Today has been an exceptionally important day for me.

First of all, I am happy to report that my computer issues seem to be a thing I can put behind me.  I have backed up copies of all the images and files that can be recovered and as I go through them, I will sort them out.  I hope to pare the whole thing down to do a “real” backup in about a month.  But for now I have two copies of EVERYTHING, including duplicates, backing up every day.

Two, although the files are still in quite a bit of disarray, I will certainly be able to pull enough together to get things in my job going in the right direction.  I have a lot to look after, and even with a good mind I would be hard pressed to remember it all.  The men and women in the Order of St. Michael however are an understanding and forgiving bunch.  I hope to have all this too settled within a few weeks.

But THREE and most importantly are the personal changes I am going through.  Steph is now HOME for the summer, perhaps her last here, but at least she is home.  And I am blessed that she is here as I will begin a BIG life change tomorrow as my medicines now have all been changed and increased (to their maximums) and it will be a full and concentrated effort to create, not a new life, but to regain my old life.  I intend to go down 40 more pounds and I NEED TO if I intend to live a long life free of the diabetes that runs in my family.  (my mom and her dad both had it)  The stroke has destroyed my metabolism (see my “I remember the truth” post 7 posts back to see and read the story) BUT enough is enough.  I AM IN THAT VIDEO, and the stroke has robbed me of that body and life.  Yet today I am declaring that to be but a temporary thing.  My metabolism may be gone, bootcamp may be gone, and my blood work for the first time in my life may be indicating a bad direction……..BUT I AM THAT GUY.  Underneath this stupid “husky” frame, is an athlete and a winner.  It is a race I promise I will not lose.

Depression from the stroke did not help.  The medicines I was taking did not either.  But after 30 years of working like crazy to not become diabetic like my mom and grandpa, I am testing close.  If it happens at 180 then I need to live with it (and it may), but if it happens at 220, shame on me!  I started this journey down at 265.  Tomorrow I begin to eat like a diabetic and I am going back to exercising like I was still in training.

I ask that you pray for me to do well.  I will not be going out to eat with my family for two weeks, and I have asked my wife to be on me like a hawk.  (no, not tearing my carcass with her beak, but to call me out when I look weak.)  In all honesty, my best coaches beat the hell out of me, and I hated it, but it was THE MODEL for me.  That’s part of why I wanted to enlist in the Marine Corps.  (I didn’t).  But pray for her too, as she is pretty nervous about this role.  I am a pretty tough guy and a hard sell….particularly when I am upset.  And these 40 will make being upset, most likely, a constant occurrence 

I will however, win.  Tonight’s picture is less than 8 months before my stroke…..185.  I will be better than this I swear. (and yes, that is Ben with me)

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tommy+ (starting the hard 40 at 220)…I was 222 this morning.

Da Agenda

The Passive Agressive Cake from Kayla

Pre Battle

Yes, today is my birthday, and when I have a birthday I take full advantage.  In fact, since I am not one to get caught up in my own self, I have often exploited the fact that “it’s your birthday and you can do anything you want.”  It’s a quote from my late mom, who probably never said it, and Lord knows never believed it, but who allowed me to get away with it nonetheless.  I still do to this day.

Movies

Menchies

Craft Store

Toy/Costume Store

But as I said, I am not really about myself, so as a dad I have used the day to give my kids a good time, and such was the case today.  And since Scotty and Stephy are not home I said to Ben and my niece Kayla (who leaves tomorrow for home) “it’s my birthday, and on my birthday I can do anything I want……what would you like to do?”  And I woke up to “the list.”

And quite honestly, it has been one of the best birthdays I have ever had.  We hit the movies, the toy store, the craft store, Menchies, in fact EVERYTHING on their list but the pool, which we just didn’t have time for.  And I ended the day with ice cream cake (which I only had a piece) and I got them all birthday cake pops.  Of course I also got Kayla and Ben silly string to get my wife and her mom, and as soon as they got them with that I gave my wife and mother-in-law squirt guns to dish out a little revenge.  It was a great night.

So yes, I have completed yet another year, but I am fine with it…..really.  I only wish Stephy and Scotty  could have joined us for the battle.   Maybe if I survive another year we can try to make it happen!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Yes, this picture is of Ben, shortly (and I mean VERY SHORTLY) after he had come into my office to complain that his bedtime was just too early and that he was NOT TIRED.  He was told to go to bed anyway, and my guilt led me to go in to talk with him a few minutes later…….this is what I found.

But in his defense, he had a hard day.  He and Kayla have worn each other out, and how their grandma  (my mother-in-law) keeps up with them both at her advanced age (she can’t be even 40 yet, and looks even younger) (this is not my first rodeo).  I had a couple of appointments in Indianapolis yesterday and met them all at “Build a Bear” where the kids both made their own teddy bears.  It should be no surprise that Ben’s is of Ironman, and you can also see him in the picture (sleeping too, as Ironbear was not tired either).

In between all of the events of the day however I was able to make some progress on my computer.  I have seen a lot of articles lately that mention that a degree in Religion is worthless, although mine has served me well.  What I now regret is my dropping the other degree program as soon as I was approved for seminary (in the Dark Ages)……it was Computer Science.

Of course now I am too stubborn to give up on fixing this myself, and when I say that I really mean I am too cheap to pa
y an expert, you know, someone with a Computer Science degree (who however most likely does NOT have any Religion degrees).  So I will make my way through this alone.

But I am making progress.  Yet the biggest progress I intend to make is to join Ben and Ironbear in snoozyland.  Unlike them though, I AM tired………I need to file a complaint.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Well I wish I could report that all is well, but it is not.  At least however I have had a great Father’s Day, sans two of three children, though they all called.  And today is Scotty’s 20th birthday, which means I am (temporarily) out of the business of raising teenagers.  So it has been a good day all around.

I am STILL however restoring the computer and I am STILL frustrated as all get out with my phone.  But today I will not let it be an issue.  The kids got me a nice chair and table for the balcony off my office (in which I am sitting while typing this), a Notre Dame jersey, AND Ben (with his mom, grandma, and cousin) took me out to dinner.  It was a really great time.

Tonight’s picture however reflects clear and certain evidence as to why although these gifts were wonderful, they clearly are not enough.  Ben, the youngest, is indeed posing with a cut out picture of me with his finger up my nose.  It clearly shows the quality of DNA I am constantly dealing with, and that DNA is also MINE.  He cracks himself up, like all my kids do (to themselves) and to be honest, they are all genuinely funny.   And ultimately it is what makes being me worth it…..knowing that I am leaving that kind of twisted mark on the world!

So I HOPE to be back to regular posting soon, but then again I am still sorting through all the files I need for my WORK.  It doesn’t help that I will be 40 on Wednesday either.

But what does help is this chair and my kids.  Not to be a braggart, but  I have lived a life of great academic and professional accomplishment.  None of it however means a thing compared to my children.  I know Father’s Day is really about them, but in all honesty I couldn’t be prouder of them.  And no achievement
, no award, no title, nor anything else will be able to take away that as my very greatest work.  I am a man, a father, who is truly blessed.

Thanks Stephy, Scotty, and Ben!  I love you!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Yes, my life is jacked.  I have had computer issues, restore issues, now PHONE ISSUES, and I just can’t seem to catch a break.  I JUST received a bunch of important VOICEMAILS which will now require a few apology calls in the morning.  My wife keeps saying GO GET A DIFFERENT PHONE, but we can just not afford it.  So I will make the calls and tough it out, hoping to win the lottery someday (I will have to force myself to buy a ticket I suppose as I do not play the lottery).  But something will happen to rectify all of this, it always does.

But as I type, I have my iphone4 (not the newest version) downstairs right NEXT TO the router hoping for some type of upgrade miracle.  In the meantime, Amanda and I have worked our butts off in the yard planting and mulching and me taking a lot of breaks inconspicuously staring at her doing all that work.  She did the replanting and I did the mulch.  Of 13 yards I still have at least half to go.

Ben, on the other hand, is still on his little trip with Nanny and Kayla, and Amanda had to call THEM tonight as he apparently hasn’t missed her enough to call.  His Nanny (grandma) has kept us informed, but in all honesty I am smart enough as to not trust her either as they clearly are ALL on her side and would probably let me “sleep with the fishes” in order to run off with her.  It’s okay though because they will have children someday and I WILL BE THE GRANDPARENT THEN……payback is, as they say, a fish, or something like that.

But now that I am done typing and the kids are not home, I am sure that my bride is in our room, no doubt, with a bunch of candles lit and hell bent on rubbing my back and telling me how handsome I am and how lucky she is.   I am sure that’s it………

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Today Ben and Kayla and their grandma went on a 4 day trip.  They originally were scheduled to go to Springfield, Illinois and visit all the Abraham Lincoln sites, but there was a change in plans and they have headed to Indianapolis instead.  Yes, downtown is just an hour away from here, but they are hoteling it, and apparently after this first day, having a great time.

Of course Ben did lie to me right before he left and drooped his eyes as he said “I’ll miss you.”  That act was confirmed by the fact that he hopped right into his grandmother’s car smiling and then didn’t call us once the whole day or night.  Yes, he is deeply concerned for us and misses us terribly.

Day one probably seemed pretty boring to his as his grandma kept texting Amanda pictures of his LOVING the museum and the pool and eating out and all.  Plus, he and Kayla are pretty tight.  All his other cousins are older, but Kayla and Logan and Ben are all in a pack.  And if you are insane enough to want to take a trip like this, I suppose Ben and Kayla would be pretty good companions.  Plus, my mother-in-law is a retired librarian and getting the kids down there to share in some of her passions is really right in her wheelhouse.

But the house is pretty empty.  It’s a good thing too.  The carpet installers will be here in the morning so when everyone returns Thursday, including STEPH, we should have everything back in shape……..hopefully.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Oh sure, I am aware I did not post yesterday.  That would be something that I would take so very personally only a few months ago, but it now reminds me of Jesus asking that if your cow fell into a ditch on the Sabbath if you would just leave it there.  My rules were running my life, and in turn I was not living too much of it without stressing myself.  It was not a good model for me, so as long as I understand the reasons I do things, I believe I should do them just fine…..such is the case of this post tonight.

In all honesty, yesterday was VERY VERY BUSY and I even spent part of it out of state, though the reasons for that are
still not public.  And, to make it even more complicated, my niece Kayla (the daughter of Amanda’s sister Rhonda) flew in to stay with us 10 days!!!  She is 9.  So nothing about yesterday was normal, but a lot of it was a BLAST.  Kayla is like a daughter to us, and before Rhonda moved out west all of us were together just about all of the time.  It was often like I was married to TWO women, in that they both were always irritated with me and always around.  (I know there is a lot more to marriage, but that was all I can remember).  But Rhonda and Kayla moved to Arizona, and now live in Utah as Rhonda has remarried and she and her husband Jared now have our nephew Logan.  Logan did not make the trip as he is just three, but no worries…..Kayla is having a fine time despite that.

The kicker is my mother-in-law who is here now for the summer.  She now has both Ben and Kayla and it is a hoot.  In fact, the three of them are all going to downtown Indianapolis and staying in a hotel for three full days beginning tomorrow.   It is her “Spoiling Retreat” for sure.  And as the son-in-law I will not only not get involved, but get out of the way.  Mr. “I can’t be away from my mommy” is bagging even her to head off to parts unknown with his Nanny.  Who am I to mess with that kind of power?

But what I am finding is the joy of seeing and being around my niece again.  She is such a wonderful kid and I love her more than I could ever describe.  We still goof off and kid around, and it reminds me of how much I have missed that.  So tonight’s picture is of her and Ben, with Amanda, where I stopped and took them for ICE CREAM, but more than that…..BEFORE DINNER.  She is a delight, and now there are just nine days.  But I am just thankful she is here and that she remembers us and is doing well. There was zero adjustment to her being here……and that is the very best marker for family.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

It has been a busy day, but a good one, as Ben has been finally kicked out of kindergarten and is now a first grader.  Of course he thinks that this entitles him to special privileges  but other than a celebratory dinner at the Golden Corral (his choice), he is going to meet a world of disappointment.

But as a guy who has completed what I once figured to be 28 years of skoolin, I have to say I still remember kindergarten.  Ben did better than I did, AND he completed the year without any trips (for discipline) to the Principal’s office (yes, he was not MY pal).  And he made lots of friends too.  And if I wore a hat (although NEVER in the house or building) I would shout “A big hats off to Mrs. Scott for getting him through the year.”

He did well too.  He is academically about his level and of course looks-wise he is off the charts!  He still is a bit of a klutz physically, but he did come to school a year early.  He will not be six for another three weeks.

So now his summer break has commenced.  He was a little upset as he really considers it summer brake, and was not happy to know he would not be in school every day.  He actually tried to ease his grandma into the fact that although she is here for the summer to watch him that it would have to be after school.  I think he was afraid she would be upset, but I think everyone is fine about everything but me.

After all, one full year of kindergarten and no trips to the principal, and he loves school.  His last name is Tirman but I think I need to have his DNA checked.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

This picture is NOT related……but it cracked me up so I used it.  It is of Ben and Steph and some celebration for one of my cousins (Matt or Steve) in Fort Wayne.  I was LOOKING for a picture of Ben shooting something at a Buzz Lightyear thingy at Disneyworld, but you don’t have to read that far back to understand how jacked my computer is right now.

But at least I can report that EVERDRY (not the owner, but the really upstanding Production Manager and crew…..who I would LOVE to work with) came out today and dug a hell of a trench, sealed it, and then FILLED IT WITH WATER, around my house…..AND, no water inside.  If these guys ONLY OWNED THE COMPANY I would recommend them forever!  But they don’t.  I did however, put a call in to the carpet installer, so I hope we have all the carpet currently sitting in our dining room installed by Christmas.

I did however, file a second complaint with the Better Business Bureau.  I have asked for a FULL REFUND.  It seems that the only way to get them motivated is to complain.  I am just glad to be almost done with them.

But tonight my mind goes back to a joke I told Ben yesterday……..”What did the Blue Cheese say to the guy who opened the refrigerator?”   Answer, “Close the door, I’m dressing!”  Ben WAILED at this and went right into see his grandma (Nanny) and tell her………

Ben…..”What did the Blue Cheese say to the guy who opened the refrigerator?”  Nanny…..”What?”  Ben…….”Shut the door, I am getting dressed.”

Some people just can’t pull the trigger.  I thank God that I am not one of them……

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+