My latest

Today's post: Something that I really hate. (shocker, huh?)

Rachel and I have been married for almost 9 years now, so far we've lived at Mom's in Fairfax, in Manassas VA, and Pennsylvania. We've met a good number of people in that time, and made some lasting friendships. We've also made good friends, who turn out to totally snub and forget us once either they or we move. Some history first.

I never was really big on keeping in touch with people, not that it wasn't important to me to do so, but I just didn't think about it. I complained a lot when the house in Fairfax broke up, with Jim moving back to Pittsburgh and I ended up at Mom's again, about friends not keeping in touch with me. I complained all the way up here to Pottstown, as the people I thought were my friends never called/emailed/visited me. I realize now that some of this was my own fault, as I didn't make the effort to keep the lines of communication open with them. That being said, with Rachel's help, I am a ton better at keeping in touch with friends and family than I ever was before.

Which leads me to my current issue. I really hate it when friends move away. No matter if it's the next county, or across the nation, the result is the same. "Let's keep in touch" or "I could never lose you guys" or "You're too special to forget" or some amalgum of these sentiments is invariably uttered by one or both parties. I hate that, because in my own experience, this never happens. I've lost countless friends to the wind, all promising to keep in touch -- but emails go unanswered, phone calls and voice mails ignored, and these people I let into my heart STOMP on it with their callous shoulder turned to me. I would much rather someone tell me, "Look, we had a good run. I like you a lot, but let's be honest, I'm moving away and will never see you again. I'm going to be making other friends, and I really don't have the time or effort to keep in touch with you." That would be honest, and refreshing for once, rather than telling me how much I mean to you, and then completely ignoring when I try to keep in touch. I take that stuff personal. So, to the Edwards, the Ecks, the Smiths, the Abels, and now the Hassels, amongst many others - - goodbye.

EDIT: I wasn't talking about Jim and Jessica in my post about the house breaking up and not staying in touch. They've been solid on that count.

Family Portrait

I worked on Saturday, and was checking our work schedule for this week. I completely let it slip that Monday was President's Day, and it's one that is observed by Safeway for backstage employees. There are seven "corporate" holidays that Safeway observes for their backstage staff, with President's Day being an odd pick for one of the seven. I mean, you have New Years, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas as the big six. I just don't get how President's Day made it over Martin Luther, or Columbus Day. For most of the office is off, but Field Services is required to have staff in the field of some sort. Checking the schedule, Paul was scheduled, with Kris and myself having off. I was fully prepared to take the shift, to make some extra money - until I got called out for a sev 1 on Sunday. So, after calling Paul to apologize for not taking the shift, it turned out I was off.

Rachel and I decided it would be pretty fun to get a family portrait done, since we all had matching shirts (another story, I'll tell it if you want later). We got in touch with Picture People early, thank goodness, and were able to secure an 11 AM appointment. We had already washed and dried out outfits the night before, just in case, and headed to the mall. After all was said and done, here's how the picture turned out:

For some reason I love the Product (RED) items from the Gap. I'm not sure if it's the cause it represents, or the colors, but I just love them. I ordered a shirt from Gap.com, along with Allison, Ryleigh and Linday's, as the girls shirts were on sale for 4 bucks each. Rachel bought her's on Monday at Gap in the mall. The salespeople were all looking at us, and thought it was pretty neat we decided to go with their product for our family portrait. I am even wearing two Product (RED) leather bracelets, as you can see. I think it turned out great, and we got the chance to use the shirts we originally bought for something else (again, if you want to know, ask again later).

Happy Valentine's Day

Today we take the time to honor those loved ones in our lives. For their love, their sacrifice on our behalf, and to let them know without a doubt how much they mean to us. Apparently that means flowers, candy, and jewelry.

I have long held the belief that Valentine's Day is a Girl Holiday. What I mean by that is nothing more than this: I've never expected a present, or flowers, or candy on this day from my significant other. I grant you the following facts: First, that before I was married to Rachel, I never had a girlfriend on this holiday, so thus - I never got anything. Second, I have low expectations on for gifts on any day - besides my birthday and Christmas. Third - I always hated Valentine's Day growing up, because the kids at school always butchered the spelling of my name and I never got the "Love" valentines from the girls. So, in my own little world, Valentine's Day meant very little to me, until I was married. Even now, I'm happy with a silly card, or a picture from the kids. Low expectations is the key to happiness.

So, to all my friends, family and others who read this blog - Happy Valentine's Day from the bottom of my cynical heart. I love you all, some more than others.

p.s. If you really want to make me happy, four little words: Reese's Peanut Butter Hearts. You can even wait until the middle of next week when they are 75% off at your local drug store/grocery store.

Avenue Q - It Sucks to Be Me - Tony Awards

Allison has been watching "Johnny and the Sprites" for a little while now, it's on Playhouse Disney apparently. Well, the story goes something like this: Johnny finds out there are magical creatures are living in his backyard, and so he sings with them for the at home audience because apparently that's what you're supposed to do when you find there are magical creatures living in your backyard.

Nancy let me listen to a CD she burned of the Avenue Q Broadway musical a few years ago. She had been to see the play in New York, and loved it. It's won Tony Awards, and has since been playing not only in NY but made the trip to Las Vegas. It's a very irreverant, adult version of Sesame Street for those of you not in the know. I freakin' loved it, and laughed so much when I heard the songs Nancy played for me. It's now in iTunes, and on my and Rachel's iPods. I just love how very taboo subjects are poked fun at and sung about, with no regard to if people are offended.

To tie these two very different subjects together, I present Allison. Rachel noticed how she thought the voice of Princeton (main character in A.Q.) sounded like Johnny from the Sprites show. Well, after an assist from www.imdb.com we found that John Tartaglia was indeed the voice of not only Princeton, but also Rod from Avenue Q. He also was tapped to start his own kids TV show on Disney, and that's where "Johnny and the Sprites" was born. After reading his biography, he apparently grew up around the puppets on "Sesame Street" so it wasn't a huge stretch for him to be still working with puppets. He also was appearing as Lumiere on the Broadway "Beauty and the Beast" cast. Just a wonderful talent to watch and behold. Well, Allison also figured out that Johnny is the singer for a lot of the A.Q. songs, and sings along in her car seat after wearing Rachel and I down to listen to it again. I gotta tell you, listening to Allison sing along to "Everyone's a little bit Racist" will make you cry laughing .... trust me.

Love to all.