THIS OLD HOUSE

The topic of discussion this week is...MOVING!
After nearly 4 years in the same house, our family is moving up to a larger and nicer house in the same area of PSL. I am really looking forward to getting into a bigger house but it is not without mixed emotion.

I have been in this old house for about 4 years now, I got a great deal on the move-in back in 04. The house had been vacant for a while and was completely trashed. The landlords were willing to let me move in with only 1st months rent and exchange the other deposits for fixing the place up.

In the time that I have been in this house, My Son and oldest daughter have grown so much. I have been through a divorce, and remarried and had another child, all in this old house. Over the years and with Danielles help I have fixed the place up pretty nicely, we've painted, replaced light fixtures and plumbing fixtures and covered the walls with photos of the children turning the old house in to a home.

This old house my not be pretty, but she has been a strong and sturdy shelter through all of the storms that life and mother nature have thrown at me over the years. I survived a divorce in this house and sought shelter fromt the now ex-wife by living in the garage for 3 months. During the hurricanes of 03 and 04 I sought shelter in this old house and she protected me, my family and our belongings when many others lost everything. I met my Wife Danielle while living here and concieved Natalie, watched her grow in her mommy's tummy and brought her home in this old house.

Aside from not being overly attractive, this old house had a few design flaws that I cussed often and ruthlessly such as the small master closet and poorly designed laundry room but these things not only gave the house character but I'm sure that in some small way have added to my character as well.

If these walls could speak I know that they would have quite a story to tell. Although it was only 4 years, it seems that I have amassed a lifetime of memories here and even though I'm looking forward to moving on, I will miss this old house very much........

The "ie's" have it.

I don't know what it is about a little girl that makes the world such a beautiful place. I've been spending a little extra time with AJ lately and I am in awe at how she is in love with so many things. Adults are just unable to express the amazement in seeing new things and seeking out familiar objects in the world around us quite the way that a child does.

My daughter who is four doesn't come right out and say "I love the birds, or horses or cat's or dogs" She expresses her undying affection for these things with the suffix "Y" or "IE" Such as kittie or doggie or birdie....you get the picture.....Maybe not, but I just did and it warmed my heart in a way that only a daughter can for her father. And that moment of love and amazement came with one word......Daddy!

I know that as the days turn in to weeks, and the weeks turn into months, and then into years she will drop many of those ie's and y's. The horsie will become a little less special and turn into a plain ole' horse and the beloved doggies and kitties will become commonplace and be simply called cats and dogs. I truly hope and pray that through the years, good times and bad times that I will always be her......Daddy!

Shee's I'm FAT!!!!!

Ohmagoodness! I was looking over a few photos in the trusty family photojournal and couldn't believe it. .I had done really well at keeping my weight under 180 for the last few years (necessary because of foot problems) right up until Danielle started gaining baby weight. I dunno what it is, pregnant women make me fat. I think it's some sorta hormone osmosis sort of thing but I swear it really happens.

Anyhoo. Right now I'm camping out at about 20????? ok, 205 which really shouldn't be too bad cause I was 220. I've lost a total of 15 pounds in 6 months. Les see.....That works out to......divided by 6, carry the 3........find the calculator cause I'm an idiot...... 2.5 pounds a month or....... 8/100's of a pound a day :( I am not even remotely impressed with my will power.

I think the biggest problems (I love casting blame) is that my wife can really cook. I mean, anyone can put some groceries together but this woman can really COOK! She has spent a lot of TV time watching food network and has retained much of what she has seen. To make matters worse regardless of who's cooking we always seem to cook enough for 5 grown people in our house. Not such a bad deal except we're only 2 adults, 2 punks and a baby. I was of course brought up under the war cry of "clean your plate, there are starving people in china that would be greatful for this food" I didn't much care for that concept then but it kinda stuck. So......calculating the shipping costs of sending my leftovers to China sorta scared me so I feel that it is my patriotic duty to make sure that none of this food goes to waste. I'm afraid of leftovers after they have been in the fridge for more than 4 hours so the only logical place to put it is...IN MY BELLY!

Again this wouldn't be a problem if it was bad food, I'd find some way to ship it to China but since Danielle is doing such a good job and in the interest of not finding fault with myself, I guess I should resign myself to being overweight until all three kids increase their appetites.

Sigh........

And for you crazy internet voyers out there NO! I will not post pictures of my belly chub.