Halloween. The mere mention of the holiday conjures up images of ghosts, ghouls, goblins and scary creatures wandering the night looking for sugary goodies. But what's really scary is how inefficient I am in posting these things in a timely manner!

I mean seriously. Here it is, almost five days from Thanksgiving, and I am just getting around to posting Halloween pictures!

Boo!

Scary, isn't it?

After picking out the perfect pumpkin (see the pumpkin patch entry far, far below this post) Megan carved our gourds for placement on our front porch...

Jonah posed with them outside our house...

Here Jonah and Joshua prepare for All Hallows Eve by dressing at Grayma's and Graypa's house...

Okay, so Josh didn't get dressed as much as he screamed, but we are bigger than he is, and we helped him to get dressed...

Here's the Monkey trying his best not to be a bee, along with his Pirate big brother. Yarrr!

Graypa and Grayma got into the act by decorating their house...Oooh...Scary....

And being pulled in a wagon while your big brother collects candy that you can't eat can wear a body out...

Jonah went "tickle treating" (that's how he says trick or treat) last year, but this year, being older, I hope it meant more for him. It certainly did for us. Not only because of the super cuteness of our two boys, but because we got to enjoy some candy as well!

It was a win-win for everyone!

Posted by Jon at 11:39 AM | Comments (0)

October 30, 2008

Devils Night...

There are certain traditions, customs, even, that are so local, that many folks don't know about them. For instance, growing up, we 'celebrated' Devils Night' in our town. This 'celebration' consisted of TP'ing (toilet papering) someones home, egging that same home, or spreading shaving cream on said home. For me, it was just harmless fun, but then, of course, I was just a young punk out looking for trouble.

This Devils Night is sometimes called Beggars Night, which I found out not long ago. I really don't know where the origins came from, but in some areas, this Devils Night, the night before Halloween, is downright dangerous.

In Detroit Michigan, people burned homes. That's a bit of a stretch from shaving cream.

Over the years, Detroit has become aware of the problem, and over the past few years, have kept fires to a minimum.

Anyway, I am looking forward to spending Halloween with Jonah (a bee) Joshua (a bee) and Megan (a jar of honey).

I promise pics as soon as I can!

See you tomorrow!

Posted by Jon at 09:02 PM | Comments (0)

October 29, 2008

Wordless Wednesday...

Posted by Jon at 08:11 PM | Comments (0)

October 28, 2008

Go Devils!

So I found this on NewJerseyDevils.com

I am, by no means, a fan of the state of New Jersey.

I am, for reasons too lengthy to explain here, a GINORMOUS New Jersey Devils Fan.

(I am also putting this here to hopefully ward off any bad spirits that may lead to another Devils loss. They lost twice to Philadelphia last week. On Wednesday, they play Toronto. But, of course, that may be a problem too. In a previous post, I discovered that I may have powers. Yikes. Hope I didn't jinx my Devils.)

So enjoy this little promo, courtesy of the Devils.

See you tomorrow...

Posted by Jon at 07:25 PM | Comments (0)

October 27, 2008

This Is Just Silly...

...But I am tired, and can't think of anything else to post right now.

Yes, you've seen this before. Several months ago, I had it on the right side of the page, but it never updated. It became un-silly.

So here it is again. It's a good thing I saved it. (I save everything. Ask Megan.) That means you might just see it again.

See you tomorrow...

Posted by Jon at 09:04 PM | Comments (0)

October 26, 2008

Humans Being...

Every now and again, you hear or read something that reminds you of how wonderful people are, and how when we want to, we can be so good, so caring, so kind to each other. This, of course, is overshadowed by all of the bad, sad, tragic news we are innundated with each and every minute. So, take the time to read this article, and know there are good, really good people out there, and let's not lose hope.

This story comes from the Fayetteville Observer newspaper in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

See you tomorrow...

Woman wants to thank cabbie who saved her life

By Michael N. Graff
Staff writer
The cab was yellow. The driver was black.

That’s all she can remember.

If only she had more. If she had his name, or knew the taxi company, or had a telephone number or an address, she’d come down here and tell him herself.

Thanks.

Thanks for being so kind. Thanks for being a life-saver.

But she doesn’t have any way to find him, doesn’t have any more details, doesn’t have any more clues.

All she has is this story, this newspaper, and hope.

One day in late March of 1973, Rinh Snihur met a cab driver who changed her life.

She had just moved here from Vietnam with her husband, a soldier. She barely spoke English. Her husband had been rushed to the hospital. Not thinking, she rode in the ambulance with him, leaving their toddlers in a motel room in a strange town named Fayetteville.

When doctors stabilized her husband, she rushed back to her kids. She took a wad of cash from her husband, not knowing how to even count U.S. money, and hopped into a taxi.

It was yellow. The driver was black.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rinh Snihur lives in Ohio now, just outside Dayton.

She divorced her husband in 1986. Later, records show, he spent five years in a Florida prison for murder.

Then, in 2003, Rinh’s youngest son committed suicide.

Despite the hardship, Rinh moved forward in life. She learned English. She earned a graduate equivalent degree. She recently retired after a career as a case manager with the mentally ill for the state of Ohio.

She remarried in 1990, “to a wonderful man,” she says.

Now 56, she’s comfortable and doing well.

A few months ago, she started to think about the cab driver.

“A stranger, he didn’t know me or anything,” she says. “I feel like he had a lot to do with what I’m doing today. Such a kind-hearted person made me what I am today.”

It’s finally time, she says, to tell him she’s OK, to tell him he’s the reason she made it.

Without his help that day, she may still be driving up and down a busy road in a strange town, looking for that motor motel where she’d left her kids.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rinh left the motel that morning not knowing anything.

She was 21 and had met her husband five years earlier while he was serving in Vietnam. His officers tried to stop the relationship, but couldn’t.

They had two kids in Vietnam. And in early March of 1973, the family moved to the United States, to his hometown of Akron, Ohio.

Within a few weeks, he was assigned to Fort Bragg, and they drove here. They stopped at a cheap motel until they could find permanent housing.

Rinh didn’t notice the name of the motel. She couldn’t have read it if she tried.

Everything was normal when they went to sleep that first night. But early the next day, Rinh’s husband couldn’t breathe. She dialed the front desk, and her husband told the operator to call an ambulance.

When the ambulance came, Rinh wasn’t thinking straight. She jumped in the back.

She knew almost immediately it was the wrong choice. But she had to stay with him now. A couple of hours passed before the doctors stabilized her husband and told Rinh she could go home.

The hospital staff called a taxi for her. And her husband gave her the wad of money.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The driver was patient. And kind.

He gathered from her broken English the motel was on a main street. They drove on Fayetteville’s multi-lane roads for an hour or so.

Finally, she spotted it. Seeing she was panicked, the driver walked to the door with her.

Steam had filled the room. The bathtub water was running. And Rinh’s two boys — 1 and 2 years old — were sitting on the bed holding each other.

She cried and hugged them.

“Why did I do that?” Rinh says now, crying. “If something happened to them, I couldn’t live with myself. Today, I still don’t know why I jumped (into the ambulance) and went with him.”

As poor as her judgment was leaving the boys, she knew she had lucked out when she met the cab driver.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standing in the motel doorway while Rinh clutched her children, the cab driver spent the next several minutes trying to communicate with Rinh and understand what she needed.

He called the hotel staff to watch over her children. He then drove her to a neighborhood — some neighborhood, somewhere — and found her a house she could rent for $60 a month.

He took her to a grocery store. They bought food for the house. Then he took her back to get her children, and they moved in.

When he drove off, she handed him the wad of money — about $275 — that her husband had given her. The driver picked through it and took a small amount for cab fare. He gave the rest back.

He came back the next morning and drove her to the hospital. She told her husband where she and the children were staying, then went back to the new home.

The cab driver stopped by to check on her every day until her husband was well enough to come home.

Then, she never saw him again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The cab driver may not even be alive.

Rinh estimates he was in his early 30s then. That would put him in his 60s today, at least.

She says he wasn’t very tall.

She still remembers his face, and says she would know him today if she saw him.

She doesn’t know whether he had a wife, or children, or brothers or sisters.

“Wasn’t me,” was the straight answer from an old-timer parked in his taxi near the Fayetteville airport last month. “Ain’t a lot of us still around.”

The taxi scene in Fayetteville has changed many times over. In 1973, eight taxi companies were listed in the city directory. Almost every cab driver in town worked under a company.

Now, there are nearly two-dozen companies, and even more independent drivers with their own taxis.

Debbie Thurston started working with Terminal Taxi in 1983. The company is now named Checker Yellow Cab.

After being told of Rinh’s story, Thurston asked people across Fayetteville’s cab community if they remembered a tale like Rinh’s.

Nothing. Not yet, anyway.

Everyone hopes this story will help.

Thurston believes, if the two were reunited, it would lift the driver’s spirits as much as it would Rinh’s.

“Sometimes, they need a little boost,” Thurston said. “I hope she finds him.”

So does Rinh.

Thirty-five years after moving to the United States, after burying a son, after divorcing the husband who brought her here, this is the main void in her life.

“I feel like something’s not finished here,” she said. “I have to let (him) know that I’m doing OK. I just want him to know that I have a good life. I want to say thanks.”

Posted by Jon at 02:17 PM | Comments (0)

October 25, 2008

I Am Feeling Quite Nostalgic, And Very Old At The Same Time...

...and that's because today, my classmates are gathering at our 20 year High School Reunion.

Without me.

Truth be told, I never really liked high school. I was bad at it when I went, and I truly don't know how I graduated. I more or less (more) slid through, somehow gaining that little piece of paper that has gotten me to this point in my life. (Well, the little paper didn't do much, but I guess it didn't hurt either.)

High school wasn't a lot of fun for me. I wasn't in any of the "in crowds", wasn't popular, didn't dress well, didn't have a lot of money, and so lacking those things made me, well, somewhat invisible to most. (I did, however, have a locker in a primo spot, so at least I had that going for me.)

I went to a very exclusive high school, in an extremely wealthy suburb not far from New York City. A lot of the kids I went to high school with drove BMW's, Mercedes, Land Rovers and the like. I rode the bus during my elementary school and junior high school days (not the short bus, thank goodness) but had to walk to high school, since the district determined that we lived too close to take the bus, but too far to walk. Dumb school district.

During those days, I remember feeling that a lot of my classmates were always given things, and didn't really have to work for very much. Some of them I found to be stuck up, self involved and rather elitist. (Yes, I am jealous, but at least not stuck up or self involved. Am I?) And that's probably due to the fact that I was somewhat invisible.

That was then.

Now, as my classmates gather since we graduated 20 years ago, I find myself wanting to return to the hallowed halls of my high school, to relive that which I once hated. I know. It's weird. I can't explain it either, not to you or to my wife, who really doesn't understand. In fact, I am not sure that I really understand.

And so, enter Facebook.com. The social networking site has reconnected me with many, many people from my past whom, for one reason or another, I lost touch with. College friends, work friends, even elementary school friends. Many of them who I have re-connected with through Facebook. Looking at them now, with kids, and jobs and lives, made me think how stupid and childish high school is (and was) and that now that we are all grown up, how neat it would be to catch up. And that's because, it seems, most of the people I have reconnected with, have really worked hard to get where they have gotten. Some are lawyers, some are EMT's, and some are teachers. But what I saw in high school wasn't real. I saw it then as privileged kids saying, buying and doing anything they wanted to. I never figured that a lot of these kids would amount to much, except being rich, because they didn't have to work to get anything.

That is where I will give my high school some credit. On the first day of Freshman year, I found out exactly what I wanted to do with the rest of my life: Be a journalist. I fell in love with television broadcasting, and worked hard at becoming better at my profession every day. My profession has changed now, but I believe we are all products of our past, and without my high school experience, I would never be where I am today, whether that experience was positive or negative.

So as I reflect on the last 20 years, I am sad to say that I will not be able to join these people as they remember, look back, and look forward. I can do all of those things without going to a reunion, and through my Facebook contacts, but it just isn't the same. (Megan, the boys and I will be in Virginia, celebrating her step-brother's wedding.)

Also, as I think about my reunion, I am missing a dear friend who passed away several years ago. Marty was a kind person, a child at heart, and someone who was taken from us way too early. He and my friend Jon got me through high school, and they are the reason I have gotten over that negative four-year experience. We laughed each and every day, we visited each other at our colleges, and we formed a bond that cannot be broken, no matter what time, geography or whatever else is thrown at us.

I graduated on June 24th, 1988. It was a Friday. Our prom was the next night. Jon, Marty and I all went to the prom together with our dates. As I remember, it was a great weekend.

And despite my not liking high school or a lot of the people I went to school with, it is the good times I will remember, and the effect my time in high school has had on me.

This was our prom song, "We Said Hello Goodbye", from Phil Collins.

See you tomorrow...

Posted by Jon at 06:06 AM | Comments (0)

October 24, 2008

Did You Ever Have To Post Something On Your Blog And All You Could Come Up With Was Some Lame Story About Your Son?

Well, that happened to me, and now it is happening to you.

Jonah, the oldest of our children, will be four in January, but the little punk is exhibiting signs of four-dom right now. One of the ways he is acting out is by waking up waaaaaay too early (for both children and adults alike) and coming downstairs. Sometimes he would climb in bed with us, disturbing me, Megan and Zoe, and at other times, he would fall asleep on the couch. The falling asleep on the couch bit was fine, except that he forgot to go pee before he got comfy, and well, you can guess the rest. (Don't worry though, Megan takes good care of the furniture, so do not have any reservations about sitting on our couch!) We have a gate at the top of the stairs which we keep locked, so that Jonah cannot walk down the stairs at night, and tumble his way into the emergency room. Lately though, we have not locked the gate, because we find that Jonah wakes up, usually around 5:00 or 6:00 in the morning, and comes downstairs. (It helps that he is really good with stairs, since I scared the living daylights out of him about them.)

My bright idea is to lock the gate again, telling Jonah before he goes to bed the night before, that he needs to stay in his bed, and he should nto come out of his room until the sun comes up. All well and good in an adults mind, but to a three year old, I may as well be speaking Chinese.

So, we locked the gate each night this week. Wanna' guess what happened?

Each morning, the boy awoke and began to cry at the top of the stairs, saying he wanted to come down.

Me: "No, Jonah. Go back to bed and relax."

Jonah: "But I don't want to, Daddy. Can I go potty downstairs?"

Me: "No, Jonah, you can go potty in the bathroom upstairs."

Jonah: "Where's Mommy?"

Me: "She's asleep. And lower your voice, or you'll wake Josh."

Jonah: "I want to come downstairs."

Me "Do you have to go potty?"

Jonah: "No, Daddy."

Me: "I am getting tired of this Jonah. Go and lie down and relax, or I will come up there and put you in your bed."

Jonah: "I need to go potty."

(I probably could have scripted that one...)

So needless to say, even though the boy didn't climb into the bed with us this week, we are tired.

Besides medication or anything else illegal or immoral, does anyone have any suggestions?

Posted by Jon at 04:04 PM | Comments (0)

October 23, 2008

North Carolina State Fair 2008!

I love this time of year. I love the cold weather. I love to shiver. I love to shovel snow. I hate the cold. I hate snow. I hate shivering. But, as someone much wiser (and certainly much older than me) said, you have to take the good with the bad. The bad is the having to wear layers upon layers of clothes, just to peel them off as the day warms up. The good is the North Carolina State Fair, going on now through Sunday October 26th.

Thanks to my second job, I had to take a day off from my main job, so that Megan and I could take the boys to the Fair. We looked forward to eating, to riding rides, to seeing animals (and feeding them too!) and just having a fun family outing.

I am proud and happy to say that we accomplished all of those goals, and more, as you will see.

First and foremost, chicks! We stopped by the poultry tent to get our fill of fowl.

Jonah was so excited about the chicks! Josh wasn't too impressed, so it was on to rides!

The first one Josh and I went on was this super tall, super fast slide.

Josh got me through it.

Jonah wanted to ride a train, but this was the closest we could get...

Until, of course, we saw the train...(It's a train. Trust me.)

Rides are good, but the petting zoo beckoned. Jonah and Josh loved the animals...

But refused to sit still for a nice family photo...

We had, as we say here in the South, a large day. Along the way, we had lunch, then some snacks, then some drinks, and finally, we had to have dessert. Each year at the fair, they fry something, or dip something, or do something 'exotic' to food. (As if frying was exotic.) Megan had heard of a frozen chocolate covered cheesecake on a stick. We had to have it.

But we had to hunt for dessert quietly.

That's because Josh, for the second year in a row, fell asleep in the wagon we pulled the boys around in. Here are some pics from last years snoozefest...

And there it was...Heaven on a stick...

We enjoy the fair a lot, and I look forward to making this an outing my boys (and whatever the third one is) is one they remember all of their lives.

See you tomorrow...

Posted by Jon at 04:38 PM | Comments (0)

October 22, 2008

Wordless Wednesday...

Posted by Jon at 08:56 PM | Comments (0)

October 21, 2008

Wow!

For the first time in a very, very long time, I took a day off from work, so that the boys Megan and I could take in day at the North Carolina State Fair.

We had a blast.

It has been a long time since I have spent the day with my family, and it was great! The weather was great, the parking was free, and our experience was a great one!

The boys rode rides, we pet animals, fed some too, and ate a bit ourselves along the way.

Thanks Abby, for your generous donation! We couldn't have done it without you!

I have just a few pics, real decent ones, that I will try to post here tomorrow, or at least on Thursday, since tomorrow is Wordless Wednesday!

And, by the way, two weeks form today, we will find out what type of child we are having next.

Stay tuned, and follow the countdown clock! (You'll be seeing a lot of it!)

See you tomorrow!

Posted by Jon at 08:19 PM | Comments (0)

October 20, 2008

State Fair Re-Post!

Tonight is a very special night for us, because tomorrow (Tuesday) is an even more special day for us! (You see, you have to get through the night first, so you can get to the tomorrow...Well, that's how I got Jonah to sleep, by explaining that the sooner you go to sleep, the sooner it will be tomorrow, and then we can go to the State Fair!)

It is for this reason that I am re-posting last years story/pics from the fair. I will try to post pics from the fair trip tomorrow as soon as I can.

Enjoy, again, and see you tomorrow!

(From November 2nd, 2007...)

If you've been alive for a while, then you've no doubt heard of our five seasons...Summer, Fall, Frying, winter and Spring. Wait, wait! That isn't right, you say, there are only FOUR seasons. What gives?

Not here in North Carolina! The Frying season comes just after fall, and wraps up quickly, just before winter sets in. The Frying season gets underway at the North Carolina State Fair and clogs the arteries of Fairgoers for 10 glorious days!

Someone decided long ago, that if you dip something in oil and fry it, people will eat it. Fried Twinkies, fried Oreos, fried Snickers, fried Three Musketeers, and new this year, fried Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. (After trying Twinkies, Oreos and Snickers, Megan and I decided that the hype just isn't worth it. And believe me, there is A LOT of hype over fried things.) I wanted to try the Reese's, but Megan talked me out of it. Oh well, there's always next year.

But fried foods aside, we headed out to the 2007 version of the fair, eager to eat, see animals, eat, maybe ride a ride, eat, eat, look at weird and interesting people, eat, oh, and eat. Megan and I decided that the best time to go to the fair is on a weekend, in the morning. That way, we avoid the crowds, miss long lines, and have a less stressful time.

Jonah went last year, as did Megan and I (we had to get him there) and Joshua, who wasn't with us yet. (Well, he was inside one of us, but you get the idea.) Joining us this year was Grandma and Grandpa, who saved the day really, what with wiggly, tired, obstinate, but generally overall well behaved little boys. First order of the day, to see animals!

We stopped in at the bunny exhibit first, me with Jonah, and G'pa with Joshua.

Shhhh...the bunny rabbits are sleeping...

Oh heck. We woke it up. On to the cows!

Look! They're over there!

Josh was unimpressed with cows. He was however, impressed with G'pa's watch...

Okay. The hat thing, turned to the side, it's all Jonah. I swear. As cute as it is, he does it himself. He complains that the sun is too bright, so we give him a hat to shade his eyes. First thing he does with it? Turns it backwards. Back to the fair...What a big cow!

Up close a personal with Becky The Cow. (I guess all cows share the last name of 'The Cow'. Sort of like all horses born in the Northern Hemisphere having their birthdays on January 1st. I bet you didn't know that. Google it. Trust me.)

Sorry. Don't know the first name of the donkey. So it's just G'ma, Jonah and _____'The Donkey'.

Baby donkeys!

Jonah is looking at something, but for the life of me I don't remember what. Some sort of livestock, I can assure you.

The goat here is eating the sign over his/her/its pen. I thought it was a cool picture, so I snapped it. Later, while looking at the pic, Megan noticed 'Jonah' on the sign, so it made the picture even better!

Piglets! Look carefully, and you will see a yawning piggie!

Here, G'ma and Jonah enjoy goats behind the fence...

And then, after a busy morning of viewing animals it was time for our reward! Fried food! Fantastic! Here, Jonah and Joshua enjoy their first fair fried food, featuring french fries! Fun! (I just love alliteration!) Okay, truth be told, Jonah is about made of french fries, but this was the first time he and his little brother ate them at the fair, so I declare this a momentous occasion!

Just funnin'...

Viewing animals and experiencing watches is tiresome stuff. It's naptime...

This was a slide ride that Jonah was contemplating going on with me. He rejected it. Punk.

Nothing is better than going hands on for a little boy. (The chick might think otherwise...)

And a good time was had by all. Next year, fried Reese's Cups for sure!

Posted by Jon at 08:55 PM | Comments (0)

October 19, 2008

I...Am...Tired...

I have been working since 8:30 this morning. This sucks.

And so does this post.

And for that, I am sorry.

I will try to do better tomorrow, though I can't promise anything.

See you tomorrow.

Posted by Jon at 08:16 PM | Comments (0)

October 18, 2008

A Cupcake Controversy...

What's a fella' to do?

I have been hearing rumblings all week that today, Saturday October 118th, is National Cupcake Day. (Of course, that got my stomach rumbling, but that's another post for another day.)

But after an exhaustive, mind numbing search (took me five minutes) I have found that today is National CHOCOLATE Cupcake Day.

It seems that November 10th, 2008 is National VANILLA Cupcake Day.

No matter. Today is still a National Day celebrating the wonderful little cakes in cups.

And fret not, dear readers, for I have compiled this information for you! I have done the back breaking, fingers-to-the bone work for you...

Check this link for all things cupcakes...

And when you are done checking out that blog,. check this website, which lists all the food days we celebrate in this country! (Or should be celebrating!)

See you tomorrow...

Posted by Jon at 08:49 AM | Comments (0)

October 17, 2008

Do I Have Powers?

Last night, when the Florida Rays were up 7 to zip over the Boston Red Sox, I cheered, and said it was over for Boston.

I was wrong. I am big enough to admit that.

But it won't be long now. The Rays need just one more game to send the Sox packing. (Oops. Did I just jinx it again?)

See you tomorrow...(After the Red Sox lose!) ((Damn! Did I do it again??))

Posted by Jon at 08:40 AM | Comments (0)

October 16, 2008

A Sports Moment...

...If you please...

Two items of interest tonight in the sports world. (For me, anyway.)

Since the game is still going on, this may be a bit premature, but,

GOODBYE BOSTON RED SOX! I won't miss you in the post season! You can get right on line at the pro shop, behind the Chicago Cubs! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Boston, as I have posted previously, is a wonderful town. Their sports teams just suck. Was in Chicago when I was a baby, so I don't know much about it, except that I believe in the curse of the goat, and I feel that the Cubbies should suffer. And they have. And now it's Boston's turn. Bye-bye BoSox. See you next year. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur is the GREATEST GOALIE EVER!

Tonight, the New Jersey Devils netminder notched his 97th career shutout, adding to his amazing total of 541 wins. That put him that much closer to reaching the all time goalie wins now held by Patrick Roy, who has 551 wins to his credit. Martin is just seven wins away from breaking the all time shutout record held by Terry Sawchuk.

No matter what the Devils do this season, this is gonna' be great!

Go Devils!

See you tomorrow...

Posted by Jon at 10:23 PM | Comments (0)

October 15, 2008

Wordless Wednesday

Posted by Jon at 11:38 AM | Comments (0)

October 14, 2008

Warning! Weak Post!

Ugh. Tuesday night means training at my Volunteer Fire Department.

That's where I am right now. Our instructor "got lost", so another instructor took their place, and now we are having in impromptu class. Ick.

Anyway, that's the bad news. The good news is that I can take a Thursday night off during EMS at the department I work for, so there is that.

(That's good news, 'cause I can spend more time with my ever growing family, who I miss bunches.)

See you tomorrow, for Wordless Wednesday!

Posted by Jon at 08:57 PM | Comments (0)

October 13, 2008

Five Years Ago Today...(For The Last Time...)

Five years ago today, Megan and I were on board our cruise ship, Royal Carribean's Enchantment Of The Seas. By now, we were well out to sea, after having stopped by Key West for a few hours. We had a blast, and can't wait to get back there again!

We were on a seven day cruise to places like the above mentioned Key West, Cozumel, and Belize. It was awesome.

After five years (really, after our first date) I know/knew that Megan and I were meant for each other. Our first date was on a date most consider unlucky: Friday, July 13th. But not for us. It was lucky, and always will be. When we booked our honeymoon cruise, I did a little research on our ship, the Enchantment Of The Seas, and foudn out that its maiden voyage was on July 13, 1997. No, it wasn't a Friday, but it's still lucky. Speaking of luck, I will re-post this story, the story of how Megan, the most wonderful woman in the world, won a bunch of money on our cruise.

Before I get to that though, I want to say thank you for reading my honeymoon/wedding/five year anniversary posts over the last few days. My wedding was fantastic. My honeymoon was great. My life with Megan is better than anything I could have imagined.

But most of all, I want to thank Megan for rescuing me from a single life, one I was living poorly. Thank you Megan, and I look forward to the next five years, and all of those beyond. I love you.

So here's something that's never made the 'blog...

Several months before we got married, Megan and I visited a travel "show", where cruise lines, travel planners, travel agents and the like try to book you on one of their great vacations. After not much discussion, we decided to go on a cruise for our Honeymoon. I had never cruised before, but Megan had, and she thought it would be a great way to start our new life together. Featuring good prices, a later departure date and some decent ports of call, we decided to go with Royal Carribean.

So as we are setting up our itineraries, and planning our honeymoon, I had an epiphany! We could get a balcony!

One that overlooks the ocean, of course. A balcony where by day, we could sit and enjoy drinks, while experiencing warm ocean breezes, as the clouds float by effortlessly. By night, we could step out onto the balcony, call room service at 3:00 in the morning, and have someone bring us drinks. At 3:00 in the morning! But there was my soon to be wife (now my current wife), knocking me down a few pegs, and helping me to learn how to lose arguments. (I love you sweetie!)

She explained that we would be spending money on something we wouldn't use. But, I countered, "Some dude would bring us drinks, to our balcony, at 3:00 in the morning!" To which she calmly replied, that we would not be spending much time in the room anyway, with all a ship that size has to offer; and thus, (she never uses the word 'thus", by the way...) we would not be spending much time on the balcony. Feeling the argument (okay, it was a discussion, not really an argument) slipping away from me, I relented. But we did compromise, and we got a cabin with window. This is a picture from the Royal Caribbean website...

And this is a picture of the room we stayed in...The neat decorations celebrating our marriage were placed there by Royal Caribbean staff in advance of our arrival, under the direction of my wife, who called ahead. Isn't she sweet?

So, off we were on our new lives together, and a five day run of the Western Caribbean. We stopped in Key West, Cancun, and Belize. In Belize, we decided to take an excursion, and go snorkeling. As this activity was new to us, we thought it would be fun. Before they give you your mask, you wipe some sort of sanitizing/anti-bacterial goo inside, to kill off anything that might have been left there from the vacationer before you. Then, we went snorkeling. (No pics here, just use your imagination.) That night, I was seasick, so much so that Megan went to dinner without me. The next day, which was our last full day at sea, something awful happened to my left eye. It was puffy, swollen, and just downright ugly looking. (No pics here, just use your imagination.) I could hardly open my eye, as any kind of light, bright or otherwise, was out of the question. So, I planned to pretty much stay in the cabin. Which I did. I attributed this eye nastiness to the sanitizing/anti-bacterial goo we put on the inside of our snorkeling masks. (Either that, or I didn't clean my mask very well.) So, sadly, my new wife was bored. Achingly so. With no one to explore the ship with, no one to drink with, she decided to take 20 dollars out of the money we brought with us, and go to the casino on board. I kissed her goodbye, and wished her good luck. No sooner had she left, than she returned. I said, "Lost it all, huh?" And she said, "Nope. Won 100 dollars!" "Get out, I said!" To which she said, she played one game of chance, it paid off for her, and she quit while she was ahead.

Now, neither of us are gamblers, in that we don't often get the chance to do it. So, since the ship had a week long bingo game going, with an ever increasing jackpot, I told her she should give it a shot, go buy a couple of cards, and see what happens. I again kissed her goodbye and wished her luck.

A few hours later, and after I had viewed Bruce Almighty about 42 dozen times, (that's the only movie playing on the in-ship TV system...) Megan returned. Because we're not gamblers, I thought she'd just plop down on the bed, and tell me she'd lost, and life was going to go on. Well, she plopped, and life was going to go on, but at least for us, with a little bit more money!

Megan won about 6700 dollars, playing bingo! The jackpot was at its highest level, since no one won during the week! There's no way. I was seasick, my eye hurt like heck, but all I could think of was the poor old woman Megan slugged, robbed, and left for dead in some lonely part of this massive sea going vessel. We aren't gamblers. We don't play bingo. There's just no way. But the cash was the proof. (That's how they give it to you. They don't cut you a check.) And just a note, ne'er do wells looking in, don't get any ideas. The money was spent about four seconds after she told me she won.

Of course, I missed all the fun because I was laid up with some infection and seasickness. (I believe that if I had gone, however, we would have lost, so I am sort of glad I missed it!) Megan was one of the last people standing, when they called N 37! It was the last number, on the last card, on the last day of our cruise! I did not realize that the bingo game was held in a theatre, that can seat a whole lot of folks, and that most of the seats in the theatre were taken. By this time, I was feeling a bit better, so we decided to go to the ships doctor, to have him look at my nasty eye. Walking down the corridor to the elevators, I remarked that no one knows who she is, and who we are, save for a few official types, who could know we just won a ton of money. But no sooner did we get to a common area, that a fellow cruise ship passenger said, "There goes the big winner!"

So, we went on a shopping spree. The money went to pay for a big chunk of our wedding, that we just spent a big chunk of money on. We invested in some nice watches, and a digital camera, that has exclusively taken all of the pictures you see here on OutOfHans.com.

Our first date was on July 13th, 2001. The Enchantment of The Seas had her maiden voyage on July 13, 1997. Fate? Chance? Destiny? Luck?

It's hard to tell who is the lucky one in this family...Megan for her big win on our Honeymoon, Jonah and Joshua for having such a wonderful mother, or me, for having such a fantastic wife and mother to our boys!!!

See you tomorrow...

Posted by Jon at 04:37 PM | Comments (0)

October 12, 2008

Five Years Ago Today...

Five years ago today, Megan and I were in the car headed down I-95 to Fort Lauderdale, Miami, to begin our lives as Husband and Wife. The trip from NC to FL was about 12 hours, but with a beaming, beautiful bride, it seemed like 12 minutes.

As I recall, we got a bit lost, but made it to our cruise ship in plenty of time.

About 15 minutes after we got on board, we began drinking and got super drunk, and the ship hadn't even left port yet!

Megan called Abby and I called Jason, mostly to tell them that we began drinking and got super drunk, and the ship hadn't even left port yet!

It was a great way to start my life with my new wife. Five years seems like five minutes, if you'll allow me to use the chronological analogy again.

Bear with me, as I plan one more day of memories, and then, it's the first day of the rest of our lives!

See you tomorrow...

Posted by Jon at 04:21 PM | Comments (0)

October 11, 2008

The Best Five Years Of My Life...

The last five years of my life, have, no doubt, been the greatest five years of my life.

Here's why:

I am married to the greatest woman in the world. There are many adjectives out there, but I offer you this: She is simply the best.

I have two of the cutest, most adorable children in the world. (With one on the way!)

And if these last five years are any indication, the next five should be just as great!

As you look at this picture, let me take you back in time: Megan and I (and now you, vicariously through me) are standing in a ballroom at the Embassy Suites near the town we live in. Remember? You were there...Sure...The date is October 11th, 2003. We are ready to wed at 7:00pm, with a reception to follow. We are standing under our Chupah, waiting to start our lives together, five years ago today! Wow!

Sadly, Megan isn't feeling so well today, and neither is Jonah, so for this weekend, our anniversary will be low key. But soon, Megan and I will take a night off (hopefully) and paint the town all kinds of different colors!

Happy Anniversary Sweetie!

I have loved you more and more these past five years, and I cannot wait for the next five!

See you tomorrow!

Posted by Jon at 02:42 PM | Comments (0)

October 10, 2008

Let The Skating Begin!

Tonight, the 2008-2009 NHL season begins!

The New Jersey Devils are once again going to figure in both the playoffs, and the Stanley Cup Finals, I feel certain! (You gotta' have hope!)

We will look forward to this picture....

--Scotty Stevens

And this one, where the New Jersey Devils have been inscribed three times on Lord Stanley's Cup, as Champions of the National Hockey League!

And do we have a Devils fan in the making?

Darn right we do!

Go Devils!

See you tomorrow...

Posted by Jon at 03:44 PM | Comments (0)

October 09, 2008

Man Am I Stuffed!

Not long after sundown tonight, I broke the fast for Yom Kippur, and stuffed my face.

Spent the day fasting, thinking about the past year, and hopefully, will be a better person next year.

To all those who participated, I hope you your fast was easy and quick.

Mine was. At times. But then, I was with my boys most of the day, and that was fun.

I don't get to do that too often.

See you tomorrow...

Posted by Jon at 09:20 PM | Comments (0)

October 08, 2008

Wordless Wednesday Will Wreturn Next Week...

(Man do I love alliteration!)

Wordless Wednesday will return in its regularly scheduled spot next week, as I pause to celebrate Yom Kippur.

To all my friends and family, my family would like to wish you a happy, healthy new year, and if you are fasting, have a quick and easy fast!

See you tomorrow...After sundown, of course...

Love,

Jonathan, Megan, Jonah, Joshua, Elijah -or- Naomi.

Posted by Jon at 04:26 PM | Comments (0)

October 07, 2008

Man Alive, Do I Love A Pie Chart!

Seriously!

Just ask Megan!

Mmmm...Pie...

See you tomorrow...

Posted by Jon at 03:50 PM | Comments (0)

October 06, 2008

My Apologies...

After our annual Open House, of which I am in charge, I find myself devoid of energy, and thus, ideas. Fresh out of creative juices, I am lame.

And so is this post.

And so I offer my apologies, and offer hopes for the future (tomorrow) of better, smarter, funnier, weirder posts.

Wish me luck.

See you tomorrow...(I hope.)

Posted by Jon at 08:54 PM | Comments (0)

October 05, 2008

Keep This In Mind...

From The National Fallen Firefighter's Foundation Website:

Lowering the U.S. Flag

Did you know that the law requires the U.S. flag be lowered in tribute on only a few days each year? Quite appropriately, one of these days is the observance of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.
On October 16, 2001, President George W. Bush approved legislation requiring the U.S. flag to be lowered to half-staff on all Federal buildings to memorialize fallen firefighters. Public Law 107-51 requires this action to occur annually in conjunction with observance of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.

Let your local media know that U.S. flags across the country will be lowered on Sunday, October 5, 2008. This includes the U.S. Capitol and the White House, as well as buildings in your local community.

Remember to lower the U.S. flags at your home, fire department, and business. Encourage your local community to follow the Federal Government's example. When you lower your flag this year, you will recognize the brave men and women who died protecting their communities from natural and manmade emergencies and disasters and those who carry on the proud tradition.

You may also want to ask your state and local officials to include lowering the flag in a proclamation recognizing the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Here is the wording from Public Law 107-51...

Joint Resolution

Memorializing fallen firefighters by lowering the American flag to half-
staff in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service in
Emmitsburg, Maryland. <>

Whereas 1,200,000 men and women comprise the American fire and emergency
services;

Whereas the fire and emergency services is considered one of the most
dangerous jobs in the United States;

Whereas fire and emergency services personnel respond to over 16 million
emergency calls annually, without reservation and with little regard
for their personal safety;

Whereas fire and emergency services personnel are the first to respond
to an emergency, whether it involves a fire, medical emergency,
spill of hazardous materials, natural disaster, act of terrorism, or
transportation accident;

Whereas approximately one-third of all active fire and emergency
personnel suffer debilitating injuries annually; and

Whereas approximately 100 fire and emergency services personnel die
annually in the line of duty: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress <> assembled,
That each year, the American flags on all Federal office buildings will
be lowered to half-staff in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters
Memorial Service in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Approved October 16, 2001.

Posted by Jon at 08:05 AM | Comments (0)

October 04, 2008

You Just Gotta' See It To Believe It...

Posted by Jon at 03:28 PM | Comments (0)

October 03, 2008

A Look Ahead...(A Re-Post, Because I Am A Dork...)

This is a re-post of a posting that was first posted on September 30th, 2008. I forgot an event. No, I actually didn't forget the event, honestly, but I just forgot to put it in here. See if you can find it. It's pretty subtle. Sorry for the re-post.

On this last day of September, I find myself looking foward to a super busy October.

This Sunday, we hold our annual Open House at the Fire Department I work for. Get in touch with me, and I'll let you know when and where!

My younger brother Ben will turn 34 this month, meaning yes, he's younger than me, but by no means young! Happy early birthday, brother!

Megan, Jonah, Joshua and I will learn if we should expect a Naomi, or an Elijah. (We'll let ya'll know when we find out!)

Fall. The second worst season of all, since it preceeds the worst season of all, winter. I hate winter. I hate winter. I hate winter. I hate being cold. I hate being cold. I hate being cold. There, I'm done now. (Until it gets cold. Then I'll whine some more.)

October is breast cancer awareness month. I wish we didn't have to have a month devoted to that, but since we do, Megan and I will work hard to make sure that some day, this month can be reserved for something else!

Megan and I will celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary! On October 11th, five years ago to the day, we were married! Whoo-Hoo!!

We will make our annual trip to the pumpkin patch, I hope.

And of course, Halloween. So far, Jonah keeps saying that he and Josh want to dress up like bees. We are working on that, and we'll keep you up to date.

See you tomorrow, in October.

Posted by Jon at 05:39 PM | Comments (0)

October 02, 2008

So...

...I'm sitting here listening to Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin debate each with each other, and I can only come up with one solution...

We've got the wrong Palin!

This is the man who should be President!

Well, all you Monty Python fans would get it...

See you tomorrow...

Posted by Jon at 10:07 PM | Comments (0)

October 01, 2008

Wordless Wednesday...

Posted by Jon at 09:49 PM | Comments (0)