I Rolled my Car!!!

Well, actually it wasn't a car... it was a... sand rail (big boys go-cart)!
A friend of mine has a bunch of property south of here in Chesapeake VA and invited me to test drive his newest toy!
 
I was racing around in his oversized go-cart yesterday and rolled it on a sharp corner!
Here's the story:

Mud was flipping up all over the place off the two front tires.  Without a windshield I was getting the flipping mud in my face!  
I blasted down a straight-away and slammed it into a hard left turn... I was sliding pretty good and mud was going everywhere... and then the over-inflated tires caught on some grass or possibly a hedgehog and the whole left side lifted off the ground.
I couldn't compensate and steer right to get it to come back down 'cause there were trees ahead... so I just held on tight and went for a full 360 roll!!!
 
Thank God for roll bars!
It was fantastic!
 
The engine cut off and I was glad not to be bursting onto flames... but that only happens in the movies.
I finished the rest of the course / track with no incident... except for a chicken that got in the way - I swerved around it out of sheer kindness in my heart... and I also found that I was slowing down into corners a bit.
:)
My shoulder is killing me today... I think I pulled a muscle.
 
But as I always say... Whatever doesn't KILL you only makes you STRONGER!
 
Good thing I'm married to a Physical Therapist!!!!

Killer Bumble Bee

Yesterday there was a huge bumble bee swarming around my kids and I as we played in the backyard.
It was honestly the biggest bumble bee I had ever seen... it looked like a giant hornet on some passes as it buzzed our heads, but it was a bumble bee.
Anyway,  it landed on my son and I smacked it off with my hand.
It flew around for a minute or two and then landed right on the top of my head.
I'm a bit low on hair up there these days, but the giant insect held it's grip despite me shaking my head.
I looked over at my son who had what looked like a book in his hand so I told him to smack the bee.
He pause for a second while I leaned over to give him a better shot.
Then WHAP!!!
My head rang with the jolt of the wood plank.
I saw stars for a second and then asked...
"Did you get it?"
 
"Yeah dad... It kinda popped all over."
I could only image what it looked like, but I was glad no one got stung. 
Woof! 

 
Then I woke up... I hate those kind of dreams.
:)

Abandoned

Weirdest thing happened.
Our cockatiels sat religiously on their 7 eggs for three weeks... then just stepped away.
They decided to move up to their perch and relax... after all that hard work.
Weird.
They seem to be back to their old selves again... playing with the little bell and flying onto my shoulder when I step into the room.
My wife says we need to remove the eggs and toss them before they rot.

Lesson learned: grab the eggs early and you can make tiny little omelets.

Thank God!

Wife Appreciation Week is OVER.
But what I learned lives on.
She and my two daughters arrived safely from Jamaica late in the evening.
I saw my wife and kids for 2 hours.
Got 4 hours sleep and caught a plane out of town for a business trip.
Sheesh.
We finally got a good debrief when I returned after 3 days.

I realize now why mommies don't blog.
If they do... they are amazing to be able to fit that in also!
And now that I'm back at my office... I can get some rest and get back into sketching.
I really miss sketching for my other blog - The Daily Sketch.... which will commence immediately.
:)

Tolerating it - Appreciating it

I realize how tough it is to "NOT WORK".
Sheesh.
When women are asked if they work... their answer should be an astounding "ABSOLUTELY!"
I had tons of fun with my kids this week while my wife was out of town and I knew about all the things she does... but I had no idea they all strung together without a pause.

It was walk the dog breakfast change diaper feed fish dishes wash laundry sweep vacuum straighten lunch clean bathroom change diaper let dog out dry laundry fix light bulb dishes wipe nose fold laundry fix door help with spelling wipe nose dinner let dog out dishes put away laundry brush teeth stories wipe nose change diaper jammies prayers let dog in lock up collapse.

All in between these were drawing pictures phone calls playing games going for walks bike rides and fishing down the street at a pond.

Fun but exhausting.
I can't wait for my wife to get home... so I can appreciate her some more.
:)

CODENAME: PANIC

Operation Mommy's Gone has officially begun.
Late night packing and instructions, baby's got a fever, lousy night's sleep... perfect... wouldn't have it any other way.
We're going for full effect here!
She was at 5:00 and out the door at 5:45am.
Baby wakes up at 5:50... fever reducer from the command center and bam... she's back asleep.
So far so good.
I'm going to work half days this week.
Number 2 [my eldest son - henceforth called RAVEN] will watch/guard the fort while I pop off to keep the papers shuffling at work.
I plan to work 6am to 10am to appease the queen and her evil henchmen.
Home by 10:20ish is the plan.
The phone hasn't rung yet... a good sign.
Raven will be getting them breakfast soon.
It's quite... too quiet.
Must stay alert.
Over and Out

Jamaica Missions Trip and Survival of the Fittest

My wife and two oldest daughters are leaving tomorrow on a Missions Trip to Jamaica.
The team has 24 members from 2 churches.
They plan to minister in construction, community development, small group evangelism/discipleship, sports ministries, Bible teaching and preaching.

The team staying home is ME.
I plan to minister in survival training, scavenging, groveling... and search and rescue operations... I may try to have some fun too.
I have been getting ready by stock-piling hot dogs, chips, cereal and spaghetti.
I put all the first aid equipment on the dining room table which I will use as a main outpost center.

Pray that my 3 sons and one tiny [2yo] daughter and myself survive the week.... Oh... and also that the missions trip is a blessing to many.
:)

Yeah, like... Whatever...

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
Philippians 4:8

Fatherhood

One for Father's Day.
Here is a GREAT article that a friend passed on to me... Put up the Hoop Sooner.

I have 6 kids.
I love them all dearly and can't imagine my life without them... Honestly.
I figured I knew all the tricks of the trade - 'Fatherhood', but it seems every time I read something, I glean a bit from it that makes me a better DAD.

I think I will dedicate this Father's Day to the ones that call me DADDY!

Seven

Oh... and Maya the Cockatiel layed another egg to celebrate my Birthday!
:> o

Happy Birthday to ME!

Well.
I made it.
As unbelievable as it is... even to me... I made it 40 years!Yesterday was my birthday.
I don't think I look 40... nor feel 40... but I honestly don't know what 40 is supposed to look and feel like anyway!

I took the whole day off work because for the past 10 years or so... I haven't worked on my birthday and I'm not going to start now.

It was great.
Besides the new shirts, underwear and misc. treats I am fond of...
My wife brought each of my kids and presented them to me as Gifts.... and they certainly are the most wonderful gifts God has given to me.

They proceeded then to make me an incredible breakfast of an omelet, toast with jam, mango slices, cooked ham, and juice... A fresh strawberry/banana shake too.
We rode bikes and played in the yard, and later all went to pizza.
Fun was had by all.
Not everyone gets this when they turn 40... so I am blessed.

Someone along the way told me that when one turns 40, they turn in all their mental problems for physical ones.
Well, I'm not so sure I am ready to give up all my mental problems!
I have taken YEARS to develop these multiple personalities and I'll be darned If we are going to get rid of them so fast!!!!!

And besides, I'm not even half way yet!
:)

Dear Editor

We are not born with character... good nor bad... we develop it slowly over time.
Same goes for habits.
Good or Bad habits are not part of our life when we arrive here on this planet.
So if you have something in your life that you don't like...
or something that you DO like...
it's because you've taken precious time to place it there.

And if you wish it gone... it will take a precious long time to change.

No better time than today to... EDIT YOUR LIFE!
:)

Egg Count

Six.
:o

Fire Fire Fire

My church burned down [well half of it] last night.
I got a call on my cell phone at 1:30am and rushed right over.
Of course there was nothing we could do but just watch the fire fighters blast our church with water... tons of smoke billowed into the cool night air.

It was hit by lightening around 9:30 in the evening while some of my friends were there for worship practice. They said it was incredibly loud and blew out a couple of the channels on the sound board!

They checked all around and even in the attic... nothing.

A fire broke out sometime after 10:00pm.... apparently it smoldered until it caught onto something flammable in the attic.

It's not all bad news though!
We were wondering which way to expand and now it's fairly obvious!

One of the pastors said something really cool...
"The CHURCH didn't burn down... the BUILDING did!"
:)

This whole thing brings new meaning to being "On Fire for Jesus"!!!!

Pet Update

Eggs
Maya [cockatiel] has 3 eggs now... and probably laying another today.
I wired a make-shift plastic nest into the cage and she is using it!!!
She lined it with tissue and is taking turns sitting on the eggs with Rico... the daddy.
Maya is eating the plaster off the wall behind the cage - a good thing I think. She's getting her necessary calcium.
I think.
What is in plaster anyway?

One Legged Gecko
I had to separate the lizards.
Papa lizard was continuing to hurt Mama... [but her tail nearly off] so I build a nifty little separator wall out of wire mesh.
It effectively divides the 20 gallon tank into 2 separate lizard environments.
Mama hasn't been the same... it's like battered women... the love the guy that is hitting them.
Anyway... she isn't eating and it's only a matter of time unless she gets counseling.

Tae Kwan Do for Inmates

My wife was checking out the local Tae Kwan Do school [just to see what it was all about].
The instructor let my kids participate in the back row of his class.
They LOVED it.
Of course they would... this would be an excuse to smack on each other.
Anyway, the guy asks my wife what I do for a living... and instantly she was aware that her answer was going to set the price of instruction.
She, like George Washington, cannot tell a lie.
After he heard that I was an Architect he smiled and told her some ridiculously high price.

I told my wife later that the best response would have been:
"He is in PRISON. And hopes to be paroled soon".
Since that is actually more the truth.
:)

Life in a Comic Strip

I saw something that made me laugh out loud.

I shouldn't blog about it in case she reads it... but I'm fairly safe because only 2 people I know have ever read this.

Anyway... There is this college student that works here at our office [for the summer]... we call them "Summer Scholars", but the truth is we needed some supplemental slave labor.

She is a pretty girl, totally skinny and a very tall.... VERY tall.... with an BIG afro.
She honestly looks like a giant Q-tip.
Her face is like a cartoon character for some reason that I can't place... like I have seen her among my daughters dolls or on Nichelodeon.
It's like having a 'characature' from some comic strip walking around.

Perhaps I AM IN A COMIC STRIP!!!!
:)

Sand Soccer and Swim Suits

What a fun departure from typical soccer.
My kids were involved in a Sand Soccer Tournament in Virginia Beach this past weekend.
It was great fun for all.
The game is 4 and a goalie against 4 and a goalie on a significantly smaller field - if I had to guess it would be 40 x 60 feet or so. Dinky for soccer.
It was lightening fast despite being in deep dry soft sand. The ball must be airborne to go anywhere - on the sand it rolls a few feet and stops.
At one point in the game the two goalies were throwing the ball at each other, each attempting to make a goal!
They broke the game into thirds rather than quarters and took a 1 minute break in between each.
My kids loved it... though their team lost the tournament.

We all ran over to the ocean surf between games to cool off.
Sand castles, waves, beach soccer... perfect weather [partly cloudy with a nice cool breeze].

In the car on the way home I had this glassy look on my face.
My wife looked over and said "What... is anything wrong?"
I said, "Too many boobs."
She smiled. She knows I'm a man and that I love her more than anyone in the whole world.
Still...
I tell ya, it's tough for a guy with integrity when the swim suits all come bouncing by...
Woof.

Quotable Quote

Sitting on my couch the other day, an old idea I had wondered by.
It looked me straight in the eye and said,

"Hi... I'm your great idea. One day you will look for me and I will be gone."

I think it was wandering around as it anticipates my birthday... another year passes.

Eggs in the Nest

Our cockatiel layed 2 eggs this past weekend!
My kids spotted them first of course.
"Daddy Daddy... Maya layed an egg!"
We all rushed up stairs and found Maya trying to sit on an egg in the bottom of the cage - on the bars.
Sheesh.
I quickly grabbed a shallow plastic bowl, lined it with come tissue and set the single egg in it.
Maya hopped over and sat on her egg in the new nest.
Too cool.
I just got a phone call from home regarding yet another egg in the nest!
Woof... think I better read up on breeding cockatiels.. no wait... we're past that... I need to read up on what to expect should these two eggs ever actually hatch!!!
And as I have just read [on the above link] I can expect MORE EGGS!!!!
YIPE!!!!
:O