Play Ball

I haven't been here in a while...now I'm black.

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I'm happy that baseball season has started, albeit in a manner (or more specifically, a location) that I'm not too pleased about. It's not that I'm opposed to Japan...it's a cool place I suppose, and they've given America some quality baseball talent, but baseball is our NATIONAL PASTTIME, and so Opening Day should take place here, not at 6 a.m. Eastern time on a Tuesday morning in Japan. At any rate, all is right with the world again...baseball is back. I consider Opening Day to take place Monday, when the Yankees open at home against the Blue Jays. Opening Day is one of my favorite days of the year.

In related developments, I have three fantasy baseball teams. I think I drafted well, and have a good chance at defending my championship from last season. I'll have to beat, not just my Pops, but my girlfriend as well.

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The kids are well. They're back in school this week after Spring Break. Yesterday we checked out the new Hardee's in Meridianville, then went shopping for clothes for summer. Tonight we all hopped in the hot tub, which I spent the weekend preparing. Matthew had been excited about it, asking me about it for several days. It worked buddy!

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This weekend the kids and I are off to Auburn for the A-Day game and a couple of AU baseball games with my parents.

New Computer

Well, I bit the bullet over the weekend...bought a new laptop. My old one would not take a charge, and is pretty much dead. I had to get a new machine, so I did. I had thought about a used IBM Thinkpad, but decided to go with a new machine at Best Buy. I bought a Gateway M-6309. It's not a top of the line edition, but it is nice, and plenty for what I need. It's regularly priced at $699...I got it for $499. So far I'm pleased, although I'm having an adjustment period to Vista. I'm trying to figure out the best way to transfer all my iTunes music files to my new laptop. I've pretty much got all my music on cd's and my iPod, so I think I can use a combination of both to make it happen. I don't know how I can use this laptop with my outdated printer though. My printer uses one of those large, wide pin cables, and my laptop doesn't have a jack for that. O well, I imagine Best Buy will have an adapter or some other solution readily available. Pax, if you're reading this, shoot me an email about resolving that issue...thanks!

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Karen and I spent most of the weekend together. She came to the kids' games on Saturday. We watched Auburn basketball that afternoon, then on Sunday, we both did some electronics shopping. Her bedroom TV died, just wouldn't turn on, so she bought a nice 37" HD model for her living room, then moved the nice 32" HD model into her bedroom. How nice!

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I need to hit the grocery store soon. Matthew has Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), so we're trying to make healthier choices in his diet. Mostly that means cutting out sugars, caffeine, and red and yellow dyes. As you might realise, that makes it hard to use some food items. Of course, we're not totally eliminating all of those things, but we are conscious of cutting down on them. So, anyway, I'm looking for some treats or items I can throw in his lunchbag so he's not starving at dinner time. I will say that the modifications in diet, as well as some behavioral techniques at home, are helping him focus and deal with stressors more effectively. His brain just moves so fast, and has a hard time latching on or focusing at times. That's getting better, though.

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Sarah continues to stockpile Webkinz. My god, she has about 35 of them now. She loves them. We even have a game we play with them...all three of us play it: the tossing game. We all choose 5 of the animals, stand at the end of the hall, and throw them all the way down the hall and onto Sarah's bed. Basically, one character is eliminated every round until there's a winner. By the way, I'm the champion!

On Fear; No Fear

Yesterday I got the results of my second cat scan. I have a "horseshoe kidney," which occurs in 1 of 400 people. It's likely a development during the embryonic stage. At this point, it's not a problem. Also, no kindey stones were found in the kidneys, bladder, or ureter. At this point I'm relieved.

Two days ago, Mother got a great report from her pet scan. In her first evaluation after her chemotherapy, she passed with flying colors. Very good news.

Karen, also, is getting better. Her wisdom teeth removal created more problems than we thought she'd have. She's been in and out of work, but is getting better.

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Matthew picks back up his piano lessons today. I'm glad about that. He is very naturally talented on the keys. His vast imagination works for him there too. He's constantly tinkering on the piano, making up songs, or replicating ones he's heard. He has a really good musical ear.

Sarah's still doing dance, and she is quite athletically coordinated, a good little dancer. She's also expressed interest in piano.

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I tried a new recipe last night: country fried steak with milk gravy. I used cubed steak; it was okay. I remember eating that growing up. The batter and gravy was pretty good, but the steak was a bit tough...then again, it was cubed steak.

I should probably stick with pies.

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My exercising continues to go well. I'm up to 40 minutes daily on the bike now. I weigh less than I have in a few years, probably around 198.

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The kids are with Lisa this weekend. I'm looking forward to some rest and time with Karen. The kids have games on Saturday, too.

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I recently finished On Fear by the late Indian writer/speaker Krishnamurti. At times this book was difficult to wrap my head around...it's challenging to western thinking. But it teaches some really good concepts, mainly how to recognize and deal with fear. Not fears of things like snakes or auto accidents, but rather inner fears, such as fears of not succeeding, or losing status, or losing your husband or wife, or fear of death...fears that often cripple people and keep them from growing in life. To overcome fears, people either usually try to run away or escape (which doesn't work) or patch them over with things like religion (which is really also trying to escape). Latching on to religion is much easier than taking yourself at face value, and facing your fears head on. What I took from the book is that to overcome fear you can't run, escape, or seek refuge in religion. You simply must face yourself and your fears. Admit them, embrace them, and live in the present, not the past or future. Then the fears lose their powers.

Filling It Up

This photo is from a year ago, not this year. Both the kids play aggressively and hard. They've both improved even more this year. Saturday, Sarah scored 18 points in her game.

Sarah scored 18 points in her basketball game Saturday. At halftime, she had all of her team's points. For the game, she had all but ten of her team's points. I know I'm bragging, but hey, I have a right!

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The kids and I have had a pretty good weekend. We've enjoyed being together.

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I should hear from the doctor's office what the next step in my kidney issues is. At this point I'm not too concerned. The jury is out until more results come in.

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Tonight I'm watching the Oscars. My latest Netflix movie is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, but I haven't watched it yet. I'm enjoying the latest HBO series, In Treatment.

Illnesses

Everyone I know has had health problems lately, it seems. There's Allen with his carpal tunnell syndrome, Paxton with his bad back, Karen with her wisdom teeth removal, and me with my kidney issues.

I had a cat scan on Thursday, and the results came back today. My kidney seems to be a bit enlarged...this may be something I was born with, and may be no reason for concern. I've got to go back in for another scan. They want to make sure everything is good. They found no kidney stones floating around...that's good. I hope I'm done with those.

I spent the day with Karen, who was out of work, recovering from having two wisdom teeth removed yesterday.

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The kids are with me this weekend; both have basketball games tomorrow. Matthew and I had a great time playing Guitar Hero tonight. It's always good to see him laugh and enjoy himself. Sarah's been under the weather tonight.

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The Black (pictured above under a blanket), our excitable cat, was going wild tonight, chasing balls and pretend mice throughout the house. He also seems to like the new furniture as much as we do.

Frustrated

I'm having problems with my laptop. The adapter doesn't consistently charge it. Googling this problem, I found it is extremely common with laptops. It has to do with too much pressure being put on the male prong that receives the charge on the laptop.

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Going to Karen's tonight for some much needed time with her. I'm baking fish, with rice and salad, for us and her boys.

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I've gotten back on the exercise bike after nearly a whole week off due to illness. 40 minutes yesterday, 30 today. It feels nice.

Busy Weekend

My parents arrived on Saturday morning with a trailer-load of furniture from my late grandmother's home. New additions include tables for the living room, sofa, love seat, and mixer (no more hand whipping meringues...high fives). We all attended Sarah's game, then Matthew's. Both played well, and Sarah scored six points and grabbed what seemed to be a dozen rebounds.

After the games, Karen and I attended a one-man play, entitled Defending the Caveman, then went out for dinner and a long talk. We are good for each other; we go together like (as Rob Scneider's character in Big Daddy said) "spaghetti and meat ball." She gets me, and that's not something I take for granted.

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The kids are out of school tomorrow, so we'll have a day of sleeping in (hopefully) and time at home. With each passing day I'm amazed at my kids, and am increasingly aware of how special they are to me.

Damn I'm tired. I hope I actually get some sleep tonight.

Till next time...