The good, the bad and the just plain awesome.

It's been quite a month.

Here's the good:
One of my brothers is going to be a Dad for the first time. He's thrilled and I'm thrilled for him.

Here's the bad:
A bond issue to build a new elementary school and make sorely needed improvements to the local middle/high school failed to pass yesterday. Chad and I had gotten involved in the campaign because this was an important issue for us, not just for our kids but also for the growth of our small, but great, community. It's depressing to come face-to-face with the fact that we are surrounded by so many cheap, small-minded, negative people who probably will never see the big picture. But that's life, I guess.

Here's the just plain awesome:
I'm a little reluctant to talk about this because it might jinx it somehow. But here goes.....my business may be moving to within 10 miles of my house. This will be the first time in 12 years that I will drive less than 35 minutes to get to work. The whole thing will be life changing on many levels and I'm really excited. I mean, this could add nearly an hour of time back into my life.

My life and my work all happening in one place. That's hard to imagine, really.

Out of the mouths of babes... and grandpas.

My Dad and step-mom watched our girls part of the time that Chad and I were in Hawaii. It's great for The Toads (our family nickname for the 'rents) because they get some super quality time with the chickens (my nickname for my girls), and it's great for the chickens because they get to stay up way too late and eat ice cream every night. Also, you get to hear some really funny stories when you get back. Like this one, for example...

My Dad and Grace were hanging out in the living room with the TV on in the background when it dawns on my Dad that CSI is on. (So I know we're already up past bedtime.) The CSI gang is making an arrest. In a strip club.

Grace: "What kind of restaurant IS this?"

Dad: "Well, they go swimming after they eat."

Grace: "Oh. That must be why they all have their bathing suits on."

Good save, Dad.

Re-entry is tough. Part 2.

What is this?


It's me. Exactly one week ago today. In Hawaii. Where it's warm.

Now I'm at home and it's 3 degrees outside. That's not a typo. It's 3 and that doesn't cover the windchill factor (or "windshield factor" as a friend of mine once thought), which is somewhere in the land of 12 below.

Is there such a thing as Hawaii withdrawal?