I haven't posted today yet.

Dear Bloggers-

This is just in time. I almost forgot because I was so busy with work today. I have decided that government health care will never work, just look at one of my favorite states on the Eastern Seaboard. They announce a new program, then don't bother telling all of us how it works. So we ask a whole bunch of questions and find out that all the information we need is locked up in government red tape. On top of the fact that the program was effective one month before they told us about it. Grrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!

Then I get put in charge of a small project to help tackle this problem, simply because it was my idea. Why did I have to open my mouth? Well it does save us a lot of time and energy and basically makes the bigger problem go away. So overall it is not really a bad thing and everyone thinks I'm smart. Though, they kept telling me to just have my assistant do it. I don't have an assistant. Well not technically.

Best Regards,

David

Glenn Beck & Mushrooms

Dear Blog Reader-

Yes you, I'm actually writing to you. I was listening to the radio during lunch. The boring talk radio, #1 listened to show in the country. No I don't usually listen to the radio much anymore, occasionally when I'm driving. Most of the time, I just like the peace and quiet so I just sit and think on my daily commute. With a child you need all the peace and quiet you can get.

I was going to go off about my opinions on my favorite news/talk radio hosts, but I'm sitting here watching the TV show about growing mushrooms at home is playing. It's fascinating and I'm getting distracted. My family and I love mushrooms. That would be really cool to start growing some. You can order away for a kit and grown them right in your home. We actually have a mushroom colony in the dirt right outside our door, however, I don't think you can eat that kind.

We decided to grow some strawberries this year, evidently our plants were doing very well this weekend, but that was before the latest snow storm. The plants that we have are supposed to grow the large juicy strawberries. Hopefully they haven't completely frozen, though I don't think it has gotten cold enough to kill them.

Well this has turned out to be a train of thought driven entry with no apparent purpose, except to say that even without a yard, you can grow things for your family to eat. Which strangely enough ties into what I was going to say about my current favorite news/talk, end of the universe radio host Glenn Beck. Who touts the virtues of self-reliance. I was thinking how the pulse of the conservative movement has started to shift from Rush Limbaugh to the more moderate, not exactly one political party host, Glenn Beck. If you haven't heard what he has to say, you should.

Have a great day,

Dave

Sick!

Dear Local Weekend Clinic-

I've decided that if something really serious ever happened on the weekend when the real doctors were resting, we'd all die. The nurse tech can't spell lettuce or is that lettus, or letuse or who really cares because it's probably not an allergy anyway. One wonders how he even passed Medical Terminology when it came to words like adenomatous, polyposis, gastroparesis or any other number of words that you only here in a real hospital emergency room.

That reminds me of the time we were in labor and delivery, the nurse had no idea what gastroparesis was but she knew how to spell it because she had taken her medical terminology. However, like all of the other nurses and doctors we visited while experiencing preterm labor, they could not tell my sons head from his rear. Even her OB mistakenly thought he could feel and ear when he checked her right before he told her to push. Poor kid came out through an emergency C-section with bruised bits.

Anyway, back to the current illness. The PA decided Dear Wifey didn't need to have IV fluids to rehydrate her, but rather prescribed some antinausea medication. She is doing better for now. Thank goodness it wasn't any worse.

Not very truly yours,

Dave

Bowling

Dear Bowling Alley-

We had so much fun today celebrating my son's birthday today. I was a little worried about how well he'd do, but he was great. After the bumper pads and ball launcher was in place, I think he scored better than me. He had a little hard time learning to take turns, but the pizza and ball return was enough to hold his attention.

We had a fun time with both Grandma and Grandpa. We also invited the aunt's, uncles and cousins. They joined us for pizza, bread sticks, drinks and of course bowling. We all took turns helping our little boy, but by the end he insisted that you stand at least six feet back so he could do it himself.

After we were done, we went back home for presents and cake. He got a T-ball set, a couple of car tracks, books and of course several new Elmo videos. Overall, it was a great day. We'll definitely return again to knock down those pins.

Best Regards,

Dave

EZ Catch Glove

Dear EZ Catch baseball glove retailer-

We recently purchased your child's toy, the EZ Glove velcro baseball mit. We thought it was a wonderful idea for a young child. You throw the soft ball and it sticks to the velcro in the mit.

Well we tried it with our now proudly 2 year old son, and nothin' doing. He would have nothing to do with it, he wanted the real thing. He grabbed daddy's mit and the big softball and went to town. Luckily we already bought him a real child sized mit. He's happy now.

It was a great idea, but didn't work for us this time.

Best Regards

Dave

Happy Birthday Son!!

Dear Son-

Happy Birthday!!! I can't believe you already 2 years old. I went to work late so I could be with you this morning. I found out that you are not really a morning person. It goes something like this, "I pee, I pee, diapy." I changed your diaper. Then a string of words, "Apple, Apple, pillow pillow." Once situated firmly on your parents bed, "Groupie, Elmu, Groupie, Elmu (translation:Grover & Elmo)." Once the DVD starts, "Ahhhh." This is your routine. Once you've had a bit of Elmo and finished your drink, you're good to go. Let's hope you never have to graduate to coffee to get going in the morning.

Mama sat on the bed going through your clothes this morning. I can't believe how many of them you had out grown. It seems like we bought them for you yesterday. But really, a lot of them you've had since your last birthday. I hope you have a great birthday and be good for your mommy while I'm at work.

Love,

Dad

Selfless

Dear Son-

Some days I wonder how you ended up with such a giving personality. You give love, hugs, kisses, share your food and many other things. You're really one of the most selfless 2 year olds I know. You want to make everyone happy. It's such a joy to me that you are learning this young how to think of others and that this quality is such an integral part of who you are.

We spend way too much time thinking of ourselves in life. We worry about how we will pay the bills and get enough sleep. Even at church we worry if we are good enough. It always seems to be about what we need rather than what someone else needs.

You have taught me more than anyone, that joy comes from helping others. Having to take care of your every need since you were born has helped me develop a deep love for you and brings fulfillment to my life. That is why I get sad sometimes when I see you getting so big and doing things for yourself. I will miss taking care of you (even the dirty diapers). Though, watching you grow brings me joy as well, because I see so much potential in you.

Rember that giving of oneself is the the key to joy in this life. We can search back and forth for the next great thrill, but nothing will bring us lasting joy except giving our whole selves to helping other people.

Love,

Dad

Ramblings

Dear Whoever is listening-

For the life of me, I can't think right now of someone that I would like to write a letter to. So I'm just writing an open letter with some thoughts of today. I started this blog, because I had a goal to post something everyday. I didn't really know if anyone would read it. In fact, I'm not sure anyone actually has read it, but I had a goal.

Honestly, my mind is so tired with all of the things I have had to do, I really don't feel like writing today, but I have goal. It is about accomplishing something. I could have just as easily said that I should leave it until tomorrow. Then I wouldn't have accomplished my goal.

What point is there really? I mean it really isn't an important goal, or is it? While the action is relatively simple, the principle can be life changing. I made a decision to do something. Should I shirk on this goal, it will be easier to shirk on others that might be more important. So that is what I have to say today.

Best Regards,

Dave

Pictures!!

Dear Nice Lady that took our pictures-

You did a wonderful job taking our family pictures. Well, actually you only had to take one picture of the whole family. The rest were of my dear, tired, ornery and rather uncooperative son. Thank you for putting up with the screaming and outfit changes. I'm not sure how you got any good pictures, but they turned out great.

We finally got him home in bed. He wasn't feeling well today, and if you read the rest of my blog, you would know he hasn't been sleeping well for the last couple of days.

However, next time we come in for pictures, we are not going to be doing all of the outfit changes. We are going to make sure he's had a nap, something to eat and plenty of caffeine to keep him chipper. Ya I know they shouldn't have caffeinee at his age, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Well, see you next year.

Best Regards,

Dave

Way too Early Morning

Dear "Way too Early Morning"-

Why did you have to come so early today in the form of my son waking up at 2:30 am, wide awake with no chance of going back to bed. I know it was partly my fault for letting him go to sleep early. He fell asleep about 6:30 for a late nap. I usually wake him up, and tried to. Well, when mom got home he fell back asleep in her arms and she said to let him sleep.

Then came the cheerful but pleading call at 2:30 this morning, "Apple, Apple" (See previous letter for explanation of this). I knew we were doomed. From 2:30 until 5:09 when I got up for work, it was, "Apple, Apple..puppy not work, need bat (batteries).. pee pee, poo poo, apple, puppy, bat, work, pee, diapy." At least mom took him down to frost a cake. I honestly don't know how she is functioning today.

Well, "Way too Early Morning", I consider my lesson learned. An early morning is much worse than a late night.

Yours not so truly,

Dave

Elmo Love's You

Dear Elmo-

I have to thank you Elmo and your friends, Grover, Big Bird, Oscar, Bert, Ernie and Cookie Monster. You have given me so many moments of peace. I would say peace and quiet, but unfortunately, while you entertain my son, you do so rather noisily. We now own at least 5 of your videos, any less and I would go crazy having to listen to the same one over and over again. Grandma even has you recorded on the DVR for when we visit. It at least keeps him occupied.

Thanks to your creative merchandising, we now own 3 Elmo dolls, 1 set of Elmo slippers, many Elmo books (both silent and musical), a selection of DVD's and last but not least the talking Elmo chair. I almost forgot the outfit or two that have shown up in the closet. So I can certainly say, "Elmo, my family loves you!!!!"

Love,

Dave (and family)

It's not really naptime :(

Dear Sleeping Son-

I shouldn't let you take a nap this late in the evening, but you were so tired. I know that you will wake up and be up till all hours of the night. You will also get up early in the morning so you mom can't rest. You might even be cranky again tomorrow, but you just need the rest. Well, at least you're getting the rest you need.

Just please don't dream about the musical toy puppy that needs batteries and sing that disturbing song. You have already been talking about him for days now. I've had 2 calls at work and last night you were sad when we said he was still at Grandma's. We'll have to visit him this weekend. Now it's time to wake you up before Mom gets home.

Love,

Dad

Confusing Universe

Dear Universe-

You know it's got to be a big thinking day when I start writing a letter to the universe, but you've got me rather frustrated at the moment. I really can't complain, life has been too kind to me after everything I've been through. I have received much more than I deserve. A wife who puts up with me and shows me love, and a son who is the joy of my life. I may not be rich, but I have a place to live and food on the table.

So what is there to complain about? The confusion get's to me. I try to make sense out of things, but sometimes there isn't a black and white answer. Sometimes things aren't just right or wrong. Sometimes their neither.

Like, how do you help someone that doesn't really want the help? You know they aren't happy, you know how to help them be happy, except for one small thing. You don't know how to help them want to be happy. So do you just keep trying, or is wanting to help enough?

The hardest and probably the most difficult thing about living in this universe, is that you cannot take away another's right to choose.

Best Regards,

David

Singng Puppy?!

Dear Singing Toy Puppy-

What did you do to my son? I haven't stopped hearing about you for 4 days. My
son goes around saying, "Puppy.. not work.. battery." It all started on Saturday
when he was playing with you. You needed new batteries because you would
only get about halfway through you're annoying song before cutting out. Well,
after a great deal of angst about you needing new batteries, we changed them at
my sons request. He then decided he didn't like your song, and was getting
upset so we put you in the other room. But, I haven't stopped hearing about
you!!!!

We're going to have to drive to Grandma's and visit you so that he will know that
you are okay and that you work properly. Just so you know, he may not like your
song, but he is vitally concerned about your wellfare.

Your's Truly,

David

Lonely Soul

Dear Lonely Soul-

I see you often. I worry about you more. I can see your troublesome thoughts, worries and pain in your eyes. There is also a yearning for friendship, but more than that a want for someone who understands. Funny thing is, you have people around you everyday that you laugh with and work with, but they don't seem to feel the void. You won't let them in.

Is it a sense of pride that you need to make it on your own, or are you have you experienced so much hurt that you can't risk letting anyone else in? That I can't see in written on your face. Then I ask myself, why do I even care? Why should I put myself out there and risk being hurt myself?

It's because, I've been there. In some ways, I still am. Things happen in life that hurt us and we want to close off, but we can't. We need each other to survive. It gives us a purpose. In all the hurt and pain, we need to know that someone else understands. That's why I search. That's why I listen, so I can find a purpose for my own suffering. That by my pain, I can lift another and make their world a little brighter.

Your Friend,

Dave

Little Man

Dear Son-

You wore your new suit to church on Sunday. You were so cute. We have never put you in a full suit. You were so proud. When we tried it on you the other night, you just stood in front of the mirror and kept saying "Dad." Then you cried when we took it off.

I got you dressed this morning, and you kept telling me that you were going to church and that you looked like dad. I even wore a tie the same color as yours.

Everyone thought you were cute and looked like a little man. That you did. I was even impressed how much you acted like a little man (at least for a few minutes). You sat so quietly, folded your arms during prayer, followed along in the hymn book and didn't run around. I was so proud of my little man today.

Love,

Dad

Apple, Apple

Dear Son-

If I hear you yell "apple, apple" one more time. I think I spend my life savings buying you apple juice. We're at least good enough to water it down. Funny thing is, you'll drink water sometimes, if it's not in a sippy cup. I can get you to drink milk, but only out of your cereal bowl when it's filled with all the sugary goodness. But if you had a choice, you would drink only apple juice.

When you get up, the first words out of your mouth are "apple." When I get home the first word out of your mouth is "apple." When I put you in bed, the last thing you say is "apple." The dentist will have a fit at your next visit. At least your mother is good about brushing your teeth and letting you floss. She really is the better example.

She even got you to like helping with the laundry, vacuuming, cleaning, cooking......do you even play with toys? I watched you load and unload the washer last night with glee. Then you transfer the clothes from the washer to the dryer and start it. You even hauled some clothes upstairs for me to fold. If you were big enough, you'd vacuum all the carpet in the house. You already use the Dustbuster and shop vac in the kitchen. Your favorite word next to apple is "Vacky" for Vacuum.

I am amazed everyday at how you grow and learn. I'm grateful that you still let me hold you, even though you are growing up so fast.

Love,

Dad

Patience

Dear Son-

I have never thought of myself as a patient person. After all, my parents weren't exactly the best example of being patient. So how did you get so patient? You must have learned it from your mother. This morning you come toddling into our room with pillow in tow and stand there. You simply say "up" waiting for one of use to help you on the bed. Which is actually pretty weird because you can climb on the bed yourself and usually do. Your mother and I are pretty much dead to the world and five minutes go by before I realize you are still standing by the bed.

I sit up and you start telling me about your pillow and how you peed. The sudden realization that I had given you half a bottle of Gatorade right before bed came to mind. I hadn't even watered it down. Now I know better than to do that because that stuff make you pee like a race horse. It all became clear why you didn't climb into the bed, because your diaper leaked and you were wet. I get up and walk over to you and thankfully you were only a little damp. I change you and put you up in bed with us.

Then you need your pillow. Now, I completely understand having a security pillow because I did growing up. Actually, its not the pillow itself, but the pillowcase. So I go back in your room to see how wet you pillow is, but it was gone. Instead it was back in our room waiting even more patiently than you by the side of our bed. I pick it up and your mom starts to mumble something about how she gets a laugh every time I have to go find your pillow because its my fault for introducing those special pillowcases to you because you won't sleep on anything else.

I don't blame you, I haven't slept on anything else for 30 years. I even have to take my own pillow on vacation. It all has to do with having a cold pillow. (Did you know there is a Facebook group for people that flip their pillow to the cold side?) I have to have those silky pillow cases, because they get cold faster. Remember, I have no patience. I don't want to wait for a cotton pillowcase to get cold. It's also why I always sleep with 2 pillows, so I can switch them out if one isn't getting cold fast enough.

So from your mother you have learned patience (except when you want apple juice, then we better move heaven and earth, but that's for another letter.) and from me you have learn the joys of sleeping on a cold pillow, and we both know which is more important.

Love,

Dad

Inner Voice

Dear Inner Voice-

I'm tired today. You can usually tell I'm tired by the spontaneous pauses in my speech that usually occur mid-sentence and I end up staring at people waiting for a response, forgetting that I was even saying .......(sorry, I'm back now) something at all. That's stage 1 tired. In other words I do that most all of the time now that I have a child.

Stage 2 is even more entertaining because I become verbally lexdysic, sorry, dyslexic. (That is how you spell that isn't it?) Sometimes the terbal vranslates into written lexdysia and I spell things wrong without even noticing. The best is when I start transposing words and letters. I don't even realize it until someone questions me about what I just said.

Well today, I have reached Stage 3 tired. My inner voice has now become verbally, well at least silently verbally dyslexic. I mean no one else can hear the voice in my head. But it does tell a good joke once in a while. I even laugh out loud at it sometimes. As I sat a work trying to concentrate on this Friday the 13th (supposedly we have 3 of them this year, not a good thing.) I was going over my work list and started thinking about Mexas Tedicaid. Just think about it a little bit and you'll figure out what I was trying to say. It was at that moment that I realized that I am dead tired and there is a reason that I was 2 hours late today.

So my dear inner voice, at least tomorrow is Saturday and you can rest a bit. Just don't get ornery at me today or I'll quit talking to you.

Best Regards,

Dave

Independence

Dear Son

When did you get so big. Some days I wonder if it was a good idea to let you be adventurous and independent. You may be only two, but you haven't figured that out yet. The world would tell you that you couldn't do anything at your age, but you insist that you want to do things yourself. Last night, you decided to treat your own diaper rash. It was pretty bad so you took your diaper off and started rubbing in the Desetin. You mostly got it in the right places, except for that big white spot on the floor that won't come up. I have to admit that I was mad at first, but then I realized you weren't just playing around, you were trying to help yourself and learn. I have to apologize.

Then there are the times when you take the lid off your sippy cup and fill it with water. You don't even ask for help anymore. Then you take the lid off to get the last bit of juice almost like you didn't need the lid anyway. You really can do things for yourself. I just miss being able to help you and take care of everything for you.

So many people in this world don't want you to succeed. They want to stop you from progressing, but you need to stand up and keep going. Their jealous that you have such a drive to succeed. Some look at you and think you're too small. Others just worry that you'll hurt too much if you fail. That strong will and independant attitude will take you far in life.

Remeber failure is not a bad thing, its a chance to grow. When you first wanted to crawl, you couldn't figure it out, You would flop down and cry because you couldn't get where you wanted. We helped you and made you keep going because we knew you wanted to. Since then, you just keep trying and succeeding. Even at 9 months old, you learned to never give up. I'm so proud of you and hope that I will never be the one to tell you that you can't do it.

Love,

Dad