When that happens, brother, its time to take it out back and do something about it.

So, I was going to just take it off and save me some hosting money, but the Lady convinced me that maybe this stuff might help somebody, or at least make some interesting reading for people who have too much, uh, normality in their life.

Speaking of which, I’m chock full of normal these days. I get up in the morning with an angel, the woman I love so amazingly dearly, the person who I thought just didn’t exist, or was too good to be true, or something. Anyway, this chick is laying right next to me, every single morning. We get up, we have our coffee, we get our (hee, our) kids off to school, we meet up at her work for more coffee, we talk, we chat, we flirt, we laugh. Sometimes we bitch. All those little normal things.

We go our ways throughout the day, sending text messages back and forth. We talk about whats for supper, or if we should rent a movie, or which bills we should pay this week and which ones we should put off till the next paycheck.

We watch the kids, the ones that I fathered a long time ago, and the ones that she mothered last year.

We cook dinner (or buy out, probably too often), having reached a consensus earlier in the day. We cuddle on the couch and watch TV, or fiddle on the laptop (yeah, we’re still out there on the ol’ internet, just not much to say). We watch geeky shows on the History Channel.

We tuck the kids into bed, and climb in ourselves. We say “I love you. Good night” every night.

Then we do it again.
Thats normal. Thats the stuff that, even if you try your hardest not to, you take for granted. Until something happens that takes it away.

Thing is, if you’re lucky enough to get it back, holy shit, its the most precious thing in the world. Its peace. Its Beauty. Its fulfillment. It feels like more than anybody could possibly deserve, a piece of Heaven on Earth.

Thats where I’m at today.

This little trainwreck of a website started out in a period of that normal, four friends who started up a blog to yap about the little things. We got a little community minded, and it was cool. Its good to feel important in your town, and thats been a rewarding thing.

It became something else when GAC was sick. It became a lifeline. I was going through an impossibly hard time, and the encouragement, and the wisdom, and the help of people all over the world helped get me through it.

You watched as I coped, and as I walked my boys through it. After that, you saw as I met the Lady. Those of you who stuck around watched our love grow. Its the greatest thing of my life.

Now we’re back at that equilibrium, that beautiful time of Normal, and this lifeline just isn’t what it used to be. Theres too much weight hanging around these little ones and zeros, and we’re floating too far above that now. It just doesn’t fly.

So, I’ve closed down the ‘tuma. Bos, Eaves, thanks for helping get this thing started.

Thanks to all the good peoples for good times.

Take it easy, internet.

The computer and the tv have been turned off in the boys room for “an undetermined amount of time.” Stuff happened. Anyway. But the residual actions from removing these electronics from consuming their little brains has been pretty awesome.

Between the teasing 75 degree spring weather, the puppy and no video games and tv…. we’ve managed to witness the birth of DAD TIME!! (That’s when boys and dogs do what boys and dogs do best..WRESTLE!)

And it sure is fun… there is guarantee “Dad Time” will be requested nightly.

Let’s see… what else?

The boys joined us on the deck to grill steaks and shrimp last night. Juicebox rolled his bike into the backyard and tried to ride in the grass (that’s ready to be cut). He even broke out the new bike helmet he got for Christmas… He ran past us looking like this:

And then there is Xander. Wow, he is growing fast. We’ve had him 2 weeks now. He’s learned to go up and down the steps on the porch…though the DOWN part baffled him for days. He loves his crate (bed) and goes there to nap on his own. Potty training is progressing. Had ZERO accidents yesterday. Woot! His little blue puppy eyes are turning green. He is not afraid of the neighbor dogs anymore, but the neighbor’s lawnmower was a new and scary creature to him… he’s working it out though. You can see him trying to figure out every new thing he encounters. My older dog is tolerating him better. Not as many teeth shown. She’ll even let him give her kisses and climb over her back. Beagle? He’s still working on patience. He’s the only dog with a whole tail in this house, and it gets Xander’s attention frequently. And, omg! Check out the paws on this little boy!!

He learned to sit. And he’s SOOO excited to show us how good he can sit! (then he gets a cookie) He’s also learned that he has a voice. It’s not being used too much…mostly when he’s frustrated and can’t do something. Or- if the other dogs bark..he barks because they are (though he has no idea why).

He’s all puppy. But he’s looking more like a big giraffe dog everyday.

Teeth sharp like needles
You’re learning not to chew us
It’s getting better.

Up nights to potty
Every 2 hours at first
Now it’s up to 5.

Lots of little naps
You fight the sleepy that hits
And then you crash hard.

You give good cuddles
Paws on my face make me smile
Puppy kisses rock.

Crap.

I had something a lot better written earlier, but Wordpress sucks, and it ate it.  Or otherwise didn’t work.

But I’m not supposed to bitch when I’m talking about my wedding, right?

Indeed.

OK, so we (and by we, I mean the Lady) went through like all 800 pictures that the ever talented Mrs Eaves took at our wedding, and pulled out a hundred or so that we’ll pop on here for all to see.  We even have the embiggened, bigger then all hell original files on a linky basis.  Keep in mind, however, that if you intend to print one of these things off and put it on your mantel, or car, or tattoo it on you or something, you’ll need to pay me at least 5 bucks, and give Eaves a beer.

Cuz thats what she works for.

Enjoy!

Pup wakes up at night
Crying to go the bathroom
Potty trips in dark.

He’s been really good
Only a couple boo-boos
Comfy in his crate.

He has learned to “sit”
Knows he gets a treat for it
A very smart pup.

G is reading books
5th grade is trying sometimes
Organization.

Juicebox likes to sing
And plays quietly with toys
Imagination.

AT and me rest
Went back to work end of week
Loving the normal.

Yeah…we’ve had a big week around here. Xander is 6 weeks old and we picked him up today. Plannned puppyhood. We put a deposit down on him when he was days old. Today he was old enough to come home. The boys are very excited about a puppy in the house. My dogs? Well, one of them seems to be intrigued by the pup. The other looked at me like “Oh god, this can’t be happening” (she’s my 12yr old Rotti mix and she just “tolerates” stuff like cats and puppies…but she’s been around them enough to know how to deal with them nicely)

Xander is a blue and rust Doberman.

He’s taken quite nicely to the boys. For just about 8 hours with us, he seems to be a pretty laid-back pup. No whining so far (we’ll see how tonight goes). He chased MastaG around and tried to give him kisses. He’s tickled about Xander. He’s learned to hold him gently and he’s asking lots of questions. I think he’s at a great age to enjoy his own pet.

And now it’s bedtime… wish us luck.

Is it because she’s an awesome photographer (which is why she was our official wedding photographer(well, and the fact that she worked for beer))?

Is it because she’s putting pictures of me and the Lady up?

Is it because she has a great layout and, ahem, regular posts?

Is it?

Or is it because she’s cheating?

?

You decide.

This is the best way to have a honeymoon, in my opinion. With friends, and the gal you love. Having fun, eating pizza, listening to music, and drinking lots of beer.

But only if you’re off work tomorrow…

which we are…

I’m breaking the standard Sunday haiku tradition to point out an enormous issue plaguing myself and my lovely wife in our first full day of married bliss.

No, not that kind of problem. There are pills for that…

No, the issue at hand today is this.

Delicious beer. Microbrewed in Knoxville, Tennessee, with perfect fermentation, and a stout hardiness that belies its “get you tore back” alcohol content.

I’ve never in my life had a problem with delicious beer, until this…

30 gallons of it. Now, the keg with the rag on it is pretty floated, but that bad boy on the left? Oh, its chock full of that hearty goodness that is in the cup next to my right arm.

With a party pump installed.

Problem is, this lets evil oxygen, that bane of beer’s very existence, into the keg, destroying it with its bacteria and foul foulness.

This beer needs to be drunk, people. If theres ever been a call to action, its a call to all stiff necked, strong backed men and women of grit to come down here, and drink this beer.

Happy Easter.

10 basket light threads
4 kickass red light columns
5 hours setup

30 mixed CDs
6 decorated tables
4 fancy outfits

We did this ourselves
Cause we make a damn good team
Just like best friends do

Hired catering
Had a friend make awesome cakes
Hired a great band

Rings on our fingers
Big grins on our faces
And love in our hearts

I love you, my Bell
I love this sweet little life
And our family

When the music stopped
The “cleaning crew” stuck around
We cleaned up and mopped

Loaded up the car
Two keg, ladders, bench
She picked up Wendys

I carried her in
We ate (first time since breakfast)
And we were married