Smoke-Free Kit

I’m ordering a smoke-free kit from the EPA’s web site for each of the grandparents, and myself. 

Joe & Dana

I’ve said very little about Joe and Dana.  Joe is my father-in-law for a bit yet.  Dana is his wife.  They have both decided that they want to continue a relationship with the kids, and even me.  I don’t know how this usually works, but it’s my opinion that once you’ve committed a piece of your heart to someone as a member of your family, no matter what may happen after that, family is always family.  As my brother Don once said about me, there are no half-s or wholes between us as brothers.  I believe this works the same way for step- and –in-law. It is a two-way street though, and if someone continues to show you nothing but disrespect, and gives you nothing but grief, then they are best avoided.  Joe and Dana and I have not always seen eye-to-eye on everything, but there have been a lot of misunderstandings in the past.  Many of these have been cleared up.  Bygones can be bygones once everybody is ready to move on.  I’m glad for the kids, because they are good people.

They care very much about the kids, and are going to be an important and continuing part of their lives.  They have expressed this desire, and I want the kids to have all the positive influences they can get.  They are also very physically conscious of the kids and their health and wellbeing.  I’ve noticed that, although they are both smokers, they always go outside to smoke when we are there.  They must do this all the time, because I have noted that unlike the homes of other people who are smokers, their home is not stained with nicotine, and it doesn’t reek of tobacco.  My sister’s home is the same. 

I worry about the kids health.  I know that they are recently being treated for respiratory problems by their doctor.  I wonder how much of this is from living where they do half the time and breathing in all the second hand smoke.  The EPA states that “The developing lungs of young children are severely affected by exposure to secondhand smoke for several reasons including that children are still developing physically, have higher breathing rates than adults, and have little control over their indoor environments. Children receiving high doses of secondhand smoke, such as those with smoking mothers, run the greatest risk of damaging health effects.”  More info is available at http://www.epa.gov/smokefree/    Thankfully, the kids mother does not smoke, but she lives with her mother (the kids grandmother) right now who smokes.  Some times when I pick up Lexie and Logan, I have to ride for a while with the windows down because their clothes and hair reek so badly of stale cigarette smoke.  I worry what their lungs look like.  Joe and Dana would never risk the kids health this way.  I’ve spoken with them about it, and they both know the dangers of second-hand smoke.  I’ve come to visit without the kids, and they do the same thing—never smoking around me.  Their mother is just doing what she has to do right now, but I look forward to the day that she has her own place and is away from that unhealthy environment.  She has asthma and allergies.  If you read on the EPA web site, you know why she probably has these problems.

George!

Here is my final picture of the Thorogood concert. I will send a link later for more pictures...

Louisville Barbies

This is way too funny.

Mattel recently announced the release of Limited-edition Barbie Dolls for
the Louisville, Kentucky Market:

St Matthews Barbie
This princess Barbie is sold only at The Mall St Matthews. She comes with an
assortment of Prada Handbags, a Lexus SUV, a longhaired foreign dog named
Honey and a cookie cutter house. Available with or without tummy tuck and
face lift. Workaholic Ken sold only in conjunction with "augmented" version.

Lyndon Barbie
This modern day homemaker Barbie is available with Ford Wind star Minivan
and matching gym outfit. She has no full time occupation or secondary
education. Traffic jamming cell phone sold separately.

Middletown Barbie
This is an upgrade to the St Matthews Barbie. Accessories include the SUV
with an extra large gas tank.

Portland Barbie
This recently paroled Barbie comes with a 9 mm handgun, a Ray Lewis knife, a
Chevy with dark tinted windows and a Meth Lab Kit. This model is only
available after dark and must be paid for in cash (preferably small,
untraceable bills). Unless you are a cop, then we don't know what you are
talking about.

Anchorage Barbie
This yuppie Barbie comes with your choice of BMW convertible or Hummer H 2.
Included are her own Starbucks cup, credit card and country club membership.
Also available for this set are Shallow Ken and Private School Skipper. You
won't be able to afford any of them.

Okolona Barbie
This pale model comes dressed in her own Wrangler jeans two sizes too small,
a NASCAR shirt and tweety bird tattoo on her shoulder. She has a six-pack of
Bud light and a Hank Williams, Jr. CD set. She can spit over 5 feet and kick
mullet-haired Ken's butt when she is drunk. Purchase her pickup truck
separately and get a confederate flag bumper sticker absolutely free.

Glenmary Barbie
This collagen injected, rhino plastic Barbie wears a leopard print outfit
and drinks cosmopolitans while entertaining friends. Percocet prescription
available.

Fairdale Barbie
This tobacco-chewing, brassy-haired Barbie has a pair of her own high-heeled
sandals with one broken heel from the time she chased beer-gutted Ken out of
Barbie's house. Her ensemble includes low-rise acid washed jeans, fake
fingernails, and a see through halter-top. Also available with a mobile
home.

The Highlands Barbie
This doll is made of actual tofu. She has long straight brown hair, arch
less feet, hairy armpits, no makeup and Birkenstocks with white socks. She
prefers that you call her "Willow." She does not want or need a Ken doll,
but if you purchase two Tower Grove Barbies and the optional Subaru wagon,
you get a rainbow flag bumper sticker for free.

Newburg Barbie
This Barbie now comes with a stroller and infant doll. Optional accessories
include a GED and bus pass. Gangsta Ken and his '79 Caddy were available,
but are now very difficult to find since the addition of the infant.

Shively Barbie
Not much different from Fairdale Barbie - instead of the trailer, she comes
with bingo chips and a rosary. We don't know where Ken is 'cause he's always
hunting.

Main Street Barbie/Ken
This versatile doll can be easily converted from Barbie to Ken by simply
adding or subtracting the multiple "snap-on" parts.

Butting into other peoples business...

Mean nasty people should butt out of other peoples business. They should not try to stir up crap and make people angry. They should not be hateful, spiteful, or bitter towards other people.


There ought to be a law,,,,,,

Floyd County Circuit Court

My friend Chuck prepared all the paperwork that is necessary (in the
state of Indiana) to file for divorce. He gave it to me and Shellie to
sign. So I take it to the Clerks office, and they say, well, you need
this paper first, and then you need to take it to the Circuit court
before you come back down here to file. I was highly p*ssed. Not only
was it time out of work, but also I had to take the paper to Shellie and
get her to sign it. She had been up all night with no sleep, and was
going to take a nap. It's a big inconvenience for both of us. She was
kind enough to sign it, so I had her sign it, took it to the library,
made copies, and took it up to the Circuit court. The lady at the desk
said "you also need to have a motion for final hearing, and a notice for
final hearing.

I called Chuck. He said this was not, by the laws of the state of
Indiana, necessary at this time. But he said that rather than have to
argue with somebody and risk making them mad, it would be better to just
get what they asked for, and give it to them. He's sending it tonight.
I have to have Shellie look at it, sign it, then I have to take another
day, go BACK to the court house, and try all over again. Man, this just
sucks.

Shave and a hair cut...

Decided to cut my hair this weekend. Saw Bruce Willis in Armegeddon this weekend. That must have done it... :-)

Aerosmith SUCKS!

We drove all the way to Lexington last night for the Aerosmith concert.
They cancelled "due to illness" at the last minute. There were rumors
that Rupp Arena will not allow them to come back, because this is the
2nd time they have done this.

I'm going to see George Thorogood next week at Coyotes here in
Louisville. He had better not cancel!!!

Steven Tyler is a WUSS!

Paintball Condor's Scenario with Theresia

Condor's Paintball in Elizabethtown, KY had a huge scenario game. Quest for Power III. Theresia and I went and we had a blast! There were these two guys who worked at the field. They wore heavy padding and went in as "Terminators". The concept was that they could not be killed. So you could shoot them, but that did not take them out of the game. Each team got a terminator of 5 minutes only and Terminators got only one hopper full of paint, and two or three guppies. Here's a picture of Theresia and I with our paintball gear.

For more pictures, CLICK HERE!

Update

The kids and I are moved. There are still boxes all over the place...that will just take some time. But I can watch TV, check my email, fix a meal, sleep, drink, work, and play at the new place. And we can live in peace, harmony, and safety. No more crazy room mates and no more dependency on anyone else.

Monday, I had to go to Wal-mart. I got fitted sheets for the kids' beds, and a pair of swimming trunks. I got the kids all ready to go swimming in the complex indoor pool. Then we got there, and they said it was closed! I was so upset. That was the thing the kids had been really looking forward to doing. There was some issue with the plumbing and it wasn't draining correctly so they called a plumber to fix it yesterday. The manager said that it would be fixed and it was!! I took the kids directly after work...I had swimsuits and towels packed in the car. We stayed until about 7:30, then we went home and had supper, watched a little bit of "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and then bed. I have been really beat lately for some reason.

My vision has been getting worse, so today I went to the eye doctor. Came out with new contacts. I have to go back in about two weeks to pick up my permanent prescription of contacts. The ones now days you wear them for a month, then throw them away. The doctor seemed knowledgeable and competent. Now I just wish I had my old pair of tortoise Ray-Ban Wayfarers...

Theresia and I

Here's T and I on the same day. Lexie did a great job taking this picture!

Captain's Quarters

This was last Sunday. Theresia, the kids and I went for a drive. We ended up having hot cocoa at The Captain's Quarters. Well, I had hot tea with Splenda. We went down to the water and walked around. It was cold, but a clear and pretty day...

Belt!

I just went to the bathroom. Not something i usually note on this blog, but... I just noticed that the belt i got at Christmas time has crept up on me! I bought the size 50 waist belt and it only went into the first hole. Now its on the 2nd to last!!

More Crazy Roommate Crap

I had to be my kid's prescriptions filled yesterday. They went to the doctor and one has cough, the other has ear infection. I had to drop them off to their mother over in Indiana, so when I was done with that, I went over to visit with Joe and Dana.

Later, Theresia gave me a call, and we met at my apartment and settled in for the evening. She has trouble with insomnia sometimes. We fell asleep watching The Skeleton Key, and then when she woke up about 2:30 this morning, we finished watching it. I thought it was really good. Freaky, but good.

When I went to go to the bathroom this morning, my bathroom door was locked and shut. I don't have a key and I was sitting there with a coat hanger for about 15 minutes. After that, I went to flush, and it wouldn't flush. I looked at it this morning and there was no water in the tank. I half suspect that the crazy room mate did these things.

Also, Theresia was looking in my closet and she says "Oh my God!" She got me this huge bottle of expensive vodka for Christmas. It's almost gone. I've had like two drinks made out of it. The room mate has been getting in my room and drinking it. That's about $50 worth of booze. And not so much as a please or thank you. Never even asked.

I'm starting to get worried about the kids and my personal effects being within her reach while I am not there.

Logan's Birthday

Here are some pix from Logan's BD Party...

For more photos, CLICK HERE!

Thou Wowest Me 2...

The card my girlfriend got me for Valentine's Day...

Outside is a picture of a knight on horseback embossed in silver. It says: "She hadn't realized that there were still knights in shining armor running around these days...until she found him."

On the inside, it says "Thou wowest me!"

...and then she wrote: "I am thankful every day to have met someone as kind, loving, affectionate, and playful as you are. I love your creative spirit and your sense of adventure. I love that we have s much fun together and yet we have our serious moments too. I love that you love to cook! I love that one devilish eyebrow. I love your beautiful voice. I love the way your skin smells when you're asleep, warm and spicy...keeps bad dreams away. Your breath is my lullaby--slow, deep, and deliberate."

How sweet is that? I told her in truth, it is the most wonderful card I've ever gotten in my life. Aside from cards from the kids...(well I didn't say that last, but it's pretty-much a given when you have kids.) She is truly an awesome woman.

Thou wowest me

My girlfriend got of the sweetest Valentine's Day card! Here's a picture. I'll send the text in a moment...

Grandpa's Table

When the kids and I got in last night, I found my room looking ransacked, a trash bag full of my laundry from the dryer marked "clean clothes", and my great-grandpa's antique table (not expensive, just sentimental) broken in half. My crazy room mate had been in my room for some reason. She sent me a message just now that she would be off today, but working until midnight tomorrow and I replied and asked her what happened. Lexie said "We never even touch any of her stuff." She was confused and didn't understand why she would come into our room and break things.

I feel like my privacy has been greatly violated. I am so sick of this crap. She just sent me a message back and said "I don't know what you're talking about." I'm guessing she was drunk again, just came in and did stuff and blacked out. That happens to her a lot. Ugh...

Deep Sea Fishing

I co-worker and I were talking about fishing today, and I related the story of my deep-sea fishing experience. While it was fresh in my mind, I thought I'd put it here on my blog...

One summer I went "deep sea" fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. The trip out made a lot of people sick. I though it was great! The ocean/sea is beautiful. It was a day tour, and I caught mainly scrub fish while everybody else was catching grouper. Right before we left to head back, I thought I had gotten hooked on the bottom... Now I've been fishing a lot in lakes, rivers, creeks around here. I assumed it was a log--sometimes that happens and you have to cut your line. I reeled and reeled. It took me a couple minutes to remember where I was. It was the middle of the Gulf of Mexico...no trees or logs for miles around. Could it be coral or something? It was about that time that I did see something in the water. It LOOKED like a big log...

I kept brining in my line, finally the "log" surfaced and rolled over--it was a huge fish! It looked like a cat fish...it had the "whiskers" out the side of it's head. So, rod bending nearly in half, I brought it aboard the boat. I was about ready to bend down and get the hook out when the fellow working on the boat yelled at me "wait for me--don't touch that!" He had on steel mesh gloves. He stepped on its head and removed the hook. In doing this, I could see row upon row of teeth!! It was a nurse-shark! He said likely it would have taken a couple fingers from me. Alas, it was against "regulations" to keep the shark, so he threw it back in. And me, without a camera on this trip... Biggest fish this city-boy will ever catch!

Mr. Apple

An old friend and I were talking about our kids and getting them to eat fruits and veggies. I told her the story of Mr. Apple. I thought I would share it here on the good ol' blog.

Sometimes the kids and I do "The Tragic Life of Mr. Apple". You hollow out the apple, then fill with peanut butter, raisins, dried cereal, nuts, whatever you have basically. I either cut out a face or push in filler to make eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Then comes the sick twisted part they love. "Oh no! Mr. Apple got sick. He has what the doctors believe to be a brain tumor. They must operate very carefully--very delicately to get out the horrible tumor that threatens his life! " Here's where I take the biggest butcher's knife I can find. "We must be very gentle, and not make any mistakes! If we foul up, it could kill Mr. Apple!" Then I take the knife and chop the apple in half as violently-looking as I can. They scream with delight. "Well, we can't let Mr. Apple go to waste! He donated his body to medical science!" Then I cut a bite, eat it, finish cutting and split the rest of the apple between the kids...