Amanda and I have been remodeling my office, as sort of an anniversary gift to me.  She wanted me to have a new desk, which she bought, (and of course picked out) and instead of a file cabinet we got the matching credenza that has a file drawer in it.  It is clearly not enough room for all the stuff I have, but that of course is part of the plan.  I am thinning out all the stuff.

As the boys and I completed the renovation of my office, we had to stop at Sam Ash and see the new drum set Scotty was buying.  Scott is a talented musician, but in his band he is the drummer, and he is trading in a couple of drum sets to get this new one.

But his little brother was fascinated by the music store.  He loves music just like Scotty does, but is more attracted to guitars than drums.  So we found him one.  It is a beginner’s electric guitar with a battery powered amp.  Battery powered amps stink, but fortunately for Ben he is the youngest of a musical family, so his brother not only tuned his guitar, but plugged it into a real amp.  Ben now thinks he is in a band with Scotty, and maybe someday he will be.  He just keeps telling me he likes to play “rock and roll.”

But Scotty is ready to give him a few lessons, and Ben seems anxious to learn.  I am sure he will pick it up.  His brother is an amazing musician, and Ben idolizes him.  There is no telling what the two of them will end up doing.  But for the time being, it is fun to see them at this together.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tommy+

It wasn’t quite with bells and whistles on, but Ben did great me as I returned home and went and put on a tie.   I was impressed at the start, but then he traded it for a clip on tie, because that is what the police wear, and he started shooting me.  I am not sure why that happened, but I am pretty sure there were no other evil bad guys around to shoot.

I found all of this kind of funny, particularly as I came home early. I know many people might be insulted that they drive all that way early only to be shot at, but in all honesty I am not really a bad guy as much as I am a playmate when his brother is not around.  We did have the talk that almost all boys have about how  police officers really don’t shoot people for walking up the stairs, but they might just take them to jail.  He acted like he knew what I was talking about and then just shot me anyway.  He probably will not make it through the Academy.

But the blessing to me is to be here playing.  Home sweet home, where reality is a bit bent, but is always interesting!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

I am back in my hotel tonight after a pretty long day.  But it has been a great day, and tomorrow will be just as long, and hopefully just as great.

But as I was sitting down to write tonight, I saw this picture on my desktop.  It of course is of Ben, and yes, that is a McDonald’s Happy Meal box on his head.  It represents a few different things to me, but mainly the reason that I have decided to head home tomorrow rather than Friday morning.  I took that picture a few days after he was so sick, and it was the first real significant thing he ate days after his CT scan.  It reminded me that there are some things in life more important than others, and although I will be tired, probably even before I get into the car, getting home will be worth it.  And don’t misunderstand, I am not just heading home for him, but because everyone in my family will wear a cool hat like that willingly.  Yes, I live in the midst of that kind of mental illness, but it is genetic and I am probably responsible.

The other thing though is that this is my last scheduled trip of the year, and to be honest, it will feel good to get home.  I have some things to do there, and I intend to do them.   Don’t get me wrong, I really do love what I do, and the travel does not bother me in the least.  I am not bothered by me leaving, I am just bothered by Amanda traveling.  Ben and Scott get pampered when I am gone, but when she is gone they whine…..and no amount of Happy Meal hats seem to satisfy them.

So home tomorrow I will go.  I am looking forward to it to, as I am to my work day too.  Friday will be a dragging day, but there is coffee for that.  But there is no substitute for home……even if it is not on the range.

Goodnight from the Buckeye State and God Bless!

Tommy+

Well I am in Akron for a few days and posting my 1200th post.  It has been a great ride, and I am honored to be here to post it.  I will be here until Friday for some meetings and although I have just left, I will be happy to get home.  I have a lot of projects I have left, and am anxious to get back to them.

But on this, All Saints’ Day, my mind drifts to those who have gone before me in faith.   Sure, I am aware that really All Saints’ is a reference to those big “S” Saints, but to me, many of those who have gone before me are just as meaningful.  And on this day, I thank God for them all.

But beyond that, I am thankful even more for the gift of eternal life.  No doubt, this has been a painful year for me……but thanks be to God that death is not the end of the story.  This life is just preparation for the next, and the next is forever.  And on this day I thank God for those who have walked before me.

But more than anything, I thank God that one day I will walk with them again…..

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Although we thought that Captain America would be trick or treating tonight, it turned out to be Batman…..a very excitable Batman indeed.  His little minions could not go with him this year, so his buddy Kaleb made his first ever trick or treating rounds with him.  It was a real blast, and it ended with pizza at the house.

Of course, Ben is a bit of a celebrity, so after Kaleb (and his parents who brought him because he is just about 1, and has yet to drive) left, Ben then put on his Captain America costume to make a personal appearance at Mrs. Bradfield’s home to no doubt be doted on some more.  Scotty and I both agree, his little brother is really suffering his way through life.

So now the house is full of candy, but thankfully we are certified “mouse-free,” so the candy is ours.  But please do not worry about me.  First of all, I am not a big candy-eater anyway, but I am also leaving for Ohio tomorrow until Friday.  But I am sure it will all be gone by tomorrow night.  All of them are candy-hounds, and I will be thankful to see it gone.

So I am home alone now typing this and packing for my trip.  As to which Ben Amanda will bring home, I do not know.  I will just be glad when they get here.  I have pretty cool kids and there are parts of each of them I enjoy.  Steph is gone, but she will be home at Thanksgiving.  Tonight was possibly Scotty’s last trick or treat adventure at home too.

But it is all a part of life……..one day you are Batman, and suddenly it is your kids.  Soon I will be seeing my grandkids in the same costumes.  But I take it all in stride.  Life is a blast, and I am thankful for the opportunity to live it in the midst of all these superheroes.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Yep, Captain America, as well as Yoda and Bell, made an appearance at church today.  It was pretty funny, and the adults all enjoyed it very much.  But one of the realities of my world is that I have a four year old that is not into that much reality.  Yes, now just before bed we have been insistent that he puts down his shield and take off his mask.  (We already got him to take off the costume earlier to eat, except for the mask) But at least his protests are consistent…….he needs to first fight crime, and then taking off the mask would reveal his secret identity.  Higher powers often prevail in such circumstances, so criminals hopefully will not take advantage, for Captain America is in bed.

Of course yesterday it was Batman, as it has been 24/7 for the last few weeks, but to trick or treat I am putting my money on Captain America, since he rarely vacillates in short cycles.  And I should be clear, the scary part is that he is not “in character.”  These appear to be complete transformations.

I often wonder just what he does in his dreams, although I am pretty sure it has to do with fighting crime.  But I do not worry about it.  He is all boy and he has awesome heroes.  And I am just glad to know he sees me as a “good guy.”

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Nope, Batman never smiles, and when we asked him he told us it is so that he protects his secret identity.  And before you think that is it, let me tell you that the picture is from Cindy’s where there was a Halloween party on Wednesday.   He not only didn’t smile, but got after anyone who called him Ben, because of the very same thing…..he needed to protect his identity.

First of all, congratulations to the St. Louis Cardinals on their World Series Championship!  I am happy for them, as they are from the Cubs’ division, but even more than that…..it appears that I am responsible.  No need to thank me Cardinal fans.  I am happy for you.

But as I saw part of the game I noticed what they called “Rally Squirrel,” and the one I saw looked quite familiar to me.  The squirrel in the blog picture is the same one that I saw on TV.  It is an AKC squirrel, and Viper has two of them.  He carries them around so much that we often call him “Squirrel Dog” too.

What I was unaware of however, was that we had brought in something that was apparently aiding the Cardinals, which mean hurting the Cubs.  I sadly discovered it tonight…..far too late to save my team.  But since Steph lives in the St. Louis area and tons of her team and classmates are Cardinals’ fans, I suppose I should just let them enjoy it.

We are going to exorcise that squirrel though before the season starts next year.  But until then, congratulations Cardinal fans.  You deserve it!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

After watching all the Batman and Spiderman and modern superhero stuff we could, I got onto youtube and started to show Ben some old cartoons of the same guys from my era.  Man…..have we come a long way!

First of all, the quality of the cartoons is far better, as one would expect, and that probably goes without saying.  Also in these modern times all the characters do not sound like “Shaggy,” and that’s because Kasey Kasem no longer does 10 character voices in each episode.  No offense to Kasey, but it really grates on you after awhile…..about 2 minutes.  But the most horrendous thing are the plots, because there are none.  Evil always seems to lose, but they probably could have paid Kasey a little less and hired a writer.  It was bad.

But most of all, I was appalled by the fact that I watched these cartoons at one point in my life with great interest, now to be defined as grate interest.  They are so bad that I really struggled to believe I was so drawn to them.  And, I have brain damage NOW, not then, and I can still see that they are clearly poorly done.

I suppose however that this gives credence to a card trick my dad used to do with me when I was young.  I picked a card, and I always ended up sitting on it in the end.  When I asked him to share the tricks magic we got some cards I picked one, and then right before the finale he said, “hey, look over there.”  Apparently I did every time.

Lot’s of things are wasted on youth, because apparently for a good part of if, we are morons……

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+