In my old age

I have come to learn a few things:

Beer actually has flavors. Go figure. I can hardly believe that this stuff isn't just to get hammered and make a spectacle out of yourself. It actually tastes good as well. Last night I came home with a case of Sam Adams winter brew, and wifey says woooh big spender the good stuff. I certainly do remember the days at good old PSU going to the distributor to grab a 30 back of natty light and maybe on a good day a case of bush pounders. Whatever was on sale was good enough for me, heck was good enough for all of us. Now that I have learned how to enjoy beer instead of chug chug chug it sure is nice to have something that goes down nice and smooth. Coming from a family where both of my grandfathers, whom I have only met one (once for a fewhours) were alcoholics my parents sure worried in college. I don't drink much now, yet I do know the difference between cheap beer and some good stuff.

Nothing beats a blue moon in a nice frosty mug, with an orange slice on a hot summer day.

Enjoy and be festive, but be careful tonight. They don't call it rookie night for nothing.
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Totally Awkward Tuesday 1

I wish that I could take credit for this, yet I stole it/jumped on the bandwagon over at Tova Darlings pad.  Here is the idea, I will write an awkward story (shouldn't be hard to come up with one) and so will lots of people who read her blog.  If you want to have some people to share the awkwardness with head over HERE and check out all the links to the awkward stories.

Let me begin.  

I will start of in high school, where most awkwardness stems from.  My brother was a bit of a stud (there I said it), well, he was three years older than me.  This in turn meant that he knew older, more mature, more experienced ladies.  If I had to guess at my age I would put it around 13 or 14.  At some point my brother and I went on an afternoon excursion to run some errands - translation, get in some trouble.  I am not exactly sure where we went first, yet I do know that we ended up at one of his friends houses who happens to be a female.  I was 13ish which probably puts her at 16 or 17, and mature (if you catch my drift).  From the moment we got there I was taken by her beauty.  I remember thinking to myself that I know my brother could never have dated her, no way she was out of his league.   

My brother left the room for a few minutes and I remember being somewhat nervous as the two of us sat there in conversation.  I think she was talking and I was attempting to not look like I was looking at her boobs.  I think Journey was playing in the background.  I am getting a little out of breath as I type this.. She looks me square in the eyes and says give me a kiss.  I freeze!  Frozen.  I had a million thoughts go through my mind, seriously, wow, no way, its gonna happen, holy ba jeezes... she must have noticed the shocked look on my face, as she said... 

"They are right behind you on the counter".  A herseys kiss.  A bowl full of hersey kisses.  Awkward.  I sat there in silence, palms sweaty, and all those other things that go on for 13 year olds.   At this point I really think that she knew what she was doing.  She knew that she was playing with my heart.  Mean just plan and simple mean.  I had to walk home with my brother who explained to me that he was in fact dating her.  ugh.  

There is totally awkward Tuesday number 1.

Holidays

The holidays are over. Tree is down and wrapped up for next year. The gifts are almost all put away. The wheels are in motion to get things back to normal. Dealing with two sets of divorced parents is not easy. Having to be here and there, expected to have the beans in certain places at certain times. Doing what you can to make people happy. I am not sure that is what it is all supposed to be about. The stress of family, getting the right gift, meeting up with friends, doing this special activity or that one, and the biggest one when people give you gifts that you have not bought gifts for! I think my house was a bit more Christmasy when we were taking the tree down.

Nothing like the holidays to spread some cheer. I am already formulating a plan for next year. It will just take some convincing to get wifey on board.

NYE right around the corner. Plan safe.

Tomorrow is my first awkward Tuesday. Yeah.
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Holiday season

What a wonderful time to put some decorations on the tree and have some laughs. We have some carols going in the background, the beans doing her thing, canada is in, the family is over, my niece is doing very well, and my friends we'll,l are my friends. My cup it over flows..

It is the time of the year to let the past be the past and the future to write itself. Goodness and mercy for all my life. I have never really been a religious man, yet I am very spiritual. Along with my old age came a sense of family. Most of this was taught to me or showed to me by my wife. She has taught me so many wonderful ideas and ideals. I have learned so much from her family just by watching their daily activity. My brother and I are turning things around and setting a new example for not only ourselves, also our budding families. The holidays have a new meaning for me, not only for the holiday season, but year round as well.

I am sure that Christmas eve and Christmas mean different things to different people. Yet everyone can get into the spirit of making a difference, helping out a little or make it as easy as a sile to a stranger.

Enjoy the family and also enjoy all of those people you don't know that are bumping into you at the mall. You have more in common than you think.
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Ut ohhh

I just put this all together from some comments that I have gotten over the past few days. My building not only has the fbi, yet we also have a dermatologist. I am no conspiracy theorist, yet seeing people walking around in scrubs and patiets with bandages on their faces seems odd. Now take that a bit further and you have the guys walking around with the guns. Ohh, sugar snaps we have radio disney as well. What a tangled web we weave!

This morning on my way to work instead of listening to the radio I found myself listening to my daughters music. I sing along, naturally. It took me about five songs to put on some adult music - oooh oh diamond girl. I usually sing loudest to Mariah not only do I know the words, yet I have range like that- BANG

I have been thinking up a great holiday post and saving it for tomorrow. Then when I dropped the beans of this am, nana and pop pop said they would be bringing some gifts over tonight. Well, my tree still isn't decorated. We were waiting for canada to get into town and tonight is our first chance. Holiday season starts right now in PJs world. Let's go give some joy.

I am kinda of stressing about my works NYE party which starts at noon it is fully catered, and top shelf unlimited bar. Karoke is mandatory as per the ceo. Maybe I will have to bust out a little Grease, summer nights. Babylon by David Grey, no one knows the lyrics anyway. Down eastern Alexa by Billy Joel. Sweet child of mine, unskinny bop, its gonna be rough. I have been working on my Roger Rabbit, maybe my dance moves will keep the focus off my singing. On of my favorite songs is 5 steps by dru hill, I bust that out in the car all the time.

I hope everyone has a great day.
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Ahhh storms

This is my kitchen table, on Friday Dec 19,2008. Why the candles you ask? Well, because I don't have any power. Wifey and the beans are out at a holiday party for some teacher folk. I figure I will hang out here with the mighty Apollo in the dark and enjoy some quiet. Unless of course my basement floods. I really wish that I had some great knowlege to drop on you guys or some great weekend story, but I don't. Not yet. Ohh wait. A guy at work got the new google G1, not very impressed. Oh wait again....

I usually get to work a few minutes early and sit outside in my car listening to the radio and reading some of your wonderful blogs, yes you. I would link to you guys but, no power means no computer. Anywho, I see this well dressed really clean cut guy usually gets to the parking lot a bit after me each day. Well, yesterday he gets out of his car, turns a bit to reach for his sport coat... And he is packing heat, the dude is strapped (has a gun). I think to myself, no shit wonder what he needs that for? As I watch him enter the building I watch him take the stairs ( very healthy ), and go to the second floor. I being as nosey as I am, walk into the building and Iook at the directory. Scanning the second floor, scanning, scanning- mortgages, lawyer, hmmm FBI. holy cow, FBI in my building, pretty sweet. Maybe now I can find out the kennedy thing and area 54. I am sure they keep those files up there. I figure to befriend the guy some time next week. I will fill you all in soon.

Ok. its been a few hours now. I have gone to pick the beans up from the party. Dropped her off at nana and pop pops, told my wife to stay and have fun (her best friend is in from out of town). She wants to come home, yet not much to do here, except put some towels down in the basement to soak up some water. Other than that, move a few things so they don't get wet and clean up the mess tomorrow. Good times. Guess I will get to soaking up, and then head over to crash at nana and pop pops as well. It is what it is sometimes.*

Beans was already asleep whne we got there, the transition is sometimes rough from car to crib, regular clothes to pjs, yet we pulled it off. Luckily nana and pop pop are a one minute drive away. I am back and minimized the water damage, which I must say isn't really damage at all. I have nothing but cement floors down there. I think I will lose an old trunk that I really don't care about anyway. Other than that just about a days worth of time and scrubbing that floor. Good thing I can't hear my neighbors generator from my living room**. I have so many different scented candles burning that my sense of smell is going crazy. Nothing like sitting with the kitties and pupper in a dark cold house.

I have one ' real wood ' candle that crackles when it is burning, just like real wood. I am sitting delicately on the fence of grabbing that noisy ass candle and throwing it at the generator that is mocking me so wonderfully. When my battery goes dead on my phone I might just lose it.

Well, I feel asleep instead of going to nana and pop pops. Wifey sent a txt saying she was running late, so I headed to the basement for more cleanup. Pretty tired at this point and water sucks.

Saturday:..
After lots of mopping and the sump pump running with the dehumidifier doing 110 percent the basement seems good to go. I went to ride a train with santa. The entire family went, and we had a blast. We sang carols, met with Santa, drank hot cocoa and headed home late after one fabulous train ride. Chooo choooo.

The only thing worse than my basement flooding is the weather has been terrible in Philly. Between being in a damp basement and chipping ice of the cars I caught a good case of the runny nose. So that means no visiting my neice or brother. Good stuff.

Also, the Eagles lost this weekend knocking them out of the playoffs (slim chance). And my fantasy football team was destroyed in the championship, who needs all that extra money anyway?!?!?

*special note: I think that is the first time I actually used the title of this blog in a story. Someone really needs to explain this tagging thing to me.
** if you didn't get it I was using sarcasm. I really can hear his effing generator- BANG
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In my little world

I sit at my desk and gaze out the window from time to time. I think my office looks just like the office building accross the street. I wonder if over there someone is looking out their window wondering if someone over here is looking over there. Let's call that guy bizzaro PJ. He is the negative to my positive. When I get 0 sales he is signing em up all day. When I spill my coffee all over my desk he probably finds five bucks in his desk. Darn that bizzaro. I always have bizzaro counter parts. I think it started when I was young and really thought that China was the opposite of Phily. I blame this on my brother. He probably put this thought or idea in my young mind and it has stuck with me for years. Running a bit late this am so that is all you get today. As for monday, I will tell you my gun/fbi story. How is that for a cliff hanger? Let's hope bizzaro PJ has a rough day today.
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Here goes... I was kinda tagged by Jest at Jestor-teatales, one of my favorite blogs!  She really didn't tag me as much as she said I needed to do it.

1. link to the person who tagged you - check.

2. post the rules - working on it.

3. share six non important things/habits/quirks about myself

4. tag six people - prob won't do it.

5. let them know I tagged them- see #4

Well, if you want to do this just take it.. hahaha

Random things that you don't already know about PJ

1. PJ is not my real name (go figure)

2. I am allergic to chocolate and red food dye.  

3. I have 3 tattoos.

4. I don't drink milk, ever!  Its disgusting.

5. I tore both ACLs.  My knees are terrible, yet I can still beat RX7 at basketball.

6. I can't walk in a straight line.

7. I fall down a lot.

8. I don't put my fork down when i eat.

9. I think I am a pregnancy expert, because my wife has been preggo.

10. I cry. hahhaha I am a sap.  I don't know when it happened, but hey its out there.  Yet, I will still throw down when needed.

11.I have never washed my car, its 2 years old.

12. I make mix tapes that are all over the place.  I have no hesitation going from country to rap. 

13. I love to say BANG, how ya like that BANG. 

14. when i am talking about a cute girl or woman to my buddies I say.. man, I would hit that like a screen door in a hurricane.  BANG.  I don't remember where I heard that but its hilarious.

15. Wifey dumped me twice before we got married.

16. I know two or three people who are reading this that need to start blogs. I WILL NAME NAMES - BANG

17. I am useless with tools, useless.

18. My OCD is with time.  I am never late, no matter what.

19. I eat my food one item at a time.  I only put one food type on my plate at a time.  I eat that one thing and move on to the next.

20. Wifey will guest post at some point.

When I do something I do it right.. how ya like me now?????? BANG

Now get your A double snake over to JESTS place.  Make sure you leave a note to have Tea guest post, and read from the start no cheating.  

Brr its cold in here must be....

Some Pjs in the atmosphere. Winter in Philly is pretty unpredictable. Last year we had no snow, at least nun worth a mention. This year it has snowed 3 times before Christmas. Last night a little snow and ice, maybe an inch or so nothing serious. The roads are pretty good to almost very good. Temp up to 43 degrees today, so that means all of this will melt and freeze, Sweet. Nothing like a little ice to make people drive like idiots. Too fast or too slow, too offensive or too defensive. All of these a holes need to get off the road before I go all Mad Max on them. I tell you what though. The snow on the lawns and trees sure makes for some good scenery. And those christmas lawn deer with the lights look pretty cool, I have to pick some of those jawns up next year. Haha I said jawns! I love the 80s. I should have worn my moon boots today. That would have been way rad. SIKE.

Sorry this post is a bit weak content wise, but it is hard to concentrate on the road and type and THINK at the same time. Tommorrow will be gold, gold PJ gold.
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People

People will always have something to say about you. Good or bad, people talk. Some people will actually say what they have to say to your face. Others will yip yap behind your back. Bad hair, bad breath, stain on your pants, food in your teath it really doesn't matter just let me know. I will be thankful, and I will be able to. Rectify the situation. If I don't know and you think it is funny than by all means make fun of me and point and laugh.

Hey PJ can I talk to you a second? Sure, what up? Well, it seems your love handles are a bit out of control lately. Hmm, thanks man. I really appreciate you telling me. My pants have felt a little tighter, yet I haven't been very motivated to get my workout on. Thanks for the heads up, it sure is tough not eating that extra cookie around the holidays. Oh, and that extra glass of wine is sometimes harder to avoid. Holiday parties sure will put a few extra lbs on. DYK: the average american gains 10 - 15 lbs from Thanksgiving to NYE. I am on my way. Time to make some pre-new year resolutions.

I also have a meme to do. If someone could explain what that means it would be very helpful! It however is very difficult to get that done while driving to work. I need to put some links in it, yet I have not figured out how to do that from my phone very efficiently. Seeing as though if I am on my computer at home I am in fantasy football mode, championship game this weekend.
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Miracle

I am not sure how many of you guys have ever seen a miracle. What you see in this photo are two teeny tiny footprints and my left hand. Those little feeties belong to my neice. She was born on Thur at 1pm. Her weight was 1.2lbs, yep 1lb 2ounces. Her due date was expected to be Mar 24th or in that neighborhood somewhere. We didn't really expect her before Christmas. The docs all say that mommy and daughter are doing great. Mommy goes home tomorrow. My neice won't be leaving soon, yet she is in fantastic hands. I wish I could somehow put into words how it feels to see a baby that small and fragile, but I can't. I can't even attempt. Miracle is the only word that comes to mind. God bless.
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A moment.

Maybe a few times in a life time does something happen that makes you take stock of your life. Makes you step back and think for a second or an hour a day a week or a month. Really sit down and think about what's important. Contemplate about why we are here. Some people choose the why me avenue, the glass half full road is pretty conjested. Reflection is a very powerful too. I try to live my life pretty clean, as in as little dirt as possible. Wifey was brought up pretty religious, me not so much. We have a lot of great talks about religion, and what I call formatted religion. I was brought up Quaker (not amish), and I have an open mind to all religions. I have a very open relationship with god. I think that I live my life with the idea of karma. Do unto others as you shall have done unto you, always made lots of sense to me. Take a minute and reflect, send some good thoughts out into the world, some good mojo. Get out there and make it a better place to live.
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Thumbs up guy

I think this guy is at every office that ever existed. You know him, or you could be him. The guy who whenever he walks away he gives you the thumbs up with a smile. Cheese at its best! I always wanted to be the mr. Innapropriate hugger guy, yet I just can't get myself to do it. I have not found the two finger point guy yet, but I know he is out there. It sure is fun to be the new guy, and be able to put some thought into who I want to be. Right now I have the I don't really know your name so I am vague as possible guy on lock down. Friday is my first work function and I surely know that I don't want to be bad secret santa gift guy, or drunk at a work function guy, or holy shit he ate all the leftovers guy. I think great dancer guy is out of the question as is great karaoke guy. Feel free to pass along some suggestions. Maybe I will be really excited for the party guy. I also don't want to be the sitting at the table blogging/txting/e mailing guy. Man I hope its fun so I am not tempted to be ' that guy.'
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What the----

Why the H E double hockey sticks can't I see anything when driving at night? A few years ago I just wasn't seeing things the way I used to, so I got the old eyes checked. Turns out I needed glasses for driving at night. I wore those glasses at night and all was good. Then at night in the rain it was a little rougher. Now that it is so dark so early it is a bit rougher. Seriously, W T H. Please note the caps! I am befuddled how these people can get away with giving me glasses that make my vision dependent on them and pretty much make my vision worse. How the heck am I supposed to read blogs on my way home from work? I either need to bring my laptop in the car or just not be able to see the entire way. Let's face it a laptop is not very safe in the car, unless your a cop they are trained professionals. Hmmm, maybe they are just blogging as well.

The one thing that I love about winter. No, its not the snow, although driving someone elses car in the snow is a blast. I love when all of.the leaves have fallen off of the trees. You can see so much more, you find houses that you never saw before and wonderful views. Wifey and I would take our Sunday drives to check out the scenery. Shoot up to my moms, which is an hour an half ride, or just drive up to Amish country. I would always apologize for not talking much, because I was too busy looking around. Unfortunately, we still enjoy those rides and I think the beans has become a fan of falling asleep in the car. Not good at nap time.

Yesterday in Philly high of 31 today 54 tomorrow 60 Thur and Fri back down to the 30s. This is prime getting sick weather. Yes, I know the weather doesn't make you sick the germs do, good luck with that!
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I know...

Its not a lot of snow, yet it is still early. In Philly it is rare that we get snow before X-mas. Let alone twice. I almost lost it on the way to the car, hit a patch if ice and let out a big whooooa. I mean its not like I live in St. Johns or Syracuse or some crazy place like that. Those places have 9 months of winter and 3 months of bad sleeding. Usually here we get 3 months of cold, and a smattering of ice and snow. I will let you in on a secret, if you layer up than you are good to go! G to G baby.

How bout the great month of December I think I am booked up each friday and sat from here on out. Its tough when you are as popular as I am. Actually, it is all family and close friend stuff. Oh and the fact that we still haven't finished the decorating or started the shopping. Great that wifey and I are both Christmas eve shoppers. Nothing better than walking the mall on Christmas eve, with a glassy eyed look. Crossing people off your list buying a few things for yourself and making it happen at the wire. SHAZAM, its just how we do it. Who needs to be done shopping already or dare I say ' prepared ' for the holidays? Not me.


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New friends all over the place

When I am out to eat or shopping or walking in my neighborhood and I see dads with kids my daughters age I always wonder if we will be friends when our kids grow up. Am I gonna be driving his kid to soccer practice? Coaching his kids in basketball? It just seems odd to me that I see these people around and somehow I know that I will be seeing them again. I see the little boys and wonder if I will ever have to kick their butts, wonder if they will ever call my house. I wonder if I will ever have to threaten those little bastards.
:
Twitter, I guess I just don't get the point. I mean seriously the three people who read my blog probably don't need hour by hour updates.

Does anyone read - confessions of a jersey girl? I think she blocked her blog or stopped blogging. I really liked the read so if you have an e mail for her please pass it along. TY

TGIF suckers! You know who you are!
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Today I received an e mail from a fellow blogger, I am not going to use any names, who said that I am on his/her mommy blogger list.  Seriously? Mommy blogger.  Not that mommy blogging is bad, I read a lot of great mommy blogs!  How bout Daddy Blogs, Cool ass blogs that happen to be written by guys who have kids.  Any who, I am working on a name for it.  I also have a great mommy blog story for today.

From time to time wifey is not here at the house when it is time for the beans to go down for the night.  We have a great routine that we follow to the T more often than not (97% of the time).  Mommy reads a few books, as do I (well, two that I am allowed to read).  We sing a song or two together, which is a part of one of the books.  I am also in charge of making sure the dog and cats don't get too rowdy when we are cooling down for bedtime.  Basically, I am a security guard who gets to be involved in some reading and singing.  

On the nights when mommy is not home for whatever reason at bedtime.  I get to do it all.   Each time it goes a bit different.  I have had grandpa in the room with me, and uncle D once.  Everyone else waits downstairs.  This is special time, not every joe schmo gets to be in the room when the beans goes to sleep.  Tonight we read the books and sang the songs.  We moved on to say our prayers, give our kisses and noses and cheeks.... 

And.. She looked at me and said, " Daddy " in a half asleep voice, a tired voice.  She then leaned over so that I could cradle her in my arms, gave me a glance, and said " daddy " again in the same voice, it completely melted my heart.  Her eyes were closing, and she was in that place right between awake and asleep, coherent and incoherent almost dreaming, yet awake.  It is nothing short of a miracle when these moments come along.  They happen daily, yet you have to be able to ' be in the moment.'  It is just so amazing that these moments all come together.  I understand that I miss a lot of those moments during the days when I am at work or unable to be with the family.  I also understand that she shares those moments with other people.  Nana, Pop pop, Mommy and all of the people that are close with the beans have had these moments.  With the holidays coming up, and a Christmas that the beans actually knows that something is going on.  Maybe I am a bit sappy or a bit tired, yet I am sitting here watching the sixers play, blogging about my daughter.  Oh how times have changed.  Hopefully Canada will be home soon to share some of these moments.

Now I am off to do some manly things i.e. get the dishes done, pick up the toys that are all over the house, make sure the outside lights are on for wifey when she gets home, and get some sort of workout in.  Have a great day!!!!

Not a daddy blog

I really don't want to turn this into a daddy blog and be all my kid this or my kid that BUT, hahaha. Nothing better than going 6 deep in my bed, 2 cats, a dog, wifey and from time to time the beans. Last night was one of those nights where I sleep all contorted hanging off of the side of the bed and wake up to a little girl saying, ' daddy daddy cho cho.'. To make a long story short my day started at 4:40am playing with a cho cho that runs around our christmas tree. We read some books, tormented the cat a bit, had some breakfast, and even let mommy get some more much needed sleep. I know that later this afternoon I will be a bit sluggish, dare I say tired, yet nothing can beat some QT with the beans.

On a side note: I am that A-hole who drives with his knee posting on a blog while sitting in traffic. There I said it. For safety reasons I only blog on straight roads and stopped at lights. Safety first kiddies.

I am pretty much in need of new technology. Has anyone seen or used the new G1 from google? I need an update.
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The hard part is getting started

Over the past year or so I have not really gained much weight, but as my last post stated my weight has changed. Hahaaha, I still wear the same size pants, even went down a belt loop size. It just seems that all of the hard work that I put in the gym in the past is now bye byes. So, its time to get motivated and get my lazy butt into gear. I have all of the tools that I need at the house. Bowflex, check. Free weights from 3 to 52, check. Bike, check. Wii fit, check. All of the above seem to be gathering dust right now. Sure the beans makes it hard, but I really can't use that as an excuse. Its time to get back to the grind. The hard part is getting that first week under my belt (hahaha no pun intended). In the past I would simply wake at 4:30am get to the gym at 5am and get a great workout in before the day started, I loved it. That just can't work anymore with a kid that wakes between 5 and 5 thirty am. So it starts tonight, once the beans goes down, daddy gets to work. My goal is pretty simple. Get into great shape this year before the Broad street run which is usually the first weekend in May. I have the time to get er done, I just have to put my mind to it. Easy fo sheezy.
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The day after

Ok so I missed the what I am thankful for blog day. Ooops. No biggie. Let's move on to the day after the gluttony. If one day were all it was then hey, this would be great. Let's face it. I have in-laws staying at the house, people stopping by, a big breakfast followed by a big dinner with a big lunch smack dab in the middle. For 3 days in a row! Let's talk about starting back up with that workout routine. For gosh sakes I pretty much have a gym in my basement that has not been used for about 18 months. Apple pie, blueberry pie, ice cream, gourmet chocolate, yeah they all fit nice and snug right on those love handles. I mentioned to my wife the other day that I still weigh the same, but I just don't feel as great as I used to. Her reply, ' well, honey you have lost a lot of mussle.'. Aww, that's for putting that into perspective your the best! After two days of non stop eating my belly is full.

And after two days of non stop family my brain is mush. It is tough when you have two sets of divorced parents, and one young grandchild. People come in from out of town and stay at the house which in turn means that you can not escape. You seriously have nowhere to hide. You hope to run to the store, return a movie run any errand that you can think of just to get out. To clear your head, to have a moment of PJ time.

At some point you are thrilled that you have 4 days off in a row, but also wish that no one knew you were off. Nothing quite like the holiday crunch. I am making my list and checking it twice.
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Stressing

Not much to write about today as I am still kind of stressing about the friend issue. I received a few great e mails about the friends issue yesterday. It seems as though if you were friends and now are not then you probably stopped being friends for a reason. So, I have this one friend who is more or less on the bubble (man I sound like an a-hole).. last night I receive an e mail from a great guy who is worth keeping up with and I have dropped the ball. Is it like an over crowded bar? One in and one out. Oh well, off to work have a great day.
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Friends vs aquaintences vs wk buddies

I always struggle with calling people my friends. That is really not something that I dish out lightly. And when can you just faze a friend out. I.e. Let's say you have a friend who none of your other friends really likes. I mean I know this guy who just doesn't bring anything to the table. Nothing. Do I call him a friend, because we were friends in the past? Do we have a break up? Do I just not contact him? What is the protocol here? I guess it is hard enough now to be active with my good friends. Not that I am that busy, yet it is hard to keep up frienships. Especially with the frindge friends. Wow, I know I must sound like an ass, but this is just the way that it goes down. We have all been here before and with things like FB and e-mail and texting it is much easier to stay in touch. It still takes time and effort. At some point the friendship is not worth the effort, its not worth what you put into it. To put all out there when you put in little effort and it is still not worth it than it just might be time to move on.


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I am not a good silk screener

So here is a little bit more about PJ. Wifey, myself and a good friend sort of have a silk screen business. Sort of meaning that this is pretty much my idea and my baby. Now the problem occurs when I do not put in the time needed to make this work. Just yesterday I made some shirts for a friend. The job was a bit of a rush, and let's say I missed one big important step. Making sure the right colors were on the right shirts. Go figure. The artwork looks great, the shirts look great. I just printed one group with the colors and group name on the front that should be on the other shirt and vice versa. Last night was a long night to prep screens, burn screens, tape screens, and even clean screens. I will get them done, but it cost me precious moments with the family. And for some reason I only make stupid big time blunders on jobs for friends. I think I stress about these jobs more, so sometimes I miss the small things. Ugh, another day another lost profit, and a little less time.

I am not even gonna mention the flipping snow today in Philly. I mean seriously it isn't even Thanksgiving. Its going to be a long winter.

I
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I want to be the only one for miles and miles....

Except for maybe you.

The new company is filled with 20 something people wearing ipods and using keyboard shortcuts faster than I can say, Wonder twin powers activate! I hear them talk about happy hours, and wanting to move to the city. Comparing restaurants, and night spots. Talking about staying up past 10pm on work nights. Using language that I don't understand.

I am not sure when I officially became old or ' older ,' but I like it. I look forward to time with the family, home cooked meals, quiet nights, and trips to the country.

We visited one of wifeys friends a few weeks ago up the mountains. He. Lives on 40 acres, and his parents ' up the hill ' sit on 400 acres. We arrived just in time to put the beans to sleep, and after having a great class of vino we headed out deer spotting. Which basically means a little off roading with a gigantic flashlight. I have never seen 15 to 20 deer all hanging out in the same place so needless to say I was blown away.. The stars must be a different set of stars because I saw so many more out there. Also, nothing beats waking up making breakfast and going for a little nature walk with your hot coffee, and the beans all bundled up. She thought groundhogs were puppies and squirrels were kitties. One of these days when the financial windfall comes my way I will by myself a little 30 or so acre plot, build a little cabin, start growing my own fruit and veggies, and enjoy the quiet..
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Somewhat depressed.

It is not even 6pm, and this is what is going on outside. I know I have mentioned this before, but seriously it is rough driving to work in the sun and coming home in the dark. Seeing all of the car lights, especially breaklights is starting to get me down. I mean it isn't even dusky, its dark. Its nighttime dark at 6pm. No wonder I keep nodding off on the sofa at 8:30pm. Just to keep this bitch fest going on. I know the day is coming when I will have to scrape the frost off the windows, ugh. Just something about waking up and tossing all those warm blankets off to start the day doesn't make sense. I would much rather just hide the day away under the covers, with wifey. Lucky for me I am at the new company. If I was still trudging along at the old company this bitchy post would be much longer.

Its Wed, and I am going to work. Weird. My first humpday in three years.
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Wowser

First day done, and holy smokes. Info after info and more info. Learn learn learn. Any questions? That was my pattern for the day. Although new company does supply, lunch, snacks, yogurt, soda, coffee, you name it and they have it for you. I will be very well taken care of in the food department. The hours aren't that great 8am - 5pm is just a bit worse than being home by 4pm daily, yet I am sure my weekends will more than make up for that. I miss my beans. I got home at 5:45pm instead of 4pm. When bedtime is around 7pm that is a lot. I do however get an extra hour in the am, yet that is a hectic hour.

Isn't technology a beatiful thing. Currently I am stopped at a redlight pounding away at my keyboard getting a blog post done. I also just cancelled a dentist appointment as well. The cool part there was I didn't have the number, so I just jumped on the www all from the car. AMAZING.

By the way if you haven't listened to the new Pink cd, some of the songs are wonderful.
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Last day

Not sure what you plan to do on your last day of work, I made breakfast. Well, a few of us made breakfast. Just some egg and bacon sandys. Nothing quit like the look on co-workers faces as they smell the aroma of bacon and eggs throughout the call center. I have to admit it wasn't 100% my idea, I sure wish I could take all of the credit. I merely brought the bacon, turkey of course. My last day was actually kinda sad. I will miss some of the people very much, and some not so much. I have made some great friends, some still there and some who have gone already. I sent my last e-mail of the day to good old uncle G, who was in my training class and sat next to me for two years. Thank goodness for good old facebook, it sure will make it easier for me to stay in touch with everyone.

Tomorrow is a new challenge and a new learning curve. I go in ready to learn and with a clean slate. Teach me and show me the way, I am looking forward to a career and not just a job. And, weekends off help as well.

Nothing like getting up early and checking the reader and noticing that while I was not posting you all were. Lots to catch up on.
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My last Wednesday.

Today is my last Wed off. My last Wed daddy day. I can't really explain how I feel about that. I know that right now I am 4th on the list. Mommy clearly the front runner, followed by Nana and Pop pop as the very close 2 and 3. Daddy is 4th for now, and I certainly understand why. Mommy is mommy and quit simply you just can't trump that, at least till I can bring the beans to Tiffanys and buy that #1 spot. I am sort of joking when I say that.
Nana and Pop pop are shoe ins for the 2 and 3, they spend the most time with her. Now Daddy is always Daddy and nothing is better. At this very second she is finally napping after working me over for about two hours. Her head is like a rock on my chest. She is all pinked out, in sweats still from gym class. I am sure I will get my time on the weekends and holidays that I will now have off. Yet, it won't be the same as Daddy Wed. I sure will miss these days, and luckily I have 5 sick days and 3 personal days. I have a funny feeling they will all be Wednesdays when I use those sick days and personal days. I think next Wednesday will be a hard day to go to work!

Yeah I know today is Thur. I wrote that yesterday.

Seems that a very high up has been let go at the company. You never like to see that happen especially this close to the holidays. Good luck sir. Work on that karma.
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THANKSGIVING

My favorite holiday of them all (and july 4th). I have a lot of things to be thankful for, yet that isn't what I want to talk about. The Plymout rock pilgram American Indian debacle, maybe I will get into that closer to the holiday itself. I want to talk about eating all you can eat, watching football, drinking wine, spending time with the family, and having no pressure. Its a stress free holiday. Next year my plan is to shoot up to Canada for a warm up Thanksgiving then come back to Philly for the PJ do it up big style holiday. My Thanksgiving is starting this Saturday with my brothers annual get together with his paleontologist buddies. This is a big whoop di doo. We are talking 3 big turkeys and enough fixins to feed a small army. The triptofan should kick in nicely as I am shovelling mounds of jello into my mouth for dessert. Gluteny comes to mind when I think about this wonderful holiday. Ni gifts to buy anyone, just show up and eat like no tommorrow exists. I sure would not want to offend anyone on a holiday, so I am just doing my part by eating enough snacks to last a half year. I have been doing tons of push ups and situps in preperation. Wish me luck! One last thing, as a few people mentioned I am wearing sweats to dinner this year, that elastic band will surely help. I mean what looks worse sweats, or me sitting at the table with my pants undone and crumbs all over my belly?
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Proud Bookworm

Today I received my first real bloggy award thingy (yes you read that right).  A big thank you to Laura at Under the sheets- shh (I wish my blog had her blogs name, I am so jealous).  Rules:  Pass it on to five other bloggers, and tell them to open the nearest book to page 46.  Write out the fifth sentence on that page, and also the next two to five sentences.  The closest book, not the coolest, or the one you think will sound the best.  THE CLOSEST.

Being at work when I got the e-mail from Laura, I stood up (in a call center) and shouted " who has a book?"  I knew that I had no books as today I gave my five day notice at the current J-O-B.  My cubemate the great W happened to be reading, The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls.  I know nothing of this book as it is not mine... here goes.

"I guess," he said.

He never like to brag, but I could tell he was proud that he had taken on four bigger, tougher kids, even if they were girls. 

" Lettuce war!" Brian shouted  He tossed a half eaten head at me like a grenade.  We ran along the rows, pulling up heads and throwing them at each other.

Thank you to Laura and the great W.  Now go check out Under the Sheets - SHHH, and read it from the start, no cheating.

Now the hard part:

Fluffycat at The next third

Jest at  Tea Tales

Emma at Waffles and Blethers

Alice at Alice in Average Land

Mike at The newborn identity

Get over to these blogs and check em out.  Trust me you will like it. Go ahead. Trust me.

Work environment

I only have a few days of work left at the weight loss company. This makes me very happy! A few things of note. The picture above is our break room or coffee station. It seems that the overnight crew had a little party last night, and just left the trash on the floor. I would also assume that some morning people came in and just kept leaving more and more trash on the floor. I saw this movie a few years ago that has really stuck with me, I think I am gonna go rent 200 copies of' pay it forward ' for the weight loss company. If you don't learn the lesson from haley joel osmont than you are a lost cause. Here is some ground breaking business info, ready? Make the next persons job easier. Heck even attempt to make work a fun place. Help the little people out, even the cleaning crew. We are all on the same team. So fun might be a strong word, allow work to be workable. Let's start with the vp and director. Just ideas here, talking out loud. Maybe try to say hello to people who work for you, maybe try to converse with PEOPLE, we are all adults. Bring it down to a personal level. Another idea maybe have your trainer and other people of note be approachable. Let employees ask questions and get answers This works top down, yeah I know believe it or not. Setting a good example really goes a long way. Before you know it managers will be saying hi to sales people who will even smile in the hallway. And get this maybe your employees wouldn't be filing lawsuits about the company. Maybe employees would talk about the great coversation they just had instead of how they just were snubbed by a higher up. Ugh, that was a lot to get off my chest. I will miss all of my friends here very much. I will keep in touch as difficult as that might be a few txts and e mails sure do go a long way. I know I will meet some great new people and look forward to my next challenge and dare I say career. Now that is my last work post, I am exhausted with this place and will be back to random thoughts and ideas tomorrow. Also, just wanted to say thanks for the comments and e-mails wishing me luck this blogger community is great!
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Second interview

The recap worked well the other day and seeing as though I am a tad superstitious here we go again.

•woke up to the beans saying poo poo. Rushed her to the bathroom, and she poo pooed on the potty! If you have kids you understand the elation.
•played for a bit, had some snacks.
•explained to the beans how the computer/internet works, I think she got it.
•gonna crank some tunes and make b-fast.
•my buddy joined FB, I suggested 5 friends that friended him, do I get some sort of commission on that?
•i make the best eggs ever.
•i wonder if the beasty boys are good for a 17 month old, I mean it is licensed to ill- kick it, father to many but married to non, its ok though I carry a gun, I will steal your honey like I stole your bike - hmm, guess not so appropriate after all.
•brush the teeth again, and notice, ugh man getting old sucks, I notice I need to trim those pesky ear hairs.
•time to look for a suit.
•just got an e mail from wifey saying to wear the brown suit. I didn't know I had a brown suit, ut oh.
•tie attempts 2- averaging down baby!
•was half hour early last time leaving at same time, gotta be ready if I have to pee.
•its b-a-n-a-n-a-s, seriously I could write this song. I am in the wrong profession.
•always a good confidence boost when you put on your ' brown ' suit which is a little big in the chest and shoulders. Hmm, maybe I need to lift a little more.
•here nice and early. Sitting in the car reading all of your blogs. Well, not all. I know one is out there, yet I can't find it.
•boooyah, got the job. Let's pop the bubbly!

Nothing like taking a 40k paycut. Ouch. The promise of the future looms large, yet the present is gonna suffer some cutbacks. It is a good day. Gonna give my 5 days notice tomorrow! Sales is not for the weak. You can be on top at one place, then you have to start over again right back at the bottom. Get that book built and make some money.
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Nothing like....

Being a sales person who sells directly to the public, during an economic drought, in november (everyone is saving for the holidays), at a company who already spent the advertising spend for the year, in the weight loss industry (ppl gain from thanksgiving to new years, not lose), on a sat morning! What do most people do on saturdays? I think I could be home with the wife and daughter making a big breakfast with all the fixins. Radio blaring some raffi (you know him if you have kids) singing along - I like to go bowling with my friend bert, my bowling ball and my bowling shirt - good times, good times. I need to look back and check out all of my saturday posts, I bet they are terrible. Good thing I have thatsexond interview on monday, and good thing I am leaving work early today. Booyah, 1st b-day to attend at my old college roomates house. My oh my how times have changed. We both have daughters, go figure.
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Did something today that I have never done before...

Its 6:00pm and I am out in sweatpants. Not windbreakers or parachute pants, yet sweatpants. It gets worse. Said sweats might be a few sizes too big for me, so I have them rolled at the bottom. Luckily, wifey told me to roll em down a bit before I left the house to look less toolish. Good lookin out baby, you really take care of me! Nothing like getting 4 hours of sleep and being hopped up on amp and redbull to make a few bad decisions. Now I have always been more of a beer and ball guy, instead of wine and tennis. Yet for some reason I was never a sweats out to the store type guy. Its just as easy to throw on that comfy pair of jeans that I have worn just a few times this week. Lately it is all cargo pants or painters jeans. I like to have a place for my phone, painters jeans are perfect with that cool leg pocket. I think I am getting old.

Beans seems to be feeling better. Although mommy and daddy are pretty exhausted.

Second interview on monday, cross those fingers.

I received a few e mails asking how to make it on 4 or 5 hours of sleep per night. Well, its easy either be 18 - 25 and party all night, or have kids. The cutoff at 25 is because once you are in your late 20s it starts to slow down a bit. Ouch. The kids part is pretty self explanatory.

Have a great weekend.
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9:45pm wed 11/5

I am in the beans nursery. We are sitting in her rocker swaying back and forth. Not sure why she woke up, not sure why she won't go back to sleep without me here. Mommy/wifey is at swim class not sure if she is teaching or attending. My wed daddy day was interrupted by my interview (which went awesome), and some errands. Maybe the beans knows that I will be a push over tonight, because I missed her so much today. She is sound asleep on my chest. I am missing the 4th quarter of the sixers and a new bones, and heck maybe even pounding out a blog post on a computer instead of my phone. It sure is amazing what really does not matter. Sixers, who cares. Bones, even more who cares. A computer, well that would be nice once in a blue moon, I kid I kid. Nothing beats your child falling asleep in your arms, nothing. I can't even remember what we did before she was around, we must have lived the lazy life. I might be sitting here thinking about a million different things, yet if I listen closely I can hear her breathing. Shhhh, nighty night.

Just made the attempt to put her back in the crib. I check the arms to see if she is out (wrestling style lift it up and if it falls straight down than she is out). Swing her body over to cradle her, and AWAKE bang one arm up around my neck. Vice grip that will not let go. Back to the rocker. I can tell it will be a long night for wifey and I. We will be exhausted tomorrow, and it will be so worth it. Not sure why she is not sleeping well tonight, she usually goes down easy and just gets up really early.

Seems that maybe something was wrong with our milk. She tossed some cookies late last night or early this am, well both. Then just as I was ready to leave for work decided to spew one last time all over my crisp black shirt. It was a good morning.

She seems to have it all out of her system and was still running around and talking up a storm.

Good thing I am thriving on 4 hours of sleep.
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Woke up today.....

A bit excited:

A new president, with new ideas and dare I say an eye for change.

New prez and all, I still have a j-o-b interview today! Sure didn't get much work done with a 17 month old beans running around. Lucky for me nana and pop pop are on gymboree duty and lunch duty. I decided to put together a random list of thoughts/ideas I have had throughout the day.

•I am suiting up, dusting the cat hair off the dress shoes, doing the hair (if running my fingers thru it counts) and I am out the door....
•it takes an average of three attempts to get my tie perfect, today it was 4.
•i wonder if I can bring the mighty apollo with me if I call him my advisor.
•should I bring left over halloween candy?
•i should have gotten a hair cut, but maybe that would look like I was trying too hard.
•man first dates suck, err I mean interviews.
•carrying a black leather folder thingy is almost as good as a clip board. ( I know they know I don't have any thing in my black case, I wonder if staples has clip boards).
•probably not so safe to be driving and googleing more info on the company I am interviewing with.
•mmm redbull good
•BANG half hour early, perfect.
•kinda have to pee, shit not good.
•thanks for the txts and e mails!!
•send goofy pics to wifey of sexy man in a suit- check.
•whats worse no redbull or having to pee more.
•heading in.............
•two hours later, wow
• Skipping second interview and moving on to the third, booooyaah
•off to run an errand and get the beans.
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Interview, things to remember

The day has come for the big, oops sorry- THE BIG INTERVIEW. If I said I wasn't a bit nervous/excited I would not be telling the truth. I really want this new job which will hopefully turn into my adult career. Only time will tell, and I actually enjoy the interview process. I do however need to make my mental list of things to do:

Think fast and talk slow
- not too fast that I don't understand.
-not too slow that it seems I have a problem
Wear a suit
Brush my hair
Brush my teeth
Bring a mint
- get rid of mint before interview starts
Bring multiple copies of resume
-good clean copies on beautiful paper
Wear matching socks and belt
Be early, but not obscenely early
Be awake
-one redbull awake
- 2 redbull would be like crackhead awake
Shake hands firm
Hold your eyes when you shake hands
Don't fidgit
Turn cell off
Focus focus focus
If they have music on don't sing or dance
Pee before the interview
Smile cause you have earned this job

And last... Don't tell them that you hate the effing job that you are at, due to the fact that middle management is a bunch of effing stupid ignorant pricks that don't understand that communication is the backbone to a thriving company. Just smile and say my tenure there was great, yet it is time to move on.

Any other tips please pass them along. Help is accepted with a smile.

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BUST

Darn the burbs! I think maybe we had 10-12 people stop by the house on halloween. Casa de pj was not exactly a hot spot for trick or treaters. I did all that could possibly be done. The lights were shinning, pooh lit up in the window, beans cute as can be, cars moved to one side of the driveway (so the kiddies have plenty of room to walk), awesome candy, what more do these little snot noses need? I worked so hard, for so little result. Halloween stunk it up, bad. Well, the wine was really good.

I am debating X-mas lights on the house/yard/tree/cat/dog/kid/wife. What do you think?
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Fall back, are you serious?, ridiculous

You want me to set the clocks back huh!? As if. Yeah, as if! This is no favor to me buck-O. In fact I am rather perturbed at the fact that I am moving the gosh darn clocks BACK. Sure I might get an extra hour of sunlight or some bulldinky (yes bulldinky) like that, yet the beans has no friggin idea of what is going on. It is going to take about two weeks for her to adjust. You know what that means? Two weeks of me getting less sleep than I am now. Which sucks the ...... Well, you know. Which also means two weeks of ppl having to deal with my cranky butt, and yes I will be cranky. Cranky like an old man who spends his days perfecting his lawn and you step on it. Cranky like calling you a whippersnapper. Cranky like I ran out of country time lemonaide. Cranky like an old lady with no ben gay. Cranky like a constipated fellow with no prunes. It is going to be a rough week.

I am wearing slippers at work today!

Big job interview wed, so cross your fingers or whatever it is that you do, and wish me luck.
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Retraction!!!

I have to say it. All the trash talk about my neighbors, I am deeply sorry. I will not throw rocks at your house tonight. Good job with keeping your lights on, and giving out candy. I am sorry for all the bad things I have said and will continue to say about you. Oh, and thanks for reading my blog!!!!
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Boooooo!

Say boo to a bee. Say it. Man that is some funny stuff. Well, halloween is here. the past few years my halloweens have dropped off a bit. I really enjoy giving out candy and seeing all the kids dressed up. Yet, in the past 6 or so years I have moved three times. My first house was a little row home in NE philly. I swear on halloween they would bus the kids in to hit all the easy houses (row homes are all connected). These kids would fill a few bags, starting at 6pm and going till about 10pm. Now I always bought tons and tons of candy, I didn't want to be ' that guy'. All my friends came to my house to give out candy and hang with sammy, the mayor of my street (he never went trick or treating). After two years, wifey* and I bought a condo in the burbs. We figured that it would be pretty busy with the condo kids running around. We got about an hour or so of kids, and a bunch of drunk adults. Now, I shopped for candy that year (as if I was still in the NE). I think I spent around $70, so you can imagine what we had left over. Fast forward another two years and now we have a nice little house in a development**. Lots of kids in the neighborhood, so off I went to grab some candy. I very excitedly spent another good chunk of coin! Well, my house is the lastish house on the street (unless you do the loop). And my neighbors across the street don't give out candy***. Hence, the lazy little kids turn around before they get to my house. I have a plan this year! We are set up to light my house up, every light on in the house and some floods outside. Also, the beans will be dressed up, I will be screaming ' this is the best candy on the block, ' and we are setting up at the bottom of the drive way. BANG. This should increase our give-a-ways and visitors. I might have to suspend my candy incentive plan. You know the better to costume the better/more candy the kids get. Happy halloween, be safe. And remember, halloween is for candy! Don't give out change or apples or granola bars - don't be 'that guy.'

* wifey was not wifey yet.
** I hate that word.
*** stupid effers, I still don't talk to them.
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A new man, better today than yesterday

Check out these little beauts that wifey purchased for me yesterday. My first pair of slippers. I am not a slipper kind of guy, wait, I was not a slippers kind of guy. They always seemed, well, rather sissyish. I mean what grown ass man wears slippers? How I was mistaken. I am not the type of person who likes to be barefoot. I always have something on my feet, always. Socks don't do it for me, I need more protection than just socks. I am not sure where I picked up this trait, yet I don't care if I am in the house or not I always have shoes on. Last night at target wifey saw this wonderful creations and bucked up the $9.99 to bring me into a whole new world. I promptly went home, changed into my sweats, and slipped em on. I was moving around the house ninja like, steath as you say. I was sneaking up on the beans, the cats, the mighty apollo. All no match for the quiet that the slippers brought me. Then I snuggled in for the phillies game, and it hit me. My feet were so comfy and cozy that it was astonishing. Toasty warm, yet cool enough. My gosh what have I been missing. I actually contemplated wearing them to work today, I went with the trusty new balance instead. Saturday is slipper day in cube land. If you don't have slippers you aint got nothing. Maybe I need to get some uggs (I think that is what they are called). ok, forget the uggs, maybe some furry tims or something. Plus the tims make me taller!

Phils world champs, nuff said.


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This is what happens.....

When I read my dads blog....
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The one where I talk about work...

I am not really sure where to begin on this one... My work environment sucks! I work in a very competitive sales force. We don't really compete with each other as much as we compete to keep our jobs. We are ranked in many different ways: inbound sales, outbound sales, closing percentage, time at our desk vs time away from our desk, up sell numbers, down sell numbers (yes we have a downsell quota, idiots). These numbers are e-mailed to us twice daily, and are rotating on flat screen tvs strewn throughout the sales floor. You can't escape the numbers, ever. The competition to keep your job is fierce. They fire ppl for not making the quota, miss one month and you have to make up for what you missed plus the nxt months quota or your fired. No questions asked. If you are in the bottom 10 percent closing percentage for the year, and also part of the bottom 10 percent for any two months, your fired. Now the key to the last one is that you don't know exactly where you are until two weeks before you get canned. They only notify who the bottom 10 percent is... Crazy... And each month more people are let go, and the bottom 10 percent gets closer and closer. I can see the confusion on your face. Seems like they are flirting with the ethics line a bit, and yes they are! Wait wait wait, I just got an e-mail with my favorite quota. Number of leads captured. When you don't sell the program you are judged on how much info you can get from that person before they get off the phone. Awesome. I have a non buyer on the phone and I need to waste time getting info before moving on. Late 6 times, fired. Leave early 6 times, fired. Use an hour more than your vaca time, fired. Well, I guess you are beginning to understand. I have to go hit some quotas. Not to mention, I am not allowed to have a cell phone out, let alone blog at work. I have so much more to say about this, yet in due time. In due time. Why am I still here? The money was worth it. Key word ' was .'

Side notes:

Phillies game on delay for a bit, maybe I can get some sleep tonight.

Its snowing in philly right now. Oct 28th. Wtf.

I can't wait to throw rocks at my neighbors house when they turn the lights off on halloween!
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Philly

So the phillies are one game away from winning the world series. PSU is ranked number 3! The philly sports world is a buzz. And my sportsfanmanship is pathetic! I just can't find the time to get into it. I also think the sixers started this weekend, and I missed it. What the heck is going on. Up till about 16 months ago, I didn't miss much in the sports world. Haha, now I wake up in the middle of the night and check the scores on my phone, and go back to bed. I just don't think the beans is ready to be a philly sports fan yet. It is a tough city. She has been sleeping pretty rough lately, therefore so am I. If I have to give up some world series, sixers, eagles, psu, etc... Games to spend time with the fam than I will do that with open arms. At this point in my life I would love to go to a championship parade, yet not without the fam, and no way am I bringing a 16 month old down there. I am a bit worried about the city after cole brings home the bacon tonight. Celebrations should not be riots, should not be flipping cars and burning stuff. It just does not make sense. I will just have to watch at home, and run into the strret banging some pots and pans after the game, very quietly as to not wake anyone up. Lets go phils!
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Rx7, friends, that guy

My head is pounding today so bear with me on this one. Everyone has that one buddy, you know the one. Maybe a bit too loud, just a tad inapropriate at times, but just so darn lovable. You just wish you could bottle up some of that child like energy and keep it for yourself. My buddy we will call him rx7 (his true love) screams at the tv while playing video games, talks too loud at quiet restaurants, and always is amped up and ready to go when everyone is winding down.

And now to the real story:

My wife and I went to jamaica for our wedding, we were lucky to have 22 friends and family tag along. Some for the week some for just a few days. It was a great display of frienship to have so many ppl with us. Rx7 came down just for the weekend of the wedding. The drive from the airport to the resort was long enough for him to tie a good old buzz on before he got to the resort. Add that in with his boyish energy, and it was on (for him). Our dinner for everyone was that night, so wifey and the rest of us were pretty chill all day, soaking up the sun and a few drinks here and there.. Rx7 was running around the resort proclaiming his love for jamaica! Pretty funny stuff, and pretty typical. The night of the dinner rx7 was no where to be found, passed out in his room. No biggie. The rest of the weekend went smooth, the wedding was fabulous.

Fast forward to us all getting off the plane in philly. Well, mr rx7 is from ny, his car at another friends house who also was at the wedding, yet left earlier in the weekend. Upon walking out to the car lot, he realized he never planned to get from the airport to his car. Exhausted from the week, we all juggle some rides and I drive him to get the precious rx! The time you ask, around midnightish. After a 40 minute drive we arrive at his car. Keys?? Um, nope no keys. My friends house, locked. Amazing. The perfect storm of things going wrong. Luckily, he had a spare key in the car. No big deal I will just throw a brick at the window problem solved. I know I know the rx is precious. So, I say dude let's go to my place sleep there, and we will deal with this tomorrow. Simple. Nope, rx7 has a realtor test at 9am. He lives 4 hours away! A few calls to the police, a call to triple A, and shazam the car door is open. By this point I am a bit worked up, and just want to get home. It is now three am. After all of this rx7 pulls from his bag... A bottle of champaign. It was a bottle from our toast that he brought back from jamaica. He said he was going to wait till our one year anniversary to give it to me, yet thought it might be appropriate right now. Basically, just rx7 doing rx7 things, and that is why we love him. I stroll in my house at 4am, and wifey asked what the heck happened. I explained the story, and she almost shed a tear when I produced the champaign.

The champaign you ask? I am pretty sure wifey and I cracked that open on our anniversary. We gave a great toast to rx7 for saving the bottle for us.

Rx7 happened to txt me while I was working on this post, I told him about it... His response:

' bastard...those keys r still international.. .'.

I am sure I will get a stern txt about the picture I posted as well. His is red, I posted a blue one, he could go balistic... I kid I kid..
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Music, guilty pleasures

I am going to own up to it right here and right now. I really enjoy Pink. Yes Pink the artist the singer. I know I know. I have heard it before, but listen her music is really good. Some of the pure pop I can do away with, yet her folky slow raspy stuff is really good. I said it. When the new cd comes out, check it out, skip to number 10 and listen. I have the cd and it is really good. Ok, so also on one of my pandora stations I have: new kids, lfo, tiffany, debbie gibson, nsync, backstreet, bell biv devoe, ralph t, utfo, abc, chris cross,I have em all on there... And I sing along! Oh and one more thing... I like the movie: nottinghill. I am pretty sure I have no secrets left.

Yesterday was wed my day with the beans and she must have read my blog yesterday. She flat out owned me yesterday. Up at 3:30am, I rocked her, gave her some grub, sang some songs, and nothing. She was ready to go. I think we took a quick nap and that was that. I told my wife that the beans clearly does not understand that game one was on that night and I needed to be in tip top form. Phils won, 3 to go. And yes I was at the store buying some brand spanking new phillies gear cause I am a nerd like that, its just how I do.
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Real men

It has really come to my attention this past year what being a real man is all about. It took me almost 35 years (I am a bit slow). This morning while making breakfast, getting coffee ready, getting the dishes done, entertaining the beans, and feeding the dog and cat I realized this is what a real man does. He wakes up day to day and makes it happen, while enjoying it. Can I change a flat tire? well, maybe but I would bitch the entire time. can I help with car trouble? nope. Can I build something? Probably not. Construction, ahaha not really my thing. Yet, I can juggle a morning routine like a MOFO. Diapers? Bang, no issue. I have learned more in this past 16 months than I thought I would, I think it hit me one morning about 9 months ago at 4am. The beans woke and it was my turn, she needed some food, and here I was holding her with one arm and making the bottle with the other. I had made it! That is what a real man does. I do mean this in jest, mostly. I suppose I am talking about my personal transformation from a young married man, to a daddy. It is simply the hardest and most rewarding thing I will ever do. I cherish every memory of the past 16 months and try so hard to cherish each moment as I am in it. I sometimes can't help to think about what the future will bring. What kind of woman will the beans be, and then I reel myself back in, and enjoy. Nothing better than waking at three am to the beans saying 'daddy.'. And getting the day started, let the juggling begin!
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The FORK

I don't ever use the spoon, ever. Its useless. Ok, we maybe the one time per year I have tomato soup. Seriously, the fork is perfect for stiring, for stabbing, scooping, holding while cutting, and heck even cutting or more to the point breaking pieces off. A spoon is only good for soup, and heck if soup is that soupy then you should just drink it anyway. Spoon in your coffee to stir, come on man that's weak, use a stirer or a fork. You have a salad fork and a dinner fork, and one little useless spoon. 99.9% (fact) of the time you pick the fork up first and use it most often. Here is to the fork. Hi hip HOORAY hip hip HOORAY.. I am sitting here trying to think of reasons to use a spoon, so that I have ammo to make fun of the silly spoon and I got nothing. Pathetic spoon.
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I found it, well sort of!

piglet is mine! Well, pooh dressed as piglet to complete my collection for halloween. As it turns out nana and pop pop and the beans were in toys r us, when the beans spotted this little gem... As the story goes, the second beans saw it she began yelling daddy, daddy, daddy-- I guess she knows that I buy them for me and not her. Smart little kid we got there! Just wanted to fill you in, I know you went a few sleepless nights wondering if I would get the piglet- rest easy deer friend, rest easy.
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hey i am visiting Alice check her blog out, it is awesome, really awesome!!

i am over here....yes here... my first guest post...  i am pretty darn excited and very honored, so come and stay awhile.  Read lots and discover what a great blog it is at aliceinaverageland.. read my post and stay awhile and maybe i will tell you why a fork is better than any other utensil!!!!  just maybe ... and also check out my blog roll it is updated a bit.

Why I don't like my neighbors

Hang with me here for a second, this might take a bit...

It all happened one summer evening, monday night to be exact. I remember the day, because we had some friends over to watch american gladiators, best show on tv. Wifey was teaching swim, so the beans and I were at home chillin. As dusk began to settle I noticed the house across the street had a car in the drive way with the lights on. At this time two friends stopped over, so I pointed it out to them and it was decided that we should be good neighbors and go knock on the door. After about ten minutes of rock paper scissors wifey got home. As she approached the door I said, hey babe how bout you run across the street and let them know they left some car lights on. Of course she didn't, she laughed and said she was still in her bathing suit and to be a nice neighbor and get over there. Now, I was not dressed the best, pretty sure t-shirt, shorts and flip flops. As I mosey to the house, across the street and up the drive. I hear the car door lock, hmm that's odd. I approach the door, and I hear some shuffling in the house. The tv turns off and the shades close, I knock on the door, no answer. I knock harder, no answer... One more try, no answer. Then I hear the locks lock again. I have lived across the street for over a year, I walk the dog, mow the lawn, shovel the snow, they know me, they have sceen me. I don't talk to them, and they never wave to me, yet they see me all the time. I began to leave again, and hear it again. When the car door locks for a second time I walk back to the door and knock again, nothing. As I make my way back home I see that shades flutter and shut. Gosh. All I do is say, in a loud voice, you left your car lights on! I walk in my front door to roars of laughter, apparently all the lights in the house were turned off and they were watching me the entire time. I know they were not in there having crazy wild monkey sex, because I saw them watching tv thru the window. At this point I am kinda pissed. Did they think I was going to steal the car or steal something from in the car? I have a burning desire to know the answer to that question. Fast forward two and a half months: the guy talks to wifey all the time, and the lady has had coversations with wifey as well. They still won't talk or wave to me, ever. I take the trash out and wave, mow the lawn and wave, walk the dog and wave-- those effffers never wave back. Maybe they know I am not a suburb kid. I am from the city (well NE), 215 represent! Anyway, one of these days my question will be answered, I will know the truth. Jackasses better have some halloween candy this year too... And mow your darn lawn more than once per mont, and patch up your driveway it looks like shit, oh and your front walk needs some work as well... Get to work!

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What the h e double hockey sticks

Happened to my garage. I swear it was clean yesterday.... Off today, but working on the neighbor story for tomorrow... Have a great wed. I know I will.
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Star wars, halloween

Here we goooooo......

I know its still oct and I usually don't do any shopping for the holidays till at least december. I found myself in toys r us the other day, just inside the front door I see this (pic above). An entire section of the store dedicated to star wars. Pretty darn impressive things in here, including a mask that can change your voice! That actually made me a bit angry, the only way for me to get an authentic, yes authentic, vader voice was to talk into a fan. Now these little punks have a wall of action figures, ships, voice changers, and costumes. When I wanted to be a jawa for halloween I had to find some burlap sacks, some black stockings over my face and those cool glasses with the red lights where the eyes are -- these kids have it all done for them! This year for halloween at pjs house we are putting in effect the shitty costume rule, if you show up not dressed up or dressed poorly, you get shitty candy. If you put some effort into your costume then you get better candy. I am also fully prepared to take this to the nxt level and get some real candy bars, you know the big ones, not the small halloween candy bars. I am gonna get 10 - 20 big daddy candy bars for kids that go above and beyond. Step your game up kiddies, and no crying. Why did jimmy get the big daddy candy bar you ask in a whinny tone? Well, cause jimmy wore a big daddy costume. Yes little michael your costume sucks, so you get a jelly bean. One jelly bean that isn't even wrapped, so it will mess up the entire bag. It will stick to everything, and your parents won't even let you eat it, because it isn't wrapped. Now michael remember this for nxt year... Don't be that kid again. Its call performance pay kiddies get used to it. Oh, and one more thing.. If you are my neighbor from across the street, you better give out candy or you will get a beat down. Heck, wifey and I will even buy the candy for you cheap asses.
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Best thing ever.....

I am not sure what you did today or what you saw. Actually, I don't care what you have ever seen, because I have finally found the best thing ever. This little gizmo is the best thing ever, EVER, EVER EVER EVERIST. What you see in this picture above is a bubble/fog/smoke machine. The bubbles that you see are filled with smoke, YES FILLED WITH SMOKE. As in when they pop or are popped they explode in a puff of smoke. I know I have talked about great inventions such as the foreman grill, blackberry, wheelies, bluetooth.... Yeah I get it we are in 2008 and a lot of cool stuff is out there.... These are. SMOKE FILLED BUBBLES. I had to push 4 little kids out of the way just to bust a few, it was nothing short of amazing. What a weekend, what a fabulous weekend. You can pluck these things out of the air, not just a pop, yet a pop and a puff of smoke, AMAZING. I am at a loss for words, I can't even begin to write about the shock and awe... Unbelieveable. A picture is worth a thousand words...
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Rope chain!!!

I am sitting at work,( yes on a saturday) thinking about the good old 80s. So much is going on with the economy, the presidential race*, and me working on saturdays that I thought I should talk about something else (like run on sentences, ha). I happened to come upon an old chain, to be more specific, a rope chain. Now this chain is gold and rope style, alas it gets worse it has a charm!! Let me tell you that in 1988 NOTHING was better than a gold rope chain with your favorite sports team on a charm. In this case the phila 76ers** - BANG. Come on I know you remember giving charms to your boy/girl friend for b-day, valentines and x-mas gifts. They certainly were cool. When the olive garden was a high class place to eat, and you could rock the rope chain on the outside of you rayon shirt. I could get into the moon boots, z-cavs, georgio britinis, members only, jams, op... Heck even michael and prince, yet I am sure this has been talked about enough, or at least I will save that for a future post!

* palin is dropping the puck at the flyers game tonight. Should be interesting.
** I still wear it once in a blue moon when I really need to have good luck. Wifey does not approve, yet it is way cool.
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Read this!!!

So I am pretty new to this blogger world, and I stumbled upon this today. I read her blog daily, yet today it made me a bit humbled. Just read it and get your own blog started-- yeah you, YOU know who I am talking about...

http://brainyjane22.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/to-all-of-you/

Not the best link but it works...
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Bad news, really really bad news

Imagine my complete and utter dismay when I hit babies r us to get my winnie dressed as piglet bear--- when they don't effing have it any more... Man am I pissed!!! Errr... I mean the beans will be a bit dissapointed. It was there two weeks ago, I saw it, I held it, I should have bought it.... Wth. I have to admit that I almost shed a tear. I sure do wish I had a more profound post, the economy is in the shitter, the presidential race is very interesting, work sucks, and the eagles look terrible the past few weeks. Alas, all I got is that stupid babies are us didn't have my poo piglet halloween stuffed bear. Seems kind of narrow minded by me, yet I was surely po'ed. Lesson of the day- hesitation kills.
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Dentist again, awesome

Another day is done and another trip to the dentist. Tooth pulled last week, and a cleaning this week. Well, let me tell you I would much rather have a wisdom tooth pulled than have a cleaning. Along with the cleaning comes the lecture.... Well pj you really need to floss a bit more often, you really should stop by more often, hmm pj haven't seen you for a bit. Are you gaining weight? The last thing that I need is to have you scraping away at my teeth and giving me a lecture the entire time. Not sure if I paid for the lecture or the cleaning. X-ray time is fun as well, let's throw this led vest on you to protect you, yet then we x-ray your head, awesome. Of course you have to leave the room to check the x-rays, or have some coffee, take a little break, watch judge wapner... Whatever you do to make the billable hours a bit higher... Well, when you leave let it be known that I am texting ppl telling them how much I hate you, and snapping pics so that I can blog about your sadist ass when I get to work tomorrow. So enjoy your day, and please don't check my blog in the morning because I hate you!!!!!

Hahah, when I get up after a cleaning my thoughts are.... Boy that really sucked!
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Coldish, fall, frost

I was just not ready for this.... Frost on my car this morning! Ok so it really wasn't that bad, I didn't have to chip it off or anything. Still, it adds an extra five minutes to my commute. I have to warm my car up and get wifeys ready to go as well. Now I really enjoy getting her car nice and warmed up for her, its just one of those things I do. It has become much easier for me these past two years.... My car has an automatic starter, which certainly could be one of the greatest inventions of all time. Right up there with the george forman grill, the blackberry, and caffeine. Nothing better than walking to the window at work and starting my car from the inside!!!! If you live in a place where the seasons change and don't have one- then your pimp game is weak, step up.

The other day wifey had a tough day at work and upon arriving home said, ' how come we don't have any beer or wine in the house? I am going to go get some, I will be right back. '. Now we are not big drinkers, but a cold beer or good glass of wine is a great way to end the day. The only thing better could have been if she said... Hey hun I just won a shopping spree at best buy for 2 grand, so why don't you hustle over there and grab some gadgety electronics.

Happy Tuesday, TGIT
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Nothing better, ugh, mondays

Some mondays go smooth and some.....

Everything goes smooth until you get to work. Then you get settled into your little cube, get ready to attack your day. Then you type your password wrong and it locks your computer. The coffee machine over flows because whoever made the coffee didn't check to make sure the cannister was empty before filling it......... Ugh, and now I have someone over nxt to me talking about an ex and ranting and raving and ranting and raving about all kinds of personal information... Keep some things private, some of your stuff, your baggage, we don't need to know. Have some self respect. Pull yourself together. Sorry about the rant, but we all have these ppl in our places of work. It is just too much to handle on some monday mornings, especially after an eagles loss. I feel the need to interject my opinion. I mean if you didn't want me to talk about it with you then clearly you wouldn't be talking about it where I can here you.... Gooooo monday! Hip hip hooooray!

Ps. Coffee lady no longer here, got canned (I think).
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Kitties, animals, big bro

I am just going to put it all out there today. Some of you who know me might know this story already, yet here goes....

I have a big brother let's call him, chewie (as in star wars). Chewie is 3 years older than me and I am not sure exactly when he did this to me, yet he convinced me that if I close my eyes and grind my teeth that animals will be able to hear me when I think.... So, basically I could talk to the animals a la dr. Doolittle, all I had to do was close my eyes really tight, grind my teeth, and think about what I want to say to all the animals. Try it. Once in a blue moon the dog will get up and grab that ball that you wanted him to grab. Even a blind squirrel ... Well you know. To this day I catch myself doing this every now and then. It just stinks when you had your wisdom tooth removed.... HAHAhahaha, yep I did it yesterday. I think my brother must have ingrained this into my brain, he must have whispered it in my ear as I slept. I am brain washed.. Thanks big bro, thanks a lot!

And herrrre we go -- yesterday, the mighty and the beans and I went for our evening stroll. No wifey she had to go to school for parents night or something or another. As the fam and I are coming close to home-- I see a lady (who we see a lot, but I don't know her name) who is wheelchair bound who always walks her dog around the same time as we do. We always say hello, but try to keep our distance because her dog goes bonkers when it sees the mighty. Yesterday was no normal day - she was screaming her dogs name (which I didn't get) and I noticed that she had dropped the leash. I had to help! Here I am beans in the stroller, mighty on his leash... I turn and cross the street in her general direction, do I leave beans here (it is our neighborhood and safe), do I tie the mighty to the stroller? As I speed up I notice my shoe untie and become very loose, sweet! Now my jeans are a bit loose as well (I am between belt sizes which always sucks, either too tight or too loose). Here I am up over the nxt curb dragging the mighty, jeans around my butt, one shoe off, attempting to make it to the lady in the scooter chasing her dog. If you have a dog you know that you should go the other way when your dog gets loose as he will chase you....... Right now I think about grinding my teeth and telling the dog to back to his owner.. I have a full blown conversation in my head if this will work or not and if I should actually do it or not... Well, I do and it sucks cause my tooth is killing me... Now, this all happens with me moving about 5 feet, and I start to laugh at myself for actually doing the tooth grind. I am now chasing this lady, family in tow and laughing at myself. Also, having another conversation with myself about how ppl who see me might think I am laughing at the lady chasing the dog in her scooter, not good. As I get serious and stop laughing I look up to see how much faster I have to step it up to catch up - BANG, the dog jumps on her lap!!!! I can't believe my teeth grind worked!!!! I am the dog whisperer! This is nothing short of a miracle. Whew.. All of this happened in less than one minute, and boy am I glad that I didn't have to run any further.... I was due to take a header at any second.... Thanks chewie, you saved me. Good lookin out big bro!
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