sunday was hectic - I was exhausted all day. Kept falling asleep or very nearly so thru the day. And then there was the various dramas that occur with friends of the kids, and our own brand on craziness.

Well, what a day yesterday. Woke up early, went off with the younger boys to Circleville for the day, got a migraine about 3:30 or 4:00 pm. Got home around 7:30pm. Gave up and went to be around 9:30 pm.

But we got to see a lot fo friends and enjoy a lot of talents at a talent competition.

what confusion!

last night, it seemed like we had at least 4 places people were going to be. And that's how it started out. Then, we found out that someone got off work early and didn't let us know, then they wanted to go out, then they had to work late.
My head is spinning still.

Soon I have to get the boys up so they can begin the next part of the hectic day - and I still don't know where I am going to end up.

Took the birthday boy out to dinner last nite. Took a chunk of bucks to feed the 6 of us, but I think everyone had a good time. 3 of them also did a bit of shopping. I'm not certain that they appreciated the effort of the evening, but I guess that's one of the side effects of being a parent.

20 years.

It's been 20 years since my wife and I moved out of the small 2 bedroom apartment, into a house, became pregnant, and had the first of our four lovely children.

My, how Ben's grown. From that tiny ball of noice and motion, into a tall, handsome, loving young man, who is so musically talented.

Ben, you are great - I hope your life becomes better than you can imagine.

well, work up this morning from a bad dream. Got up, ran some laundry, got ready, went into work. Already have problems sitting in the queue, so my day's work is cut out for me.

Plus, I'm struggling with a migraine - so far, not bad, but enough to know it is there.

Well, an interesting weekend. Spent Saturday morning and early afternoon on chores. Then some of the family and I ran down to see my mom and grandmother for a couple of days. That was fun - got to also see my brother and sister. I don't see my extended family very often - even though it is only 3-4 hr drive, I'm usually working on chores, or we are running kids around, etc.

Hmm, what to write about today. Kids - I wonder what the best approach is to help them prepare for life. I mean, sometimes parents toss kids out as soon as they legally can, to get them out of their hair. And sometimes, parents let them hang out to help reduce the cost of school, etc. But then, I know some families where the kids live at home for 30+ years, and the parents are cool with that, and the kids are cool with that.

There are all sorts of families, with all sorts of arrangements.

I wish I could afford high speed internet - there's so little time I get access to either the net or the phone because the kids are online so much.

well, today should be interesting. After work, I have to get home and get supper done so that we can take Laura to prepare for the orchestra performance this evening.

Also, I have to make plans for the weekend.

Another of my blogs

I created the xanga blog when I found that to comment on blogs there, I had to have an account. I hate to give up this blog, which I was doing a little longer.

So I try to do both. Silly, huh?

I've been feeling under the weather for the past few days, and this time, it doesn't seem to be glasses or migrate related. My stomach feels upset, I woke up several times during the night with an uncomfortable feeling, etc.

I was talking to my mom last nite. I was trying to figure out how I was going, on March 5th, to take Daniel to a band competition, then to southern Ohio for a weekend retreat, then make it to northern WV in time for my niece's wedding at 6 pm.

Mom said that I should not try. That's probably not a bad idea, as who knows how long the van is going to keep going.

Sigh - I hate being poor...

Monday - Valentine's Day. I'm working hard at not being a normal guy who only says I love you on VDay. So I've been working at it, and tried some different stuff this year - two dinners a bit earlier in the month (cause vday is a school day and work day for the rest of the tribe), and flowers. And we sat and talked. Other than that, did chores, and crashed early cause I had to get up early today.

Trying to maintain two separate blogs is wearing on me. It's annoying that we have to have an active blog to be able to comment on others blogs.

Ah well - a busy 'taxi' week coming up.
Kids needing to be taken lots of places for lots of things.

yesterday was a stressful day. but despite all the stress and madness, I still got chores done, made meatball sandwiches (need to remember to reduce salt when using sausage in meatballs...),
went on the weekly grocery run and got to bed without melting down.

yesterday was a busy day. This morning, when I woke up, there was snow and ice all around. Looks like 2 or 3 cold days in a row coming up.

Ben's wanting to get a laptop, but can't spend much money. Just doesn't seem like it is going to happen...

I was really wiped out last nite. I did some chores, sat down to rest a bit, and fell asleep - I think a couple times - then woke up, exhausted and with a headache, read a bit (and I still am having problems reading with my glasses), then went up to bed and slept all nite and I still am exhausted this morning. Did some chores this morning, grabbed a bite to eat, and ran onto work.

My 'favorite' time of year (not!) - when the weather swings from cold to hot and there's not a thing you can do about it.

Then there's the weirdness at my fav. internet radio station. I've not been able to 'get a signal' for 2 days now.
I end up being cranky when that happens.

stayed up to watch the super bowl.
I don't watch football normally. I wasn't particularly impressed with this game. I had no emotional or other attachment to either team, though.

My wife and I just stayed home and watched the tivo version. I think she was less than happy though - when I would skip through the annoying multiple replays of a play she would sigh/grumble/whatever.

Saturday was a quiet day this week. Kids were hither and yon, and I didn't get to hang out with any of them. The boys spent the evening at MVNU with the youth group, while Laura worked late.
So my wife and I just watched some tv, talked, and hung out.

We don't have big plans, right now, for super bowl sunday. At least, not that I know about.

It's Friday. Finally. I don't know why weeks feel so long sometimes.

Last nite, it was father/daughter time. I love sitting and talking to my girl. She has these times when she wants to tell me all about school, friends, the impending graduation, etc.

Last nite was one of those nites - and dad was happy...

another day - more snow/rain and so forth.

Not a lot going on right now - work, kids, etc.

Today and tonight should be quieter than normal.
Hopefully we can get the oil changed, return some dvds, etc.

Well, here we go - another day. Got to pick up a couple of students staying after school for music practice this afternoon - hope I remember to drive that way when I head home.

last nite, I was totally wiped out - went home, took a bath, laid down (bad migraine) and woke up 4 hrs later. Got up, watched some tv with the family, grabbed a bite to eat, ran a load or so of laundry, went to bed again around midnight, read my 40 days of purpose chapter, and was up again around 6am today.