I needed a smile headed into the weekend.
September 6, 2025, Church near Court
4 days ago
School Bound Buddy
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Watching your kids grow is one of the greatest and hardest things to do.
You want them to grow, you want them to experience life, you want them to fall down and pick themselves back up, you want them to learn from their mistakes; but you also want them to stay in the moment they are in today.
Jaxson is an incredible kid. Most days he drives me bat s**t crazy, but it's a crazy I can deal with. He pushes me farther than anyone has pushed me before; but we both learn more about each other every day.
As we prepare over the next few weeks to settle into our new house, which will hopefully be the last move we make for sometime, in the small town of Jefferson, Maryland; I can help but be beyond ecstatic to see Jax sign up for his new elementary school.
Crazy to think that my little buddy will be in "big-guy" school in a few months; but if I had to pick a school and a town for him to start his adventure, this would be the one.
Faking a smile outside his new school
First time eating in his new cafeteria
Open For Business, Maybe Not...
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The idea: Robyn and I will have a garage sale to get rid of some of the things we have acquired over the years before we move to our new house in a few weeks. Jaxson had the great idea to have a lemonade stand to make some extra cash for his piggy bank. Win-win situation, right?
The reality: Robyn and I woke up early. Set everything out. Organized and priced the items. Waited thirty minutes, maybe, and decided to box everything up and take to GoodWill. We had zero customers. Jaxson had one; however, he wasn't there when she came by to buy some lemonade and make his first sale. Business Fail 101.
Total profit for our garage sale / lemonade stand: $0
Business can be cruel to small businesses...he did have one customer; but she never paid and kept drinking all the profits...
The reality: Robyn and I woke up early. Set everything out. Organized and priced the items. Waited thirty minutes, maybe, and decided to box everything up and take to GoodWill. We had zero customers. Jaxson had one; however, he wasn't there when she came by to buy some lemonade and make his first sale. Business Fail 101.
Total profit for our garage sale / lemonade stand: $0
Business can be cruel to small businesses...he did have one customer; but she never paid and kept drinking all the profits...
I Started Running...
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The family that runs together, stays together.
The last week in our house has been a constant hub of activity. Three races, two states, and two runners later; we can now take a deep breath and enjoy our accomplishments.
Robyn is now an official runner. Knocking out her first 5k has opened her eyes to the world of running and the sense of proud a runner feels after finishing a race you have trained for.
I would love to pass this new found passion onto our kiddos. To run, you don't need much. All you need is your own two feet and a desire to challenge yourself. You can't cheat in running. You either do it or you don't - it's that simple.
Congrats Robbie on your run; now it's time to push yourself past your comfort level and experience even more joys of running.
I Paid To Do This?
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Not sure why. Can't figure it out. Baffled. Stumped. Curious, why my thick head fell in love with long distance running...whatever it is; I'm glad the bug got to me.
Two marathons and six half-marathons later; I want more.
This past weekend I ran the Gettysburg North-South Marathon. Toughest race I have ever run (except maybe the half-marathon I ran with a small case of the beer-flu...not recommended. Pizza and beer the night before was the wrong fuel for that race).
Gettysburg was full of hills (big hills), temperatures in the mid-seventies by finish time (which is very hot for a race) and the fact that I didn't feel my training had prepared me...I thought wrong.
3 hours and 58 minutes after the gun went off, I was done. Two minutes under my goal time. Big smiles.
Best part of it all, I am set to run another half-marathon this Sunday at the Frederick Running Festival.
Two marathons and six half-marathons later; I want more.
This past weekend I ran the Gettysburg North-South Marathon. Toughest race I have ever run (except maybe the half-marathon I ran with a small case of the beer-flu...not recommended. Pizza and beer the night before was the wrong fuel for that race).
Gettysburg was full of hills (big hills), temperatures in the mid-seventies by finish time (which is very hot for a race) and the fact that I didn't feel my training had prepared me...I thought wrong.
3 hours and 58 minutes after the gun went off, I was done. Two minutes under my goal time. Big smiles.
Best part of it all, I am set to run another half-marathon this Sunday at the Frederick Running Festival.
The picture above is why I do the races.
I hope to show my kids that you can do whatever you want in life. Hard work and commitment is the only way - no short cuts in life.
All Smiling Faces, Almost.
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The digital world has changed us, as a culture.
Everything is quicker, faster, digitally incorporated, and usually requires a USB port at some point...even birthday cards and invitations are more commonly sent electronically versus snail-mailed.
All that being said, there is nothing better than a quick note sent (digitally or handwritten) from a friend, spouse, or even an enemy. My wife, and partner in crime, sent me the below e-card.
Not sure if the card or Belle's face made me smile more, either way, I'm still smiling.
He's A Baller
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Some white men can jump.
Me, nah, not so much; but I can hit a three from deep.
Always played hoops growing up; I was never the best, but I could always shoot the rock from deep and lead the team from the point position. I was always on the "B" team through high school, but I was late losing my baby fat - my athletic abilities came late in life, which I am actually happy it happened that way instead of losing my abilities.
Jaxson hasn't had much success in the realm of team sports; he's an independent guy. So, when he told us he wanted to play basketball, the wife and I were weary to say the least.
He's tried soccer - hated it. He tried tee-ball - hated it. Loves golf, which I am fine with...
Jump to yesterday. He had his first basketball practice session. No games in the schedule, more of an extended introduction clinic for kids over a six-week period. Sadly, because of work, I had to miss the first practice. But mamma and Cayla said he did great and was the biggest kid out there - partially the reason why I think he liked it so much.
Made the first shot he attempted and has already told me he "wants to play basketball forever."
The smile you see in the photo is genuine; he loved it.
Running Out Of Room On The Cake...
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Every birthday is a milestone; however, some are just a little bit harder to swallow more special than others. Mimi hit one of the milestones; she turned 30 (cough, cough) once again.
Happy Birthday; if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have my wife. So thanks a million.
Let's Go Caps!
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Being born-and-raised in Texas, you would think hockey would be a sport that meant diddly-squat to me; however, my parents exposed my brother and I to hockey at a very age - my first hockey game ever was an exhibition between Detroit Red Wings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins...second game was USA vs. the former USSR - not a bad start for a Texan when it comes to hockey.
Washington is serious about hockey; more serious than Texas is about football. I am lucky enough to work for a firm that is also serious about hockey - center ice is a good benefit to have.
Jaxson may have found his new favorite sport...
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