AH! The Things We Remember

I was in the shower thinking, its where I always think for some reason. I realized it was Wednesday. Then without warning I was taken back in time to when my parents first started giving us allowances. We'd get them on Wednesday, that's when my dad got paid.

Anyway I vividly remember leaning against our refrigerator as my parents discussed what was expected for the dollar. I wasn't really paying attention, I just kept thinking...I'm gonna get RICH!

Now you know we didn't get rich and by and by the allowance went away, but it is interesting what you think about in the shower.

Eureka!

I've got it figured out now, I'm suffering from "Social Jet Lag". My sleep clock is not in sync. So I wonder if my boss will let me sleep in on workdays.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/10/health/social-jet-lag-obesity/index.html

Memorial Day

On this Memorial Day, I realized I come from a family of veterans. My maternal grandfather, my father, my brother and I all served in the military. Thankfully none of us paid the ultimate sacrifice for our service.

The military is a family. We brother's in arms, feel the loss of each member we lose during military operations. It takes a toll. But it re-enforces the price of the freedom we enjoy today. Despite what one may think of the reasons we send our men and women off to war, we must remember it takes a special spirit to sign up and know that each day you may be asked to give your life for others.

So please on this memorial day, take time to remember the fallen, and give your favorite veteran a hug. Its the least you can do.

Everyday Certainly is Groundhog Day

I was asked once why I don't post everyday. My answer was a bit flippant. I said the blog was called Everyday is Groundhog Day so all the days are the same. No need to write everyday, they're all the same.

I like to write, I'm not very good at it, but I like it. I'm also torn by the medium used. I like my electrons. I am, after all, a geek, but there's something to be said for journals and fountain pens. Writing down your thoughts in a library strewn with red oak and old books. Leather reading chairs...heaven.

But everyday here is like groundhog day. Weekdays start with the alarm at 4:00, I hit the snooze more times than I'd like. My intention is to walk the treadmill, but usually just hit the snooze. Shower, dress, sometimes actually eat something, drive to work about 5:20ish. At work by 6:00, email, workflow, meetings. Lunch at 11:00, more meetings, head home by 3:30 unless I have to work overtime. Television, dinner, bed.

Weekends aren't any better. Awake at 8:00-9:00, television, breakfast, television, lunch, television, dinner, television, bed. Real exciting isn't it. This is what makes summer especially bad, no new shows on to watch.

We did go out to Ecanto's last night. A local band plays there about once a month and a friend of ours has a friend in the band, they play 70's folk rock. Its usually a good time.

I guess I'll have to start trying harder to live a more interesting life, so I'll have interesting things to put in the blog.

Till Death Do You Part

I was a junior in high school, she was a senior. My best friend, Larry, was working with her at Zarda's Dairy. I asked him to introduce me to her, they were both trainees so I was introduced to his 'sister' Sheryl Trainee. I was lost from the start, not sure what she thought at the time, but a couple of days later I did tell him that someday I was going to marry that girl.

We were in choir together and I chased her for over two years, primarily through roses. I would cut a rose of my mom's rose bush and take to her. Then I figured I would take roses to her mother, that helped alot. We dated all through college and she even let me join the military, yes I needed her approval.

One Christmas with the ring I bought with my $100/month stipend from my ROTC Scholarship that her mom helped me pick out, I proposed and surprisingly she said yes.

We were married 27 years ago today. It was a beautiful spring day and as you can see my bride was also beautiful. In my eyes she's still just as beautiful.

I was able to put one wife's tale to rest before the wedding. My groomsmen suggested we pose playing cards. The picture is what I was actually dealt. It was a natural straight. They apologized for the lucky in cards, unlucky in love bit, but after 27 years I would say I had the best of both worlds.

Curmudgeon, thy name is Kenneth

So today we had the ATT folks come out for television problems. Really frustrated, called because TV always freezes and sometimes blue screens. Seems to happen at between 11:00 and 15:00. So they ran tests and said there was something wrong with the wiring.

Came out, changed all the connections at the box, changed out the modem and within 2 minutes of the guy leaving it blue screened again. Called the guy back and he went to check the ATT box. Blue screened again twice which I assumed was him testing.

Two hours later TV went out completely for 45 minutes. Called and he said they were testing underground line. Since its back on its blue screened twice and froze three times.

I now know why curmudgeons are the way they are.

What's in a birthday

Forty Eight, not the ultimate answer, that's 42 (See Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy). No that's the number of my birthday. Today is that day. Good news is both my parents lived longer than 48 and since I've made it now I have to assume I have a few more years.

There was a time when I was truly excited by my birthday. I remember one time watching the Kansas City Royals play baseball in old Municipal Stadium on 22 May and being more thrilled about the fact that my birthday was the next day than the ball game I was watching.

But this birthday is just like any other day, I don't want it to be. In fact I think I'll be upset if no one notices or does anything for my birthday, but in the infinite scheme of things it doesn't really matter, its just another day.

I guess it will hit me in two years when I turn the big 50. Now that one scares me. One half of a century is just unfathomable.

Hopefully I feel like celebrating more when I'm 50.