Man vs. Ponytail

I never expected to see the day when girls would get sunburned in the places they do today.

Will Rogers

Brandy just returned from her annual 2-day tax seminar. I am proud to report she still had a house standing when she returned, and all children still breathing no worse for the experience, although future psychiatric exams may prove me wrong. Actually Brandy is a merciful woman (merciful to Madelyn), and only left Megan with me. Since Megan is now in Pre-K she had to stay for school while Madelyn got a chance to see Maw-Maw and Pa-Pa. Although my wife trusts me with many things, she understands I am but a simple man, with a very large forgetfull streak. Before she left she reminded several of her friends to remind me that I had a daughter to pick up from school. I am glad to say I did not get home after school and wonder why the house was so well kept and silent, and just go on my way. No I remembered, with the help of about 5 different reminders, 2 from a fellow teacher down the hall.

We had a great time together, I think. When its daddy-daughter time, we seem to find ways to stay busy. When we got home from school, we decided to go wash the truck, and get cokes from Sonic. She shared my cheesecake bites, but only would eat the brown crust leaving the cheesecake filling for daddy to eat. After I finished the last bite, she came over to ask me, where her other one was, and I had to ask forgiveness for eating the last one not knowing it had her name on it. I guess there are just certain "prerogative" issues daddy is just supposed to understand when it comes to his position and that of "the princess".

Later it was time for a daddy-daughter tradition -- the "Big Sandwich." We go to Subway and split a foot long sub. This time on our way to the store we went around town looking at the Christmas decorations. I have decided that we should move to the coast, for the sake of advancing my daughters innate abilities. She would excel at snorkeling, for she took one breath when she entered the car, and did not inhale again until we made it to get the "Big Sandwich." All I heard was: "Daddylookatthelightsinsn'titprettylookdownthestreetturnherelookhere Ilikethatsantaheisn'tscarryIseetreesdoyouseethemturnhereyoudon'tknowwherewearedo youwhereareallthelightsohwaitIseesomemore..."

The only snag for Megan was when it was time to get her hair combed in the morning before school. Unfortunately my daughter had had two "bad hair days" and has her dad to blame. I take full responsibility. I can climb 14,000 foot peaks, pack for weeks with what's on my back, all the while carrying on insightful discussions on science, philosophy, and religion. But ask me to make a good ponytail... I'm stumped.

I did try. I think I combed poor Megan's hair for ten minutes each morning. Just about the time I thought I had all those little hairs rounded up, some would slip through my grasp. I finally told Megan we would have to go for the "Chicago" look (windy) and let the wisps fall where they may. She would look at me with very understanding eyes, and with the care you find only in a young ones face say to me:

"When is Mommy going to come home?"

The Sunday...before Monday

No man needs a vacation so much as the man who has just had one.
- Elbert Hubbard

Vacation time is what most cosmologists should study in order to determine what exists within a black hole. In a single point where the laws of science break down we find people standing outside in blustery conditions at 4AM to buy a Dora Doll, or traveling to see people who they will grieve for not spending more time but for which they are thankful to only see this one time a year, and eating meals of a large dry bird and a reddish sauce that doesn't flow but rather retains the shape of its original container. These are the true "singularities" of science.

But I am more blessed than most, I have two "singularities"-- like two black holes that spiral around one another, tugging the life force from the universe around them. I have two children, and after spending an entire week with both I realize the importance of the many small blessings in life, namely:

1. Mothers. The unending patience they show to their children (even when they have no patience left) remains a modern marvel of the civilized world.
2. School. Which gives me a livelihood (i.e. reason not be at home with the kids all day), a reason not to keep the kids at home, and a break in the day for #1.
3. Golf. It is cheaper than therapy, and has probably prevented numerous mental breakdowns by fathers.

It is not that I don't love spending time with my children. I love my kids. But that doesn't mean I have to always like them or the insanity they bring to life sometimes. We have had some really "unique" times this week. We put up every last Christmas decoration after the incessant reminders of Megan. Madelyn has learned to call me "da-da," typically after first calling me "ma-ma," "pa-pa," and "bi-ble." And we got a tour of Stamford's Emergency Room and a new teddy bear after what we thought was an ear infection turned out to be a bug eating away at Megan's eardrum. I have a feeling that National Lampoons and Chevy Chase could not have written a better script for some parts of our Thanksgiving vacation.

However, as we get ready to return to school, and life returns to some degree of normalcy, I know that within the first 2-3 hours, I will begin to pine away for Christmas and the 2-weeks I get off for that holiday ("What am I thinking!!!?")

The Only Reason for this page is Peer Pressure

My own business always bores me to death; I prefer other people's.
- Oscar Wilde

I start with this -- a rant.

I don't know who had the idea of starting this blogging stuff. I thought we had gotten away from having to do this, until I started to notice family members begin to do it. We were perfectly content just posting pictures. I was especially content with this since Brandy took over the process. Most of the family was also more content since photos were posted on a much more regular basis.

But no. That isn't enough now. Peer pressure has lead to the invention of another slice at our personal privacy.

We talk about peer pressure when dealing with drugs, alcohol, and other highly addictive, risky behavior. It's not like you see on TV where someone calls you "chicken" for not trying it. It's much more subtle. The looks from your friends, the exclusive conversations about the activity, and the enjoyment people seem to receive from the activity. You break down and try it, and then, realize it's not what you thought it would be like.

So in the spirit of following time consuming, highly addictive behaviors, I give up, and I submit to the peer pressure, the keeping up with the ________ (fill in the blank with a relatives name), and the introduction of sharing family information with the family, and the entire world.

I remember when as a child, hearing the word's of my parents saying, "What's said at home....stays at home." Today what is said at home travels at the speed of light across the globe, or even more remote, the unclaimed big soft chairs at your local Starbuck's. OH well, maybe this thing can be useful. If not, maybe I can just do enough to make everyone feel "connected" to us.

"Connected" ... It used to be good enough just to "stay in touch." "Stay in Touch" -- it carries a connotation of reaching out but being able to withdraw, close enough to reach and be there but far enough away to give the other "space." But not now. We are now "connected" -- to be linked in a constant state. Like your lamp plugged to its power source, we now stay plugged into other people. No wonder we see the proliferation of reality TV, where we can, like voyeurs, live in the lives of others, and for a moment forget about ours. What we don't understand is that others around us are living in our own lives, looking at us to find release. We have all found solace in watching others who help us feel normal, or better. We compare ourselves to those around us, and measure whether we are better off or not. Is this not the root cause of peer pressure to begin with? If not peer pressure, it at its worst was what we once called gossip.

Comparisons are not beneficial. People have gotten so good at comparing themselves to others that we no longer can stomach comparing our actions to a standard. Another reason for "Relativism."

Now before I begin to link this whole blogging fad to moral relativism. I think I'll stop and say, " Thank you so much for coming to my page, and sharing time with me. hugs and kisses, LOL, I'm AFK, BBL, C-Ya, and etc. etc."