Monday, October 30, 2006

Good Dog, Bad Dog

We picked up a new dog on Sunday. Actually, the family did- I went to the Raider-Steeler game with my man Darryl. It was a birthday present from my beautiful wife (the tickets, not Sheila). That's the dog's name. Sheila. She is an 8 month old Jack Russell Terrier. Cute as a button, and a total spaz. She will fit in here perfectly. Or not. She likes to chew. She slept with Connor, and since he conked out early, she decided to chew. We have a lot of military tradition in our family. I even tried it myself. ROTC. Two years. But when I changed majors I was told the Army has no use for the skills I would learn. Art. Not biggie- my two week camp experience was less than satisfying- I don't do mornings, or at least I didn't in college- so I dropped out before I signed on the dotted line. I always wonder what life would have been like if I had, but that is for another time. Anyway, my Father in law was Marine. RSM, 5 1. HARD core with a capital HARD. But a great man. He had some of the most harrowing stories about Vietnam. He served 5 tours there. The army had a policy of one tour each, but the Marines send you where they want, when they want, however many times as they want. And Hank was up for it. I respected the man a hell of a lot. I even cut my hair short when I started dating his daughter. Always respect the father. Boys- learn that one early. No one can cut you off better than daddy. What was I talking about? oh yea. Connor has a little bear called Marine Bear (talk about a lead in!) . He is in dress blues and tennis shoes. Connor LOVES Marine Bear. Sheila likes him too. She ate him. She is going to be in big trouble, because hell hath no fury like a raging 5 yr old. I, for my part, will do anything to make the little guy happy, so I will probably buy him a car or something. My mom will attempt to rebuild him. Bionic Marine Bear. NaNaNaNaNaNa. Steve Austin, look out.

Thursday, October 26, 2006

My Father's Flag

I received a flag from the VA this week for my father, who passed away in March. Up to this point I had not shed a tear at his passing. I guess I am one of the fortunate ones, but his passing did not leave any unresolved issues between us. I was the wild one in the family, but I got straight with him before he passed. When I opened the box, reality set in. I had myself a good cry. I took out his papers and looked at his service record. He served in the Pacific in WWII. The names of the places read like a history lesson. He was a private; an infantryman. He was one of the kids who, when the landing craft hit the shore, would charge out onto the beach. I never really connected the calm quiet man who I knew with the guys you see in the movie out now. But that was him. He rarely talked about his wartime experience, but he was there on that island and from what I have heard it was much like it is portrayed in the movie. I cannot fathom what it must have been like. He described times where everyone around him was killed- he still remembered their names. No wonder he was so calm and focused in the face of all the adversity he experienced while I was growing up.

We all owe those men all that we have. Everything. There isn't much more that can be said.

Monday, October 02, 2006

The wife left me....

No, not like that, but for an emergency at home. Her mother had a stroke, and so she booked a flight and left. It was all sudden like, and I don't think she really understood what she was doing. Anyway, she has departed, and I am in charge. Sort of a "fox guarding the chickens" kind of situation. More like "W in charge" if you ask her. Yesterday about 7 I remembered that they hadn't eaten dinner. I piled 'em into the Suburban and off we went in search of food. We ended up at Walmart. Don't even ask how that came about. Ours is a SuperWalmart, so they have food. I figured we would get some stuff and bring it home to eat. They talked me into a bag of what could only be described as "Crap". The whole assortment had little in the way of nutritional value. Probably, if you ate the paper and cardboard, you would get some fiber. We brought it home and ate it in front of the TV. Then they ran around the house like maniacs, and then they pretty much passed out and I put them in bed. I didn't have this in mind when we were shopping, but it turned out to be a pretty good strategy. Dinner is once again looming on the horizon, and again, I have no plan.