Sunday, October 31, 2010
Plumber
Halloween at the Nashville Zoo
Friday night, Jude, J.P. and I went to the Nashville Zoo for a Halloween celebration there. It's an annual event at the Zoo and it's pretty cool, as there are stations for the kids to trick-or-treat at, along with games, hayrides, etc.
J.P. had a big time. He particularly enjoyed climbing on the hay bales on the trailers behind the tractors that weren't being used for hayrides. We still couldn't convince him to take an actual hayride, which is strange, because he loves tractors. We got a kick out of watching him dance to various Halloween tunes ("Monster Mash" and "Thriller") on a makeshift dance floor, under a tent, with several other children.
He also "sang" karaoke. Actually, after watching several a couple other children sing "Wheels on the Bus," he asked to take the stage and "sing," too. When it was his turn, he took the microphone and stared straight ahead throughout the song, never singing a word. Funny! Stage fright, I guess.
J.P. had a big time. He particularly enjoyed climbing on the hay bales on the trailers behind the tractors that weren't being used for hayrides. We still couldn't convince him to take an actual hayride, which is strange, because he loves tractors. We got a kick out of watching him dance to various Halloween tunes ("Monster Mash" and "Thriller") on a makeshift dance floor, under a tent, with several other children.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Gentry Farm
Outhouse
When you gotta go, you gotta go.
J.P. loved the outhouse at Gentry Farm last Saturday. In fact, he loved it so much he threw a fit when we told him it was time to move on and see the rest of the Farm.
Morning Run
Yesterday, I got up early and went for a 6-mile run in the neighborhood. As I left the house, it was still dark. I ran down Belmont Boulevard to David Lipscomb University, through campus, then back up Granny White Pike/12th Avenue and home. Great fall morning for a run.
As I came in the front door of our house, I head the pitter-patter of little feet upstairs. J.P. ran to the top of the staircase and yelled down, "Daddy, how was your run?" "Good!" I responded. I heard him run back into our bedroom, where he shouted, "Momma, I just talked to Daddy. He had a good run!"
I smiled all the way to work.
As I came in the front door of our house, I head the pitter-patter of little feet upstairs. J.P. ran to the top of the staircase and yelled down, "Daddy, how was your run?" "Good!" I responded. I heard him run back into our bedroom, where he shouted, "Momma, I just talked to Daddy. He had a good run!"
I smiled all the way to work.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Another Long Night of the Soul
Last night, J.P. had a rough go of it, probably the worst night he's ever had in terms of being uncomfortable and unable to sleep. Shortly after going to bed, he began crying out, almost shrieking in his sleep and thrashing around. When I checked on him, he was dozing fitfully, but was congested and having difficulty breathing through his nose.
Rather than getting better, he got worse as the night wore on. By the time I went to bed, well past midnight, he was making enough noise that he was waking himself up. Finally, about 1:30 a.m., I went and got him and brought him to bed with us, which we never, ever do. For a while, he laid on my chest but couldn't ever get back to sleep. Periodically, he'd lift his head up and one of us would help him blow his nose. We laid him down between us, with his head on a pillow, hoping maybe that elevating his head would help him breathe easier.
Around 4 a.m., he started talking and seemed to be waking up, so Jude took him back to bed in his room. Fortunately, he fell asleep and slept pretty soundly until almost 8 a.m. Today, of course, he was fine, other than a runny nose.
It's so very tough when J.P. doesn't feel well, which hasn't happened too often, thankfully. It's the most helpless feeling in the world, I think, not being able to do anything to make my son feel better when he's uncomfortable or suffering the ill effects of a cold. It really makes me appreciate the fact that for the most part, he's a healthy kid.
Rather than getting better, he got worse as the night wore on. By the time I went to bed, well past midnight, he was making enough noise that he was waking himself up. Finally, about 1:30 a.m., I went and got him and brought him to bed with us, which we never, ever do. For a while, he laid on my chest but couldn't ever get back to sleep. Periodically, he'd lift his head up and one of us would help him blow his nose. We laid him down between us, with his head on a pillow, hoping maybe that elevating his head would help him breathe easier.
Around 4 a.m., he started talking and seemed to be waking up, so Jude took him back to bed in his room. Fortunately, he fell asleep and slept pretty soundly until almost 8 a.m. Today, of course, he was fine, other than a runny nose.
It's so very tough when J.P. doesn't feel well, which hasn't happened too often, thankfully. It's the most helpless feeling in the world, I think, not being able to do anything to make my son feel better when he's uncomfortable or suffering the ill effects of a cold. It really makes me appreciate the fact that for the most part, he's a healthy kid.
J.P. and Grandpa
Ice Cream on the Front Porch
Friday, October 22, 2010
Fairy Godmother
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Tom Bosley (1927 - 2010)
Tom Bosley died today and it makes me feel sad.
An actor, his iconic role was playing Howard Cunningham, patriarch of the Cunningham family in "Happy Days," the ABC sitcom that ran from 1974 - 1985. "Happy Days" was right in my wheelhouse and one of my favorite shows as a kid, debuting when I was 8 years old and ending, long after I'd stopped watching it, when I was 19 years old and a sophomore in college. Mr. Cunningham or "Mr. C.," as Fonzie (Henry Winkler) called him, was stern but kind, always fair and always ready to dispense a dose of common sense, fatherly advice to his children, Richie (Ron Howard) and Joanie (Erin Moran).
I think, in some ways, Howard Cunningham, as played by Tom Bosley, was the father I never had and maybe the father I wanted to have, if that makes sense.
Here's a link to the obituary from today's New York Times -
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/arts/television/20bosley.html?ref=television
An actor, his iconic role was playing Howard Cunningham, patriarch of the Cunningham family in "Happy Days," the ABC sitcom that ran from 1974 - 1985. "Happy Days" was right in my wheelhouse and one of my favorite shows as a kid, debuting when I was 8 years old and ending, long after I'd stopped watching it, when I was 19 years old and a sophomore in college. Mr. Cunningham or "Mr. C.," as Fonzie (Henry Winkler) called him, was stern but kind, always fair and always ready to dispense a dose of common sense, fatherly advice to his children, Richie (Ron Howard) and Joanie (Erin Moran).
I think, in some ways, Howard Cunningham, as played by Tom Bosley, was the father I never had and maybe the father I wanted to have, if that makes sense.
Here's a link to the obituary from today's New York Times -
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/arts/television/20bosley.html?ref=television
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Weekend Update
The worst part of this gorgeous fall weekend? The fact that it had to end, which means Jude and I have to go back to work tomorrow.
Friday night, my mom drove up and went to dinner at one of our regular haunts, La Fiesta on Belmont Boulevard, with Jude, J.P., Jim White and me. A couple of the ladies who work there really dote on J.P., so it was fun to watch them interact with him. With me whispering in his ear, he repeated a few Spanish phrases, which always delights them to no end.
Saturday morning, I got up early and ran 8 miles on the trails at Shelby Bottoms. Perfect day for a run, with the temperature in the low 50s when I started. When I got home, Jude left for a tennis match and J.P. and I went to my truck to the car wash. He'd never been there and was a little nervous at first, but he warmed up pretty quickly and enjoyed watching my truck go through the car wash. In fact, he talked about it the rest of the day.
Saturday afternoon, while Jude and J.P. napped, I made a pot of chili to take to Chad and Misty White's Pumpkin Carving & Chili Cookoff Party at Tom White's farm in Dickson. We arrived at the party about 4:30 p.m. and had an absolute blast. J.P. played in "the treehouse," but flat refused to go on the hayride. Tom's place is awesome and it was a perfect night for a party. To top it off, I got a 3rd place ribbon for my chili!
This morning, J.P. and I went to Frothy Monkey in 12South for breakfast, then hopped over to Sevier Park to play at the playground. Jude's grandma, Rita, and aunt, Margaret, accompanied Jim White, Jude, J.P. and me to church at St. Patrick. After church, we picked up lunch and had a picnic at a park in Berry Hill, then watched J.P. play on the slide. I got in a quick 4 mile run in this afternoon while Jude and J.P. napped. We had dinner at home, then settled in for the evening.
Not bad, not bad at all.
Friday night, my mom drove up and went to dinner at one of our regular haunts, La Fiesta on Belmont Boulevard, with Jude, J.P., Jim White and me. A couple of the ladies who work there really dote on J.P., so it was fun to watch them interact with him. With me whispering in his ear, he repeated a few Spanish phrases, which always delights them to no end.
Saturday morning, I got up early and ran 8 miles on the trails at Shelby Bottoms. Perfect day for a run, with the temperature in the low 50s when I started. When I got home, Jude left for a tennis match and J.P. and I went to my truck to the car wash. He'd never been there and was a little nervous at first, but he warmed up pretty quickly and enjoyed watching my truck go through the car wash. In fact, he talked about it the rest of the day.
Saturday afternoon, while Jude and J.P. napped, I made a pot of chili to take to Chad and Misty White's Pumpkin Carving & Chili Cookoff Party at Tom White's farm in Dickson. We arrived at the party about 4:30 p.m. and had an absolute blast. J.P. played in "the treehouse," but flat refused to go on the hayride. Tom's place is awesome and it was a perfect night for a party. To top it off, I got a 3rd place ribbon for my chili!
This morning, J.P. and I went to Frothy Monkey in 12South for breakfast, then hopped over to Sevier Park to play at the playground. Jude's grandma, Rita, and aunt, Margaret, accompanied Jim White, Jude, J.P. and me to church at St. Patrick. After church, we picked up lunch and had a picnic at a park in Berry Hill, then watched J.P. play on the slide. I got in a quick 4 mile run in this afternoon while Jude and J.P. napped. We had dinner at home, then settled in for the evening.
Monday, October 11, 2010
One of Those Days
Today, at work, I had one of those days that makes me feel like I'm serving a professional life sentence with no chance of parole.
It was after 9 p.m. when I finally pulled up to our house. As I trudged wearily up the front sidewalk, still wearing my suit and tie, I looked up and saw John Patrick looking out at me through the large oval piece of glass in our front door. He was smiling and bouncing up and down, so excited to see me. He was wearing a bath towel, like a cape.
I smiled back at him, then laughed. At least for the moment, the worries from my day were gone.
It was after 9 p.m. when I finally pulled up to our house. As I trudged wearily up the front sidewalk, still wearing my suit and tie, I looked up and saw John Patrick looking out at me through the large oval piece of glass in our front door. He was smiling and bouncing up and down, so excited to see me. He was wearing a bath towel, like a cape.
I smiled back at him, then laughed. At least for the moment, the worries from my day were gone.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Sevier Park
Saturday in the Park
Saturday morning, I ran in the Shelby Bottoms Boogie 15k at Shelby Park. The weather was perfect - an absolutely beautiful fall morning. It was kind of nice to run a race on what amounts to my home course, although it actually took place on the greenway, as opposed to the trails where I normally run. After a really nice race, I ran into my old friend and erstwhile training partner, Vickie Spickard. We took a walk to cool down after the race and got caught up.
When I got home after the race, Jude had taken J.P. for a much needed haircut. I met them at a park in Berry Hill, five or ten minutes from our house. As always, J.P. had a blast climbing on the playground equipment and sliding down the slides. Afterward, we had lunch at Calypso Cafe. A nice Saturday morning, for sure.
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