New Beginnings: Embracing Changes and Rediscovering Passions

It's been a long hiatus since my last entry here. Over the nine intervening years, much water has flowed under the bridge, and I’ve even ventured into writing a few other blogs along the way.

The idea of revisiting this space sparkled in my mind recently while reading a post from a trail-running friend on Blogger. It was a pleasant surprise to rediscover this old blog, like bumping into an old friend.

So, what’s changed? The kids, Jupiter and Tsunami, have grown like weeds. Jupiter has stepped into the exciting world of high school, while Tsunami has embarked on the middle school journey. Their lives are now filled with the sweet sounds of band practices, with hockey games sprinkled in for good measure. Our shared love for music and video games has spun many enjoyable afternoons. Lately, we've taken a liking to exploring roadside attractions, reminiscent of our adventure chasing the STL250 cakes around the city years ago.

Professionally, I've nestled into a full-time software developer role, currently engrossed in a slew of intriguing projects. The skill-building during the kids' younger years has paved the way for a fulfilling career that not only keeps the lights on but also allows me to be an involved parent.

Now, onto the elephant in the room. I am navigating the choppy waters of divorce. It's a complex, emotionally draining journey that I won’t delve too deep into at the moment. It's hard, perhaps the hardest ordeal I’ve ever faced. Yet, despite the storm, there's a silver lining. Things are looking up in many ways, both for the kids and me. The longing for the familial structure I grew up with lingers, but the circumstances leading us here were unavoidable.

Amidst the whirlwind of life changes, I realized how much I missed writing. While I’ve penned down thoughts sporadically over the years, the consistency faded. Now, I am thrilled to rekindle this old passion. I look forward to sharing slices of life, musings, and adventures right here, reconnecting with you all, and embarking on new journeys of expression.

I welcome you to share your thoughts, experiences, or just a simple hello in the comments below. Stay tuned for more stories, and thank you for being part of this journey.

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The Poky Little Puppy

Sometimes Jupiter likes to read the classic Golden Book tale, The Poky Little Puppy before bed or nap time. This is another of many children's stories where the intended moral of the story seems to have been surpassed by a message that, I think, conveys the nearly the opposite message. The Poky Little Puppy is a story about five little puppies who dig a hole under the fence to go out for a walk in the wide, wide world. The fifth, poky, puppy is always behind the others. Eventually the poky little puppy smells the dessert that is prepared for the puppies each night. The four other puppies smell it too and hurry home while the poky puppy takes his time. The four puppies then eat their dinner and are scolded by their mother for digging a hole under the fence with the punishment being that they do not get dessert. Then along comes the poky puppy after everyone is asleep. He is met with no dinner but left over dessert, since the four puppies were not able to eat it. This scenario takes...

Kid on a Leash

Has anyone seen these kid leash products around? Sometimes I see them at the zoo, farmers market, or other crowded areas. If a company can make a product that will make a parent feel a little bit safer, there will always be people out there to buy it. When I see one, it reminds me of that scene in Rise of the Planet of the Apes when a leashed Caesar sees a dog on a leash and turns to Will and signs, "Am I a pet?" The idea of the product is that it will keep the child safe and nearby. It is designed to subside the fear that a child will run off or get abducted. I think that if someone is out to abduct a child during the few seconds when a parent is looking away, a leash is a very small deterrent, and likely, not effective. All the abductor would need is a nice pair of scissors or simply their fingers. The latch cannot be that hard to work. If anything, having a leash might give a parent a false sense of security causing them to pay less attention to the child. In that case it...

The Santa Lie

When I was young my parents followed a tradition which I imagine was passed down to them from their parents who received the tradition from their parents before them and so on for a generation or two before them. I am of course talking about the yearly tradition of deceiving their gullible offspring with myths of a jolly man who lives at the North Pole. I fell for it. They were fairly elaborate to the point of even having a man dressed up as a Santa come to the front door one year. This of course sparked my suspicion a little. Why the front door and not the chimney? Though I do not remember what it was, a satisfactory explanation was given and I continued to believe in it. Eventually I did finally figure it all out, mostly through ridicule from schoolmates and my 3rd grade teacher for still believing it. I did not take the news well. I did not understand that my parents, who regularly told me that lying is wrong and makes Jesus cry, would keep up such an elaborate and ultimately pointl...

Kirk blAug

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