The Junior Prom

Tonight was the Junior Banquet for my son's High School. My son is not a very socially active person and was not really planning to go. He is terribly shy. Not to mention the fact that he goes out of his way to be different. ie- wearing a dog collar. When my wife asked him if he planned on going he kind of brushed it off. He later told her why. She was disappointed for him. After a few days a thought had occurred to her. There was a girl that Kevin had really hit it off with a few years back. She is a year older than him and lives in another town, but does not have a current boyfriend. Kevin perked up at the suggestion and actually contacted her. You should have seen how happy he was when she agreed to go. This is a very big thing for him. It is actually his very first "date." I will let you know how things turn out.

Favorite 4 My Friday

Sitting here thinking about what favorite to post about I decided to share my favorite past times. After the house is quiet in the evening, I like to sit and play on my laptop. I used to play online games on Pogo or MSN. That was until I came across an article about a virtual world called Second Life. It sounded intriguing and worth a look. What started as a curiosity has become literally a way of life for me.

For those of you not familiar with Second Life, it is literally a whole online world. You create an avatar and from there you go out and meet other people. If you have ever played "The Sims" you have a basic idea of what it's like. The only difference is every character you meet is a real person. You can talk to them and interact with them. In world there are soooo many things to see and do. There are stores, gardens, dance clubs of all kinds, beaches, pretty much everything you may encounter in the real world. I have done things like horseback riding and skydiving. If you can do it in the real world, you can do it in Second Life. With a couple added bonuses. In SL you can also fly! You also can look pretty much any way you like. I have been everything from a rabbit to a monkey. And my human avatar actually has hair!

I started out looking like the typical noob fumbling my way around. In the time I have been playing, I have grown to a point where I now own virtual land where I rent out houses to other users, I have worked in a dance club as a stripper (that is a whole other post! LOL), and I have created things that I now sell in world. SL has its own economy based on a monetary unit called a Linden. Believe it or not, Lindens can be converted to actual real world cash. I have reached the point where I am actually making a little bit of money off of this game.

You do not need to be a paying subscriber to play. You can create a free acount. If you wish to own land you do have to have an account though. But, as I said, I make money there. It covers my monthly fee and leaves me with a little extra each month. I will never get rich off of it but I do enjoy it. The people that rent from me have become friends. The gardens I have created have become quite popular hang outs.

My favorite part of the whole thing is the people. When I joined a couple years ago, seeing 16,000 people online at one time was considered a lot. Now at any given time the number is well over 70,000. It is a global community. I have talked to people from all over the world. I actually have one person that lives in Germany that I have been helping with their English. They have been teaching me some German. You are not restricted to typing either. You can use voice chat.

Second Life is not for everyone. Many people try it and for whatever reason just dont care for it. But for every person that doesn't stay, there is one that does. If you should ever decide to check it out, my SL name is Brock Fabre. Leave me a message and I will find you and show you around. Visit www.secondlife.com for more info. Hope to see you "in-world!"


This is me sitting in a tree in Mystic on SL




This is part of the land I own.




I created a tree with falling leaves that I now sell online.




This is when I decide to be a monkey. LOL

Wish I had a horse!

I swear that the days before cars had to have been easier. I spent this past weekend working on both cars. My wife and I have identical vehicles. We bought them the same day. For some reason, despite hers having lower mileage, her car is in worse shape. In any event, I worked on it over the weekend and finally got it running like new again. No more misfiring. No more exhaust leak that made it noisier than a jet. She was very happy. So was I......until yesterday.

She called me to tell me that her car died. She had stopped at 7-11 and now the engine won't turn over. She ended up walking the last two blocks to work. After she got off, she walked back to her car and sat in it waiting for 2 hours till I could get there to get her running. I got there, jump started the car, filled the gas tank, and she drove home without incident. I noticed a lot of corrosion on the battery so when we got home, I replaced the connections and cleaned the terminals. That should do it.....NOT! While running the engine I noticed if I turned on the headlights, they would dim if I turned on the blinkers. Uh oh. Alternator troubles. This was confirmed when I looked at it and saw that the back of the alternator appeared melted.

I let her take my car to work and figure I will take hers to work myself and fix it later. Well, this morning the car wouldnt start. With no one around to give me a jump, I ended up staying home. I walked in the rain to the autoparts store and $230 later I have a nice new alternator. I was not able to get the old wires off so I ended up cutting those and rigging new. It was not exactly fun fixing it in the rain but I didnt see much choice.

I am now sitting on the couch waiting for her to get home with my car so I can jump the battery on hers. Boy that shower felt good.......tm

This is the new one I put in:




This is the one I took out:

Toon 4 My Tuesday

Music 4 My Monday

Today is Memorial Day here in the USA. It is a day for us to remember that freedom is not free. It has a price. There are men and women who gave their lives in order for us to have the liberty that we do. Please take a minute to listen to the song below and say a prayer for the families of those that died fighting for your freedom. But, please also take an extra minute to pray for those that still serve today. They are the sons and daughters of our country. People like Dena's son Kody have made the choice to help protect us.

Kody, although we have never met face to face (yet)you make me proud to know you. Please know that everyday I thank God for you and those like you. Without you, we may not be able to have the life that we do here in the USA. God Bless you and may He always be by your side no matter where you go.

We should never expect others to live up to our expectations

if we do not live up to them ourselves.....tm

The no-competition field day competition.

My daughter goes to the same elementary school that I went to as a kid. I remember looking forward to field day every year. It consisted of things like track and field events, tug-of-war, three-legged races, relays, and the peanut hunt. Of course that was before kids developed peanut allergies. I was far from athletic but, I always had fun. I didn't care if I won awards or not.

Today was field day for Kaitlyn. I took the day off so I could go and watch. Aside from the fact I love going to the things the kids do, my wife is in Washington DC for the day. What I saw today seemed fun for the kids but the competition was gone. The events were no longer based on skill or athletics. Instead it has become one giant kids party. There were about 12 different stations that the "teams" rotated to. Events included things like dancing, crab soccer, an obstacle course, face painting, and sand art. Since when did sand art become a field day event? There were no stop watches. No ribbons for the top competitors. No judges. Nothing that would make the kids strive harder to be the best. Have we gotten that pathetic that we must prevent our kids from having to grow up and face the fact that they may not always be the best? How does this prepare them for life down the road where they may have to compete for things like jobs and promotions? People win and people lose. We get over it.

This was the closest they came to a sport.

I don't recall the hula hoop as an olympic event.

This was kinda cute. The one in the back had to lead the blind
through a field of debris without stepping on anything.

Getting her face painted.

Face painting results.

Random Pic of the Day

I took this picture this past Sunday. This is my niece. She is about 18 months old and has discovered the joy of eating potato chips!

I can not be the only one....

I am sure you are all used to having to use the "captcha" system in order to post comments on other people's blogs. You know, those funny little words they make you retype? But, am I just weird or does anyone else sit there and try to come up with meanings for the senseless words? What language is that anyway? I am pretty fluent in typonese and yet these words seem to be a code I can't crack.

What exactly does "chipawe" mean? In my house it is something you have to do when the ice cubes are stuck together. "I had to "chipawe" at the block to get the ice I needed." Or how about "Husties?" Are those pasties for very large breasted women?

I sit here each day and enter such words as "wherf" and "Polidefa" and "elitylar" and try to figure out if I am supposed to decipher the codes. Maybe it is a secret message from the KGB? "Tom! You must "Noinga" at the first sign of "Isplidu" and pass along the secret "Oredic" But be sure not to "Seselpal!"

Ok so maybe I just have way too much time on my hands to think about this stuff. But it sure makes my "facdila" hurt! Sorry, I just could not "ressest" posting this. It sure is giving spell check a workout!

What funny "captcha" words have you come across?

Music 4 My Monday

My goal in this life is to do whatever it takes to be remembered. As a kid I was kinda lost in the shadows a lot. Didn't seem that people even knew I existed. So that is why I am choosing Tim McGraw for today's Music 4 My Monday.

My 100th post.

Well here I am. Staring at the screen for my 100th post! In keeping with that theme, as promised, here is my list of 100 things you may not know about me.

1. I was born in Micanopy, FL on July 8, 1963

2.I moved to Long Island when I was a baby.

3. I love living near the ocean

4. I have a college degree in construction technology.

5. I have a second college degree in Architecture

6. I used to have my own construction company.

7. I don't anymore.

8. I have 3 wonderful kids.

9. I love being a dad.

10. I think I suck at it at times.

11. I was done having kids after 2.

12. Until my brother had a baby girl and I wanted a daughter.

13. I lucked out and got one.

14. My daughter thinks she has me wrapped around her finger.

15. She is probably right.

16. I love to travel.

17. No Sally, Egypt and India are not among the places I have thought about going.

18. If I could get married all over again I would.

19. Probably not to the same person.

20. I love NASCAR

21. Dena is the one that got me hooked.

22. I am a tough person to get close to.

23. I am very very careful about who I let in.

24. My best friend as a kid was Bobby D.

25. He was killed when were kids.

26. I have never had closure.

27. It's why I don't let people get close.

28. I love my job.

29. It involves life safety.

30. I won 6 Student service awards in college.

31. I also won the Gertrude Zerinsky Memorial award for dedication and service when I graduated from New York Institute of Technology.

32. To this day I have no idea who Gertrude Zerinsky was.

33. I collected beer bottles when I was a teen.

34. I have over 200 different bottles from all over the world.

35. I have one brother and one sister.

36. I am the oldest.

37. We all still live in the town we grew up in.

38. I talk to my brother a few times a week.

39. I talk to my sister maybe a few times a year.

40. It keeps me from punching her husband in the mouth.

41. I do cry at sad movies.

42. I also cry when I watch my daughter in a ballet.

43. I always root for the underdog.

44. I will stand up for anyone being bullied.

45. I am a stickler for following rules.

46. I take pleasure in writing tickets to people that don't follow rules.

47. We owned a gymnastics school.

48. We had to close due to the economy.

49. I miss doing the birthday parties at the gym.

50. I am high energy when I am working with kids.

51. I have been told numerous times that I am a lot like Robin Williams.

52. My best friend lives in Nebraska.

53. My other best friend lives in Florida.

54. I dream of owning a chicken farm some day.

55. I am raising 6 right now.

56. Thanks to my mother-in-law

57. My first job was working for the county.

58. I pulled weeds out of sandtraps at a golf course and emptied trash cans.

59. I thought golf was a stupid game.

60. I now look forward to playing any chance I can.

61. I am not that good at it.

62. I also worked in a card store for awhile.

63. I worked nights while going to college.

64. It was in a factory that sends out all that junk mail that fills your mailbox.

65. I want to learn how to ride a motorcycle.

66. So I can travel from NY to CA and back on it.

67. My favorite shows are anything dealing with ghosts.

68. I read the entire Harry Potter series.

69. I really like the number of this question.

70. I don't know why I told you that.

71. I prefer automatic transmissions

72. I have driven a stick shift for the last 19 years.

73. I have a hard time letting go of things.

74. The same thing with people.

75. I forgive probably more than I should.

76. People tend to take advantage of that fact.

77. I was the second smallest kid in school.

78. People took advantage of that fact too.

79. I am no longer the smallest out of all those that were in school with me.

80. I actually had very thick hair when I met my wife in high school.

81. I have been pulling it out ever since.

82. I get way less sleep than I should.

83. I am a part time disc-jockey.

84. I can "feel" the presence of people no longer among the living.

85. This freaked out someone close to me. (Your mom says hi kiddo).

86. I talk in my sleep.

87. Loudly and clearly.

88. One time it was in a foreign language that I didn't know I knew.

89. I think the 1980's were the most fun I ever had.

90. There are many nights I don't remember.

91. I love to write.

92. I wrote a soft-core porn short story one time.

93. Ok so maybe it wasn't so soft-core.

94. I can talk in front of groups no matter how large.

95. I am considered the "go to guy" by way too many people.

96. I secretly love being the "go to guy" Shhhhhh....don't tell anyone.

97. I don't think any one religion has got it right.

98. I prefer instant gratification.

99. I am willing to wait for it.

100. I will probably reread this blog after I post it and wish I had done it different.

So there you have it. 100 totally mundane things you probably didnt need to know about me. If any of it makes no sense or raises questions, please feel free to ask. I welcome the conversation. Wonder what I will do for my 500th blog?

B-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r!

I can not be the only one this happens to. I was in the shower earlier and sure enough, someone turned on the hot water elsewhere in the house. Of course the result is me being blasted with a wake up call of ice cold water. This is not a one time deal either. For some reason every single time I get in the shower, someone gets me. Doesn't matter what time of day it is. 98% of the time it is my wife. I don't know why. I have even tried taking my shower when she is not home. Inevitably she will come home and get me. There was actually one time I waited till she was at work and the kids were not home. I was all set. Enjoying the nice hot water. All soaped up and suddenly, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" Water so cold that I have been waiting for my testicles to come back ever since. Turns out she had set the timer on the dishwasher! She doesn't even need to be home to get me!.........tm

Favorite 4 My Friday

My favorite for today is my favorite blog to read. That honor actually goes to.......drum roll please.....Devin at What I Think

His posts may be brief, but they are always fun or interesting. I enjoy viewing the world from his perspective. The innocence of youth. (Although he is about to turn another year older next week).




Kudos Devin on making blogging fun!

Thought 4 My Thursday

Take yesterday's dreams and make them the adventures of today.
So that they may become the treasured memories of tomorrow..........tm

Toon 4 My Tuesday

Random Pic of the Day

It was a really nice day today. When I got to work I looked at my official vehicle and decided it could really use a good cleaning. So I took it to the local car wash. Have you noticed that a car just seems like it runs better after a really good cleaning?

My daughter needs a mute button!

Yesterday being Mother's Day we did what we usually do and took my wife out for a late lunch / early dinner at Applebee's. While sitting waiting for our food I was telling my wife that I had seen a sign for fresh eggs at $4 a dozen. I then commented that I was going to go home and squeeze our chickens to get eggs. Well, my daughter looks at me and in a nice loud voice, so that everyone in the place can hear, states, "Daddy you can not choke the chickens!" I sat there half mortified and half on the verge of laughing. I calmly told her that I did not say choke. I said squeeze. Of course she was not following me and continued to protest loudly about me choking the chickens. Needless to say my wife and I are laughing hysterically and making sure we try to clarify to her what we meant. I was making sure that I also spoke loud enough so everyone could hear me. My guess is they were laughing too hard to hear me. Kids!....tm

Happy Mother's Day

I hope all of my "mom" friends have a most wonderful day! You all deserve it! HEre is a little something that will make you smile:

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

2. Mostly to clean the house.

3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.

What kind of a little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2.. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.

4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

Random Pic of the Day

Today my boys and I did a 15 mile hike. It was up to the North Shore of the island so there were a lot of hills and rocky trails to navigate. I swore I would never make it. My left ankle hurt so bad I figured they were going to have to shoot me like a lame horse. Today's pic is of a Red-Tailed hawk that was sitting in a treetop. It is seeing nature like this that make the pain all worth it.

Two Angels

Two traveling angels

Keep reading to the bottom of the page -- don't stop at the feet (You'll see).

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family.

The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room.

Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement.

As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it.

When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied,

'Things aren't always what they seem.'

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife.

After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest.

When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears.

Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.

The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen?

The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused.

The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die.

'Things aren't always what they seem,' the older angel replied.

'When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall.

Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it.'

'Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead.

Things aren't always what they seem.'

Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You just might not know it until some time later...

Ooooo

Some people ( )
come into our lives ) /
and quickly go.. (_ /

ooooO
( ) Some people
\ ( become friends
\_ ) and stay awhile....

leaving beautiful Ooooo
footprints on our ( )
hearts... ) /
( _/

ooooO
( ) and we are
\ ( never
\_ ) quite the same
because we have
made a good friend!!