family

One Week Later...

bob — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:59:02 -0400

It’s been seven days since the last post. God has not been idle.

A situation that was all but sealed in stone from a human perspective has been given an opportunity. What I and we do in response to this gift holds the key to where this journey leads.

I started counseling Monday and Mary came with me. I won’t go into details, but, just re-read that sentence. We *both* went. There is now “try” where there was “over”.

Yesterday was the date of our 18th wedding anniversary. Mary & I spent much of the day together (work has been more gracious that words can convey). She is truly a wondrous creation in Christ. Make no mistake, this is a journey we have ahead. (When I prayerfully consider what to blog on this, I receive the distinct impression that this is about as “open source” as I should be on this subject for a while). Just know that God is abundantly good and is most certainly working.

As far as the rest of the family goes, you’ve missed a birthday for Jarrod, a dance performance for Tori and a grooming for Pippin (and something from yesterday which I need to get pictures of before disclosing). I promise to get some things posted this weekend. Time has not been an ally this week and my finger therapy and skitzoid MacBook Pro (it has an electrical short somewhere) have also not contributed positively to the situation.

Please continue to keep all of us in your thoughts and prayers and that God would continue to use His Holy Spirit to heal all of us.

It's (Not) The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

bob — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:18:15 -0400

Apart from accounting professionals who make their living interpreting government economic legalese, I suspect tax season in the United States is the least favorite time of year from anyone required to file, or - in the case of this year’s “rebate” - anyone who wants to cash in on some government overspend.

I dread April 15th for many reasons: the inane tax rules, where my money is spent or just having to carve time out of my life to deal with them. I can think of no activity worse except, perhaps, root canal or cancer treatments (and I’ve had the latter).

We fared better this year than most. Moving actually helped, though you cannot deduct nearly as much as one might expect. I also had the joy of TurboTax (for the Mac) crashing three times, with two of the crashes resulting in some data re-entry (I save/copy and work from solid copies and also print/verify the data on the forms before e-filing, so no worries). More on Turbo Tax and Nathan Vander Wilt’s excellent & simple Numbers alternative on The Apple Blog.

While I/we haven’t posted much on the blog, suffice it to say for all readers that Mary is kinda not doing so well right now. It’s health-related, and she hasn’t cleared it for mass public consumption to e-mail, IM or direct Tweet me and I’ll give you the skinny in private. It’s going to be a difficult couple months, but things will hopefully start picking up after that.

Ian’s eczema really kicked in again this weekend despite daily doses of prescription elixirs. He has massive trouble napping and all but refused to go to sleep tonight. Back to the ped again for him if it doesn’t get better. I don’t recall giving him any of the foods he’s allergic to, but even a small amount can do him in for a day. Apart from the cranky sleep time, he’s the most wonderful little boy ever. Sentences are just pouring out of him now and you can have a pretty decent & meaningful conversation with him (as meaningful as a conversation with a two year old gets, anyway).

We missed Mars Hill as a result tonight, just when I was probably going to finally meet both Adam and Dustin in person and be there for the unveiling of “The City”. Links, et al, once I get to see it first! It was also way too cold to head out today - not that I had time, given the whole tax-prep-thing.

While I’m complaining alot (I just re-read the previous paragraphs), we have much to be extremely thankful for, too. We just need to get past this late-March, early-April garbage that seems to amass every year. Strangely enough, we usually have the same happen in the fall (and it’s usually car-related). At least we expect these things now!

I should be back to regular blogging this week, with most of the non-personal stuff moving to a new site (and not warpdriveactive.net - Mary has usurped that for her own evil purposes) and my TAB posts getting more regular/consistent. I still haven’t quite found my “rhythm” out here, but I’m getting there.

RDN Out…

Weekend Update - 2008-02-24

bob — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:36:31 -0500

Great weekend. Took the kids over to Kingston on the ferry then drove down to Bainbridge and headed for Fay Bainbridge State Park. Walked on the beach for quite a while (pics coming soon) and let the kids have at the plethora of sea shells. They found a whole scallop or oyster (haven’t opened it yet) and an intact starfish; they were quite thrilled.

I managed to get a decent & speedy solo bike ride in Sat and a relaxed one in on Sunday (with Ian in tow). Made an *awesome* chicken & spinach curry which we’ll be eating through Tuesday at this rate (I always make too much).

I also managed to get some EVE time in and need to update the corp web site (official charter and new home base).

We got to hear some of “On The Media” tonight (a rare treat these days) and I was very disappointed. Will there be any media channel that doesn’t deliberately promote Obama in some way, shape for form? I expected more out of a media watchdog organization. Nader’s announcement should make things interesting for a while. Lest we forget, there’s still time for martial law to be declared…even after elections are held. Sagging economy. Protracted overseas engagement. Cold war ruminations in the former Soviet Union and China…Pakistan in turmoil. India rising. Lots of kindling for fear.

Now continuing to enjoy a Düvel over the course of the rest of the evening (which may include more EVE) and trying not to anticipate the busy week ahead.