Happiness arrived today, in a cardboard box

We purchased our Cuisinart DCC-1200 coffee maker in 1999 or 2000 shortly after we moved into our Chandler, AZ residence. It served has served us well. I broke a carafe sometime in the '03 or '04, but we had a spare coffee maker back then. This past March I broke another carafe, but somewhere along the line we got rid of our spare coffee machine. A week later a replacement carafe, along with new gold filter, arrived. We happily placed it into service making our morning elixir.

Fast forward to July 2008 when, for the third time in eight years, and only four months after the last occurrence, the carafe was broken yet again. The sense of dread was immediate; the fore-knowledge of Folgers instant coffee, black tea, and a week without the wondrous scent of freshly brewed coffee was a known hardship. One that I was not keen to repeat.

Today UPS delivered the box, and I, with excitement rarely experienced outside of a kid at Christmas, opened the box to examine the contents. It was quickly cleaned, filled with water, and emptied into the coffee maker.

Tonight I shall sleep well, content with the knowledge that tomorrow morning will be experienced with the scent, taste, and warmth that only a fresh brewed pot of coffee can provide.

Oh, and the kids are fine...

Overreaction #337

While I prepared last night's dinner, Shanna shared a humorous story learned while attending school. A business owner was being deposed and some of his responses are incredulous (my asterisks):

Q. [T]his is your loan file, what do Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald do for a living
A. I don’t know. Open it up and find it.
Q. Look at your loan file and tell me.
A. Open it up and find it. I’m not your f*****g bitch.
Q. Take a look at your loan application.
A. Do it yourself. Do it yourself. You want to do this in front of a judge. Would you prefer to [do] this in front of a judge? Then, shut the f**k up.
Q. Sir, take a look--
A. I’m taking a break. F**k him. You open up the document. You want me to look at something, you get the document out. Earn your f*****g money asshole. Isn’t the law wonderful. Better get used to it. You’ll retire when I’m done.

If you want to read more GO HERE.

Somewhere along the dinner preparation, the sharing of the day, and the humorous deposition Galen asked to be let downstairs to go potty. Now that's something that will almost always get action from one of us. So the stairs gate were opened and he was let through.

Now, back to the dinner preparation, the sharing of the day, the humorous deposition, and setting of table. I had finished warning, cooking, and placing everything out. Next I called for Galen and went about my business. After a moments I though to myself, "self, where's Galen?"

I went to the top of the stairs and noticed a lack of identifying sounds. That, as any parent quickly learns, is a sign of trouble. So, I walked down the stairs and heard a distinct sound of water as I approached the bathroom. I sped up, turned the corner, and

Overreaction #337.

The floor was soaked as he merrily cleaned a cardboard box in the sink. My left hand grasped the box and my right grasped his arm. I, not to gingerly, placed him into his rocking chair and put him in time out. As I went up the stairs to get rid of the box I passed Shanna and, not to politely, told her she got to clean the mess.

Two things:

1. Galen & I have had several conversations about water in the sink.
2. I was excessive toward Galen and Shanna.

While Shanna cleaned I fed Liam and myself.

Not one of my prouder moments. (Excessive with family that is, feeding Liam is OK).

With kids, angel and devil are the flip sides of the same coin. Today Galen has been an angel, not that last night had anything to do with it. But an angel is always preferable over the alternative. And I gotta remember he's still a Curious George.

A full house

We are whole again. Shanna has returned from her jaunt through the far east. If I can properly recollect, she visited Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Manila. I think Singapore was the only place she had a chance to do more than the hotel & work. We all received happy gifts, the nicest being her safe return home.

Today she has to complete her class final. It's take home, meaning it's probably harder than it needs to be. Good thing she has mostly recovered from jet-lag. It also means she's tantalizing close and off-limits.

Her return home brings a return of normalcy, I get morning and evening help again. Yes, I had a break while we visited Grandma & Grandpa's, but that was bracketed by a handful of looooong days. Those days reinforced my respect for any care giver that is without the support of another.

Shanna swears that Liam has learned great feats of coordination, is an inch taller, and talks like a sailor. To me, he's the same as when she left.

We've also initiated a home remodeling job, actually an add-on of a little over 200 square feet. The kids' room is going in our room, their old room is becoming our new bathroom and closet, and we get a new bedroom and 3-season porch. My description is simplistic and on paper it looks soooooo simple, but I know the stress is gonna rise beyond the level that happens when Shanna travels. But the end result, emmmmmm.

Welcome home Shanna!!

We drove, we visited, we ...

Shanna had to spend the week before-n-after the 4th of July on the road. It happens. In Chandler we would have enjoyed time with the Arizona branch, along with the local sights and sounds. This year I decided to drive to Indy and enjoy a lengthened holiday weekend with the Indiana branch.

The history of the War of 1812 is beyond Galen's current state of mind. The 4th in Phoenix is a hot and dusty affair and I had never felt ready to shepherd the young man through the evening. Now at 3 1/2, surrounded by a phalanx of family and in a markedly greener and cooler environment, it should be a delight. It was. Liam (and Natasha)? They were at Grandma-n-pa's while Grandpa stood guard.

The weekend brought me the pleasure of speaking with a whole range of family members. I enjoyed the talks, but as memories go, I think they pale when compared to the memories now held in a young boy's mind. Fourth of July fireworks are a visual and aural display of patriotism. For Galen, explosions and flashes are now a visceral connection to our collective past.