One Thousand Days

On July 5th, 2011, I'll turn forty. By then, I'll be deep into what I suspect is the "second half" of my life – I'm currently not banking on longevity, unfortunately. But I'd like to hang around to see the girls get married and see a little bit of the world. And if I'm going to do that, I better stop being such a fatass and get it in gear and get healthy.

On October 8th, 2008, there was exactly one thousand days until that not too far off birthday. One thousand days to feel better. Do better. Be better. A lot of the challenge is physical. But let's not discount the mental and spiritual aspects, either. I've got a lot of work to do.

And frankly, I'm not off to a good start. After a crushing schedule this summer, it's as if the ol' body say "Screw it, we're through!" and spent October punishing me for past abuse. We've all been sick and slow here, and only now are we starting to get back on track.

But lets get this whole show on track, and make use of these 1000 days. Hopefully, this isn't like the Meat Diary, or the Mexican Adventure, or any of the other big ideas that percolate to the surface of life and then evaporate like so much else. Hopefully this isn't the only time I'll have something to report on this front.

Lot of talk about hope lately. And change. Let's get going.

New York is a Go-Go

Okay, so while Cindy and Reese are out for Wave 1 of this afternoon's trick-or-treating adventure, hitting the Uptown shops with Granny in tow, it looks like we've got our New York trip fully booked and ready to go.

What trip, you ask? The one we were supposed to do two weekends ago for Cindy's birthday that we cancelled at 4am on the day of travel because Aidan had pneumonia. It's how the parent thing goes, doesn't it? Well, I suppose, technically, we could have gone – people do that all the time. Then you tend to hear about them on the news after DCFS comes knocking...

Anyway, it looks like we're finally a go. Early morning flight, lunch in Little Italy for Ms. Italian, some shopping and touristing through the afternoon (for all the time I more or less lived there at the end of last year, I never did do the tourist thing...) and a nice late dinner after a nap. Should be a nice, quick, much needed getaway.

Of course, I've probably jinxed the thing by writing about it now. Hopefully all goes well.

Oh Hey! Spooky Halloween!

Halloween here again. The girls make it fun, and I'm looking forward to hitting the streets with them tomorrow afternoon.

But something about the holiday bugs me. I'm not sure why. It's just never resonated with me. Probably because the folks never made a big deal out of it. "Halloween is from the Devil," they'd use to say. "Now enjoy yourselves!" And they'd send us out the door wearing the same costume every year. This one:Hard to get excited breathing through the same sweaty plastic for 10 years.

Writing From Aidan's Kindergarten Class...

Look at that! Another two months gone by in a blink. Damn.

Anyway, posted this over on Facebook last night, but will doubledown here to keep some of our audience in the loop:

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Every kid in Aidan's kindergarten writes a story a week in what they call "Writer's Workshop." The stories are collected into little books and shared with the parents. We have Book 2 tonite, and includes some real classics. Here's one of my favorites:

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ANIMALS IN MY HOUSE
by Luke, Age 5
I said, "Animal, get away from me!" I went upstairs and there was an alligator living on my stairs. I went in my room and there were foxes jumping on my bed. I went downstairs and there were chipmunks eating my dinner. I went down in the basement and all I saw was bunnies jumping all over and eating the sofa! I got an electric fence in the basement but the bunnies jumped over it and got eaten by alligators. Then, the bunnies in the stomach of the alligator ate the alligator. The foxes ate the chipmunks and from inside, the chipmunks ate the foxes. Then there was no more things.
The End
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I know, right?! It's a bit expected right up until those bunnies start eating their way out of the stomach of the alligators. Then it's a scene from Cormac McCarthy. Delicious. Here's another:

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THE DARK KNIGHT
by Anthony, Age 5
The Joker is fishing and catches Batman. And Batman pulls the fishing rod into the water while the Joker was holding on to it. Then Batman swims up from the water to the surface. Joker gets eaten by a shark. Batman goes back to the manor.
The End
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All in day's work for Batman! And I bet ol' Heath Ledger would have preferred being eaten by a shark. Most of the boys' stories run that way – lots of action, followed by a violent ending with a twist. Just like college.

Most of the girls' stories involve walks in the sun to the park or through a garden or to Antarctica to frolic with penguins and their parents. Still, in time for Halloween, one girl offers up this chilling tale of ultimate horror:

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SOMETHING IS IN THE CLOSET
by Kelly, Age 5
I was outside my closet and I wanted to go inside.
I heard a laugh inside my closet.
I was afraid to go inside.
I went inside anyway and I saw somebody else inside my closet!
And then I said "Mommy, look, there is someone inside my closet!!!"
And it was my baby brother. And my other baby brother.
The End
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Ah, good stuff.