Out-of-my mind

Vacations are an important necessity… I have discovered. It has really started to effect my wife and I that we have not been out-of-town for a while. The last time, that I can actually recall, that we were gone on a true “vacation,” was probably, oh dear Lord, I cannot even remember! I think it was before Christmas, sometime in November, before even Thanksgiving… September maybe? Don't people in Europe go on "holiday" for like, months?

Lately, where ever I go I am reminded of places I am not. My very computer background mocks me with its sandy beach and shartuse, blue-green, gorgeous water. I imagine the waves lightly crashing on the shore and the sky as blue as can be. It allures and disgusts me at the same time. My very being wants to be in a warmer climate and is ill, no, just plain sick of all the cold weather. Hotlanta, my ass.

Mauldin will actually be six-months old before Laura and I will be able to set our sights on our true vacation. We will be heading to none-other than Walt Disney World. Yes, I don’t even wanna hear it, we will be accessing one of the most populated amusement parks resorts in the world with a six-month old in tow. It seems everywhere I go I am seeing ads for WDW. I am receiving emails, I see TV commercials making me want to make an impromptu trip to the inner Orlando area… did you know they are offering three nights free when you book a four-night trip between now and August? Blimey! Although, that is sooooo not gonna happen for us.

The other day I stumbled upon my friend Jim’s blog: Busy Dad. He took his little son Fury, and some other munchkins, to the Happiest Place on Earth. Impressive man. Then we had a shower this past weekend and I discovered that my wife, Laura’s, cousins are heading there in a couple o’ weeks! It took everything within me to not cry. (*tear.)

This coming September, Mauldin, my wife and my wife’s family and I will be trekking down to the home of Mickey Mouse, Brer Rabbit and Space Mountain for a week of well-mannered and joyous frivolity! Our Grand Gathering, if you will. So, are we out-of-our-minds to take a six-month old baby? Maybe so, but Laura and I made this decision together. We could not even fathom going off to Disney without our son. It is our choice to do so and I am actually pretty darn excited about making all new memories with my little family.

When I was younger, about eight years ago to be exact, I would go on vacations probably every three months. I had the money to do so then because I was still living with my mom and dad and had no other aspirations at the time. My frivolous nature was sparked by the very reason of I had no true responsibilities. No wife, no pets, no job I really liked and, more importantly, no baby on the way. At one time, I think, no, I know, but I didn’t want to divulge this information, I went to Disney World five times in one year, ok two years (2000 and 2002). Sad, yes I know, but I had the means to do so and I loved it! There were times I went for a weekend and other times I drove down to spend a day in the park and then drove home. I would love to have that kind of stamina now… Don't get me wrong... I would never go back though because my life couldn't be any better, well... mostly because I love my wife. I couldn't dream of a better life without her in it. (Cue sensitive music) Life is good, but it can always get better, (or worse), however, if we had a little more money, a little more time off... ok I digress.

So back to the real world, the grind and the true reality of knowing I have a while to look forward to a day at the beach, by the pool or even moments with my wife in a hot tub. But, when I do get that chance it will make that time even sweeter… C'est la vie, eh?

The search is on...

The search is on…

For what, you ask?

Child care, of course! We would, certainly, love to have a personal Mary Poppins, but now-a-days… we really cannot afford that. We certainly want what is best for our little man-child so we decided we would start the interviewing process to weed out the ones we like and the one’s we’d like to see fly off on their broom sticks.

We did have a potential lead, but sadly, for that Mary Poppins, the wind changed directions and we are unable to secure a spot. Thus, the pre-aforementioned “search.”

After Laura’s maternity leave, she will have the summer to spend with “the baby” (Laura’s trade is a kick-ass teacher) and not be going back to work, full-time, until the fall. With that said, we need to find someone who will not charge us for the summer months when Laura is out for break.

We decided we’d be pro-active and start looking for potential care for Mauldin. I mean someone has to watch him while “mom and dad” are at work. We certainly can’t ask our parents to drive an hour every day to watch his little booty.

Our main goal is to find an “in-home” facility and not commercial day care. Why? It’s our personal choice.

My wife, Laura, is the smartest woman I know. She went to the state website and did a search for “at-home” day cares in the local area. Low and behold the first one we called she sounded “practically perfect in every way.” Although, just because she sounds great on paper, we need to meet her to make sure she holds up to our expectations.

I figured we needed to do this systematically and so what did we do…?

Busted out the manila folders, of course. We printed off each applicant and wrote all the supplied information they gave us and the ones that did not pass the phone interview got a BIG BLACK “X” on their page. Laura, I am sure, felt like Miranda Hillard from “Mrs. Doubtfire” when she was talking to some of these ladies.

Some were so loud it reminded me of the scene from the movie:

“Laylaaaa! Get back in your cage before I have to get the hose!”

So, at the moment we have two potential choices and luckily our “practically perfect” choice takes deposits to hold a space for our little bugger… We hope to meet this nice lady, to confirm she is a nice lady, this weekend.

Wish us luck!

A free weekend, oh the possibilities....

Okay, this weekend we are pretty much free to do whatever we want because, unlike most weekends, we don't have any pre-set plans. Atleast any we decided to attend... but with that being said we honestly wanted to have atleast one "free" weekend for ourselves... just ourselves. We contemplated jet setting off to Disney World for the weekend of thoughtless frivolity, but alas, our responsibilities got in the way... sorry Mickey! We really want to be there... (Don't worry, those days are over... *sigh*)

I mean we certainly deserve it don't we? My wife, Laura, is a very hard working teacher and during the week her stress is extemplified ten-fold due to endless meetings and never-ending piles of paperwork. I, on the other hand, have a full-time job and am a part-time student. I am a communication/event coordinator for several Atlanta Business Associations. I am at work everyday from eight to four-thirty, and most days have class until atleast 7:30pm. Whenever we get home we say our hellos, talk about our days, give a hug and a kiss and then spend the rest of the evening either on the computer, side-by-side, or watching a few hours of our favorite shows... usually TMZ, How I met Your Mother, Heroes, Survivor or past seasons of the Mole or Smallville. Then it seems like we are back to work as soon as we got home... it's frustrating! I will try and digress... or change the subject;

Ohhh look! Shiney!

(I do tend to be a tad ADD at times... )

I don't mean to whine, I mean I am glad I have a job! Certainly, but, I guess, I wish there were just more hours in the day... Damn Earth, why couldn't you just revolve a little bit slower?

So, when the weekends get here it is often full of things we have planned to do during the week, but never found time to do because we were so busy. Weekends are usually full of parties, weddings, family get togethers, writing papers, etc...

But, thankfully, this weekend, we are free to do whatever we want... I miss the days when Laura and I would stay home, and just play video games all day... yes, I have a wife that will play video games... and honestly sometimes a LOT better than me. I hope I can sit around with Mauldin and have some quality hand-eye coordination with him... of course we will go out doors and do things too! Catch! Okay, lets go back and finish that level! HAHAHA

Laura and I get so intranced in our games we actually have "no shower" days! I know she will probably say...

"Eric! I can't believe you put that in your blog!"

Really tho, spray on some cologne and apply some deoderant (antipersperiant) and you are good to go for another... say... 6-8 hours! Depending on your activities, of course.

I'm sure there are A LOT of people who have no shower days... (I know of plenty, although, I won't name names... )sometimes consecutive and I doubt they are going to criticize... although, I will say, after a day... a shower and shampoo are a must!

Now it is not like we play "World of Warcraft" like they do on south park, but our video game days do sort of go long... how long? Sometimes we start at 10am and don't finish until... okay we sound really dorky don't we? Alright, I hope you all enjoy your weekend!!!

Have fun while it lasts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Water, water, everywhere!

Okay, do I have a story for you!

But, before I do let me just say, when you are forced to use your split-action reflexes, then you can really find humor in this anecdote.

Yesterday, after I got home from work, Laura and I were standing in the kitchen recounting the details of our ever-so hectic days at work. We were having the usual “how was your day honey?” talk.

We fixed a couple of turkey sandwiches and sat at our bar counter to enjoy what dinner we had before Jenn, Laura’s sister, came by to pick her up for the impending PTA meeting.

“Today was really busy and can you believe I have to go back for a PTA meeting?” Laura expressed so joyfully.

“Well, my day was crazy too, and just think, all I was looking forward to was coming home, watching TMZ and being lazy with you on the couch.” I said while standing in front of the sink.

“Oh and don’t forget that we need to take out the trash,” Laura said.

“Oh yah, or our house will end up smelling really bad when we get back.”

Laura and I had planned on going out-of-town, for the weekend, to the mountains, in North Carolina, with her parents, sister’s and brother-in-law.

I remembered, “hey, have you emptied the coffee yet?”

“No,” Laura answered so gracefully while putting down her sandwich.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I can’t eat this,” she said while putting her hand over her mouth, now full of what seemed turkey sandwich. “Baby Skates doesn’t seem to like it.”

I proceeded to go over to our new coffee marker, which we had gotten as a wedding gift, and emptied the old coffee and coffee grounds. I love the smell of coffee, but to think we would get back and in from a weekend and find it was producing new life from mold spores I thought to preserve my love for coffee it might be best to throw it out.

I started to empty it in the sink and pour out the old coffee.

“So, have you finished packing yet?” asked Laura while she watched me smell the nasty old coffee grounds.

“No,” I said while turning on the facet and washing the sink out. “I was gonna do thaAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!” A cold blast of water came shooting at my shoulder soaking my gray polo shirt and splattering not just all over my face, but shot clear across the kitchen straight into our den.

My first thought was stop the water from going in my face. I reached out my hand to stop the flow of evil, cold water, but it just squirted it in a different direction.

Why wasn't it stopping it?! Duhhh...

Thankfully it hit the pilar that stands in the middle of room that separates the kitchen and den.

Water was everywhere… all over the kitchen floor, the hardwood floor in the den was thoroughly soaked, the couch, end table, pictures, books, coasters, almost nothing escaped the streaming water flow from our angry sink which did not seem to like being separated from it’s facet counter-part.

Thank the Lord Logan and Andy were out side, or they would have freaked out! Andy would of probably ran in terror!

My instinct was to block the flow with my hand, but immediately remembered Laura telling me how this happened to her when I wasn’t home and she did the same thing before thinking, “turn off the facet!” Brilliant woman!

Thanks to my wife, and my Spider-man like reflexes, I pulled the lever to turn off the water and started the clean-up process.

“Laura, can you run and get me the swiffer?” I asked, ever-so calmly.

I was standing in the middle of the kitchen, stunned. What just happened?!?!?!

I have never felt so stupid in my life, but if it had never happened I would not have had this wonderful story to tell you.

So, moral of story, when water starts coming out of your sink at alarming rates, your hand is not a sufficient enough block.

TURN OFF THE WATER!