Spring Break is upon us! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray!
Leaving frigid Cincy in the AM for somewhat more springy Washington DC.
"And monkey's brains, though popular in Cantonese cuisine are not often found in Washington DC!"
Bonus points if you know the movie!
Well, not a lot to say. Mom and Dad are here, and so far, no major fights!
Hopefully there won't be any for the next 10 days or so!
That's all for now. Maybe I'll get some good photos and post them when we return.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
snow day
another snow day for the tri-state. and just for the record, just how many "tri-states" are there? when i lived in jonesboro, we got the memphis tv stations and they referred to their area as the "tri-state" which included western tn, eastern ark, and ne miss. then i move to cincy and they call this the "tri-state" because of nky, swohio, and seindiana. does new york city refer to itself as the "tri-state" because of nj, ny, and conn? these are things that keep me up at night.
speaking of which, shout out to t-roy for being my first commenter on the butterbean blog! thanks, bro. you're one in a million!
speaking of keeping me up at night, yesterday was my birthday. a little anti-climatic this year due to the whole butterbean arrival countdown, but still a great day. we went to lunch with the staff for mine and philliam's b-days at olive garden. everyone kept going on and on about how we chose olive garden instead of some steak and potatoes joint. as phil told them, "we have class and couth." just because we watch wrestling and monster trucks doesn't mean we don't enjoy a nice chianti with our veal marsala. j/k on that last one. i don't even know what a chianti or veal marsala tastes like, but i'm sure they're good.
anyhoo, we did the day as normal after that, and kim was planning to take me out to supper with neil and emily for my b-day. i went online to fishbowl.com last week and signed up for all the birthday mailer lists through my new junk email (blueashtj@gmail.com) and was able to sift through the various offers of free desserts and entrees and the like. i chose famous daves, but as i was reading the posts on the slickdeals.net site, i found that our fd's in springdale had closed! poppycock! now i had to choose a new restaurant. i chose texas roadhouse, because they sent me 2 things...a free cactus blossom, or a free appetizer. kim informed me that the cactus blossom thingy didn't expire until april 16th, so i'll wait on that one. neil and emily liked cheese fries, so we got those and they were good. i was a little (dawson) leery because of my experiences with the loaded fries at italianette (explosive is the only word that comes to mind), but they were good in moderation. i caved in and upgraded to the 11-oz sirloin, and finished it. it was a good steak. then we went back to the house and had a coldstone birthday ice cream cake. dang it was good. yellow cake with butterfingers and cake batter ice cream all layered up. mmmmmm...cake.....
i didn't fall asleep until around 1150, and the white death was supposd to start around midnight, but it hadn't started at around 330, which is when the indigestion hit. the quick pepcid chewable took that problem and smashed its face in, and i read for about a half hour. then at 6, as i was snoozing away, the phone rang and it was the calldown for teachers. 90 minute delay was the cry. i think i heard teachers rejoicing across the city. i had to wake up cranky, even though she said she was awake and she had to make her call. that's some sort of psycho thing that teachers have to endure on snow days, is to receive a call at an unfortunate hour and then make a call to pass the word on. i think they should just whisper the message, and have them pass it on like that old game telephone. anyway, now i was really awake. the tv went on as we searched the surrounding schools and the various delays. finally there it was...sycamore community schools 90 minute delay. the phone call was justified. the alarm was set for 730, so kim decided to set hers for 730 as well. hers went off about a minute before mine. i got up and went to the shower. as i started the water, i heard a commotion in the bedroom. another call. school's out. more rejoicing across blue ash. she went back to bed. i finished getting ready, and here i am.
working on a snow day.
and the roads were not bad at all. maybe all those drivers having trouble are from arkansas.
j/k.
well, maybe not.
speaking of which, shout out to t-roy for being my first commenter on the butterbean blog! thanks, bro. you're one in a million!
speaking of keeping me up at night, yesterday was my birthday. a little anti-climatic this year due to the whole butterbean arrival countdown, but still a great day. we went to lunch with the staff for mine and philliam's b-days at olive garden. everyone kept going on and on about how we chose olive garden instead of some steak and potatoes joint. as phil told them, "we have class and couth." just because we watch wrestling and monster trucks doesn't mean we don't enjoy a nice chianti with our veal marsala. j/k on that last one. i don't even know what a chianti or veal marsala tastes like, but i'm sure they're good.
anyhoo, we did the day as normal after that, and kim was planning to take me out to supper with neil and emily for my b-day. i went online to fishbowl.com last week and signed up for all the birthday mailer lists through my new junk email (blueashtj@gmail.com) and was able to sift through the various offers of free desserts and entrees and the like. i chose famous daves, but as i was reading the posts on the slickdeals.net site, i found that our fd's in springdale had closed! poppycock! now i had to choose a new restaurant. i chose texas roadhouse, because they sent me 2 things...a free cactus blossom, or a free appetizer. kim informed me that the cactus blossom thingy didn't expire until april 16th, so i'll wait on that one. neil and emily liked cheese fries, so we got those and they were good. i was a little (dawson) leery because of my experiences with the loaded fries at italianette (explosive is the only word that comes to mind), but they were good in moderation. i caved in and upgraded to the 11-oz sirloin, and finished it. it was a good steak. then we went back to the house and had a coldstone birthday ice cream cake. dang it was good. yellow cake with butterfingers and cake batter ice cream all layered up. mmmmmm...cake.....
i didn't fall asleep until around 1150, and the white death was supposd to start around midnight, but it hadn't started at around 330, which is when the indigestion hit. the quick pepcid chewable took that problem and smashed its face in, and i read for about a half hour. then at 6, as i was snoozing away, the phone rang and it was the calldown for teachers. 90 minute delay was the cry. i think i heard teachers rejoicing across the city. i had to wake up cranky, even though she said she was awake and she had to make her call. that's some sort of psycho thing that teachers have to endure on snow days, is to receive a call at an unfortunate hour and then make a call to pass the word on. i think they should just whisper the message, and have them pass it on like that old game telephone. anyway, now i was really awake. the tv went on as we searched the surrounding schools and the various delays. finally there it was...sycamore community schools 90 minute delay. the phone call was justified. the alarm was set for 730, so kim decided to set hers for 730 as well. hers went off about a minute before mine. i got up and went to the shower. as i started the water, i heard a commotion in the bedroom. another call. school's out. more rejoicing across blue ash. she went back to bed. i finished getting ready, and here i am.
working on a snow day.
and the roads were not bad at all. maybe all those drivers having trouble are from arkansas.
j/k.
well, maybe not.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Brackets, Birthdays, Butterbeans, and Ear Stapling
I didn't print out a bracket this year. I must really be getting old. I did end up going to espn.com and signing up in one of their pool things. I made 2 brackets. As to tell the truth, I can't even remember who I picked to win it all. Probably Tennessee. And they're already out!
We went out with the gang for the Birthday bash last night. There were 6 couples and 3 kids and we invaded Red Robin at 6. Philliam and Stac-y got there at 530 to get us a table together, and they had to add it all together when we found out how many were there. We didn't sit down until almost 7, and then we didn't leave until 9. It was cool though. We got 4 free appetizers for them taking so long, then the 3 of us that had printed out our free birthday burger got that, and they brought the 6 of us with b-days a free sundae. It was a ton of fun. I really love my friends. For most of us, we don't have local family, so we are our families to each other. I have no doubt that if I needed anyone of them that they would have my back.
One of my biggest issues with the impending arrival of Butterbean is my wife's sense of smell. Apparently cooking is tough for her now, and I haven't felt much like cooking either, so we've been eating out WAY too much. And she has this point that she gets to, and has to stop. Usually she's only 1/3 of the way through her meal, which means I try and finish it. I think I've gained 7 pounds in the last 4 weeks. I'm totally serious. Maybe I should have my ears stapled.
The new "fad" amongst the ladies of New Antioch is to get their ears stapled. This bizarre thing apparently helps curb your appetite. When Kim told me today after my mom talked to her that mom and a bunch of ladies were going to get their ears stapled, I nearly fell out of my chair laughing. This is my mother, who has been "threatening" to get her ears pierced for 20 years, but chickens out. I think my sister has given her the money 3 or 4 times and she always backs out. But today, she and a bunch of ladies from church gathered at a beauty parlor (Goobertown doesn't have salons!) and for only $35, had their ears stapled. It hits some sort of pressure point. I googled it and found a tv news story in Texas about it. It's sweeping the south. I'm flabbergasted as to how my mother worked up the courage to have someone drive a staple into both of her ears. It sounds like something one of my teenagers would do. But we called later and she did it.
Crazy stuff. I guess if it works, and Kim keeps handing me her leftovers, I might be looking into it, too.
We went out with the gang for the Birthday bash last night. There were 6 couples and 3 kids and we invaded Red Robin at 6. Philliam and Stac-y got there at 530 to get us a table together, and they had to add it all together when we found out how many were there. We didn't sit down until almost 7, and then we didn't leave until 9. It was cool though. We got 4 free appetizers for them taking so long, then the 3 of us that had printed out our free birthday burger got that, and they brought the 6 of us with b-days a free sundae. It was a ton of fun. I really love my friends. For most of us, we don't have local family, so we are our families to each other. I have no doubt that if I needed anyone of them that they would have my back.
One of my biggest issues with the impending arrival of Butterbean is my wife's sense of smell. Apparently cooking is tough for her now, and I haven't felt much like cooking either, so we've been eating out WAY too much. And she has this point that she gets to, and has to stop. Usually she's only 1/3 of the way through her meal, which means I try and finish it. I think I've gained 7 pounds in the last 4 weeks. I'm totally serious. Maybe I should have my ears stapled.
The new "fad" amongst the ladies of New Antioch is to get their ears stapled. This bizarre thing apparently helps curb your appetite. When Kim told me today after my mom talked to her that mom and a bunch of ladies were going to get their ears stapled, I nearly fell out of my chair laughing. This is my mother, who has been "threatening" to get her ears pierced for 20 years, but chickens out. I think my sister has given her the money 3 or 4 times and she always backs out. But today, she and a bunch of ladies from church gathered at a beauty parlor (Goobertown doesn't have salons!) and for only $35, had their ears stapled. It hits some sort of pressure point. I googled it and found a tv news story in Texas about it. It's sweeping the south. I'm flabbergasted as to how my mother worked up the courage to have someone drive a staple into both of her ears. It sounds like something one of my teenagers would do. But we called later and she did it.
Crazy stuff. I guess if it works, and Kim keeps handing me her leftovers, I might be looking into it, too.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Really spilling the Butterbeans
Today was one of my favorite days of the year. It is also one of the longest, most tiring, most stressful, and all-around toughest days of the year.
That's right.
It was Dessert Auction Day.
Things went as smooth as ever, but a long day indeed.
We opened up to our church about Butterbean with a "Surprise Cake." Everyone cheered when I made the announcement. That made me feel great! We're going to welcome Butterbean into the world somewhere around October 8th.
Praise God!
And we raised close to $5000 today! AMAZING!
That's right.
It was Dessert Auction Day.
Things went as smooth as ever, but a long day indeed.
We opened up to our church about Butterbean with a "Surprise Cake." Everyone cheered when I made the announcement. That made me feel great! We're going to welcome Butterbean into the world somewhere around October 8th.
Praise God!
And we raised close to $5000 today! AMAZING!
Friday, March 10, 2006
Spilling the Butterbeans
We called our families last night. Our parents knew of Butterbean, but our extended families didn't. I called my aunts and they were thrilled! My sister was so excited, and my brother was "just tickled to death!" Kim's brothers were equally happy...especially her brother Jeff. He was a little tipsy, so we'll see if he remembers the next time we talk to him.
This Sunday we'll spill the Butterbeans to our church. I'm so unbelievably excited!
This Sunday we'll spill the Butterbeans to our church. I'm so unbelievably excited!
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Butterbean
And just like that.
There was Butterbean.
I love you, Butterbean, more than anything I've ever loved. I don't even know you, Butterbean, but God does, and that's all I need.
Tense days indeed, since Friday.
You see, we had our first appointment with the uh, you know, the doctor.
Our time tables slightly off, I came away with fright and paranoia. There was no audible sound to hear. A new appointment was set up for Thursday to see about you, my dear little Butterbean.
And then, we saw you. An inch long. With a flickering little light, called a heart. Beating rapidly at 184 bpm! And we loved you even more.
Our little Butterbean. I can't wait to meet you in person. Oh how I love you.
Your mommy is so happy.
Your daddy is so proud.
Relief, thy name is Jesus.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father Son and Holy Ghost!
Amen.
Our little Butterbean.
There was Butterbean.
I love you, Butterbean, more than anything I've ever loved. I don't even know you, Butterbean, but God does, and that's all I need.
Tense days indeed, since Friday.
You see, we had our first appointment with the uh, you know, the doctor.
Our time tables slightly off, I came away with fright and paranoia. There was no audible sound to hear. A new appointment was set up for Thursday to see about you, my dear little Butterbean.
And then, we saw you. An inch long. With a flickering little light, called a heart. Beating rapidly at 184 bpm! And we loved you even more.
Our little Butterbean. I can't wait to meet you in person. Oh how I love you.
Your mommy is so happy.
Your daddy is so proud.
Relief, thy name is Jesus.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father Son and Holy Ghost!
Amen.
Our little Butterbean.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Scared
And since no one I know of reads this anyway, I need to vent a little.
I'm so scared. I never ever get scared. But I am now. 2 years of hoping. 2 years of praying. 2 years realized, and things may now be terribly wrong.
This will test my faith. This will test my patience. This will test whether or not God has given me His peace. I honestly do not know what to say or do right now. I'm super jacked up on anxiety, I haven't slept in 3 or 4 nights. Kim is sick. Even more stressful.
Stress is how we react to the factors in our lives that influence us. I'm not sure I can take much more.
I never ever thought I could be this scared.
P
R
A
Y.
I'm so scared. I never ever get scared. But I am now. 2 years of hoping. 2 years of praying. 2 years realized, and things may now be terribly wrong.
This will test my faith. This will test my patience. This will test whether or not God has given me His peace. I honestly do not know what to say or do right now. I'm super jacked up on anxiety, I haven't slept in 3 or 4 nights. Kim is sick. Even more stressful.
Stress is how we react to the factors in our lives that influence us. I'm not sure I can take much more.
I never ever thought I could be this scared.
P
R
A
Y.
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