And The Funk Goes On...

Hey there, just a quick note to say hi, and to let you all know that Jordan is home and doing great. Thanks for thinking of her and praying for her health, I'm sure that she appreciates it. It is too bad that the Doctor's couldn't find out what was wrong with her. She dies appear to be doing better, although we are all keeping a guarded eye on her.

Some of you may have noticed that I did something I hadn't done in a while, which was miss a few days of posting. I was trying to think up a good excuse, you know so that I can weasel my way back into the Blog365 world. Alas, I cannot tell a lie, I just wasn't motivated. I saw it coming, but couldn't snap out of it.

Anyway, I'm currently in a project from H-E-Double hockey sticks, so...

Gotta go!

Maybe my Blog 365 will start with today! (Who am I kidding, that takes a lot out of a person)

God Bless!

What To Do With This Life Of Mine?

Today, I went through a 'specialization day' with my Ministry Formation class. This is a day where we picked three different subjects, or ministries, in which we have an interest in. They include: Youth Ministry, Family Life, Evangelizing, Religious Ed, Compassionate Care, Justice and something (sorry, I can't remember), Respect Life and Diaconate.

I think that was all of them.

Okay, so I picked Evangelizing, Diaconate and Family Life. Why? Well, I am already pretty involved in Religious Ed and with Youth Ministry, so why not spread my wings a little you know.

First up, Evangelizing. I enjoyed this class very much, the presenter was very enthusiastic and told great stories about how she evangelizes, etc.. Did a huge plug for Light of the World retreats and talked about how we should be evangelizing in our every day lives. Okay, I'm good with that, and will try to do more as life continues me along this journey - wherever that is taking me.

Next, the Diaconate. Okay, to be honest with you, I really didn't think that I would get a whole lot out of this. I mean let's get real here. I have six kids, aged 17, 13, 10, 8, 5, and 2. Not exactly allowing for a lot of extra time with those stats, now is there? God has a great sense of humor, because after listening to Monsignor Shwartz, I honestly felt like this was where I was to go next.

Uh, did I mention the kids?

I did, and since I have a great knack with the kids, any kid it seems, Monsignor threw this my way... "Your ministry could be with anything we are talking about today, even youth ministry."

Okay, now that is freaking scary.

Plus there is a lot of homework and other stuff that is included. AND you have to be spiritually mature. I don't think that I am, at this point... Again from the Monsignor "We're not looking at your education, or anything like that, we will train you." Homework! "Not as much as Ministry Formation..." I seriously doubt this, because first off, it's a five year program, as opposed to the current two year program I am in. "Your wife has to be in totally, you are a team. She would be the wife of a Deacon, not a Deacon's wife (okay, totally paraphrasing here, but he basically was saying that my wife would need to be a partner with me through my journey(if I were to take it) and that she would NOT be expected to do what I was)" That will seal the deal, Jenni doesn't want to do that. Maybe. We'll have to pray on it.

Okay, when I pray on things like this wonderful and mystical things start to happen, like I become more mature, responsible and committed to doing something correctly and properly. Or something like that. Will my heart convince my mind that this is what I want to do, at this time? I have thought about it before, but the kids were my best excuse. However, by the time I would complete the program, which doesn't start until next summer, the kids will be 23, 19, 16, 14, 11, and 8. A lot more manageable.

But Jenni would have a larger load to handle around the house. Okay stop, before I bust a gut from laughing so much. Who exactly, do you think is doing it already. Oh yeah, you have a point.

I'm going to be praying on it, and I am asking you all to do the same for me, please.

Finally, I went to Family Life, after lunch, in a warm room. Enough said.

That's it for now, more later as I have a letter to post. I wonder what it will be?

Because I Have No Creativity...

Your Movie Buff Quotient: 48%

You are well on your way to becoming a movie buff. You've seen many of the great films, and you have even probably developed an expertise in a few genres.

Are You a Movie Buff?

Panic in Bugland!!

Now why, dear friends, would your lovable Bug be panicking you ask? Could it be that he doesn't have a new and really awesome list for you tonight? Naw, I never know until I sit down, and the mood takes me over....

Maybe it's because six of the seven most important people in his life are in Iowa? Could be, but a hotel room with this cough would be tough on everyone, and the Bug would be sleeping out in the car. I do miss them though, at least Andy and the movie "Across The Universe" will keep him company.

Ooh, one of my favorite scenes is on right now... Jim Sturgess singing 'I've Just Seen A Face' in a bowling alley - good times! Oh, and I am being serious. The only part(s) of this movie I don't like are the circus bit, and weird mermaid bit that follows Bono's version of 'I Am the Walrus.' Again. I am totally serious.

Back to my panic. You see, I have several computers in my household, some more useful than others. However, I have one, that used to be my main home computer, until... well I have six kids, five of which are pretty good at using these blasted things, and, well you get the picture. So, Jenni and I bought ourselves our own computer, deemed to be "kid-free." Apparently the kids found some sort of loophole in the ruling, or went to the 9Th Circuit Court of Appeals (the bane of normal thinking Americans, in my most humble opinion), and have slowly taken over this computer. I don't even want to talk about "my" laptop.

ANYWAY - my what tangents I can start to weave, (ugh!) sorry. Me and my muse.

Like I was saying, the computer downstairs was the main computer, then one day it decided that it didn't want to be a part of the family and *poof!* bye-bye music, photos, tax returns, etc. We took it to a friend of ours, who likes tinkering with these beasts and... well it runs. Unfortunately, for us, it seems to be tied directly to our connectivity issues here.

See where the panic started, yet?

When the computer downstairs is off, the Internet runs smooth and wonderful. I would say that it is Comcastic - but we don't use them for that. :) That's a personal commentary for some other time.

Cubbie likes to make movies, either homemade ones or edited versions of others. For instance, a friend of his doesn't really care for the whole circus/mermaid thing either. So she asked him to edit it out. All well and good, except that he needs to use the ... you guessed it ... downstairs computer. So, here it is coming on 10:30PM locally, and I have yet to make a blog entry. Bad news for a Blog365 guy like myself. I need a list as well, so I called Jenni to do it for me... no Internet at the hotel (what kind of torture palace did I send her and the kids to?)

I was seriously contemplating going to work to blog - Folks, what is wrong with THAT picture.

Oh well, Cubbie being the good sport that he is, and the fact that I was possibly going to tear up here, said that he could kill the computer downstairs and allow me to blog.

Aren't my kids the BEST!!

On the Sixtieth Day, They Rested

Now the fine folks at Blog365 (you know, the reason I am blogging every day) decided at the beginning of the year, that tomorrow February twenty-ninth (leap day), would be a day of rest. Why sixty days in, as opposed to, one hundred eighty days is beyond me.

I like taking breaks as much as the next guy, but I think that it would do more harm than good. Too me at least. I enjoy doing this, and I feel that I might even be getting a little better, both in content and writing ability. Well, at least I have had lots and lots of practice, right?

Now, I wonder if I can do a floating holiday, of sorts. You know, take July 4 off instead of February 29? Who do I need to talk to about this predicament? Where is your manager? Who am I kidding, by then I'll have one-hundred eighty-seven days in. Do you really think that I'll want to stop then.

I'm already thinking of contingencies to blog daily from Disney World, in DECEMBER!!

Yes, I have been bitten by the blog bug, and it feels good. Maybe I have finally found my drug, eh? I wonder if I can get paid to do this? Probably would have to clean it up a bit, grammatically, but I think I could do that. All I have to do is write the posts out first, then post.

Hmmm.

I should be able to do NaNoWriMo for sure this year. No excuses, except maybe blogging. I've only "tried" to do it for the past three years, with the total number of words equaling less than the number of fingers on one hand, that is being used to pick some 'gold' out of my nose.

Yes, if you are still with me, after that, my word count total for all three years combined is: Zero. I had noble ambitions each and every year, and refuse to "prepare" for the month, thinking that it was cheating. I mean if you write an outline of what you are going to write, then... know what I'm saying?

Plus, I'm not an outline kind of guy anyway.

This will be the last sentence for this entry, how long it is, depends on how long I continue to type without hitting that period key, over there, because I can ramble on, as many of you have noticed if I were to post a comment on your blog, either because I found you witty or deep, or maybe it was deeply witty.

Okay, I lied. :)

I Have 122 Minutes

to come up with something here, or else I will have failed to Blog 365.

No pressure.


Actually there is, because for the first time in fifty-odd days, my mind is not working. Okay, it is working, but it just doesn't seem to have that pizazz that I like it to have. Jenni says I'm a little wound up, or was it tightly wound? Either way, it is not good for the writing process, especially MY writing process; which entails, just going for it.

I still need a catalyst though.

Nothing.

This sucks, let me tell you. I mean I could understand if I was writing great fiction and had a real deadline - not that Blog 365 isn't a 'real' deadline, but if I don't blog, well I can still eat. You know what I'm saying?

You know what I'm saying? What the HELL does THAT mean? I mean really? I am at a loss for words, actually it's because my head is full of giggles whenever I hear that phrase. Kind of like when I count the number of times the word 'like' is misused in teen aged speak. If you want to have some fun, just listen and start counting. THEN mention it to them, and see what happens. It's marvelous, really it is.

Right now the girls are in bed, well Cuddlebug and Magpie, and so is Monster. The other three are at the HIAL conference with their mother.

Okay, Monster just yelled out "Daddy!" Now he is up to six, seven... Okay, there is a pause... I think that he is going back to sleep... Nope. Let me check on him. His ears must have been burning. :) Or my typing is too loud.

I think it was the "loud" typing, because once I stopped, he stopped. Now I am back, for now.

Need a new train to hop onto though, since the other one left me in it's dust.

LHS got the Cubs tickets. Now I just have to get the money from him; which should be easy considering I'm the only person that can make withdrawals from his account - or if I were in Alabama, Withdrawls :)

My Father in-law went through an official mass to make him an official DIT (Deacon In Training). At least that is the best I could come up with, to describe it. So in three years we will have a Deacon in the family, two if you count his cousin. Both will become Deacons in three years. Pretty cool, if you ask me.

Extra space, for no reason at all.

Maybe I should write like Larry King. In bullets. Of course, does he even still write an article? I have no idea, because truth be told, I didn't really care about what he wrote. I just like the short bullets. Kind of like short chapters in books. James Patterson does a great job of that - I know there are others, his name just popped into my head first.

Over at Kalynne's blog you can read what it is like to give birth to nine kids. Some pretty humorous stuff. Especially the twins. Good stuff. If I were to include mine for my six, they would mostly consist of me passing out. Really. I kid you not. One time I had a nurse scare the crap out of me because she was waving one of them ammonia sticks at me. Yes I said AT me, almost like it was a weapon, because I had o leave the room for air. Hey Cuddlebug had arrived safely, I saw that part... I just needed to recuperate, that's all. :) Besides the real fun with her started at out one, the following morning. I'll save that for a future blog... I can tease too, you know. :)

Okay, aren't you glad that I had "nothing?" I must stop, because my oldest children and their mother will be arriving shortly. In fact, LHS just walked through the door.

So goodnight to all, and God Bless!

Guitar Heroes Ruin School Work for Hard-Working Man (Yeah Right)

Oh my!

I only posted a little blurb about changing the template and that was it. The Blog365 people are going to be mad at me. Excuse me for having a tough day....

Worked ten hours, or was it twelve? And this was actual work, not sit around with free moments galore work. I was getting frazzled. Even my lovely bride told me that I should leave and get away - oh and to pick up LHS from work (he's still grounded from driving). Do being the dutiful husband that I am, I came home.

Then I had the tough task of taking control of the Wii for a little more than an hour, playing Guitar Hero III.

Yes I did.

Got myself a couple of five star reviews even.

Maybe I should move up to Medium, eh?

Or not. After all, I have a goal of getting at least four star reviews before moving on to the next song, much to the annoyance of my family that has to listen to 'My Name is Jonas' by Weezer, six times in a row. Okay, maybe not for THAT song, but there have been songs that I play over and over and... I think I am at level five now, after just besting the "European Invasion" section.

Hey go over and check out Manic's site later today. She is hosting an awards show for all of the blood donor's in Manic's First Annual Blood Drive. There were thirty-three donors in all, that is ninety-nine lives saved. How awesome is that? Yea Manic!!

Back to my 'tough' day.

I then watched my kids play GH III, after all the family that plays Guitar Hero together stays together. :)

The rest of the eveing is a blur... I remember looking at my school work that is due, then I came up with excuse that because I didn't have a three-hole punch I just couldn't concentrate. That and Metallica's "One" on Guitar Hero might of had something to do with it. Can't wait until we get that second guitar!

Then there was the half-hearted attempt at making something to eat, my five-year old little Magpie decided that throwing away the rest of the dinner that was prepared for all, was necessary. Of course, this also happened while I was playing the game. I think. So I took some radiotore (sic) pasta, some corn, some tuna, some cheddar from Vermont (thanks again for the gift Mom and Dad!), some pepper, garlic salt and mayo. Mix it all together and you have, something. Tasted alright to me, although the cheddar was a tad bit sharper than I was expecting. Magpie said it smelled, Monster kept saying "some, some" until he tried it and made that sucking on a lemon face, Cuddlebug said she liked it. Those were the only comments I remember from it, if the other four people in my house said anything about it I don't recall it.

Last thing I remember was watching Benjy playing "Anarchy in the U.K." while I was lying on the coach.

You guessed it. At 4:17am my alarm went off and I was still on the coach. So restful. Not.

Now I am back at work, trying to make amends for yesterday, BEFORE the work begins. I love my job. Really, I do.

I think.

***Extra Note -- before anyone gets the misguided idea that all we do is play video games, I must point out that the boys could not play until they had all of their school work done, the girls were busy "cleaning" their rooms. Rooms that looked really good AFTER mom went through the inspection process (i.e. cleaning up after the cleaning). So there. Besides, isn't Tuesday night game night in your households?

Have a great day!

NaBloPoMo Anyone?

You all know how much I love these kind of things, right?

Anyway.

I do.

So, starting on March 1, there will be a NEW NaBloPoMo for every month - with themes!!! For instance, March's theme is Lists. So I will have to come up with thirty-one unique lists, I am assuming that they need to be unique; otherwise what is the point, right?

Feel free to give me some list ideas. Otherwise there might be lists about ten ways to drink Diet Coke - okay, that would be an easy one, but you understand.

On top of the monthly committment I am making, I still have my annual one, for Blog365. Yes, I am insane, but still doing okay after forty-six days. Wow, has it been that many already? Cool.

Bye-bye

Tax Time!!

Yep, and it is all over and done for me now. Which, of course, means that I must be getting a refund. :-)

Mr. Tax man, send me a dream (preferably in CASH). Now it would be nice if it were enough to pay for a vacation somewhere warm, alas poor Bug, it is not so. I think I can buy a case or two of beer though, and Jenni can get some of her fancy drinks as well. Maybe we'll make ourselves a new tax deduction.... You never know what God has in store.

Had fun at work. Yep, even on a Saturday. I only wish that people would realize (the people in this instance being the admin staff), that I get a lot of work done on Saturday's, while getting paid a premium, and I don't really want to be bothered with the normal day-to-day things.

I mean just because I know and have the answers, doesn't mean that I want to be asked, or tell you about it. :-)

I really am a teddy bear at work, and just like to talk tough. I think.

Came home to a night without television. What a beautiful thing. We are practicing for Lent, when we give up the "Boob Tube" for an entire six weeks. And we don't "cheat" on Sundays.

Okay new things on the blog for you to witness, look at, or just ignore. Both new items are courtesy of Philosopher-Mom, so if they really annoy you, go and tell her. She'll love both you and me for it.

The first thing is Blog rush, after they approve me of course. Which, it looks like they might have, because there is content in there. I put my category as aspiring writer, but I think this blog may lean more toward the personal diary category. Oh well, I think I can change it later, if I choose to.

The other is site meter, so I can see how many people aren't coming here. I know that Kalynne got a visitor from France. Which is cool, especially if you can speak French. I took French in ninth grade, oh about 25 years ago. Unfortunately, I can only say/read a couple of phrases so... if you are visiting from France and would like to teach me, then we'll have some fun!

Speaking of France, I too had a visitor from there. She gave me a hard time for my short post from a couple of days ago. So, now I have to make sure that I have long posts. Do they have to be interesting? :-) I can go through the process of calibrating a torque wrench if you'd like, but I would probably fall asleep before I finished, so I think I will stick to talking about me and my family. Oh and we can't forget the weather, the Denver Broncos, the Catholic Church, the...

Did I mention that my taxes are done?

I am as happy as these little people! I don't have to wait for any W-2s. or any 1099-int, -R, -whatever!

Okay, I think that I have been here long enough tonight. Besides there is laundry to be processed, and money to be spent. (Mrs. Bug and I have to figure out which brand of beer to purchase, and whether or not to go with the 'Top Shelf' good stuff this year.)

Have a great evening!

Can you believe it?

I just signed up for a new NaBloPoMo, only this one is for a whole year. Yep, 365 days of posting -except leap day, of course. Yep, taking a break one sixth of the way through makes sense, but I don't make the rules, I just play along. Can we do it?

Sure, why not.

See you in 2008! or tomorrow (maybe)