Family and Friends

The sound of trouble

I think paternal instinct is underrated. Mothers are given credit for “the bond” and knowing instinctually when their kids are in trouble, while fathers are relegated to second class parenthood. I know, I know. Fathers miss out on gestation and the birthing experience, but I’d put my ear for trouble up against any mother’s. Now Cheryl might say the ear is only effective…
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Family and Friends

Discharged

I’m not sure how I feel about it, but the hospital is making tentative plans to discharge my mother. This should be good news, right? The thing is, she’s not being released to go home – she’s not well enough. Instead, they’re making arrangements for her to be placed in an assisted living facility. If my life had a soundtrack, something foreboding would be playing…
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Computer

Windows again

I set out to talk computers, causing dozens of people to reach frantically for “the next feed.” I didn’t learn anything from defiling my iMac with Windows Vista. I did it again with my MacBook. I wanted to try out Google’s new web browser: Chrome, so I got out my install disks and went at it. I forgot there were so many warning messages in Vista. I must have repressed the…
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Kitchen Sink

You've done this before

If you haven’t I don’t want to hear about it. I’ve been working with weights for a while now, trying to build up a little strength. You can do a fair bit with free weights alone, but there were a few exercises I wanted to add that required a bench. The kids have finally grown to the point where I’m not worried about having my old weight bench sitting out, so I set out to…
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Family and FriendsWellbeing

When people care

My wife is worried about me. From a purely selfish standpoint, this is a good thing. The depression bug hasn’t run it’s course and the stay in bed headache is on day number three. “Headaches don’t last this long.” “They have before.” To be honest, I’m fully reclined on the Lazy-boy in the living room right now (not in bed). I know it’s not my…
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Family and Friends

4 July 2009

Here’s a couple take aways from my 4th. Miguel makes an awesome steak on the grill, rivaling anything I’ve eaten… anywhere. If this is his first attempt in 15 years, his potential is scary. Mike is not your average stuffy neurosurgeon. Granted, he’s the only one I know, but he defies my stereotype. There’s a variety of water gun/cannon out there that’s very…
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Family and Friends

Rocket camp

Beth is enrolled in “college for kids,” a summer program run by a local college. She spends the mornings in a full immersion spanish class. Sounds like a blast right? No, that doesn’t come until the afternoon. Rocket camp. The teacher even refers to himself as “Captain.” O.K., I think that’s a little weird, but he seems like a nice guy, and he’s a really…
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Kitchen Sink

It came in the mail

I was in college when I got my first SLR camera. It was an inexpensive (re: free) Pentax. A gift in fact, something that wasn’t getting any use from it’s previous owner. I got it with three lenses: an awkward telephoto zoom, a 50mm and a 35mm. When it broke we bought a Canon Rebel with a kit lens, then a “super-zoom” digital camera, then our current Nikon – again with…
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Wellbeing

My silence

How would you feel if your spouse didn’t speak? What if it was a coworker or a friend? Would you impute something to their character or nature? Would you interpret it as arrogance, disdain, or indifference? Would you conclude something was wrong? Would you wonder if this person was burdened with a problem in their personal life? Would you ask this person if something was wrong? How would you…
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