stanley’s blog

My wife and I have been trying to get pregnant for the past year and unfortunately, we haven't been successful.  It seems that everyone else around us is getting pregnant or just had a baby, but we must not be drinking the right water.  It's definitely getting more and more difficult emotionally, especially for my wife.  It seems like we run into someone every week who got pregnant when they weren't even trying.  And here we are, using ovulation strips and pre-natal pills with nothing to show for it.  Bummer.  In 9 months, we'd love to be in a hospital room, surround by nurses in their uniforms, and giving birth to a baby.  I have no problem working on babymooning planning, but I care way more about having a child then going on a trip.  Strange to me how so many people think a baby is a chance for them to go on another honeymoon.  But, I can see how it would be good to be relaxed as you enter childhood. 

My whole family has birthdays in the fall.  We have one in September, my older brother.  Myself and my parents are in October, and my other brother is in November.  It makes sense that we are a family from Michigan.  What else are you going to do in the winter time?  Ha!  My mom and dad's birthdays are particularly interesting because they were born only a few hours apart.  They fall on different days, the 18th and 19th, but it's as if they were meant for each other.  They were high school sweet hearts and now have a 30+ year marriage.  

I've been overwhelmed by fall chores recently.  With the colder weather, all kind of household tasks seemed to have stacked up.  Of course, I had to mow the lawn and weed eat.  Fortunately, that will be slowing down soon.  But some other costs have crept up on me.  I had to call a tree guy because we have some dying trees that keep losing limbs.  I'd rather pay for the service now then have to pay damages on the house.  When asked about carting the wood away, I told him I'd like to keep it.  Most of it, I'll use for burning, but I want to try my hand at making some wood spindles with some of it.  Besides the trees, I also need to get my roof fixed, or at least half of it.  It's been leaking, and I don't think it can go another winter without some work.  Pretty soon, I'll be out raking leaves too.

I have to say that of all the things in my life that are disappointing (and there are a few), I hate the fact that I'm not very handy.  What makes matters worse is that my dad is one of the most handy guys I know.  I think he can fix just about anything.  In fact, it seems like his generation as a whole is much better than mine.  But somehow, it has seemed to skip a generation. 

Have you ever celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles?  Me neither, but I am this week.  The even stranger thing about it is that I'm not Jewish, I'm a Christian.  However, a community of Christians that I am involved with this week are pursuing what it means to be a sojourner, and we are celebrating God's blessing over us.  

In case you didn't know it, Anderson Silva could kill you.  And then, he'd do a dance over your corpse.  If for some bizarre reason you were to ever fight him, you'd end up in a hospital surrounded by nice ladies wearing these.  The guy is a cold blooded killer.  I've never seen a better striker than him in my life, but it's not just with his fists.  Although his accuracy is amazing, you have to watch out for the kicks, knees and flying kicks to your face.  Why would anyone want to fight this guy?  I don't think he can be beat.  

There are things in like that I really, really enjoy.  Sometimes, you just need to take a break from everything else and list these things to remind yourself that life can be great.  Here are a few of my favorite things:

New news is in today on the woes of our economy.  Apparently, the White House got it wrong when they predicted the nation's deficit back in the fall.  Now, the budget office forsees a $9 trillion dollar deficit cumulative from 2010-2019, up $2 trillion from prior predictions.  By 2019, they predict the public debt doubling to become 3/4 of our entire nation's economy.  Are you serious???  This is bad, very bad.  Also, unemployment rates could reach 10% this year.

My buddy Tom just called me and asked me if I want to do a cameo for a video he's making.  Our SEC Young Life is having a leader weekend on Labor Day weekend, and Tom wants to play off the fact that him and I have kind of had rivalry in the past.  He had a couple of funny ideas.  When we lived together before we were married, all of the guys in that house numbered themselves as they moved in.  We had 8 single guys in the house, and so we called in the Ocho.  Now, there are over 18 guys who have lived in houses since then.  Well, I was #6 and he was #3 and one day I sold him a bowl of soup for his house "right" because I wanted #3.  So, he wants to make a video where I'm sitting in dark room, maybe smoking a Rocky Patel sun grown or a cigarette and the camera pans to me.  I open up a briefcase and say, "I know what you want," and it has a hot bowl of soup in it.  If you knew the story, you'd think it was funnier. But, it's pretty good.  

Yesterday was my parents 37th anniversary, which is quite an accomplishment these days.  I had a work meeting that lasted til about 3pm, and then I went over to wish them my best.  I normally just get them a card for a gift, but I felt like being generous.  My wife is rubbing off on me.  So, I stopped by my favorite restaurant, Carabba's and bought them a $50 gift card.  I was going to get my dad a nice cigar, but figured I'd get them something they both could enjoy.