Tag: Family

Monday Blues

It is Monday again. Blah.

We had both kids here last night for the first time in ages. It was wonderful. Talk about a full heart, right? It’s over now though. My step son, Harry left for Vermont this morning. He’s on his way home. I was on a conference call when he left, but I got to say goodbye. I’m happy about that at least. My step daughter, Bellana will be here for a couple more days. She’s going out to do some stuff during the day today but she’ll be back this evening. I’m happy she’s here. I was happy that Harry too. I just really love them both and I love having them around the house.

Work has been busy so far today. It will continue for a few days at least. I am planning on working from home tomorrow but I have to go into the office on Wednesday. I’m not sure what my second office day will be this week. I hate the idea of going in on a Friday, but I think this week it will probably happen. I just don’t want to commute two days in a row this week. Especially after doing it four days in a row last week.

I haven’t taken a picture yet today. The photo a day challenge is still open. Where are the cats?

Father’s Day So Far

Jen and I went to lunch today with my father and my siblings and their families. It was very nice to have everyone together. I took a couple of pictures on film so I’ll probably find out if they came out or not in a few years. You know how film is.

Bellana and Harry are out with their dad right now. They will eventually be coming to our house for dinner. Harry goes back to Vermont tomorrow, but Bellana is going to stay with us for a couple of days. Each of them being here for a few days is the best gift ever. I’m very happy to see them, whenever I get to see them.

Here’s a few random camera phone pics from throughout the day so far.

I ran a couple of errands this morning. One of them was topping off the gas tank in the car. Obligatory gas station pics:

Do cats celebrate Father’s Day too? Is Robin watching through the window, waiting for her dad to show up? Probably not.

Our neighbors might not be having the best Father’s Day. I thought I saw one of the firemen holding a carbon monoxide detector. I’m guessing they didn’t find anything as the truck was only there for about 10 minutes. Here’s hoping all is well for our neighbors across the road. Fingers crossed.

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Happy Father’s Day

Today is Father’s Day here in the United States. Is it Father’s Day anywhere else? I don’t know.

Are you a father? A dad? Are you, like me, a step father or someone who fills the roll of a father? Are you a single mother who takes on a father’s responsibilities? Well then, today is your day.

May your kids shower you with love and affection today. We are going to have lunch with my father, which should be lovely. My step kids are having lunch with their father, as it absolutely should be, and then they are coming to our house for dinner. I am touched.

I always feel conflicted on Father’s Day. I don’t want to be the kind of person who tries to take attention away from my step kids’ actual father, but at the same time they always make a point to make me feel loved on Father’s Day and I absolutely love that they do that for me. I am overwhelmed by how much I love my step kids. I call them my kids because to my eyes I couldn’t love them more if they were my biological children. I think if I loved them more I would literally explode. So while I do feel conflicted today, my step kids ignore that and treat me like the real deal and I cannot thank them enough.

I say it all the time, I am stunned that they keep me around at all never mind treat me like an actual parent that they care about. They are amazing. It’s that simple. I can’t put it any other way. My step kids, Bellana and Harry, are utterly, unequivocally, objectively, amazing people.

May your Father’s Day be a happy one. Fathers, love your kids. Kids, love your fathers. If it is not Father’s Day in your neighborhood you have my permission to act like it is and have yourself a merry little unofficial Father’s Day.

The Weekend is Here

It’s 5:30pm on Friday. Quittin’ time.

The weekend is finally here.

After working in the office four days this week, it has felt like the work week was 50 days long instead of five. It’s just been brutal.

But now it’s over. Time to sign out and go hang out with Jen and Harry.

Finally!

Happy weekend, everyone! (where applicable)

Fredericksburg Battle Site

Just before the traffic went down the shitter this morning we stopped at the site of the Battle of Fredericksburg. Back in December of 1862 the US Army got its ass handed to it while trying to cross the road in the town of Fredericksburg, VA. It was a really crappy few days for the United States.

It’s our third Civil War battle site. We went to the site of the two battles of Bull Run in Manassas, VA a few years ago, and 15 years ago this week, on our honeymoon, we went to the site of the Battle of Gettysburg. The USA won that one so we’ve got that going for us.

We didn’t stay long today. We went to the visitors center and we walked a short way down the sunken road. I took a couple of pictures that don’t really show anything.

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Vacation-itis

We are less than 24 hours away from The Great 2024 Florida Road Trip. Actually, less than 22 hours, if all goes off according to the schedule. I have two hours left in today’s work day, and then four hours of work tomorrow…

…and mentally it is really difficult not to just check out now.

All of our clothes are packed. I still need to hit the grocery store to get some bottled water for the drive, and I need to pack up my weight loss surgery friendly food options, and all of our electronics and chargers and various stuff. Then I just have to load it all into the car and go go go, babie.

The only downside of this epic trip is that these two super heroes won’t be coming with us:

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If there had been a way for them to come along, we would have made it happen. They both have tons of things going on this weekend up in Vermont. We will miss them. We’ll probably bomb them with text messages the whole time so that they don’t feel like they are missing out on anything (hehe, kidding… or am I?).

I’ll just have to fill in the gaps with lots of faux artsy photographs. You know, like ya do.

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Everything is New-ish

Daily writing prompt
What’s the oldest things you’re wearing today?
View all responses

I lost a whole truck load of weight back in 2022. I lost more weight than I currently weigh. I’m a little less than half the man I used to be… literally.

What does that mean in regard to today’s question?

It means I don’t own any clothes that aren’t relatively new. The socks I’m wearing at this moment might be a year old. Maybe a little more than that. They are the oldest thing I’m wearing, by far.

Now that is assuming we’re taking about clothes. What if we broaden the search a little? My Apple Watch is a little more than a year old, but probably not quite as old as my socks. My glasses are a whopping three weeks old, give or take a day or two. What else is there?

There is one thing, and it’s the winner. Two weeks from now is my 15th wedding anniversary. That’s right, my wedding ring is the oldest thing I’m wearing today and everyday. 15 years and counting, with many more to come.

I love you, Jen. I love you more and more each day.

So Far, So Good

The birds seem okay with the new bird feeders. So far, at least.

Unrelated note, my step daughter is coming over for dinner. She was in Connecticut with her step mother yesterday so she’s stopping in at our house for a Mothers Day visit with her mother and me. She’s on her way. It has only been a week since we’ve seen her but I don’t care. Every visit is a happy experience and I can’t wait.

Additional unrelated note, the sky looked cool over Home Depot in Salem, NH today so I took a pointless picture just to pointlessly share with all of you. Bless your hearts for putting up with my pointless drivel.