Let's get this out of the way right off, I have pneumonia. I never get sick, Katie and Leeann can both be in the bed, sick as anything and I will be just fine. I never get it. I am always the one who is taking care of them. Now, here I am with pneumonia and on top of that, I have to take some very YUCKY!!! medicine. But, how does that fit in with Dodge Ball you ask?
On the way home from the vampire doctor (I call her that because every-time I'm there it seems like she wants some of my blood, go figure) we went out to the farm to drop some feed off for Belle. Along the way we have to go by a elementary school and there were some kids out in front of the school in a big playground area playing kick ball. If you grew up in the late 70's/early 80's like me then you more than likely paid more that few games of kick ball. Now, for those of you out there who grew up in the "PC World" where everyone is a winner and we don't play any kind of competitive game, kick ball is just like baseball, but with a large rubber ball (normally red). You kick the ball instead of hitting it with a bat. However, unlike baseball, you can get tagged out if you are HIT with the ball between bases. Such as if you are running between 1st and 2nd base and you get HIT with the ball, you are out. Pretty simple, yes. Well, it got me to thinking back when I was a kid and really enjoyed playing kick ball and Dodge Ball. DODGE BALL! They don't let kids play Dodge Ball anymore, do they?
Why, just because the whole purpose of the game is to avoid being hit with a large rubber ball? Nope, it's because somebody might get HIT by a large rubber ball. It's because somebody would win and someone would, GASP OH THE HORROR, loose. Well if you ask me, I most of you won't, Dodge ball teaches you many of life's most important lessons. Like what you ask? Well, here are a few:
SOMETIMES LIFE HURTS.
YOU HAVE TO STAY ON YOUR TOES AT ALL TIMES.
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO RISK A LOT TO GET WHAT YOU WANT.
JUST WHEN YOU THINK THINGS ARE GOING GOOD FOR YOU, WHAM, LIFE HITS YOU.
YOU CAN'T REST WHEN THOSE AROUND YOU ARE RUNNING.
ALWAYS LOOK ABOUT YOU, YOU NEVER KNOW WHATS COMING NEXT.
But, most of all:
SOMETIMES LIFE HURTS.
Rules to live by if you ask me.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
What I'm Thankful for:
Every day I wake up
My wonderful wife
My daughter, the apple of my eye
A home
My work
My health (got good numbers on my last blood test)
My Friends
My Family (getting reconnected)
To be living here in East Tennessee (I can't see us living anywhere else)
The Dogs and our horses
To be an American and to live in this wonderful county
But most of all, I am thankful to God for each and every blessing He has given me. He guides me, and leads me to new and wonderful things everyday.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.
My wonderful wife
My daughter, the apple of my eye
A home
My work
My health (got good numbers on my last blood test)
My Friends
My Family (getting reconnected)
To be living here in East Tennessee (I can't see us living anywhere else)
The Dogs and our horses
To be an American and to live in this wonderful county
But most of all, I am thankful to God for each and every blessing He has given me. He guides me, and leads me to new and wonderful things everyday.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
GAME ON!!!!!
Almost 2 years ago my wonderful wife made a major decision in her life by having Gastric Bypass to help her lose weight. I was so proud of her and still impressed by her progress. She lost 144 pounds. Thats two Katies!
Well, she stalled and I wasn't much help in getting her back in gear. I don't know why, maybe just being lazy. I guess I just didn't want to do all the hard work to lose the weight. Well, two weeks ago, my wife got into "The Biggest Loser" on NBC. I had seen it once or twice for maybe 5 or 10 minutes. I stared watching it with her and really got into it. the show was just so inspiring and got me thinking that maybe I could do this.
So, we have started to watch what we eat and walking (trying to anyway). But, one night I was watching the show and saw this thing on the constants' arms. I though it was a timer for when they were in the gym. We Googled it and found out it was called the Body Bugg. It is a device that measures things like calories burned, steps taken, amount and length of activity. We thought it was kinds neat so we tried it.
I LOVE IT! For the first time in my life I know just what I am burning, what I am taking in and how much I need to adjust both. I have already lost 2 pounds in the first week. I want to walk, I want that little meter to burn. The thing is, with this device on your arm you have a constant reminder of what your are doing. It doesn't hurt, but you know it is there. Plus, there is not sneaking a little of this or a little of that. It will catch up to you.
So my wife has made a challenge on her blog to be accountable on line in her blog and accountable with me. So, GAME ON BABE! Starting today, you will know what I have done, what I ate and what I weigh. My goal is to get to 185 by my 45th birthday (October of 2009). I can do it, I know I can.
This should be fun to watch.
Well, she stalled and I wasn't much help in getting her back in gear. I don't know why, maybe just being lazy. I guess I just didn't want to do all the hard work to lose the weight. Well, two weeks ago, my wife got into "The Biggest Loser" on NBC. I had seen it once or twice for maybe 5 or 10 minutes. I stared watching it with her and really got into it. the show was just so inspiring and got me thinking that maybe I could do this.
So, we have started to watch what we eat and walking (trying to anyway). But, one night I was watching the show and saw this thing on the constants' arms. I though it was a timer for when they were in the gym. We Googled it and found out it was called the Body Bugg. It is a device that measures things like calories burned, steps taken, amount and length of activity. We thought it was kinds neat so we tried it.
I LOVE IT! For the first time in my life I know just what I am burning, what I am taking in and how much I need to adjust both. I have already lost 2 pounds in the first week. I want to walk, I want that little meter to burn. The thing is, with this device on your arm you have a constant reminder of what your are doing. It doesn't hurt, but you know it is there. Plus, there is not sneaking a little of this or a little of that. It will catch up to you.
So my wife has made a challenge on her blog to be accountable on line in her blog and accountable with me. So, GAME ON BABE! Starting today, you will know what I have done, what I ate and what I weigh. My goal is to get to 185 by my 45th birthday (October of 2009). I can do it, I know I can.
This should be fun to watch.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Love Is........
How do you define love? Is it something you can see? Something you can touch? Or is it just a feeling? Many say it is none of the above but merely a state of mind. I say it something you can touch, something you can see. You just have to look in the right place and open you mind. How do I know this, read on:
We are in Key Largo, FL spending a week here with Katie while she is doing dolphin assisted therapy. We did this 3 years ago and are kicking ourselves for not coming back sooner. Anyway, the first time we were here, Katie spent the week with a wonderful dolphin named Squirt and her calf Fiji. We could tell that something special was going on from the moment Katie got on the platform to get in the water. She could not wait and had no fear of being next to the dolphins.
That week was a wonderful and magical time. You could see the bond that Katie made with Squirt and the entire staff at Island Dolphin Care. The high point of the week was on Wednesday. You see, the dolphin will only do what the trainer on the platform tells them to do. They are trained that way. It is a safety issue of course. Well, half way through her time in the water that day, Katie, in loudest voice said, “I love you Squirt, you’re my best friend”. Squirt stopped in the water half way between the platform the trainer was on and where Katie was. She looked at the trainer then back to Katie. Leeann and I were confused as to what was going on, but the trainer just nodded her head yes and Squirt swam over and gave a Katie a kiss.
Not a big deal you say, well it is. You see that had only happened one, let me repeat that ONE other time at Island Dolphin Care. Everyone who saw it was in tears and when the trainer told us how special that was, Leeann and I both started to cry.
We have always said that Katie has a special connection to animals. Look at her room, it looks like stuffed animal kingdom in there sometimes. You should see her at the farm with the horses, it’s almost like she talks to them at times. But this, this was so different.
Well, that was three years ago. We had been trying for the past 3 years to go back but the timing was never right. This year everything fell into place and we were able to make it back. It worked out well since this is Katie’s fall break, so no school was missed. One thing we were worried about was if Katie would remember much about the dolphins or if the dolphins would remember Katie. We weren’t sure she would even get to be with Squirt this time. Much to our surprise, Katie remembered it all the moment she walked in the door. She remembered the tanks in the lobby, she remembered where the dolphins were at and couldn’t wait to get to them. But most of all, she was going to be with Squirt again.
Katie got in the water with Squirt and she was right at home. But the minute she said, “Squirt, I love you”, Squirt knew just who Katie was. The trainer, Wendy, looked at us and said “now I remember her and so does Squirt”. She wasn’t kidding either. It was almost like Katie was one of her own calf’s. Squirt could not get close enough to Katie. She was always checking on how Katie was doing, where she was and allowing Katie to touch her and hold her in places she won’t let others. Even the owners of the facility came out to watch and talked about the bond between Katie and Squirt.
That bond is so strong that today the trainer and the therapist in the water with Katie just let them do their own thing. Katie would ask if she could do something and the trainer would give a quick hand signal and that was it. They danced in the water together, Squirt took Katie around the lagoon a couple of times and they both laughed and smiled together. It was almost like they were meant to be with each other.
Tomorrow, they are going to allow Squirt to dive with Katie. Only two other kids have ever done this before. Katie is in here element here. Katie is truly happy here and in the water with Squirt.
I have attached a photo of the two of them dancing in the water. Look at it with the mind of a child, look at it with the mind of a parent who wants nothing but the best for their child and I know you will see LOVE. But, most of all, you will know that for this week, Katie can touch love. And for this week, love is named SQUIRT.
We are in Key Largo, FL spending a week here with Katie while she is doing dolphin assisted therapy. We did this 3 years ago and are kicking ourselves for not coming back sooner. Anyway, the first time we were here, Katie spent the week with a wonderful dolphin named Squirt and her calf Fiji. We could tell that something special was going on from the moment Katie got on the platform to get in the water. She could not wait and had no fear of being next to the dolphins.
That week was a wonderful and magical time. You could see the bond that Katie made with Squirt and the entire staff at Island Dolphin Care. The high point of the week was on Wednesday. You see, the dolphin will only do what the trainer on the platform tells them to do. They are trained that way. It is a safety issue of course. Well, half way through her time in the water that day, Katie, in loudest voice said, “I love you Squirt, you’re my best friend”. Squirt stopped in the water half way between the platform the trainer was on and where Katie was. She looked at the trainer then back to Katie. Leeann and I were confused as to what was going on, but the trainer just nodded her head yes and Squirt swam over and gave a Katie a kiss.
Not a big deal you say, well it is. You see that had only happened one, let me repeat that ONE other time at Island Dolphin Care. Everyone who saw it was in tears and when the trainer told us how special that was, Leeann and I both started to cry.
We have always said that Katie has a special connection to animals. Look at her room, it looks like stuffed animal kingdom in there sometimes. You should see her at the farm with the horses, it’s almost like she talks to them at times. But this, this was so different.
Well, that was three years ago. We had been trying for the past 3 years to go back but the timing was never right. This year everything fell into place and we were able to make it back. It worked out well since this is Katie’s fall break, so no school was missed. One thing we were worried about was if Katie would remember much about the dolphins or if the dolphins would remember Katie. We weren’t sure she would even get to be with Squirt this time. Much to our surprise, Katie remembered it all the moment she walked in the door. She remembered the tanks in the lobby, she remembered where the dolphins were at and couldn’t wait to get to them. But most of all, she was going to be with Squirt again.
Katie got in the water with Squirt and she was right at home. But the minute she said, “Squirt, I love you”, Squirt knew just who Katie was. The trainer, Wendy, looked at us and said “now I remember her and so does Squirt”. She wasn’t kidding either. It was almost like Katie was one of her own calf’s. Squirt could not get close enough to Katie. She was always checking on how Katie was doing, where she was and allowing Katie to touch her and hold her in places she won’t let others. Even the owners of the facility came out to watch and talked about the bond between Katie and Squirt.
That bond is so strong that today the trainer and the therapist in the water with Katie just let them do their own thing. Katie would ask if she could do something and the trainer would give a quick hand signal and that was it. They danced in the water together, Squirt took Katie around the lagoon a couple of times and they both laughed and smiled together. It was almost like they were meant to be with each other.
Tomorrow, they are going to allow Squirt to dive with Katie. Only two other kids have ever done this before. Katie is in here element here. Katie is truly happy here and in the water with Squirt.
I have attached a photo of the two of them dancing in the water. Look at it with the mind of a child, look at it with the mind of a parent who wants nothing but the best for their child and I know you will see LOVE. But, most of all, you will know that for this week, Katie can touch love. And for this week, love is named SQUIRT.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Release the Doves.....
There are fireworks in the sky today, there is joy in the hearts of little kids everywhere and yes, there is even joy in Mudville (if you have to ask, you don't remember one of the greatest sports poems of all time).
I HAVE MY IPHONE BACK!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, Yes, Yes I know it had been a long, long cold winter, but spring has arrived.
Today Lee and I went to the Apple Store (my favorite place in the mall next to Victoria Secrets & Torrid) and got rid of the dreaded BlackBerry. I feel right with the world again, my phone knows me, I know my phone. All is well.
So, vote for someone, anyone this election year, let the Yankees win the World Series, watch the Redskins go 0-17 and the Cowboys win the Super Bowl and let Lost .... well, let Lost be lost. I don't care, I have my iPhone back.
I need a hug!!!!
I HAVE MY IPHONE BACK!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, Yes, Yes I know it had been a long, long cold winter, but spring has arrived.
Today Lee and I went to the Apple Store (my favorite place in the mall next to Victoria Secrets & Torrid) and got rid of the dreaded BlackBerry. I feel right with the world again, my phone knows me, I know my phone. All is well.
So, vote for someone, anyone this election year, let the Yankees win the World Series, watch the Redskins go 0-17 and the Cowboys win the Super Bowl and let Lost .... well, let Lost be lost. I don't care, I have my iPhone back.
I need a hug!!!!
Saturday, August 9, 2008
End of vacation
Yes, it is a sad day, the end of a great Florida vacation. As I write this I am sitting in the airport in Orlando getting ready to board our flight back to Knoxville. We had a nice morning with Leeann's dad. We had breakfast with him and his wife. It was nice. We drove down to Orlando from St. Augustine with plenty of time to spare.
We got to the airport and found out we had to wait an hour before we could check into our airline. That was fine, we went to the side area and found a couple of seats to just wait it out. As we were sitting down this blonde lady came up to me and said "It is amazing the people you meet in an airport" and started hugging me. I though who in the hell is this lady and why is she hugging me? Come to find out it is my aunt Barbara from my mom's side of the family. We spent the hour waiting just talking to her. She is one of my favorite family members from my mom's side of the family. Found out she lives here in Florida and was going to Knoxville on the same flight we are on. She is going to see her dad in Kingsport, TN. He is not doing well and she is making an overnight trip to see him.
Well, they are about to call our flight. Back to work, back to a normal life. SO SADDDDDD.
And, get this, Katie starts school on Monday, that is nuts if you ask me.
We got to the airport and found out we had to wait an hour before we could check into our airline. That was fine, we went to the side area and found a couple of seats to just wait it out. As we were sitting down this blonde lady came up to me and said "It is amazing the people you meet in an airport" and started hugging me. I though who in the hell is this lady and why is she hugging me? Come to find out it is my aunt Barbara from my mom's side of the family. We spent the hour waiting just talking to her. She is one of my favorite family members from my mom's side of the family. Found out she lives here in Florida and was going to Knoxville on the same flight we are on. She is going to see her dad in Kingsport, TN. He is not doing well and she is making an overnight trip to see him.
Well, they are about to call our flight. Back to work, back to a normal life. SO SADDDDDD.
And, get this, Katie starts school on Monday, that is nuts if you ask me.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
A nice vacation away........
It is late in the year I know, but we are on a much needed vacation to St. Augustine, FL. We flew into Orlando this past Sunday and drove into Daytona Beach. I was not impressed by Daytona at all. It reminded me of Myrtle Beach. I am not a fan of commercialized beach areas. I much prefer a smaller more quite beach to go to. I know, I know that Daytona is commercial beach, but I guess it is one of those things everyone has to do once in their lives and this was our time to do Daytona.
We flew in to Orlando Sanford Airport and that is where the enjoyable part of our trip ended. We rented a car from Alamo rent a car. We had to walk a LONG way to the rental desk and then we had to deal with a very rude customer service rep. Had to tell him our name three times for him to find our reservation. We prepaid for our car online for the whole week, but we had to pay for the taxes when we got to the car. That didn't make any sense to us, but when you they have your money already, what are you going to do. We rented an SUV for our trip. When I got the contract, the customer service rep. (I use that term lightly) pointed out the door and said "The SUV's are to the left, pick one." HUH????? Seems that all the cars out there had the keys in them, just pick the car you want and off you go. Not sure that is the best way to rent cars. Ours had some damage to the rear bumper but no one around to check it out, but we made sure that the girl at the booth leaving the parking lot was aware of it. Not sure it will make any difference, but we did what we could.
We got to Daytona and the fun just kept on rolling. We stopped at a "Popeye's" chicken for a quick bite to eat. Wish we hadn't done that after we saw the bathroom. I won't go into great detail, but lets say if the health department had stopped in, they would have been shut down in 5 minutes. So, we make it to our hotel. The Hilton Beach Front. HIlton. A good name in the hotel business right? We thought so when we booked the place. It took us 45 minutes (yes, I said 45 minutes) to check in. The person at the front desk could not speak english very well at all. He seemed to have a problem running a gift card we got for our trip. You know, a $100 gift card from Visa or American Express that is prepaid. We got those as apposed to using cash on this trip. Much safer and easier to replace if something happens.
So, anyway, after 45 minutes we get assigned out room. AT THE OTHER END OF THE COUNTY!!!! It took us almost 25 minutes to walk from one end of the hotel to the other, up 4 floors on a stuffy elevator, then down a long, LONG hallway to our room. A nice room, but backwards. We got a king room with a sleeper sofa for Katie. The king bed was in the front part of the room right when you walked in the room and the sofa sleeper was in the back part of the room near the balcony. It should have been the other way around. The air condition worked on Katie's side, but for her to sleep, we had to close the doors and that made out side very hot. Not to mention the bed was hard as a rock and I never sleep very good in a hotel the first night. Never mind the fact that I worked a wedding the night before until 11:30pm and got up for our flight at 6:30am the next morning. I was tired.
But, we did go out to the beach for a few minutes and Katie, Leeann and I had a great time playing in the surf. Katie loves the waves crashing down on her. It never got old for her. This is the view from our room the next morning:
We were going to stay in Daytona for two days, but after a very bad dinner and the fact we could not make phone call from our cells phone from our room, we decided to head on up to St. Augustine Beach and spend some time with Leeann's dad. The drive up A1A was wonderful. Right along the coast line, lots of beach and ocean views. We have spent nearly every day at the beach so far this week. Katie is loving playing in the waves and had learned to use a boogie board to ride the waves in. So has Leeann and they both have been having a blast. Her are a couple of pics from today:
Well, one more day at the beach and then it is back home Saturday for us. Hard to believe but Katie starts school on Monday.
I will tell you about our trip home when we get there.
We flew in to Orlando Sanford Airport and that is where the enjoyable part of our trip ended. We rented a car from Alamo rent a car. We had to walk a LONG way to the rental desk and then we had to deal with a very rude customer service rep. Had to tell him our name three times for him to find our reservation. We prepaid for our car online for the whole week, but we had to pay for the taxes when we got to the car. That didn't make any sense to us, but when you they have your money already, what are you going to do. We rented an SUV for our trip. When I got the contract, the customer service rep. (I use that term lightly) pointed out the door and said "The SUV's are to the left, pick one." HUH????? Seems that all the cars out there had the keys in them, just pick the car you want and off you go. Not sure that is the best way to rent cars. Ours had some damage to the rear bumper but no one around to check it out, but we made sure that the girl at the booth leaving the parking lot was aware of it. Not sure it will make any difference, but we did what we could.
We got to Daytona and the fun just kept on rolling. We stopped at a "Popeye's" chicken for a quick bite to eat. Wish we hadn't done that after we saw the bathroom. I won't go into great detail, but lets say if the health department had stopped in, they would have been shut down in 5 minutes. So, we make it to our hotel. The Hilton Beach Front. HIlton. A good name in the hotel business right? We thought so when we booked the place. It took us 45 minutes (yes, I said 45 minutes) to check in. The person at the front desk could not speak english very well at all. He seemed to have a problem running a gift card we got for our trip. You know, a $100 gift card from Visa or American Express that is prepaid. We got those as apposed to using cash on this trip. Much safer and easier to replace if something happens.
So, anyway, after 45 minutes we get assigned out room. AT THE OTHER END OF THE COUNTY!!!! It took us almost 25 minutes to walk from one end of the hotel to the other, up 4 floors on a stuffy elevator, then down a long, LONG hallway to our room. A nice room, but backwards. We got a king room with a sleeper sofa for Katie. The king bed was in the front part of the room right when you walked in the room and the sofa sleeper was in the back part of the room near the balcony. It should have been the other way around. The air condition worked on Katie's side, but for her to sleep, we had to close the doors and that made out side very hot. Not to mention the bed was hard as a rock and I never sleep very good in a hotel the first night. Never mind the fact that I worked a wedding the night before until 11:30pm and got up for our flight at 6:30am the next morning. I was tired.
But, we did go out to the beach for a few minutes and Katie, Leeann and I had a great time playing in the surf. Katie loves the waves crashing down on her. It never got old for her. This is the view from our room the next morning:
We were going to stay in Daytona for two days, but after a very bad dinner and the fact we could not make phone call from our cells phone from our room, we decided to head on up to St. Augustine Beach and spend some time with Leeann's dad. The drive up A1A was wonderful. Right along the coast line, lots of beach and ocean views. We have spent nearly every day at the beach so far this week. Katie is loving playing in the waves and had learned to use a boogie board to ride the waves in. So has Leeann and they both have been having a blast. Her are a couple of pics from today:
Well, one more day at the beach and then it is back home Saturday for us. Hard to believe but Katie starts school on Monday.
I will tell you about our trip home when we get there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)