Posts from — July 2006

Last week I took off for vacation.  Usually we take a family trip, but decided to stay home and get some things done around the house. 

What I did on my Vacation
Got the AC maintenance done
Had locks re-keyed
Had maid service do deep clean of the house (I'd really let things go for a while)
Had plumber fix leak in upstairs bathroom
Had a screen door installed
Went to Sams
Went to Wal-Mart (BJ calls it Wally world)
Had Chinese food for lunch four times
Went to Ikea three times (Everyone has their addictions)
Got an oil change for my car
Got a manicure and pedicure (Yes, I'm comfortable in my manhood to get this done once a year)
Finished school supply shopping for BJ
Found out Mommy Bacchus is 4 mths pregnant (She's due in late Dec early Jan)
Went school clothes shopping for BJ (I'm all done. Everyone else has my leftovers to purchase during tax-free weekend)

Did a Day visit to Turner Falls, OK (Nice!!! Two co-workers recommended it)
Cleaned out old toys and took them to Goodwill
Started cleaning out the bedroom closets (I have been looking for my lucky house shirt for weeks, I think Mommy Bacchus has thrown it away)

Got caught up on "So you think you can dance" (My summer TV viewing guilty pleasure)
Bought a corner desk for our bedroom (Now that we have wireless internet, our formal dinning room table has become our downstairs office)

What I didn't do on my Vacation
Rest
Relax
Watch movies
Re-caulk bathroom

Anything remotely close to working……

With all the violence in the world these days, I thought I'd turn my attention to a more peaceful topic of discussion. While running Parenting Toys I have met some wonderful people along the way; Tricia , Izzy , MetroDad , Miss Lady Maam , Yellowdoggranny and others.]  Recently, something inspiring happened to me in the blogging world, and I just had to share with all.

If you read Parenting Toys in May, you may have noticed that I am a big Grey's Anatomy fan.   Lisa left a comment asking if someone could make a tape of the season-ending episode.  Since I had recorded it on my trusty [DVR,] I offered to do it for her.  She offered to pay me for my time and inconvenience, but I was happy to do it free of charge since she was also a fan.   Although it took me a couple of weeks to get around to making the copy, I was still glad to help someone out.  Two weeks later I received a letter of thanks from Lisa and a $25 gift card to Best Buy. 

Is that not the greatest thing or what? 

I was totally surprised and grateful for the kind gesture.  As a result, I have been holding onto the gift card for weeks because I have been saving my pennies for a new digital camera.  I currently have a 3 mega-pixel Kodak, but want to upgrade to something that would keep me from taking pictures of my thumb.  Since my birthday is coming up soon, I have been telling family members that I would love to receive additional Best Buy gift cards.  Hopefully I will have enough to get that camera sooner than I had planned.

Sometime ago I also posted about the "Kindness Project ." It's a way to spread kindness by giving people kindness coins when a good deed is done.  So as a result, I am sending Lisa a Kindness Coin and hope that she passes the kindness along.  Today also starts my campaign for the "Be kind to Bloggers Day." Try to do something kind to another blogger and as the movie suggested, "Pay it Forward."

By the way, Lisa runs Lady Bug , an environmentally responsible pest control company. Stop by and say, "hello."

Today I felt very fortunate since I realized that in order to get BJ to eat his dinner, I don't have to bribe him with dessert, candy or any other sweets.  What motivates BJ are ripe cherry tomatoes. 

 Yes, sometimes you are blessed and lucky to be a parent.

Took BJ to church and then went to Target for a slurpee and popcorn.  BJ was ecstatic, I guess it doesn't get much better than this. I think I enjoyed is just as much as he did…..

 If you think your having a bad day or week, just click on the link below.  A co-worker sent it to me and I just had to share….

child_last_day.JPG

Turtles in a line
Originally uploaded by Ed Bacchus.

One of my favorite photos taken at the San Antonio Zoo.

Copyright 2006 Jason Briscoe

The other day I was bringing in groceries from the car and Bacchus Jr. (BJ) wanted to help. He likes showing me how strong he is by lifting the 2 liter bottles and putting them into the pantry.

BJ: “See my muscles daddy.”

Me: “Wow they are getting bigger, you must be eating your vegetables and drinking your milk.”

This goes back and forth for a few minutes until he’s done, but today was a little different. I had just dropped off some packages and started making my way back to the garage and while my back was turned I heard this.

BJ: “See my muscles daddy; I can open the refrigerator all by myself.”

Me: “That’s great BJ, you are really getting strong.”

As I continued into the garage, I envisioned a foggy dreamlike image of the future. I saw BJ at the age of 17 bent at the waist and staring endlessly looking into the refrigerator. He wasn’t moving anything, just staring into the frig as though the food would jump out at him. I was seeing this from a distance and the first thing that came to mind was something my father used to say to me.

Dad: “Close it, or lose it.”

In other words, stop letting all the cold air out or I’ll lose my foot up your @#$%^%&. Yes, I was turning into my dad. My thoughts were becoming my dad's thoughts and that’s ok.

I guess this is just one of the many things most dads go through, but extremely enlightening to me. So I gathered up my groceries from the car and came back into the kitchen and found BJ no where in sight but the scene below.

Now that BJ is strong enough to open the refrigerator, we need to work on him being smart enough to close it.

Mommy Bacchus (MB) had a flat tire Friday evening and first thing Saturday I was in line at Discount Tire.  If you haven't tried Discount Tire, then you don't know what you're missing.  Fast, friendly, affordable and they actually appear to be having fun changing your tire.   The agent asked for my home phone# and I proceeded to give him my cell phone#.  He couldn't find me in the computer, so I realized that he needed my "real" home phone#.   It was at that moment that it dawned on me that I now give out my cell# more often than my home#.  If I see an old buddy from college on the street, he gets my cell#.  The Doctor's office, the dentist, and even my dry cleaner were all getting my cell#.  I had drastically increased how often I give out my cell#. 

It's funny how times have changed.  I remember a time when you only gave out your cell# to family and friends.  Now I am using my cell# as my official point of contact.  It's the quickest and best way for me to get and return your call.  If I am in a meeting at work, I am notified that I have a message and can return your call within the next couple of hours.  I can't remember the last time I listened to my messages on my home phone.  If they didn't call me on my cell, then it must not be very important.  I have heard of people getting rid of their home land lines and solely using their cell, but I never thought about doing this until recently.   Our world is becoming wireless, cell phones, laptops and now printers. What's Next????

I'm a bad fresh fruit picker

After the fourth time of bringing home non-ripe/overripe fruit, Mommy Bacchus has banned me from ever bringing home fruit again.

7-Eleven Coffee

I have finally found fast food breakfast coffee I can enjoy.  Starbucks doesn't count because it takes me at least an hour to get out of there. If 7-Eleven only had a coffee drive-through, then that would be perfect

BBQ Ribs

I have finally become comfortable with my BBQ ribs recipe/cooking method.  I will share later in another post.

Father and Son Burping

I have learned that BJ has finally learned the technical aspects of burping just as loud and as obnoxious as his dad.  Please don't ask me how I know this; Mommy Bacchus will just get pissed off.