Christmas merry...

Here's wishing everyone a good day with family and friends.

Mine will be a little different this year as Mom has passed, my son is out east and my daughter is out on her own now.

And I am without my one that matters.

Be well everyone! Read More...

Toronto's Santa Clause parade is today

Am sitting here alone on a Sunday afternoon waiting for a buddy to drop by so's I can kick his ass in darts. Until then I'm engrossed in S5 of Rescue Me, starring Dennis Leary.

Been thinking of those in my life, and of those who've come and gone over the past year. Hoping my son is ok, and that my daughter is doing well on her own.

And st00pid me, am thinking of My One Who Got Away, and hoping she too is doing well.

Miss them all... Read More...

It's been a heck of a year

Don't quite know what to say other than it's been quite a year.
Mom passed August 4th. She 'suffered' from Dementia, and the last month she'd had a stroke and a series of 'small' heart attacks.
I miss ya Mom!


I'd had my kids early in life so that as I approached 50 *cough* I'd be 'done'. With my youngest now 'out of the house' I'm free and clear to do as I see fit.

So, as a buddy of mine did, I'm heading off to Afghanistan with the Americans. Should I 'prevail'... I'll make enough cash in 3-5 years to last the remainder of my days.

Looking forward to it actually.

Personally, I've had a few 'smacks upside the head'. Women... what can one say other than **#(&*(@#R)(

Was 'fun' while it lasted.

more to follow...
Read More...

At a time like this

I've been thoroughly negligent this past year.

I must's say it's been a heck of a year though, and I am feeling compelled to speak of it.

Stay tuned...

Oh, and it's been 118 days, 15 hours, 16 minutes and 0 seconds Read More...

Fathers

The following is an excerpt from Man Enough: Fathers, Sons, and the Search for Masculinity (Putnam). I 'found' it in Psychology Today, circa 1993. My son was 4 and my daughter but one. At that time I'd made the decision to be a major part of my their lives. Saying it and doing it, well, it's not as simple as that. As they age (and grow... hopefully), it is a parent's 'job' to grow with them. And I wanted it as much as they did.

This article played a role in that decision.

Perhaps it can hold some meaning for you as well.

It was written by Frank Smith Pittman, III,M.D., An American psychiatrist and author.

Fathers & Sons

We know that raising children is the central experience of life, the greatest source of self-awareness, the true fountain of pride and joy, the most eternal bond with a partner. We know that being a father is life's fullest expression of masculinity. So why did so many men forgo this for so long, and will the current crop of post-patriarchal fathers fare any better?

FOR A COUPLE OF hundred years now, each generation of fathers has passed on less and less to his sons--not just less power but less wisdom. And less love. We finally reached a point where many fathers were largely irrelevant in the lives of their sons. The baby was thrown out with the bathwater, and the pater dismissed with the patriarchy. Everyone seemed to be floundering around not knowing what to do with men or with their problematic and disoriented masculinity.

In addition, over the same 200 years, each generation of fathers has had less authority than the last. The concept of fatherhood changed drastically after the Industrial Revolution. Economics suddenly dictated that somebody had to go out from the home to work. Men were usually chosen, since they couldn't produce milk. Maybe they would come home at night or just on weekends.

Please read the entire article at... (links to original article)

Read More...