Remind me why I live in the frozen tundra...

I enjoyed living in my state when it was almost 50 degrees about 2 and a half weeks ago (when I should have been golfing) but now that it is the frozen tundra I'm not as glad to be here. This type of weather affects CamMad. They are not able to get out and burn off their energy plus they need to hang out in cars that are not as warm as we would like. Basically, we tired of the frozen weather because we know it doesn't have an immediate end in sight. We haven't even had a snow day to help balance the temperature.

Life with CamMad lately has been predictable, holding these together M-F (afternoon) then let it go Friday night and Saturday, and a balance on Sundays. Fortunately we are getting to a period over the next 3 weeks in which the social calendar starts to fill out with school/work related activities until the February siesta. I'm hoping that the February siesta brings a little more calm than it was in December.

One last note before I end this posting, I can't image television without HD and know I can't wait until I can get my hands on a Blu-Ray disc to see the difference with movies. Now you understand why I might a strategically placed snowday!

Hump Day Blues

Well we've made it to the hump day of the week. It hasn't been the best of weeks so far with the blast of snow we got yesterday kinda set everyone off enough to make everyone on edge. We are still in morning to a certain extent from the Pats game on Sunday night and maybe that explains why everyone seems off.

Saturday night was a great night for everyone in the world of CamMad. The 'rents went out and had fun with adults (a novel concept) and the kiddies got to have a babysitter who's goal was to entertain first provide security second.

Child2 has enjoyed the normalcy of work week (I wished I knew what that is like). Child1 is doing well in school. I'm hoping the second half of the week is better than the first half. There really isn't anything else to report (or my mind is mush and I can't concentrate on things longer than 2 minutes at a time).

Happy Birthday Parent2

Today was Parent2's birthday. Given it is a work day it wasn't the day we wanted. We tried to make the best of it. I cooked a meal that Parent2 would have ordered if we had gone out to eat and yes there was cake. I was kind and did not put all of the candles that would match the number of years old. In fact Parent2 hasn't even gotten our gift yet. Given the number of active readers I don't feel ashamed to announce it here:

On the night we're going to the Red Sox game we will be spending it at the hotel of Parent2's choosing or I will choose it if that is Parent2's choice.

I hope everyone's Monday was pleasant enough. I know mine was tolerable. CamMad's day was a typical Monday all things considered.

Tag, I'm it!

A new round of tagging has begun. Yesterday Sheepish tagged me. This tag is to turn to page 123 and provide 6-8 lines of text to provide a little insight to what might make you tick. Well here's mine:

The Book: The Education of a Coach
Author: David Halberstam

Text: He was preparing himself to be a strength and conditioning coach. If the field of strength and conditioning was not exactly a virgin one at that time in the NFL, then it was somewhat a new one, an area in which most football coaches were just beginning to explore. But it was something that fascinated Reese and fascinated Belichick as well. Most other young coaches might not have been that eager to learn that was a bit arcane, but Belichick, Reese thought, knew from the start that the game was changing, and if the game was professional, that meant being professional about every aspect about it.

I am the tag stopper, sorry folks.

A nice surprise

Tonight I was flipping through the channels and saw a surprise. I was going through the HD channels and came across 713. I then realized that our CBS affliate is now in HD. This is great news for the Pats game Sunday night.

I know it has nothing to do with CamMad nor is it that big of a deal but I was surprised and now I'm happy.

A more complete roundup of CamMad events will come tomorrow.

How cold is cold?

The answer is simple: go outside for 10 seconds!

CamMad went in two different directions today. Child1 got more and more tired throughout the day. Child1 went to sleep very easily tonight which is very rare. Child2 to a nap that almost set records for naps. In some ways the day care service providers didn't have to put much effort into the day. We are paying for it now!

Today was the day that TimeWarner Cable actually fixed our issues with cable and Internet. We didn't realize it but one of our neighbors has been calling as well complaining. When TWC came they realized that one of the jumps was not performing the way it should. The tech monitored it for 30 minutes and saw the same things I've been reporting for the last month. The tech changed an amp and monitored it for 15 minutes and everything was fine for him. As we speak there has been no drops in service (knock on wood)!

Tomorrow night I'm on the road on a work-related trip so there may not be an entry. Please stay warm! Tomorrow should be better temperature-wise.

What a football game?

OMG I watched one of the most incredible football games in my life. Even though the Patriots won I was a thrilled fan. I'm glad the season has been extended by at least one week (hopefully two). Go PATS!

Will someone tell me where my children are?

I swear someone or something switched places with our children. All weekend CamMad have been grumpy and not a lot of fun to be around. We've tried to keep this low-key but it seems at every turn CamMad is either pickering with each other, grumpy with us, or being a cling-on. This is not making it a lot of fun for the 'rents.

I'm hoping it is just the fact that we're gearing up for the storm that is likely to drop 6 or so inches over the next 24 hours or so. That should be enough snow for us to attempt the sledding hill. There may be some freezing rain and sleet that we might have to contend with but there still should be enough snow to be able to enjoy it.

Last night we attempted to go out to dinner instead of cooking at home. We realized there would be a considerable wait and changed our minds. That news did not settle well with CamMad. We spent the next few minutes dealing with children who were almost dehydrated due to the tears cried. We were glad the meltdown happened in the car not in the resteraunt. That is just one example of the CamMad we've been dealing with over the last couple of days.

Change of subject here. I think we all agree that the change of gymnastics class works for everyone. Thank you Coach Lisa!

There is a lot of things that I'm looking forward to over the next couple of days. The first being the Pats game. It has been a good season no matter what happens today. Another one is the start up of my favorite show, 24! Tonight is 2 hour premiere and tomorrow we have another 2 hours of the longest day for Jack Bauer.

GO PATRIOTS!

Addition by Subtraction

http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2007/01/sometimes-you-add-to-your-life-by.html



Not very often do I like to mix my professional and personal lives in my blog but I read this posting from Vicki Davis (whom I respect tremendously). Vicki is a technology teacher in Georgia who has a similar background as mine (business background who found education as a calling).



Tonight Vicki blogged about life sometimes means that you add to your life by subtraction. Subtracting those things that carry little value or pleasure. Sometimes life is about the most simple and basic things and we needed to be reminded of that fact. Too often that reminder comes in the form of a life altering event (death, near-death, divorce, etc.).



I often tell my students and my children it is better to do a couple of things very well and to the best you can deliver than it is to do a lot of things only average. Addition sometimes means subtraction ("Did a former math teacher just say that?")

The pulse in the house...

The pulse in the house is weird. Everyone is tired and/or sick. We haven't done a whole lot as a family just so we can maximize rest and relaxation. It hasn't always worked out that way. Little one's needs don't necessarily fall into rest and relaxation. They tend to fall into that "I want to cling to you! Give me your attention!" type mode.

Observation: CamMad doesn't have a lot of hand-eye coordination. Yes, they are still young and they will cultivate that skill over the next few years but it is funny watching them play video games. Child1 is very kinesthetic with the game controller. If the child needs to move the character to the left, the child and the controller move to the left. Watching them play Cars (a lot like Pole Position of the 80's and early 90's) is the funniest. They still don't get the concept of winning so they are having a grand ol' time when the cars go off the track or run into things. I'm glad they don't have their license!!!!!!!!!!!

Last night the 'rents finally got their first crack at the PS3 without the kids getting in the way. We played Tiger Woods Golf and had fun. Parent2 won the skins match (due to the fact the character was a pro and I'm building a character) but it was nice to do it without the constant distraction children may cause.

In some ways I'm looking forward to the long weekend more than I did for the vacation week. Number 1 reason: NO PLANS except for the Patriots game on Sunday afternoon!!

Have a great Thursday everyone!

The first illness of the year

We made it almost a week into 2007 before someone in the CamMad house got sick. Child2 beat out dear old dad for that race. Yesterday Child2 developed a slight fever and was sleepy. Fortunately it hasn't gotten any worse not a lot better.

Today was Patriots day. No not the one in April and the Boston Marathon but playoff football with our favorite team, the New England Patriots. We usually recognize the second season with an app fest. The menu on this occasion included: Popcorn chicken, mozzarella sticks, poppers, and potato skins. Fortunately the Patriots ended up on the right side of the result. Sorry Jet Fans but your "J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets" are just "gone, gone, gone!"

Now we start to turn our attention to next week's game in San Diego.

Back to CamMad, they got to play outside today. Who would think this weather is in January? Well they are saying that the weather into the AM will remind us that it is winter. Who knows what that means school wise though.

Hey Parent2 do you have your keys?

Not much else to report other than it is a normal looking work week with a short one coming up, thank you MLK!

What have we been up to lately?

Coming back from the siesta has been harder than we all thought. I've had some good reasons why I haven't blogged in the last couple of days. Most of my free time on Tuesday was spent talking with Vonage trying to get our Internet connection staightened out. After a lot of hours I had to go get a new cable modem (far cheaper than renting it). CamMad was hard to wake up Tuesday AM but they made it through the day.

Yesterday was a hard day at work. By the time I got home I had a battle with TimeWarner cable in getting the new modem on line. Knock on wood we are up and running.

The only good thing about yesterday was a late gift celebrating Festivus Day.

Yes the CamMad house has a PS3. While I was at BestBuy they had a sign let customers know they had PS3's in stock. Initially I didn't get it but after talking it over with Parent2 we went for it. So last night after everyone was asleep I hooked it up and was able to multitask. See for yourself-
Isn't Picture-in-Picture great!

I'm hoping that this will not get in the way of my blogging but if there are gaps you'll know why!

The Break is All but Over

Regrettably today is New Year's Day and the CamMad household is transitioning back to the routine. CamMad is fighting it hard but they realize fighting it is a losing battle. The break was full of entertainment for CamMad. We had 6 rounds of xmas with the last one ending Friday night with the cousins from Mass. Santa and CamMad's loved ones were very generous to them this year and we would like to thank them here on the blog.

It has been a few days since our last entry so here is a quick summary of what has gone on:

• We went car shopping and may be closing in on a car but family down time was more important than closing the deal. There will be other cars but family down time is more precious.
• Sheepish came over. She was pretty accurate in the blow by blow description of the night's accounts.
  
• Friday we made our visit to a town in Maine that has the same name as a country to visit the cousins from Mass. CamMad was up very late that night but they had a great time with family we don't get a chance to see enough.
  
• Saturday was decision day: Stay at home and have a quiet day or rush to try to make a deal on a car. We decided to stay home. The decision was made easier by the fact that CamMad slept in past 8 am. That hasn't occurred since they've been born.
• Yesterday we tried to keep things pretty calm. We watched the Pats game (off to the playoffs we go) and picked up the house for some visitors. We kept the kids routine somewhat normal knowing that they had their routine coming up. Parent2 fell asleep before the New Year was wrung in.
• I've spent a lot of time with Vonage and TimeWarner to no avail trying to figure out why we have poor cable and Internet service. I have a funny feeling this will be an ongoing battle in 2007.

In some ways we are ready to get back into the routine. It is more about the fact that if we're going to be this busy we mind as well get closer to the long summer siesta when we can relax a bit more. A couple well placed snow days in the near future will be well appreciated. I know that I'm not alone with this one!

A special note to Mother Nature: Please give me a day or two's notice so I can plan accordingly.

I hope everyone has a great and healthy start to 2007.