Plans To Make

So I’m finding myself thinking about projects which I’d like to start up.  Lord knows I have no current shortage of things to do or projects which I’m already up to my eyeballs in.  At the very least, there is;

  • This web site
  • The football pick site
  • The genealogy site
  • The D&D group and of course the site related to that
  • Cleaning up the garage
  • Convincing Shari that the “hobby” room needs more of a gaming slant …

So despite the fact that I’ve got all of that currently on the go, I still find my mind occupied with yet one more project.  Specifically I’m thinking about trying to learn more about how car engines work.  It sounds so stereotypical but I really would like to be able to work on our vehicles all by myself, and have my kids right there by my side learning how to do it as well.  Yes I know that neither one of them is anywhere near an age where they can comprehend how things really work.  However these are the years where I could learn the basics myself,  and when the kids are of an appropriate age I could be in a much better position to help them learn as well.  Plus if the kids see me doing things right now then perhaps they’ll yearn to be able to help me once they’re older.  Fostering interests now so they can have something to grow into sounds like a pretty good idea.

So.  I basically want to start to tear apart my Cavalier.  Little things at first.  I do however want to try and tackle more involved jobs, something beyond just changing the air filter.  The problem of course is that not only do I need the time to do this but I also need to make sure that I won’t need the car immediately in case I REALLY screw it up.  The car itself has been paid for for a couple of years now and a quick check online let me know that on the used market I’m only going to get at most $5K for the thing.  So I’m not worried about resale value.  Nope, I’m going to want to try and tear into that car and learn just exactly how it ticks.

Or maybe introduce some ticks where there weren’t any before … hmmm …

Damn It’s Cold

Yessir, it’s the start of a new year. Outside my window right now it’s FREEZING cold but that isn’t going to stop me from thawing out my fingers and doing some typing!

But where to start? There’s so many different things to talk about. First up, one of the many gifts I received this year was a copy of “Just a Geek” by Wil Wheaton. I’m only into the beginning of the book but reading about his struggles as an author as well as an actor got me thinking that I need to be writing out my thoughts more often.

This is going to be a big year for the Carder family. We’ve got a lot of milestones coming up including the fifth wedding anniversary, Shari’s 40th, Brie going into junior kindergarten … uhhh … Logan learning how to pee on the potty? I know there’s other things which I just can’t recall … when it comes to the kids there’s just so much to talk about. I really do try to not be one of those parents who is CONSTANTLY talking about everything his kids is doing. I’m just so overwhelmed with pride in watching what the kids can accomplish I can’t help BUT talk about them constantly.

One of the things that this very blog has changed into over its life span is to become a place for me to collect my thoughts, so as they occur I can share them with my family. The principal recipients of those thoughts is now my kids so that when they get older they can look back on just how life was when they were little. Some of the things I talk about on here can be pretty boring but I do want Brie and Logan to be able to read these things and get a feel for who I am and the things that I did. Maybe when we can’t talk to each other this could be a means for them to understand their father better.

Anyway as it’s the new year and with that comes the annual farce which people call “resolutions”, I’ve decided that one of mine will be that I write more often. As long as I’m putting something down in the permanent record then I’m getting my thoughts out. So what will I talk about? Well there’s the job I’ve been on for three months now. There’s a couple of big upcoming events which I’m sure I’ll have something to say about. Oh yeah, and there’s that wedding anniversary coming up in a couple of weeks. I’m sure I’ll have plenty of source material to draw from. 😀

What Does Change Mean For You?

Guess what?  Life’s been busy for me … surprise surprise eh?  The big change which has occurred  in the Carder household is the fact that Shari has started a new job.  Yessir after fifteen or so odd years of selling soap at the Body Shop she has now entered into the wilds of the corporate world.  She’s working for a data harvesting company as a receptionist / office coordinator.  It’s a good fit for her, and thus far she’s really enjoying herself.  It’s slightly less than full time hours, so she can boogie home early and pick up the kids from day care.

Oh, there’s change number two.  BOTH of the Carder kids are now in daycare.  For Brie it’s just another day but it’s a pretty big change for the big man.  His first week went well aside from the fact that there was only one day where he didn’t have an incident report.  If you’re not in the know, any time that a child hurts themselves, there’s paperwork.  An incident report.  In a short week of four days, my son had three.  That kid is going to be a bruiser.

And for me?  Well, once again I’m trying to get back to the gym on a regular basis.  It’s a glorified excuse of course to use my iPhone, not only for some tunes but also for some workout tracking apps.  And of course the foursquare checkins.  You can’t forget those.

So what does all of the above mean?  It means that our happy little family is doing quite well adjusting and that makes me happy.  It leads me to hope that if my kids can adjust to change like this, then they’ll be better prepared for what life may have in store for them.  Granted they’re not going through major upheaval, but who knows what will come down the road next?

Not Just High Tech

No sir … I might be all about the tech stuff … for instance, let me apologize to those following me for the oversharing of late … between TwitPic and FourSquare, I may have been a little too forthcoming … back on track, yes I love the tech stuff … but I also like to enjoy some low tech things to play around with.

My most recent forays into the low tech world have come about because of my renewed interest in D&D.  Running sessions for the boys, I’ve been experimenting for the part year on ways to deliver a better experience at the game table.  This has led to some very amateurish wood working and crafting.  I’m getting more comfortable running with a dremel now, with only that one head injury to speak of.

So my mind has started trying to figure out other little projects that I might be able to do around the house.  A CD holder for Shari in the van, because with her returning to work she’s going to be listening to music a lot more.  A holder of some kind for my new tech toy, the iPhone.  Something that will allow me to set it down and watch movies and such.  I was even trying to figure out a way to make a shade tent using PVC piping.  However that one bit the dust based on costs.  But where one project may die, several more will rise to take it’s place.

I’ve always … ALWAYS … been in awe of people who can create things with their bare hands.  I spend so much of my day mired in things which are virtual and intangible.  Sure you can make a good looking web site, but it’s not the same as carving something out of block of wood.  Of building a motorcycle from scratch.  Even something as simple as drawing a comic strip.  All of these things are born from an artist’s two hands and their mind.  I often wish that I can reach something close to what these people do, and as of late my little projects have scratched that itch.

Another part of this is about my kids.  I want them to see that it is possible for them to grow their creativity.  To see that nothing should ever hold them back and that if they want to create there is nothing in their way.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go see if there’s a Dremel Jr. for the kids …

What I Can Now Deal With

Those who know me are aware that for many a year I’ve had a powerful gag reflex, The mere thought of even something I didn’t like approaching my mouth was enough to set me off gagging.

Which is why I’m so amazed at how things have changed for me. Sure you bring the wrong food within visual distance of me, WHAMO! And yet, this morning …. As he does most mornings … Logan obliterates his diaper … Poop shooting out everywhere … and I don’t even bat an eyelid. Just got my hands in there and started cleaning up.

Man, I must be a parent or something ….

Budge On The Move

Uh oh … Shari and are in trouble … the budgie boy is start to get mobile all on his own … he’s doing this little pseudo crawl thing where he’s using his phenomenal arm strength to pull himself along.  Once he figures out what to do with his legs, that boy will be MOVING.

And just to try and show off, he’s also pulling himself into a standing position using the couches.  He can also march his way up and down the length of them.  So the question is will he walk or crawl first?

Time For Some Thoughts From May … I Guess?

Hey there in Timbit land!  I guess it’s about high time that I posted SOMETHING out here.  Do I say that a lot?  I think maybe I do … maybe I should just post more often?  Hunh …

So the weather is turning REALLY nice as of this past weekend.  Which meant that the family got to spend a LOT of time outside this weekend.  Shari and I had decided to pick up a season’s pass to the zoo this year, and we’ve already made the most of that investment.  Brie loves going, if not for the animals then at least to just see a whole bunch of stuff that she thinks is neat.  She’s such a little explorer and is always asking “What dat?” or asking you to “Come!  Daddy come!”  Logan?  He’s just happy period so I guess it doesn’t matter to him where he is …

TV Season is wrapping up for the year with most series having their finales in the past couple of weeks.  I wish that Shari and I could say that we’re not addicted to TV … but really?  The way the kids run us ragged by the end of the day all we want to do is collapse onto the couch and veg.  I’m sure we could try and emulate some motivational posters and “Seize Life TODAY” or something … but really?  The people who wrote those posters didn’t have small children.  Anyway … Shari and I have really enjoyed a number of standout shows this past year and I think we’re already DYING for the next season to start … Modern Family and Community stand out among the new crop …

There are just so many random thoughts which I have to deal with these days.  Ignoring the stuff I have to focus on at work, once I get home … trying to soak up as much Brie & Logan time as I can … and then have some time with my wife … and then try to get stuff down around the house … and MAYBE then do something fun … I can barely remember a time when this wasn’t commonplace.  I know that simpler times should be ahead, but at the same time I want to capture every moment I can while these two kids are the ages they are.  Because there’s going to come a time where I’m going to wonder where these two wonderful children disappeared to and these annoying teenagers came from.