I saw this over at my internet friend Carol’s space, so I thought I’d join in (it’s helping me to avoid work). 

I got this mug in 1995, when I was working as a programmer for a company called Info Systems of North Carolina.  My manager at the time was a really nice lady who would get kind of irritated at me every once in a while, because she said I was an “Administrative Nightmare”.  I have no idea what she was talking about.

Today was Young Author’s Day at Eric, Alex and Jake’s school.  Since Jake is in kindergarden, he didnt participate, but Eric and Alex did.  I got to hear both boys read their stories, and that was nice.  The not so nice part was having to sit through all the OTHER kids stories too, because while I like kids and they were all very excited to have the parents there…other kid’s stories just aren’t all that interesting.  I’m sure its because my kids are the smartest, most fun, and best writers in their whole class.

Eric’s story was about how he woke up one morning, and his bed was on Mars.  There were aliens.   Eric’s got the best imagination of any 10 year old I’ve ever met, and I would love to read his stories, even if I didn’t have to like them.

Alex’s story was about how he rode Mission:Space at Disneyworld.  Luckily, he didn’t mention the part about me almost throwing up.  While I liked that part, I noticed when he was getting up to read his story that he neglected to wear underpants (If you’re not a parent, you wont understand how I knew that, but if you are, you will, because you have “Daddy Radar” too (or Mommy radar, which is the same, only more attuned to uncombed hair and other fripperies)).  I almost stood up and said “WHY ARE YOU NOT WEARING UNDERPANTS???” in front of everyone, but I restrained myself.  I don't know WHY he hates to wear them so much.  He’s a weirdo.

Even though having to sit through all of the other kids stories was kind of lame, I love going to see them do well in school.  Now I just have to fix it so the Assistant Principal never has to call me because they get caught pulling shenanigans.

When Jenny is out of town, I sleep up in the attic, mainly because I don't want my computer to feel lonely.  Sometimes, I end up with extra people in bed with me, but that’s ok.   I don’t really discourage it, because I know that it wont be long until they’re too old to want to be with me (I’m a horrible pushover).  Last night though, I woke up at about 4:00 with no one in bed with me, but I heard Izzy hollering “DADDDY……..DADDY……..DADDY”.  I went downstairs to tell her to ZIP IT, but she wasn't in her room.  She wasn't in the master bedroom either.  I heard her again from downstairs, so I went down only to find her standing on the counter next to the refrigerator with chocolate all over her mouth.  It seems she used a chair to climb up on the counter to get at the Easter candy that’s on top of the refrigerator, ate all she wanted, and then found out she couldn't get down. 

She wouldn't go back to sleep either, so I’m sure I’ll be cranky today.  Dammit.

The only reason I didn't get too mad at her is because she’s so cute.  This pic is her in the ballerina dress she got.  Note the shoes.

It was getting close to bedtime, so I said to Izzy “It’s almost time for bed!”.  She replied, in her Darth Vader voice, “I will destroy you”.

Jake!

We’re having family come for Easter this weekend:  My favorite one of Jenny’s cousins,  Tomi, came yesterday and her sister, nephew, and sister’s new boyfriend are coming tomorrow, so we’ll have a nice Easter dinner.  The kids are all excited too, because Spring Break started yesterday, and runs until next Friday.  (Why they didnt just have all next week off instead of one day this week and 4 days next week is beyond me, but I haven’t head the opportunity of getting an Education degree, so I don’t know why they decided that). 

Last night we had a nice cookout, with brats and hamburgers on the grill, the kids really liked it.  Right before dinner, though, Jake came and kind of nonchalantly told me that he swallowed a quarter.  When I asked why in the world he would do that, he said that he put it in his mouth to see if he could keep from swallowing it.  I guess he failed.   Because he’s so tiny (he weighs about 42 pounds, which is kind of scrawny for a 6 year old – he weighs about as much as Alex’s arm), I called the doctor’s office, and they said he should have an xray to make sure everything was headed in the right direction.   Luckily, there’s an urgent care near our house, and it wasn't TOO full, so we didn’t have to wait long to get an xray that showed that he had, in fact, eaten a quarter.  When the nurse asked why he ate it, he said “I didn’t EAT it, I SWALLOWED it.”, as if that made it ok.  The doctor told us that we should make sure that it comes out, and while I maintain that’s a pink job, Jenny assured me that it was part of my purview.  Examining poop to see if it has coins in it is one of those things they didn’t mention in “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”. 

I’m going to save the quarter and give it to Jake at the Rehearsal Dinner before his wedding.  I’ll make sure to tell everyone the story too.

A few years ago when I went to Washington to see AOL, I went to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center and had a great time.  Last week, I had a morning free, so I went back with a better camera, and took some more pictures.  I don’t know what the fascination of the place is, but to see all of the old airplanes up close is really interesting.  I guess it’s a guy thing…we like to see stuff that goes fast or blows up, and if something will go fast AND blow up, that’s at least twice as much fun.  Since the last time I went, they moved some things around and got some new exhibits, like an F-35 and a Sikorsky UH-34D, but I also got a chance to take some nice pictures of the famous old stuff, like a SR-71 and the Enola Gay.  Next time I go, I want to go downtown and take some pictures at the main National Air and Space Museum. 

I put the whole collection up on flickr.

I went to Washington DC to visit some customers this past week, and I was lucky enough to have some time between meetings, so I decided to go and see Arlington National Cemetery.  It was a beautiful day, and the cemetery is very moving, if you’re into that sort of thing.  One of the most interesting things I got to see was the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns, where unidentified soldiers from World War I and World War II are interred.  To honor those soldiers, a guard is kept on duty, in 30 minute shifts, 24 hours a day.

President Kennedy and his brother Robert are also buried there, along with thousands of soldiers, from the Civil War up to today.  While I was there, a funeral for another soldier was held, and the caisson carrying him went by while I was walking out.  It was very moving.

I took about 300 pictures there, some of the ones I like the best are over at flickr.