Eli's Dad's Blog

When I was much younger, I spent a great deal of time at the library. I read everything by Stephen King and many other horror writers. I enjoyed history, sports literature and biographies.  As I grew older, my reading dwindled.  It gave way to partying in my twenties to work, family and other obligations in my thirties.  Last year, I finally toured our local library and received a library card. I had not owned one in years.  I also got one for Eli as we read to him daily and now he is slowly reading to us.  I had every desire to read more this year but the cool winter has turned to spring which has in turn brought us T-ball, outdoor chore list and the like.  Plus, unlike in my youth, it takes longer for me to get into books.  I usually don't fall in love with novels like I used to do.  Last week, someone at work heard that I liked Stephen King. I don't know who told her that but she loaned me this book as she felt I would enjoy it.

Heart-Shaped Box

Joe Hill

I explained that it might take me a while to get it back as I tend to be busy this time of year. She didn't mind at all. I started reading it on Friday during lunch and finished it Saturday. It grabbed me from the first few pages and I couldn't stop reading it.  It is a story of an aging rock star who purchases items of the macabre and various occult type articles. An auction site on the web offers a ghost for sale and of course our "hero" purchases it.  This is however no ordinary ghost and his purchase was not by accident. 

It's been quite a while since I've enjoyed a book as much as this. I look forward to reading more from Mr. Hill. BTW- Mr. Hill has a rather famous father who occasionally writes horror fiction.

About two weeks ago, we had a guys weekend.  I think we were all needing this for various reasons. We chose Fall Creek Falls State Park in middle Tn.  I hadn't been camping in a couple of decades so this venture required several enjoyable trips to many local sporting good stores where I could have easily spent several paychecks.  We took Friday off and got there towards noon.  We had our pick of campsites so we picked one with a large hill and stream behind us. We should have went ahead and took the campsite beside us as we were soon joined by the spawn of Satan himself (see earlier post). We were able to partake of the dinner buffet at the State Park Inn. Very enjoyable. We did some hiking and then built a campfire.  Staring at a campfire while listening to a stream in the distance is my idea of relaxation heaven.  I was able to shut my mind off for most of the weekend.  It did rain that night and I learned that seam sealing a tent should take place before a camping trip. Did get a little wet and very little sleep.  Spent Sat morning attempting to remember any fishing skills I had twenty years ago. Not much luck for any of us. The hiking at the park can be strenuous but very rewarding due to the views of the waterfalls.

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I declare shenanigans!! Two friends from work and I choose to go camping this weekend at Fall Creek Falls. We took the day off Friday and arrived around noon to have a choice campsite.  We set up camp and went exploring. We came back later that day and saw we have some neighbors in the next campsite but really didn't think too much of it. They were a family of four w/ too small children. One being a tot of around 13-16 months. This kid cried every hour on the hour during the day. We did get a reprieve from around 9 pm to 4:30 pm where we were treated to early wake up calls. It wasn't too bad Sat morning as it rained all night and we were a bit wet anyway. Sunday morning the kid cried at 4:30am, 4:45, 5:00 etc. Upon the first wail, Budd loudly stated "You've got to be kidding me." We finally all got up at around 5:45 as it was cold and the kid wouldn't shut up. The parents also didn't keep an eye on him and he would constantly wonder over into our campsite and we would have to watch him so he wouldn't fall into our fire.  I declare shenanigans on the parents of the child who did very parenting this weekend and who didn't think for a second about the many other campers on the campground. We did get a laugh when they packed everything away and then couldn't find their car keys. Their friends in the next site over apologised for the crying child but the parents never did.

My wife and I watched The Messengers yesterday. As some of you know, I love horror movies. I'm always happy to find a movie that my wife will watch w/ me. She will watch psychological thrillers and a few of the Japanese remakes like The Ring. The Messengers was a decent watch with a few scary moments. Anyway, I go to bed not too long after watching the movie. I wake up from a deep sleep and hear something moving in the bedroom. I'm certain it's my wife but I can't see her anywhere and my thinking isn't quite up to my full capacity. All of a suddenly, she quickly raises up from beside the bed and scoots under the covers.  She looks at me and says "What? I couldn't find my alarm clock.". I mutter thanks for the heart attack and apparently do a comedy routine about she finds just the right time to inadvertently screw w/ my head. I vaguely remember her giggling loudly before I fall back asleep.

Loathes:

• Bad drivers--the no turn signals, the pull out in front of you, the zoom from the left lane all the way to the right exit, etc
• My lack of anger control
• People who think they are not part of society
• Today's fatigue and headache

  Love:

• Dodgers 1-0
• Coffee
• The Man room
• Waking up my son in the morning and carrying him downstairs for breakfast with his sleepy head on my shoulder. That's one of the best parts of my day.

Anyone who knows me or reads any of my blogging knows that I can't go more than a few sentences w/o attempting to be funny (with various degrees of success).  I've never been too big on practical jokes, especially if it causes harm or true embaressment to the recipiant.  I did have to break form today. One of my friends at work (Budd) did a little April Fools joke on a coworker and I. Very innocent, quick and nonembaressing.  This got me to thinking what I should do. I emailed Budd and two others that I had just received an email that stated there was a list of folks who had violated email and internet policies and their names was on it. Initially, I could tell that they didn't believe the email. Budd came by and wondered what it was about. I was a little snippy and said it was something to do w/ his viewing videos at work. I couldn't make eye contact as I would not be able to keep a straight face.  I emailed my boss and asked him to email them and state that he needed to see them in the conference room. That got Budd and another coworker stewing. The young lady who was the 3rd person on the email never believed it for a second but she gave me props for getting my boss involved.  I then emailed all April Fools. Budd and my other coworker were mightly relieved. Both of them were trying to figure out what they had done to get into trouble. They both had to admit it was a good one and paybacks are coming. I fully expect my truck to be on fire in a few weeks. Yep--I'm a combination of Michael Scott and Bill Lumbergh.

We finally got a decent snow here in TN. Worked out perfectly. Started early Friday night and snowed all night. We got 4-5 inches which is a good snow for us. Even though I felt pretty rough w/ a head cold, we went out to play in it.

Snow--Front of house

Eli's snow angel

Steeler Fan

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My wife was scheduled on a Thursday to have labor induced. Of course, we were very excited. We were admitted and my wife was hooked up to many different monitors.  The nurse reviewed all the info and told my wife that she was already in labor so no drugs were given to induce. Labor continued thru the night. It progressed rather slowly throughout the day on Friday. After numerous hours of labor and pushing,  her MD decided that a C-section was in order. (This was after manually breaking her water during which I'm almost certain she passed her liver.)  We had not planned on a C-section and I'll admit I was more than a bit alarmed.  She was rolled into the OR and I accompanied her in a snazzy surgical gown, gloves, footies, etc.  I was up by my wife's upper body with a curtain from about her chest down. I remember her MD working feverishly to remove Eli. The whole time there are tubes under my feet for suctioning blood, waste product, etc.  Finally, Eli was here.  We were estatic but emotionally if not physically drained. After accompaning our pediatrician to another room to evaluate Eli, I was able to visit w/ my inlaws.

As it was a nice summer night, I went outside to call my family and friends and give them the goods news. I start to return inside but notice a sign that these particular doors are locked after 9 PM. You can guess--it was after nine. I had to drive around the other side of the hospital and enter thru the ER. I had never visited this ER and wasn't really sure where to park or where to enter. After several hours of labor and welcoming a new child, I was rather brain dead not to mention frazzeled, disheveled and probably sweaty and could not have possibly noticed the big sign that flashed ENTER.  I park in a lower parking lot and see a nurse walking to her car. I approach her and ask where exactly I should enter. She gives me directions and I'm off once again to see my boy.

Since my wife had a C-section and staph infection, her stay was extended a few days. We got to know the nursing staff pretty well. One nurse and I talked about what we like to read. I told her that I was big into Stephen King and she was telling me about this murder fiction book she was reading. She said it was very good but it was so scary. She stated that she hated walking to her car in the parking lot. She expressed that after reading a particularly haunting chapter she had to walk to her car in the parking lot the other night. This scary man came up to her and asked for directions to the ER. She exclaimed to me that she almost ran to her car and drove away. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I was the boogeyman.

He was a wisp of a boy. His grandfather had asked him if he wanted to play Tball and he readily agreed as was his compliant and agreeable nature. This was despite the fact he'd never practiced Tball nor played any organized sports.  His grandfather had spoken to the coach and although the Tball season had already started, the boy was allowed to play. Being a rural area, rules were lightly enforced. The extent of his baseball experience at this point was limited to using a plastic whiffle ball bat and hitting a plastic ball in the front yard with his grandfather. He felt strangly out of place as they arrived at the ballfield. The boy looked around the field not knowing where to go nor what exactly he was to do. He did not know any of the other players. He was sent to the outfield where luckily he would not have to move for the remainder of the game. The boy did have to bat once during the game. He'd never hit off a tee before or had even probably held a real bat. He promptly stuck out and walked with his head lowered to the bench. This is the extent of his memories of that day. This would be his one and only Tball game of his career. This is his first memory of failure.