See anything missing from this picture?

Yup, there was supposed to be a plane there by now…  But I’m getting ahead of myself…

Earlier today I called Charter to cancel our cable TV.  Every year we get a bill that shows a huge price increase, and every year I call to let them know we’ll consider leaving if they can’t do something about the price.  This year we opted to go in a different direction and I was frustrated…  scratch that…  infuriated when they offered a couple of options including reducing our bill by significant amount for essentially the same things we already had plus a little more.  After declining the offer we immediately suffered a phone and internet outage.  When I called back to get that fixed the customer service rep pretty much laughed it off saying “that always happens…”  When it didn’t turn on after a couple of hours I lost my cool and became a little unhinged, letting my emotions get the best of me.  It was finally sorted out, but I spent way more emotional energy on the debacle than I should have.

Later in day Gavin found out that there’s a really good chance that the sky is cloudy (possibly storming) when the eclipse is supposed to occur tomorrow.  With it being on his birthday, science related, and just flat out awesome he was crushed.  It took a very long time (and possibly shooting squirrels off the bird feeder with a paintball gun) to cheer him back up.  I was trying to help him understand that there’s no point in worrying about something that he has no control over, but he just wasn’t having it.

Funny how the Big Guy Upstairs can pull strings once in a while, isn’t it?  I got a notification on my phone that my flight had been delayed.  It had been delayed long enough that there was no way I would make my connecting flight.  Seeing as we live less than a mile from the airport I asked Gavin to come along with me while I went to sort out my ticket face to face instead of over the phone.  He eagerly jumped in the car with me and we were off.

Upon walking in we saw a room full of disappointment.  People who were also going to miss their connecting flights, customer service reps who felt horrible about being powerless to fix the situation.  I kept my cool and helped Gavin understand the situation.  At the counter we talked with the rep to see what he could do to help us out.  He typed furiously on the keyboard and kept apologizing for not being able to do more.  I took a deep breath and reassured him that I trusted him to do his best and that I’d roll with whatever he could come up with.  After a while he came up with the best possible solution, fly out on the first leg, stay overnight, and then fly out early the next morning.  We tried every option, and that’s all that we could do.  I thanked him for his help, and Gavin and I walked out with a smile.

As Gavin and I walked out we talked about what just happened.  “Hey Bud, did you notice that I didn’t get mad or frustrated?  This isn’t ideal and I’d really liked to have gotten there sooner, but there’s nothing I can do about it so there’s no point in being sad or frustrated is there?”  He smirked and fired off a pretty sweet one liner joke at me, “yeah, because you’re trip isn’t nearly as cool as the eclipse!”  I just laughed with him and moved into the next part of what I wanted hime to understand.  “Bud, how do you know that The Big Guy Upstairs didn’t do that on purpose?  Maybe something bad would’ve happened if I would have flown out tonight?  Do you know what His plan is?”  He smiled and we discussed it further.  By the time we got home I know he got what I meant.  I’m hoping it starts to sink in for him at an early age, his life will be filled with so much more joy if it does.

While talking with him the other thing running through my head was how I handled the situation with Charter earlier.  I really muffed that one!  If I could do it over I’d handle it differently, it easily could have been my frustration on each of the calls that led to result.  That said, I can’t change the result, but I can learn from it.

So why did I keep my cool in the face of adversity with the airline tonight while I lost it with Charter earlier?  It’s pretty easy, I saw an opportunity to help Gavin learn through an experience with me.  I handled the situation differently specifically so he could see what the “right” way to handle it was.  I became the role model because there was a lesson he needed to see, and I couldn’t let him down.  If I would’ve gotten upset it would have just reinforced his feelings earlier.  Gavin helped to make me a better dad today.

Funny how everything in life points to parents having to raise kids, but rarely does anyone remind us that by raising our kids we have the opportunity to become better people ourselves.  I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity to learn from Gavin today, it’s put a smile on my face through a potentially frustrating situation.

Thanks!!!

Sometimes it cracks me up when two days are so similar yet so different.  Just yesterday I was thankful for the family tradition of grandpas buying pocket knives for their grandsons in Boy Scouts, and tonight I’m thankful for a family tradition that has gone on for a handful of years just like clockwork, the Hause family coming to vistit and spend some time on the boat!

This morning they rolled in and the boys all immediately flocked to the basement for an epic nerf gun battle.  After lunch we headed out for the boat and chilled on the sandbar, enjoying the sun…  and maybe a couple of beers!  Next thing we knew almost five hours had flown by.

As I’m sitting outside typing this while grilling the Packer game is on and we’ll just chill in the living room until the boys all crash.

This weekend is always a fun one.  The boys have fun together, the adults get to shoot the bull, and good times are had by all…  and there’s usually an early bedtime as a testament to just how much fun we’ve had!

Thanks!!!

A few months before Dad passed away he and I were talking about Dominic’s transition into Boy Scouts.  Through the course of the conversation I brought up the Boy Scout pocket knife that my grandpa gave me once I had moved into Boy Scouts.  As we talked he mentioned that he needed to do the same for Dominic.  I’ve had my knife for many years (25+?) and I think of my grandpa every single time I use it and Dad knew that (I blogged about it a while back).  His wish was to give Dominic a similar knife so he’d do the same.

As with many things in our lives it never quite happened the way Dad planned.  Whether it was other things that had taken priority or it had just slipped his mind, it doesn’t really matter now does it?  Don’t mind me while I ramble for a second as something just crossed my mind.  There are many times in which I spend way too much time and energy thinking about questions like that…  was it because of this or because of that?  Once something happens it doesn’t really matter anymore, does it?  It’s already done.  How much of life have I wasted on meaningless questions like that?  How much energy could’ve been used elsewhere?  It doesn’t really matter though, does it?  It is done and learning from it is all that matters right now.  LOL – thanks for bearing with me on that one!

Anyways, I knew it was what Dad wanted, to give Dominic that Boy Scout knife, so while he couldn’t do it himself anymore I did the next best thing.  I got it for Dominic and explained that it was really from Grandpa Pete.  He smiled from ear to ear while showing the emotion that he truly grasped the gravity of what I was telling him.

When Gavin gets older I’ll do the same for him, just as Dad would’ve wanted.  As they get older and have kids of their own I’ll do the same for them, just as I want.  If I’ve done my job as a father, one day they’ll do the same for their grandkids, because they want to keep the family tradition alive.

Dad may be gone, but there are memories of him everywhere.  I’m thankful for each of them and the way that they help me look more deeply at myself.  This family tradition encapsulates this concept so well.  It involves giving, an activity that is near all of our hearts (scouting), we use it often, and it has one of Dad’s favorite mental tricks included…  Whenever you pick up a tool take a minute to think about who gave it to you, why they gave it to you, where it came from, and how you got it.  Think of those things, smile, and be grateful for them.

Thanks!!!

You may or may not know this, but I’m not a huge fan of large gatherings.  Give me time with a small handful of people and life is great, I’ll be smiling the whole time.  A bunch of people and the smile fades quickly and I get drained.  To be clear, I really like people, I just struggle with many at once.

That said, I get a little nervous when I hear a comment like “I’m having a bunch of co-workers over for dinner…”  They’re all great people and I have a ton of fun with each of them, but all of them at once and I get a little nervous.

Cue Becky, the Hostess with the Most-est…

So Becky to the rescue as she gets all the food prepped and ready, makes sure that everyone will have something that they will like, and that everything is set for a great night.  Never nervous or rattled, she gets everything in line and ready, including me.  Sure, I’m happy to jump in and help, but she’s the brains, the mastermind, behind any get together like this.  I ask her what she needs, she tells me, and life is good.  No matter what type of curveball gets thrown her way she takes it in stride, doesn’t stress, works her magic, and everything works out great.

Tonight was another example of that.  There were approximately 20 of us and everything went of perfectly!  Almost exactly enough food (enough leftovers for one meal), a great time, and everyone was smiling and enjoying each others’ company.  It was awesome!  Even me, the dude who’s not a huge fan of that many people at once, had an excellent time.  She was able to set the stage for everyone in a ways that there were always many conversations going and it never felt like 20-ish people.  It felt like there were a few small groups and every so often the groups switched a little.  It was perfect!

If it were left up to me there would only be small gatherings once in a while, that’s my comfort zone.  Thankfully I have Becky to balance me out and reminding me that I can have a lot of fun with a larger group.  As a matter of fact, I had an incredible night with many people that I wouldn’t have had without her.  I’m so very thankful for her hostessing skills that helped create an awesome experience for all of us tonight.

Thanks Mrs. Hostess with the Most-est, you’re the best-est!!!  Love you!!!

Thanks!!!

As I was heading to Chatfield very early this morning I was listening to The Book of Joy.   I know, you’re probably getting tired of hearing about it, but suck it up, it’s pretty awesome and there’s probably more posts upcoming 🙂

One of the stories they shared had my laughing out loud.  As they’re talking with the Dalai Lama, one of the most revered holy people in the world, he shared a story to demonstrate the way that humor and humility add to our joy.

He discussed a meeting with some Japanese officials at a very formal meeting.  As they were perfectly dressed, acting very professionally, and embodying the word “formal,” a piece of fruit rolled off of the table that they were standing around.  As the fruit rolled off the table they were scattering and diving for it, acting like normal people trying to catch something falling.  The Dalai Lama found this very funny and his laughter caused everyone to pause and laugh at the humor of the situation.  He said that in that moment everyone was human and everyone was smiling, feeling happiness.  The part that literally made me laugh out loud was was when he shared that ever since that moment when he’s in a very formal situation he’s secretly hoping for something funny to happen just so everyone can have a laugh and be more human!  How cool is that, someone of the Dalai Lama’s stature hoping for a trip or fall to add a little humor?

At yoga tonight we had one of those moments and I thoroughly enjoyed it, as did everyone in the room.  While we’re all very focused, serious about our breathing, and concentrating on how we’re moving there was a direction from the instructor that half of us misinterpreted as a different direction.  Realizing that half of us had made a mistake we all broke into laughter and enjoyed the moment.  There was no focus, stress, or concentration, only the joy of appreciating a magical little moment of humanity… and it was awesome!!!

Those little moments eliminate the differences that stand between us and unite us all as simple humans.  Those little moments make us all smile and remember that there is no difference between any of us, we’re all just people appreciating life.  How awesome is that?

Thanks!!!

If you’re looking for something serious and incredibly insightful today, you’re in the wrong place!  The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and I’m head over heels in love!  Becky won me over (yet again!) by making an awesome lasagna for supper.  If parts of this don’t quite make sense it’s because all of the blood that is rushing from my head to my stomach to help me digest…

Seriously?  Almost two years in and I haven’t been thankful for lasagna?  What’s wrong with me???  Two years of neglecting my favorite food in the entire world?  Sad.  I know, I was thankful for being totally spoiled by my mother in law and that was inspired BY lasagna, but it’s just not quite the same.

Ahh…  Cheesy, garlic filled, pasta perfection…  Life is pretty freaking awesome!  Thanks again for making my favorite food ever Becky – love you!!!

Thanks!!!

Becky and I kicked off the morning with a nice six miler, the first long run of our training plan for an upcoming half marathon.  Running while it was cool and quiet on the country roads alongside the lake felt wonderful.

Thanks to Uncle Nick and Aunt Jennifer there was a boat for us to cruise around on the chain of lakes.  Between tubing, wake surfing, and cruising we all had a great time just soaking in the sun and maybe having a hoppy beverage or two!  All eleven of us fit on their boat very comfortably and it was fun shooting the bull and listening to tunes.

There’s something about being on a boat on a sunny summer day like today that leaves me smiling from ear to ear.  No stress, just relaxation.  At one point I had the front of the wake boat all to myself and may or may not have fallen asleep for a little while 😉

Pretty soon we’ll head out for a bite to eat, maybe an Old Fashioned or two, and the day will be complete.

Thanks!!!