Yes I am Still Alive

Well I know it has been awhile since I last posted. And I know it has been tough on all of you. The thing is right now with the lack of major cash flow life has been a little boring for me. Except when the weekend comes then things get a little more interesting.

I am Rose's soccer coach and not only Rose's coach but 10 other kids that are all under the age of 6. "Soccer" at this age should be call something like Kick and Chase. Most leagues at this age keep their teams smaller in numbers, but not ours. We have a really good team though. They are a positive group of kids. The team really gets along well although they are a very diverse group.

I have a set of paternal twin girls and a set of brothers. I have five 5 year olds, five 4 year olds, and Rose who won't be 4 until November. And technically she should never been aloud to play this year but it is amazing what happens when a father volunteers to coach. As you can imagine the kids don't have the greatest attention span. The games last about a half hour with periods that last about 8 minutes.

The periods maybe 8 minutes but most of the kids are rarely on the field that long. I will be following the game and looking for all my players and will find some of them on the sidelines with their parent(s). Its ok because usually that is the younger kids any ways. The older kids can take over games, which I love since we are undefeated through 4 games(2-0-2). Our last game was the first time we actually allowed a goal.

Another big thing with the soccer is that Mrs. Jo has to watch Robert and AnneMarie, by herself. Robert wants to be on the field so much that he is restricted to the stroller. Which as you guessed a 2 year old in a stroller for any extended period is not good thing. Thats why I love Mrs. Jo because she puts up with him so I can focus on my team. She really likes it when others show up to support Rose so that maybe they can watch Robert as well. And yes that is a hint to all of you who have yet come to see Rose in action. LOL!! Well I need to get some rest before tomorrow's big game.

So remeber this, "Stink rises and shit falls!!"

Papa dont't preach

OK,yes, I am a devote Christian, but don't think I am going to push my beliefs on you. There are some out there who believe the way to make people believe in something is shove it down their throats. Not me!! I believe that if you lead my example the others will follow.

Right now I am working with a fellow Christian. He does not have the same belief as me on this view. He thinks he needs to tell everyone how to live their own lives. Now in the construction world you run into A LOT of guys who don't live the best of lives. They drink daily, do drugs, and so on. Yes they should live a better life especially the ones who have children at home. But they are grown men and who am I to TELL them how to live. My co-worker though feels the need to be in everyones business. We will call him Tim. Tim wants to tell these guys to clean up their act. Tim keeps telling them to go to church. Tim keeps tell them if they going to keep living their lives this way they will not be saved.

Tim shut up!! Stop preaching!! Stop throwing your religion in others face!!

Yes I believe what he is saying, but grown men don't like to be told what to do. And when you push something you usually get a greater resistance. That is why I like to just lead them to my beliefs by showing a good example for them. I am not saying I am perfect in any way and that I live the perfect Christian life by any means. I am still working on being a better Christian. Everyone that knows me knows that I still have some things to work on. Especially swearing!! For some reason when I doing this though I stop myself. That is because I think before I type. I have a really hard time thinking before I speak!

I also have been raised that as long as you believe in something that leads you to live a good moral life, that you are doing it right! I would like to see more people in my life in some form of organized religion. If you are true believer in whatever your religion then why not take time out to show it. But am I going to tell you have to go NO! I don't care if you sit at home and watch on TV for all I care just take some time out and set it aside for you to show yyour devotion to your beliefs.

SOMETIMES THERE IS NOTHING LEFT

BUT TO BELIEVE!!!

Blah Blah Blah

Don't you hate those people that are always like "Woe is me!":( And usually all their problems are self inflicted.

I have this one this guy I work with and all he does is whine about all his problems. He complains daily about his 90 mile drive one way to work and about his DUI, his divorce, or the assualt charges against him. I know what your thinking sounds like he had one hell of a night....Just joking!

Ok I understand that driving 90 miles one way sucks, but when you have pissed off every company in your area..... Then he complains about how he has no money to pay his lawyer bills. Welllll I don't know how about you, but I would just stay out of trouble. I mean seriously you want me to feel bad because you got drunk and descide to drive..... So your wife is leaving you because you are loud and obnoxious. Sorry but no I don't feel bad for you.

No, I don't know his whole story but I am sure if he sticks around the job much longer, I am sure I will. But really people I don't want to hear about your problems when you are the reason you have problems. You don't hear me complaining about all my problems. Lord knows I have enough problems to complain about but why should I bother you with them.

If I have serious problem then I will tell you about them. But until then I really don't want to hear about all your self inflicted problems or all your minor whinings!!

Knocking the cob webs off

Alright its been a busy week and not due to the new pool! I wish I could tell you I have actually even been in it, other than when I was setting it up. I have just been busy doing other things around the house and setting up the pool again. Yep the first night we lost water thanks to a storm that rolled in. So I had to fill the pool with more water. This made the water too cold to swim in. As far as yesterday goes, Mrs. Jo was getting ready to go out for her sister's 21st birthday. That made the idea of taking three children, all under the age of 4, in a pool, a really bad idea.....

Speaking of Mrs. Jo going out last night.....All I will say is too much of anything can be bad.....But she had a really good time. Mrs. Jo strolled in around 10:30 last night after her mother dragged her out of the bar before she let her tongue loose. As you all know when that happens nothing good can come of it. Well this morning AnneMarie decide to get up at 5 o'clock. If it were a weekend the I would usually get up and get her but since its a weekday....I let Mrs. Jo get up and make AnneMarie's bottle. Then she also had to stay up to feed her. Then when its was actually time for me to get up, Robert woke up to. So guess who had to stay up and deal with him yep Mrs. Hungover!

Now this was pure enjoyment for me because usually the shoe is on the other foot. And it is me who is hungover and Mrs. Jo enjoying me being miserable taking care of the kids on weekend morning. So the payback was as sweet as honey. I am sure as ever that next time I am hungover she will pay me back. Speaking of hungover I am over do for one.... Just joking!!

I actually have been busy working, which and of you that know me or read www.highonlifelowoncoffee.blogspot.com, know that I have been laid off most of this year. So I have working right in my home town. Which, for me, is really cool. Since work is only like 2 minutes from my house. I am working for an insulating company and we are insulating big oil tanks. I love working on new things so to go and do something like this is so much fun. I know I am a geek. But I love learning new things like this. And part of my job is to go on top of these tanks and lift the insulation up. In between lifts I have some down time in which I can take in the scenery.

The view is amazing when your 36' in the air and next to an amazing river. I know Dianne I wish I could take pictures to...OK I did with my phone...Sorry though my pictures won't be as good as yours with your iPhone! ROFL MAO!!!

I hope this gives some of you a fix for awhile because I might be busy again this weekend. So who knows when I will get back here and let you have a little insight in my messed up life! But maybe next time I will have a new layout...HINT HINT I WANT TO BE FIRST!! ;)

Pool Time

Ok so Mrs. Jo gets a call today from a good friend of ours, Mrs. D-Lo. She tells Mrs. Jo that she has some dancing shoes for Rose. Then she asks if we would be interested in a pool, for free. It turns out earlier this year Mrs. D-Lo's brother got rid of his pool and gave it to them. Their new one was an upgrade so of course they took it. Then they thought maybe we would like their old one. Now while on the phone with Mrs. D-Lo, Mrs. Jo tells her she has to talk to me about it and she would give her a call back if we wanted it. So when Mrs. Jo gets off the phone she tells me to go get it.....Wait didn't she just say, "we had to talk about it"?!

So while on my way to pick it up, yes of course their was no arguement do I have stupid written on my head....NO COMMENTS FROM THE PEANUT GALLERY!!! Back to the story. I realize we are going to need sand and chlorine. And then I find out I need a tarp also..$$$$ So much for a "FREE" pool. Still I guess it will be worth it. I get the pool all loaded up at MR. and Mrs. D-LO's house and head home thinking about all the work I have ahead of me to get this pool ready to swim.

So after Mrs. Jo comes home from getting sand and chlorine, she preceeds to show the rest of the pool supplies..... You know swim rings, tubes, and beach balls, all the normal stuff. She was upset because she couldn't find a raft, tell you the truth so was I. I just can't wait to come home from work and get my suit on. Then just lay on the raft....but that day will probably never happen since as soon as I get in so will Rose and Robert! There goes the peace and quiet.

Well now the sand is here so I can get started with the setup of this pool. I start by inflating the ring. Next I layout the sand which Robert helped me with. Ok really he just played in the sand that I spread out. Gee thanx for the help....Mrs. Jo had left at this point to go take Rose to her Nana's to sleep over. Yep she left to do all this on my own....just the way I wanted it because her and me do not work well together. I am a very anal person when it comes to do work and when people do not do it. The way I want it done. Then I get a weeee bit angry. Thats why its better that I work alone at home. She tries to help at times at it usually and in her being mad at me for yelling at her.
As I type this the pool is starting to fill with water. It probably won't be done tonight. Hopefully tomorrow when I get home from work, Mrs. Jo will have everything done...LOL!
Well I guess I should gety back at it. Well until next time heres to wet times and plenty of sun!!

The weekend of Firsts

Well today is the beginning of the weekend. A weekend filled with many firsts. Tonight I am going to a pro bull riding contest. I have never been to one before but I think it will be fun. I always like experiencing different events. So I guess I need to COWBOY UP and go have a rip roaring good time there tonight.
Then tomorrow begins with Rose's first soccer game and my first game as a head coach. Yes I am going to coach a bunch of pre-schoolers. I affectionately call the kick and chase league. Kids at this age just like to get in a big dust cloud and all chase the ball together. Well it still will be a great experience to meet so many new people and have fun with a bunch of kids. Which is one of my favorite things to do any way! I had played soccer until I reached high school so I think I know what I am doing.
Later Saturday Mrs. Jo and I will be attending a Kane County Cougar game with some friends. This will be my first time to see the Cougars and minor league baseball games are always so much more fun then major games! Plus the couple we are going with are always a blast to be with!
So this weekend will be full of firsts and lots of good times!!

Way too young to feel this DAMN OLD!!

So as I posted before I help out with a teen group at church. As great as the teens are, they can make me feel so DAMN OLD!!!

We will be talking and I will mention some movie, such as Top Gun, and they are like, "Whats that about?". That's when I start to well up a little and the tears reach the corner of my eye.
"You have never heard of Top Gun?!" And they reply, "Is that the one with the planes?"
Yes Top Gun the one with the "planes". You know the one where Tom Cruise is still just a young guy.
It is really bad when I make a famous movie quote like, "Wax on Wax off" and they look at me like are you nuts?! I might be nuts but they are really should know these kinds quotes, shouldn't they?!
Another thing is when we start talking about old tv shows they talk about Full House as an old show. Then I mention an old show like Charles in Charge and they are like HUH?? Why do they like to torture me soooo??!!!

OK so I graduated in 1997 and my class just had its TEN YEAR REUNION. When I first heard about the planning of it I was in denial of it being ten years. I finally came to grips until once again the teens came a knocking. They pointed out that they were between the ages of 5-8
when I graduated high school. UGH!! Seriously do they really need to point that out to me. They like to tell me how "old" I am by saying, "You're 28, that is soooo old!!" Really, since when is 28 OLD?!
Anyone that knows me, knows that I am usually the one who likes to be the jokester of the group! This is my way of staying young is to just always making people laugh and smile! But when the teens like to point out my elder status to them. That's when I let loose and really let them hear how stupid they sound. I tell them that they really must seem old to the youngest group coming into our teen group, especially the Seniors! See our teen group starts with 6th graders are like 6-7 years younger than them!!
So I really am that old? I know what you older readers are thinking, "Hell no your not old!!!"
But when you are around people that can't even remember my child memories because they were not alive to remember them!! That's what can make you feel old! But I still am a Toys"R"Us kid at heart and always will be!!

Make an Impact

Ok, so at our church we have a teen group. Me and Mrs. Jo help with this group of teenagers. They have become like a second family to us. Especially my three little sisters! They are LB, Curly, and Diva. These three have gained a special place in my heart, why not really sure! The 3 could not be any different.

Diva is the oldest and true sister to LB. She has just graduated high school and in that stage, where she is trying to figure out life outside high school. Curly is the next oldest and is a senior in high school. She also is best friends with LB. She is a true BLOND. That's why I love her. Then there is LB, she is junior in high school and is a mini-Mrs. Jo. Me and her are probably the closest because she is so much like my wife. They both tell it like it is and hold no punches, my shoulder still hurts from her last one! She is always good for laugh and to keep the mood lite-hearted.

There is a bunch of characters in this group. Even our Youth Pastor Greg is one. This man could light up the darkest of rooms. He lights so many fires under these teens that it is beautiful thing to watch! He says he really is shy, which you can tell once you get him away from the pulpit. Until he really gets to know you then he is his own hyper self.

Some of the other teens in the group include my brother-in-law, Jolly Giant. He is really a kind hearted soul. He is taller than me at his 6'-3"and he is only a sophomore!! He is like that big teddy bear you want to hug unless your his sister.... Then there is SteveO and DanO, they are the resident bad boys of the group. They both are drummers and they both like to have a good time. Well I probably could go on and on about all of them, but I digress.

They all have made a major Impact on my life whether or not they know it! This group of teens has shown me repeatedly that they will be there for me. And I hope that I have shown them the same thing. I don't know how many nights I have stayed up with one of them or another. Either talking to them on MySpace, msn, or on my cell. But what ever it is I think we have helped each other. Either it be my years of experience or their youthful energy, but we all have things to give each other! And I think this is something we can all keep in mind. Everyone should learn that they could learn something from anyone!!

Go to Sleep

So if you read my wife's blog http://www.highonlifelowoncoffee.blogspot.com/ then you already have been introduced to my demons...I mean children. Rose, the oldest, Robert, my middle boy, and AnneMarie, the baby, are all the greatest things to happen to me. Well along with Mrs. Jo ;)! They all have the ability to make me laugh at anytime.

Rose will be a stand up comedian when she grows up because she just LOVES to make people laugh. One of her favorite sayings is, "It's fun being crazy!" That is her in a nutshell, CRAZY! She loves to dance, play dress up, and fishing. She likes to tell knock knock jokes, they may be cheesy but still coming from her they are hilarious. She has this laugh that is so contagious that you can't but help laugh at her. Oh and her smile has gotten her out of some butt spankings. I will be explaining what she did was wrong and then she smiles at me. In true Daddy's girl style she knows she has me and then follows the smile with a hug. "Alright go play. Damn she got me again!" Some might say she has me wrapped around her finger and some might be right!

Robert, aka Bubby, is another one that has a smile that could melt a million hearts. He will be my little playa with the girls. He will either be a wrestler or a MMA fighter.... I don't know where he gets but he is a little aggressive! Like one time while our church had a fun day for the kids with a bunch of inflatables. Such as the moon walk and bungee run. Well Bubby was playing in the moon walk with a bunch of other kids ,most bigger than him. I was talking to someone and then turned to look for Robert and found him on his back with another older child laying on top of him. You may think Robert was in trouble but just the opposite he actually had the kid in a choke hold, a rear naked choke as know in the MMA world. The childs mother started to apologizes until I pointed this out and then she was in just in awww. Her poor son had fallen to the clutches of Bubbyzilla as his cousin likes to call him!

And last but certainly not least, we have AnneMarie. This little girl is just learning to smile and laugh and already she making Daddy melt. Ok yes I am a big softy when it comes to my daughters. She is the only one to projectile her poop at me as I was changing her. I swear she did on purpose!!

They all are great kids until its time to go to bed!! Rose is starting to be good about going to bed. Its the staying in here bed at night that she needs to work on! I will be sleeping and next thing I know there she is in my bed. She sneaks in are room all ninja style. Then there is Robert who just hates going to bed at all. We put him in his room and put a baby gate up. He will sit there and scream for like a half hour before finally going to bed! Oh he to likes to come get up in the middle of the night. Then there is sweet AnneMarie she is the only one who goes to sleep and usually will stay asleep! Yes the 5 month old sleeps better than the other 2!! I need her to talk to them and tell them her secret, but maybe her secret is she can't walk yet....hhhmmm! I really need to figure this all out soon because me and Mrs. Jo need more sleep or at least better sleep!!

Well until next time here is hoping your pipe dreams don't go down the drain!!

Intoducing MR. JO

Alright so everyone around me has been doing this blogging thing so I said, "What the heck why not?!" I also have been being begged by some to do a blog....you know who you are! You have heard my wife's side of the story for last couple of months in her http://www.highonlifelowoncoffee.blogspot.com/, but now here is the true side of the stories.... Ok well at least here is my side of it! I love sports, wrastling, fishing, American Idol, and dancing shows.
I can watch ESPN channels 24 hours a day. I like to watch wrestling because its my version of soap operas and yes I do know its fake! Fishing is my alone time, well except now Rose, my daughter, is wanting to go along with which really isn't that bad. Rose loves to try to make her daddy laugh all the time, but that's for a later day. American Idol at first I just watched the oh so hilarious audition shows, you know the ones I belong on since I can sing so great. But now I have been sucked into the whole thing. Speaking of being sucked into, I have started to love to watch the dancing shows like "SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE", I think I am just amazed by the skill level these people hold or is I think I can dance. Another one of my guilty pleasures is almost everyone of those stupid ,and I know they are but that's what I like about them, MTV shows. Real World/ Road Rules love 'em, all the dating shows love 'em, and now Room 401 looks really good. But my favorite of them all and no its not Jackass or any of those, its Rob and Big. They are HILARIOUS and I love Rob's truck!
Ok so now you know my tv habits but that's just a small part of my life you will get to hear the rest in upcoming blogs.....