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Relationship Issues……..

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In retrospect, buying our three year old son a recorder (yes, the one like a flute) was probably a mistake. But just like so many other men, I apparently am unable to know that I am making a mistake until she sees me. To me, it was a worthwhile investment, at least for the “cute factor” but any moron can tell you that $1.00 for a recorder in the hands of a three year old is a musical mistake. (they actually play this very music during hostage standoffs to mess up the criminals)

But for a time, we thought we were cool and in for some praise. Also in retrospect, it probably would have helped had I made a comment about her hair too (since she had just come from the salon). But if I were really capable of wise choices, I wouldn’t be a guy.
So I am hoping to recover in some way this evening. The hair compliments are clearly too late (though it does look maaaavaelous) and I thought we were making progress when Amanda picked up the recorder and started playing (though she will not tell you….she plays the saxophone) but BEN grabbed it an broke it. (You would think that when you spend that kind of cash something would last.) So the bottom line is NO progress.
But here is the blessing……I am a GUY and I am used to it! So no worries there! I will survive the night and move into the next day. And no worries there either……..I have just bought Ben an accordion on Ebay!
(I MAY have redeemed myself with the VIDEO included on this blog!)
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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At his post……

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As things get weirder and weirder here in the United States, I made the decision to beef up the security here at the Tirman Compound. A man’s home is his castle as they say, yet my neighborhood association specifically denied my request for the construction of a moat. I had no choice, since I am not capable of staying awake 24/7 to guard the yard, I made the decision to arm my children. And once again, not the neighborhood association, but this time the police have these things called “laws” which in other places they seem unwilling to follow, but here I had to just give Ben a squirt gun.

It is okay though, because he not only enjoys it, but he is a squirt. He had a blast first shooting the water into the air, then the dog, then me, and then his mom….the latter also apparently against some law, though Amanda frequently makes stuff like that up. It’s nothing like the idea I had about opening a wildlife refuge here in Indiana a few years ago that Amanda poo-pooed. She’s pretty ignorant about the Constitution though, because everyone knows that the Second Amendment talks about our right to Bear Farms.
But for now I will just worry about guarding our yard. The moles are still an issue, and one I intend to address tomorrow. The work on the Church will not take place until next week. But for now I am just proud to be an American and to own my little piece of God’s Good Earth (okay, I know all you clergy-types….I am only the steward). Still, it is a heck of a blessing!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Seeking the Affirmation Massager 3000…….

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You probably do not want to know. We are already 200.00 into this leak with nothing to show. The plumber did say the leak is clearly in between the water meter at the street and where the water comes into the house, but the idea is now that an excavator needs to dig up the side yard and run a new line. We are currently negotiating because we cannot understand how that could really be considered “on premises.” Time will tell, but we will see.

So it has been a long and stressful day. I was able to get myself a new phone tonight, which I needed, but that I clearly do not understand. I suppose the stress does not help, but in the end it will make my life easier. They do not yet make a phone that rubs your shoulders and tells you how blessed they are to be your phone yet, but had they had one, I would have paid a million dollars for one. I will just have to be satisfied with the one I have.
But just as I have been on a BIG learning cure by switching from a PC to a MAC, I have now moved from a Blackberry to an Android….the cure is getting larger, but I am along for the ride (as opposed to “up for the task.”)
But tonight I did get a few minutes to relax with the cat who was in the basement hiding from the storms. It reminded me that I am not a cat and that I really need to be out being a bit more proactive in my own storms. And that I will. I may be a techno-moron, but if I can get some traction I can negotiate even the most treacherous storms. Tomorrow I intend to too.
But if not, I will spend the rest of the day looking for that affirmation/massage phone. Let’s hope it all goes well!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Fandangoliscious……..

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No, it is not a real word, but it truly encompasses the lack of clarity in my day today. The water is off and mostly gone. We have blowers drying out the dirt under the church. Our insurance does NOT cover the clean up nor the repair, and the costly part, the plumber, is coming tomorrow. I know over the course of my career colleagues have always got excited to have doctors as members, but I never have seen it that way. I don’t care what people do. But today I do see what a real and tangible blessing it would be to have a church with some plumbers, electricians, and mechanics….but unfortunately we have none of these! When you do, there is never a problem I am sure.

I have considered asking my dad, who is a PhD. psychologist and retired, to come tomorrow and crawl under the church and talk to the pipe (which is what we think it is) about why he is leaking. It would be cheaper I am sure, though I am not certain about its effectiveness. I am just trying to save money we do not currently have.
So keep us in your prayers and pray especially that this is a simple job. Tomorrow I want to be spectaculariscious, and nothing else in my mind will do. And fortunately for me and the way my mind works, all that just may be possible!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+

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“Don’t drive angry, don’t drive angry…..”

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If I had a nickel for everyday I have had like today I would have at least 5 cents. At times I feel as if my life is like my favorite Bill Murray movie “Groundhog Day,” while other times I just long for it because I would know what to expect. Moles aside tonight, because they are the least of my worries, I can see why people drink too much or run away! I am trying my best tonight to not do either.

But today has been a tough day….no, I have not caught a mole nor have I received any type of communication from them seeking either a settlement or a surrender. My day, all day, has in my estimation been on the edge of explosive, but a lot less stressful that receiving a call that the parking lot of our new St. Patrick’s was flooding. I wet down there and met the water department. There is a leak between the shut off at the street and the main shut off to the building. Our landlord is a GREAT GAL and though she mentioned that it is plumbing “on the premises” and “technically” ours to deal with (meaning pay for) she wants to work with us on it. Fortunately the city shut off the water and tomorrow morning we will begin to dry the thing out and get it fixed. I however do not need any additional stress in my life….particularly today.
So I indeed have poured myself a vodka tonic, but in an effort to not run away, I have handcuffed myself to the chair and I threw the key out of my reach. I know my limits and I am close to them, but had I really wanted to suffer I would have thrown the vodka tonic out of my reach too. I am dumb, but not stupid.
Anyway, the sunrise may not bring a better day, but it will lead to solutions, but tonight I will just set it aside. Bill Murray told the gopher, “Don’t drive angry,” and I won’t. I will instead take a deep breath and center myself for the new day.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Of moles and men……

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Though it is just after 8 pm here, it seems like 11 to me. My body is clearly out of whack, and I long for it to get back into a rhythm. My sleep cycles are all messed up, but hopefully soon I can get back to normalcy.

You see, I like routine, and I do best when I know what to expect. Lots of people are that way I suppose, and I number myself among them. I am not quite their king, but I could make a case for it. With my ever-fluid brain, the routine helps me to keep balance.
That’s why TWO things are bothering me now! You see I not only blog as a form of therapy, but I also work hard on my lawn. It is great exercise and a very tangible discipline as well. That’s why the sudden appearance of CRABGRASS is driving me wild…..particularly since I treated for it months ago. It is now popping up everywhere, but only to be surpassed in irritation by a MOLE.
Now I say “mole,” because the plural, “moles,” is just too much to fathom right now, but considering the tunnels are more numerous and elaborate than those in the Afghanistan mountains, I may be dealing with a bunch.
And I have tried all sorts of things that I have tried before that have never worked in my entire life…..hoses, poison, treating for bugs, and even mole traps. If they are still around next week I am going to claim them on my taxes, but for now I want them OUT.
In Caddyshack it was a gopher, and the dynamite Bill Murray used to try and terminate him destroyed a lot of the golf course, and I am considering this because these little rodents are killing off a lot of my lawn.
So keep me in your prayers. I sprayed the crabgrass again tonight with something new, though I am wondering if it was a good idea…after all, in a few weeks with the moles, it may be all I have left. I now have to figure out a plan for the moles. I may just call a dermatologist.
Goodnight and God Bless!
Tommy+
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My consultant has a nose that knows…….

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We have had some problems growing our Fellowship in Brownsburg, and Deacon Tony and I agreed it has a lot to do with the discomfort that people have coming to worship in somebody’s home. And although Tony and Denise have been generous in their offering, it seemed the time to restart our search for a “place” to meet for worship.

So tonight, instead of hanging out with my wife and Ben at the Noblesville Street Dance, our trusty dog Viper and I got into the car and drove out west. It wasn’t like Lewis and Clark, particularly because I had the air on and his head was out the window. And, though I do not remember history all that well, we were in a Volkswagen, when everyone knows that Lewis and Clark were not…..they drove a Ford. But we saw a lot, driving through the towns of Brownsburg, Avon, Plainfield, and Indianapolis. And, I have some ideas as to what we do next.
You see, we have a lot of people who are interested out there, but when it comes down to brass tacks, they just don’t seem to show up. That means we might want to consider a different plan. Tony will tell you, we already have our best-looking clergy out there, but that apparently is not enough! (Yep, that is a joke….everyone really thinks Fr. Stephen is the best-looking because he is young and he no doubt pays them) But regardless, we want to make things grow out there.
So if you know of a church willing to rent some space, or you are willing to donate thousands of dollars, get in touch with either Tony or me! Holy Spirit is a great opportunity, and my consultant has been out that way and agrees. And who in their right mind could ever disagree with God’s favorite dog……the Golden Retriever?
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+
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Time for a nap……

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Although I got a lot accomplished today, I am exhausted. It seems as if there are just times that I hit a wall, and I am there right now. The sad part is that it is just after 5pm and I still have a lot I need to do.

Amanda is now home and has asked me a ton of times if I am alright…..and I am. It’s just that my brain at times just needs to turn off. And I can do it myself, or it will do it for me! But right now I will choose to do it myself.
Some people struggle about naps, but mine are really necessary. And, they really fix me up!
So it is off for a nap right now. I am posting early, in that I never really know how long I will need to go. So if I do not post tomorrow, don’t call…..that means I am clearly still asleep!
Goodnight and good nap my friends! (And of course, God Bless!)
Tommy+
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Family math……

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Though my family from top to bottom is pretty adept at math, I have to say it alludes me at times. Sure, part of it is just good old fashioned brain damage, but the other part is that my kids do not help me out at all.

To explain what I mean, I do believe with my whole heart that I have three children, and even with my limited memory I remember blogging about the three of them up with me the other night while Amanda slept. But it ends as quickly as it begins. With all my heart I swear I still have those three kids, but Scotty left for a lacrosse camp this morning at Ohio State for four days, and Steph is hardly ever around with her and her friends on their “Farewell Tour” and all. I do expect to “see her” at some point before she is off to spend the night at the home of one of her herd. (I am not sure that “herd” is correct, but I know it is not “pack,” because that is teenage boys….it may be gaggle. I will have to ask some of my friends with more daughters)
But all and all, just watching the hard one to watch is enough. I don’t worry anymore about Steph diving down the steps anymore, and Scott has stopped doing that since I threatened to take his car away. Ben however is a different story…..he, like me, needs a lot of supervision.
So now that Amanda has suspiciously disappeared tonight (it’s not really suspicious…..she hiding from us) I will get Ben in his PJ’s and get him to bed. It’s just a little after 9 and bed will be a welcome sentence for me. Tonight I am certain sleep will come easy……after all, math wears me out!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Lacrosse for Yummies……

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Tonight we held a women’s lacrosse fundraiser at Culver’s Restaurant in Noblesville. It was well-attended, and hopefully we raised a little bit of money, but more than anything, it was nice to be with the team again. Sure, not all of them could make it, but it was great to see the ones that did make it.

We had sophomores to seniors and some of the new alums too. PLUS, there was good food and ice cream. It was a total blast. I have the great privilege of coaching some of the coolest girls on the planet, and it is such a hoot to get them together.
It will be just a couple of months from now when we will take the indoor field, hopefully with a load of new freshmen for Fall Ball. It all goes by so fast, but I love it. In the meantime, we will be naming some Captains for the upcoming year and charge them with beginning to gather the team together for team-building work. Time will tell, but we hope to be contenders again in 2011. Until then, the ice cream events will be an integral part of our training!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+