Friday, 24 February 2023

 Today is a day off for me--even more rare, it is a Friday and a day off. If time could just stand still now. It was -17 degrees this morning, but the coffee is hot, I've got a comfy chair and a good book. It could be -50 for all I care.

I have worked, it seems, every day for weeks on end. I've taken extra call for my work, so one work day is equal to three eight hour shifts. Plus a weekend of call, which is 64 hours. That's the equivalent of eight working days alone.

So if it feels like I haven't been home, that's why.

Things are going to get very busy in a few days. My daughter is going on a trip to New York City with her high school band in early March, so the next couple weeks will be early mornings and late nights of band rehearsal, not to mention she's the stage manager for the spring musical, which started rehearsals this week as well. 

Anyway, the band is flying to NYC and she's never been in a plane before, so I'm not so sure how this is going to go. She seems pretty chill about it, or at least she's putting on a heck of a brave face. I am accepting as a parent that at some point you've got to let go and let your kids spread their wings. I'm not going to be around forever. she's got to do things on her own. This will be a huge confidence booster for her.

My son is keeping himself busy playing trombone and working out after school in a power conditioning program; today is his last day of winter session and he wanted me to sign him up for spring session. So at least he's enjoying it, although I suspect a big part of the "enjoyment" is the fact he doesn't have to ride the bus after school. But he says he works hard and is always complaining of how sore he is the next day, so I hope he's getting some good out of it. 

I just signed him up for NDSU football camp in June; this will be his third year attending. I had to take his measurements for camp and he's now 5'10", 180 pounds... the size of a full grown man... He won't be 14 years old until July, so he's a big dude.

We had a feast of junk food for our little family Super Bowl party (me, my wife and my son). My daughter came out of her spider hole (her bedroom) to eat and to watch Rhianna at halftime and quickly scurried away. I was pleased the Chiefs won. When Brian and I went to a game at Arrowhead Stadium a few years ago, almost every Chiefs fan was friendly, talkative and respectful, which is the polar opposite of Eagles fans. They are obnoxious assholes. And if you're reading this and you are an Eagles fan, don't even argue. Own it. 

I was quite happy to see them cry in their beer afterwards.

My goofy son, posing with his "Chad" look. Evidently the "Chad" look is a thing. Anyway, he made wrapped smokies with mozzarella in the shape of a football for the Super Bowl. Deelish!

Otherwise, I am not doing much during these long winter days. although lately I've been working on putting together a new fantasy football league with a group of guys, so that's keeping me occupied. Hopefully the league will launch this fall. Fantasy football has been a hobby of mine since 1991. It is something I absolutely love to do.

I just started reading The Lives and Legends of Buffalo Bill by Don Russell, which I purchased last August at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West museums in Cody, Wyoming (highly recommended if you are ever in Cody). So, I am finally getting around to finishing the books I bought last summer.