great weekend

Some times the little things matter the most, as the old axiom goes. This weekend was proof positive of that fact.

We didn't do anything fancy or expensive...just hung with the kids in various venues...and it was a blast. Took them fishing on Saturday and again yesterday. Golfed with #1 son on Sunday, then went to the VG fireworks...they're not extravagant, but they don't cost our financially strapped city 50k either...and there's something to be said for knowing just about everyone you see at the celebration.

Went 1.64 miles today, according to map my run. Then pulled weeds in the garden for 10 minutes...all in all a good workout.

The princess won her game last night..so we're off to Homer on Wednesday after Cookie's all star game in Tuscola tonight. It's all coming to a close, and hopefully we'll have at least two weeks without organized sports before football fires up on the 26th.

the princess

My running partner petered out on me about a third of the way through our run this morning. We ended up walking for a while and then I finished with her on my shoulders. As we walked and talked and she picked leaves from trees, I was struck with the realization that the days of piggy back rides are racing to an end. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but it's inevitable, and that realization more than made up for the interupted workout. Besides, sprinting a couple blocks with a nine year old on your shoulders counts for something, right?

Came home and did a 20 minute plyometric workout with mini me. He's gearing up for football, and I can always use the workout. We did pogo jumps, box jumps, prisoner squats, glute/ham raises and weighted crunches.

The part time gig at Parkland is most excellent. I love seeing the look on adults' faces when they realize that they can actually do it and that we're there to help them.

summer musings...

So...it's been two months since normalcy took its leave. Being home with the kids all day, every day has exposed fissures that should probably have remained glossed over. With each bong letter, my mood darkens. There's nothing more pathetic than an unjolly fat guy, and I am as unjolly as I've ever been.

It's a tough stretch for #1 son. He's never been the extroverted type, but now his few friends seem to be moving on to other more earthly pursuits while he remains in xbox mode. Mini me is about his only buddy, these days, but his loneliness appears to be manifesting itself in constant bullying and berating.

Had my annual fizzy cal last week...Dr. B sort of reminds me of The Deer Hunter ("Di di MAO!") when discussing my state of health. Not good, but it did serve to get me back out on the pavement for a trot or two...

Went about 1-1/2 miles walking and jogging with the princess, VGFATdog and noodles this morning. Felt really good.....think it's time to lengthen my splits and go a little longer.

the next phase

Well...week one day three of the unemployment lifestyle is upon me.

Some opportunities turned out to be not what I hoped, but it's too glorious outside to be sad. Completed my 2nd week 2nd day couch to 5k run this morning with VGFATdog. She loves her time outdoors.

Will continue to peruse the usual job lists...hoping something comes my way.

life

#1 son continues to recover from tonsil removal. I wish I could somehow take on his suffering for him. He'll be fine soon, but not NEARLY soon enough.

Did a killer diller chest and shoulders workout this morning. supersetted db flys and pushups, and for a little extra fun I put my feet on a swiss ball while doing the pushups. My chest is shred city!

Did shrugs, and the shoulder super sets, and threw in a couple sets of toe raises.

I'm sure to me a MONSTA come beach and pool season. :-) heh heh heh.

on kids, life, etc

So #1 son is set to have minor surgery next week, and he's pretty worried about it. He told me on the way home from the pre-op physical that he fully expects not to wake up, and that it will be our fault. His point of view is consistently the "worst case scenario" type, so I'm not totally surprised, but it still hurts to hear.

Mini-me appears to be at the same cross roads as always....the choice between excellence and just getting by. I'm beginning to wonder if I really have any influence on the path he chooses.

The princess is growing quickly, and she recently gave me the "I hate school" line for the first

time.

Two weeks from Friday is my last day here at Big Chief U, not certain what the future holds. Anger and cynicism are my constant companions as I try to deal with this short-sighted, stupid decision made by people who should have known better.

got to admit...

It's getting better. (tip of the Saints Cap to the fab four) I supersetted three sets of squats/toe raises, three sets of benches/butterflies and three sets of cable rows/military presses last night, and I'm not TOTALLY incapacitated this morning.

#1 son isn't getting as fit as he should be at this point in his HRD program, so I've decided that xbox time will be correlated with doing some form of exercise. Give me a half hour of pushups, situps, basic kicks, etc and I'll give you some time on the game. We'll see how this goes. he's not liking it, but i'm his dad, not his buddy.