7 December 2007

1. Getting a ping from Manda.
2. Getting a ping from Georges.
3. Hearing from Jenn.

(Dorothy, Georges and Jenn say hello!)

11 November 2007

1. The Girl opting to run with the big kids and actually finishing the one mile run. Without stopping!
2. Being productive over the weekend.
3. Fall is finally here!
   

30 October 2007

1. Having at least one friend who reads this.
2. Getting an early flight home.
3. Curry.
   

24 October 2007

1. Hearing from my sister.
2. My first pack meeting of the year.
3. Handing out awards.
   

23 October 2007

1. Sitting riverside drinking decaf in the chill of the morning.
2. Another cabin hurdle overcome.
3. Rain.
   

19 October 2007

1. Seventeen years.
2. Contract signed on the cabin.
3. A successful trip.

09 October 2007

1. Balsa wood airplanes.
2. Doing a favor for a friend in need.
3. A walk in the park.
   

08 October 2007

1. Being that much closer to rebuilding our cabin.
2. The Big Honking Pumpkin.
3. Cool weather on the way.
   

01 October 2007

1. Spending quality time with family I don't get to see too often.
2. Sharing sweet Ohio wine with my grandmother.
3. Walleye.
   

23 September 2007

1. Cleaning kids' rooms.
2. Surviving dinner.
3. An epic nap.
   

20 September 2007

1. Getting the shower fixed.
2. Anniversary planning.
3. Regaining some misplaced energy!
   

19 September 2007

1. The successful completion of everyone's train whistle.
2. A walk in the park.
3. Hugs at a Mexican restaurant.
   

18 September 2007

1. "You can tickle my feet."
2. Cool morning temperatures making early walks conducive.
   
3. Making the right guess on an associates computer troubles (unplugged).

16 September 2007

1. An unexpected day in the park.
2. Getting home earlier than I thought.
3. Star Wars in surround sound.
   

13 September 2007

1. Pizza for lunch while the power was out.
2. Accomplishing family goals in a three hour time slot!
3. Knowing that tomorrow is Friday.
   

12 September 2007

1. Surviving eleven cub scouts with knives.
2. Being oh so right about an associates duplicity.
3. Stitches removed without fuss.
   

11 September 2007

1 - 3 That you are all here.

10 September 2007

1. The Boy attempting to wash his own dishes.
2. Snuggling.
3. Train whistles!
   

05 Sept 2007

1. The apparent pride my boy has in his stitches!
2. My $100 wager with my daughter.
3. Red grape juice from Italy imported in a bottle.
   

05 Sept 2007

1. Surviving yet another den meeting and having some approval to boot!
2. Power meetings where I have the leverage.
3. Potty humor en español.
   

03 Sept 2007

1. Long three day weekend with no real agenda!
2. Ribs on the deck with friends.
3. Finally a day that didn't break 80 degrees.
   

25 August 2007

1. A clean car.
2. Rain!
3. A day time high that is under 100 degrees.
   

22 August 2007

1. Knowing that at least one person is reading this!
2. Being prepared for tonight's den meeting.
3. 100th Happy Thoughts post.
   

15 August 2007

1. Surviving the first den meeting.
2. Being read to.
3. Back scratches.
   

14 August 2007

1. Stumbling upon a four point deer in the woods - and getting to watch him for ten minutes!
2. Nearly self sufficient shower kids.
3. Left over steak.
   

13 August 2007

1. Fat steaks.
2. Rioja wine.
3. Closure on a business crisis.
   

11 August 2007

1. Sleeping in.
2. Being a bad parent and letting my son watch the Simpson's movie and listening to him snicker through the whole thing.
3. Decluttering a bedroom.
   

09 August 2007

1. Emptying a few boxes out of our clutter pantry.
2. That my son would still rather listen to me read a story to his sister than read on his own.
3. Back rubs.
   

08 August 2007

1. The first day of school. (Admittedly a bit melancholy)
2. My son's alarm clock.
3. Knowing that my wife would be late coming home on a school night!
   

07 August 07

1. My daughter braving the blue slide AND the yellow slide AND the red slide AND the diving board. Peer pressure is truly a wonderful thing.
2. Being on the money regarding an employee.
3. A phone call with my mother in law. LOL
   

06 August 07

1. The power of ice cream.
2. Helping out a neighbor.
3. Realizing that the first den meeting is not until NEXT week.
   

03 August 2007

1. The cement pond.
2. Goliath Rex.
3. Mu kids laughing at jokes they don't understand.
   

July 27th thru August 2nd

Back from vacation with far too many good things to share with you. But here's a few:

1. Being legitimately beaten in putt putt golf by a nine year old.
2. Sweet catawba wine on a hot summer day.
3. Napping on a Lake Erie beach.
4. Connecting with cousins.
5. Sport stacking.
6. Stolen concretions.
7. Grandma's farm.
8. Grandma's apple pie.
9. Grandmas.
10. Tony Packos' hot dogs.
11. Watching peer pressure force my daughter to be daring at the swimming pool.
12. Baby possums.
13. Slot machines.
14. Deflated air mattress.
15. Feeding the monster blue gills.
16. Amazing children in a maze.
17. Golf carts on Put-In-Bay.
18. Fried walleye.
19. Amish buggies.
20. Sweet corn.
21. Reconnecting with so much of my childhood.
    

25 July 2007

1. My son mowing the lawn.
2. My daughter bringing him a glass of water while doing so - unasked.
3. Multiple awards at the Cub Scout meeting.
   

24 July 2007

1. Figuring out Ebay.
2. Having to bite my tongue about school supplies.
3. The quickness in which my kids will throw me under the bus regarding schools supplies and ice cream.
   

23 July 2007

1. My wife bribing her way out of trouble with left over food.
2. Date night.
3. Knowing the spoilers to Harry Potter.
   

22 July 2007

1. Another successful impromptu party!
2. Flashlights bobbing around on the fort.
3. Magic disappearing jalapeños.
   

21 July 2007

1. Looking at old pictures with the kids.
2. Watching my son exhibit pack rat traits.
3. Successfully fixing the kitchen cabinets. I think.
   

20 July 2007

1. That my geeky wife saw Harry Potter AGAIN!
2. Reminiscing about jello.
3. Getting rid of organic rice krispies.
   

19 July 2007

1. Chapter Three: The Coming Storm!
2. The fear I instilled by calling the waffle bluff.
3. That someone can come out of a shower still covered in water soluble paint.
   

18 July 2007

1. Having a Harry Potter geek for a wife.
2. A tub full of popcorn in bed.
3. The maniacal giggles of a little girl.
   

17 July 2007

1. Paint stained children.
2. Cleaning out the fridge!
3. Recovering from my weekend construction project.
   

16 July 2007

1. The Boy obeying the rules!
2. Snacks in the fort.
3. Grace.
   

15 July 2007

1. Unexpected help.
2. Lunch with a friend.
3. The return of my family - hugs all around!
   

13 July 2007

1. Finally getting a start on a major project.
2. Not having to do dishes when I got home.
3. Resisting the urge to stay up late and get a good night's sleep instead.
   

12 July 2007

1. Realizing how quiet the house is without the family running around.
2. Starting a major project.
3. Not getting my truck stuck.

11 July 2007

1. Seeing my family off only an hour and a half late!
2. Making a commitment to the Cub Scouts.
3. Scoring a 100 on my Youth Protection exam!

10 July 2007

1. My daughter falling asleep on my lap.
2. My son falling asleep on my lap.
3. My wife falling asleep on my lap. I seem to have that effect on my family.
   

09 July 2007

1. The kids enthusiastically cleaning their rooms. Or at least attempting to.


2. A really good Chilean Cabernet.


3. That after a week of computer trouble, Monday was almost business as usual.

08 July 2007

1. Crossing the scary street to take the kids out to breakfast!
2. Thumbing through 150+ year old bibles and finding pressed flowers.
3. Late night leftover raid by my movie going family. Rattatouille made them hungry - go figure!
   

07 July 2007

1. Watching my daughter eat my dinner.
2. Almost going out for coffee.
3. Codesigning a mosaic stepping stone.
   

06 July 2007

1. More files were salvageable than we thought.
2. More sleep over chaos.
3. Movie night!
   

05 July 2007

1. A new computer.
2. Speed bathing.
3. All the debris we missed from the 4th's fireworks show.

Independence Day, 2007

1. Blackberry pie.
2. Fireworks - the real kind and not just sparklers!
3. A good evening with good friends.

2 July 2007

1. My son taking out the trash unasked and his mother's surprise!
2. The self repair of my truck actually seems to be working.
3. Trying to keep up with the cashier as I bagged my own groceries.
   

1 July 2007

1. Watching my wife read a book with her eyes closed.
2. Still more snakes and smoke bombs.
3. A water fight with my son.
   

30 June 2007

1. Being smart enough to have possibly fixed my truck's a/c drainage issue.
2. Another pretty good brisket!
3. This one is mixed but still: watching my daughter go to the dogs...
   

29 June 2007

1. The kids exclaiming how wired on sugar they are. And they were.
2. The gratitude received when I help my mother in law obtain her fix.
3. Rain. Finally.
   

28 June 2007

1. Hat Day.
2. Movie Night.
3. My daughter making corn salsa!
   

27 June 2007

1. Having enough left overs in the fridge to avoid making dinner.
2. Lunch with work associates.
3. Getting to bed on time.
   

25-26 June 2007

1. Lamb.
2. Discovering a new wine.
3. Someone else cleaning the kitchen!

1. Being blackmailed with a puppy.
2. Vast expanses of empty space on my work desk.
3. Saving money on my phone bill!
   

24 June 2007

1. Competitive kid throwing.
2. Finding my son's swim goggles after Daddy lost them while going down the big blue slide.
3. My son declaring that the putt putt course wasn't worth the $5 we spent.
   

23 June 2007

1. Catching up with my brother.
2. The fact that both my kids have a social agenda.
3. That a 70 year old woman who weighs maybe 120 pounds seriously thinks she can eat a van full of produce.
   

22 June 2007

1. My mother's birthday.
2. My daughter wanting to play guitar after watching 'School of Rock'.
3. The excitement over girl's night out.
   

21 June 2007

1. My son's Ant Dance.
2. Flashlight tag.
3. Four grown men trying to figure out how to load a pick up truck with something that obviously would not fit.
   

20 June 2007

1. Surprising my daughter by pulling up to the drive through so that she had to pay and handle the food. She said it was "freaky".
2. Buying healthy snacks while polishing off most of the junk food at the office.
3. That my wife is insane enough to take a troop of kids to Six Flags - and that I didn't have to accompany them.
   

19 June 2007

1. Not having an agenda first thing in the morning beyond getting ready for work.
2. A productive meeting.
3. Trying to sort out the babble of two kids as they try and tell me about their day.
   

18 June 2007

1. Speed eating.
2. Being equally confused about the pirate movie plot.
3. Base, vulgar body function humor that had us both laughing.
   

17 June 2007

1. Being a father.
2. Finally getting the canoe out for a few hours.
3. Homemade Father's Day cards.
   

16 June 2007

1. Being just productive enough to not feel guilty about being unproductive.
2. Knowing that we would spend the $5 for the raffle ticket as soon as I saw the Silver Surfer.
3. Date night.
   

15 June 2007

1. Watching my son try his best for dad at the basketball game.
2. The power of Donuts.
3. Having to retrieve my wife from the neighbors.
   

14 June 2007

1. Snakes. (The fireworks variety)
2. For the first time we were not hit up for a new A/C unit when we called for service.
3. That a simple sleep over had turned into an invite for a neighborhood wide block party.
   

13 June 2007

1. Laughing at the dinner table.
2. Smoke bombs.
3. Lunch downtown with a friend and not getting lost.
   

12 June 2007

1. Not having to make a follow up appointment.
2. My son realizing that following through on something he doesn't like but must finish is a sign of maturity.
3. Kettle corn.
   

11 June 2007

1. Tossing bean bags with my daughter.
2. My son getting a haircut with a minimal amount of fuss - less fuss than his dad would raise!
3. Being kind of awake when my wife came home.
   

10 June 2007

1. My daughter making the Italian ice vendor let her try almost every flavor before making her decision.
2. My son going into the pet store all by himself to buy crickets - and the big grin on his face when he came out.
3. The fact that my son's mother said that #2 was a good call by his father.
   

09 June 2007

1. Taking a van full of kids to the local water park.
2. That I do NOT have an embarrassing tattoo.
3. A power nap of epic proportions - swimming makes me sleepy!
   

08 June 2007

1. Fireflies.
2. That, to a van full of nine year old boys, toilet humor is timeless.
3. Rain. Near drought conditions here - a good long summer type rain made the whole area smile.
   

07 June 2007

1. Getting a health and welfare phone call from my father.
2. The fact that my kids are not yet too big to snuggle on the couch with.
3. The whirlwind visit of my South Carolina associate.
   

06 June 2007

1. For some unknown reason, it is impossible to water the garden with the kids and stay dry.
2. My girl making a beer cozy at VBS.
3. Having lunch delivered.
   

05 June 2007

1. Finding a large accounting error in our favor.
2. That my son is almost as patient as his sister with the same affliction.
   
3. My bride's excitement about a night on the town.
   

04 June 2007

1. That the pile on my work desk was not too deep upon my return.
2. Good numbers for the month of May.
3. Staying up too late last night!
   

31 May - 03 Jun 07

I've been on vacation - I had hoped to update from the road but, in the end, am glad that I got to stay away from technology for a bit. Happy thoughts in no particular order:

1. That lots and lots of frogs can trump the millions of dollars Disney spends on development.
2. That a kid with no patience still loves mini golf.
3. That God, no less, helped my daughter make her putt.
4. Inniskillin Icewine.
5. 121 mph.
6. It's a small world after all.
7. The boy got to see hippos. Lots of 'em.
8. Smoke bombs.
9. Water slides.
10. The Tour of Disney Bathrooms.
11. The disappointment of NOT riding a bus.
12. Quality time with Gamma.
13. Hula dancers.
14. That my daughter rode the Tower of Terror and the Teacups of Terror.
15. Rock 'n Roll Roller Coaster.
16. Five Princesses.
17. The Boy's high score on the basketball game.
18. Getting home safe and sound.
    

29 May 2007

1. That my girl wanted a grown up hair cut. (okay, this one is a bit melancholy but it still counts)
2. Late night discussions.
3. A really good business day!
   

28 May 2007

1. Watching my son swim with authority out to the platform on the deep end.
2. My daughter being fearless on the water slide.
3. Sleeping in with a loved one.
   

28 May 2007

1. Fireworks with the kids.
2. Packing dinner for my wife - full of her favorite food.
3. The aftermath of an impromptu nine year old boy sleep over.
   

26 May 2007

1. The first tomato out of the garden.
2. An impromptu dinner party.
3. No having much of an agenda for Saturday!
   

25 May 2007

1. Getting a major project off my desk in the nick of time.
2. Negotiating the mall on a Friday night without a full blown panic attack!
3. Three. Day. Weekend.
   

24 May 2007

1. A little girl in blue mortar board and gown graduating from kindergarten.
2. Learning how to respool a laminator in a hurry.
3. Reading Archie comics. Again.
   

23 May 2007

1. My daughter accidentally getting sprayed when watering the peach trees.
2. Playing 'catch the ice cream' with my son.
3. A most awesome back scratch.
   

21 May 2007

1. Getting that much closer to finalizing a replacement cabin.
2. The mysterious missing bag of reduced sugar fruit loops. My son has no idea where it could be.
3. Finding the remote control - it had been lost for weeks.
   

21 May 2007

1. My daughter's performance at her gymnastics ceremony.
2. The fact that Mommy made it in time to see her get her awards.
3. Having an entire 2.5 mile loop trail to myself!
   

20 May 2007

1. The collaborative effort required to eat an entire waffle cone filled with mint chocolate chip ice cream.
2. The team effort displayed during the great Deck Rail Repair of 2007.
3. Free form wood sculptures using the rail trimmings and gobs of semi-gloss house paint.
   

19 May 2007

1. All of the 'discoveries' we made during our walk through the woods.
2. My award winning children!
3. Being generally unproductive on a Saturday and not minding a bit...
   

18 May 2007

1. Receiving a VERY unexpected letter from the insurance claims department!
2. Finding a soft shelled turtle - reminded me of the one I had found as a kid so many years ago.
3. Mother in Law cooking for the kids and the kids actually eating it!
   

17 May 2007

1. Knowing my wife will have a great time on her mini-getaway.
2. Two well behaved kids at the buffet and watching my petite mother-in-law get her money's worth - and then some!
3. Feeling almost normal for a change - I've missed that greatly these last few months.
   

16 May 2007

1. Mmmmm, bratwurst.
2. Chatting with an associate about his new born son - the one they thought they'd never have.
3. Finding a box full of personal items from my father - most from my early childhood!
   

15 May 2007

1. Playing 'Go Fish' with my daughter. She won.
2. The fact that the herbs on the back deck have not yet shriveled up and died.
3. My son's enthusiasm for the book fare and his anguish over his music performance - just like his dad, poor kid.
   

14 May 2007

1. The fact that out of two classes of kindergarteners, I can still hear my daughter singing over her classmates during a 'Donuts with Dad' morning.
2. My son calling my bluff at Waffle House.
3. Playing free form Monopoly. I had to borrow money from the banker to pay the banker - she had all the money. And most of the property. And after a while the number of spaces moved had no relationship to the number actually rolled.
   

13 May 2007

1. Having a reason to celebrate Mother's Day with my wife.
2. That my son can now mow the lawn - and does so without much complaint.
3. A perfectly prepared pulled pork that pleased everyone.
   

12 May 2007

1. That my son would rather play Super Monkey Ball instead of Halo II.
2. 200 water balloons + 6 Boys = 2 minutes
3. A really cool Calvin and Hobbes birthday cake. I want one next year!
   

11 May 2007

1. My daughter singing 'Feliz Navidad' at the restaurant. Yes, she knew it was a Christmas song.
2. 4:00 am - "Daaa Daaa!" "What, dear?" She points at her stuffed doll just eight inches from her outstretched finger. "Can you hand me my woobie?"
3. Just a couple of days ago, it seems, we were discussing the possibility of maybe thinking about eventually starting a family. Sometime. Yesterday the result of that conversation turned nine. How the hell did that happen and what happened to all those years? Happy Birthday, Son of Mine. Thanks for making me a Dad.
   

10 May 2007

1. "Do you want one last eight year old hug, Dad?"
2. The patience, once again, displayed by my young daughter.
3. The good cheer brought to work by a business associate.
   

9 May 2007

1. "It's two days to my birthday, Dad. Did you buy me anything yet?"
2. Reading on the floor with my daughter.
3. That all four of us had to try the awful tasting sushi.
   

8 May 2007

1. The unbelievable way my daughter handled her bout with head lice - she'd have named them if she knew how many.
2. Washing rocks in the sink with so much detergent that suds were coming out of the other side.
3. The blueberry contest: seeing who makes a face first when eating a tart blueberry.
   

7 May 2007

1. Having someone to cover for you when you're not feeling up to it.
2. My daughter scooping out a tadpole to show me it had legs.
3. Harvesting four meager strawberries before the chipmunk got to it!
   

6 May 2007

1. Sleeping in with no sense of urgency.
2. Homemade snickerdoodle cookies.
3. My daughter reading most of her bedtime book to me, instead of the other way around.
   

Cinco de Mayo

1. Having friends over to celebrate my wife's birthday.
2. Really good sangria.
3. A clean house - at least for a little while.

4 May 2007

1. My daughter running in her half mile race while crying the whole way... but she finished her race.
2. She requested fast food as a reward for her run and when we got home my son insisted that we take him out for fast food too - even though he probably wasn't hungry. It's the principle of the thing, I'm sure.
3. The fact that my wife actually considered going out at midnight to see Spiderman 3.
   

3 May 2007

1. A gift given.
2. The way my daughter's hair fans and floats around her when she takes a bath.
3. Garlic.
   

2 May 2007

1. Sitting midway through my morning walk with a loved one to watch a goose take a morning swim with his loved one...
2. The enthusiasm with which my kids will throw me under the bus with their mother when they think I'm getting in trouble.
3. Finally convincing my son to eat some Mexican fast food only to have him want a pizza when we get there.
   

1 May 2007

1. Having company on my morning walk.
2. Being pestered by my son to buy him a mint cookies and cream shake at spirit night, finally relenting and then being told that he doesn't like it because 'it has cookies in it'.
3. My son reading a bedtime book to my daughter.
   

30 April 2007

1. The business finished off the month on a high note!
2. Learning that the first person down a wooded trail collects all the spider webs.
3. I made some really, really good cheeseburgers with some really, really good pickles on it and really, really good (and natural) (and expensive) cheese on top.
   

29 April 2007

1. Whole grain chocolate chip cookies.
2. Finding out that in our politically correct world 'chicken wire' must now be called 'poultry wire'. We can't single out the chickens anymore.
3. My son taking responsibility and mowing a lawn - then later confessing that he would have done it for free if he wasn't trying to raise money for a Nintendo DS.
   

28 April 2007

1. The diplomacy and tact with which one must speak when critiquing his wife's new outfits.
2. A yard full of kids chasing around with flashlights.
3. The chaos that is four boys on a sleep over!
   

27 April 2007

1. Being late getting the kids up for school.
2. My two kids decimating the local tadpole population at a neighbor's pond.
3. Being caught up on work's 'To Do' list. On a Friday, no less.
   

26 April 2007

1. My morning hike through the rain.
2. My Girl cleaning her brother's room unaided and unasked.
3. Vast expanses of empty space on my desk.
   

25 April 2007

1. Watching a group of turtles, one by one, check to see if I was gone after scaring them into the water.
2. Having to remind my son not to stay up too late reading.
3. Curves.
   

24 April 2007

1. Creating this website.
2. Watching the determination with which my two beginning skaters worked their way around the roller rink.
3. Encountering a black rat snake working its way through the leaves during my daily walk.
   

23 April 2007

1. The 'I *heart* Dad' t-shirt my daughter was wearing.
2. Waking up at 4am to hear the owl through our open window while snuggling into the flannel as the cool air blew in.
3. My wife's excitement over her shopping spree.