Manski Monday: Hanging Out

We just finished up bath time and now we have got both of the boys in bed. That was kind of funny, actually. Aiden would start to fuss, then Collin would start to fuss. Then it just became a bit of a fuss back and forth battle. Of course, Mr. Collin, "Super Diaphragm," won. Holly finally went in and says that Aiden is asleep and Collin is talking to the sleeping Aiden. Hahaha.

Having these two midgets together is seriously funny, frustrating, feel good, and just genuinely fun to watch. After putting together Collin's super cool Cars (the movie) race track, it was a battle to get Aiden to leave the Secret Agent car alone. Every time that the car would come by Aiden, he started to shoot his hand out to grab it. Then you have Collin, "Ay-en, don't!" I can't even describe how awesome it is to see these two boys interact, to play together, to attempt to grasp the concept of sharing, and to even bicker at each other. Just too funny.

Earlier today . . . It was just me and the Mini Manski while Holly was at work (Collin was with his Daddy). Aiden decided that he would be ready for a nap when the DirectTV guy showed up to assemble the satellite dish. Aiden was passed out the entire time. I don't know what was louder, David's (DirectTV installer) drill gun or Aiden's snoring. I think he gets that from me.

But the best part of the day was when Aiden and I were on the floor, wrestling. At the front door I hear the door handle turn. And here she is. Looking beautiful as ever. Holly. My love. But before I can even get a "Hello" out, Aiden smiles at her and just starts talking away. Freakin' player!!! It is such a great thing seeing those two together. She is simply amazing with him.

Just a lazy day!

So, today just happens to be one of those lazy days. Started off at 6:30 a.m. for some retarded reason. (Thank you Aiden) We just chilled around the room for a little while. I decided to take a shower with the doors blocked open so that I can pay attention to Aiden playing. Well . . . Mr. Stretch Armstrong somehow got his box of bunny cheddar crackers, and decided to dump a bunch all over the floor, then proceed to stomp all over them and trail them into the bathroom and then back into the bedroom. Frustrating? Yes. Funny? IT WAS SO HARD NOT TO LAUGH!!! Especially when I have to jump out of the shower to grab the box from him. Yes. Quite a funny sight.

We ended up chillin' (after I cleaned his mess up) on the floor. Aiden was loving trying to take apart my bracelets, and then my hand happened to sneak up his shirt or up his pant leg for some tickle torture. Actually, I don't really know if you can call it torture because he really enjoys getting tickled. And if he does not want to be tickled, he turns it off. NO JOKE!!! You can be going to town on the normal tickle spot, and he will just look at you like you are a moron, or just look/walk away. That is just not fair.

While talking with my most beautiful girlfriend on her lunch break, I really started wanting some pizza. I cannot remember the last time I was able to order a pizza that I wanted! So, after Holly and got off the phone, after an hour telling each other how freakin' excited we are that we are getting to see each other tomorrow night!!! After talking about how fun it is to finally have all of our kids together, under one roof, for a whole entire week!!! We hung up, and I called Red Baron Pizza in Big Bear Lake. Ordered me a pepperoni and breakfast bacon pizza!!! You know you are jealous. Especially looking at that beer. So puto good!!! What are your favorite styles of pizza?

Yes! I am a tatted father!

Just in case it was not obvious, I have tattoos. And . . . AHHHHHH . . . . I am a father. There is such negativity that revolves around tattoos, but add in that you are a parent and the world has come to an end. Believe it or not, my first tattoo drilled into my right forearm once I was out of my parents house.

I had the greatest of intentions when getting this tattoo. That is Hebrew writing, and it is supposed to say "God is Love", but later on in my days of repairing appliances, I end up at Jewish families house. And their Bar Mitzvah teacher was there. Come to find out, that is not exactly the way it is supposed to be.

 My second tattoo is a cross with the face of Jesus in it. It was eventually supposed to be colored in, but that obviously has yet to happen. There really is not much of a story to this one. I wanted a tattoo, saw the drawing in the shop, liked it and got it.

My third tattoo I got not long after Madison was born. I found a new artist in Santa Barbara, but I did what a lot of people stupidly do; I did not listen to the artist when it came to his thoughts about the tattoo. I found the design online, and instead of listening to what he had to say about changing it up, I decided to put my foot down about it. I wanted a tribal badly. I found something that I liked a lot. The end result . . . I wish I would have listened to my artist. hahaha

For a very, very, very long time, I have loved the art of Japanese tattoos. At the same time, I also regreted the mis-translation on my right arm. So, yes, I got it covered up with one of my fav tatt art. The dragonfish on my forearm is the koi fish that has reached the waterfall and is now transforming into the dragon. I started getting this tatt after my ex-wife and I separated, and for me, the dragonfish symbolizes that transformation.

Getting that first tattoo was a really hard decision to make. I grew up in a very strong Christian household and family, and I was also very involved in the church. So, you can imagine what was going through my head, What is my family going to say? They are going to kill me? Is this going to be an issue with my job? What is my church going to say? I finally got to the point that I just did not care. The tattoo was meant to grab people's attention. To get them to ask questions about it. What I never did was put any thought into the amount of negativity that stemmed off of something with pure positive intentions.


I have heard of a lot of tatted parents getting such negative looks, comments, and so on in regards to their tattoos. I have only had a couple of negative experiences, and they were all dirty looks. Sure, dirty looks do not speak audibly as do words, but you would have to be blind to not see what those looks meant. I find it incredibly ridiculous that people find the need to just judge your parenting skills or abilities because you have art inked on your body.


I was actually discussing some ideas for my left arm with Holly a couple of weeks ago. The ideas were so great that I was really getting excited about them. I made the stupid decision to talk to someone about it, and they tell me that "If you like it for the art so much, then frame it". Tattoos, in themselves, are art. But, it is the meaning behind and in them that is so much more.


To me, now that I have "grown up", tattoos have such a strong meaning to me. Tattoos are not just beautiful art, but they also tell stories of where you were in life at the time that you got it. They may have been gotten to remember a loved one, to show that you have overcome a great hardship in life. If you look back a bit, Tattoo Thief goes over Holly's tattoos, and they all pretty much cover what I just said. She has done what I am currently sucking at doing . . . putting serious thought into what she is getting inked into her skin. Her current work in progress is prolly my fav so far. Just think, there is more to come with it. More to be added. I am actually anxious about it.


Now, who out there has tatts? I know you are out there. Did you have any negative feedback? Are there any meanings behind your tatts?

The Often Futile Attempt to be a Family Man, Work a Graveyard Shift and Juggle School

Five years ago this month, my ex-wife and I moved out to Big Bear, CA to start fresh, help my mom out with my dad, and hopefully give our daughters a better place to grow up. (Andria was in the oven at the time.) It was perfect timing, moving from the beaches of Ventura county to the mountains of Big Bear at the beginning of winter. Freakin' brilliant!!! It took me till Janurary to get the job at the cement plant where I am now, and it was said in the job description that I would be required to work day, swing, and graveyard shift. At the time, I did not think that I would have to worry about it. I figured I would be able to work day shift for a long period of time . . . Boy was I kidding myself. I worked all three shifts for almost two years, and then I got the position that I am in now, and December marks 3 years of graveyard for me.

I guess I cannot always complain when I get to see this at times.

Working a graveyard shift, when sometimes having to pull a 12 hour shift, and then trying to go home and be a family man is something that the word hard does not even start to cover. Get off work at 7 am, home around 7:30 am, get the oldest ready for and off to school, get the youngest off to the babysitter, then go home and attempt to go to sleep. I say attempt because now I would be all wound up from running the kids around and couldn't sleep. Unless it was one of those days that I was running the kids around with one eye open. Then I would, again, attempt to wake up to get the kids and help the ex with dinner when she got home, or go in to the room to go into a coma until it was time to get ready for work. It seriously killed me. I felt like I never got to see my family. I felt as though the only thing that I was accomplishing for my family was bringing home the chedda. I felt half, or more, worthless most of the time. I tried to make the most of it, but it seemed futile.

Chasing Dale at Grandma Ginger's house

The Janurary after I had gotten into the position, Jennifer and I decided to separate, which obviously ended in divorce. Later that year I ended up with Aiden's mom, and cycle started all over again.

Glow stick bath time

But then I decided to make things harder on myself, and my kids, by starting school around spring time this year. Get home, get Tamara's kids ready and off to school, get back home, eat something, go school for a few hours, go into a coma state for a few hours, wake up, go back to school while making dinner, and then get ready for work. Sound a bit hectic? It was actually worse than it sounds, but somehow I was able to deal. Well, for a minute. hahaha

Bath time in the kitchen sink with the Boo Boo

Madison thought the she would come over and be a comedian, (about what, I do not remember) but her getting drenched was the end result!!!

The biggest problem that I have had over these amost three years of graveyard shift, is not being able to spend more time with my family. Family is very important to me. My kids are very important to me. I love to be able to sit there with my kids; play a board game, put together a puzzle, tickle torture them, give them baths and get my own bath while I am at it, have tea time with the girls, chase Aiden around the house because he just cannot play in one spot for more than 5 seconds. But I cannot do it enough. Being on graveyard and going to school robs me of one of the greatest treasures in life: playing with my children while they still want to play with me. Playing with my children before they get to cool for me, and prefer to go play at their friends house instead. Playing with my girls before they are going out on their first date and I am answering the boy knocking at the door with my 12 gauge short stock shotgun. (don't worry . . . it won't be loaded . . . at least not with lethal rounds . . . sandbags or rubber shots? hahaha)

No, she was not given those at Mardi Gras.

Does anyone have some similar issues? Anyone juggling a ridiculous work schedule and trying to be a parental figure at the same time?

I guess I should have posted this last week, but . . . better late than never. This is when I was with the band King Size Zero. (Holly thinks this picture is funny. IDK!!!)

As I sit here, desperately holding back the tears of regret for not being able to be there more for my kids, I then think about the wonderful woman that has been brought into my life. A woman, who like any woman, has her selfish tendencies to want to be with me every chance that we get, but then thinks about my children and will tell me straight up "I am not going to come out to you this time because you need to go out and see your daughters." A woman that wants nothing more than for me to be able to build a solid relationship with my children even it means sacrificing time with each other. Now, as I sit here, frantically stopping my welled up eyes from running over, I will leave you here. 

Music . . . The 5th Love of My Life

In you may be wondering how I captured Holly's heart . . . I simply sat down at a piano beneath the waning moonlight. As I looked down the length of the lustrous grand piano, there she was. As she walked ever gracefully toward the bar next to the gazebo, I started to play Liebestraum by Liszt. The intertwining notes were caught by her ears. She stopped mid stride. As she turned to lock eyes with mine, her hair . . . If you were buying any of this, I'm sorry. I just could not help myself.

This is the piano that I grew up playing and learning much of what I know today. (not much in my humble opinion)

So, how did I end up putting music as my 5th love? Let me "a break it down". (Yes, that was a DJ Lance reference. Don't hate.)

     1. Holly

I mean . . . DAYUM!

     2. My kids (this includes Collin)

     3. My dog Oreo . . . I mean come on . . . How can you not love that face?!

     4. English: editing, writing, and definitely reading

     5. Music: listening, playing, and performing

According to my ma, I have always been seriously into music as a kid. She says to this day, "You never sang or hummed the main parts of a song, you were always listening to what was going on in the background, and you sang or hummed those parts instead." So, I guess that isn't normal?! Psh! I don't know, but what I do know is that I am no musical child prodigy. I am simply a person that loves music more than most people can understand. Thank God I found Holly. An amazing woman with the same love and respect for music.

I started playing the piano at some point in elementry school. I remember telling my Uncle Ernie (Who is an amazing musician. I cannot begin to explain how much I look up to him as a musician), "I want to play the saxophone like you." So his retort ends up as, "Not until you learn how to play the piano, read the music, and learn the theory that sustains it all." (No this is not verbatim. I'm 28 years old and this was like 18 - 20 years ago. Geez) So, we end up finding a piano teacher that is about three blocks away from my house. Which ends up being two houses down from my grandparent's house. I went to this teacher until the end of 8th grade of sometime in 9th grade. A couple of years before I left this teacher, I started venturing off, musically, on my own. I would spend HOURS in Henson's Music Store back home, just perusing the sheet music in search of something that popped out at me. Something finally did one day . . . Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. And learning to play classical music was all that I wanted to do, but that was not a direction that my current teacher was able to do. So I left that teacher, and was in "piano teacher limbo" for a couple of years, because I became a BAND NERD. That's right . . . I was THAT cool guy!

In junior high, I picked up my dad's alto saxophone and strolled my happy butt into Mr. Butler's classroom to learn how to squak on the sax. When I got into high school I joined the marching band (football field show) for the first semester, and concert band for the second semester. I guess that over the years I became a decent saxophone player, but to this day, I prefer to remain humble . . . and I am very stubborn about it. What I will do for you all though, is let you in on what I did, musically, in high school: Freshman year - I did not get to march in the show, but I got to help out in field set up; got to perform in concert band. Sophmore year - got to perform in the field show with the theme based on the concert piece Africa; performed second chair in concert band. Junior year - got to perform in the field show with the theme based on the movie, The Mask of Zorro; got to perform in concert band, first chair; performed in jazz band, was awarded the Louis Armstrong award for soloing. Senior year - got to perform in the field show with the theme based on the Broadway production Miss Saigon, was section leader, we won multiple Sweepstakes awards that year; performed in concert band, first chair, section leader; performed in jazz band, lead alto sax, was awarded the Louis Armstrong award for soloing. I guess that would be considered the modest version.

For a few years, starting in about my junior year in high school, I played saxophones in a ska core band called King Size Zero. That was an amazing experience. My dream was to eventually play jazz for a living. Not necessarily as a frontman, but to just be on stage, performing, sharing my passion with others. Now that that dream is not going to be coming to fulfillment, I will share my passion and love for music with my children and Holly. I can only hope and dream that they will be as passionate about music as Holly and I are, and that they will strive to excel in music. So do your kids play any instruments, or do you want them to if they currently don't? Do you have a particular passion for music or play an instrument yourself?

Q and A with the Manski!

Well boys and girls, here I am . . . the Manski!!! Ok, actually, my name is Jacob. Boyfriend, love, soul mate and many other things, to the one and only Holly. A truly amazing woman as I am sure that you all have come to know. As you have also probably come to learn from my rambling beauty, I am also a bit of an English dweeb, but we can get into that aspect of nerd-dom later on. About a week or two ago, Holly floated the idea of me contributing to her blog. There were two things going on in my head at the same time . . . Um, I don't know about all this. I can not risk the possibility of ruining her blog . . . and . . . Dang!!! This could really be fun. Give us a chance to connect more than we already are. Give people a better look at how crazy in love we are with each other and our kids. So I obviously went with thought #2. So Holly decided to go with a Question and Answer session with all of you to help break the ice. So without further ado . . . here we go!!!

Can you tell us about your kids?

Madison just turned 8 on September 28, and Andria is 4 this past June 1. Both girls I had with my ex-wife, Jennifer. Then we have my little guy, Aiden, who is 1 as of this past May 25, only a couple of hours before my mom's birthday. She was really hoping for her birthday. I had Aiden with my ex-fiance. My kids are simply amazing. Telling you all about my kids in a short bit = impossible.

Madison is very much like her mother with it comes to the attitude. And I am not talking only about the verbal attitude, but the kid makes the physical gestures too! GEEZ!!! But then she has become an avid reader like me. She always has a book, and lately she has been reading about three books at one time. She has become so scary smart, that her mom and I may have to get her a tutor before high school to help with the math . . . cuz let's face it, I may be a musician, but I suck at math.

Andria, or Andie, but most of the time Boo Boo (because if you put that hair up in pigtails, she looks just like Boo from Monsters, Inc.). My ex-wife and I named her after Jennifer's brother, Andrew. She is quite the little unstoppable fireball, and I know what you are already thinking . . . She looks just like me. Now you know what I would look like if I were a girl. She is so smart that I think that her and Madison will be intellectually competing in college. When she meets someone new, she likes to put off a little shyness at first, but in about 5 - 10 minutes, you CAN NOT get her to stop talking. She is also the tough one of the two. She could get a nice scrape down her leg and just keep on going without a single tear shed.

Aiden . . . God . . . How is it possible to love something so tiny? How is it so possible for something so tiny to be so flippin' SMART!? This little guy is too cool/cute for words. The day after Aiden was born, he was transported down to the Loma Linda NICU. (We can get into this another time) It is actually a little bit hard for me to talk about the little guy, because I am in the middle of a custody battle right now with his mom, and as of this weekend, I finally got to see my boy after almost three weeks. Kind of an emotional topic.

How was it leaving your ex for Holly?
Good question. I have a question for you . . . Which time? I believe the ticker is twice. The first time I left her for Holly, I was completely jumping the gun. I knew that I needed to plan things out right, but I was beyond overly anxious to "get the show on the road". But after I left her, I felt like I should have put a little bit more into it. To at least try a little bit harder. So I went back . . . STUPID!!! IDIOT!!! The second time I left her . . . ZERO regrets. ZERO desire to try harder. It was not as planned out as I wanted it to be, but forget about it! I knew what I wanted for the first time in my life. I knew with out a single doubt in my mind that I had found the one and only woman who could truly make me happy for the rest of my life. I grabbed the opportunity by the balls, yanked hard, and I have not, and never will, looked back. It was a little hard the second time. I'm not going to lie. I was hurting someone. I would not be human if I did not realize that. But I was not going to pretend to be happy for the rest of my life.

Why are you majoring in English?
It took me 10 years to finally figure out what I wanted to do with my life. And do you know what made the light bulb turn on in my head? I was reading a book one dead night at work, I saw some horrible editing mistakes in a very well known publishing company, and thought to myself I can be editing this stuff. I am tired of seeing stupid mistakes. What do I have to do? So I started doing my research, and here I am, working on an English major. I have been reading like crazy for my entire life. I remember the late nights as a kid in my mom's house, getting caught reading a book to the light of a flashlight under my blankets by my ma. Skipping ahead yeeeeeeaaaaaarrrrrsssss later . . . I was a lead appliance installer and my partner loved reading also, and he got me turned on to this small series (I am completely exaggerating) called The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. It came to the point that I was making my partner drive us to all of our deliveries because I just could not put the book down. I love the English language. It is so beautiful. It may just take me a lifetime to figure it all out, but that is ok with me. I have got the best person in the world to live that life of learning to be a dweeb.

What did you first think about Holly?
DAYUM!!! Ok, serously though . . . It was my first class at school. (We are taking online classes) I had read her bio at school, and decided to do a little bit of research (Holly considers this stalking) to find her blog. I saw her picture that came up (It was some pictures from when she was in Cali for Easter), and my mouth dropped. I was so caught off gaurd by her beauty, and her amazing personality that just emitted from the picture. A week later . . . I FIND OUT THAT SHE IS IN MY LEARNING TEAM GROUP!!! Ah gee!!! All joking aside, my heart was RACING. Well the two of us and the other two in our group decided that it would be best to collaborate ideas via IM chat. We clicked in a quick second. Then I got the cojones a couple of days later to give her a call for the stupidest reason. There was a person in our team slacking off, and I wanted her to call him. AHHHHHHHHH!!! I know . . . Lame . . . And she did not even answer the phone. I got her voicemail. But DANG!!! it was great to hear her voice. Her voice was exactly what I had imagined. And this is the lame message intro I came up with, "Wow! You sound as perky as you type!" OMG LAME!!!

What do you think about Holly's blog and being in the public eye?
Holly's blog = AWESOMEBALLS!!! I had never read a blog in my life until I came across Holly's. And I have not stopped loving it. I find it amazing that someone could be so candid about their life. That someone can be so strong and supportive for people that she has never met. Just the idea of the blog is something that I find really interesting. But me being in the public eye? A little bit awkward. I am no where near the social butterfly that Holly is. But I think I am doing ok with it so far. I have always been a bit to myself. I never really went out and hung out with friends. And being a musician that used to perform on stage . . . yeah, it is a little weird to not be real social. I know. But I'm working on it.

How do you feel about coming into Collin's life so young?
Well, from the bit of experience that I got with my last relationship, (my ex has three kids 8, 11, and 13) I find that it is a lot easier because I am more acceptable to him. Coming into the life of an older child can be hard. They have their own views on what they think their parents should be and coming into a broken home with older child is hard . . . and I mean on the redonk side. Collin is an amazing little guy, and in a certain aspect, I actually think that he knows what is going on. But, I think that coming into his life at such a yound age will help the two of us to bond really well, and that it will be easier for us to build a really good relationship.

How do you feel about Holly being in your kids' lives?
I think about it all of the time. Literally. I could not have asked for a better woman to spend my life with, and to top it off, she is an amazing mother. She gets kids. You can just tell. And you don't need this blog to know that. She know how to get down to their level, and just talk to them. It was just amazing to see her sitting in the sand at Madison's birthday party, and just talk to her. I know that my kids will love her to death. I already know that Aiden does. Case in point . . . I asked him for a kiss a couple of weeks ago, and he gives me an attitude about it. Here comes my girl, she says hi to him and he flirts that sheezy up. She asks for a kiss, and the lil playa puckers up! WTtotheF!!! For reals!?!?!? Seriously though, I can not imagine anyone else being by my side, let alone being there for my midgets.

What are your passions?
I considered numbering these in order, but that is just too hard. I'll just list them off. Reading novels (especially Sci Fi/Fantasy), music (ALL GENRES . . . maybe not so much with polka, but I won't hate), playing musical instruments (I play the piano, saxophones, flute, and I played the bass guitar for a minute . . . Where is my bass Bob?) my family, the beach, drum and bugle corp shows (I know I didn't play a brass instrument, but dang they are awesome), movies, games used to be one but I let that one drop to the side due to the whole kids/significant other/grave yard job/lack of funds. There is probably more, but I just can't think of more at the moment.

What is your favorite feature of Holly's?
Really? I have to pick a specific feature that could be classified as "favorite"? Come on!!! Everything about her is just amazing. Her personality is the first thing that I completely fell in love with. But when I first saw her (a close up picture) I practically fell into her eyes. I saw so much in her eyes . . . love, passion, honesty, loyalty, friendship . . . When I first talked to her . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . her laugh. Le sigh.

Since you already have three kids and Holly has one, how do you feel about having more kids?
WHOA!!! What?! Slow your roll there, sparky . . . I'm totally joking. I would love to have one more kid. I had actually considered getting snipped a few times, and about a year ago, I even had a consultation. But there were many things holding me back. I think that the possible want for another was something that was festering in the back of my head. The idea is definitely awesome, but I am in no rush. I need to concentrate on setting things right with the three I have before seriously considering a fourth. But I do love the idea.

How does the long distance affect your relationship with Holly?
It. Sucks. Big. Time. A back at you question; is it worth it? It is worth every miserable second that we are apart. All of the crap that we have gone through and are going through, is only confirmed when I finally see her and look into her eyes. When I feel her in my embrace. When I put my face into the crook of her neck, breath in the scent of her, and sofly kiss her neck. When I reach my hand around to the nape of her neck, slowly bring her toward me, softly telling her of my love for her just before we kiss. When I hear her laugh and see her smile. All of these things and more make the long distance bearable. It will never be easy, but we will and do make it work. And the day for us to be closer together could not come quick enough.

How and when did you know that Holly was the one?
In the back of my head, almost immediately. When the light bulb started to flicker to a decent brightness, when my school counselor mentioned that we could link our classes together for our entire school career and I realized that four years would just not be enough time with her.

What is it like being a divorced father?
In one word, weird. In multiple, possible rambling words, sucky b.s. I grew up surrounded by strong marriages that whether things were great or just plain sucked, they worked things out because they loved each other that much. The old saying "there is no I in team" goes perfectly with a marriage. A husband and wife are like a team, and they have to work at things together in everything. I used to regret not trying as hard with my first marriage, but I got over that realizing that everything happens for a reason. It was not meant to be, and that one person that is really for me is out there, waiting for me. So ending up a divorced father is a little bit weird. Trying to juggle my job and school, and then trying to figure out how to get out to my girls to spend some time with them when my days off are Sunday and Monday, and Madison is in school on a Monday. Very difficult.

How do you deal without seeing your girls everyday?
Honestly, it is very hard. I actually have a really hard time with it to the point that I don't want to call them because I feel like I am just a voice to them. And that kills me. I want/need to be there for them for so much more than just a voice. I need to be there to be that shoulder to cry on when they just don't want/can't to take it to their mom. To be there to joke with. To be there to make funny faces with. To be there to talk to. To be there to read with. To be there to snuggle up on the couch with and watch a movie. Plain and simple  . . . It's hard.

What are some of the things that you and Holly have in common? What do you disagree on?
English dweebs . . . HELLO! Music is a definite passion that we share. Our love for strong family values. We are both just plain AWESOME!!! (She is totes more awesome than me though. I ain't gonna front, yo!) Disagree . . . ? Some things regarding politics, ummmm . . . . . . . . . . . . .  ..

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I see myself happily married to the one woman that completes me, YES, Holly. She is at a school teaching, but doing a blog on the side, and possible some other types on online work. I am doing freelance editing of novels, and working at writing novels. (I was going to say "attempting to write novels", but I don't want to get in trouble) We have had a midget of our own. Our weekends are spent with having family over to the house for my awesome bbq tri tip, a UFC game or just hanging out and having fun playing poker. (That just means that I would take everyone's money. hahaha) Our nights would be filled with me playing the piano while Holly cooks dinner, or of me cooking up some awesome Puerto Rican dishes while she continues to attempt to roll her r's in spanish. In 10 years I see myself being happier than I am now. In 20 years I see myself happier than I will be in 10 years.

What is it like being with someone who is so gangsta? Can chu handle it?
Yes. Holly posted this question. hahaha!!! But I can't argue. My girl is straight up as white gangsta as they get!!! BUHAHAHAHA!!! I have to lay the law down sometimes, but I think I handle it . . . I think she just let's me think so though.

Share with us your favorite pictures of your girls, Aiden, Collin, Holly and of the two of you.
Geez! That's kinda hard because there are so many pictures that I absolutely love. Let's see what I can dig up . . .

Pirate Madison

Madison acting sweet

My fav of the two of us

Andie in a fairy-ish dress

My chubbers

Come one . . . That is just darn cute

Yes, he has two different colored eyes

Always looking for something . . . always

Well, considering that this is my first time doing this, I have been doing it for hours, I have to get up in a couple of hours to take Madison to school before I have to leave to take Aiden back to his mom, and go to work tomorrow night . . . whew . . . I think it is time for me end this. "And that folks, is how the cookie crumbles." Have a wonderful week. Live it to the fullest. And I'll be seeing you all next week!