Parenting is hard. For some, this is obvious. For others suffering denial, this is a sign of a severe character flaw. For a blessed few who’s beatification awaits them at their death, who’s names will be remembered in song and psalm for all time, this is an inconceivable truth. God did us this one favor – he made these people rare. This is not to say parenting is without its rewards. If it was, Homo sapiens sapiens would have died out long ago (no mater how much fun getting there was/is). This little post is for all of you out [...]
Travel
In between
Most trips my wife and I took since our wedding were merely travel – complete with a detailed itinerary. They involved as many relatives as possible. It was misguided, but it was how we measured a trip’s success. You probably know at least a few people like this – folks who don’t think a trip has worth unless they need a vacation afterwards. Do you know what I like best about a vacation? I like not thinking about what I want or need to do next. This doesn’t always happen when we travel – thus the distinction between travel and [...]
Ocean City
Hump day usually brings relief to a tired soul. Sometimes you really like your job, but it’s still a job. There are other things you can think of you’d rather do, unless you’re the rare individual who’s found your life’s calling… and it found you too. Or there’s also the exception to the old axiom: you can never get enough of a good thing. What a crock. Well, today’s a hump day for me just like it is for you, but in my case the hump more accurately plots my level of enthusiasm. Today’s the middle day of my first [...]
Room
The second in-flight post!!! It’s an hour or so into the flight, and time for a little airline commentary. “Spirit airlines: we stack ‘em and rack ‘em.” It’s the first airline I’ve been on where the seat backs don’t recline due to physical impossibility (assuming someone is behind you). As it is, in order for my legs to fit I have to spread ‘em wider than Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct. Thank God I’m not wearing my skirt!
High altitude
This is my first in-flight post in a long time (as measured in senior Kauffman years). Pretty exciting stuff, eh? In fact, it’s the most exciting thing in my life since the Lost finale. Heavy stuff, I know. It’s my first venture outside the state of Florida in the post cancer era. But wait. I gets better. It’s my first real vacation since those hairy celled invaders started clogging the marrow. When I say “real” vacation, I mean multiple, consecutive work days. None of those long weekend pretenders. We’re off for a week to a beachfront rental house on the [...]
Back to Disney
Another Friday of fatigue. Another drive to Orlando. Another day in the world that Walt built. My sister called on Thursday to warn us about the epidemic of colds working its way through the house. The implied message: “John comes at his own risk.” But when have I ever given in to good sense? We hit the parks with my standard equipment: a big floppy hat, sunglasses, my Nikon, and my afternoon meds. The day started with a textbook example of gluttony. It was an all you can stuff in your gut “character breakfast” at the Contemporary Resort known as [...]
Defenseless
My wife was looking through the pictures I took today and put a few things together. “I thought you said you didn’t know how Adam got his shoes wet?” “No, I said I couldn’t stop him from getting his shoes wet.” “So how many times had he jumped in the water before you got your timing down?” “Well, I… ah… I didn’t think his shoes could get any wetter.” I really wanted to add, “… besides, I was having so much fun taking pictures,” but there comes a point in some conversations when I find it’s best to just stop [...]
