Growing Pains are A Pain in More Than Just The Leg

Desmond is 6.  This means many things.

1. He is super fun. 
2. He is super literal.
3. He is super stubborn.
4. He is growing super fast!

Off and on, Des has complained of pains in his legs.  It hasn't been too much.  Just, "Dad...my leg hurts," here or there.  

I usually ask if he hurt it, he replies no.  So, I told him a little bit about growing pains. 

When I was young, I remember getting really bad growing pains.  I concede that I am a complete and total wuss, so when I say "really bad" it was probably little more than a dull ache.  But, whatever...I remember them being super painful.  

That's why, when Desmond woke up screaming the other night, I was filled with sympathy!

I was lying in bed sound asleep.  Kim woke me up.  Told me Des was crying for me.  So, I pop in there and, sure enough, tears are streaming down his face and he's crying "My legs hurt, daddy!!"  

Any of you parents out there probably know how much it sucks to see your little person in pain.  And, the worst part about pain like this...there is not really much I can do about it. 

I gave him some Tylenol, laid down in bed with him and rubbed his legs.  This seemed to sooth him enough to get him to fall asleep, again. But, man...I hate those nighttime screams.  

Growing Pains are fascinating to me, aside from the pain part.  When I was little, I would imagine my bones growing at a rate I could see inside my leg.  I mean, if it hurt that much, clearly you should be able to see the bone actually moving, right? 

Kid is sprouting up like crazy.  He's almost grown out of his school uniform.  He's still skinny as a pole, though.  

That's all.  Thoroughly enlightening post, I'm sure.  

Hey, stuff it.  This is my blog.  I write what I want!

Things That Make Me Smile- Dog Fetch Fails

This video.  This video makes me smile.

Republicans should support gay marriage!

I've said this before, many times.  Maybe even on this blog.  But, here I go again. 

I consider myself a Republican.  Despite my complete disagreement with the party stance on gay marriage.  Because, to me...supporting gay marriage actually IS a Republican value.

What?  What do you say?  That makes no sense, Jason!  God hates the gays!  Oh, wait...I mean, God loves the gays...he just hates the act of being gay.  Pray out the gay, boys!  Pray out the gay!!!

Well, the topic of gay marriage is once again in the news with the knucklehead judges of the mediocre state of ALABAMA decide they are going to ignore their Federal superiors and NOT grant marriage licenses to gay couples. 

Ok.  Here's where I jump on my soapbox.

Many of the people in ALABAMA are Republicans.  These ALABAMA Republicans, as well as many other Republicans like many of their federal counterparts, oppose gay marriage?  Why, you may ask.  Well, simple.  Because God.

Let's discuss what it means to be Republican, for a minute.  You know, Republican like Lincoln thought of Republican.  Or Jefferson, or Goldwater, etc, etc.

Republican means low taxes.  Strong military.  States rights.  And...most important to this conversation LESS GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE!!!!

Since when did Republican equal "We should tell you who you can or can't get married to?"  Now, it is coming so far that judges are stepping in.  We get mad when Ruth Bader Ginsburg or Stephen Breyer "legislate from the bench." But when a nobody judge for ALABAMA wants to directly violate an order from the Supreme Court (called Supreme because that's as high as the court goes...it doesn't stop in ALABAMA) Republicans seem to think that's okie dokie.  WTF?

To my Christian brothers and sisters...particularly those that say you are Republicans.  I have this request.

GET OVER IT!!!!

Being gay doesn't hurt you.  Getting married to a same sex partner doesn't hurt you.  "Oh," you say..."it hurts the children?"  Prove it?  Cuz, all the research I've read says it doesn't.  And, I don't want to see any "research" done by Jesus Camp.

Ugh!  So annoying!  You guys seriously make it hard to convince people to vote Republican.

Oh...in case you're wondering why I keep shouting ALABAMA! It's because, whenever I say ALAMABA...I say it like Forrest Gump.

February Family Picture

Round 2 of our Family Picture every month, series.

No real outtakes from this one.  Basically busted out the phone at a moment when Des was in a good mood and asked our friend Kevin to take a photo.  Here are some other photos from the day:

This is me enjoying a beautiful day on our patio with a book and some 2 Gingers whiskey!

Kevin showing the boys (Duncan, Des and Malcom) how to skip rocks. 

 Duncan and Desmond holding down the fort with their stick rifles. 

Duncan and Des building up their fort. 

Ok...I guess there is one outtake.  Here is Duncan photobombing us. 

Peace!

I've forgotten how to write!

No...really.  I can't do it anymore. 

I'm talking about hand writing, mind you.  Do you remember how to write with your hands.  None of this typie typie stuff.  I mean actually putting a writing utensil in your hand and putting ink to paper.

Let me explain.

Since Des started Kindergarten, I have been wrangled into volunteering for a bunch of stuff.  School Commission, Parish Leadership Team, Fund Drive Committee, etc, etc, etc.  At a meeting of the Fund Drive Committee last night, we were asked to write Thank You cards to the donors. 

It took about 5 minutes before my hand started to hurt.  Seriously...5 minutes.  I was stopping and making and releasing a fist because I don't work those muscles for 5 straight minutes at a time, anymore.

Then, even more annoying...I forgot how to spell.  When you write, there are no red marks underlining misspelled words.  A simple word like donor.  Is it donor...or doner?  See, when I write it here, I can easily tell that doner is misspelled because it has a red underline!  So...what do I do?  I simply right click and pick the correct spelling.

Not that long ago, I remember getting into an argument with my mom over the teaching of cursive in school.  She was annoyed because schools are beginning to stop teaching cursive.  My mom thinks that's dumb.  Me, on the other hand.  The guy who doesn't actually hand write anymore, the guy who, when I do hand write, it's not in cursive, things it's completely ok not to teach cursive.  Because, kids are never going to need it!  It's not like someone has to write another Declaration of Independence or something.  And, even if they did, it would likely be written in Word...not on parchment.

Anyway...just thought you would like to know.  I can't write anymore.

Things that make me smile - Shia LaBouf...not what you think, though.

I frequently post things like this on Facebook.  Might as well make it a category here.

I am not a fan of Shai LaBouf.  I hate when actors take themselves too seriously.  Acting is more of a talent than an art, IMHO.  I mean, you are taking someone else's material and interpreting it through your actions and voice.  You're not the creator.  The writer is the creator.  You're just bringing a creation to life.  Shia LaBouf is a dude who likes to talk smack about a movie like Transformers.  A bad movie, maybe.  But, regardless...it's the only reason anyone knows his name.

Still, that's all irrelevant.  That is really more about why I don't pay money to see Shai LaBouf in movies.

But, I recently came across this little ditty.  It's pretty funny.  If you're having trouble understanding them, turn on the closed captions.

An example like from the song, "Actual cannibal, Shai LaBouf!"

Enjoy!

First PLUS Sized Model in Sports Illustrated!!! Wait...what?

Big news today.  The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition is coming out this month!  I currently subscribe to Sports Illustrated for the first time since I was a kid.  Somehow, magically, I never received my Swimsuit edition back then.  I suspect mail fraud on the part of my mother.

Anyway, while I will certainly not complain about receiving a magazine full of babes in bikinis, I wasn't really thinking much about this episode.  Until I heard the big news about how, for the first time ever, one of the models is Plus sized! 

Now, I am going to write this post like I write most posts.  Using no research except that of my own opinion. 

When I hear Plus sized, I think Fat.  I just do.  Right, wrong, whatever.  I have no idea what the proper definition is of Plus sized.  But, when I hear about the Plus section or a plus sized model, I imagine large. 

I do NOT consider myself to be plus sized.  And, if you've seen me recently, you'll find that I have put on the pounds, once again.  While I would like to be much more fit and I know I need to be healthier, I would not look at myself and say, "Hey...I need to shop in the Plus section."  Because, I don't!  Is there a plus sized section for men, anyway?  I mean there's the "Big and Tall Store."  But, I imagine that's more for Shaq.

Moving along.  When I heard the news about a Plus sized model, I was expecting, well...a large woman in a bikini.  What I actually saw, however, was Robyn Lawley.  Here...check her out for yourself:

This is one from the SI shoot. 

So...I am confused.  This woman isn't fat.  Not even a little bit.  In fact, I think she's pretty smokin' hot.  What the heck is Plus sized, I wonder? 

I'm not trying to jump on to any kind of debate or get on a pedestal about what real beauty is.  I'll save that for the Dove commercials.  But, the fact of the matter is...I am a red blooded dude who likes babes.  Yes, I said babes.  Babes in this context is used in reference to someone who is more than just physically attractive.  Babes go past regular attractiveness and into DAAAAAAYAM! 

This woman is DAAAAAAYAM!  She's gorgeous!  Now, here is where one might say something like, "So what if she's got a little meat on her bones."  But...I can't say that here.  She looks perfect!  I can't see any ribs, there's no annoying "thigh gap" or whatever it's called.  Her smile is sparkling.  Should I go on?

What?  She has hips?  Proportionate boobs?  I don't get it. 

Plus sized has a negative connotation to it.  There's nothing negative about the way Robyn Lawley looks.

Oh...so I just read that Robyn is a size 10.  I don't know exactly what that means as I don't (often) wear women's clothing.  But, I guess size 10 is plus sized.

I have a feeling I know a lot of size 10 women whom I find equally beautiful.  I give them a size A+!

See what I did there...with the +?  *snort*

I would have run it with Lynch...

The best way to summarize a depressing Superbowl with depressing ads. #Nationwide