I know I posted that Tuesday that it was a manic day, but today has been another.

We received word that my harddrive had experienced a catastrophic MECHANICAL FAILURE, and this was from the people at DiscSavers in California, the very top of the pinnicale in terms of data recovery.  They could recover NOTHING and now it was up to Mozy and what I had done on my own to see us through all this.  It is a MAJOR disappointment and detour, but one we have no choice other than to take.  We have lost some pictures and videos for certain, and I paid Mozy a fee to recover all that they can and send it to me directly.  We will see.  I have recovered a lot that I had in other locations.

BUT nonetheless, it has been a tragic disappointment and one that we had worked hard to prevent.  We pay Mozy every month to back up my computer DAILY.  Why I haven’t been able to recover what I need online is both frustrating and scary.  And what I would ask is that if anyone reading this has pictures of our family of any kind, you would send them to us.

It has also been time consuming!  All my work files are on there too and without them I am often guessing.  SO you can imagine my mood……let’s just say that it is not “wonderful.”

BUT…..BUT….BUT…….I also received pictures from my dad of Stephanie in England, and Scotty is making great progress towards California.  As a matter of fact he just texted me and told me he was in New Mexico and there safe and for the night.  Tomorrow he will head to Phoenix and then to Camp Pendleton on Saturday where he needs to report before midnight.  That made me feel pretty great.  PLUS, I actually got SOME OF THIS INFORMATION DIRECTLY.  (I normally get it through Amanda)

But here’s the big revelation.  Amanda and Kenzie went to get “my boyfriend (Kenzie’s) has headed back to the Marines” pedicures tonight and Ben and I then joined them for dinner.  And it was while we were eating that I realized that she (Kenzie) will be another way for me to hear from Scotty!  As a matter of fact I learned a lot about his day just by sitting with them both!  Awesome!!

But as we ate I realized we would all rather have him here.  So dinner was just part of our recovery I guess.  They would probably say their pedicures were as well, but stuff like that is for girls.  I was just glad to hang out and have a bit of fun in a time when my life really is stressful.  And we didn’t talk too much about the big pink elephant in the room………after all, ours is now resting comfortably somewhere in New Mexico.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Yes, this afternoon Scotty drove off in his car heading for his duty station at Camp Pendleton in California.  He has to report by midnight on Saturday, but it is still a 31+ hour drive……..better him than me I suppose.  But it has been a busy week with him here and even more than that a week that went by far too quickly.

One of my favorite highlights however was the trickery of having Scotty’s girlfriend Kenzie think we were all going out with Amanda to a nice place for dinner.  (This was yesterday)  She went, like we all did, to a part of the house to change into dressy clothes, but when Scotty came down in his Dress Blues she saw that the dinner was for her.  And as none of the rest of us were in Dress Blues, she also saw that she was heading out with him alone.  He took her to downtown Indianapolis for a nice dinner, while Ben and I treated his mom to her favorite meal that we cook and an ice cream cake from DQ (one of her demands, I mean hopes).

But they deserved a great night out as they have been around too many of us and people all week.  And  as you can see, they both looked like they were off the front of some really expensive Hallmark card as well.  It was fun seeing them head off for the night out, as we knew today when he left everyone would need to lean on such good memories.

In all honesty, parenting is hard.  It is a strange mix
of unexplainable pride and pain, a true paradox.  Quite honestly I hate it, yet I wouldn’t want it any other way.  I have spent their entire lives knowing that they would grow up and leave, and have prepared myself far more than most for it to happen.  It wasn’t enough.  It almost makes me wish that they were all rotten kids so it would be easier to see them go.

But they are not.  In my eyes they are the best and I love them all very much.  AND,  I am extremely proud of them.

Safe travels Marine, and same to you Steph (she is in EUROPE)……and Ben, dear Ben, you just keep killing me here at home……

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Today has been a day of ups and downs, and it started on a DOWN.  Today is my wife Amanda’s birthday (she is now 25 because I am trying to earn points) and Ben and I started it with ur THIRD gift to her.

All of them were very well thought out, but the first two were more fun and less practical.  We bought her monogramed cards (which she at first wondered why there was no writing in them, but that was because they were MONOGRAMED CARDS for her to use to write others) and a very nice portable hammock to test the waters to see if we could get her a real one later (she used it tonight).  We also had TWO parties for her, a family on on Friday with everyone, and another tonight.

But the third one (the gift) was very practical and well needed.  Amanda irons EVERYTHING and her ironing board is very rickety and tired.  SO we bought her a really nice one, the kind with an iron rack and hanging stand attached…..and wide width too (not for her clothes size as she is skinny, but for conveinience…..after all I am not stupid)……or so I thought.

You see, she loved it, but had a very sad look on her face as she told me that her mom gave her that ironing board and that it had been her grandmas……and her grandma died some time ago.  She was worried I would be upset, but I UNDERSTOOD as things like that are very important to me as well.  I told her “no problem” and that I would return it and that I would buy her a stand, a hanging rack and a new board pad instead.  So I took it back to return it.

The lady at the Meijer thought the whole thing was hilarious, and I suppose it was as it had not happened to her.  She made sure I knew how luck it was that I hadn’t thrown out the old one, and although it was something I didn’t admit to her it was something I had thought about all day….including on my way to Meijer!  But after Amanda revealed what she did, that new board, all wrapped up right next to the old one, could never compare….even to me.

But what goes around comes around.  My mother-in-law called tonight to wish Amanda a Happy Birthday and was told the story.  As it turns out, that board wasn’t grandma’s at all……and it needs to be replaced.  So I will be heading to a different Meijer in the morning.  I don’t want to run into that woman and giver her more to laugh about.

Happy Birthday Amanda, I love you!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Today I had the great pleasure of attending and standing on the sidelines of the 5th Annual Michael Treinen Memorial Alumni Game which benefits the Michael Treinen Foundation Link to The Michael Treinen Foundation

Mike T was an amazing young man.  Regular readers know that he became my Assistant Coach (ALWAYS capitalized when talking about Mike T) shortly before his death and right after I had my stroke.  I needed help, and he at 19 was already helping the boy’s team, but made the commitment to help me and the girls too.

In all my years as a player and coach I have never been so moved by such an example.  I just had a stroke and was struggling to make my way through that.  Mike was weeks away from heading to heaven and he rearranged his chemotherapy schedules to help my sorry butt.  I didn’t complain, I learned.  He was 19, but for that short time he was also a very important life coach for me.  I actually met him and shook his hand for the first time in the center of Hare Field at the first game I returned to after being released from the hospital.  He had been one of the guys running our practices when I was hospitalized.  What a honor that was!

Mike’s memory lives on in many of our hearts and his foundation helps those who are struggling with cancer and their families.  He was a hell of a guy and I miss him.  And…….I look forward to the day I will shake his hand once more, not on Hare Field, but on that home field (yes it’s turf) up way past those Pearly Gates!  Thanks my brother!  I am blessed by your presence in my life!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Tonight we held an Open House for Scotty.  I know it was not good in terms of timing, but it really was the only time we could get it in…….I mean at least if we wanted him to be here.  It was a lot to do but Amanda coordinated it all.  And we generally use some form of the word coordination when describing her abilities to get it all put together as she is not fond of the military descriptions we used to use.  It however went very well.

I am the primary cook in our home, not because Amanda doesn’t know how or doesn’t like to, but because of our schedules.  We have two very different styles/philosophies.  But when we do an “event,” I am relegated to setup, and generally (once again not military) just stay out of the way.  Amanda is from Kansas, and in the original Greek, Kansas means “cooks for 100’s of people even when only a few show,” so I do not fight it.

But it really went well.  My job during the event was to keep Ben busy so as to let Scotty visit.  It is often the hardest job, but tonight Ben was a real trooper.  Tonight’s picture is even of he and Viper already in pajamas and in bed.  We ALL had a great time.  The people in Scotty’s life are some of the finest I know.  It is cool to have them around too.

But now they are all gone and I am in bed.  Amanda is “on leave” from the day (military reference, yes, asleep next to me as I type).  I am hopefully not too far behind.

It has been a long day, but a good day.  And a big thanks to Amanda, Scotty, his girlfriend Kenzie, and even Ben!  They made it also a great day to remember.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Yes, this afternoon Steph headed for a 20 day trip to Europe with my dad, my sister, and niece.  And yes, I know I mentioned this earlier, but I guess I was just not prepared to be so aware that not having all three of them would be so hard.  By the time she gets back Scotty will be in California, and the joy and wonder of seeing them all interact together will be but a memory.  PLUS, she has never been out of the country before and I am and will worry!

But Scotty is still here and Ben will ALWAYS BE WITH ME!!!  And we have been getting prepared for Scotty’s Open House tomorrow afternoon.  There is a LOT of work to be done, but as we prepare to go to bed we appear to have a handle on it.  It is always a great time, and with the limited amount of time Scott always has when he is home, having people come here is a better choice.

It now however is 10:30pm and Ben stopped his job (comic relief) (mandatorily) over 3 hours ago.  He will get a good night’s sleep though and be in his usual form tomorrow.  I am in bed as well, and hope to not see 11 with my eyes open.

It has been a busy week, and particularly a busy day….but well worth it…..even though we are down to two…

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

No, of course they are not REALLY twins, they just behave like they are.  And we are trying to get in all the time we can with them before Scott leaves for his duty station on Wednesday.  But as you can see, they hang out a bit, and here are sleeping together in what used to be THEIR old room before they split their two room “suite” with a bathroom in between into just two regular bedrooms.  Now this is Ben’s room and it is a mess, while Scotty’s room is clean.  But they are brothers and they have missed each other, so this was great to see.

In fact, they jammed a lot into the past couple of days.  Steph just left tonight for a trip to Europe with my dad, sister, and niece.  So the three of them did a bunch.  By the time Steph gets back, Scott will be gone.  So it was lots of eating and playing, and they also went to Ironman 3!  We then had a quick family birthday gathering tonight since Amanda’s birthday is Tuesday and my dad’s is June 3rd and they will be gone till June 12th…..and it was fun.

But we will miss having all three kids home, and now we are back to not knowing when that will happen again.  We are however very grateful for the time we have had and are grateful for the rest of the time Scotty will be home too.

Our children are a real blessing to us, even in transitional times.  And I am just blessed by any time I have with any of them!  What a great day!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Yes, today I got to go to bootcamp and take with me my college athlete daughter and my US Marine son.  It was a great opportunity to hang out with them and to get to see what I do to try and stay in shape!  It, bootcamp, is one of the most important things I do, and tonight’s picture is of Steph and Scott  after their hour under the tutelage of MY trainer Tod Esquivel who owns Indy Boot Camps.  Tod is in the center.

And I was glad they went with me as I consider Tod and the Bootcamp to literally be a lifesaver FOR me.  Post stroke my metabolism is pathetic and Tod and his instruction have been the ONLY THING that has been working for me for the past five years.  This month is the first month of 12 in a row for me, and I intend to make sure I am successful.  And it meant a lot for the kids to meet him and get a glimpse of how hard I work to make this happen.

And oh yes, they were faster than I was and in better shape, but Steph has 30 years on me and Scott 32, if you go in reverse….which is my preference as it doesn’t make me feel as old.  But I do pretty well for one of the oldest in the camps.  And in all honesty I enjoy it.  When I was young I was an athlete and in great shape, and I find in my own life that I do far better with a good coach at my back.  And I have seen the whole spectrum……Tod is among the best for me.

So it has been a great day and we had fun.  Tomorrow we will celebrate all the birthdays we will not be together for in the next weeks as Steph, my sister, my dad, and my niece are heading to Europe on Saturday for about 3 weeks, and then Scotty will be leaving next Wednesday for his duty station in California.  Amanda’s is May 28, dad’s is June 3, Scotty’s is June 16 (as is Father’s Day), mine is June 19, and Ben is June 30.  But we will have cake to distract from the chaos.

So at this point I can only do one day at a time.  But at least I am doing it in better shape each day.  And I am just thankful to find a great trainer and program that works.  And I would encourage you to give it a try if you too are looking for something that works

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

There is an old saying that if it were not for bad luck, I would have no luck at all……..I guess that makes me fortunate that I do not believe in luck.

But I HAVE BEEN living my life in the midst of a series of unfortunate events……the result of one of them was TWO blown computer routers and the need to do some skoolin on kumpuuters.   And I am proud to say that at least as of NOW, I have Internet and connectivity throughout my house and TO MY computer!  Thank God!

Today is also the first day of Scotty’s leave and we were to pick him up at the airport at 5:45PM.  His plane made it to the tarmac before heading back to the gate and was grounded.  My general belief is that there was not one thing wrong with that plane, but Delta just wanted to pile onto my bad day.  So the bad news is that Scotty was 2 hours late, but the good news is that he is HOME!  And as for me, that makes everything else just fade away in comparison.

So my whole family is home, my Internet and blog are back up, I am still breathing, and Viper the wonderdog is as happy as he can be with hos boy home.  Life is good……even with all its challenges.

Goodnight and God Bless!

Tommy+

Yes, this afternoon Stephanie returned from college.  She left a Junior and now will enjoy the last vacation before her Senior year.  It is hard to believe that time has flown by so quickly.

But of course Stephanie returning home means the every familiar faces of all our other “extended children” appearing here as well.  Tonight it was Molly and Celeste.  And although it makes Amanda and I happy to have them all here, it is Ben that is in total heaven.  He just thinks they are all here to see him…….he always has, and he always will.

But Steph’s return has made this a great day.  Scotty comes home on Wednesday, and it will be one of those now rare times we have all of us together.  It won’t last too long, or long enough in my humble opinion, but it will at least happen.  And that’s a pretty big blessing to me.

So things are pretty great today and I am very thankful.  Today has been a wonderful day!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+