I Finally Got Pea's On!

As the father of a little boy you get asked that a lot. There are many ways to put it...

"Got the golden shower yet?"

"Been Christened yet?"

"Has he got ya with his firehouse?"

And to all these up until a few days ago I said no! Diaper changes go quick with day. I have the new diaper opened up and laying on the edge of the changing table. A wipe out on on top of the wipe box. Undo the diaper, check it for the brown stuff, and then get a quick clean job. As I tuck the dirty wipe in the old diaper, I grab the new, and slap it on his little bottom. Another successful diaper change with no accidents. Now, once he got the wall with me in there, and once he started to pee just as I opened the diaper. But last week he finally got me.

We started the little one on baby food. They tell you to start with green vegetables. So we got a full line. Green Beans, and Peas. The green beans didn't go so well. So we did them for a couple of days and switched to Peas. He loved them! He would eat them right up. Usually baby food time was at the 5pm feedings. So the wife feeds him. One day last week his schedule was a little off. So the food time was bumped to 4. Mommy is not home for that one, so daddy had to try and manage. I get the bib, put him in his bumbo ( you will have to see my wife's blog if you don't know what this is) and get the peas.

After the first bite, he starts fussing. What is the problem. When his mom gives them to him, they are great, when daddy does it...Not having it. But he is eating while fussing, so when he opens up to cry, slip the spoon in! Gets a few more bits in...and then it happens!

With a mouth full of peas...he looks up and dad and PHfffffffffff. That funny lip buzz that Eli does from time to time. We are talking peas all over him. From head to foot. All over dad, including the glasses! This is the only time I have been Pea'd on! Not sure which would be worse!

I think I should just stick to giving him the bottles!

The Last Straw!

So we moved into a new house last July. The middle of summer. Little did we know then that the corner of our yard was "THE BUS STOP." Since school began back in August we have had problems with the kids that stand there. First there is a huge mud pit where they stand that killed all my grass. Now, I know I am starting to sound like one of those grumpy old men..."You little whippersnappers get off my lawn!" Really, that is the least of our concerns!

Is it just me, or do kids have no respect for anyone else these days? They might have a granola bar for breakfast. Actually I can tell you they do. Also freezer pops, boxes of dry cereal, and toast. I am not here when the kids get there, I know this because I find the trash in my yard when I get home. This really drives me crazy, but I was understanding about this.

When Sarah was off work on maternity leave, she found out something else that the little kids were doing. Sleeping in our bedroom (which is the room closest to the bus stop) she was roused from her slumber by a loud thud. And kids laughing....Thud....kids screaming. So she drags herself out of bed, and peeks out the window. The kids are playing tag, and guess what is base....our house. Thud....I am safe! So Sarah peeks her head out, and nicely asks the kids to stop.

This is not the last straw, but I just found out about it. Our mail box is right there on the same corner as the bus stop. My neighbor tells me the other day, he will look out and see those kids just pulling the mailbox from side to side, trying to get it out of the ground. So again, one morning Sarah asks the kids not to do it. Of course they look at her like she is evil!

But last week was the final straw. Sarah wakes up to let the dog out before she gets ready for work. As she opens the door, looks out at the kids at the bus stop, and there a boy using our tree as a urinal. We are not talking about a little 1st grader...this is a 3rd or 4th grade boy that knows better. And it would have been different if he was the only kid at the bus stop, but there are more than just him there. What the hell is wrong with kids these days?

This of course sparked calls from my wife to the superintendents office, which we were assured that the bus stop would be moved. We are still waiting on that!

Boogety, Boogety, Boogety!

Another Thursday lunch deliever! This time I got to go to a fun little place. The local dirt track! I usually try to take the Subway sandwiches to them opening week. And they were suppose to race this past friday night, but they were rained out. Darn the luck! For a long time I have really enjoyed racing. Not so much the indy cars, but NASCAR, and even the local dirt tracks around the area. These are the guys that work on their cars all week in their garages, and try to go out and win a little spending money! This track is a beautiful track!

So if you are ever near Gas City on a Friday night and see the lights and the dust, swing in for a good time. They have Sprint Cars, UMP Modifieds, Street Stocks and Thunder Cars. And from time to time they will have the Midgets, and mini-wing sprints! A whole lot of fun!

You can also check out their website here!

I love it when I get to hang out at all the fun spots for the lunch delievery!

Help the Hopeful

A Couple of years ago I had to do a remote broadcast from a charity auction. It is called Help the Hopeful. To begin with, I really had no idea what it was all about. I did the broadcast, saw all kinds of stuff, really nice stuff. Unfortunatly I had plans for later in the day. I left. Two years ago I attended my first auction. It was incredible! More about my experiance a little later.



The event was started 17 years ago to help one little girl that had a brain tumor. The organizers were able to get the support of some local taverns, brewing companies and alcohol distributors. I know you are thinking...why are they involved. Well the organizer works for a liqour store chain. He has contacts there. They donated items and they were able to raise about $8000 for this little girl. The next year they decided to do it again, this time for a few kids. Again the brewerys came through huge donating coolers, chairs, grills, and more! Usually the kind of stuff you only see in the bars.





All in all over the last 17 years they have helped 128 children with major medical problems. The really incredible thing is that over the 17 years, every single penny has gone to the kids. Every single item is donated. Every person working is donating their time. It is so amazing to see the community come together at this event.



It is hosted at the local AmVets post. And when I say there is a lot of stuff there. You would not believe it! There are things people make. There are items that are donated year after year. It is truly incredible to see the generousity of this community.

It is not just the breweries and bars that donate all the items! Local business from all around the area give great things to be auctioned off. From camp chairs from hardware stores, to handmade quilts there is a huge variety of items. One of the big donaters is Weaver Popcorn. They always give a huge amount of popcorn that is sold!

This year, I was there early for my broadcast before the event, and I had to scope out the bake sale table! I am sucker for peanut butter fudge. So I make my way over there to see what they had to offer. There were pies and cakes and cookies as far as the eye could see. I was looking and looking for that peanut butter fudge. I see it down at the start of the table. I tell you, if there was someone between me and that fudge I would have taken them down faster than a cruise ship anchor hitting the ocean floor. I grab one small bag of 5 pieces for a dollar. As I pay, the guy running the table says..."That won't be enough!" I assure him it will satisfy my sweet tooth before they start the steak fry. So I find my seat, break open that bag of fudge. I take the first bite. It melts in my mouth. It is by far the best P.B. Fudge I have ever had. (sorry mom) Another guys says how his sister makes it each year for the sale. I hated to admit it, one bag was not enough. I head back over to the table and buy the last two bags. Hey...others should have gotten there earlier!



So after the fudge I go looking again at some of the other items. I have for years wanted a Crown Royal Golf bad. Well, there were a ton of "booze" golf bags. Johnny Walker, Miller Beer, Dewars...Ohhhh, there is my Crown Royal Bag. I have tried to buy these in the past. They usually go for more than I am willing to spend. With a little less than an hour left before the auction starts, I have pretty good list of the thing I am interesting in buy. Sarah, the wife showed up and began looking over the items too.

At 1:00pm they started the auction. They always beging by having a man sing the Oakridge Boys Classic "Thank God For Kids." This was enough to get my wife misty eyed. But believe me, there were more tears to come! Items are going up for auction, like these motorized coolers, and many more things. People are giving more than they are worth because they are for the kids. When we say medically challenged children, we are talking kids with cancer. Kids with brain deformaties. Serious medical problems. So I have the utmost respect for this organization.



One of the highlights each year are the Easter Bunnies. There are bunnies for each of the children. This year they were helping eight families that had their children at Riley, off to Minnesota, and all over the country for treatment for their ailments. Each child has a bunny. And they are auctioned off, knowing that if you win the auction, you pay the money, and then give the bunny to the child. And if you choose, you can get your picture with the child if they are in attendance. Some of the kids were there, and some were at the hospitals. Eight different times during the day, a family member stepped forward, either with the child, or alone, and talked about the challenges the kids are going through. Then the auction starts. I can tell you that every bunny went for at least two thousand dollars. One went for $3300, and the highest bunny to date went for an incredible $4100. All this money is given right to the families. Needless to say, even a tough macho guy like me had tears in his eyes!



After Bunny #2, one of the organizers got up for an announcement. Over the 17 years a lot of money has been raised. A lot of money that goes right to these needy children. But this year was huge milestone.

That's right. ONE MILLION DOLLARS! What a milestone. If you are ever in Marion, IN the weekend before Easter, on Saturday, come to the auction, and see what giving people, with a hope and a dream can do. It might even inspire you to help the less fortunate in your community.