Technology is wonderful

My roommate from college and I used to play this game called a MUD. Multi User Dungeon. D&D online with people all over the place. We used to use those old green screen terminals to telnet to a server and play the games on the servers. That’s actually how I met him originally – we were grouping with a bunch of other people and killing some monsters for gold and experience points when we all started talking about where we were. When he mentioned James Madison University, and I asked where, he said the name of a building across campus. Turns out he was also the ex-roommate of my RA that year. I met my wife the same way.

One of the things he and I used to talk about was “Wouldn’t it be cool if we could take a computer and put it in the middle of the quad (the huge lawn in the front of the campus) and play games sitting out there with no wires and no network cables?” Granted, this was 1992, and there were no such things as laptops, Windows 3.1 was in its infancy, and forget about wireless connections.

So it’s 15 years later, and I’m sitting on one of those laptops in my bedroom looking out the window at the sun on the lawn and typing this. As I am typing it’s autosaving my information through the air and sending it to somewhere in Chicago where those of you reading this will see it on your browsers.

It’s amazing to think that 30 years ago, I was tapping away on a Commodore 64. There were no such things as cable tv, the internet, DVD’s or even Online Porn. Just in the last 10 years things have come so fast that it’s mind blowing. In 1999, people were still using dialup connections, posting stuff on bulletin boards, and generally just trying to find their way around the World Wide Web. When was the last time you called it that?

Considering the speed with which things are happening, I wonder what will happen, even in the next 5 years. I’m hopeful that through government help and philanthropy, that we’ll figure out how to not use oil, and fuck up our planet any more than we already have. Wouldn’t it be great if we could find a way to actually help the planet get back to what it should be? Or at least close?

So what is the one thing you couldn’t do without that you use all the time, besides the internet. For me, it’d have to be the DVR

Posted in Daily Entry, general update | 3 Comments »

first of many

I’m going to post about several things today, I know, don’t faint Mike.

My nephews bar mitzvah was last night, and I have to tell you, I was seriously dreading it. Not because of the occassion or anyone there, I’m finding as I get older that I’m almost anxious before any social occassion. Not hide in a corner anxious, but definitely ‘I don’t want to go and it would be easier if I just stayed home and watched movies all night’ anxious.

That being said, we all got ready drove to Philly and all four of us had a really good time. Which I knew we would. So why was I anxious?

Am I becoming that grumpy old uncle that ‘hates these things’, or just completely anti-social?

The funny thing is, I can get along with anyone, pull anyone into a conversation, and have a good time with most groups of people. So what’s my deal?

Not sure, that’s why I’m blogging about it. Tends to help me gets my thoughts together. We had a great time dancing with the kids and each other, catching up with all of Fae’s family, and just having a nice night out. Again, which I knew we would.

Anyway, I think just realizing that its happening and going anyway helps. Its not like I wouldn’t have gone, and I’m glad because my nephew did beautifully.

Posted in general update | 2 Comments »

Comradery, brothers in arms, emotional relationships

I’ve always been a fan of war movies, whether it was the Bridge Over the River Quai type battlefield movies, or current movies like King Arthur(the one with Clive Owen), or TV series like Band of Brothers.

There exists, a feeling, a common emotion, a ‘something’ that bands people together in situations like this.  It’s a shared experience, and almost psychic connection between people that transends words and thought, and reaches the spirit on a level that can’t be described.  I’ve read many books and seen lots of shows and movies where this spirit is present.  The Seven Samurai, a movie about 7 men who decide to defend a village from raiders – they come to know one another, see each others strengths and weaknesses, and form a cohesive unit, a bond that is strong enough that they can know that the man next to them will do whatever it takes to do his part, to ensure the success of whatever they do, or die in the attempt.

Is it the adrenaline?  Is it a respect for one another?  I felt some of the same unexplainable thing in my Tae Kwon Do studio with a group of people that I trained with, and later had the privilege of teaching.  There was always something there, something that made us push one another, to egg on or goad or embarrass each other to accomplish more and more each time.  My biggest success as an instructor was understanding that in situations like this, you bring out the best in people, by displaying the best in yourself.  It doesn’t necessarily make you the leader, or the best, or the one in charge.  People are inspired by seeing people put their money where their mouth is, by setting the standard high and aspiring to achieve the goals and aspirations they have set for themselves.  And in doing so, inspiring others to do the same.  I think the mark of a true leader is one who is not necessarily trying to lead, but exhibits true leadership in his actions alone.

I think we do that for our children to an extent.  I know that my son listens to every word, and sees everything I do as something he should do, or try to do.  This isn’t pompous of me, it’s reality.  Sons look to fathers to emulate and to imitate.  I have the good fortune to not only have a boy who understands my weirdness, but who wants to be like me, and looks up to me.  On the flip side, I know that my daughter loves me to the end of the earth, but is learning different things from me.  She’s much more independent and sees my behavior and actions and makes her own decision as to what she’s going to do.

It’s that unspoken bond, that communication between compatriots that I aspire to share with my children and teach them to try as well.  Each group in the movies and tv that I’ve spoken of is lead by a true and noble leader, who puts his men’s wellbeing before his own.  Its the love towards that person because of this intention that is a beautiful thing whether it’s a Major and his platoon, a Seargeant and his squad, or a father and his children.

Posted in Dad, Daily Entry, dadBlogs, general update, nerdlings | 2 Comments »

What’s UP?!?

It’s Monday the 17th of November:

• We’re done delivering 301 boxes of cookies to just about every single person on the planet.  “Daddy, I want to go for 500 boxes next year!”  “Fuck you kid.”  Yes, I said it.  No, I said it to you, the internet, not my daughter.  Ya dirty bastards.
• I haven’t worked out in weeks.  Yeah yeah yeah.  How many of you have?  HUH?!?  Yeah, didn’t think so.
• Haloween Candy + Girl Scout Cookies = lazy ass mofo, see previous bullet point.  Can you blame me?
• Is my gloom coming through in this post?  Yeah, thought so.  Shut up Gloomy Matt.

Okay, seriously.  I’m actually doing pretty well.  I think the bit of gloom is coming from the temperature drop and the fact that Fall, for me, is kind of over.  When most of the leaves have fallen, that’s kinda it for me.  Sure, Thanksgiving is going to be nice – festive event at my parents every year – but it’s kind of the last hurrah before christmas season starts.

Is anyone else ready to vomit that you’re already seeing christmas holiday decorations and hearing those innane songs already?  ALREADY?!?  WTF?

Pledges to myself -

• I’m going to work out tomorrow.  I swear.
• I’m going to stop dipping into my kids candy bags.
• I will drink more water
• I will read to the kids more
• I will cuddle with my wife and make her tea before bed because I know it means a lot to her.  (It does to me too, but don’t tell her I like getting her tea).
• I will not obsess about baseball trading during the offseason.
• I will stop using Facebook as an escape because truthfully, I don’t give a crap about updating my status everytime I go to the bathroom or go for a walk.

I’d like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who is even thinking green and seriously thank people who are actually doing something about it.

Oh, and if you’re for Prop8, you’re a ding dong.

Posted in Daily Entry, general update | 4 Comments »

Now for my real morning post

Whine whine whine.

Yeah, I think I’m sick. Going to try to get rid of this sinus headache, but I am not sure it’s going to go away by itself. Going to go up and get a Musinex in a little while. Can’t think straight, tho the japanese post was fairly understandible.

No deep posts today Mike, I promise.
————————————————————————————————-
Boston – 1.5 games behind the Rays, 6.5 games ahead of the Twins in the WildCard. Interesting post yesterday about whether Francona(Sox Mgr) will push them to try and take the division, or rest everyone up so their healthy. A bunch of people could use some time off. We’ll see. If we win tonight and the Rays lose? Could make things interesting.

Posted in Baseball, Daily Entry, general update | 3 Comments »

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Internet

I’ve been feeling down lately.

I was curious about it, so I looked up Midlife Crisis

Midlife crisis is a term used in Western societies to describe a period of dramatic self-doubt that is felt by some individuals in the “middle years” of life, as a result of sensing the passing of youth and the imminence of old age. Sometimes, transitions experienced in these years, such as aging in general, menopause, the death of parents, or children leaving home, can trigger such a crisis. The result may be a desire to make significant changes in core aspects of day to day life or situation, such as in career, marriage, or romantic relationships.

Read More…

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I think I found it..

Yes, yet another theme.  I think I like this one tho, it’s nice and simple.

Anyway, happy belated Father’s Day to everyone, hope your weekend was nice and relaxing.  We pretty much lazed around on Saturday and went to my parents on Sunday.  It was nice to see everyone and to spend some quality time with my brother.  Our respective kids were pretty much all over us so we tried to migrate to another part of the pool.  It was good.

Working on some projects for work, and for my side business.  Fae’s going to be helping me work on another piece of software that will hopefully make some bank and help ease the costs we have everyday.  Still loving working from home 3 days a week.

We’re going to Great Wolf Lodge on Wed and Thurs with Gillian’s brownie troop.  I’m looking forward to splashing around in the water with Fae and the kids.  Should be lots of fun.

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school and the wonderful barrel of crap that goes with it

When I Was growing up, I never really had many problems in school.  I was always one of the biggest kids in the class, I grew up on a block with lots of families and was involved in so many different things that I never had to worry about who to hang out with, or what to do during recess.

Aidan is having some serious issues, and I feel totally unequipped to help him.  How do you tell a kid, how to deal with the infinite amount of crap that is so worthless and meaningless and will totally go POOF once everyone graduates and realized how much of an infinite amount of crap elementary, middle and high school was.  It’s all so stupid and I want to tell him to ignore it, but the kid is sitting at lunch alone while kids are picking on him and making fun of him.  I can tell there are times when he was telling me about it that he wanted to cry from lonliness, shame, and embarrassment.  I want to cry just thinking about it, just talking to him about it, just sitting here writing as a father to a son who is being emotionally abused.

Want to talk about feeling impotent?  It took me almost 30 minutes of talking and reasoning with him to even get him to tell me whats wrong, what’s going on, what’s so obvious to me that is eating away at him.  I want to go and stomp on every single one of the little a-holes that pick on him and make him feel like a victim.

That’s the biggest problem here really.  He’s taken so much of it, that I think he’s starting to believe he is a victim.  God help him if he starts believing it.

We talked about some strategies, and how to navigate through some of the more obvious pitfalls that I can see from the outside.  Tonight taught me that I am a good parent in that I knew that there was something inherently wrong, and taught me that my son needs some serious advice and help from his dear old Mom and Dad.  For Fae, she’s reliving her nightmare all over again.

Time to make that stop.

Posted in general update, nerdlings | 1 Comment »

what’s going on?

I’m happy. How did that happen? I’ve always been a happy person, and genuinely interested in things, but I’m happy. Fae and I are having fun together, joking around, being silly. It’s nice.

Aidan’s slowly but surely working his way out of his funk – understandable as Fae and I were not being very nice or very understanding. It was just one disappointment after the other. Better understanding of what’s going on with him and his ADD and allowing him more slack without giving him excuses. He’s a lot happier and having more fun, which I am really happy about.

Gillian is pushing at the boundaries, seeing where things are. Her disease is a serious pain in the butt sometimes, but as long as we’re careful, she’ll be okay. Her attitude lately has been a bit rebellious, but nothing we can’t handle – without causing permanent damage that is:) I love seeing her dance around instead of fall asleep at the drop of a hat. Celiac is a nasty little, yet manageable disease.

Me? I’m doing the biggest loser at work and trying my best not to eat every candy bar in sight. It’s amazing what you do when you think you’re bored.

Weight – 223

Akido classes this week – 0 (and that’s probably why I’m a bit blue this week – hoping to get there on saturday)

Oh yeah, I’m going to be recording stuff like that at the end of my entries from now on. Help me keep track of how lame I am being

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39….

39. Wow.

When I was a kid, 30 was old, 40 was ancient! I’m pretty damn close now What am I going to do this year?

I’m going to sit on my butt and do nothing. I’m an old man now!

39 is really nothing truthfully. Yeah, I’m a little stiffer and sorer after a work out of if I try to jump over a fence – long story – but I’m still feeling pretty good.

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