Finally a chance to breath and catch up

Wow, is my life really that boring that I haven't blogged in a month? Maybe I'm that busy? Ya, that's it, feel bad b/c I'm so busy I can't find the time to write down my thoughts. That would be a lie BTW.

So in the last month or so most of the focus has been on Christmas. We've also been trying to get a mortgage to buy a house. One went really good, the other is still a work in progress. Since it's the day after Christmas and we haven't moved, I'll let you guess how the mortgage thing is going.

I really don't want to try to fill you in on the last month so I'll hit the last week. Julie started working about 2 months ago, we spent 1.5 WHOLE paychecks on Christmas for the kids. I asked my kids this morning if they wish they had got something that wasn't under the tree. They all said no! Wow did that feel good. Thank you Julie. Before you think how spoiled our kids our let me tell you a little story. About 2 months ago Julie was in the store with Abby, she had picked up a toy and was trying not to let Julie see that she really liked it. When she saw mom coming she put it back on the shelf. Julie asked what it was and Abby wouldn't say. Why, you ask? Because it cost $60.00. Abby's whole life we've never bought anything that was that much, she put it back because she knows her parents can't afford it, and she'd rather we not feel bad about it. She never asked for it for Christmas.............but she got it anyway. She cried. She's not spoiled, not with us; maybe with grandma and grandpa (I mean she'll pout and cry about wanting stuff to them).

So anyway we spent a lot on Christmas and all the kids went to bed dreaming of today. As I like to say, "creating memories."

Speaking of creating memories, Julie and I have some Christmas time traditions.

• Christmas is Jesus birthday, every year there's a party

• We put enough lights on the house to slow down traffic. (I went light (rim shot) this year b/c I was hoping we'd move)

• We make candy (I make candy, Julie watches over the kids and directs them)

What you're looking at there is glass candy. Good stuff and dangerous to make, think hot sugar and molten limbs.

So the last candy you see there is sponge candy. It's a Buffalo thing, like chicken wings. Both of which are enough to move back home for, b/c they are OMG good.


Traditions are important. I remember making glass candy as a kid and pouring it in the snow to cool it off. The lights and the birthday party stared with Julie and I.

PS If we do get the house we're looking at, I need the change the tradition to lights that will stop traffic.

A few days later

Well it's dead, Julie's car that is. My dad seems to think it's a main bearing. I can get a new (junk yard) engine for $200.00, but the car was only $600.00 so I think I'll just part it out. So Julie's first paycheck is going to a car. This is where everyone we know chimes in, "Julie's working now, you should buy a new car." Why? I paid $600.00 for a car that lasted 9 months, all I had to do was put an alternator in it. 9mo = $683.00 or $70/mo. What can I buy for $70/mo????? So, instead of paying $350-$450/mo in car payments I'll keep buying used cars at maybe $1500 ea if it last 4 months I'm ahead. We'll save for a few months and then buy a used minivan for sub $3500.00, check out craigslist and you'll be surprised what you can get for that price. I know people that still owe $5000.00 on vans I can buy today for less money.

In other news, I'm sooooo angry with my kids right now, well the 9, 7 and 6 year olds. When we got up for church on Sun morning the family room, dining room and therapy room were all clean. I left for work before we got home and was home by 7 (I was gone 7 hours). The family room , entry way, therapy room, and dining room TRASHED. This bs, I'm going to kill them (not really). Kids their ages can pick up after themselves. I'm done, the hammer is coming down. They only have, what 7 weeks till Christmas. Oh, it's going to suck for them.

I'm a bad Christian

THIS HAPPENED ON JUNE '07

well the title got your attention.

Yesterday was Julie's graduation. What a great day. I was so proud of her. Isaac and Abby were there, they yelled , "that's my mom." Good kids.



After that I picked up Sam, Simon, and Rachel from the sitters (thanks McCann's). On to Sam's baseball game. We were 10 minutes late, I knew this would be a problem. You see Sam needs to get there 10 PRIOR to the game, that allows him to see what's going to be happening. So when it was his time to bat, he flat out refused. He screamed and threw a bat at some one. I looked at everyone around and NO ONE cared. You see Sam plays in the Miracle League for special needs kids. Not a single person there cared, no one looked down at Julie and I, No one said a word to us.

It was such a nice day Julie, her mom, and I thought it would be fun to go out to eat, so off to Cracker Barrel. Sam did not want to be there. Actually he would have been fine if we had gotten food at some point. Sam had it. It was a long day he was hungry and there was no food in sight. He lost it. Screaming at the top of his lungs at a pitch that breaks things. Julie took him outside. NEVER mind my other 3 (out of 4, Isaac was at a car race) being perfect. Sam looked in the window and saw us eating (bread) and came in. When it wasn't chicken he broke down worse then before. This time I took him outside, I had to drag him b/c he wasn't walking. Mind you he is 89 pounds and taller then my 9 year old. EVERYONE was staring, pointing, shaking their hands, commenting. When we got outside Sam was still throwing himself on the ground and screaming. Here it comes.

I had had it. I was tired, I was broken hearted about my son. Along comes a 90 year old women. First she glared at me and Sam, then said something to her husband, then pointed and stared. I said, "DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY TO ME?" She responded, "I would never let my kid act like that."

I said, "Did you see my other 4 kids in there being perfect?"

"I wouldn't let any of my kids act like that"

Ok, game on "F... you, he has autism and can't help it."

To which she responded, "my kids weren't like that, you should make him stop"

"Go to HE!!, HAS AUTISM, he has cancer, he can't help it. (he is sick Childrens we should call tomorrow for an appointment). I wish he could talk and stop"

"Well I had no idea"

"Then shut the F up, what gives you the right to say what ever you want, when ever you want. Who the hell are you? What you think you are so old you can say anything you want to anyone you want. GO TO HE!!"

At that point she said something about how dare you. "How dare me? F you you GD old hag, go to He!!."

I told you it was ugly, I was yelling too. Her husband looked like he been wanting to say those things for a years.

At that they left. At the tail end of this, a guy walked in. Then he came back out. I was ready to go toe-to-toe with anyone. He came back out and said, "You'll make it, I did and so will you" I felt I had to point out I had 4 more in there being perfect. He said he did it with 7, you'll make it. THANK YOU

So I put Sam in the car. I'm sure someone called the cops. I drove home crying. I told Sam that he won, all I wanted was dinner with his mom. It was a special day for mom and you ruined it. "Go to he!! Sam" I told him I hated him. I told him that I wish we had an aid, so he could set at home and the rest of us could be a family.

I said those things to my son. My oldest son. My beautiful Sam that taught me to love people not like me. People with special needs. If it weren't for Sam I never would have seen the grace of God so clearly. I love my son. I know my words hurt him, they hurt me. I cried all the way home, I cried until Julie got home an hour latter. I actually wished I didn't have a Sam.

God, I'm so sorry for the words I used, for the thoughts I had. I know that you gave me Sam, I'm so blessed because of him.

So there it is, I broke testimony yesterday. I went from cloud nine straight to he!! in about 3 hours. I still feel empty inside though.

I bet it looked really good too. A 300lb 34 year old guy putting a 90 year old 80lb women in her place

Not sure who to vote for, but I like this answer

Though there are many points I would have loved to have added to it, Mike Huckaby's answer, when put on the spot (and on the clock) speaks for itself

Car, floor, gas lines, and basketball

Alright.

My parents are coming in to down today. Which is ok. They're taking the kids out for halloween. I really need my dad's help this week.

• Julie's car died, might be a bearing or a rod. Hope it's a bearing and I can fix it cheap, or else time for another $600.00 car.
• Redoing Sam's room; drywall, paint, floor.....fun wow
• running a gas line for the gas stove Julie bought. Thank you craigslist
  

In other news, Isaac and Abby had basketball and cheerleading try outs yesterday. That was 2.5 hours of pleasure (said with tongue in cheek). Simon and Sam did not want to be there. Isaac was scared to be in line by himself (register, size, uniform, skills). Abby wanted to hang out with her friends. So I ended up MAKING Abby stand with Isaac and I tried to get the other 3 to calm down by taking them to the car. So I'm in the parking lot and Abby and Isaac are doing God knows what in the church. I had wanted to see Isaac in the skills part, guess I'll have to wait for his first game. This is the first time Isaac has played B-ball, he played baseball in the spring for the first time and that went well.

Don't feel bad for me though. Last night at work, Julie had to do a manual extraction of some old guys poop. I'm not a nurse for a reason. Sorry honey, you'll get a better job, it's a means to an end.

I don't picture them in their underware.

As a Christian I'm commanded to share my faith. As someone who loves theater and performing, I like to do you on stage.

I've written several monologues and short skits. I've acted in lots. I suppose my biggest crowd was maybe 1000 people. I love the feeling I get looking out and seeing all those people hanging on my every word. It's such a wonderful opportunity to minister, I've never been very good one-on-one. But God has blessed me with the ability to do anything in front of people and not be embarrassed. At times this has been the bain of my wifes life, because she at times had been caught in my say what you want doesn't bother me cross fire. Sorry honey.

Anyway I say all this because I discovered the clip below on God Tube. This is amazing. I would LOVE to do this in church. Maybe soon.

Lifehouse Everything

Why I'm not an airline pilot

Life as a Pilot
Current mood: amused

22 years old: Graduated from college. Go to military flight school.
Become hot shot fighter pilot. Get married.

25 years old: Have 1st kid. Now hotshot fighter jock getting shot at in
war.Just want to get back to USA in one piece. Get back to USA as
primary flight instructor pilot. Get bored. Volunteer for war again.

29 years old: Get back from war all tuckered out. Wants out of military.

30 years old: Join airline. World is your oyster.

31 years old: Buy flashy car, house and lots of toys. Get over the
military poverty feeling.

32 years old: Divorce boring 1st wife. Pay child support and
maintenance. Drink lots of booze and screw around while looking for 2nd wife.

33 years old: Furloughed. Join military reserve unit and fly for
fun. Repeat above for a few more years.

35 years old: Airline recall. More screwing around but looking forward
to a good marriage and settling down.

36 years old: Marry young spunky 25 year old flight attendant.

37 years old: Buy another house. Gave first one to first wife.

38 years old: Give in to second wife to have more kids. Father again.
Wife concerned about "risky" military Reserve flying so you resign
commission.

39 years old: Now a captain. Hooray! Upgrade house, buy boat, small
single engine airplane and even flashier cars.

42 years old: 2nd wife runs off with wealthy investment banker but still
wants to share house (100%).

43 years old: Settle with wife # 2 and resolve to stay away from women
forever. Seek a position as a check Captain for 10% pay override to pay
mounting bills. Move into 1 bedroom apartment with window air
conditioners.

44 years old: Company resizes and you're returned to copilot status. 25%
pay
cut. Become simulator instructor for 10% override pay.

49 years old: Captain again. Move into 2-bedroom luxury apartment with
central air conditioning.

50 years old: Meet sexy Danish model on International trip. She loves
you and says you are very "beeeeg!"

51 years old: Marry sexy Danish model for wife #3. Buy big house, boat,
twin engine airplane and upgrade cars.

52 years old: Sexy model wants kids (not again). Resolve to get
vasectomy.

54 years old: Try to talk wife out of kids, but presto, she's pregnant.
She says she got sick after taking the pill. Accident, sorry, won't happen
again.

55 years old: Father of triplets.

56 years old: Wife #3 wants very big house, bigger boat and very flashy
cars, "worried" about your private flying and wants you to sell twin
engine airplane. You give in. You buy a motorcycle and join motorcycle
club.

57 years old: Make rash investments to try and have enough money for
retirement.

59 years old: Lose money on rash investment and get audited by the IRS.
You have to fly 100% International night trips just to keep up with
child support and alimony to wife #1 and #2.

60 years old: Wife #3 (sexy model) says you're too damned old and no
fun. She leaves. She takes most of your assets. You're forced to retire due
to Age 60 rule. No money left.

61 years old: Now Captain on a non-schedule South American 727 freight
outfit and living in a non-air conditioned studio apartment directly
underneath the final approach to runway 9 at Miami Int'l. You have
"interesting" Hispanic neighbors who ask you if you've ever flown
DC-3's.

65 years old: Lose FAA medical and get job as sim instructor. Don't look
forward to years of getting up at 2 AM for 3 AM sim in every
god-forsaken town you train in due to the fact your carrier can find cheap, off-hours sim time at various Brand X Airlines.

70 years old: Hotel alarm clock set by previous FedEx crewmember goes
off at 1:00 AM. Have heart attack and die with smile on face. Happy at last!

Just a quick hello

I spent all day with the 4 youngest kids. We had a good time. Julie was off with Abby hiking in the 55° and rain. I bet their both sick. I hope it was fun.

In the mean time, Julie has been working her but off 4 12's in 5 days. She says she's only going to do it till Christmas.

Along those lines. I got a new pay scale at work, a pay raise, and I should be going into a new airplane soon (another raise). That's 3 raises in a week AND Julie's working. I can't believe might be able to buy real food AND put gas in the car. Ya.

It's a few days before Halloween, you know what that means? I means it's a few days before the Christmas lights start going up :)

When should I go to sleep?

So now Julie and I are both working nights. I thought this would be good, but.........I can't go to sleep with out Julie being here. I know that's stupid. So I'm seating here at 2am blogging.

I wonder how Julie's doing at work? She doesn't usually stay up all night. And she's working 3 12's in a row. Maybe I can let here sleep all day on Thursday.

Anyway she gets home around 7am, so we can get breakfast for the kids together and get 'em up and off to school.

Oh.......I remember why I'm not sleeping. I have a colonoscopy tomorrow, I had to take a laxative and believe me it works. I can seat here, but everytime I stand up, I have to......well RUN to the bathroom.

Oh, well I hungry too. I'm going to try to clean some and do some laundry between trips.

I promise to go to bed before 3.

hi