My new favorite word

I was at church this morning, and I heard someone talking. They were trying to describe to someone how big something could be, and it seems they were trying to decide between using the word "gigantic" or "gargantuan". I think their words got stuck coming out. Instead of saying either one, what they said was "gigantuan". I loved it. That's my new word. Gigantuan. You could use this for anything. Sports commentary, for starters. I could just hear it. "....and the linebacker comes rushing through the line, and puts a giGANtuan hit on the quarterback". Or maybe, "this team has had to overcome gigantuan odds just to make the playoffs". Even nature shows. You could hear something along the lines of, "and on Shark Week this week, we are once again featuring the Whale Shark, the most gigantuan of all sharks". So there it is. A gift from someone to me, and now my gift to you. Gigantuan is now a word.

Encounter with nature

Monday, as you all know, was Columbus Day. Being a government employee, I was able to have the day off...one of the few days I get off. So me, my wife, and my son decided to make the most of it. So we decided to go for a ride through the Metroparks. We stopped and took a little walk while my wife took some pictures of the trees. Also during our trip, we stopped at the Rocky River Nature Center. We had fun there, Gabey played around, and we picked up some information for upcoming events. As we headed out and back to the car, I looked over and received a shock! I spotted a rare silver-headed fire hydrant sitting right by the walkway! Luckily, and amazingly, it sat there long enough to snap a picture. My wife Shari actually took this picture, but I'm claiming the credit because I spotted it. I think I'm realizing a new calling. Look for me on one of those fancy nature shows soon.

Anyways, when we reached the end of the Parkway, we turned around and stopped at the mall for a short time. The time at the mall was mostly spent sitting and watching Gabey run around in the kids play area of the mall. I loved it! Having a family is so awesome. It's all I've ever wanted. Even when I was little, all I wanted was a wife and children. Now that I have both, everything else is just icing on the cake. I hope all of you who read this, and have families, that you enjoy them. The spouses and children we have truly are gifts from God!

So that was our trip! We did some active things, but made sure we did quite a bit of relaxing/casual stuff. It is now 4 days before we leave on vacation....and I can't wait.

My decrepit cell phone

This picture, and the ones spread throughout this post, are of my pitiful cell phone. Look at it....isn't it pathetic? I've had it for about a year and a half now, and I never used the leather case that came with it because I thought it looked too girly. So now my phone sits there suffering from wear and tear, a shell of what it used to be, longing for retirement. I'm trying to get it there by upgrading my phone with the free discount I have, but there is a small problem. The phones that are actually upgrades from this phone all require money at time of purchase, along with the discount. Every time I go to get one, though, I can't afford to fork up the extra money, and I'm not going to pick one of the phones that's free with the discount just to use it. So I'm stuck. I need help....and my phone needs help. That's where you come in. I am happy to announce that I am now accepting donations to help this poor phone be put out of it's misery. Before you answer no, take a look at the pictures again (you can click on them to get an enlarged view). You see the evidence....don't these pictures fill you with sympathy for this poor phone? Doesn't the suffering make you want to do something, to help? Well, now you can. Please....give so this phone can finally be at peace. I will accept donations in any form. Cash, check, money order, and even paypal. You can email me for information on where to send the funds. Won't you help today. It's for a good cause. I thank you in advance, and my phone thanks you.

I'm Back!!!

Hey! Look at my new digs! This blog is pret-tee sharp, wouldn't you say? Someone did a REAL good job redesigning this thing. It was not me, however. It was my very talented and determined wife. She's spent the past few days working on all of the family's blogs, and I must say, I'm very impressed. I asked her where she found that picture of me for my profile, and she quickly informed me that it was not a picture of me, but Christopher Reeve (the man I consider to be the all time best Superman). I told her she is soon going to become the tech support for the family. (Quick side note: In case you haven't picked up the subtle hints, I'm a big Superman fan).

So how is everyone? been a long time since I posted, and I am determined to not let myself slip anymore, especially with all the hard work my wife put into this. Soooo, I know you've heard this before, but I AM going to get good about posting often now, even if only to give you little tid bits here and there. So check back often.

As far as what's going on, I'm still hard at work in the United States Postal Service, as a carrier. I've done some supervising, and it's been pretty cool. I'm also advancing up the ladder of PTFs. PTF means Part Time Flex. It means we're only guaranteed so many hours a week, though I've been getting full time hours (and more) since my first week. When you become a Regular, you get full time hours, and the vacation time at the beginning of the year. They have a list of how far down the list of PTFs you are before becoming a Regular. It's all based on seniority. I don't know how often they release the list, but as of last month I was....hmm, let me check the list here...ah, here it is. I'm number 94. Which mean I only need 94 Regulars to retire or be fired before I become one. (*sigh*) Hopefully it won't take too long.

In church, the Glory Stars program has started once again. We are two weeks into it. Glory Stars is a program for kids that runs during the Wednesday night service. It's a program to reinforce what they learned in Sunday School, but we also do neat things like game time and Bible Challenge. I'm in charge of the 4th grade boys. I had them when they were in the 1st grade, and thought (or hoped) they were less rowdy. Nope. And the one perfect kid I had in first grade, who I used as my example, did not sign up this year . It's still fun, though. I love these kids! It was funny, because when I went to sign up for Glory Stars, one of the kids who is in the class walked up next to me, and whispered out of the side of his mouth, "4th grad boys....4th grade boys". Being a man of quick discernment, I picked 4th grade boys. This really was the class I was thinking of when I signed up, anyway.

My wife, my son, my sister-in-law and I are going on a vacation to Pennsylvania in a couple of weeks. It will be the first real vacation my wife and I have taken since before my son was born, which was a little over 3 years ago. We will be relaxing, and enjoying non-stressful activities. I'm looking forward to it BIG TIME!

One last note on my blog. I don't like the name, and other people have told me how hideous they think it is. I just picked it because I needed a name, and I couldn't think of anything else. I'm changing the name, though I don't know what to yet. Check back, and one of these next few days I'll let you know before I actually change it. Toodles!