things I come in contact with. We’ll see how long that lasts.
Have fun filled clean weekend!
04.24.08
A new era
Don’t ask me how I know this or why this is true. I know I could be wrong but my parenting instinct seems to be alerting me of this. The alert is not like tornado warning informing me that a disaster is on the horizon. The alert is more like an alarm clock signaling that a new day has come and it is time to face new opportunities and challenges. So, I am now going to state it and say nothing else.
The toddler years have officially begun.
04.23.08
He’s a walker, not a talker, a midnight stalker
Charlie is walking! Monday, at the babysitters, he started by taking a few steps on his own. Now he his up to taking about 15 steps before falling down. Watching him walk is fantastic entertainment. It is like seeing a drunk walk down the street and trying to calculate when the drunk will wobble out of control and come crashing down to his feet. Perhaps, I could create a website that would allow people to bet how far Charlie will walk each time. Will it be 3, 4, 9, 16 steps? What about the next one 1, 2, 5 8 steps? After seeing how expensive a new house would be, I might do anything for a quick buck.
Also, his facial expressions are priceless. When he really gets on a roll he makes a face that quickly goes from excitement to panic as if he was saying,
Yippee this is awesome! But oh crap where should I walk to, where should I walk to, where should I walk to?
Since Charlie can now walk on his own, he does not want to be carried anymore. I am sure that this is just another step in his independence. No pun intended. We already bought him a kid leash; we got the monkey one, it is really cute. He wears the leash like a backpack, allowing him to taste a smidgen of freedom and preventing him from breaking free of my grip and running off. Finally, because of technology my family has been able to see Charlie walk on the web cam. 600 miles away and still able to be visually apart of the events in our life. Awww how sweet.
Now that Charlie is walking and I am taking a break from walking. I do feel great, but I thought I would take a break on the exercise, as my body fully heals. My reasoning is probably way off, yet it is a great excuse in not having to walk in the morning. Instead, I sit in a chair, eat oatmeal, and write this wonderful post. :lol:
04.20.08
No fuss, just puss
Thursday night I did not sleep well at all. It seemed like I woke up every hour, and as 6:00 a.m. finally arrived I could barely get out of bed. I sort of shook up off the tiredness by thinking “Hey TGIF!” However, at work that affirmation did not work at all. I took naps during my office hours and when I did teach it was difficult to think straight. I finally got home at 4:00 pm and went straight to bed. I proceeded to sleep for 15 hours. Saturday morning I felt a bit better but nothing to shout about. I also my scratchy throat was now a sore throat. I used my head lamp to look at the back of my throat. Behold what did I see, white puss looking back at me. I knew that was not a good sign. So, I gave my body 8 hours to see what it could do against this enemy. The results were nothing, and I needed outside reinforcements.
Since it was the weekend my family doctor’s office was closed. I could not find an Urgent Care in the yellow pages for Lenoir. April called our neighbor who said that we could just go to the ER at the hospital. That sounded strange but what did I know, I have never gone to doctor for sickness! At the ER they had a weird facial expression about me being checked in for a sore throat. So I asked the most important question, “Well is there a price difference?” Of course there was a MAJOR price difference. The ER would be a $200 deductible and Urgent Care was $50 deductible. We told them thanks for the info and headed off to the Urgent Care.
The Urgent Care visit had some nice memories. One was when the doctor asked me who was my doctor. I had no clue because I don’t go to the doctor. I said, “Well I guess that would be my son’s doctor.” He then replied, “So a pediatrician?” Yeah, I knew that did not sound right, so I just told him that he was also a family doctor and this was actually my first doctor visit. I should have asked if he felt special knowing that I was his first, but I am sure that would have been awkward. In the end, I had strep throat. This is what I thought I had, and it was the only reason why I went to the doctor. From what I have read, antibiotics is the only cure. When I asked the doctor if there was anything I should be worried about since this will be my first time taking an antibiotic, he gave me a slightly puzzled look and said “No”. I wonder how many weird patients like me he had seen today.
Now it is Sunday, and the white puss has already mostly retreated. I still feel a bit woozy. Being sick just sucks. I am so glad that this only happens as often that it does. Be well everyone.
04.13.08
Running for the weekend
The week days just seem to zoom by, as if I am constantly running towards a weekend. The weekend is always welcome site because it means hanging out with my wife and son for many hours, instead of the mere 4-5 hours during the weekday.
Last weekend April and I traveled down to Charleston, South Carolina. April was running the Copper River Bridge Run. The race was an amazing event with more than 35,000 runners. Congratulations go out to April for being in the top 5% of her age group, being the 92 woman to cross the finish line, and for running below her goal. Way to go wifey. After the race was a festival for the runners that included an impressive buffet of free water, sports drinks, bratwerst, apples, oranges, bananas, 5 kinds of bagels, and much much more. I have never seen anything like it and being the frugal person I am, the amount of free stuff was a bit overwhelming. Also, I would like to thank my friend for the great hospitality. We had great time spending the weekend at his place.
This weekend we went out hiking on a trail called Upper and Lower Creek Falls. I carried Charlie in our backpack baby carrier. He was a great little rider. Drinking juice, eating gold fish, and floating through the woods are three things that mostly any body would love, no matter what their age. After that we spent the evening at our friends. We were able to do this because of how great Charlie is at sleeping. We arrived at my friends house at 7:30, immediately set up his pack and play, started the sound machine, and left the room for him to sleep. We did not have to return to the room once. We left at midnight and he went right back to sleep when he was back in his crib. Thanks Charlie for being such a great traveler.
The weekend is almost over, almost time to start running again.
04.04.08
Finding plumbing
- Last Sunday, I was watching the NCAA tournament, glued to the TV screen, and April was cleaning the fridge. She dumped some very old pinto beans down the garbage disposal, along with a few other things. Within seconds, the sink was filled up with smelly-watery-food that was not going down the drain. I tried many things before accepting that fact that I had to get under the sink and open up the pipes. I had no clue what I was doing. I put on my headlamp, slithered my way in the cupboards, and began twisting and turning. Then I found the culprit, which was chunks shredded celery. In the end, I washed out the pipes, put every thing back together, and the sink was draining once again. Overall, I am waiting for that “Walsh disaster” when some thing simple turns drastically wrong and expletives fill the air.
- Enough about my plumbing time to talk about Charlie’s. Bath time has been extra exciting this week. Charlie has found Mr. Pee Pee. I am not going to write any details, other than April and I have been laughing much more this week.
This weekend we travel to Charleston, SC. April is running in one of the best 10 K in the world, well that is what some say, the Cooper River Bridge Run. Over 30,000 will be running in this race. It should be quite the experience.Have a great first weekend of April!
