I decided to let El take the reigns and look for quotes from some of the local contractors. One wanted $6000 just to remove plants in the front yard and put new ones in. No lighting. No rock edging. No backyard. What? Are you freaking kidding me??? For $6 large he can kiss my ass. Instead I scoured the web and looked at different landscapers portfolios and took the numbers of the ones I liked.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
We arrived Saturday night and were met by a beautifully DIFFERENT home. it changed everything about our yard. Great job guys! AND it included professional copper lighting and natural stone edging. It opened up the pathway to the front door and sharpened our yard layout. AWESOME. I was so inspired I picked up four more sets of copper lighting (the cheaper solar powered ones mind you) and installed them along the sides and back of the house. lastly I'll remulch the last few areas they didn't do.
An Unexpected Trip
I got the call from Steve in Charleston that Goose's older brother, Junior, had passed away over the weekend. I was shocked. He was still a young guy and even had a little boy. An untimely death it was the result of congestive heart failure. Apparently he had ben taking medication, but things went wrong.
The last time I saw Goose was maybe four years ago when he cane to Orlando for a seminar from work. We got to see each other for a couple of days - a short trip. His mother had passed away very recently and unfortunately, we were on our annual vacation in Japan. I didn't even get his voicemail until we got back stateside in California. By then her funeral had passed. I felt bad we weren't there to lend our support so when I found out about Junior I made an extra effort to take time off from work to see him in SC.
The viewing was on Thursday and the funeral on Friday. I managed to take a day off and left early Thursday morning. To our dismay our six hour drive became almost ten. There had been fires rampant throughout Georgia and Florida (as customary during our rainless summer season. Florida is literally one giant matchstick waiting to flare up. Once we hit Jacksonville we were greeted by stopped traffic on I-95. Smoke was thick on the road and we were sure it was one of the many out of control fires burning up hundreds of acres of forest. Oddly enough it ended up being a BUS on fire and burnt to a crisp.
We just made the viewing by a half hour after a few stops to feed and change Isa and get refreshed ourselves at El's mom's house. It's been a long while since we saw a lot of people - 10 years about. I ran into some of my old crew I used to roll with when weekends started on Thursdays and ended on Sunday. Different things in the past caused our "barkada" to slowly get smaller and smaller. There were differences that put a strain on some of us and we hadn't spoken since.
In an odd way it became a reunion in a sense. Sad it was something like a funeral that finally caused us to run into each other again. Water under the bridge. Things started out polite and eventually in true form we were laughing about the old days, differences set aside. At the viewing Isa was unaccustomed to the large crowd of people and cried incessantly whenever someone wanted to say hello. Poor Ellen spent most of the time outside with her to soothe the baby. Afterwards we were all pretty hungry and joined Goose's family for a quick bite to eat.
Talk about out of touch. We were never able to meet Goose's little girl, Gayla, now 4 years old. We also finally met Goose's fiance - they planned on getting married in Hawaii in July. Other notables was seeing Chad and Alberto again. Friday afternoon was spent at the funeral. It was a nice, simple mass and they hosted a reception afterwards.
The last time I saw Goose was maybe four years ago when he cane to Orlando for a seminar from work. We got to see each other for a couple of days - a short trip. His mother had passed away very recently and unfortunately, we were on our annual vacation in Japan. I didn't even get his voicemail until we got back stateside in California. By then her funeral had passed. I felt bad we weren't there to lend our support so when I found out about Junior I made an extra effort to take time off from work to see him in SC.
The viewing was on Thursday and the funeral on Friday. I managed to take a day off and left early Thursday morning. To our dismay our six hour drive became almost ten. There had been fires rampant throughout Georgia and Florida (as customary during our rainless summer season. Florida is literally one giant matchstick waiting to flare up. Once we hit Jacksonville we were greeted by stopped traffic on I-95. Smoke was thick on the road and we were sure it was one of the many out of control fires burning up hundreds of acres of forest. Oddly enough it ended up being a BUS on fire and burnt to a crisp.
We just made the viewing by a half hour after a few stops to feed and change Isa and get refreshed ourselves at El's mom's house. It's been a long while since we saw a lot of people - 10 years about. I ran into some of my old crew I used to roll with when weekends started on Thursdays and ended on Sunday. Different things in the past caused our "barkada" to slowly get smaller and smaller. There were differences that put a strain on some of us and we hadn't spoken since.
In an odd way it became a reunion in a sense. Sad it was something like a funeral that finally caused us to run into each other again. Water under the bridge. Things started out polite and eventually in true form we were laughing about the old days, differences set aside. At the viewing Isa was unaccustomed to the large crowd of people and cried incessantly whenever someone wanted to say hello. Poor Ellen spent most of the time outside with her to soothe the baby. Afterwards we were all pretty hungry and joined Goose's family for a quick bite to eat.
Talk about out of touch. We were never able to meet Goose's little girl, Gayla, now 4 years old. We also finally met Goose's fiance - they planned on getting married in Hawaii in July. Other notables was seeing Chad and Alberto again. Friday afternoon was spent at the funeral. It was a nice, simple mass and they hosted a reception afterwards.
Surprisingly Eleanor grew up right down the street from me on Ortolan Street. It was great just to see the base housing, although it wasn't as pristine as it used to be. There were no more Yard of the Month contests going on anymore apparently-the place looked the 30 years since we moved to Rainetree.
Since we were driving around I knew my mom, Lola Cel, was still at work at Marrington Elementary and I thought she'd get a kick from a surprise visit from her granddaughter. I was right about that. We spent at least an hour there as she showed off little Isa to her cowerks and even made a stop to the library where they hold annual bookfairs.
After we dropped her off at her grandparent's El and I had some business downtown and to meet the old barkada at Southend Brewery for some dinner and catchup. It was amazing to see everyone - married and with kids.
The evening was spent at my parent's house where I literally passed out while Cher, my mom, Ellen, her mom and sister were all playing with Gabriel and Isa. I was exhausted. By midnight I woke up El and Isa to make it back to the other house for some rest.
Here's Gabriel trying to console his cousin and reassure her that attention is a GOOD thing!
Here's Gabriel trying to console his cousin and reassure her that attention is a GOOD thing!
By Saturday morning we had a quick lunch at my parent's house and to say goodbye. A last minute stopover at Goose's to say goodbye ended up being a last minute lunch with Jay and Albert. I hadn't seen jay since we were married. I was glad we at least got to catch up with him and hang out. One more Old School Crewmember reconnected. Tow hours later we were finally on our way back to Orlando.
It was along, but needed, weekend. I was glad to see everyone considering the circumstances. In two weeks we'll be back in Charleston for Kathleen's Wedding...
Check out El's blog, too, for some more filler...
It was along, but needed, weekend. I was glad to see everyone considering the circumstances. In two weeks we'll be back in Charleston for Kathleen's Wedding...
Check out El's blog, too, for some more filler...
Sunday, May 06, 2007
When It Rains, It Pours.
Unbelievable. On my way home from work one Sunday night a van in front of me swerved and hits his brakes. Apparently semi-trucks are still using retreads for tires. He ran over it and threw it up into the air. It happened so quick I wasn't fast enough to swerve out of the way or stop completely.
My poor Infiniti, not even a month old yet, took a full hit. Now I have to deal with the cost of paying a deductible to get it repaired at Daya's. I fully trust Daya's competence in making it look perfect like it rolled off the showroom floor. It's just that all these expenses have come to me all at once.
Prior to the purchase of the G35, my poor Acura MDX had to have a new transmission put in. Although the Acura was kind enough to eat the cost of all the parts (it was no longer under warranty) I still had to cough up a grand in labor.
Also, El had been really wanting to update our yard. Since Isa had been born we haven't been able to do our annual weeding, mulching and planting for the season. The obligatory mowing and edging is all we can manage in the short time we are alloted when we're both home. That was a nice hit in the wallet, but Wise Landscaping did a great job. Thanks to Covey and Oscar. Pictures to come soon.
Also, the damn air conditioning has been giving us problems the last three or four years during peak summer (freezing up, water leaks, etc) despite it constantly being worked on by three different companies and 2 different home warranties. I'm waiting for that hit again.
After the fishing debacle last year I decided to have Heinmiller Marine Services complete projects on my boat that I haven't had time to complete, including the gears that were jacked when my dad jammed it into reverse hard (twice) trying to run me over in the water. It was an accident and in a fit of panic when he and my Uncle Ernie were trying to drive the boat. Well $3000 later it's about done and I need to pick it up and pay the balance on it.
Will it end soon? Who knows, but retreads should definitely be outlawed. Thanks to all truck drivers who constantly blow their tires and don't call the Highway Patrol to warn them of debris on the road. How much more damage and accidents have to happen before they see the danger in retreading tires just to save a few bucks? I mean out of sight, out of mind, right? Thanks Mr. Inconsiderate Truck Driver. You owe me $250 and rental car fees. Asshole.
My poor Infiniti, not even a month old yet, took a full hit. Now I have to deal with the cost of paying a deductible to get it repaired at Daya's. I fully trust Daya's competence in making it look perfect like it rolled off the showroom floor. It's just that all these expenses have come to me all at once.
Prior to the purchase of the G35, my poor Acura MDX had to have a new transmission put in. Although the Acura was kind enough to eat the cost of all the parts (it was no longer under warranty) I still had to cough up a grand in labor.
Also, El had been really wanting to update our yard. Since Isa had been born we haven't been able to do our annual weeding, mulching and planting for the season. The obligatory mowing and edging is all we can manage in the short time we are alloted when we're both home. That was a nice hit in the wallet, but Wise Landscaping did a great job. Thanks to Covey and Oscar. Pictures to come soon.
Also, the damn air conditioning has been giving us problems the last three or four years during peak summer (freezing up, water leaks, etc) despite it constantly being worked on by three different companies and 2 different home warranties. I'm waiting for that hit again.
After the fishing debacle last year I decided to have Heinmiller Marine Services complete projects on my boat that I haven't had time to complete, including the gears that were jacked when my dad jammed it into reverse hard (twice) trying to run me over in the water. It was an accident and in a fit of panic when he and my Uncle Ernie were trying to drive the boat. Well $3000 later it's about done and I need to pick it up and pay the balance on it.
Everyone Loves A Tax Refund...
Thanks partially to Isa we got a nice refund from the government. Get the skinny on it here.
I've been sweating tax time this year cos of all the freelance design work I had been doing. Business has been exponentially booming. It's a curse and a blessing. Since Isa was born it was always in the back of my mind that we wouldn't be as comfortable as we had been accustomed to pre-Isabella.
El was only going to be working two days a week and taking a 60% paycut as a result. To offset this loss I had been taking more work in on the side to try and ease the pressure of bills and expenses. Since I work in animation at nights Sunday thru Thursday it meant me working late into the evenings (sometimes 4-5am) everynight to mee client deadlines. It hurts.
Normally when we get a nice chunk of cash back we use it for our annual vacation somewhere abroad. This year we played it smart and invested the money in repairs and upkeep of the house, cars, etc. Of course, we'll still take a vacay somewhere, but the destination will certainly be domestic and kid friendly.
Even Isa is thrilled to be doing her part helping mom and dad get by. Yay Isa!
I've been sweating tax time this year cos of all the freelance design work I had been doing. Business has been exponentially booming. It's a curse and a blessing. Since Isa was born it was always in the back of my mind that we wouldn't be as comfortable as we had been accustomed to pre-Isabella.
El was only going to be working two days a week and taking a 60% paycut as a result. To offset this loss I had been taking more work in on the side to try and ease the pressure of bills and expenses. Since I work in animation at nights Sunday thru Thursday it meant me working late into the evenings (sometimes 4-5am) everynight to mee client deadlines. It hurts.
Normally when we get a nice chunk of cash back we use it for our annual vacation somewhere abroad. This year we played it smart and invested the money in repairs and upkeep of the house, cars, etc. Of course, we'll still take a vacay somewhere, but the destination will certainly be domestic and kid friendly.
Even Isa is thrilled to be doing her part helping mom and dad get by. Yay Isa!
Saturday, April 28, 2007
I'm A Shameless Promoter...
I'm shameless...I admit. This weekend Florida Hospital (El's work) is promoting their Cuties Campaign, a open casting call for Orlando babies to feature in their website and newsletter. El took Isa to Florida Hospital Thursday morning and waited in line for 3 hours to get Isa's headshot. Now granted Florida Hospital was only allowing 120 babies each day for two days. El was #250 of 800. Obviously they went right over quota (guess they didn't want to piss off anyone).
Well as her shameless father I'm asking all of our friends and family to go to Florida Hospital's website and cast your vote for Isa (preferably) in her age group. So PLEASE show some love to Isabella and spend a few minutes online since you're online already! Voting ends this Monday, April 30 at 8am. THANK YOU!
CLICK ME!
In case you don't know where to go she's on page 6, 4th row from the bottom. Here she is in her wacky photo they took. Trust me she doesn't normally look like she ate a bowl of castor oil...
Well as her shameless father I'm asking all of our friends and family to go to Florida Hospital's website and cast your vote for Isa (preferably) in her age group. So PLEASE show some love to Isabella and spend a few minutes online since you're online already! Voting ends this Monday, April 30 at 8am. THANK YOU!
CLICK ME!
In case you don't know where to go she's on page 6, 4th row from the bottom. Here she is in her wacky photo they took. Trust me she doesn't normally look like she ate a bowl of castor oil...
Friday, March 30, 2007
Growing Llike A Weed.
Welp she's growing more each day. Amazing. She's started to laugh a little (and screech on occassion). She reaches for things, makes a popping noises with her mouth, likes chocolate pudding (but who doesn't?) and is quite the clothes horse. I admit. I have a weakness for buying her nice clothes - thought'd be the mom didn't you? Well so did I.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
I'll Miss You Dearly.
It was bound to happen. I knew the day would come. It was great while it lasted, but you know how the saying goes "nothing good lasts forever". She was a blast to have around and she never let me down. I took great care of her and I was actually really sad to betray her so. I'm sorry. I hope you find a nice, deserving owner. When the weather is right and the sky is clear I hope they take you outside to do what you do best. Goodbye my precious Eclipse Spyder Convertible . You'll be missed.
Yep it's true. I traded her in for something newer. Something more practical. Something more befitting of a 35-year-old guy with a family and dreams of making it big in the restaurant business. I took excellent care of her making sure nothing was ever in disrepair or dirty. She proved herself one last time with a totally kickass trade-in value that even the dealer couldn't deny. I wish I had taken one last picture of her before they drove her off to the backlot.
With Isa I never felt safe to try and attempt and put a babyseat in there and go driving. If something should happen a retractable softtop would never do. Also it being what it was the blindspots were huge. A low-slung ragtop would only mark me as an irresponsible parent. So since October of 2006 I had been researching and pricing a replacement for the Spyder.
It had to reliable, well engineered and still maintain style. No minivan or station wagon would EVER be parked in my driveway. I thought my Acura MDX purchase was a solid purchase (and it was) so I figured an Acura TL would be the right fit. And if I wanted to be more price conscious then the TSX might be ok. I even rented a Toyota Highlander and considered a Honda CRV since we liked our suv's height so much. I even came "this close" to buying a Volvo S60 Turbo from a guy (glad I didn't - he wanted too much and the reviews were less than stellar surprisingly).
Yep it's true. I traded her in for something newer. Something more practical. Something more befitting of a 35-year-old guy with a family and dreams of making it big in the restaurant business. I took excellent care of her making sure nothing was ever in disrepair or dirty. She proved herself one last time with a totally kickass trade-in value that even the dealer couldn't deny. I wish I had taken one last picture of her before they drove her off to the backlot.
With Isa I never felt safe to try and attempt and put a babyseat in there and go driving. If something should happen a retractable softtop would never do. Also it being what it was the blindspots were huge. A low-slung ragtop would only mark me as an irresponsible parent. So since October of 2006 I had been researching and pricing a replacement for the Spyder.
It had to reliable, well engineered and still maintain style. No minivan or station wagon would EVER be parked in my driveway. I thought my Acura MDX purchase was a solid purchase (and it was) so I figured an Acura TL would be the right fit. And if I wanted to be more price conscious then the TSX might be ok. I even rented a Toyota Highlander and considered a Honda CRV since we liked our suv's height so much. I even came "this close" to buying a Volvo S60 Turbo from a guy (glad I didn't - he wanted too much and the reviews were less than stellar surprisingly).
No, no. My newest toy came in the form of a last minute entry to the choices of an Infiniti G35 sedan. Now most people know that I refuse to buy a brand new luxury or sports car. It's a money pit and there for vanity purposes only. I can't see myself dropping $40k on a vehicle that depreciates in a few months. BUT THIS...this was different.
Once I saw it at the dealership I knew it was mine already. It was "used" but I wouldn't even call it that. With only 32,000 miles on it, it didn't have a single scratch, dent or mark on it anywhere. Fully loaded and upgraded with a sports package it had all the bells and whistles and then some. With just a couple of minor customizations this car is perfect for me.
√ dark gray or black color √ spoiler √ alloy rims
√ tinted windows √ power sunroof √ leather interior
√ 6 cd changer/satellite radio/tape deck (for ipod) √ Xenon headlights
√ power windows √ power mirrors √ power, heated seats
√ dual climate controls √ sick ass interior design
√ serious horsepower (V-6 pushing 260 ponies on this baby)
√ cruise control √ superior reviews and reliability
√ most importantly under $20,000 (well below market price)
I went ahead and got the 4 year / 48,000 mile extended bumper-to-bumper no-fault warranty. I did want the stock GPS/NAv system but I can get the Garmin c340 or TomTom One! for around $300 vs the $2000 for Infiniti's. Other than that it's a perfect ride. Quiet, smooth and enough "oomph" to get you there and back. It feels solid, yet light. It beckons me to push it to its limits with its TipTronic gearshift. I feel comfortable driving it vs. when I had the top down on the Spyder bassing down the road frontin' for the kiddies. I'm past that stage of my life now (well kinda at least).
√ dark gray or black color √ spoiler √ alloy rims
√ tinted windows √ power sunroof √ leather interior
√ 6 cd changer/satellite radio/tape deck (for ipod) √ Xenon headlights
√ power windows √ power mirrors √ power, heated seats
√ dual climate controls √ sick ass interior design
√ serious horsepower (V-6 pushing 260 ponies on this baby)
√ cruise control √ superior reviews and reliability
√ most importantly under $20,000 (well below market price)
I went ahead and got the 4 year / 48,000 mile extended bumper-to-bumper no-fault warranty. I did want the stock GPS/NAv system but I can get the Garmin c340 or TomTom One! for around $300 vs the $2000 for Infiniti's. Other than that it's a perfect ride. Quiet, smooth and enough "oomph" to get you there and back. It feels solid, yet light. It beckons me to push it to its limits with its TipTronic gearshift. I feel comfortable driving it vs. when I had the top down on the Spyder bassing down the road frontin' for the kiddies. I'm past that stage of my life now (well kinda at least).
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Ellen Decides To Join The 21st Century...
Well I'm glad El has decided to revitalize her blogger she had me create for her almost two years ago. Gotta show her the basics of uploading pictures to it and some basic coding. She loves the new camera I gave her for Valentine's Day and uses it almost exclusively on Isa, which is exactly why I bought it for her. Now her gadget collection is just about complete - Nano iPod (check!) iBook (check!) Canon SD630 digital camera (check!) Canon portable photo printer (check!) USB Jump Drive (check!).
Feel free to browse her spartan blogger if you like. It's a good start...
Feel free to browse her spartan blogger if you like. It's a good start...
Thursday, March 15, 2007
My Precious...
My baby (no my other baby, my boat) has been out of service since last September. I haven't had time to take it out for a cruise so I let Mike at Heinmiller Marine Services take it for a week to take care of things I've been meaning to but just haven't had time to. Ever since I took my father and Uncle Ernie out to fish last summer at Cape Canaveral the reverse has been shot when they jammed it into gear hard - twice! Plus, I never got around to installing my VHF radio in it. I also managed to pick up a set of submersible LED trailer lights that should save me the hassle of having to replace popped bulbs whenever I forget to unplug the harness before I back it up into the water. I decided to also do the seasonal maintenance of checking the lower unit, filters, etc. Because it sat in storage for so long the tires rotted out so I had them replaced with new ones. I also took a few minutes to install a new jack stand for the boat since the original was shot to shit. And the icing on the cake will be the detailing job of a nice wash and wax. By the end of this week I look forward to picking it up and possibly taking it for a spin at Moss Park or Lake Toho. Aaaaah my precious...
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Almost Four Months...
Time has flown by and she's growing bigger and getting cuter. There are little things we start to notice that in other people's eyes may seem minute or inconsequential, but to us aren't.
She's discovered she has feet and loves to play with them. She makes a new mouth sucking noise when she plays. She blushes at herself in the mirror when I hold her up to it. She's starting to reach out and hold her baby bottle now, eventho most times the nipple ends up on her cheek and milk dribbles down her chin. She HATES getting her hair washed, but enjoys splashing in the tub. Dry diapers make her feel good (and us, too.). She LOVES her mobile abover her crib (compliments of El's cowerks), sleeps great with her white noise sheep toy from her Auntie Abigail, and loves to grab at the toys on the playmat she inherited from her cow-sin, Gabriel and Auntie Len. She greets us every morning with a huge smile and kicks her legs in excitement. She sleeps with her hands behind her head (odd, no?) and is apparently right-handed.
She's had such a positive impact on our lives. She's taught us patience and understanding. Things that used to upset me, doesn't anymore (at least not as much anymore). She's showed us what time management is really about. And that everything works itself out. Self sacrifice was a good lesson, too. What a neat little person.
She's discovered she has feet and loves to play with them. She makes a new mouth sucking noise when she plays. She blushes at herself in the mirror when I hold her up to it. She's starting to reach out and hold her baby bottle now, eventho most times the nipple ends up on her cheek and milk dribbles down her chin. She HATES getting her hair washed, but enjoys splashing in the tub. Dry diapers make her feel good (and us, too.). She LOVES her mobile abover her crib (compliments of El's cowerks), sleeps great with her white noise sheep toy from her Auntie Abigail, and loves to grab at the toys on the playmat she inherited from her cow-sin, Gabriel and Auntie Len. She greets us every morning with a huge smile and kicks her legs in excitement. She sleeps with her hands behind her head (odd, no?) and is apparently right-handed.
She's had such a positive impact on our lives. She's taught us patience and understanding. Things that used to upset me, doesn't anymore (at least not as much anymore). She's showed us what time management is really about. And that everything works itself out. Self sacrifice was a good lesson, too. What a neat little person.
It Feels Like A Family
A couple of Sundays ago we had the Acura go out of commission - tranny was dead. Odd since it doesn't have a lot of miles on it. We were forced to have it replaced by the dealership. It should've cost about $4300 in parts and labor, but upon hearing our situation Acura kindly agreed to pay all of the parts if we just pay the labor ($1100). Gladly. We had to rent another SUV that morning to get us through the week so El had to call off from work. It just so happened to also be a beautiful day out and there was also an art festival downtown at Lake Eola.
It had been a long, long time since we spent real time together as a family and this was an opportune time to Take The Day Off. Bueller...Bueller...Bueller...
We took care of business and then got dressed to make the most of our day. I felt bad we couldn't take Bailey Boy with us. I know he's been itching for some attention. All of it has been concentrated on Isabella...
It had been a long, long time since we spent real time together as a family and this was an opportune time to Take The Day Off. Bueller...Bueller...Bueller...
We took care of business and then got dressed to make the most of our day. I felt bad we couldn't take Bailey Boy with us. I know he's been itching for some attention. All of it has been concentrated on Isabella...
I actually enjoy shopping for my little girl. Whenever I run errands I somehow manage to find a nice outift for Isa. Here she's rockin' a little white dress I picked up for her at Old Navy. Such a cutie.
While out and about we also ran into Jenny and Joe Lamy who are ALSO expecting a little girl soon. Congrats you two! Parker is going to have great parents.
Happy Valentine's!
Our first Valentine's with our little girl. As a little surprise, I bought and dressed Isa in her Valentine's outfit so her mom would wake up to it. Unfortunately, mom jumped the gun inadvertently and saw her too early. It's ok tho. Happy Valentine's! I had to work that day, but I had made preparations waaaay in advance of the day to get things in place when I got home that evening.
In addition to the fine meal El whipped together we managed to exchange gifts. El had been wanting to use her Canon printer more cos of Isa, but the original camera I bought it with was officially dead. This year I got her a brand new Canon SD630 - that thing is pretty sweet. I actually like it better than my gigantic Nikon digital.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Would You Like Some Cheese With That Whine?
Call it a blessing I guess. Isa has taken interest in her right thumb to self soothe (and under careful observation she favors her RIGHT hand). It couldn't have come at a better time. El had to start back at work again this past Friday and Saturday and I was to become Mr. Mom. I had been anticipating this moment with much anxiety.
Understand that I do what I can when I'm with her. I change her diapers, feed her formula when I have to and carry her while El needed to get something to eat, but never for a whole day by myself. I guess it was good "training wheels" on my part to slowly do all the things El does short of whipping out a boob to feed her.
Like an idiot after work Thursday I stayed up waaaay too late and went to bed around 4am. I didn't want to wake up El who had to leave for work by 6am so I crashed on the couch. 6am came in the blink of an eye and Isa was crying for some attention. With two hours of sleep I groggily did my bit and changed, fed and cradled her. I could barely keep my eyes open. In an hour the sun was up and a full day had begun for me. Bailey had to be tended to, the house chores, and Isa. I could barely keep up.
It's amazing how out-of-wack your body gets with no rest and I found myself losing my cool with her. Every chance I got to put her down, so I could snooze, she immediately woke up 15 minutes later screaming bloody hell. I literally had to sit up catnapping while holding her. As a little bonus I rocked a small headache all day and barely managed to get myself something to eat. In addition, she refused all her food (she hadn't eaten in 7 hours) and I was getting worried. She obviously knew her routine had been broken by a newbie intruder and she was not playing fair.
Understand that I do what I can when I'm with her. I change her diapers, feed her formula when I have to and carry her while El needed to get something to eat, but never for a whole day by myself. I guess it was good "training wheels" on my part to slowly do all the things El does short of whipping out a boob to feed her.
Like an idiot after work Thursday I stayed up waaaay too late and went to bed around 4am. I didn't want to wake up El who had to leave for work by 6am so I crashed on the couch. 6am came in the blink of an eye and Isa was crying for some attention. With two hours of sleep I groggily did my bit and changed, fed and cradled her. I could barely keep my eyes open. In an hour the sun was up and a full day had begun for me. Bailey had to be tended to, the house chores, and Isa. I could barely keep up.
It's amazing how out-of-wack your body gets with no rest and I found myself losing my cool with her. Every chance I got to put her down, so I could snooze, she immediately woke up 15 minutes later screaming bloody hell. I literally had to sit up catnapping while holding her. As a little bonus I rocked a small headache all day and barely managed to get myself something to eat. In addition, she refused all her food (she hadn't eaten in 7 hours) and I was getting worried. She obviously knew her routine had been broken by a newbie intruder and she was not playing fair.
I called El at the hospital with my concerns and she made a few suggestions (which didn't work) to get her to eat. By noon she must've been extremely hungry cos she finally drank a half bottle of milk. Her schedule kicked in and she started eating every 3 hours - yay! Her burping, diapers, and napping were on like Donkey Kong.
Before I knew it 6pm had rolled around and I wanted to cook a nice dinner for El. I knew she had her own anxieties about coming back to work and wondering if she still "had it". One of her favorite dishes, Chicken Scallopine, was in order and I wanted her to get to bed as soon as possible. I knew after 14 hours she would be dead, but still wanting to relieve me of duty. She had another 14 hour day the next morning so I wanted to be sure she came home to a hot meal, a shower and some sleep.
Another first! Once El got home and was showered I decided to try my hand at giving Isa her bath. With a couple of stumbles Isa was bathed and fed and ready for bed. By 10:30 we were all in the sack and sleeping soundly. Surprisingly I awoke the next morning at 9am. OY! El was gone and the house was quiet. I didn't realize how late it was and was worried Squeakers was crying and hungry while I snoozed.
I felt great, though. I needed that rest. I showered; fed, walked and washed Bailey; got Isa's breakfast ready; started laundry and caught her at the brink of waking up. In short the day was the exact opposite of the day before. She wasn't fussy, napped between meals and I got a lot of housework done. I decided to celebrate the easy day by dancing with Isa to some Nat King Cole in the den and then a car ride to Target and Starbucks - Isa being a little angel the whole day.
It was nice feeling to hear her cry and be able soothe her just by simply holding her. A nice validation as a parent. I know this entry was long-winded, but it felt like a milestone to me. These past two days were a great learning experience and I learned a few more things about her:
1. She smiles when when Either El or I greet her
2. She now follows me with her eyes as I move thru a room
3. She holds her head up better and can prop herself up with
her arms
4. She enjoys Nat King Cole (she never cries when he's on)
5. She can coordinate both her hands to grab my hand and pull
it to her face
6. She loves to splash in her bathtub
7. She makes me feel great
Before I knew it 6pm had rolled around and I wanted to cook a nice dinner for El. I knew she had her own anxieties about coming back to work and wondering if she still "had it". One of her favorite dishes, Chicken Scallopine, was in order and I wanted her to get to bed as soon as possible. I knew after 14 hours she would be dead, but still wanting to relieve me of duty. She had another 14 hour day the next morning so I wanted to be sure she came home to a hot meal, a shower and some sleep.
Another first! Once El got home and was showered I decided to try my hand at giving Isa her bath. With a couple of stumbles Isa was bathed and fed and ready for bed. By 10:30 we were all in the sack and sleeping soundly. Surprisingly I awoke the next morning at 9am. OY! El was gone and the house was quiet. I didn't realize how late it was and was worried Squeakers was crying and hungry while I snoozed.
I felt great, though. I needed that rest. I showered; fed, walked and washed Bailey; got Isa's breakfast ready; started laundry and caught her at the brink of waking up. In short the day was the exact opposite of the day before. She wasn't fussy, napped between meals and I got a lot of housework done. I decided to celebrate the easy day by dancing with Isa to some Nat King Cole in the den and then a car ride to Target and Starbucks - Isa being a little angel the whole day.
It was nice feeling to hear her cry and be able soothe her just by simply holding her. A nice validation as a parent. I know this entry was long-winded, but it felt like a milestone to me. These past two days were a great learning experience and I learned a few more things about her:
1. She smiles when when Either El or I greet her
2. She now follows me with her eyes as I move thru a room
3. She holds her head up better and can prop herself up with
her arms
4. She enjoys Nat King Cole (she never cries when he's on)
5. She can coordinate both her hands to grab my hand and pull
it to her face
6. She loves to splash in her bathtub
7. She makes me feel great
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Mormons On The Move
You know that feeling, right? That knee-jerk reaction when you're outside working on the yard or car on a nice day, totally focused on the task at hand and someone (other than one of your neighbors) comes along and starts talking to you?
It could be about buying some "money saving" coupons to a local new restaurant. Or it could be some multi-purpose cleaning supply guaranteed to save you money in the long run and is 100% safe for the environment. Now I don't mind the kids who sell cookies or candybars for a fundraiser at school.
I'm talking about the joker who rolls up to you. They're usually trying very hard to be presentable, but is betrayed by the filthy ass fingernails, the unironed khakis and tee shirt. They're usually very sweaty and talk too fast asking things about you and your family. They try in vain to make small conversation with you, usually of things they could give two shits about. Of course, you've got your head wrapped around whatever you're working on and the 100 other things next in line. You try to be polite and let them finish their spiel, but sometimes these guys are long winded and never let you get a word in. Or if they do it's becasue they've asked you some moronic question that doesn't actually let you speak "you DO like to save money, right?" Those assholes I could easily kick their head in and tell them to piss off.
BUT what do you do when you see THESE guys. Mormons on the Move! They travel in packs. They all dress alike. Clean. Conservative. Haircuts. Polite. On bicycles. When three came up to me yesterday while I was washing the cars and started chatting my knee-jerk reaction set in immediately. "Can we help you wash your car?" Whoa. Here's a sample dialogue...
"Can we help you wash your car?"
"uuuh no. I'm about finished, but thanks."
"Okay maybe next time. Plan on doing anything tonight?"
"Uuhhh just spend time with my family."
"GREAT! You have a big family?"
"Big enough for me right now."
"Well that's good. People don't spend enough time with their families. Are you familiar with the bible and its prophets?"
Oh boy. Here we go.
After a few minutes of chatting, the truth comes out. Do I want to be saved? Am I familiar with the bible? Religion is touchy as is and honestly I don't like strangers talking to me when I'm on a schedule to finish something, especially something personal like that. I politely, but firmly tell them I'm very busy and trying to finish before the sun goes down. But I my better judgement gets me straightened out.
These teenagers seem genuinely nice. It helps they offered to help before they intruded on my personal space. Now normally I'd say something short to get them off my ass. But seriously, there are far worse things these kids could be spreading around other than the Word of God. Drugs, venereal disease, and bullets to name a few. But they don't. It takes real balls and a certain level of comfort and confidence to talk to strangers, especially here in Orlando. So I back off. I thank them and tell them good luck. And no I don't know of anyone in the neighborhood that would like to and benefit from them about God.
Things could be worse.
It could be about buying some "money saving" coupons to a local new restaurant. Or it could be some multi-purpose cleaning supply guaranteed to save you money in the long run and is 100% safe for the environment. Now I don't mind the kids who sell cookies or candybars for a fundraiser at school.
I'm talking about the joker who rolls up to you. They're usually trying very hard to be presentable, but is betrayed by the filthy ass fingernails, the unironed khakis and tee shirt. They're usually very sweaty and talk too fast asking things about you and your family. They try in vain to make small conversation with you, usually of things they could give two shits about. Of course, you've got your head wrapped around whatever you're working on and the 100 other things next in line. You try to be polite and let them finish their spiel, but sometimes these guys are long winded and never let you get a word in. Or if they do it's becasue they've asked you some moronic question that doesn't actually let you speak "you DO like to save money, right?" Those assholes I could easily kick their head in and tell them to piss off.
BUT what do you do when you see THESE guys. Mormons on the Move! They travel in packs. They all dress alike. Clean. Conservative. Haircuts. Polite. On bicycles. When three came up to me yesterday while I was washing the cars and started chatting my knee-jerk reaction set in immediately. "Can we help you wash your car?" Whoa. Here's a sample dialogue...
"Can we help you wash your car?"
"uuuh no. I'm about finished, but thanks."
"Okay maybe next time. Plan on doing anything tonight?"
"Uuhhh just spend time with my family."
"GREAT! You have a big family?"
"Big enough for me right now."
"Well that's good. People don't spend enough time with their families. Are you familiar with the bible and its prophets?"
Oh boy. Here we go.
After a few minutes of chatting, the truth comes out. Do I want to be saved? Am I familiar with the bible? Religion is touchy as is and honestly I don't like strangers talking to me when I'm on a schedule to finish something, especially something personal like that. I politely, but firmly tell them I'm very busy and trying to finish before the sun goes down. But I my better judgement gets me straightened out.
These teenagers seem genuinely nice. It helps they offered to help before they intruded on my personal space. Now normally I'd say something short to get them off my ass. But seriously, there are far worse things these kids could be spreading around other than the Word of God. Drugs, venereal disease, and bullets to name a few. But they don't. It takes real balls and a certain level of comfort and confidence to talk to strangers, especially here in Orlando. So I back off. I thank them and tell them good luck. And no I don't know of anyone in the neighborhood that would like to and benefit from them about God.
Things could be worse.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
A Reunion of the Siblings
It was Rachel's 37th birthday and my brother Ricky and his wife, Donna, were coming to Orlando to help celebrate it. In addition, Cher and her son, Gabriel, were coming down from Charleston as well. None of them, up to this point, had met Isa and so everyone was excited to see her.
Cher arrived Thursday evening and we spent the evening just chatting and playing with the kids. Friday I was off from work and we decided to head out to the Mall of Milennia to have lunch. After having a quick meeting with a client I met up with the girls at Cheesecake Factory to sit outside and enjoy the afternoon. They did some more shopping and we went home to have dinner. Cher had been craving Snow Crabs so I had previously picked up 7 lbs for tonight.
Cher arrived Thursday evening and we spent the evening just chatting and playing with the kids. Friday I was off from work and we decided to head out to the Mall of Milennia to have lunch. After having a quick meeting with a client I met up with the girls at Cheesecake Factory to sit outside and enjoy the afternoon. They did some more shopping and we went home to have dinner. Cher had been craving Snow Crabs so I had previously picked up 7 lbs for tonight.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
