We spent a good part of the day working on moving all the dirt and mulch we had delivered into the right spots.  We didn’t do this last year, so we had no idea of how much we needed, but our former home used about 5 yards of mulch so we ordered 8……it was nowhere near enough.

But Ben spent much of the day in a kiddie pool shooting all of us (and all the cars, as well as the dog) with a water gun as we went by him to get loads of mulch to put in the yard.  And although I could do that all day, apparently he tired of it and wanted to change into dry clothes.  Scott was the closest, and volunteered to help him.

Ben however, now that he had claimed stake to the “Ruler” of the yard, gave Scott a hard time about what he wanted to wear.  So….Scott told him to pick it out himself, which as you can see from this lovely picture that Steph took, Ben did.  The lack of a fashion gene is apparent in him, and we will save this photo for a slide show at his wedding rehearsal dinner someday (as long as we have his bride to be sign an agreement that she will not leave if she sees this).

But really, this is one of the reasons I became a priest.  I open my closet and have black shoes, black socks, black pants and black shirts, which I rarely screw up.  And I have gotten so good at it now that Amanda will sometimes actually leave before I do because she trusts (although not fully) that I can get that right.

But for now, we clearly cannot trust Ben in this.  Even two weeks ago when he was to dress as a famous person for school he went as Ironman.

He’s apparently pretty confident, albeit delusional.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Yes, Ben got the movie “Puss in Boots” tonight and I didn’t even know about it as I was working.  It peeved me in a way, as I want to watch it and watch it with him.  Tonight’s picture is of him watching it by himself in his bed.

And this is a big thing, as I am not really a movie buff by any means.  In fact, I hardly watch any movies at all unless I am dragged to them.  Sadly, this is a problem of mine that is pretty obvious to me.  And this is because when I SEE movies, I generally enjoy them.  I saw “Moneyball” two weeks ago with a clergy group, and I saw “The Avengers” with my family on Mother’s Day.  I thought they were both good.  But somehow I just choose to not take the time to go see them.

I did see that “The Three Stooges” was playing when we went to see “The Avengers” and I am a BIG FAN.  So we will see…..

But for tonight I will just have to resign myself to the fact that I will be seeing neither.

Of course there is always tomorrow……

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

All I can say is that I am thankful that congress did not outlaw children working on family farms, because if they did, who would have moved the 4 yards of dirt we had delivered this afternoon?  Amanda is planting her garden tomorrow and wanted the extra top soil, and we have quite a few places in our yard that need it as well.  We also had 8 yards of mulch delivered too.  Ben is going to be a busy boy.

Actually, he just mostly got in the way.  First he tried to climb the dirt pile in his school clothes and new shoes, which is just like touching that “red button” in all the old science fiction movies…..not good.  But after a quick change and promises of good behavior, I allowed him to go up and have at it.  He even brought out a pail, a small shovel, and a front end loader (a toy).  He had a blast.

Of course tomorrow is the big work day on all of it, as well as Sunday.  Steph and Amanda will be workers tomorrow, while Scott is not available until Sunday.  But Scott is going to ask a couple of his buddies who are going into the Corps too if they want to join him.  It is a pretty strenuous workout.

But anyway, after an afternoon and evening of shoveling and hauling dirt, as well as tilling an 18’x27′ garden, I am pretty well done.  I will be with Father Robert in the morning at a class we are offering and that seems to be feeling earlier than it probably is.  Advil, take me away!!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

For the least few days Viper and I have been able to get a pretty vigorous walk together.  We have been doing this at Mound State Park, which is just a few miles from our home.  Viper likes it because it is a walk. I like it because it is exercise.  And both of us benefit from the time spent together, albeit for different reasons.

You see Viper, like most dogs, likes the attention.  He is a retired show dog (we showed him in AKC until he was almost 5) and he is a good-looking and friendly dog.  People see him on the trail and want to talk to him, and they do.  He gets some pats, he takes his compliments, and we are on our way.  We do stop at a few streams for him to drink, and he really could not be happier.

I, on the other hand, get complimented by no one.  We are hiking on the trails up and down the hills at a good pace and I am probably a bit more sweaty than attractive.  Plus I suppose it is kind of creepy to have someone say that I am a “handsome boy” when we are just out walking.  In all honesty, I suppose I am glad they don’t.  But I do it to burn calories and kick up my metabolism.  So it is a win-win for both Viper and me.

And since it is a fairly quick walk (under an hour) we can probably do it most days.  Tomorrow is already scheduled……the poor boy is going to get a big head with all that attention.

(And the picture is from the CAR on the way there, as we tried to take a picture together at the park but when I put my arm around him and tried to put the camera up in front of our faces I think he thought I was head locking him to give him medicine…. oh well, this one will have to do!)

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Okay, I am back, although it will probably be with a vengeance……as I was struggling all day with personal issues when I read a story about a church softball league in Missouri where teams pulled out because one of the pastors was bisexual.  I immediately decided to get myself together.

No, I have NO objection to the stance made by the other teams, but I am wondering why in the name of God that any one’s sexuality needs to be shared from the pulpit.  If the truth be known, I am a CONSERVATIVE, and by that I mean even right of Republican, but I cannot share that from the pulpit…..because if I do my church will risk losing its tax-exempt status.  Apparently however I can share all I want about my sexuality, as if it is more important that faith in Christ.

No offense intended, but all this has made me more than sick.  I retired from my ministry in the Episcopal Church in 2006 rather than going to battle with them, and transferred into another Anglican jurisdiction.  Ironically, they filed charges against me and tried me (although they had no right nor authority) finding me guilty of abandonment of communion.  They send me stuff addressed to “Mr.” now.  Oddly enough, to them it is about sexuality.

Here’s a bit of truth for them and this moron of a pastor in Missouri.  God cares what you do in private, but keep it in private.  That is between you and Him, and all I can do is give you my opinion.  But if you bring your sexuality into a church softball league you probably have more insecurities than you should to be a pastor.  Get out and get some help.

In all honesty, church is about faith in Christ, not about working out your problems.  I want to see people led to Him, not sent off on a personal tangent all because you have not got your ducks in order before entering the ministry.

This world is a mess…..let’s all pray for some sanity and for moving it in the right direction.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tommy+

Tonight’s picture is our attempt as Brothers of the Order of St. Michael the Archangel to support our brothers and sisters in Greenwood, Indiana as they not only take part in “Senior Skip Day,” but also did so in TOGAS at the Bob Evans in Greenwood where we were meeting this morning.

You might think that this was the ONLY group of people in togas at the Bob Evans, but we ran into another group coming in as we were leaving.  We did not take a picture with them, but they were just as colorful and every bit as enthused.  My hope and prayer was that they had a GREAT DAY, as their willingness to pose with us made ours.

In addition to this, as I picked Ben up from school today I informed him that we might go over to Mounds State Park and buy a state park pass for the year.  I also mentioned that if we had time, we might take a short hike together, but we would need to avoid the bears. (There are no bears in Indiana outside of zoos).  So Ben replied how today might be a good time to give the bears a “day off” so he and I could hike in the woods…..as if hunting us would be their job.  So I told him it was a “good idea” and that we might just go….although we did not.

But now we are home, and Amanda is on a trip, and Ben has managed to entertain Steph and I all night.  No, he is not wearing a toga, but then again he is not a senior.

I just thank God for days like this though, because I could not make them up even in my most creative state.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tommy+

Although this is the first Mother’s Day without my mom and my grandmother, I was able to spend a good portion of the day with Amanda and the kids.  We got her a gift, went to the movies (The Avengers) and went to dinner as well.  It was a great time and we all enjoyed the day.

It was however, very different.  As long as I can remember, a portion of my day has been carved out to either visit or call (or both) my mom and grandma.  It feels uneasy to me to not hear their voices today, and that is despite my mom not being really with it these last few years.  I am sure they would both tell me  that it is what it is, and to focus upon the mom I live with here and the kids.  And I am sure of that because that is what I would probably say to them after I am gone.

But today I celebrate them both, and I celebrate my wife (hoping that she has had a good day.)  I admit that it makes me nervous that here at 11:15pm she is up packing.

She says it is a business trip tomorrow, but I am just gonna make sure by reviewing the day!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Today my brother graduated from college.  Yep Butler, in my mind one of the finest universities in the country.  And although the graduation was this morning, tonight our family gathered together to celebrate for a dinner together.

It was for more than just Mike though.  Mike’s girlfriend Anna also graduated this morning and the picture is of them both together at the dinner.  It was a great time, and in addition to a wonderful dinner with wonderful people, it was pretty cool to see how happy they both were.  She is looking for a job as a teacher, and Mike will head to law school.  It was just an evening full of lots of joy!

And my Uncle Mickey and Aunt Judy, and my Uncle Al all came to attend the graduation festivities.  It was great to see them as well, and it reminded me of what an anomaly my brother is.  Mike was never thrown out, or dropped out of college.  Nor did he spend time on academic probation….he got great grades.  The norm for Tirman males has been just that though.  I wonder if my brother has finally broken the curse…..let’s hope so.

But instead of pondering what so many of us have thought was impossible, or asking my dad to check his DNA, I raise my glass to my brother Mike and his girlfriend Anna.  Congratulations to the both of you and thanks for the great day!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

If I just had a dollar for everyone who said how energetic and peppy I looked today I would have no money at all.  In fact, I looked pretty whooped all day, and in truth I was.  I really didn’t have an excuse for it, but coffee, soda, anything….none of it was keeping me awake.

But some days you have it and others you don’t, and despite not having it today, I do know my tomorrow will be excellent.  My brother Mike will graduate from Butler tomorrow, and my daughter should be home for the summer.  In addition to that, my Uncles Al and Mickey, as well as my Aunt Judy will be in town for the big event.  I will write more about it tomorrow, as it has yet to happen, and although we are all expecting it to go well I have to remember that Mike is a Tirman, and something can always go wrong.

I did however take Ben to the Walmart today and got him a batting tee.  I forgot to take some pictures but he hit pretty well and it appears he will bat “right-handed.”  I am using this picture from a few weeks ago in Missouri so you can see what he is hoping for for his birthday.

I also bought a set of Bocce Balls, which I was so very pleased to show my wife, as I thought it would be something we could all do together.  She of course replied, “we just had this conversation when you bought the other set of Bocce Balls a few weeks ago.”  Oh well, perhaps we will start a league.

But with that, I will call it a day.  Amanda is already asleep, Scott is out, and Ben is in here on my bed acting like I might not be noticing him.  Of course his feet jammed under me to keep them warm is hardly stealth.  Then again, this is just Ben and not some sort of Marine sniper.  I will just deal with it.

So here’s to an early morning tomorrow and a day of celebration and “awake-ness.”  At least that’s the plan.  I am looking forward to it too.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+