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February 28, 2008
My poor babies....
Probably one of the scarier things that you can hear as a parent of a small child is that he has to have surgery. Any procedure, when children are young, is scary since, being the wiggly, uncooperative creatures that they are, they have to be put under general anesthesia. I have now heard those words twice as a parent, and let me tell you, it doesn't get any easier with repetition.
The first time I was told that my child would definitely have to have surgery was when Josh was 4 months old. He had developed a rather embarrassing problem (an anal fistula) that had to be taken care of surgically or the abcess on his tiny little bottom would just continue to enlarge and shrink continuously and indefinitely. We arrived at the hospital early in the morning with an infant who hadn't been able to nurse since 3 am. We checked in, waited a very short amount of time and then were escorted to a pre-surgical room intended for small children...there were cribs, toys, rocking chairs. It was rather nice actually. But Josh didn't give a hoot what room he was in, he just wanted to snuggle up to Mommy and nurse. But he had to wait. So Jon held him for a while, I held him for a while, then we put him back in his stroller and pushed him around in circles. He eventually fell asleep for a short time.
We waited and waited and waited. The hospital staff checked on us from time to time, but in general, Jon and I were alone with an unhappy baby. We were tense and exhausted and the surgery hadn't even happened yet! Aside from the totally adorable tiny hospital gown that Josh got to wear, there was nothing fun about this at all. (Yes, I'm aware that surgery isn't generally a laugh a minute, but still!) His surgery was originally scheduled for something like 9 am, maybe 9:30. But we waited until after 11 am for them to come get him. FINALLY, they came to take him to surgery and he went, not knowing any better.
Then came the horrible waiting. If we thought comforting an unhappy baby for hours was difficult, try waiting while that same baby is in an OR somewhere in a hospital. The surgery didn't concern me as much as the fact that he had to be under general anesthesia. There is simply no way to know how a person will react to anesthesia until he experiences it and the whole idea just freaked me out. Luckily, all went well, and it was a quick procedure. The time range we were given was 20-45 minutes...it took more like 15. Felt like an eternity, but it really was fast.
Then came the fun part (well, no, not really)....going to see my baby (did I mention he was only 4 months old???) in recovery. There is a look that people have when they are coming out of chemically-induced sleep...I have seen it before....but to see it on my baby was rather unsettling. His arm was wrapped up to keep him from pulling his IV out and man was he ticked off!!!
We settled into an uncomfortable rocking chair and he nursed and nursed and nursed. He became quite incensed any time I moved or shifted or in any other way reminded him that I was not just a breast there only for his dining pleasure. But I didn't care...phew!...he was fine. He had come through it all just fine and after a brief recovery and some post-surgical instructions (I'll spare you the details) we were on our way.
So that was our first experience as parents with surgery. Now, after three years of monitoring the situation and trying out glasses, we are told that Jonah has to have eye surgery. We had briefly discussed the surgical option a couple of years ago for his strabismus (his left eye turns in), but opted to try out glasses first. Well, the glasses didn't do much for him and now, surgery is where we're headed and I'm nervous. In addition to the fact that Jonah will be under the dreaded general anesthesia for an hour or so, there is also the fact that we have a child who is old enough to be at least somewhat cognizant of what is happening. And that, frankly, just scares the hell out of me. The surgery is scheduled for April 18th and we're told that the recovery for this type of surgery is almost instant...he'll be himself within a day or two, or even less. There will be no visible scars, he will not have a patch. Aside from the anesthesia issue, this is a relatively common and most likely uneventful surgery.
But you know what? I'm just gonna go ahead and worry anyway.
Posted by Jon at 08:05 PM | Comments (0)
February 27, 2008
Ick...
The Devils lost to the Candy Canes.
Which is sort of okay, I guess, because I like the 'Canes too.
It's tough. On the one hand, I have followed the Devils since they moved to the New York/New Jersey area. Then, when I moved, a hockey team came with me! Neat!
Anyway, it would have been nice to see the Devils win, but, on the other hand, they have beaten them four times in a row. (Until last night, anyway.)
And, it wasn't even on TV! !@#$#@!
Posted by Jon at 07:27 PM | Comments (0)
February 26, 2008
GO DEVILS!
It is 7:22pm, and my New Jersey Devils are playing the Carolina Hurricanes!
I gotta' go watch!
Go Devils!
Posted by Jon at 07:21 PM | Comments (0)
February 25, 2008
Thanks Oscar!
Working two jobs is sucky enough, but when you don't get out of work until 12:30am, and have to be awake at 5:30am to make it to work by 7:00am (yes, I'm slow) the suckiness factor increases tremendously. As a result of the Oscars, we didn't go on air until almost midnight, which means I am super tired now. So, here are two super cute pics of Josh and one of the both of us.
See you tomorrow...Get your thinking caps on!
Posted by Jon at 07:23 PM | Comments (0)
February 24, 2008
Cute, Random Pictures!
This moment of blogging brought to you by two of the cutest boys in the world! (And a Valentine's Day chocolate cake lovingly created by the best Wife in the world!)
I Love You Guys!
Valentine's Day 2008 was ushered in with a yummy, heart shaped chocolate cake, courtesy of the sweetest wife ever, Megan. Josh, as you can see, devoured his piece. But what about Jonah? Why no pics of that cute guy with chocolate in his hair, behind his ears and up his nose? Because he hardly ate any. Odd.
This is quickly becoming one of my all time favorite pictures...
Here is Josh, hardly making any effort at all at looking cute. (He doesn't have to work hard at that, since he's so damn cute!)
And here is Jonah hard at work. (But he puts out just as much effort as his little bro' at looking cute. It's just natural I guess.)
Posted by Jon at 08:02 PM | Comments (1)
February 23, 2008
A Mini-Van For A Growing Family...
No, no, we aren't expecting any more children. At the moment. But in advance of the small army we are planning on having, we decided to purchase a Mini-Van. This decision was not entered into lightly. All we had to do was look around at the crap in our cars, and that was the decider. We need a bigger car. Mini-Van. Whatever. (Seems strange that the Mini-Van is bigger than our other car, which wasn't a Mini anything.)
I have been a loyal friend and true (thanks Bob Barker!) of Saturn's (not the planet, though I like that too) since I bought my first one back in Orchard Park, New York, (outside of Buffalo) sometime last century. I have since owned a total of four Saturns.
Two sedans and two Vues. Loved them all. But the days of the Vue and Saturn are over. For now. Saturn has changed since I bought my first one lo these many years ago. At the time, they only offered small cars, with side panels made of fiberglass. It was revolutionary! Of course, back then gas was starting to creep up, and I wanted to head off the gas guzzlers of our not-too-distant past. Before I ended up at Saturn, I went to many dealerships looking for inexpensive cars, but all I got was high pressure sales, crappy cars, and desperate salespeople. That was until I met Mary Jane at the Saturn dealership in Orchard Park, New York. She sold me a car on her very first day as a salesperson, and I owned my first car on my very first day as a car buyer. I haven't looked back since. Oh yes, there were problems along the way. A busted fuel injector, while Vue #1 was still under warranty. (We had to have Megan's Step-Mom deliver my Vue to me, all the way from the 'Burgh.) Then Vue #2 had some odd fuel mileage that was no where near what Vue #1 was getting, and they were virtually similar! But overall, my experience with Saturn has been positive, also in thanks to my service advisor, Pat, who has saved us gobs and gobs of money over the years, by offering expert advice, and just looking out for a good, loyal customer. Thanks Pat!
As Saturn changes, so does my family. We are both getting bigger. (Again, we are NOT expecting...) They offer an SUV called the Outlook, but the well reviewed vehicle comes with a 38-thousand dollar price tag. Can you hear Megan saying, "No", now? I can. But I join her in saying "No." So, we needed a bigger car.
So last week, I took my car in for regular service at my local Saturn dealership. (I don't change my oil, since I will break my car. It's worth it to me to take it to professionals.) Whilst there, I noticed a Mini-Van with a price tag of $13,999. From the exterior, it looked good. I test drove it; it sounded good. We worked numbers, and I was thinking I was getting a Mini for my family. But Megan wasn't with me, and she is the family accountant, bookkeeper, and financial whiz, among all the other things she does. (Amazingly, I might add.) Upon my return home, she heard what they were offering, and flatly said, "No." "Too much." "Can't afford it." Thus, my balloon was broken. Oh well. We would return to the dealership, this time with Megan and the Boys in tow, and she would have to tell them "No.". Why? Because I am so bad at buying a car, that I would walk out of there with a 600 dollar a month payment for a bicycle with no chain and a flat tire. We get to the dealership, and there it is...
A 2005 Dodge Caravan SXT, with close to 33-thousand miles on it, in Magnesium Pearlcoat. (I am convinced that the same people who come up with the names for colors of cars, are the same people who come up with the names for nail polish.) I was all set to go home, and take my Vue with me, but then Megan saw it, and it was over. What changed her mind? Was it the color? Was it the windshield wipers that go from the center out, as opposed to right to left? No! It was the power sliding doors and a power lift gate! Neat! This Mini-Van would be ours!
(Okay, here's what really happened. The dealership said that another bank came through with a better offer, so our payments were lower. But you cannot discount the fact that Megan's eyes got as big as dinner plates when she saw those power slidy thingies that are, I am sure, destined to break, with constant use.)
To make a long story longer, we got to take it home for a couple of days, to see if this is what we wanted, and if it was what we could afford. Since we bought it today, the answer to both of those questions is, yes.
We ran a Carfax report, and it came back clean. The Mini-Van was a lease vehicle for the State Of New Jersey. It had been owned for a little more than two and a half years, so it was in pretty good shape. We also looked at Kelly Blue Book, and we determined that we got a good price for the Mini. It's got Stow-N-Go seating, room for seven, and most importantly, lots, and lots of room. How does it compare to my Vue? Here is a picture of a 2004 Vue. (I forgot to bring the camera, so this is one that is similar to the one I owned several hours ago:
Sorry about the wee-ness of the picture, but that's what you get for lifting.
This is the storage area of the Vue...
The picture on the left is where I sat each and every day for the last four years. Okay, maybe not each and every day, but pretty darn close! And the picture on the right is the rear passenger area of the Vue.
Now this is the interior of our new (to us) Mini-Van. Notice the two captain’s chairs, and the three seats in the way back. (For you young'uns, that's what we used to call the so-called third row of seats in our parents' station wagons. Wikipedia can help you there.)
This is a view of the radio/CD/tape player. (Tape player? What's that? Once again, refer to Wikipedia.) Under the radio is what I believe to be one of the best inventions yet: A dual climate zone control. (Megan is always hot {it's one of the reasons I married her} and I am always cold.) Now we can live in harmony. (Not that we didn't before, but now, it will be even better!)
This is where I will sit until we graduate from a Mini-Van to a full size van. That's kind of a scary thought, for many different reasons, but the bigger we get, the bigger our vehicles have to get, I guess. (Wait!! I think I've just figured out the meaning of life! No, wait. That can also apply to houses, so never mind.)
And here is a shot of the cabin. (I have no idea why some call it that. It's where the driver and passenger sit. I guess it just sounds cooler.)
And thus, another adventure begins. It should be a fun ride!
Posted by Jon at 06:33 PM | Comments (0)
February 22, 2008
We Have Joined A New Nation...
No, silly, we haven't moved...
We are now a part of the Mini-van Nation.
In just a few short hours, we will have purchased a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT.
Goodbye Vue!
Hello soccer!
More on this saga later...
Posted by Jon at 09:36 PM | Comments (0)
February 21, 2008
Total Lunar Eclipse!
Wow.That's about the best word I have to describe what I saw in the sky last night. Wow!
Thank You Michel Hersen of Portland, Oregon, for providing this fantastic picture!
We talked about waking Jonah up to see the moon eclipsed by the earth, but decided against that after noticing that the sky was mostly cloudy and that he is a three year old boy who would likely become very irate should we wake him just to look at the moon. Then again, maybe not. We'll find out in three years when it happens again!
Megan and I looked at it twice, once it was obscured, and the next when it looked like it did in the above picture. Megan shivered. Not because she was in awe, but because she was cold.
I cannot describe what I saw, because I lack the words. But to sum up, it was neat.
Posted by Jon at 12:22 PM | Comments (0)
February 20, 2008
To Wake, Or To Slumber...
...during tonight's full lunar eclipse?
I think I will try to stay awake, but after three straight days of very little sleep, that may not be possible.
Clouds may also help make the decision.
And yet, another decision...Do we wake Jonah, or let him sleep? (I don't think Josh would care.)
I'll let you know what happens tomorrow.
For now, read all about the lunar eclipse here...
Posted by Jon at 01:37 PM | Comments (0)
February 19, 2008
Weak Post Tonight. Again.
Tired.
Late.
Weak post, but it's a post nonetheless.
G'Night.
Posted by Jon at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
February 18, 2008
This Is What Happens...
...when you pledge to post once each day for an entire year. You run out of ideas.
This is what I am reduced to.
Here is what I posted almost one year ago:
Pretty lame, huh?
I hope you're enjoying your new wheels, Abby!
Posted by Jon at 09:35 PM | Comments (0)
February 17, 2008
True
The other day we were riding in the car with the boys. Jonah has become very interested in having conversations, so we were talking with him and with each other as we drove about nothing in particular while Joshua quietly sucked his thumb. After a few moments of silence, Jonah offered this statement with a sigh, "Everything is problems". Jon and I, suppressing giggles in the front seat asked, "Why is everything problems?" Jonah sighed again and explained, "There's boys in the house. They bump their heads." I could not have uttered a more true statement if I tried. So here I give you a picture of each of those boys, who very often do bump their heads and each other and the walls and generally scream at the top of their lungs while doing it. But I wouldn't trade 'em for anything, problems or not!
Posted by Jon at 08:46 PM | Comments (0)
February 16, 2008
...Sigh...
I am at work right now, and I can't think of anything to post.
But then, I started thinking, and I thought about how much I miss two my guys. (Jonah said that once.)
And of course, I miss my Sweetie, my True Love.
See you later, guys.
Posted by Jon at 09:40 PM | Comments (0)
February 15, 2008
Save The Environment!
When I was coming up (we say that here in the South) I used to hear all the time, "Save the whales!" Well, I guess we saved them, since we don't here that much anymore. Not around here, anyway. I imagine that the whales say it a lot, but they're not talking to us, so I'll just move on.
Now, we hear calls to make this a "green planet". We've actually been hearing these calls for about as long as I have heard "Save the whales", but now, it seems, we are listening. I know I have listened. I now recycle as often as I can, wherever, and whenever I can. Sometimes, others don't care, but I do. We recently purchased recycled bags, and now we don't use those awful plastic bags anymore, which just clutter up our environment, and take up valuable space in the landfill.
Did I say we don't use them anymore? Let me adjust that statement by saying we don't use them as much anymore. We still use them for garbage bags, so they still clutter up our environment, and take up valuable space in the landfill, but somehow, I feel better for not using as many of them. I mean, we are just one family, trying to leave this world a little bit better than we found it. We do our part.
Do you?
Here are some facts about those ubiquitous plastic bags...
Plastic bag facts
• The US uses 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually, according to The Wall Street Journal.
• An estimated 12 million barrels of oil is required to make that many bags.
• Four of 5 grocery bags in the US are now plastic.
• Plastic bags are among the 12 items of debris most often found incoastal cleanups, according to the Center for Marine Conservation.
• Plastic bags take up to 1,000 years to degrade in a landfill.
Source: Reusablebags.com (a website which sells reusable shopping bags and advocates against plastic bag use)
Sorry for the guilt trip. You may go on about your day now.
(Actually, I'm not that sorry. Recycle!)
Posted by Jon at 08:27 PM | Comments (0)
February 14, 2008
Happy Valentine's Day!!!
I love my wife.
She is my life.
Before her, there was strife.
But now, my life is rife with love.
Our love, you see, fits like a glove.
And I am not above giving a shove to those who would doubt our love.
I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine.
Which doesn't rhyme, but that's fine.
The message is what counts...
I Iove you Megan. And you too, Jonah and Joshua.
Happy Valentine's Day!
(And now that I have wished my family a Happy Valentine's Day, from our family to you and yours, have a very happy Valentine's Day!!!!)
Clip art courtest of these creative folks.
Posted by Jon at 11:59 AM | Comments (0)
February 13, 2008
Thrilled...
...That's about the only word I can use to describe how I feel, after learning that 25 years ago, Michael Jackson released his album, "Thriller".
A lot has changed in 25 years. Michael Jackson has changed a lot in 25 years. A lot. I could go through the historical changes, the plastic surgery procedures, the time spent in and out of courtrooms for Mike, but there just isn't enough room on this server. But this post isn't about Wacko Jacko. No, it's about his album, not CD, and how 25 years ago, we were so, so, so much younger.
Now normally, I don't have any age issues.
But I have to make an exception in this case.
Damn, I'm old.
Posted by Jon at 12:54 PM | Comments (0)
February 12, 2008
Stay Tuned For Creation!
My wife wants buttons.
So, it is buttons she shall have!
Stay tuned to outofhans.com for buttons!
Posted by Jon at 09:47 PM | Comments (0)
February 11, 2008
Awwwww....
Posted by Jon at 09:03 PM | Comments (0)
February 10, 2008
It's beginning to look a lot like tax season....
God Bless TurboTax online! And I really mean that! For the past two years, a good portion of my income has come from consulting, which is wonderful until tax season hits. I have been fairly good about keeping receipts, tracking expenses, and so forth. Even so, preparing your taxes is a daunting task when there are so many variables to consider. However, in just a few short hours so far this year, I have largely finished preparing our taxes. A few more numbers to track down and we should be done. And even though we're going to have to scrounge up a few bucks for Uncle Sam and probably a few more for the great state we live in....I have only this to say...THANK YOU TurboTax!--Megan
PS--Oh, and we won't be filing just yet. Uncle Sam can wait until April 15th for our money! :)
Posted by Jon at 09:20 PM | Comments (0)
February 09, 2008
You've GOT To Read This Story!
I just cannot get enough of this story. It is the kind of story that proves that dreams do come true. I know it's long, but trust me, it's worth it.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Soldier finds love in pen pal exchange
By Kelli Kennedy | Associated Press Writer
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- It started as a school assignment.
Six-year-old Jannah Lynn was supposed to exchange letters with a soldier in Iraq. But her mom didn't want the name of any random soldier. So Carol Medvec went to New Wilmington Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania where she attended services and asked for a soldier's name from their pen pal program.
She was given Army Reserve Sgt. Jim Schultz.
"Dear Sgt. Schultz. Hi. You are in Iraq. I want to thank you. You are brave," Jannah Lynn wrote in November 2006.
"Dear Jannah Lynn, Thank you for writing me. Being a soldier you have to be brave, you have to be strong, there's time you have to leave your family, but there's time you get to come back," he wrote, and included postcards with pictures of Iraq that she could take to class for show and tell.
So began a correspondence with Jannah Lynn that would soon grow to include her four siblings and eventually their mother. And suddenly this soldier was not just serving his country. He was saving a family.
***
Thousands of miles away in Iraq, the walls around Schultz's bunk beds were empty. His buddies had pictures of their wives and children, but 46-year-old Schultz was long divorced with children in their 20s too old to color pictures.
When he returned home from his first tour of duty in 2004 he sat on his duffel bag at the airport and watched the reunions until he was the last one in the parking lot. Then he walked to a nearby hotel and checked in for a few weeks before renting a small, one-bedroom apartment in New Wilmington, Pa.
After his shifts as a forklift operator at a cheese plant, he returned to a sparse apartment, watched TV on an air mattress and ate fast food and frozen dinners with his cat, Rascal, close by.
He tried dating, but "Lord knows what you are going to get out of a bar scene."
There were plenty of women who loved flirting with a soldier, but Schultz couldn't find a "kick back woman" he could listen to country music with.
Not far from the cheese plant at the Medvec home, Carol and the kids were trying to adjust to life without a father. Carol, 42, divorced her husband in 2004, the same year Schultz returned from his first tour of duty.
Lonely nights. Lonely lives. Only a mile apart.
***
Back in Iraq for the second time, Schultz, a mechanic stationed about 180 miles north of Baghdad, ran recovery missions for the National Guard, fixing trucks and bringing them back to base when they take a hit.
He'd gotten plenty of letters from kids like 9-year-old Randy from California and 9-year-old Kelly in Michigan. He tried to write them back, but sometimes he'd be away from base for days, often with little sleep.
He always found a way to write to the Medvec kids. Soon, their short letter exchanges turned into longer e-mails and phone calls. He asked if they would send him soup. They talked about school and their friends.
He and Luke, then 17, were both Pittsburgh Steelers fans. Shawna, 20, told him all about her boyfriend problems and girl drama. Caroline, 9, wanted to know about his guns. Blaine, 16 and a straight-A student, talked about being in the drum line.
And Little Mouse, as Schultz liked to call Jannah Lynn because "she sounded just so cute and so tiny," told him how much she missed him.
"He wasn't trying to be my dad, he was trying to be a father figure and friend," Shawna said. "I felt comfortable talking to him."
For the first time in a while, Schultz wasn't as lonely. He looked forward to the children's calls and didn't mind walking a mile to the call center.
One day Carol answered one of his calls.
He sounds like Jack Nicholson, she thought.
At first, they talked mostly about the kids. Sometimes he knew more than she did.
"Do you really know where Luke is going tonight," he asked once.
He's worrying about my kids while he's in Iraq. What kind of man does that?
Later, they realized Schultz had worked at the cheese plant a mile from her home. They went to the same high school and spent most of their lives in tiny New Wilmington, with a population of about 2,500.
Soon they were spending three or four hours at a time on the phone, splitting the roughly $400 monthly phone bill.
"I really felt like I knew him forever," she said.
He called her before every mission. He could hear her crying when they hung up.
"She was like a little school girl," her eldest, Shawna, said. "If I would go to use the phone she would be like 'Don't use it, Jim's gonna call me."'
***
Unlike the veteran Army wives and girlfriends, Carol knew little of a soldier's life. She wanted to know if he had a swimming pool in Iraq and what time he got off work.
Once when she hadn't heard from him in five days, she frantically called the Red Cross demanding he call home. They told her to call back when she hadn't heard from him in five months.
She didn't like hearing too much about Jim's missions. His vehicle had been hit six times by roadside bombs. He was awarded a Bronze Star for bravery and once pulled two men from a burning truck.
He was more than happy to forget about fighting and talk about life back home in Pennsylvania.
For her birthday, he sent a few dozen roses.
For his birthday, Shawna persuaded Carol to make a sexy calendar. She and Jim had never exchanged photos before. When Jim flipped through the pictures, some of Carol wearing his army fatigue jacket, he told his buddies he was going to marry her.
"I just fell in love with the way she talked, her sense of humor, her voice."
Last March he flew to Pittsburgh International Airport for a nine-day vacation.
She hid behind a pillar to watch him come down the escalator. He gave her a hug and a big kiss.
"I'm going to marry her, she is so god-awful gorgeous," Jim thought, looking at her petite frame and strawberry blond hair.
Three days later they married at the same church where Carol had gotten his name.
For their honeymoon, the five Medvec kids and Jim's two children, Jimmy, 21, and Rena, 19, went to the Allegheny mountains.
A few days later, Carol drove him back to the airport as little Jannah Lynn cried.
***
Sgt. Jim Schultz canceled his plans to serve a third tour of duty and had his military checks sent to Carol.
Though the kids loved Jim as a pen pal, they were skeptical of him as a husband and dad.
"I was hesitant at first -- everyone would be," said Luke. "I had to make sure it was serious."
"I was still trying to get used to him and protect my mom," said little Caroline.
"My mom's my best friend," said Shawna. "Of course you are going to be skeptical."
On top of worrying about their mom's happiness, they also worried about Jim's safety -- he still had about six months left on his second tour. They blocked CNN from the TV and didn't read the newspaper.
They prayed and sent cards. The walls around Jim's bunk bed filled up quickly. Colorings from Jannah Lynn and Caroline, silly cards that sang "I'm Walking on Sunshine." Even Milkshake, the family cat, wrote Jim.
And Jim wrote them back.
For a soldier with a gruff voice, buzz cut and tattoos on both arms, the letters were surprisingly tender.
"I have not ever been so happy in my life. You are the only thing that made me make it through."
A few months later, Carol and the kids decided to leave chilly Pennsylvania and rented a three-bedroom house with a pool in the Tampa suburb of Clearwater to be near her dad and sister. She got a job as a surgical counselor. Luke and Shawna both got jobs and rented a home half a mile away.
It was only three months until September when Jim would return. Carol slept with the home phone and her cell phone by her pillow. Jim walked her through what would happen if he was killed, and she knew how to get herself to Germany if he was injured.
They counted the days, planning the airport reunion with posters and funny shirts.
The littlest girls wore yellow "Mission get dad" T-shirts. The older kids had ones with Jim's nicknames for them on the back, "Blainer," "Lukester" and "Hey, Girlfriend" for Shawna.
Carol wore a white, Marilyn Monroe-style halter dress. The crew, which included Jim's son, Jimmy, carried a dozen yellow balloons and a handful of "Welcome Home" posters.
"It was like a parade," says Carol.
They missed Jim at his gate, but finally met up with him at baggage claim.
"Here comes Miss Marilyn Monroe running and pushing everybody out of the way," he said.
More than 100 strangers crowded around them, clapping and shaking Jim's hand. Jim and Carol cried.
***
Life is hectic in Florida. Jim wakes everyone in the morning, makes breakfasts, packs lunches, looks for missing backpacks and homework. He heads to Carol's office most afternoons to take her to lunch and runs her bath when she gets home from work.
He helped Blaine get his driver's license and buy a car. He fixed Jannah Lynn's bike.
They call him Daddy J.
"He does a great job filling that father figure, just being thrown into it. He copes really well," says Luke. "I wouldn't trade him for anything. My mom made a good choice."
At night, Jim puts everyone to bed and stays up e-mailing his resume. With no job prospects, he's planning to re-enlist to pay the bills. There's a good chance he could go back to Iraq in March for as long as 15-18 months.
"I think about it all the time. I don't want to leave my family again after I just got home," he says.
Carol is caught between terror and admiration. Some days she jokes about moving to Canada. On others, she cries until she's numb. For better or worse, she knows Jim is a soldier.
"That is my biggest fear. If it was me I'd say 'No, I can't go,' but Jim would say 'They need me,"' she says.
"What else can we do."
Jim hasn't slept a full night since he's been back from Iraq.
"I'm still so wound up," he says.
But there are moments of peace, too.
"I get to roll over and give a beautiful woman a kiss and say goodnight. I don't have to worry when I hear a rumble that I just got hit with a mortar. It gives you that sense of...," he sighs, "I'm home."
Posted by Jon at 11:53 PM | Comments (0)
February 08, 2008
Phew!!!
If you been a loyal friend and true to this 'blog, you should have pretty much guessed by now my affiliations, politically. If you aren't a loyal friend and true, then this might help...
As I said in an earlier post, the end of things is always sad, so ex-Gov Romney dropping out of the race for the White House is sad, but only up to a point.
Besides, I really don't think I would have EVER gotten used to having a President Mitt.
Posted by Jon at 08:51 PM | Comments (0)
February 07, 2008
A Sad Story...
I learned today that the radio station where I had my very first college internship, has 'flipped' That is when a radio station changes its format, in this case, WQCD-FM, Smooth Jazz, is now some sort of 'experimental' radio format, whatever that is.
I had an awesome time at 'QCD. We used to broadcast live jazz concerts in front of the World Trade Towers during the summer. I had access to many jazz venues across the city, and got to see countless shows thanks to my internship.
I decided that I wanted an internship during the summer of 199o, just after finishing my two year degree. However, no station would 'hire' me as an intern, unless I was receiving credit for it. I explained that would be taking classes that fall, but no good. I spent the entire day calling every TV and radio station in New York City. (Including Spanish speaking stations!) The last one in the phone book, WQCD, had themselves just flipped from a pop format, to a smooth jazz format. The station, not having been in existence very long, never had an intern; I was their first!
While I no longer work in the media field full time, I would not have gotten where I did (when i did work full time in the media) without the time I spent at 'QCD.
It was an honor, and an amazing experience. Thanks WQCD, Smooth Jazz 101.9.
Posted by Jon at 10:35 PM | Comments (0)
February 06, 2008
Hush Little Baby, Don't Say A Word...
...Just hunker down in front of your bedroom door, and sing Happy Birthday! That's precisely what Jonah did two nights ago.
Megan and I are enjoying some time off from the Boys, as they were sleeping. Or so we thought.
From upstairs, a tiny voice sings, "Happy Birthday". I did not know to whom Jonah was singing, but Megan and I are pretty darn sure he wasn't fully awake.
He hopped off his bed, headed to the door, and started to belt out the old standard.
Nightmare? Dream? Either way, he's just like his Mommy.
Go ahead. Ask her. I dare you!
Sweet dreams!
Posted by Jon at 09:43 PM | Comments (0)
February 05, 2008
Everything (Almost) You Wanted To Know About The Fire Service, But Were Afraid To Ask...
Do Firefighters rescue cats in trees?
Not much, anymore. The risk to human life is too great. Besides, have you ever seen a cat skeleton in a tree? They come down eventually.
Why do I get a fire truck when I called 9-1-1 for an ambulance?
Because, in theory, there are more fire trucks in more fire stations then there are ambulances. Firefighters can stabilize a patient while waiting for an ambulance to get there.
Do Firehouses have dishwashers?
Yes. In mine, he has a name. It's Jon.
Do you stay at the Firehouse for 24 hours?
Not me, not at our Department, not yet. We work Monday through Friday, either 6:00am to 3:00pm, 7:00am to 4:00pm, or 9:00am to 6:00pm, depending on what station you are assigned to. We switch stations every month. Currently, I am at our station 3, which is 7:00am to 4:00pm. Most departments work a shift schedule, where you work three twenty-four hour shifts, with twenty-four hours off in between, then you have four days off, amounting to 10 days of work in a month. We are banker's hour's Firefighters.
Then who covers the area at night and on the weekends?
Volunteers. I work for a combination department, combining Volunteers and career staff. Career staff work during the week, and Vollies work at night and on the weekends.
Wow! I just had a great Q & A session with myself!
If there is anything you would like to know about the fire service, leave me a comment, and I will answer your question right here!
--Jon
Posted by Jon at 09:55 PM | Comments (0)
February 04, 2008
What A Great Weekend!
Sure I had to work, but the Giants won, and tonight, after being down 3-1 to the Penguins, my New Jersey Devils fought hard to win 4 to 3 in OT!
Yay!
Posted by Jon at 10:16 PM | Comments (0)
February 03, 2008
Super Bowl VI...
It's over. Super Bowl 42 is history!
The Giants Win!
The Giants Win!
The Giants Win!
Cheaters NEVER win, Bill, remember that!
As a life long Giants fan, I was depressed about how the season went. Not because Big Blue didn't go undefeated, but because Eli Manning played so poorly. I wanted them to win, but it seemed so improbable. Especially against a team that hadn't lost a game all season long!
But that's behind us now, as the New York Giants are the Champions of the National Football League!
Go Big Blue!!!
So, what's next?
That's right, baby! In two weeks!
Posted by Jon at 10:31 PM | Comments (0)
Super Bowl V...
Ugh. Crap. Damn.
go big blue.
Posted by Jon at 09:43 PM | Comments (1)
Super Bowl IV...
TOUCHDOWN GIANTS!
10-7 Jints!
Whoo-Hoo!
Go Big Blue!
Posted by Jon at 09:11 PM | Comments (0)
Super Sunday III...
Halftime is upon us. Time to digest, time to reflect. I haven't been able to watch the commercials, as I am at work.
:___( But so far, we have a game, and that's good. No blowouts. I hope. Let's go Big Blue!
Posted by Jon at 07:45 PM | Comments (0)
Super Sunday II...
18 years ago, I watched the Giants vs. the Buffalo Bills battle it out for the Lombardi Trophy in Superbowl 25. It was cold. It was snowy, it was Buffalo. It was hard to be a Giants fan then, as we were surrounded by Buffalonians. Long suffering Buffalonians, who waited a long time to see their Bills in the Show. (To be fair, I am a Bills fan as well, after having lived there for so long, you just can't help it.) But the Giants won that cold night, and Giants fans would hide their loyalties no longer. Go Big Blue!
Posted by Jon at 07:28 PM | Comments (0)
Super Sunday!
It's time! Kickoff is here! The Giants get the ball first! Go Big Blue!
Posted by Jon at 06:30 PM | Comments (0)
February 02, 2008
And The Winner Is...
ME!!!!!
Tonight I was recognized as my Fire Department's Firefighter Of The Year.
It was surprising, and it was humbling. I have won this award two years in a row, three times (total) in the last seven years. Why? I don't do anything special or different. I just try to do my job to the best of my ability. My colleagues (both paid and Volunteer) voted for me, and for that, I cannot express how truly grateful I am that they thought that much of me. Without the people of my department, there is no way I would be where I am today, and there would be no way I could win this award, so in effect, this award is for you. Thank you. Thanks to all who put their lives on the line every day for me. You know you can expect the same from me. Thanks for sacrificing your time, your sweat and your energy, to help make our community safer. I am humbled to even be considered for such an honor, but even more so to be recognized.
Thank You All So Much!
Posted by Jon at 10:44 PM | Comments (0)
February 01, 2008
Inspiration...
I don't care what anyone says; blogging is an art. And if that's true, you need inspiration to create art, or in my case, creating a blog.
Sadly, tonight, I lack inspiration, and that's why you got stuck reading this crappy, uninspired post.
That, and because it's late, and because I have to work in the morning.
Sorry.
I'll try to get inspired for Saturday's post.
Wish me luck.
Posted by Jon at 10:31 PM | Comments (0)