Sympathy Pain

What’s Halloween like in the Comer/Brown House? Well, this year it’s on a Wednesday. That’s my day with Jack. So, I offered to get his costume and get him ready for the evening. I picked him up after school, around 3:15. We stopped by the store to get safety pins and a trick and treat bag. Then on to the house to do homework and eat. Sarah got home, and we began the transformation. My little freckled face, blond haired boy became Jack-ula, the undead.

We went to the Baptist church up the street, to their Trunk-or-treat. This was Sarah’s first experience with the boy on Halloween, and her first Trunk-or-Treat. This church does it up right, with 5 inflatable play forts/slides. They also had about 20 cars decorated and giving candy out at each. It’s a great option for the 8 and under crowd. It’s a great way to enjoy Halloween in a safe, controlled way.

I do have to say at this point, some people should have a personal costume cop at there house. One lady, at this church function, showed more breast than I saw at my bachelor party. I’m not really sure who or what she was supposed to be. But nice ta tas. And…Super Girl, without the super abs. I wanted to buy her a body suit.

After 45 minutes, we traveled to bio-mom’s house. She lives in a sub division that does Halloween right. People park at the mouth of the sub division, and but the dozens, walk through. Some have flatbed hay rides. A bunch of the house are decked out with Halloween decorations. Jack was off with his friend to finish the trick or treating…without me.

Sarah and I went home, tried to give out some candy, and plopped on the coach to watch Gordon Ramsey tear an Indian restaurant to shreds.

Not very “Leave it to Beaver” but Jack had an awesome night. It would have been easy to just let Jack hang with his mom, but I really enjoyed having Sarah help get him ready then see the “crazy boy” at Trunk or Treat. I think he also was able to get the best of both houses.

I’d love to say that every holiday in a split family is this easy…but it’s not. Just read Kimberly’s site.

Jack and I went to Pizza Hut last night. We have been playing the “blow the straw paper” game at restaurants all around town…What? Unfamiliar with this game? We made it up…

Well, you use your glasses, cups, mugs…whatever you are using from for the “goal”. Place it directly in front of you. Then, put the balled up straw paper in the middle…then start trying to blow the paper and hit your opponent’s cup…both blowing at the same time. It usually ends up with him laughing to the point of not being able to blow. And when the food comes…game over.

Last night, I taught him to play paper football and quarter basketball. Most people have played football. We used a napkin, which didn’t last long, but he got the jest. Coin basketball isn’t as well known, so here are the basics:
Using a coin…a quarter is preferred, you start with the quarter close to your body and thump it toward the other person so it spins. The closer to them, the better. They will create a “goal”, by shaping both hands, on the table, in a tunnel shape, using their body as a backboard. You catch the quarter, as it is spinning between your thumbs. You have to keep your fingertips on the table, and either slam or shoot the quarter to the goal. If you make it, 2 points. If not, 2 bad. The other side gets the ball either way. It sounds harder than it is…

We had a blast. It was a fun evening. And I got to teach my son some games that will get him through many a lunch at school.

Speaking of games…Eliza does a great job of reviewing “real” games and toys. Check it out.

You know what I’m afraid of? Loosing Sarah. Not in the mall or Target, but during the pregnancy. What man hasn’t thought that? Yeah, woman have been giving birth since Eve, and we are in a technically advanced age, but woman still die in childbirth.Did you know that 1 in 3700 women die in America every year during childbirth? Morbid much? But it’s true.

Yes I worry about Tony. Every time he changes his movement pattern, I worry. Sarah, rather she admits it or not, worries about that little guy as well…but never for herself. So I get to worry about Tony and my wife. It’s kinda my job to look out for her. She’s so concentrated on the baby, between the two of us, he’s covered…but who cares for mom? I love her more than I though I would ever love anyone… except Bernadette Peters…

What if something goes wrong? What if I come home from the hospital either with just Tony…or alone. I know it’s stupid…but it’s still there. I’m not obsessing about it, or loosing sleep. But sometimes I think of loosing her…or them …and not in a “phew, now I can watch Baywatch” way…

I just wanted to write down the nervous father/husbands thought of the day. So if you’re an expectant dad…and you are having these thoughts…I understand.

I love North Alabama. We build rockets here for crying out loud. Having said that:
I awoke early this morning to go to Jack’s football. I REALLY wanted to sleep in. Sarah has been sinus-y…and pregnant and I am just sinus-y, so sleep is not uninterupted.
Side note:Did you know you could take sud-a-fed when pregnant? We didn’t think so, and neither did the on call nurse when she called to ask, and neither did the pharmacist. But, when Sarah was at her check up, she mentioned the congestion. He, who had already stated that he was “way behind” said, “just take sud-a-fed”…guess he’s the doc. (more…)

I got my degree in theatre from University of Montevallo in 1994. I worked for many years at the Alliance Theatre in Hot-lanta. I heave taught theatre at a couple high schools. I currently work in the theatrical light field. I have been extremely lucky to continue in the field my degree is in.

My wife graduated from a performing arts high school. She worked as a DJ for a while and does community theatre and some paid singing engagements. She also has been known to beguile a gentleman or three at open mic nights in the city. The first time I saw her, she was on stage.

We love performing arts. So, we are bring Jack up to appreciate them as well. He has easily seen more live performances than many adults.

We went and saw a very well done production of “A Year with Frog and Toad.” It was very cute. Jack walked around like the “Snail with the Mail” for hours afterwards. He also sang the tag line from the Snail’s song for a good day and a half…although he didn’t know the right words…it didn’t stop him. He really enjoyed the show.
It was a great family night out…and we took our friend Kari along…Jack needed someone to flirt with. He was excited about the show. He wasn’t feeling well at dinner, but given the choice of going home or the show, he picked the show. It did my heart good.

AND, “A Year with Frog and Toad” is required reading for 2nd grade. So he got a chance to see a story he had read come off the page. It was really cool.

You don’t have to be in the heart of american theatre to find something…but it does make it easier. So, keep a look out for local children’s shows.It’s a great opportunity to do something different, and let you child’s imagination go off in an entirely different direction…and you might enjoy it a little, too.

children’s theatre, theatre for young audiences, a year with frog and toad, independant musical productions

So, how many of you know what onomatopoeia means? My seven year old does. He made some noise today and said “That’s an onomatopoeia.”

Man, did that stop me short…I had to do a quick mental check for the word myself. It’s weird to hear something like that come out of my little boy.

That baby who handed his mom a wolf spider when he was two…which was scary and awesome all in the same moment.

That little boy who couldn’t reach the water fountain, so I’d have to hold him while he drank…and drank…and drank.

That little guy who stood in the hallway cheesing a huge smile on his first day of school…then freaked out when he was dropped off.

He now wears a size 3 shoe. His grandmother can actually fit in these shoes. He had 1 1/2 of homework tonight. I don’t remember having homework until I was in 3rd or 4th grade…and it had something to do with macaroni art. We had math, and reading, and spelling, and a project on the cottonmouth snake…no, admittedly I knew about the cottonmouth at his age, but that’s because I was raised next to a cattle farm.

“They grow up so fast” is the old adage…and true. And, when you are the non custodial parent…it goes even faster. For all you “part time” parents (I hate that term…but it fits) be even more appreciative of the time with your child. Before you know it…they’ll pop out the “onomatopoeia” card…oh, by the way…

on·o·mat·o·poe·ia [on-uh-mat-uh-pee-uh, ‑mah-tuh‑]
–noun 1. the formation of a word, as cuckoo or boom, by imitation of a sound made by or associated with its referent.

…Oh…and on the snoring front…I still am, but I’m supposed to go to a sleep specialist soon, if my insurance pays for it. But, I may not need it…check this out.

And…random link for those of you who go to the movies…ah movies…that sounds nice.

When does a child begin to develop his own sense of humor. My kid has been silly for years. That’s not waht I am talking about. I mean the type of humor that will continue through life. I have a very dry wit…most of the time…and a very quick mind. So i have been watching.
“Hey Jack…what do you want for dinner?” I was expecting “pizza” to be the answer…or Chick-fil-a. They have a play fort.
“I don’t know. how about Sonic?”
I had Pizza on the brain, So I say “How about Pizza?”
There is a pause.
“What did you say?”
“Pizza”
“Could you say that again, I just want to make sure you said what I thought you said”
I grin…”Pizza”
“Ok…I just don’t think you’ve ever suggested that before.”

No, It’s not Eddie Murphy…but it’s a start. It’s great to see his personality begin to grow into the next stage.

personality, Pizza, humor

personality, Pizza, humor

I Have tracked one branch of my family to 1465, Kent, England. Roger Billingsley. I have finally discovered an “across the pond” link. I never really knew where any of my family came from, and now I do. I found one that was “lost at sea”. I don’t know why, but I thought that was pretty cool. It also seems that I have a “Sir” in my heritage, Sir Thomas Vernon, Circa 1537, Comchester, England. (Whom I may have just found a link back to 1057) That’s my cousin in the picture…

Now, these may be all made up folks that have been thrown onto web sites, but I have really enjoyed the research. I’m waiting to get some names from my dad’s side to start that journey. I’m also going to work on Sarah’s family tree as well…I just hope we don’t cross somewhere…

I’m glad that I will be able to answer Tony when he ask were his family came from.

So, I give you my wife’s page. The Anvil Tree. She is an active blogger, and I love reading her stuff. Here is her latest:

Random Baby Thoughts
Filed under: The Mommy — Sarah @ 8:55 am
I realized, when I woke up this morning, that I am never pregnant in my dreams. I never have a child, I’m never bulging around the tummy, and I’m just me. This has both concerned me and fascinated me since I made this connection. One, because I feel the need to sit up and verify that I am, in fact, still pregnant every time I wake up and two, because I fear that my psyche has not yet accepted the baby.
Not that the psyche gets a vote, mind you. The baby is coming, for sure.

And get this: I will begin my 27th week of pregnancy on my 27th birthday. Odd? Yes. You pair that with the fact that Tony’s conception was on THE IDES OF MARCH, and it’s incredibly likely that my child will come out with a 666 on his forehead.

Then there will be a battle of epic proportions to determine who the real anti-Christ will be. Because we all know the other contenders out there. I’ll buy a ticket.

Although I’m slowly creeping into the uncomfortable phase of pregnancy, I’m starting to find a lot of peace with it. I enjoy the kicking now, and miss it if it lessens. I cry just thinking about holding Tony for the first time. (Yes, me. I’m that girl now.) And when we brought crib pieces in last night, I was suddenly struck with the knowledge that my baby will sleep there. My. Baby. Weird, huh?

But my favorite story about Tony thus far (other than his massive man-parts, which are still the stuff legends are made from), is that all of “my guys” here at work give me a hard time about the baby. (I say “hard”.. it’s just a lot of male ribbing, which I can give out as well as I can take.) They accuse me of faking the pregnancy, telling me I’m just trying to hide the extra weight I’ve put on. (Which is when I point out their gray hair, bald spots, and “baby weight”.)

One meeting, I was sitting at the computer, and was holding my tummy as Tony was being especially active. One of those same managers walked by, and said, “Quit acting like there’s a baby in there! There’s just NOT.”

And my son, the one with our comic timing, kicked my belly so hard that my badge flipped over.

He is SO our kid.

A few months ago, my cube mate was working on his family tree. He found out that he and his wife were distant cousins….um…yeah. It was interesting to hear him talk about the sites he was utilizing and some of the things he found out.

My brother-in-law has a Irish surname. I asked him about it once and he, of course, had a story. It seems that his great grandfather, along with to other 2 males of the family, were run out of Mississippi after a heated checkers match. They had to change their names and hide. These 3 took their real names to the grave. We have no idea what his real surname should be.

I am not from a very “history based” family. I don’t really know mt heritage, and thusly, Jack or Tony’s. So I thought I’d look into it. It’s been fun. Sarah thinks I’m obsessed, and it is time consuming at times. I have traced one of my “branches” back to a Maryland revolutionary patriot. Cool huh? Well, i also found a place where the tree branches…but comes back together…Ah young love.

So if you are interested, the best source I have found is Family Search. It is run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. No religious bias, please. The page is very helpful and very well maintained. You can down load an ancestor program to create your tree. You do have to register, but I have received no spam from the site what so ever. They have great searches and tips to help you along.

Who knows, you may be related to someone very exciting…or your spouse…which could be considered exciting in and of itself.