At one time, my family’s traditional Christmas Eve celebration featured a big dinner. As we all grew older and my siblings got married, we would all enjoy a dinner of steak and shrimp before sitting down to exchange presents. However, those marriages produced children who didn’t want to sit still and be patient as their […]
With some extra free time on my hands lately, I have had a chance to help out more around the house. In some ways, this can be interpreted as a positive. More help means more gets done, right? But remember this is a husband’s kind of helping. And I am the husband trying to pitch […]
A flier came home from school the other week. Since Bridget has entered the third grade, she could now sign up to learn an instrument. At first the thought of rudimentary violin being played in the house might not sound like the greatest idea in the world, but I knew I could not let this […]
In the aftermath of my 40th birthday recently, I noticed something about the gifts I received. Almost every one had something to do with food or beer. Part of me wondered what this said about me. Do I drink too much or do I just enjoy quality beer? Am I a glutton or do I […]
Last weekend, as we drove home after a little shopping, the skies opened up. Rain poured down in buckets. You could almost call the precipitation Biblical. That didn’t surprise me at all. I saw the storm as God’s way of commenting on the tremendous shift in the universe which had just taken place. Maria bought […]
After 22 years, my family’s annual trek to the beach has gained a certain kind of routine. My oldest sisters head down to the beach early to set out a cadre of chairs so we can reserve precious space on the sand. One night, we meet at the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach to all get […]
I know Memorial Day is set aside for us to honor the troops. I totally respect that even though I value the day more because it gives me a nice four-day week. I just have one question: What does denying people breakfast have to do with the troops? My wife worked today so I promised […]
As we drove to my in-law’s for Mother’s Day, Maria flipped around the radio to find something she wanted to hear. At one point, she got frustrated. “What is this, Stevie Nicks Day?” I should have sympathized her because we kept finding bad songs. There was only one problem – none of them were by […]
I try not to let too many rules run my life. I am somewhat set in my ways, but I like adapting to new situations as they present themselves. I knew a lot of that would change when we started a family almost eight years ago. I had to watch my language in the house. […]
When Maria left for work last Saturday, I thought I had an easy day ahead of myself. Bridget had a friend over. They had plenty of activities planned. No one really needed me. One of the activities was a kit to decorate gingerbread cookies. The cookies came pre-made with the kit so even I couldn’t […]