My buddy and me

So little buddy and I had our first real solo outing in a really long time..like seven months...some might say ever.  This was the first time I was allowed outside with him for an extended amount of time.  I must say, that we had a blast traversing North Central New Jersey.  It started with a trip to "Smash Burger" part Game Stop logo rip off, part Five Guys burgers rip off.  I dont mean to sound negative, the burgers are good; really good.  But, while watching the interview with the founder, he seemed too oblivious that two major parts of his business seemed lifted from other companies.  Its like trying to ignore the big hole when you're standing over the Grand Canyon.  Again, loved the burger but don't know if I'd go out of my way for it.

Second part of the trip was a walk down the Morristown Traction line.  Buddy and I probably walked a good 3 miles together.  The first half he was wide eyed and bushy tailed as we made our way past Farleigh Dickinson and St. Elizabeth College.  I enjoyed reminiscing about the year living in Morristown and the year spent running on that path most nights every week.  I recounted the story to little buddy, but he ignored me for the most part, and just bobbed his head to smooth cadence of the walk.

Buddy started getting a little feisty on the return trip, so after a quick stop for a history lesson and self portrait, we went on our way back to the car.  He didnt want to nap until we got to the car, but then he hit the wall.  It was probably a mix of Smash fries (again delicious), head bobbing and lack of sleep from the night before-but he passed out in about 4 minutes-leaving me to figure out what to do with him.  Do I wake him up so we can go to the nearby Barnes and Nobles, or do I let the little guy sleep.  I chose the latter, which cut the trip short, but a good time was still had by all.

Entities, Tables and tuples oh my!

The first month of the year has not been one of health in the Wilawok household.  Everyone is sick or has been in some stage of degraded health over the last few weeks.  The wife is still sick, and maybe sicker than she was a week ago.  The X man is on the mend and doing better, but I dont think any of us are out of the woods until everyone is healthy.  We should take a queue from the news clips we see on TV of the Japanese subway system with everyone wearing masks-at least until the colds and ills are done-maybe until spring.
I've begun my first (and only) class of the spring semester last week and I can easily say that I have no earthly idea what I'm doing.  The class title sounds harmless enough-Data Management.  But, that, is what the marketing world calls false advertising.  Data management is all about Databases, database structures and how databases are built, displayed and maintained.  Our first assignment focused on a group of brothers running a circus and I needed to build them a database that they could use to manage their circus business.  It literally felt like someone pushed me out of a plane, backwards, without a parachute.  Then they threw me the parachute a few seconds later.  Im fumbling with the parachute as Im in a free fall while trying to catch it, strap it on and read the instructions before I hit the ground-or by Monday when the assignment was due.  While databases are interesting to me, and I definitely want to know how they work, I'd rather keep my distance from them.  I'd rather appreciate them from afar.  I am however, locked into the course and to quote a scene from the move"300"  "This will not be over quickly....you will not enjoy this..."

Back in the Saddle...but the seat is too tight

What a week!  I've been invited (challenged) to a bike ride/race at the end of May by one of my buddies and I heartily accepted the challenge.  The Gran Fondo NY is supposed to be very much like the European bike rides, except its going to be with a bunch of my favorite NY/NJ'ers.  I assume that I will be one in a cast of thousands that will take the 65 mile trek across the George Washington Bridge and up the Hudson Valley.  Of course, I've got a lot of training to do (and equipment to purchase) before we get there, but after all the work I'll have no choice but to ride the ride and say I did it-and hopefully not damage myself too much in the meantime.  I also figure that the time spent indoors on the bike trainers will give me a much needed break from running on a crummy treadmill at the gym.
Speaking of crummy and break, I spent a part of my day yesterday shopping for jeans with my wife and child.  To say that I'd rather have my shoulders dislocated rather than go jeans shopping is an understatement.  I think we have a fundamental disagreement on what constitutes a "good fit."  For me, my comfort is my style.  For my wife my style is 'Grandpa chic' and thinks I should wear something more stylish and fitted.  To me fitted means too snug in the seat and I refuse to have a piece of clothing that close to me.  I need my space-especially when it comes to my jeans.  I just want to feel comfortable and jeans should be about comfort.  We finally agreed to disagree and I walked away with some "pappy pants" and I got a good deal on them to boot!  Jeepers.

Don't Call It a Comeback....

Wow, has it really been four months since my last post?  Well hopefully there's been good reason-and my loyal readers will forgive me for being detained over the last few months with a steadily growing preoccupation.  Literally, this preoccupation a.ka. my son has taken the wife and I on a roller coaster unlike any we've been on before.  What I once knew as tired has been completely redefined in my dictionary.  What once was frustration, has also been modified and confusion, well don't get me started.  However, I'd also have to redefine amazement, satisfaction, pride and wonder as I've watched the little guy grow over the last five months.  Its seems like such a short time, yet its also seen like an eternity as I can't quite remember "did he wake up three times or four?" "Oh wait, that was last night."  Nothing puts your mind in a mixer like a kid, and I've already learned many lessons courtesy of the "X man."  One of them-be flexible.  Don't get too comfortable with anything, but things are always changing-sometimes daily so you have to be flexible and patient.  Secondly, be brief.  There's no time for long drawn out soliloquies and flowing emails long on thought and words.  Or else, I'll end up writing one blog a quarter, or less.  So, my "plan" for my blogs at least for now is to keep it short, simple, but hopefully not stupid.  Oh, and Happy New Year's everyone!

Come on Irene...& Termination

Well this was certainly an interesting few weeks, not for the fact that Xavi crossed the 10 lb. threshold, but that Hurricane Irene decided to roll into the northeast this weekend and disrupt an otherwise quiet weekend. What started as humorous little quip between my Florida associates and I escalated into a pretty serious event for the northeast. Poughkeepsie seemed to fair better than the surrounding areas. The only loss in the Kowaliw household was the Philips electric toothbrush that somehow went missing between hotels as we moved from one hotel that lacked a generator to another. Its a shame, both Vanessa and I have a strong affinity for our electric toothbrush. If New York receives federal aid for a State emergency I might ponder submitting a claim for that toothbrush-it wasnt cheap.

But onto more important things-termination. The last week seems to be all about termination. I dont think I've ever done more terminating than I'm in the process of doing right now. It started with a surprise termination of a vendor of ours at work, and then I thought I might as well keep the ball rolling with another vendor termination that has been somewhat overdue. As I finished putting the final touches on my second termination letter I got to thinking about how much I'd like to do some terminating in my personal life. I'd like to terminate my printer for having an irreparable document feeder. I'd like to terminate my dishwasher for having a poor interior layout. I'm thinking of terminating my alarm clock because it should still work correctly after having it for only a few months and the buttons are too loud when you click them. I am literally going to terminate the tenant in my home in Cleveland, and I'd like to terminate the city of Cleveland itself for having continual low property values and a penchant for not doing anything to improve it. Termination feels good-I highly recommend you try it.

Feeding Frenzy

Well we've made it past the two week mark with Xavi and I'm happy to announce that we havent caused him any irreparable harm or damage. The pediatrician in fact, confirmed that he's actually doing pretty well for an infant under the care of first time parents. That was a huge relief for both Vanessa and I, and it certainly makes us feel like we arent complete failures as parents. The boy can eat, sometimes ravenously, and I'm amazed at how he attacks his meals. It reminds me of the suction on one of the lottery machines when it pulls the ping pong ball into the chamber. I wouldnt say Xavi (aka Mr. Chompers) is any hungrier than any other baby, but then again I dont have anything to compare it to, so I assume the kid just eats....a lot. I can remember back to my teenage years and it makes me fear for our grocery bill once he really starts growing.
Thinking about Xavi's caloric intake reminds me of trips to my grandmother's house as a kid. She showed love through food, and boy did she love me. Meal time was epic at her house. Breakfast in particular was an event for me. Upon waking up and sitting down at the kitchen table, I'd immediately get a bowl of cream of wheat with plenty of milk and plenty of honey. It was light and delicious. While I ate that up with a chunky spoon she was hard at work making eggs, bacon or sausage (usually both) and toast on her homemade bread. I dont know what was happening on that stove, but by the time the eggs and meat came out, the griddle was starting to sizzle with the sound of pancake or waffle batter. She might sprinkle in some fruit (frutt as she would pronounce it) that she sliced and jarred on her own.
By this point I was about ready to push away from the table, but I knew that I needed to finish the race. I would try to divide and conquer the massive plates of food, but usually I would fail and end up throwing in the napkin. I knew that I had to recover quickly though, because I could already hear the refrigerator open and a BLT being assembled. Round 2!

Better Words for Thank You...

It was Thursday July 20th 2011 where the family expanded to include one new member. Xavier or XLK is living proof that I have spawned and added another life to the planet. I cant even begin to retell the tale that encompassed Xavi's arrival into the world, but it had all the makings of a Shakespearean five act play. Maybe some of the middle parts were switched around but hopefully you get the idea. There were a lot of great supporting actors and actresses that made this all happen including some wonderful nurses that couldn't possibly understand how grateful we were for their help and guidance. I think the words "Thank you" probably get watered down to them since they hear it all the time-at least I hope they do after they coach a women through getting a 7 pound bowling ball out of their body so I really wish I had a better set of words to describe our gratitude. But the leading role played by my wife was the most impressive of all. She actually had to play numerous roles sometimes simultaneously, and all were completely award worthy. I think bravery was probably the biggest badge that she earned over the last nine + months. The amount and type of changes to my wife's body were amazing and wonderful.....and easily appreciated because I wasn't going through them personally. The big day for us was mainly built off of her strength and courage and that definitely deserves more than a thank you. I have a new found respect for my wife and all that she did to bring a new life into this world, and Im amazed that she's put up with me through all this. I know there were some points where I might have been the focal point, or the guide who was able to pick up a fact or tidbit about the deluge of information we received over the last nine months, but she's the one who went out on stage, performed and should get to take the bow after the curtain call.