I am sitting at my desk at 6:45 AM. I have begun coming to work very early so I can get home for dinner. The girls seem to prefer that I get home to eat with them. Frankly, I like it better anyway. I am more productive early in the morning, today not withstanding. I love spending time with the kids, and this way I get to spend more time with them.
Lily is now 5 1/2 (or close to it). I can't believe how big she is getting. She is asking so many questions about everything. She (and her sister, Lucy) have begun the death questions. When is Charlie going to die (our very old dog), how did Veronica die (my sister), why did she die, when are you going to die, when is lucy going to die, why do people die, is the table dead?
These questions are normal, I know, but they are harder to answer, particularly when it is about me or their mom. We always tell them, don't worry about that. People die when their bodies just don't work any more and usually that happens when they get old. Of course, the follow up question is Brown Papa (my dad, their grandpa) is old. MaMa is old. Nanny is old. Papa Erwin is old. True enough, but their bodies are working right now.
It has made me reflect, though, on the fact that my parents (and in-laws) are getting old. I have not had to deal with the loss of a parent, but with parents who are 69 and soon to be 71, it is clear that things are going to wind down. Not to be morbid, but how do you deal with older parents. Knowing my parents, they will never voluntarily realize they are not well enough to live on their own (not even close to that now), but they are very stubborn people (perhaps where my stubborness comes from). They are in Florida, which was a good idea whne they were 60, but as they age, the distance is more of an issue.
I, generally, am not a worrier, and this post is more to vent than anything. I am no different from anybody with older parents. Eventually, as the children, we have to become the grown-ups and deal with parents as they age, and eventually pass away. I assume (probably shouldn't) that it won't be for a long time, but as i learned all to well with my sister, people die and there is no way to know when or how it will happen.
I hope everybody has a great day!
Be Easy
-cp
It is what the title says, it is simply what I think. nothing more and nothing less.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
2012
Its been a while. As I wrote almost two months ago, finding time is difficult. Like everybody, though, I have made "resolutions". I have not really figured out what good they are, why wait until 12/31 - 1/1 to make changes in your life. If you have changes to make, make them.
I have read a lot of facebook posts and articles on what to do and how to act now that it is a new year. Why can't we be that way all of the time? why can't we be positive all the time? I have no idea what it is about the new year that makes people begin considering making changes in their life. The real question is how long are those changes going to last? how long will you eat healthy? how long will you work out? how long will you get to work on time? How long will you be nicer to your spouse? how long will you be the person you want to be, as opposed to the person you are?
The real question is why are you the way you are? Is it really so bad? Of course, everybody can get better and improve. Have you ever asked yourself (I am not sure that i have until now), why am I impatient, why am i short with people, why can I be difficult? Why did I eat that Swiss Cake Roll (that's easy, I love them).
Either way, i have tried to be a good person and I will keep trying. I don't know that i have resolutions only because there are things that I am constantly working on. One of them includes exercise (like most people).
In what may have been a weak moment, I have signed up for a half marathon. My wife and I are running the half marathon in Champagn, IL at the end of April (I am referring to this day as the day that my wife becomes independently wealthy). We'll see, but I am rather competitive AND VERY STUBBORN. I'll finish the fucking thing, I have no doubt about that (though it will make these sixteen weeks very difficult)
I have decided i have two goals related to the half marathon 1. finish 2. don't finish last. I have been joking that I will knock over a 90 year old if it means that I don't finish last. I am quite serious about that :)
I look forward to it. My wife will beat me by about 1 hour, but I figure by then she'll feel good enough to carry me home (or roll me in a wheel barrow). Will be interesting and fun.
I will keep you updated on my progress.
I suppose, after my introduction, I should not suggest that I will write more frequently, but what the hell, I am going to say it. I plan on writing more frequently. This is for me. It keeps me honest and I like writing. I did not finish my novel in November (primarily because of work -- I had to unexpectedly travel), but I am going to finish the novel I started.
A lot to do and so little time to get it done. And as i teach my children there are only 2 rules that matter:
1. Have Fun
2. Be Kind
Have a great day.
-CP
I have read a lot of facebook posts and articles on what to do and how to act now that it is a new year. Why can't we be that way all of the time? why can't we be positive all the time? I have no idea what it is about the new year that makes people begin considering making changes in their life. The real question is how long are those changes going to last? how long will you eat healthy? how long will you work out? how long will you get to work on time? How long will you be nicer to your spouse? how long will you be the person you want to be, as opposed to the person you are?
The real question is why are you the way you are? Is it really so bad? Of course, everybody can get better and improve. Have you ever asked yourself (I am not sure that i have until now), why am I impatient, why am i short with people, why can I be difficult? Why did I eat that Swiss Cake Roll (that's easy, I love them).
Either way, i have tried to be a good person and I will keep trying. I don't know that i have resolutions only because there are things that I am constantly working on. One of them includes exercise (like most people).
In what may have been a weak moment, I have signed up for a half marathon. My wife and I are running the half marathon in Champagn, IL at the end of April (I am referring to this day as the day that my wife becomes independently wealthy). We'll see, but I am rather competitive AND VERY STUBBORN. I'll finish the fucking thing, I have no doubt about that (though it will make these sixteen weeks very difficult)
I have decided i have two goals related to the half marathon 1. finish 2. don't finish last. I have been joking that I will knock over a 90 year old if it means that I don't finish last. I am quite serious about that :)
I look forward to it. My wife will beat me by about 1 hour, but I figure by then she'll feel good enough to carry me home (or roll me in a wheel barrow). Will be interesting and fun.
I will keep you updated on my progress.
I suppose, after my introduction, I should not suggest that I will write more frequently, but what the hell, I am going to say it. I plan on writing more frequently. This is for me. It keeps me honest and I like writing. I did not finish my novel in November (primarily because of work -- I had to unexpectedly travel), but I am going to finish the novel I started.
A lot to do and so little time to get it done. And as i teach my children there are only 2 rules that matter:
1. Have Fun
2. Be Kind
Have a great day.
-CP
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Its Just What I Think: Its been a long tim
Its Just What I Think: Its been a long tim: I have been considering adding to my blog for some time. I bought an Ipad in May and it turns out, that has actually curtailed my writing q...
Its been a long time
I have been considering adding to my blog for some time. I bought an Ipad in May and it turns out, that has actually curtailed my writing quite a lot. Without my computer at home (b/c I keep it work) I don't write nearly as much as I used too. That is concerning b/c I like writing.
November is NaNoWriMo (national novel writing month). I will be writing my 3rd novel next month. I have some ideas about what it will be about, but nothing concrete. My first novel (i use that term very loosely) was a book about the Devil coming to earth. It focused on one person and how he became evil and the group of people who knew what was happening and trying to stop it.
The second book was a post-apocyptic story. The story took place some 200 years from now, in a world decimated by wars. The only remainig people live in a city surrounded by walls. They are not allowed to leave. Of course, there are some people who can get out. The focus of the story is one man who is outside the walls and who has lived outside for some time. He moves back inside when he hears that the only woman he loved has been captured. I think this book and story were better than the first. In reality, I need to spend some time reading adn editing them so I can decide if they are as bad as I think they are.
In any event, this book may be completely different then the others. Who knows. The one thing that I have learned in the process of writing the previous books is the almost living nature of the novel. To me, it is the ultimate creation b/c everything the writer creates everything. Mood, look, story, romance, violence, tone of voice, integrity, etc. It really is quite a process. I think you also learn interesting thigns about yourself as you write a story that has a protagnoist that is likely based upon somebody that you know or might know (or even yourself). On the other hand, it might be a story about somebody you would like to be. I really enjoy it and I am looking forward to writing again. Of course, I'll have to lug my computer around for 30 days, but its worth when, on November 30, I have finished my third novel (again, I use that term very loosely).
Finally, how about those Cardinals. In the end don't they prove that we, the fan, know very little about what a team is feeling and what they will do. I still remember August 24, the sweep by the dodgers was over (or about to be) and thinking that the season was over. They looked like they quit and just did not care. In a matter of weeks, they are one game from the World Series, possibly playing better than any other team. Game 5 of the NLDS was fantastic (though it helped I was in New Orleans with my wife watching the game on Bourbon Street).
I have begun the very important process of making sure my kids are cardinal fans. I think its catching.
I hope to write more in the coming weeks, though November will be more slow b/c of the novel. I will give updates (and maybe snippets) as the story begins to take shape. Take care of yourself and others.
Be Easy
---cp
November is NaNoWriMo (national novel writing month). I will be writing my 3rd novel next month. I have some ideas about what it will be about, but nothing concrete. My first novel (i use that term very loosely) was a book about the Devil coming to earth. It focused on one person and how he became evil and the group of people who knew what was happening and trying to stop it.
The second book was a post-apocyptic story. The story took place some 200 years from now, in a world decimated by wars. The only remainig people live in a city surrounded by walls. They are not allowed to leave. Of course, there are some people who can get out. The focus of the story is one man who is outside the walls and who has lived outside for some time. He moves back inside when he hears that the only woman he loved has been captured. I think this book and story were better than the first. In reality, I need to spend some time reading adn editing them so I can decide if they are as bad as I think they are.
In any event, this book may be completely different then the others. Who knows. The one thing that I have learned in the process of writing the previous books is the almost living nature of the novel. To me, it is the ultimate creation b/c everything the writer creates everything. Mood, look, story, romance, violence, tone of voice, integrity, etc. It really is quite a process. I think you also learn interesting thigns about yourself as you write a story that has a protagnoist that is likely based upon somebody that you know or might know (or even yourself). On the other hand, it might be a story about somebody you would like to be. I really enjoy it and I am looking forward to writing again. Of course, I'll have to lug my computer around for 30 days, but its worth when, on November 30, I have finished my third novel (again, I use that term very loosely).
Finally, how about those Cardinals. In the end don't they prove that we, the fan, know very little about what a team is feeling and what they will do. I still remember August 24, the sweep by the dodgers was over (or about to be) and thinking that the season was over. They looked like they quit and just did not care. In a matter of weeks, they are one game from the World Series, possibly playing better than any other team. Game 5 of the NLDS was fantastic (though it helped I was in New Orleans with my wife watching the game on Bourbon Street).
I have begun the very important process of making sure my kids are cardinal fans. I think its catching.
I hope to write more in the coming weeks, though November will be more slow b/c of the novel. I will give updates (and maybe snippets) as the story begins to take shape. Take care of yourself and others.
Be Easy
---cp
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