Monday, February 23, 2009

37 days to go . . .

And we both had good weekends. Carly had a great time at her first baby shower. You should check out the swag she got! Some really neat stuff, and the nesting is in full force.

And I was thinking a lot about this new life. Part of the reason we are so comfortable having a baby (and we ought be now, because she's coming anyway) might have something to do with our life. We are two very happy people. We both have jobs we enjoy (as much as someone can enjoy a middling job).

And now I am getting envolved in the community. Last fall it was flag football. Now, I am coaching Bemidji Bombers. We had our third tournament this weekend. It hit me when I saw one fo the kids making a very simple move that I taught him. He made an easy basket cut. He missed the layup, but the play was there, and he saw it. He saw it because I gave him the tools. That feels good.

Later, we were playing a team whose coach was an asshole. He was yelling at his kids, yelling at the refs, yelling at anyone who would listen. One of my kids came over, put his hand on my shoulder, and said, "Coach, I'm glad you aren't like that guy." We smiled.

These kids are having fun, and learning at the same time. They are a great group of boys, but they have something wrong. They think I am doing them a favor by coaching. Nothing could be farther from the truth. They are doing me the favor letting me coach them, and what I am gaining is so much greater.

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Wednesday, February 11, 2009

49 days to go

And I have been thinking about being a "grown up". I guess what that boils down to is I cant quit my job. That sounds lame, but really, that's the only thing that I am doing resposibly that I didn't already do.

I have had a lot of jobs over the years, and I have come to a very certain conclusion: I am never happy with my boss. I think this comes for a nice mixture of being brighter than most of them, and being arrogant enough to make the above statement.

In this case, though, it couldn't be more true. I think the guy is smart, but I don't think he is all that bright. He'll give away the farm just so he doesn't have to deal with problems, and then complain about the money we are bringing in. That's a rough one for me to handle, especially when the customer is wrong (which, contrary to common addages, is a lot). And a few years ago I would have just gave my notice, and come what may.

Now, though, I have a family to think about. And that means toughing it out, even though I know the situation won't get better, so I can make sure my child has all the things she needs, and her mother doesn't have to work for all of them. That's growing up, I guess.

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Tuesday, February 10, 2009

NEW DIRECTION

...because I have need of a space to write a few thoughts, and this space is still available, I am changing this from the sport themed blog it sometimes was, to a journal of my life, mostly as it relates to the arrival of our newborn girl.

For those of you that did not know the above, well, suprise! She will be born in 50 days, and we are naming her Keira Lorainne.

Today, I want to talk, if I might, about the pregnancy itself. I have heard all these horror stories about what it would be like: the mood swings, sleepless nights, etc. It may be a testiment to how well we deal with things, my wife and I, or just to her strength of character (more likely), but so far - knock on wood - it has been relatively easy going. Carly is, no doubt, uncomfortable, but she has not once let it effect her mood.

Part of that, too, has to be how amazingly excited we both are to have this child. This is something we have wanted for some time, and after a short period of trying, it happened. The idea of being parents, I think, far outweighs the discomfort of the process, or the "sacrifices" we are asked to make.

And that is probably easier for us, as well. We are not partiers, and our friends are all very low-key, low maintenence people, as are we. I know our lives are changing, and are about to change more, but our otherwise boring lifestyle lends itself to change easier than most.

Anyway, as you can see from teh scattered thoughts above, I am still trying to find a place for all this, and a process for, well, processing it all. This space, I imagine, will help with that, and might distill some of the things left floating in my head.

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