This evening our little family went for a walk to get a little exercise and enjoy the cool evening. When we got home Quinn went around to unlock the door while I sat on the porch and talked to Dawson.

The minute I said hi to him he started laughing really hard. This was one of those deep laughs accompanied by squeals and high pitch screeches.

Quinn came outside with my pda and we recorded part of it. The video is a little rough and dark but I am sure you will get a kick out of it like we did.

Here it is enjoy!



We love our little giggle monkey!

After a pretty good day at work; I shut down my computer, cleared off my desk, grabbed my suit jacket and umbrella and headed off for my leisurely walk home. I have been enjoying these daily walks. They help me clear my thoughts about the work day, and shed the stress that is built up from a hectic day of running a newspaper.

I approached the house, walked up on the porch, opened the front door, walked inside the entry way and am greeted with . . .

"We're not packed and ready to go." - Quinn

"What needs to be packed?" - Me

"I don't know, everything" - Quinn

"Okay" - Me

"I'm sorry!" - Quinn

"What are you sorry about?" - Me

"I didn't get us all packed up." - Quinn

"You're mad at me." - Quinn

"I'm not mad at you. Let's just get packed." - Me

I go upstairs and attempt to start packing. At this point I'm frustrated, annoyed and not quite sure what just happened. After a day spent with a fussy baby, it is obvious that Quinn is annoyed and frustrated as well. After more conversation like this and running around the house frantically to finish getting packed. (Even though we weren't in a hurry.) We finally got everything together and loaded into the van for our trip.

Last night we made our weekly trip to Quinn's mom's house in Illinois. While it is only for two days and the trip is only a 1 1/2 hour drive we seem to pack like we are taking a week long vacation. We packed jeans and shorts, long sleeve and short sleeve. This time of the year you never know what the weather in the Midwest is going to be like. It can be cool in the morning and evening and warm during the day so we pack in preparation for both. These are just the items we packed for ourselves and doesn't even include the four bags we packed for Dawson. To be such a little guy he sure requires a lot of items to make a short trip.

Once on the road we all settled in for the drive and with each mile we traveled the frustrations and annoyed feelings seemed to melt away. By the time we crossed the Indiana/Illinois border you would have never guessed we had been upset in any way.

That's the beauty of being in love. We might not always see things the same way and we obviously will express ourselves differently but in the end we find ourselves traveling down the same road together, holding hands and looking toward what's up ahead.

I love my wife.

In my post yesterday I referenced the fact that I walked home from work and promised that I would tell you more about that later. Well here it is.



This week I started walking to work for the environment. Well sort of. Not the earth's environment like you might think but for my environment. I am focusing on getting healthier. Although I am not obese or in horrible shape I have decided that I don't want to get that way. That is why I have taken up walking to and from work. My schedule gets so busy during the week that I don't have a lot of time for exercise, or at least that has been my excuse, until now.

I figure I am fortunate enough to live not too far from the office and work in the downtown area where I can easily get to most meetings I must attend.

There you have it. I have started walking everyday and I am actually enjoying it.

My Babe and my
baby!

So as I was saying, we just sat on the porch this evening and laughed and talked and had a good time. Most people would think that it was nothing spectacular but in my eyes it was amazing. The time spent with my family makes feel like all in life is good. I love the special times like this when we can just relax and be ourselves. It is the simplest things that make me happiest.

It is the times when we take the kids to homer lake and walk through the woods that make me happy.

It is the times when we are all at Regina and Rita's and having dinner sitting around the table and Josh asks for more and then asks for more and then looks at me with a smile only Josh can give as he is searching for a nod to go ahead and get another helping.

It is the times when Brys walks over and gives me a hug and just holds on. Giving me his special bear hug.

It is the times when Ryan is walking home from school or cross country practice and calls me on the phone just to touch base with me for the day.

It is the times when Caleb looks across the room at me and nods his head to tell me in his special way that he loves me or when he sends me a text message that says "Hey can you send me a picture of you? I'm on the toilet and I need something to scare the crap out of me..LOL jk"

It is the times when Patience walks up behind me when I'm sitting down and hugs my neck and kisses my cheek.

These are the simple things that make me the happiest.

I love my family.

This evening we went to Lebanon and had a picnic at the park with my mom. It was pretty relaxing. We went to KFC picked up some chicken and sides, sat at the park and ate. It was a beautiful evening. After we went back to her house and visited for awhile.

It was a good time. Dawson was happy to see his Grandma Jean and I could tell she was happy to see him too.

This was a good way to end a not so great day.

Last night I was having chest pains again and stayed home from work today. I spent the better portion of the time in bed. I wish they would go away for good. Maybe someday they will. I just want to be healthy for Quinn and the kids.

Now that I think about it - probably eating fried chicken at the park isn't the best way to stay healthy. I guess I should just give in and start eating the Quinn way - lot's of vegetables and tasteless foods. Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm! I am looking forward to it already.

Are you a complainer? Ask anyone that question and the answer you will get is probably ‘no not me’. None of us think we are complainers, but we all know people who are. You know the folks I’m talking about. You are probably thinking of someone right now. In fact, someone reading this column is probably thinking about you. The truth is we all complain. I have always known that I do my fair share but it wasn’t until recently that it occurred to me that I was a chronic complainer. I am not proud of it. I actually want to stop. The problem is I think I am addicted to complaining. Like many of you, I think I actually enjoy complaining. Fortunately for me and the people around me who have to listen to my complaints, I think I found some help. A few months ago Reverend Will Bowen, a pastor in Kansas City, Missouri, asked his congregation to make a simple pledge to not complain for 21 days. Each participant was given a purple bracelet as a reminder of the pledge, and with each complaint, the bracelet is switched to the other wrist and the 21-day count restarts.

The no-complaints movement has quickly become mainstream, and so far over a million no-complaint bracelets – which the church offers free of charge - have been ordered. People from all over the world are contacting the church to request their bracelets.

Some participants of the no complaint movement tried up to seven months to achieve 21 complaint-free days, but even with relapses, all efforts have resulted in millions of stopped complaints. As Rev. Bowen sums it up, “that’s a lot less ear pollution.”

When I heard about this I thought to myself that this is just what I need to break my complaint addiction. I sat down at my computer to order my bracelet and typed in the wrong web address. Naturally, when I realized that I had the wrong website I did what any normal complainer would do and I called the person that gave me the website and complained. It is at that exact moment that I knew my problem was worse than I thought. You know you have hit rock bottom when you complain about getting help to stop complaining.

Well eventually, I got to the right website, ordered my bracelet and I am patiently waiting on its arrival. In the meantime, I have placed a blue rubber band on my wrist and now I am at least noticing when I complain. To be honest, I am not doing too well. I have had to switch the rubber band to a different wrist three times while writing this column.






Can you do better than me? Could you last 21 days with no complaining, criticizing, gossiping or sarcastic remarks? Take the no-complaints pledge, and encourage those around you to do the same. You can order your bracelet on the Internet by going to http://www.acomplaintfreeworld.fobby.net/.

Imagine how much better the community we live in will be if we all limit our complaining. Good luck. Just remember if it doesn’t work, don’t complain to me about it.