All posts by Fr Tom Tirman

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The Inside Scoop on Winter……

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What a difference a day makes. Yesterday’s blog entry has a picture of the same dog on the same road. Yesterday of course was nice, whereas today was treacherous (meaning “awful”) but we went out for our walk just the same.

Of course the weather was so bad that not even the squirrels were out, and the advantage of four legs over two was that Viper did not almost “bite the dust” twice like I almost did. Now “bite the dust” I am sure is either a western term, or if not that something developed by the Pledge company (Johnson and Johnson – New Brunswick, New Jersey 08933) But the bottom line is that I almost fell, and I almost fell on ICE and TWICE!
The horrifying reality (this can be confirmed by the Reverend Joe Mlaker of WISCONSIN, where they use the NCAA Ice Hockey Rulebook as the Constitution) is that hockey players DO NOT fall on ice unless they are hit, and in all honesty there was no one near me. Of course had I gone out for this walk on skates, this would not be my blog topic, because I skate better than I walk (I really do). But as I looked like a total loon trying to stay on my feet all I can say is how thankful I was that Viper did not laugh, especially because we love him and I would hate to have to put him to sleep (but it is in the ice hockey rulebook – it really is the toughest sport in the world).
But there IS a silver lining (and no, I have NO CLUE what that means or why it would be a good thing…after all it is not like a “Big Mac lining”) and that is that my tracking program, “RunKeeper” on my phone listed our walk as over 7 miles! It has listed prior walks as all over 4 miles, which I truly believe are closer to 3.5, but really, who cares?
I almost “bit the dust”…….I think I deserve a little bonus.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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The Great Hunter….

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I have decided to change my life….and with that, our dog’s too. Viper and I began walking yesterday, and although I am not certain I believe the distance that is calculated through the GPS on my phone, it is the actual discipline that matters. Viper and I will walk about an hour each day.

Of course it is ridiculously easy to walk a show dog, or at least I thought. He carries his own leash and at least in the ring, never leaves my side. But unlike any ring, and unlike our prior neighborhood, this neighborhood is loaded…….not with money, but with squirrels!
In retrospect, I wish I had squirrels when I was training him for the ring, because he is certainly interested. He wants to chase, but in truth he wouldn’t catch a thing. I just do not want to irritate neighbors. I personally like the squirrels in our yard, although I am sure he will attempt to chase them all. I KNOW for a FACT that he will not want to rid our yard (2 acres) of them, but he is just in it for the chase. Everything is a game to Viper, and it is fun to see. He is a great dog, and it cracks me up that he even thinks he could catch one.
Of course I am his role model. No one in their right mind would ever think I could be married to someone as attractive or as smart as my wife, so I suppose if you are Viper you might think you would have a chance at anything. After all, they are just squirrels…..I caught a cheetah! And when you are an old goat like Viper and me, those things have meaning.
And even if he doesn’t catch one, at least he has his stuffed squirrel here at home!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Ode to the Original Stephanie Tirman…….

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Today would have been my sister Stephanie’s 48th birthday had she not succumbed to cancer back in 2001. Of all my siblings, she and I had the most contentious relationship, being able to make each other insane at just the drop of a hat, yet I have to confess I miss her terribly. She was a real pro at torturing her older brother, but in all reality I must confess, she had a heart of gold.

Actually, two of my sisters are gone, and although I think of them often, on their birthdays I like to do something special to remember them by. My sister Sarah is easy. She used to take my mom out for margaritas at the Hacienda, so on her birthday I generally have a margarita. In all honesty I never even tried one until she died, which was 2004. But they are pretty good, and a great way to remember her.
My sister Stephanie (for whom my daughter is named – they spent 10 great years together before she died) is much harder to celebrate. We called her “The Queen of Christmas” because she was so stinking generous to everyone, but I am too cheap for that. I thought about trying to get my own goat (irritate myself in rural Indiana terms) but I really find that oppressive. And because she was a first class competitive gymnast all the way through college, I thought about learning to flip or something “gymnastic-fastic,” but my body says I am too old. (Though Amanda and the kids encourage me on the last one, but probably just because they are my beneficiaries.)
So what do I do? Well, quite honestly I just remember. Steph, for all her abilities to drive me insane, could only really do that because she knew me probably even better than I did myself. Sure, she abused that privilege, and probably with great glee, but although we could fight like cats and dogs, I really have no recollection of her ever not being at my side. It was really more of a game, a game that I played too, but you do not name your daughter after someone you dislike, you do it after someone you really admire and want them to emulate.
And although we were both pretty good athletes, I will also remember as her “big brother” how much tougher she was than me. I was an ice hockey player, which is very physical. She was an all-around gymnast. I often played injured or in pain, she made someone in the athletic tape business rich…..she had to be taped all the time. And despite ankles and wrists that ached all the time, she could leap through the air like she had wings and land with remarkable precision. At 4’6″ and 70 pounds, she was always tougher than me. And if that was not a great witness to me, then she spent years kicking cancer’s butt again and again and again.
So I guess my way to celebrate her is not just found on her birthday, but it is really embedded in my life. I am thankful for that, and I am sure if she could take that back she would, just too irritate me! But this time I finally win!
Thanks for being such a big part of my life Steph. I love you and I miss you. And I will see you again soon enough. (And yes, I am sure she reads my blog!)
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Oh brother…..

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I remember warning them both….”beware, after your little brother is born he will invade every part of your life, including your personal space. He will eat every meal you have before you, but not the healthy parts, the good ones like the fries. None of your stuff will be safe, and privacy as you know it will all be disappear.” And of course Stephanie and Scott just laughed it off.

But tonight is the last night of Scott’s Christmas vacation, and apparently “movie night.” Oh no, it is not any movie HE wants, it is something that Ben has chosen. And the picture, if expanded would show a “full-size” couch, but as you can see they are on one small part of it. Ben has already eaten some of Scott’s pizza and if all goes to his little evil plan, he will have his brother for the remainder of the night.
The funny part is that this picture is from their “playroom.” They each have a room and share a “Jack and Jill” bathroom, but have put both their beds in the one room and have this couch and TV and toys in the other room….the “playroom.” They really do think they are hot stuff, and in truth, they are. And in a short while Scott will head off to bed, and Ben will probably snake into his bed with him. You see, he doesn’t just seek to invade space, he ultimately like his mom, seeks heat. It’s all about him, and if you live here you just better be used to it.
But they deserve a bit of fun tonight. Scotty spent a lot of time searching and applying to colleges today. If anyone has about $50,000 lying around that they can send him, let me know. Most of Stephanie’s college is paid for, but Scotty will need some help. Please keep him (and us) in your prayers!
So hopefully the rest of the night will be uneventful. They appear to be enjoying this last night of vacation. I am glad too. Tomorrow Scott begins his very last semester of high school, and the thought of that unsettles me. Sure, with Ben being just three, I will probably have a child at home long after I am dead, but to have both Stephanie and Scott gone will be hard on me, let alone on Amanda and Ben.
But birds leave the nest……tonight I am just a bit saddened that I cannot keep them all forever.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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The trouble with good intentions…..

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Okay, needless to say my wife was not pleased. I got for her (really, they were not for me) the “nine ladies dancing,” for the ninth day of Christmas and it was embarrassing to ask them to leave. Yep, try and do a good thing……..I guess even the best intentions can go awry.

Of course I should have known. All the birds and livestock do not make for a festive celebration…..especially in a new home, but then again you cannot criticize a guy for trying. I am just trying to be a good guy.
Of course everything is relative. But ultimately I am a man, and therefore used to being wrong, even when I attempt to be right, or even believe myself to be.
But time heals all wounds, and of course ServiceMaster cleans all livestock accidents. Only three more days to go…..and leaping lords, pipers, and drums can’t do that much damage…..can they?
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Goodbye 2010…….

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Who ever knew Father Time was that guy from Lord of the Rings? I didn’t…..but I digress.

Well it appears I will go out this year in a slump. Amanda, Ben and I had to leave our gathering at the Morgan’s because I just could not make it. I can tell the medicine is working, but it is kicking my butt better than Notre Dame kicked Miami’s this afternoon. (Did I mention I am a life-long ND fan?….probably in just about 100 blog entries I would guess)

But alas, this even prevented me from watching the whole game. Sure I would love to tell you I was out doing something valiant or important, but my energy is just not there and I actually slept through the first half of the game (yep, the good part). I may call up to the University (yes, it is always capitalized where I come from) and let them know what happens when I nap on game day. I would like a Notre Dame degree, and perhaps I can get an honorary one by offering to nap during important games.
The real blessing of the day though is that tomorrow will be a fresh start. I am not big on resolutions, but tomorrow I will make some. I am just looking forward to my last sleep of 2010…..a sleep I intend to get to right now.
Before I go I do want to thank all of you who follow this blog for reading it this past year. As you can see by my daily attention to it, it really is therapy for me, and it really is an important part of my life. And so are you…..thanks so much for your support.
Goodnight 2010 and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Diagnosis burber…….

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Wow, I have been called out onto the carpet……..an infection, imagine that? Not going away on it’s own either……I needed antibiotics. Too bad someone didn’t tell me that before. I probably would have been to the doctor long ago! bwhahaha!

So I guess it is all going to be okay. Sadly however, I need to wait a couple of days before doing any visiting. But the good part is that I have plenty to do. As it turns out, our chimney is probably going to need to be relined, and that means that tomorrow I may indeed meet my very first chimney sweep. AND, if it is Dick Van Dyke I will just explode….after all, I am a huge fan. (If you do not understand that joke, look up “Bye Bye Birdie,” yep a Fr. Dan goose-chase)
But I am really doubtful that it will be him. It is probably just the medicine talking. But it would be cool, wouldn’t it? And what better way to spend an afternoon than with one of your idols!
A guy can dream……
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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It’s just a flesh wound……

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Okay, I a stubborn, but I am beginning to think that everybody else just may be right, so I have scheduled a doctor appointment for tomorrow morning. It does pain me to admit it, but I just do not seem to be getting better on my own. I suppose I have waited long enough for about 10 viruses to run their course too. SO….it will be interesting to see what tomorrow brings.

In the meantime, I will remain stubborn and delusional. It’s a man’s way, and it is all I know.
Fortunately for me, I am a man.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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No rest for the wicker………

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Although I have really been trying to rest, or even as they say “take some time off,” today I have been run ragged. I have seen my pillow much less than I have the auto repair technicians (the tires were bad on Amanda’s car and I have to see them again tomorrow), roofers (who I also will see again tomorrow), some of my lacrosse players retired and active (some who are staying the night with Stephanie and I will also see tomorrow), and my family, who I have passed occasionally back and forth dealing with all the other stuff. It doesn’t make for good recovery time (which I need) but hopefully at some point it will all settle down.

The sad part is that I had to cancel a trip up to see my grandma today, and I still have yet to see my mom in the nursing home since Christmas. If I am at at least 70% tomorrow I will go see my mom, and my grandma I might be able to catch at the end of the week. We will see.
But as they say, “there’s no rest for the wicker,” or something like that. I know very little about furniture, and apparently less about rest. Sooner or later though I will break in one direction or another.
I am pulling for recovery. I just do not have the time to keep digging out of this hole!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+