What's New

More of the new year. A new routine and possibly a new house to live in.

January and February have been more promising than originally thought. A new job. Actually it's a very familiar job with a new compnay. The job is driving passengers, the compnay is Company Car in Cleveland, Ohio. I do enjoy it. The hours are a bit long sometimes, but that comes with the territory. Last Tuesday we had the Democratic debates and I think most of the livery companies were kept busy running people around. One of my co-workers had an 18 hour day.

We might be moving in the near future. We want to stay in the same school system so our youngest can graduate high school with her friends. After that we can move anywhere. After that the majority of our childrearing will be done.

It has gone so fast. Yesterday I was standing in a line and nearby was a mom and a newborn. The baby was crying that said I want some activity here! Mom gently rolled the shopping cart back and forth and baby seemed placated for the most part.

I can remember those days like yesterday. You just live your life for your children. It seems like you'll be there forever. But it does pass, they get bigger, different issues to think about. Suddenly they're in high school and graduating! No more Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! I made you a picture! or Mommy! I got you some flowers! Now it's all memories. *sigh*

More adventures lay ahead.

New Year...New...?

New Year's resolutions. Eveybody makes 'em. Nobody keeps 'em. Self-improvement tapes and CD's, exercise equipment, etc. Why do so many resolutions seemingly fail? Maybe the goals are too high as well as the expectations. People have the end result in mind, not the journey. The end result is the new improved you, the ripped abs or whatever. The journey is days and weeks of possibly painful self-discovery or push-ups, sit-ups, sweat, aching muscles. The hard stuff. The hundreds of steps that make up a mile.

Maybe a resolution should be to do something different that will make me a better person. Just one thing. Then keep doing that, every day or every other day. Focus on small measurable stuff.

I got a push-up device advertised on TV. I've been at it for about 21 days according to the schedule that came with the equipment. I don't look like the guy on the box, yet. But I look better than I did before I started. One day at a time, one small step after another. That's how I'll get there. How about you?

The Day After

After a flurry of activity, running around, looking, buying and a marathon of wrapping, the big day arrived. But we also had to make preperations as the hosts for the family Christmas party. Then the guests arrived, an aunt, uncles and four cousins, three under age 12. Sounds of paper tearing and excited squeals. Then the food, relative calm, relaxed conversation. A few hours of fun. Time to leave, divy up the food and pack up the rest and the aunt, uncles, and cousins head home to finally collaspe. We do the same. Wow, it's over.

Merry Christmas.

December's entry?

It's been a while and I apologize for not posting anything sooner. It's been busy and I lost my focus for a while. That can be a problem for bloggers I suppose.

So far my holidays are going okay, all things concidered. Our college student is home for the holidays and our high schooler finished her last day, so now we're all home for the holidays! Lately, I've been wanteing to take pictures of lawn decorations. So far I've only gotten a few. I'm still learning how to use all the settings on my point and shoot Sony S650. It's fun.

One of the things I've done with my camera's settings is to set the megapixels from 7 to 5 so the images aren't so big and therefore can load a bit faster. The image quality doesn't suffer because I'm not enlarging the pics to a size that matters. They won't be any bigger than 4x6 on the computer screen.

There seems to be a cold wanting to rear is ugly head during the holidays. With medicine I could be such a space case and there are so many decisions to be made I don't know how I will get through these days. Rest and fluids.

When we had that snow storm that came through the midwest, there were partial white conditions, and there were people driving around without their headlights! Amazing.

I may be driving for a limo company soon. I have an interview this Friday. Having a CDL helps, you get to drive the big coaches and get bigger tips (I hope).

Well if I don't write again, I hope you all have a happy and blessed holiday season. Stay safe and God Bless.

Things going on

Some time has gone by and I've had some time to think about things. As you know I was laid off from my driving instructor job. It just so happened that I was having second thoughts about it myself. So I guess it all worked out anyway.

I've been putting out applications at some different places, mostly dealing with retail, which is where I did a lot my early work so I'm familiar with the routine. I've been working a bit more on my photography, that's been fun.

I've also found a way to set up my best photos to try and sell them and get paid via PayPal. Actually you can do quite a few things at this place. It's called Freewebs.com. I'll keep you posted on how things go. Right now I'm cautiously optimistic.

Thanksgiving went pretty well, had the relatives over to our house because we have the most room for everybody. On Thanksgiving I was doing some last minute shopping, like so many other people, and I noticed that they turned up the volume on the Christmas music. Before I could hear it faintly in the background. Hmmm.

I think they're pushing the season real hard this year because there are so many bad things going on they have to work extra hard to get peoples attention.

I don't know if it is just me or did it take forever to get to the end of November? December will probably go real fast.

Happy Shopping!

Parenting Rewards

Before I tackle my main topic, I would like to address the issue of the previous post, work and such. In my quest for 'quick work', that is work that can be done without a lot of prep or being hired and such, I have come back to an old favorite of portrait photography. I've got the equipment and skills (technically). The thing that I lack is enough confidence and successful marketing. In this case it seems like I will have to muster determination and apply the saying of; If you don't succeed at first, try, try again. More on this later.

Now to the main topic. One of the early rewards of parenting are the smiles, giggles and laughter that one inevitably sees and hears in the early years of child-rearing. Children like to play and have fun. Being a major contributor to creating an environment where they can play and have fun safely is a great reward. For me when my kids were little , that was my my goal as a parent, to give them that safe happy environment. It wasn't the physical surroundings like house and neighborhood, it was the emotional surroundings. They knew Mom and Dad were okay and would love and protect them. Being a part of their play and laughter was key too, serious bonding going on here.

As they got older I was always there for them, involved in their world through elementary and middle school right up to high school. All the sports, and plays and family activities, I was there as much as I could be. Occasionally I would miss something for work but my heart was always with the family. Being there was easier for me than some as I never got far up any corporate ladder. Anyway, the older the kids got I never let myself feel afraid that they'd find out I was human and flawed. Actually, I did think of that from time to time, but I didn't let it stop me from interacting with them. I say that because I suspect that it is a temptation with a lot of men. Stay with them Dads!

When your children are older you still need to bond with them and maintain it. Be their best friend, do things together. When girls get older they won't need to find boyfriends until later, and boys will have a healthy role model as to what a man is and does. Also you will see them flourish in the things they love whether it's sports, music, theater, arts, whatever it is, you can remember that you gave them than environment to flourish in. That can be more satisfying than anything done for a corporation and can last a whole lot longer, generations longer.

A Change of Plans

It seems that my vocation may be changing in the near future. The driver ed company I worked for is going through a re-structuring, or reorganization of some sort. This involves trimming the staff and so I will be laid off at the end of the year.

I wondered about something like that because I have been getting less and less hours. Making me think about looking to a different vocation anyway. Right now I don't know what that is but I will definitively keep you posted.

In the mean time I thought I might try and perk thing up around here by maybe adding a few appropriate photos or something.